High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Silk Binding Force

[Martial Arts Diligence Record]

Martial Arts: Wind-Settling Spear

Current Realm: Minor Achievement (0.1%)

Martial Arts Traits: Silk Binding Force

Evaluation: Spear Technique is fluid; Intention is nascent.

With a thought, the method for using the [Silk Binding Force] naturally surfaced in Xu Wuyi’s mind.

It wasn’t an independent killing move, but rather a technique for channeling Power, primarily used for the [Back Wind Sweep].

When using [Back Wind Sweep] to block an enemy’s weapon, he could attach a Yin Soft Hidden Force, as supple as silk, to the shaft of his spear.

The instant it clashed with the opponent’s weapon, this Hidden Force would be transmitted like coiling threads of silk, causing the enemy’s weapon to vibrate violently. This would make it difficult for them to maintain a firm grip for a short time, creating a fatal opening for a counterattack.

If used directly on an opponent, this Hidden Force could even shift their internal organs out of place.

Although it wasn’t as ferocious as the triple burst of the [Cloud-Pushing Force], its advantage was that he didn’t need to actually pierce the enemy. Even if blocked, he could still transmit the Power, albeit at a slightly weaker level.

’While defending, it undermines the opponent’s weapon and creates an offensive opening... This Silk Binding Force truly lives up to its status as a Minor Achievement Level technique!’

A wave of pleasant surprise washed over Xu Wuyi.

This undoubtedly compensated for one of his major weaknesses: his inability to effectively counterattack when facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent he couldn’t match in a head-on clash.

Constant passive defense, even when an opportunity arose, made it difficult to land a killing blow. Such a defense was no different from a slow death.

But things were different with the [Silk Binding Force]. Every block could now transmit this Hidden Force to his opponent.

Once the Hidden Force accumulated to a certain point inside the enemy’s body, their condition would inevitably be affected. Their strength, speed, and Qi and Blood circulation would all be weakened. It was equivalent to being on the offensive.

This was the true integration of offense and defense!

He couldn’t wait to start practicing the [Back Wind Sweep], trying to integrate the [Silk Binding Force] into it.

It was quite clumsy at first. The gathering and transmission of the Yin Soft Hidden Force were far more difficult to control than the fierce and straightforward [Cloud-Pushing Force].

However, with the precise feedback from his status panel and his deeper understanding of Spear Technique from just breaking through to the Minor Success Realm, he progressed rapidly.

...

「At the same time, in a luxurious training room built especially for Li Mo in the Li Family villa in Silver Harbor City.」

BANG!

Li Mo slammed his fist into a specially made alloy force-testing column, producing a dull, heavy thud. The column shook violently, displaying an astonishing number, but he didn’t even glance at it. His face was so dark it looked like ink could drip from it.

In reality, Li Mo’s face wasn’t as ferocious as his avatar’s on the Battle Network; it even had a hint of simple-minded honesty.

”I can’t believe I lost! There’s no way I should have lost...” he growled, his voice filled with frustration.

’I was too careless!’

’If I hadn’t let my guard down and attacked so recklessly, if I hadn’t underestimated his do-or-die counterattack... there’s no way that spear could have pierced me so easily!’

That instantaneous burst of Power... even now, just thinking about it made his chest ache faintly.

”Mo’er.”

A calm, steady voice spoke up.

A middle-aged man in a gray training uniform was standing at the entrance to the training room, having appeared at some unknown time.

His features were somewhat similar to Li Mo’s, but his temperament was more reserved. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as they opened and closed. This was none other than Li Mo’s third uncle, the Martial Artist Li Yaoshan.

”Third Uncle,” Li Mo said, reining in some of his anger, though his face was still defiant.

Li Yaoshan walked in and said lightly, ”Losing a match isn’t a bad thing. It’ll teach you that Life Energy Level isn’t everything. The Federation Martial Artists are full of hidden masters. You shouldn’t underestimate anyone.”

