LABMY CH107.2

The Five Element Combat Techniques are named as such because a cultivator’s spiritual root is divided into five attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Combat techniques are also categorized by these attributes, and only those with the corresponding spiritual root can learn the matching combat technique.

However, for Mu Jingzhuo, this was still out of reach, as combat techniques require spiritual energy to execute. With his current Qi Refinement stage, the spiritual energy he possessed was far from enough to perform any combat techniques.

Like cultivation techniques, combat techniques are also divided into grades: lower, middle, upper, and heavenly.

Jian Yuanbai smiled and said, “You’re competing on the stage tomorrow. I have a combat technique that doesn’t require Foundation Establishment to use. Do you want to learn it?”

Mu Jingzhuo’s eyes widened in shock.

A combat technique that can be used without reaching Foundation Establishment? He had never heard of such a thing.

“What technique?”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “Ghostly Phantom Step (鬼幽步). When used, your movements resemble a ghostly blue shadow. If you master it, you can create countless afterimages, making it impossible for your opponent to distinguish your true body.”

“What’s even better is that it doesn’t depend on your spiritual root. Anyone can use it.”

Mu Jingzhuo stared at him suspiciously and asked, “What do you want in return?”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. From the sound of it, Ghostly Phantom Step was at least an upper-grade combat technique.

After all, they were merely temporary travel companions—Mu Jingzhuo was the employer, while the man before him was just a hired bodyguard.

Jian Yuanbai chuckled, “A heaven-grade combat technique, in exchange for one promise from you. How about that?”

Mu Jingzhuo was instantly stunned.

Heaven-grade combat technique?

Unlike heaven-grade cultivation techniques, which were so rare that one might not even see one in hundreds of years, a heaven-grade combat technique was still considered an invaluable treasure.

Forget about the Nascent Soul Fragment Pill he was offering as payment—even a hundred or a thousand of them wouldn’t be enough to exchange for a heaven-grade combat technique.

Mu Jingzhuo stared at him in disbelief, “You’re going to teach me… a heaven-grade combat technique?”

Jian Yuanbai nodded. “If you practice it tonight and manage to grasp even the basics, you’ll easily win tomorrow’s competition.”

“As for the promise I want from you, don’t worry. It won’t be anything that goes against your morals or principles.”

“You don’t have to feel pressured. I just think you’re quite likable. Honestly, if I weren’t afraid of losing too much, I’d teach you for free.”

Mu Jingzhuo gazed at him deeply, trying to see through this man’s true intentions.

Yet, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t understand why a Nascent Soul cultivator would be willing to hand over a heaven-grade combat technique so casually.

A technique that countless people would fight to the death for… In this man’s mouth, it sounded as worthless as cabbage on the roadside.

“Alright, I’ll agree,” Mu Jingzhuo said, though he still felt uneasy.

Jian Yuanbai’s true intention for making this deal was simple.

If Mu Jingzhuo needed to “deliver Long Aotian lines” in the future, this promise could come in handy.

As for teaching him Ghostly Phantom Step, it was because Jian Yuanbai had already seen through the scheme.

That man who “accidentally” bumped into Mu Jingzhuo was clearly targeting him.

The competition was only just announced, and the prize just so happened to be exactly what Mu Jingzhuo needed.

Too many coincidences meant one thing: It was a setup.

Since Mu Jingzhuo was already being dragged into this, Jian Yuanbai decided to take this opportunity to give his “Little Spoon” some proper training.

After Mu Jingzhuo agreed, Jian Yuanbai casually pulled out an ancient, tattered book from who-knows-where and tossed it to him.

“Read it. Return it after you’ve learned it.”

Mu Jingzhuo held the ancient book in his hands and stared at it in disbelief.

“Senior… Normally, in situations like this, you’d give me a copied version, right?”

There was a special type of scroll that could copy combat techniques and cultivation methods. Once read, the scroll would self-destruct.

Even the copy of a heaven-grade combat technique was worth an astronomical price.

Any sect that possessed a heaven-grade technique would lock the original in the deepest, most heavily guarded vault.

Yet this man…

Just… threw the original copy to him like trash?

Was he not afraid that Mu Jingzhuo would secretly sell it or keep it for himself?

Jian Yuanbai lazily replied, “What does it matter? You can’t defeat me or escape with it anyway.”

