Characteristics

"Good, good, good!"

Jia Yan laughed in extreme anger and shouted loudly.

He truly did not believe that someone who had only just become a martial artist could turn the world upside down.

Liu Mingxuan quietly watched everything unfold without saying a word.

"I'm a Mid-level General. It would be beneath me to fight you. Chen Lian, test this fellow's abilities. I want to see where he gets the confidence to accept the assessment!"

The young man who had brought Lin Yan over earlier raised his brows. After thinking it over, he still stood up rather than refusing.

Although he also felt Captain Liu's approach was somewhat childish, he was curious nonetheless and wanted to see what Lin Yan was capable of.

"But Lin Yan hasn't collected his combat equipment yet."

Chen Lian looked troubled. He was only an Advanced Warrior himself and could not control his strength that precisely. If he seriously injured Lin Yan, that would be trouble.

"Use mine."

Liu Mingxuan spoke indifferently. He wore a black military uniform rather than combat gear, but his combat suit and weapons were currently in the base.

Jia Yan said nothing. He knew Liu Mingxuan's equipment was from the seventh series, but that was just right—it would not truly injure Lin Yan.

As long as Lin Yan was driven away, that would be enough.

He hated these rookie soldiers who did not know their place.

The moment they achieved the slightest success, they acted as though they did not even know who the King of Heaven was.

In his eyes, Liu Mingxuan had lent Lin Yan his equipment because he was worried Lin Yan was too weak and might get hurt.

One of the martial artists seated nearby shrugged and went to retrieve Liu Mingxuan's equipment.

They rarely got to watch such excitement in the military.

The two left the conference room and entered a spacious, empty room next door.

The others stood to the side and watched.

After putting on the combat suit, Lin Yan looked at the Heavenly Gang Battle Sword in his hand, his heart burning with anticipation.

Skill Inheritance:

1. Sword Skill: All Things Severed (A-rank) (Fourth Layer). Skill owner: Liu Mingxuan. Requires 80 Soul Power to learn.

"Learn."

He had not expected this skill to fall into his hands so quickly.

After deducting 80 Soul Power, Sword Skill: All Things Severed appeared in his skill list. This sword technique was exceptionally domineering and possessed extremely destructive power.

Lin Yan already understood it completely.

"What a pity I can't use it."

He felt somewhat regretful.

Unlike Thunderclap Sword, he had no record of learning All Things Severed. If he used it casually, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Moreover, D-rank sword techniques were merely ordinary. Their manuals were generally widespread, so even without a record of learning one, it would not mean much. But A-rank was already considered an advanced sword technique, and major factions controlled such techniques quite strictly.

He could only treat it as a trump card to strengthen his foundation.

You have mastered two sword techniques.

Consume 200 Soul Power to learn Sword Mastery (Passive) (S-rank). Upon mastering sword techniques, sword technique "traits" will be automatically generated. "Traits" may be used universally. Learn?

A prompt from the system appeared.

Lin Yan blinked. He did not quite understand what it meant, but an S-rank passive skill was surely worth 200 Soul Power.

"Yes."

You have mastered Sword Mastery (Passive) (S-rank). Sword Skill: All Things Severed (A-rank) has generated the trait "Sharpness." Thunderclap Sword (D-rank) has generated the trait "Thunder."

Lin Yan closed his eyes and felt the sword in his hand. When he opened them again, a smile played at his lips.

"Come on."

Chen Lian looked at the fellow before him, who had only just become a martial artist. He felt as though something had changed about him, yet he could not tell where that change lay.

The blood-red Blood Shadow Battle Saber slid from its sheath in his hand. His gaze sharpened as he searched for openings in Lin Yan.

Shattering Stone, Startling Heaven!

A blood-red saber shadow reflected in Lin Yan's pupils. Its strength, angle, speed, and the Gene Energy contained within it all became data, constantly analyzed in his mind. His dynamic vision reached a terrifying level, and the saber shadow grew slower and slower before his eyes.

The Heavenly Gang Battle Sword thrust out.

Chen Lian only felt a tremendous force strike his weapon, nearly making his grip on the saber unsteady. He muttered inwardly, This guy has some skill.

Liu Mingxuan's brows relaxed. That strike had come at precisely the right moment. After Chen Lian's slash had exhausted its old force but before new force could arise, Lin Yan's sword had struck steadily against the blade, breaking Chen Lian's offensive.

It seemed he was even more outstanding than Liu Mingxuan had expected.

The two shifted and maneuvered around the room, saber and sword clashing. For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

It appeared that Chen Lian had remained on the offensive while Lin Yan could only defend with all his strength. Yet everyone present had keen eyes and could naturally see that, although Chen Lian's attacks were fierce, they had never truly posed a threat to Lin Yan.

"His neural reaction ability is very strong. Although he has not systematically trained his movement technique and his footwork is somewhat unstructured, he can still adjust his position each time so that Chen Lian's attacks cannot achieve their intended effect."

"It isn't merely a matter of neural reaction ability. It would be more accurate to call it combat talent. The way he adjusts his position does not purely rely on reaction. Many times, he predicts Chen Lian's movements before Chen Lian even strikes."

"Where did Captain Liu dig up such a treasure?"

They discussed it among themselves.

Neural reaction ability could improve through cultivating Gene Energy, but combat talent was not so easily developed. Such people possessed special talent in battle, as well as in honing their movement techniques and methods of attack.

Calling him a treasure was no exaggeration.

As Jia Yan watched the battle, his impression of Lin Yan as someone who did not know his place was completely swept away. He put aside his hostility toward him. With such ability, Lin Yan already qualified to join the Special Operations Squad.

Besides, he had Thunderclap Sword, which was close to perfection.

At that moment, he heard a muffled rumble of thunder.

Instinctively, he looked at Liu Mingxuan. This man had risen to prominence through that very sword technique, and his eyes were now bright as he watched the battle with rapt attention.

Power surged through him layer by layer.

Five layers of hidden force merged into the sword.

Both the "Thunder" and "Sharpness" traits were perfectly unleashed in this strike.

As the sword swept out, even the air rumbled like muffled thunder!

Chen Lian also sensed the danger in this strike. He likewise drew upon all his strength, using his most powerful move to determine the victor against Lin Yan.

Bang!

Steel clashed against steel!

Lin Yan was sent flying backward and knocked to the ground, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Chen Lian leaned on his saber, half-bent over as he panted in the center of the room.

After a long while.

He raised his head, his eyes gleaming. Determination showed on his young face. "You haven't started cultivating Gene Energy yet, have you?"

Lin Yan fell silent for a moment. He slowly rose from the ground and answered calmly, "No."

Chen Lian nodded and straightened as well. With his left hand, he lifted his visor. Then he gripped the saber, while the right hand that had been holding it rose into the air, trembling slightly. He bit off his glove and revealed his right hand to everyone.

It was covered in blood.

He smiled faintly and said, "I lost."