"Weapons?"
Hao Yi was taken aback. "Why did you suddenly think of learning weapons?"
"I heard that weapons are worth extra points in the Military Academy's assessment, so I thought I'd learn a little in advance. If I get the chance in the future, I can earn extra points."
Li Fei explained.
"Mm."
Hao Yi nodded. "Before Implants appeared, martial artists of old mainly practiced with weapons. When fighting people, fighting barehanded and fighting with a weapon were completely different levels of combat power. Even an ordinary person with a knife had a chance of injuring a trained martial artist.
"Later, as Implants appeared, the upper limit of martial artists' combat power grew higher and higher, and martial techniques gradually shifted toward barehanded combat. For high-level martial artists, their bodies were the strongest weapons. There was no real difference between fighting barehanded and using a weapon. Sometimes, when a weapon's quality couldn't keep up and it couldn't withstand the force, it would shatter after a few clashes. In that case, bare hands were actually more convenient."
Li Fei nodded, recalling that traditional martial arts in his previous life had also focused mainly on weapons.
Hao Yi continued, "For low-level martial artists, however, having a good weapon still gives them a major advantage. That's why the Military Academy counts weapons as an extra-point category. If you want to practice with a weapon, that's fine. I suggest you practice with a blade or a staff, since both can be mastered quickly. As for swords, spears, whips, and the rest, it's basically unrealistic to achieve results with them in just one year."
Li Fei had previously told him, "I'll seize every moment," so Hao Yi's plans for him were now entirely aimed at competing for a university slot within a year.
"I want to practice with a blade."
Li Fei did not hesitate for long before making his decision.
Blades were easier to carry than staffs and had greater killing power. Besides, the weapon he had mainly practiced in the Conflict Mitigation Department at vocational school had also been a blade, so he chose it.
"All right. Starting today, replace two hours of your daily physical training with blade practice."
Hao Yi said, "Once you reach the Body Breaking Stage, your physique will grow significantly stronger, so you won't need to deliberately train your physical fitness anymore."
"Okay."
Li Fei nodded and agreed.
The two continued their training as usual. After finishing the afternoon's qi-circulation and resistance training, Hao Yi had Li Fei open another training room.
This training room was extremely spacious, and various weapons stood on racks along the walls.
It was a training room specifically meant for sparring.
Hao Yi took two wooden blades from the weapon rack and tossed one to Li Fei. "You already learned the basics of blade techniques at vocational school. Show me what you can do."
"Okay."
Li Fei caught the wooden blade and held it in one hand, trailing it behind him. Then he stepped forward and whipped the blade upward with a backhand slash.
Smack! Hao Yi casually slashed from upper left to lower right, intercepting Li Fei's wooden blade precisely halfway through. Li Fei felt the wooden blade in his hand tremble, as if it had collided with a bolt of thunder. It nearly flew from his grasp.
He hurriedly exerted force to steady the blade, but before he could strike again, Hao Yi had already turned his wrist and delivered a second backhand slash from lower right to upper left.
Because Li Fei had first needed to steady his blade, he was a beat too slow. He had no time to raise it and block, so he could only retreat. Even so, he was not fast enough to evade Hao Yi's blade, and the tip came to rest against his chin.
"Again."
Hao Yi stepped back and gestured for Li Fei to attack again.
This time, Li Fei gripped the blade with both hands and advanced slowly. Then he suddenly sprang forward, switched to a one-handed grip, bent at the waist and leaned in, drove his right shoulder forward, and thrust the wooden blade fiercely toward Hao Yi's chest.
Hao Yi likewise thrust his wooden blade forward, then abruptly turned the blade and knocked the incoming blade aside with its back, pushing Li Fei's weapon to the right side of his body. He then pressed the edge of his blade flat against Li Fei's and rapidly drove it forward! Li Fei's heart jolted. To keep his wrist from being cut, he could only let go of his blade and retreat.
The next second, the wooden blade fell from Li Fei's hand, and Hao Yi withdrew his own.
"I have a general idea of your level now."
Hao Yi said, "What did you think of those two moves just now?"
