Chapter 35: Lu Ci Blocks the Ship, the Nature of Ruyi Qi

Zhang Zhiwei leaned against the railing, watching the two men on the verge of a clash. He was in no hurry, confident that even if they turned the world upside down, he could keep the situation under control.

"Those two seem a bit hot-headed. Brother Lu, as the host, aren't you going to stop them?" Zhang Zhiwei asked with a smile, though he thought to himself, *If you don't show off now, later on, they'll only mock you for taking a slap to the face.*

Seeing his two friends at odds, Lu Jin felt troubled. "I've known Lu Ci since we were kids; that guy isn't one to be reasoned with. If I go, I fear it will only escalate the conflict. This requires Brother Lu Ren to step in. His words carry more weight than even Uncle Lu's!"

With that, Lu Jin waved his candied hawthorn stick and shouted, "Brother Lu! Brother Lu! Please, mediate! Everyone is friends here; harmony is the most precious thing!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ren smiled and nodded at Lu Jin. He reached out and firmly pressed down on the shoulder of Lu Ci, who was about to rush forward to fight. "Today is the birthday of Old Master Lu. Give Lu Jin some face and don't cause any trouble!"

Lu Ci looked back at Lu Ren. "Does that mean you want me to just let this go, brother?"

Lu Ren laughed. "We of the Lu family naturally cannot suffer a loss, but there are many ways to get even without resorting to a brawl. Besides, even if we must fight, he has to be the one to strike first. That way, even if things escalate, we remain completely in the right. Never trade a momentary impulse for the recklessness of a brute."

"Then what should I do?" Lu Ci asked eagerly.

Lu Ren smiled. "Why was he in such a rush earlier?"

Lu Ci paused, then immediately realized. "Brother, I understand!"

In the entire Lu family, the person Lu Ci respected most was not his own father, the clan head, nor the elders, but this older brother who was only a few years his senior. His father and the elders were pedantic old men who, whenever trouble arose, would only scold him as a "rebellious son" or "wretched beast," lecturing him with rigid rules.

But his brother was different. Not only was he powerful, but when teaching him, he never adopted the condescending attitude of an elder. Instead, he analyzed the pros and cons in a simple, accessible way. After the analysis, even if Lu Ci was in the wrong and the costs outweighed the gains, his brother would never scold him like their father did. Instead, he would stand by his side and remind him, "We are family, blood kin; we side with our own, not with logic."

This was why Lu Ci respected his brother, and his life was deeply influenced by him. Of course, due to his inherent nature, Lu Ci could never be like Lu Ren; he could only become crazier and more ruthless, arming himself like a "mad dog."

...

At that moment, Lu Ci took a leap and jumped into the central canal. The Ruyi Energy erupted from his feet, and with a burst of hidden force, he stood upon the water, which barely submerged the soles of his shoes.

"That's an incredible technique!"
"True skill!"
"What kind of martial art is this? Walking on water?"

"That must be the Lu family's Ruyi Energy. What a display! Using force to tread on water, making it feel like flat ground... This kid's techniques are truly astonishing!" the crowd whispered.

Standing on the water, Lu Ci looked up at Feng Ping on the ornate boat. "Feng Ping, I'm doing my brother a favor today and won't fight you. Aren't you showing off your fire-control skills on this boat to make some pocket change? I’ll stand right here and see how your boat moves!"

"Lu Ci, are you ever going to let this go?" Feng Ping roared.

Lu Ci held his head high, looking arrogant. "That's right. I don't care what tricks you use—let's see if you can force me to step back!"

"You..." Feng Ping’s temper flared. As a disciple of the Fire Virtue Sect, he was naturally hot-tempered, and he had already been quite restrained today. "Ignore him. Start the boat and ram him."

Beneath Feng Ping was a two-story boat weighing several tons, which surged directly toward Lu Ci.

"This..." Lu Jin ran to Lu Ren’s side. "It’s hard to find leverage on water. Brother Lu, won't there be an accident?"

Lu Ren smiled. "What kind of accident could there be? It’s hard to find leverage on water, but isn't it the same for the boat? Just watch and see!"

...

A shadow spread, covering Lu Ci’s face as the boat charged forward. Lu Ci’s expression remained calm; he channeled his energy and thrust his hands forward.

"Boom!"

The people on the boat swayed from side to side. Lu Ci’s arm muscles bulged as he pressed his five fingers against the bow, not retreating a single inch, forcefully stopping the ship.

At the same time, Zhang Zhiwei noticed whirlpools forming beneath Lu Ci’s feet. Lu Ci was redirecting the incoming force into the water. Meanwhile, the energy erupting from his five fingers formed a web-like shape that caught and cradled the ship.

Witnessing this, Zhang Zhiwei thought to himself, *So, this is the Lu family's Ruyi Energy?* It truly lived up to its name—flexible and versatile—while incorporating techniques similar to Tai Chi’s force-redirection.

Zhang Zhiwei pondered: *If I were to stop the ship, how would I do it?* Lu Ci relied on the flexibility of the Ruyi Energy to weave a net of force to catch the ship, somewhat like Superman lifting a plane. If it were him, he might use pure raw power to smash a hole through it, but using the Golden Light Incantation’s ability to manifest Qi into form would be much simpler than Ruyi Energy.

*In that case, Ruyi Energy seems a bit lackluster. Let me look closer.*

Zhang Zhiwei stared at Lu Ci, observing every detail, every flow of Qi. He soon discovered that the moment Lu Ci activated the Ruyi Energy, his internal organs, meridians, hands, feet, waist, spine, and head all pulsed in rhythmic, collaborative exertion. Moreover, he infused his spirit and intent into it, which was why the force could bend and shift according to his will. One could even say that the "force" of Ruyi Energy was an extension of the user’s own body.

Ruyi Energy could be used for many things: scouting, striking through obstacles, homing attacks, and utilizing every part of the body to strike. The Lu family’s technique had substance, though perhaps not an overwhelming amount. That was Zhang Zhiwei’s conclusion.

The reason for this conclusion was that while the Ruyi Energy's method of force was mysterious and unpredictable, it offered little enhancement to raw power—a fact made clear by how Lu Ci still needed to redirect the force to stop the ship. This meant that those who practiced Ruyi Energy should avoid direct head-on collisions when facing opponents of similar or greater cultivation. Because they might not win in a clash of strength, relying on the flexibility of the energy to win through technique was the true path. In short, Ruyi Energy prioritized skill over power.

Conversely, the "Triple Inversion" practiced by Lu Jin, who was similar to Lu Ci, was a technique that significantly enhanced the user’s physical state; once activated, every aspect of his ability would rise to a new level. If Lu Ci and Lu Jin were to square off, the outcome would be uncertain, but in a direct clash of strength, Lu Ci would surely lose.

Thinking this, Zhang Zhiwei shook his head. He personally preferred head-on collisions and even more so, brute-force endurance. For him, Ruyi Energy held little significance.

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhang Zhiwei looked at Feng Ping on the boat. He was curious to see the Fire Virtue Sect’s "Fire Escape" technique, if he were given the chance.

At that moment, having stopped the boat, Lu Ci grinned. "Feng Ping, is this all the Fire Virtue Sect has? You can only ram people with a boat?"

Zhang Zhiwei: "..."

*It seems I’ll get my chance.*