Chapter 280: Nine Heavenly Strikes
Lu Song and the other two were overjoyed as if they had obtained a priceless treasure. They didn’t even bother going home or eating, and immediately began studying the moves given by Lu Xian outside the bamboo forest. They saw that the book recorded three sets of moves, and the little figures demonstrating each set were different. One set depicted a big guy, naturally for Lu Lin. Another set was a small skinny one, naturally for Lu Song. The remaining set was neither big nor small, of course for Lu Bai…
Moreover, from the ink marks, the three sets of cultivation methods had been drawn long ago, clearly prepared by Lu Xian beforehand…
The three didn’t have time to complain about Lu Xian’s amusing masterly demeanor and hurriedly began training their respective cultivation methods.
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In the small bamboo forest, Lu Yun had already entered the room and sat properly in front of Lu Xian.
“Master, why bother with all this mystification?” Lu Yun helplessly complained to Lu Xian.
“You brat, daring to lecture your master.” Lu Xian rolled his eyes and sneered, “If people knew they could get cultivation methods from me through you, wouldn’t they pester me to death every day?”
“Oh…” Lu Yun suddenly understood, looking at Lu Xian with a strange expression as he said, “Master, don’t you have plenty of cunning?”
“What nonsense are you spouting? When has your master ever been lacking in wits?” Lu Xian blew his beard and glared.
“Then at the Luo River…” Lu Yun cautiously reminded.
“It’s all because of you, you wretched disciple!” It was fine if he didn’t mention it, but once he did, Lu Xian became even more furious and said, “If I hadn’t propped up Sun Yuanlang back then, would he have let you off now?” He huffed angrily, “At that time, the top ten grandmasters went all out and still couldn’t achieve Mutual Aid of Square and Circle, but the moment you joined, it succeeded instantly. Others only thought it was Sun Yuanlang’s merit—do you think Sun Yuanlang himself believes that?”
“I see…” Lu Yun finally fully understood and lowered his head, saying, “Disciple was desperate at the time and worried afterward that Sun Yuanlang would realize there was something wrong with my cultivation method, but he left the capital directly. So it was Master who covered for me…”
“Mm.” Lu Xian nodded and said in a deep voice, “Sun Yuanlang knows very well that my help comes at a price, and doing it for your sake was actually going easy on him.”
“But this way, it puts Master in a difficult position with the various clans.” Lu Yun began to worry about Lu Xian’s situation.
“Haha, don’t worry!” Lu Xian laughed carelessly, “These days, they can’t beg me fast enough—who would dare make me unhappy?”
“No wonder Master agreed to share insights with those grandmasters…” Lu Yun was moved to tears, thinking such a good master was impossible to find even with a lantern.
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Lu Xian shook his head and said, “I agreed to spar with them for the Lu Clan, and for myself.”
“As long as Master is good, disciple is good.” Lu Yun hurriedly smiled sweetly, “That doesn’t count as flattering myself.”
“If you think that way, I can’t help it…” Lu Xian gave him a glance and said flatly, “In this Grand Competition, you must take first place, or where will your master’s face be?”
“It shouldn’t be a big problem, right?” Lu Yun said softly.
“Hmph, don’t underestimate those guys.” Lu Xian said flatly, “In the cave, I heard those grandmasters reveal that this time the various clans truly have some reclusive genius figures—it’s not rare for some to have opened the Ren and Du Meridians.”
“Ah?” Lu Yun was startled. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he absolutely dared not use the Imperial Extreme Profound Cave Skill and could only face enemies with the Lu Clan’s Heaven and Earth Righteous Law, unable to bring out seven out of his full ten parts of ability. If he encountered an Earth Rank Grandmaster, it would really be hard to handle.
“What ‘ah’?” Lu Xian said flatly, “You are my Lu Xian’s disciple, tempered by enlightenment in the cave—do you fear those newborn calves?”
“Master, you’re the only one doing reverse psychology—how are we supposed to keep talking?” Lu Yun couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
“Then don’t talk.” Lu Xian rose gracefully, and Lu Yun only felt a blur before him before Lu Xian’s figure vanished.
“What are you standing there for? Come out.” The next moment, Lu Xian’s voice rang out inside the courtyard.
“Yes, Master.” Lu Yun hurriedly got up and went out, seeing Lu Xian standing in the pitch-black night, seemingly fused as one with the surrounding bamboo forest and night wind.