Li Fei recalled the two moves Hao Yi had used and said:
"The first move had a rolling force to it. The first collision was the key. The second had a pushing and grinding force. The key should be timing—to keep the opponent from having time to react."
"Mm."
Hao Yi nodded. "Those two moves just now were the Rolling Thunder Stance and the Mountain-Pushing Stance. The force strikes like rolling thunder, and the blade pushes as though flattening a mountain. Those two phrases are the guiding principles behind the two blade techniques. From now on, as long as you master these two moves, they'll be enough to deal with the vast majority of situations."
"Please teach me, Teacher."
Li Fei bowed to Hao Yi.
It was past eight in the evening when Li Fei finally returned home.
Because he had three years of foundation in blade techniques, he had practiced with Hao Yi for over three hours and initially mastered the Rolling Thunder Stance and Mountain-Pushing Stance. From there, he would need to practice more and possess sufficient insight before his blade technique could truly enter the hall.
Because he had arranged a time with Liu San'er, Li Fei did not perform embryonic-nourishing training first. He grabbed his things, hurried out, changed into his outfit, and arrived at the entrance of the Qingyuan Fist Fortress.
As before, Liu San'er had already been waiting there.
"Did you get the information?"
Li Fei resumed Blue-Faced Ghost's aloof persona and went straight to the point as soon as they met.
Liu San'er nodded. "I did. The Dragon General in the Dragon-Tiger Fight half a month from now is Ling Yong, one of the popular fighters from the Heaven Grade Boxing Ring. He's a peak Body Breaking Stage martial artist and specializes in using a staff."
"A peak Body Breaking Stage martial artist?"
Li Fei was startled.
Since he had not yet reached the Body Breaking Stage himself, Hao Yi had not told him much about Body Breaking Stage martial artists. He only knew that at this stage, an Implant would replace part of a martial artist's bodily tissue, granting them abilities far beyond those of ordinary people.
"The Body Breaking Stage is roughly divided into three phases. During the early phase, you can only use an Implant's power two or three times within a short period. In the middle phase, you can use it over a dozen times. In the late phase, you can keep using its power until your own physical stamina is exhausted."
Liu San'er explained it to Li Fei.
"Ling Yong's Implant is a fairly common first-grade superior Tiger Stripes. He chose to implant it in both arms. When he activates the power of the Tiger Stripes, red-black markings appear on his arms, and the strength of both arms surges. The Black Steel Coiling Dragon Staff he uses weighs ninety-seven pounds. When he activates the Tiger Stripes, he can easily whirl the long staff around with one hand.
"Each time Ling Yong activates the Tiger Stripes, its power can last roughly three to five seconds. In one boxing match, he once activated the Tiger Stripes thirty-nine times. There are rumors that he is only one step away from breaking through to the Qi Transformation Stage, which is why he is considered a peak Body Breaking Stage martial artist."
After hearing Liu San'er's introduction, Li Fei thought silently for a while.
To wield a ninety-seven-pound weapon with one hand—perhaps the strongest weightlifting champion in his previous life could lift such a heavy object with one hand, but he absolutely could not have swung it around easily and used it in battle. After activating his Implant, Ling Yong's strength was indeed terrifying.
However, his Implant specialized in strength. It was stronger offensively, which was good news for Li Fei, who possessed the Myriad Blood Bead.
Although his opponent sounded formidable and was an outstanding figure among Body Breaking Stage martial artists, he would still bleed if he took a cut. He was not invincible.
"Have the other two candidates for Tiger General been confirmed?"
Li Fei asked.
Liu San'er nodded. "They have. Both are skilled fighters from the Earth Grade Boxing Ring."
"Do you have information on those two Tiger Generals?"
Li Fei continued asking.
His cautious nature meant that he needed not only to understand his opponents thoroughly, but also to understand his teammates thoroughly before making a decision.
"I do."
Liu San'er then gave Li Fei a detailed account of the two Tiger Generals' information.
After listening, Li Fei looked at him.
"Go tell Sister Hua that I accept this match!"
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