"For someone like you who enjoys aggressive, adventurous techniques, you should at least learn the ’Combustion Technique.’
The instructor from the Underworld training camp cast a sidelong glance at Qin Shi and continued:
"With your ability, you could definitely become a Spiritual Ability assassin."
Qin Shi nodded. The ’Combustion Technique’ was a defensive method developed by Han Qingyu, the commander of the Sixth Battle Group, and is almost becoming a ’mandatory course’ in the Southwest United.
Previously, a scout named Wu Yong from the Wind Scythe Sequence Army of the Seventh Battle Group demonstrated it, but his practice was shallow and not proficient enough to show its true power.
If Qin Shi had mastered the ’Combustion Technique’ when facing the Human-faced Spider priest chief Nathan, the battle wouldn’t have been so ’tough,’ and he wouldn’t have suffered the pain as though pierced by thousands of arrows.
"Kid, can you give me a hint? Exactly how much Life Force do you have?"
Fu Lei couldn’t hold back his curiosity; Qin Shi had been under his watch for so long without revealing any weaknesses.
The fact that Qin Shi made it out of the Human-faced Spider’s lair unharmed confirmed that his Life Force had definitely surpassed the hundred-point mark, entering the Specialized Level.
"Instructor, geniuses aren’t limited by common sense. Even before reaching one hundred points, I could crush a Specialized Level Ninth Rank with one hand."
Qin Shi’s tone was calm as if he was discussing something ordinary.
This confidence made Fu Lei’s face twitch, his features cracking like porcelain, causing instant pain that made him grimace.
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Fu Lei regretted not pushing the intensity harder when Qin Shi first entered the Underworld training camp.
As they chatted and healed, about twenty minutes passed before Fu Lei could stand, barely regaining his ability to move.
However, his body remained charred, like a charcoal piece in a furnace, standing in the dreary polluted area resembling natural ’camouflage,’ making him hard to spot at first glance.
"What’s up with your captain? Where did they go?"
Qin Shi cast a sidelong glance at Ye Xiaotang.
The latter quickly initiated a mental link to call Long Qiuyuan, but it was like a disconnected line, with no response.
Qin Shi frowned, sensing something amiss; his Sea of Consciousness rippled slightly, and his Spiritual Telekinesis seemed touched, drawing his gaze to a certain spot.
The unstable spatial structure cracked and shattered as if an illusion, revealing a human silhouette.
His wild hair seemed unwashed for many days, matted into clumps, and his tattered robe barely covered him.
With a frail, withered body and dull eyes, he appeared an old man at the end of his life.
But Qin Shi thought otherwise; he activated his [Insight] achievement, revealing an extremely high threat level.
An intense aura of darkness surged around the figure, rolling like tides, almost tangible.
The old man lifted his hand as if grabbing a chick, clutching Long Qiuyuan’s slender neck, his voice weak:
"Are you looking for this little girl? I just wanted to ask for directions, but she wasn’t very cooperative."
Specialized Level Fifth Rank? Fourth Rank?
Qin Shi’s pupils contracted, unsure of the old man’s true combat power.
The man seemed a vast, unfathomable black hole, absorbing Energy Factors infiltrating from the Netherworld.
"A genius that’s truly rare to see."
The old man casually released Long Qiuyuan, expressing some disdain, akin to a sweets lover tasting salty tofu pudding.
"This girl is uninteresting, old, with low potential and a dim future. You’re different, fresh and tender."
Qin Shi shivered all over, his body reacting as if stimulated, instinctively tightening his pores.
The old man’s gaze seemed substantial, like a chilly snake crawling over, inducing horror.
"Old guy, beware of breaking your teeth."
Qin Shi’s eyes grew cold as he grasped the Perfect Level Electric Shock Saber, his spirit exceptionally focused.
"Young man, not much skill, but a big mouth."
The old man opened his mouth in a smile, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth, as that decaying body moved.
Fu Lei sensed things going awry and issued a warning, but it got drowned by a thunderous boom.
A large pit appeared where the old man stood, with thick web-like cracks spreading around.
He crossed a thousand meters in one step, his frail elderly body moving like rolling thunder, tearing through the atmosphere, landing beside Qin Shi.
His chicken claw-like hand pressed toward Qin Shi’s shoulder, containing a precise gripping Secret Technique.
"Such fast movement speed!"
Qin Shi didn’t rely on his eyes to track; he had a Life Magnetic Field, so as soon as the old man entered its zone, he’d be detected at once.
Thus, he made a preemptive dodge, his upright stance seemingly vanishing into thin air, letting the old man grasp empty space.
