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Several bloody marks were drawn on Shan Heyuan's face, and his neck and body were covered in welts.

At first glance, it looks like someone who has played some special game.

Before he could even complain, Jiang Zhi tossed him a bottle of healing medicine and said, "Now I finally understand why Senior Shen said your combat awareness is completely lacking."

Shan Heyuan: "..."

Li Jian had already fought Jiang Zhi, and although he didn't win, he wasn't as badly beaten as Shan Heyuan.

He looked Shan Heyuan up and down, then said with a smile, "Brother Shan is indeed a theorist."

Shan Heyuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I just don't have much experience."

Jiang Zhi sincerely said, "That won't do. Otherwise, you should find someone to help you practice. Senior Shen won't do it; Senior Shen wouldn't be able to bring himself to hit you."

Shan Heyuan applied medicine to his body, he said, "I've already lost, what's the point of beating me up?"

"Yes," Jiang Zhi said. "After being beaten up so many times, you won't hesitate or be a beat slow. Your actual strength isn't any worse than mine, it's just that if you're slow at one step, you'll be slow at every step, which is why you got beaten so badly."

That makes sense. Shan Heyuan said, "After Brother Shen returns, I'll discuss it with him and ask him not to stop there."

Jiang Zhi: "That's right. There are so many Core Formation Stage contestants during the academy's grand competition. Brother Shen, there's absolutely no need for you to hold back. It would be good for you to see the true strength of Core Formation Stage cultivator."

Jiang Zhi's words made a lot of sense, and Shan Heyuan planned to tell Shen Duheng about it when he returned.

I don't know what Shen Duheng has been up to these past few days; I haven't heard from him for several days now.

There was nothing Shan Heyuan could do except pray for his safety.

After leaving a message for Shen Duheng, Shan Heyuan remembered that she hadn't contacted Zhong Shuran in a long time.

Zhong Shuran is also a cultivator from the academy. He should have participated in the Grand Competition when he was in the academy. Even if he didn't participate, he must have seen it. Asking him might give you some advice.

Zhong Shuran somewhat surprised to receive Shan Heyuan's message, and even more surprised when he learned that Shan was going to participate in the academy's grand competition. "In the Sword Reverence Academy, can the teachers and disciples participate together?"

Shan Heyuan: "As long as they're not too old and their cultivation level isn't too high, it's fine. Many of our disciples come from major sects and have very high cultivation levels."

Zhong Shuran sighed, "Your Sword Reverence Academy is truly tolerant. If your disciples have high cultivation levels, we cultivators focused on daily life don't have an advantage."

Shan Heyuan: "I know, that's why I came to you. Do you have any suggestions? Any suggestions are fine, preferably something that can quickly improve my combat abilities in the short term."

Zhong Shuran and said, "If that's the case, there's a saying we had when we were in school: 'If you don't have the ability, make up for it with external things.'"

Shan Heyuan's heart stirred. "Tell me in detail?"

Zhong Shuran: "Actually, besides talisman masters, array masters, and weapon masters, there's another type of disciple in the academy, jokingly called 'Spirit Stone masters.' They can buy pretty good elixirs, talismans, and Law Artifact artifacts as long as they have enough Spirit Stone."

Zhong Shuran chuckled lightly, "With proper equipment, Qi Refining Realm cultivator might not necessarily lose to a Core Formation Stage cultivator. If you really want to win, you can try walking this path."

Spending Spirit Stone? Shan Heyuan repeatedly refused. "No, no, no, I'm fine with anything else, but forget about spending Spirit Stone."

Zhong Shuran: "You don't want to win?"

Shan Heyuan said sincerely, "If I can get the Flower Spirit Stone, it's okay to lose."

He participated in the competition to earn Spirit Stone, not to spend Spirit Stone.

Besides, the cultivators at the Sword Reverence Academy are all quite strong; even if he spent Spirit Stone, he might not be able to win.

So, considering all that, is it better not to take the risk?

Zhong Shuran said, "If you don't want to spend Spirit Stone, you can only rely on luck. Some people are exceptionally lucky; during the competition, their strength is average, but they encounter particularly weak opponents, and they can still win under those circumstances."

Shan Heyuan: "Don't even think about that. My luck has never been very good. But your words reminded me. I'll go look at the external objects. I think I'm starting to get an idea."

