radicalducati Page 37
Page 37
In terms of resources and qualifications, Huang Rong's efforts were not as good as Shangguan Haitang's, and she was not even a first-class master.
Compared to Liu Sheng Piao Xu, Shangguan Haitang is far inferior.
At this moment, Yagyu Hyōshū's katana only had simple moves like slashing and hacking, and its speed was incredibly fast, without any set pattern.
Trying to use tricks against Yi Jianshu is to give the opponent an opening.
Instead, this simple and direct tactic gave Fu Junzhuo no chance to breathe, overwhelming her with sheer force.
However, as Fu Junzhuo parried with her longsword, she could naturally sense Liu Sheng Piaoxu's purpose.
But Liu Sheng Piaoxu was unaware that Fu Junzhuo was weaving a large net, and that she had already slowly wandered into it.
Zhang Xiaoshan understood perfectly, and when Liu Shengdanma Shou was favoring Liu Sheng Piaoxu in the contest, he also came to his senses.
The two are roughly equal in strength, with Yagyu Hyouse having the upper hand. The only possibility is that the opponent has already woven a large net, waiting for Yagyu Hyouse to fall into it.
This is the way to defeat enemies in the Yi Sword Technique.
Figure out your opponent's tactics and seize the initiative.
"Master Yagyu need not worry; the transformation from hunter to prey is but a thought away."
What appears to be prey may not be entirely unrelated to the hunter.
Until the very last moment, who is the hunter and who is the prey? It remains to be seen!
Upon hearing this, Liu Shengdanma Shou was taken aback, his eyes suddenly gleaming as he looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in surprise.
Even he couldn't understand the problem, but Zhang Xiaoshan unexpectedly revealed the secret in a single sentence.
He knew that the seemingly spoiled young man before him was far more complex than he imagined; he was likely unfathomable. A sigh escaped his lips.
The martial arts world of the Central Plains is indeed full of hidden talents!
Chapter 51 The Spirit of Bushido: Yagyu Hyōshū's Loyalty
"Snow is falling on earth!"
Seizing the 'opportunity', Liu Sheng Piaoxu delivered a fatal blow with a single strike, the blade's energy spreading like snowflakes across an area of three zhang in an instant.
Despite the chilling aura of the blade, Fu Junzhuo advanced instead of retreating, her longsword flashing like a rainbow.
The sword light flashed and disappeared in an instant; life and death were decided in a split second.
Lore!
A strand of black hair fell beside her ear, and Liu Sheng Piaoxu's face was already deathly pale.
Even Yagyu Danma was extremely disappointed, never expecting that Yagyu Hyōshū would suffer such a crushing defeat.
The failed reversal of the roles between hunter and prey also sealed the gap between Yi Jian Shu and Yagyu Kendo.
It should be noted that Fu Junzhuo was not Fu Cailin's most outstanding disciple; among the three sisters, Fu Junqiang had the highest talent.
Besides, Liu Shengdanma Shou's realm is at most at the early stage of the Innate Realm, which is one level lower than the Five Greats, while Fu Cailin's realm is above the Five Greats.
"Piaoxu, do you know where you went wrong? You were too eager for quick success!"
"The drifting catkins know they've made a mistake!"
Yagyu Danma-no-kami did not criticize him further; the Yi sword technique was indeed profound, and his defeat was not unjust.
Even if he were to switch places with Liu Sheng Piaoxu, he could at most rely on his experience to escape the trap woven by Fu Junzhuo.
Moreover, Liu Sheng is young and ambitious, and his competitive spirit is something no one can avoid.
Failure is not a bad thing; it is a valuable experience that helps you grow.
It's beneficial and harmless!
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sir."
"Not at all, the extraordinary skills of Liu Sheng just now also broadened my horizons."
Even though the Central Plains are full of hidden talents, Miss Liu Sheng is definitely one of the best among the younger generation.
