Chapter 224 - 223: Li Xuefeng’s Visit (2)

Chapter 224: Chapter 223: Li Xuefeng’s Visit (2)

Li Xuefeng gazed at the wooden branch in his hand, the memory of Li Jian’s demonstration, seemingly simple yet profound in meaning still echoing in his mind. The lingering chill in the air seemed to dissipate, transforming into the gentle breeze that had swept through the courtyard moments before. He gripped the branch tightly; that deep, resonant sword intent seemed to still be surging within the depths of his soul.

Before he could speak, a calm voice broke the solemn, tranquil atmosphere.

"Cousin Xuefeng," Li Cheng said, stepping slowly out of the house shadows, his deep gaze fixed intently on his cousin. He carried himself with composure, exuding the steady, dignified air typical of a boy from a prestigious clan, yet a resolute light gleamed in his eyes: "Since Father has just pointed out the path of the sword to you, would you do me the honor of a sparring match? I wish to see if the results of my recent cultivation allow me to measure up against the top genius of our clan’s fourth generation."

Li Xuefeng turned around, slightly surprised. He looked at Li Cheng, well aware of his cousin’s reputation: though only ten years old, Li Cheng possessed a remarkable powers of insight. Yet, there was a clear disparity in their cultivation levels; Li Xuefeng had already reached the Ninth Stage of the Body Refining Realm and stood on the threshold of the Spirit Sea Realm, whereas Li Cheng was still at the Seventh Stage of the Body Refining Realm.

"Cousin Cheng," Li Xuefeng said courteously as he drew his silver sword, the blade ringing out with a crisp sound: "Your cultivation is two stages lower than mine. Are you certain you wish to spar without any restrictions?"

"A true martial artist should not rely on concessions during a duel," Li Cheng replied calmly, assuming his stance: "Please, give it your all; there is no need to hold back."

Li Jain sat beneath the plum tree, with a gentle smile on his face: "This sparring match is about gaining insight, not inflicting injury. Let us begin."

As Li Jain’s words faded, the atmosphere in the courtyard shifted instantly. Li Xuefeng struck first. Incorporating the new understanding he had just gained, his footwork became as fluid and natural as drifting snow. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword whistled through the air, unleashing a blast of frost-laden energy that surged toward Li Cheng’s flank.

Li Cheng remained composed in the face of danger; his keen senses instantly picked up the subtle shift in air pressure and the faint crackle of condensing frost. Channeling his internal energy, he caused a faint, deep-blue lightning glow to shimmer across his fists. With astonishing precision, he sidestepped the incoming blade by a hair’s breadth. The move was executed with clean, decisive efficiency.

"Frost-Splitting Sword Art, Third Form!" Li Xuefeng let out a low shout. His sword carved a fierce arc through the air, instantly splitting into three beams of light that gleamed with a chilling, icy edge.

Instead of retreating, Li Cheng advanced, driving straight into the blind spot of his opponent’s offensive. Accompanied by a low rumble of thunder, the "Heavenly Thunder Force" within him erupted violently as he slammed his fist against the side of Li Xuefeng’s blade. A crisp *clang* rang out; the shockwave of their colliding energies rippled across the stone-paved ground, forcing both boys to stagger backward.

Li Xuefeng marveled inwardly. Although he held an absolute advantage in raw power and cultivation realm, surpassing Li Cheng by two full major stages, Li Cheng’s punches carried immense weight. The lightning energy within them was both dense and ferocious, leaving Li Xuefeng’s arms numb from the impact.

What truly gave him pause, however, was Li Cheng’s impeccable timing; it effectively neutralized much of the advantage Li Xuefeng’s superior strength should have provided.

The two exchanged dozens of blows; sword-light and fist-shadows intertwined, sending silver gleams and blue sparks flying in all directions. Li Xuefeng pressed the attack with elegant yet sweeping, expansive sword movements, while Li Cheng utilized his remarkable insight to anticipate the blade’s path, countering with strikes that were both precise and ruthless.

Finally, amidst an explosive surge of formidable energy, Li Xuefeng unleashed a sweeping strike that gleamed with a chilling, lethal edge, while Li Cheng met it head-on with a palm strike crackling with the power of thunder. The sword’s edge and the palm’s force collided violently in mid-air, unleashing a massive shockwave that drove both boys back a full five paces.

As the dust settled, the two young men stood facing each other, both panting heavily, their eyes locked intently on one another.

"A draw," Li Jain announced: "Both of you performed magnificently."

Li Xuefeng sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully to Li Cheng: "Cousin Cheng, your command of lightning and your reaction speed are truly astonishing. To fight me to a draw despite the disparity in our cultivation realms is a testament to your exceptional talent."

Li Xuefeng praise him, yet, there was not a trace of joy on Li Cheng’s face. His brows were furrowed, his chest heaving slightly as he stared intently at his own palms. Far from taking pride in tying with a martial artist of a higher realm, he was deeply dissatisfied with his own performance.

"During our eighth exchange, I hesitated," Li Cheng murmured, his tone laced with harsh self-reproach: "There was a momentary hitch in the flow of my spiritual energy; I should have pressed the advantage, but instead, I was forced onto the defensive. That performance was truly poor. Sorry to waste your time, cousin."

