Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8744: The competition (1)

Unbeknownst to Hao Tong, the elder's visit was solely due to directives from the sect. Every word spoken, he was merely conveying the sect's orders. This interaction could be viewed as a rudimentary form of psychological counseling, perfectly suited for cultivators who possessed resilient minds and required minimal external reassurance.

Of course, Hao Tong remained unaware of these underlying motives. He was engrossed in practicing the techniques he had grasped, feeling increasingly confident that he was on the correct path. In the cultivation world, confronting an enemy typically meant ending their life. A sparring session amongst fellow disciples was merely a competition, a far cry from the brutal reality of actual combat.

Battlefields offered no quarter, no room for moral deliberations. The sole objective was the enemy's demise. If they did not perish, one's own life could be forfeit. To achieve this, cultivators were expected to employ every available means, not solely limiting themselves to the prescribed forms.

Hao Tong had previously found himself at an impasse. However, a recent experience within a perilous illusion had been an invaluable lesson. Facing an opponent of similar strength, he had witnessed his adversary swiftly dispatch him with a few cunning maneuvers. He understood with chilling clarity that encountering such an opponent on a true battlefield would spell his doom.

While Hao Tong was absorbed in his practice, a youthful voice suddenly inquired, "Senior Brother Hao, what are you doing? Why aren't you practicing the Eight Forms of Bloody Battle today?" The voice, brimming with an innocent curiosity, hinted at a familiarity with Hao Tong.

Hao Tong's concentration snapped. He turned, a smile gracing his lips as he recognized the speaker. "Ah, it's Junior Brother Sun. It's nothing, I was just training. One must not abandon old skills while learning new ones." With that, he dropped his defensive posture, ceasing his movements.

It was crucial to understand that both the [Bloody Battle Eight Forms] and the techniques of the Giant Demon Sect, like many others, possessed distinct stances. These stances formed the bedrock of all martial techniques. For instance, the [Bloody Battle Eight Forms] incorporated a set of eight fundamental stances, a relatively simple framework. Some techniques, conversely, could involve dozens of intricate stances.

These stances served as the foundation for a particular cultivation technique. Mastery of them would allow one to learn the technique with significantly greater efficiency. Conversely, neglecting their practice would render even the most sophisticated technique ultimately superficial, mere pretense.

While the uninitiated might overlook their significance, fighting stances held immense importance. Consider traditional Chinese Kung Fu: Xing Yi Quan's fundamental stances include three basic postures, while Wing Chun's core is built upon the 'two-fist' stance. These resemble qi gong's pole-standing exercises. Similarly, in modern boxing, a fighter's stance is paramount. If a boxer's stance is compromised in combat, their ability to defend or launch an effective counter-attack is severely hampered, often leading to inevitable defeat. This underscores the critical role of posture.

Within the realm of cultivation, stances were equally vital. Every cultivation technique possessed its unique set of stances, making them the primary focus for any practitioner. Whether initiating or concluding a movement, it had to be executed through a stance. This iterative practice ingrained the form, transforming it into an instinctive reflex. Consequently, when confronting an adversary, one's stance would remain stable and unyielding, a crucial advantage.

Observing Hao Tong relax his stance, Junior Brother Sun, whose full name was Sun Buyu, inquired further, "Senior Brother Hao, why are you practicing your Giant Demon Cultivation Technique here today?" Sun Buyu, barely in his twenties, was a former deathsworn from a lesser sect who had only recently joined as an outer disciple. He, too, practiced the Blood Slaughter Sect's techniques and often trained alongside Hao Tong, their camaraderie forged through shared practice, amounting to a genuine friendship.

Hao Tong looked at Sun Buyu with a smile, stating, "Junior Brother Sun, as you know, I requested to enter the illusory realm yesterday and received approval. I did venture in, but my stay was brief. I cannot disclose the specifics of my time there, but I can tell you that I experienced actual combat. During that engagement, I realized a past misjudgment. Focusing solely on the eight Bloody Fighting Styles was insufficient; I should have incorporated additional techniques. This would have allowed for enhancements to the Bloody Fighting Styles' power. Naturally, this requires achieving extreme proficiency in the eight Bloody Fighting Styles first. Otherwise, such modifications are impossible."

Sun Buyu was taken aback by Hao Tong's words. He then inquired with curiosity, "Oh, really? I never considered that. Senior Brother Hao, how about we spar? I wish to observe the situation you describe." Sun Buyu possessed a keen desire for knowledge and was deeply passionate about martial arts. Hearing Hao Tong's account, he was naturally eager to test the outcome.

