177: Chapter 177 Chu Jiang, the sparring partner and Blue Moon's number one flying martial artist

"At its Peak, Physical Body strength can increase by nearly double!"

Sacrificing Mental Energy as the price?

Fang Zhuo's eyes narrowed.

This sounds like irreversible damage... No wonder it's called Jade Shatter. Is it necessary for me to practice this Secret Manual? It feels like the flaws are a bit too significant...

By the way, if this Secret Manual were given to Shi Wei to practice, once the return and upgrade were triggered, what would the new Secret Manual... be like?

A higher grade and stronger effect are undoubtedly certain; this is very reasonable and consistent with the effects of the return and upgrade.

Then, would the corresponding practice requirements increase?

Would it be impossible for a Flying Martial Artist to practice it?

While Fang Zhuo was brainstorming, he heard Chairman Song Shou continue to introduce to them:

"As for the specific power of this Secret Manual, Jade Shatter, I will use Jiang Chen as an example so you will know how terrifying it is."

"Jiang Chen is currently at Life Level 58, with a combat power amplification of 355.2 times. During the Civilization Assessment, his Life Level will rise to Peak 59. Facing an examiner—a Genius with a combat power amplification of over 400 times—his chance of winning is no more than 20 to 30 percent."

"But if he learns this Secret Manual, Jade Shatter, and uses it at a critical moment, he will have a chance to severely injure the opponent with one strike, increasing his winning odds by more than 30 percent!"

Chairman Song Shou finished speaking in a resonant tone, but his expression turned solemn. He said: "But to execute Jade Shatter, you must burn at least thirty percent of your Mental Energy. This damage is irreversible. At best, your Mental Energy Rank will drop significantly; at worst, your Life Level will become unstable, and you could even lose consciousness and become a vegetable."

"Director Song."

Wang Jinhua stepped forward first and grinned: "There is no need to emphasize the cost. At critical moments, we don't have the luxury of choice. If we fail the Civilization Assessment and are downgraded, everyone in the Federation will be reduced to slavery."

"For us Martial Artists, who could endure that?"

"It would be better to use Jade Shatter and fight for it, even if... the price is death!"

Jiang Chen, Fang Zhuo, and Takeuchi Reina all nodded in unison.

"Very good."

Chairman Song Shou smiled and announced loudly: "Then the special training officially begins. From now on, in addition to your regular cultivation, you must also focus on comprehending the Secret Manual, Jade Shatter."

"I will answer any questions you have."

"In addition, I have also invited Minister Chu Jiang over. His combat power is slightly stronger than that of a Flying Sky Genius with a 400-fold combat power amplification. You can spar with him every day."

When Chairman Song Shou said this, he seemed to deliberately keep a straight face.

"One year from now, without using Jade Shatter, the two of you who can hold out the longest against him will represent us in the Civilization Assessment!"

As soon as Chairman Song Shou finished speaking, a burly man dressed in black and red training clothes flew down from mid-air.

"Director Song."

Minister Chu Jiang flicked his sleeves, bowed to Chairman Song Shou, and then turned to look at Fang Zhuo and the others: "Everyone, for the next year, whenever you need to spar, you can come to me."

"Good, Minister Chu, I would like to try my hand against you right now."

Jiang Chen's Battle Intent flared, straightforward and direct.

Takeuchi Reina and Wang Jinhua were also eager to move.

Fang Zhuo, however, didn't have any such thoughts.

Originally, if not for this Civilization Assessment business, and if he had followed the step-by-step cultivation path, he should have entered the Supervision Department by now, and Minister Chu Jiang would have become his true direct superior.

This Minister is known as the Blue Moon Federation's number one Flying Martial Artist.

He hasn't broken through yet, still merely at the Transcendent Rank; going up there would be a bit overestimating his own capabilities.

"Very well."

Minister Chu Jiang rolled up his sleeves, gestured for Jiang Chen to begin, and then drew his blade.

Jiang Chen nodded, stepped back, and held his combat saber.

The two stood facing each other, while the others stood on the sidelines to watch.

A big show is about to start. The duel between the strongest Flying Sky warriors of the new generation and the old generation should be very exciting, right?

Fang Zhuo took a breath, straightened his back, and kept his eyes unblinkingly fixed on them.

