Splitting the Heave

As Dongfang Mingyu suppressed his cultivation to the peak of the Martial Extremity Realm and he wasn’t too adept with the sword art he was using, he failed to suppress Shang Xia immediately. 

Even so, Shang Xia retreated repeatedly. 

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you willing to reveal your name? Are you a coward?” Dongfang Mingyu snorted. He suppressed Shang Xia easily, and he even held one hand behind his back!

Shang Xia tried his best to defend himself and anguish filled his heart. He tried to gasp helplessly while retreating.

Staring at the space behind Shang Xia, Dongfang Mingyu chuckled. “Stop acting. You’re still hiding your strength. Are you still planning to escape?” 

Shang Xia’s expression changed as the two cultivators beside Dongfang Mingyu moved to surround him. Even though they didn’t take part in the battle, they prevented him from escaping.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. We have all the time in the world. After all, we’re going to be sparring for quite a bit. I’ll dig out all of your moves sooner or later. You’ll eventually reveal your identity!” Dongfang Mingyu’s sword technique switched up once again. He slashed out several times in succession.

The pressure Shang Xia experienced increased instantly.

All of a sudden, he stopped pretending. Even though it still looked like he was at a disadvantage, his defense became perfect and he no longer showed flaws in his movements. 

Dongfang Mingyu raised an eyebrow in surprise. However, he expected as much and he simply chuckled in response. 

“You have already broken through to the Martial Intent Realm. Why are you still learning the techniques of those in the Martial Extremity Realm?” Shang Xia asked all of a sudden.

“One can always strive to be better! The Dual Interference Manual is one of the Zhu Family’s core techniques!” Dongfang Mingyu laughed in response.

“Dual Interference Manual?” Shang Xia was surprised. “You’re clearly using light and heavy qi. What has that got to do with interference?” 

Dongfang Mingyu was clearly happy to be sharing his experience and he replied, “The essence of the Dual Interference Manual is actually a grade higher than light and heavy qi!” 

Glancing at Shang Xia, he continued, “Like the strike you used earlier. You used both strength and softness qi earlier in your strike, and you can think of my sword manual as the fusion of both heavy and light qi!” Dongfang Mingyu’s explanation was simple, but it raised giant waves in Shang Xia’s heart.

Ever since his transmigration, he thought that the cultivators of that world were really backward. That had always been his source of pride.

However, the creator of the River Sword Policy realized that the proper way of cultivation was to fuse both strength and softness qi and he created the Flexible Sword Art in the process. The only problem was that the creator of the manual was unable to describe the process clearly, affecting the cultivation process of those who tried to cultivate the River Sword Policy.

That also allowed Shang Xia to learn that everyone was slowly improving their way of cultivation through various trials and errors.

They might be amateurs in the eyes of Shang Xia, but it wouldn’t be that way forever.

One had to know that the world he transmigrated to only had 800 years of history!

Hearing Dongfang Mingyu’s answer, Shang Xia felt something click in his mind. “So… You’re curious about the sword strike I used earlier?” 

“Exactly.” Dongfang Mingyu nodded seriously.

“The price of my teaching won’t be cheap…” Shang Xia said.

“Of course. Name your price.” Dongfang Mingyu seemed to have already expected as much.

Shang Xia didn’t think twice before naming his condition. “A set of Tempering Meridian Powder!”

Dongfang Mingyu threw his head back and laughed. A heavy slash sent Shang Xia retreating several feet and he sneered. “You seem to have gotten something wrong. Your life is on the line right now! Do you think you still have the ability to negotiate with me?” 

However, Shang Xia took the chance to take out another long sword in his other hand. Scraping the blades together, a ray of fire and ice clashed in mid air. It severed Dongfang Mingyu’s sword light the moment it appeared.

“What sword technique is that?! It looks so familiar!” 

Shang Xia’s new move stunned Dongfang Mingyu. Not only did he reveal a new sword technique, he also transformed his qi into two completely different types.

“Is this the Triple Mystery Polarity Art of the Murong Family? Ah… No wonder your sword technique looks familiar! It’s the Ouyang Family’s Twisting Twin Blades! Who the hell are you? Why do you have their inheritances?” Dongfang Mingyu wasn’t a fool. With his experience, he discovered Shang Xia’s techniques right away.

Oh… The Twisting Twin Blades belong to the Ouyang Family!

Shang Xia finally learned of its origins. However, he obviously wasn’t going to tell Dongfang Mingyu.

“Hehe, you can guess…” Shang Xia chuckled as he swung his blades around.

Under his control, the fire and ice qi that condensed on his blade moved in perfect harmony. They didn’t show signs of going out of control, and they seemed to possess much stronger power.

Even though fire and ice qi was the most common pair of qi that most cultivators used, it didn’t mean that it was weak!

Due to the fact that most people trained in fire and ice qi, its utilization had been the most studied and corrected. Their understanding of fire and ice qi was deep, and the experts who used them possessed frightening strength!

