Qin Tian's talent with a blade left Xiao Yunlong feeling both frustrated and deeply envious. He believed it wouldn't be long before Qin Tian surpassed him.
So he'd better thrash him a few times while he still could. Otherwise, he might never get another chance.
"Qin Tian, real combat is the only test that matters."
Xiao Yunlong spoke with a serious expression. "No matter how good your training is, if you can't apply it in a real fight, it's all for nothing."
"How about a proper, all-out spar? Don't worry, I won't use Psionic Energy. We'll just have a normal contest of blade skills."
Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao both saw through Xiao Yunlong's little scheme and couldn't help finding it amusing.
"Sure."
Qin Tian nodded. What he lacked most right now was combat experience, so Xiao Yunlong's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.
"Then let's do it."
Xiao Yunlong grinned and stepped several meters away from Qin Tian, gripping his War Blade tightly.
"You make the first move!" Xiao Yunlong said.
"Okay!"
Without another word, Qin Tian immediately kicked off the ground and sprang forward, his War Blade howling as it slashed toward Xiao Yunlong's neck. Though he was using only half his strength, the speed and force of the strike still startled Xiao Yunlong.
Xiao Yunlong deftly sidestepped, then flicked his wrist and thrust his War Blade toward Qin Tian's abdomen like a nimble serpent.
Just before the blade reached him, Qin Tian instinctively twisted his body. The movement looked awkward, but he still dodged Xiao Yunlong's thrust.
Xiao Yunlong changed his technique, sweeping his blade diagonally upward.
Qin Tian lifted his head, letting the blade skim past the tip of his nose.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Xiao Yunlong shifted techniques in quick succession, his War Blade fast and fierce. Yet Qin Tian was like a Spirit Cat, always evading Xiao Yunlong's attacks with movements that looked twisted and sinuous but were, in fact, remarkably deft.
"Here we go again."
Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao widened their eyes. This scene looked incredibly familiar—it was just like Qin Tian's fight against the Tier Two Spirit Cat!
Only the opponent had changed from the Spirit Cat to Xiao Yunlong.
"Damn it, stop dodging all the time! Think about how to use your blade skills to block and counterattack."
Xiao Yunlong came to a halt and spoke with an exasperated expression.
Damn, how was this kid slipperier than a fish? He couldn't even land a hit.
"Okay."
Qin Tian realized what he was doing wrong. Just now, he had relied entirely on instinct to dodge and neglected to apply his blade skills.
"I'll slow down a little. Try using those techniques."
After leaving him with that instruction, Xiao Yunlong charged forward again, sweeping his War Blade across. His attack was clearly less fierce than before.
Qin Tian didn't give up his advantage in agility. He lightly leaped backward and dodged the sweeping blade. While Xiao Yunlong was still recovering from the swing, Qin Tian immediately stepped in with a slash toward his neck.
Xiao Yunlong wasn't about to be caught off guard. He ducked low, gripping his blade with both hands in a half-crouch and slashing toward Qin Tian's legs.
Qin Tian quickly leaped up and brought his blade down in a slash.
"Haha, nice!"
Xiao Yunlong laughed and raised his blade to block above his head.
The blades clashed with a clear, ringing clang.
"Qin Tian, I'm going to gradually raise the intensity now."
Seeing that Qin Tian had found his rhythm, Xiao Yunlong pressed his advantage and gradually quickened his swings.
Qin Tian countered each move as it came. At first, he was still a little out of his depth and was struck several times by the blunted blade. But as he grew more adept at applying his blade skills, he began to feel increasingly in control.
Clang, clang, clang!
On the sparring platform, the two traded blows, Blade Light flashing in every direction and dazzling the eye. Each attack and defense was perfectly timed, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.
"What terrifying comprehension."
Xiao Yunlong swung his blade, his eyes filled with shock.
Qin Tian's progress was simply too rapid. He had gone from stiff and awkward at the start to moving with effortless ease. In just a few short minutes, he had transformed from a novice into a blade-skilled fighter right before their eyes, mastering the basic techniques and weaving them together seamlessly.
