Chapter 38: Aura of Blood, Force of the Gale

The old man Tian Zi was not without a certain cunning.

He had stepped forward today, yet he did not demand that Lu Xiao forfeit his attempt at the Martial Sect Academy entrance examination should he fail to knock him down. Had he phrased it that way, Lu Xiao would likely have refused outright. The examination was still half a year away; even if Lu Xiao could not best him now, he would surely still harbor hopes for the assessment.

The Matriarch of the Lu family, the First Mistress, the Second Mistress, and the other elders watched on, saying nothing. They treated Tian Zi’s actions as mere entertainment. These elders already held a good deal of resentment toward Lu Xiao; he should have simply handed over his spiritual bones obediently instead of causing so much trouble. In their eyes, Tian Zi’s antics served to vent their frustrations. Furthermore, if Lu Xiao could realize his own meager talent through this public display, that would be for the best—perhaps he would abandon the idea of the academy exam altogether.

Lu Xiao observed the reactions of the crowd, noting their mockery and amusement. When his gaze swept over the servants of the Marquis’s estate, they quickly lowered their heads. They were still afraid of being remembered by him and inviting disaster upon themselves.

If this had been some time ago, even if Lu Xiao had gained some ability and improved his cultivation, he would have remained low-key and dormant. He knew that if the Matriarch discovered his progress, she would certainly intervene even more. But things were different now. He possessed the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art." The Lu family elders were already aware that Wu Shanlong had gifted him this technique. Thus, it would not be strange for him to show improvement based on that alone.

Xue Shiwei had previously warned him that while this technique was beneficial in the short term, its harsh tempering could damage his foundations and eventually lead to a plateau in his cultivation. However, in the initial stages, it would produce visible results. This meant that by demonstrating his martial prowess today, he would not be exposing his true trump cards. To the elders of the Lu family, any progress would simply be seen as the temporary benefits of the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art."

Lu Xiao had already refined this purple-tier technique to the third stage. Though it was primarily a defensive art, it did indeed possess the ability to strengthen the physique and boost vital energy. That his martial strength would improve in tandem was perfectly logical.

Seeing that Lu Xiao did not rise immediately, Tian Zi, standing in the center of the Cuiqing Garden, spoke again. His expression remained one of kindness, his tone gentle and unhurried, yet the content of his words was entirely detrimental to Lu Xiao.

"For all these years, I have indeed failed to offer the Fourth Young Master any guidance. But in truth, the fault does not lie with me. The path of cultivation requires talent and intuition. Guidance and instruction are merely catalysts; ultimately, one must rely on oneself. But since the Fourth Young Master has seen fit to question me, I must offer one final lesson before I depart. And the name of this lesson is 'Self-Knowledge'."

As Tian Zi finished, Lu Yun could not help but chime in, repeating the same old tune. Her intent was clear: if Lu Xiao was so confident, he should demonstrate it here in the Marquis’s estate. He should make a fool of himself at home rather than disgracing them all abroad.

In the past, Lu Xiao would have chosen to lie low. But today, he felt he could truly test himself. He had been practicing for nearly three months, and his cultivation had reached the Stone-Moving Realm. According to Xue Shiwei, the Martial Sect Academy examination included a practical combat segment. He would use this opportunity to gauge exactly where he stood. He was practicing techniques that had been refined, and the benefits he reaped were far superior to those of ordinary cultivators. He wanted to see just how much he had improved.

With that thought, Lu Xiao stood up and walked toward the center of the garden.

The Matriarch was somewhat surprised to see Lu Xiao accept the challenge. Usually, he was one to suffer in silence, enduring whatever was thrown at him. It was rare to see him show such temper and stand up for himself. Chen Fangyu, the First Mistress sitting beside the Matriarch, felt the same.

"It seems that a bit of cultivation has inflated his ego. His talent may be meager, but his pride is quite grand."

Chen Fangyu’s assessment echoed the sentiments of many present. Lu Xiao had been branded talentless at the age of seven or eight, and his cultivation was viewed as a waste of time and resources. Today, his attempt to assert himself was, in their eyes, a classic example of someone with little ability but a large temper.

In the center of the garden, Tian Zi maintained his kind, almost pitying, expression. "Fourth Young Master, please do not hold back on my account. I hope tonight’s lesson will benefit you and keep you from being so defiant and stubborn in the future. Of course, if you can demonstrate some unexpected skill and show me that I was wrong about you all these years, that would be even better."

Tian Zi assumed a stance, waiting for Lu Xiao to strike. But before Lu Xiao could move, a middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd. It was Wei Zhuo, the Marquis’s estate’s introductory martial arts instructor, who was currently teaching Lu Lei, the youngest cousin. He stepped forward and blocked Tian Zi.

"Elder Tian, you are returning home tomorrow. The journey is long and arduous; you should not overexert yourself tonight. Let me take your place. You have taught me so much—let me, as your student, test the Fourth Young Master on your behalf."

Seeing Wei Zhuo step in, Tian Zi looked relieved, though he still shook his head. "Wei Zhuo, your strength is already a step above mine. If you take my place, the Fourth Young Master might refuse to admit defeat if he loses. This lesson in self-knowledge is better delivered by me."

As they argued back and forth, the Matriarch frowned and waved her hand. "Elder Tian, rest. Let Wei Zhuo do it. One must know when to age gracefully; do not be stubborn. Besides, it is just a private lesson; there is no need to make such a fuss."

With the Matriarch’s word, Tian Zi stopped insisting and sat back down. Wei Zhuo took his place, settling into a stance. Like Tian Zi, he was a practitioner of the Stone-Moving Realm, but his physical strength and speed were superior.

The crowd watched with anticipation. They were content with either, though they would have preferred Tian Zi; the idea that Lu Xiao could not even shake an aging servant would be all the more proof of his lack of talent. They waited for Lu Xiao to strike, or more accurately, they waited for him to embarrass himself. The servants, in particular, were seething; they despised Lu Xiao but had been forced to lower their heads due to his past threats. Liu Wang and the others behind the First Mistress had eyes that gleamed with anticipation. They were delighted that Tian Zi’s actions would not only vent their anger but also shift the target of Lu Xiao’s resentment onto himself.

Lu Xiao stood opposite Wei Zhuo. He prepared to use the "Gale Core Technique" and the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art" to see how far his martial prowess had come. The people of the Lu estate knew he possessed these, but he would be careful not to use his "Spirit Wind Steps." He would also slightly suppress his cultivation level. To the elders, he had only just begun his training; while it was normal to enter the early stage of the Stone-Moving Realm quickly, reaching the minor mastery of the Stone-Moving Realm in just a month would be enough to cause the Matriarch and the others genuine concern.

"Fourth Young Master, please strike. Let everyone see if my judgment all those years ago was wrong," Tian Zi urged from the sidelines, looking impatient.

Lu Xiao did not hesitate. A circle of blood-red energy began to swirl around him. He clenched his right fist and struck out—a punch from the "Gale Core Technique." It was a move entirely looked down upon in the Great Xia Dynasty, dismissed as nothing more than a simple exercise for strengthening the body.