Chapter 7: Cultivating Meridians, Teaching Combat Skills!
In a clearing within the forest, Xiao Xuner and Xiao Ze sat facing each other, their palms pressed tightly together.
A stream of pure Dou Qi flowed from Xiao Ze's body, circulating throughout Xiao Xuner's body through their joined hands.
Xiao Ze's Dou Qi attribute was water, thanks to the techniques Xiao Xuner had taught him, allowing him to successfully transform his Dou Qi.
Although the technique was only of low-grade mystic rank, it was effective in producing a gentle Dou Qi attribute, making it easier to control.
If Xiao Ze had a fire attribute, he wouldn't dare to nourish Xiao Xuner's meridians after advancing to a Dou Shi.
The fiery and violent nature of the fire attribute would cause harm to others' bodies if allowed to enter.
The pale blue water attribute Dou Qi gradually permeated Xiao Xuner's body, causing her entire body to emit a faint blue glow.
Xiao Xuner's originally fair skin, comparable to white jade, appeared even more radiant under the shimmering blue light.
Upon closer observation, one could even see the tiny blood vessels beneath her skin.
Both of them were focused on their cultivation, breathing steadily without distraction.
Time flew by as they practiced, and after an hour, Xiao Ze slowly stopped transmitting Dou Qi, not because he had exhausted his Dou Qi, but because Xiao Xuner's body had reached its limit and couldn't withstand further enhancement.
Even the most potent supplements had their limits, which was the body's own limit. The extent to which one could improve in a short period was limited.
Xiao Ze estimated that he had consumed about thirty percent of his Dou Qi.
Fortunately, the improvement was significant compared to before he became a Nine-Star Dou Zhe.
Previously, as an Eight-Star Dou Zhe, nurturing for an hour would have consumed about seventy percent of his Dou Qi, but now it only consumed about thirty percent.
Not only did Xiao Ze's Dou Qi quantity increase, but its quality also improved significantly.
By nurturing Xiao Xuner, Xiao Ze laid a more robust foundation for her. As her strength increased in the future, the benefits would be tenfold.
This was what contributed to Xiao Ze's current aura, which was tens of times stronger than an ordinary person's!
Moreover, his Dou Qi vortex had an extremely terrifying absorption capacity.
When he blocked the attack from the Elder earlier, he had gathered Dou Qi from his entire body and countered with the Swallow Counterattack technique, allowing him to withstand the attack unscathed.
After that, his Dou Qi vortex rapidly absorbed Dou Qi to replenish himself, enabling him to have enough Dou Qi to resist the pressure from a Great Dou Master's released Dou Qi.
This was still with Xiao Ze's restrained absorption speed. If he exerted himself fully, he could even create a phenomenon where Dou Qi gathered around his body and absorbed into him, something only high-level cultivators could achieve!
Of course, Xiao Ze wouldn't use this unless it was an emergency because the influx of massive Dou Qi into his body was a severe test for his meridians.
The first time he attempted it, he felt aching pain in his meridians from transporting Dou Qi.
Xiao Ze's thoughts flashed as he looked at Xiao Xuner across from him.
Due to his water attribute Dou Qi, Xiao Xuner's body was now covered in a faint layer of mist.
It was as if she had just taken a bath, and the mist had not yet dissipated, giving her a crystalline and youthful appearance.
Xiao Xuner's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
The faint blue glow on her body had already subsided, but as Xiao Xuner opened her eyes, they sparkled even more brilliantly than before.
Describing her as naturally beautiful would be an understatement.
As Xiao Xuner opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Ze gazing at her intently, causing a blush to rise on her cheeks.
"Xiao Ze gege... Have you seen enough?" Xiao Xuner teased, while simultaneously evaporating the mist on her body with her Dou Qi.
"Of course not. If I could, I would definitely want to keep watching." Xiao Ze chuckled, then stood up and stretched his muscles.
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Xuner's eyes flashed with happiness behind him.
