Chapter Thirty-Nine: Passing the Test

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"Self-confidence is a good thing. But don't say I didn't warn you: before absolute strength, no matter how ingenious your formation, it will make no difference. Since you four are coming at me together, I won't hold back as I did before," the instructor said calmly.

"Understood," Li Fu replied, nodding with a grave expression.

"Even so, you still wish to try?"

"Yes."

"Good! Good! This is interesting indeed. As expected of the Grand Preceptor's disciple!"

The instructor gazed at Li Fu, a faint, confident smile playing on his lips, his demeanor relaxed and unruffled.

"In a moment, the three of you should stand in a 'pin' formation and use the Clear Wall tactic."

Clang!

As soon as Li Fu finished speaking, he suddenly drew the longsword at his waist. A blue radiance coated the blade, smooth as autumn water.

Gripping the sword, Li Fu fixed his gaze on the instructor across from him, his expression solemn.

"I didn't expect the Grand Preceptor to pass the 'Azure Cleansing' sword down to you," the instructor murmured, a trace of emotion flickering across his face.

Li Fu, meanwhile, was studying the instructor with all his focus, then slowly closed his eyes. In his mind, he carefully recalled the palm strike the instructor had just delivered against the previous student.

"Left foot moves first; the upper muscles of his right arm didn't tense. In other words, he didn't actually use much cultivation power, relying purely on years of combat experience. Also, there are heavy calluses only at the tiger's mouth—he must be a general adept at using weapons. Such hands rarely excel in unarmed combat..."

Clang!

The sword hummed. Li Fu's eyes snapped open, brilliance flashing within. In the next instant, before the onlookers even realized, Li Fu's figure vanished from view.

Still as a resting child, swift as a startled hare!

"Azure Lotus Step!"

"Heh, interesting!" The instructor gave a soft exclamation, smiling faintly, as immovable as a mountain, his expression mild and untroubled. Though Li Fu's footwork was astoundingly swift and personally taught by the Grand Preceptor, he was still only at the Origin Realm—his movements could not escape the instructor's insight.

Once again, a simple palm strike—it looked no different from before, seemingly straightforward. Yet Yang Zixu and the others felt from the wind of that palm a thunderous, irresistible force.

Most chilling of all, the palm landed precisely on the trajectory of the sword's blue glow!

But then, something unexpected happened. At the spot where the instructor's palm fell, a blue radiance flashed, and a hurried voice called out:

"Zixu, Wind Pool!"

Almost simultaneously—clang!

Another sword cry rang out. A blade light swept from Yang Zixu's waist, aimed straight for the back of the instructor's head. When Li Fu's command finished, the sword was less than half an inch from the instructor's skull!

Change came in a heartbeat. The instructor, previously as steady as a mountain, suddenly changed expression. In the briefest instant, Li Fu and Yang Zixu's cooperation was perfectly in sync. Such a pincer attack, even among soldiers who had lived side by side for years, was rarely so flawlessly coordinated!

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Ding!

The instructor did not turn. With his other hand, he brushed forcefully backward, striking the incoming sword light. His sturdy palm, imbued with potent true energy, was like forged steel. It smacked the blade, producing a metallic ring and deflecting Yang Zixu's sword two inches to the left, narrowly missing his own head.

At the same time, the instructor's other hand abruptly changed direction, shooting forward to seize Li Fu's sword-wielding wrist with lightning speed.

In all his years at the Hundred Battles Training Ground, this was the first time he had taken a student so seriously.

Li Fu and Yang Zixu's coordination was simply too perfect, their timing impeccable. The instant he moved, Yang Zixu behind him seized that fleeting opportunity to strike at his vital point.

Swish!

Li Fu's sword brushed aside, switching from a thrust to a rising slash, changing his attack to meet the instructor's wrist.

Bang!

A heavy look finally entered the instructor's eyes. The force of his palm burst forth, surging like a tidal wave toward Li Fu.

"Not good!"

Alarmed cries rose from the crowd. Li Fu's abilities were far below the instructor's; if this palm landed, he might not die, but he would certainly suffer grievous injuries.

Li Fu was forced to retreat rapidly, but the instructor shadowed him relentlessly.

"Young Lord!" Chu Ming, standing aside, grew visibly anxious. Clearly, the situation was highly unfavorable for Li Fu.

