Chapter 237

The inner landscape seemed to turn black and white.

Challenging two professional-grade experts, and both Sequence Army soldiers who had mastered individual combat methods, Qin Shi indeed found himself outmatched.

His proud numerical values could not be brought to bear, and the Four Great Limits could not block the powerful foes' pincer attack from left and right.

Every exchange lasted only a few rounds before Qin Shi was thoroughly "killed."

Darkness before his eyes, start over.

Such a cycle repeated endlessly.

Like playing a hell-difficulty soulslike game.

Jiang Shijie's breakthrough ability, combined with Lin Xiong's solid defense.

When the two of them launched an offensive, it was like a mobile war fortress.

Leaving Qin Shi almost unable to find any flaw or weak point.

The most despairing thing was that these two both served in the Seventh War Corps, trained daily with tacit coordination, and even their combat methods could cooperate with each other, unleashing a massive effect greater than the sum of its parts.

"The true stage of the New Martial Arts is indeed the great battlefield. Manifesting troop types through tactics!"

Qin Shi had died miserably dozens of times in total, his consciousness sea like an emptied water pool, falling into a listless state.

He paused "Overlapping Armor," panting heavily, operating the Xu Kong Meditation Method.

That ancient mirror reflected his self, adjusting spiritual fluctuations, guaranteeing his mind remained constantly calm.

"Don't you think this way of taking a beating is too slow?"

Super Xiao He, returning from mining with a pickaxe on his shoulder, came back under that great tree, side-glancing at Qin Shi sprawled on the ground in a four-limbs-splayed heap, looking like he had overexerted his spirit.

The latter could barely even move a finger, asking lazily:

"Then what do you say I should do?"

Super Xiao He offered a scheme, leaning in:

"Your mental realm is different from the past; since you've already marked the target, why not project a few more copies? Getting beaten by two people, you die once; getting beaten by a crowd, you still only die once."

Qin Shi's temple veins throbbed; what a rotten idea.

Two are hard enough to handle; a crowd wouldn't that mean instant death the moment I show my head?

"Anyway, you're just using Overlapping Armor to raise values, thereby lighting up the 'Bing Fa Combat Method' nodes; win or lose, there's not much difference."

Super Xiao He coaxed patiently.

"Back then, He Lanchan trained himself this way. Using the Xu Kong Ancient Mirror to reflect seven or eight enemies at once, enjoying the thrill of being gang-beaten.

I remember at the moment his spirit broke through to Manifest Saint, he once reflected over a hundred 'Qi Wuxiang,' nearly shattering his consciousness sea."

Fight a hundred Qi Wuxiang?

The corner of Qin Shi's mouth twitched.

Looks like Lao He really does treat Qi Wuxiang as a lifelong arch-enemy.

The first thing upon spirit Manifesting Saint was to reflect his old rival, wanting to show off his might.

"Let me rest a bit, then later I'll arrange a spar with the real person to verify the results."

Qin Shi let out a long breath, exiting the inner landscape.

Roughly two hours of entry into samadhi left his spirit extremely fatigued.

The swirling mist permeating the room surged toward his mortal body like a long whale sucking water.

The originally drowsy Qin Shi suddenly shuddered, his eyes gradually brightening.

The Nanhuang Dojo's custom Spirit-Cultivation incense had extraordinary effect; strand by strand it entered his chest and abdomen through the nasal cavity, like clusters of heat currents dispersing, awakening the silent flesh vitality, feeding back into the consciousness sea.

After resting about forty minutes, Qin Shi recovered his state to eighty percent.

He fished out his mobile terminal, sending a message to his agent Lin Yunqing.

【Qin Shi: Teacher Lin, are you still in Tai'an?】

Less than twenty seconds.

【Ruanruan Tu: I am. Heard you're back, when are you coming out to eat together?】

【Qin Shi: Has Teacher Lin been busy lately? Heard you're working on your graduation thesis?】

He chatted indifferently.

Lin Yunqing was a fourth-year student in the Spiritual Ability Department of Qiguang Heng University.

This year she would face graduation issues.

Unlike the Martial Path, which values development of life force and mastery of practical teaching materials.

The Spiritual Path cares more about spirit excavation, honing the mind, the "depth" of diving into the Netherworld, which determines whether scores are high or low enough to pass.

