Chapter 125: Chapter 117: Revealing the Martial Marquis’ Cultivation Level_2
Lu Yan raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.
Li Cangqing also laughed heartily and followed suit.
"Brother Lu, without the aid of Martial Food, you have achieved success on your own merit. It is truly admirable and praiseworthy, so I raise my glass to you."
"That’s right, I’ve heard that Brother Lu has already unified man and martial arts in his training of a second-tier Knife Technique, even refining it into an Acquired Martial Body. You have reached the rank of Martial Marquis without any external assistance. This is rare in the six counties of Lingdong, and we admire it."
The other Martial Marquises at the table also rose to toast.
If Lu Yan hadn’t made a breakthrough, it would have been utterly impossible for him to sit and dine at their table. It would have been presumptuous, let alone them toasting him.
But now Lu Yan has broken through to Martial Marquis, and has done so with an Acquired Martial Body. His combat prowess is absolutely outstanding among his peers. He’s now on the same level as them.
Lu Yan neither rejected nor refused, he returned each toast in turn.
It wasn’t due to a few sarcastic comments from others that he rashly revealed his Martial Marquis cultivation level.
He had considered this beforehand.
He simply seized this opportunity to reveal it.
Now, he was a level two Martial Marquis, and his combat power was even far beyond that. It was time to display some of his power appropriately.
Sometimes, it is rather inappropriate to hide one’s power. A great deal of trouble can be avoided by appropriately displaying one’s formidable martial power, which can make many things much easier to deal with.
Just like right now--
"Mar... Martial Marquis sir, I was blind, not knowing that you had broken through to Martial Marquis. I have offended you greatly earlier, please forgive me, sir... please don’t remember my past transgressions..."
A young man repeatedly bowed, his face in fear, and even knelt down in the end, kowtowing three times loudly.
This young man was the one who had initially questioned Lu Yan’s qualification to sit in the seat of honor.
Publicly questioning and insulting a Martial Marquis, a Marquis has the right to retaliate, and even if he crippled this man, no-one would say anything.
"Martial Marquis sir, I too was blind earlier, I beg your pardon."
"Sir..."
The several men who had previously spoken up also came up fearfully, constantly apologizing, afraid that they would be remembered by the Martial Marquis.
They wished they could slap themselves a few times, regretting why they had to be so outspoken earlier.
"Those who don’t know are not guilty, step aside."
Lu Yan waved his hand.
Since they are a Martial Marquis, it is only natural that they should show the temperament of a Martial Marquis.
Those who heard felt as if they had been pardoned, they let out a sigh of relief, thanked him repeatedly, and backed down timidly.
After three rounds of drinks, the crowd gradually left.
"Brother Wang, how about a duel?"
Lu Yan invited.
"Sure, I’ve been looking forward to it."
Wang Dao, with his obsession for blades, wished he had someone to spar with every day. When Lu Yan volunteered to invite him, how could he refuse?
Soon, in the courtyard, two rays of blade light were constantly colliding, like two constantly flashing lightning fish.
After hundreds of exchanges, the blade light converged, and both men withdrew their blades.
Wang Dao looked like he was not yet satisfied, saying: "Brother Lu is truly a knife prodigy that I have rarely seen in my life. Your knife technique has advanced even further since I last saw you. It’s a pity that Brother Lu is practicing second-tier martial arts. If only you had got a first-tier blade technique, surely your progress would have been rapid and would have shaken the world."
"Brother Wang in over-praising."
Lu Yan responded with a smile.
"Brother Lu, there’s no need to be modest. There’s a first-tier blade technique in the Li Family, called Nine Divine Lightning Slash, which I’m practicing. If I have the chance, I will suggest that Young Master Cangqing teach you this blade technique."
"Such a knife technique can only shine in Brother Lu’s hands."
Wang Dao said.
"I must thank Brother Wang in advance then. Speaking of which, Brother Wang, since I’ve broken through to the Martial Marquis level, I’ve had a new understanding of the Reflecting Moon Blade. How about you come back with me to the martial arts hall and we spar every day?"
Lu Yan suggested.
"That would be great, let’s go."
Wang Dao promptly agreed, grabbed his blade, and prepared to go.
"Two heads are better than one. Brother Wang, do you know any other Martial Marquis-level knife masters? Can you invite them too?"
Lu Yan suggested.
"Martial Marquis-level knife masters?"
Wang Dao slapped his hands together, "Brother Lu, why didn’t you say so earlier? That Yang Zhihuan, the senior, is a knife master. His primary cultivation is the first-tier martial art, also known as Nine Divine Lightning Slash. He just left a moment ago, let’s catch up with him and invite him."
Lu Yan pictured a figure in his mind.
Earlier on, he sat at the same table with them. It was an old man with a staunch face, he had an imposing figure and a heroic appearance, like a battlefield general.
Wang Dao had introduced him before. His name was Yang Zhihuan, with a cultivation level of Martial Marquis Level Four. Among those at their table, his cultivation level was the highest.
The two of them immediately set off, chasing in the direction of Yang Zhihuan’s mansion.
