Chapter 186: Chapter 174: Picking Leaves

Two years ago, the Western Sea Martial Arts Academy made enemies everywhere, angering a senior talent from Zheshui Martial Arts Academy.

Zheshui Martial Arts Academy ranks third in the Top Ten Martial Arts, far above the tenth-ranked Western Sea Martial Arts Academy.

Then, that genius chose the Innate Battle Path at Western Sea Martial Arts Academy, winning continuously, leaving Western Sea in disgrace.

What was said without intention, was heard with intent.

Zhou Leng felt a stir in his heart.

The Battle Path is a cultivation method of the Human Race.

It occurs before advancing to Innate, Grandmaster, or Martial Saint levels.

The Innate Battle Path has various forms, typically followed concurrently.

One of these involves finding experts of the same realm from major Human Race forces for practical combat and martial arts refinement.

This practical combat often leads to mutual injuries, so it’s usually sought with forces having grudges.

This avoids hesitation that impedes sharpening and also ensures no regrets, entering the Innate Realm with a rounded, flawless heart.

Sunlight scattered, and passersby looked towards the two opposing sides.

Zhou Leng said, “If you want to spar with me, you can. As long as you ensure the people from Western Sea Martial Arts Academy stop bothering me incessantly. I want this battle to be once and for all.”

“I really can’t do that,” You Lisheng considered, “How about this, if I lose, as long as I’m in the Boxing Association, I’ll ensure no one from the Western Sea Boxing Association challenges you.”

Zhou Leng looked at the sky and said, “There’s no better time than now, let’s do it today. In real combat, injuries, like the last two times, are inevitable. How about we spar cleverly instead?”

Before Body Refinement, the destructive power of real combat is limited; even if injured, it’s rarely fatal.

After Body Refinement, Qi, blood, and body merge, making martial artists increasingly ferocious and fierce, risks of crippling or killing are high if careless.

As an external envoy, Zhou Leng didn’t want a death battle with Dragon Country people, but if the other side refused clever sparring and meant harm, he wouldn’t be blamed.

You Lisheng hesitated for a few seconds and said reluctantly, “I don’t want to escalate hatred either, but my friend is seriously injured, affecting cultivation, and as the head of the Cultivation Department, I can’t do nothing. So let’s do clever sparring.”

Zhou Leng said, “Then by normal rules, I pick a match, you pick one, we take turns deciding the clever sparring event, how about it?”

“You decide.”

Rao Mingxian looked at Zhou Leng with concern, whispering, “How’s your body?”

“No big issue.”

Zhou Leng said, while observing the surroundings, looking for a suitable environment for clever sparring.

Seeing the green holly leaves, he said, “Let’s use the resources at hand and spar with ’Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers’, how about it?”

“As you wish,” replied You Lisheng.

Zhou Leng walked to the holly tree, picked an oval leaf, and said, “You and I each pick ten holly leaves. One throws five consecutively, the other uses the remaining five to shoot the leaves. Whoever hits more wins the first match, how about it?”

“Okay,” You Lisheng replied.

At that moment, someone from Western Sea Martial Arts Academy said, “Since it’s a clever sparring, and it’s the harmless Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers, don’t say we took advantage of you if you lose.”

“Of course, if I lose, it’s simply because I’m not skilled enough,” said Zhou Leng.

You Lisheng replied, “Start now?”

“Okay.”

Zhou Leng said, casually picking ten adjacent tree leaves of various sizes without pattern.

You Lisheng glanced and picked ten holly leaves as well.

They broke off the leaf stalks, leaving only the leaf surface.

Zhou Leng said, “I’ll throw first, you shoot.”

“Please.”

Zhou Leng pointed to a crack on the ground and said, “This is the shooting point.”

You Lisheng walked over and stood ready.

Zhou Leng walked forward, reaching about five meters away, turned, with his right side facing You Lisheng directly.

The two stood five meters apart, forming a ninety-degree angle.

Facing forward, Zhou Leng said, “This is the leaf-throwing point. As per the rules, I throw leaves straight ahead, and you shoot my leaves from there. Do you have anything to add?”

“The rules of Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers are just so, please go ahead.”

Everyone widened their eyes, watching the two.

Leaf picking in Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers is a relatively common clever sparring.

Every student has played it.

The leaf thrower holds a big advantage, as once in the air, the flying leaves increasingly distance themselves, making it harder to hit if the shooter lacks power.

Therefore, usually, the shooter either hits quickly at close range or waits until the leaves slow down before shooting from afar.

However, two people from Western Sea Academy looked at You Lisheng confidently smiling.

The two were familiar with You Lisheng, having seen him excel in Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers numerous times, never losing.

Zhou Leng said, “Alright, I’ll begin. First throw.”

Saying this, he pinched the holly leaf between his right hand’s middle and index fingers, with True Qi flowing slowly, continuously accumulating.

Using All Rivers Flow into the Sea from the Overlapping Waves Palm as the foundation, slowly accumulating True Qi.

As people watched, they observed Zhou Leng’s right arm thicken, the entire right sleeve inflating as the wind made it whiz loudly.

The students from Western Sea Martial Arts Academy’s eyes focused, knowing immediately his skill level.

With True Qi of All Rivers Flow into the Sea accumulating to its peak, Zhou Leng’s right arm swung powerfully, throwing directly forward.

No flourishes, no techniques, nothing but a straightforward leaf flight.

You Lisheng glanced, opting not to act immediately, aiming to gauge Zhou Leng’s level, waiting for the leaf’s slowing pace to act for easier targeting.

Swish…

The leaf flew far away, only slowing down after reaching a great distance.

Others couldn’t tell, but You Lisheng felt a chill in his heart.

