Basic Saber Technique Perfected

However, upon hearing the notification, Jiang Tao stopped.

He had finished training and made his way to the rest area, collapsing into a chair and gasping for air.

After a full five hours of cultivation, he was completely exhausted. Even with breaks in between, it was still draining!

The food from lunch had long since been digested entirely. If they hadn't bought energy drinks midway, they wouldn't have been able to hold out this long.

No sooner had he sat down than Jiang Tao's stomach began to growl, clearly starving.

Seeing that Chen Mo hadn't stopped, Jiang Tao didn't disturb him. Instead, he started packing up their things.

Their belongings were few: a backpack, a jacket, a phone, and a weapon.

He stowed the clothes and phone in the bag, kept the weapon in hand, and walked over to Chen Mo. Stopping about five meters away, he quietly watched Chen Mo practice his saber technique.

Chen Mo's saber strikes were fierce and swift as lightning. Within a three-meter radius around him, Jiang Tao could only see the afterimages of the Wooden Saber.

These afterimages formed an impenetrable wall. Anything that rushed in would be mercilessly shredded.

Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred around Chen Mo, accompanied by a whooshing sound. The afterimages of the Wooden Saber grew denser, completely obscuring Chen Mo's body.

Standing five meters away, Jiang Tao was dumbfounded. A chill breeze swept over him, snapping him back to reality.

Such a phenomenon only appeared when Basic Saber Technique reached perfection.

Back when the homeroom teacher demonstrated it to the class, everyone was stunned without exception.

Now, seeing it again, Jiang Tao was naturally shocked.

He hadn't quite believed that Chen Mo would master Basic Saber Technique before the training time ended, but witnessing it firsthand, he had no choice but to accept it.

"So envious! Mozi had his breakthrough! Why can't I have one too?"

Jiang Tao felt envy in his heart, but no jealousy—only happiness for Chen Mo.

Chen Mo was his good buddy. If Chen Mo became a strong fighter in the future, he could bask in the reflected glory.

Suddenly, the afterimages vanished. Chen Mo sheathed his saber and stood still, slowly exhaling a mouthful of turbid breath.

"Mozi, congratulations! Your Basic Saber Technique is perfect!"

Jiang Tao hurried forward to offer his congratulations and celebrate with Chen Mo.

"Thanks, Taozi!" Chen Mo was about to say something when he heard the notification: training time was over.

So Chen Mo quickly returned the Wooden Saber to the weapon rack, took his jacket and put it on, grabbed his own weapon and backpack, and left the training room with Jiang Tao.

As they stepped out, Jiang Tao said cheerfully:

"Come on, let's eat at that restaurant from lunch! Celebrate your saber technique reaching perfection!"

Chen Mo was about to refuse when he heard Li Donghai's voice from behind:

"Oh ho! Bragging out here without fear of ridicule, and about saber technique perfection at that! Neither of you has even reached Major Accomplishment in your saber skills, and you dare say such things!"

"Jiang Tao, Chen Mo, at least have some sense of dignity when you're out in public! Don't disgrace No. 5 High School!"

Chen Mo and Jiang Tao turned around to see Li Donghai and his two lackeys staring at them with mocking expressions.

Jiang Tao couldn't hold back and shot back immediately: "Where are we bragging? Mozi's saber technique has already reached perfection!"

Chen Mo was about to speak, but Li Donghai cut him off:

"Saber technique perfection? What a joke! Bragging without even drafting a script! Do you think ordinary people like you can achieve perfection in basic martial arts?"

"Even Li Mengxue, our school's top genius, hasn't perfected her basic martial arts. And you have the nerve to claim your saber technique is perfect?"

"I remember last month's test—both of you were still at Minor Accomplishment in your saber skills. Less than a month later, you say it's perfect? Your faces sure are thick."

"Exactly!"

The two lackeys were about to chime in when Chen Mo immediately cut them off:

"None of your damn business! Taozi, let's go!"

With that, Chen Mo grabbed Jiang Tao and started to leave.

He didn't want to argue here—it would only ruin his mood and bring no benefit.

"But—" Jiang Tao was clearly taken aback, but he didn't refuse.

Just as they turned around, Li Donghai barked: "Stop right there!"

Li Donghai hadn't expected Chen Mo to simply walk away. He had wanted to provoke Chen Mo into anger, giving him an excuse to challenge Chen Mo to a duel on the arena and teach him a lesson.

He still remembered the humiliation of being ignored by Chen Mo at noon!

Yet Chen Mo and Jiang Tao acted as if they hadn't heard Li Donghai's words and didn't pause.

"Chen Mo, Jiang Tao, are you two turtles hiding in your shells? Trashing the school's reputation here and thinking you can just slip away?"

"Who are you calling a turtle?"

Hearing this, Chen Mo immediately stopped and stared coldly at Li Donghai.

Provoked again and again, it would be strange if Chen Mo didn't have anger in his heart. Besides, martial training was also about achieving a clear and unobstructed state of mind.

Since the anger had flared up, it was time to settle it.

Li Donghai answered instinctively: "The turtle's calling you a coward!"

"So it's a turtle calling me a coward, but I don't understand turtle-speak. Could you say it in human language, please? Hahaha..."

Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.

"Hahaha..."

Jiang Tao threw his head back and laughed along.

The surrounding crowd joined in the laughter.

Even Li Donghai's two lackeys couldn't help but chuckle, but when they saw Li Donghai's ashen face, they instantly realized—Chen Mo had just insulted their boss. How could they laugh?

So they immediately clamped their hands over their mouths, stifling their laughter, their faces flushed red.

Seeing everyone laughing at him, Li Donghai exploded with rage:

"Chen Mo! You, you piece of trash, how dare you call me a turtle? You're asking for death!"

As he spoke, he swiftly drew his sword and pointed it at Chen Mo:

"Say that again if you've got the guts!"

Before Chen Mo could respond, a mechanical voice rang out:

"Warning: Someone has drawn a weapon in the public area of the martial arts hall, attempting to incite a conflict. Please sheathe your weapon immediately, or it will be considered a provocation against the hall..."

The crowd was startled.

But Chen Mo and Jiang Tao calmly watched Li Donghai.

Li Donghai flinched and hurriedly put his sword away.

The moment the blade slid back into its scabbard, the warning voice ceased.

Li Donghai knew the martial arts hall's rules—if he hadn't sheathed his weapon, he'd be apprehended by the hall's enforcers in the next second.

And then, he wouldn't get out without shedding a layer of skin.

He'd been so furious just now that he'd momentarily forgotten the rules.

Seeing Chen Mo and Jiang Tao grinning at him, Li Donghai's anger flared up again.

It was all Chen Mo's fault. If not for him, he wouldn't have made such a fool of himself.

Yet he overlooked the fact that from start to finish, he had been the one provoking Chen Mo. He had brought it all on himself.

"Chen Mo, if you've got guts, come fight me on the arena!" Afraid Chen Mo might refuse, he lowered his demands. "If you're scared I'll bully you with my higher cultivation, you can pick Zhang He or Yang Hu!"

"No," Chen Mo refused outright.

He wouldn't do something with no benefit to himself.