He was full of energy, went to bed early, and naturally woke up early.
The next day, at the beginning of the Mao hour (5 AM), Li Xuan got up.
He changed into a simple outfit and stepped out of the room.
He nodded to Qing Wen, who had been woken up by the noise, and said:
"It's fine if you go back to sleep for a while. I forgot to mention yesterday, I'll be getting up early to practice martial arts. You can get up at the middle of the Mao hour (6 AM) and it won't be too late."
Qing Wen shook her head: "You'll be practicing martial arts in the courtyard, someone will have to be there to attend to you."
Li Xuan pondered for a moment and didn't argue further.
Anyway, after she watched for a while, she would know she wasn't needed and would go back to sleep obediently.
After washing up, he drew out his golden silk large ring blade and began to practice, swooshing through the air.
This was different from last night.
Yesterday, after a long journey by boat and carriage, he was simply loosening his joints and getting some exercise, so he did whatever felt good.
Today, his leisure time was over, and he was back to serious training.
He moved quickly and slowly, lightly and heavily.
He repeated the same move many times to make it completely his own, able to use it at any time without thinking, rather than just using a set form.
In the courtyard not far away, Lin Daiyu, who was practicing with a ten-foot snake spear, heard the sound.
She closed her eyes and listened carefully, murmuring: "As slow as a forest, as fast as the wind, aggressive as fire, still as a mountain."
"He's a master!"
"This direction… could it be that righteous man, Xuan Ge'er?"
She tossed the ten-foot snake spear upwards, the spear spinning as it flew into the air.
When it fell, the spearhead pointed downwards, and it stuck into the ground.
By this time, Lin Daiyu had already picked up a flower spear and rushed towards the neighboring courtyard.
Only Xue Yan, Zi Juan, and Wang Mama, anxiously trailed behind her.
In his own courtyard, Li Xuan saw Lin Meimei rushing over with a spear, stopping for no moment. With a sweet voice, she said:
"Hearing that a good man is nearby, I'm eager to have a go. Xuan brother, forgive me!"
With that, she thrust forward with a straight spear.
Li Xuan dodged to the side, took two steps back, and jumped out of the circle.
He raised his hand and called out: "Lin Miss, wait!"
"Why, Xuan brother can fight others, but not with your younger sister? Does that make your younger sister seem even more delicate?"
"No..."
"Then let's have a round. It's just family practice, and we're at home, no one else will see!"
From "you can't have it because others have it," to "it doesn't count if no one sees it, and if no one sees it, it doesn't exist," not violating the rules of propriety, Lin Daiyu used every trick in the book to get a fight.
Seeing that Li Xuan was about to say something, she reached for a flying locust stone from her waist, flicked her wrist, and flung it at him.
A flying locust stone usually refers to a smooth, round stone, but a hard stone can also be used as a substitute.
This thing is simple to carry and convenient, and it's not conspicuous. When used as a hidden weapon, it's unlikely to be fatal, but it can significantly reduce one's combat capability.
It's much more powerful than simply picking up a few pebbles and throwing them.
(The most powerful one is Deng Chan Yu's Five-Colored Stone in the Investiture of the Gods, which can defeat Kong Xuan, Nezha, Zheng Lun, and Yin Hong, truly unrivaled on the battlefield.)
Seeing a flying locust stone coming at him, even Li Xuan had to dodge.
But Lin Daiyu didn't stop at one stone.
Furthermore, there is a technique involved in using a flying locust stone, it's not just about throwing it and calling it a day.
That kind of direct, straightforward throw is the most basic of basic.
Even the Uchiha Clan's Throwing Technique in Naruto is merely child's play compared to this scene.
The sky was filled with flying locust stones, some going in a straight line, some in an arc, some colliding with each other, changing direction, some disappearing from sight as soon as they were released...
This weapon, often used in feigned defeats, was suddenly turned into a rain of arrows with the momentum of an army by her.
However, Li Xuan knew she was holding back.
A hidden weapon is most effective when it goes unnoticed.
Now, she was throwing it openly, wasn't that just like fighting with your hands?
Alright, let's fight!
He dodged left and right, his blade clicked against the stones, he caught them with his hands.
Li Xuan soon broke free from the rain of flying locust stones.
He laughed: "Courtesy demands reciprocity, Lin Miss, take a few of my pebbles too!"
With a flick of his wrist, he flung back the stones he had caught.
The system can only help improve proficiency, it cannot directly add points to enhance physical strength and thus increase realm.
But precisely because of this, both in terms of cultivation realm (increasing cultivation speed, or in other words, body tempering effects) and martial arts skill realm, Li Xuan was truly the best among his peers.
Not just among his peers, but in the entire world, there weren't many who surpassed him.
So, Lin Daiyu was immediately surprised.
Then, she got even more excited.
While dodging a few stones, she used her spear as a staff, stepped forward, and attacked with a grand sweeping move.
Li Xuan stepped back to avoid it, his body moved with his blade, he stepped forward and turned to slash.
Lin Daiyu wasn't afraid of being close with a spear. Using the techniques of a large spear, she retreated and twisted, using the blocking move of a large spear.
Retreating served to unload force, it could both unload force and build up power for the attack.
By twisting and blocking, she forced Li Xuan's golden silk large ring blade out of the center line.
Then, there was a flurry of attacks, thrusting, thrusting, thrusting!
The first thrust, Li Xuan's embroidered spring blade trembled.
Lin Meimei had such great strength!
Fortunately, he still had more strength than her.
Xiang Yu, who was capable of lifting a tripod, could wield a weapon weighing over a hundred pounds from morning to night, it's impossible to say that he didn't have a strength exceeding ten thousand pounds.
But Lin Daiyu was even stronger than Xiang Yu, at least she had the strength of twenty thousand pounds.
And he, integrating various body tempering methods to create the Nine Revolutions Body Tempering Technique, had a higher limit and stronger effects, allowing him to surpass the boundaries of the Sixth and Fifth Ranks as soon as he entered the Sixth Rank.
Now he had at least the strength of ten elephants, twelve thousand five hundred pounds of divine power!
He withstood seven consecutive thrusts, Li Xuan didn't breathe hard or change his expression.
First, he assumed the stance of the "Eight Directions Hidden Blade" technique of night warfare, then he turned and slashed horizontally.
Lin Daiyu raised her flower spear, her lips curved into a delighted smile, and thrust at Li Xuan's chest.
Li Xuan blocked with his embroidered spring blade, and the two of them clashed together.
They fought for a hundred rounds, without deciding the winner.
Although both of them were holding back, not using their full strength.
But after thirty-plus moves, Li Xuan realized that not only were his basic attributes (realm?) superior to hers, but his martial arts skills were also superior to hers by a significant margin.
Lin Daiyu also sensed this.
So, she changed her moves and jumped out of the circle.
She frowned, with two strands of smoky eyebrows, and said: "You're so unreasonable!"
"Never mind, never mind, it's my fault for suddenly coming to challenge you to a duel."
"If you're sincere, come and practice martial arts with me more often, so we can learn from each other. If you keep that attitude, you might as well just ignore me, lest I seem to be making a fuss for no reason."
Li Xuan blinked.
Thinking about having a training partner, and a beautiful one at that, was better than practicing by himself.
So, he clasped his fists and said: "Compared to your place, mine is indeed quieter. Lin Miss, how about we practice together tomorrow, at the same time?"
"Since Xuan brother has invited me sincerely, I certainly won't be remiss."
Returning the courtesy, a smile flashed in Lin Daiyu's eyes.
"At the same time?"
"We'll be there!"