Chapter 160: Martial Training Ground |
"Good. After Zhao Pu arrives later, you should first familiarize yourself with the residential complex with him." Although he was an ancient official, Qin Ziwen didn't believe that ancient civil officials were only capable of reciting classical texts and foolishly reading the books of sages.
Especially since Jia Liangcai had risen from a poor, struggling scholar to his current position step by step, his abilities must be present, at least stronger than the average person.
"Yes, thank you, sir." Jia Liangcai bowed with hands clasped.
Qin Ziwen nodded, then looked towards the empty plot of land, took out the Martial Training Ground card, and used it.
A light covering 1200 square meters of land enveloped the entire area.
As the light faded, a vast and rugged training ground replaced part of the grassland.
The hard ground, compacted from yellow earth, gleamed with a dry sheen under the sunlight filtering through the dome from the Gobi Desert.
Around the perimeter of the training ground, a simple fence was formed by logs as thick as a bowl's mouth deeply embedded into the ground.
On the west side of the grounds stood a platform constructed from piled bluestones.
On the north side, a large golden banner was raised, bearing the two characters for 'Martial' and 'Valor'.
[Level 1 Martial Training Ground: Level 2 Physical Training Amplification, Level 1 Stamina Recovery, Level 1 Long Weapon Boost] (Special Effect: True masters are only honed in life-and-death struggles. Sparring on the platform will not cause physical harm to the body, but injuries will lower spirit and generate fatigue)
Level 2 Physical Training Amplification... could allow physical fitness to reach its limits faster.
Qin Ziwen pondered. Without external aids, three-star strength was probably the limit an ordinary person could reach through normal exercise.
Those with a physical fitness rating above three stars either used cards or possessed exceptional natural talent.
Then there was Stamina Recovery. Although not as strong as the Level 2 effect of the Celestial Star Arrow Gallery, the Martial Training Ground's advantage was its larger area, allowing more people to benefit simultaneously.
The Long Weapon Boost was a characteristic similar to the Archery Boost, enabling people to grasp a higher level of long weapon proficiency in advance.
The final Special Effect was somewhat overpowered.
Sparring on the platform wouldn't cause physical harm to the body? Couldn't they then go all out?
Qin Ziwen, holding the Three-Pronged Fork, entered the training ground. As soon as he stepped in, he felt the fork in his hand seemed easier to wield. He gave it a light swing, smoothly executing a spinning thrust. The fork head spun rapidly while the shaft remained straight.
"Everyone, come in." He turned and said to the group behind him.
Qin Ziwu, Du Yu, and the others followed him in, feeling as if nothing had changed.
Qin Ziwu looked around curiously. "Brother, what effects does this building have?"
Qin Ziwen said, "Go find a long weapon and bring it in."
Hearing this, Qin Ziwu had a flash of insight and guessed something.
He hurriedly and excitedly fetched his long-handled Simple Broadsword and returned to the Martial Training Ground.
"Whoa~" Qin Ziwu performed several consecutive slashes, fast and accurate, clearly a step up compared to before.
"Liangcai, when you have time in the future, come here often to train as well." Qin Ziwen turned and said to Jia Liangcai.
Jia Liangcai hesitated, replying bitterly, "Master, I am not young anymore. Don't trouble me with this."
"What's wrong with this age? Don't you want revenge? Our environment here is quite harsh. If you don't improve your physical fitness, I'm afraid you'll end up bedridden from an illness."
These words indeed struck a chord with the old scholar. He fell silent for a long moment, his eyes reddening, and clasped his hands in a bow. "Liangcai obeys your command."
Qin Ziwen waved a hand. "Du Yu, come, let's go to the platform. Xiao Wu, go upstairs and call Cao Biansheng down."
A moment later, on the platform, Qin Ziwen, Qin Ziwu, and Cao Biansheng stood in a straight line.
Opposite them, Du Yu stood holding his spear, as steady as a deep pool and as imposing as a mountain.
"Are we really fighting?" Cao Biansheng mumbled, somewhat embarrassed. "If we can't hold back and accidentally get hurt, that wouldn't be good."
"Don't worry. As long as we're on this platform, even if a spear is thrust down your throat, you should survive. You won't actually get injured on the platform," Qin Ziwen reassured him.
"Big brother, what do you mean 'should'! Shouldn't you tell me for sure that we absolutely won't get injured!" Cao Biansheng couldn't help but complain.
"Alright, you won't get injured. That's what this building says, anyway." Qin Ziwen patted his shoulder. The reason for his uncertainty was that he hadn't tried it himself.
It was like knowing there are no ghosts in the world, but when walking alone in the morgue of an abandoned hospital and hearing thump thump sounds from a cabinet, your back still goes cold.
Cao Biansheng confirmed again and again, "Guaranteed to live?"
"Guaranteed to live."
Having received Qin Ziwen's repeated assurances, Cao Biansheng's voice grew spirited. "Good! Since it guarantees life, then today I want to test just how big the gap is between me and a master of the same level!"
Having said that, Cao Biansheng lifted the 2.3-meter-long spear Qin Ziwen had just confiscated yesterday and thrust it towards Du Yu.
"Pfft."
Cao Biansheng staggered back, clutching his neck.
He reached up and felt his own neck, his heart still pounding with fear.
"Holy crap, did that spear just go straight through my neck?" He turned his head to look at the other two.
"I saw it. The spearhead came out the back of your neck," Qin Ziwu confirmed with a nod.
Cao Biansheng felt his neck, heart still racing. He gasped for breath. In that instant just now, the spearhead piercing his throat, the clear, icy sensation of the iron weapon passing through his windpipe—it felt unbelievably real!
He felt as if he had truly died once!
Qin Ziwen looked at Cao Biansheng with admiration. This kid was genuinely brave.
After regaining his composure, a gradually wilder smile spread across Cao Biansheng's face. "Since I won't die, then what am I afraid of? Brother Du, your spear technique is so impressive, can you teach me?"
Du Yu answered honestly, "Actually, my spear technique isn't that impressive. It's just amplified here."
"What does that matter? I got the amplification too, but you still killed me in one move," Cao Biansheng said, unconcerned.
"Is it possible your foundation is just too poor, so even a one-level boost doesn't improve things much?" Qin Ziwu suggested.
"My foundation being poor is normal. I never learned martial arts. I was just an ordinary college student before. The only bit of skill I have is the wild, unorthodox style I developed fighting those beasts after crossing over." Cao Biansheng accepted the fact frankly.
Du Yu said, "For any weapon, the foundation is fundamental. The platform is just a place to test results and gain experience. I can teach you techniques, but whether you can master and integrate those techniques depends on diligent daily practice."
"Sound advice," Qin Ziwen nodded.
Afterwards, the three of them engaged in various sparring matches with Du Yu on the platform.
At the beginning, lacking coordination, their attacks were resolved one by one by Du Yu, who defeated them individually.
Later, after dying a few more times, the three learned to be smarter. They stopped charging forward aggressively and instead advanced slowly and steadily. Knowing they couldn't match Du Yu in technique, they aimed to make fewer mistakes. Playing it safe was the right move!
But because their weapons were different, the rhythm of their attacks created gaps.
Du Yu still found openings and defeated them one after another.
At this moment, Qin Ziwen understood why, in the era of cold weapons, soldiers in a single battle formation all used the same type of weapon.
At the edge of the grounds, Jia Liangcai watched the scene of everyone sparring, somewhat surprised. He had seen many officers of Great Yong, but he felt that even the warriors famed for their valor in the military seemed somewhat lacking in comparison.
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