Mu Jingzhuo: “…”

After a moment of silence, Mu Jingzhuo couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not some rogue cultivator, are you?”

Jian Yuanbai let out a long sigh, “I was once an outer disciple of a hidden ancient family. I stole this ancient book by accident and have been hunted down ever since. That’s why I fled to the Asriga Empire to hide my identity.”

Mu Jingzhuo gave him a fake smile.

Keep lying. Keep making things up.

Under the moonlit bamboo forest, stars twinkled in the sky.

Jian Yuanbai wielded a ten-meter-long bamboo pole and swung it fiercely at Mu Jingzhuo’s feet.

Mu Jingzhuo’s expression remained steady as he stepped through the shadows, using strange and unpredictable footwork to dodge the strikes and approach the bamboo shoot that marked the finish line.

However, just as he was about to reach the bamboo shoot, the pole struck his ankle at lightning speed.

Snap!

With a crisp sound, the young boy stumbled and fell flat on his face.

Mu Jingzhuo gritted his teeth and immediately said, “Again.”

But before he could get up, Jian Yuanbai retracted the bamboo pole and flashed to his side, pinching the mud-streaked face of the little disciple.

“That’s enough,” Jian Yuanbai said. “Against those below Foundation Establishment, this is more than enough to guarantee your victory tomorrow.”

“If you keep falling like this, you’ll be covered in injuries before the competition even starts.”

Mu Jingzhuo shook his head, “This little injury is nothing.”

However, Jian Yuanbai ignored him and directly picked him up by the waist, walking out of the bamboo forest.

“Listen to me,” he said firmly.

In Jian Yuanbai’s mind, the system chimed in:

“You’re spoiling your disciple. He’s destined to be the Long Aotian. This kind of minor injury is nothing.”

Jian Yuanbai replied coldly, “I’m not his master right now. He’s just a fifteen-year-old kid. How can I let him keep falling like that? Are you heartless, system?”

The system: “…”

“Fine, spoil him all you want.”

The little disciple in his arms struggled with all his might, his dirt-covered face turning red with embarrassment.

“Put me down! Don’t carry me like this!”

Not only did Jian Yuanbai refuse to let go, but he tightened his grip, “Stop moving, or you’ll fall.”

“If you weren’t already injured, I would’ve just carried you over my shoulder. Do you think I enjoy holding you like this?”

Mu Jingzhuo gritted his teeth and let out a huff. He deliberately shifted heavily in the man’s arms but didn’t demand to be put down.

After a moment of silence, as he leaned against the tall man’s chest, Mu Jingzhuo awkwardly muttered, “No matter who you are, if you really are being hunted, I’ll help you.”

“You don’t need to use that excuse to make me promise. I’ll protect you anyway.”

Though Mu Jingzhuo never admitted it, from the very beginning, he never felt afraid of this Nascent Soul cultivator. Instead, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Despite the vast gap between their cultivation levels, the man never showed any arrogance and often teased him. Although Mu Jingzhuo would get angry, deep down, he already considered Jian Yuanbai a friend.

Now, with the man casually offering him a heaven-grade combat technique, Mu Jingzhuo couldn’t help but feel touched.

Jian Yuanbai was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter, startling the birds in the bamboo forest.

“You’re really adorable,” he said with a smile.

“Wait until you reach the Golden Core stage before talking about protecting me.”

Mu Jingzhuo’s face instantly darkened. He let out a cold snort, “You’re so annoying.”

After a brief silence, a determined voice rang out, “I’ll reach the Golden Core stage. And not just Golden Core—I’ll stand by your side… and surpass you.”

Jian Yuanbai could hear the sincerity in his tone and didn’t tease him this time. Instead, he replied seriously, “Alright, I’ll wait for that day.”

By the time they returned to the inn, it was already midnight.

Jian Yuanbai applied medicine to the bruises on Mu Jingzhuo’s body and patted his head, “Get some rest. Don’t be nervous.”

Mu Jingzhuo nodded, “You too, Senior.”

Whenever this man wasn’t teasing him, Mu Jingzhuo would obediently call him “Senior.” But the moment he was teased, he’d forget that the person before him was an untouchable Nascent Soul cultivator.

