The Scheming Grandmaster

"Are you okay, Xiao Feng?" Tang San stepped forward and asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Xiao San." Chen Feng sat up and casually tucked the Jade Pendant that had fallen out when he hit the ground back inside.

"It's nothing. Will you need to keep doing this kind of training in the future?" Tang San asked as he reached out and pulled Chen Feng to his feet.

"Of course. All the Spirit Skills I chose are state-type Spirit Skills, so I can only rely on combat techniques for offensive methods," Chen Feng said.

"Then I'll train with you from now on."

"Sure."

At that moment, Grandmaster walked over. His gaze lingered for a second on the Jade Pendant hanging around Chen Feng's neck before settling on Chen Feng's face as he asked:

"Xiao Feng, doesn't your first Spirit Skill cause any visible changes to your sword?"

"No. Is there a problem, Grandmaster?" Chen Feng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"If that's the case, I have an idea regarding your first Spirit Skill." Grandmaster stroked his chin.

"Please, tell me." Chen Feng became interested.

Grandmaster first asked a question. "What do you think an opponent would feel if someone's attacks suddenly became light and heavy during battle? Especially when there was no warning before those changes."

Tang San thought for a moment. "That would definitely be extremely uncomfortable to deal with."

"That's right. The enemy would definitely feel very uncomfortable." A faint smile appeared on Grandmaster's face. "When he thinks an attack is heavy and tries to dodge, it turns out to be light. When he thinks an attack is light and tries to block, he has to withstand enormous force. In that case, it would be difficult for the enemy to bring out his full strength."

Chen Feng understood what Grandmaster meant. "In other words, you want me to work toward being able to control my Spirit's weight freely. Is that right?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Grandmaster nodded. "Pure brute force is indeed highly offensive, but it also makes it easy for enemies to see through your attack patterns and respond effectively."

"Unless your strength reaches a certain level, in which case you can break through all techniques with sheer force, like the legendary top-tier assault Tool Spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer, defeating enemies with irresistible power."

"But my Spirit is a sword, and not that kind of heavy sword, so I can't follow the Clear Sky Hammer's path," Chen Feng said.

Grandmaster was very satisfied with his perceptiveness. He nodded and said:

"That's right. You previously said that your Spirit could accommodate multiple attributes, so I knew you couldn't take the path of pure strength. So, what do you think of my suggestion?"

Chen Feng looked at Grandmaster and gave him a sincere evaluation. "That's so underhanded! Uh, no, I mean, you're simply so cunning... uh, exceptionally resourceful."

To be fair, Grandmaster's suggestion really was good. Chen Feng had never realized that a simple Heavy Sword Spirit Skill could be used like this.

His combat experience was still too lacking. He wasn't sensitive enough in this area.

"But if that's the case, I'll need to train my strength even more." Chen Feng pondered aloud. "If I want to reach the point where I can freely vary between lightness and heaviness, my own strength must be sufficient."

"Yes, but you actually have a very simple training method for that." Grandmaster pointed at Chen Feng's right hand. "Just use your own Spirit. Lift your sword for a while every day, and use your first Spirit Skill to gradually increase its weight. That way, you can train both your strength and your control over your first Spirit Skill at the same time."

Chen Feng considered it and found it quite reliable. He bowed to Grandmaster. "Thank you for your guidance, Grandmaster."

As expected of the Manga Grandmaster. He really knew his stuff.

Seeing that Grandmaster was so capable, Xiao Wu joined in as well.

"Grandmaster, Grandmaster, could you give Xiao San and me some guidance too?"

Grandmaster looked at Xiao Wu and Tang San, thought for a moment, and said:

"For the two of you, I think the battle just now was already a good training method, though it needs some slight changes."

"What changes?" Tang San was interested as well.

"Xiao San will still use Blue Silver Grass seeds to attack Xiao Wu, but Xiao San can't use his hands, while Xiao Wu must cover her eyes," Grandmaster said.

"Cover my eyes!?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened. Wouldn't that mean she would get bombed like crazy?

"Can't use my hands?" Tang San was also somewhat dumbfounded.

Most of his abilities were in his hands. How was he supposed to throw seeds without using them?

Chen Feng somewhat understood. He was merely not sensitive enough when it came to combat, but his comprehension was still quite strong.

"You want Xiao Wu to practice Sound-based Positioning under the interference of explosions, while having Xiao San practice controlling Blue Silver Grass, right?"

"Correct." Grandmaster gave Chen Feng a somewhat gratified look. "One of the principles you previously summarized for obtaining spirit rings was to capitalize on strengths and avoid weaknesses. Although I'm not sure whether avoiding weaknesses or making up for them is better, capitalizing on strengths is absolutely correct."

"Xiao Wu's Spirit is the Soft Bone Rabbit. Aside from a soft body and powerful hind legs, another strength of this kind of Soul Beast is its exceptionally sharp hearing. If trained properly, that would be very beneficial in battle, and it could even save her a spirit ring."

He looked at Tang San again and continued:

"As for Xiao San, I know your technique is very ingenious, but throwing seeds by hand would still alert the enemy. It would be different if you used Blue Silver Grass instead."

"Because you can spread Blue Silver Grass all around yourself, using it to conceal and launch the seeds. That would have a strong surprise effect. The enemy simply wouldn't know where the seeds would explode or when they would explode."

After hearing Grandmaster's words, Xiao Wu could not help but say:

"Xiao Feng was right just now. Grandmaster, you're really underhanded."

"Hey, don't slander me. When did I ever say Grandmaster was underhanded? I was praising Grandmaster for being exceptionally resourceful." Chen Feng flatly denied what he had said earlier.

Xiao Wu curled her lips. "Someone who dares to say it but not admit it."

Grandmaster did not mind their exchange and continued:

"What I discussed earlier was all training in combat techniques, but you must not relax your cultivation of Soul Power because of that, nor your absorption of Sunlight and Moonlight to promote the evolution of your Spirits. After all, for Spirit Masters, the Spirit is the foundation."

He took out a book from his belt and said:

"This book records some of my research on cultivating Soul Power. Although Soul Power is cultivated through meditation and circulating one's own Soul Power, there are many techniques involved. What kind of circulation route makes it easier to increase one's strength, and what kind of Spirit is best suited to cultivate in which environment—everything is recorded here in detail."

"You three are all very talented children. That talent should not be wasted, so I'll leave this book with you. Make good use of it."

Grandmaster handed the book to Chen Feng, then turned and left.