The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 423 Night Journey
Zhao Ti slowly stopped his sword strike, exhaled, and then stood by the table to rest.

Although he had mastered the Peach Blossom Sword Technique, he could not fathom its power and had no idea of ​​its true extent.

He could directly test the strength of the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, but this sword technique was not good at demonstrating the true strength of the opponent.

Although the sword is imbued with internal energy, creating a powerful and swift strike that penetrates walls like thorns in tofu or lard, it is the sword's inherent sharpness that matters, not the power of the sword technique itself.

The way of the sword, when cultivated to its highest level, can be indestructible, capable of splitting mountains and cleaving rivers, but such abilities are rare and are recorded in ancient texts and passed down through legends.

Most still need to follow the path of speed and unpredictability.

However, this path of speed is invincible, requiring diligent practice to cultivate speed, aiming for lightning-fast and thunderous strikes. At the same time, sword techniques must be coordinated, with clean and crisp moves, short and powerful sword strokes, minimal or no turns, and no unnecessary hesitation.

He didn't feel that the moves of the Peach Blossom Sword Technique conformed to the characteristics of a fast sword, because this sword technique was not only complex, but also had an extremely long sword trajectory. It was said that the shortest possible rotation was a few feet, and some moves could even reach more than ten feet away in a short time.

As for the unpredictable and ever-changing moves, that's to be true. This sword technique is so varied that it's more like magic than swordsmanship.

Starting with the first move, each move contains three hidden variations, and by the eighteenth move, there are a total of one hundred and eight minor variations, which are continuous and uninterrupted, and are simply unbelievable.

If someone of average talent were to practice this sword technique, they would be lucky to comprehend even one or two moves in their entire life.

Even those with exceptional talent might need a lifetime of dedicated study, spending their entire lives honing their skills, and still not be able to master them all.

"Since it's so complex and unpredictable, it must be very powerful, right?" Zhao Ti muttered to himself, looking at the piece of iron in his hand.

Complex sword techniques don't necessarily mean great skill, but if a technique is complex enough to be beyond the reach of ordinary people, then it is certainly extraordinary.

The flower shadows of the Peach Blossom Sword Technique are all produced by the changes and circulation of internal energy, which affect the wind and light angles.

This matter sounds simple, but it is actually extremely complex, involving countless calculations. Although there are only three to one hundred and eight variations, the internal calculations are numerous.

Peach blossoms are not only beautiful, but also serve to confuse opponents and leave them bewildered.

When two people are facing off, it is a life-or-death struggle. The slightest difference can lead to a huge loss. A momentary lapse in concentration or a slight carelessness can affect the outcome of the battle or even result in defeat and death.

Zhao Ti shook the iron plate in his hand, and the iron plate immediately became extremely taut, faintly emitting a pinkish-white light, which looked very tempting.

"Even if this swordsmanship is powerful, I still need to find someone to spar with. It's not good to just talk about it on paper..." Zhao Ti muttered to himself.

But where could he find someone to spar with? He scratched his head, realizing he really couldn't find anyone.

Nobody knew he could fight, except for the crow, but the crow isn't exactly human.

He didn't know any martial arts masters. Although he knew his parents knew martial arts, he was too busy hiding it from them to go and challenge them to a duel.
As for Yang Jian, it's not good either. First, he once said that he would not practice martial arts before he had finished his studies. Second, he had mastered the Four Illuminations Divine Skill to a moderate level and learned the Peach Blossom Sword Technique in a short period of time, which was too shocking.

It's better not to let others know about martial arts prowess. It's not that fewer people know is better, but rather that no one knows.

He read storybooks and illustrated legends, which featured a boy with unparalleled talent who was born with a supreme bone. No matter what martial arts he learned, he was incredibly fast and his power was twice that of others. However, because he revealed his extraordinary physique, he was tricked by those around him, who dug out his supreme bone, crippled his martial arts, and left him in a miserable state, worse than dead, far worse than an ordinary person.

Although the young man later had a miraculous encounter, mastered unparalleled divine skills to avenge himself, killed all his enemies, and eliminated villains and wicked people, this incident remained a permanent pain and an insurmountable knot in his heart. During those dark years, he lost countless things and countless beautiful things.

Therefore, it is a principle and a thought for a gentleman to conduct himself and act in accordance with the principle that "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Rare treasures should not be easily shown to others, and unusual objects should not be flaunted.

The boy in the story didn't understand, but Zhao Ti did. He knew he couldn't let others easily know his trump cards, his background, or what he relied on.

However, sparring with Yang Jian is not advisable. Since he has progressed so quickly, his opponent will inevitably ask why. He cannot explain, as explaining would easily cause trouble. But if he does not explain, his opponent will become suspicious. He is caught in a dilemma and cannot choose.

