Chapter 39 All-Out Battle with Adjutant Qian

As time passed and the training progressed, Zhao Gao finally came back to his senses and recalled what had happened earlier on.

He turned his head and reassured Ma Feifei by nodding his head. She had been watching him closely.

After that, Zhao Gao began to devote all his attention into practicing the Black Stone Fist, just like everyone else.

As he focused his attention, Zhao Gao realized how different he felt practicing the Black Stone Fist this time round.

His punches and kicks could actually ‘tear through the air’. Each move of his could cause a slight sonic boom.

Zhao Gao examined the feelings in his body and discovered the reason for this.

It turned out that the breakthrough to his Intermediate Saber Art had finally taught him how to control all his strength.

His current physical stats were as high as 24.5. This meant it was 24 times that of an ordinary person.

Take for example, an ordinary person could possibly lift 60 kilograms in three seconds.

Zhao Gao calculated that 120 kilogram multiplied by 24 times would be 2,800 kilograms.

If an ordinary person could run 100 meters in 12 seconds, the number on Zhao Gao’s system interface would be… 12 seconds divided by 24. And that would be 0.5 second.

These were all calculated conservatively. With stats points of 24.5, he was no longer purely 24 times stronger than an ordinary person.

This was a quantitative, as well as a qualitative change.

Before the breakthrough in Saber Art, Zhao Gao’s control over his body had always been about 60%.

It would go lower after he added points. It would only rise again if he worked hard to practice his saber techniques. With such control of his body, it was impossible for Zhao Gao to gauge how strong he was.

The breakthrough of the Basic Saber Art finally solved the problem of Zhao Gao’s low control over his body strength.

Being his unique skilled weapon, the Intermediate Saber Art was not only a technique to deal with enemies, it was also a technique to train his body.

It was only when he could control the strength of his entire body as his stats had reached a standard level, that he could unleash the saber light.

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“You are dismissed. Let’s have lunch!”

It was not until the carriage had come in, that Chiliarch Yu gave the order to stop training.

“How is it?” Ma Feifei leaned over and asked Zhao Gao while they were queuing up.

“It’s not bad!” Zhao Gao replied.

However, after some thought, Zhao Gao continued, “Thank you.”

Ma Feifei was stunned.

After a moment, Ma Feifei realized what that was for. It was to thank her for looking after him.

At the thought of this, Ma Feifei automatically threw Zhao Gao’s perfunctory answer to the back of her mind, and said with a wide smile, “Hehe, you’re welcome. We’re allies!”

Zhao Gao did not say anything, but in his heart, he had begun to acknowledge her as his ally.

After getting their food, the two of them sat in a corner and quietly ate their food.

The main reason for this silence was that Zhao Gao was actually a homebody who did not like to talk. Hence, he could not find anything to say.

As for Ma Feifei, she wanted to say something. But the two of them had barely known each other for less than two days. As she did not know Zhao Gao well, she could not find anything to chat about.

Hence they just sat there in silence, as they thought about their own issues. After the meal, they returned the empty bowls to the carriage. Then, they lay in a corner, in order to avoid the vicious sun while they waited to digest their food.

Very soon, Chiliarch Yu came in again.

“Gather!”

“Cross-practice Archery, begin!” “Aim!” “Shoot!” “Change!”

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As usual, they stopped training at 3 pm. She then led everyone to the stream to wash up.

As Zhao Gao walked to his usual spot, he realized that there was already someone waiting there.

Upon a closer look, he realized that it was Adjutant Qian. Adjutant Qian too, heard the commotion and turned around. As he drew his saber, Adjutant Qian said, “I had something to deal with yesterday, and was delayed from seeing you.”

“Come on! Show me how much you’ve improved!”

Zhao Gao smiled confidently, “Don’t be too surprised. I think I’ve improved a lot!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Gao instantly stamped his foot and pulled out his saber, as he sped towards Adjutant Qian.

The wind caused by his body passed him by as the air resistance could not hinder him at all.

“Clang!” In just an instant, the two sabers collided, and a crisp sound of iron colliding sounded.

“I feel it!” Zhao Gao exclaimed inexplicably as they wrestled.

Adjutant Qian, however, was aware of what was going on.

When he saw the powerful slash of Zhao Gao’s saber, he could tell that Zhao Gao’s strength had increased tremendously.

To be safe, he did not hold back at all too, when he blocked the strike.

While wrestling with their strengths, both of them could estimate each other’s strength.

There was not much difference.

This was the reason why Zhao Gao had said those words earlier on. He had seen through Adjutant Qian’s strength.

“Not bad. I didn’t expect you to improve so quickly!” Adjutant Qian retracted his saber and interrupted the wrestling. Then, he swung his saber at Zhao Gao once more. “Heh! Then I have to first thank Adjutant Qian for your guidance.” Although Zhao Gao expressed gratitude to Adjutant Qian in his heart and in his speech, he continued tl slash at him mercilessly. “Clang!”

“Whoa! Your gratitude is a burden to me! If you had worked harder, I would have been cut into pieces?” Adjutant Qian said while he blocked the attack and counterattacked fiercely.

As they talked, the two of them fought faster and faster. In that space, only the flash of blades could be seen, and the loud clashes of weapons could be heard.

“It takes one to know one!” replied Zhao Gao. He then retracted all his energy and began to immerse himself in this spar.

“Ha! Awesome! Finally, I don’t have to hold back anymore. Come on!” Adjutant Qian shouted happily as he forced Zhao Gao back.

“As you wish!”

As he spoke, Zhao Gao, with his raised saber emitting a cold light, sped towards Adjutant Qian once again. “Clang!” There was a loud bang, accompanied by sparks.

The moment Adjutant Qian blocked his saber, Zhao Gao kicked Adjutant Qian’s waist with his left foot.

Adjutant Qian calmly took two steps back to avoid Zhao Gao’s kick and subsequent attack.

Zhao Gao continued to pursue Adjutant Qian relentlessly. He held a large saber and slashed at Adjutant Qian again. “Clang! Clang! Clang!” The two of them were in no mood to think about anything else.

They were fully immersed in sparring.

The dangerous slice of the blade across their noses kept them focussed.

If any of them was distracted, the spar would end immediately.

The high-speed spar continued for an hour. “Clang!” After another collision, Zhao Gao retreated.

Zhao Gao panted heavily as he stood five meters away from Adjutant Qian. As he secretly adjusted his breathing, he said, “Adjutant Qian, from now on, you have to be careful. I haven’t shown my new breakthrough technique to anyone yet!”

Adjutant Qian was stunned. He thought, “What does he mean? Don’t tell me he has broken through to the next level of the Saber Art?”

“But he had only been practicing his saber skills for a few days. How could he…?”