Chapter 175: Chapter 164 Extreme Kill
"Any suggestions?" Zhou Leng asked in a low voice.
Li Yuanhe said, "The current Grand Marshal of the Dragon Country’s Demon City Army, Martial Saint Huang Xuan Pavilion, hails from the Sea Suppression Army. If you gain experience in the West Sea Demon City, it might be somewhat useful when you encounter problems."
Zhou Leng understood that he wanted him to acquire more means for securing his livelihood.
The Demon City Army is the general designation for the military of the Dragon Country.
The Demon City Army encompasses various large armies such as the Sea Suppression Army, Northern Suppression Army, and others, guarding the territories of the Human Race.
The Sea Suppression Army is responsible for the East China region surrounding the West Sea Demon City, and the Seventh Division of the Shuizhou Demon City is officially called the Sea Suppression Army’s Seventh Division.
"Alright, in a few days, I will visit the front lines of the West Sea Demon City. The last time I fought the Sea Sirens, it wasn’t satisfying." Zhou Leng said.
As the two were conversing, a familiar voice sounded.
"Xiaozhou."
Zhou Leng looked in the direction of the voice.
"Elder Song." Zhou Leng and Li Yuanhe responded in unison.
"You two know each other?"
"We’ve been neighbors and grew up together." Li Yuanhe replied with a smile.
Song Juesi nodded with a smile and looked at Zhou Leng, "After your lunch break, you plan to battle with five others continuously?"
"Yes."
"Then let’s spar a bit now. Last time, we only compared True Qi. This time, let’s compare external skill techniques."
Zhou Leng instantly understood Elder Song’s intention to offer him guidance.
"Thank you, Elder Song, for the guidance," Zhou Leng said.
Song Juesi waved with a smile, "You surpass me in terms of Qi, so it doesn’t count much as guidance. Come on, let’s find a Martial Arts Room."
Zhou Leng nodded and said, "Third Brother, you come along too."
Li Yuanhe did not respond, looking towards Song Juesi.
Song Juesi smiled and said, "Then let’s all join in."
"Thank you, Elder Song," Li Yuanhe quickly cupped his fists in gratitude.
Elder Song led the two into a large Martial Arts Room, over 500 square meters in size.
Aside from a few cushions and other items, the room was otherwise empty.
Song Juesi smiled and said, "We’ll start with the most basic unmoving stance technique fight, but make sure to control your strength. My old arms and legs aren’t what they used to be..."
"I will definitely hold back," Zhou Leng replied.
"Good."
The two stood facing each other, not moving their feet, attacking one another.
Zhou Leng controlled his Power and True Qi at the Late Stage of Blood Transport, engaging in attack and defense with Song Juesi.
Initially, both were merely probing.
Before long, their four arms were like intertwining serpents, continuously colliding and clashing against each other, creating a chaotic noise.
But after every dozen or so moves, Song Juesi could break the move and touch Zhou Leng’s body, then retract his hand.
Zhou Leng noted this move and then attacked again.
The two exchanged over three hundred moves, with Song Juesi starting to pant heavily, at which point Zhou Leng withdrew his hand.
"What have you gained?" Song Juesi asked.
Zhou Leng thought for a moment, recalling the important combat scenes from before.
"There are things you only realize when facing you."
"For instance, when I strike with my left arm, as long as it’s slightly too far, you can find a flaw and strike my body."
"It’s not just once or twice, but four times. Even when I intentionally paid attention later, you still managed to hit me."
"This indicates that when using my left arm at such a distance and similar angle of attack, either my understanding is flawed, or my defensive capabilities are lacking..."
"Moreover, my deceptive moves lack appropriate force and speed. Several times, although they were meant to be feints, I was forced to make them real, giving you an opportunity..."
Zhou Leng slowly spoke of what he learned, occasionally pausing to record in the Demonized Watch.
Li Yuanhe, standing beside, also listened attentively, recalling the combat between the two.
After Zhou Leng finished, Song Juesi had him list the issues one by one.
Then, Song Juesi let Zhou Leng find ways to remedy and follow up on them himself.
Next, the two sparred using the remedial improvements.
As a result, in ten bouts, Song Juesi still broke his moves eight times.
Some were due to incorrect improvements, others due to the body not adapting after alterations.
If the improvement was wrong, Zhou Leng continued refining it and then kept trying moves.
After going through dozens of iterations, Zhou Leng gradually rectified most flaws, but there remained three that he couldn’t overcome.
Song Juesi looked at Li Yuanhe, "Xiaoli, what do you think about these three moves?"
Li Yuanhe pondered for a moment and shared his thoughts.
"The first problem Zhou Leng has can’t be corrected quickly due to years of misunderstanding. His body is accustomed to it, requiring at least two to three months to change..."
"His second issue is purely due to a lack of experience. Once he’s on the battlefield and gets wounded a few more times, he’ll be able to correct it..."
"The third problem, I can’t grasp either, but I feel it’s a realm issue; without reaching that realm, it’s difficult to accomplish."
"Very good," Song Juesi praised.
He said, "Therefore, these three problems are fundamentally not problems. Think them through gradually, and you’ll surely resolve them; rushing won’t help. Do you know why I don’t directly point out your errors and correct them verbally?"
Zhou Leng pondered for a moment and said, "In simple terms, it’s ’the master leads the way, but cultivation is up to the individual.’"
"Well said," Song Juesi praised, "Is there any area you want to improve?"
Zhou Leng coughed lightly and said, "I want to cultivate a killing move, refine my leg technique, and improve my joint techniques."
Song Juesi laughed heartily, "You just want to take all the knowledge from this old man."
Li Yuanhe also joined him in laughter.
Zhou Leng lightly coughed and said, "Just a thought."
"Why do you want to cultivate Joint Techniques?" Song Juesi asked.
Joint Techniques are formidable, but after advancing to the Innate stage, they are not useless, just less effective.
As your realm and strength grow stronger, these techniques that rely on small advantages become almost irrelevant.
Because it’s nearly impossible for a stronger practitioner to be harmed in this way.
"I want to participate in the Giant Trial," Zhou Leng said.
Li Yuanhe didn’t quite understand, but Song Juesi nodded and said, "I’ve heard of it. How about this, let’s exchange killing moves today. In a few days, you can come to my private Martial Arts Dojo, and we can exchange Leg Techniques and Joint Techniques."
"Alright!" Zhou Leng said.
"First, demonstrate your killing move... You just advanced to the Body Refining Stage and already have two killing moves... Got it, Celestial Ladder yield?"
"Yes."
As Zhou Leng spoke, he repeatedly used Thousand Tides Pouring into the Sea, again and again.
Song Juesi remained silent, just watching quietly.
Only when True Qi was exhausted and his right arm was numb did Zhou Leng stop.
Song Juesi said, "Tell me about your insights and details when creating the killing move."
Zhou Leng slowly started explaining.
Song Juesi pondered for a moment and said to Li Yuanhe, "I can’t withstand a full-force confrontation with him; follow the method I tell you to confront his killing move..."
Then, Song Juesi personally instructed Li Yuanhe on how to fight.
Afterward, Zhou Leng and Li Yuanhe faced each other and clasped their fists.
"Stop when appropriate."
"Stop when appropriate."
Zhou Leng didn’t use any other moves, first performing Great River Entering the Sea, followed immediately by Thousand Tides Pouring into the Sea.
Li Yuanhe used the methods taught by Song Juesi, either guiding, shaking, rolling, or carrying, using various adept True Qi techniques to neutralize Thousand Tides Pouring into the Sea.
Li Yuanhe was at the Vitality Stage with high strength, Song Juesi’s martial arts realm was advanced, now teamed up, Zhou Leng felt extremely pressured.
Especially the myriad of intricate True Qi and power techniques left Zhou Leng feeling helpless.
