Chapter 8: Practical Combat Assessment!

Chapter 8: Practical Combat Assessment!

The feeling of growing stronger is intoxicating!

"I'm still just figuring out physical mechanics now. When I finally grasp the Laws of Martial Arts, who knows how incredible that leap will feel!"

After lunch in the underground cafeteria of the Traditional Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Zhe headed back to the fifth-floor training area. As he entered the elevator, Second Brother Jiang pressed the button for the ninth floor.

Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow.

Second Brother Jiang grinned. "Little Zhe, you're already amazing. This combat assessment will be a breeze for you. Don't be so tense—learn to balance work and rest. Come on, let's grab a nap upstairs or watch some videos in the AV Chamber first. We'll head back down for new lessons after two o'clock."

Jiang Zhe considered this and nodded. His brother was right—there was little left for him to learn from the "Eagle-Bear Combined Training" program. Time to let this poor guy, who'd been squeezed dry, have a break.

When they reached the ninth floor, Jiang Zhe headed straight to the AV Chamber. Second Brother Jiang and his sister exchanged helpless shrugs as they watched their cousin disappear inside.

"Even those more gifted than you work harder. You're practically a 'human grindstone'."

The AV Chamber's computer held a more complete video library than his personal collection. Folders named after martial arts manuals overwhelmed Jiang Zhe with choices, though the seven Core Canons his brother mentioned were pinned at the top:

Heavenly Dragon Lance!

White Tiger Whistling Wind Blade!

Black Tiger Whip Technique!

Chicken Step!

Bear King Shield!

Eagle Claw!

Thunder Resonance!

Beneath these were scattered videos teaching various martial arts techniques. The "Eagle-Bear Combined Training" program was among them.

Jiang Zhe had a clear goal—he'd focus on mastering the Bear and Eagle forms for now.

The video began playing. At the center of the glowing screen stood a gaunt, wiry old man about 1.7 meters tall, radiating cold aloofness. He looked difficult to approach.

This was Jiang Lie, the Jiang family patriarch, a powerhouse who once claimed the "Invincible War God Rank."

In reality, he was a warm-hearted old soul.

A rectangular shield flew into the frame. Elder Jiang caught it and began demonstrating martial arts forms. Though frail-looking, his movements suddenly exuded the overwhelming might of a charging bear.

After completing the twenty-four-form sequence, he shifted techniques. His entire aura transformed.

Now he twisted and soared like a hunting eagle. The shield slashed upward and crashed downward like a falling axe.

Decisive! Fierce! Ruthless!

Clearly, Second Brother Jiang's interpretation of "Eagle-Bear Combined Training" imitated their grandfather—first the Bear King Shield, then integrating eagle-form mechanics into shield techniques, seamlessly blending two striking arts into one flawless system.

The video didn't end there.

After the eagle form, Elder Jiang tossed aside the shield, assumed the "Three Body Stance", and began practicing Xingyi Boxing.

This was his modified Xingyi Boxing.

Still part of the "Eagle-Bear Combined Training" program, these movements immediately caught Jiang Zhe's attention.

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"

"Every part of his body channels striking techniques!"

"No wonder Elder Jiang wears just a white tank top and shorts—to expose his muscles and joints, better revealing the secrets of power mechanics."

When the video ended, Jiang Zhe remained entranced, as if struck by enlightenment.

Coming back to himself, he thought about his brother's teaching methods and grimaced.

"One dares to teach, the other dares to learn... They've completely warped my foundation."

"I should revisit the original versions of the Bear King Shield and Eagle Claw."

Moving the mouse, he clicked the top folder and began relearning the basics.

...

Two hours later, Second Brother Jiang knocked on the AV Chamber door.

Jiang Zhe emerged, his expression eerily vacant, eyes glazed and unfocused. Without acknowledging his brother blocking the doorway, he shuffled mechanically down the corridor toward the elevator.

"Hey, what's wrong with y—"

Second Brother Jiang's question was cut short as Jiang Sisi slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Big brother, how dense can you be?" she hissed. "Can't you see Xiao Zhe is deep in thought? Don't interrupt him."

After Jiang Sisi removed her hand, Second Brother Jiang clamped both hands over his mouth, nodding furiously.

The siblings silently followed Jiang Zhe into the elevator.

The elevator descended.

A soft ding announced their arrival at the fifth floor.

Color returned to Jiang Zhe's eyes as he broke into an eager grin. The past two hours had been revelatory—he couldn't wait to test what he'd learned.

