What, Is This the Holy Spirit Inheritance?

"What's wrong, kid?"

Looking at Fang Zheng before him, Stone asked curiously. It was no wonder this Grand Knight had such a question. Fang Zheng was giving off an extremely strange impression right now. While he still possessed his unyielding perseverance, one look at his expression showed just how exhausted he was, as if he had not slept at all.

"Nothing, Mentor. I just had a nightmare..."

Hearing Stone's question, Fang Zheng shook his head helplessly.

In truth, it had been far more than just a nightmare.

"A nightmare? Hahaha, I never thought you'd have nightmares too... Looks like you still have enough energy for nightmares, which means my training isn't intense enough, huh? Come on, pull yourself together! Oh, right, what's that supposed to mean?"

As he spoke, Stone curiously looked toward Fang Zheng's waist. Hanging there was not only the standard weapon he usually used for training, but also an additional short sword.

"Don't tell me you're planning to use dual swords too?"

"I just figured out a few techniques after going back yesterday."

At Stone's question, Fang Zheng revealed a bitter smile. Under normal circumstances, he would have gladly chatted with Stone a little longer. But right now, Fang Zheng did not even have the spare energy for that.

"So I plan to give them a try."

"Give them a try? Fine, kid. Let me remind you first: don't always think about taking shortcuts. Traditional methods may look old-fashioned, but if they have been passed down for so many years, there must be a reason... Well then, let me see what exactly you've figured out!"

"Yes, Mentor."

As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached out with both hands, grasped the one long and one short sword, and drew them. Then he fixed Stone with an intense stare.

"Hmm?"

However, when Stone saw Fang Zheng's movements, he froze. His eyes even widened in surprise.

What was going on with this kid...?

It was no wonder Stone was so shocked. He had trained with Fang Zheng for over ten days and had gained some understanding of the young man. In Stone's view, up until yesterday, Fang Zheng's performance had been roughly what he had expected. In fact, from their sparring matches, Stone had already noticed that while this young man had good fighting spirit, he did not seem particularly skilled at close combat. Though his grasp of the battlefield was outstanding, his swordsmanship and fighting ability were about on par with a complete beginner. This had made Stone curious. He could tell that Fang Zheng seemed better at long-range attacks, but Fang Zheng's archery had made Stone shake his head just as much. As for magic... no matter how he looked at him, this kid did not seem like a mage.

But that had only been true until yesterday.

In fact, from the moment he met Fang Zheng today, Stone had felt that this young man seemed different. Yet for the moment, he could not say exactly what was different. But the instant he saw Fang Zheng draw his swords, Stone's eyes lit up. He had finally discovered what was wrong!

If Fang Zheng had been nothing more than a rookie until yesterday, then the aura he gave off now was that of a battle-hardened veteran!

In Stone's eyes, Fang Zheng held a sword in each hand, but he did not maintain a balanced stance. On the contrary, his left shoulder drooped slightly, and his body was somewhat hunched. The stance did not look good at all. An ordinary person would only think that this soldier could not even hold a sword properly, but to Stone, it was an all-purpose stance that could attack when advancing and defend when retreating. In his eyes, Fang Zheng was like a tightly wound spring, watching him at all times. If Stone made a move, he would either be counterattacked or have his attack evaded.

What secretly alarmed Stone even more was how natural Fang Zheng looked in that stance, without the slightest hint of deliberation. That meant he had not consciously thought of it and forced himself into the posture. Rather, he had ingrained the habit into his bones! This was a habit only veterans who had fought for their lives amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood would possess. It should never have appeared on a young man like Fang Zheng!

Was it a coincidence? Or was it...

At that thought, Stone's expression grew solemn. He slowly raised the two-handed sword in his hand and stared at Fang Zheng. Then, in the next instant, Stone suddenly stepped forward, his Greatsword slashing hard toward Fang Zheng like lightning!

What surprised Stone was that at the very moment his Greatsword swung down, Fang Zheng seemed to have anticipated the attack. He rolled across the ground almost at the same time, narrowly evading Stone's strike. Then he rose once more, holding both swords as he stared intently at Stone.

"You've really improved."

