White mist rapidly spread all around, and within a few breaths, it had created a space to serve as the battlefield.
Ning Zhuo sighed, stepped forward, emerged from the crowd, and stood before the projected image of Linghu Jiu.
For Ning Zhuo, being drawn into an unprepared battle was not to his liking. In his heart, war was perilous and fraught with danger; each initiation of combat needed to be taken with utmost caution.
Because once hands were truly laid, it signified that all other means had been exhausted and that combat was the reluctant, last resort.
But the current situation was quite special whether it was Lin Bufan, Shen Lingshu, Zhu Xuanji, or the Five Elements Divine Master everyone wanted Ning Zhuo to fight.
Compelled by circumstances, Ning Zhuo, being but a small Foundation Establishment Cultivator, could only comply.
"This battle must be won," Ning Jiufan thought as he watched Ning Zhuo's retreating back, silently commenting, "As clever as you are, you must understand this is not a simple contest, right?"
Ning Zhuo certainly understood!
The challenge of Linghu Jiu's projection was indeed unexpected, originating from the idea of the Lonely Sword Lord's Dharma Body within the Luminous Mirror, rather than being arranged by Zhu Xuanji or Lin Bufan.
Yet, this battle still pertained to the distribution of benefits from this journey, and the future relationship between the Ning Family and the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.
If Ning Zhuo were to win, the Ning Family would secure more benefits, and the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect would treat the Ning Family with even greater respect. The reverse held true as well.
Ning Zhuo had the intent to win, but pleasantries still needed to be exchanged, "Brother Linghu, to think we have drunk and reveled in joy together. I truly did not wish for today's battle to occur."
Linghu Jiu, however, shook his head and said, "Young brother, I will not hide the truth from you. This elder brother has long harbored the desire to spar with you, and today I take the opportunity to do so. Please fight with me with all your might!"
Linghu Jiu was straightforward; his wrist flicked, twirling a sword flower before he immediately pounced towards Ning Zhuo.
"Just what I was hoping for!" Ning Zhuo clenched his fists and charged as well.
He had never fought so directly and in close quarters with another Foundation Establishment Cultivator wielding a weapon and was filled with much anticipation.
Swordsmanship—Cup Brimming Over.
Linghu Jiu's sword edge cut through the air, creating a phantom. Like an overflowing cup, slightly trembling, marvelously to the highest pinnacle.
Ning Zhuo's hands glowed with bloodline patterns, acting as boxing gloves, and he blocked the edge of the sword.
But Linghu Jiu did not advance his attack; it was like a dragonfly skimming the water's surface, tasting and then stopping.
This was contrary to common sense. Ning Zhuo was slightly surprised, thinking since you don't attack, then it is my turn to strike.
Ning Zhuo took the initiative, closing in on Linghu Jiu.
Linghu Jiu laughed lightly, "Young brother, brace yourself."
Swordsmanship—Floating Aroma.
In a moment, his long sword turned from solid to ethereal, with sword intent gushing forth like an encompassing fragrance of wine, soft yet aggressive.
The onslaught was fierce!
Ning Zhuo could only retreat, retreat, and continue to retreat.
After a few attacks, Linghu Jiu suddenly withdrew his hand and switched to defense.
Lin Shanshan made a sound of realization, recognizing, "This is the Wine Forest Swordsmanship that I created with the senior brother."
Everyone glanced sideward.
Lin Shanshan chuckled awkwardly and explained the origin.
It turned out that when Linghu Jiu was grounded in the Myriad Demons Cave, he was extremely bored and restless, and in his mind overflowed the thought of creating his own swordsmanship.
When Lin Shanshan brought him food, Linghu Jiu flaunted his creation, which irked her greatly.
Because Linghu Jiu's swordsmanship, all named after wine, fully revealed his intense longing for fine liquor.
Lin Shanshan disliked this and thus actively participated in the creation of the swordsmanship, adding her own ideals to the techniques, hoping in this way to persuade her senior brother to quit drinking!