As for the other familiar people, Mo Xun and his classmates might also know martial arts, but it would be difficult to find them, as they certainly wouldn't want to reveal their martial arts skills.

However, learning without fighting will always lead to a lack of experience. Only through combat and sparring can martial arts skills improve, and avoid falling into the awkward situation of empty talk and mere theoretical discussion.

There was no need to worry too much about danger, since the crows would protect him and come to his aid in times of crisis. However, Zhao Ti figured that even though he had no combat experience at the moment, his internal strength was profound and he had mastered the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, so he should not encounter any too dangerous crises.

Since that's the case, we'll have to find strangers, martial arts experts, or wandering swordsmen.

It's relatively easy to find people who know martial arts openly, because there are several martial arts schools in Yuzhou City that open their doors to students and have a large following. Almost every school has dozens or even hundreds of students. As for students who don't live in the schools, there are also quite a few.

Jianghu wanderers are harder to find; you have to go and find them, observing their clothing and whether they are carrying weapons.

Zhao Ti returned to his desk and sat down. He pondered the matter for a moment. This matter couldn't be done in broad daylight. If he went to the academy to challenge them to a duel during the day, it would definitely cause a stir. Many people would come to watch the spectacle, and his identity would likely be exposed, which would go against his original intention.

What I wanted was to hide my identity and remain unknown to others, so I couldn't show myself openly.

Then… Zhao Ti glanced at the doorway and wondered if they should go there tonight?

However, it would be best to wait until after the parents were asleep at night, but that was fine, in fact, it was just right. Since they had decided to conceal their identities, they could cover their faces, move about freely, and leave immediately after the fight without being recognized or discovered.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ti revealed a relaxed expression, stuffed the iron bar in his hand under the bed to hide it, and then began to practice the Four Illuminations Divine Skill.

Mastering the Four Illuminations Divine Skill is extremely difficult. The manual states that even a peerless genius would need more than thirty years to achieve it.

This "more than thirty years" doesn't mean just thirty years, but at least that many years. It could be as long as sixty years, or even eighty or a hundred years. It's hard to say, and it's possible.

This refers to exceptionally talented individuals. As for those with extremely high talent but who are not exceptionally talented, they generally have no hope and should not even think about achieving mastery, because according to the manual, it would take at least 120 years to possibly reach the level of mastery. How many centuries does one have in a lifetime? For ordinary people, there are none, because very few people can live to be a hundred years old. Even if they start practicing from birth, they may not be able to touch the threshold of mastery before they die.

Even so, this skill remains the treasure of the Yang family, and its disciples flock to learn it.

There are two reasons for this. First, the power of this skill is too great. In terms of internal strength alone, a minor achievement is equivalent to a first-class master in the martial arts world, a medium achievement is equivalent to a top master, and a major achievement is not only equivalent to a supreme master, but also, with the blessing of the four pillars of light, one is immune to all poisons, impervious to swords and spears, and difficult for evil spirits to enter. It is already equivalent to a grandmaster, so everyone wants to try it.

Secondly, although the manual states that it takes several years to achieve something and that only exceptional geniuses or those with top-notch talent can cultivate it, it can be compensated for with rare and precious materials and rare medicines.

Rare and precious treasures can compensate for deficiencies in one's physical constitution and meridians, enabling those with top-tier talent to become unparalleled geniuses, those with good talent to become top-tier individuals, and those without talent to become individuals with talent.

Their comprehension will also be stimulated and enlightened by the rare and precious materials, making them far more capable than before.

The world's spiritual medicines can promote the growth of cultivation and improve cultivation efficiency. After taking them, the cultivation time can be added over a period of time. For example, if you cultivate for a month, but take spiritual medicine, it is equivalent to cultivating for a month and a half.

As for some spiritual medicines, they are even more miraculous, directly increasing internal strength. Even if someone only has ten years of cultivation, after consuming the spiritual medicine, they will suddenly gain another ten years of cultivation, becoming someone with twenty years of cultivation.

Legend has it that there are some unparalleled elixirs, precious medicines that have absorbed the essence of heaven and earth for thousands of years, and that consuming them can directly increase one's cultivation by as much as sixty years.

The existence of rare and precious herbs and elixirs makes it possible to learn some extremely profound and difficult martial arts techniques. Therefore, even martial arts like the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, and even more than just the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, can be practiced. Some core high-difficulty martial arts of other aristocratic families and the sect-protecting techniques of martial arts sects. There is no need to wait for the birth of some peerless genius. Otherwise, these powerful martial arts would have been lost long ago.

