Re-birth: The Beginning after the End-Chapter 250: A SPARRING SESSION

The next morning, Li Hua sat across from her eldest brother both enjoying their congee. Li Wei carefully weighed the four scrolls she had presented him, his hands instinctively assessing their quality and density with expertise born of countless hours in the sect library.

"I've... I've never seen formation scrolls of this thickness before," he whispered, voice barely audible as his gaze lifted from the richly detailed parchment to meet her eyes. His composure momentarily slipped, revealing genuine awe at the treasure she had casually presented during their morning meal.

Li Hua smiled and nodded, keeping her expression appropriately modest while inwardly thinking, Of course you haven't. These scrolls contain comprehensive formation knowledge from basic principles to advanced applications that don't even exist in this world. The complete collection would fill an entire sect library.

"It should take approximately one month to read through them thoroughly, and perhaps six months to truly grasp the foundational concepts," Li Hua explained, deliberately downplaying the revolutionary nature of the material. "They're designed as progressive studies, with each formation building upon principles established in the previous sections."

Her brother nodded slowly, fingers tracing the intricate seal that secured the first scroll—a protective formation she had created specifically to respond to his spiritual signature. "Yes, the craftsmanship alone is impressive, sister. The spiritual density in the parchment itself suggests exceptional preservation properties."

"I also included a supplementary scroll that explains the specialized characters," she added, gesturing toward the smallest of the four scrolls. "Some of the notation systems differ from standard calligraphy—they're more efficient for advanced manipulations."

She carefully omitted mentioning that these specialized characters represented a cultivation language that existed only in her original celestial realm. It was fortunate she had managed to produce five complete copies during her night's work, recognizing the value these fundamentals would have for both her brothers' advancement.

Li Wei reverently returned the scrolls to their silk wrapping, securing them in his personal pocket space with the careful movements of someone handling irreplaceable treasures. "I'll begin studying these tonight," he promised, his dedication already evident in his tone. "Perhaps after my morning training with Elder Bai."

The siblings continued their breakfast, conversation shifting to lighter topics, but Li Hua noticed her brother's gaze occasionally drifting to the space where he had stored the scrolls—his mind clearly already beginning to process the implications of formation theory that transcended this worlds conventional understanding.

She had risen well before dawn that morning, her first task activating the newly created transportation array. With meticulous care, she had sent all the provisions she had prepared for Li Hao—carefully arranged and labeled.

Her second brother must have been awake at that early hour as well, for the moment her deliveries should've materialized through the array, the familiar chime of the transmission resonated through her consciousness

You are the best, the best, the BEST! I love you, love you, LOVE YOU! These ribs alone would be worth a month's cultivation resources! Thank you, thank you! Byeeeee! The exuberant message, so characteristic of Li Hao's unrestrained personality, still echoed pleasantly in her thoughts.

"What do you plan to do until your assessment?" her eldest brother asked, his question gently pulling her attention back to their conversation. He was observant as always, noting her momentary distraction with attentiveness.

Li Hua placed her teacup down. "I'll spend some time in the sect library reviewing theoretical knowledge, then resume my regular training regimen."

"Well, if that's all you're planning," Li Wei suggested with uncharacteristic spontaneity, "perhaps we could arrange a sparring session? No spirit beasts—just direct combat techniques between us."

Li Hua raised an eyebrow, immediately intrigued. "Are we going all out?"

He chuckled softly, glancing briefly around the dining pavilion to ensure other disciples weren't within earshot. "Yes, but with necessary limitations." He leaned closer across the table, voice dropping to a whisper only cultivation-enhanced hearing could detect. "No concealment techniques from either of us. Too many questions would arise."

Li Hua nodded in understanding. "Agreed. Straightforward combat techniques only."

The siblings shared a moment of perfect understanding—both recognizing the delicate balance required.

"The southern combat training should be relatively empty this morning," Li Wei suggested, finishing the last of his congee. "Most disciples are in classes until mid-day."

Li Hua nodded, appreciating her brother's practical strategic thinking. "Perfect. Let's head out now."

