The Villain's Counterattack

Chapter 509: Promoted to Grandmaster, Revealed Identity

"It's been two months since we last met, and you've already become a master?" In the martial arts training ground, Shi Zhixuan's figure was swaying like a dream, erratic and unpredictable. Yang Xuyan stood in the middle of the ground with a sword in his hand, swinging his sword left and right, seemingly without any pattern, but he was always able to repel Shi Zhixuan's attack.

Unable to gain an advantage with his moves, Shi Zhixuan immediately switched to a strong attack, but this time was different from the past. Yang Xuyan used a sword in his right hand and a palm in his left hand, and was actually able to fight him back and forth. With the help of the Dugu Nine Swords and the Tianshan Zhemei Hand, he was able to stand firmly even without using any lightness skills and was not easily suppressed by Shi Zhixuan.

It was only at this time that Shi Zhixuan discovered the difference in Yang Xuyan. This kid had quietly completed a leap in strength. Although he had been a half-step grandmaster a long time ago, he had been unable to break through for some reason, which made Shi Zhixuan feel something was wrong, especially since this kid clearly had grandmaster-level combat power and grandmaster-level realm, but his level was only half-step grandmaster, which was even more puzzling.

Yang Xuyan deliberately ignored the nicks on his master's sleeves. He took the towel from his brother Yang Gai and said with a smile, "The human body is mysterious yet has hidden rules. I entered the Xiantian realm at the age of eleven, nourishing my body with the innate energy and cultivating my foundation. However, I can't enter the Grandmaster realm before I reach adulthood. Otherwise, it will not be nourishment but a burden. If I'm not careful, I will be an eleven-year-old dwarf for the rest of my life. If I enter the Grandmaster realm at eighteen, I won't have this worry. Before thirty, my strength will be rapidly improving, and I can expect to become a Grandmaster in the future."

Shi Zhixuan nodded slightly. This kid had accumulated enough knowledge in the half-step grandmaster stage, and was invincible at the same level. As soon as he broke through, he immediately became a senior grandmaster. In addition, he had the Dugu Nine Swords that came from nowhere and was similar to the Yi sword technique, as well as an exquisite palm technique. It would not be easy for him to defeat him even if he wanted to.

After washing his hands and face with the help of Yang Ke, Shi Zhixuan immediately regained the image of a handsome and elegant man. Yang Xuangan next to him was quite interested in their fight, but his martial arts were more inclined towards fighting on the battlefield rather than this kind of bare-handed martial arts contest. He was confident that with a spear in hand and a horse on horseback, he could make Shi Zhixuan retreat, but he was not sure that he could win from him on horseback, and it was even hard to say whether he could save his life.

"In terms of swordsmanship alone, you are not weaker than Fu Cailin. It's just that the level of your internal energy accumulation is still a little insufficient. But you are still young and have plenty of time to improve. I entered the Grandmaster realm after I was twenty years old. In the future, your achievements will only surpass mine." After spending these few years together, when facing Yang Xuyan, Shi Zhixuan no longer had evil thoughts, but instead aroused his fighting spirit.

In the original novel, Yang Xuyan is Shi Zhixuan's evil thought, and Hou Xibai is Shi Zhixuan's good thought. But now Yang Xuyan has become Shi Zhixuan's fighting spirit, and Hou Xibai is Shi Zhixuan's seclusion.

Ever since Bixiu mastered the Tai Chi Divine Art, she had unknowingly become accustomed to it. Later, upon reading the Immortal Seal Scroll, she felt it was exceptionally ingenious and profound, and gained a deeper understanding of her husband's talents. The conflict between the Immortal Seal and the Cihang Sword Manual, coordinated by the Tai Chi Divine Art, did not harm her, but instead gradually enhanced her martial arts cultivation.

Yang Xuyan accepted Shi Qingxuan into the Xiaoyao Sect and taught her the "Xiao Wuxiang Gong". This Taoist martial art was quite impressive. However, Yang Xuyan could not always stay in the Youlin Cottage to accompany Shi Qingxuan, so he asked Bi Xiuxin to keep an eye on her to prevent any accidents. However, after hearing that this martial art could make a person look like a young girl even at the age of a hundred, Bi Xiuxin was tempted and secretly learned it, under the pretext of better guiding her daughter's practice.

Shi Zhixuan goes home once or twice almost every year. Every time he sees his wife, he feels that time is going backwards. Instead of getting older, his wife has become younger, which makes him a little confused. His daughter Shi Qingxuan is also no stranger to him and frequently asks about his great achievements. The family is very happy.

Yang Xuyan led everyone back to the study and took out three books from the secret compartment. "Master, you know that I have inherited another extraordinary experience. My foundation is not even the Tianyi Heart Method. Here are three magical skills that are quite similar to Master's martial arts. Perhaps they can help you become a Grandmaster."

