Yunxiao Golden Peak, the morning sunlight cascades down, painting the sea of clouds with a layer of golden light.
Lu Chengfeng and Zhou Tong cross paths and stand still.
Zhou Tong glanced at his sleeve, which had been slashed, reality struck him for a moment, and then remembering the sword sheath like a wandering dragon, and the blade that sliced like a rainbow at the critical moment, he couldn't help but praise.
"Good swordsmanship, good courage, good adaptation!"
"At the same age, I am not as good as you."
Lu Chengfeng held the Hidden Blade sheath with his right hand, drops of crimson blood dripped from his palm from the sheath, while his left hand pointed the Cold Cicada Sword slantingly, emanating a chilling air.
Earlier, facing Zhou Tong's Earth-Splitting Slash, he first used the sword with his right hand, deploying Sword Qi to attack head-on.
The collision between both sides made it clear he was at a disadvantage, so he unsheathed with his left hand, slicing Zhou Tong's sleeve, but his right hand was also injured from the direct clash.
Lu Chengfeng knew clearly that Zhou Tong had held back; otherwise, he would have been more than just injured on his right hand, he might have been cleaved in half and died horribly on the spot.
And at most, he could have severed one of the opponent's arms before dying.
One dead, one injured, the outcome was clear.
"Senior brother, I lost this battle!" Lu Chengfeng slowly sheathed his sword, slightly repressing his tone.
"Hahaha, you brat, you're still young, I am eight years older than you and my sleeve was cut by you. If you hadn't shown mercy, my arm would have been gone too."
Zhou Tong laughed and scolded, "Do you really want to cut me down with one sword? Then I might as well have lived all these years as a dog."
Lu Chengfeng snapped back from his earlier defeat, the Cold Cicada Sword returned to its sheath with a clang, and he laughed casually, "You are right, senior brother, I may have been a bit too ambitious."
"Alright, it's just sword sparring, you and I are brothers, no need to be so formal." Zhou Tong slowly strapped the Heavy Sword of the Abyss on his back, sighing, "The Five Elements Returning to Origin Sword Scripture left by our master is profound and unfathomable, I've struggled for many years and only gained some insight into the Earth Element Sword Form."
"I can't even begin with the other sword forms, let alone the Five Elements Unification—it seems unlikely I will master this sword technique in my lifetime."
"But..." he shifted his tone, "the sword scripture left by the master is vast and deep, even one single sword art can stand alongside secret skills."
"The Five Elements Unification leads directly to the Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light Sword, a path that can, indeed, reach the heavens."
"With your talent, you will surely achieve something, carrying forward the master's legacy, ensuring it does not fade."
Lu Chengfeng knew Zhou Tong was intentionally showcasing the strength and profundity of this secret skill, fearing he might overlook the incomplete secret skill and pursue other swordsmanship within the sect.
It's a pity he has other plans, which might not end up the way Zhou Tong wishes, unless someday he marries Zhu Yuxian, then naturally the Five Elements Returning to Origin Sword Scripture would be easily obtained.
He sighed inwardly and said, "I understand your effort, senior brother, I will do my best."
Zhou Tong smiled at his promise, "Those words are enough, I believe with your talent you are bound to gain something."
Lu Chengfeng chuckled, but said no more.
"Junior brother, your right hand is injured by the Power shock, you'd better go heal first. Cai Xia has excellent medicine in store." Zhou Tong said, directly pulling Lu Chengfeng towards the Immortal Encounter Hall.
Half a two-hour period later, Cai Xia applied the medicine to Lu Chengfeng's right hand, and personally wrapped it up.
Cai Xia and Ming Yue are Zhu Yuxian's personal maids, who have followed her for years, even closer than disciples, holding a high position on the mountain.
Lu Chengfeng initially wanted to apply the medicine himself, but couldn't resist Cai Xia's insistence, allowing her to busy herself for him.
Zhou Tong teased at the side, "Cai Xia, back when I was hurt in martial arts training, I didn't see you so attentive; I applied the medicine miserably by myself."
"Clearly the new surpasses the old!"
Cai Xia's face blushed slightly, she spat at him, "Nonsense, you're older than me; there's no need for me to tend to you."
"Young Master Chengfeng is still young; he was bullied and injured as soon as he came up the mountain. Isn't taking extra care justified? It was you who caused this trouble anyway."
Seeing the girl blaming him, Zhou Tong quickly begged for mercy.
"It's my fault, my fault. Next time I go out and come back, I'll definitely bring you and Ming Yue osmanthus cakes from below the mountain to make amends, how about that?"
Cai Xia huffed, "Who wants your amends? It's clearly your fault Young Master Chengfeng got hurt. If anyone should be making amends, it should be you to him."
Lu Chengfeng quickly waved his left hand, "Cai Xia sister, don't call me Young Master anymore; it sounds too distant. If you don't mind, call me Chengfeng."
"Besides, sparring with senior brother and getting hurt is unavoidable, ultimately it's my lack of ability."
"Today I troubled sister to care for me, when I go to the town below the mountain next time, I'll buy some osmanthus cakes as a token of gratitude for sister's care today."
"After all, it's just a simple bandage, hardly attentive care." Though she said this, Cai Xia's face blossomed like a flower, unable to hide the delight in her words.
Zhou Tong watched from the side, speechless; he'd been on the mountain for so many years yet never this close with Cai Xia, and he couldn't help but touch his bronzed skin, muttering, "Could it be that being handsome is starting to pay off these years?"
Cai Xia heard him mumbling, just finished bandaging, and stood with arms akimbo, snorting, "Zhou Tong, what are you saying? What about being handsome?"
Zhou Tong really couldn't antagonize her, apologized with a smile, and dragged Lu Chengfeng away.
Lu Chengfeng was dragged by him, could only offer a bitter smile to Cai Xia, "Cai Xia sister, I'll come see you another day."
Once out of the hall, Zhou Tong breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and glanced back, "Junior brother, in my view, you'll soon become the master of Immortal Encounter Hall, keep it up; I am rooting for you."
Lu Chengfeng couldn't help but laugh and cursed, "Senior brother, what nonsense are you talking, what place does that put the master?"
"Hahaha, just a joke. Junior brother, you're now a man with a family." Zhou Tong's words were both a jest and a reminder, then he said no more and turned away, "You're probably eager to go seek your sweet wife, I'm off to practice swordsmanship, won't see you off the mountain."
"If you have leisure, come seek me on the mountain; we can spar and comprehend the Sword Scripture together."
"Farewell, senior brother." Lu Chengfeng watched Zhou Tong depart, and turned to head down the mountain.
Yet just as he started down the mountain, a familiar pricking sensation returned, his pupils involuntarily revealed a hint of anger and killing intent.
"Endless trouble?"
"Does he really think my sword can't kill?"
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his desire to kill, and continued forward as if nothing was amiss.