Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 164 Showing Weakness to the Enemy, Drawing the Sword

In the following days, Lu Wubing remained calm and did not rush to reclaim the lost territory.

They completely ignored the goods that Yueyingtang had seized.

Instead, they withdrew their remaining manpower and focused solely on liquidating their assets and clearing out some of their shops. They released vague and misleading information about the transfer of shops and residences.

It's like someone who doesn't want to compete with others, but just wants to make a quick buck and leave.

Mingxin Hall.

In the back garden.

Cheng Liangyu thrust his sword again and again, his long sword initially lacking any particular technique, but inevitably carrying a bloody and murderous aura.

Gradually, perhaps influenced by Lu Wubing's calm attitude, her heart slowly calmed down.

He no longer thought about the great hatred caused by the deaths of his parents, nor about the foundation of the Mingxintang in Dongjun.

Once you cast aside all distracting thoughts, be sincere with the sword, and then be sincere with your heart.

Cheng Liangyu's talent for swordsmanship was well demonstrated.

In just three days, she had mastered the [Flowing Light Sword Style], a move at the Great Perfection level, to the point where she could respond to it at will.

Furthermore, by working backward, he fully comprehended and mastered his own set of Seven Kill Sword Techniques.

At the same time, within just three days, he forcibly advanced the [Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist] to the mastery level, increasing his strength by more than 800 jin, cleansing his blood and marrow, and making his body several times stronger.

Of course, the instantaneous power and speed of sword strikes have all improved rapidly.

The feeling of rapid improvement in martial arts and swordsmanship made Cheng Liangyu almost forget everything.

If it weren't for the occasional thought, a formidable enemy was still lurking on the side of Mingxin Hall.

She even hoped that this kind of life could continue forever... without paying any attention to the turmoil in the martial arts world.

But this is only a temporary respite.

"Young Sect Leader, will this really work?"

As he thrust out the final sword, Cheng Liangyu wiped the sweat from his forehead, closed his eyes, and felt a slight ache in his muscles and meridians. He knew that this was the end of his cultivation for today.

To further improve, one must cultivate inner strength.

She turned to look at her junior brother Lu, whose abilities she couldn't quite gauge, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

Because Lu Wubing's current posture is very strange. He is just holding the sword hilt, with his body slightly bent forward, like a stone statue.

He stood there for half an hour without drawing his sword, yet he felt as if he had already drawn a million swords.

"Of course it's useful. It's just a method to cultivate sword intent. It may look like I haven't drawn my sword, but in reality, I've already drawn many swords."

Lu Wubing laughed.

He didn't know how to explain the mysteries of the "Heart Sword" to Cheng Liangyu.

The final move of the Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon, "When Dragons Have No Leader, All Under Heaven Is Prosperous," attacks the enemy with mental power; the stronger the will, the stronger the attack.

This sword technique, known as the "Void-Breaking Sword Technique," was created by the Great Master Hanhai. Among divine skills and secret techniques, it is considered to be at the top level, naturally encompassing all aspects.

It has many amazing aspects in the integrated use of Qi, blood, vital energy, and spirit.

When one's understanding is still at a low level, one cannot discern much.

When one's skill reaches a high level, one's actions will be like divine miracles.

Sometimes, Lu Wubing would compare this sword technique with the [Ten Directions Seal] that he had obtained by chance.

It was discovered that, if we compare the levels of the two methods, the [Ten Directions Seal] is far superior.

This ancient seal, said to grant immortality, is like a key to the Dao, a back door.

It was as if it didn't belong to this world, it was incredibly mystical.

It can turn the impossible into the possible.

However, in a contest of conquest and warfare, the [Ten Directions Seal] may not necessarily be able to overwhelm the [Dragon Subduing Sword] under certain circumstances.

At least, having come into contact with two of the seal diagrams, he might not necessarily be able to completely suppress the Dragon-Subduing Sword.

For example, the body possesses boundless vitality.

However, if the Dragon-Subduing Sword strikes a vital point directly, it will instantly kill the victim.