Jian Yuanbai could go several days without sleep, but he still returned to his room to rest. However, when the time was right, he went to wake up the dazed and half-asleep Mu Jingzhuo.

In his sleepy state, Mu Jingzhuo was surprisingly obedient, doing whatever he was told. He yawned as he followed Jian Yuanbai, his round eyes welling up with tears from drowsiness.

Seeing the little disciple like this, Jian Yuanbai suddenly thought of the illustrations in the Body Refinement Manual, depicting muscular warriors with bulging muscles.

His mind began wandering…

Should I buy a few recording crystals to capture this soft and adorable “Little Spoon” in different outfits as a keepsake?

His gaze shifted to the small, delicate figure beside him.

Hmm… A dress isn’t out of the question either, right?

If the condition he had exchanged for wasn’t used before this persona’s “death,” Jian Yuanbai felt an uncontrollable urge to try it out.

I could even give the recordings to Little Spoon’s future Dao companion as a wedding gift…

And play his “growth journey” during the wedding ceremony.

Jian Yuanbai’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Mu Jingzhuo suddenly sneezed and rubbed his delicate nose. He was still half-asleep and completely unaware that someone beside him was already plotting his future “blackmail material.”

When they arrived at the competition venue, a long line had already formed. Those who wished to participate would draw lots, and two people with matching numbers would face off against each other.

Once all the lots were drawn, latecomers would no longer be able to join.

Since the competition was announced suddenly and Guyue City was vast, many Qi Refinement cultivators hadn’t arrived in time. At a glance, there were only about thirty participants.

The matches would be quick, likely concluding within half a day.

The City Lord of Guyue City did not make an appearance. Instead, a Golden Core stage elder presided over the event.

After drawing his lot, Mu Jingzhuo sat quietly on the side, waiting for his turn.

There was no need for cultivation level verification. With a Golden Core cultivator present, anyone attempting to disguise themselves as Qi Refinement would be immediately exposed.

On the stage, the battles were intense. Mu Jingzhuo watched attentively while Jian Yuanbai casually leaned against him from the side.

“Little Spoon, be good. Let me rest on you for a bit.”

Mu Jingzhuo’s attention was instantly pulled away.

“I told you not to call me Little Spoon!” he snapped.

“Yes, yes,” Jian Yuanbai replied lazily, “Only your master can call you that.”

Mu Jingzhuo could tell he wasn’t sincere at all. He resisted the urge to pinch the man but ultimately refrained, knowing it would only make him look childish.

“Why aren’t you watching the matches?” Mu Jingzhuo asked.

Jian Yuanbai chuckled, “I’m a Nascent Soul cultivator, Little Spoon. These Qi Refinement stage battles look like toddlers slapping each other to me.”

Mu Jingzhuo glared at him before suddenly shifting to the side, causing Jian Yuanbai to lose his support and nearly fall.

Ignoring him, Mu Jingzhuo refocused on the competition. Yet, when the man once again leaned against him, he silently allowed it.

His cold and serious little face looked oddly cute.

Mu Jingzhuo’s match was toward the end.

When he finally stepped onto the stage, his opponent was only at the early Qi Refinement stage. With minimal effort, Mu Jingzhuo won the match.

The moment he claimed victory, Mu Jingzhuo instinctively looked toward Jian Yuanbai.

As soon as he raised his head, he met the man’s gaze.

It was as if, despite his casual attitude, Jian Yuanbai had been watching him the entire time.

The feeling came and went quickly.

Jian Yuanbai yawned lazily, “Not bad. Among these toddlers, you hit the hardest.”

Mu Jingzhuo smiled at him and then, without warning, reached out and pinched Jian Yuanbai.

Ow!

His hand throbbed in pain.

The man’s muscles were rock hard, and Mu Jingzhuo couldn’t even make a dent.

Jian Yuanbai pinched the bridge of his nose and couldn’t help but laugh.

He grabbed Mu Jingzhuo’s hand and gently massaged it.

Mu Jingzhuo’s face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly pulled his hand away and muttered, “I won’t bother with you.”

Their relaxed interaction attracted attention from the surrounding cultivators.

Mu Jingzhuo didn’t notice, but Jian Yuanbai didn’t care.

The next round began, and Mu Jingzhuo once again secured an easy victory.

