The next day
Zhang Yong woke with the first rays of sunlight. The atmosphere was unusually quiet at the peak, as if the sect was breathing a sigh of relief after a night of fun.
After cleaning himself and putting on his clothes, he went out to find Su Ming already waiting for him in the courtyard, leaning against a stone wall with eyes blazing with excitement.
"Finally! I thought you'd sleep until noon," Su Ming said, pushing himself away from the wall. "Ready for defeat?"
Zhang Yong smiled, the warm feelings of yesterday still caressing his heart. "Don't rush. Let's have breakfast first. Even warriors need fuel."
They entered the disciples' hall, where they found Liu Yan and Qing Feng arguing over the last steamed bun.
"You've already eaten three!" Liu Yan said, pulling the plate toward her.
"But I'm the eldest! Respect for elders!" Qing Feng replied, trying to snatch it from her.
"Really? Say that after you break through. I'm at a higher level than you," Liu Yan said relentlessly.
The dynamic between these two was truly bad, to the point where they would argue over the simplest things like small children.
Zhang Yong and Su Ming stood watching the familiar scene. Suddenly, a swift hand shot out from the side and quietly took the bun. Wang Fei stood there, the bun now between his fingers as he shook his head in disapproval.
"Instead of wrestling like children, why don't you split it?" Wang Fei said, breaking the bun into two equal halves and giving each a piece. "Zhang Yong, Su Ming, there's food on the counter."
Everyone sat down for breakfast. The atmosphere was comfortable and familiar. Liu Yin was on the side, sitting quietly and sipping tea, her calm smile as usual.
After finishing, Su Ming turned to Zhang Yong. "Time now. To the training ground."
Zhang Yong nodded in agreement before asking, "You have a training ground on the peak now?"
Qing Feng quietly gestured. "Well, there was some money left over from the renovation you asked me to do, and I thought it would be good to have a training ground."
Zhang Yong nodded. "That sounds reasonable."
As they were about to head out, they heard Liu Yan's cheerful voice.
"Wait! We're coming too! Can't miss the chance to watch Su Ming get beaten again!"
Qing Feng laughed. "Or watch Zhang Yong lose tragically! All possibilities are open."
Even Wang Fei and Liu Yin rose to participate. "I'll supervise the sparring to make sure you two don't destroy the training ground," Wang Fei said, trying to hide his genuine interest.
"I think I'll come as well," Liu Yin added gently.
Everyone headed to the spacious training ground. The warm morning sunlight reflected off the polished stone floor.
"Hmm, not bad," Zhang Yong commented. "You even equipped it with third-rank formations? Shock reflection formation and self-repair formation. Relatively good. This will increase its durability."
"Of course," Qing Feng puffed out his chest with pride. "I hired an expert formation master to set them up."
Zhang Yong and Su Ming stood in the center, sharing a look of understanding.
"Simple rules," Wang Fei said in his serious voice. "No lethal attacks, no permanent injuries. Whoever steps out of the circle or admits defeat ends the match."
The two nodded in agreement. Su Ming was clearly excited, his stance combat-ready and steady. While Zhang Yong seemed more relaxed, his red eyes were alert and his focus sharp.
Wang Fei, standing at the edge of the arena with the others, raised his hand: "Begin!"
The moment his hand fell, Su Ming exploded forward like lightning.
Golden Twilight Sword Intent
Countless sword strikes rained down, fast and sharp like the first rays of sun piercing through clouds.
Each strike was precisely aimed at the weak points in Zhang Yong's defense.
'Oh, his Sword Intent has become more refined and precise. Instead of releasing it as a wave, he made it like sharp needles,' Zhang Yong analyzed as he smiled.
Zhang Yong moved with strange calmness. His feet barely left their place, his body twisting in illogical ways to evade each strike. His red eyes followed the sword's movement with absolute focus.
'Compared to Esdeath, this is nothing.'
"Is that all you've got?" Zhang Yong said calmly, as the shadow of the golden sword passed millimeters from his face.
Su Ming didn't reply, but his eyes flickered with greater determination. He stepped back, and a purple thunderous aura began to form around his sword.
