12: Chapter 0012 Duel

Due to the limitations of his attributes and theMeditation (Mental Energy cultivation technique), Li Size could not immediately become a Wizard Apprentice, so he particularly cherished the opportunity to Cultivate as a Knight.

After becoming familiar with Instructor Felina, his mentor gave him a lot of extra guidance. The training ground surface was slightly warm, and the surrounding magical training stakes were still emitting a faint Demonic Energy aura.

Especially since his Pay-to-Win ability could convert his cultivation progress into numbers, making his advancement visible, which made him unable to stop practicing.

Li Size had practiced for several years and was already close to a Breakthrough.

Relying on the stimulation from the Pay-to-Win ability these past few days, he had practiced crazily, finally reaching the verge of a Breakthrough.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the drops landed on the ground, which was already soaked.

[Focusing on cultivating the Knight Cultivation Method, Proficiency +1, Entry Level 100/100, can consume 20 Energy Points to advance to Proficient Level]

[Focusing on cultivating 'Basic Swordsmanship', Proficiency +1, Entry Level 100/100, can consume 10 Energy Points to advance to Proficient]

"Hoo!" Li Size stopped his movements, exhaling a puff of white vapor.

The winter air was bitingly cold, and the white vapor instantly met the nearby magical streetlamp, causing the runes to flicker.

He touched his nose and felt a heat radiating through his body.

Jackson, who was nearby, saw Li Size finish his training and walked over with George trailing behind him.

Jackson stood with his hands on his hips, while George hid behind him, secretly glancing at Li Size.

Jackson was one of the seed apprentices in Li Size's class; his father was the director of the Land Bureau in Gray Mist Mountain Town.

Strictly speaking, most of the seed apprentices at the Gray Mist Mountain lower academy were children of the powerful or wealthy merchants; there were very few ordinary people who were naturally strong in Mental Energy.

In his previous life on the Blue Star cultivation world, there was the saying of 'Wealth, Companions, Law, and Land' regarding cultivation:

Wealth referred to the special materials and treasures unique to the cultivation world.

Companions referred to Fellow Daoists, meaning connections within the cultivation world.

Law referred to the methods and Divine Abilities of cultivation.

Land referred to the blessed lands where the Spiritual Qi was dense and conducive to cultivation.

This principle was equally applicable to the Wizard World.

These powerful and wealthy individuals could obtain more treasures and opportunities unavailable to ordinary people to improve their children's attributes, naturally making it easier for them to meet the Mental Energy requirements to become a Wizard Apprentice.

Jackson had always been a huge admirer of Instructor Felina; every time Instructor Felina walked by holding a spellbook, he would stare at it.

Recently, seeing Li Size constantly talking to Instructor Felina made him extremely unhappy.

In his view, Li Size was just a timid boy from a blacksmith shop.

Whereas he was a man destined to become a Wizard; why couldn't he achieve what Li Size could, to receive the favor of the goddess-like Instructor Felina?

Instigated by George, he decided to teach Li Size a lesson.

He brought three followers to surround Li Size, drew his knight sword, and the basic runes on the blade flickered:

"Hey, boy! Instructor Felina is a noble Wizard Apprentice; you blacksmith's son, don't tarnish her!"

"Stay away from her, or I'll beat you up every time I see you!"

Li Size rolled his eyes:

"Brother, are you sick? What business is it of yours if I talk to the mentor?"

Li Size glanced at George, who was hiding behind, and George avoided his gaze.

Li Size patted Jackson's shoulder:

"Don't let someone use you as a gun; being foolish isn't worth it."

Jackson glared at George, then thumped his chest and declared:

"Duel me like a man!

The loser is forbidden from getting near Felina again!"

Li Size almost burst out laughing upon hearing this; this chuunibyou teenager was truly comical:

"I must be sick to duel you."

The surrounding youths, seeing something interesting happening, slowly gathered around, and even Instructor Felina, who was explaining things to other students nearby, noticed the commotion.

Jackson felt his status as a seed apprentice was insulted, his face flushing red as he roared:

"Coward! What will it take for you to dare duel me?"

Li Size touched the gold coins in his pocket, thinking he needed to build an armory soon, and Jackson's father was the Land Bureau director, perhaps he could help.

Moreover, his skills were on the verge of a Breakthrough; it was a perfect time to test his strength.

He raised an eyebrow and said:

"If I lose, I do as you say. If you lose, you help me with something."

Upon hearing this, Jackson immediately drew his knight sword and stood ready:

"Come on! Let your grandpa teach you a lesson, you punk."

Seeing Jackson so confident, Li Size frowned and activated the Analysis skill of Pay-to-Win.

The opponent's attributes immediately displayed:

Jackson (Ordinary Person)

Strength: 2.0 | Agility: 2.0 | Physique: 2.3 | Mental Energy: 2.6

Knight Cultivation Method: Entry | Basic Swordsmanship: Entry

Knight Secret Technique: Counter-Strike

Unfortunately, the Analysis was based on Li Size's knowledge, and he didn't know what 'Counter-Strike' was.

Li Size bit his lip, realizing he had to be careful next.

Jackson was definitely prepared.