Keep watching? I also want to be with Xiao Ze gege and continue walking together!
"Xiao Ze gege, I still have some questions about the Swallow Counterattack. How can I improve further?" Xiao Xuner asked as she stood up.
She had seen in the Combat Skills Pavilion that Xiao Ze had blocked a blow from a Great Dou Master using the Swallow Counterattack. It played a crucial role in that.
"I remember your proficiency in the Swallow Counterattack is at the intermediate level. There is still some distance from mastery... Show it to me, and I'll see where you need improvement."
Xiao Ze naturally wouldn't refuse.
This was a mystic-ranked combat skill Xiao Xuner had taught him, and now he was teaching her to speed up her mastery of the Swallow Counterattack.
"No problem!" Xiao Xuner nodded lightly, and golden Dou Qi began to appear around her.
Seeing this, Xiao Ze didn't hesitate and struck out with his palm towards Xiao Xuner.
Xiao Ze controlled his strength to about the level of a One-Star Dou Zhe.
However, the gap between a cultivator and a Dou Qi practitioner was significant, so Xiao Xuner didn't dare to underestimate him.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her hands resolutely, meeting Xiao Ze's palm with her own.
Bang! Xiao Ze took a step back, his palm trembling slightly. About thirty percent of his strength was returned to him by Xiao Xuner.
But Xiao Xuner was pushed back even further, her body flying backward like a golden butterfly before landing gracefully twenty to thirty feet away.
Xiao Xuner let out a sigh of relief and quickly returned to Xiao Ze's side.
They had both restrained their strength, so there were no injuries.
"Xiao Ze gege, how was it? Where do I still fall short?" Xiao Xuner asked eagerly.
"I think I understand now," Xiao Ze nodded. "You're doing quite well, but to take it further, you need to understand the essence of the Swallow Counterattack."
"The essence of the Swallow Counterattack?" Xiao Xuner tilted her head, somewhat puzzled.
"The essence of the Swallow Counterattack is essentially using the opponent's force against them. There are two key points to this: borrowing force and striking back."
"You've balanced these two aspects quite well, but have you ever thought about why you can only return about thirty percent of the force in the end?"
Xiao Xuner's eyes lit up with understanding. "Xiao Ze gege means that I should make a more appropriate adjustment between borrowing force and striking back?"
"Exactly! When facing opponents with similar or weaker strength, a balanced borrowing and striking back will allow you to perfectly borrow their force to counter them, as their strength doesn't exceed the limit of what you borrowed."
"But if facing someone much stronger than you, whose strength exceeds the limit of what you borrowed, not only will you get injured, but the force of the counterattack will also be weakened!"
Xiao Ze continued, giving an example, "Like when I faced the Elder earlier. I knew he was a Great Dou Master, and there was a big gap between us in terms of strength."
"Even a casual strike from him wouldn't be something I could contend with."
"So, I used the Swallow Counterattack, maximizing the borrowing technique to the extreme without even considering a counterattack."
"As a result, I effortlessly took his blow without a scratch."
"If you can perfectly balance the borrowing and striking aspects, then you've mastered the Swallow Counterattack."
Xiao Xuner's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Watching Xiao Ze impart his experience with fervor, Xiao Xuner couldn't help but admire him.
In Xiao Xuner's eyes, Xiao Ze was like an omnipotent being.
Many problems were easily solved in front of Xiao Ze.
It was precisely because of Xiao Ze's extraordinary talent that he could impress Xiao Xuner, a member of an ancient clan.
"Do you understand?" Xiao Ze's warm voice rang out, and Xiao Xuner nodded vigorously.
"I understand. I need to grasp the balance between them!"
"The gap between understanding and application is still quite large. Next, let me be your sparring partner, and let's strive to elevate your skill to mastery as soon as possible."
Soon, two figures were seen darting and weaving among the trees.
After each collision, they would quickly separate, pause briefly, then charge at each other again.
...
(End of this chapter)