Life 3

An experienced warrior could at most become a veteran. But to become a knight, one had to undergo countless battles between life and death, tempering the body to its limits. Only then could one, through some opportunity, forge a unique fighting style, awaken one's potential, and obtain the legendary Life Energy Seed, vastly strengthening one's physical abilities. Only after earning sufficient merit through this could one attain Knight Level.

Among all this, the so-called Life Energy Seed was the key of keys. Without it, one could never become strong.

Song Ye had also learned some related information from Anglie's memories.

The Life Energy Seed was, in truth, a faint sensation of qi naturally produced from the outside in once the body had been trained to its utmost limit. In reality, it was what Earth in his previous life called Hard Qigong. Baron Kyle had once described to him in extraordinary detail the sensations and process of training to awaken a Seed. Therefore, he could compare them very clearly and reach his conclusion.

Moreover, not just anyone could awaken a Seed. Among ordinary people, only a tiny fraction possessed the aptitude and possibility of awakening one. But because the success rate was so low, some people who had already become powerful came up with a method: a strong person whose Seed had been awakened and whose life energy was extremely potent would actively condense a tiny bit of energy into a Seed and implant it into someone else's body.

This greatly raised the originally difficult chance of success. The awakening process that had once required tempering through life-and-death trials became one where a person could receive the Seed's strengthening from the very beginning.

Of course, even so, not everyone could become strong. Although the success rate had risen, only two-thirds out of every hundred people could succeed. The remaining third still could not accept the Seed, because their bodies simply could not retain life energy. No matter how much was put into them, it would only leak uselessly away.

Unfortunately, Anglie's body belonged to that category. He too could not accept an implanted Seed. That was also the fundamental reason he could only eat, drink, play, and enjoy himself from childhood onward. Otherwise, given the Baron's strength, no matter how inadequate Anglie might have been, he would not have turned out this badly. Even if he had been willing, the domineering Baron would never have allowed his son to lack even a shred of self-protection.

Arad seemed to recall something, and a trace of helplessness appeared in his gaze toward Anglie. He had roughly guessed why Anglie could not even perform basic training. The real reason was that Anglie himself had given up.

"Since that's the case, everyone continue your morning training. Young Master Anglie, come with me." He clapped his hands again and called loudly.

The grounds returned to their previous state. Those practicing swordsmanship practiced swordsmanship, and those practicing archery practiced archery. Only Song Ye followed behind Arad toward a corner.

"Although you cannot become a Knight Level powerhouse, more exercise can still improve your physical condition. I hope you will persevere," Arad said as they walked.

"I know what to do. Thank you, Arad." Song Ye nodded with a smile. "The rumor that Baron Kyle's second son lacked the talent to become strong was rather famous before, wasn't it?"

"It was." Arad said nothing more.

"Then all these children doing morning training now have aptitude?"

"Yes. They have all received Seed Inheritance from Lord Baron and Lord Audis. Each trains according to the unique methods of the two lords," Arad answered.

Song Ye knew that receiving Seed Inheritance and being cultivated from childhood meant that their Life Energy Seeds would grow stronger alongside their bodies from then on, constantly strengthening their flesh. Once they grew up, their physical qualities would far surpass those of ordinary people.

Baron Kyle and Audis had come through the same way back then.

"So that was how Father and Knight Audis became so powerful." Song Ye suddenly understood. But a trace of helplessness immediately rose in his heart. Of all bodies to transmigrate into, why did he have to end up in one without talent?

If not for the Biochip still giving him hope, Song Ye would probably have simply resigned himself to fate.

Arad led Song Ye to an open space nearby.

Beside them stood a row of wooden sword racks. A few remaining wooden swords lay scattered across them.

Arad took one down and tossed it directly to Song Ye.

Song Ye hurriedly caught it, and his hand sank.

This wooden practice sword was unexpectedly rather heavy. He estimated it slightly; it weighed around five or six jin.

It was about a meter long. The guard and blade formed a standard cross shape—the most common style of cross sword.

Song Ye lightly swung the wooden sword in his hand. The white sword tinged with yellow made a faint whooshing sound through the air.

Arad took down a wooden sword himself and swung it casually. A white line instantly slashed through the air before him.

"The most basic training methods are very simple, but not everyone can complete them so simply." As he spoke, he gripped the sword with both hands and chopped forward.

Whoosh!!

Song Ye felt only a breeze sweep toward him from Arad's blade. Even the hair by his cheeks was blown slightly backward.

The Biochip in his mind automatically began scanning data.

A row of pale blue data quickly appeared before Song Ye's eyes.

"Arad: Strength greater than 1, Agility greater than 2, Constitution greater than 2."

"This is a forward chop. Note that all your strength must be applied slightly below the sword tip. That is where the killing power is greatest. If all the force is placed on the tip, the blade will wear down too much and easily curl."

Arad began demonstrating the forms one by one.

Forward chop, upward slash, horizontal cut, straight thrust, downward stab. He demonstrated all five basic movements for Song Ye one at a time.

Every movement stirred gusts of wind.

Song Ye watched Arad's demonstration with rapt attention. At the same time, the Biochip began recording and storing the data before him.

Once the Chip had finished recording, Arad lowered the wooden sword in his hand.

"How was that? It may be simple, but the movements must be standard. Otherwise, over time, it is easy to sprain your joints and leave lasting injuries. So there cannot be the slightest mistake." His tone was solemn.

Song Ye nodded slightly.

At the same time, he silently said in his heart, Recording complete.

A string of blue data instantly appeared before his eyes. "Please name this file."

Basic Swordsmanship, Song Ye silently replied.

"Named Basic Swordsmanship."

The mechanical voice repeated the prompt before disappearing automatically.

Song Ye tried using his thoughts to call up the file again. Streams of data immediately flowed into his mind, and the images and sounds of Arad's demonstration began replaying perfectly in his head.

Only after confirming that it had indeed been fully recorded did Song Ye speak to Arad.

"So I learned this before. I think I remember now."

Arad looked at Song Ye with a slight frown, as though confirming whether Song Ye was playing him for a fool.

"Since you remember, practice properly on your own. Lord Audis was originally planning to come and teach you personally today, but he happened to have business outside. So first do some basic exercises and restore your body. I'll be leaving now. If you need anything, call for me."

Song Ye nodded and watched Arad stride away.

He raised the wooden sword in his hand and weighed it slightly. A faint smile appeared on his face.

The Biochip possessed only analytical and storage capabilities. Actual training and practice still depended on him taking things step by step from the basics. After all, the Chip could not directly act upon his body. It was merely an aid.

He loosened up his body and began practicing exactly according to the demonstrated movements.

"The first move, forward chop." He gripped the wooden sword, raised both hands high, and was just about to chop down.

"Movement distortion: 31 percent." The Chip instantly prompted him.

A smile appeared on Song Ye's face.

This was the Biochip's assisting ability. It could compare his movements against the data, allowing him to continually correct them.

He adjusted the sword in his hand slightly.

"Movement distortion: 25 percent."

After several more attempts, Song Ye began slowly adjusting his movements. As he gradually made corrections, the distortion figures reported by the Chip became smaller and smaller.

With the wooden sword raised high, he made a slight adjustment. Only when the Chip reported distortion below five percent did Song Ye fiercely chop downward. An unusually smooth and flowing sensation immediately came over him.

"Physical training assessment: This movement has flexibility-strengthening effects on muscle groups 5, 3, and 11. Estimated 10,526 repetitions required to increase muscle strength by 0.1."

The Chip's analysis immediately appeared before Song Ye's eyes.

"More than ten thousand times... that's not much," he muttered softly.

He raised the wooden sword and began practicing earnestly.

The terrifying aspect of the Biochip lay in its ability to let a person understand their own physical state completely. This was the "know yourself" in the saying, "Know yourself and know your enemy."

Swish! Swish! Swish!!

As he practiced the basic movements over and over, Song Ye's motions went from halting and extremely slow at the beginning to increasingly fluid and increasingly fast.

The wooden sword stirred faint gusts of wind in the air.

This represented the smallest possible contact surface between the blade and the air. Only this way could movements be fastest, most concealed, and most effective.

Without realizing it, Song Ye became more and more absorbed in his practice. His whole heart and mind plunged into practicing the basic sword forms.

He stepped forward into a bow stance, chopped straight down, turned right for an upward slash, stabbed downward and forward, then swept horizontally left and right.

His movements were fluid and graceful, while the sounds grew quieter and quieter.

He could feel that this body was not entirely worthless after all. It had a strangely familiar feeling toward Basic Swordsmanship. Sometimes, before his brain could even recall and compare the images, his hands would naturally continue practicing.

It seemed the original Anglie must have secretly practiced on his own as well.

Clang clang clang!!

The sound of a gong suddenly rang out.

"Rest time is here! Everyone, dismissed!!" Arad shouted across the training grounds.

Song Ye in the corner emerged from his training state and looked toward the center of the grounds.

He happened to see Arad holding a bronze gong and striking it hard with his hand, producing a piercing sound.

The children on the practice grounds also became noisy, gathering into little groups. Some headed back to their quarters, some walked together toward the dining hall, and some clustered around Arad to ask him things.

Song Ye stood where he was, his forehead densely covered in sweat, his face flushed, and his body burning hot. His undershirt and chest were soaked through.

Although his practice just now had been fluid, others would see it as the most basic of basics. No matter how smoothly he performed it, it was only natural. Thus, his movements drew no attention, because they were considered a matter of course.

Summarize physical condition, Song Ye silently said.

"Condition summary: Minor muscle strain on the underside of the right forearm. Poor blood circulation in both legs. Automatic recovery time: 14 hours."

Song Ye nodded in satisfaction and casually wiped the sweat from his face.

He was wearing the black noble attire from when he returned yesterday. It looked somewhat like a fitted hunting outfit from Earth, with a red belt around his waist. Long sleeves and long pants made him look quite capable and neat.

But this outfit was now soaked through with sweat.

Even without a Seed, I can still become strong. Song Ye's heart was utterly calm.

He stood alone in the corner, and no boys or girls came near him.

Song Ye swept his gaze around. Everyone unconsciously avoided his eyes.

It was clear these children greatly despised his abilities, but because of the Baron's prestige, they did not dare show it directly. So they simply chose to avoid him.

Song Ye could not be bothered to interact with these little brats either. He returned the wooden sword to the rack, tugged at his collar, and headed directly toward the tower where he lived.

"Brother." A young, sweet voice suddenly called out behind him.

Song Ye turned around.

Maggie stood beside the sword rack, looking at him with a smile. The fourteen-year-old girl wore a white top and a fitted short skirt that fell just to her thighs. Her precociously full breasts and snow-white legs gave her an alluring, faintly sensual air.

Song Ye felt that her outfit resembled the professional attire worn by office ladies on Earth. It was clear that although Maggie was not a noble and could not wear colorful clothing, she had put considerable thought into dressing herself in a unique and creative way.