"Offense taken."

Jiang Chen let out a soft shout and charged forward, his wrist slightly bent, holding the blade in front of his chest. As he neared Minister Chu Jiang, he suddenly slashed out.

The speed was so fast that with Fang Zhuo's current strength and eyesight, he could barely see the trajectory of the blade.

One of the Federation's three great blade Secret Manuals—Breeze Blade, Ninth Level!

He only felt a gust of breeze blow past, a flash of blade light, and then... with a clang, Jiang Chen's figure flew straight backward!

"I accept your concession."

Minister Chu Jiang calmly retracted his blade.

Seeing this, the Battle Intent on Wang Jinhua and Takeuchi Reina vanished without a trace.

So strong...! This Minister from the Supervision Department is truly worthy of the reputation of the Federation's number one Flying Martial Artist. Indeed, a great reputation is well-deserved.

Fang Zhuo carefully recalled the scene, trying his best to clearly see Minister Chu Jiang's movements. Hmm, Minister Chu's Body Control must have already broken through to the level above Heaven-Reaching.

Unity of Heaven and Man, how terrifying...?

"Director Song, is the Flying Martial Artist responsible for the Civilization Assessment really only slightly weaker than Minister Chu Jiang?"

After getting up from the ground, Jiang Chen brushed the dust off his body and looked at Chairman Song Shou with some hesitation.

Except for his Life Level, he could say that he had reached the Flying Sky Peak in all other aspects, his Body Control had reached Perfection, and he had already comprehended the Ninth Level of the Breeze Blade.

His combat power was amplified 355.2 times.

He reckoned that even if he wasn't Minister Chu Jiang's match, he should still be able to trade a few blows. But to be defeated so easily in a single exchange—even if he mastered the Secret Manual, Jade Shatter, and risked half his life, could he really win?

"Yes, Minister Chu Jiang's strength is just a bit stronger, so you must train with all your might this year."

Chairman Song Shou nodded, his hands behind his back.

After this small episode of sparring, the four Geniuses of Blue Moon became increasingly serious in their subsequent training, each of them silent and solemn-faced.

Chairman Song Shou and Minister Chu Jiang were drinking tea by the bamboo forest.

"Director Song."

Minister Chu Jiang looked worried and said: "Will this discourage them?"

He was afraid that the gap was too large and their confidence would directly collapse.

"Rest assured, you were also a Genius once. If it were you, would you give up easily?"

Chairman Song Shou reached out and brushed away a bamboo leaf falling onto the tea table.

"No."

Minister Chu Jiang replied decisively, but still worried: "But... my combat power is not just slightly stronger than a Flying Martial Artist with a 400-fold combat power amplification..."

"These individuals are true Geniuses. If they had been born in a Level 3 civilization or a medium-tier civilization, their achievements would be higher than they are now."

Chairman Song Shou took a sip of tea and said: "Setting a high goal for them is not a bad thing. Only in this way will our civilization have hope in this assessment."

"For this year, just feel free to trample them mercilessly."

"...Yes!"

Minister Chu Jiang had to agree.

"For this special training, I will only stay for half a month. Once I have helped them get on the right track with the practice of the Secret Manual, Jade Shatter, you will be the one to supervise them."

"Me...?"

Minister Chu Jiang pointed at himself.

After all, he was only a Flying Martial Artist; no matter how high his combat power was, it relied on the accumulation of living for several decades more.

In live combat sparring, suppressing a few Geniuses was fine, but to truly guide their cultivation, he felt a bit lacking in confidence.

"You are only responsible for live combat sparring. Later, Cosmic Martial Artists from the three major groups will come over."

Chairman Song Shou smiled.

He looked at the four Geniuses in the arena and inexplicably felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier.

"Director Song, do you really have no confidence in the Cosmic Battle?"

After drinking several pots of tea, Minister Chu Jiang still couldn't help but ask.

"Less than 30 percent chance of winning. If we use Jade Shatter, it could be close to 50 percent."

Chairman Song Shou said thoughtfully, but he was very pessimistic inside. The Blue Moon Federation has already caught the eye of a powerful figure, so will the combat power of the Cosmic Martial Artist responsible for the assessment still be the same as the standard?