Even for a major choosing archaeology like Lin Yunqing, the same assessment in this aspect must be completed.

【Ruanruan Tu: Nope nope, it's all pretty much done, I'm free anytime!】

【Ruanruan Tu: Soybean little man grinning. JPG】

【Qin Shi: Want to ask Teacher Lin to act as my agent, to set up a match with the Seventh War Corps Wind Scythe Sequence Army's Lin Xiong.】

【Ruanruan Tu: A duel?】

【Qin Shi: Sparring. He ow me a request.】

【Ruanruan Tu: Got it! Are you preparing to break through to professional-grade?】

【Qin Shi: Mm.】

【Ruanruan Tu: Soybean little man admiring. JPG】

【Ruanruan Tu: Go for it! At the Star Cup, beat Yu Li hard for me!】

Qin Shi replied a final "Okay," then put away the mobile terminal.

He did not tell Lin Yunqing that he had already met Yu Li once, and had "exchanged blows" with him.

Since I agreed to the other party, to teach a lesson to that one who is first in the Star Cup youth group, the vanguard of the new generation peers.

Then I absolutely must accomplish it before speaking.

"Tripod stance! Only the Mortal Body numerical values need to increase, to bear these inheritances!"

Qin Shi inhaled fiercely on one hand, powerful traction force causing the Spirit Cultivation incense to rapidly shorten; on the other hand he used Inner Vision on himself, looking at the inheritance seals that seemed engraved inside his body.

Currently speaking, the "Xu Kong Meditation Method" yields the greatest progress, followed by Hundred Aspects Refine Momentum and the Body Tempering Furnace.

They seem like three runes orbiting and moving; if the "Soldier Conquest Combat Method" is raised to three hundred layers, it can form a perfect four-pillar structure supporting the Mortal Body.

……

……

"I'm to be that kid's sparring partner?"

At the Old Factory Street guesthouse, Lin Xiong's burly body lay on the small bed, muttering:

"What's up? That kid still plans to cram at the last minute, enter the Professional Domain? Even if he's Professional-grade, there's no way he can beat Old Jiang you."

Lin Xiong's gaze moved to Jiang Shijie; it was very obvious the other party's strength was deeply recognized.

"Hard to say, I had Hai La check Qin Shi's battle record; he basically hasn't lost."

Jiang Shijie pondered, tone drifting:

"Since he could take first place in Hengzhou local, it shows not only high talent, but practical combat ability is necessarily not bad. And he has a record of breaking through the Professional Barrier; the opponent was Central City Education Bureau's Zhou Yuanchen."

Wu Yong sat on the ground; he and Lin Xiong played finger-guessing and lost, so he could only sleep on the floor.

Three big men crammed in the guesthouse room; it was hard to believe they were the Seventh War Corps Wind Scythe Sequence Army's elite vanguard.

"Zhou Yuanchen at that time had just entered the Professional Domain, hadn't even formed a Domain yet. Old Jiang you're different; you're almost done fully condensing and refining your characteristic.

Anyway I don't believe it; our Seventh War Corps' elite blades, can't even beat a high school student? That

makes no sense... speaking of which, can't we really change to a better hotel? This room is small like a tin can, hard to even turn around."

Wu Yong complained.

"Travel expenses are limited."

Jiang Shijie shrugged; he was the one with the best background among the three, and staying in a guesthouse was nothing new to him.

"The three of us pool together, it's about a hundred thousand. Old Li sacrificed; his family only has a younger sister left with no one to care for her, she still has to go to university..."

Wu Yong shut his mouth; their squad originally had six people.

In the encirclement battle cooperating with the Great Expedition, two sacrificed, one severely wounded and retired.

This is the norm within the War Corps.

The Great Expedition lasting several thousand years, its intensity is beyond imagination; the casualty rate naturally remains high.

Later a rule was passed down.

Any War Corps soldier conscripted would have gold clasps, silver clasps, and bronze clasps struck on their uniform collar according to years of service and personal merit.

On the uniform collar strike gold clasps, silver clasps and bronze clasps.

A Zhanshi who can obtain more than five silver clasps.

Can be called a hundred-battle fierce soldier who crawled out of hell.

If they obtain three gold clasps, that is simply a super iron man.

Even the division's Jiang Jun-level must give respect.

The Great Expedition forged New Dongxia's abundant martial virtue and iron-blooded military soul.

Allowing no one to shake it.

In any War Corps, to gain true heartfelt recognition, whether the halo brought by family background or the reputation provided by famous schools, none are as useful as solid war merit!

"Old Lin, you go probe the bottom. I always feel that kid is weird; he spans two paths, both Spirit Cultivation and Mortal Body physical body haven't fallen behind."

Wu Yong pillowing his hands on the back of his head, encouraged Lin Xiong:

"If the three of us all return defeated, going back to the Sequence Army, who knows how we'll be laughed at. Old Jiang must preserve our dignity, and even the Seventh War Corps' dignity."

Lin Xiong seemed inspired, sat up from that creaking wooden bed, put on shoes preparing to go out.

But he had just lifted his butt when Wu Yong on the floor rolled onto the mat, saying leisurely:

"Go quick, come back quick; use some restraint in your strikes, don't break the person. That Grandmaster at Nanhuang Dojo, on the Galaxy Combat Power Ranking can kill into the top fifteen, very terrifying."

Looking at Wu Yong lying on his own bed, Lin Xiong raised his fist threateningly:

"If you dare take off your pants to sleep, we'll pinch you to death!"

……

……

Lin Xiong got into that Han Hai Conqueror; the driver was a beautiful woman.

He sat upright properly, and didn't speak much; the Seventh War Corps' military discipline is strict, few of that soldier-rascal type.

Delivered to the Nanhuang Dojo doorway, Lin Xiong got out and strode toward the doorway, just happening to encounter an ordinary middle-aged man.

The other party was of medium build, bronze-colored skin, crew cut mixed with sparse white hair.

Lin Xiong took an extra look at him; for some reason his whole body felt like it was electrocuted, a chill rising from his tailbone.

From a burly, mighty gorilla captain, instantly turning into a puffed-up kitten.

"Which War Corps?"

Lao Liang raised his head and glanced.

"Seventh War Corps, Wind Scythe Sequence Army!"

Lin Xiong subconsciously clicked his heels together, toes naturally splayed, as if facing a superior officer's questioning.

"Third-grade Zhanshi, still passable. Who are you looking for?"

Lao Liang asked again.

"That... come be a sparring partner for Qin Classmate."

Lin Xiong was also confused; why had his momentum inexplicably fallen a head shorter.

"Go on, go on. The Seventh War Corps' individual combat strength... hmph, passable, enough to use."

Lao Liang looked at Lin Xiong's large frame, thought for a moment, and took back the four-word evaluation "ordinary goods."

He also had a few old acquaintances in the Seventh War Corps, so he had to give some face.

"Right, is Zhao Han still at the Seventh War Corps Division Headquarters?"

Lao Liang asked again.

"Instructor Zhao just retired last year because his old injuries flared up; he went back to Haizhou to recuperate."

The confusion in Lin Xiong's heart grew even heavier.

What background does this uncle have?

He actually knows the Seventh War Corps' "Cannon God" Instructor Zhao?

"He's also reached the age; it's time to properly enjoy retirement."

Lao Liang felt a sense of loss; the familiar faces he knew back then have probably all retired one by one.

He waved his hand and strode out of the Nanhuang Dojo.

Just taught Xiao Qin the individual combat methods; wonder if they can be used.

"The Taian Metropolitan Area truly has a bit of a 'crouching tiger, hidden dragon' feel."

Lin Xiong hadn't expected that just going out the door he'd run into an uncle suspected to be a War Corps veteran.

This little interlude over, he was led by Xuan Ming to the training room.

That metal room, vast as half a football field, Qin Shi wore training clothes; having experienced death dozens of times, his eyes carried killing intent toward everyone he looked at.

"This kid has such sharp edge!"

Lin Xiong's heart jumped, and he couldn't help but grin.

"Now this is interesting!"

He slammed left fist against right palm heavily and asked:

"How do you want to train?"

Qin Shi loosened his mortal body; bundles of muscle slowly activated, making his training clothes ripple with undulating waves, joints crackling crisply, exceptionally clear.

"Finished showing off! You little brat!"