What use is such a strong vitality then?
You can't just bleed yourself back to life, gather your vital energy, and then rebuild your physical body, can you?
Also, the character "影" (shadow) is printed on it.

Lu Wubing is currently unaware of the effects that a complete [Shadow] character seal, when refined to its ultimate form, would have.

They are mostly just using petty tricks like hiding themselves, creating clones, or taking someone else's place to escape.

The power displayed by the [Subduing Dragon Sword] inheritance was such that when that Taoist made a single sword strike, the void in all directions collapsed simultaneously.

Presumably, no matter how well one hides or how many tricks one uses, it's not guaranteed that one can avoid being harmed.

The technique is powerful.

But the strength lies with the individual...

Ultimately, one must still refine one's knowledge to its highest level, sword by sword.

Using the "Leaderless Dragons" sword technique, Lu Wubing gradually refined his Heart Sword to the level of sword intent, and with each strike, he made continuous progress, and a sense of enlightenment arose in his heart.

Cultivating martial arts and seeking the Dao also involves methods for achieving longevity, methods for protecting one's path, and of course, methods for avoiding calamities and disasters.

The more you know, the lower the probability of dying unexpectedly along the way.

I don't need to view some skills as too profound or mysterious, nor do I need to be too eager for them.

The Dragon-Subduing Sword is the foundation of protection, while the Ten Directions Seal is the opportunity for longevity.

Without protective measures, how can one obtain the opportunity for immortality? Even if one obtains it by chance, it will only lead to death.

Therefore, even though he knew that the Moon Shadow Hall might hold the true clues to the "Shadow" character seal, Lu Wubing endured it all the time.

He knew that those who truly possessed the original text, dared to pass it on to their disciples, and used it openly and legitimately were not afraid of being robbed.

My current strength is far from sufficient.

It's very likely that the other party is too lazy to pay attention to them, or more likely, they are worried about something and dare not show themselves.

However, it's always better to be cautious than to be careless.

"Even if you had taken back Mingxintang and reopened the dock business, as well as dozens of shops and shell farms, with your previous strength, you still wouldn't have been able to protect it."

Now that his physique has improved and his swordsmanship has advanced, he can only protect himself. He is still a bit short of the skill to protect the foundation of Dongjun.

The fact that they couldn't find any trace of the goods was actually expected. Because, apart from the remaining forces of Mingxin Hall, the entire Dongjun was helping the Zhu family. They were underestimating us.

Why underestimate them? Because whether it was the government, the Zhu family, or even the people from the sea, they all felt that even if we brought back some things, we wouldn't be able to establish a firm foothold; in the end, it would all be a wasted effort.”

Lu Wubing spoke very bluntly and didn't give Cheng Liangyu any face.

In fact, saving face is the most useless thing.

The reality is that with the incident involving Uncle Cheng Lin and his wife, Mingxintang has turned a new page and will never regain its former glory.

Even if Zhu Ling is eliminated and the claws extended by the Zhu family are severed, the damage caused will not be recovered in a short time.

This involves not only the shrinking of territory and the loss of experts within the hall, but also the changing sentiments among various factions within the city.

When everyone thought that Mingxintang was no longer qualified to share the spoils, the establishment, though still existing, was essentially extinct.

As for the Tianxing Sect, everyone knows that this once leading sect among the Three Divine Peaks has now declined drastically.

Even if they could defend themselves, that would be the best they could do. Sending more forces to other locations would be futile. Forget about having enough manpower; even if they did, their strength wouldn't be enough. Sending them would be like throwing good money after bad.

Such a situation cannot be changed by whether one puts in effort or not.

It's a practical problem.

"Please teach me, young sect leader!"

Cheng Liangyu's tall figure leaned slightly forward, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of pleading.

Only then did it become clear that she did not belong to the category of barren land; the peaks and valleys were usually just tied up with strips of cloth to avoid affecting her swordplay.

In fact, she has extremely substantial assets.

Even if she stood next to her seventh senior sister, she would be a match for her.

Lu Wubing's eyes were slightly dazed.