Li Jingsheng, who had been watching the match from the sidelines, crossed his arms and nodded slightly, acknowledging the validity of Li Cheng’s self-critique. For he, too, held himself to exacting standards.

Just as Li Xuefeng was about to offer words of comfort to his serious younger cousin, a booming, spirited laugh echoed across the courtyard.

"Haha! Third Brother, aren’t you being a bit too hard on yourself?" Li Jingxuan strode into the center of the training arena, a sleek spear made of dark iron resting on his shoulder. Mischief and excitement sparkled in his bright eyes, and a playful, cheerful grin played upon his lips: "Cousin Xuefeng! Since Third Brother is busy reflecting on his ’mistakes,’ how about you spar with me instead?"

Li Xuefeng was slightly taken aback: "Cousin Jingxuan? You want to spar, too?" He knew well that Jingxuan, one of a set of triplets was only seven years old and possessed a lively, restless nature. Although Jingxuan had recently broken through to the fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm, he was still young.

"You bet!" Li Jingxuan grinned, moving with grace as he deftly spun the iron spear around his waist: "Don’t underestimate me just because I love my father’s cooking! He recently taught me a special spear technique, and I’ve been itching to put it to the test!"

Li Jain chuckled from the sidelines: "Go ahead, Xuefeng. Give him a chance, but be careful."

"Alright," Li Xuefeng said with a smile, drawing his sword once more: "Let’s see what you’ve learned, cousin!"

"Here I come!" Li Jingxuan shouted cheerfully.

In an instant, the playful air surrounding the seven-year-old vanished, replaced by a fierce, burning intensity. Li Jingxuan slammed the butt of his spear against the ground and, using the momentum, shot forward like an arrow released from a bow! The spearhead vibrated violently, splitting into five shimmering afterimages, each wreathed in scorching crimson flames.

"Nine-Dragon Flame Spear: First Form!" Jingxuan shouted.

Li Xuefeng’s eyes widened in shock. The speed and power of the strike far exceeded the limits of what a child at the fifth stage of Body Refining should be capable of! He hurriedly raised his sword to block, but the moment the blade met the spearhead, a terrifying heat and an overwhelming, crushing force erupted outward.

Bang!

Li Xuefeng felt a powerful shockwave surge up his arms, forcing him to stumble back three steps. Before he could even regain his footing, Jingxuan nimbly spun; using the rebound force from the spear, he unleashed a devastating horizontal sweep aimed straight at Xuefeng’s midsection. The flames trailing behind the spear shaft looked like a roaring young dragon.

"Such a seamless transition between moves!" Li Zhang exclaimed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Li Xuefeng was forced into a purely defensive stance. He pushed his "Frost-Splitting Sword Technique" to its absolute limit, erecting barriers of freezing energy, yet Jingxuan’s spear attacks surged like an unrelenting, aggressive,

...His moves were unpredictable and fluid, fully representing the personal teachings of Li Jain. With every thrust, the crimson flames ignited by Jingxuan’s Fire Spirit Root surged forth, instantly melting the frost before it could even take form.

With a final, dazzling thrust, reminiscent of a hidden dragon bursting from the abyss, the tip of Jingxuan’s spear came to a halt just an inch from Li Xuefeng’s throat! The searing heat releasing from the spearhead even singed a few strands of hair on Xuefeng’s forehead.

A profound silence fell over the courtyard.

Li Xuefeng stood frozen in place, his longsword still held in a defensive posture, staring in disbelief at the boy before him. A boy standing as immovable as a mountain, gripping a heavy spear. He had actually lost, decisively defeated by his seven-year-old cousin whose cultivation base was four whole levels lower than his own!

"I... I lost?" Li Xuefeng murmured to himself, then burst into loud laughter, his face filled with awe: "Incredible... simply incredible! Jingxuan, to possess such exquisite spear technique and control at such a young age... you are a true genius!"

"Hehe! Thanks, Cousin Xuefeng!" Li Jingxuan retracted his spear with a flourish, instantly reverting to his usual lively, playful self. His eyes shining, he looked toward Li Jain: "Father, did I do well?"

"Your execution of the moves was excellent, Jingxuan," Li Jian praised gently, then stood up and patted his son’s head: "You’ve made rapid progress in blending the ’momentum of fire’ with the weight of the spear."

Li Yuhan, Li Zhang, and even the usually stern-faced Li Yujian gathered around, cheering and congratulating the younger brother who had displayed such astonishing prowess. Even Li Cheng, who had initially been frowning, unwilling to accept the outcome, now wore a rare, genuine smile as he reached out to pat Jingxuan on the shoulder.

"Today calls for a real celebration!" Li Yuhan said with great enthusiasm, throwing an arm around Li Xuefeng’s shoulders: "Father, we must prepare a sumptuous feast to celebrate Jingxuan’s breakthrough and welcome Cousin Xuefeng!"

"I’m all for it!" Li Jingxuan cheered aloud; the mere thought of his father’s home-cooked delicacies made his mouth water: "We need spirit-roasted meat and candied berries!"

Watching the spirited young ones and his talented nephew before him, Li Jain felt a wave of warmth wash over him: "Excellent," he said with a gentle smile: "Let’s head to the kitchen together."

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed through the West Courtyard as the brothers and cousins ​​walked arm-in-arm toward the main residence.