From the Twisting Twin Blades, it was clear that the creator of the manual was an expert at using fire and ice qi!

Shang Xia’s sudden change caught Dongfang Mingyu off guard. His counterattack came swiftly. Even though he was unable to suppress Dongfang Mingyu, he was able to put up quite a good fight!

Dongfang Mingyu couldn’t accept the fact that he lost to Shang Xia in terms of sword techniques! He no longer restricted his cultivation and started to regain some ground. Unbeknownst to him, Shang Xia was also using him to practice his Twisting Twin Blades!

Shang Xia didn’t want to let Dongfang Mingyu see through his intentions and he continued his act. “So how about it? A set of Tempering Meridian Powder and I’ll accept your conditions!” 

A cold snort left Dongfang Mingyu’s lips and his attacks became even more intense. He circulated his inner qi and the amount of power he used could be compared to a Martial Intent Realm expert. 

Seeing as things were getting out of hand, Shang Xia continued to bargain. “Young Master Dongfang, your sword techniques are really impressive. As a fellow sword cultivator, you should know that the strike I unleashed earlier placed some stress on my meridians. Without the Tempering Meridian Powder, I wouldn’t dare to use it again!” 

Noticing the hesitant expression on Dongfang Mingyu’s face, Shang Xia felt that pressing on was the best choice. “Young Master Dongfang, you’ve been awfully quiet. Don’t tell me you actually have a set of Tempering Meridian Powder on you!” 

“Do you want it? Come get it!” Dongfang Mingyu roared in anger. He thought that he would be able to suppress anyone below the Martial Intent Realm despite training in a sword art meant for cultivators at the Martial Extremity Realm. However, Shang Xia’s ever-changing technique caught him off guard.

He didn’t lack behind either as the sword in his hand danced about in mid air. He had already reached the large completion stage of his Dual Interference Manual!

Although he was unable to fuse the two different types of qi, he was able to switch between the two types of qi freely. As one of the geniuses of the Dongfang Family, the number of sword techniques he had access to when he was in the Martial Extremity Realm was numerous! He chose a technique that focused on heavy and light qi, and after reaching the large completion stage of the Martial Extremity Realm, he comprehended his martial extremity intent to enter the grand completion stage of the Martial Extremity Realm before stepping into the Martial Intent Realm!

A genius like that was obviously extremely confident in himself! Even after suppressing his cultivation, he felt that he would be unbeatable by someone of Shang Xia’s level!

“Oh? You actually do have it!” Shang Xia yelled.

A light lit up in his eyes, but he was quickly suppressed by Dongfang Mingyu’s use of brute force! 

“This is bad… If this keeps up, I won’t be able to escape!” Shang Xia could tell that the two cultivators who were Dongfang Mingyu’s bodyguards had started to close in on him.

After blocking one of Dongfang Mingyu’s strikes, he twisted his blades and fireballs appeared on their edge. A sharp whistling sound pierced through the air.

“Heh… the fusion of ice and fire… At least I managed to reach the large completion stage…” That was the third sword art he trained to the large completion stage!

The corners of Dongfang Mingyu’s lips twitched, and a terrifying power emerged from the body of his sword. It shattered the ungraded weapon in Shang Xia’s hand instantly. Of course, the Delicate Jade River Sword remained completely intact. 

After such a long battle, Dongfang Mingyu’s sword was scratched in many places. Even though it didn’t affect the strength of the weapon, it was an insult to Dongfang Mingyu’s status as a genius of the Dongfang Family!

“Hah… You’re no longer suppressing your strength!” Shang Xia sneered sarcastically.

In order to stop Shang Xia’s assault, Dongfang Mingyu no longer held back.

“Again!” It had been so long since he found an opponent like Shang Xia. 

“Eat this!” Shang Xia roared, and his Delicate Jade River Sword released a myriad of sword lights. It rained down on Dongfang Mingyu.

“Sword intent!” Dongfang Mingyu released a weird cry and pushed his inner qi to the limit. He no longer held back and his divine sense descended. Several rays of sword light appeared to protect him.

“Illusion? No… This is void and reality qi!” Dongfang Mingyu realized that he fell for Shang Xia’s tricks. 

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When he finally dealt with the rain of sword light, Shang Xia had already retreated dozens of feet. He went straight towards one of the Martial Extremity Realm cultivators and released the final strike of the Flexible Sword Art.

“Brother Dongfang, look closely! This time, I’ll show you for free!”

Dongfang Mingyu was able to suppress Shang Xia due to his cultivation level, but a part of it was because Shang Xia was intentionally hiding his strength. Otherwise, it would have been much harder for Dongfang Mingyu to gain the upper hand!

However, the two other cultivators were no Dongfang Mingyu!

The unlucky soul who stood in Shang Xia’s way suffered critical inner injuries from the strike!

Shang Xia didn’t hesitate. After his slash landed, he turned into a streak of light and ran into the distance.