Chapter 137: Life 66, Age 21, Martial Master 3
Over the next few months, I dispersed the meridian I had formed during the Earth Peak Trial and followed a Profound-Rank technique focused on variable meridian diameter to form two new ones. I wanted to experiment with the benefits and drawbacks such a design would have.
During this time, I also studied how to transform some basic earth qi techniques into disposable formations that any of my classmates would be able to throw out and activate. The goal was to learn to design things that could let any of them easily pass through the early levels of any Trial.
At the course’s nine-month mark, we had a martial competition against one of the regular Master-level classes. They had all advanced to Martial Master 5 or 6 while we were languishing at only 2 or 3. This gave them confidence that they could easily overcome us, but as soon as the fighting began, the value of our elite training showed itself.
LiTing, our weakest fighter, was able to easily crush her opponent. The boy tried to use qi to shield himself from her attacks, but his barriers were so rough and flimsy that they could barely slow her punches of concentrated energy.
She could have won with a single hit, but she took time to experiment on the poor kid.
The rest of our opponents fell just as quickly, and we were each rewarded with a Rank 2 library token for helping teach that class about the difference in strength that comes from rigorous training.
While the others went to grab skills that would help them in their Trials, YuLong gave his token to me. I used both his and mine to purchase entry into the Rank 2 fire libraries for both martial and cultivation techniques. While I exited the building with only one technique of each type in my hands, I had a smile on my face and all the knowledge in both libraries safely stored away.
I spent the following three months dedicated to creating several different simple disposable formations around the fire techniques I had acquired. When it was time for our second Trial, I gave YuLong a large backpack filled with formation stones. He and I were both aiming to take on the Fire Peak, and I had prepared many contingencies for what we might face there.
The others were entering the Water, Metal, and Dark Trials. I couldn’t help them this time, but I would try to do so in the future.