Zhong Shuran chuckled, "Then take a look, and contact me if you have any questions."

After talking with Shan Heyuan Zhong Shuran Heyuan pondered for a while.

It's definitely not going to work out at this point; he'll be focusing on practicing sword techniques to increase his attack power.

He wasn't a swordsman, and his sword skills were mediocre. He couldn't very well challenge someone else's livelihood based on his own hobby.

If you don't have the advantage in attack, what about defense?

Like Jiang Zhi, you gather a large number of Spirit Plant, command them to attack the opponent, and then hide in the back?

Unfortunately, he didn't have Jiang Zhi's ability to make Spirit Plant go berserk.

Although he could control the consciousness of the Spirit Plant using the "Return a Plum for a Peach" method, it was too slow, and the Spirit Plant's attack power was not strong to begin with, not even as strong as his. Even if he put a bunch of them up, it might not cause any trouble for the opponent.

In that case, besides Spirit Plant, are there any other methods we can use?

For several days in a row, Shan Heyuan pondered this matter. He went to the market and bought a lot of Spirit Plant seeds, and he also re-cultivated the Spirit Plant that he had at hand that were quite aggressive.

Although the competition is approaching and time is limited, making it impossible to raise the attack power of the Spirit Plant by a major level, raising it by a minor level is still possible.

Just as Shan Heyuan was pondering this matter, Shen Duheng returned.

Not only did he return, but he was also just one step away from reaching the Nascent Soul stage, facing an advancement that left his aura somewhat unstable.

Shan Heyuan's eyes widened. "You're almost at the Nascent Soul? How did you advance so quickly?"

Shen Duheng: "It's just about restoring my cultivation level, nothing serious. How's your preparation for the academy competition going?"

Shan Heyuan's attention was immediately diverted, and he said to him, "I was just about to tell you this. Could you be my sparring partner when you have time? Don't hold back this time; let me feel the pressure Core Formation Cultivator brings."

Shen Duheng smiled, "Are you sure you don't need me to hold back?"

Shan Heyuan: "No need! You just need to practice with me more. Anyway, I don't expect to beat you; I only want to beat others."

Shen Duheng: "I'm free these few days, where can I practice?"

It's definitely not feasible in the courtyard. They've planted so many Spirit Plant there; if a fight breaks out, they'll probably all be destroyed.

Open spaces outside aren't ideal either. If you get caught damaging public facilities by the Sword Reverence City Law Enforcement Team, it won't be easy to get away with it; you might even be locked up below the city walls.

Shan Heyuan was prepared. Hearing the question, he puffed out his chest and said, "Let's go to a matchmaking arena and practice."

Shen Duheng: "Let's meet tomorrow. We'll practice a few more days at the arena, and hopefully you can cram a little at the last minute."

The proverb "cramming for last minute" was Shan Heyuan had told him. Hearing him laugh, Shan Heyuan rubbed his hands together and said, "Don't be so smug. You might not be able to handle my new fighting strategy."

Shen Duheng looked surprised. "I can't handle it?"

Shan Heyuan felt deflated as he thought about the ever-widening gap in their cultivation levels.

The two are quite different in cultivation level, but they still have to go to the battle arena.

Shan Heyuan has to work during the day, so he can only book appointments in the evening.

Fortunately, they get off work relatively early, so they can practice for a long time in the evening.

After listening to Zhong Shuran's advice and fighting Jiang Zhi several times, Shan Heyuan finally decided to combine the talisman array with a set of combined attacks.

Upon arriving at the arena, the two entered the training ground, Shan Heyuan immediately began frantically throwing talismans and Spirit Plant onto the ground.

First, apply a set of defensive talismans, then a trapping formation, and then throw the newly cultivated Golden Silk Dense Moss on the ground, and then encourage the Spirit Plant seeds that have fallen on the Golden Silk Dense Moss to grow.

Shan Heyuan's actions were swift and fierce.

In the blink of an eye, a thick layer of Golden Silk Dense Moss covered the solid Hard Ice Jade ground of the training ground. Spirit herbs responsible for physical attacks, such as Ghost Bud Grass and Nine-Section Thunder Grass, grew in the first row. The stinking Bromine Stink Grass and the poisonous Blood Pool Grass grew in the second row. Then, defensive spirit herbs, such as Vine Armor Ghost Grass and Mist Grass, surrounded Shan Heyuan.