Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 191 - 145: Jade Bone Challenges the Heavy Saber, the Saber Cuts the Locust Branch
"Clang!"
Zhang Feng's palm pressed against the hilt of his saber at his waist, a wave of spiritual power locked onto Su Mu, and suddenly a cold gleam flickered, leaving behind a swift afterimage.
However, just as the long saber was about to be fully unsheathed, Su Mu moved without warning, taking a step forward. With the sound of cicadas screaming, his figure appeared out of thin air in front of Zhang Feng.
"Good, very fast!"
As Zhang Feng's pupils contracted sharply, Su Mu casually struck with a palm.
"Tss!"
Sparks flew in all directions, and Zhang Feng's right hand, holding the saber hilt, suddenly sank. It felt as if a thousand-pound hammer had struck it. The vibration through the hilt made his fingers ache, causing the long saber, nearly drawn, to return to its sheath amidst the flying sparks.
"Boom!"
Another explosive sound, as the sheath of Zhang Feng's saber shattered into pieces from the power contained within the returning saber, and the saber flew out of his hand at this moment.
Su Mu reached out effortlessly, seized the weapon in mid-air, spun it skilfully to create a flourish, and placed the saber horizontally on Zhang Feng's shoulder.
"I concede."
Calmly uttering a sentence, Su Mu shook his wrist to reverse the flourish, then handed the long saber back horizontally.
"This..."
The arrogance on Zhang Feng's face froze, his expression changed several times, and noticing the blade on his shoulder, cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He knew clearly that if it weren't a mere spar, he might have already lost his head.
"Hero Li's martial arts are strong; it was my lack of vision and recklessness that offended you."
After a moment of silence, Zhang Feng lowered his head, respectfully cupped his fists, and bowed to Su Mu. He then solemnly took the long saber from Su Mu's hands, and when he stood back up, the arrogance on his face transformed into respect.
"What a remarkable body technique..." Li Yuanshan's eyes flashed with a glimmer, and after expressing his admiration, he changed the subject, "I observed Li's saber technique earlier; it seems you are a saber wielder as well. How about a little exchange of moves between us?"
Feeling the fervent gaze of Li Yuanshan, Su Mu immediately understood that Li Yuanshan was not trying to regain face but was rather itching to spar with a strong opponent.
"Since Instructor Li has spoken, I shall oblige him respectfully."
At this moment, Zhang Jin stepped forward quickly, took down his long saber from his waist, and offered it with both hands, his face somewhat embarrassed.
"Be careful, Li!"
Li Yuanshan gave a low shout, and a far more powerful and solid spiritual power than before locked onto Su Mu. Without any flourish, the elder instantly drew his saber.
Li Yuanshan's saber was not an ordinary long saber but a broad, dark heavy saber. It looked more like a large ruler than a saber. As energy surged within Li Yuanshan, he twisted his wrist and the heavy saber spun out of its sheath.
Whoosh!
The heavy saber was edgeless; it hadn't been sharpened, and as it sliced through the air, the air compressed visibly, creating a heavy pressure. Li Yuanshan swung it horizontally, bringing terrifying power towards Su Mu.
If Su Mu were to repeat his previous technique, the heavy saber in Li Yuanshan's hand, laden with terrifying power, was not to be trifled with. At worst, it would shake back the hand bones; at best, it would directly break them.
Facing this slash, Su Mu's eyes flickered; he could sense the profoundness of this swing, appearing slow yet pressing like a mountain descending.
"A heavy saber is edgeless, great skill conceals simplicity… Excellent!"
Throughout nearly three months of forging the Cold Heron Saber, the martial arts that advanced the most was not the Melting Gold Technique, but the other three Eighth-Grade Cross-Training Martial Arts.
Currently, Red Fire Technique, Iron Arm Skill, and Iron Cloth Shirt were all just a hair's breadth away from Great Success.
Moreover, with the now perfect Vajra Body, Iron Sand Palm, and Iron Whip Leg, Su Mu possessed the terrifying mastery of six Cross-Training Martial Arts.
"Benefactor, don't!"
