Chapter 18:Unveiling Depths

Outside the grand pavilion, beneath the open sky of the training ground, Su Chen and Murong Lingyun were sparring again. The bickering about each other's techniques had escalated into a serious exploration of their skills.

"Old Second," Su Chen said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "the names of your techniques sound pretty good, but I wonder if they can match mine in power and finesse."

Murong Lingyun smiled confidently as he shot back, "Senior Brother, while your techniques may be powerful on their own, they lack the refined synergy from Master Wang Chu's guidance. Perhaps I should demonstrate?"

The moment they started comparing techniques seriously, their debate took off. Su Chen boasted about Seed of Catastrophe's destructive power. Murong Lingyun went on about Thunderous Seraph Strike's precision and force.

As their conversation grew more heated and their egos grew larger from all the comparisons, Xiao Chi couldn't help himself but start cheering them on excitedly. "That's right! Show me what you've got!" he said loudly as he watched them spar.

Waving Xiao Chi off with a single word of his hand without looking at him, Murong Lingyun spoke respectfully to Su Chen: "Senior Brother, while your Seed of Catastrophe is impressive against these gatherings," - here he gestured at some random disciples passing by - "my Thunderous Seraph Strike has layers you don't understand yet."

Every movement made by either cultivator was fluid yet purposeful. A casual observer would think that this was just a dance between two powerful martial artists. But no one who saw what was happening would call this graceful or beautiful like a dance.

Seed of Catastrophe unleashed swirling energies that tested Murong Lingyun's agility and defenses; Thunderous Seraph Strike responded with precise strikes filled with thunderclaps that threatened to shatter bones.

As loud as their strikes were, the only thing Xiao Chi heard in his head was admiration. He couldn't take his eyes off of them. How could he when they both moved with such purpose and power? One masterful martial skill after another, one devastating counterattack followed by an awe-inspiring defense.

The sour mood from the conversation continued to escalate throughout the spar. The bickering about which technique was better - or worse - was forgotten long ago. All that remained was a competition between two men who refused to back down. No matter how strong or weak their opponents were, Su Chen and Murong Lingyun's eyes never looked away from each other.

Normally, Wang Chu would intervene at this point to remind everyone to calm down before someone gets hurt. But seeing how their skills seemed to grow with every strike and every dodge, he stayed silent for now and let them continue fighting on their own.

Every clash of fists and every block sent sparks flying outwards in all directions. They struck each other hard enough to crack bones but stopped short of actually breaking anything... though no one watching thought that they would avoid it intentionally if it came down to it.

Su Chen's Seed of Catastrophe probed Murong Lingyun's adaptability and strength while Thunderous Seraph Strike guided by Severing Light found openings in Su Chen's defenses.

The disciples who normally trained around these two had long since fled the area once they realized what was happening nearby… but curiosity brought others running over instead. Though most people knew that asking them nicely would get them to stop hitting each other eventually, for those like Wang Chu who understood what was happening here, this wasn't just a fight anymore. It was something else entirely.

Both disciples paused, chests heaving with exertion but spirits aflame. Su Chen offered Murong Lingyun a genuine smile, praising his growth and skill.

"Old Second," Su Chen grinned. "Your Thunderous Seraph Strike has indeed evolved. I need to step up my game if I don't want to be left behind."

Murong Lingyun's frustration slowly boiled beneath the surface as Su Chen complimented him. He prided himself on being one of the most analytically gifted and astute individuals among their peers. But when it came to comparing techniques with Su Chen, it felt like his IQ suddenly took a plunge.

Clamping down on his sigh, Murong Lingyun smiled back at his senior brother, forcing out measured politeness through gritted teeth. "Thank you, Senior Brother," he replied coolly, though irritation and determination churned in the pit of his stomach. "Your challenges forced me to refine my techniques."

In another corner of the training ground stood Xiao Chi — who had been cheering enthusiastically moments ago — watching the exchange between his senior brothers with a furrowed brow as tension filled the air around them. He knew that they were both competitive people, but there was an edge to their current interaction that hinted at deeper undercurrents.

Su Chen caught sight of frustration in Murong Lingyun's eyes despite his polite demeanor and tilted his head with a playful grin. "You know Old Second," he said teasingly, "I can see gears turning every time we spar. Are you trying to solve a puzzle?"

Murong Lingyun's smile tightened for just a moment; all it took was one word from Su Chen before his competitive fire ignited again."Indeed Senior Brother," he replied evenly as the desire for victory burned fiercely within him. "It's fascinating how different techniques can mirror one's approach to combat and strategy."

