Chapter 652: A Suitable Opponent

Next was a peculiar sensation of an "inevitable hit."

He could feel that as long as he locked onto a target, that blue flame would inevitably descend upon them.

No matter how the opponent dodged, defended, or fled, they would not be able to escape the incineration of this flame.

This wasn’t a matter of speed, nor was it a matter of skill; it was a lock on the level of Rules.

Just as Gravity would always pull objects to the ground, just as a Flame would always burn upward, and just as water would always flow downward. This was a Rule of the universe—it could not be violated, nor could it be escaped.

As long as he locked onto a target, that blue flame would inevitably hit.

This was an almost unsolvable ability.

Although he had not truly reached the Grandmaster Realm, Xu Wuyi had already touched the threshold and grasped power at the level of Rules.

Finally, there was an even more profound realization.

He could feel that he was able to burn the Order on his target.

Everyone had their own Order.

The circulation of Qi and Blood had an Order, the fluctuations of Spirit had an Order, and bodily functions had an Order. These Orders maintained a person’s normal state, allowing them to think, act, and fight.

But what if these Orders were burned?

If the circulation of Qi and Blood lost its regularity, if the fluctuations of Spirit descended into Chaos, and if the bodily functions fell into disarray, what would happen to that person?

Xu Wuyi didn’t know the exact result, but he could imagine that it would definitely be an extremely terrifying state.

It meant the opponent would lose all control over themselves, becoming a cripple unable to think, act, or fight.

And the duration of this state would depend on how much Order he could burn away and how long it would take the opponent to rebuild a new Order.

What shocked Xu Wuyi even more was his faint realization that his ability was incredibly difficult to resist.

Because Order was an extremely fundamental Rule, overriding the vast majority of other Rules.

The abilities of most Martial Artists existed within Order. The circulation of their Qi and Blood followed Order, the fluctuations of their Spirit followed Order, and their Heart Image Manifestation also followed Order.

They could do all sorts of things within Order, but it was extremely difficult to oppose Order itself.

It was like a person living in a society governed by the rule of law; they could do anything within the boundaries of the law, but it was very difficult to fight the law itself.

Unless they themselves possessed legislative power, they could only comply.

And Xu Wuyi’s Flame of Order was like possessing legislative power.

He could directly alter Rules, directly burn Order, and force his opponent into Chaos at the level of Rules.

This ability wasn’t a contest of strength, but a complete suppression at the level of Rules.

Xu Wuyi slowly opened his eyes and looked out the window.

Outside the window was still the old pine tree covered in white snow. Sunlight filtered through the pine branches, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Everything looked no different from before, but Xu Wuyi knew that he was no longer the same.

He looked down at his right hand, a thought stirring in his mind.

An extremely faint wisp of blue flame rose from his palm, burning quietly.

The flame was very weak, so weak it was almost imperceptible, as if a gust of wind could blow it out. But Xu Wuyi could feel exactly what kind of power was contained within this weak wisp of flame.

He clenched his fist, and the flame extinguished.

It wasn’t time to use it yet.

In the days that followed, Xu Wuyi’s life became extremely routine.

Every early morning, he sat cross-legged by the window of the east wing room, sinking his consciousness into his sea of consciousness, perceiving every flicker of that wisp of blue flame over and over again.

In the morning, he practiced his Spear Technique in the courtyard. The Liaoyuan Long Spear traced dark golden trajectories in the snow, its tip occasionally catching a faint, almost imperceptible halo of blue light.

In the afternoon, he would sit by the stone table under the old pine tree, drinking tea and discussing the Dao with Lin Jianyi. He would share his realizations one by one and listen to Lin Jianyi’s critiques and guidance.

In the evening, he would continue to sit quietly and meditate, allowing the great marsh and the Golden Crow in his sea of consciousness to slowly circulate in the silence.

Seven days passed like this.

On the evening of the seventh day, just as Xu Wuyi woke up from his meditation, he heard the sound of the courtyard door being pushed open. He walked out of the wing room and saw Lin Jianyi standing at the courtyard gate, holding his personal terminal as if sending a message.

"Teacher Lin," Xu Wuyi said as he walked over.

Lin Jianyi looked up and glanced at him, bearing a somewhat peculiar smile on his face. "How have you been feeling these past few days?"

"Very stable," Xu Wuyi said. "Every circulation of the Flame of Order deepens my understanding, but I need to apply it in practice. I plan to try it out on the Battle Network in the next couple of days."

Lin Jianyi nodded, as if he had long expected him to say this. "It’s hard to encounter a suitable opponent on the Battle Network. Tomorrow, I’ll find one for you."

Xu Wuyi was slightly startled. "Huh?"

"You’ll know tomorrow." Lin Jianyi didn’t explain further, turning around and walking back into the main house.

Xu Wuyi watched his back disappear behind the door, a trace of curiosity welling up in his heart. But since Lin Jianyi didn’t say, he wouldn’t press the issue.

The next morning, at 17 Wutong Road in the Xingjing City East District.

Zhao Qingwei was sitting quietly in her room engaged in Cultivation when her personal terminal suddenly vibrated.

She opened her eyes and tapped on the message.

Sender: Lin Jianyi.

The content wasn’t complicated; it merely informed her that he was currently in Xingjing and told her to come over for guidance if she had the time.

Zhao Qingwei was stunned for a few seconds before an uncontrollable surge of pleasant surprise filled her eyes.

Ever since she graduated, it had been a long time since she had seen Teacher Lin Jianyi. During her last two years of university, she had relied on her family’s connections to finally get in touch with this elusive Sword Dao Grandmaster, having the honor of receiving his teachings a few times.

Every single pointer he gave had resulted in a qualitative improvement in her Sword Dao.

But after graduation, Lin Jianyi rarely appeared at Star Martial. She had wanted to visit him several times but was always told the teacher wasn’t around. She never expected that the teacher would take the initiative to contact her today.

She quickly replied, "Your student is in Xingjing and will arrive this afternoon."

After sending the message, she stood up and walked over to her wardrobe. Hesitating for a moment, she changed into a plain and elegant white training suit and pinned her long hair up with a Jade Hairpin.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, Zhao Qingwei appeared on time at the entrance of Lin Jianyi’s small courtyard.

The courtyard door was left ajar. There was no snow on it, clearly having just been swept by someone. The ivy on the courtyard walls was covered in a thin layer of snow, gleaming with a crystal-like luster under the afternoon sun.

She stood outside the courtyard door for a moment, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

In the courtyard, Lin Jianyi was sitting by the stone table under the old pine tree, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands. Three teacups were arranged on the stone table, and steam curled upward from the teapot.

And on the other side of the stone table sat a figure she was incredibly familiar with.

Zhao Qingwei paused her steps. Xu Wuyi. He was here too?

Xu Wuyi looked up and nodded at her. "Zhao Qingwei, long time no see."