"Certainly, come and try," Hao Tong replied with a grin. He then stepped aside, adopting a combat stance and raising the long blade in his hand. Sun Buyu promptly drew his Blood Blade, mirroring Hao Tong's readiness. They initiated their moves almost simultaneously. Sun Buyu's technique was 'River of Blood,' while Hao Tong's was still 'Rain of Blood.'

The Eight Bloody Fighting Styles, while a cohesive martial art, did not mandate a specific opening move. 'River of Blood' or 'Blood Rain and Foul Wind' could equally serve as the initial strike. Individual preference dictated the starting move. 'River of Blood' emphasizes the concept of 'rush,' its momentum crucial, akin to a great river surging forward, unstoppable.

Conversely, the 'Bloody Rain' technique functions primarily as a feint, a blend of reality and illusion. It transforms saber light into a veritable rain of blood, each droplet a shard of light, making it impossible to discern the genuine strikes from the deceptive ones. It is a state of illusory reality, with substance within the illusion and an illusory quality within the substance—a seamless interweaving of the real and the fake.

Typically, individuals who favor 'Blood River' as their opening gesture prioritize momentum. Their fighting style is characterized by brute force and immense attack power. In contrast, those employing 'Blood Rain' focus on adaptability. While their offensive power might be less potent, their maneuvers are far more intricate and varied.

Hao Tong favored 'Bloody Storm' as his initial stance, placing greater emphasis on the variations within the Eight Bloody Combat Styles. Though seemingly straightforward, the true strength of this cultivation technique lies in its adaptability throughout one's life. Within its simplicity lie infinite variations, and within those variations, a return to simplicity. It is said that this technique has been refined over countless generations by the ancestors of the Blood Slaughter Sect throughout millennia. Countless tempering processes have culminated in this extraordinary saber technique.

However, Sun Buyu preferred 'Blood Flowing Like a River' as his starting stance. The eight forms he employed were distinctly different from those used by the judges. To an observer, it appeared as though they were practicing two separate sets of blade techniques. Only those within the Blood Slaughter Sect could instantly recognize them as originating from the same martial art. Hao Tong's blade work was ever-changing and unpredictable, whereas Sun Buyu's was direct and unadorned, seemingly limited to a few moves. Yet, when these few moves were executed, his presence was formidable, evoking the intensity of facing an opponent on the battlefield, lending an air of profound tragedy.

The moment their combat commenced, Sun Buyu's blade style immediately manifested. Despite its straightforward nature, it was imbued with killing intent, perfectly aligning with the blade intent of the Bloody Fighting Eight Strikes. In terms of pure technique, he held an advantage over Hao Tong, a scenario Hao Tong had anticipated. Despite his youth, Sun Buyu's blade technique was exceptionally refined. At Hao Tong's current level, he could not hope to gain an upper hand against Sun Buyu.

Yet, Hao Tong was different today. After a few exchanges with Sun Buyu, his left hand suddenly swelled, and with a mighty gust of wind, he unleashed a punch. The sheer power behind this strike was evident. Surprised, Sun Buyu immediately shifted his stance to block the formidable blow.

Observing Sun Buyu’s reaction, Hao Tong recalled a similar situation from the illusionary reality, a faint smile gracing his lips. He retracted his left fist, and in a flash, his right hand enlarged. With a swift downward slash of his blade, he combined the fierce power of the eight forms of bloody battle with his newfound strength, delivering a truly astonishing attack.

Witnessing this, Sun Buyu let out an angry roar, swiftly altering his saber form from defense to offense. He executed a powerful move known as the floating pestle of blood. The blood sabers clashed with a resounding clang, forcing both combatants back several steps before they came to a halt. It was a draw.

A flicker of surprise crossed Hao Tong’s eyes as he sheathed his blade. He looked at Sun Buyu and sighed, "Junior Brother Sun’s blade technique is truly exceptional. I had thought these two moves would secure my victory, but a draw is all I could manage. Perhaps it is not the technique itself, but rather my own current state."

Sun Buyu, also having put away his blood saber, regarded Hao Tong with astonishment. "Senior Brother, though your saber technique has undergone significant changes, your aura lacked sufficient strength. This time, you integrated the cultivation technique of the Giant Demon Sect into your saber art and nearly defeated me. Even achieving a draw is a monumental step for you. You know, in our past spars, you never managed to best me, not even a draw. This signifies you are on the correct path, though perhaps not the one that resonates most with me. Our understandings of cultivation diverge."

Hao Tong nodded in agreement upon hearing Sun Buyu’s words. "Indeed. I prioritize the transformations within my moves, while you focus on your aura. My prolonged practice of the Giant Demon Technique has influenced me to a degree, hindering the rapid advancement of my blade technique compared to yours. However, this emphasis on changing my moves has undeniably boosted my combat prowess significantly. It appears I have chosen the right direction."