“The Lu Clan’s cultivation method excels in defense over offense. Using Heaven and Earth Righteous Law against enemies, even if you win, it won’t look good.” Lu Xian gazed at the boundless night sky and said slowly, “Wouldn’t that tarnish your master’s reputation?”
“Master, you’re getting arrogant…” Lu Yun muttered softly.
“It’s not that your master is arrogant—it’s that the world has grown small.” Lu Xian refused to admit it and glared fiercely at Lu Yun, “Keep talking, and get out!”
“Yes…” Lu Yun quickly shut up. He thought of Lu Xian’s battle with Sun Yuanlang—it had looked truly disheveled, largely due to the flaws in the Lu Clan’s cultivation method.
Of course, breaking through to the Innate Realm and executing Mutual Aid of Square and Circle or Unity of Heaven and Man would be another story, but that was far too distant for Lu Yun…
“These days in seclusion, I combined my lifelong learning with the enlightenment from the cave and created a set of cultivation method,” Lu Xian said with a solemn expression, slowly assuming a stance, “I created a set of Nine Heavenly Strikes—now I’ll teach it to you!”
“Yes, Master!” Lu Yun immediately focused with all his attention.
“First Form—Draw a Circle to Make a Prison!” As Lu Xian spoke, his figure swayed and fingers flicked repeatedly, demonstrating to Lu Yun.
“Second Form—Shave Gold and Break Jade!” Lu Xian turned fingers into a palm. Lu Yun felt waves of gale rushing at his face, gaining faint enlightenment in his heart—if struck by this gale, no weapon could withstand it.
“Third Form—Long Wind Breaks Waves!” With a low shout, Lu Xian swept his long sleeve, and Lu Yun immediately saw sand and stones flying, nearly losing his footing.
“Fourth Form—Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!” Lu Xian formed a hollow sphere, as if drawing away the surrounding air, giving Lu Yun a suffocating sensation.
“Fifth Form—Turn Clouds and Rain!” This form’s moves were profound and intricate—impossible to tell from where he would attack, yet clearly filled with killing intent everywhere, leaving no way to evade.
“Sixth Form—Five Peaks Press Down!” This move was a pinnacle of simplicity—just a single plain palm strike downward, giving Lu Yun the sensation of Mount Tai Crushing Down, as if being hit would turn him into a meat patty.
“Seventh Form—Vast Sea Flows Sideways!” Lu Xian’s moves changed again, his momentum endlessly rising. Lu Yun, immersed within, felt like being tossed into a vast ocean amid raging waves, unable to muster any thought of resistance.
“Eighth Form—Stars and Moon Lose Their Light!” Lu Xian’s momentum continued to climb, the moves now containing the Supreme Principle of Heaven and Earth—beyond Lu Yun’s comprehension, only infinitely awe-inspiring.
“Ninth Form—Heaven and Earth Same Longevity!” When the final move was executed, the night sky churned with wind and clouds, faintly rumbling with wind and thunder, already stirring strands of heaven and earth power!
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In Luojing City, a group of grandmasters in secluded cultivation all sensed the subtle changes in heaven and earth power. They hurriedly left their secret chambers and looked toward the surging winds and clouds, sighing in unison, “Half-step Xiantian—indeed peeking into the Heavenly Dao. Who knows when we can reach it?”
But the churning winds and clouds lasted only an instant before returning to calm—still far from that world-shaking might of that day. The grandmasters silently watched the restored night sky, turned, and returned to their cultivation spots to continue their secluded cultivation.
“Master, look,” Xiahou Ba stood with hands behind his back on the high platform, saying to Master Moluo attending behind him, “Lu Xian has indeed reached that realm.”
“Still far from great freedom.” Moro withdrew his complex gaze, clasped his hands, and said, “As long as Fourth Master can unleash all nine seals, he is stronger, not weaker.”
“Hey, close yet worlds apart, harder than ascending to heaven.” Xiahou Ba sighed, “Still, train the Dragon Elephant Combined Attack more, to prepare for any eventuality.”
“Yes.” Moro nodded and said, “With Uninjured, Undefeated, Unextinguished, plus the military advisor and this monk, for Dragon Elephant Combined Attack—even Zhang Xuanyi must retreat.”