Just as Jian Yuanbai had said, in this kind of competition, Qi Refinement battles didn’t require complex combat techniques. It was all about speed, reaction, and superior cultivation techniques.

Mu Jingzhuo seemed to be in luck.

In three consecutive matches, his opponents were all early or mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. He didn’t even need to use Ghostly Phantom Step to win effortlessly.

As time passed, the final match was between Mu Jingzhuo and another young man.

When the opponent claimed victory in his previous match, the crowd erupted in cheers.

It was then that Mu Jingzhuo learned the other party’s identity—Gu Changyi, the young city lord of Guyue City.

Unexpectedly, Gu Changyi directly called out Mu Jingzhuo’s name.

“I recognize you. You’re Mu Jingzhuo from the Mu family in Taishi City.”

The crowd instantly fell into a stunned silence.

The moment Mu Jingzhuo’s identity was revealed, whispers and curious gazes flooded toward him from all directions.

Gu Changyi smirked, “Let’s see what makes the personal disciple of Wangyun Sect’s sect master so special.”

With the Golden Core elder’s signal, Gu Changyi charged toward Mu Jingzhuo like lightning.

As a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, Gu Changyi had the advantage in both cultivation and speed.

A fierce gust of wind came from Mu Jingzhuo’s side, slashing toward his chest. Mu Jingzhuo stepped back, but he still couldn’t completely dodge it. The palm strike, infused with spiritual energy, brushed past his shoulder, instantly tearing his clothes and leaving a dark bruise on his skin.

Mu Jingzhuo took a deep breath, his eyes burning with determination as he focused on Gu Changyi’s attacks.

He didn’t immediately use Ghostly Phantom Step, choosing instead to test himself against Gu Changyi with his own abilities.

Firstly, Ghostly Phantom Step consumed spiritual energy. If he couldn’t defeat Gu Changyi before his spiritual energy ran out, he would surely lose. Secondly, he wanted to see how far he could go relying solely on himself.

Below the stage, Jian Yuanbai’s face gradually darkened.

The system spoke in his mind:

“After all, he’s the destined protagonist. Mu Jingzhuo is much more ruthless with himself than you are with him.”

The wounds on Mu Jingzhuo’s body multiplied, but his eyes grew brighter.

The Qi Refinement stage was merely the entry point to cultivation. The gap between mid and late Qi Refinement was not impossible to overcome.

Mu Jingzhuo was using Gu Changyi to sharpen his combat skills.

On the other hand, Gu Changyi was growing increasingly agitated. In his mind, this should have been an effortless victory. His frustration turned into fury, and his attacks became more vicious, aiming directly at Mu Jingzhuo’s vital points.

With a layer of spiritual energy coating his fists, Gu Changyi stomped the ground and launched himself toward Mu Jingzhuo’s head with brutal force.

Mu Jingzhuo dared not be careless. He stepped forward with strange, unpredictable footwork, narrowly avoiding the attack.

This time, he no longer hesitated.

Every step he took left a faint, ghostly blue footprint on the ground.

Gu Changyi could see him but couldn’t catch him.

A sharp gust of wind came from behind. Gu Changyi turned around abruptly, but it was too late.

Like a fallen leaf in a storm, he was sent flying.

Before Gu Changyi could get up, Mu Jingzhuo had already appeared before him within a few breaths, his fist aimed directly at his vital point.

“You lost.”

Gu Changyi’s face turned ashen.

Yet, the Golden Core elder who was supposed to announce the result remained silent.

Confused, Mu Jingzhuo looked up—

Suddenly, a powerful force struck his abdomen, sending him staggering backward, blood seeping from the corner of his lips.

Mu Jingzhuo wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at Gu Changyi in disbelief.

“You’ve already reached Foundation Establishment?”

Gu Changyi grinned sinisterly, “Half-step Foundation Establishment. Not quite Foundation, so I’m still eligible to compete.”

In the name of fairness, Gu Changyi had worn a bracelet that suppressed his cultivation.

But now, he removed the suppression and revealed his true strength.

Though technically not Foundation Establishment, with his high-grade cultivation technique, his strength was already comparable to early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Gu Changyi no longer held back. His fists carried lethal force with every strike.

Mu Jingzhuo poured all his remaining spiritual energy into his feet, weaving through the air with Ghostly Phantom Step, dodging Gu Changyi’s attacks.

