Chapter 75: Shackles and Fetters, Sikong Jue
A carriage sped along the carriage road of Jiangzhou Prefecture City.
Before long, the carriage arrived in front of the Taizhen Martial Arts Hall.
Lu Changfeng and his companion paid the fare.
They got out and stepped into the Taizhen Martial Arts Hall.
Led by a disciple of the Taizhen Martial Arts Hall, Lu Changfeng and his companion entered the reception hall. After a short wait, Sikong Jue walked out.
Perhaps because his injuries had healed, Sikong Jue’s complexion looked much better.
"Brother Lu, have you come today to continue our match?" Sikong Jue asked with a slight smile.
Lu Changfeng leaned in and placed a hand on Sikong Jue’s arm. "Are you really fully recovered?"
The moment he touched Sikong Jue’s body...
...a copy prompt appeared on the interface in his mind.
Lu Changfeng immediately selected the Bloodline Talent on Sikong Jue: [Ancient Sword Bone Dragon 0.5%]!
"Warning! Copying this Talent will cause extreme physical changes!"
"The host will experience a certain degree of pain!"
"Would you like to delay the transfer?"
Lu Changfeng was slightly taken aback. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. "If I delay the transfer, will I need to touch Sikong Jue again to complete the copy?"
"No further contact is necessary. This interface has already successfully copied the Bloodline Talent."
Lu Changfeng checked his copy cooldown. As expected, it had reset to forty-nine days. His fourth copy opportunity for the year was now used up.
"Delay the transfer."
’Based on what the interface is saying, copying a Bloodline Talent will cause a major physical reaction. I’d better find a private place before I proceed,’ Lu Changfeng thought to himself.
Lu Changfeng’s mind raced as he made his decision. To Sikong Jue, however, it seemed he had only spaced out for a couple of moments.
Sikong Jue replied, "Don’t worry, my injuries are healed. Let’s go to the training grounds."
Lu Changfeng came back to his senses. His main objective for the day was already complete.
As for the match... Lu Changfeng was just using the unfinished duel as an excuse to accomplish his mission.
Previously, at the Blood Forging Seventh Layer, Lu Changfeng could already suppress Sikong Jue in a fight.
Now, Lu Changfeng had already broken through to the Blood Forging Eighth Layer.
The outcome of a spar with Sikong Jue was obvious.
Still, he had to see the act through to the end.
Lu Changfeng thought for a moment, then said, "Let’s not go to the training grounds. We can just find a private place to spar a bit."
Hearing this, Sikong Jue gave Lu Changfeng a slightly grateful look. Lu Changfeng didn’t want the results of their match to be known.
As for winning or losing, Sikong Jue himself didn’t believe he could defeat Lu Changfeng without using his Bloodline Ability.
This time, he didn’t intend to use his Bloodline Power either.
"Then follow me,"
Sikong Jue said.
He led the way, bringing Lu Changfeng and his companion to a smaller area.
This was a private area designated by the Taizhen Martial Arts Hall for Sikong Jue’s personal training, where he wouldn’t be disturbed.
"Alright, Brother Lu, let’s begin." Sikong Jue came to a stop some distance away.
Lu Changfeng slowly drew his Autumn Water Sword.
After their last battle, the two were already extremely familiar with each other’s styles.
SWISH!
This time, Lu Changfeng moved first.
His Storm Sword Intent flared around him.
In an instant, Lu Changfeng transformed into a cyan Sword Dragon, charging at Sikong Jue.
Sikong Jue’s own pale, cyan Sword Intent enveloped him as he raised his sword to defend.
In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.
The strength displayed by two top-tier Blood Forging Realm swordsmen...
...left Teng Xiaofan, watching from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement. With their terrifying speed and power, no one would doubt it if you told them they were Martial Artists.
As Lu Changfeng devoured more and more swordsmanship styles, his Formless Tracing became even more terrifying.
Every casual sword strike contained the transformations of countless swordsmanship styles.
One moment, he’d use an ultimate technique from one style; the next, he would abruptly switch to another ultimate technique specifically designed to counter you.
It made things incredibly awkward for Sikong Jue, who was painfully suppressed.
And this was with Lu Changfeng only using the strength of the Blood Forging Seventh Layer.
