I Can See Your Combat Power

What ancient and modem poets seek is nothing but a ringing verse that echoes through time. Even after a thousand, ten thousand years, this echo continues to rock the world. And the reason why a ringing verse can become so is because no matter when it appears, it can deeply shake people’score.

“This master must be a renowned warrior!” Xiao Ziyu was convinced, for only a top-tier warrior could write the last verse in this way; only a top-tier warrior could possess such disdain for all, such demeanor and spirit!

How was Daisong Mountain? At least in Xiao Ziyu’s heart, it had become the peak among all the grand mountains in the world, yet it was stepped underfoot by the poet.

The word “will” meant determined to, stepping on the highest peak of the world, not to admire the beautiful scenery, cautiously and meticulously, but to overlook all the mountains underfoot once they reached the top.

Merely the word “little” revealed an astonishing grandeur.

“This painting, can only be mine!” Xiao Ziyu was convinced. He had already claimed this “Viewing the Peaks” painting as his own. Anyone else who even glanced at it would be an offense, let alone those bumpkins around him.

Just as he was about to order the servant girl to remove the painting, he heard a firm and resolute voice from next to him: “Get this painting for this young master!”

How dare this boy!!

Xiao Ziyu’s heart filled with murderous intent. The anger that had been in control unknowingly ran wild. It was as if the most precious thing was about to be snatched away, his eyes turned red in an instant. With the unity of spirit and intent, a surprising momentum rose with boundless fury, he wanted to see who dare to compete with him so blatantly.

The strong and fierce aura was almost apocalyptic for these Mortal Realm warriors. Some of the less willful young masters actually passed out directly, and the rest of the people fled in different directions, wanting to distance themselves away from the raging Xiao Ziyu.

Only after the crowd dispersed did he see the culprit who dared to challenge him.

A momentum rivaling Xiao Ziyu rose to the sky, contending with the red spirit ripples. Mi Chu was overlooking Xiao Ziyu and said coldly: “Don’t you even understand the principle of first come, first served? Flaunting your power, you want to die?”

Turns out, while Xiao Ziyu was lost in the painting, Mi Chu who had come onboard from the stern into the warehouse was also appreciating the words. Unbeknownst to him, Mi Chu had made up his mind to buy this painting. While he did appreciate the painting, he couldn’t deny the intention to annoy him.

He and Xiao Ziyu were both at the peak of Transcendence and had never competed with each other. Why should they determine who’s stronger based on their bouts with Young Master Xu Sheng on the fighting platform? The title of the top transcendence in Xiling, to him, was nothing but a joke!

Xiao Ziyu, upon identifying the speaker, gave a cold retort, “How can a rude brute like you appreciate paintings or evaluate words? There’s no way I’m giving this painting to you. If you can’t accept it, let’s have a fight. This young master also wants to see what’s so extraordinary about the bloodline of the Beast Soul!”

In his eyes, Mi Chu was just a reckless madman, an extreme martial arts maniac. How could such people distinguish good from bad when it comes to paintings and words? He simply saw how absorbed he was and came to compete. The root cause was clearly the people in Xiling recognizing him as the number one Transcendent, which made him discontent. In that case, why not have a match to determine the rightful owner of the painting?

The position of the Xiao Family in Xiling was not achieved by making concessions to the Tang and Mi Clans. Instead, it was earned through strength in every bout they had. You want a fight? Then we will fight!

“Good, this young master is also curious why the Fire God bloodline is celebrated as number one in Xiling!” A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Mi Chu’s eyes. The world of warriors should be simple and straightforward. He admired Xiao Ziyu to a certain extent: “But, your ignorance of this young master’s ability to appreciate and evaluate this painting, proves your ignorance!”

Many bloodlines in the world can bring certain influences to a person. For example, the power of the fire bloodline tends to make people irritable, while the power of the water bloodline tends to make people more gentle. In the early days of the bloodline power, some martial arts researchers believed that one should follow the direction of the bloodline power, just as nature intended. Fire bloodline warriors should be fierce like fire, water bloodline warriors should be gentle like jade, and yin and yang bloodline warriors should be unpredictable, being both righteous and evil!

At the time, martial arts researchers believed that going with nature could enhance bloodline abilities, until the Xu Clan spoke up. They told warriors worldwide that if they let their bloodline power take control, they would indeed gain immense power but it would be impossible to reach the peak of that strength. Because in reality, they would just be warriors controlled by their bloodline.

The Xu Clan in Yuanzhou later categorized and graded bloodlines and shared the simple enhancement methods with the world. Only then did the world realize that besides going with the flow of the bloodline, there was another way to enhance their strength. This method required the warriors to use a strong will to bind and correct the influence of the bloodline on their strength and maintain their true nature. This method is also called the blood return technique.

The so-called blood return technique is not a cultivation method, but a cultivation concept. That is, finding ways to tame their own bloodline, eliminate its influence on themselves, and then continuously develop the potential of the bloodline, breaking through the limits and becoming stronger. The important thing is to have warriors with bloodlines, not just the power derived from the bloodline.

A water bloodline can nurture overwhelming torrents, capable of destroying heaven and earth. A fire bloodline can also nurture warmth like the sun, fostering the vitality of all things. A warrior dictates the direction of the bloodline power by being true to their nature. That is the blood return technique!

After breaking through Transcendence, Mi Chu awakened the Beast Soul bloodline. The world only knew that he was brutal and domineering, but they didn’t know that this was due to the influence of the bloodline. This Earth Level Tier 3 bloodline was extremely difficult to tame, especially when the soul of the beast he absorbed was a king among all beasts. The reason he hasn’t been turned into a bloodthirsty maniac by the beast soul, is because of his strong willpower.

And his method of practicing willpower was almost identical to Xiao Ziyu’s method—writing to focus his mind!

The more the killing intent in his heart was boiling, the more he would control his mind and practice writing. Because he knew that this desire for slaughter was not his own, but influenced by the beast soul. Over the years, writing had not only helped him effectively control his raging killing intent but also fostered his high level of calligraphy!

“A horse with more tendons and less flesh is considered superior, while one with more flesh and fewer tendons is inferior – the same goes for calligraphy.” Mi Chu pointed to the character in the ‘Viewing the Peaks’ poem and said arrogantly to Xiao Ziyu: “Because a person’s calligraphy must be like themself, infused with bones, flesh, and blood; bold, experienced, hidden and pure. It must also be graceful and unusual in form, so the characters in front of us can be considered beautiful.”

When a professional takes action, others would know if they truly possess the skill. With just a few sentences, Mi Chu had beautifully described how to appreciate calligraphy. Xiao Ziyu felt a chill in his heart, realizing that he had underestimated the man. He lamented in his heart that he had indeed underestimated the genius of the Mi Clan. It was true that arrogance made one foolish, and even he could make such a mistake.

But even if admitting the other party’s ability to appreciate and evaluate calligraphy, he was still determined to get this painting. With his red hair flying, Xiao Ziyu seriously said: “Young Master Mi’s understanding of calligraphy is extraordinary. I was indeed rash. However, there’s no way I am relinquishing this painting. Since Young Master Mi also likes it, let’s have a match to decide who gets this painting. How about it!?”

“Sounds great!” In Mi Chu’s eyes, his appreciation of Xiao Ziyu deepened. Someone who admitted their mistakes without excessive compromise and strived for what they wanted with all their strength, was the only type of person qualified to rank with him among the young masters of Xiling.