Li Hanguang knew that all he had at the moment was his good looks. If anyone were to challenge him to a fight, it would just reveal how weak he was.
If his father were to test his strength according to the Golden Core or Nascent Soul techniques, one slash from his old man would slice his head off at the neck.
Fortunately, Li Hanguang came prepared.
"Father, since I'm walking on the Path of Mortal Regression, it'll be hard for me to use magic."
Li Zhanlu glared at his own son and could feel that the young boy was keeping something from him.
But the father quickly shrugged the feeling off as it was normal for a 16-year-old boy to have secrets that they would want to keep from their parents.
"No worries," Li Zhanlu replied calmly. "If you can't use magic, then let me see how much you've grown in terms of swordsmanship."
For every swordsman, their usual training would eventually become a part of themselves.
If Li Hanguang had been in touch with Yan Chixiao, the Righteous Hero Sword Sage, and was taught by him, then his sword style would at least resemble that of the Sword Sage's style.
As one of the strongest swordsmen in all of Eastern Desolate Realm, Li Zhanlu had the confidence he could learn a thing or two about his son from the latter's sword style.
This father was also curious as to how much his son had improved over the past three years, whether he was diligent in his training and if he had been half-assed about it.
...
"I see... Then, Father, can you suppress your cultivation to around level 4 of Spiritual Qi Refinement?" Li Hanguang frowned. "Even though my Path of Mortal Regression is still unstable, I believe I can still use magic up to level 4 of Spiritual Qi Refinement."
Li Hanguang was confident that he could persuade his father.
After Chu Xiaolian suggested the concept of Mortal Regression, Li Hanguang headed to the Secret Library that very night.
He studied all the scrolls, notes, and reviews that the Unyielding Sword Celestial Sect had on the Path of Mortal Regression.
It proved to be futile as there were only a few that had walked the same path. After going through countless books, Li Hanguang could only find a few references to Mortal Regression.
However, those were enough for Li Hanguang to get a grasp on what Mortal Regression was all about.
Ancient texts referred to those who had walked the Path of Mortal Regression as wanderers of the mortal realm.
They could pretend to be a butcher or a drunkard, or even a teacher at a famed school.
The word "pretend" might not be the right word to describe them.
They were people who wanted to experience mortal life. Thus, they tried to blend with these normal people and learned what normal everyday life looked like so that they could appreciate the roots of humanity.
These mortals were people who rarely used magic in their daily lives. By living with these normal people and experiencing a mortal life, their Path of Mortal Regression would shorten.
If one were to use magic during this period, it would affect the state they were in and cause them to steer away from the path.
When that happened, they would have to take months, even years, to return back to their "mortal" state. And when they did, they would never achieve what they could if they had stayed on the path.
That was why Li Hanguang's request was logical. There was no way the Vast Ocean Swordmaster would risk ruining his son's future just so he could test the boy's strength.
...
In the end, Li Zhanlu agreed to the condition just as Li Hanguang expected.
With a wave of his hand, the snow that was descending gathered together in an instant and formed two swords made out of ice in the Swordmaster's hands.
Sunlight refracted through the transparent swords, giving them a glistening effect.
Even though the swords were made out of pure ice, coldness did not leak from them.
"Let's use these swords. Show me how much you've grown."
Li Zhanlu handed one sword to his son and grabbed the other with his right hand, putting his left behind his back. His green robe fluttered along with the wind.
The energy around him quickly toned down until it was around level 3 of Spiritual Qi Refinement.
"I've reduced my power to level 3 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage," Li Zhanlu said calmly as he pointed his sword at his son. "If you can withstand a hundred of my moves, I'll accept the Chu kid as one of ours. If you can't, then he'll have to return to where he came from."
The reason Li Zhanlu decided on such a bet was that he worried Li Hanguang would try to hide the sword style that was taught by Yan Chixiao.
With Chu Xiaolian's future on the line, Li Hanguang had no choice but to use his full power. And when that happened, he would at least show signs of his training with the Righteous Hero Sword Sage.
This was something the Vast Ocean Swordmaster wanted to confirm.
...
Withstand one hundred moves from Father? When his power is limited to level 3 of Spiritual Qi Refinement? Isn't this too easy?
Li Hanguang was dumbfounded.
If the test happened three years ago, Li Hanguang might not have had the confidence to succeed as Li Zhanlu gained his title of Vast Ocean Swordmaster through real battles.
Even if Li Hanguang were to compete with his father who was one stage lower than him, he would still lose.
The reason was due to the fact that the Swordmaster had a better understanding and aptitude for swordsmanship.
In the past, Li Hanguang had challenged his father numerous times and almost all of those attempts ended in his utter defeat.
But now, Li Hanguang wasn't the weak little kid he once was.
He was now a different man because of the Bronze Mark.
His Spiritual Qi, which was formed by the fusion of Five Elements Spiritual Qi, put his aptitude on par with his father.
Three years of torturous training and research had now put him on the same level as his father.
Even his Sword Intent was enough to defeat his father.
Li Hanguang could not think of a scenario where he would lose to his father if they were at the same level.
Of course, it was impossible to lose, but it would be impossible to win as well.
In the end, Li Zhanlu was still Li Hanguang's father and the latter had his pride as a parent, something that the former did not wish to break.
In the end, Li Hanguang decided to make sure their fight came out even so that he wouldn't humiliate his father.
...
With his decision made, Li Hanguang gripped his sword tightly and pointed it at his father.
"Father, I'm ready..."
As soon as the son finished his sentence, he swung his sword and charged at his father by limiting his strength to level 3 of Spiritual Qi Refinement as well.
"Long River Sinking Sun?" Li Zhanlu raised an eyebrow with signs of disappointment.
The Long River Sinking Sun was one of the Unyielding Sword Celestial Sect's Five Gate Strongest Sword Technique Scripture that came with its own unique sword techniques.
Long River Sinking Sun was the most practical skill among the Long River Sword Style.
It was a skill that would create sword illusions by encasing the user's sword with Water Element Spiritual Qi to confuse their enemy.
The real sword would be hidden among the illusions and was able to inflict a mortal strike at any moment.
It was a skill aimed at confusing the enemy before dealing with a deadly strike.
However, Li Zhanlu's expression darkened as he saw his son's Long River Sinking Sun, as the latter's skill had no modification to it.
There weren't any backups or alternatives to the skill that was inching towards the Vast Ocean Swordmaster.
If Li Zhanlu wished for it, he could easily parry the attack by using techniques from level 1 of Spiritual Qi Refinement and counter by stabbing his sword into Li Hanguang's throat.
...
This useless son. What had he been doing for the past three years? How could his swordsmanship fall behind so much?
Li Zhanlu let out a sigh but did not move from his spot. Instead, his arm moved to parry his son's attack.
After that...
There wasn't any 'after that' for Li Zhanlu as Li Hanguang held his sword at his father's throat.
The father took a glance at his son's sword and couldn't believe his eyes.
Who am I? Where am I? What happened?
...
This son of mine must've used some tricks! I was careless!