Chapter 1723 - 887: Tutoring Fee

The martial arts arena is merely a clearing in the deep mountains.

In fact, the entire densely vegetated, complex mountain terrain is part of the martial arts arena. After all, with projection skills' range, even if the clearing were the size of several soccer fields, it wouldn't be enough for full deployment.

This area is instead used for beginners to learn skills and a place for rest.

Under the scorching sun, a few kids are practicing the basics under the guidance of their uncles, while more children... are playing noisily.

In the shady shelter in the corner, there are still people playing games on their phones, with several large musical instrument boxes placed beside them.

Obviously, leisure and entertainment have not been set aside.

Now, seeing An Ran bringing Xiao An over, they showed no signs of tension, simply raising their heads to call out "Grandpa," without lifting their backsides at all.

On the contrary, those who remembered An Ran were more excited, exchanging greetings, squeezing over to pinch and rub him like he was everyone's favorite.

"Alright, what's with all the chatter?"

An Ding snorted, but there was no anger: "I told you kids to hone your basics properly, but you all made do with it. Today, let you see something impressive.

Spread out a bit, have a look at Ah Ran's skill."

Then he gave the young man a push forward.

Amidst the spreading crowd, originally shyly responding to relatives' teasing and greetings, An Ran bowed his head, drew his sword, and Li Hen lightly sounded, the lingering sound spreading out, causing a fine resonance. Many had things from their pockets making sounds, awkwardly smiling under An Ding's glare.

They couldn't even manage their own belongings, failed to hone their basic skills. The starting stance of Sword Sound shook them out.

If it came to a fight, fear was the sword qi would resonate in mid-air, shredding oneself with one's own weapon.

In past years, many were shattered by the Gu Family's starting thrust this way.

Now amidst lingering resonating echoes, An Ran thought briefly, poised his sword blade, and decisively thrust into the dense forest, instantly a pale aura pierced the void, a high-pitched ringing burst from the depths of the forest, faintly heard.

Amazement and comments erupted among all who watched.

The bell chime!

"Whoa!"

"Is that sword qi?"

"Sword qi can be projected?"

"Indeed, these years haven't been wasted with training!"

"The first shot aiming sixteen miles out?"

This was completely a practice and demonstration of projection skills, among the densely packed forest there were numerous markers, gongs, and large bells dispersed.

Children newly initiated practiced Shooting Ceremony here daily, so familiar with it all these years.

Thus they exclaimed in admiration—the bell sixteen miles away was set in a cave, having four bends, and the narrowest part was only thumb-width wide, always a key test question for Shooting Ceremony, a major scoring bonus.

Though An Ran had accomplished it at twelve, having so many years passed, using sword qi as such an unpredictable medium for projection, showed his foundations had never slackened.

After a small trial, the young man seemed relieved, gaining some confidence. Instantly Li Hen sounded brightly, Dragon Soaring Manipulation reappeared, sword qi surged forth like a tide.

Not a sound of tearing through the air, nor stirring a single breeze, condensed sword qi as fine as white silk swiftly sped away.

Mountains shook, creation rang.

The sound of bells, gongs, and drums was continuous, never ceasing, harmoniously arranged in size as if it were musical accompaniment.

"Oh wow, the child has grown." An De exclaimed excitedly, elbowing the brother beside him, this maneuver, back then, they performed for the kids to show off.

"Pity, the taste is lacking." An Neng nodded, listening to the sword chapter and commented: "It lacks punch; rock is better."

"Indeed."

The two brothers critiqued and looked forward in unison, patting the child's shoulder in front, gestured with their chin towards Xiao An in the field.

Immediately, the child understood, got excited, reached into his pocket, squeezed forward, and shouted, "Brother Ran, watch me!"

Next came a whistling across the sky.

Under the blazing sun, a sliver of light flashed, and a marble shot straight towards An Ran's face!

Sword qi surged.

An Ran smiled slightly, Li Hen's sword ridge subtly twisted, seamlessly catching the marble, swiveling on the sword ridge, it gently trembled, returned, and landed back in the child's hand.

Before that, he'd tapped the child's head.

In the midst of an "ouch," others laughed too, joining the fun, tossing their own marbles.

The dozen or so White Deer who had long mastered projection skills now released their marbles, like a rainstorm, trajectories constantly changing, arcs, straight lines, erratic jumps, oblique attacks...

Under the projection skill's amplification, initiating a siege through Shooting Ceremony, but instead of assault, it became assistance.

Under these external attacks and pressure, sword chapter's sound resounded even higher, the unstoppable sword qi blunted its edge, easily intercepting and rebounding the marbles that came.

Now everyone got serious.

Originally joining in as a joke, they unconsciously used real skills, finding they still couldn't apply any pressure, so began to go all out.

For a moment, the entire martial arts arena gleamed with marbles reflecting sunlight, like a storm, in constant collision, crystalline marbles coming and going.