Wine Forest Swordsmanship—Meeting a Kindred Spirit.
Linghu Jiu's long sword once again gathered, from ethereal to real. The sword tip thrust forward, obviously very sharp, yet conveyed feelings of warmth and enthusiasm, as if inviting one for a drink!
Ning Zhuo couldn't dodge in time and was stabbed in the shoulder, but fortunately, the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique shielded him and blocked the sharp sword edge.
Ning Zhuo broke into a cold sweat and hastily retreated.
With Linghu Jiu's sword techniques unrelentingly assaulting him, Ning Zhuo could only dodge clumsily for a while.
Seeing this, Lin Shanshan couldn't help but laugh and clap, "Senior brother, well done. Give this big head a good lesson!"
Hearing these words, the reflection of Linghu Jiu was instantly invigorated and he laughed, "Junior sister, then watch carefully."
Wine Forest Swordsmanship—Drunk Lying in Clouds.
Linghu Jiu's sword moves suddenly became flamboyant and unrestrained, like a drunken man dancing, utterly formless, yet the offensive became even sharper.
Ning Zhuo momentarily found it difficult to discern, feeling the sword's edge stabbing from all sorts of tricky angles, making it hard for him to defend effectively, and he soon suffered many punctures.
In a few instances, the sword's tip struck the same spot repeatedly, tearing through the bloodline defenses and leaving Ning Zhuo wounded.
Ning Zhuo quickly retreated, applying the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique to rapidly heal his wounds.
Displaying his Demon Skill in front of everyone was a conscious act of public declaration.
Typically, cultivators of the Righteous Path would reprimand others for practicing Demon Skills, but seeing Zhu Xuanji unmoved as if he had long been aware of it, even Lin Bufan had no choice but to accept it.
Lin Shanshan's expression momentarily froze.
Seeing Ning Zhuo hurt made her suddenly realize that her own senior brother was merely an image, while Ning Zhuo was a living being of flesh and blood. Such a trial of combat was naturally more perilous for Ning Zhuo.
However, Lin Shanshan quickly grew angry with herself, "Why should I worry about him?"
"This Big Head Ning, clearly having a technique for close combat, has always hidden this from me!"
Wine Forest Swordsmanship—Satisfying and Stopping.
Linghu Jiu's sword edge moved with the swiftness and fierceness of one drinking eagerly, as if intending to utterly annihilate his opponent. But suddenly, amidst the most aggressive onslaught, it came to an abrupt halt. The sword technique returned to defense, transforming into sword energies flowing like water to protect himself.
From this misstep, he directly missed his opportunity to attack. He should have pressed the advantage into a decisive victory, but he voluntarily withdrew instead.
Observers understood the reason.
This was because the Wine Forest Swordsmanship was co-created by Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanshan, who held conflicting philosophies. While Linghu Jiu wanted to drink, Lin Shanshan insisted that he quit. Reflected in their swordplay, this resulted in a sudden shift between offense and defense, unpredictably alternating between the two and confounding opponents.
Once Linghu Jiu withdrew, Ning Zhuo took the initiative to attack.
He gradually adapted to the Wine Forest Swordsmanship and began to reverse the situation.
"This swordsmanship is not very sophisticated, it's quite fragmented."
"One part is intricate and precise, while another is loose and free-spirited!"
Ning Zhuo shouted, "Brother Linghu, if you think you can beat me with this swordsmanship, aren't you underestimating me a little too much?"
Lin Shanshan scoffed in her heart: "This Big Head Ning has just stabilized his stance, and now he's getting arrogant. This is just the beginning! The senior brother hasn't even started showing his true strength yet."
"But speaking of which, Ning Zhuo is indeed clever. He hasn't been at Little Struggle Peak for long, yet he's improved so much in close combat. I still remember when he first arrived..."
Lin Shanshan felt a sense of satisfaction in her heart and fondly reminisced about the good times she and Ning Zhuo had shared.
