Chapter 41: Hiding Strength
The clash of steel against steel echoed across the training ground as Xiang Yu and Li Yao engaged in their daily sparring session. Unlike previous days, Xiang Yu felt a profound difference in his combat awareness—the doubling of his battle instinct had manifested in tangible improvements. Where once he perceived only vague shadows of incoming attacks, now he could discern clearer trajectories. The blurry prediction lines that had guided his defenses before had sharpened, becoming thinner and more defined, allowing for precision that had previously been impossible.
Each feint from Li Yao registered in his mind with newfound clarity. Traps that would have ensnared him yesterday now seemed transparent, their purpose revealing itself before they could be sprung. His eyes tracked her movements with heightened accuracy, body responding with improved synchronization.
Li Yao, for her part, noticed the transformation immediately. This wasn’t the same senior brother she had sparred with just a few hours ago—his combat awareness had undergone a startling evolution, as though years of training had been compressed into a single night. Though still far from matching her formidable skills, he was undeniably closing the gap in battle awareness with alarming speed.
Their blades met in a fierce collision, sparks cascading around them before they separated, creating distance between them. Li Yao couldn’t help but furrow her brow slightly. That last impact had carried more force than expected. While she had already deduced that her senior brother wasn’t the first-layer cultivator he pretended to be, the strength behind his strikes seemed to be getting greater with each day. And now, she felt that he seemed to have had a breakthrough. Although she couldn’t tell his exact level, she could tell from the force behind his strikes that he was at least at the 5th layer of Body Refining.
She refrained from questioning him about it. After all, she too concealed her true cultivation level. Instead, she quietly adjusted her approach, gradually increasing the intensity of her attacks. Holding back too much would only hinder his growth; she needed to provide the right level of challenge to continue pushing his capabilities.
Xiang Yu braced himself as another powerful strike landed against his blade, his feet digging into the earth beneath him. Confusion flickered across his features momentarily. Despite breaking through to the fourth layer, the pressure hadn’t diminished—if anything, it had intensified. His junior sister was clearly matching his advancement with increased force of her own.
Still, he embraced the challenge without complaint. Better to face overwhelming pressure here, in controlled conditions, than to encounter it unprepared outside the sect where the consequence would be a lonely death without proper burial.
He pressed forward with renewed determination, continuing his offensive despite the punishing counterattacks. His improved battle instinct helped him adapt to Li Yao’s increased speed, gradually making the exchanges feel less one-sided. Yet one frustrating limitation remained: though his mind could now recognize opportunities, his body often lacked the physical capability to capitalize on them. His awareness might identify the perfect counterattack, but his muscles couldn’t execute it with sufficient speed or power.
Xiang Yu accepted this temporary limitation for now. His system’s exponential growth promised rapid improvement. At his current rate of advancement, who could say where his strength might reach in just a month’s time? The gap between mind and body would eventually close.
As the sun reached its zenith, both disciples seemed to recognize the time simultaneously. With practiced movements, they sheathed their weapons in perfect synchronization, a silent agreement passing between them. Training could wait—lunchtime had arrived.
...
The dining area fell into a reverent silence as everyone focused entirely on their meals, savoring each exquisite bite with undivided attention. Elder Guo and Elder Huang found themselves particularly captivated by the extraordinary flavors dancing across their palates. They could discern that Xiang Yu’s cooking stood at the precipice of becoming true spirit cuisine—the subtle gathering of ambient qi around the dishes created a refreshing sensation with each mouthful.
Elder Guo contemplated this phenomenon with growing appreciation. In his estimation, Xiang Yu’s culinary skills had clearly ascended to professional levels. If only the boy possessed spiritual roots, he would undoubtedly be capable of producing genuine spiritual foods. The elder couldn’t help but shake his head in disappointment.
Yet, almost immediately, he caught himself. There remained hope. His gaze shifted toward his junior sister. He wondered when she would finally help Xiang Yu unlock his theoretical martial physique, potentially granting him the ability to infuse his creations with qi. The thought sent a pleasant shiver down Elder Guo’s spine. If Xiang Yu’s cooking could be this good even without spiritual infusion, just how good would it be once it contained genuine qi? Wouldn’t he ascend instantly?
Across the table, Elder Huang noticed her senior brother’s penetrating stare with mounting alarm. Though she admitted the food was exceptional, surely he wouldn’t stoop so low as to try claiming her portion? True, she occasionally teased him, but did that warrant such treatment? No matter his seniority or ownership of the pavilion, she refused to relinquish her meal.
In a sudden, decisive movement, she opened her mouth and channeled her qi, creating a vacuum-like force that pulled her entire portion inside in one swift motion. The hasty action left her regretting the loss of slowly savoring each bite, but at least she had secured her food from potential theft. With her mission accomplished, she shot Elder Guo a smug, victorious smile.
Elder Guo observed this bizarre behavior with complete confusion. Why was this strange woman looking at him like that? A troubling thought suddenly hit him—could she want to marry him just to eat his disciple’s cooking forever? No, that couldn’t be right. He realized the amazing food had made his thoughts wander too far. With a deep breath, he dismissed the silly idea. His junior sister had always been odd; there was no point in trying to figure her out.
Meanwhile, Huang Fengqi kept staring at him, bothered by his dismissive look. ’Why do I feel like the old man is looking down on me?’ she wondered, feeling slightly annoyed.
The contemplative silence was finally broken when Elder Guo cleared his throat. "Xiang Yu," he announced, immediately capturing everyone’s attention despite addressing only his disciple.
"I’ve observed that your battle awareness has improved considerably," he continued, his tone measured and thoughtful. "But there remains one significant problem." With deliberate movements, he extracted an ancient manual from his sleeve, extending it toward Xiang Yu.
"Senior brother, this is..." Elder Huang’s voice trailed off as she covered her mouth in shock, instantly recognizing the weathered text in his hand.