Chapter 484: The Elder

Looking at Qin Lao's hopeful eyes, Jiang Cheng was at a loss.

"Qin Lao, it's not that I don't want to teach you, but the way I defeat the Big Chief, you might not be able to."

"If you don't tell me the method, how would I know whether I can use it?" Qin Lao urged, "Quick, quick, quick, tell me exactly how you did it!"

"Psychic Weapon."

Jiang Cheng spat out the four words.

"You're using a Psychic Weapon?" Hearing this, Qin Lao grabbed Jiang Cheng's hand, slipped, and his whole body wilted like a frost‑bitten eggplant.

Although he is a Second Level Force Master, his Spiritual Power hasn't reached Grandmaster level; in fact, he doesn't even have the Level 10 Spirit Thought Master rank, only an Eight-level Spirit Thought Master.

The Virtual Combat System only has the function of compressing realms, not of elevating them.

Here's the simplest example.

When he enters Challenge Mode, he can compress the strength of a Second Level Force Master down to a Level 10 Force Warrior, putting him on the same starting line as the Supreme challengers.

However, he can never raise an Eight-level Spirit Thought Master's Spiritual Power to Level 10, since that would be meaningless.

The Virtual Combat System lets participants push their real‑world strength to the limit, rather than granting them abilities they don't possess; otherwise it could backfire, causing people to become addicted to illusion, like a net‑game.

"Indeed, Qin Lao," Jiang Cheng said apologetically.

Qin Lao's talent in Spiritual Power is essentially nonexistent.

Moreover, his talent in Force cultivation is not high compared to others; at his age he's only a Second-Level Grandmaster, and that's likely his ceiling.

Within the Base, young Grandmasters are everywhere; stronger ones like Captain Shen and Principal Xu are Eight-level and Ninth-level Grandmasters, the pillars of Hope City.

"Even so, how did you defeat the Big Chiefs?" Qin Lao asked curiously.

After all, the Base also has many Spirit Grandmasters; when they take on challenges they surely use Psychic Weapons as their main attack. Why couldn't they succeed while Jiang Cheng could?

"It's not some unexpected method," Jiang Cheng smiled and explained that he used multiple Psychic Weapons.

Qin Lao's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of the method; he just couldn't believe Jiang Cheng could actually do it.

"In short, that's the method, but it doesn't work for everyone, especially those whose Spiritual Power hasn't met the requirement," Jiang Cheng whispered.

"Indeed."

A bitter smile flickered at Qin Lao's mouth.

To reach this point, at minimum the Spiritual Power must reach Level 10 Spirit Master, right?

However, for many, attaining a Level 10 Spirit Thought Master is easy, but controlling several Psychic Weapons whose levels match one's Spiritual Power all at once is hard.

"But Qin Lao, you needn't lose heart."

Jiang Cheng encouraged, "There are many ways to defeat the Big Chiefs. You can use Psychic Weapons, you can use Blade Techniques. In a few days we'll spar; perhaps soon you'll be able to defeat the Big Chiefs with a Blade Technique."

Qin Lao was startled, looking at Jiang Cheng, "You mean, by sparring with you in Blade Technique I could defeat the Big Chiefs?"

"Maybe so," Jiang Cheng blinked.

The proficiency of the Psychic Weapon is already complete.

If he still wants to keep training the Psychic Weapon, it's not impossible, but the weapon's grade must be raised.

Of course, within the Virtual System one can choose any weapon; not only fourth‑grade high‑level ones, but also fifth‑grade, sixth‑grade, can be selected.

Thus, there's no need to worry about lacking Contribution Points in reality and being unable to buy high‑grade Psychic Weapons.

Besides that, another option is to set it aside temporarily and cultivate Blade Technique.

Jiang Cheng chose the latter; having many skills doesn't weigh one down.

These past days, his Shadowless Blade Technique reached the Great Achievement Realm, and he successfully defeated the Big Chief with it.

If Qin Lao can trade blows with him, there is a chance to defeat the Big Chief, though only a chance, because the Big Chief's footwork is also Perfect‑level among Force Warriors; if Qin Lao's footwork doesn't reach Perfect level, he'll be at a severe disadvantage in close combat.

Seeing Jiang Cheng winking at him, Qin Lao's reaction was instant, nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice.

"Alright, alright, it's settled. When you return from your mission, we'll go to the Base to spar; if I have any shortcomings, you must point them out."

"Agreed." Seeing Qin Lao's earnest expression seeking guidance, Jiang Cheng gave a firm nod, and before leaving he specifically asked the former to keep it secret.

"Don't worry." Qin Lao patted his chest, "Today's matter is known to heaven and earth, you know, I know; no third person will know, though."

He then added, "Your identity—since I can guess it, others might guess it too, so you can't hide it for long."

"That's true."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

His consecutive defeat of two Supremes became a heavyweight news in the Base, causing quite a stir; many were curious to investigate his identity, while others remained unmoved.

But when he defeated all thirteen Supremes, even those who already had records of beating several Supremes couldn't sit still, frantically probing who he was.

True Martial is such a good thing; who would dislike having more? So he definitely aims to defeat all Supremes.

"How long you can hide it is how long it lasts, I guess."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile, "Other than that, there's no better method, is there?"

"Indeed, I'm a bit eager to see that day," Qin Lao's face showed a smug smile.

After all, Jiang Cheng was the one he strongly recommended to recruit into Hope City.

At the time, he only thought Jiang Cheng was an outstanding Refining Alchemy master, never imagining his combat talent was equally astonishing.

After bidding farewell to Qin Lao, Jiang Cheng walked toward home, thinking that Qin Lao truly was a loyal elder.

In their earlier conversation, he never mentioned which Secret Martial Arts he chose after his successful challenge.

If it were an ordinary person, with such a close friendship, they'd inevitably ask; curiosity is universal.

Going further, they'd subtly express what they wanted.

After all, one Secret Martial Art can only be cultivated up to a few Grandmaster levels and costs many Contribution Points to exchange, while the other, coming from a Supreme, can be cultivated from Level One to Level 10 Grandmaster without spending money; even a fool knows which to choose.

But Qin Lao never mentioned a single word about it.

He probably knows that saying so would make things difficult for him.

(End of chapter)