Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 280 Sword Contest: Squeezing the Old Bones of Feng Qingyang Dry!
"Master Li, I have a favor to ask!"

"Want to duel me?"

"The Huashan Sect is the leader of the seven major sword sects. Huashan martial arts are mainly based on the sword. I have been practicing swordsmanship since childhood and have some understanding of swordsmanship. I would like to ask Master Li to give me some pointers."

"of course can!"

As they were talking, the group arrived at the summit of Mount Hua. There was a large open space around them, which could be used as a martial arts arena. Li Zhaoting looked around and found a large tree.

Li Zhaoting reached out and broke off two thick branches from the tree, twisting them into two three-foot-long wooden swords.

He Yuntian took the wooden sword, his face full of surprise.

Turning tree branches into wooden swords is nothing new; it's just a simple application of sword energy, something He Yuntian can do too.

What's astonishing is that Li Zhaoting could tell from just a glance his height, arm span, internal strength foundation, and martial arts style, and that the wooden sword was the perfect fit.

In other words, before the sword fight, He Yuntian was completely seen through by Li Zhaoting, including his concealment of his true abilities.

A mere wooden sword could make over 90% of swordsmen lose their will to fight. He Yuntian gritted his teeth; he was a ruthless and ambitious man, best at facing challenges head-on.

The more skilled you are, the more motivated you become.

What's the point of challenging someone who's a beginner?
What kind of martial arts hero is he if he doesn't have the courage to draw his sword against the strong? What makes him worthy of becoming the leader of the martial arts alliance?
He Yuntian said in a deep voice, "Hero Li, my swordsmanship is far inferior to yours, and I do not know the Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng. This battle is only for friendly sparring. Do not underestimate the Huashan swordsmanship."

How could I underestimate the leader of the sword sect?

"Please enlighten me, Master Li!"

He Yuntian held his sword horizontally across his chest, his left hand forming a sword gesture, while his right hand held the sword as if he were writing. This move is "Poetry and Sword Gathering" from the Huashan beginner sword techniques.

When the Huashan Sect spars with fellow martial artists, they need to use this move as their starting stance to show respect. Literati exchange verses and poems when making friends, while martial artists exchange skills when making friends.

Prestigious sects all have similar tactics. The martial world is not just about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social interactions. Lowering one's posture can help increase the chances of survival.

With a sudden thought, Li Zhaoting responded with a move called "All nations look up to the Zhou dynasty, and officials bow before the emperor's crown," a move from Tang poetry swordplay specifically used for martial arts sparring.

When they were vying for the Liancheng Treasure, Li Zhaoting watched Wan Zhenshan's disciple practice swordsmanship and memorized the moves.

He Yuntian took a deep breath, changed his footwork, and thrust his longsword straight into the center of the sword. The tip of the sword trembled incessantly, and then suddenly rose upwards halfway through the sword's flight, appearing and disappearing in an unpredictable manner.

He Yuntian hadn't been a student for very long. Chaoyang Peak emphasized internal strength and didn't have many sword techniques; he only learned four sets of sword techniques. However, he was exceptionally talented and mastered the Huashan beginner sword techniques to perfection.

The debate over swordsmanship and internal energy cultivation at Mount Hua is pure nonsense. Nominally, it's about philosophies, whether to practice swordsmanship or internal energy cultivation. In reality, it's about the deep-seated internal conflicts within Mount Hua, where the contradictions between the five peaks and five lineages can't be suppressed and a catalyst is needed.

The Sunflower Manual was the trigger.

The two sides used this as a pretext to engage in a fierce battle.

Do disciples of the Qi Sect not practice swordsmanship?

Do Sword Sect disciples not practice internal energy cultivation?

In the original storyline, when Feng Buping went to Mount Hua, he was ridiculed by Ding Mian for his profound internal strength as the Sword Sect's senior uncle and his superb swordsmanship as the Qi Sect's junior nephew, which shows that they themselves did not acknowledge it.

In the art of martial arts, a solid foundation is paramount.

Both internal energy cultivation and sword practice require a solid foundation.

He Yuntian understood this principle clearly from the moment he first picked up the sword. Unfortunately, while Mount Hua possessed unparalleled swordsmanship, it lacked exceptional internal strength.

It's not too difficult to accumulate seniority through the "Purple Cloud Divine Skill" and become an octogenarian or even a centenarian immortal. However, it seems a bit too sluggish to compete with martial arts masters in one's thirties or forties.

From a combat perspective, it is not as good as the "Hun Yuan Gong" passed down by Mu Renqing's lineage. This method cultivates internal strength from the outside in, with true qi circulating throughout the body. There is no danger of qi deviation or demonic possession, and every move is imbued with internal strength.

