Chapter 91: Fists, Feet, and Weapons

“The Perfected Tai Chi Palm—this skill is quite remarkable!”

After demonstrating the Rolling Stone Fist, Lu Sheng showcased his mastery of the Perfected Palm, Mini Perfected Hand, and Great Perfected Hand techniques. However, during the two years he spent inside the Dragon Whale Beast, he had been focusing primarily on cultivating profound energy. Though he possessed the essence of Perfected Qi, his grasp of these martial arts was passable at best, and his moves could only be described as proficient rather than exceptional.

To Lu Chun Yuan, who had immersed himself in the Perfected Skill for over a century and taught countless disciples, Lu Sheng’s techniques appeared rather dull. It wasn’t until Lu Sheng combined Tai Chi Boxing elements with Perfected Hand techniques—creating the Perfected Tai Chi Palm—that Lu Chun Yuan showed some approval.

The flowing, continuous, and seamless spirit of Tai Chi Boxing resonated deeply with the unending circular motion embedded in Perfected Skill. Though Lu Sheng’s Perfected Tai Chi Palm was still elementary, the underlying essence forced Lu Chun Yuan to take it seriously.

“This style has tremendous potential!”

“I’d say the conceptual understanding is solid, the punches and kicks average, but the fundamentals are intact!” Lu Chun Yuan finally concluded.

From these martial arts, he could tell that Lu Sheng’s repertoire was limited, and most moves relied heavily on Perfected Qi’s conceptual support. Fortunately, Lu Sheng’s footwork, stance, accuracy, and sense of combat rhythm, while not outstanding, had no glaring flaws.

This solid foundation laid from childhood would save him much effort.

“Most likely, this is the groundwork laid by his father, a martial artist, from an early age,” Lu Chun Yuan thought, pleased as he recalled the Lu family from Black Stone Island.

Although Lu Sheng’s father, Lu Hai, was not particularly powerful in cultivation, his foundational training as a martial artist was decent. At the very least, Lu Chun Yuan wouldn’t have to spend much energy correcting Lu Sheng’s habits.

“Many martial artists develop bad habits in childhood due to neglect or lack of proper guidance—unequal strength between hands, discrepancies in leg length... these all hinder martial training.”

“Lu Sheng’s physique has none of these defects, so I won’t need to adjust anything.”

While internally appraising Lu Sheng’s basics, Lu Chun Yuan said, “You practice blade techniques, right? Show me your swordsmanship!”

He motioned for Lu Sheng to draw his weapon and attack him.

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“Teacher, be careful! This blade of mine is exceptionally sharp!”

Drawing his long sword, Lu Sheng said confidently, “The Great Strength Quartz was cut down by this very blade!”

Lu Chun Yuan carefully examined the weapon, immediately recognizing from its arcane patterns that it was a second-grade mystical weapon. Upon closer inspection, he sensed lingering natural energy infused within it.

“Fire elemental energy... this must be the domain of the Sunset Blade Sovereign, not the Heavenly Fire Revered. Yes, it has to be from the Sunset Blade Sovereign’s realm!”

“You’ve actually used this mystical weapon to draw out the Sunset Blade Sovereign’s natural power!”

Startled, Lu Chun Yuan exclaimed loudly.

Lu Sheng had been brought from the Western Regions by Lu Wan Shan. Although both the Heavenly Fire Revered and the Sunset Blade Sovereign specialized in fire elemental energy, the Heavenly Fire Revered had only just entered the Void and hadn’t yet condensed his domain. Thus, the fire elemental energy remaining on Lu Sheng’s blade most likely originated from the Sunset Blade Sovereign.

Hence, Lu Chun Yuan’s deduction.

“You have keen eyes, Teacher!” Lu Sheng praised.

“Yesterday, while in the Sunset Blade Sovereign’s domain, I sensed him wielding the Sunset Molten Gold Slash. In a moment of inspiration, I comprehended this blade technique.”

“That’s why I was able to invoke the natural power, shatter Quartz’s innate divine ability, and slay him outright!”

“Invoking natural power to slay Quartz!” Repeating this to himself, Lu Chun Yuan finally understood why Quartz had fallen so easily at Lu Sheng’s hands.

As a member of the Earth Ranking, Quartz wielded many protective techniques, even innate divine powers. Yet, when suddenly confronted with the domain power of a Grandmaster, he had no chance to defend.

That was why Quartz died so effortlessly.

“Seems like your blade must be incredibly sharp.”

With these thoughts, Lu Chun Yuan regarded the long sword. A weapon capable of invoking natural energy without damage was typically considered a nascent fourth-grade mystical weapon.

Though Lu Sheng’s blade was only second-grade, its material quality rivaled that of a fourth-grade weapon.

Such a sharp weapon could potentially pierce his defenses.

Without holding back, Lu Chun Yuan looked around their small courtyard and said, “I dare not test the blade techniques of a Grandmaster.”

“Instead, practice within my energy field here, so I can observe your power!”

Though this courtyard was relatively secluded, it wasn’t suitable for combat—the residual energy from a Martial Sect Master’s level clash could easily destroy it.

Even though Lu Sheng was not yet a Martial Sect Master, the Sunset Molten Gold Slash he had comprehended could unleash power at that level.

Under such circumstances, Lu Chun Yuan could not take the surrounding environment lightly during their exchange.

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Thus, he quickly abandoned his previous plan and instead sought to understand Lu Sheng’s true skill by controlling the energy field.

Lu Sheng recalled the blade intent of the Sunset Molten Gold Slash he had grasped yesterday and swung his long sword with fluid grace, delivering ninety-nine strikes in the blink of an eye.

Although this time, without triggering the Grandmaster’s natural power, the slash’s power was much reduced.

Still, Lu Chun Yuan exerted all his strength just to contain the destructive force within the courtyard.

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“Your conceptual understanding is good, but your techniques need refinement!”

After watching Lu Sheng perform the Sunset Molten Gold Slash, Lu Wan Shan offered a brief evaluation before frowning.

Clearly, Lu Chun Yuan had not fully recognized Lu Sheng’s blade prowess based on this single technique, which Lu Sheng had grasped by sudden inspiration.

“Do you know other blade techniques? Show me all of them!” Lu Chun Yuan requested.

Lu Sheng thought for a moment, then began demonstrating the only other blade technique he knew—the Perfected Blade.

“Stop! Stop! Stop...” Before Lu Sheng could finish the set, Lu Chun Yuan frowned and halted the demonstration.

“Boy, this is your favored weapon?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve practiced blade techniques for more than a month!”

His various wielding motions looked extremely immature.

From just one look, Lu Chun Yuan knew Lu Sheng hadn’t spent much time practicing blade techniques.

“Boy, with swordsmanship like this, if it weren’t for what Old Ancestor Wan Shan said, I wouldn’t believe it.”

“You actually killed the ninth-ranked talent on the Junjie List with this blade style?”

“In all of Wu Yuan, there aren’t two people who wield a blade like you do!”

Without mincing words, Lu Chun Yuan criticized.

With Lu Sheng’s current grasp of blade techniques, it truly squandered the blade intent he had comprehended.

Lu Sheng could only smile awkwardly and reply, “Teacher, you see clearly—I have practiced blade techniques for less than ten days!”