Translator: CinderTL
Xia Long's match against his opponent was a completely one-sided affair.
He didn't even need to throw a single punch. Despite his opponent's desperate efforts, they couldn't break through his defenses and eventually surrendered in frustration.
The subsequent matches were so dull that Feng Qi and Lin Ran nearly dozed off.
It wasn't that the new students lacked combat prowess, but the restrictive rules prevented them from showcasing their true abilities.
In these close-quarters battles, body cultivation practitioners held a natural advantage, while students specializing in art magic were severely hampered.
Feng Qi remained, however, eager to witness the clash between Xia Long and Liu Yue.
Both were promising talents who deserved nurturing, provided they weren't werewolves.
He planned to establish a domain combat team in the future. With the domain data from the future database, he essentially possessed the "cheat codes" to conquering numerous domains.
Moreover, domains contained the resources he needed to enter the dream realm and sustain his organization.
Creating Savior would also require massive funding for art design, virtual engine development, and more.
All these expenses would ultimately be covered by the profits generated from the Domain Fields.
The most crucial element in establishing a domain combat team was strong fighters, so Feng Qi paid close attention to Liu Yue and Xia Long's performance.
As they waited, Xia Long and Liu Yue strode to the center of the training ground.
Seeing this, Feng Qi finally perked up.
"Who do you think will win?" he asked Lin Ran, turning to look at him.
"Liu Yue always carries his sword, which suggests his strength lies in swordsmanship. If they were allowed to use swords, the outcome would be uncertain. But since swords are prohibited, I think Xia Long has a clear advantage."
A smile spread across Feng Qi's face. "Then let's make a bet. You bet on Xia Long, and I'll bet on Liu Yue."
"You seem very confident in Liu Yue. What's the wager?" Lin Ran asked curiously.
"If I win, you promise to abandon your studies in cultivation arts and focus solely on art magic from now on."
Lin Ran: ...
"That's an absurdly high stake! You're betting my entire future dream! No way! Even if your wager was to personally tutor me in cultivation arts, I still wouldn't agree!" Lin Ran shook his head firmly in refusal.
"Take a gamble! A bicycle could turn into a motorcycle!" Feng Qi coaxed.
"No gamble. I'm afraid I'd lose even the bicycle." Lin Ran couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Realizing Lin Ran wouldn't take the bait, he sighed inwardly and shifted his gaze to the center of the training ground.
Liu Yue and Xia Long were already standing face-to-face in the middle of the field, sizing each other up.
After the referee instructor shouted "Begin!", neither made a move. Instead, they began to talk.
"Brother, I've watched a few of your matches. You never seem to go all out. With that sword on your back, I bet your strongest moves are sword techniques. I won't take advantage of you—I'll let you use your sword in this match."
"It won't draw its blade against its own kind," Liu Yue replied expressionlessly to Xia Long's taunt.
"What's it called?" Xia Long asked curiously.
"Jianlan!"
"A good name."
"A sword is a weapon of death, and sword techniques are killing arts. No matter how fancy the name, that's the truth. So whether the name sounds good or not doesn't matter."
"Then why not call it 'Iron Stick'? If it doesn't matter anyway," Xia Long grinned.
Liu Yue: ...
"Come on, show me what you've got. I'll let you use your sword whenever you want."
At this point, the referee instructor standing nearby couldn't help but interrupt:
"Have you two finished chatting? 'I'll let you'? Who do you think you are? Did I give permission? Can't you understand the rules about no weapons?"
Xia Long: ...
Taking a deep breath, Xia Long assumed a fighting stance. As he exerted his full strength, a layer of earthy-yellow protective qi materialized around his body.
"Attack!"
Faced with Xia Long's provocation, Liu Yue didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and thrust his index finger directly toward Xia Long's chest.
For some reason, a sudden gust of wind swept across the training ground. The ancient longsword behind Liu Yue trembled, emitting a resonant hum.
The moment Liu Yue's finger touched Xia Long's chest, Xia Long's grin froze. His face flushed crimson, then turned purple as he staggered backward several steps before regaining his balance.
He glanced down and saw a red finger-shaped mark on his chest. A searing energy radiated inward from the mark, causing waves of sharp pain that made him grimace.
"What is this?" Xia Long asked Liu Yue, his voice filled with shock.
"Sword intent!"
"What the hell is that?" Xia Long asked again, his confusion deepening.
"It's a type of momentum. If you have the talent, you might encounter it someday. My momentum is sword intent, which is why I always carry Jianlan. It's an extension of my power, my constant companion."
"I don't fully understand, but it sounds incredibly powerful. I concede."
Though he hadn't yet used his Body Refinement Combat Techniques, Xia Long, facing Liu Yue who had shattered his Body-Protecting Qi with a single strike, didn't insist on continuing. He accepted his defeat with composure.
Before leaving the arena, Xia Long couldn't resist turning back to Liu Yue and asking, "Could you let me experience your sword intent once more?"
Liu Yue nodded in response. He extended a finger toward Xia Long, and a gust of wind immediately swept through the arena. The ancient longsword behind him trembled, emitting a resonant hum.
At that moment, the chilling sword intent materialized into an invisible wave, surging toward Xia Long.
Standing rooted to the spot, Xia Long felt a stinging sensation across his skin as the wave of sword intent crashed against him. He grimaced involuntarily.
"Incredibly powerful. I have no regrets about losing. But I didn't unleash my full strength either. I hope we'll have another chance to spar someday. Next time, let's hold nothing back."
"Agreed!" Liu Yue nodded in affirmation.
After the two combatants withdrew, Feng Qi turned to Lin Ran beside him. "What exactly is this 'momentum' Liu Yue mentioned? Do you know anything about it?"
"I've heard of it, but I don't know much about it. They say it's a materialized aura. The conditions for cultivating momentum are extremely strict, requiring unwavering belief and immense willpower. In short, it's a very mystical power system."
"But because the cultivation process is so arduous and prone to causing mental breakdowns, ordinary people never even get a chance to learn the methods. I only heard about it from my teacher by chance."
"Can you find momentum cultivation methods online?" he pressed.
"Of course not. Any cultivation methods with serious risks are blocked. There's always some idiot who thinks they're a genius and tries to cultivate them, only to lose their life."
"Many seemingly rigid restrictions are actually lessons learned from repeated failures," Lin Ran explained, shaking his head.
"Brother Qi, why are you so interested in momentum? Cultivation usually requires a weapon, and you don't even have one, do you?"
"Who says I don't have a weapon?"
"Then where is it?" Lin Ran asked, his face full of confusion.
"In my dreams. It's freaking awesome!"
Lin Ran: ???
(End of the Chapter)
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