Chapter 24

Yang Ji nodded after glancing at Yang Xu, who stood opposite him. This was the first time he was formally facing off against Yang Xu, a master cultivated within the clan. Previous battles, whether with Yang Yong or Zhou Kuang, seemed like mere trifles in comparison.

Although Yang Yong was of legitimate birth, he was uneducated and unskilled, possessing only a bit of strength. As for Zhou Kuang and his ilk, they were nothing but ruffians. Zhao Liang and Wen Meng, who had learned some half-baked martial arts, were the best among them.

However, Yang Xu was different. His cultivation was extremely high, reaching the ninth level of the Breathing Technique. In terms of strength, he was even more powerful than Yang Ji. Moreover, those at the ninth level of the Breathing Technique were as swift as foxes, a point where Yang Ji fell short.

Furthermore, Yang Xu was a product of the clan's formal training, proficient in martial arts and various techniques, with dedicated clan masters to guide him, unlike Yang Ji, who had to explore on his own.

None of these were comparable to Yang Ji's previous opponents. Therefore, Yang Ji's expression became solemn, and he prepared himself for the challenge.

Regardless of whether his own insights were right or wrong, Yang Ji had no confidence until the true confrontation revealed the outcome.

It was at this moment that Yang Xu made his move.

"Whoosh!"

Yang Xu's body shot forward like a giant python, the wind roaring around him as he covered several yards in an instant. With a fierce cry, he slammed his right fist down:

"Get out of my way! ——"

The speed of this attack was unimaginable. With Yang Xu's strength, the "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" combined with the ninth level of the Breathing Technique's fox-like speed, no one except those at the tenth level could dodge it!

Almost everyone could envision Yang Ji being hit and sent flying.

Yang Xu's strength was well-known. Using the same move, he had once sent a large wild boar flying eight yards during a winter hunt last year.

Given Yang Ji's strength, if he were hit, the outcome would be even worse!

"What a pity, it ended so quickly."

Everyone felt a sense of regret. The disparity in their abilities was too great!

Just then —

Whoosh!

A flash of movement, and before anyone could react, Yang Ji's body bent and sprang, narrowly avoiding Yang Xu's punch by a hair's breadth, and he appeared two yards away with a swift motion!

Boom!

Yang Xu's punch hit empty air, causing a powerful shockwave.

Silence!

The entire training ground was dead silent, as if all the air had been sucked out.

Yang Xu was stunned, Yang Meng was stunned, and the mouths of all the Yang clan disciples were wide enough to fit a duck egg!

How could this be!

Yang Ji had actually dodged Yang Xu's attack!

Everyone's faces were filled with disbelief. The surrounding laughter and expressions of anticipation vanished in an instant!

No one could believe their eyes.

In the entire training ground, the number of people who could dodge Yang Xu's move could be counted on one hand. Even those at the ninth level of the Breathing Technique had no guarantee of dodging it.

But Yang Ji — a lowly, insignificant "little person" — had actually dodged?

"Coincidence! It must be a coincidence!"

This was the first thought that crossed everyone's mind.

Yang Xu was not Yang Yong; he was a genuine clan master.

Yang Ji, who did not even receive the clan's normal training resources, how could he possibly be compared to Yang Xu!

Yang Xu clearly thought the same.

"White Snake Lurking in the Grass!"

Yang Xu moved like lightning, lunging forward again. His right palm flicked, and he executed the "White Snake Spits Venom" move, shouting:

"Fall down! ——"

Whoosh!

This time, Yang Ji dodged even more easily. As Yang Xu lunged, Yang Ji also moved with great agility, darting several yards away, his body supple and lively, as if he had no bones.

This time, everyone saw it clearly. The same move, the same body shape, Yang Ji's lunge was identical to Yang Xu's.

"White Snake Lurking in the Grass!"

The crowd recognized Yang Ji's move, and a wave of shock swept through them. The same "White Snake Martial Arts," the same move, but when executed by Yang Ji, it felt completely different, as if he had learned a different martial art altogether.

More frighteningly, despite his lower cultivation, Yang Ji's "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was not inferior to Yang Xu's, and even seemed superior.

"How is this possible!"

A Yang clan disciple exclaimed, his face showing disbelief.

"White Snake Lurking in the Grass, he's using White Snake Lurking in the Grass!"

"How did he learn it?"

"Didn't the matriarch forbid him from learning martial arts?"

"Could he have learned it secretly?"

"How is that possible? Who could be so powerful from learning secretly?"

...

The crowd was in an uproar, the impact of Yang Ji's actions too great.

Even Yang Meng was moved at this moment.

As a "Warrior" in the Martial Path, his cultivation was higher than anyone present, giving him a deeper understanding of the situation.

Yang Xu's "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was powerful and swift, like a large python. Before the opponent could react, he was already in front of them.

This was the hallmark of a clan's direct lineage in martial arts. While there might be some personal style differences, the overall form was correct.

All Yang clan disciples who learned the "White Snake Martial Arts" followed this path from the beginning.

However, Yang Ji was different. His body was agile and lively, his movements flexible yet powerful. When he lunged, it was as if he were a snake, and one might forget he was a human.

"Looking like a snake" and "being a snake" might seem similar, but there was a fundamental difference.

Among all the Yang clan disciples, no one could make "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" feel the way Yang Ji did. Even Yang Meng could not achieve this.

Seeing Yang Ji execute "White Snake Lurking in the Grass," even those who looked down on him felt that this was what the true "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" should be.

Feeling the change in the crowd's gaze, Yang Xu's face fell.

