265: Chapter 262 Something's not right with you!

Seeing this, Li Changsheng also used Xingyi Fist and Baji Quan in succession to neutralize the attacks.

His opponent's legs were striking like a plow falling down from above, digging at the heart in the middle, and piercing like arrows from below.

His toes curled and stretched, resembling hands gripping and releasing; despite being feet, they were as dexterous as hands.

Although he was wearing shoes, that contraction and expansion, along with the constant circling, kicking, and stomping of his ankles, were more agile than hands. However, because they were legs, the explosive power was greater and the speed was faster.

Furthermore, the variations in force were immense, featuring the tight, interlocking strikes of the Mandarin Duck Legs, with high and low attacks combined seamlessly.

There was also the open, imposing, and domineering nature of the Arhat Divine Strike, alongside the chopping and smashing of the Spring Leg, with compact Moves and high speed.

"Master Wan, would you like to take a break?"

Li Changsheng rubbed his slightly reddened arm and said.

Wan Qianhe's recent flurry of kicks had indeed left him struggling to keep up, but he had managed to rely on using his elbows against the feet, neutralizing and striking simultaneously, while using the Monkey Style to leap, turn, and dodge to resolve Wan Qianhe's chain of attacks.

However, Master Wan's force was still fierce. Although neither of them had truly unleashed their hidden Qi, that raw power was extremely domineering, perfectly displaying the style of the Arhat Divine Strike.

Li Changsheng was slightly dissatisfied; his own Monkey Style still hadn't been practiced to perfection.

In the past, Xue Dian, that Great Master of the Xingyi Monkey Style, could practice until he seemed to vanish—a phrase with a double meaning. One interpretation referred to his Monkey Style footwork, which was as fast as a ghost; his footwork was so rapid that during a spar, you wouldn't even see him, yet in his eyes, his opponent was fully visible.

Wan Qianhe was panting slightly, his Face flushed red, but his Face was still filled with a relaxed and comfortable smile.

Must not lose!

This Face absolutely must not be lost.

"No matter. I have practiced martial arts for many years, and in all this time, I have sparred with others thousands of times. You and I are just testing our skills; let's continue."

Seeing Wan Qianhe chuckle and wave his hand, looking completely composed, Li Changsheng nodded. He was truly a veteran master; to maintain such a high-frequency, airtight offensive while keeping such a vigorous state, he must have incredibly rich combat experience and excellent breath-control techniques.

"Since that's the case, I will respectfully comply. For the third Move, why don't we try something else?"

"Try something else? Weapons? As you wish. As long as you like, Master Li, you can choose any weapon here."

Wan Qianhe pointed to the swords, spears, sabers, and halberds on the weapon rack beside them and said with a chuckle.

Seeing this, Li Changsheng paced to the weapon rack, walked to a spear, hesitated slightly, and finally came to a long sword, casually grasping it in his hand.

His grip on the sword was very stable yet maintained flexibility; it emphasized keeping the palm hollow to ensure the sword remained lively.

He spun the blade to create a sword flourish, while his other hand formed a sword seal.

This was not the sword-controlling technique from cultivation novels, nor was it some Daoist magical art. Some laypeople might think this was just for show and had no practical use.

In fact, why do many sword styles come with corresponding sword seals? First, for body balance; second, to feint in the east and attack in the west, disrupting the opponent's concentration.

Third, to guide and accumulate force, concentrating the power. For example, when the sword seal traces the blade, it is like smoothing fur, allowing the force to flow through the sword body, increasing the power and speed of the sword's momentum.

However, many ancient sword styles that included sword seals have evolved; in many cases, the movements of the sword seal have changed, becoming performative and primarily serving to enhance aesthetics.

In fact, using a sword is indeed very cool.

But this time, considering the one-attack, one-defense rule, Li Changsheng wanted to use the sword to try the Xingyi Thirty-Six Sword technique.

This sword style belongs to the ancient Xingyi Sword technique, which is currently on the verge of being lost.

After receiving the complete Xingyi set from the System, this sword style was also in his mind, but he had never tried it; today was a good opportunity.

To have Master Wan as a sparring partner—this kind of treatment is probably unmatched.

Of course, Li Changsheng also knew that he hadn't practiced sword techniques. Although fists and weapons share common principles, since he hadn't practiced, the level of his sword skills could be imagined.

Seeing Li Changsheng confidently and familiarly create a sword flourish, Wan Qianhe felt bitter inside.

