Chapter Seventeen: Sparring Partners, Companions in Cultivation

“Old lecher.”

Watching Huang Kaishan disappear into the distance, Xu Chen curled his lips and went back to fishing.

He fished all the way until dusk, and by then, there were only two or three small fish in the bucket.

“This is no different from coming back empty-handed!”

Xu Chen released the small fish back into the river.

Just then, a black shadow appeared in the distance, flying toward Xu Chen.

“Xu Chen, you have a letter,” a giant black eagle hovered in the sky, its wings beating.

“Toss it down.”

A letter floated gently into Xu Chen’s hands.

“My father wrote some time ago to say he was on the verge of a breakthrough. I wonder how things are now,” Xu Chen mused as he opened the letter and quickly read through it, excitement lighting up his face.

“Father has advanced to the Void Returning Realm and become a squad leader in the Vanguard!”

“And Mother, after spending this time painting the Heavenly-Earth Talismans, has officially become a Talisman Master!”

“At this rate,” Xu Chen couldn’t help rubbing his chin, “it seems I won’t have to work quite so hard after all.”

Just as Xu Chen was about to head home with the letter, a flash of golden light nearly blinded him.

A minotaur, nearly ten feet tall and clad entirely in golden armor, walked toward him against the backdrop of the setting sun, looking like a moving statue of gold.

“Greetings, junior brother. My name is Niu Dali. I live nearby. Let’s look after each other from now on,” the enormous, muscle-bound figure said, his voice booming as he stood before Xu Chen, an imposing sight.

“…”

“Senior Brother Dali, pleased to meet you. I didn’t expect we’d have a new disciple moving in at this hour.” Xu Chen gazed up at Niu Dali.

“My brother joined the sect too, so I gave him my cave dwelling,” Niu Dali answered, a simple, honest smile spreading across his face.

“Well, since you’ve moved nearby, we’ll look out for one another,” Xu Chen said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Niu Dali awkwardly returned the salute.

The Golden-armored Thunder Bull Clan had long pledged loyalty to the Human Race and were known for their unwavering devotion. In several pivotal battles throughout human history, the entire clan fought at the forefront, playing a decisive role.

They were also among the few non-human races allowed to enter the Imperial Province of Man, with their chieftain having the right to an audience with the Human Emperor.

“Of course. My new cave is just three miles from here. We should train together sometime,” Niu Dali replied, pulling out a box of spirit grass pastries from his storage pouch.

“These are Spirit Grass Cakes. I hope you enjoy them, junior brother.”

Xu Chen noticed that the gifts were already prepared and felt a little embarrassed. With a wave of his hand, he set out two hundred pots of Amethyst Flowers on the ground.

“I’ve heard your clan values spiritual flowers and herbs. These two hundred pots of Amethyst Flowers are wasted sitting with me—please accept them, senior brother.”

Niu Dali’s eyes shone at the sight of the flowers.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Thank you, junior brother!” With impressive speed, Niu Dali gathered up all two hundred pots.

After their exchange, Xu Chen took his bucket and headed home.

That night, Xu Chen entered the Sacred White Space.

In the boundless, endless Sacred White Space, Xu Chen stared at two wooden doors.

“Perhaps I’ll try something different tonight?” he muttered, turning to push open the door to the Twelvefold Wave Body-forging Technique.

“A rare guest! Let me entertain you properly!”

In less than ten moves, Xu Chen’s consciousness was forced out, recondensing in the Sacred White Space.

“Too difficult. I’d better focus on the Six Forms of the Sacred Ape.”

He opened the door to the Six Forms of the Sacred Ape, beginning a new round of grueling practice.

The next morning, as Xu Chen awoke and prepared to train, he sensed a faint tremor in the ground.

He stepped outside and saw, in the distance, a golden glow shouldering a massive boulder weighing tens of thousands of pounds, carving a path through the dense forest.

At that moment, the golden figure arrived on the far side of the river.

“Senior Brother Dali, how strong are you now?” Xu Chen asked with a shudder when he saw the boulder.

Niu Dali set the giant stone down, grinning his simple, guileless smile.

“I possess the strength of eight tigers. I cultivate the Mountain-moving Body-forging Technique, unique to our clan. At its peak, one can wield the strength of a dragon and six tigers.”

“Junior brother, care to train together?”

Hoisting the boulder onto his shoulder, Niu Dali began squatting with it in the morning light.

“Come on, let’s get moving!” he urged.

Inspired by Niu Dali’s enthusiasm, Xu Chen started practicing the Twelvefold Wave Body-forging Technique on the grass outside his door.

So, man and bull, they trained together beneath the rising sun.

High above, a lark streaked across the sky, bearing the weary Huang Kaishan on its back.

As they trained, the sun soon reached its peak. Man and bull sat by the riverbank to rest.

“The Human Race’s Blood and Qi Foundation Technique is truly exquisite. That final palm strike of yours produced six sonic booms. Such subtle mastery of blood and qi energy is beyond anything my clan could ever hope to match,” Niu Dali said with envy.

“And I envy your clan’s natural gifts. It’s said that even at the Blood and Qi Realm, your people can typically reach the strength of a dragon and three tigers.”

“It’s just a slight advantage in physical strength—that’s all our race has going for us.”

At that moment, Niu Dali abruptly stood and turned to Xu Chen.

“Junior brother, how about a friendly match?”

“Me… spar with you?” Xu Chen glanced at the giant stone across the river.

“How strong are you, junior brother?”

“Not quite the strength of two tigers.”

“I’ll hold back. Let’s give it a try!” Niu Dali rumbled.

“Then, senior brother, keep your strength under five tigers.”

Xu Chen rose as well. They drew apart, man and bull.

“Very well!”

In an instant, both charged at each other.

Given the disparity in strength, Xu Chen dared not face him head-on, instead weaving around with the movements of the Twelvefold Wave Body-forging Technique.

But as the match dragged on, he realized that Niu Dali, holding himself to five tigers’ strength, was actually quite weak—his moves were clumsy, full of openings.

A heavy punch was deftly dodged, and then Xu Chen’s Triple Wave Palm struck Niu Dali’s arm joint.

Three layers of force landed on the tensed arm, instantly knocking Niu Dali off balance and sending him toppling to the ground.

Niu Dali, unbothered, got up and smiled sheepishly at Xu Chen.

“Senior brother, use your full strength!” Xu Chen urged, feeling that Niu Dali was holding back, unable to unleash his true power in the fight.

“Alright!”

In a flash, a surge of blood and qi erupted from Niu Dali, and streaks of crimson appeared on his golden armor.

Only now, with Niu Dali unleashing his full might, did Xu Chen feel a hint of pressure—but just a hint.

They exchanged blow after blow—one wielding raw, overwhelming power with every move; the other, like a seasoned veteran, reading and dodging each attack with uncanny perception.

Their battle lasted a full half hour, ending when Xu Chen’s surging Wave-crashing Palm landed squarely on Niu Dali’s chest.

Niu Dali staggered back three steps, his golden armor unscathed.

“That hurt a bit. Your moves are truly exquisite, junior brother Xu,” Niu Dali said, clutching his chest.

“Just a bit? No internal injuries?” Xu Chen couldn’t help asking. After putting his full strength into that palm, he thought there’d be at least some internal damage.

“None at all—though it did hurt,” Niu Dali replied, grinning his simple, honest smile.