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 with Qin Tian, he felt as stupid as a paramecium, as if they weren't even the same species.
"Captain, I'm starting to think Yunlong might have a point."
Liu Zhaozhao watched the two figures fighting fiercely on the platform and murmured, "Qin Tian really might be a Super Soldier."
He had picked up marksmanship on his own.
He grasped blade skills as soon as they were explained.
His movements were even more agile than a Spirit Cat's.
And his physical strength surpassed that of Psionic Users.
Taking all these clues together, she increasingly felt Qin Tian's origins were anything but ordinary.
"Maybe."
Qin Dadi looked toward the platform, a gentle look in his eyes. "Whether he's an ordinary soldier or a Super Soldier, to us, Qin Tian is just our teammate."
"A fine teammate, and one we can trust completely."
"Qin Tian, I'm going to use Psionic Energy!"
As the fight continued, Xiao Yunlong realized that blade skills alone were no longer enough to suppress Qin Tian. He was even beginning to struggle.
To uphold the dignity of a blade-skills instructor, he decided to let loose and face Qin Tian at full strength.
Whatever happened after today, he couldn't let his student beat him on the very first day of lessons.
That would be far too humiliating.
"Good!"
Qin Tian had gotten caught up in the fight, his voice filled with a vigor and fighting spirit he had never shown before.
Sensing the change in Qin Tian's mood, Xiao Yunlong grinned. A faint Azure Light appeared along the edge of his blade.
"Watch out!"
A flash of Azure Light flickered beneath Xiao Yunlong's feet as he closed in. He moved several times faster than before, his War Blade slashing diagonally downward, swift as a gust of wind.
Bring it on!
Qin Tian's eyes shone as he quickly raised his blade to block.
Xiao Yunlong had been holding back, so why shouldn't he?
In terms of physical fitness, with his Steel Muscles and Bones and Shadow Muscle and Bone talents, he was leagues ahead of Xiao Yunlong.
If he hadn't been holding back just as much, he could have knocked Xiao Yunlong to his knees in two strikes.
Clang!
The sharp metallic ring was especially piercing.
Xiao Yunlong stumbled backward two steps. His wrist trembled despite his efforts to control it, and his eyes filled with shock.
Qin Tian's strength...
Xiao Yunlong had known Qin Tian was agile, but he hadn't expected his strength to be so terrifying too.
"Keep going!"
The more Qin Tian fought, the more excited he became. His War Blade gave off a clear, ringing hum.
Clang, clang, clang!
The two launched into a fierce exchange, blade shadows overlapping as they stirred the air around them.
Bolstered by Psionic Energy, Xiao Yunlong's blade attacks came like a storm, fierce and swift.
Qin Tian had very little Psionic Energy at the moment, and he didn't know how to channel it in combat.
But his formidable physique made up for the gap in Psionic Energy between him and Xiao Yunlong. And when it came to mastering the basic blade techniques, Qin Tian had already caught up with Xiao Yunlong and was gradually showing signs of surpassing him.
"Damn it, is this kid even human? Could he have Orc genes in him?"
Xiao Yunlong gritted his teeth. His arm was going numb, and he knew that unless he used a Psionic Martial Skill, it would be difficult for him to beat Qin Tian now.
But once he used a Psionic Martial Skill, he couldn't control its force properly. If he injured Qin Tian, they'd be in trouble.
That's enough. I'm done. I did land a few hits on him earlier, so that means I win.
Xiao Yunlong leaped backward, retreating to Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao. He waved his hand and said:
"All right, that's enough for today. If we keep going, I'm worried your body won't be able to take it."
Qin Tian raised an eyebrow.
"I think I can keep going."
"Oh, you don't understand. You can't overdo it in your first training session. Everything in moderation, understand?"
Xiao Yunlong put the training blade back on the rack, turned, and headed toward the dormitory.
"That's all Teacher Xiao is teaching you today. Think over the mistakes you made and we'll fight again when we have time tomorrow."
Watching Xiao Yunlong's noticeably hurried steps, Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao couldn't help laughing.
A smile flickered in Qin Tian's eyes too.
Before you continue