Chapter 8

5. Sparring (2)

‘Ugh.’

Feeling a shock as if his insides were being shaken, Xiaozhongtian took two steps back.

In contrast, Murong Xueluo maintained his firm stance, his fist still extended, without any waver.

This clearly showed the significant difference in power.

‘Damn… My fist is numb. Is this the difference in internal energy?’

It’s not like this is a fight between a child and an adult; the difference in the power of attacks can’t be due to mere physical strength.

Xiaozhongtian, with an internal energy value of 1.37, and Murong Xueluo, with a value of 1.98.

The difference in their internal energy, which is nearly 50%, is what created this phenomenon.

Based on the information he recalled, Xiaozhongtian’s own internal energy is roughly equivalent to about 15 years of practice, according to the long-standing standards of the martial arts world.

Comparing this with the internal energy value of 1.37 shown in the information window, it seems that a value of 1.0 probably represents about 10 years of practice.

‘Hansahui is like this, and Murong Xueluo, that guy, also has about 20 years of internal energy at the age of 15. Indeed, having a good cultivation method is crucial! But why did I end up in this useless body? !’

Thinking about the situation of those who have practiced excellent cultivation methods and taken good medicinal tonics, he feels unfairly treated.

“Indeed, you’re just a loudmouth. People who lack skills always try to draw attention with strange actions. Is this what you call martial arts?”

Murong Xueluo, with a mocking expression, belittled Xiaozhongtian.

“There’s no need to see more. Why don’t you surrender already?”

In response to Murong Xueluo’s words, Xiaozhongtian spat on the ground and wiggled his fingers.

“No way? It doesn’t even hurt much. Why don’t you try a bit more?”

“Ha! You ignorant and vulgar guy…!”

Heat flowed from Murong Xueluo’s eyes as he provocatively taunted.

In terms of the level of martial arts, experience in battles, and accumulated internal energy, he is clearly inferior.

But he has no intention of admitting defeat.

‘If I just hold out until the time limit, I’ll get a reward. And I have to make that face of his twist at least once.’

He still has one move left to use.

Xiaozhongtian charged at his opponent again.

1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes.

During this short period, numerous attacks were exchanged rapidly.

‘Damn brat! He’s definitely strong.’

Xiaozhongtian gritted his teeth and glared at Murong Xueluo.

His entire body, bruised and aching, felt like it would let out a groan if he relaxed his jaw even a little.

‘It’s about time to use it.’

He hasn’t used the Chuhun Tui yet.

Since the initial clash, Murong Xueluo hasn’t launched a serious attack.

A counterattack is only effective if it is timed correctly; otherwise, it becomes less powerful than a regular attack.

It can only deliver a proper fatal blow by accurately striking the opening created when the opponent uses a major technique.

‘But that damn guy has been playing around this whole time.’

“Why don’t you dance a bit more? Are you reconsidering your decision to surrender after just taking hits?”

Murong Xueluo circled around Xiaozhongtian like a cat playing with a mouse, repeatedly striking and retreating, delivering minor blows.

His actions were not aimed at knocking him down but at inflicting continuous pain and humiliation.

Despite the clear difference in skill, Murong Xueluo intended to torment Xiaozhongtian until the time limit of the sparring ended.

‘Ugh… Time is not moving at all.’

The time limit for the sparring is half an hour.

Even though it’s only about 7 minutes, it feels incredibly long.

It feels like he has been hit a hundred times or more in this short period.

‘But if I wait, an opportunity will surely come.’

Although it feels like half an hour has passed, the time limit is almost over.

He believes that Murong Xueluo won’t just keep this up until the end of the sparring.

He will definitely try to finish with a powerful final attack.

And his prediction was correct.

“You’re so stubborn. Let’s end this.”

With the fastest movement he has shown so far, Murong Xueluo approached Xiaozhongtian and threw a punch.

A fierce strike aimed at the vital point on his side.

‘Not yet…!’

Focusing on Murong Xueluo’s movements, Xiaozhongtian slightly bent his body and folded his arm against his side to defend.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Even though he blocked it, the heavy pain felt like being hit by a hammer.

The shock penetrated his arm and side, which he had protected with his internal energy, shaking his internal organs.

“Guh…”

“It’s over.”

Murong Xueluo, who had attached himself to the bent Xiaozhongtian, raised his arm to deliver the final blow.

Aiming for the Aimen point on the back of the head, his elbow came down.

A point usually attacked to make the opponent unconscious, but if not controlled properly, it can be fatal.

Just as it seemed the sparring would end.

‘Now!’

Xiaozhongtian’s eyes lit up.

Using his left leg as the pivot, the joints below his waist twisted sharply.

A move he had saved his remaining internal energy for, the Chuhun Tui, a technique he obtained through a draw.

Following the technique, Xiaozhongtian’s foot became a hidden dagger, piercing Murong Xueluo’s lower body.

“Huh!”

Sensing the fierce momentum from below, Murong Xueluo’s expression changed, and he quickly tried to dodge.

The Yiluoluo, a remarkable footwork technique of the Murong family, was activated.

