Chapter 36

As for combat experience, Feng Yi has learned much from fictional characters.

For example, the Five Absolutes of the Central Plains, Guo Jing, Yang Guo and others could toy with and instantly kill top-tier masters like Ling Zhi Shangren, Li Mochou, Huo Du, Xiao Longnv, Yin Kexi, Ni Mo Xing, and Xiao Xiang Zi, whose cultivation is not inferior to theirs—so why can't Jin Lun do the same? There's no other reason: his combat experience is severely lacking.

Before Jin Lun entered the Central Plains, in his life against opponents, he settled fights with just three or two moves; the implication is naturally that he is formidable, but it goes without saying how weak his opponents were.

For such a person, one cannot expect any real combat ability from him!

However, even though Feng Yi lacks experience, ordinary martial artists, upon making a move, can instantly spot their flaws and defeat them in a single strike.

Once the Divine Illumination Scripture is perfected, internal cultivation reaches the state of entering the divine and sitting in illumination, that is, 'the subject meets with the spirit, not with the eyes'; relying solely on spirit, one can sense the opponent's moves.

Therefore, against those martial artists besieging him, as well as the exceptionally talented juniors Wang Xiaofeng and Shui Sheng, he defeats them with a single move.

In Feng Yi's eyes, they have too many flaws, and this is also the essence of the martial arts principle 'avoid the solid, strike the void, attack the arrogant, destroy the void'.

No matter how strong one's martial arts, the flaw is their weakest point.

Of course, everyone understands the principle, but the key issue lies in how to discover and seize the opponent's flaw.

The Divine Illumination Scripture emphasizes: 'to know when to stop with the official, while the spirit wishes to act, following heavenly principle, to criticize the great excess, to guide the great opening, because it is naturally so.'

As long as there is a move, there is form; with form comes a flaw; a flaw is the shortcoming in your technique that you fail to guard against.

External techniques are like this, and internal cultivation is likewise, because internal cultivation has its energy gates.

Even profound internal cultivation without any flaw, many people's internal cultivation is insufficient, and their internal breath cannot reach certain acupoints in certain meridians; this is the flaw.

This cannot escape Feng Yi, who has perfected the Divine Illumination Skill; he only needs to break it with the butcher's ox dissection method.

And this is also the realm attained by Ding Dian in the original plot.

Many masters who would make Di Yun utterly unable to contend cannot dodge Ding Dian's single grasp when facing him; the reason lies here.

At that time, although Di Yun said his martial arts were completely lost, his eyesight remained; he possessed the martial arts capable of defeating the siege of myriad sect disciples, so one can imagine how terrifying Ding Dian, who had perfected the Divine Illumination Skill, was.

Now Feng Yi's Divine Illumination Skill has been perfected; his internal strength is not inferior to that of Ding Dian in the original plot, and Ding Dian has further imparted all his years of martial insights wholeheartedly.

Ordinary martial arts masters are riddled with flaws in his eyes; if one truly cannot be sure of killing him, they would, like Ding Dian in the original plot, first wonder whether their own divine skill was not perfected, rather than suspect the opponent of having some protective measure.

The Divine Illumination Skill gives people a feeling that is utterly absurd, so confident!

Of course, the higher one's martial arts cultivation, the fewer the flaws, to the point of having none.

Then one needs to lure the opponent into making mistakes, creating a flaw for them; this is the principle of 'lure with advantage, pursue with benefit'.

However, a flawless master has reached the sublime realm of peak perfection and pure mastery; you understand, they may not lack understanding either. At that point, who can defeat whom depends on each person's luck.

Feng Yi reckons that such a person is hard to find in today's world, and he can only start by targeting these masters of the Southern Four Oddities, first enhancing his own abilities.

Just now he had exchanged moves with Shui Dai and Hua Tiegan in succession, and he already knew clearly the opponent's martial arts cultivation; the martial arts of Falling Flowers Flowing Water were roughly equal, so facing Liu Chengfeng or Lu Tianshu, as long as it was a one-on-one duel, meeting the enemy bare-handed would not be considered reckless overconfidence.

Moreover, his weapon techniques were not top-tier martial arts; Ding Dian told him that he himself did not know the Linked City Sword Technique.

Because Mei Niansheng said that the Linked City Sword Technique was inherently inferior to the Divine Illumination Classic, and furthermore, he who knew it had little time left to live, so there was no time to pass on martial arts to Ding Dian.

