Cold Weapons

Bang!

Bang!

"Three rings!"

"Seven rings!"

"Nine rings!"

On the training ground, the muzzle of the heavy machine gun spewed flames. Targets five kilometers away either remained motionless, shattered on the spot, or were replaced by new ones.

"Fixed target test concluded. Next test: single moving target!"

As instructor Li Dingjun's voice fell, Jiang Ding, holding the heavy machine gun weighing over two hundred kilograms with both hands, leaped up. He ran quickly, aiming and firing as he moved.

His feet were like the wind, yet his upper body remained as still as a mountain.

Vajra Seal!

"Bang!"

"Eight rings!"

"Next test: dual moving targets!"

In Jiang Ding's drone's field of vision, the targets five kilometers away moved. They maneuvered in an S-shape at the speed of a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, occasionally accelerating suddenly and erupting with several times their normal speed.

"Missed!"

"Missed!"

The miss rate sharply increased. The surrounding teachers and classmates showed no surprise.

A Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator's spiritual sense range was usually between 70 to 100 meters. This meant that without the enhancement of inscribed breath-concealing and stealth runes, they would be detected at this distance by a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, allowing them to maneuver preemptively.

But it wasn't without a solution.

The muzzle velocity of a heavy machine gun bullet was 1254 meters per second. A Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator had a reaction time of 0.5 to 0.8 seconds. As long as ten consecutive shots were fired to form a barrage, it would suffice.

Hitting once earned 80% of the points for that question. Hitting twice earned full marks.

If missed, the distance of the ten bullets from the target would be measured, and the average value taken. This was the most common outcome.

This also had its purpose. On the battlefield, dealing with Qi Refining cultivators usually involved a coordinated attack, with ten or even dozens of people aiming at the target simultaneously.

"Three rings!"

Silence fell all around.

"Grass!"

"Lucky bastard!"

Li Junhao, Sun Xiao, and others waiting to be tested cursed, filled with envy.

Under normal circumstances, it was difficult for an entire class to hit the target in the dual moving target test, and they could only be ranked by the average distance of their bullets from the target.

"Get lost!"

Jiang Ding smiled. He admitted that there was indeed some luck involved this time.

Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators maneuvered too quickly, and their spiritual sense reacted too sensitively. Furthermore, shooting from five kilometers away meant that even a barrage would be difficult to hit, with deviations of tens or even hundreds of meters being common.

This was even with them restricting abilities like stealth, flight, and earth or wood escape.

If it weren't for corps-level combat, with reconnaissance methods like spirit particle radar and the guidance of cultivators of the same rank, even groups of soldiers would find it difficult to inflict damage on Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators.

Additionally, the refining of "law-breaking steel" required extremely high industrial technology. Outer realm cultivators found it difficult to manufacture law-breaking steel bullets that were unaffected by spiritual sense at a low cost. However, they could spend a large sum of money to refine special types of magic artifacts with ranges comparable to heavy machine guns, and which were more flexible.

Such cultivators who used special magic artifacts were rare, but not nonexistent.

In conclusion, even if mortals possessed the ability to harm Qi Refining cultivators, it did not mean they could be considered their equals.

"Jiang Ding, your comprehensive score for the hot weapons test is 35 points."

Jiang Ding felt a sense of relief.

This was pretty good.

The total score for hot weapons was 60 points. A score of 40 or above required a Qi Refining cultivator to pilot a tank. 35 points was already considered a high score.

"Next candidate, Li Junhao."

"Yes!"

Li Junhao walked into the shooting range, cradling the heavy machine gun, full of confidence.

Several minutes later.

Li Junhao's face was crestfallen. "Alas, it's all over."

"Ha."

Jiang Ding glanced at him, letting out a long sigh.

Let's see you show off during the cultural exam!

After halftime, Instructor Zhang Dingjun gracefully departed to conduct tests for the Qi Refining realm students.

In the distance, tank engines rumbled, and artillery shells roared.

A moment of silence.

Many people looked in that direction. Even those at the Minor Accomplishment stage of Inner Qi, like Sun Xiao and Li Hu, wore complex expressions.

For a Martial Artist to reach the Inner Qi Realm, unless they possessed exceptional talent and their cultural scores were a full major level above Qi Refining students, they could never embark on the path of cultivation.

Jiang Ding ignored them, unhurriedly lifting a camouflage cloth to reveal a large pile of swords, spears, and halberds laid out on the ground.

He picked up an ordinary-looking Green Steel Sword. As he gripped the hilt, his heart felt considerably more stable, all distracting thoughts vanishing.

He sheathed the sword at his waist and sat down cross-legged.

A wisp of Inner Qi flowed from his Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, surging into the ten primary meridians of his Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, tempering and nourishing them.

Two days passed. The ten meridians of the second primary channel, the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, were largely tempered. The progress was slightly slower than previously anticipated.

As for the reason, Jiang Ding had figured it out by consulting materials.

Meridians were not isolated pathways. As Inner Qi flowed through the ten major meridians of the first primary channel, the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, it wasn't without consequence. A small amount of Internal Force had flowed into the finer collateral meridians, also allowing for some tempering and nourishment.

"Right, let's practice."

Seeing this, the other students snapped out of their daze and also picked up their weapons to warm up. A last-minute sharpening might not make the blade gleam, but it was better than nothing.

As for tempering their meridians with quiet cultivation anytime, anywhere like Jiang Ding, that required at least a Minor Accomplishment in the Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art.

Half an hour later, Instructor Zhang Dingjun returned with fourteen Qi Refining realm students. He looked surprised to see the students scattered around, practicing with their weapons.

