After Su Mubai left, Xiao Wuchen wasted no time. Three days was far too short a time for a decisive battle that would determine the Earthly Rankings. Su Mubai's swordsmanship was both pure and fierce; the foundation he had built up over a long period was far deeper than his own. His only chance of victory lay in the unpredictability of his martial arts and his ability to combine them.
He returned to his meditation room, not to consolidate his cultivation, but to achieve a state of "extreme refinement".
Su Mubai's sword style was masculine and direct, focusing on overcoming skill with brute force. Xiao Wuchen knew that, once enveloped by Su Mubai's sword aura, the force-dissipating and energy-reducing abilities of his [Flower Blooms to Reveal Buddha] movement technique would be insufficient to withstand that overwhelming, pure power, and that the [Purple Qi Sweeps Willow] technique would be limited.
'A head-on collision — I will surely lose,' Xiao Wuchen muttered to himself in a low voice. 'I must use my "Speed" to activate my "Soft Power", and use "Soft Power" to create an opening in my "Speed" technique.'
Xiao Wuchen first fully activated the Purple Qi Sweeping Willow technique. After successfully establishing his meridians, the true qi within his body completely transformed into a condensed internal force of a purple hue. This force was more yin in nature, lingering longer, yet also possessing greater viscosity and resilience.
He attacked the specially crafted steel wooden stake in the meditation room. Rather than simply slapping or flicking at it, he concentrated his internal force at his fingertips, as though invisible purple willow branches were gently touching the stake.
'Sizzle—'
Rather than shattering, the stake seemed to be instantly twisted by a strange force, emitting a piercing metallic scraping sound. Its internal structure silently shattered and disintegrated.
'To deflect force and neutralise energy, one must reach the level of "all-pervasive".' Sweat beaded on Xiao Wuchen's forehead. He needed to achieve the following: when Su Mubai launched his powerful sword attack, Purple Qi Sweeping Willow could deflect the force upon contact and guide it towards the attack's weak point.
Then, he began to unleash the Flower Blooms to Reveal the Buddha within the extremely confined space.
The key to the Flower Blooms to Reveal the Buddha lies in its 'instantaneous burst', akin to the rapid transformation of a lotus flower from bud to full bloom. The spiritual power gained from establishing his meridians now gives this burst even greater endurance.
Only a flickering purple shadow remained in the quiet room, moving too fast for the naked eye to perceive. Xiao Wuchen's figure seemed to leap along the timeline: one second he was in the centre, and the next the 'flower blooming' aura around him seemed to freeze for a moment, creating an eerie sense of spatial dislocation.
'Speed is not just about evasion, but also a premonition of attack.'
The essence of the special training lies in the fusion of strength and gentleness.
With his eyes closed, Xiao Wuchen mentally rehearsed his duel with Su Mubai.
First level of fusion: Using gentleness to borrow force and counterattack with speed.
Su Mubai slashes at him (hypothetically). Instead of dodging with [Flower Blooms to Reveal Buddha], Xiao Wuchen parries with [Purple Qi Sweeps Willow], dissipating seventy percent of the sword's immense power. The remaining thirty percent is instantly utilised and transformed into the explosive force of [Flower Blooms to Reveal Buddha].
'Borrowing seventy percent of your force and neutralising thirty percent of my speed!'
The instant the sword's force is dissipated, Su Mubai's old power is exhausted and his new power has not yet arisen. Using the recoil, Xiao Wuchen bursts into Su Mubai's close range at top speed, initiating close-quarters combat.
Second level of fusion: Using speed to establish a stance and gentleness to subdue the enemy.
In close combat, Xiao Wuchen uses the lightning-fast footwork of Flower Blooms to Reveal Buddha to suppress Su Mubai, denying him the chance to create distance and regroup his sword stance. His attacks were no longer strikes, but rather the use of the purple qi internal energy of [Purple Qi Smooths Willow] to 'smooth', 'entwine' and 'circle', like purple willow branches, subtly penetrating Su Mubai's protective true qi.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. As the sun rose for the third time, Xiao Wuchen stopped his special training. His breathing was steady, but his eyes burned with an unprecedented fighting spirit.
He was ready to challenge the sword of righteous qi with his new martial art — a fusion of Buddhist speed and the subtle power of inner strength.
With the three-day challenge taking place at the Martial Saint Hall, all eyes in the martial arts world were on the duel between the 'Sword Maniac' Su Mubai and the 'Purple Qi Eunuch' Xiao Wuchen.
The first to act were various underground forces and intelligence organisations. With the tacit agreement of the Martial Saint Hall, a massive betting scheme quickly began.
The initial odds were that Su Mubai, a long-time top-ranked member of the Earthly Ranking from the Haoran Sword Sect, would win with odds as low as 1 to 1.2, while Xiao Wuchen, who had just successfully established his meridians, would win with odds as high as 1 to 3.5. The martial arts world generally favoured Su Mubai's solid foundation and pure swordsmanship.
Funding inflow: Surprisingly, large sums of money from unknown sources were bet almost recklessly on Xiao Wuchen. These funds were strongly tied to the imperial court, instantly lowering Xiao Wuchen's odds and causing intense turmoil in the betting market.
"Are these people crazy? No matter how strong Eunuch Xiao is, he's still new to the Foundation Establishment stage!'
'No, they're not betting on his cultivation level; they're betting on the resources and trump cards that Supervisor Xiao possesses.'
On the second night of Xiao Wuchen's secluded training, an urgent letter bearing the imperial seal was delivered to the Hidden Guard's residence.
Rather than suggesting a duel, the letter was a warning and a form of pressure from a high-ranking member of his patronage:
'This battle concerns the face of the inner court. If you lose to a junior from a martial arts sect, your position within the inner court will be severely affected. You can use the rules of the Martial Saint Hall, but defeat is unacceptable.'
Xiao Wuchen (Eunuch Xiao) read the letter, his face darkening. He then issued an order: 'Activate the "Wisteria" Project, channelling all resources to the area surrounding the "Martial Saint Hall".'
This order was to ensure that he could enter the Martial Saint Hall in peak condition with minimal external interference. This was not just a martial arts duel, but a contest of power and prestige.
Meanwhile, Su Mubai had his own concerns.
Spies from the Haoran Sword Sect attempted to approach the residence of the Hidden Guard to spy on Xiao Wuchen's preparations, especially his post-meridian training with the Flower Blooms to Reveal the Buddha technique.
Outside the residence, in a bamboo grove, several Sword Sect spies engaged in a brief but fierce battle with Xiao Wuchen's inner guards.
The inner guards used a modified version of the [Purple Qi Sweeps the Willow] technique, characterised by its unpredictable movements and complex internal energy, which made it extremely difficult to counter. Although the Sword Sect disciples were skilled in martial arts, the spies gained nothing from the inner guards' life-or-death struggle, and their presence was exposed.
'Hmph, the Sword Sect underestimates the inner court's methods.' In his quiet room, Xiao Wuchen had gathered all the information from the inner guards' reports.
He knew that, although Su Mubai was a "sword fanatic", the sect behind him was very pragmatic. This battle was no longer a simple one-on-one duel, but a strategic manoeuvre between two powerful forces.
'Very good. Let them know that opposing our family will only disturb their own peace of mind.' Xiao Wuchen's lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of sinister confidence.