The third disciple of the Mei Sect studied the 'Tang Poetry Sword Technique,' which was fundamentally a flawed and leaky sword technique, and the 'Tang Poetry Anthology' they had taken away only contained the secret of the Linked City Treasure, and fundamentally had no martial arts secret manual.

Therefore, Feng Yi's weapon techniques were merely a set of sword techniques casually passed on by Ding Dian, not particularly exquisite; how could they compare to the supreme skill of Falling Flowers Flowing Water, honed over decades? Feng Yi deeply knew that in weapon combat, he would absolutely be inferior in techniques; his only chance to win was to rely on internal strength and force his way through.

But he deeply knew that when facing an opponent whose cultivation was inferior to his own, defeating them with strength was perfectly acceptable.

However, what if he encounters an opponent whose internal strength cultivation is evenly matched? In this world, how could there be no internal cultivation that can match the Divine Illumination cultivation? Others might not know.

But Feng Yi knew, there certainly is!

For example, the Nine Yang Divine Art, the Grand Mystery Classic, the Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic, and so on.

When facing such a person, one must win through skill.

If when encountering someone inferior to oneself, one would only rely on strength to crush them, the result would be to grow into someone like the Golden Wheel.

When encountering someone inferior, just casually fight.

When encountering peers of the same level, not a single one can be beaten.

Even encountering a Xiao Longnv inferior to oneself would result in injury, not due to lack of strength, but because combat experience is too lacking!

It would actually be using one's own shortcomings to oppose the enemy's strengths—this is something that experts of the new and old Five Absolutes, who have fought their way up, would do? Feng Yi possesses the system and has cultivated the Divine Illumination cultivation; if he were to take this path, he would be ashamed to death!

This is typical of sitting at the children's table while eating; it's utterly humiliating!

He wants to be able to remain undefeated against any expert; therefore he chose to face the Falling Flowers Flowing Water's long sword bare-handed, to broaden his experience on one hand, and more importantly to grasp the essence of the Formless Divine Fist.

In skill, not in brute force!

After all, excess cannot last; this is the most basic principle.

When one principle is understood, all methods can be understood.

Using fists against swords can not only improve one's adaptability, but it is also possible to learn his sword technique from the opponent's moves.

With Feng Yi's internal strength, as long as one understands the crux, any martial art in the world can be mastered instantly upon practice.

More importantly, in Feng Yi's view, practicing or not practicing weapon-against-weapon techniques is of secondary importance.

Facing weapons bare-handed is something that must be experienced and must be mastered; this 'bare-handed entry into blades' must be practiced to the point of flawless fluency.

Because as long as one is alive, one's hands and feet will never leave one's body.

Weapons, however, are another matter.

Who can guarantee that weapons will always be available at any time and place? Like Linghu Chong, possessing immense internal strength but lacking a sword at hand, one would be finished in an instant.

When encountering an enemy, the first reaction is to look for a sword—this is nonsense!

Feng Yi and Liu Chengfeng exchanged rapid blows; in the blink of an eye they had fought over a hundred moves, and the fierce wind reached everywhere, shattering all the tables, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, bottles, jars, and every furnishing in the shop.

In everyone's eyes, these hundred moves were fought with indescribable speed, but the Four Oddities of Jiangnan seemed to have experienced a lifetime, even though only Liu Chengfeng was actually present among them.

Feng Yi's divine skill was entirely achieved in one go; originally he had abundant vigor but lacked steadiness, yet as he continually fought others, his martial arts insight naturally increased, and he grasped the essential points of the Divine Illumination Classic ever more deeply. At this moment, stimulated by a first-rate master like Liu Chengfeng, he verified each principle of the Divine Illumination Classic's martial arts theory one by one, his strikes becoming ever more sharp and wondrous, the more he fought the more he felt at ease. The heart method essential points of the Divine Illumination Classic flowed like a small stream in his mind, his internal energy throughout his body was like a vast sea of the martial world, endless and boundless; with bare hands alone, facing Liu Chengfeng's long sword he could also block moves and counter momentum.

No matter how strange and ever-changing Liu Chengfeng's sword technique was, Feng Yi could clearly see his flaws and, with ease, dismantle them.

But Liu Chengfeng grew increasingly astonished; confident in his swordsmanship, after prolonged combat he achieved nothing, and a vague unease arose in his heart: 'Could it be that one must truly use Taiji Sword to match him?'

Only hearing Feng Yi laugh and say: 'Daoist Priest, this sword technique of yours is swift and fierce, yet not lacking in delicacy; one hard, one soft, opposing yet complementary—could it be that this is why it bears the name Clear Wind and Gentle Cloud Sword?'

