Chapter 707: Grandmaster Level Clash

Chapter 707: Chapter 693: Grandmaster Level Clash

He walked back along the familiar path, his mind still dwelling on the words Flame Venerable had just spoken. Enhancing the strength of the Heart Image, applying the Rules, integrating the Spear Technique, refining the body… These matters were both numerous and crucial. Each one required him to take the time to think, practice, and explore. But at the very least, he now had a direction. Knowing which path to take was more important than anything else.

He returned to the small two-story house, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and sat on the sofa for a while.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK came from the courtyard door. He walked over to open it and found a girl with a ponytail standing outside, dressed in a light blue gown. She wore a bright smile, her eyes clear and radiant. It was Ufei.

Seeing Xu Wuyi, she was momentarily stunned before quickly bowing in greeting.

“Grandmaster Xu.”

Xu Wuyi stepped aside to let her in. “Come in. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Ufei walked into the small house and stood in the living room, looking somewhat stiff and reserved. Xu Wuyi offered her a seat, poured her a glass of water, and then sat down opposite her.

“How has your Cultivation been lately?” he asked.

“It’s been going very well,” Ufei quickly replied. “After your guidance last time, I’ve been practicing according to your methods and have made significant progress. In the mock exams a few days ago, my scores ranked in the top ten of the entire school.”

Xu Wuyi nodded. “Not bad. Keep at it.”

Ufei looked at him, a hint of admiration and curiosity in her eyes. “Grandmaster Xu, may I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead,” Xu Wuyi said.

Ufei asked, “How did you reach this stage? I mean, becoming a Grandmaster at such a young age—you must have suffered a lot, right?”

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment and said, “Hardship is inevitable. But the important thing isn’t how much you suffer; it’s knowing why you’re suffering.” He paused and looked at Ufei’s earnest gaze before continuing. “Ever since I was young, I knew exactly what I wanted. I knew I wanted to become stronger, and I knew I wanted to walk the path of Martial Arts. So, all the hardships I endured were for this goal. When you have a goal, suffering no longer feels like suffering.”

Listening to his words, Ufei nodded thoughtfully.

The two chatted for a little while longer. Ufei asked some questions regarding Cultivation, and Xu Wuyi answered them one by one.

Before leaving, Ufei stood up and gave Xu Wuyi a deep bow.

“Thank you, Grandmaster Xu. I will definitely continue to work hard.”

Xu Wuyi nodded and walked her to the door.

Watching the figure with the ponytail walk away down the alley, he turned and went back inside the small house, sitting down on the sofa. The sunlight outside the window remained scorching, but it was quiet inside. The afternoon slipped away as he sat in silent meditation.

At dusk, he rose, walked out of the house, and practiced a set of fist techniques in the courtyard. It was still the familiar Basic Body Refining Technique. The movements were simple, but every stance and strike was solid and grounded. After finishing, he stood in the courtyard, feeling the rhythm of Qi and Blood circulating within his body and the slight heat radiating from his muscles and bones after the exertion. This was Refining the Body. It was simple and tedious, but he had to persevere.

***

Xu Wuyi stayed in the West Desert.

Originally, he had only planned to visit for a few days, express his gratitude, and then leave. However, Flame Venerable took the initiative to ask him to stay, saying that since he was already here, he should stay a few more days.

Thus, every morning, he would appear punctually in front of the bamboo house in the East Garden, listening to Flame Venerable explain the various intricacies of Grandmaster Cultivation. In the afternoon, he would return to sit in meditation, comprehending the changes in the Heart of Order, and occasionally meeting with Ufei or other visiting Martial Artists of the West Desert. When evening came, he would appear punctually in the courtyard to practice a set of the Basic Body Refining Technique, Refining the Body.

Life passed by peacefully and rhythmically.

Seven or eight days passed like this. When Xu Wuyi arrived at the bamboo house as usual, he found that Flame Venerable was not sitting by the stone table waiting for him as he normally did. Instead, he was standing in the clearing in front of the bamboo house with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the dense bamboo forest in the distance.

Xu Wuyi stepped forward and stopped behind him.

“Senior.”

Flame Venerable turned around and looked at him. In his aged yet bright eyes, there was a glimmer of light that Xu Wuyi had never seen before.

“Kid,” Flame Venerable began, his voice still ancient but powerful. “These past few days, I’ve said all that needs to be said and taught all that needs to be taught. But there are some things that cannot be understood just by talking.” He paused, his gaze growing even deeper. “Today, let’s spar.”

Xu Wuyi was slightly taken aback. Spar? Him and Flame Venerable?

He truly had no idea how a Grandmaster Level battle would play out. Since advancing to a Grandmaster, he had not yet truly fought against any powerhouse of the same level. At most, on the day of his advancement, he had sensed the gazes cast upon him by those Grandmasters. That kind of perception and an actual battle were two completely different things.

Flame Venerable looked at his dazed expression and chuckled. “What? Too scared?”

Xu Wuyi shook his head and replied honestly, “It’s not that I’m scared. I just don’t know how a Grandmaster Level battle is supposed to be fought.”

Flame Venerable nodded, very satisfied with his honesty.

“It’s normal that you don’t know. If you did, that would be strange,” he said. “The biggest difference between a Grandmaster and an Innate Martial Artist is that their fighting styles are entirely different.

“Innate combat relies on Qi and Blood, Techniques, and strength. Grandmaster combat relies on Rules, Heart Images, and the mobilization of the Power of Heaven and Earth.

“You haven’t come into contact with these things before, so of course you don’t know how to fight with them.”

He raised his right hand, palm facing up, and a wisp of pale red Flame rose from it. The Flame was very faint, so faint that it was almost transparent, but Xu Wuyi could clearly sense that the Energy contained within it far surpassed the full-strength strike of any Innate Martial Artist he had ever seen.