Chapter 18: 18 Battle Technique or Magic

Three wild boars intruded into the camp; Maiken cleanly and efficiently finished off one, while the remaining two saw the situation was unfavorable, turned, and fled into the Shanlin, making it unwise to pursue too deeply.

Such a clean and efficient battle drew loud cheers from the watching Guards.

Luoning examined the big fellow, which was nearly 1.5 meters long and weighed several hundred jin; while exclaiming in admiration, he was not stingy, promising that starting tomorrow, he would add a piece of meat and a bowl of meat soup to every meal for the Guards.

This would not only strengthen the Guards' physical fitness and make them more energetic in training, but also mobilize their enthusiasm once again.

After the wild boar's carcass was handed over to the Guards to clean up, Maiken came to Luoning's side.

"My Lord, after I broke through, I remembered some things again," he said respectfully.

Luoning was taken aback, "Oh? Tell me, what kind of things?"

"They are a few Battle Techniques."

As Maiken explained, he squatted down and punched the ground, and Luoning sensed a surge of energy spreading through the earth.

"Poof!"

Just then, on the ground in front, a sharp spear formed from soil thrust out from underground, moving with great speed.

Luoning could be certain that such an Earth Spear posed a huge threat to ordinary people; if they did not dodge in time, they would definitely be pierced through.

"This is a Battle Technique?"

Luoning was somewhat puzzled: "Isn't this Earth Attribute Magic?"

"Magic?"

Maiken shook his head, "Apologies, My Lord, I don't know much about Magic. But what I just used was the Earth Attribute Battle Technique, Zhuici Tuma."

Speaking of this, he revealed a look of regret, "It is said that later on, one Zhuici Tuma Battle Technique can make a large patch of ground bristle with spears, but it is a pity that my current amount of Battle Qi is insufficient, and I can only emit one Earth Spear."

Luoning nodded slowly, "So Battle Techniques can be performed like this."

He had thought that Knights used Battle Techniques by just hacking away with Knight swords or firing light waves; he never expected that they could also cause changes to the external environment.

It seems now that the Battle Qi and Magic of this world are not quite the same as he imagined.

"It looks like as your strength increases, you will awaken some memory information."

This is somewhat similar to how certain card characters in games unlock specific skills upon leveling up, "How many Battle Techniques can you use now?"

"Besides this one, I can also use the defensive 'Earth Wall' Battle Technique."

Maiken explained: "It can raise an Earth Wall in front of us to block attacks like arrows."

No wonder it is said that once a Knight reaches the Intermediate rank, their strength increases significantly; it seems that is indeed the case.

The two Battle Techniques Maiken has mastered, one for attack and one for defense, both have quite good effects.

"I don't have any other Earth Attribute Battle Techniques right now, but when there is an opportunity, I will find two for you."

Luoning encouraged Maiken, then ducked into the tent.

After this commotion, he did think about the issue of Battle Techniques and Magic.

He has both Wind and Fire attributes, and the Wushan Family is Fire attribute; when he leaves, he should find Lulansi or Weijinsi and ask for two books of Battle Techniques.

"And Magic, where can I get Magic books to study?"

Magicians are very rare; even a Marquis family does not have many Magicians pledging loyalty, at least not any that Luoning's predecessor had contact with.

"I wonder if the family has Magic books of Wind and Fire attributes."

He still needs to return to Wushan Castle, but there is no rush for this matter; he will consider it after he breaks through to the Intermediate rank. For now, he should go to Shanlin Town to see the situation first.

Moreover, the seventh-day reward in the Seven-Day Login is a Light Attribute Magician; through him, Luoning should also be able to learn some information about Magic.

As for Battle Techniques, the First Recharge Gift gives a Fire Attribute Knight, so he can learn from him when the time comes.

The night passed without incident.

Starting from the second day, the Guards' enthusiasm for participating in training soared.

For one, Luoning gave them sufficient food; besides ordinary bread, there was a piece of meat and a bowl of soup at every meal, giving them strength to train.

For another, and most importantly, with Luoning intentionally doing so, everyone believed that through these exercises, they could increase the possibility of awakening a Battle Qi Seed; those Guards under eighteen years old trained especially hard.

Of course, being serious is one thing, but people always have times of weariness and wanting to slack off.

Thus, Luoning arranged a series of punishment measures such as push-ups and squat jumps; whoever dared to slack off would be punished.

As for Luoning himself, he neither stood in military posture nor practiced footwork, but was practicing sword techniques, and at the same time, he would spar with Maiken when he had time.

Although he was mostly being beaten, his combat skills were also improving rapidly.

Just like that, another two days passed; Luoning's team advanced, practiced, and rested along the way.

It was monotonous, but the gains were great.

At least after these three days of training, the Guards could understand commands;

By using the method of punishing a whole row for one person's mistake, they had gained a bit of collective consciousness.

He believed that after training for a while longer, the effects would be even better.

As for Luoning himself, perhaps he really was a genius at swordsmanship; he could now hold out for a dozen rounds under Maiken (naturally, this was with the other party controlling their strength).

Besides this, Luoning also obtained the rewards for the fifth and sixth days of the Seven-Day Login.

The fifth day's reward was a Magic Weapon named "Liuyan Sword"; besides the sword body being high-strength and sharp, it also had Law Runes engraved on it.

According to the description, when this sword is driven by Wind and Fire attribute Battle Qi, it can produce scorching flowing flames, with powerful force.

It is just a pity that Luoning's current strength is limited; he can neither use this ability, nor does the weight of the sword allow him to swing it continuously, so he can only temporarily store the Liuyan Sword in his Space Ring.

The sixth day's reward was a Magic Beast Contract Scroll; it is said that as long as the Magic Beast does not resist, one can use the Contract Scroll to establish a Master-Servant Contract, allowing even the fiercest Magic Beast to be used for oneself.

This is a very precious item, and it is estimated that it would be hard to buy outside, but Luoning has no use for it for the time being, so he can only put it in his Space Ring first.

"In a few more hours, I will be able to claim the seventh day's reward."

Luoning was somewhat expectant; among his subordinates, there would appear a Light Attribute Magician.

Magicians are already rare, and Light Attribute ones even more so.

It is said that in other principalities, Light Attribute Magicians have saved many disaster victims and nobles by relying on Magic, and even established a Church of Light; he does not know if it is true or false.

"It's a pity, after claiming this reward, the Seven-Day Login is officially over."

This also meant that Luoning could only obtain one more loyal subordinate through the First Recharge Gift; if he wanted to expand his team further, he would have to recruit and train them in the real world.

If Luoning wanted to raise his noble rank and realize greater ambitions, relying solely on the three Transcendental beings brought by his cheat was far from enough.

Thinking of this, Luoning pinned his hopes on those few young Guards in his team; he had seen their progress with his own eyes during these past few days of training.

"Maiken, find a suitable place ahead to set up camp."

"Understood, my lord!"

Maiken spurred his horse to the front of the team, observing the conditions on both sides of the road as he moved forward.

A place suitable for resting at night only needed to satisfy one of two conditions: either the terrain had to be relatively open, or it had to be near a water source; since they carried water supplies in the wagons, satisfying one was enough.

It was just that Maiken had observed this stretch of road, and there didn't seem to be any particularly suitable locations.

As the wagon train moved forward, he suddenly pulled on the reins, signaling the Guards behind to stop the wagons.

"What is it, Captain Maiken?" the Guards behind asked with some confusion.

"There seem to be sounds of fighting ahead." Maiken tilted his head to listen, then turned his horse around to head back.

"Stay put for now; I am going to report to the Baron."

(End of this chapter)