Chapter 5: The Unintentional Willow Shade
"If I gain it, it's my luck; if I lose it, it's my fate."
Li Xinghui accepted the news about his bloodline concentration with an ease that surprised Hogg. After all, it was clear to him that even though his innate bloodline wasn't quite strong enough to become a Dragonblood Warrior now, there was still time. The future was in his hands.
Though it was disappointing that Xinghui hadn't reached the threshold for Dragonblood Warrior status, the fact that Xiao Wharton had succeeded in meeting the requirement was an enormous triumph for the Baruch Family. It was a monumental achievement that had been long awaited for generations.
Hogg, eager to share the good news, immediately tasked Hilman with informing Lin Lei, while he began to make plans for his younger son's future.
Under Li Xinghui's presence, the Baruch Family had seen a slight improvement in its fortunes, and over the years, very little family property had been sold off. It was a sign of the family's resurgence, quiet but undeniable. They were busy again, revitalized by new hope.
But despite the bustle around him, Li Xinghui remained calm, focusing on his daily training.
Sometimes, rushing things served no purpose. It was best to let the process unfold.
On the training grounds, a young man clad in a tight-fitting suit stood poised with a long spear, facing off against a martial artist wielding a saber. The tension in the air had been building for some time. When the young man's spirit, energy, and focus aligned, his gaze locked onto his opponent, as sharp as a hawk's.
The wind picked up, and with it, the young man moved.
In just a few steps, he closed the distance between them, his body shifting and his strength surging through the spear. As his feet landed, he thrust the spear forward, aiming directly at the martial artist's face.
A sharp, whistling wind accompanied the motion. The strike was deadly.
Yet, the martial artist showed no sign of alarm. Without a hint of panic, he unsheathed his saber in a flash, sweeping it upward. His body retreated like a drifting leaf, effortlessly seizing the momentum.
Li Xinghui, for a moment, was taken aback. His own enhanced body, strengthened by the Azure Dragon Bloodline and the power of his Coiling Dragon clone, far surpassed that of ordinary people. After six years of training, he had grown powerful enough to toss a thousand-jin boulder with ease.
But this martial artist, meeting his powerful spear with such effortless skill, was no ordinary foe. The martial artist's strength matched his own, and this realization made Li Xinghui reassess the situation.
His thoughts flashed by in an instant.
Years of spear training had sharpened his instincts. He wouldn't give up after just one attack.
Without hesitation, he flipped his spear and swept it horizontally, aiming for the martial artist's chest.
The spear moved with lightning speed, a silver streak in the air. The blow landed in an instant—before the sound had even caught up.
Appreciation flickered in the martial artist's eyes, but he didn't pause. Flipping his blade, he used the back of his saber to deflect the spear, shifting his body to close the gap.
A saber meeting a spear was a dangerous game, but the martial artist seemed to have no fear, displaying full confidence in his ability to handle the strike.
He stepped in closer, his saber raised high, and aimed for Li Xinghui's neck. The danger was real.
Li Xinghui didn't flinch. He stomped his foot into the ground, sending a surge of power through his legs as he propelled himself backward. With the strength of a thousand jin, he avoided the deadly slash, his body twisting gracefully as he leaped into the air like a phoenix. His spear moved with precision, now thrusting directly at the martial artist's eye socket.
In this moment, there was an opening. If it had been Li Xinghui himself, he would not have been able to react in time, and the match would have been over.
But the martial artist halted his saber mid-swing, deftly shifting his momentum to parry the spearhead with a sideways slash.
Metal clashed, sparks flew!
Li Xinghui's brow furrowed. He had over a thousand jin of strength, yet the martial artist had casually deflected his spear as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze.
This man is no ordinary opponent. He's not someone I can defeat easily!
Despite this realization, a bright smile spread across Li Xinghui's face. Finally, after three long years of fighting against nothing but imaginary enemies, he had found someone who could truly challenge him. The thrill of battle surged within him, and he laughed aloud in pure joy!
His smile was genuine, and it radiated from deep within. But his spear didn't slow. If anything, it became fiercer.
Thrust, stab, sweep, spin, and strike! Li Xinghui practiced move after move, his spear techniques flowing seamlessly as he put them to the test against this formidable opponent. Each movement was honed, each technique refined.
As the battle wore on, it became clear that this was no mere sparring match—it was an opportunity for Li Xinghui to fully unleash his potential, to learn from a true expert.
The duel lasted for a full half hour, until Li Xinghui, exhausted but satisfied, finally called it to an end.
The onlookers outside the training ground let out a collective sigh of relief. The ground was littered with shattered green bricks, tiles scattered about, and pits left by the intensity of their clash. The spectacle had been both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
The servants who had watched from the sidelines were in a state of shock. They had known that Li Xinghui was powerful, but they had never realized just how far his strength had transcended the human limit.
What truly astounded them, however, was that this immense power was barely anything compared to the mysterious martial artist, who had seemingly been playing with the young master from the beginning. The martial artist had been holding back, testing Li Xinghui's limits every step of the way.
After the final blow, the martial artist sheathed his saber, and a smile of genuine admiration spread across his face.
"You're exceptional. Truly exceptional. Or rather, you are a true prodigy."
The martial artist, with seventy-nine years of experience, had never encountered such a gifted individual.
Li Xinghui had not only surpassed ordinary strength—his body had surpassed the limits of the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm, but his spear techniques also showed extraordinary skill, rivaling those of seasoned martial artists.
This was a once-in-a-century talent.
The martial artist's eyes gleamed with an undeniable sense of destiny. This child is fated for the Purple Cloud Gate! He must be taken in as a disciple.
The smile on his face became even more sincere, as he watched the young master with admiration.