High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

The dark gold Power of Heart Image surged in, and the Undying True Flame ignited at the wound.

The Illusion’s right arm movements became noticeably sluggish.

Xu Wuyi seized the opportunity, thrusting repeatedly with his long spear.

On the tenth move, his spear tip flicked aside the Illusion’s left leg.

On the fifteenth move, the shaft of his spear struck the Illusion’s back.

On the twentieth move, the light of the Illusion’s sword flared once more, but this time, the glow carried an unstable fluctuation.

Xu Wuyi knew the decisive moment had arrived.

He gathered all his Power of Heart Image at the tip of his spear.

At that moment, the ”Weight” of the Heavy Water and the ”Immolation” of the Golden Crow were no longer forcefully fused, but flowed together naturally.

At the spear’s tip, a dark gold light spun like a current, with flames faintly visible within. Its weight fluctuated, all part of a single, integrated whole.

The Illusion struck with its sword.

A single thread of qing light sliced through space.

Xu Wuyi thrust his spear.

A dark gold meteor, carrying the Mental Realm of Weight and Immolation at the Perfection level.

Collision.

BOOM!

The pure white space trembled violently.

The qing sword light shattered.

The dark gold spear light pierced through the Illusion’s chest.

The Illusion looked down at the wound in its chest, then raised its head to look at Xu Wuyi.

Its form began to fade.

[Battle Ended]

[Result: Victory]

[Duration: Fifty-one seconds]

[Attacks Endured: Twenty moves]

[Effective Counters: Twelve]

The system notifications sounded.

Xu Wuyi stood in place, leaning on his long spear and panting slightly.

He was also injured—a sword gash on his left arm and a puncture wound on his right side—but none of the wounds were serious.

As for the Illusion, the wound on its chest spread relentlessly, burned by the ceaseless Undying True Flame.

The first time.

A head-on victory.

...

The Virtual Cabin’s hatch opened.

Xu Wuyi sat up. His expression was calm, but he couldn’t hide the trace of excitement in his eyes.

Wu Dingbo and Qiao Tongyu hurried to the side of the cabin.

”You won?” Qiao Tongyu asked, his voice filled with surprise as he looked at the data on the screen.

”I won,” Xu Wuyi confirmed with a nod.

Wu Dingbo carefully reviewed the battle recording, focusing on the details of the final blow.

The natural fusion of Weight and Immolation on the spear tip, the ingenious placement of the Gravity trap, the calm judgment at the critical moment... Every element was nearly perfect.

”Good.” Wu Dingbo said only a single word, but the admiration in his tone was unconcealed.

After receiving some first aid from the medical staff, Xu Wuyi stepped out of the cabin.

”How do you feel?” Qiao Tongyu asked.

”Easier than I expected,” Xu Wuyi said honestly. ”Once I found the right method and calmed my mind, the fight went more smoothly.”

”That is the way of Martial Arts.” Wu Dingbo turned off the screen and turned around, his expression growing serious.

”Xu Wuyi, you did very well. To find a way to defeat the Illusion in such a short time proves your talent and potential.”

Xu Wuyi nodded, waiting for him to continue.

He knew that for Wu Dingbo to be this serious, he definitely had more to say.

As expected, Wu Dingbo paused before continuing, ”However, one victory is not enough.”

Xu Wuyi looked up.

”I need you to defeat it ten times in a row,” Wu Dingbo said, enunciating each word. ”Not ten wins in total, but ten consecutive wins, with no losses in between.”

The basement fell silent for a moment.

Qiao Tongyu frowned. ”General Wu, isn’t that an incredibly high bar? The Illusion’s response logic constantly learns and adjusts. Defeating it ten times in a row means Xu Wuyi’s tactics must have new variations every time, and he can’t afford a single mistake.”

”I know,” Wu Dingbo said, looking at Xu Wuyi. ”It’s difficult. Extremely difficult. But I must make this request.”

Xu Wuyi was silent for a few seconds before asking, ”Can you tell me why?”

Wu Dingbo shook his head. ”Not for now. I can only tell you that if you can manage to defeat the Illusion ten consecutive times, there will be a special ’reward’ that will be of immense help to your future path in Martial Arts.”

Qiao Tongyu looked like he wanted to say more, but Wu Dingbo raised a hand to stop him.

”This is an order, but it is also a request,” Wu Dingbo’s voice grew heavy.

”Xu Wuyi, the Federation needs someone who can do this. This isn’t just about you; it’s about something far more important.”

Xu Wuyi looked into Wu Dingbo’s eyes.

In those eyes, which had witnessed countless battles, there was expectation, solemnity, and a sense of responsibility that he couldn’t yet fully comprehend.

”I understand.” Xu Wuyi nodded. ”I’ll do my best.”

Not ”I promise,” but ”I’ll do my best.”

Wu Dingbo understood the distinction, but he didn’t press for anything more.

”Good.” Wu Dingbo patted Xu Wuyi’s shoulder. ”For the next little while, I’ll be leaving Linjiang to report back to the military district.”

”You continue challenging the Illusion. A military recorder will be present for every match. As for usage permissions and scheduling the Virtual Cabin, Grandmaster Qiao will help you coordinate.”

Xu Wuyi asked, ”Is there a time limit?”

”No hard limit, but the sooner, the better,” said Wu Dingbo. ”But remember, don’t overexert yourself. Maintain your own condition.”

”Understood.” Xu Wuyi nodded.

He could read between the lines of Wu Dingbo’s words.

’Ensuring a high win rate probably means I’ll need to complete a critical challenge, and I won’t get unlimited chances.’

’Maintaining my condition means this challenge could happen at any moment.’

Wu Dingbo went over a few more details, then left in a hurry.

Only Xu Wuyi and Qiao Tongyu remained in the basement.

”What are you thinking?” Qiao Tongyu asked.

”General Wu has his reasons,” Xu Wuyi said. ”Although he didn’t say what they are, for him to be so serious, it must be something important.”

”Ten times in a row...” Qiao Tongyu sighed. ”Do you have any idea how hard that is?”

Xu Wuyi nodded. ”I know.”

Qiao Tongyu was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed. ”With an attitude like that, I guess I was worrying for nothing.”

...

「The day after Wu Dingbo left」, Xu Wuyi’s life returned to its regular rhythm.

He prepared his lessons in the morning, trained in the afternoon, and went to the basement of the Qiao Family estate at night to continue fighting the Illusion.

But he no longer went all out seeking victory in every match as he had before.

His mindset had changed.

Wu Dingbo’s requirement was ”ten consecutive victories against the Illusion,” which meant he couldn’t rely on tactics born from a flash of inspiration. He needed a stable, repeatable method for achieving victory.

’A strategy that only has a sixty percent win rate... if I can polish it to ninety percent, or even higher, then ten consecutive wins will just be a matter of course.’

Xu Wuyi sat on a stone stool in the small courtyard, his eyes closed in deep thought.

In his sea of consciousness, the great dark gold marsh breathed slowly, each expansion and contraction carrying a steady rhythm.

He recalled the details of his first victory against the Illusion.

The placement of the Gravity trap, the grasp of timing, the fusion of Weight and Immolation...

Every element had seemed nearly perfect at the time, but looking back now, he realized there was still plenty of room for optimization.

’The trap’s trigger can be more precise.’

’The combinations of Gravity changes can be more complex.’

’The consumption of the Power of Heart Image can be reduced further.’

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes, his gaze serene.

He was no longer pursuing what was ”new,” but what was ”refined.”