Initially, Zhou Leng didn’t understand, but he continued to exchange moves.
Gradually, he developed a vague understanding.
At the same time, he learned many intricate techniques, like shaking, shocking, rolling, etc., progressing further than he originally understood.
But the complexity of the killing move was unimaginable, making it hard to grasp all at once.
Song Juesi said, "Remember what just happened clearly in your mind, and in ten days, if you’re still confused, feel free to ask me directly."
"Alright."
Song Juesi continued, "Are you going to choose ’Extreme Kill,’ or ’Fen Sha’?"
"The school teaches these at the late stage of Body Refining; I’ve self-learned a bit, but I haven’t decided yet," Zhou Leng said.
Song Juesi said, "’Fen Sha’ is the choice for most. With each cultivation technique, creating multiple killing moves, or evolving each move into a killing move. The advantage is flexibility and versatility."
"’Extreme Kill’ involves turning an entire set of External Skills into a single killing move. Its disadvantage is lesser versatility, but the advantage is greater power."
"Unlike Fen Sha, Extreme Kill has a special benefit of continuous optimization as one’s realm advances. After all, Extreme Kill integrates an entire set of External Skills into one move."
Zhou Leng asked, "Which path did you take?"
"As for me, the multi-extreme kill," Song Juesi said.
Zhou Leng said, "Does this mean you learned many sets of External Skills and integrated each into a killing move?"
"Yes," Song Juesi replied.
Li Yuanhe interjected, "For those who find it hard to break through, Fen Sha is better because, in battle, you encounter various situations, and Fen Sha better adapts to real combat. But for you, I personally think the path of Extreme Kill suits you better."
Zhou Leng said, "I also lean towards Extreme Kill. After advancing to Innate, I’ll need to learn new External Skills. If I take the Fen Sha path, Qi Blood Realm killing moves might not match ordinary Innate Realm moves."
Song Juesi nodded and said, "Indeed, you are more suitable for Extreme Kill. If preparing for Extreme Kill, view the entire martial arts system holistically and comprehensively, then extract characteristics from each move..."
Song Juesi continuously guided, while Zhou Leng studied diligently.
As the learning deepened, Zhou Leng increasingly believed that what Li Yuanhe said about Song Juesi having high "Martial Learning" was true.
Song Juesi not only spoke accurately but eloquently, far surpassing the teaching videos of Innate Masters, and even rivaling Grandmaster instruction.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, the three exited the Martial Arts Room and headed to the arena hall of the Lieutenant Camp together.
Zhou Leng pushed the door open, the lights on the ceiling illuminating the arena, the spectator seats were shrouded in darkness.
This was a large arena with a diameter of twenty meters, surrounded by soft ropes.
Over a hundred spectators were already seated around the arena, more than those who watched the test in the morning.
Li Yuanhe patted Zhou Leng on the shoulder, saying, "Good luck."
Zhou Leng nodded and walked to the edge of the arena.
The examiner stood up, waving to summon five people from the first echelon.
"In a regular ladder battle, you need to fight from the unranked level, step by step, up to the first echelon."
"For a one-day camp clearing, you need to defeat all five people in the first echelon in one go."
"The rules are simple, arena duel, using common rules."
"However, it’s not consecutive fights; after each fight, Zhou Leng, you can rest for half an hour. Of course..."
The examiner stared into Zhou Leng’s eyes, smiling, "If you manage to go through all five without resting, according to the regulations, the Lieutenant Camp rewards will increase by 20%. Additionally, the original three-month resources will extend to six months."
Zhou Leng nodded gently.
In the Competition Camp, there are various resource rewards, which entice many not to leave even after reaching the first echelon, enduring for six months.
After clearing the camp in a day, one leaves the Competition Camp but receives a reward equivalent to the top-tier of the first echelon every month for three months.
Clearing all five in one go effectively doubles the rewards.
"I choose not to rest," Zhou Leng said.
"Alright," the examiner said.