If the disciples on Tianxing Peak were around, they would never have imagined that the valiant woman who could eloquently debate and display such powerful swordsmanship in the main hall of Tianxing Palace would have such a pitiful and adorable side.

"Aren't we already doing it? Some things are extremely difficult to push for or find on your own."

But if the other party is determined to come to us, things become much simpler.” Lu Wubing, confident in his abilities, smiled and said, “Senior Sister, guess who would be the most anxious if we sold off our assets in Dongjun and moved everything to Mingyang, leaving this mess behind?”

"The Zhu family?" Cheng Liangyu asked uncertainly.

"It is indeed the Zhu family."

Lu Wubing said confidently, "Their family finally managed to place a piece in Dongjun, and it was the perfect time to reap the rewards. But unexpectedly, we ruined it."

"If they don't seize back Mingxin Hall and avenge themselves, what right do they have to establish themselves in Dongjun? Under what pretext can they snatch food from the mouth of the prefectural government?"

"Wasn't Zhu Ling dead?"

Cheng Liangyu knew better than anyone how that poisonous woman died, how tragically she died, and whether she regretted it and begged for mercy. She did it herself.

Without Zhu Ling, she couldn't think of any excuse the Zhu family could use to interfere in Dongjun's business. Even if the Zhu family regained control of Mingxintang, no one would accept it.

"Whether she lives or dies is entirely up to them. They can send any woman they want, and she could be Zhu Ling. What they need isn't a living concubine's daughter, but prestige."

Lu Wubing raised an eyebrow: "If we can make a name for ourselves and gain a reputation, even without Zhu Ling, the Zhu family should still have a place."

If we just stand by and watch all of us move away, even if the Zhu family manages to take away a lot of wealth, they will be seen as having fled in disgrace.

Given Zhu Yuanqing's arrogant nature, how could he possibly tolerate such humiliation?

"Therefore, instead of hiding deeper, they will deliberately expose themselves to lure us in. Then they will surround and kill us in one fell swoop, making a name for themselves and establishing their prestige."

Cheng Liangyu was quick-witted and understood the intricacies of the situation immediately.

If our side rushes to attack, we will be led by the nose. In Dongjun, we may not even be able to catch a glimpse of the enemy, let alone reclaim the goods.

Because the other party has too many people helping them.

But if they show weakness, it will appear that they want to leave early and don't want to fight with them in Dongjun. This would put the Zhu family in a difficult position.

Their thoughts weren't about protecting their wealth; they were about eliminating all of them and reclaiming Mingxintang.

Understanding the changes in people's hearts may seem simple, but it involved accurately judging the nature of Zhu Yuanqing, the second young master of the Zhu family, and forcing him to take action.

This saves a lot of trouble.

The other party wants to establish their authority, gain a foothold, and make a name for themselves...

And isn't the same true for myself?

One enemy after another, one battle after another, if this continues, even the mighty Tianxing Sect will not be able to defeat them all.

Reputation is the most powerful weapon.

The true path to victory lies in making the places where the Heavenly Star Sect goes so far that no one dares to offend them and they have to give way.

So this was the real reason why Junior Brother Lu instructed them to shrink their forces and sell off assets.

"Junior brother, I have indeed received the news." At the garden archway, Seventh Senior Sister Lin Wenjing rushed back, looking travel-worn.

With a leap and a light step, his tall figure floated like a falling leaf in front of Lu Wubing, his aura subtly surging, and he could hardly contain the joy between his brows.

"Seventh Senior Sister, you've broken through to the sixth rank."

Before Lu Wubing could speak, Cheng Liangyu had already noticed something was wrong. Although he had only broken through a small realm, the aura emanating from his body was continuous and coherent.

It possesses not only a fierce and powerful sharpness, but also a gentle softness like spring water.

The sixth rank, which connects ten meridians, is only one meridian more than the seventh rank, which connects nine meridians. Yet, it is the dividing line between the third and second rank in the martial arts world.

When one reaches the seventh rank, no matter how much one trains their internal energy, it cannot be unified and circulated continuously.

Once you reach the sixth rank, you can circulate the microcosmic orbit continuously.