Gu Changyi stomped the ground, causing cracks to form on the stone platform as he lunged at Mu Jingzhuo like a ferocious tiger.

He sneered, “If you want the Cloud-Stepping Foal, kneel and let me ride you like a horse.

“Then, I might still let you have the prize.”

Mu Jingzhuo tried to dodge, but his spiritual energy had nearly run out.

Gu Changyi saw through this instantly, his face twisting with arrogance as he threw another punch—

Only to hit empty air.

In the final moment, Mu Jingzhuo used the last of his strength to dodge and grabbed Gu Changyi’s wrist, swiftly closing the distance.

With five fingers clenched into a fist, he landed a solid punch on Gu Changyi’s face.

“I concede!”

Before Gu Changyi could retaliate, Mu Jingzhuo coldly declared his surrender, flashing a mocking smile.

“You want to play dirty, huh?”

But in the next moment, Mu Jingzhuo realized—

There was something even dirtier waiting for him.

The Golden Core elder still remained silent.

Gu Changyi’s face contorted with rage as he roared and charged toward Mu Jingzhuo once more.

“Die, you bastard!”

Just as the punch was about to land, a hand effortlessly caught Gu Changyi’s fist.

A tall figure stood in front of Mu Jingzhuo.

Jian Yuanbai.

With a casual toss, Jian Yuanbai threw a lot-drawing token onto the ground.

“Oops, I forgot I drew a lot too.”

“Since this one surrendered, it’s my turn now, right?”

With a gentle twist of Gu Changyi’s wrist, a chilling crack echoed across the stage.

Gu Changyi let out a blood-curdling scream.

The Golden Core elder shot up from his seat, fury blazing in his eyes.

“How dare you!”

He stomped the ground, shattering the tables and chairs beneath him, and struck at Jian Yuanbai.

In the next second—

Jian Yuanbai unleashed the terrifying aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

He grabbed the Golden Core elder’s wrist and slammed him into the ground.

With a deafening boom, dust filled the air as the elder’s body created a human-shaped crater on the stage.

Blood spurted from his mouth as Jian Yuanbai stepped on his back, pinning him to the ground.

With a grin, Jian Yuanbai said, “Oh? So you can talk? I thought you were mute.”

Gu Changyi clutched his broken wrist, his face pale with fear.

“You can’t kill me! My father is the City Lord, a high-level Nascent Soul cultivator. He’ll be here soon!”

Jian Yuanbai nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. That’s why we need to wrap this up quickly.”

“I won’t kill you. But since you wanted Little Spoon to be your horse—

“Now that you’ve lost, isn’t it only fair for you to be the horse?”

Jian Yuanbai’s gaze shifted to the Golden Core elder beneath his foot.

“The old man’s already coughing up blood. How pitiful. Why don’t you let him ride on your back instead?”

Gu Changyi’s face flushed with humiliation.

“Impossible!”

Jian Yuanbai grabbed him by the neck, eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Then… die.”

In front of everyone’s terrified eyes—

The once arrogant Young City Lord was forced to kneel on the ground, with the Golden Core elder awkwardly riding on his back.

Gu Changyi crawled forward, dragging his broken hand in shame.

After crawling a few steps, Gu Changyi gritted his teeth and hissed, “Is this enough?”

Silence.

When he looked up, Mu Jingzhuo and Jian Yuanbai were already gone.

Gu Changyi trembled with rage and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Mu—Jing—Zhuo!”

On the Cloud-Stepping Foal, Mu Jingzhuo glanced at the man behind him.

“This Gu Changyi was clearly targeting me.”

“The competition was held suddenly, the prize was exactly what I needed, and he called out my name right away. He was clearly waiting for me.”

“Why? I’ve never even met him before.”

Before Jian Yuanbai could speak, Mu Jingzhuo figured it out himself.

“It’s because I became the personal disciple of Wangyun Sect’s sect master.”

He turned to look at Jian Yuanbai, his tone certain:

“You knew from the start.”

Jian Yuanbai smiled lazily, “Of course.”

“You wanted to test yourself, so I let you.

“No matter what happens… I’ve got your back.”

High above the clouds, the world was peaceful, and only the wind whispered in their ears.

Jian Yuanbai’s low, gentle voice echoed softly:

“As long as I’m here… nothing will happen to you.”