Liu Chengfeng said calmly: 'You have keen eyesight!'

Feng Yi again said, "I have long heard that Brother Liu is a master of the Tai Chi Sword; why not let me, Feng Yi, learn a few of its exquisite techniques?"

Liu Chengfeng this time remained silent, his face flushed and white vapor rising from his head; all eyes in the arena were fixed on the two, while Lu, Hua, and Shu anxiously watched, their beards and eyebrows twitching.

They had already seen Liu Chengfeng's white vapor steaming and coiling like mist—this was his internal energy exerted to the utmost; they dared not speak any further, lest their internal breath go awry, for then it would be either death or injury.

In contrast, Feng Yi remained at ease, even speaking in the midst of the fierce battle—how could his internal energy be so profound?

Liu Chengfeng is a Tai Chi master, most skilled in prolonged combat, yet Feng Yi's every move and style contains the internal force of the Divine Illumination Skill; Liu Chengfeng's internal energy pales in comparison, so each time he deflects an attack he struggles to reclaim his breath, and after uttering just a sentence his face flushes, his ears redden, his heart races and he pants—how could he dare to keep talking like Feng Yi?

Feng Yi frowned slightly, thinking, "He stepped forward to help his brother out of the siege, but seeing this, he would rather lose than let the Tai Chi Sword lose to me—lest ignorant people look down on Zhang Sanfeng!"

He immediately said, "Martial arts have no inherent superiority or inferiority; it all depends on one's cultivation—even if the Daoist loses, what does that prove?"

Liu Chengfeng thought, "You fight barehanded; even if I were to use the Tai Chi Sword I could not win—there will always be ignorant people claiming that the Tai Chi Sword created by Ancestor Sanfeng is merely empty fame!"

Suddenly, Feng Yi let out a loud shout: "Be careful!" He sent his right fist forward, a massive force sinking and condensing like a mountain, surging straight ahead.

Liu Chengfeng stepped with an unusual stride, dodging the direct attack; his sword flashed and sliced horizontally at the incoming fist force.

Feng Yi followed with a step, his left fist shooting straight for Liu Chengfeng's chest; this punch was like a sudden thunderbolt, as fast as lightning, yet without a whisper of wind.

Liu Chengfeng slanted his left palm outward, hoping to deflect the fist force, but when the two forces met his arm grew hot and he retreated three steps with a thudding sound.

Feng Yi traced a half‑circle with his left forearm; only a humming sound was heard, and Liu Chengfeng's sword was shaken aside by the punch's wind.

Feng Yi took another step and thrust his right fist forward with a whoosh; Liu Chengfeng again extended his palm to block the incoming punch.

Upon contact, Liu Chengfeng felt something amiss—a matchless force burst from the opponent's fist, traveling along his arm toward his chest.

Liu Chengfeng used the punch's momentum to roll backward in a somersault, hoping to dissipate the force, but who would have thought the Divine Illumination Skill was so immensely powerful, its recoil endless, that he was compelled to flip again in a somersault against his will.

Feng Yi floated forward to catch up, launching another attack; Liu Chengfeng hurriedly swung his sword into a circle.

All they heard was a rapid "clang‑clang‑clang," like rain dripping on a bronze bell, swift as lightning and flint.

Lu, Hua, and Shu, watching from the side, were secretly alarmed.

Liu Chengfeng hastily retreated two steps, his breath ragged, his hand trembling.

Feng Yi shouted, "It seems Zhang Sanfeng is nothing but empty fame; otherwise his disciples would not dare to cross hands with my Divine Illumination Skill!"

He deliberately gave Liu Chengfeng a chance to catch his breath; as soon as his words fell, he unleashed four punches in one breath, swift beyond description.

The Shadowless Divine Fist seeks only speed, striving everywhere to strike first—so the saying goes, you don't see the shadow, the force has already reached the body.

Moreover, after exchanging over a hundred moves with Liu Chengfeng, he had figured out his pattern—just a raise of the hand or a lift of the shoulder revealed what technique would come; these few punches struck first, forcing Liu Chengfeng to abandon any thought of using the Soft Cloud Sword, not even able to execute half a move.

Liu Chengfeng had admired only a handful of people in his martial arts life, yet now he broke into a cold sweat in both palms, thinking, "This kid has said it all—only the ancestors can bless us; I hope the Tai Chi Sword can turn the tide."

