Those at the level of Spiritual Qi Refinement were still considered to be normal mortals that could not utilize energy yet.
Which was why their methods of attack were simple.
Most fights came down to who had more Spiritual Qi, speed, strength, or mastery over a technique.
When Li Zhanlu raised him from a level 3 Spiritual Qi Refinement to a level 5, his overall abilities were raised a few times.
The killer moves of the Long River Sword Technique, which were hard to use at level 3 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage, became easier to perform.
For a moment, it really felt like he was really bringing a huge sword down from the sky.
"As I thought. Father's condition is because he still isn't used to fighting in the Spiritual Qi Refinement level and his body is still stiff from Closed Cultivation!" Li Hanguang exclaimed happily.
With his father slowly finding his footing in the battle, his attack became stronger as well.
The flaws in the attacks had reduced tremendously, which was good for Li Hanguang as there were fewer things for him to worry about.
Before Li Zhanlu secretly raised his level, more than 90% of the time, Li Hanguang was trying his best to ignore the openings his father was showing.
Now, this had reduced to 70%.
As I thought, Father's swordsmanship is not that bad.
...
Long River Falling Sun!
Ironclad Horses Over Frozen Rivers!
All Rivers Flow to the Sea!
River Sinking Low!
East River Lion's Roar!
Li Zhanlu used various skills to attack his son, yet, he could not believe the boy was still hanging on.
Aren't you a persistent one? Are you not going to use the technique that the Righteous Hero Sword Sage taught to you? Looks like I'll have to increase my power!
Li Zhanlu grunted as he increased his level to level 7 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage.
The ice sword let out a screech as it cut through the air, proof that the sword was traveling at its fastest speed.
Li Hanguang could feel the aura coming from the sword before it reached him and it sent a chill down his spine.
"Amazing!"
A hint of seriousness finally appeared in his eyes as he was starting to feel the excitement.
Honestly, this attack is quite good. At least I don't have to waste a lot of my energy trying to ignore the openings.
If he were to compare this attack to the table tennis game in his past life, then it felt like he was playing with someone who knew how to add spins to the ball instead of those who only knew how to send the ball to the other side of the table.
Meaning it was easier to pretend that he was weaker.
...
Li Zhanlu's attacks were getting stronger and stronger with every strike. Even Li Hanguang couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
However, the fight continued to remain at a stalemate. Li Zhanlu only managed to overpower his son by just a bit at most.
Li Zhanlu even realized that while he was fighting at level 3 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage, Li Hanguang had already been drenched with sweat.
Yet, when he raised his level to level 7, it felt as if the fight got easier for his son, to the point where the latter wasn't even breaking a sweat.
What trickery is this? Impossible! There's no way my son's mastery over the sword is this good! Could it be that the Righteous Hero Sword Sage is hiding somewhere and helping him?
Li Zhanlu had read a lot of ancient scrolls in his past life and one of them told the story of a man possessed by a remnant of an old man's soul.
Whenever the protagonist faced a powerful enemy, the old man would take over his body and exert power that exceeded the man's level.
That's right! The Sword Sage must be helping him!
This conclusion sparked the thirst for winning inside the Vast Ocean Swordmaster.
Yan Chixiao, the Righteous Hero Sword Sage, had been Li Zhanlu's idol ever since he was a little boy. This hero was someone he viewed as his senior in swordsmanship.
Even though he didn't want his son to have anything to do with Yan Chixiao, he deduced that his son was already apprenticing under the Sword Sage.
In the end, Li Zhanlu convinced himself that it might actually be a good thing.
The most important thing that this Swordmaster wanted to do at the moment was to fight Yan Chixiao who he thought was controlling his son's body.
He wanted to see how far apart he was from the Sword Sage that had lived for more than 700 years.
…
With his decision made, Li Zhanlu finally went all in and increased his level even further.
Level 9 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage. He was now just one step away from the Foundation Establishment level.
Of course, the changes wouldn't materialize themselves for Li Hanguang to see.
Even Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators would not have been able to notice the changes.
Yet, Li Zhanlu was sure that Yan Chixiao would notice the difference.
Come! This will be a fight between you and me, Sword Sage! Fighting you as a Level 9 Spiritual Qi Refinement cultivator is the biggest respect I can offer you!
Unexpectedly dense Sword Aura began to gather at the Golden Top.
The strong energy surrounded the top enclosed the space that Li Hanguang and Li Zhanlu were in.
Not a single flake of snow could enter the space.
Li Zhanlu had already thrown away his pride as a father. His eyes were now replaced with hints of respect and surprise towards the Sword Sage.
As expected from the Sword Sage! I can't even see an opening in his moves. It's like he has perfected everything.
Li Zhanlu felt that his own sword technique, which he had deemed perfect, was like child's play to the Sword Sage.
Even though Li Hanguang had only been defending the whole time, Li Zhanlu still felt that he was being forced to a corner.
It was as if his defense was completely impenetrable.
Li Zhanlu even felt that if Yan Chixiao hadn't held back because he was Li Hanguang's father, he would have been defeated right away.
Thirty moves.
Fifty moves.
Ninty moves.
...
The more their swords clashed, the more immersed they became.
To put it in simpler terms, they were drunk from the battle.
All Li Zhanlu could think of was that the goal of his battle with Yan Chixiao was to have a taste of the Sword Sage's mastery over the sword.
As for Li Hanguang, he was starting to feel pressured and began to attack his father's openings.
It wasn't as if he was going straight for those openings, because if he did, he would kill his father right away.
Instead, Li Hanguang only focused on the openings that were inconspicuous or unimportant.
By attacking these openings, he could slowly force his father back, but he would not win in an instant. It was the perfect solution.
As time passed by, even Li Hanguang was drowning in the battle as well and completely forgotten that he was facing his father.
A hundred moves!
Two hundred moves!
Three hundred moves!
...
After clashing their swords five hundred times, things slowly turned against Li Zhanlu.
At first, Li Zhanlu was slightly better than his son. But as the battle went on, Li Hanguang began to overpower his father little by little.
Whenever Li Zhanlu tried to make a move, Li Hanguang would counter it right away.
Even though the latter's speed and strength were inferior compared to the former, his swordplay was able to confuse his father.
Any swing Li Hanguang made was able to send a chill down Li Zhanlu's spine.
Wait... The Vast Ocean Sword Technique can be used like this as well?
It was as if the Vast Ocean Sword Technique that Li Zhanlu had been proud of for the past few hundred years was equivalent to a child waving his stick around.
Even if it was Li Zhanlu's own sword technique, his opponent showed a far deeper understanding of it than himself.
...
As expected of the Sword Sage! He had perfected the way of the sword entirely!