"'The Shift of Stars', 'The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth', 'The Magic of Tai Chi', the Magic of Tai Chi?" Shi Zhixuan raised his eyebrows. He didn't know the first two martial arts, but he had seen this 'The Magic of Tai Chi' more than once from his wife. He knew that it was a secret of the Xiaoyao Sect. His wife exchanged it for the 'Immortal Seal' to help him improve his martial arts. He had also read it carefully, but this martial art was an authentic Taoist martial art. Although he had made some progress, it was not enough for him to make a big breakthrough without changing his foundation.

Yang Xuyan, now strong enough to protect himself, smiled faintly and said, "The Xiaoyao Sect does exist, and its martial arts are profound and extensive. However, the Xiaoyao Daoist Child is the incarnation of a disciple. The one who exchanged the Scroll of Immortality from Master's Wife is a disciple. So Master, don't worry about the secret techniques being passed on to others."

Shi Zhixuan couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. Yang Xuyan pushed "Fighting Star Shift" in front of Shi Zhixuan and said, "This is a technique of using the opponent's force to counterattack. No matter what kind of martial arts the opponent uses, you can transfer the force and counterattack the opponent. If Master integrates this martial art into the Immortal Seal, and drives it with powerful internal energy, it will be almost invincible. This martial art is similar to Dugu Nine Swords. Both require rich experience and a deep understanding of martial arts. In particular, the more you understand the enemy's martial arts, the greater the power. The difference is that Dugu Nine Swords is only a sword technique, while Fighting Star Shift can also transfer internal energy."

"There is such a mysterious skill." Shi Zhixuan raised his eyebrows. He was called the Evil King and was the first master in the true sense of the Demon Sect. What Zhu Yuyan called the first in the Demon Sect was more due to the added strength of the Yingui Sect. His self-created Immortal Seal was a superior martial art that combined true Qi to detect the enemy, know the enemy, confuse the enemy, and restore Qi.

Be it "The Shift of Stars", "The Great Shift of the Universe", or even "The Divine Art of Tai Chi", none of them have the ability to use the enemy's true energy to restore blood. This is the unique feature of "The Immortal Seal", and it is also what Shi Zhixuan is most proud of.

"This 'Great Shift of Heaven and Earth' divine skill is also quite unique. It can stimulate one's own potential, then pull it forward and shift it, creating miraculous and incredible transformations. Its main purpose is to reverse the two energies of heaven and earth, one hard and one soft, one yin and one yang. However, this method is extremely demanding on the body. If one's strength is insufficient, forcing it will harm oneself. Now that I am a master, the martial arts I have learned have considerable healing properties, and I can work with Master to cultivate this divine skill."

Shi Zhixuan chuckled, glanced at him but didn't say much. If it really came down to it, the "Tai Chi Magical Skills" should be the most extensive and profound. However, he was born in a holy sect, and learned Buddhist martial arts. There were some obstacles in turning to Taoism, so he gave up with great reluctance. However, "The Change of Stars" and "The Great Shift of the Universe" were both pure martial arts that did not involve sects, but only required qualifications, and there were not many restrictions on him.

"Have you brothers learned it?" Shi Zhixuan asked lightly.

Yang Xuyan shook his head slightly and said, "In the past few years, I've been limited by my age and unable to break through, so I've learned all of these skills. My brothers haven't reached the level of Grandmaster, so their internal strength is a bit lacking. They have only learned the first few levels of 'Great Shift of the Universe', which can't be considered complete. As for 'Shifting the Stars', it requires too high a level of aptitude and comprehension, and it's time-consuming and laborious, so no one is willing to practice it."

Shi Zhixuan and Yang Xuangan couldn't help but frown when they heard this, but when they thought about their current achievements, it was not difficult to understand their thoughts. When there are quick martial arts, who would want to work hard? Well, except Yang Shao. The martial arts this kid practices are the most authentic Buddhist martial arts. Both the "Yi Jin Jing" and the "Long Xiang Prajna Kung Fu" require hard work.

Especially the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Sutra." Shi Zhixuan and Yang Xuangan encountered it for the first time. The description of the training time in it left them both speechless. They thought that even if they studied it till death, they would never become a true master. To achieve success, they would have to learn other martial arts to advance it. However, this sutra also had its advantages: it was not picky about who could practice it; even fools could practice it, and it might even be easier for them to achieve success than smart people.

You mean promoting it in the military?

Haha, this thing requires a lot of resources. How could an army that eats greasy meals every day afford it? Even if they could, no one would want to learn it. Other martial arts are faster and easier to improve, but this thing takes years to learn. By the time you can use it, it's already seventy or eighty years old. Why would an army like this be embarrassed by it?

Are you talking about the Dragon Elephant Army built on the grassland in the last world?

Haha, that can't be helped. This world already has assassination squads, so who would want to build a Dragon Elephant Army? A team of assassins who are collectively proficient in gliding on water, flying on grass, and moving like the wind, just ask you, are you afraid?