Chapter 115: Mental Resistance Ring, Top 10 Swordsmen of Japan

Chapter 115: Mental Resistance Ring, Top 10 Swordsmen of Japan

Upon hearing Kenji Kino's words, Lu Heng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

When he saw Hideyoshi Tsugawa earlier, Lu Heng had already guessed that one of the two team contract slots that Kenji was asking for might be for Hideyoshi.

Now hearing it from his own mouth, Lu Heng was slightly surprised.

The day before, when Lu Heng broke through his swordsmanship bottleneck, he had done so by watching Hideyoshi's videos and simulating his retreat counterattacks in his mind.

According to the available information, Hideyoshi Tsugawa was indeed very powerful, and it was hard to say who would come out on top in a direct sword battle.

Lu Heng had the memories of his previous life, and three years ago, Hideyoshi Tsugawa was already the champion of Japan's swordsmanship competition.

Those who reach the pinnacle in a particular field possess extraordinary perseverance beyond that of ordinary people.

If one were to solely discuss strength without considering identity and personality, Hideyoshi Tsugawa's abilities were undoubtedly sufficient to be a team member.

However, when choosing teammates, strength isn't the only factor; trust is even more crucial.

Lu Heng looked into Kenji Kino's eyes and asked, "What about the other slot?"

Kenji didn't answer immediately. After a moment's consideration, he said, "I can't tell you about the other person right now, but I can assure you that they will not hold your team back."

With the backing of an international consortium behind the Springtop Group, this person could afford to buy two slots for 650 million and even hire one of Japan's top ten swordsmen as a bodyguard.

Just how influential was this person?

"What do you think, Mr. Lu?" Kenji asked again.

"I'm curious, couldn't you find any other guarantors? Why insist on having three people in the team who aren't under your control?" Lu Heng stared into his eyes.

"Because I trust you, Mr. Lu, and I'd like to be friends with you," Kenji replied sincerely.

Perhaps others would have been moved by his sincerity.

But Lu Heng knew all too well the cruelty of the Abyssal Invasion era.

The Team Contract could indeed accommodate five people, but those who join could also disappear, as long as they die.

In other words, once the two of them join the team, they could manipulate the team's numbers using outside forces.

Moreover, a reduction in team members could lower the team's power rating when it gets drafted.

In essence, the Team Contract has a limit of five people, but it doesn't necessarily need to be filled.

Of course, Lu Heng also believed that Kenji was trying to win him over, as the value of a Tempering Master at this stage far surpassed that of a top psychic.

However, benefits have their limits, and if the person he wanted to protect faced danger, even a Tempering Master could be sacrificed.

Lu Heng could guess that if he agreed to their request and gave them two slots to form a team, the Springtop Group would likely offer enough benefits to reconcile with the Lin family.

With the existence of the team contract, it was indeed possible to resolve the matter peacefully and form a team with impressive theoretical strength.

However, this fragile team dynamic wasn't what Lu Heng.

"Never mind, I have other plans for team formation," Lu Heng ultimately chose to refuse.

Kenji's expression froze for a moment, and then he glanced at Hideyoshi Tsugawa beside him.

Hideyoshi stood up and issued a challenge with a solemn tone, "I am a disciple of the Ryugaku Shindo School of Swordsmanship. I've heard that you also wield a sword, so let's settle this with a sword.

"A match. If I win, will you offer the two team contract slots?"

"What if I win?" Lu Heng asked with a smile, his tone calm and collected.

At that moment, Kenji took out a jewelry box, placed it on the table, and opened it to reveal its contents.

Inside was an iron ring, the very same ring that had been auctioned off for 80 million at the Ultimate Auction.

This ring was called the Mental Resistance Ring.

During the auction, its attributes had been displayed on the screen.

Mental Resistance Ring: Increases resistance to mental attacks and mental contamination, reducing the effects of mental contamination and mental attacks by 50%.

This ring's effect was incredibly practical.

Wearing this ring in the Abyssal Battlefield would allow one to endure mental contamination for a longer duration.

For instance, during Lu Heng's previous trip into the Abyssal World to slay the Horned Demon Commander, having this ring would have given him much more time, alleviating the urgency.

Additionally, it enhanced resistance to mental attacks.

For example, against mental shock skills, the duration of mental dizziness experienced would depend on the difference in mental attributes. If the gap was too large, one might even faint.

In an evenly matched battle, a few seconds of mental dizziness from a mental shock could mean certain death.

Wearing this Mental Resistance Ring would provide higher resistance to mental attacks, allowing one to recover from mental shock-induced dizziness more quickly.

Therefore, the lower the psychic's mental attribute, the higher the demand for this ring.

Lu Heng's mental attribute wasn't particularly low, but in the face of mental contamination in the Abyssal Battlefield, this ring was an incredibly useful treasure.

The last time at the Zhizhen Auction, Lu Heng was quite interested in this ring.

This ring itself did not enhance combat power, and Lu Heng felt that not everyone would appreciate its value.

If the auction price wasn't too high, he could try to secure it at a low price.

However, there was someone at the auction who recognized its worth, and the price was immediately driven up to 80 million, far exceeding his budget.

Unexpectedly, this ring had appeared before him again.

Kenji Kino's face lit up with a smile, and he said, "If Mr. Lu wins, how about I give you this ring?"

Lu Heng had been very interested in this ring at the auction, but the price was too high. Now, the other party was using it as a wager, which was right up his alley.

"Sure, let me witness the Ryugaku Shindo Swordsmanship."

"Please, Mr. Lu."

The three of them left the tea room and entered another swordsmanship room.

The room was spacious and serene.

"This is where Hideyoshi usually practices his sword skills. You can have your match here." Kenji Kino waved at the maid by the door.

Two maids entered, carrying two wooden swords and respectfully presenting them to Lu Heng and Hideyoshi.

These wooden swords were the weapons used in Japanese swordsmanship competitions. They were thicker, without sharp edges, and the tips were rounded.

In swordsmanship competitions, the winner is determined by points. Hitting an opponent's valid body part earns one point.

Usually, during competitions, both parties need to wear protective gear to prevent injuries from sword strikes.

Although they were wooden swords, they still had some weight. Without armor, a head strike could potentially knock someone unconscious.

Two maids brought in two sets of armor, preparing to help them put it on.

Lu Heng looked at the wooden sword in his hand. For an Energic, using a wooden sword was child's play, so he said, "There's no need for armor, right?"

"I don't like armor either." Hideyoshi waved his hand, signaling the maids to leave.

He didn't even like wooden swords and wanted to use real weapons for the match.

However, this match was arranged by Kenji Kino, intending to have Lu Heng conquered by his swordsmanship and then be recruited.

Lu Heng waved the wooden sword a few times. Since this type of sword was unique to Japan and he hadn't used it before, he wasn't very familiar with it, so he felt a bit awkward when performing the Seven-Segment Sword Step.

Fortunately, his strength attribute was high enough that this awkwardness was within an acceptable range.

"Please!" Hideyoshi followed the Japanese swordsmanship etiquette, bowed, and then assumed a ready stance.

Lu Heng also held his sword, regulated his breathing, and stared intently at his opponent's eyes.

Since he had watched Hideyoshi's competition videos before, he knew that the other party's swordsmanship skills were exceptional, and after three years, they would undoubtedly be even better. Therefore, he had to be cautious.

"Haa!"

Hideyoshi waited for Lu Heng to get into position, then shouted and launched his attack, using a basic technique to strike Lu Heng's arm.

This move was a fundamental striking technique of the Kyugata Jusanken, aiming to score points.

As long as it hit, it would score an ippon, which was one point.

For ordinary people, a basic technique attacking the hand might be useful, but for an Energic with an agility of 62 points, there were too many ways to dodge an arm attack. A slight movement of the arm was enough to evade it.

Hideyoshi seemed to have anticipated this, and his eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light. He instantly changed his technique and unleashed a combination of Kyugata Jusanken moves, swiftly pursuing Lu Heng.

Since Lu Heng had never practiced Japanese swordsmanship, he fought entirely according to the Seven-Segment Sword Step. He anticipated Hideyoshi's combination attack and easily blocked the two strikes with his sword.

The two swift and relentless attacks were effortlessly countered by Lu Heng, and Hideyoshi finally confirmed that Lu Heng was not an easy opponent to defeat.

Three years ago, when he became the Japanese swordsmanship champion, he was already recognized as one of the top ten swordsmen in Japan.

At that time, there were very few people in Japan who could qualify as his opponents, let alone those who didn't understand swordsmanship.

Three years had passed, and he had become an Energic, gaining extraordinary power.

If someone who didn't understand swordsmanship faced him, they wouldn't even last a single move, even if they were an Energic.

Yet, Lu Heng effortlessly countered his two attacks. Although Hideyoshi used basic striking techniques that seemed simple, the more fundamental the swordsmanship, the more effective it was.

Hideyoshi's breath became heavy, and he began to focus his mind, preparing to unleash his true strength.

Lu Heng also sensed the change in his aura and lowered his center of gravity, officially entering a combat state.

The opportunity to spar with a powerful swordsman was rare, especially when swordsmanship required constant refinement. It was crucial to spar with someone of the same caliber to break through bottlenecks.

Lu Heng also wanted to test if his intention-level swordsmanship could suppress this Japanese swordsman.

Both of them, fueled by the desire to prove their superiority, simultaneously shouted and drew their swords.

Bang, bang, bang...

Over a dozen consecutive sword clashes, the speed of their attacks far exceeded the usual range of swordsmanship.

Lu Heng demonstrated the basic sword techniques of chopping, thrusting, pointing, collapsing, lifting, slashing, and sweeping.

Hideyoshi, on the other hand, showcased the striking techniques of Kyugata Jusanken, relying on speed to counter Lu Heng's speed.

The two figures advanced and retreated, their movements too fast for ordinary people to capture with their naked eyes. Within a few breaths, they had already exchanged over a dozen moves, each strike powerful and evenly matched.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end