Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

The group arrived at the martial arts training ground in the backyard of the Guo residence.

The area is spacious with a solid ground, and the weapon racks are fully stocked with knives, spears, swords, and halberds.

Although it was already dark, several torches had been lit around the area, illuminating the scene.

Besides them, some guards from the manor and martial arts friends who had heard the news also gathered around.

I'd like to see a contest between Master Guo's disciples and Chief Huang's newly accepted esteemed apprentice.

Guo Fu stayed close to Yang Guo and whispered, "Brother Yang, be careful. Da Wu and Xiao Wu have been practicing very hard these past two years, and Father often praises their rapid progress."

Yang Guo smiled gently at her: "Don't worry."

In the arena, Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen stood side by side.

Wu Dunru said, "Brother Yang, my brother and I have always stood together through thick and thin, including when we spar. You may choose a weapon."

Yang Guo shook his head, walked to the weapon rack at the side of the field, took out the most ordinary wooden sword, and casually twirled it: "This will do. Please, my two martial brothers."

Seeing his arrogance, Da Wu and Xiao Wu became even more furious.

The two exchanged a glance, and a tacit understanding arose instantly. With a clang, they simultaneously drew their fine steel longswords from their waists.

Under Guo Jing's guidance over the past two years, they have focused on the combined attack techniques of the Quanzhen Swordplay, confident that their skillful coordination will greatly increase their power.

"Excuse me!" Wu Xiuwen launched the first attack, thrusting his sword straight at Yang Guo's face with swiftness.

Wu Dunru slid out to the side almost simultaneously, his longsword slashing towards Yang Guo's ribs. The two worked closely together, one facing forward and the other to the side.

A murmur rippled through the crowd, all recognizing the ruthless skill and mastery of Da Wu's swordsmanship, displaying the demeanor of a renowned master. He truly lived up to being a disciple of Master Guo.

Yang Guo remained unmoved, until the sword tip was almost upon him.

With a slight misstep, his body swayed gently like a willow catkin in the wind.

In the nick of time, he slipped through the gap between the two swords, and with a flick of his wooden sword, casually struck the spine of Wu Xiuwen's sword.

With a soft "ding," Wu Xiuwen felt a gentle yet irresistible force come from him. His wrist went sore, and he almost dropped his longsword. His forward momentum was also slowed down.

Yang Guo used this momentum to turn his wooden sword around and lightly deflect Wu Dunru's slash.

Between two moves, the offensive and defensive positions shifted. Yang Guo's agility and precise timing impressed the onlookers.

Huang Rong nodded slightly, while Guo Jing let out a soft "Eh," his eyes revealing appreciation.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu felt a chill run down their spines. They abandoned their underestimation of their opponent, unfurled their longswords, and unleashed the Quanzhen Sword Technique in rapid succession, one move after another, surging towards Yang Guo like a mighty river.

The two worked together more and more closely, their swords flashing, enveloping Yang Guo.

Yang Guo continued to defend without attacking. His wooden sword seemed to move slowly, but it always appeared at the most crucial moment, deflecting Da Wu and Xiao Wu's fierce attacks one by one.

His footwork was exquisite, always shifting and dodging within a small space, his figure elusive, so much so that Da Wu and Xiao Wu couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

What's even more surprising is that his moves clearly bear traces of Peach Blossom Island martial arts.

The agility of the Ling'ao Step, the meticulous and skillful Yuxiao Sword Technique, and the occasional incorporation of the palm shadow of the Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm into the sword moves, all kept the power within the range expected of a "second-rate master." However, the ease and composure with which he handled the task with ease were far beyond what ordinary second-rate masters could match.

In the blink of an eye, more than thirty moves had passed, and Da Wu and Xiao Wu were already panting and sweating on their foreheads.

Although their attacks were fierce, they seemed to be stuck in a quagmire, with nowhere to put their strength. Instead, they were led by the rhythm of the opponent, which was extremely uncomfortable.

In contrast, Yang Guo remained calm and composed, wielding his wooden sword with ease.

"Be careful, brothers, I'm about to make my move," Yang Guo suddenly said, his voice clear and bright.