He Yuntian was determined to become the sect leader and paid attention to the unique skills of each sect. He could not be said to have stolen them, but he knew the martial arts philosophy of the five peaks and five sects very well.

The most beautiful scenery of Mount Hua lies in its "uniqueness and danger," and so does the martial arts of Mount Hua. The swordsmanship is extraordinary and elegant, and the fist and foot techniques are full of strange peaks and peaks, which is exactly what makes it possible to win by surprise and seek victory in danger.

Facing a top figure like Li Zhaoting, He Yuntian dared not hold back in the slightest, nor did he dare to conceal his true abilities. With a few strokes of his sword, more than a dozen sword techniques were linked together.

White clouds emerge from the mountain peaks, phoenixes arrive in auspicious ceremonies, gold and jade fill the hall, a celestial official hangs upside down, a white rainbow pierces the sun, golden geese fly across the sky, endless falling leaves, faintly visible green mountains, ancient cypress trees stand tall...

He Yuntian's swordsmanship was unparalleled, and his movements were even more agile and elegant, like two swallows dancing among the willows in spring, flitting about, turning and twirling as he pleased.

Li Zhaoting countered each move with unrestrained and free-flowing attacks, not in a hurry to defeat He Yuntian, but letting He Yuntian display his swordsmanship. Once he sensed that He Yuntian was slacking off, he would increase his strength by two points.

Such an opportunity is something that He Yuntian could not possibly obtain.

Yue Buqun has no talent for teaching, does not know how to teach according to aptitude, and does not know how to discover the strengths and talents of his disciples. This is the first time that He Yuntian has encountered a master who can accurately stop his progress in martial arts.

For every increase in the power of He Yuntian's sword technique, the pressure exerted by Li Zhaoting also increased, as if a vicious dog was placed behind He Yuntian, forcing him to squeeze out his potential and run forward without stopping for even a moment.

He Yuntian was initially terrified. Li Zhaoting's martial arts were so superb, how could he possibly compete with him? But then he calmed down. The difference in their martial arts skills was too great. Li Zhaoting could kill him ten times with one sword. He didn't need to worry about his safety. If Li Zhaoting wanted to kill someone, he would definitely not survive.

Instead of worrying unnecessarily, let's enjoy the battle.

What is a hero?

In the face of great storms, we dare to fight and gamble, betting our lives, seizing every opportunity, and executing decisively without hesitation.

He Yuntian is that kind of person.

When he disregarded life and death and immersed himself wholeheartedly in swordsmanship, he heard the guidance of a reclusive master, which seemed to be a wonderful sword manual.

He Yuntian was completely absorbed in the sword, except for the mysterious sword incantation he could hear. All his senses, attention, and spirit were completely immersed in the sword.

Under Li Zhaoting's terrifying pressure, He Yuntian quickly transformed his foundation, sword techniques, spiritual insights, and potential into exquisite sword moves, enabling him to counter Li Zhaoting's attacks head-on.

The swordsmanship was sometimes chaotic and disorderly, sometimes exquisite and varied, sometimes gentle as a breeze, sometimes as sudden as thunder and lightning. Every sword was aimed at Li Zhaoting's vital points, cutting through the gaps in the sword energy and breaking Li Zhaoting's sword moves.

Dugu Nine Swords - Breaking Sword Style!
A smile appeared on Li Zhaoting's lips!
I knew you old codger wouldn't be able to resist!

If any other swordsman went to Mount Hua, Feng Qingyang would never show up unless he completely wiped out the entire Mount Hua sect. Li Zhaoting was the only exception.

Li Zhaoting's sword is the Purple Rose Soft Sword!
Dugu Qiubai's sword!
Legend has it that the power unleashed by the Purple Star Soft Sword in Li Zhaoting's hands surpasses that of Dugu Qiubai!

Feng Qingyang had diligently practiced the Dugu Nine Swords for fifty years and revered Dugu Qiubai as a god. He had always scoffed at such rumors and didn't need to say anything since he hadn't met him. But since Li Zhaoting had come to Mount Hua, he was determined to learn a few moves from him.

Feng Qingyang secretly instructed He Yuntian, while Li Zhaoting continuously applied pressure. He Yuntian was completely absorbed in his work. Due to the intense circulation of his true energy, his physical strength was depleted too quickly, and milky white mist emanated from his body, causing his skin to turn bright red.

"Whoosh!"

The sword in He Yuntian's hand flew into the air.

He Yuntian trembled twice and collapsed to the ground.

He wasn't injured, just exhausted, like someone who had just finished a marathon and had no energy left.

"Snapped!"

Feng Qingyang leaped forward and caught the sword.

Li Zhaoting laughed and said, "Senior Feng, you've been watching here for so long, you finally couldn't resist anymore!"