"Baihui, Zhongfu, General's Platform—strike now!"

Just then, another unexpected event occurred.

A blue radiance enveloped the longsword, surging like waves, then unfolding in the air like an azure lotus blossoming on the blade.

Buzz!

As the lotus bloomed, tiny sword energies danced around Li Fu within a three-zhang radius.

The instructor felt as though he were caught in a raging sea, chaos all around—then, abruptly, he crashed into an immovable mountain. No matter how he charged, that mountain stood tall and unshakable.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three muffled sounds—three thin blood trails appeared on the instructor's palm! At that same moment, attacks from Yang Zixu, Jiang Xiaolong, and Chu Ming struck in succession!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Beset on three sides by their assault, the instructor's true energy surged, his aura overwhelming. With both palms, he unleashed dozens of palm winds in an instant, not dodging but meeting the attacks head-on!

Each of his strikes seemed gentle, but in truth, they landed with mountainous weight. Whether Yang Zixu's sword, Chu Ming's spear, or Jiang Xiaolong's fists, all bore an unbearable force. If the three had not taken turns absorbing the blows, they would have long since been defeated. Even so, their faces were pale, and their bodies trembled slightly.

"Incredible! These four are actually holding out this long against the instructor!" murmured one of the students watching, and most present were astonished by the contest.

With just two commands from Li Fu, Yang Zixu and the others cooperated flawlessly, instantly reversing their disadvantage—especially Yang Zixu's opening strike, which nearly succeeded.

"How can their coordination be so refined? And their positions are just ordinary, nothing mysterious about them," some wondered aloud.

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"Indeed, such a formation is common among small squads on the battlefield. Even some academies here in the Eastern Capital teach this method—it's no rare array. What stands out is that young lord from Heavenly Strategy: his eye for timing is simply unmatched!" Amid the crowd's astonishment, many gazes turned to Li Fu. With nothing but the combined strength of four at the Origin Realm, they could hold their own against the instructor!

"Hahaha! Excellent! You are truly worthy of being the Grand Preceptor's disciple!" The instructor laughed aloud. Li Fu, though thoroughly suppressed, managed to unleash that sword art, identify openings in their clash, and direct the others' attacks accordingly. Such perception and adaptability brought the instructor genuine joy.

This year, the Hundred Battles Training Ground had changed its selection process to choose only the best, aiming to find promising young leaders among the scholars of the Eastern Capital to prevent a future shortage of military talent.

"I never imagined the prowess at the Dew Realm would be so formidable!" Jiang Xiaolong's chest heaved, his right arm trembling slightly. Although the three of them had jointly withstood the instructor's palm, its weight was crushing; had another strike followed, none of them could have endured it.

The gulf between cultivation levels cannot be bridged by numbers alone. This is why, on the battlefield, a general can stride through ten thousand troops as if in his own garden.

"But our opponent has only one attack left. If we can withstand this final blow, we've passed the test!" Yang Zixu frowned, his breath unsteady—a testament to the immense pressure they faced.

"Come! Show me just how capable you truly are!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than the instructor let out a thunderous shout, his aura surging, robes billowing. In an instant, a torrent of true energy erupted from him like a flood. Without reservation, he unleashed a mighty palm wind, aimed straight at Li Fu's face, producing a series of explosive sonic booms in the air!

It was like the cry of a phoenix!

The onlookers all wore looks of alarm.

This was the instructor's final strike!

But the strike came too swiftly! Facing it, Li Fu felt there was nowhere to dodge, enveloped completely, unable to find even a gap to break through.

He poured all his true energy into his sword, holding it as a shield before his chest.

A sharp collision—his sword vibrated violently, a silver sheen running along its blade, channeling a tremendous force. The sword's intent barely blocked the palm's might, but could not stop the force from traveling down the blade.

Li Fu's hand began to tremble, then his arm, then his entire right hand shook violently, as though he could no longer hold the sword and would lose his grip at any moment.

Then, a surge of hidden force followed—perhaps even a second wave!

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Four explosive sounds rang out in succession.

Li Fu was driven back again and again, his steps faltering, each one leaving a shallow print on the hard stone steps behind him. After retreating more than ten steps, he finally managed to steady himself.

In the end, he had withstood that final blow.