Binx, the feline beastman, attacked from behind again.
Leo spun around and said to Sprite, 'Activate Solar Flare now.'
A bright light full of yang energy released from Leo's hand. Its unbelievably bright light blinded the beastman. Leo executed a Rising Sun uppercut with his opposite hand. The fist connected with Binx's jaw, knocking her off her feet. The precise strike knocked the beastman out.
All of the beastmen watching felt flabbergasted. A human one realm below beat a Qi fighter beastman.
On the other hand, Lycan was very impressed with the young warrior. He motioned for Leo to come over and said, "Come here, boy. Fog, tend to Binx."
As Leo approached Lycan, a huge ursine variant walked over to help the unconscious beastman.
"Good job, young human. You impressively utilize yin and yang energy. Starting tomorrow, you will have three sparrings and train with Shadow afterward."
"Then today, do you need me to fight again?"
"No, today, just train with Shadow." He looked up to everyone and said, "Everyone else, pair off and begin your morning spars."
Shadow appeared before them and said, "Follow me."
The two walked away from the training area to a parked spacecraft. The two of them walked inside a room with a vault inside. Shadow opened the locker and handed Leo a tablet.
'Sir, the technological device holds the cultivation techniques for beastmen at the Beast Body and Beast Fighter realms.'
"This device has techniques to train young beastmen in the basic arts," explained Shadow. "We are giving it to you to look through. I suggest focusing on an earth energy cultivation art as it suits you the best."
"What about my current art?"
"As Lycan guessed, and from what I could tell, it is a broken art. This means it won't allow you to ascend realms and is only useful in the Beast Body realm. So look through them, and when you choose one, let me know."
She walked out of the vault room and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes almost as she was sleeping.
Leo started to swipe through the different techniques. He barely read the art's title before moving on to the next one.
'Sir, I have copied all of the techniques. I have a few suggestions of techniques to focus on.'
'What do you suggest, Sprite?' asked Leo as he continued browsing.
'I'd suggest Rock Ursine Art or Fortress Art. Both techniques focus on earth energies. Rock Ursine Art is an internal Qi technique for the ursine varaints. The Fortress Art is an external cultivation used for building defenses.'
'Could I cultivate them both?"
'You can, but learning more arts will hinder your cultivation speed.'
Leo paused for a bit and laid down the tablet. He thought briefly on it and said, "I think I'm going to train in two arts. The Rock Ursine Art and Fortress Art."
Shadow opened her eyes and nodded. She grabbed the tablet and placed it back in the lockbox.
"Focus on the basics you read this evening. Tomorrow, I will review it with you."
They exited the spacecraft and parted. Leo headed home to study the two arts with Sprite. When he got home, Joe was sitting outside in his chair.
"You're back early? I expected you to be home later."
"Yeah, I was released early to study the cultivation arts they lent me. Wait, aren't you supposed to teach and stuff?" asked Leo.
"Yes, but I was allowed a week or so to adjust before starting."
"Well, let us go watch the bison and discuss the cultivation. This way, Sprite can talk directly to you."
Leo pushed Joe out to the field. They looked out to see the bison grazing, and now and then, they'd start humming, and the earth around them would move.
"Joseph, I got the jist of their energy device Leo used. Hold one second while I use stored Qi to observe your body," explained Sprite.
Leo was surprised once again at how advanced Sprite was, and his abilities allowed him to scan and copy most tech. Joe sat there as a wave of cold energy floated over him. The Qi returned to Leo's wrist, and Sprite began to analyze his findings.
"Joseph, I believe you are best with metal or earth energies. Training to learn the Rock Ursine Art and Fortress Art will benefit you, too."
"Well, you heard the weird sci-fi robot voice. Leo, let us start."
"Sure thing, Joe."
Joe began to circulate Qi as Fiver showed him and found it similar to Rock Ursine Art. Sprite told Joe to focus on absorbing Qi into the flesh and to alternate between the metal and earth energies.
On the other hand, Leo would have difficulty as his Ying Yang Manual is quite different from the Beastman Arts. Leo sat down to meditate using the Rock Ursine Art.
After reviewing the manual, one must absorb the earth by touching it through the skin and breathing in the rich earth Qi. Joe got the hang of it, similar to absorbing metal Qi, but Leo couldn't get the hang of it after thirty minutes.
'Sir, you are used to gathering energy from the air in your lungs. Since you tempered your skin from within, you don't understand how to breathe through your skin. Humans have pores in their skin; through these, you should be able to feel the Qi in the soil below you.'
Leo complied and decided to dig a hole with his hand and place it inside. He could feel the energies slowly, but they moved around his hand, never entering it. He tried releasing yang energy to force it into him, but that pushed it away. Repeating that same effort, he tried with yin energy, which also failed.
'Sir, the primary elements are all yin and yang.'
Hearing Sprite mention this made it click for Leo. Mixing both elements, he created a place of balance in his hand. The world is never in perfect harmony. So when the earth Qi felt this new perfect place be made, it flooded his hand.
"Oh man, it is rushing towards me."
The surrounding Qi rushed to this perfect vessel, filling each piece of Leo's flesh, muscles, and nerves with energy. Using sunlight and moonlight paled in comparison to absorbing the energy from the ground.