"You can sense my aura?"

"In my senses, your energy is like a light in the night sky; it's impossible not to see it!"

"Is my concealment technique really that bad?"

Feng Qingyang's face was full of black lines. "I have lived in seclusion on Mount Hua for more than 30 years, and no one has discovered me. You say I am a beacon in the night sky? Are you looking down on the disciples of Mount Hua, or are you mocking my crude concealment technique? What a bastard!" "I can sense your sword energy."

"I presume you know the reason."

"Of course!"

"Draw your sword!"

"I can't pull it out!"

"why?"

"Because you are not a criminal, the Purple Star Soft Sword only kills evil people, and never indiscriminately kills the innocent!"

"That's it! That's it!"

Feng Qingyang, being the man he was, immediately understood the origin of the rumors in the martial arts world. It was said that Dugu Qiubai had accidentally injured a righteous man with the Ziwei Soft Sword, leaving him with psychological trauma. He then abandoned the Ziwei Soft Sword in a deep valley. Li Zhaoting, with his righteous spirit, subdued the sword and transformed it into a divine weapon that upheld justice and protected the righteous path.

In terms of martial arts skills, Li Zhaoting is far inferior to Dugu Qiubai. However, the slogan "The righteous path of the martial world will not prevail over evil" seems cliché and makes people feel naive. But if the martial world is not naive, can it still be called a martial arts world?

Good will always triumph over evil. That's why the Spirit Finger can catch all divine weapons, Chu Liuxiang has earned the reputation of being invincible, and Li Xunhuan's flying knives never miss their mark!

Lu Xiaofeng, Chu Liuxiang, and Li Xunhuan represent the righteous path of the martial arts world, which is why they are invincible.

"Since that's the case, there's no need for a sword fight..."

"No! We're already here!"

There are several four-character phrases in Chinese culture that are unparalleled.

Since we're already here, during the New Year, and we're all friends, he was just a child, and now he's dead...

It is very difficult for ordinary people to overcome these "curses".

Feng Qingyang certainly couldn't do that either.

Feng Qingyang is a man who cares about his reputation.

Extremely concerned about saving face!

Feng Qingyang waved the wooden sword, trimming the blade an inch off, signaling to Li Zhaoting that he could make his move.

Li Zhaoting slumped off his horse, made a sword gesture with his left hand near his ear, and pointed his sword at Feng Qingyang with his right hand. His whole body was filled with sword intent, yet he did not unleash it, which carried a sharp aura.

Feng Qingyang felt a stinging pain on his face. Knowing that Li Zhaoting's swordsmanship was superb, he dared not be careless. He held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, his left hand forming a sword shape with his fingers together, and his feet were neither too far apart nor too far apart.

"laugh!"

Li Zhaoting swung his sword and thrust it towards Feng Qingyang's shoulder!

The Nine Swords of Dugu emphasizes foundation, enlightenment, and experience.

Feng Qingyang, now in his seventies or eighties, had been framed and depressed for decades. He had long lost the passion of his youth and could no longer use his unrestrained, elusive, and swift swordsmanship. However, after decades of refinement, he was like a bottle of aged wine, with a continuous and inexhaustible power, and his experience was extremely rich.

In terms of techniques, Feng Qingyang's understanding of techniques may not be the best in the world, but he is definitely among the top five. He is especially good at countering other people's moves.

No matter how ingenious the move, a single swing of the sword can effortlessly neutralize it, without the user moving an inch.

However, faced with Li Zhaoting's sword, Feng Qingyang had no choice but to retreat. Even though he had mastered the Dugu Nine Swords to perfection and his moves were exquisite and unparalleled, he still had to take several steps back and dodge the sharp edge of Li Zhaoting's magnificent and ethereal sword moves.

Because this sword strike was... a celestial being descending from the heavens!
The pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Li Zhaoting and Ye Gucheng clashed head-on, and based on their experience, Li Zhaoting could mimic 80% of the power of Ye Gucheng's attack.

It is formed before the move is made, and its spirit remains after the move is made. It uses the ultimate hardness to achieve the ultimate softness, and the unchanging to achieve countless changes. It rides the wind and returns to heaven, ascending to immortality.

Feng Qingyang had never seen such a wonderful move before. He was forced back three steps by the sword. He then raised his hand and thrust it towards Li Zhaoting's armpit, where he had an opening. Li Zhaoting withdrew his sword and slashed down with his wooden sword, which brought down with unparalleled power.

Feng Qingyang's skill, techniques, experience, and eyesight were superior to Li Zhaoting's, but he was nearly eighty years old and had been depressed for more than thirty years, which severely damaged his vitality. Li Zhaoting, on the other hand, had practiced the Longevity Formula and was strong, healthy, and had abundant blood and energy.

