Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Lou Yun’s Earnest Counsel

At this moment, Cheng Kuang remained standing atop his magical weapon. He hadn’t anticipated Lou Yun would specifically nominate him to try. However, his temper was both straightforward and fiery, especially when Lou Yun’s tone carried a hint of disdain. Unable to endure it, he snorted coldly, “Anyone who doesn’t dare is a coward!”

Urging his magical weapon forth, he arrived beneath the massive boulder. He withdrew his magical weapon and stood on the ground. First, he glanced up at the boulder, then shot a look at Lou Yun. Abruptly stepping back several paces, he suddenly broke into a sprint, charging toward the rock. Upon reaching it, he gathered himself and leapt upward. Planting both feet firmly upon its surface, he began scaling its sheer face with long strides, as though walking on level ground.

Within moments, he’d scrambled up about five meters. Yet at that point, he found he could climb no higher. Executing a somersault mid-air, he landed back on the ground.

Though Cheng Kuang failed, not a single person among the gathered crowd mocked him. They all knew they wouldn’t have succeeded either.

Cheng Kuang stubbornly tried twice more. Though with the last effort he pushed himself up an extra meter, he still remained far from the boulder’s peak.

Lou Yun had been watching from the side all along, his expression faintly amused. Finally, Cheng Kuang stamped his foot forcefully and declared, “I couldn’t do it! But can you do it?”

Without a word, Lou Yun walked step by step to the base of the immense rock. He smiled lightly, “Watch closely!”

As soon as the words left his lips, the assembly witnessed Lou Yun plant both feet squarely on the boulder’s face. Without the slightest running start or momentum, he began climbing upward with steady, unhurried strides. He ascended as if traversing flat ground, encountering no resistance whatsoever until he stood directly atop the peak.

Standing tall on the rock’s summit, Lou Yun shouted down, “Did you see?”

The island was plunged into utter silence. Not a soul dared utter a word. They had of course witnessed it with their own eyes. Yet it defied the deep-rooted belief held universally in their minds. No one could fathom precisely how Lou Yun had accomplished it!

Suddenly, Lou Yun vaulted down from his perch. Standing once more at the base, he announced, “Watch again!”

He drew a deep, audible breath. Then, astonishingly, his entire body shot straight upward, soaring dozens of meters into the air – far exceeding the boulder’s height. Like a floating leaf, he drifted gracefully back down, landing softly once more on the very top!

Lou Yun’s actions dealt another seismic blow to the worldview of the assembled magical weapons masters. They were certain he hadn’t utilized any magical weapon. Yet how could he vault to such formidable heights with such apparent ease?

Observing their stunned expressions and evident confusion, Lou Yun smiled slightly. “Do you understand how I achieved this?”

After another prolonged silence, Mei Yuanmu ventured cautiously, “Is it… Island Master… did you specifically cultivate body refinement?”

“Correct!” Lou Yun nodded firmly. “I cultivated body refinement! You are doubtless thinking this was a colossal waste of time, a pointless, redundant step; that there’s simply no necessity to refine the body when one can just cultivate their magical weapon. But I tell you now, this perspective is gravely mistaken. The gains achieved through physical cultivation are in no way inferior to those gained through magical weapon cultivation! There are even moments when the trained body surpasses the magical weapon by a vast margin!”

Cheng Kuang suddenly boomed out, “I don’t believe it! The body can’t compare to a magical weapon in any aspect! Magical weapons surpass the body in toughness tenfold! My blade can cleave an enemy’s flesh, but it can’t necessarily sever an opposing magical weapon! And magical weapons can fly! Can your body fly?!”

Lou Yun glanced at Cheng Kuang. Truthfully, Lou Yun felt not anger at the challenge, but appreciation. He nodded. “Cheng Kuang. Come up here. Assist me.”

Cheng Kuang eyed the summit of the immense rock and scratched his head vigorously. “How… how do I get up?”

“Ha! However you can get up, that’s how you’ll come!” Lou Yun couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Cheng Kuang finally realized. He hurriedly retrieved his magical weapon – an enormous staff. This matched Lou Yun’s expectations; such a burly man would naturally wield heavy artillery.

Steadying himself upon the levitating staff, Cheng Kuang flew straight to the plateau atop the giant boulder. He hopped down, landing opposite Lou Yun. “I’m here. What do you need my help for?”

“Attack me.”

“Attack you?!”

Cheng Kuang’s eyes nearly bulged out. Disbelief washed over him. To challenge one’s superior was a serious offense anywhere. Though hot-headed, he wouldn’t dare strike the Island Master himself.

“Mm. It’s fine. We’ll merely spar. The rules are the same as theirs earlier. You may employ any weapon technique. Unleash your full strength. If you manage to drive me from this rock, that piece of spiritual crystal is yours.”

Cheng Kuang stared blankly at Lou Yun, confirming he wasn’t being tricked. After a moment’s hesitation, he conceded, “Alright then. Forgive my insolence!”

Swinging his massive staff with powerful whooshes, he brought it crashing down towards Lou Yun.

