Under One Person: Starting with the Dual Cultivation of Body and Soul

"This guy named Li Chang'an is quite interesting. Judging from his attire, I originally thought his personality was similar to Zhang Lingyu's," Zhuge Qing said with a smile.

"This person is so ethereal, but I never expected him to be so ruthless when it comes to trash talk. What a contrast!" Feng Shayan made no attempt to hide the admiration in her eyes.

"Sis, you don't actually have feelings for that Li Chang'an, do you?" Feng Xingtong muttered softly.

"If I'm interested, shouldn't you, as my younger brother, ask for my contact information?" Feng Shayan rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

Feng Xingtong reluctantly shut his mouth.

"Brother Chang'an, you're right! Let's teach her a lesson!" Lu Linglong cheered loudly for Li Chang'an.

"Go, Chang'an!" Lu Xue waved her red and swollen dragon claw hand and shouted loudly.

Being called a "swordsman" made Master Yuan laugh in anger: "You're good with words, but what you just said is true. We are indeed a sect that entrusts our lives to the sword. As long as the sword lives, we live; if the sword dies, we die."

"However, the fact that you asked me why I didn't take a sword but instead took a piece of broken iron only shows that your taste is as vulgar as my master's."

"The Flowing Cloud Sword is a technique I learned from observing the ever-changing weather, but it ultimately binds a person to an object. I'm not like that. I want to tell my master that people are more important than swords, so I just randomly chose a large piece of iron to make my sword."

"How was it?"

"What else can we do?"

"That little brat!" Master Yuan clenched his fists in anger.

Looking at her arrogant demeanor, Li Chang'an laughed and said, "I also think that people should be more important than swords. You think that your sect is asking you to choose a good sword to entrust your life to, which is being too attached to appearances and is unreasonable. You want to change this, which is actually very reasonable."

"But the way you're changing things is by choosing a piece of scrap metal?"

"You think you're so refined and detached from worldly concerns just because you picked up a piece of scrap metal?"

"You deliberately chose the worst option, jumping from one extreme to another. Isn't that also being attached to appearances?"

"So what?" Yuan Shixiao sneered. "What can you do?"

Li Chang'an said, "It's all about appearances. You're not much better than your master. You just think you're awesome, so you've gone against your elders."

"You chose this big piece of iron not because you value your life, but because you are being led by the nose by your delusions, indulging in your desires and being resentful."

"After all, even the kids in the village who use sticks to clean the vegetable garden know to choose a stick that is easy to handle and straight."

Upon hearing this, Master Yuan was taken aback, then flew into a rage: "Are you lecturing me?"

"I'm not saying all this to lecture you, and I'm not speaking to you; I'm speaking to myself!"

Li Chang'an said, "Confucius said, 'By observing others' mistakes, one can know their benevolence.' This means that when I see others make mistakes, I should reflect on myself and try not to make the same mistake."

"This is a kind of knowledge, and also a kind of enlightenment. It is about seeing the nature of all beings and understanding one's own mind."

"See all living beings, see yourself, see the world!"

"As for you..."

Li Chang'an paused for a moment: "This is like drinking water; only the person drinking it knows whether it's hot or cold."

"Like drinking water, only the person drinking knows whether it is hot or cold." Many people in the audience unconsciously repeated this sentence.

"This young benefactor's cultivation level is quite high," Master Jiekong of the Ten Elders said in a low voice.

"He's really tall; he's a true genius with exceptional comprehension," Zhang Zhiwei added.

On the stage, Yuan Shixiao, perhaps struck a nerve by these words, broke down and angrily retorted:

"You say you only know your own joys and sorrows? How do you know how I feel?!"

"It's not hot!"

She picked up the large iron plate and pointed it at Li Chang'an: "Quickly draw your sword, I want to have a swordsmanship contest with you!"

"Your Flowing Cloud Sword Sect is clearly known for its sword energy, yet you want to compete with me in swordsmanship?"

