High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Xu Wuyi watched the ten sword shadows flying toward him, his expression tranquil.

He slowly raised his left hand, palm up.

A ball of dark golden flame ignited in his palm, silent and still.

The flame was no bigger than a fist, but within it, the faint phantom of a three-legged Divine Bird soared, radiating a scorching and magnificent will.

”Golden Crow Carrying the Earth, fire to guard the eight directions.”

Xu Wuyi murmured, pushing his left hand forward.

The dark golden flame instantly spread, forming a thin curtain of fire that shielded him.

The curtain of fire looked fragile, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.

But the moment the ten faint gray sword shadows struck the curtain of fire—

”HISSSSSS—”

Like water poured into hot oil, the ten sword shadows trembled violently as their edges melted and disintegrated at a rate visible to the naked eye.

In just two seconds, all ten sword shadows had vanished.

The curtain of fire remained, without so much as a ripple.

Su Yueling’s face went completely pale.

Her strongest killing blow was utterly useless against the curtain of fire he had so casually conjured.

’This gap... It’s far beyond what could be explained by Level.’

’It was a complete and utter rout on the level of Mental Realm.’

’It was the fundamental suppression of a Heart Image Prototype over ordinary Martial Arts.’

Xu Wuyi retracted the curtain of fire. Looking at Su Yueling, he spoke slowly, ”Your ’shadow’ is not profound enough.”

”The essence of the Shadow Sword Technique lies in the shifting between illusion and reality, in the interweaving of Spirit and the physical world.”

”Your sword shadows strive too much for substance, losing the unpredictability of ’shadow.’ If you could find a balance between the illusory and the real, their power would increase by at least thirty percent.”

Su Yueling stared blankly at Xu Wuyi. After a long moment, she asked softly, ”Why... why are you telling me this?”

Xu Wuyi fell silent for a moment before replying, ”I’m stronger than you all now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll always be. I hope... that everyone can become stronger.”

Having experienced the battle in the Celestial Spirit Star Realm, Xu Wuyi understood the weight of the word ”comrade” far better than his peers.

When they were on the battlefield in the future, their petty internal conflicts would be trivial.

Su Yueling’s expression flickered at his words.

She lowered her head and was silent for a few seconds. When she looked up again, the cold clarity had returned to her eyes.

”I concede.”

With those words, she gave Xu Wuyi a long, deep look before her form dissolved into specks of light.

[Victory! Advancing to the next round!]

Xu Wuyi stood with his spear, gazing at the spot where Su Yueling had vanished, and let out a soft sigh.

’On the path of Martial Arts, some walk together, and some are surpassed.’

’But in the end, only a very few can make it to the final destination.’

...

The third knockout round, the fourth...

By the time Xu Wuyi’s figure faded from the arena for the fourth time, the knockout stage of the Youth Tournament was nearing its end.

Four battles, four victories.

Not a single fight lasted more than ten seconds.

Spear out, enemy down, victory declared.

His victories were so concise they were almost cruel, and the spectators’ initial shock gradually turned to numbness.

On the leaderboard, the name ”Xu Wuyi” remained firmly at the top. His score was in a league of its own, far ahead of anyone else.

And as the elimination rounds progressed, the number of remaining contestants dwindled, but their average strength grew ever higher.

Every person who made it past the third knockout round was a true genius Martial Artist. Their Life Energy Levels were typically above 34, and each possessed their own unique techniques and trump cards.

But even so, they all seemed hopelessly outmatched against Xu Wuyi.

It wasn’t that they were weak; it was that Xu Wuyi was simply too strong.

A Life Energy Level of 37.9, a Spirit Level of 39.0, and on top of that, a newly formed Heart Image Prototype—the ”Golden Crow Carrying the Earth” Mental Realm. This level of all-encompassing dominance was beyond his peers’ comprehension.

When the fourth knockout round concluded and the list of the top thirty-two was announced, the entire Youth Tournament’s attention was focused squarely on Xu Wuyi.

Everyone wanted to know just how far this monster who had come out of nowhere could go.

And what were his limits?

...

On the evening after the first day of the knockout rounds, Xu Wuyi was cultivating in the Cultivation Room as usual.

Anna’s virtual avatar materialized, bringing the latest tournament update.

”The list for the top thirty-two has been published,” Anna said in a calm voice. ”Your first opponent is confirmed: Chen Tao of Beiming Martial Arts Academy. Life Energy Level 34.5. Specializes in ’Thunderous Fist.’ His preliminary match record is eighty-eight wins and four losses.”

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and nodded. ”Understood.”

He didn’t look at his opponent’s file, nor did he make any specific preparations.

This wasn’t arrogance; it was simply unnecessary.

At his level, it was difficult to find anyone among his peers who could force him to use his true strength.

Unless he was facing an opponent on the level of Chu Shanhe or Zhai Zidu, the outcome of the fight was already a foregone conclusion.

He was more concerned with his own cultivation progress.

His ”Golden Crow Carrying the Earth” Visualization Method had reached ”Entry Level 91%,” just one step away from Minor Achievement.

Once he reached Minor Achievement, his Spiritual Power would undergo a qualitative leap, and his Heart Image Prototype would become even more stable.

At that point, his strength would take another great leap forward.

’Time to continue cultivating.’ Xu Wuyi closed his eyes once more.

...

「The next day.」

In the massive Circular Plaza, only thirty-two figures remained.

All who had made it this far were the elites of the Federation’s younger generation. Each one radiated a powerful aura, their eyes sharp and brimming with fighting spirit.

But when their gazes swept over the figure in dark gray, their expressions couldn’t help but grow heavy.

Xu Wuyi.

By now, his name weighed like a great mountain on the hearts of every other contestant.

No one wanted to face him early, but everyone knew that to claim the championship, they would have to overcome this mountain eventually.

”First match!” The system’s voice echoed across the plaza. ”Contestants Xu Wuyi of Star Martial University and Chen Tao of Beiming Martial Arts Academy, please enter Arena 1!”

As the announcement ended, two figures faded from view.

「Arena 1.」

Xu Wuyi stood with his spear. Opposite him was a burly young man in the standard combat uniform of the Beiming Martial Arts Academy—it was Chen Tao.

Chen Tao’s expression was grave, even a little pale.

He knew his luck was rotten, having drawn Xu Wuyi for his very first match.

But he didn’t back down.

He had his own pride, having fought his way into the top thirty-two.

Besides, he was a fourth-year student. This was his last chance to compete in the Youth Tournament, so he had to give it his all.

”Chen Tao, from Beiming Martial Arts Academy!” he announced in a deep voice, clenching his fists. The Qi and Blood in his body began to surge, and a faint peal of thunder could be heard.

This was a phenomenon that occurred when ’Thunderous Fist’ was cultivated to a high Realm—the fists struck like thunder, their power astonishing.

Xu Wuyi nodded. ”Proceed.”

There were no more words.

Chen Tao moved.

He knew that against Xu Wuyi, any probing attacks would be pointless. He had to go all out from the very beginning.

”Thunderstorm!”

He let out a low roar and punched with both fists!

Pale blue lightning crackled over his knuckles, erupting into two ferocious fist projections that shot toward Xu Wuyi like true thunderbolts!

Before the attack even reached him, the sound of thunder was already deafening, making the very air in the arena hum and vibrate.