A heavy sword has no edge, and great skill has no workmanship!
No matter how exquisite the moves or how varied the sword techniques, if the foundation is even slightly weaker, it will be instantly split in two when faced with a heavy blow that strikes head-on.

In martial arts competitions, one must employ both orthodox and unorthodox methods to achieve victory.

The essence can be summed up in just four words: Play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses!
By combining all your strengths, even the smallest ones, you can create a mighty river that can overwhelm any formidable enemy.

Feng Qingyang swung his sword horizontally, the wooden sword lightly piercing towards Li Zhaoting's lower abdomen. Before Li Zhaoting could change his move, the sword changed from a straight thrust to an upward slash, aiming for Li Zhaoting's chin.

The two attacked each other, sword to sword, exchanging seventy or eighty blows in an instant. Li Zhaoting relied on his youth and strength to launch every attack, while Feng Qingyang remained as steady as a mountain, his wooden sword as skillful as a butcher dissecting an ox. No matter how Li Zhaoting changed his moves, he could always find an opening and strike a vital point.

Such opponents cannot be held back.

Li Zhaoting unleashed all his life's skills in succession, his swordplay sometimes like lotus leaves dancing in the wind, sometimes like a thousand acres of green bamboo, sometimes like the all-encompassing light of Buddha, sometimes like the Tai Chi circle, sometimes like the mutual generation and restraint of the five elements, and sometimes like drinking ten catties of wine.

Fast sword, slow sword, hard sword, soft sword, Buddhist sword, Taoist sword, righteous sword, evil sword, drunken sword...

Stepping on empty air, the steps are intoxicating, but the form remains so!
Li Zhaoting staggered, his wooden sword slanting crookedly, a three-inch blue light flashing from its tip, resembling a drunkard throwing a tantrum, yet also the ferocity of a tiger descending a mountain.

A drunken tiger gallops down the mountain to capture jackals!
As he staggered in his drunken stupor, Li Zhaoting flicked his left finger and suddenly spun around, slashing backward. His sword strike was like a raging dragon swinging its tail, and the green light of the sword tip scattered into hundreds of sword energies, as fine as rain.

Feng Qingyang frowned slightly, waved his hand to break the move, and lightly pointed his wooden sword at Li Zhaoting's wrist pulse point. Li Zhaoting's wrist suddenly turned, and the sword's momentum was heavy, like a black tortoise.

The Drunken Divine Turtle, its iron hooves shaking the universe, roars proudly!
They compete in swordsmanship, skill, willpower, and fighting spirit!

Li Zhaoting seemed to have grown seven or eight arms, his swordsmanship becoming faster and faster, more and more elegant, yet not at all scattered. Instead, it had a sense of all-encompassing and fused together, making Feng Qingyang increasingly troubled.

What kind of swordsmanship is this?
Where did Li Zhaoting come from, this monster?

Feng Qingyang practiced swordsmanship for decades, perfecting the Breaking Sword Style to its peak. Although it could break through all kinds of sword moves, the desire to strike first after being attacked later would greatly deplete his energy and spirit.

Why do you think you can be faster than me?

If you're not fast enough, how can you overtake others even if you start late?

The Dugu Nine Swords are essentially fast sword techniques.

Only by being fast enough can one strike first when facing any enemy, and effortlessly deflect their attacks.

Li Zhaoting exclaimed that it was exhilarating.

Starting last autumn, after six months of seclusion, Li Zhaoting combined his many adventures over the past two years to reorganize his swordsmanship system. He fused various sword techniques into one, incorporating the martial arts philosophy of the Eight Swords Flying Together of the Famous Sword Manor and the Plum Blossom Hand of the Free and Unfettered Sect. When fighting with others, especially when comparing techniques, he can assimilate the enemy's moves.

It's not about stealing knowledge, it's about assimilation!

Integrate the essence of the enemy's swordsmanship into your own system.

The universe is imperfect, and so can any technique.

Li Zhaoting's swordsmanship was so advanced that Feng Suzhen and others found it difficult to offer accurate advice until they met Feng Qingyang, who could identify any sword technique.

Once found, Li Zhaoting could modify, improve, conceal, and design it in various ways.

Before they knew it, Li Zhaoting and Feng Qingyang had exchanged more than four hundred moves. Li Zhaoting's swordsmanship became more and more exquisite and harmonious. Feng Qingyang felt that the value of his old bones had been completely squeezed out by Li Zhaoting, leaving not a single bit.

Feng Qingyang underestimated Li Zhaoting.

Why would Li Zhaoting be so polite?

Extracting the marrow from the bones is the true path to victory!
(End of this chapter)