High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices-Chapter 78: Sparring

On the afternoon of June 10th, just as Xu Wuyi finished a round of cultivation, Teacher Wang Wenhai pushed open the door and walked in.

"How’s your training going?" Teacher Wang asked, his gaze falling on the faint red marks on Xu Wuyi’s body that hadn’t quite faded. He already had a good idea of the answer.

"It’s going okay. I used the trial pass for the Star Martial Battle Network and finally made some progress," Xu Wuyi answered honestly.

"Good. At your current Energy Level, making it into the provincial top ten is practically guaranteed. Just do your best with what’s left. Don’t push yourself too hard."

After offering this advice, a knowing smile appeared on Wang Wenhai’s face. "Something’s come up. Yu Peiling wants to spar with you on the Battle Network."

"Yu Peiling?" Xu Wuyi paused, surprised.

He had heard she was back from her special training in the provincial capital, but he hadn’t expected her to seek him out personally, much less wait until after his academic exams were over.

If she had asked before, Xu Wuyi probably would have refused, using his exams as an excuse. Now, however, he couldn’t use that pretense.

"Mm," Wang Wenhai nodded. "She specifically said you could fight on the Battle Network, with both your Life Energy Levels standardized at 13."

A flash of understanding lit up Xu Wuyi’s eyes. ’No wonder Teacher Wang brought this to me,’ he thought.

He couldn’t reveal his true Energy Level at the moment. For a normal sparring match, Teacher Wang would have definitely found an excuse to refuse for him, but this format was fine.

"This is a good opportunity." Xu Wuyi’s eyes sharpened. "Yu Peiling went through special training in the provincial capital. A match with her will be the perfect chance to test where I stand right now."

It was just a Martial Arts spar at the Same Ability Level. Xu Wuyi didn’t think he would lose. The advantage granted by his Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace was simply too great.

The Battle Network’s system for equalizing Energy Levels for a match thoroughly considers a Martial Artist’s individual condition. It simulates their state as it would be at that lower Energy Level, rather than crudely setting everyone to the same stats.

Otherwise, if Martial Artist A weighed over four hundred pounds and specialized in Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt, while Martial Artist B was as light as a swallow and specialized in the Lightweight Water Floating Technique... even at the Same Ability Level, their strength and speed could never be identical.

Xu Wuyi’s current Qi and Blood Strength was so high that even when his state was reverted to Level 13, it was still enough to crush enemies of the Same Ability Level.

...

Star Martial Battle Network, Standard Arena.

The spacious, circular arena was enveloped by a pale blue Energy Shield, surrounded by the backdrop of an infinitely stretching Starry Sky.

The figures of Xu Wuyi and Yu Peiling materialized in the arena at almost the same moment.

As agreed, the Battle Network System had temporarily standardized both their Life Energy Levels at 13.0.

Yu Peiling wore her signature silver Martial Arts Uniform. She was tall, but she had a round face, making her seem less cold and aloof than the rumors suggested.

She looked at the calm and composed Xu Wuyi opposite her, her sharp gaze tinged with a hint of inquiry.

The two weren’t well-acquainted and had never met before, but each had heard of the other’s reputation.

"Please," Yu Peiling said.

"You make the first move," Xu Wuyi said after a moment’s thought, assuming the Starting Form of the Basic Body Refining Technique, Holding the Essence and Guarding the One.

He was here to spar, and more importantly, to gauge Yu Peiling’s skill level to better understand his own. He had no intention of winning with a preemptive strike.

Yu Peiling furrowed her brow slightly. She’d heard Xu Wuyi specialized in defensive counterattacks, but... ’The Basic Body Refining Technique?’

The thought was fleeting; Yu Peiling did not underestimate her opponent.

With a light tap of her foot, her figure shot forward like a Spiritual Swallow as she launched the first attack.

She executed the C-level Palm Technique, Flowing Cloud Palm. The afterimages of her palms were illusory, their Power held within. They seemed gentle, but they concealed a deadly intent, striking straight for the vitals on Xu Wuyi’s chest and abdomen.