"Next, we begin the cold weapon test."

Zhang Dingjun casually stated, "The total score is 40 points. For the Inner Qi Realm, first place gets 25 points, second place 23, and so on, with a minimum of 5 points."

"For the Qi Refining Realm, the total score remains unchanged. First place gets 35 points, second place 33, and so on, with a minimum of 20 points."

"Of course, Rongcheng's local conditions are limited, so this is a simplified examination procedure," Zhang Dingjun explained. "In major first-tier cities, or during the college entrance exam, the test involves entering the Tai Void Illusion Realm – Educational Network Zone – for combat. Scores vary from first to last place."

"Now, we begin the Inner Qi Realm assessment."

Zhang Dingjun pointed at Jiang Ding. "Student Jiang Ding, as the first place in the cold weapon assessment for the Inner Qi Realm, some may not agree. Does anyone wish to challenge him?"

The students exchanged glances. Some were unwilling, but none had the intention to step forward.

They were accustomed to being dominated in every cultivation class. They had no real confidence in victory and preferred to conserve their energy to secure a good ranking.

"I'll do it, damn it."

Sun Xiao held a gleaming silver metal spear in one arm and snorted, "My 'Skyflow Spear' has reached Minor Accomplishment. I don't believe..."

Clang!

Jiang Ding drew his sword halfway. A faint white light appeared between the blade's edge.

Inner Qi!

"Jiang Ding broke through to the Inner Qi Realm?"

"Damn it! No wonder his heavy machine gun shooting scores improved so drastically before!"

The surrounding students buzzed with discussion, their curses laced with envy.

At this stage, there were only three Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists in the entire class. Including Jiang Ding, that made four.

Of course, this was also related to First High School's strong faculty, excelling in both Qi Refining and cultural class instruction. Many students with excellent martial arts aptitude chose Rongcheng Seventh High School, where the teachers were often Innate Martial Artists and more skilled in that aspect of teaching.

"...believe... not..."

Sun Xiao silently retracted his silver spear and retreated into the crowd.

"Anyone else?"

Zhang Dingjun continued to ask, showing no surprise.

After waiting a moment and seeing no one speak, he continued, "Second place in the Inner Qi Realm, Sun Xiao. Does anyone disagree?"

"Yes!"

"I challenge."

As soon as the words fell, Li Hu and Liu Meimei, two Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists, stepped forward without fear.

As weapons clashed, victories and defeats were decided. Even if there were occasional mistakes, before the weapons could even touch the bulletproof vests, they were blocked by shields conjured by Zhang Dingjun's thought, resulting in no injuries.

Jiang Ding stood silently, his sword at his side, tempering and nourishing his meridians.

The progress was rapid. The Inner Qi Realm battles concluded quickly. Sun Xiao secured second place, Li Hu third... Li Junhao, as expected, came in last, receiving the minimum 5 points.

"Qi Refining Realm test."

Zhang Dingjun pointed at Hua Bing: "Classmate Hua Bing, Qi Refining Level Six. As the first place in the cold weapon assessment for the Qi Refining Realm, is there anyone who doesn't acknowledge this?"

Everyone turned their gaze to Wu Tianli.

He was at Qi Refining Level Five, the only one who could pose a threat to Hua Bing.

"I acknowledge him."

Wu Tianli looked at Hua Bing, his voice extremely gentle. Even a fool would understand his feelings.

"So handsome..."

The surrounding girls immediately felt envious.

Hua Bing frowned, his heroic and spirited young face showing a hint of displeasure.

Damn it, I'm at Qi Refining Level Six, I have a high-grade magic artifact, and my father, who is at the Foundation Establishment Realm, taught me since I was young. It's as if you're letting me have this first place.

But he couldn't say anything, which was infuriating.

"Classmate Hua Bing, please enlighten me."

A classmate at Qi Refining Level Four stepped forward, holding a square inkstone. This was also a defensive magic artifact favored by Immortal Sect cultivators. Furthermore, being able to spar with other cultivators, win or lose, was always a good thing.

"Classmate Luo Feng, be careful."

Hua Bing pointed his sword finger, and a gleaming silver flying sword flew out from nowhere. It slashed directly at the inkstone, forcing him back several steps. Then, it relentlessly attacked, its sword light forming a silk net, rapidly grinding away the spiritual light on the inkstone.

In just a few breaths, Luo Feng staggered backward rapidly, but the silver flying sword found an opening, cut through the inkstone, pierced his shield, and stopped steadily at his chest.

"I lost."

Luo Feng sighed and retrieved his inkstone.

Jiang Ding, standing nearby, felt his hair stand on end and a chill run down his spine the moment the silver flying sword appeared.

The flying sword's speed wasn't particularly fast; it was still some distance from supersonic. His eyes could barely keep up with its flight path, but it was too agile, too sharp!

His thoughts raced, but his body couldn't react. One move, and it would be his head on the chopping block!

Next, sword light scattered, red sashes danced, giant shields blocked, and spiritual light sprinkled. Compared to the brawling of a group of muscular martial artists below the Inner Qi Realm, these duels were ethereal and transcendent, with a level of skill that was out of this world.

It wasn't until the classmates at Qi Refining Level One and Two began their matches that Jiang Ding could barely regain a sliver of confidence.

Their flying swords and flying daggers weren't much faster than arrows, nor were they particularly agile. If he could hit them multiple times, he was confident he could shatter the spiritual consciousness on the magic artifacts.

However, there was nothing to be proud of.

The main focus of Qi Refining cultivators in the Immortal Sect was on things like tank driving and anti-aircraft gun operation. Cold weapon combat was merely an elective hobby.