Changing his technique, his sword traced a light, circling silver rainbow around his body—seemingly light yet substantial, seemingly substantial yet light; in an instant he grasped the martial arts principle of "stillness controlling motion, motion and stillness united," employing the supreme martial art, the Tai Chi Sword.

This Tai Chi Sword was created by the Wudang Ancestor, True Person Sanfeng, at the age of a hundred. Its essence is guiding the sword with intent, emphasizing sword intent over sword moves; if the mind is hindered, the sword technique cannot be pure, and when Zhang Sanfeng transmitted it to the leader of the Ming Cult, Zhang Wuji, he required him to forget the forms.

Yet Liu Chengfeng's reluctance to use it stems first from his being a martial arts connoisseur who believes there is no such thing as instant mastery; although Feng Yi's internal energy is profoundly deep, surely due to a supreme internal cultivation method, he must have had some fortuitous encounter—perhaps he had consumed exotic beast inner cores or thousand‑year lingzhi.

However, martial arts truly require diligent study and arduous practice, progressing layer by layer, the higher the level the harder it becomes; without heavenly talent, guidance from a renowned master, and great perseverance, achieving supreme martial arts is extremely difficult—let alone Feng Yi being so young. He thought that relying solely on the Soft Cloud Sword Technique would be enough to defend.

After all, though the Soft Cloud Sword Technique is not as profound and marvelous as the Tai Chi Sword, its principle of overcoming hardness with softness is the same; who would have thought Feng Yi would grow braver and fiercer with each fight? Second, because the Tai Chi Sword was created by the unparalleled grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng in martial arts history.

Although Liu Chengfeng has painstakingly practiced the Tai Chi Sword for many years and understands sword intent deeply, his martial arts cultivation has not yet reached the pinnacle; if he were to be broken by Feng Yi, it would be inevitable that ignorant people would claim the Tai Chi Sword is utterly inferior to the Divine Illumination Skill.

As for Feng Yi, he broke it with just a pair of fists.

This is of utmost importance! Yet with Feng Yi pressing step by step, Liu Chengfeng had no choice but to resort to the Tai Chi Sword.

Liu Chengfeng's sword merely traced circles before him—big circles, small circles, upright circles, slanted circles—making him seem to wear a mass of azure sword light as he steadily advanced on Feng Yi.

Feng Yi threw several punches, but this mighty, peerless punch force vanished like a stone sunk in the sea, leaving no trace. He felt a chill in his heart: "This Tai Chi Sword is indeed formidable; if I am careless today, I fear I will suffer disgrace instead of honor."

He immediately retreated several steps, wanting to discern the real from the illusory.

Seeing that Feng Yi retreated quickly, Liu Chengfeng immediately began drawing various circles—big and small, upright, reverse, slanted, straight—and pressed forward, the sword circles growing like a rolling snowball, larger with each sweep.

Feng Yi only saw the sword aura stern and sweeping toward his body,

Although Liu Chengfeng's circles appeared ordinary, their momentum was extraordinary; the sword tip traced big and small circles, making it impossible to discern where his sword technique was aimed—only a great mass of azure light rolled before his eyes, without the slightest flaw, and wherever the sword aura reached, even the hairs stood cold.

Feng Yi couldn't help but retreat a few steps,

Everyone saw that Feng Yi had always been relaxed and at ease, but this time he was forced to retreat several times.

Wang Xiaofeng watched, feeling pleased, and couldn't help but praise: "Uncle Liu is formidable!"

Water Sheng couldn't help but ask: "Father, is this the Tai Chi Sword passed down by True Person Zhang?"

Water Dai said: "Not bad!"

Water Sheng murmured: "I don't even know if we can win!" He muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the battlefield.

Feng Yi retreated a few steps, thinking that he could not escape the sword's momentum; at this moment he also realized that the flaw in the Tai Chi Sword must lie within these circles. He thought: "If I were to draw my sword and thrust into the sword circle to break it forcibly, sending his weapon flying, that would be easy—but it would be victory through internal energy, which is not what I seek."

But if I do not use a weapon, even a fierce punch would be nullified; if I tried to close in and fight, a single misstep would surely have my arm twisted off."

Just as he was pondering, his foot suddenly halted—he had been forced back a few steps again, and happened to step on a corpse.

Feng Yi's thoughts turned; he waved his wide sleeves wildly, raising a gust of gale wind, and the corpse beneath his feet lunged straight into Liu Chengfeng's sword circle.

(End of Chapter)