”I’m not a sore loser!” Li Mo retorted, craning his neck stubbornly. ”I’m just frustrated with *how* I lost! That kid just dodged the whole time, and his last move was a complete gamble with his life!”

”A gamble? If you win the gamble, you win the fight. On a real battlefield, the ones who survive are the ones who win their gambles.”

Li Yaoshan smiled, activated the miniature optical computer on his wrist, and pulled up an edited video of the fight. It was the key segment of the match between Xu Wuyi and Li Mo, focusing especially on the final spear thrust that turned defeat into victory.

”That spear thrust was at too close a range, which is why you couldn’t dodge it. Next time you face him, don’t give him a chance to get close. Just attack his weapon directly.”

Li Yaoshan’s casual remark immediately gave Li Mo a clear direction.

Li Mo was tall and powerfully built. Although his large saber was slightly shorter than the long spear, their effective attack ranges were about the same.

As long as Li Mo focused solely on attacking the weapon instead of the person, forcing Xu Wuyi into a contest of pure strength, the latter would soon find his defense untenable. He would be forced to take the offensive, thereby revealing an opening.

”Of course!” Li Mo exclaimed in pleasant surprise. ”Third Uncle, why didn’t I think of that?”

Li Yaoshan shook his head slightly. What he didn’t say was that this method wasn’t difficult to come up with, as long as one had a slightly better feel for combat.

Unfortunately, while his nephew was exceptionally gifted in some ways, he had very little talent for the intricacies of Martial Arts, only knowing how to fight in a straightforward manner.

However, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Such tactics were only needed when fighting humans. Later, on the battlefield against the Alien Races, a Martial Artist like him would be the most sought-after type.

”The prerequisite for fighting this way is that you have a 1.2 Life Energy Level advantage over him,” Li Yaoshan added. ”But if you were fighting an opponent at the Same Ability Level, how do you think you should fight then?”

”Huh?” Li Mo was a bit dumbfounded again, instinctively scratching the back of his broad head.

He was once again reminded of that guy on the virtual battlefield, whose defense was like a turtle shell.

’I had such a huge Life Energy Level advantage and still couldn’t break through his defense quickly. If our Life Energy Levels were the same, could I even win?’

Seeing his nephew’s expression, Li Yaoshan couldn’t help but smile.

Normally, if he had said something like this, Li Mo would have definitely retorted with, ”But my Energy Level *is* higher,” or ”Let’s not deal in hypotheticals,” or ”Just tell me if I won or not.”

Li Mo’s lack of refinement in Martial Arts was partly due to his lack of natural talent, but in truth, his lack of diligence in his usual training was also a factor.

’After all, if training so hard in Martial Arts gives less of a boost than just taking a few Potions, doesn’t that make all this training pointless?’

This time, he had finally suffered a loss—and to someone 1.2 Energy Levels below him, no less—which was the only reason he was willing to listen.

Li Yaoshan continued his analysis, ”Your opponent this time is extremely skilled at defensive counterattacks, and his mindset is very calm. Your attacks, on the other hand, are too direct and lack variation. At the Same Ability Level, you’d have no way of dealing with him.”

”Against this type of defensive opponent, you can’t let him dictate the pace.”

”You either overwhelm his defense in an instant with speed that far exceeds his reaction time, or you use more cunning and relentless attacks to constantly pressure him, forcing him to tire out and reveal an opening himself.”

Li Yaoshan looked at Li Mo. ”Your Broken Mountain Saber Technique has plenty of force, but not enough variation. Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you the Overlapping Waves Slash. It has three variations in a single move and is designed specifically to break these kinds of defensive ’turtle shells’.”

Li Mo’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously. ”Alright, Third Uncle! Next time I run into him, I absolutely won’t give him any chance at all!”

He clenched his fists, the fighting spirit rekindling in his eyes.

’Xu Wuyi... Just you wait for the tri-school joint exam!’