Chapter 633
Chapter 633 - 613: Echo
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9 min read
Cultivation itself is not pleasant.
The depletion of body and spirit is often the prerequisite for improvement, and most of the time one struggles without seeing any achievements... even frequently injuring oneself in the process.
Many people who are obsessed with cultivation are not actually obsessed with the process itself, but with the feeling of constantly becoming stronger... an illusion?
Reality has already proven that the pleasure derived from normal cultivation is mostly a false illusion, and that the feeling of becoming stronger every day is probably also an illusion.
"I can even see the growth of my experience points; it can’t possibly be an illusion, can it..."
Yet at this moment, Lu Ping’an might truly be the exception.
The duel is scheduled for the seventh day, so he has at most two days to make adjustments and a final "sprint to the front". His training time is once more maxed out, and the rapid experience gain is like a testament to his accomplishments.
Improvement in martial arts cannot guarantee Lu Ping’an’s victory. He knows that Hannah possesses more than just lv14 basic combat skills, and relying solely on battle-ax techniques would still give him no chance of winning.
He needs time to absorb the fighting skills and experience of the surrounding Heroic Spirit Warriors.
He needs time to complement the Abnormal Abilities of his profession after acquiring the profession tier, which he hasn’t had time to do. Those Black-iron level professional Abnormal Abilities need to be practiced at least up to Brass level to provide effective consolation on such a high-level battlefield.
He needs even more time to harmonize the relationship between his "All Things Breathing" martial arts school and the Power of Life, so that his martial arts would not be limited to a mere theory.
But clearly, he no longer has the time.
"Is there a way that I can master this martial art as soon as possible, or at least reduce its consumption? I feel that I cannot bear the aftereffects of using this ability as they are too significant."
"...." At first, in response to Lu Ping’an’s query, Big Cat did not want to speak, choosing to remain silent instead.
After Lu Ping’an repeatedly asked, she finally responded begrudgingly.
"This type of martial skill, which combines life and talent abilities, is not something you can handle at the moment... Instead of considering how to force it to be used and extending its use time, why not improve yourself first, at least get a Decree-level battle profession."
These words flustered Lu Ping’an.
It seemed that he was ahead of schedule yet again?
The Life Bank and its choices had summed up his past accumulations and found the path with the most potential and hope for him.
Although immature and young, it has indeed stepped onto the edge of a higher level.
"...To easily control this set of martial skills, dual Decree-level life system and battle profession should be the minimum requirement."
The requirements Big Cat laid out were clearly not something Lu Ping’an could achieve in the short term.
However, a hidden meaning behind these words seemed to hint that after taking this step, it would not be difficult for Lu Ping’an to obtain a Decree-level battle profession?
"So, what can I do right now?"
"...Since this set of martial skills is immature, naturally, you should improve it. You should be in a period of rapid growth at this moment, and your mind is full of its shortcomings and flaws. It’s time to look at other people’s martial arts and martial skills and try your best to absorb them..."
Although a bit sour and unhappy, Big Cat still gave the most appropriate advice.
So, for the next two days, Lu Ping’an became crazed.
He would constantly travel through the streets and alleys of this City of the Dead, constantly seeking new martial skills and inheritances. After quickly getting them appraised by Big Cat, he would do his best to observe and learn the ideas and routines of other martial skills.
He knew that within such a short period of time, it was completely unrealistic to learn it all thoroughly... Even getting started might be impossible.
However, these diverse martial arts and thousands of pathways from exotic realms, with their profound philosophies, fighting methods, and even the use of instruments and limbs, all offered Lu Ping’an completely new ideas.
When he was at the beginning of his own martial art creation, his mind filled with unformed martial skills, it was only natural for him to activate one inspiration and idea after another, and attempt to record and incorporate them into his fighting martial arts.
"Shooting can be used. That twisting skill that turns a spear into three snakes seems to be something I can completely absorb."
"I can also imitate this war-hammer set... First, imprint the ’symbol’ into the ground, and then let it explode the second time? It’s a simple idea, but it is indeed effective."
"Armor combat art... Tsk, isn’t this Hannah’s half-body armor? Maybe in a few days, I will see a more complete version."
