Chapter 49: Finally Learnt
Xiang Yu twisted away from a devastating blow that cratered the ground where he’d stood moments before. His mouth twitched as he wondered if his junior sister really had it out for him. There was no time to dwell on the thought as another attack came whistling toward him. He rolled across the ground and immediately sprang away as her blade struck where he’d just been.
His enhanced battle awareness, while impressive, seemed only sufficient for desperate evasion against Li Yao’s perfected sword technique. The sheer pressure of her attacks generated what felt like a fear effect—had it not been for his spiritual sea helping him overcome the mental barrier, he might have frozen in place completely.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Xiang Yu found satisfaction in his improvement. From his assessment, his battle instinct had nearly caught up to his junior sister’s level. After one more doubling, the difference would be like an adult competing against a child. Yet this didn’t mean victory was within reach. Li Yao was essentially a kid wielding a gun while he remained unarmed. Though he could pressure her now, it was only because she deliberately held back her true strength. If she unleashed her full power, he wouldn’t stand a chance—at least not yet.
Across the training ground, Li Yao observed her senior brother dodging another precisely aimed strike. She marveled at how much he’d grown, considering she was currently using the strength of a Body Refining sixth layer cultivator combined with a perfect-level sword technique, yet couldn’t land a clean hit. He seemed to have adapted to her current level.
With a contemplative sigh, she decided to escalate further. Without warning, she released more of her true power, elevating to the strength of a Body Refining seventh layer cultivator.
As she charged toward Xiang Yu, her footwork suddenly accelerated, and she materialized before him in a blur of movement. He barely managed to block the attack, raising his knife and bracing it with his free hand. His feet dug into the ground as he absorbed the tremendous force.
Recognizing the sudden increase in pressure, Xiang Yu made a split-second tactical decision. Instead of maintaining the block against her overwhelming strength, he deliberately released the tension, allowing her attack to flow toward him while he rolled to safety. Her sword plunged deep into the earth where he’d stood.
Seizing the momentary opportunity, Xiang Yu sprang up and placed his knife against her exposed neck. "I win this time," he declared with uncharacteristic smugness.
Li Yao rose slowly, retrieving her sword with casual grace. "Is that so?" she replied with dangerous calm. "Let’s try again."
The air around them seemed to shift, becoming charged with an entirely different energy. Before Xiang Yu could process what was happening, Li Yao stood directly before him.
"A movement technique?" he exclaimed in shock.
His realization came too late as her fist connected squarely with his abdomen, sending him flying several meters backward. Before he could regain his footing, she had already closed the distance, her sword poised at the ready, its gleaming edge promising no further mercy.
...
Xiang Yu stared at the descending sword, his enhanced battle awareness tracking its deadly trajectory perfectly. Yet his body betrayed him—his muscles couldn’t match the speed his mind demanded. As the gleaming edge closed in, mere inches from his flesh, something extraordinary happened.
Suddenly, Xiang Yu found himself gazing up at the clear sky, squinting against the harsh sunlight. Confusion washed over him. What had just transpired? One moment, Li Yao’s attack was inches away, and the next, he was sprawled on the ground some distance away.
Li Yao’s face appeared above him, her silhouette blocking the sun’s glare. "Senior brother, you finally mastered it," she announced, pride evident in her voice.
"Mastered what?" he wondered aloud, his mind still reeling from the abrupt change in position.
"The movement technique," she explained, her eyes bright with excitement.
Confusion gave way to realization as the memory crystallized. When the sword was about to strike him, his legs had moved almost of their own accord—carrying him at a speed he could barely control. He recalled crashing into a tree, the impact knocking him to the ground where he now lay. So that’s what happened.
With focused intent, he summoned his status interface, eager to confirm this breakthrough:
[Mid-grade Phantom Footwork: Beginner (5/100)]
There it was, finally. After countless hours of practice and failed attempts, he had finally grasped the elusive technique. A rare sense of accomplishment warmed his chest. Though it had taken far longer than anticipated, he knew that with his system’s exponential growth, mastery was now inevitable and would come swiftly.
"Let’s take a break," he suggested as Li Yao helped him to his feet. They sheathed their weapons and headed toward the kitchen to prepare lunch.
As they walked, Xiang Yu noticed a subtle difference in his movement. Though he wasn’t actively employing the Phantom Footwork, his legs felt more responsive, more fluid. He sensed that even if sudden danger arose, he could retreat instantly. If he developed this technique to perfection and combined it with his ever-improving battle instinct, he would never again fall to sneak attacks like he’d almost done during Gu Wuqing’s ambush.
In the kitchen, Xiang Yu approached his culinary duties with renewed enthusiasm. Since acquiring the spirit flame, cooking had transformed from mere necessity into a valued opportunity to practice controlling his mystical fire. As his hands moved with practiced precision, he contemplated expanding into other secondary professions. Pill refining and artifact crafting would not only develop his spiritual flame control but would eventually allow him to create his own cultivation resources and weapons—crucial advantages for someone determined to survive in this dangerous world.
Lost in these practical considerations, he barely noticed when the meal preparation concluded. This time, only Elder Guo arrived for the meal. Noting his martial aunt’s absence, Xiang Yu carefully wrapped her portion and set it aside. She had become family, after all, and her generosity in gifting him the spirit flame demanded reciprocity. The least he could do was ensure she enjoyed his spirit-infused cooking, even if delayed.
After master and disciple finished their meal, Elder Guo remained seated, his expression turning solemn. "The Heaven-Testing Pagoda is about to open," he announced, his tone causing both disciples to fall silent. "Every pavilion is required to send disciples to participate."