Essence of the Licking Way, Part Nine: When your opponent walks toward you with a sword in hand, don't just watch the weapon—watch the worn shoes on their feet. The true weak points are often hidden where they least expect.
The old wooden door of the modest courtyard slammed shut, and Wang Duobao pulled a jade record tablet from his robes, his palm slick with sweat.
"Brother Chen! Look at this!"
His fingers trembled as he activated the tablet.
A distorted, crackling image flickered to life in the courtyard—a recording obviously made in secret.
On the training grounds, hundreds of inner disciples formed a semicircle. The air was thick with restrained excitement. In the center stood a young man in purple robes, hands clasped behind his back, his sleeves unmoving in the wind. Thin threads of violet lightning coiled along the hem of his robe.
Xiao Chen.
Just over twenty, his sharp features were almost cruel in their perfection—slanting brows cutting toward his temples, a high, proud nose, thin lips, and eyes that glittered with lightning. When he looked at someone, it was like staring down an ant.
"I've heard an outsider has shown some talent," he said, voice laced with a smile cold enough to cut bone. "A disciple at Qi Refining, Fourth Stage, earning the favor of Elder Murong and surviving the wrath of the Icebound Clan? Fascinating…" His gaze slowly swept over the inner disciples. Heads bowed under the weight of his stare. "I, Xiao, would like to see this talent for myself."
He raised a finger in the air.
"Three days from now, the Inner Hall monthly sparring. As per tradition, inner disciples may nominate themselves to 'test' outer disciples to encourage growth."
He emphasized the words "test" with deadly weight.
"I nominate this Jiang Muchen," Xiao Chen grinned, revealing his white teeth, "so he may understand that Reddust Hall's rules are not something to be sidestepped by clinging to the outer sect."
The image abruptly cut, the tablet shattering into a swirl of light particles.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Lu Hanshan's knuckles whitened around his sword, veins standing out on his forearms. Zhou Xiaohuan bit her lip until blood appeared. Zheng Xiaoqi's calves trembled uncontrollably. Shen Lingshuang stood in the shadow of the eaves, expressionless, but her gaze could freeze stone.
Jiang Muchen stared at the vanished tablet for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
A soft laugh, almost inaudible, but sharp in the silent courtyard.
"Clinging to the outer sect…" he muttered as he walked to the stone table, pouring a cup of cold, rough tea and drinking it in one gulp. The cup clinked crisply against the stone.
"Wang Duobao," he said without looking back. "What are the exact rules of the Inner Hall sparring? Lay them out, one by one."
Wang Duobao swallowed hard, speaking rapidly:
"The sparring is monthly, inner disciples only, primarily for exchanging skills. But there's a special clause—inner disciples may voluntarily 'test' outer disciples. Those nominated must accept, or they forfeit outer disciple status and are expelled!"
He paused to catch his breath.
"The test can take any form—swordsmanship, spells, arrays, alchemy, talismans—whatever the tester chooses. But the tester must suppress their cultivation to match the level of the one being tested. So… if Xiao Chen tests you, your opponent's strength is reduced to Qi Refining level."
Jiang Muchen tapped his fingers lightly on the stone.
"Same level, huh? How many layers exactly?"
Wang Duobao paled. "The rules only say 'same level,' nothing more specific. So in theory… he could suppress himself to Qi Refining, Ninth Layer peak."
Fourth Stage Qi Refining against the peak of Ninth.
And Xiao Chen wasn't just anyone—he had the backing of a prominent family, mastery of techniques, and combat experience.
This wasn't a test. This was a death sentence.
"Brother Chen, we should run!" Zheng Xiaoqi whimpered. "Leave Reddust Hall! Anywhere else! With your skill—"
"Run?" Jiang Muchen cut him off evenly.
"Running would confirm the words 'clinging to the outer sect, cowardly' as truth. Besides…" He gestured toward the shadowed mountain path outside the gate. "Do you think Xiao Chen would let us leave alive?"
A chill ran down their spines.
"So what do we do?" Zhou Xiaohuan stammered. "We can't beat him head-on…"
"Who said we need to?" Jiang Muchen set down the tea cup, eyes glinting. "The test is unlimited in format. But the rules never say the one being tested cannot make conditions."
He looked at Wang Duobao.
"Go to the archives. Check every instance in the past ten years where outer disciples were tested. See if anyone ever successfully imposed conditions. The more detailed, the better."
Wang Duobao nodded vigorously and ran off, surprisingly fast for his size.
"Lu Hanshan," Jiang Muchen addressed him. "Go to the inner sect. Find Zhao Hu and ask three things: what Xiao Chen has been practicing, what resources he urgently needs, and what's been bothering him lately."
Lu Hanshan frowned. "Brother Chen, you mean…"
"Know your enemy," Jiang Muchen said lightly. "Xiao Chen didn't nominate me just because of Murong Xueli. He has other motives. I want to know what."
Lu Hanshan nodded and left.
"Xiaohuan, Xiaoqi," Jiang Muchen turned to the remaining two. "Go to the outer sect and gather the names of all lower-class disciples willing to join the Muchen Society. Only those sincere, fearless, and ready to act. Cowards need not apply."
They exchanged a glance and nodded firmly.
Only Jiang Muchen and Shen Lingshuang remained in the courtyard.
Shen Lingshuang stepped out of the shadows, moonlight casting a pale glow across her face. After a long pause, she asked:
"What do you need me to do?"
Jiang Muchen smiled. "How's your injury?"
