Chapter 162 - 160: Martial Technique vs. Secret Technique (Part 2)
Li Pu originally wanted to execute a Martial Technique, but after all, it was something he forced himself to do, and it wasn’t very smooth yet.
As he tried to mobilize his Spiritual Power again, the blade of the Dragon Pattern Saber was already closing in.
He only had enough time to raise his saber to block, but was struck by Song Changming’s thrust. A huge penetrating force surged, causing Li Pu to stagger. The Treasure Saber in his hand was directly knocked away, flying out of his grasp.
The scales of victory thus firmly tipped towards Song Changming.
Just as Song Changming was about to press the advantage and attack further, a figure came tearing through the air, timely blocking between the two of them, also halting Song Changming’s advance.
Song Changming slightly frowned. On the old man who had intervened, he sensed a strong threat, immediately stopping his attack to step back and observe.
"Uncle Lu!" Li Pu stabilized his stance, seeing the newcomer, an unpleasant expression appeared on his face.
"Young Master, please understand. The Manor Master instructed that during your training trip south, I can intervene if your life is in danger. It’s my duty to do so," Sun Lu said, bowing respectfully.
"But not now, I’m not in mortal danger!" Li Pu said in dissatisfaction.
Sun Lu’s interference made the result of this duel less pure.
To those unaware, it might even seem as if he was cowardly relying on superior strength, unable to accept defeat.
"Young Master, please understand." Sun Lu did not elaborate further.
In fact, he had already seen that after executing the Secret Technique, Song Changming’s strength had surpassed their Young Master’s by a whole level.
Li Pu, after consecutively executing three Martial Techniques, was severely drained, and even had his saber knocked away. The outcome was effectively sealed.
To prevent unexpected incidents, seeing the level of skill Song Changming demonstrated, if he hadn’t intervened early, he feared that when it truly came to a life-and-death moment, he might not have time to rescue their Young Master.
Thus, interrupting the match was logical and sensible.
Everything was prioritized for their Young Master’s safety.
Li Pu calmed the Spiritual Power surging in his Nether Sea, looking past his bodyguard toward Song Changming, who stood not far away holding a saber, and couldn’t help but ask.
"Secret Technique?"
He was knowledgeable and instantly recognized that Song Changming used some kind of Secret Technique, boosting his strength at the cost of overexertion.
Usually, a Secret Technique that can enhance strength by twenty to thirty percent is already considered excellent.
However, a Secret Technique like Song Changming’s, capable of such explosive power increase, was extremely rare and equally precious!
"Yes." Song Changming did not conceal it. After all, the other side admitted to using Martial Technique moves earlier, speaking frankly.
There were no rules or restrictions on secret techniques in today’s wager duel. Mastering a secret tactic was as legitimate a part of his strength.
"This time, I admit defeat. Here, this is for you!" Li Pu tossed the shell holding the Dragon Transformation Pearl towards Song Changming.
Though this man seemed unreliable by name, his pride was such that he abided by his bet, unwilling to resort to dishonesty.
He understood clearly that although he still had some fight left, without his weapon, defeat was a high probability.
Song Changming held every advantage; this was beyond dispute.
"Young Master, this..." Sun Lu looked regretfully at the Dragon Transformation Pearl being given away by Li Pu, wanting to advise him further.
Li Pu impatiently waved him off, "Though the Dragon Transformation Pearl is valuable, it’s not more valuable than my promise!"
Hearing this, Sun Lu could only remain silent.
"Your name?" Li Pu continued looking at Song Changming, asking.
Considering the two Dragon Transformation Pearls Li Pu willingly gave, Song Changming provided his name.
"I’ll remember it." Li Pu nodded.
"Lately, all I hear about in Donglai Prefecture is that Dragon Blade Guest’s extraordinary prowess, as if he’s been praised to the heavens. Hmph, I’d say he’s just a fame-seeker, nowhere near as impressive as you!"
"..." Song Changming was speechless.
Apparently, this guy only knew the ’Dragon Blade’ nickname and didn’t have much knowledge about him.
Not only did he not recognize him in person, he didn’t even have a clear idea of what the Dragon Blade entailed.
"Let’s go, next time we meet, we’ll duel again. Then, it’ll be about Martial Techniques and Qi Refining. Don’t let it be a fleeting moment and disappoint me..."
Li Pu said somewhat reluctantly and left with his retinue.