Looking at Fang Zheng, Stone nodded in satisfaction. He had deliberately exposed an opening in that previous strike. If it had been the old Fang Zheng, he probably would have rushed in to seize the chance and counterattack. But Fang Zheng's response just now had been extremely swift. He evaded, rolled, and rose in one smooth motion. Most importantly, he had successfully restrained his urge to attack. That was the reaction a qualified warrior should have. Rushing in to fight someone to the death was something only reckless fools did. Any qualified warrior had to learn when to give and when to take. When to attack and when to defend—if one did not have a clear judgment in one's heart, the only outcome was death.

"Then let's try this again!"

Stone was interested now. He raised his Greatsword once more and launched another attack at Fang Zheng.

Since this was only a "training session," neither Stone nor Fang Zheng used any Sword Skills with dazzling visual effects and power capable of destroying heaven, earth, and air. It was merely a contest of sword techniques. Slashes and sweeps—the Greatsword howled through the air in Stone's hands as it repeatedly chopped toward Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng, meanwhile, swayed and darted about, relying on rolls again and again to narrowly evade Stone's attacks.

This was really interesting!

Stone increasingly felt that Fang Zheng was no ordinary person. On the surface, Fang Zheng seemed extremely bedraggled as he faced Stone's attacks. But only Stone understood that Fang Zheng's seemingly unattractive evasion technique was actually exceptionally clever. Not only did it ensure he avoided every attack, it also allowed him to retain the ability to counterattack at any moment.

More importantly, Fang Zheng had not counterattacked even once!

Stone did not believe it was because Fang Zheng had focused all his attention on evasion. His instincts could sense a faint threat, and more importantly, Fang Zheng had kept the short sword in his left hand in a reverse grip the entire time, without using it once. Stone absolutely did not believe Fang Zheng was carrying that sword merely for show.

"Haah!!"

The Greatsword thrust forward again, and just as Stone expected, Fang Zheng suddenly rolled to the side and avoided the strike. Immediately afterward, Stone tightened his grip on the Greatsword with his right hand, swung it back, and brought it down hard at Fang Zheng.

At that same moment, Fang Zheng suddenly stopped rolling. He lunged forward, and the short sword in his left hand swung toward Stone's right hand!

Not good!!

The instant he saw Fang Zheng's movement, Stone's heart jolted. He did not know what exactly was wrong. But his battle instincts told him that this strike was extremely dangerous!

Unfortunately, Stone had no time to change his move. He could only watch Fang Zheng's short sword smash heavily against the end of his Greatsword.

Clang!!

With the sound of impact, the two swords collided. Then the Greatsword was flung backward in a scene that looked utterly inconceivable. Yet Stone paid no attention to that. At that moment, he was so frightened that cold sweat broke out all over him!

Stone discovered in horror that the instant Fang Zheng blocked his attack, all the strength in his body seemed to vanish. He could not even remain standing, as though his body no longer belonged to him, and he dropped straight to his knees!! Naturally, his right hand could no longer hold his weapon, and it was sent flying backward.

At that moment, Stone could not even dodge. He could only watch helplessly as Fang Zheng's longsword thrust directly toward him!

Just as Fang Zheng's blade reached Stone's chest, Stone felt his body finally return to his control. At that moment, beneath the threat of death, Stone did not hesitate to unleash an explosive burst of power!

Boom!!

A roaring gale instantly erupted outward from Stone, forming armor of storm winds around his body. Fang Zheng had never expected his opponent to "cheat" at the last moment, and he was immediately blown away, crashing heavily to the ground.

Fortunately, Stone quickly came to his senses as well. Looking at Fang Zheng lying on the ground, his old face reddened, and he hurriedly withdrew his power.

"Mentor, that was a little too..."

Lying on the ground, Fang Zheng looked helplessly at the towering Grand Knight before him. Had they not agreed this was only an exchange and sparring match? He had finally managed to win once, and Stone did this to him? Where was the most basic trust between people?

"Ahem, ahem, my mistake. I lost this one. I lost."

Noticing Fang Zheng's look, Stone's old face reddened slightly. He readily raised his hand in surrender. Then his eyes lit up as though he had thought of something. Stone glanced around, and after confirming there was no one else nearby, he walked over to Fang Zheng, pulled him up in one motion, hooked an arm around his neck, and whispered in his ear.

"Hey, kid, when did you learn that... Is this the Holy Spirit Inheritance?"