They fell into an analytical discussion about martial theory and combat applications, neither willing to back down nor reveal their true intentions for wanting to best the other. And although they kept the conversation scholarly, each word held an unspoken challenge.

As they resumed their sparring, the air became hot and heavy with intensity. Murong Lingyun moved with newfound precision, his strikes calculated in an attempt to exploit Su Chen's openings. But Su Chen countered with swift feints and unpredictable maneuvers meant to test his reactions.

During a particularly swift exchange, Murong Lingyun found himself momentarily off balance after a series of intricate feints from Su Chen. In that split-second realization, he was struck by a surge of frustration.

And in that moment, frustration transformed into fierce determination. With a resounding shout and insights gained from his mastery of Severing Light, Murong Lingyun infused his Thunderous Seraph Strike with a calculated ferocity that even took Su Chen aback.

The two practitioners went at it harder than ever before as they adjusted to each other's new levels of aggression. The training ground echoed with the sounds of their blows clashing together — a testament to the growth and fire between them that refused to be extinguished.

Xiao Chi sensed something had changed in their energy but couldn't contain his excitement; cheering at the top of his lungs as he watched them battle it out. The other disciples stood by in awe while bewilderment danced across their faces.

And as they held their poses, eyes locked in a triumphant glare, both of them could only nod at each other's progress. The frustration that Murong Lingyun had experienced earlier motivated him to climb over the precipice and continue growing; while Su Chen's grin showed how much he appreciated his brother's abilities.

"Second Brother," Su Chen broke the silence first with a genuine smile. "You've grown on me. Your Thunderous Seraph Strike is out of this world."

Wiping some sweat off his forehead but wearing a satisfied look, Murong Lingyun nodded still catching his breath. "Thank you… Senior Brother… I wouldn't have been able to do it without you."

Su Chen wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze still fixed on Murong Lingyun. "Speaking of progress," Su Chen began, a playful glint returning to his eyes, "would you like to see the second layer of Seed of Catastrophe in action?"

Murong Lingyun, still catching his breath but intrigued by the offer, nodded. "Of course, Senior Brother. Show me what lies beyond the Trap of Vendor."

With a nod, Su Chen stepped back, his focus shifting inward as he channeled his Qi with precision. The air around him seemed to shimmer faintly as he tapped into the deeper layers of his technique. "Behold," Su Chen announced, "Flash Bondage!"

As if on cue, a series of intricate symbols manifested around Su Chen's body, glowing with a faint ethereal light. With a swift movement, Su Chen marked an imaginary target, a burst of energy radiating from his palm to imprint the mark.

"Watch closely," Su Chen instructed, a confident smile playing on his lips. With a sudden surge of speed, Su Chen vanished from his spot, leaving behind an afterimage that dissipated moments later.

Murong Lingyun's eyes widened in surprise as Su Chen reappeared in the exact spot he had marked, the transition was seamless and almost instantaneous. "Incredible," Murong Lingyun murmured, his analytical mind already deconstructing the mechanics of Su Chen's technique.

"The Flash Bondage allows me to mark a target and then blink to that spot at will," Su Chen explained his tone a mix of pride and eagerness to share his progress. "It's not just about speed but also strategic positioning in combat."

As the intense sparring session came to an end, both Su Chen and Murong Lingyun took a moment to catch their breaths, their gazes reflecting mutual respect and admiration. Xiao Chi, still bubbling with excitement, clapped enthusiastically, his youthful energy undiminished by the intense display of martial prowess.

As they settled down, Old Ji, who had been observing quietly, approached Su Chen with a curious expression. "Young master," he addressed Su Chen respectfully, "is the Seed of Catastrophe technique above our clan's martial arts fighting technique?"

Su Chen paused for a moment, considering the question carefully before responding, "Yes, Old Ji. The Seed of Catastrophe transcends our clan's traditional techniques in terms of versatility and power." He looked around at the serene training ground, a contemplative expression on his face. "In fact, I am considering abandoning our clan's foundation art and focusing solely on cultivating the Obsidian Ashes technique that Master bestowed upon me."

Old Ji's eyes widened slightly at Su Chen's declaration, a mixture of surprise and understanding crossing his features. He had seen Su Chen's progress firsthand and recognized the potential within the Seed of Catastrophe technique. "Young master," Old Ji began again, "such a decision requires careful consideration. Are you certain this is the path you wish to take?"

Su Chen nodded firmly, his resolve shining through his eyes. "I am, Old Ji. The teachings from Master have opened my eyes to new possibilities. The Obsidian Ashes technique resonates with me in ways I cannot fully explain." He turned to Murong Lingyun, a grateful smile on his face. "And sparring with Old Second has only reinforced my conviction, I can breakthrough now to Nascent Soul.