Zhao Ti then began practicing his martial arts. As his internal energy circulated throughout his body and flowed through his meridians, white steam rose from his head, followed by flashes of four-colored light. From a distance, he looked almost like a god.

He didn't stop until midnight, then tidied up and rested, and before he knew it, it was the next morning.

Over the next few days, he spent his days reading and his nights practicing his skills when it was quiet. His Four Illuminations Divine Skill improved rapidly, far surpassing the intermediate level, but he was still quite far from the advanced level.

After all, even the most outstanding geniuses would need at least thirty years to master the Four Illuminations Divine Skill without rare and precious materials and spiritual medicines.

This is only a possibility; it could take more than thirty years, or even fifty, eighty, or one hundred years.

Zhao Ti estimated that it would take him at least a month and at most a year to reach the pinnacle of his skill.

However, the matter of finding someone to spar with cannot be delayed. We should take advantage of this time to hone our experience and refine ourselves.

Seven days later, one evening, after the lights in her parents' house were turned off, Zhao Ti took out the black veil she had prepared earlier, gently covered her face, then wrapped the long iron plate with cloth and carried it on her back.

He plans to go out and challenge someone to a duel tonight, without revealing his true identity. He has already chosen the location during the day: a martial arts school in the north of the city.

This martial arts school is quite large, and the owner is a respected figure in Yuzhou City, with a considerable reputation among the common people. Moreover, he has two junior brothers serving as deputy masters, so they must indeed possess some real skills.

Furthermore, the martial arts school is located in a relatively remote area in the north of the city, making it convenient to come and go without attracting attention.

Zhao Ti had everything prepared but hadn't turned off the lights. Just as he reached the door, something suddenly occurred to him. Since it was so late and they weren't going to rob anyone but instead to have a friendly spar, he would have to announce his name. He hadn't yet decided on a nickname for himself.

After only a brief moment of contemplation, he had already made up his mind, then gently pushed the door open and left, before silently closing it.

He didn't head straight out of the courtyard. Instead, he watched his parents' room for a moment, listening to their even breathing, before quietly sliding forward in the shadows under the eaves.

Although the Four Illuminations Divine Skill is an internal skill without any fist or foot techniques or weapon skills, the book does include a lightness skill called the Four Extremes Flowing Light Step, which Zhao Ti has already mastered.

Although he had only practiced indoors before, he made no mistakes at this moment. After wobbling a few times, he slid to the side of the courtyard wall.

This was also due to the depth of his internal strength at this moment. The Four Illuminations Divine Skill at the middle stage is equivalent to a top master. Therefore, his movements were not slow or sluggish at all. He twisted his waist under the wall and rushed up ten feet high before leaving the courtyard.

After landing, he darted out of the alley in the blink of an eye, leaving Xinghua Alley and heading north.

A crow landed on his shoulder and its voice reached his ears: "Brother, your lightness skill is truly remarkable. You don't seem like a beginner at all, but rather like a seasoned martial arts master who has been immersed in the world for many years."

Zhao Ti said, "Brother Ya, you flatter me. This is my first time using it, how can I compare to those renowned masters?"

The crow said, "Brother, there's no need for such modesty. I think even those masters couldn't do what you do, moving with the grace of a celestial being."

Zhao Ti smiled. He ran faster and faster, feeling the scenery around him rushing backward. It was as if the wind was rising from his feet. When he encountered ordinary obstacles, he did not dodge them at all, but flew over them directly.

A moment later, he arrived at the Yujiang River, but instead of looking for a bridge to cross the river, he leaped directly into the river, scattering thin bamboo strips from his hands and lightly touching them, sending them flying three or four zhang away across the water.

Even when Zhuge Qingqing led him across the Yujiang River, the speed wasn't this fast, and he hadn't even used his full strength yet, clearly indicating that he had already surpassed his opponent in terms of internal strength.

After crossing the river, they continued north, avoiding the Yuzhou soldiers on night patrol. They unleashed their full power, hardly following the streets, leaping over walls and flying onto houses. It didn't take long before they arrived at the north of the city.

Then, after determining the direction, they headed towards a certain place and soon arrived at a long, tall building on a secluded road. Right above the central door was a black plaque with the four large characters "Fuwei Martial Arts Hall" written on it.

Zhao Ti sensed the sound slightly, then leaped onto the roof above the plaque and looked into the vast and spacious courtyard square inside.

At this time, lanterns were hung all around the square, with the words "Fuwei" written on them, illuminating the surroundings in a reddish hue.

A slight smile played on his lips behind his veil. After a moment's thought, he called out loudly to those below, "Is anyone there? This young hero has come to challenge the sect!"

(End of this chapter)