From the Qin Dynasty onwards, he eked out a living among the heavens.

Chapter Six: The Test

He slept soundly through the night until dawn the next day.

The morning mist, thin as gauze, enveloped the entire Zilan Pavilion. Dew from the previous night still clung to the eaves. The courtyard was quiet and deserted, with only a cool morning breeze passing through the corridors and courtyards, rustling the plants and trees.

After getting up in the morning, Xu Huang did not stay in the guest room to rest, but strolled alone to the empty courtyard in the backyard of Zilan Pavilion.

The courtyard is spacious and flat with bluestone, surrounded by flowers and trees, and the morning air is fresh and clean, making it the perfect place for quiet rest and practice.

He stood upright in the courtyard, slowly regulated his breathing, and then began to practice his fist techniques.

The set of boxing techniques, when unfolded, lacked the swiftness and fierceness of martial arts in the Jianghu (江湖) style, as well as the killing power of military strategy.

Raising his hands, lowering his shoulders, turning his waist, and stepping down, each movement was slow, smooth, relaxed, and long. The movements were so gentle that they were almost mundane. To outsiders, it was just like an ordinary old man stretching his muscles and exercising in the morning, with nothing surprising about it.

This is the true essence of Tai Chi that he learned from famous masters all over the world during his time traveling through chaotic times.

Xu Huang was clear-headed and never feared others peeking at his moves.

In the world of martial arts, the stances, moves, and superficial changes that outsiders see are merely the tip of the iceberg. The true depth of martial arts lies in the flow of qi and blood, the tension and relaxation, the subtle and overt power, and the core of offense and defense—all of which are closely guarded secrets passed down from master to disciple.

Even the most talented martial arts practitioners in the world, without the guidance of core mental techniques, will only have an empty body if they rely solely on observing moves with their naked eyes and practice hard day after day until old age. They will merely move their muscles and bones and will never touch the true essence of martial arts.

Therefore, he practiced boxing openly, without hiding or avoiding it, allowing others to observe.

Amidst the swirling morning mist, he calmly and methodically performed each move, his mind focused and his breath steady, his figure blending seamlessly into the tranquil courtyard of the early morning, understated and unassuming.

High up in the Purple Orchid Pavilion, there is an elegant room by the window.

The woman in flowing purple robes stood by the window, silently gazing down at the figure in the backyard. Beside her stood a tall, aloof figure, his silver hair gleaming and his black robes imposing—it was Wei Zhuang.

The two had been gazing out the window for quite some time.

After a long silence, Zi Nu finally spoke softly, her gaze fixed on Xu Huang, who was practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard:

"Take a look and see if you can figure out this person's martial arts style."

Wei Zhuang's silver hair fell in strands, draping over his pale face. His eyes were deep and cold as he stared intently at the slow, graceful fist technique, remaining silent for a long time.

He had studied the Ghost Valley School of Martial Arts since childhood, and had been familiar with the martial arts of various schools and states. Most of the world's most advanced moves could be traced back to this style. But the set of fist techniques before him was a mixture of illusion and reality, round and soft without hardness, without slashing, without collision, and without fierce killing intent. It was unlike any orthodox martial art in the world.

The martial arts classics preserved by Guigu over thousands of years and the techniques practiced by his senior brothers throughout the ages bear no resemblance whatsoever.

Wei Zhuang answered slowly, his voice cold and indifferent:

"Judging from his moves, they seem to be a kind of gentle, health-preserving exercise, loose and without sharpness. But looking at the entire spectrum of martial arts, there is no such style."

A sharp glint appeared in his eyes, a hint of cautious inquiry in them:

"Unable to see through the underlying reasons, unable to distinguish between strength and weakness."

The more flawless and traceless it is, the more mysterious and unpredictable it becomes.

Wei Zhuang has always been arrogant towards his peers, and when he encountered this martial art that was completely beyond his own understanding, a desire to test it arose in his heart.

"I'll give him a try."

As soon as he finished speaking, his silver hair swayed slightly with his movements, and the figure in black broke through the window and leaped out silently, instantly stepping into the blue stone courtyard in the backyard.

He firmly gripped the hilt of the shark-tooth sword at his waist with his right hand.

Without uttering a single wasted word, Wei Zhuang unleashed a sudden burst of wrist strength.

Clang—!