Putting aside the question of how much internal energy has increased, the ability to sustain combat is much stronger.

In particular, Lin Wenjing's external martial arts training has gradually reached a high level, and she has mastered the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist extremely well. Her blood and qi have begun to flow through her internal organs, and her external martial arts skills are almost comparable to those of a fifth-grade external martial arts master.

With the combined power of internal and external forces, its power level is comparable to that of a fourth-rank official.

This is just basic skill; it doesn't even include her lightness skill and swordsmanship.

If we include the [Flowing Light Sword Style] at the Great Completion stage and the [Opening Yang Sword Style] at the Proficiency stage, even against a top-tier expert, it's not impossible to fight to the death.

Therefore, people in the martial arts world generally cannot determine the strength of others unless they have actually fought them.

Whether someone is good or not depends on their reputation.

There is no false person under the great reputation.

If someone has a great reputation and is still able to survive being beaten to death, then even a low-ranking martial artist cannot afford to underestimate them.

Lin Wenjing smiled so hard her eyes narrowed; she was clearly in a very good mood.

She has more than just broken through to the sixth rank of internal strength.

With the help of the Blood Coral, his external martial arts skills have also been greatly improved.

Especially the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist; this morning during practice, I was even able to feel my tendons and bones resonate in unison…

Although it was just one sound, it signified stepping into a new level.

She has now mastered all twenty-four major tendons and all two hundred and six bones, and can control them all.

Once you get used to this feeling, you can quickly master this set of boxing techniques.

At that time, it will benefit itself and increase its strength by 1,500 jin.

In terms of fundamental skills, he was on par with Cheng Liangyu, and even slightly better.

"I wonder how far Junior Sister Xiaolan has progressed. She'll definitely be in for a surprise when we get back!"

Thinking of blood jade coral.

Lin Wenjing felt a pang of regret, and her envy for the treasures that the Zhu family had snatched away grew even stronger.

The Heavenly Star Sect has always been poor.

Such treasures for enhancing cultivation and increasing power are something they can't even see on a normal day, let alone have enough of.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Star Sect may lack other things, but it has a lot of top-tier cultivation techniques.

If it weren't for the fact that he was far superior to others in terms of martial arts techniques and swordsmanship.

If they were simply outmatched in resources, they would probably have fallen far behind and been wiped out long ago.

……

That evening.

Lu Wubing, Cheng Liangyu, and Lin Wenjing stood at the foot of a low hill outside the West Gate.

As the sun sets in the west, the sky gradually darkens.

In the distance, figures rushed over at high speed.

"Yang Tong of the Fierce Tiger Hall pays respects to the young sect leader."

"Chen Rong of the Fierce Tiger Hall greets the Young Master."

"Wang Qishan of Jinyutang greets the young sect leader..."

"Jin Yutang Ling Tong greets the young sect leader."

"Zheng Yuanbin from Wangtianya greets the young sect leader."

"Dong Fang from Wangtianya pays his respects..."

"..."

Figures surged and converged from all directions, their footsteps treading silently on the grass. Each carried a knife or spear, and a longsword on their back. All of them exuded a chilling aura and a surging killing intent.

A total of thirty-six people arrived.

They are all elite disciples who have mastered the Great Perfection Sword Style [Flowing Light Sword Style], reached the proficiency level of [Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist], and whose internal strength cultivation has reached the seventh rank or above. They can fight against first-class masters in a short period of time.

Lu Wubing pressed his palm down to stop his brothers from making a fuss, and said with a smile: "This time, you came quietly by land or water, and you may think that you are hiding in Dongjun as spies to catch others off guard."

No, from this day forward, our Heavenly Star Sect will no longer need to hide or resort to sneak attacks. We will only need to raise an army in a righteous and honorable manner to terrify the villains of all directions.

Tonight is the day our Heavenly Star Sect will draw its sword. From tonight until tomorrow morning, you may make your move. I want only one voice in Dongjun, and that voice is mine.

"kill……"

The thirty-six men roared in unison, their voices echoing across the wilderness.

……

(End of this chapter)