As soon as these words were spoken, Lü Ziping was stunned for a moment.
He specifically targets those in the Qi Circulation Realm?
What did that mean? It was important to know that in this world's cultivation system, the gap between each major realm was quite substantial. The difference between the Body Forging Realm and the Qi Circulation Realm lay in whether one could utilize true qi.
One could say it was the difference between zero and one.
Then, Lü Ziping looked in surprise at the youth's side, at his master.
Ding Qiu smiled and spoke up, "My humble disciple, though untalented, is only sixteen years old, but he recently entered the Qi Circulation Realm. He should be barely able to exchange a few moves with Young Master Lü."
Qi Circulation Realm at sixteen?
Lü Ziping was quite astonished. Of course, he had heard of those heaven-chosen talents within the Five Great Sects, who could even break through to the Martial Spring Realm before the age of fifteen... wait, it was the Four Great Sects now.
But those were, after all, the top disciples within the top sects. Among the minor sects within the Qingque Kingdom, being able to break through to the Qi Circulation Realm before reaching adulthood was already considered quite remarkable.
If that were truly the case, then perhaps he did have some capital for youthful arrogance.
Qi Circulation Realm at sixteen.
That title alone was enough to intimidate Lü Ziping.
His opponent was a promising cultivation seedling who could receive focused training in some minor sects.
As for Lü Ziping, although he had been held in high hopes by his father, Lü Zhengbo, the current head of the Lü Family, since childhood, he was deeply aware of his own limited capabilities.
Perhaps compared to the vast majority of disciples from various cultivation families, or the vast majority of rogue cultivators, Lü Ziping might still be considered somewhat talented in cultivation.
But it was only *some* talent.
However, no matter what, the other party was only just sixteen years old.
And from what his master said, he should have just recently entered the Qi Circulation Realm, his foundation still unstable.
But he was different. He had already been in the Qi Circulation Realm for a full two years and was steadily progressing towards the mid-stage of the Qi Circulation Realm.
He would win.
Lü Ziping regained his confidence. The other party was just an arrogant young brat, what was there to fear?
Moreover, he often received instruction from Instructor Zhan.
It had to be said, Instructor Zhan was, so far, the person Lü Ziping had encountered with the most profound understanding of cultivation matters.
His ability to break through to the Qi Circulation Realm was entirely Instructor Zhan's credit.
"Very well, then I shall experience for myself what skills you possess, young friend!" Lü Ziping declared.
Then, he leapt lightly from the high platform, landing quite nimbly on the green bricks of the ground floor with only a soft *tap*.
"After you."
Immediately after, Lü Ziping raised his hand, gesturing towards the very center of the training hall.
Chen Yan also promptly made a "please" gesture and then walked towards the center of the training hall.
The young cultivator who had answered the door jogged ahead, going over to say something to those family disciples who were practicing martial arts in the Body Forging Realm.
Subsequently, those family disciples scattered, forming a circle around the very center of the training hall.
Chen Yan and Lü Ziping walked into the circle formed by these family disciples, with only about seven *zhang* of distance separating the two.
"Ready?" Lü Ziping asked.
"Anytime," Chen Yan replied, sounding as if he couldn't care less.
This attitude of his obviously further angered Lü Ziping, because he could not sense any respect from Chen Yan's demeanor.
Or rather, the other party was looking down on him.
*Brat!* Lü Ziping cursed inwardly.
Then, the tip of his foot rapidly tapped against the floor. He covered the seven *zhang* distance in just three steps, swiftly closing in on Chen Yan.
For an early-stage Qi Circulation Realm cultivator, Lü Ziping's speed was fast.
Very fast.
Because movement techniques were one of the main reasons the Lü Family could stand out among the three cultivation families in Jiangdao Prefecture.
Dust-Tracing Leap—this was the unique skill of the Jiangdao Prefecture Lü Family.
Back in the day, the Lü Family ancestor was just a wandering martial artist. At that time, the Dust-Tracing Leap was the ancestor's signature skill.
However, at that time, the Dust-Tracing Leap was just an ordinary martial arts qinggong.
It wasn't until later that the Lü Family ancestor received enlightenment from a predestined immortal master, obtained a fragment of a cultivation heart method, and entered the Body Forging Realm.
After that, the Lü Family ancestor put down roots in this Jiangdao Prefecture, opened a training hall, and continued until the present day.
And the Dust-Tracing Leap had been passed down through the generations of the Lü Family, refined from martial arts into the dao, and improved into an immortal family's movement technique.
A few years ago, even a Martial Spring Realm cultivator from the Withered Wood Sect, who happened to be traveling through Jiangdao Prefecture and visited the Lü Family's training hall, had praised the Dust-Tracing Leap movement technique highly.
One could say it was the Lü Family's signature skill.
Lü Ziping didn't want to test the waters too much. His opening move was a killing technique. He wanted to end this quickly, not giving this arrogant and domineering youth before him any chance to fight back.
True qi externalization!
Somewhat violent true qi coiled around Lü Ziping's fist. Borrowing the speed of his Dust-Tracing Leap, it shot straight for Chen Yan's face.
Techniques like the Kongshan Finger, which could achieve ranged attacks even in the Qi Circulation Realm, were exceedingly rare outside of the Five Great Sects and the first-rate sects invited to the Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent.
Just as the violent true qi coiled around Lü Ziping's fist was about to touch Chen Yan—
He vanished.
What?
A flicker of surprise couldn't help but pass through Lü Ziping's mind.
"Tch."
A clicking sound of the tongue rang out from behind Lü Ziping.
Reacting, Lü Ziping swiftly turned and threw a punch behind him.
But at the very moment he turned, Chen Yan, who had somehow appeared behind him, delivered a kick squarely to his chest.
*Thump!*
It was a solid kick.
Lü Ziping was instantly sent flying sideways, rolling twice on the green stone bricks.
Chen Yan remained like that, still holding the kicking pose, coldly watching Lü Ziping scramble up in disarray.
Xun Wind Step.
The movement technique obtained from the Reincarnation Reward, which could be considered top-tier across the entire Chenping Continent.
Compared to the Dust-Tracing Leap, the difference was like that between heaven and earth.
From start to finish, Chen Yan hadn't used the slightest bit of true qi. Relying solely on his footwork, he had easily shaken off a fully committed Lü Ziping and kicked him down.
"Surrender?" Chen Yan asked, his tone unable to conceal his contempt.
Being seen in such an embarrassing state by the family disciples in the training hall who had previously looked up to him couldn't help but make Lü Ziping feel extremely irritated and unwilling.
"I won't!" Lü Ziping shouted, glaring with considerable defiance.
"Is that so?" Chen Yan spoke again, "If we continue sparring, it becomes a life-or-death matter, Young Master Lü."