Seeing Su Mu directly confronting Li Yuanshan's heavy saber with his arm, Zhang Jin exclaimed. Even Li Yuanshan showed a look of astonishment.
However, Li Yuanshan knew clearly that since Li Feiyu dared to do so, he must have a reason. Thinking this way, he still reduced his power by thirty percent.
"Clang!"
The heavy saber, like a mountain toppling down, collided hard with Su Mu's arm, emitting a sound like metal striking metal amidst the sparking flames in the courtyard.
An intense, strange force transmitted from the arm bones, containing a peculiar resonance force, spreading instantly across Su Mu's entire body.
If another martial artist were in his place, even clad in heavy armor, this resonance force from the heavy saber would be enough to tear muscles and break bones, causing bleeding from all orifices.
Many Seventh-Grade Martial Artists had fallen under Li Yuanshan's blade, and even the bald monks of the Vajra Temple wouldn't dare to bluntly take his heavy saber with their bare flesh.
"Huh?"
Su Mu felt this resonating force entering his body, his eyes gleaming. This force was somewhat similar to the Rock Shattering Fist, but it encountered the Jade Bone of Su Mu's Fourth Bone Forging.
The Jade Bone, upon sensing the resonating force, had blue light flowing over every bone. The Strength Pill at his dantian gently rotated, and the Powerful Force Jiao emerged from the dantian.
Su Mu, relying on the Pill Force from Four Refining Force, the Jade Bone from Fourth Bone Forging, and several Cross-Training Martial Arts, managed to withstand and completely dissolve the resonating force contained in the heavy saber. His figure merely trembled slightly, standing like an unmoved mountain, not retreating half a step.
"Iron Cloth Shirt… and Iron Arm Skill, Mr. Li is truly a martial genius. At such a young age, his mastery of Cross-Training Martial Arts is in no way inferior to the Zen Generation Masters of the Vajra Temple!"
This scene shocked Li Yuanshan, changing his address for Su Mu from Brother Li to the respected Mr. Li. Su Mu's accomplishments in Cross-Training Martial Arts were truly astonishing. Facing Li Yuanshan's full strength, he didn't retreat a single step, and adding to that, the Lightweight Body Technique demonstrated earlier.
"With such skill at such a young age, this person must not be offended… If he becomes an enemy, one must use thunderous means to mobilize the Martial Arts Hall's strong players to encircle and eliminate him without regard!"
Li Yuanshan thought to himself, realizing that if they were to become enemies, he wouldn't care about the face of Changfeng County's number one Martial Arts Hall but would use all available resources to eliminate Su Mu promptly.
By this moment, outsiders Zhang Jin and Zhang Feng were already dumbfounded. Li Yuanshan's power within the Martial Arts Hall ranked among the top three. If it was about destructive power, Li Yuanshan's heavy saber was considered the hall's number one.
Even though it was just a friendly exchange without full force, there were quite a few who could take Li Yuanshan's heavy saber. However, it was the first time Zhang Jin and Zhang Feng saw someone like Su Mu casually take Li Yuanshan's saber blow with an arm.
"It's only courtesy to reciprocate; please, Hero Li, make a move as well!"
At this moment, Li Yuanshan invited Su Mu to make a move.
"No need for further sparring, I merely understand saber technique a little. I recently obtained a move by chance; please, Instructor Li, give me some pointers."
"Please, Mr. Li!"
Su Mu stood silently like a pine tree before a locust tree. As he inhaled lightly and exhaled, he placed his hand neither hurriedly nor slowly on the saber hilt, and in that instant, the aura perceived by Li Yuanshan changed dramatically.
It was like a peerless blade about to be unsheathed.
The wind suddenly rose on the field. A cold gleam flashed, and Su Mu calmly sheathed the saber. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
Zhang Jin and Zhang Feng showed puzzled expressions on their faces. To them, Su Mu had merely drawn the saber but hadn't swung it, so why was he sheathing it now?
Only Li Yuanshan's pupils contracted to pinholes.
After Su Mu sheathed the saber, three steps away, a branch of the locust tree suddenly broke at the base, falling to the ground with a smooth surface like a mirror.
