Blade Technique Surges

Qin Tian's talent in blade techniques left Xiao Yunlong both frustrated and deeply envious. He believed it wouldn't be long before Qin Tian surpassed him.

So now was the time to bully him a few times while he still could—once the chance was gone, it would never come again.

"Qin Tian, real combat is the only standard for testing training."

Xiao Yunlong's face was dead serious. "No matter how strong your training is, if you can't apply it in actual combat, it's all empty."

"How about it? Want a thrilling real fight? Don't worry, I won't use Psionic Energy—just a normal blade sparring match between us."

Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao both saw through Xiao Yunlong's little scheme and couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Alright."

Qin Tian nodded in agreement. What he lacked most right now was combat experience, and Xiao Yunlong's proposal hit the mark.

"Then let's go."

Xiao Yunlong grinned, stepping back a few meters from Qin Tian, his War Blade gripped tightly in his palm.

"You make the first move!" Xiao Yunlong said.

"Fine!"

Without another word, Qin Tian pushed off the ground and launched himself forward, his War Blade howling as it slashed toward Xiao Yunlong's neck. Though he only used half his strength, the sheer speed and ferocity of the strike still startled Xiao Yunlong.

Xiao Yunlong agilely sidestepped, twisting his wrist as his War Blade shot out like a viper, thrusting toward Qin Tian's abdomen.

Before the blade tip reached him, Qin Tian instinctively twisted his body. The movement looked awkward, but it still let him dodge Xiao Yunlong's thrust.

Xiao Yunlong changed his blade technique again, executing an upward diagonal slash.

Qin Tian tilted his head back, letting the blade graze past the tip of his nose.

Shua~ Shua~ Shua~

Xiao Yunlong shifted his moves in rapid succession, his War Blade fast and fierce. Yet Qin Tian moved like a Spirit Cat, always evading Xiao Yunlong's attacks with movements that seemed twisted and graceful, yet cleverly effective.

"Here we go again."

Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao's eyes widened. This scene was all too familiar—wasn't it just a replay of Qin Tian's fight with the Second Order Spirit Cat back then?

Only this time, the opponent had been swapped from the Spirit Cat to Xiao Yunlong.

"Damn it, stop dodging all the time! Think about how to use your blade techniques to block and counterattack."

Xiao Yunlong stopped, looking utterly exasperated.

This kid was slicker than a fish—he couldn't even touch him.

"Alright."

Qin Tian realized his own problem. He had been relying purely on instinct to dodge, neglecting the application of his blade techniques.

"I'll slow down a bit. Try to put those blade moves to use."

Xiao Yunlong tossed out the remark before charging forward again, his War Blade sweeping out—but noticeably less fierce than before.

Qin Tian didn't abandon his advantage in agility. He lightly leaped backward, dodging the sweeping blade, and as the momentum of the strike lingered, he immediately stepped forward with an upward slash aimed at Xiao Yunlong's neck.

Xiao Yunlong wasn't a pushover either. He ducked low, dropping into a half-crouch, gripping his blade with both hands and slashing at Qin Tian's legs.

Qin Tian quickly jumped, bringing his blade down in a vertical strike.

"Haha, not bad."

Xiao Yunlong laughed loudly, raising his blade to block overhead.

The two blades clashed, producing a crisp ringing sound.

"Qin Tian, I'm going to start ramping up the intensity now."

Seeing that Qin Tian was getting into the groove, Xiao Yunlong struck while the iron was hot, gradually speeding up his swings.

Qin Tian countered each move as it came. At first, he was a bit unsteady, getting hit a few times by the unsharpened blade edge. But as his application of blade techniques grew more familiar, he slowly began to feel a sense of ease.

Ding, ding, ding~~

On the arena platform, the two exchanged blows back and forth, Blade Light flashing in a dazzling display. Every attack and defense seemed perfectly timed, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

"Such terrifying comprehension."

Xiao Yunlong swung his blade in a slash, his eyes filled with deep shock.

Qin Tian's improvement was simply too fast. From the initial stiffness and rigidity to the current fluid ease, in just a few short minutes, he had visibly transformed from a novice into a blade technique elite, seamlessly integrating the basic blade moves.