A clear, piercing sword cry tore through the morning mist. The Shark Tooth sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath, its cold light exploding, and a chilling sword aura instantly filled the entire courtyard. Immediately following, Wei Zhuang swept his arm horizontally, the sword carrying an incomparably domineering and unstoppable force. The entire Shark Tooth sword slashed through the air, its straight and fierce momentum locking down most of Xu Huang's escape routes. It was the simplest, most domineering, and most unavoidable probing strike.

A cold glint flashed through the air, the wind of the sword howled, stirring up the morning dew and raindrops in the courtyard. A sharp killing intent swept over, pressing down on the surrounding plants and trees, causing them to bow low.

In an instant, the once peaceful courtyard was suddenly enveloped by a chilling and murderous aura.

Xu Huang's fist technique remained intact in the courtyard, and his expression remained calm and composed.

Faced with Wei Zhuang's sudden, powerful shark-tooth slash, he neither met it head-on, nor countered, nor showed off his ferocity.

With only smooth footwork, his body moved lightly and dodged, his waist twisting smoothly, and he always managed to avoid the sharp teeth of the shark and the powerful sword force by the slightest distance.

Wei Zhuang's fighting spirit intensified after his attack missed.

With the Shark Tooth in hand, every move was swift and relentless, his deadly attacks flowing endlessly, filling the courtyard with a chilling aura.

Xu Huang remained defensive and did not attack, relying solely on evasion. His movements were elusive and fluid, seemingly light and casual, yet as steady as still water. No matter how fierce and sharp the opponent's shark-tooth sword strikes were, they could never touch his clothes.

After several rounds of alternating winds, a strong gust of wind swept through the courtyard, causing the surrounding grass and trees to tremble and dew to fly everywhere.

If the fight continues, the elegant and quaint backyard of the Purple Orchid Pavilion will surely not be able to withstand the rampant collision of the powerful energy and the Shark Tooth Sword, inevitably damaging the flowers, trees, and courtyard.

Just then, Zi Nu slowly walked into the courtyard, her gentle voice ringing out at the opportune moment, separating the two from their confrontation.

"Please wait, gentlemen."

She stood in the courtyard, her gaze sweeping over Wei Zhuang, whose fighting spirit had not subsided and whose sword was still sheathed, then looking at Xu Huang, who remained calm and composed. A faint smile played on her lips, and her tone carried a hint of helpless mediation:

"My Zilanxuan courtyard is too small to withstand such reckless behavior from you two."

Upon hearing this, Xu Huang immediately stopped his evasive movements, slowly straightened up, first letting out a long breath, his eyebrows slightly curved, and a helpless expression of both laughter and tears appeared on his face.

He knew perfectly well that the man in black with silver hair before him was Guigu Weizhuang, but he pretended not to recognize him at all. He turned to look at the other man, a hint of mockery in his eyes, and asked with feigned curiosity:

"Your swordsmanship was exquisite just now, and your attacks were extremely fierce. You are no ordinary martial artist. May I ask your esteemed name? It would be good for me to know which master you were sparring with today."

Wei Zhuang's relentless attacks had all failed, leaving him seething with resentment. Hearing Xu Huang's seemingly obvious question, clearly intended to toy with him, Wei Zhuang's expression grew even colder. His lips tightened, he glanced sideways indifferently, remaining silent and offering no response.

Seeing this, Zi Nu calmly stepped forward and spoke gently to smooth things over, as if the two were meeting for the first time: "Young master, please don't be offended. He has always been aloof and taciturn, and has never liked to talk about titles and status with others."

Xu Huang's smile widened upon hearing this, deliberately continuing to tease the arrogant Wei Zhuang, and he said in a playful tone:

"I see. Possessing such unparalleled swordsmanship, yet being reluctant to reveal even one's name, is perhaps a bit too aloof."

These words struck a nerve with Wei Zhuang's pride.

A cold glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, and a chilling aura surged around him. A disdainful and sharp snort escaped from his nose, carrying utter arrogance and contempt.

He didn't want to stay a moment longer, much less listen to Xu Huang's teasing remarks.

Wei Zhuang flicked his wrist slightly, causing the Shark Tooth Sword to hum and vibrate before swiftly returning to its sheath. With a sharp flick of his black sleeves, he turned and left without another glance at the two men, his figure cold and aloof.

The tense and fierce atmosphere in the courtyard gradually dissipated, leaving only a gentle morning breeze and light dew, and the courtyard returned to tranquility.