Before he finished speaking, his wooden sword suddenly accelerated, drawing an arc to guide Wu Dunru's longsword toward the outer gate. At the same time, his left palm struck out silently, a move from the Falling Blossom Divine Sword Palm called "Falling Blossoms." The palm shadow seemed gentle, but it instantly covered several major acupoints on Wu Xiuwen's upper body.

Wu Xiuwen was shocked and hurriedly parried with his sword, but he found it difficult to distinguish between the real and illusory palm shadows in front of him.

At that moment, Yang Guo lured away Wu Dunru's wooden sword and then dragged it back, the tip of the sword emerging like a serpent from its hole, swiftly striking Wu Xiuwen's wrist.

Wu Xiuwen's wrist went numb, and his longsword clattered to the ground.

Almost simultaneously, Yang Guo's left palm, which was about to strike Wu Xiuwen, suddenly changed its move, turning the palm into a finger. In the instant before Wu Dunru could react in time, Yang Guo gently brushed his Jianjing acupoint.

Wu Dunru felt a numbness in half of his body, his movements froze, and his longsword stopped in mid-air.

The room fell silent instantly.

Yang Guo sheathed his sword and stepped back, cupping his hands in greeting, saying, "You flatter me."

The torchlight flickered, illuminating his calm face and the ordinary wooden sword in his hand.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu stood frozen in place, one without a sword in his hand, the other in a stiff posture, their faces filled with disbelief, shock, and shame.

They had trained hard for many years and had Guo Jing personally guide them, so how could they have been so easily defeated by these "disciples of Peach Blossom Island"?

Moreover, the defeat... seemed dangerous, but in reality, the opponent hadn't even gone all out!

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in gasps and discussions.

"What superb skills! The martial arts of Peach Blossom Island are indeed exquisite!"

"He handles heavy tasks with ease and grace; this child is exceptionally talented!"

"Guo Jing's two disciples are not weak either, but Yang Guo is even better!"

Guo Jing was first taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Good! Guo'er, your skills have truly been passed down from Rong'er! Light, agile, and skillful, you have deeply grasped the essence of Peach Blossom Island's martial arts! Good!"

He looked at Huang Rong, his eyes filled with admiration and a hint of "you really taught her well."

Huang Rong breathed a sigh of relief. Yang Guo had done just the right thing, demonstrating his strength without revealing it too much.

She smiled slightly and said to the martial arts students, "Dunru and Xiuwen, you have both made great progress, and your swordsmanship is now quite skillful. However, Guo'er has a deeper understanding of the variations in moves, and his use of internal energy is more fluid. You still need to practice diligently in the future."

Da Wu and Xiao Wu blushed, lowered their heads to pick up the longsword, and said in a muffled voice, "Yes, Master's wife (Master's wife)."

He then reluctantly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Guo, saying, "Brother Yang, your martial arts are superb, I admire you."

The resentment in his tone was hard to conceal.

Although Ke Zhen'e was blind, he could sense the wind and position himself, and was fully aware of the situation. At this moment, he nodded slightly and gave a rare comment: "The kid's skills are quite solid. He hasn't disgraced Peach Blossom Island."

Guo Fu had already run happily to Yang Guo's side, her eyes full of admiration: "Brother Yang, you're amazing!"

Yang Guo smiled at her, then bowed to Guo Jing and Huang Rong: "Uncle Guo, Master Gan, I was lucky enough to win by a move or two, all thanks to Master Gan's excellent teaching."

Guo Jing was increasingly pleased with Yang Guo, patting him on the shoulder: "Guo'er, no need to be so modest! You're very good! From now on, settle down in Xiangyang with peace of mind. If you need anything, just ask!"

A competition subtly changed everyone in the mansion's opinion of Yang Guo.

At least on the surface, he earned basic respect and status by virtue of his "top-tier second-rate" skills.

It was already late.

The group then dispersed to rest.

Yang Guo returned to his room.

He then fetched water to take a bath.

We've been traveling for several days now.

I can finally get a good night's sleep today!

Unfortunately, in the Guo family mansion, if one wanted to cultivate with Aunt Guo again...

The opportunities are far fewer compared to Peach Blossom Island!

While he was taking a shower, his bedroom door was suddenly pushed open forcefully!

This startled Yang Guo!

Who could it be so late at night?