Chapter 4

### Chapter 4: First Test of Skills

"Ha! Ha! Hey! Ya!"

Loud shouts and the sound of fists breaking the air echoed throughout the vast Ao Family Training Ground.

Several formations were neatly arranged in the center of the training ground. Each formation consisted of dozens of young men and women, all full of energy and agile, performing synchronized movements. Their punches, swift like arrows released from a bow, caused the air to vibrate, demonstrating their solid martial arts foundation.

This was the Ao Family Training Ground.

In the center of the training ground stood a two-zhang-high open platform. On either side of the platform were two flagpoles, with two large black flags with golden edges fluttering in the wind. The flags bore the golden characters—“Ao”!

On the platform stood a middle-aged man, his hands behind his back. He had a stern appearance, a high nose, and a well-defined face, dressed in luxurious attire. He looked down at the crowd below, his presence sharp and piercing, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

At this moment, a teenager around fifteen or sixteen years old approached. The middle-aged man on the platform saw the teenager and said, "Shuang, how are you feeling?"

"Father, I have fully recovered," the teenager replied.

The teenager was Ao Shuang, and the middle-aged man was the current head of the Ao Family, Ao Tianhao.

"Father is going out for a while, Shuang, you stay here," Ao Tianhao said and left, followed by two attendants with their hands behind their backs.

"Master, Master!" Ao Shuang was watching the family training when a pretty young maid rushed over. Ao Shuang glanced at her; this maid, Lü'er, was responsible for his daily needs.

Ao Shuang said slowly, "Lü'er, what's the matter? Didn't I tell you not to panic over trivial things?"

"When did Master ever tell me that? Master only focuses on training every day." Lü'er had been serving Ao Shuang since childhood and knew him very well. She sensed that her master seemed a bit different, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed.

Lü'er quickly said, "Master, I just came back from home. I heard that you had a mishap during training and fell into a coma. I rushed back immediately. Is Master better now?"

"I'm fine now," Ao Shuang said, not intending to explain further, and his gaze shifted to the left front.

There, a young man dressed in the Ao Family training uniform was approaching Ao Shuang, accompanied by several people.

"Ao Shuang, what happened? I heard you had a mishap during training? It doesn't seem to be a big deal, does it? Cultivation should be gradual and not rushed," the young man said, with a sharp and sarcastic tone. He had a pointed face and a sly expression.

"Ha, Ao Mo, you don't need to worry about me. How a martial artist trains is not something a mere martial apprentice like you should teach me," Ao Shuang replied with a slight smile.

"You! Fine, huff, wait and see. Watch how Brother Ao Lin humiliates you during the family competition. Let's go, huff!" Ao Mo, as if struck by some pain, angrily flicked his sleeve and left.

"Master is so impressive, just one word and Ao Mo was driven away," Lü'er stood beside Ao Shuang, feeling very pleased to see Ao Mo and his group being humiliated by one word from her master.

"A flower in a greenhouse can't withstand a single blow. One word and he was driven away, not much use," Ao Shuang said as the young man approached. He searched his memory and recognized the young man as Ao Mo, who was seventeen years old and still a sixth-level martial apprentice, with low potential.

"If he can't teach you, what about me?" Another extremely tall young man approached, giving off a robust and imposing presence. He was bare-chested, revealing two thick arms with prominent veins, like snakes coiling around his arms.

"Ao Wen, do you think you can?" Ao Shuang said calmly, not at all afraid. Ao Wen was also a martial artist, and a second-level one at that. With his experience as a killer from his previous life and countless battles, Ao Shuang was confident he could match Ao Wen.

"Let's see, if you have the guts, let's go up on the platform and have a match," Ao Wen, being a competitive person, said. His fierce appearance would be laughed at if he lacked courage.

"Since you're so eager, let's go," Ao Shuang said indifferently.

"Alright, I'll wait for you," Ao Wen said and jumped onto the platform before Ao Shuang.

