Ban Ji gritted his teeth, and his right hand suddenly shook.
The heavy bronze chain hammer shot out like a venomous snake leaving its hole, the hammer head whistling straight towards the bronze knife!
The bronze knife actively met the attack, then guided and redirected the hammer head, causing the chain hammer to change direction and smash into the wall nearby, embedding deeply into it.
Ban Ji exerted force with his right hand to retrieve the hammer head, while his left hand wielded the double section stick, swinging it fiercely.
The double section stick was whirled into a whirlwind, protecting the vital points in front of Ban Ji, not aiming to injure the enemy, only seeking self-preservation.
Ban Ji was well aware of the prowess at the Master Level realm and dared not be careless in the slightest.
But in the next moment, the bronze knife suddenly slanted, sticking to the chain of the chain hammer, and twisted its blade abruptly.
Ban Ji was trying to pull back the hammer head, but with the bronze knife assisting this force, he immediately lost his balance, and the entire hammer head sped towards him.
Ban Ji was taken aback, quickly retreating to avoid it.
But the change was too swift; he was already too late, unable to think clearly in haste and could only use the double section stick to block.
"Clang—!" Sparks flew everywhere!
The double section stick in Ban Ji’s hand was almost knocked out by his own chain hammer.
At the same time, his arm vibrated intensely, his defense instantly collapsing.
The bronze knife took advantage of the situation, lightly touching towards Ban Ji.
Ban Ji felt a surge of coldness in his heart, quickly rolling back, but his left clavicle was still hit.
Crack.
The crisp sound of bone cracking, accompanied by Ban Ji’s painful groan, echoed on the battlefield.
The bronze knife did not pursue the victory but instead floated silently in place, the tip angled downward, a few droplets of viscous blood slowly sliding down the rusty blade, dripping onto the cold floor tiles, quickly spreading into a small patch of glaring dark red.
If someone were holding the hilt of the knife, they would probably look down on Ban Ji with a disdainful master’s posture.
Ban Ji gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain, and stood up.
At the Master Level realm above Martial Master Level, the use of the battlefield environment and the contest of reactions with the opponent rises another level.
The bronze knife, with the help of the chain hammer, broke through the defense of the double section stick, filling Ban Ji’s heart with bitterness.
"I’m not skilled with these weapons. If I had a blade or a sword, no, even just one, it would definitely be more effortless than now!"
"Hold on!"
"I still need to reach the third stage and step Ning Zhuo underfoot!"
"If I’m eliminated at the second stage, Ning Zhuo will surely mock me, and I will bring disgrace to my family’s honor!"
"I must win and seize this bronze knife!"
Ban Ji rallied his spirits and fought with all his might.
He swung the wolf fang club with fierce bravery, wielded the flying knife with cunning suddenness, combined dominance and finesse with the chain hammer, and displayed the swiftness and agility of the double section stick.
However, in front of the bronze knife, these seemed as laughable as a child waving a wooden stick.
Ban Ji’s injuries quickly accumulated, and the more he fought, the colder his heart became.
The bronze knife had no earth-shattering momentum, no complicated flashy techniques. It was just there, each move as natural as breathing, each block and counterattack done with ease, as if it had already anticipated all his struggles and trajectories.
Its techniques were extremely simplified, even resembling a child waving a wooden stick. Yet every attack from Ban Ji was easily deflected by it.
It firmly controlled the rhythm of the combat, while Ban Ji was nothing more than a pawn being manipulated on a chessboard.
This is the true essence of No Move Beats a Move, choosing simplicity over complexity.
Ban Ji’s body, suffering from intense pain and excessive blood loss, began to tremble slightly.
His vision also became blurred, the pain constantly tearing at his nerves.
His four weapons were also chipped and broken by the knife’s edge, becoming increasingly difficult to use in combat.
The bronze knife leisurely extended its blade, as if the master had lost interest in playing and wanted to end the battle.
At the critical moment of victory and defeat, a past scene emerged in Ban Ji’s mind.
In the family’s Martial Arts Arena, he asked the instructor, "When will I reach the mastery realm of No Move Beats a Move?"
The instructor shook his head and said, "Ban Ji, I have been teaching you for five years. You have made rapid progress. Even if you don’t choose Mechanical Techniques, you have a great future in Martial Arts."
"In these five years, you have mastered eighteen kinds of weapons, learned many Continuous Techniques, and achieved the Micro level in both blades and swords. You have also transitioned from rigidity to Spirit Movement in actual combat, which is already remarkable!"
"You advanced from Martial Apprentice to Martial Master, in just a mere five years. Most people, including myself, who specialize in Martial Arts, would take several decades to do so."
"No Move Beats a Move... It was in my fifty-sixth year of practicing martial arts that I comprehended it."
Greed flashed in Ban Ji’s eyes, and he asked eagerly, "How can I comprehend it? Is there a secret?"
His instructor shook his head again, his face somewhat serious, "There isn’t! Saying it’s comprehension isn’t accurate; my progress was extremely natural, as simple as breathing."
"This isn’t because I’m gifted. In fact, I’m far worse than you."
"I just accumulated enough experience."
"Martial Apprentice Level is about learning and mastering techniques to a highly detailed level. But combat has always been about not only observing oneself but also the opponent."
"So, at the Martial Master Level, tactical consideration is required, constantly engaging in a game with the opponent. There will be false moves and real moves, traps of weakness and leaving openings."
"A Martial Apprentice is about mastering techniques; a Martial Master is about applying techniques flexibly and making them practical."
"But becoming practical doesn’t mean abandoning techniques. Each seemingly casual swing still follows the utmost principles, connecting with the exertion of techniques and other excellent theories."