"An onlooker sees clearly, but the participant is confused." Yang Xu had no idea what Yang Ji was doing; he only knew that under everyone's watchful eyes, he had failed to catch Yang Ji twice.

"It shouldn't be this way, it shouldn't be this way... He shouldn't have been able to dodge my lunge. Who is Yang Ji to be compared to me, Yang Xu!"

Yang Xu was anxious.

His lunge should have been able to "catch a rabbit by hand" in pursuit, but he had failed twice.

Yang Xu could not believe that Yang Ji had become strong enough to be compared to him.

"Whoosh!"

Yang Xu crouched and lunged again.

This time, Yang Ji dodged even more easily, and his "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was even more flexible. It looked as if Yang Ji had lunged first, and then Yang Xu followed.

Once, twice, three times...

Yang Xu kept lunging, but every time he missed. Not a single move hit Yang Ji. Watching Yang Xu being toyed with, the expressions of the Yang clan disciples watching grew increasingly serious.

"Yang Ji, do you dare to face Yang Xu head-on?"

A Yang clan disciple suddenly shouted from the crowd.

"Right, show some skill instead of running!"

Another voice chimed in.

At first, it was just a few, but then more and more Yang clan disciples joined in, and soon everyone was heckling.

"Yang Ji, dare you stop running?"

"Besides running, what else can you do?"

"Boring! Boring! Why are you running!"

...

The training ground was filled with noise. Ultimately, Yang Ji was not part of their circle; Yang Xu was!

By sentiment and reason, they could not side with Yang Ji.

Moreover, Yang Xu had a good reputation among the Yang clan disciples, and his ninth-level Breathing Technique was not weak.

While Yang Ji's "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was well-executed, it was ultimately just a technique for dodging enemies, not a true skill. Furthermore, Yang Ji's constant running clearly showed he knew he was no match for Yang Xu. Even if he won, it would be an unfair victory, not a true skill!

Only Yang Meng saw something, furrowing his brow, knowing that Yang Ji was not just running. But at this point, saying so would be meaningless.

...

As the heckling grew louder, Yang Ji's expression remained unchanged.

"Enough."

A glint of determination flashed in Yang Ji's eyes.

He had been secretly observing Yang Xu, comparing and verifying his own understanding.

At this moment, he had reached a conclusion.

Yang Xu's strength was indeed impressive, surpassing Yang Ji's eighth-level Breathing Technique. However, his moves were rigid and stiff, lacking the flexibility and spirit that should accompany the form.

Yang Ji, through daily play and learning with Xiao Ji, had deeply grasped the essence and spirit of the "White Snake Martial Arts." How could such a rigid move hit him?

"I understand."

Yang Ji suddenly had an epiphany:

"Every gain has a cost. They have masters to guide them and clan-provided martial arts and techniques, so they do not put in the effort to understand the deeper principles. They only learn the form of the moves without delving into the essence. The ease with which they obtain these skills has dulled their drive to improve, making them less capable than those who trace the roots and explore on their own."

Whether this was right or wrong was no longer important.

Yang Ji had always envied the Yang clan disciples in the inner circle, who had ample resources, easy access to martial arts, and the guidance of "wise masters" that he could only dream of, along with generations of accumulated techniques and experience...

Compared to Yang Ji, they had so much more.

But because of this, they were more likely to stray from the path of martial arts.

— If one cannot grasp the essence and spirit of martial arts, what is the point of learning them?

For the first time, Yang Ji felt that the path he had chosen was correct. "Knowing the what and the why" was a difficult path, but it made him far stronger than the Yang clan disciples whose vision and perspective were limited to the clan.

"It can end now."

Amidst the heckling, Yang Ji made his move —

Crouching, he executed "White Snake Lurking in the Grass," flying low to the ground. In the moment his body undulated, he kicked with both feet, like a dragon's tail, striking Yang Xu's chest with great force.

Boom!

No one could describe the ferocity and weight of Yang Ji's strike. In the shocked gazes of the crowd, Yang Xu was hit as if by a massive meteor, letting out a惨叫 and flying eight yards away.

"!!!"

The heckling abruptly stopped, and everyone was stunned, their eyes wide with shock.

"White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was just a movement technique in the "White Snake Martial Arts." No one had ever thought it could be used for an attack. The power generated by the undulation of the "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" was astonishing.

"Go!"

Yang Ji did not dwell on it. His doubts were resolved, and he did not want to draw attention. He crouched and darted away like a large snake.

"Wait!"

At the edge of the training ground, Yang Meng, the referee, finally reacted. Without hesitation, he flicked his long whip, which shot out and wrapped around Yang Ji.

This sparring match had left him with too many questions, and only Yang Ji could answer them. However, as the whip flicked out, Yang Ji's speed suddenly increased, and he dodged the wrap that Yang Meng was certain would catch him.

"How is this possible!"

Yang Meng was shocked. He was a "Warrior" in the Martial Path; how could a mere "Breathing Technique" practitioner evade his wrap?

Lifting his head, Yang Meng tried to act again, but Yang Ji did not give him the chance. With three consecutive "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" moves, he shot away without stopping, leaving a trail of dust behind.

At that moment, the crowd felt a strange illusion, as if they were seeing not a person but a large, agile snake slithering through the grass, moving swiftly and gracefully.

"Grass Snake Glide! ——"

Yang Meng exclaimed, almost disbelieving his eyes.

He had access to far more clan martial history than others. According to legend, when the "White Snake Lurking in the Grass" technique was mastered to its peak, it would produce the "Grass Snake Glide" effect — just like what Yang Ji was doing now!