Finally, making it past the first portion, Leo could focus on tempering the body earth Qi. He would have to rebaptize each piece of the body he had already done.
So now, both Leo and Joe began circulating the Qi through their skin. Joe was slower as he was tempering it with two kinds. Sprite made comments here and there to help make the process smoother.
Soon, night approached, and the two left to return home. Both were exhausted, body and mind, and fell fast asleep.
'Sir, wake up. It is time for you to head to the training ground.'
'Ughh, but I'm so tired, Sprite.'
'Sir, you have a commitment now.'
Leo gave in to his nagging nanny and got up. He stretched and put on his training clothes dropped off by Samantha yesterday. The uniform consisted of padded clothing and arm guards. Leo would have to thank her the next time they talked.
He arrived at the training hall as the other beastmen arrived. Shadow approached him.
"Your first sparring partner today will be Striker. Striker, take Leo to the third sparring area."
"As you wish, Shadow."
The two walked over to a clearing and squared up.
"Human, I won't go easy on you like Binx did. We beastmen have a warrior's pride that shouldn't be underestimated. I will allow you the first strike."
"Thank you, prepare yourself, Striker."
'Sir, this beastman is also in the Beast Fighter stage.'
'I know. I can feel it, Sprite.'
'Be careful, Sir.'
Leo started with an explosive Yang Step. Leaping at canine beastman, he jabbed at Striker's face. The beastman sidestepped the attack and used an Iron Reaper. Leo barely blocked with his arm guard, knocking him off his feet.
Leo then attempted another strike, as Striker didn't take the initiative to attack him. Using Yang Step, he threw out another punch.
'Sprite, now! Use Solar Flare.'
Sprite released Yang Qi to blind the canine variant, but it expected it and closed its eyes. Using his keen sense of hearing and smell, he used another Iron Reaper at Leo. This time, he got clawed in the arm, caught off guard. Blood began to drip from his shoulder down to his bracer.
"Your tricks won't work twice, human," said the beastman.
Leo looked at his arm in surprise. Not at the pain but how much damage the attack did; in this case, it didn't do. The tempering yesterday brought him an additional effect he wasn't expecting. His skin protected him a lot more than usual.
This time, the canine beastman charged Leo, seeing the human wounded and looking at his arm.
The boy fell into a trance of sorts. Most in the cultivation world call it inspiration. Feeling the energy at his feet, the image of the bison attacking the coyote came to him.
Leo stomped a Descending Moon leg drop on the ground, causing it to burst upward in clumps and dust. The canine senses were disturbed, and he lost sight of the human boy.
'Sir, to your left is the beastman.'
'Thank you, Sprite.'
The boy used his most powerful Ascending Sun to uppercut the canine in the chin. Leo could feel the earth Qi in the dust and could feel the beastman try to dodge his attack. Leo adjusted and landed his strike cleaning, knocking the beastman off his feet.
Leo didn't understand that Yin and Yang's energies allowed one to execute mighty attacks that transcend realms. This is why his attacks were effective against Qi Fighters and Beast Fighters.
The canine beast, Striker, stumbled a bit trying to get back up but waved his hand in defeat.
Shadow, who watched the bout, said, "Boy, good job. Take a breather. You will be fighting Fog up next. He is a ursine beastman."
Leo walked over and said, "Striker, thank you. This fight taught me a lot." Leo then went to the table with medical supplies to bandage his arm.
Striker wouldn't admit it, but this fight taught him much. Never underestimate your opponent, even if they are another race or a lower realm.
With Sprite's instructions, Leo bandaged his shoulder cut and put on this paste beastmen used to heal faster. The blood clotted between the paste and Sprite's nanites and began to recover when it was time to face Fog.
"Human, what is your name again?"
"Leo and yours is Fog?"
"Yes, I am Fog."
"Why are you called Fog?"
"I will show you. The spar begins now."
Slowly, the bear began to release steam from its fur and disappear in a smoke screen.
'Sir, he is using the Fog Bear Art. It focuses on water qi instead of earth qi. I can follow his movements.'
'Okay, let me know which direction he is attacking from.'
The cloud slowly surrounded Leo, blinding him. Trusting Sprite, Leo took his best stance to defend himself.
"Block my Hundred Pound Paw!"
'Sir, to your right!'
The bear variant palm struck Leo from the right. Leo tried to cross guard with the bracers but was launched backward off his feet. He felt like he just got hit by a hovercraft.
Coughing for air, Leo sat up with a bear palm in front of his face.
"It is my win," declared Fog.
"I give. Your win."
The palm extended down into a hand to help Leo up. Leo grabbed the beastman's paw to pull himself upward. He looked down at his cracked arm guards and knew they couldn't make it through another fight.
"Leo, good fight."
"Thank you, Fog."
"I am off to fight my next fight. Good luck, Leo."
Fog left to wait for his next bout. Leo walked over to Shadow to ask her a question.
"Shadow, where can I fix these?" asked Leo, showing his cracked bracers.
"Take those to the human, Jack. He has a workshop for weapons and armor the defense team uses. Don't worry about your last fight but come here afterward.
Leo left to find the defense building to get the repairs done.