Xu Wuyi’s expression remained serene. He didn’t dodge or evade the incoming palm strikes.

He simply took a step forward and met her attack with a Bow Step Punch from the Basic Body Refining Technique.

The movement was standard, simple and unadorned.

Fist met palm, producing a muffled THUD.

Yu Peiling’s expression changed in an instant!

The outcome she had anticipated—using her exquisite Palm Technique to neutralize his Fist Force and smoothly break into his inner guard—did not happen.

The force from his fist was immense, far exceeding her estimation. It was as if she hadn’t struck flesh and blood, but a heavy, solid iron pillar!

That overwhelming power shattered her Palm Force, sending a numbing jolt up her arm and causing her Qi and Blood to momentarily stagnate.

"How is this possible?!"

’Impossible!’ Yu Peiling was horrified. She used the impact to retreat and bleed off some of the force, her eyes fixed on Xu Wuyi in shock and disbelief.

The Battle Network System was absolutely fair; both their Life Energy Levels were locked at 13.0. Yet this strength... it was at least thirty percent greater than hers!

This was not a gap that should exist at the Same Ability Level!

Unless...

A thought flashed through Yu Peiling’s mind like a bolt of lightning—a High-Tier Body Refining Method!

Only a High-Tier Body Refining Method, one that surpassed C-level, could temper the physical body and condense Qi and Blood to such a degree that it created an overwhelming physical advantage at the same Life Energy Level!

At this realization, Yu Peiling’s heart grew even heavier.

This meant that not only did she have to face his "Mountain" True Intention, but she was also at a complete disadvantage in basic strength, speed, and defense.

Xu Wuyi didn’t give her much time to think.

Pressing his advantage, he stepped forward, his movements still broad and powerful. He executed the nine forms of the Basic Body Refining Technique with effortless ease.

Vibrating Lungs Breathing flowed into a Bow Step Punch; a Swing Elbow was followed by Sinking Shoulder and Falling Horse...

The transitions between the moves were fluid and natural. Though they were the most basic movements, they carried an indescribable, oppressive weight.

In that moment, he was just like Li Mo during the joint exam’s ranking battle—an Immovable Mountain, but erupting like a volcano when he moved!

He was relying purely on his vastly superior physical condition to enact the most brutish form of suppression!

Yu Peiling was forced onto the defensive. The exquisite variations of her Flowing Cloud Palm seemed pale and powerless in the face of such an absolute gap in strength and speed.

Every time she tried to execute her Palm Technique, Xu Wuyi would shatter her intricate moves with brute force, forcefully interrupting her before she could complete them.

Xu Wuyi’s fighting style was indeed very similar to Li Mo’s, but his physical superiority was even greater, and his Martial Arts were far more refined.

He had taken the Basic Body Refining Technique, a Cultivation Technique meant for Foundation Establishment, and somehow turned it into something with the aggressive momentum of a high-level Martial Technique.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sounds of colliding fists and feet were incessant.

Yu Peiling was beaten back step by step. Every block left her arms aching and numb, her Qi and Blood in turmoil.

She tried to use her Body Technique to maneuver and find an opening, but Xu Wuyi’s seemingly clumsy footwork always managed to cut off her path of retreat at the perfect moment.

She realized that although Xu Wuyi’s movements were broad and sweeping, his sense of timing was incredibly precise. His Martial Arts were anything but poor.

Being forced so completely on the defensive left Yu Peiling feeling inexplicably frustrated.

She had returned from the provincial capital’s special training with a great boost in strength. She had thought that, at the Same Ability Level, even if she couldn’t defeat Xu Wuyi easily, she should at least have been able to fight him with room to spare.

She had never expected the reality to be so harsh.

In less than two minutes, Yu Peiling had been forced to the edge of the arena. The energy fluctuations emanating from the shield were clearly palpable.

’I can’t let this go on!’

Yu Peiling gritted her teeth, a look of resolve flashing in her eyes.