"About thirty percent healed, thanks to the pill you gave me," she replied softly. "The Ice Marrow Cleansing technique… Elder Murong promised to perform it once he's recovered a bit."
"Good." Jiang Muchen handed her a small jade vial. "These are Warm Sun Pills—firestone powder and flaming grass juice. One per day for seven days, heals lingering cold damage another twenty percent."
Shen Lingshuang's fingers trembled slightly as she took the vial. The jade alone was worth twenty spirit stones; the pills inside, at a minimum, sold for one hundred fifty each in the Northlands. Over a thousand spirit stones total. Given casually.
"Why are you… so generous?" she asked, throat tight.
"You're the first core member of the Muchen Society," he said plainly. "I need you back to full strength. Foundation-stage combat ability will matter."
He added, "Also… three days from now, during the sparring, I may need your help."
"What kind of help?"
"Can't say yet," he replied, looking toward the courtyard gate. "Once Wang Duobao and the others return, I'll know."
An hour later, Wang Duobao burst in, clutching a stack of yellowed scrolls.
"Brother Chen! I found it!" He spread the scrolls on the stone table, dust flying. "Forty-seven records from the past ten years! Nine involved conditions; three succeeded!"
Jiang Muchen's eyes lit up. "Which three? How did they win?"
"Seven years ago, outer disciple Li Yan was tested in alchemy. His condition: both sides must use the same furnace and ingredients. He won—the furnace had been modified by him, giving him perfect control. The tester couldn't manage the flames."
"Five years ago, array formation. Only lowest-grade wooden flags allowed, no magical aids. He won—because his understanding of basics was far superior, he formed a chain array flawlessly."
"Two years ago, swordsmanship. Only wooden swords, no spiritual energy. He won—born a hunter, trained with sticks since childhood, his technique unshakable."
"All three wins share one thing," Wang Duobao summarized. "The conditions were cleverly set to favor the tested disciple's strengths. The testers, for pride's sake, agreed."
Jiang Muchen nodded thoughtfully.
Half an hour later, Lu Hanshan returned, serious.
"Xiao Chen's been cultivating 'Heavenly Thunder Induction,' a family secret lightning technique. Third stage requires channeling real lightning, extremely dangerous. A protective heart artifact is needed, at least Lower Profound grade."
Jiang Muchen mused, "Protective artifact…"
"Also," Lu Hanshan continued, "he's been collecting Starsteel. Wants a sword of destiny. Starsteel is rare and controlled by the Star Pavilion. Bought one from the black market for 5,000 spirit stones—turned out to be Star-patterned iron, three grades lower."
Jiang Muchen's eyes glinted.
Half an hour later, Zhou Xiaohuan and Zheng Xiaoqi returned with the list—thirty-seven names, each written with care and determination.
"These are the disciples willing to join," Xiaohuan whispered. "I warned them—they might be targeted by Xiao Chen's faction. They said… at this point, we're already bottom-class. Might as well risk it."
Jiang Muchen examined the list. The paper was rough, but each name carried weight.
This is the underclass. Crushed into the mud, yet rooted fiercely.
"Good," he said, tucking the list away. "Tomorrow at the dawn hour, have them gather in the courtyard. I have an announcement."
Night deepened.
Alone on the stone bench, Jiang Muchen watched the stars. The Ice Lotus ring on his left index finger glowed faintly, petals seeming to stir in the moonlight.
In his mind, the yellowed notes flipped open to a new page.
"'Heavenly Thunder Induction' is violent, unyielding, but brittle. Heart protection cannot rely solely on artifacts. Using Earth Core Stone and the Thick Earth-Gold Formation, lightning can be grounded, softened, body tempered without damage…
…Starsteel, essence of meteoric iron, hard but brittle. Must be tempered with Gentle Water a hundred times. Gentle Water scarce, but Ice Soul Stone can convert ice to water, combined with Flaming Grass for thermal balance, forming Ice-Fire Tempering Technique. Temper three times, steel gains both strength and flexibility…'"
Every detail connected in his mind. Xiao Chen needed a heart-protection artifact. He needed real Starsteel.
And he had Earth Core Stone—from Qingming Herb Valley. Ice Soul Stone—from Elder Murong's payment. Flaming Grass—from the Black Wind Cave.
More importantly, he had the notes: Thick Earth-Gold Formation and Ice-Fire Tempering.
Not coincidence. A lifeline in the darkness.
He stood, lit the oil lamp, spread three sheets of paper, dipped his brush.
First letter—to Murong Xueli:
Esteemed Elder, I have come across an ancient formation diagram, 'Thick Earth-Gold,' capable of safeguarding against the dangers of Heavenly Thunder Induction…
Second letter—to Senior Brother Huoyun:
Honorable Senior Brother, I've studied an ancient text and discovered the Ice-Fire Tempering Technique, resolving the brittleness of Starsteel…
Third letter—to Elder Sun of the Inner Hall:
Respected Elder Sun, I obtained a fragment of the 'Nine Heavens Stringed Melody,' a lost score of the zither immortal three millennia past…
By dawn, the letters were folded into three envelopes.
The sparring in three days—a death trap, yes. But also… the key to breaking the pattern.
He would show Xiao Chen that some rules can be turned on their head. That even a humble underclass disciple could fight on their own terms.
The lamp flickered out. The Ice Lotus ring pulsed faintly, as if in silent agreement.
Licking Way Maxim, Part Nine: True disruption isn't taking the opponent's sword—it's quietly swapping the whetstone they rely on with a piece of brittle scrap.