Five Thunder Swords!
Five purple thunder swords suddenly formed in the air, hovering around Su Ming like angry electric serpents.
Then they all pounced at once toward Zhang Yong from different angles, closing off all escape routes.
Finally, Zhang Yong moved. He raised his right hand, and a blazing golden-yellow flame erupted from his palm like a miniature sun.
Great Sun Core Flame
A sphere of golden fire devoured the purple thunder swords one by one, turning them into small sparks that scattered in the air before disappearing.
Zhang Yong was different now. He was more experienced, more powerful, and more agile after that long isolation.
But Su Ming was not finished yet.
Four Seasons Thunder Sword Art: Spring Thunder
His sword strikes suddenly became fast and fleeting, like spring rain accompanied by thunder.
Each strike was lighter but faster, forming a network of golden electric energy around Zhang Yong.
To counter this, Zhang Yong turned his left hand, and a silver flame, cold as moonlight, flowed from it.
Desolate Moon Core Flame
The silver flame mixed with the golden, forming a vortex of dual-colored fire spinning around him.
The electric energy network woven by Su Ming began to unravel upon contact with this fiery vortex.
Summer Thunder
"There's still more," Su Ming shouted, and his style suddenly changed.
His sword strikes became violent and resounding, like a summer thunderstorm. Each strike carried overwhelming force, forcing Zhang Yong to take a step back.
Zhang Yong's red eyes flickered with interest. "Better," he whispered.
Then, suddenly, all the sword strikes disappeared. The atmosphere became eerily silent.
Autumn Thunder Su Ming whispered.
His sword moved in a strange, unpredictable way, like silent autumn thunder. The strikes came from impossible angles, at deceptive speed, and with almost no sound.
For the first time, a small scratch appeared on Zhang Yong's arm, a drop of blood flowing from it.
Zhang Yong smiled. "Truly good."
Su Ming changed his style once more, a destructive aura surrounding his sword.
Winter Thunder!
One strike, powerful and shocking like the first winter thunderclap, shot directly toward Zhang Yong's chest. The air around it seemed to crack from the force.
But Zhang Yong didn't dodge this time. Instead, he stepped forward, and behind him appeared a crimson spectral figure resembling a human form. It looked like Su Ming!
One punch from Zhang Yong, supported by the crimson spirit behind him, collided directly with the sword strike.
BOOOOOOM!
A shockwave shook the entire training ground. The protective formations set up by Qing Feng flashed urgently to absorb the impact.
Su Ming retreated several steps, his arms feeling numb. But his eyes were blazing with excitement.
Heart of the Sword! he shouted.
A crimson sword rose from Su Ming's forehead and shot toward Zhang Yong.
A quick mental attack launched like an invisible dagger toward Zhang Yong's consciousness.
But Zhang Yong just raised an eyebrow. "Good attempt," he said calmly. Zhang Yong sent a wave from the Nightmare King's Skull, and the mental attack dissipated like smoke before his eyes.
The gap in mental power was too great.
Su Ming realized he needed something stronger. A powerful golden aura exploded from his body, forming a massive spiritual manifestation above him.
King's Body!
The golden manifestation raised its giant hand to crush Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong looked at the giant manifestation, then at Su Ming. He smiled a slight smile.
"My turn."
A black probe appeared in his hands, which he hardened into a long spear. Complex crimson patterns began to form on the spear's surface. Around it, an illusion of a massive crimson dragon appeared, its scales gleaming and its white eyes staring at Su Ming and his manifestation.
Dragon Slaying Spear Intent
The crimson dragon shot forward like a flash, piercing through the golden manifestation in the blink of an eye.
The illusory dragon passed through the manifestation as if it didn't exist, causing it to scatter into small golden particles.
The spear did not stop. It continued toward Su Ming, who stood stunned, his eyes reflecting the image of the approaching crimson dragon.
But before the spear could reach him, it suddenly stopped inches from his chest. Then the spear and the illusory dragon dissipated into red dust scattering in the air.
A heavy silence fell over the arena.
Zhang Yong stood quietly, his hands back in his pockets. "You're improving a lot," he said sincerely.
Su Ming breathed deeply, then burst into laughter. "You... you're truly a monster. I still have more to go, really."
But his eyes were bright with admiration and challenge. He knew the gap between them had widened again, but this didn't discourage him; rather, it increased his determination to catch up.
Wang Fei entered the arena, shaking his head in admiration. "Amazing. I didn't expect your power to reach this level after just a year of isolation."
Liu Yan clapped enthusiastically. "That was wonderful! But you've already created a Spear Intent?"
Zhang Yong shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I had weak talent in the sword, so I decided to choose the spear path as my weapon."
While everyone was amazed by Zhang Yong's new power, a strange young man suddenly appeared at the training ground's entrance.
He wore a simple cotton robe, his long black hair tied in a messy bun, but his eyes radiated wisdom far beyond his apparent age.
"Master Gu!" Everyone immediately bowed with respect.
"Wait, what?" Zhang Yong stared at the young man. "Impossible. Wasn't the master.... How?!"
Master Gu, who had previously appeared as a ten-year-old child, now looked like a fifteen-year-old youth, with fresh skin and clear eyes.
Master Gu smiled upon seeing Zhang Yong's astonishment. "Yes, my body's growth rate is increasing, as is my cultivation speed. I think this is due to the pill's effect. But it seems you've achieved a lot during this isolation."
Zhang Yong looked at Master Gu and noted his level. Indeed, Master Gu had reached the Master realm and was on the threshold of the Great Master realm.
Zhang Yong nodded. "I went through some special experiences."
"I see." Master Gu looked at the spot where his Spear Intent had disappeared. "The Spear Intent you just displayed, along with the precise control of power, both far exceed the Ancestor level. Most likely, fighting someone at the Ancestor level wouldn't be a problem for you."
Then Master Gu turned his gaze toward Su Ming. "As for Xiao Ming, your control over your Sword Intent has become more powerful. The only reason for your loss is that you lack sufficient combat experience. You may have higher talent than Zhang Yong, but the level of understanding plays a role as well."
Su Ming looked at his hands and nodded. "I understand, Master."
Master Gu laughed. "Don't feel discouraged, Su Ming. Your progress is also very fast. The Thunder Sword Art you just used, especially 'Autumn Thunder,' was truly excellent."
After praising Su Ming's performance, Master Gu turned toward Zhang Yong with eyes carrying a deeper look. "So, Xiao Yong, a special invitation has arrived for you. It's from the Buddhist Sect. They are inviting you to attend a Dao Discussion Assembly."
Zhang Yong's eyes gleamed as he turned his hand over, revealing the symbol he had received from the Buddhist monk in the Heavenly Boundary world. "I've already received an invitation, but I didn't go immediately. I was originally planning to take a trip outside to search for some opportunities."
"I see," Master Gu nodded his head. "Since it has come to this, I suggest organizing a joint training journey. You will all go to this event."
Master Gu looked at the group of disciples gathered around him, his clear eyes reflecting a wise gaze. "The Dao Discussion Assembly organized by the Buddhist Sect is a rare opportunity. Young talents from all provinces will attend. It may also be a gateway to countless opportunities."
Su Ming, still breathing heavily after the fight, asked enthusiastically, "Does that mean we'll get a chance to meet and fight talented young people from other regions?"
"Exactly," Master Gu nodded. "There will be friendly competitions and exchanges of experiences. For you, especially after everything you've been through, this will be a very enriching experience."
Wang Fei, always practical, asked, "When will we leave? And how long will the journey take?"
"The event will begin in two months," Master Gu replied. "But due to the distance, you must leave in a week. The journey will take about a month and a half."
Qing Feng stepped back. "I won't leave with you. Someone has to stay and take care of things here. There's the shop, and my path depends more on work than understanding. It wouldn't benefit me."
Qing Feng's decision was logical. The forging path he followed depended on continuous practice rather than theoretical comprehension.
Master Gu nodded in agreement. "Alright. Qing Feng will stay with me. The rest of you should prepare for the journey."