Having played Picking Leaves and Flying Flowers multiple times, he immediately sensed the speed and distance were off.

He took a deep breath, swung his right arm, charged with enough True Qi, calculating the leaf’s landing point, suddenly flinging the shooting leaf.

One trajectory weakened, the other sped forward, and the two leaves drew increasingly closer.

Soon, Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf began to descend slowly, decelerating.

Yet, at that moment, You Lisheng’s shooting leaf appeared to slow down too.

The crowd noticed the shooting leaf seemed to lack power.

They saw that finally the thrown leaf lost its force and gently floated down.

Meanwhile, You Lisheng’s shot leaf lost its force at a far distance and floated down gently as well.

Then, everyone witnessed an unbelievable scene.

You Lisheng’s shot leaf actually hit the ground before Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf.

Zhou Leng’s leaf was clearly released several seconds earlier.

At this moment, a peculiar feeling arose in the hearts of everyone at West Sea Martial Arts Academy.

As martial artists, they could instantly perceive the immense difference.

“Again!” You Lisheng said.

Zhou Leng’s sleeve billowed as he stomped forward with his right foot, using the True Qi of the “Wave Break” palm technique, raising his arm to throw the leaf.

This time, everyone observed more closely, and felt as if Zhou Leng was instantly aligned from foot to hand.

Like rolling waves, or a long rope.

His right hand threw, seemingly unrelated to his hand, but a unison of foot, leg, waist, back, shoulder, and arm forming a whip that flung the wintergreen leaf.

This time, You Lisheng learned from experience and acted early, quickly shooting at Zhou Leng’s wintergreen leaf.

The two leaves got closer, suddenly, Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf moved upward, like skipping on water, or swept by waves, its trajectory changing unpredictably.

You Lisheng’s shot leaf slipped under Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf, missing it.

All the people from West Sea Martial Arts Academy fell silent together.

“Third leaf.” You Lisheng said with a face as calm as water.

Zhou Leng swung his arm for the third time, this time using the True Qi of “Crossing the Autumn River” to throw the leaf.

The leaf flew flat, facing You Lisheng with only a thin edge.

This time, You Lisheng acted even faster, his shot leaf flew with more urgency.

However, Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf suddenly turned sideways, drawing an arc away from You Lisheng, making the shot leaf miss again.

The students from West Sea Martial Arts Academy looked at You Lisheng, momentarily at a loss.

If he shot slowly, the distance was insufficient.

If he shot quickly, the timing was not enough.

Now it seemed only one method remained: to be even faster, at the moment Zhou Leng released it, to judge the initial speed and hit within a short time.

“Fourth leaf.” You Lisheng said again.

Zhou Leng threw the fourth leaf, this time using the True Qi of “Wind Rises, Tide Swells,” the fastest.

In a flash, it flew out.

This time, You Lisheng learned from the last three lessons. At the moment Zhou Leng released it, he judged the basic speed, then raised his leaf, unable to throw it.

Finally watching with open eyes as Zhou Leng’s leaf hit the ground, he released his fingers, letting his shot leaf fall to the ground.

No one blamed You Lisheng.

Because the fourth leaf was too fast.

So fast that no matter how You Lisheng shot, he couldn’t catch up.

You Lisheng remained silent for a long time before Zhou Leng said, “Fifth leaf.”

Saying that, Zhou Leng threw the fifth leaf.

This time, he didn’t use the True Qi method of the Overlapping Waves Palm but employed the “Chaotic Cloud Ladder” of the Flying Cloud Leg.

The initial speed wasn’t fast, but after a distance, the leaf slightly rose, flew horizontally, and then flew straight again after a while.

The flight path was like an ascending ladder.

You Lisheng put all his strength into shooting the wintergreen leaf, but the distance was too far, and ultimately missed.

Once again, it fell before Zhou Leng’s thrown leaf.

Rao Mingxian looked at the stunned You Lisheng and said, “Switch positions for throwing and shooting.”

Zhou Leng turned, facing You Lisheng.

The two were five meters apart.

You Lisheng stood in a daze for a long time before slowly turning to face Zhou Leng’s right side.

Seeing You Lisheng’s odd expression, the students from West Sea Martial Arts Academy encouraged him.

“Minister, the one throwing has an advantage, don’t worry.”

“The opponent was able to defeat Wei Xiangqian, naturally a formidable opponent, it’s normal.”

“In Picking Leaves combat, a zero-zero result is very common.”

You Lisheng took a deep breath, regulating his breath, suppressing the fluctuating emotions within.

He gathered all his Qi Blood, like Zhou Leng, his right arm slightly expanded, True Qi billowed his sleeve, he threw the leaf forward with all his might.

The leaf flew straight out, slowing down after flying far, gradually descending.

Zhou Leng seized the moment, calculated the trajectory of the thrown leaf accurately, and suddenly shot the leaf in his hand.

Whoosh…

The green leaf drew a beautiful arc, like a green bird, crossing over ten meters, approaching You Lisheng’s thrown leaf closer and closer.

The crowd from West Sea Martial Arts Academy held their breath.

This time was completely different from before.

Even though Zhou Leng’s shot leaf was released at such a distance, it still maintained a relatively fast speed, while You Lisheng’s leaf had already lost its force, starting to float down slowly.

The two leaves came closer at increasing speed, finally, passing each other with only a centimeter apart.

“Great!”

The students from West Sea Martial Arts Academy couldn’t help but cheer softly.

Rao Mingxian couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Leng.

Picking Leaves originally required gradually improving precision, often only becoming more accurate after dozens of throws among friends.

For Zhou Leng to be so close with the first leaf was very rare.

Rao Mingxian turned his gaze to You Lisheng.

You Lisheng’s pressure visibly increased.

You Lisheng took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and made another move.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep