Comprehension

Of the three Iron-Feather Mountain Chickens, the Red-Crest Chicken King in front was the fastest. Its outspread wings resembled two enormous iron fans as it charged straight toward them with the wind howling around it!

"Leave the big one to me!"

Ji Zhixing made his decision in an instant. Tightening his grip on the Army-Breaking Staff, he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King charging at the head of the pack.

For the others, this training trip outside the city served two purposes: gaining combat experience and earning money.

But for him, there was something even more important.

Mastering the Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves through real combat!

Neither of the last two hunts-the Black-Coated Slender Hound or that ordinary Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken-put any pressure on me.

The opponents were too weak. We surrounded and killed them in a few blows. Battles like that couldn't bring out my potential, Ji Zhixing thought. But this Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King is different.

He stared at the rapidly approaching Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King.

Its massive, two-meter-tall body, its iron feathers gleaming with a metallic sheen, and those eyes so furious they seemed ready to spit fire...

All of it told him that this Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King would be difficult to handle.

Only pressure can bring a breakthrough!

Ji Zhixing drew a deep breath, every muscle in his body taut.

"Okay!" Liu Qifan answered at once. "Be careful, Zhixing!"

The others wasted no time, quickly dividing their tasks.

Luo Yongguang raised the Great Shield and advanced toward the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken on the left.

Liu Qifan, Zhang Haocheng, and Xie Jia surrounded the one on the right.

"Cluck!"

The Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King let out an enraged cry. Its right wing swept sideways like a great saber, whistling through the air as it slashed at Ji Zhixing, who was charging toward it.

Ji Zhixing did not retreat.

Gripping the staff with both hands, he poured all his strength into it as his gene source energy surged.

Shatter Space Form!

The long staff swung out, smashing viciously toward that iron wing!

Bang!

Staff and wing collided. A tremendous force traveled through the staff, numbing the webbing between Ji Zhixing's thumbs and forefingers and driving him back three steps.

What incredible strength! Ji Zhixing was startled. It's far stronger than an ordinary Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken!

After that blow, the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King gave him no chance to catch his breath. Its left wing swept in immediately, moving with astonishing speed.

Ji Zhixing hurriedly turned sideways, barely dodging the blow.

I can't fight it head-on!

He immediately changed tactics. Rather than clash directly with the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King, he used offense as defense while retreating.

Earth-Shaking Form!

The long staff swept sideways, striking toward the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's legs.

Thunderclap Form!

The long staff thrust out, aimed straight at its eyes.

Move after move, Ji Zhixing unleashed the Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves.

But the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King simply held its wings in front of itself like two shields. No matter how he attacked, he could not truly injure it.

Instead, the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's attacks grew increasingly ferocious. Its wings swept out in alternation, at times becoming two great sabers that forced Ji Zhixing back again and again.

Not far away, Zhao Qing stood quietly, watching everyone's battles, especially Ji Zhixing's, ready to intervene at any moment.

This kid...

Zhao Qing shook her head inwardly. After spending time with Ji Zhixing, she had learned about his circumstances and knew he wanted to master the Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves, a First-Order Two-Star Staff Technique.

But a two-star staff technique was not something one could achieve a breakthrough in after just a few battles.

Even with an aptitude for two-star staff techniques, he would probably need several months before he had any hope.

Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves!

Ji Zhixing steadied his mind and focused.

He did not use the Army-Breaking Staff's innate guidance to perform the Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves.

Instead, he deliberately suppressed that guidance.

He swung the staff again and again, relying solely on his own understanding of the Eight Army-Breaking Staff Moves.

In terms of power, the technique he performed this way was only on par with the Basic Staff Technique.

Bang!

The Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's right wing swept in again. Ji Zhixing held his staff horizontally to block it, only to be driven back another two steps.

Such strength... The webbing between Ji Zhixing's thumbs and forefingers tingled, but he continued engaging it. But this is what gives me pressure!

Army-Breaking Form!

He spun the long staff into a cleaving strike, smashing it against the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's iron wing with a bang.

Still not enough. Army-breaking will-how exactly do I gain army-breaking will?

He swung his staff as he retreated.

Move after move, over and over.

Shatter Space, Earth-Shaking... Unstoppable Advance, invincible presence...

He could perform all eight staff moves with his eyes closed.

Yet that will meant to merge with his staff remained behind a thin membrane he simply could not pierce.

Not far away, Liu Qifan and the others had already finished off their ordinary Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken and were joining Luo Yongguang to surround and kill the other one.

Zhao Qing still stood quietly, her gaze locked on Ji Zhixing's battle. Gene source force surged within her body; the moment Ji Zhixing was in danger, she would intervene.

Ji Zhixing knew none of this.

His entire mind was already immersed in the battle.

Retreat.

Swing.

Retreat.

Swing.

With every swing, he tried to find that will to charge forward without faltering, that conviction that with him present, no enemy could prevail.

Yet he found nothing.

Hm?

Just then, he suddenly sensed a strange aura.

That aura came not from him, but from the Army-Breaking Staff in his hands.

It was something the Army-Breaking Staff naturally emitted while guiding him through his staff technique.

Normally, when he held the Army-Breaking Staff, this aura would naturally merge with his mind, which would then merge with his staff technique, granting astonishing power to every blow.

But now, he had deliberately suppressed that guidance and was fighting with only his own understanding of the staff technique.

Yet the Army-Breaking Staff itself continued to emit that aura.

That aura seemed to be telling him.

What it meant to advance without faltering.

What it meant to stand invincible.

This is... Ji Zhixing's heart jolted. Army-breaking intent!

He had sensed it!

Normally, when he held the Army-Breaking Staff, he could only passively accept this guidance. He had never truly tried to understand it or grasp its essence.

But now, by suppressing the Army-Breaking Staff's guidance, he had actually felt this will under the pressure of battle!

This feeling...

A flash of understanding suddenly lit Ji Zhixing's eyes. Army-breaking intent isn't something forced into the staff. It springs from the heart!

Advancing without faltering doesn't mean not knowing how to retreat. It means knowing danger lies ahead and still daring to charge.

Standing invincible doesn't mean looking down on everyone. It means believing in myself, believing in the staff in my hands.

Ji Zhixing took a deep breath.

He swung his staff again.

This time, he did not deliberately think about anything. He simply trusted the staff in his hands and poured what he felt at that moment into it.

The instant the long staff swung out, he suddenly felt as though his will had been ignited, forming a wondrous resonance with the staff.

That conviction of advancing without faltering, of standing invincible, was no longer a vague, intangible thought. It had truly merged into this strike.

Boom!

The long staff smashed into the Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's wing with a deep, thunderous crash.

The Iron-Feather Mountain Chicken King's body actually faltered, and the impact drove it back a step!