As they exchanged blows, Lu Changfeng could clearly feel Sikong Jue growing more and more uncomfortable.
He could also see that Sikong Jue had no intention of using his Bloodline Ability.
So, Lu Changfeng stopped holding back. He unleashed his full remaining power, and his sword speed exploded! He decided to end the match!
As Lu Changfeng used his full strength, Sikong Jue’s expression changed dramatically. He hadn’t expected that Lu Changfeng had still been suppressing his power just moments ago.
In just a few short days, Lu Changfeng’s Realm had broken through again.
Sikong Jue barely managed to block three strikes before Lu Changfeng, relying on the power and speed of the Blood Forging Eighth Layer, completely overwhelmed him. With a sudden strike as swift as the wind, the longsword was knocked from Sikong Jue’s hand.
"Brother Lu, your strength has grown immensely again. Have you broken through to the Blood Forging Eighth Layer?" Sikong Jue straightforwardly raised his hand in surrender and asked.
Lu Changfeng didn’t hide it, nodding slightly. "I was lucky enough to break through to the Blood Forging Eighth Layer."
"Brother Lu, your Root Bone and Talent are truly extraordinary," Sikong Jue said in admiration.
’Lucky? He himself had been stuck at the Blood Forging Seventh Layer for who knows how many years.’
These days, it was rare to hear of a Martial Artist who could break through to the Blood Forging Eighth Layer before the age of thirty.
Lu Changfeng’s Root Bone and Talent were indeed far beyond that of an ordinary person.
"I’m not as gifted as you, Brother Lu. I’ve already decided that if I can get past this hurdle, I’ll go into seclusion to break through to the Tendon Transformation Realm," Sikong Jue said in a low voice.
’This hurdle?’
Lu Changfeng looked at Sikong Jue’s expression and guessed he was preparing to return to his family.
"Be careful with everything. Is there anything I can do to help, within my power?" Lu Changfeng could only say this much.
With his current power and influence, he couldn’t just say the word and make the Sikong Family, one of the Eight Great Martial Arts Families of Jiangnan, let Sikong Jue go free.
Elder of the Broken Moon Sect, a powerful backer, an in-law of the Taihong Association—these connections were ultimately not the most solid of relationships.
Unless Lu Changfeng used the power of the Saint Demon Sect, but then, the Martial Arts Realm would probably no longer have a place for him.
At the very least, he could no longer use the identity of "Lu Changfeng."
"Don’t worry, I don’t need your help, Brother Lu. I have my own plans," Sikong Jue said gravely, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes before vanishing.
No one knew what plans Sikong Jue had made.
"Then we’ll be taking our leave," Lu Changfeng said, preparing to depart.
He planned to return to his martial arts hall and fuse with the copied Bloodline Talent.
"Farewell." Sikong Jue waved, watching as Lu Changfeng and his companion left.
A figure appeared at his side. It was Yuan Zhen of the Taizhen Martial Arts Hall, his hair and beard completely white.
"Master, I truly envy Brother Lu’s freedom," Sikong Jue said, his eyes filled with genuine longing.
If only he could be as carefree as Lu Changfeng, with no bloodline shackles on his body and no family chains holding him back. That would be true happiness.
"Have you made up your mind?" Yuan Zhen sighed and asked.
He was just the head of a martial arts hall with a history of less than a hundred years. Compared to a Martial Arts Family like the Sikong Family, with a legacy spanning thousands of years, it was the difference between an ant and an elephant.
Therefore, he could only watch helplessly as his most outstanding disciple threw himself into the fire.
Sikong Jue opened a medicine vial, took out a purple pill, and swallowed it.
"I have taken a deadly poison. If I don’t take the antidote within three days, I will surely die."
"If Sikong Tuxiong doesn’t yield the position of Patriarch to me within three days, I will not take the antidote. Let this bloodline end with me."
"Master, your disciple takes his leave."
Sikong Jue’s figure slowly walked out of the Martial Arts Hall and headed in the direction of the Sikong Family estate.
Yuan Zhen stood rooted to the spot. He leaned forward, but in the end, he couldn’t take that step.
The moment he stood straight again, Yuan Zhen seemed to have aged several decades in an instant.