Lin Xiong stomped his foot; unlike the Martial Path tournament fighters, he didn't need to assume a power-gathering stance.

He directly leapt into a sprint; the incomparably thick metal floor shook violently, like a cannon shell crashing down!

New Martial Arts, Military Martial Arts School, Heavy Cannon Step!

Like a burly gorilla's figure, seemingly springing into motion!

His whole body resembled a solid iron ball shot from a cannon barrel, stirring up fierce wind pressure!

Five fingers clenched tight into a fist; under the terrifying force exertion, muscles rapidly swelled, tearing and bursting open the taut cuffs!

"Blow you up!"

An elite combat soldier like Lin Xiong had no concept of martial virtue in his head.

In a fight, whoever's left standing is the winner!

"This kind of opening, I've seen sixteen times."

Qin Shi's hair flew; his mortal body instinctively operated the Self-Cultivation Furnace; scorching breath steamed and surged, as if a vast power was pulling him, letting him shift laterally.

Bang!

Airflow exploded with a roar, like two raging waves shooting out!

"Qin Shidi's rate of progress is fast to the point of terror."

Ren You, watching from a corner of the arena, stared at the constantly flashing blurred afterimages.

Like two continuously accelerating lines chasing each other, colliding with each other.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang——

Qin Shi and Lin Xiong staged a most pure melee combat; utterly without flashy ultimate moves, using fists, feet, knee joints, elbow joints, to exchange heavy blows.

As if two ultimate weapons, displaying lethality through every method!

Amidst this rapid entanglement and clash, Qin Shi's breathing remained steady.

His mortal body's hundred bones steamed and sprayed thick intense heat; the loose training clothes dragged out white phantoms, trying to press down Lin Bear's wildly pouring offensive.

"His domain is... counter-shock?"

In just under two minutes, Qin Shi and Lin Xiong exchanged blows several hundred times; the entire room was filled with intense sounds.

As the second hand moved on, he gradually discovered the speed at which his body's hundred bones dissolved and transformed Lin Xiong's fist and foot force was getting slower and slower.

Every time his mortal body exerted force, muscles and bones would tremble and vibrate, like a large block of struck steel buzzing.

"My punches are slower than before, movement is also slower..."

Qin Shi felt his four limbs as if being torn, shredded, gradually unable to maintain unity.

"A professional-grade domain is truly hard to deal with!"

During the Combat Retrospection process, whenever Lin Xiong and Jiang Shijie unleashed their professional-grade exclusive domains, Qin Shi could only regretfully lose.

"A tank with counter-armor is indeed troublesome!"

Qin Shi took a deep breath; the Self-Cultivation Furnace roared; scorching hot white mist like silk ribbons floated and spiraled, slowly dispersing.

His feet suddenly stomped the ground; the metal floor shook continuously; the atmosphere was like a tsunami!

"A countermeasure devised from dying over a dozen times! Let's test the effect!"

Qin Shi's right palm pinched out a punch eye, swallowing wind and fire heart momentum, as if upholding the blazing sun, striking at Lin Xiong who, relying on the Pure Rigid Whale Armor, tanked any offensive head-on.

The latter originally didn't take it to heart, about to straighten up and meet it head-on; his Professional Level Field absolutely could not be shattered bare-handed by Qin Shi.

But as that punch was about to descend, Lin Xiong's Facial Color changed drastically!

"How could this be!"

He hurriedly clasped his hands around his head, protecting his face, his burly frame shrinking and curling up.

Boom!

Qin Shi's Four Great Limits inside his body were squeezed to the limit, the Three Gates of Tendons and Bones, Skin activated, swallowing Lin Xiong's rebounding Qi Jin in one breath.

Inside the Ru Shen Ti it was like throwing in explosives, a hum sounded, about to blast the Bai Gu into shattering.

Yet in a split second, he operated the Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum, seizing this power!

Borrowing the Punch Eye he struck out suddenly!

So perilous, so mighty!

It stunned even Lin Xiong, forcing him to directly Switch to defensive mode!

Bang!

The burly frame braced tightly, like a reef standing in the river center.

But it didn't last long before his back slammed heavily into the metal Wall surface.

Hard-pressed into a human-shaped indentation!

(Chapter End)