Chapter 1566: Zhang Xuan Wants to Give Guidance (Part 2)

His understanding of the Zhang Clan's sword art was incredibly profound; every move he made inherently contained the essence of speed. Yet, the person before him managed to strike first despite moving later, and furthermore, his power significantly exceeded his own!

It was clear that if he didn't dodge, the opponent would undoubtedly neutralize his power first, rendering his sword art completely useless even if it connected.

"Hmph!" Realizing he had encountered a true master, he abandoned any thought of holding back. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his foot back half a step. His longsword, with a cunning maneuver, changed its trajectory from a thrust to a powerful cleave.

"He's even using the Dragon Seizing Sword technique, you..." Upon seeing this move, Sword Saint Meng, suspended in the air, nearly burst with frustration.

She was undoubtedly the person who understood Sword Saint Xing best in the world. They had trained together on this Dragon Seizing Sword move for a long time to perfect it. While not their most powerful ultimate technique, its force was immense, enough to disorient even Ren Qingyuan if he encountered it unexpectedly. "You just started, and you're already using *that* on 'him'? I told you to go easy, didn't I? Is *this* your idea of going easy?"

"Go back! If you ever set foot through my door or into my bed again, I'll write my surname backward!" Sword Saint Meng, Wang Mengya, gnashed her teeth.

"Hmm, quick reaction!" Seeing the Zhang Clan Head instantly recognize that his sword move would arrive first despite being initiated later, and then change his technique without hesitation, Zhang Xuan smiled. He remained seated, unmoving, and again offered no resistance to the incoming sword. With a flick of his wrist, he thrust his own sword forward once more.

It was the same move and power as before, only this time, he aimed not for the forehead but the shoulder. Normally, the shoulder is a bit further away, and considering the speed, the Zhang Clan Head's longsword would certainly strike his head first. However, if Sword Saint Xing persisted in his attack, his wrist would inevitably connect with Zhang Xuan's sword gleam first. Given the gleam's sharpness, it would sever the wrist before the opponent could be harmed.

Sword Saint Xing's face twitched, his expression becoming even more solemn. He had initially believed the opponent's cultivation wasn't high and that he could easily win if he truly committed. He never imagined that even using his full strength, he couldn't gain the slightest advantage. This young man, despite his age, possessed eyes that seemed to foresee his every sword move and action, preempting him and blocking all his attacks the moment he made a move.

Not only that, but the most crucial point was... the opponent used the very same technique! It was "Tit for Tat," the most fundamental and common move in the Zhang Clan's sword art when engaging an opponent. As the name suggests, it's a probing technique, a "courtesy before force" approach where one respectfully assesses an opponent's strength before counterattacking. To block his two consecutive attacks with just a single probing move, how immense was this fellow's strength and mastery of swordsmanship?

"I don't believe it!" His eyebrows shot up. Knowing he couldn't dodge and that his wrist would be severed, he again retreated half a step. His longsword flickered once more, transforming into a shower of stars, scattering and thrusting towards Zhang Xuan's eyes. This was "Sword Falling Stars"! He had spent nearly three years developing this technique. While not his ultimate peak move, it was at least twice as potent as the Dragon Seizing Sword. It could condense like a rainbow or scatter like countless stars, not only delivering physical attacks but also possessing immense deceptive power over a person's mind and soul. The first time he had unleashed it, even Sword Saint Meng had nearly been caught off guard. After two consecutive failed attempts, Sword Saint Xing held nothing back.

The moment the technique was unleashed, Zhang Xuan seemed to be enveloped by a sky full of stars. The surroundings became a void, like a virtual realm devoid of time and space, making it impossible to discern directions or even the origin of the sword strike. It was as if he had entered the cosmos where all stars appeared the same size; no matter how fast one moved, reference points seemed unchanged, making it appear to the naked eye as if nothing was moving. This was precisely Zhang Xuan's experience; he had no concept of the sword energy's speed or distance from him.

"Teacher..." Cold sweat beaded in Zheng Yang's palm as he gripped his spear. With his own strength, he wouldn't dare claim he could block that sword alone. Would his teacher be in danger? As he watched anxiously, Zhang Xuan, still seated on the ground, made his move. Without shifting his body, exactly as before, he once again executed "Tit for Tat" and thrust his sword forward.

*Clang!* The sword energy, still some distance from the starry illusion, seemed to strike a crucial flaw. The stars collapsed, and all the grand celestial phenomena vanished. *Thump-thump-thump-thump!* Sword Saint Xing's qi and blood churned, forcing him back another seven or eight steps, his eyes wide with disbelief and horror. "'Tit for Tat' could break my 'Sword Falling Stars'? This... how is this possible?" Although this move wasn't his absolute top-tier sword art, it was not to be underestimated. For the opponent to break it with such a common move was as unbelievable as defeating the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms with the Taizu Longfist.

"Haha!" Zhang Xuan chuckled softly, his tone carrying the air of a grand strategist. "The sword is an extension of power. Victory over an enemy is achieved wherever your mind wills it; techniques are merely aids! 'Tit for Tat,' though the simplest of moves, precisely because of its simplicity, possesses countless unpredictable variations. In the hands of a master, its power is even greater! It's like a drunkard wildly hacking with a sword; you have no idea where his next move will aim, much less whether he intends to kill you. Of course, a cultivator can easily defeat a drunkard because, while his moves are uncertain, they lack targeted intent. To effectively use simple moves, one must make them targeted, preempt the enemy, and grasp their attack objective to secure victory! Your 'Sword Falling Stars' just now, though incredibly profound and capable of instantly locking onto one's essence, qi, and spirit, making escape difficult—to truly lock onto an opponent's spirit, there must be a communicative medium, and that medium is a flaw in your technique. The simple move I just used found this precise location. A gentle touch, and it was pierced, which is only natural. Therefore, your sword technique collapsed without a fight! It's akin to constructing a skyscraper: even if the calculations are perfectly precise, to the millimeter... removing just one brick from the most crucial point can cause the entire building to become ruins! A simple technique isn't necessarily a disadvantage; sometimes, when utilized effectively, it can produce extraordinary results."

At this point, Zhang Xuan looked over and sighed, "Clan Head Zhang, you are too fixated on martial arts and specific techniques..."

"I..." Sword Saint Xing's face flushed. As one of the foremost swordsmen of his generation, being lectured by this individual—whom he suspected was his own son—made his face burn with overwhelming embarrassment.

"There's no need to feel ashamed," Zhang Xuan said with a faint smile. "At your age, to have cultivated such sword techniques and sword intent is already truly remarkable. How about this: if you're willing, I can meticulously point out the flaws in your sword moves and help you achieve further breakthroughs!"