Song Changming watched them as they walked away.
Admittedly, this Young Master from a Hidden Sect was somewhat different from the initial impression he expected.
He thought this would be an arrogant, self-assured noble youth who regarded others with disdain, a troublemaker he should avoid.
But upon meeting, it somewhat altered his preconceived notions.
At least there were some commendable qualities, Song Changming considered while opening the shell and looking at the resplendent two Dragon Transformation Pearls it contained.
He put the Dragon Transformation Pearls he obtained from the valley into the shell too.
Once the shell was tightly sealed, it concealed his possession of the Dragon Transformation Pearls quite well.
Several more days passed like this.
The incident of the Dragon appearing in the Luolong River shocked everyone and was rapidly spreading, one to ten, ten to a hundred.
Countless people witnessed the scene of the dragon crossing the tribulation firsthand, which could not be faked.
Even if some people did not believe it, the half-broken Cloud Peak served as the best evidence, and any doubts would vanish by simply checking whether Cloud Peak appeared as such.
These days, the port town was bustling, overcrowded.
On the Luolong River, countless ships sailed, claiming to seek the dragon’s footprints.
But in truth, most were merely looking to confirm whether any dragon treasures were left where the dragon had been staying.
Indeed, these days, many have reportedly found rare treasures, brazenly labeling them as dragon treasures.
In reality, they were just ordinary secret treasures that could be extracted from the river, unrelated to the dragon, merely intended to deceive outsiders.
Outside the port town, a roadside tea house had also seen a surge in business recently.
"Shopkeeper, any news lately?" A weary traveler sipped tea and inquired.
"Of course, there is. It’s said someone found a discarded Dragon Horn on the Luolong River, and it sold for several thousand silver at a treasure appraising event!" The elderly tea shop owner chuckled, sharing the recent stories circulating in the port town.
Of course, some say the Dragon Horn was just a piece of a broken hundred-year-old coral formation, but saying that would dampen spirits, so the tea shop owner omitted it.
Sure enough, upon hearing about the Dragon Horn, the Jianghu Guests who had just arrived from other prefectures perked up, listening intently.
Sitting at a corner table, Song Changming silently drank the bland tea, resting while also listening to the tea shop owner’s tales.
Having just exited the primeval forest, he was entirely unaware of the changes around the port town due to the dragon’s emergence.
Now passing through on his return, he discovered that the port town and Luolong River had become trendy check-in spots, a tourist hotspot.
Both well-known and unknown people flocked here, chasing the latest trend.
"Years ago, it was said that dragon sank beneath the river, giving Luolong River its name. The dragon emerging now must be the same one from those old legends, right?" someone asked.
"Indeed so! Back then, that dragon favored the Spiritual Qi in this river, so it slumbered here for hundreds of years. Now, having successfully undergone its tribulation and transformation, it has gracefully departed.
But though it’s gone, it might return someday, as this place was where it underwent the Dragon Tribulation..."
The tea shop elder’s account was precise, demonstrating his knowledge of local legends and stories from the past.
Song Changming glanced towards the vast rivers, nobody knew if the dragon that rode the wind would ever return.
No one could assert whether treasures existed beneath the great river either.
For now, only the Dragon Transformation Pearls that fell that day were the true treasures left by the dragon.
Song Changming left payment on the table and walked away.
He made no stops at the port town and returned directly to the County City.
After living by fending for himself in the wilds for so long and not having returned, his two elders at home had worried themselves sick daily about whether Song Changming was in trouble.
If not for Song Ping’an, who had returned earlier to comfort them, the two elders might have worried themselves into illness.
Luckily, Song Changming was back now, safe and sound.
The two elders could finally relax and set aside their worries.
That evening, in the courtyard, Song Changming took out the shell and opened it slightly.
Immediately, golden light poured out, illuminating most of the courtyard.
Inside were four Dragon Transformation Pearls.
Yes, after winning two Dragon Transformation Pearls from Young Master Li Pu, he found a fourth in the forest not long after.
Counting the initial ones, he and Song Ping’an had consumed two, thus among the dozen or so Dragon Transformation Pearls he estimated existed, six of them were now his.
This was no small ratio; he reckoned nobody had collected more Dragon Transformation Pearls than he did.
Now, he contemplated how to handle these four Dragon Transformation Pearls.
During the journey back, he had already formulated some plans.
...