Qin Shi swiftly sidestepped, then the Perfect Level Electric Shock Saber scraped against the Black Scabbard, like holding thunder, swinging to slay!
Under the surge of immense Life Force, the thunder’s power soared, spreading far and wide!
The old man hadn’t expected Qin Shi’s quick reaction, and took Qin Shi’s sword slash head-on!
It was like a hammer smashed a copper wall, sparking a trail of fire.
The old man wasn’t cleaved in two with flesh flying, but was hit so hard that he was knocked backward!
"Young man, quite a bit of strength you got there!"
From the old man’s forehead to his abdomen, a grim crack appeared, several centimeters deep. Yet no blood flowed, and no organs fell out.
Only a thick, mud-like black mist surged rapidly, healing the wound.
"This old guy! Just like me, spanning two paths!"
Qin Shi felt a shiver in his heart, realizing he had met a formidable enemy.
It must be noted, the Perfect Level Electric Shock Saber was a "special weapon" bestowed by a pillar-level blessing.
Currently, those who can withstand a single strike are exceptionally rare.
"Young man, your sword technique is fierce, but this old man’s bones are just as sturdy!"
The old man laughed heartily, his thin, withered body suddenly expanded, becoming robust and brawny.
It seemed as though he absorbed the powerful force of Qin Shi’s sword swing, making even the wrinkles on his face diminish by a few lines.
"Qin, this guy is one of the oldest esotericists in the polluted zone. He was formerly a War General, now allied with Chaos, primarily cultivating the ’Planet Battle Body’, following the horizontal training path!"
Qin Shi suddenly realized, no wonder his mortal body was so tough, he was actually a skilled practitioner of the War General Level horizontal training.
"He spans two paths, opening the Sea of Consciousness, receiving Chaos blessings, characteristics of ’Immovable Force’.
Any strike against him can be transformed into his own ’force’, and it stacks with his Battle Body armor! The more you hit, the tougher it gets, a true old turtle."
Qin Shi raised an eyebrow, nodding in agreement.
The term "old turtle" fits perfectly!
"Not quite pleasant, the way you speak."
The old man named "Reingar" by Chaos dug into his ear, the terrifying wound that nearly tore his mortal body finally healed completely.
His gaze shifted swiftly to Fu Lei, his spirit solidified in an instant, like a heavy hammer striking!
Fu Lei, who had just slightly recovered, instantly became like a cut-off kite, soaring high and then falling heavily.
"Young people don’t understand respecting the old. When I was in service, you were still peeing in mud."
Reingar chuckled, his mouth full of yellow teeth, his old face, combined with that decaying aura, like a thousand-year-old zombie crawling out of the coffin, sending shivers down the spine.
"This fellow isn’t much either, old and frail, far inferior to you.
Rare to meet a young one on the same path as me, and so young too, really makes one envious.
If I were as fresh and impressive as you back then, why would I have to submit to Chaos and become a lackey."
Qin Shi responded calmly:
"Practice more if you’re weak, old man. Being elderly and acting bitter is quite laughable."
His few words were far more aggressive than Fu Lei’s "old turtle", causing Reingar’s face to instantly darken.
"How can you understand the torment of the years that wear you down, stuck with no progress! Even someone as exceptional as the Nine Marshals can’t withstand the erosion of time!"
Reingar seemed agitated, his wrinkles bunching up as he glared at Qin Shi.
Soon enough, he revealed a sinister smile again:
"It’s alright, young man. You can slice me a few more times, I promise I’ll stand still, let you cut me till despair!"
Qin Shi glanced at Ye Xiaotang, then looked towards the ragged, homeless-looking Reingar.
"Of course. Your sword may be of high quality, but it utterly fails against me, incapable of being effective."
Reingar was full of confidence, hands behind his back, signaling Qin Shi to bring it on.
The greatest pleasure in his descent into the Chaos Faction, becoming an esotericist, was to personally destroy the confidence and pride of young talents.
Qin Shi stomped heavily on the ground, causing the surface to ripple and crack, his figure rushing forward like a wild storm, wrapped in viscous airflow, charging right at Reingar.
The latter was unmoved, allowing Qin Shi to unleash his attack techniques, certain that the opponent couldn’t deliver a deadly strike.
Immense Force characteristic stacked with Planet Battle Body armor, even at the pinnacle of the third energy level, could not lead to his demise!
Yet to Reingar’s surprise, Qin Shi did not strike directly at the vital points but opened his hands, making a seizing gesture, pinning him firmly in place!
"Afraid I’ll escape?"
But not long after, he saw in the distant sky, a golden bullet flying at an extraordinarily slow pace, like an old grandma crossing the street!