"Little Zhe, did you gain something?"

"Wait and see", Jiang Zhe said, grinning at Jiang Sisi. "You two won't believe it."

As the elevator doors opened, Jiang Zhe sprinted into the Martial Practice Hall, stopping at the Punch Power Tester. He switched on the machine and launched a heavy punch like a cannonball into the target pad.

"12,665 kg!"

Second Brother Jiang and Jiang Sisi, just entering the hall, spotted the red digital display from afar.

They exchanged glances—accustomed to such numbers now, they barely reacted. Instead, they wondered:

Little Zhe, what's your limit?

Still immersed in analyzing the video techniques, Jiang Zhe critiqued his own gaps compared to Elder Jiang.

"Not quite there. Again!"

"13,578 kg!"

"Focus waist and hip mechanics. Reduce shoulder movement. Internal force flow through the joints is fine."

"Again!"

"14,668 kg!"

"15,889 kg!"

"17,664 kg!"

"17,856 kg!"

...

Eventually, his punch force stabilized around 17 tons. Jiang Zhe stopped, recognizing this as his current limit.

The striking power generated through martial techniques now matched his Mentalist cultivation level.

As everyone knew, during early Mentalist awakening, before fully realizing one's Brain Domain Width potential, Mentalist cultivation typically outpaced martial arts training by two minor ranks.

Without using striking techniques, his punch force reached 5 tons—Elite Warrior (Apprentice Third Rank), while his Mentalist cultivation stood at Mid Warrior General (Apprentice Fifth Rank).

"3.4x power amplification!" Second Brother Jiang sucked in air, his bear-like face twisting into a grimace. "Something's definitely off."

Jiang Sisi added, "The perfect 3x amplification of Eagle-Bear Combined Training was Grandfather's limit—not Xiao Zhe's." She paused, eyes gleaming. "I can't wait to see Grandfather's reaction when he comes back to train him."

"Same! I'd love to see Grandfather scratching his head in frustration. Though I'll be leaving for the Elite Training Camp in early August."

Jiang Zhe switched off the Punch Power Tester and waved. "Second Brother, weren't you going to teach me something new this afternoon? Let's begin."

At those words, Second Brother Jiang's face visibly dropped.

What he heard was: "Instructor, report immediately for punishment!"

With a bitter expression and heavy steps, he marched toward Jiang Zhe like a condemned man.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

His bitterness twisted into a wicked grin. Loosening his limbs, he veered toward the weapon rack, grabbing his Horse-Beheading Blade.

"Little Zhe", he called, "this afternoon's lesson is practical combat. Go get a shield—your task is to block my sword!"

The chilling gleam of the 5-Series Horse-Beheading Blade made Jiang Zhe's skin crawl.

When he realized Second Brother wasn't joking, he awkwardly muttered, "Second Brother, even if this is practical combat training, do we really need to use real weapons? It's seriously stressing me out!"

"Without pressure, how can you improve?" Second Brother Jiang replied sternly. "Xiao Zhe, trust me—I'll control my strength. Even if I slip up accidentally, we've got the Elixir of Life on hand. No big deal."

Jiang Zhe stared blankly.

Jiang Sisi stifled a giggle nearby, delighted to finally see her cousin humbled.

Jiang Zhe, a newly minted Martial Artist trainee with less than two and a half days of experience, was thrust into the spotlight. The clash between blade and shield was about to begin.

Then... Jiang Zhe was utterly overwhelmed by his older brother's pent-up frustration.

Bladesmanship techniques nearly reaching Domain Tier intensity rained down—a relentless storm of steel.

Shield raised, Jiang Zhe felt like a tiny boat in a typhoon, creaking under waves of attacks, every defense leaking gaps. The suffocating onslaught left him breathless.

White Tiger Whistling Wind Blade—its reputation was well-deserved!

Each twenty-minute sparring session left ten minutes for Jiang Zhe to catch his breath before the onslaught resumed.

After two hours and four rounds of brutal training, Jiang Zhe gradually developed defensive capabilities. His exceptional comprehension allowed him to wield the shield like an extension of his arm. His Mentalist-caliber calculations predicted his brother's blade trajectories with chilling precision.

Still... he got cut up badly.

While everyone eagerly awaited mealtime, the spotlight had quietly shifted. Truly, fortune's wheel had turned.

After dinner, Sisi took over the lessons.