With a faint smile, Zhang Xiaoshan took out a manual from his backpack—the very same Xuanbing Jin he had obtained from Gui Yi—and chuckled:
"This is a scroll of Xuanbing Jin that Zhang obtained from the far north. Zhang mainly practiced external martial arts, focusing on hard qigong. Later, he was blessed by Master Zhang of Wudang and was taught the Pure Yang Wuji Gong, which led him to follow the path of ultimate yang and strength."
I observe that Miss Liu Sheng's true qi is icy and cold, and she has a connection with this scroll of "Mysterious Ice Force." Today, I bestow it upon the one with the right affinity!
Looking into Zhang Xiaoshan's backpack, it was clear that there was more than one manual inside.
But even this volume was a blessing for Yagyu Hyōshū.
This is a method of internal energy cultivation, which is not only precious, but also assists the Yagyu family's Snowfall in the Human World, making them mutually beneficial.
Even Fu Junzhuo was hearing Zhang Xiaoshan mention 'mentorship' for the first time.
The claim that they primarily use external martial arts is a lie, but their internal martial arts are actually inherited from the supreme master Zhang Zhenren of the Central Plains. No wonder they look down on their master.
"this···"
Yagyu Danma also wanted it, but this favor was not easy to obtain.
"Piaoxu, why don't you thank Young Master Zhang!"
"Thank you so much, young master!"
Liu Sheng Piaoxu's thoughts drifted away from the failure, and she curiously accepted the manual.
At first glance, her beautiful eyes were captivating.
Originally, I thought it was just a cultivation method for superior internal energy, but after reading it through, I realized how precious this manual was.
Ninefold innate power, tenfold extreme cold!
This manual is among the best of all martial arts manuals, and it is so rare that even in Japan, it is hard to find a copy. It far surpasses the legacy of Yagyu Kendo.
"Liu Sheng Piaoxu is very grateful for your great kindness, young master. From now on, Piaoxu will follow you by your side as your servant and wait for your orders!"
Immediately, Liu Sheng Piaoxu knelt before Zhang Xiaoshan with the samurai salute.
Even Yagyu Tajima-no-kami and Fu Junzhuo on the other side were caught off guard and looked at Yagyu Piaoxu in disbelief.
Finally, his gaze settled on Zhang Xiaoshan.
They knew about Liu Sheng Piaoxu's transformation after reading the manual, which means the manual is not simple.
A scholar dies for a confidant!
That was a martial arts manual that could make Yagyu Piaoxu pledge his loyalty.
'Secret martial arts manual?'
Yagyu Danma was also shaken. He never expected that the secret manual that this seemingly pampered and spoiled young master had just thrown away like trash might actually be a supreme martial arts technique.
"Miss Liusheng, there's no need to be so polite. It's a gift, and I, Zhang, have no other intentions."
This manual was merely something Zhang stumbled upon by chance in the snowy plains. On his return journey, he encountered a girl of extraordinary talent, someone destined to possess this manual—it was just a manual, after all.
"Young master is too kind. It is just a casual thing for you, but it is an immense favor to Liu Sheng."
There is a saying in the Central Plains: "A scholar will die for one who understands him."
"Today, young master, I have received such great kindness that I have no way to repay you but to pledge my loyalty to the death."
Seeing Yagyu Hyouse kneel down again, signifying submission, Yagyu Danma no Kami solemnly said:
“Young Master Zhang, what Piaoxu said is correct.”
"We Japanese samurai are loyal to the shogunate nobility. Young Master Zhang has shown us great kindness; it is my duty to serve you from now on."
The loyalty of Bushido was naturally a spirit that Zhang Xiaoshan greatly admired.
Moreover, she was a stunningly beautiful warrior, a rare find, so Zhang Xiaoshan did not refuse again.
On the contrary, Fu Junzhuo found Zhang Xiaoshan even more unfathomable; he was extremely mysterious and unfathomable.
Even such profound martial arts techniques can be given away directly.
"In that case, Miss Yagyu, please rise."