"Phew, my first fight," Ao Shuang stretched his body and slowly walked up to the training platform. He decided to quickly resolve the fight, not wanting to waste time on just anyone.

"Look, Master Ao Shuang is going to face off against Ao Wen. Both are martial artists, who will win?" Many members of the Ao Family gathered to watch the match.

"I think it will be Ao Wen. Everyone knows that Master Ao Shuang had a mishap during training a few days ago, and it's unclear if he has fully recovered."

"Look, Master Ao Wen's muscles look so powerful. I'm sure Master Ao Wen will win."

"Big and strong doesn't always mean a win. I believe in Master Ao Shuang!" This was said by a shorter Ao Family teenager, who was often looked down upon by his peers due to his small stature.

"Let's see."

——————————————————

"Ao Shuang, you don't need to wait for the family competition to be taught a lesson by Brother Ao Lin. Today, I'll show you what a real difference is," Ao Wen said arrogantly.

"Win me first before you talk, you'll feel more accomplished," Ao Shuang said calmly, as he felt no threat from his opponent.

Ao Wen then took out his weapon, a golden silk ring knife. Ao Wen practiced the Golden Silk Knife Technique, a mid-level human-grade technique, which involved channeling his spiritual energy into the blade, making it devastating and invincible.

Ao Shuang, on the other hand, took out a sword, the Autumn Water Sword. Ao Shuang practiced the Autumn Water Sword Technique, a mid-level human-grade sword technique, known for its grand and profound movements, with 108 forms like a storm.

In the Lingyu Continent, martial artists needed cultivation techniques and corresponding spiritual skills. There were also some unique manuals, such as finger techniques and hidden weapons. These techniques and manuals were divided into human-grade, earth-grade, heaven-grade, saint-grade, and emperor-grade. Each grade had three levels: low, mid, and high. The top secret manual of the Ao Family was the low heaven-grade technique, the Vajra Decision.

Ao Wen kicked off the ground, raising his knife and dashing forward with incredible speed, unaffected by his large build, like a hunting leopard.

The crowd below gasped, not expecting Ao Wen to attack immediately after speaking, and his speed was astonishing.

Facing the charging opponent, Ao Shuang kept his left hand behind his back and his right hand on the sword hilt, resting it on the ground. As Ao Wen's knife was about to strike Ao Shuang, Ao Shuang moved quickly, raising his sword and deflecting the knife to the side. His left hand shot out, locking Ao Wen's throat.

"You lose, Ao Wen," Ao Shuang said calmly.

"Wow, so fast, so powerful."

"One move, just one move, and he defeated Brother Ao Wen of the same level?" The Ao Family disciples watching the match were all amazed.

"I, I lost?" Ao Wen seemed to disbelieve it, having made grand statements before the fight but losing in one move. His golden silk ring knife clattered to the ground. Ao Shuang released his grip, and Ao Wen bent down to pick up the knife, looking at Ao Shuang. "Ao Shuang, you are strong, but Brother Ao Lin is a fifth-level martial artist, not someone you can defeat," Ao Wen said, unwilling to accept his defeat and trying to demoralize Ao Shuang.

"Who knows? The outcome is not your concern," Ao Shuang shrugged and walked off the platform.

Back in his courtyard, Ao Shuang reflected on his current situation, looking at his hands. This body could unleash tremendous power. If I had this body on Earth, all those martial arts like Muay Thai, Karate, and Taekwondo would be nothing.

"Tomorrow, I'll go and select some spiritual skills to find what suits me," Ao Shuang said and returned with Lü'er.

Ambiguous Master, Chaos Sword God, Special Forces Teacher, Yun Clan Legend, Young Medicine King, Spirit Boat, Unmatched Fortune, Online Game King, Ethereal Duo, Fantasy Journey, Super Prince, Earth Conqueror, Modern Supernatural Legend

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