Chapter 44: Sparring Aboard the Ship (Please Vote for Recommendations)

The elder of the Primordial Demon Sect, Feng Fei, was a typical example of being stuck at the fourth level of the “Whale Devouring Method.” Her inner strength had long since surpassed the peak of the first-class realm, yet she remained awkwardly poised with one foot unable to cross the threshold into the Innate Stage. Though she could claim invincibility among her peers, the inability to make further progress was a torment to her spirit.

Upon breaking through the divine barrier and stepping into the first-class realm, martial cultivation required the coordination of mind, inner strength, and the physical body to advance. Thus, even though Su Yi had absorbed Feng Fei’s profound cultivation and, with the system’s help, mastered the “Whale Devouring Method” in its entirety, it was no longer possible for him to achieve instant breakthroughs as he had before.

Of course, with such a vast reserve of inner strength and a thorough understanding of every bottleneck in the Whale Devouring Method, Su Yi estimated it would take only a few days to push his cultivation to the peak of the first-class realm and completely master the fourth level of the technique.

What he needed to do now was to circulate his cultivation method, further nourish and strengthen his spirit, and use his inner energy to reinforce his body, helping it break through its current limitations.

After undergoing extreme fortification, Su Yi’s physical strength alone, even without any inner power, was already comparable to that of top-class experts skilled in external martial arts. He was eager to see just how much stronger his physical body would become once he reached the peak of the first-class realm.

By the light of a single lamp, Su Yi operated his cultivation method and soon became immersed in his training.

The night passed swiftly.

The following morning, the boat was still moored at the dock. After breakfast, Su Yi leaned against the doorframe, watching young Chi Pengjin practice his saber technique on the deck.

It was clear that Chi Pengjin was practicing battlefield skills taught by his father. His saber moves were broad and forceful, with a solid stance and limited range of footwork—well-suited for the battlefield, though somewhat lacking in finesse for duels in the martial world.

Sun Wei and Mi Gui stood to the side, occasionally offering pointers and corrections.

After practicing for more than half an hour, Chi Pengjin finally finished. Zhao Xing handed him a dry towel to wipe away his sweat. Though it was late spring, after his exercises, Chi Pengjin’s face was flushed.

“Brother Su, you really work hard at your training. The moment I opened my eyes this morning, I saw you meditating,” Chi Pengjin said as he came over. “No wonder your martial arts are so formidable.”

“Diligence leads to mastery, while play leads to neglect. You should understand this principle.”

“Brother Su, how did my practice look just now?”

“In terms of your age, it was quite good.”

Su Yi spoke truthfully. Though Chi Pengjin’s talent was ordinary, it was clear that he had put in real effort in his training. At the very least, judging by the memories from his previous world, Sonam, the town guard in Redstone, had not been any stronger than Chi Pengjin at his age.

After chatting with Chi Pengjin for a bit, Su Yi saw Sun Wei and Mi Gui exchange a few words before approaching him.

“Master Su,” they greeted with a bow. Sun Wei continued, “With nothing to occupy us at the moment, my brother and I are feeling a bit restless. Your martial skills are far beyond ours. Might you honor us with a sparring match?”

Su Yi was intrigued and nodded his agreement.

He carried two weapons with him, but using the four-pronged golden mace weighing two hundred eighty catties would clearly be bullying. With such a heavy weapon, even without using his full strength, a few blows could easily leave someone reeling, which would defeat the purpose of a friendly match.

In this world, thanks to the unnatural existence of inner strength, martial arts had flourished. At lower levels, the difference was less apparent, but at higher realms, the sophistication of techniques surpassed even what Sonam had witnessed in his previous life.

Since arriving in this world, Su Yi had always relied on brute strength in combat. His techniques were not particularly refined, so he welcomed this opportunity to address his shortcomings.

Su Yi unsheathed the sword from his back and strode to the center of the deck, pointing his blade at the spot equidistant between his two opponents.

Sun Wei and Mi Gui gripped their weapons—broad-backed sabers—each standing at a corner of the deck, forming a triangle with Su Yi. Their sabers were hefty, no lighter than Su Yi’s sword, and well-suited for the battlefield; even if the edge dulled or nicked, the spine could still be used to bludgeon.

With a gesture, Su Yi signaled them to begin. Exchanging a glance, Sun Wei and Mi Gui shouted and charged.

Sun Wei attacked head-on, bringing his saber down in a powerful slash, while Mi Gui circled behind for a rear assault.

Su Yi dodged Sun Wei’s frontal attack with a swift sidestep, then angled his sword behind him to fend off Mi Gui’s threat to his back.

But Mi Gui’s strike was a feint; before Su Yi could counter, Mi Gui had already leapt back to safety.

The two adjusted their stances, circling into Su Yi’s blind spot to attack anew.

Su Yi stepped forward half a pace and employed a move from the Willow-in-the-Wind Sword Technique. Like a willow swaying in the breeze, his feet were rooted while his upper body twisted, dodging the twin blades and thrusting directly at Mi Gui’s center.

Faced with Su Yi’s unexpected and peculiar move, Mi Gui remained composed. His forward step hadn’t been firmly planted; with a swift shift to the left, he halted his momentum, then rolled deftly on the ground to recover his stance.

The three clashed fiercely, blades and sword flashing. Su Yi found that Sun Wei and Mi Gui were indeed seasoned fighters, their attacks alternating between real and feigned, their movements unpredictable. Often, when he tried a risky move, they could respond with calm precision.

Although their true strength was far inferior to his—separated by more than a single major realm—by suppressing his power, Su Yi found himself in a well-matched contest. He was exhilarated; exactly such sparring partners were what he needed to hone his techniques. With more of such bouts, his skill would surely improve, making his attacks far more threatening in real combat.

What he lacked was not profound inner strength or superior martial arts, but the ability to seamlessly integrate all his skills in a real fight.

Unbeknownst to him, Sun Wei and Mi Gui were equally astonished.

At first, they could clearly feel that Su Yi’s movements were somewhat clumsy, with many minor issues in his transitions and responses. Yet as the match progressed, his footwork and techniques became ever smoother, flowing like water, until his moves were as elusive as a nimble antelope—impossible to predict or trace.

What truly unsettled them, however, was Su Yi’s intuition. Eventually, before they could even change their tactics, Su Yi seemed to anticipate their every move, disrupting their coordination and leaving them constantly on the defensive, their hearts pounding with anxiety.

Thus, Su Yi’s initial awkwardness now appeared to them as deliberate, a ploy to lure them in. As long-time subordinates of General Chi Lingxiao, they came to a unanimous conclusion: even if the general were at his peak, he would be hard-pressed to defeat this young man in a fair fight, regardless of cultivation.

What they did not realize was that Su Yi’s mental acuity already far surpassed ordinary people. With his inner strength reaching the first-class realm, every day of training further tempered his mind, naturally enhancing his combat intuition. Should his cultivation approach that of Elder Feng Fei of the Primordial Demon Sect, he would possess almost preternatural foresight in battle akin to the Innate Stage. Thus, as Su Yi gradually unlocked his true potential, it was only natural for him to begin seeing through their attacks to a certain extent.