I sat down, took a few deep breaths, and bit into the Divine Fruit. Energy surged through my body, healing my wounds. It felt amazing, though I only had two bites left. My bones and body felt stronger. I threw a punch, pushing back the air.
"Tsk, tsk," I muttered. "I'm still an ant. Gab, the main character, is probably training and getting stronger." Gab, with his system, had completed several missions, reaching the mid-stage of 1-star Knight. He focused less on breaking through realms and more on refining his skills. In a forest, he'd swung his sword at a tree; one slash left a mark, five more felled it.
"I'm getting stronger; this system is helpful," I mused.
[System]
Name: Gab Lauren
Strength: 19
Speed: 20
Vitality: 16
Intelligence: 17
Charm: 25
[Skills: Heavenly Slash, Dance Steps, Shielding Iron Body]
Smiling, I realized my rapid growth. "In a week, I'll challenge that bastard to a duel," I thought. A mid-stage 1-star defeating a 2-star was nearly impossible, but Gab's system would make him a renowned prodigy.
I sighed. It should be about a month, but things had changed since my arrival. Uninjured by Saminah at the banquet, Gab would progress faster.
Shaking my head, I slapped my face a few times to clear my mind. I cultivated day and night, reaching the 5th stage. Using the Divine Fruit, I doubled my cultivation speed, breaking through to the 5th stage of Qi Gathering. I then focused on maximizing my mana.
My Qi doubled upon breakthrough. I could now easily move a broom without strain, though I still needed to conserve Qi.
I arrived early at the training grounds. Her beautiful blond hair and golden eyes met mine.
She scoffed, "You're late." I bowed and apologized; she nodded and gave me a wooden sword.
I grabbed a second sword; she was surprised—dual wielding is difficult. Demonstrating my Qi fully, she noticed the unique energy only cultivators possess. A surprised expression crossed her face as she realized I had both mana and Qi. Using only mana wouldn't be enough; it was early morning, and the grounds were deserted.
In an awestruck tone, she said, "How could you choose two paths? That's practically impossible."
I smiled. "Please keep this a secret between us," I pleaded. I didn't know why I could use both, but it wasn't my main concern; I had mana, but it was much weaker than a normal 1-star's.
She sighed, nodding. "As I said, hit me once. I'll be your mentor, and I'll hold back more this time." A sadistic smile crept onto her face.
Goosebumps erupted. I focused. The fight began. I used the Grabbing Shallow technique, secretly acquiring two more swords, making it three. Using three swords imbued with my Mana and too manipulate it took also a lot of Qi
I tried to hit her, but she blocked easily. My control was poor. Each attempt improved my skill slightly.
She smiled. With a burst of energy, she closed the distance, striking my solar plexus. I didn't fly far; my strength and durability had doubled with the fruit and breakthrough.
Attacking sloppily, I attempted a strike, which she blocked easily. Anticipating a counterattack, I used the other three swords to attack from behind. She countered effortlessly, scattering them with a single blow.
As she turned, I attacked, but she vanished, reappearing behind me, striking my back with double the force, sending me flying three meters.
I stood, secretly gathering dirt. Her beauty was mesmerizing, but something about her smile sent chills down my spine. She was enjoying this. I calmed myself, planning my strategy. My Qi was exhausted despite the fight just beginning; two strikes had depleted me. Was she being too harsh? I had enough Qi for a few more minutes.
Before I could react, she vanished, reappearing behind me. I turned and met a punch far stronger than the last, spitting blood as I flew several meters.
Not wasting time, I manipulated 59 nearby stones, waiting for her. When she was halfway, I launched the stones. She was surprised; holding back, she reduced the stones to dust with her bare fist. With my remaining Qi, I manipulated a wooden sword, barely grazing her—she was taken aback. Focused on the stones, she was momentarily blinded; I used that second to strike. She caught me off guard, hitting the back of my head. Smiling, she caught my weakening body as I passed out from exhaustion.
"I suppose I'll take you as my disciple," she muttered. "I was only supposed to have fun, but you're quite interesting, surviving the third strike as a Qi Gathering cultivator, a 1-star Knight. And using Qi and mana simultaneously... impossible." She noted my mana was much weaker than a normal 1-star Knight, but my Qi cultivation allowed me to hold out against her for a time.
"How did this kid learn to use both Qi and mana?" she sighed. "Maybe I'll force him to tell the truth." A sadistic smile played on her lips; it only added to her beauty.
She calmly placed my unconscious body in her lap and played with my hair.