While Lou Yun’s true strength might put him on par with Cheng Kuang in a real fight, victory would likely come at a significant cost. Lou Yun’s confidence in initiating this sparring session stemmed from the terrain: the cramped space atop the boulder perfectly suited his agile footwork and swift speed, imposing few limitations upon him. Cheng Kuang, however, would be gravely hampered. His heavy staff dictated massive, sweeping techniques, and his innate clumsiness meant maneuvering within this confined space would be severely impeded.

Indeed, Cheng Kuang’s staff whipped through the air, generating gusts. Lou Yun, however, maintained a composed smile, his form weaving like the wind, shifting his position across the peak’s surface with effortless fluidity. The staff couldn’t even graze him.

Cheng Kuang was exerting tremendous effort, burning through spiritual energy with each mighty swing. After several moments of this futile, chase-like combat, he suddenly halted, protesting, “I quit! Island Master, you’re cheating!”

Lou Yun arched an eyebrow, smiling. “How so?”

“You keep running away! Too fast! I can’t catch you! How can we spar like this?!”

Lou Yun burst out laughing, but then his expression turned serious. “Cheng Kuang. Didn’t you assert that the body was inferior to the magical weapon in every way? Then why couldn’t your magical weapon match my speed?”

Cheng Kuang was rendered speechless. Determined to win him over completely, Lou Yun nodded. “Agreed. Let’s resume. I’ll demonstrate another advantage body holds over a magical weapon!”

Silent, Cheng Kuang charged again, staff whirling. This time, Lou Yun remained rooted, concentrating intently until Cheng Kuang was upon him, the staff angling down in a vicious chop. Only then did Lou Yun shift – a swift sidestep – as the staff whooshed past, mere inches from his nose.

Simultaneously, capitalizing on his pivoting motion, Lou Yun swept his left leg out like a cyclone. His foot crashed with stunning force directly into Cheng Kuang’s ribs!

Cheng Kuang was fully committed to his overhead blow, his own momentum still carrying him forward. He had no time to block, parry, or evade. The sickening impact of boot against flesh – BANG!

Everyone watching believed the kick, even if it landed solidly, wouldn’t truly injure an earth-level magical weapons master like Cheng Kuang. The shocking reality that met their eyes sent gasps rippling through the crowd: Cheng Kuang’s immense frame was violently blasted off his feet. Sent skyward by the sheer force, he soared cleanly over the edge of the boulder, plummeting downwards.

His reflexes saved him from a nasty impact; mid-air, he managed to position his staff beneath him, arresting his fall before he slammed into the earth. Yet the undeniable fact remained: Lou Yun had kicked him clean off the rock, witnessed by all.

Lou Yun promptly leapt down himself. He regarded Cheng Kuang with a slight smile. “My body’s strength isn’t inadequate, I trust?”

Lou Yun had relentlessly cultivated his body since he first began his journey. Just recently, he had completed the fourth stage of body refinement, hammering every muscle to incredible toughness under the power of the Fusang Fire. The explosive power coiled within his frame had become extraordinary. The sheer force delivered by that kick was monumental. Cheng Kuang’s formidable cultivation level was irrelevant against such raw physical power.

Having just been booted so decisively down, the impact spot still burning fiercely, Cheng Kuang dared not contradict Lou Yun further. He clamped his mouth shut. Though some small shred of obstinacy remained inside, most of him was undeniably convinced.

Ignoring him now, Lou Yun addressed the entire assembly. “I know your thoughts largely mirror Cheng Kuang’s. You believe that enhancing strength solely means cultivating your magical weapon. The physical body? Common weapons? These things are deemed irrelevant diversions that warrant no consideration. I tell you now, this entire line of thinking is fundamentally wrong!”

“I don’t know how much you’ve heard of my past story. But I shall tell you: in the very beginning, I was dismissed as worthless – utterly incapable of even manifesting a magical weapon! Therefore, my initial path focused entirely on common weapons and physical conditioning. Only later, once I finally manifested my magical weapon, did I begin cultivating it. Through direct, hard-won experience, I learned this: body, common weapon, and magical weapon – these three pillars are of paramount importance. If you emphasize only one while neglecting the other two, your cultivation path remains incomplete! You simply cannot reach the pinnacle of true power!”

Witnessing their sparring had stirred a feeling within Lou Yun. Every cultivator treads a difficult path. He decided then to impart the genuinely full cultivation method to them, earnestly hoping each one could pursue true strength and attain the ultimate heights of cultivation through its principles.

He laid the method bare, holding nothing back. Yet, Lou Yun knew not how many would truly grasp it, and fewer still who would dedicate themselves to its practice. He could only hope… hope they heeded his words.

“Perhaps you missed the finer details during my spar with Cheng Kuang. Very well. Now, allow me to exhibit the power cultivated through dedicated refinement of body and common weapon.”

Hearing Lou Yun’s words, Chang Xiang couldn’t help but allow a faint smile to grace his expression inwardly. The lad… truly has poured out his heart and soul.

Lou Yun took position beside the colossal rock. Silently, he focused his entire being, channeling all his spiritual energy and physical might into his right fist. Gradually, the entire crowd began to perceive it: the very air surrounding Lou Yun’s clenched fist began to swirl, forming a visible, twisting vortex.