Perhaps it was because of Hannah’s influence, or the local customs, but the local Heroic Spirit warriors were quite friendly to Lu Ping’an, especially those who shared the same origin and lineage as her.
Just the application techniques of those "symbols" alone allowed Lu Ping’an to quickly perfect his martial arts.
"Shields can be used like this?"
"Indeed. I don’t need to be attached to the form of the weapon. I can use my power more freely..."
Lu Ping’an could genuinely feel himself growing every moment, and the fact that his professional skills had unknowingly progressed from lv14 to lv16 proved that this was not an illusion.
The Life Bank had opened a crack in the door for him, and the local Heroic Spirits, with their "relics", filled that originally empty treasure trove.
Whenever Lu Ping’an asked how to repay them or if they had any unfulfilled wishes, they often just smiled, shook their heads, and replied with one sentence.
"Let’s have a spirited duel to showcase the progress you’ve made all these days, and that will be the best reflection of our departed lives."
"Being invited for a duel itself is an enormous reward."
"This very duel itself, for newcomers, is a huge opportunity."
Such statements are made about the duels in the Knight’s Secret Realm.
Merely being challenged is a great honor, and in the midst of real combat, one often receives guidance and approval from Heroic Spirits.
With both luck and strength, one might even receive a "Legacy."
However, these views and opinions actually all hint at one fact...
"From the start, did no one think I could win?"
Looking at the sunny exit of the Great Arena and hearing the thunderous cheers from the audience, Lu Ping’an prepared for this duel that seemed hopeless.
There’s no absolute victory in the world, but when the odds are so low, it’s not wrong to consider it absolute.
A duel between a Heroic Spirit Warrior of the same or even higher rank and a newcomer always carries a style of senior instructing junior, teacher guiding apprentice... In such a battlefield, how can the weaker stand a chance?
Moreover, the battlefield Lu Ping’an encountered was even more challenging... Her current strength is a far cry from what it was prior to her death.
Would the Heroic Spirit mentors go easy? After all, that "reward" is indeed important to the newcomers they value, whereas the deceased seem to need nothing.
But this is the creation of the Rust Knight’s "duel" rules, and the duel field, created by the divine position of justice, is impossible to concede.
Once the duelists enter the battlefield, a full-scale battle is the only outcome.
The metal knight entered the circular arena, looking at the other side.
There, the Golden Shark female knight, adorned in golden heavy-armor, held a pitch-black shark-tooth saw-ax. The dragon scale large shield on her back clearly was not ordinary.
Besides those, underneath her feet was a Water Dragon subspecies, and a large lance was mounted on it. In the bamboo basket at the back, there were blue-glowing spears and harpoons.
Unlike the previous golden half-armour, this time, she was blatantly armed to the teeth.
The moment she stepped into the arena, she effortlessly regained her peak condition, and her once "relic" armour returned to her hands.
"Has it started?"
And in the familiar square of the Ancient City’s Knight’s Secret Realm, suddenly, all live screens flickered and then showed the bustling arena.
The audience on-site had a puzzled expression at first, and when they realized what was happening, their hearts were filled with joy.
Apparently, the hidden rules of the Knight’s Secret Realm had been activated, and another trial for the new stars had begun. They wondered who he was up against and whether there was a possibility of victory...
The moment the two-meter-tall Golden Shark Warrior and her mount appeared, no one believed the trialist could have a chance to win.
The reason is simple: although they didn’t know the strength of the Golden Shark Warrior, her Dragon Species mount alone was at least a fifth-tier demon, and the warrior who could tame it could only be stronger.
At this point, the gates on the other side of the field opened.
A cluster of golden flames slowly walked in, and as it approached, it became clear that it was a flame-shaped beast.
𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
On top of it was an even taller silver knight, a familiar figure that had appeared seven days earlier in the same place.
"Lu Ping’an?!"
By this time, even the slowest intelligence dealer had figured out the name of the Dragon Slayer Knight.
The figure and momentum of that silver knight were in no way weaker than the lowest Decree-level Heroic Knight opposite him.
"Is he really Lu Ping’an? He’s only sixteen? No way!"
— End of Chapter 633 —