As they rose from the breakfast table, Li Hua felt a flutter of genuine excitement coursing through her. Combat training with her brothers had always been a cherished activity, blending familial closeness with skill refinement. Though logically she knew they had sparred merely two months ago before her Forbidden Zone expedition. She still couldn't wait.

The siblings made their way south of the main hall and down the winding stone path. Morning mist still hung in the air, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

Li Hua followed her brother to the most distant training ground—a specialized combat arena enclosed by massive and advanced formation barriers.

Once they entered the arena proper, Li Hua watched with appreciation as her eldest brother began forming characters in the air—complex formation symbols glowing with a blue light as his fingers traced precise patterns. The caliber of his technique had improved significantly during her absence.

Suddenly, Li Hua felt her body grow heavy, as if gravity had intensified around her physical form. The landscape within the formation barrier shimmed and transformed, the standard stone-tiled combat floor becoming an open field of swaying grass. Environmental conditions shifted as well—wind began to swirl through the space, and light rain commenced falling from clouds overhead.

"A weather manipulation formation," she noted with genuine admiration.

She looked up at Li Wei, who now stood across the manufactured battlefield, raindrops gathering on his robes without seeming to dampen the fabric—another sign of advanced essence control.

"Sister, I've missed sparring with you!" he called out, his voice carrying easily despite the whistling wind. "While you were gone, I fought many disciples and though I encountered unique fighting styles, none possessed strength nor skill comparable to you or Hao'er. It proved quite disappointing."

Li Hua chuckled, recognizing the transformation that always occurred when her scholarly brother entered combat mode. The normally reserved, contemplative Li Wei disappeared during training sessions, replaced by a confident, almost cocky cultivator who relished in good-natured taunting. This split personality had always fascinated her—as if combat accessed an entirely different aspect of him.

"I feel sorry for you, Eldest Brother," she called back with a matching confidence, subtly adjusting her stance to accommodate the increased gravitational pressure. "You must have been terribly bored without proper challenges. Allow me to remedy that situation."

Her brother threw his head back in uncharacteristic abandon, his composure giving way to genuine delight as his laughter echoed across the training grounds

"Let's make this interesting," Li Hua suggested as she settled into a fighting stance. "No spiritual energy or weapon—pure physical combat only. First to three touches wins."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement, setting aside his sword. "Pure martial arts it is."

Li Hua smiled, as she shifted her weight imperceptibly. Without waiting for a formal signal, she exploded into motion—her first step covering nearly five meters.

Her opening strike was a feint—a high kick toward Li Wei's shoulder that drew his guard upward. When he moved to block, she instantly dropped to a crouch, sweeping her leg in a perfect arc that nearly caught his ankle. Her brother jumped to avoid the sweep, exactly as she anticipated. The moment his feet left the ground, she pivoted with machine-like precision, her palm shooting upward toward his now-committed midsection.

Li Wei managed to twist away from the direct impact, but Li Hua's fingertips brushed his side—a clear first touch.

"One-zero," she announced, already flowing back into her neutral stance with the liquid grace that had once made her the world's most feared assassin.

Her brother's eyes narrowed with assessment. "Impressive speed as always. Even without utilizing your celestial diamond earrings." Without further comment, he launched his own attack—a precise combination of punches targeting her solar plexus.

Li Hua recognized the pattern immediately—an advanced close combat sequence, executed with perfection. Rather than blocking directly, she swayed like a reed in wind, allowing each strike to miss by mere millimeters.

As Li Wei completed his sequence with a committed straight punch, Li Hua finally moved to counter. She stepped inside his guard, deliberately leaving an opening that baited him into extending further. When he adjusted his attack to exploit this apparent vulnerability, she trapped his wrist, using his forward momentum against him. With surgical precision, she executed a joint manipulation that forced him to either break stance or risk a dislocated elbow.

Li Wei chose to break form, rolling away from the pressure point. As he tumbled, Li Hua lightly tapped his shoulder.

"Two-zero," she noted, her breathing perfectly controlled despite the exertion. "Your form is excellent, but too predictable."

A slight smile crossed her brother's face as he rose from his defensive roll. "Then perhaps it's time to improvise." Without warning, he charged directly at her—an uncharacteristically aggressive approach that momentarily caught her off guard.