"Yes, son!"
Liu Sheng Piaoxu stood respectfully to one side, even though Liu Sheng Danma was curious about the secret manual, he could only endure it.
Fu Junzhuo, however, looked at Zhang Xiaoshan's backpack and asked curiously:
"Young Master Zhang is very generous. Do you have any martial arts techniques suitable for me?"
"no!"
Zhang Xiaoshan answered without hesitation, which made Fu Junzhuo, who had intended to tease him, furious.
But then Zhang Xiaoshan explained:
"Apart from the Xuanbing Jin just now, all other martial arts come from the Iron Blood Banner Sect. Their style is based on force and violence, which is not suitable for women to practice."
"The Iron-Blooded Banner Sect?"
Upon hearing this, the group, though unsure of which sect it was, understood that the martial arts Zhang Xiaoshan had acquired in the far north were the legacy of this sect.
The martial arts world in the Central Plains undergoes a generational shift almost every ten years, making the competition extremely fierce.
The only constant is the pillar of the major sects.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't find the true secret techniques of the Iron Blood Banner Sect, such as the 'Wedding Dress Divine Skill' and the 'Peerless Overlord of the Mortal World'!"
The Wedding Dress Divine Skill! Unrivaled in the mortal realm!
Zhang Xiaoshan, who didn't even take the Xuanbing Force seriously, so highly praised these two martial arts, which made even Fu Junzhuo, Liu Shengdan, and Ma Shou yearn for them.
"Hehehe, Mr. Zhang, please come in. Let's eat and talk."
"please!"
After leaving the training ground, Yagyu Danma Shou's regard for Zhang Xiaoshan reached an all-time high.
Chapter Fifty-Two: The White-Clad Swordsman at the Penglai Pass
Penglai Island!
This is an island outside of the four islands of Fusang and Toyo, where Bushido is prevalent and there are many Bushido sects.
Among them, Ji Yaohua and Ruyan from Anjia both came from here.
Besides finding two grandmaster-level Tennin from Iga and Koga in Japan, Zhang Xiaoshan's fourth collaborator was here.
Moreover, upon seeing the two Heavenly Ninjas, Zhang Xiaoshan had a plan.
Two grandmaster-level experts, both assassins, would undoubtedly be even more powerful if they were transformed into ghost corpses.
However, Zhang Xiaoshan did not make a move immediately.
Although Gui Yi is a shaman of the Jin Kingdom, he has been cultivating in seclusion in the snowy plains. It is likely that the Jin Kingdom may not even have discovered Gui Yi's disappearance by now.
Unlike the two Heavenly Ninjas, Zhang Xiaoshan needed to find an opportunity and a suitable excuse.
"Young master, the largest entrance to Penglai is just ahead."
Penglai has many sects and countless masters, unlike the Central Plains where two tigers cannot share one mountain.
On an island of less than 100 square kilometers, there are at least dozens of samurai villages, which shows how densely packed they are.
It is even denser than the countryside in Jiangnan.
"Yagyu Piaoxu (Fu Junzhuo, a disciple of Goryeo Yijian) of the Yagyu family has come to pay a visit to Senior Yiben!"
One of them is the head of the Daoist sect, and also a grandmaster-level expert from Penglai.
However, the arrival of the two great inheritors of Yagyu Kendo and Ike Kendo made even the disciples of the Ippon-doguchi look suspicious, but they still hurriedly went in to report.
Not long after they went in, a middle-aged samurai, around forty years old, came out.
His eyes lit up the moment he saw Liu Sheng Piaoxu and Fu Junzhuo.
The Yagyu family is also a prestigious family of Japanese Bushido. As the direct disciple of the Ippon-do lineage, he had naturally met Yagyu Hyouse several times.
This is the only direct descendant of the Yagyu family!
Fu Cailin once came to Japan to discuss swordsmanship, and Fu Junzhuo was the swordsman, a direct disciple of the Yi sword technique.