She focused on footwork fundamentals, particularly the Chicken Step's stability. Traced back to Xingyi Boxing's Chicken Form, the technique emphasized rooting oneself like an immovable mountain when combined with a shield. She explained the nuances of basic footwork—traits distinguishing refined and perfected levels.

As a Mentalist, Jiang Zhe excelled here. He mastered basic footwork instantly. After testing in a high-intensity neural reaction simulator, he even demonstrated Micro-Infiltration Body Technique.

This allowed microscopic control over power and movement, enabling evasion paths as precise as computer calculations.

"Nothing special", he shrugged. "In some universes, they don't even classify this as a distinct tier."

It was just advanced micro-maneuvering—still within basic footwork's domain. Jiang Zhe felt even basic striking arts posed more challenge.

Of course, authentic Micro-Infiltration required Beast-level certification. Like his Martial Artist status, formal recognition demanded practical assessment to enter Earth's Martial Artist circles.

Refining Chicken Step meant advancing from refined to perfected level. But the latter required specific environmental conditions Jiang Zhe couldn't meet inside the Martial Practice Hall.

Sisi's teaching career ended abruptly after less than an hour, leaving the aspiring instructor disgruntled.

"Didn't get your fill?" Second Brother Jiang chuckled. "You haven't finished teaching the Chicken Step striking arts yet. Go back and keep going!"

"Hehe, that's not teaching—that's self-inflicted humiliation."

That night, before leaving the Traditional Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Zhe revisited the AV Chamber on the ninth floor. This time, he studied Chicken Step video recordings, memorizing the striking arts through brute repetition.

Back in his courtyard, he dove into the Primordial Core, cradling the Divine Core while contemplating.

With his comprehension boosted by the Divine Core, Jiang Zhe clearly recognized one issue:

"My body lacks a power core..."

Back to the Middle Joint Theory. The human body's Three Sections—roots in legs, tips in hands, but the crucial middle joint was missing. Without it, coordinated force resonance and internal energy flow from tips to whole body remained impossible.

As martial classics stated: "Upper sections unclear? Hands grow rigid. Lower sections unclear? Feet stumble. Middle joint unclear? The entire body is empty."

Thus, even combining Chicken, Bear, and Eagle Form striking arts with Divine Core-enhanced comprehension only achieved roughly 4x power amplification.

Following flashes of inspiration, he overhauled techniques—minor fixes and major revisions—eventually reaching 5-6x amplification.

Exact figures required verification from a Punch Power Tester.

"Three of the Xingyi Six Arts mastered. Once I complete Dragon Body, Tiger Embrace Head, and Thunderous Voice, my power amplification should surpass Lei Shen's, right?"

"Hehe, then I'll publish a secret manual and sell it globally. Mess with Luo Feng's future choices—he always wants the best, after all!"

With his cells saturated in cosmic energy, Jiang Zhe drifted to sleep with a mischievous grin.

On the 28th, Jiang Zhe arrived early at the Traditional Martial Arts Hall. Following his previous night's analysis, he slammed a fist into the training post.

"27,884 kg!"

"About 5.3x amplification. Not bad."

Thanks to footwork breakthroughs, today's lessons focused solely on sparring.

By afternoon, Jiang Zhe's shield deflected Second Brother's attacks like an ironclad turtle, leaving no opening.

By evening, the turtle evolved into a crocodile—offensive now. Had Jiang Zhe not held back, his 5x-powered Lazy Bear Ram might've sent Second Brother sprawling.

The 29th brought sparring—the day Second Brother Jiang sat in a cage match.

On the 30th, Jiang Zhe began learning Iron Whip techniques.

Undecided on a primary weapon and unenthusiastic about the Iron Whip, he skipped studying the Black Tiger Whip Technique.

He learned only three basics: horizontal sweep, vertical chop, and thrust.

August 1st marked the Martial Artist practical assessment—a biannual event (February and August) requiring attendance. Missing meant six months' delay, a waste Jiang Zhe couldn't afford.

Without special treatment, Jiang Zhe joined his cousin and other Pre-Warriors taking a train to the Southern Military Zone.

After lunch at the base, they received combat uniforms and gear.

The military-issued equipment disappointed Jiang Zhe—both quality and weight felt subpar. Swinging the hundred-kilogram Iron Whip made him worry about snapping it mid-fight.

Guided by military escorts, over a thousand Pre-Warriors trekked half an hour to the Beast Town hosting the assessment.

"Xiao Zhe, this is your first public appearance. Many eyes are watching. Give it your all!"

...

...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end