The academy tested the students' physical fitness periodically, so Jackson definitely knew Li Size's previous attributes.

His attributes almost completely crushed Li Size, plus he had the Knight Secret Technique 'Counter-Strike'; no wonder he was so confident.

Under normal circumstances, Li Size couldn't win, but his 'Knight Cultivation Method' and 'Basic Swordsmanship' were about to Breakthrough.

The outcome would be different!

[Consuming 20 Energy Points, Knight Cultivation Method (Entry) 100/100 -> Promoted to Knight Cultivation Method (Proficient) 0/100]

Note: Can slightly improve physical attributes, granting an additional Strength +0.2, Agility +0.4, Physique +0.2.

The cultivation effect changed from slow to small improvements, and it also additionally boosted physical attributes, especially Agility, which increased the most.

[Consuming 10 Energy Points, Basic Swordsmanship (Entry) 100/100 -> Promoted to Basic Swordsmanship (Proficient) 0/100]

Note: Improvement gained from practicing swordsmanship frequently. When fighting with a sword, grants Strength +0.2, Agility +0.3, and sword swing speed increases by 20%.

Li Size suddenly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, the muscles in his arms instantly tensing. A sense of power he had never felt before surged through his entire body along his blood vessels.

The moment he consumed Energy Points to upgrade his skills just now, it felt as if a warm current had been injected into every part of his limbs and bones.

The previously stiff 'Knight Cultivation Method' suddenly became incredibly smooth; every rhythm of his breathing was etched into his marrow.

The chopping, slashing, thrusting, and parrying of the 'Basic Swordsmanship' felt like they had been practiced thousands of times, allowing him to precisely control even the angle of the sword wind.

He couldn't help but widen his eyes, his heart pounding—could this Pay-to-Win ability instantly allow him to master skills that others took years to perfect?

It was incredible!

He tried to strike a sword pose; the movement was so fluid that even he was surprised, as if his body had already memorized every detail and would never make a mistake again.

After the skill Breakthrough, Li Size's strength increased significantly, especially his Agility, which broke through to 3.0, reaching the Knight Rank.

The Knight Rank was the physical limit an ordinary person could reach, allowing for complete control over one's body, maximizing both strength and speed.

Facing Jackson, who had not yet reached the Knight Rank, Li Size felt his chances of winning were much greater.

Li Size touched the hilt of his sword, thinking: A Knight Rank practitioner crushing a non-Knight, could he possibly lose?

Li Size shook his head, not believing a single Knight Secret Technique could change anything, but he still gripped his sword tightly, needing to be careful not to capsize in a ditch.

Jackson raised his sword to his chest, the tip aimed at Li Size, and said:

"You attack first!"

He thought he could easily block the attack and then counter-attack, taking Li Size down in one go.

Li Size swung his sword down. Jackson blocked with his sword. With a 'clang,' Jackson's hand went numb.

He hadn't expected Li Size's strength to be so immense; he couldn't counter-attack at all.

Li Size followed up with a second and third swing, the speed increasing with each one. Jackson could only dodge and had no time to strike back.

Jackson gritted his teeth, secretly gathering power beneath his feet, preparing to use his Family's Knight Secret Technique to counter.

His feet pressed against the ground, and the runes on the training field flickered.

Jackson counted the number of Li Size's attacks:

"Eight, nine, ten!"

He suddenly pushed off the ground, the power transferred from his legs to his arms, and his sword swiftly slashed toward Li Size's wrist.

This speed was slightly faster than before, and it looked like it was about to hit.

Li Size saw Jackson suddenly speed up and immediately knew this was the 'Counter-Strike'.

He had been guarding against this move and wasn't using his full strength.

The surrounding youths were stunned; Li Size's sword suddenly accelerated, becoming just a blur of light.

He rotated his wrist and swung his sword toward Jackson's blade.

With a 'hiss,' the sword light swept across Jackson's wrist. His hand dropped, and blood dripped onto the ground from the sword.

Li Size retracted his sword and stood firm.

A youth nearby shouted:

"He wounded him!"

Instructor Felina also walked over.

Li Size pulled a packet of inferior healing powder from his waist and sprinkled it onto Jackson's wrist.

As the powder touched the wound, the bleeding immediately stopped, and the wound slowly began to heal.

Jackson and the other youths stared wide-eyed and exclaimed:

"inferior healing powder!"

They couldn't believe Li Size actually possessed that.

Li Size leaned close to Jackson and whispered:

"Remember what you promised me."

Li Size turned and left, walking to the base of a nearby tree, leaning against it to digest what he had learned from the fight.

[Observing the opponent use the Knight Secret Technique 'Counter-Strike', consuming 40 Energy Points can unlock the 'Counter-Strike' cultivation method]

[Counter-Strike: When both feet are in contact with the ground, store 20% of the opponent's power from each attack into the legs, allowing for one incomparably swift counter-attack after enduring at least eight attacks.]

This move was truly insidious; if one could withstand many attacks before unleashing it, how powerful would it be?

Li Size thought.

Unfortunately, he didn't have enough Energy Points; Li Size touched his pocket and decided to postpone it for next time.