This young man really didn't know how to respect the elderly.

He sighed inwardly, forcing himself to endure his already overburdened lower back as he prepared to respond.

"Master Wan, this sword style of mine is derived from Xingyi and was passed down from Li Cunyi. I have studied Xingyi for quite a while, but I have rarely touched sword techniques, so I may not be very proficient. I hope you will be understanding, Master Wan."

Li Changsheng said this mainly to ensure Wan Qianhe wouldn't misunderstand; he meant that he had just learned it, and the master should just consider it as providing guidance.

After all, sparring with a skill one isn't familiar with is a bit disrespectful to the opponent, so stating this clarified the situation.

Hearing this, Wan Qianhe relaxed and smiled, "Haha, Master Li, you are too polite. Let's begin."

Li Changsheng opened his mouth wide and took a deep breath. The surrounding air was sucked into his lungs as if a clay ox had entered the sea, and then he slowly swallowed it down his throat.

Gulp!

It was like a large stone falling into a calm lake, making a dull sound. This was Li Changsheng channeling his Qi into his lungs and internal organs.

Many ancient sword techniques rely on breathing coordinated with footwork, and this is especially true for internal arts like Wudang Sword and Xingyi Sword.

It was as if it were the Qi Refining sword technique from cultivation novels.

The principles of sword techniques are similar, but this involved using Qi to cleanse the internal organs, using that powerful Qi from Traditional Martial Arts to make the body like a swimming Dragon, moving as easily as an arm directing a finger, with the mind and intention perfectly connected.

"Watch out!"

Accompanied by a low shout, Li Changsheng stepped out. The sword in his hand was like a spear; his body followed the sword, stepping on the centerline, leaping forward.

Unlike the Wudang Bagua sword style, where the footwork is mostly circular and the body resembles a spinning top.

The Xingyi Thirty-Six Sword technique draws from the paths of Xingyi Fist, combining the Xingyi Five Elements and the Twelve Forms into one.

At the moment of his fierce charge, the sword momentum in Li Changsheng's hand changed and flowed freely. His steps moved while his body remained calm, the sword followed his body, his waist was as flexible as a snake, and his body and sword became one.

Clang!

A melodious sword ring, like a Dragon's roar, whistled past Wan Qianhe's ear. He tilted his body slightly and saw the snow-white blade flash before his eyes, revealing immense sharpness.

Feeling the fierce wind, Wan Qianhe felt a chill down his spine.

Something is not right!

Something is very wrong!

This is "not very proficient"?

The movements, transitions, Aura, and agility were all seamless and natural—a perfect paradigm of sword technique. And he called this "not very proficient"?

Wan Qianhe wondered if Master Li had some misunderstanding of what "not very proficient" meant.

He didn't know much about the sword as a weapon, but because he had frequently dueled with others, he had witnessed all kinds of fist and weapon techniques.

To see if a person's sword technique is superb, one just needs to see if they possess what the ancients called "a civet cat pouncing on a mouse," "avoiding the green and entering the red," and "like holding a small hammer to strike a bell."

The so-called "civet cat pouncing on a mouse" is something many experts in Traditional Martial Arts can achieve.

It is the sudden jolt of the whole body when a sword expert is attacked and responds.

"Avoiding the green and entering the red" is an important concept in sword technique; the ancients called weapons "green" and the human body "red."

It means that Xia Kingdom sword techniques emphasize lightness and agility, with exquisite Moves that make it difficult for the opponent to parry.

Therefore, when sparring with a sword, one must avoid parrying the opponent's weapon; instead, one should focus on dodging and then seeking opportunities to attack.

This requires striking and retracting in an instant, drawing blood with a single point.

As for the sword masters in Wuxia TV dramas who strike their swords together with a clanging sound, they are actually just a bunch of rookies.

For example, Li Jinglin, the premier sword master of the modern era—when he sparred with others, he never parried. It was all attack, attack, and attack again. Even when encountering masters, he would only use subtle movements to dodge and immediately continue seeking opportunities to attack.

A sword master is either attacking or on the way to attacking.

As for "like holding a small hammer to strike a bell," it is similar to the "draw" technique of Wudang Sword. Those who possess this trait can easily achieve it when striking; the sword is like a flying Phoenix, capable of piercing with a single point.

Right now, Wan Qianhe couldn't see all of the opponent's techniques, but he could still feel it when an expert made a Move.