A movement described as a leaf trembling in the wind.

Just as he was about to display the mysterious and unpredictable movement, his reaction was a bit late.

The Chuhun Tui, used at the right moment when Murong Xueluo was confident of his victory, was effective despite being only at the 3-star level.

Thud!

Xiaozhongtian’s heel pierced between Murong Xueluo’s legs.

“Gah!”

Letting out a strange scream, Murong Xueluo, whose lower body seemed to lose strength, staggered and fell to the ground.

The expressions of those watching the sparring hardened, and they shuddered.

‘That… must have been bad.’

The audience had the same thought.

Approaching the fallen Murong Xueluo quickly, Chuo Ouming inspected his condition and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk… He’s unconscious. Xiaozhongtian wins. As you all saw, it’s very foolish to drag out a battle and become complacent just because you have a higher level of martial arts. In real combat, anything can happen. When you think you have the upper hand, end it quickly and decisively.”

Hearing Chuo Ouming’s words, Xiaozhongtian fell to the ground.

“Haa…”

Although his body is bruised and aching, the main reason he feels so heavy is that he has exhausted all his internal energy.

However, a smile remains on his lips, satisfied with the best possible outcome.

‘I won! You damn brat!’

He intended to give the opponent a good hit, but he didn’t really expect the opponent to fall.

The Chuhun Tui, a technique he obtained through a draw, is of the same rank.

It’s not a particularly high-level technique, and with a low achievement rate, he thought it would lack power, but the result was unexpected.

Although it’s not a high-level technique, as a special technique consisting of only one move, it seems to be quite powerful compared to other techniques.

‘The precise hit to the vital point must have been significant. Anyway, what about the reward?’

As if reading Xiaozhongtian’s thoughts, a notification appeared.

The reward was sweet.

‘Wow! They said the rewards would be tiered, and the reward for winning is gold?’

500 silver and 120 gold.

Although he can’t yet use the silver to draw, he can now buy a treasure chest with the gold.

Without hesitation, he opened the draw window.

‘Of course!’

His first experience with a reward treasure chest.

A disc similar to the one for the In rank appeared, but the colors inside were different.

The colorless section disappeared, leaving bronze, silver, and a gleaming gold.

‘Gold, bronze, silver… Surely they won’t give me the worst color on my first try? God! Buddha! Primordial Celestial Venerable! And… anyone else? Anyway, I believe in you all!’

With a prayer that was almost disrespectful, the disc began to spin.

After a brief wait.

The pointer stopped on the silver section.

‘Good! At least it’s not the worst color.’

Not a grand prize, but a modest one.

Xiaozhongtian looked at the silver sphere that appeared in his inventory and used one of the four remaining appraisal scrolls.

The form and name of the medicinal herb, previously marked with a question mark, slowly revealed themselves.

A root plant as thick as a child’s arm, with dozens of curly roots spreading in all directions.

“Ginseng!”

One of the most precious herbs that people think of when asked about the most valuable herbs.

“Ginseng? That’s unexpected. Are you seeing things?”

Xiaozhongtian, who was inspecting the result of the draw, regained his composure at the sound of Chuo Ouming’s voice and stood up.

“Oh, that… Ugh!”

The pain he had momentarily forgotten resurfaced.

The pain became more intense as the excitement of the battle subsided.

“What a strange guy. Take these two to the infirmary.”

“Yes.”

Two students who had been watching the sparring approached at Chuo Ouming’s command.

“Hey, pick me up.”

“Ugh…”

While one student awkwardly lifted the fallen Murong Xueluo, the other bent down in front of the groaning Xiaozhongtian.

However, the person who approached was a female student.

With an androgynous appearance and behavior that didn’t stand out among the male students, it was hard to tell, but the bulge in the front of her clothes confirmed she was female.

‘Embarrassing… But what can I do?’

Although the place doesn’t distinguish between genders, being carried by a female student of the same age due to sparring injuries was not something he was comfortable with.

In terms of mental age, she would be like a niece.

If he showed any signs of discomfort, it might hurt her pride as a martial artist, so Xiaozhongtian, after a moment’s hesitation, obediently climbed onto her back.

‘Ouch, it hurts. Ugh… Let’s check the reward again.’

While being carried and gently jostled, Xiaozhongtian checked his inventory.

‘100-year-old ginseng. Compared to the century-old Ginseng or the Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King in martial arts novels, it’s quite modest, but it’s still a much better medicinal herb than the 30-year-old Ginseng he had taken before.’

Since there was no reason to save it, he immediately used the medicinal herb.

‘What’s the question? Of course, I should use it.’

After agreeing, a warm heat rose from his dantian and then disappeared.

“Kya!”

“What, what is it?”

The student carrying him was startled by the sudden exclamation and stopped.

“Oh! Sorry. I just remembered some good news.”

“…I already knew you were a strange guy.”

As the student shook his head and resumed moving, Xiaozhongtian checked his information window.

His internal energy value had increased to 1.59.

Compared to the colorless medicinal herb, which only increased his value by 0.01, this was a significant difference.

Draw for the Strongest Martial Arts World 9