Sure enough, they caught up with Yang Zhihuan halfway.
"Senior Yang..."
Wang Dao called out to him.
Yang Zhihuan, surprised to see Lu Yan and Wang Dao, asked: "Did you two come especially to find me?"
"Elder Yang, we two want to exchange knowledge about the knife technique with you. What do you think?"
Wang Dao respectfully suggested.
Yang Zhihuan’s eyes gleamed, smiling: "Well, that’s nice, let’s go to my house."
Yang Zhihuan was also a pure swordsman. When he was young, he often looked for people to practice with, but as his cultivation level grew, especially after getting into Martial Marquis, it gradually decreased.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to practice, but that he couldn’t find an opponent.
There were too few swordsmen at the Martial Marquis level.
Especially in the lineage of Li Wenxin, apart from him, there was only one swordsman on Martial Marquis Level One. After practicing together for a long time, it became monotonous. In plain words, it got boring.
But Wang Dao and Lu Yan both were skilled with the blade.
During the banquet earlier, he wanted to invite Wang Dao and Lu Yan to practice the knife technique together but hesitated because of his senior status.
Now that Wang Dao invited him, he was naturally in agreement.
"Elder, why not come to my martial arts hall? I’ve recently hired some martial chefs. Their martial cooking skills are excellent. We have meat and wine. How about eating while practicing?"
Lu Yan invited.
"Alright, then I will gladly come along. Let’s go."
Yang Zhihuan was straightforward, even deciding not to return home first. When they reached the Sanjue Martial Arts Hall, he would send someone home with a message.
This is a true swordsman. As long as there people to practice with, everything else can wait.
This reminded Lu Yan of the fishermen of his previous life.
How similar are the undeterred fishermen and the swordsmen?
"Moreover, don’t call me elder in the future. I am only a few years older, call me Brother Yang."
Yang Zhihuan added.
Lu Yan and Wang Dao both called him Brother Yang.
...
Sanjue Martial Arts Hall, inside the practice room, two figures intersect, the gleam of their knives as polished as a flying shuttle, lightning fast, creating sparks as they collide.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Yan and Wang Dao have exchanged over a hundred moves.
Yang Zhihuan watched from the side, nodding time after time with an astounded expression.
"Brother Lu, watch out, I am about to execute the Nine Divine Lightning Slash."
With a light shout, Wang Dao’s knife technique abruptly changed, the Reflecting Moon Blade becoming the Nine Divine Lightning Slash, his technique instantly becoming overwhelmingly fierce. Each slash was like roaring thunder, barely containing the sound of thunderbolts.
Lu Yan also changed his knife technique in response, resorting to the Broken Sky Blade.
After another hundred moves, both stepped back, knives still in hand.
"Brother Lu, your knife techniques are unfathomable. Salute."
Wang Dao bowed in admiration.
"Haha, it’s my turn now. Who’s up?"
Yang Zhihuan descended eagerly onto the field. He had been itching to enter the fray.
"Brother Yang, let me accompany you for a few moves."
Lu Yan bowed respectfully.
"Alright, I will keep my cultivation level at Martial Marquis Level One."
With that, Yang Zhihuan slashed diagonally at Lu Yan.
Lu Yan raised his blade to meet.
Yang Zhihuan’s Nine Divine Lightning Slash was stronger than that of Wang Dao by a great margin.
After all, Yang Zhihuan had perfected the Nine Divine Lightning Slash years ago, and even though he had yet to reach transcendent level, it was only one step away.
The technique was unmatchably fierce. Rigid and tenacious, it couldn’t be stopped.
Lu Yan met this challenge with all his concentration.
Lu Yan’s Nine Heavenly Blade was already at the unity of Man and Martial Arts. His understanding of the technique far exceeded that of Yang Zhihuan.
But he couldn’t fully execute it, so he used only the Broken Sky Blade in response, which was at the unity of Man and Martial Arts.
After all, his realm was at this level, often revealing the weakness of the opponent’s technique with just one glance. With ease, he discovered unique moves, so for a time, the match was an equal contest.
After hundreds of moves, both stopped.
"What a pleasure, such a pleasure. I haven’t had such an enjoyable exchange in a long time. Brother Lu, you indeed are a prodigy in the Way of the Sword, I am not your equal."
Yang Zhihuan couldn’t stop praising Lu Yan’s knife technique.
"Brother Yang is right. Brother Lu’s achievements in the Way of the Sword are unprecedented in my life. Unfortunately, there is no top-rate martial art to match. If he could cultivate the Nine Divine Lightning Slash, he would be able to reach the Unity of Man and Martial Arts sooner, making his name known to the world."
Wang Dao sighed.
Yang Zhihuan fell into a ponderous mood. He said, "Brother Wang, why don’t we persuade Young Master Cangqing to pass on the Nine Divine Lightning Slash to Brother Lu?"
"I had the same idea, Brother Yang. With you joining me, it is sure to succeed."
Wang Dao was overjoyed.
Lu Yan naturally had no reason to demur.
He was also drawn to this superior knife technique.