"Ptui! This Big Head Ning kidnapped me and publicly embarrassed my father, all with ill intentions!" Lin Shanshan quickly ceased her wandering thoughts.
Wine Forest Swordsmanship — Drunken Cup of Mercy.
As Linghu Jiu leaned towards defense, his constant guarding eventually gave him the upper hand.
Ning Zhuo sustained injuries once more and retreated in surprise.
Zhu Xuanji suddenly chuckled: "This swordplay is getting interesting."
It turns out that Drunken Cup of Mercy, though appearing to be a defensive move, subtly contained an offensive drive. It was like a carefully laid trap that lured the enemy into continuous attacks.
Ning Zhuo seemed to have the advantage, but in reality, his body was constantly battered by the sword's force, suffering many hidden losses. At first glance, the sword strikes seemed minor, but as they accumulated, they became significant.
If the previous swordplay reflected conflicting philosophies between Linghu Jiu and Lin Shanshan, leading to a fragmented technique with poor practical effects, then at this point, their opposing ideas had unexpectedly merged, creating an unforeseen and effective result.
Wine Forest Swordsmanship — Behind the Curtain Scent of Wine.
Linghu Jiu's sword moves remained reserved and profound, like smelling the fragrance of wine from behind a curtain, primarily defensive.
But Ning Zhuo felt a looming, strong threat.
Because he had once drunk with Linghu Jiu, he now understood the mindset behind the creation of this swordsmanship.
Behind the Curtain Scent of Wine... Linghu Jiu's hidden yearning was blocked by a curtain. Could a thin curtain possibly hide his craving for fine wine?
Once that desire erupted, it was bound to be an intense, enveloping fragrance of wine.
Ning Zhuo retreated hastily!
Seeing his sword strike miss, Linghu Jiu was both disappointed and delighted: "Brother Ning Zhuo, you understand me."
"Can you handle this move?"
Wine Forest Swordsmanship's final technique — Raising the Cup to Drown Sorrows!
In an instant, Linghu Jiu returned to defense, but his sword intent surged and spread, filled with plaintive sorrow. His inner turmoil had no outlet but to be expressed through heavy drinking.
It was both an attack and a defense. Both a physical consolidation and an emotional release!
Ning Zhuo was hit!
Blood sprayed, leaving a large gash in his chest.
The defense of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique was as fragile as paper.
Spectators changed their expressions.
Lin Bufan, with a cultivation level at the Nascent Soul Level, also revealed a hint of shock. That's because he saw the shadow of a profound secret book within this sword technique.
"Lonely Sword Scripture?"
Ning Zhuo withdrew again and again, quickly swallowing Elixir Pills and frantically using the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique to heal.
Although the bleeding stopped, the wound did not heal immediately. Sword intent lingered around the injury, hindering Ning Zhuo's own treatment for a short time.
"Wine Forest Swordsmanship... I wonder how it compares to my own swordsmanship," Sun Lingtong thought, feeling a surge of combativeness from within the Mechanical Dragon.
"Well done!" Ning Zhuo exclaimed loudly.
He was not disheartened at all and maintained a positive mindset.
After all, he knew Linghu Jiu had been immersed in close combat swordsmanship for years, whereas he had spent how much time?
There could be no comparison.
To be defeated was normal!
"I've learned a lot, truly a lot!" This bout had given Ning Zhuo much to reflect upon and had been incredibly rewarding.
He wished he could always spar with Linghu Jiu like this, until he himself was defeated.
"But right now, I really need to win."
The significance of this battle wasn't merely a superficial spar; it was about the future of the Ning Family and the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, about a wager involving the Five Elements God Master and the Lonely Sword Lord.
"The probing ends here. I'm getting serious now!"
"Brother Linghu, please receive my move."
After the call, Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his face showing solemnity, and swiftly executed Wood Element Magic.
Root Vine Entanglement!
Roots and vines sprang from nowhere, rapidly entwining around Linghu Jiu.
Close combat... was just Ning Zhuo's weakness. Five Elements Techniques, on the other hand, were becoming his strength!