"Let me tell you, sword qi is my talent, but swordsmanship is also my hobby!"

"Very well, as you wish!" Li Chang'an beckoned with his finger: "Sword, come!"

The magic sword hanging on the wall of his meditation room trembled slightly.

"Whoosh!"

The longsword burst through the window, transforming into a white light that pierced the sky before flying into Li Chang'an's hand like a swallow returning to its nest.

He had nurtured the sword with his Qi for many days, and the two had long since developed a connection. Even though Li Chang'an did not have any special skills in controlling objects, he could summon it by simply using his mind to slightly guide it within a certain distance.

"Object manipulation? Flying sword technique?" Everyone in the courtyard exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.

All eyes in the courtyard were focused on the weapon in Li Chang'an's hand on the field.

Li Chang'an wielded an eight-sided Han sword, 1.3 meters long and three fingers wide, its blade gleaming with light. His imposing presence and fluttering white robes made him appear truly like a sword immortal.

Across from him, Yuan Shixiao, holding a large iron plate and wearing a hoodie, was so angry that his eyes were crooked and his mouth was contorted, looking like a street thug who grabbed a weapon at random during a fight.

The difference between the two is obvious.

The contest began. Without saying a word, Yuan Shixiao bent his knees slightly, exerted force with his feet, and his shoes screeched as they rubbed against the floor. He charged toward Li Chang'an like a hawk soaring across the ground.

After closing in, the large iron plate thrust straight in, but halfway through, Yuan Shixiao's wrist suddenly flicked, and the iron plate burst forth with astonishing speed, heading straight for Li Chang'an's face.

At this moment, Li Chang'an flicked his wrist, and the Han sword slapped against her large iron plate sword, gently pulling it to the side.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal clashing.

Yuan Shixiao did not continue his charge, but instead quickly retreated two steps, his heart filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Because the spot where Li Chang'an's longsword struck was precisely the weak point in her control over the weapon.

Although this large iron plate looks crude, it is a weapon that she has nurtured with Qi for more than ten years, and it can cut through iron like mud.

Furthermore, her faction members are all proficient in the ability to manipulate and control objects. They can wield these objects in close combat or throw them as flying swords. This sword is easier to use than an arm that is part of one's body.

Not long ago, she had a contest with a person with magnetic superpowers. That person could lift a vehicle with his ability, but he couldn't budge the piece of iron in her hand at all.

But today, I never expected that Li Chang'an would break my spirit with a casual slap.

The feeling is like throwing a punch, only to have your opponent hit a nerve, leaving you feeling soft and numb.

This seemingly casual move alone instantly put Yuan Shixiao on high alert.

Was it the exquisite swordsmanship, or simply the overwhelming force?

If that sword strike was a matter of swordsmanship, even disregarding the unique skills of the Three Ones Sect, in terms of swordsmanship alone, the opponent would definitely be far superior to her.

But I have a feeling that the sword strike just now wasn't a swordsmanship move, but just that this guy was very strong.

Among the younger generation, some couldn't understand this extremely brief exchange: "What happened? Why did that tomboy only draw his sword halfway, exchange a few blows, and then pull it back? Shouldn't he have rushed in and attacked the center at that moment?"

At the elders' table, Lü Ci commented, "I once fought with Lin Zifeng of the Flowing Cloud Sword. He was no match for me, but my strength couldn't shake his sword."

"Liuyun Sword has absolute control over the sword, but this kid Li Chang'an broke through that girl's control over the sword with a casual sword strike."

"Whether he used tricks in swordsmanship or the Trinity School relied purely on brute force, the outcome is already decided. The best thing that girl should do now is to get off the stage as soon as possible; continuing will only bring her further humiliation!"

Lu Jin glanced at him, intending to say that it wasn't the Dragon-Tiger Might, but the Dragon-Elephant Might, because that girl's sword had just been kicked by an elephant.

But after thinking about it, he didn't say it. He wasn't like Zhang Zhiwei, who couldn't keep his mouth shut.