Sparring and Competition

"Brothers, which of us should go first?" Zuo Mingkun asked.

"Since we'll all get a turn anyway, it doesn't really matter who goes first," Chu Xinming said. "How about we go by age? The youngest goes first."

"Sounds good." The others nodded. Feng Qingmo didn't object either. After they gave their ages, Feng Qingmo turned out to be third in line.

Zheng Hu was the youngest, so he went first, followed by Guo Hui.

After Zheng Hu went in, the others stopped chatting and found places to practice on their own.

The door was excellent at blocking sound, so none of them could hear what was happening inside. Feng Qingmo could have used his Spiritual Force to probe the room, but he wasn't so bored that he'd resort to spying.

Half an hour later, Zheng Hu came out drenched in sweat. Guo Hui went in next and emerged half an hour later, just as sweaty.

Feng Qingmo stopped practicing his swordplay and went inside.

The room was nearly twenty meters long and wide. Guan Chenglong stood in the middle, holding a sword.

"I've read your file. You practice the Wind-Washing Sword, and from what I saw just now, you've already mastered the first level, haven't you?"

"Yes, Teacher Guan."

"Good. I've practiced the Wind-Washing Sword myself. Come on, attack me. I'll keep my physical abilities about on par with yours, and we'll talk as we fight!"

Feng Qingmo nodded and bowed slightly. Then he thrust his sword forward, immediately using the first level's Force Application Technique without holding back.

"Not bad." Guan Chenglong nodded slightly. With a quick turn of his sword, he deflected Feng Qingmo's blade, then slashed diagonally at him.

Feng Qingmo's sword was knocked aside. He tried to bring it back to defend, but although their swords had separated, an odd force still clung to his blade, slowing his recovery by a fraction.

Guan Chenglong's sword stopped at his neck.

"You have a solid foundation, and your swordsmanship and footwork have even reached the proficient and subtle levels," Guan Chenglong said with a shake of his head. "But you clearly lack real combat experience. You don't know how to adapt when facing an opponent... You've always trained alone, haven't you?"

"Yes." Feng Qingmo was a little shocked. Guan Chenglong had used even less strength than he had, yet still managed to deflect his full-force thrust with one stroke and keep him from bringing his sword back in time.

"Before this, my dad taught me basic swordsmanship, but he rarely sparred with me. The only real combat I've experienced was during the Martial Artist Combat Assessment..."

"That explains it," Guan Chenglong said with a nod. "You have a good foundation. Combat experience comes with practice. If you take on the trial tower a few times and get some real experience in the Wilderness Zone, you'll improve quickly..."

He raised the Slender Willow Sword. "Again!"

Feng Qingmo launched into his swordplay, using his footwork as he attacked Guan Chenglong.

At first, Guan Chenglong only defended, allowing Feng Qingmo to attack with all his might without restraint.

After defending for a few minutes, Guan Chenglong changed his swordplay. He began counterattacking as he defended, forcing Feng Qingmo to move even faster just to keep the fight even.

Ten minutes later, Guan Chenglong changed his stance again and increased the pressure. One sword strike followed another as he attacked Feng Qingmo, who was soon overwhelmed and fighting desperately to keep up.

Half an hour later, their swords clanged softly. Guan Chenglong twisted Feng Qingmo's sword out of his hand, and it fell to the floor. The tip of Guan Chenglong's sword stopped an inch from his throat.

"That's enough for today. Go out and think over the fight you just had, then practice your Genetic Energy. Off you go!"

"Thank you, Teacher Guan!" Feng Qingmo bowed slightly and thanked him. The half-hour bout had put him under more pressure than ever before, but he'd also gained a great deal from it.

During the earlier Martial Artist Combat Assessment, his physical abilities had been close to those of an Advanced Warrior, so he'd felt no pressure at all. Besides, he'd had his Spiritual Force to rely on.

During the fight just now, he'd only used his Spiritual Force to help him sense his opponent. The most he'd done was use it defensively around Guan Chenglong's sword when its tip was at his throat. He hadn't used it to assist his own swordplay.

He picked up his sword and stepped outside. The next student was already waiting by the door, eager to go in. Seeing Feng Qingmo drenched in sweat and walking unsteadily, he couldn't help giving a couple of snickers.

Feng Qingmo found a corner, sat cross-legged, and went over the fight in his mind again and again. As he replayed it, he noticed details he'd missed at the time, and gained several new insights.

After resting for a while, he began practicing his Genetic Energy.

The seven of them took a little over three hours in total. Each had taken a turn going inside and getting thoroughly beaten, but they'd all clearly gained a great deal from it.

"That's all for this morning. Come back here at two this afternoon." After Li Canyang finished practicing his Genetic Energy, Guan Chenglong left first.

"Come on, guys," Zuo Mingkun said, clapping his hands. "Let's go eat..."

The seven went together to the student cafeteria beside the Central Building and ate their fill. Then they returned to their own lodgings, where each could choose whether to keep training or rest.

After practicing for a little over an hour in the training room on the basement level, Feng Qingmo made it to the Central Building before two.

Once all seven had arrived, Guan Chenglong came in.

"This morning, I fought you. This afternoon, you'll spar among yourselves," Guan Chenglong said, looking at them. "There's only one of me, so I can only watch one match at a time. Let's do a ladder tournament: two of you fight first, and the winner goes on to face the next opponent..."

"Sounds great!" Zuo Mingkun said excitedly, looking at the others. "Guys, whoever wins the most matches becomes our senior brother..."

Guan Chenglong shot him a glance but didn't scold him. "Since you're so eager, you can go first... Feng Qingmo, you'll fight him!"

"Yes, sir."

The two went to the middle of the room and took their stances.

"Begin..."

As soon as Guan Chenglong spoke, Zuo Mingkun slid forward and swept his sword diagonally upward toward Feng Qingmo's left shoulder.

Zuo Mingkun's physical abilities were a little above those of an Intermediate Warrior, and his strike was fairly quick.

Feng Qingmo angled his sword and deflected the incoming blade. His sword trembled slightly, sending a surge of force that knocked Zuo Mingkun's sword aside. Then he swept his blade across, stopping it at Zuo Mingkun's exposed neck.

Guan Chenglong nodded slightly. Feng Qingmo had just copied the first move Guan Chenglong had used in their morning bout. Clearly, he'd already grasped the technique behind it.

"This..." Zuo Mingkun stared, dumbfounded.

"Thanks for the match." Feng Qingmo lowered the Slender Willow Sword and smiled at Zuo Mingkun.

"Come here." Guan Chenglong beckoned to him. "Do you understand where you went wrong?"

Zuo Mingkun shook his head, looking confused.

"If you can't figure it out, stand here and watch closely until you do! Next, Chu Mingxin."

Chu Mingxin had learned from Zuo Mingkun's mistake and didn't dare rush in with an attack. He took a defensive stance instead. Feng Qingmo pushed off the ground and thrust his sword forward.

Chu Mingxin raised his sword to block, but Feng Qingmo's blade quivered and somehow slipped around his guard, stopping an inch from his brow.

A cold sweat broke out across Chu Mingxin's forehead as he stared at the sword tip. He quickly backed up two steps.

"Come stand here. Next, Guo Hui."