Such frightening talent and comprehension were almost unbelievable.

Nearby, Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao were also stunned by Qin Tian's performance.

"What a monster~"

Qin Dadi gave a bitter smile. Compared to Qin Tian, he felt as clumsy as a paramecium—not even the same species.

"Captain, I suddenly think Yunlong might have a point."

Liu Zhaozhao watched the two figures locked in fierce combat on the arena platform and murmured, "Qin Tian really might be a Super Soldier."

His marksmanship came to him without a teacher.

His swordsmanship was grasped in an instant.

And that agility, even quicker than a Spirit Cat.

Along with a physical prowess surpassing that of a Psionic User.

Combining these clues, she grew more convinced that Qin Tian's background was anything but simple.

"Perhaps."

Qin Dadi looked toward the arena, a hint of warmth in his eyes: "Whether he's an ordinary soldier or a Super Soldier, to us, Qin Tian is just our teammate."

"An outstanding and highly trustworthy teammate."

"Qin Tian, I'm going to use my psionic power!"

As the fight continued, Xiao Yunlong found that swordsmanship alone could no longer suppress Qin Tian, and he was even starting to feel strained.

To uphold the dignity of a sword arts instructor, he decided to shed his restraints and face Qin Tian at his best.

Whatever happened later, at least he couldn't lose to a student on the first day of teaching.

That would be far too embarrassing.

"Alright!"

Qin Tian was getting into the heat of it too, his tone carrying an uncommon surge of spirit and battle intent.

Sensing the shift in Qin Tian's mood, Xiao Yunlong grinned, and a faint azure glow appeared on his blade.

"Watch out!"

With a flash of Azure Light at his feet, Xiao Yunlong closed in, his speed several times faster than before. The War Blade slashed diagonally downward, swift as the wind.

Bring it on!

Qin Tian's eyes lit up as he quickly raised his blade to block.

Xiao Yunlong had been holding back—and so had he, hadn't he?

In terms of raw physique, with his two talents, [Steel Muscles and Bones] and [Shadow Muscle and Bone], he was leagues ahead of Xiao Yunlong.

If he hadn't been reining himself in just now, two strikes would have been enough to drive Xiao Yunlong to his knees.

Ding~~~

The crisp ring of metal was especially piercing.

Xiao Yunlong stumbled back two steps, his wrist trembling uncontrollably, shock written across his face.

Qin Tian's strength...

Xiao Yunlong only knew Qin Tian was agile, but he never imagined his power could be so terrifying.

"Keep going!"

Qin Tian grew more excited as he fought, the War Blade in his hand humming with a clear, resonant tremor.

Ding ding ding~~

The two launched into a storm of relentless exchanges, layers of blade shadows swirling as the air around them churned.

With psionic power backing him, Xiao Yunlong's blade surged like a tempest—fierce and rapid.

Qin Tian's psionic energy was still thin, and he didn't yet know how to channel it into combat.

But his formidable physique made up for the gap in psionic power between him and Xiao Yunlong, and in his grasp of basic swordsmanship, he had already caught up—and was gradually overtaking him.

"Damn, is this kid even human? Does he have Orc genes in him?"

Xiao Yunlong gritted his teeth, a numb sensation creeping up his arm. He knew that unless he used a Psionic Martial Skill, he could no longer beat Qin Tian.

But once he unleashed a Psionic Martial Skill, he couldn't control the force well. If he hurt Qin Tian, that would be trouble.

So that's it, then. No more fighting. I did land a few hits on him earlier, so I'll call it my win.

Xiao Yunlong leaped high backward, landing beside Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao, and waved his hand:

"Alright, that's enough for today. If we keep going, I'm afraid your body won't hold up."

Qin Tian raised an eyebrow slightly:

"I think I can still go on."

"Ah, you don't get it. You can't overdo it on the first training session. Moderation, you know, moderation~"

Xiao Yunlong placed his training blade back on the rack, turned around, and headed toward the dormitory.

"Teacher Xiao has taught you this much for today. Sum up the mistakes you made just now, and we'll spar again tomorrow when there's time~"

Watching Xiao Yunlong's slightly hurried steps, Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao couldn't help but laugh.

A trace of amusement also flickered in Qin Tian's eyes.