Bai Jingshen was thrilled to do the thing he knows best again. Everything in this New World seemed so unfamiliar, Bai Jingshen would lie if he said he didn't feel uncomfortable. At this point in time a good fight would definitely help him stabilize his emotions again. After leaping into the sparring ring, Bai Jingshen didn't wait for the instructor to give a long speech, but just instantly threw a straight punch at his chest.
Only, with the first punch Bai Jingshen already realized something detrimental. He wasn't used to this new body of his at all. Suddenly falling so far in his cultivation led to every move of his feeling sluggish and unprecise. So, it didn't come as a surprise, that Instructor Bennet easily blocked his punch. Bai Jingshen even felt that his opposition lowered his cultivation to Bai Jingshen's level.
The instructor was an experienced fighter though and realized that something seemed off with this punch. Either his potential recruit had no fighting strength at all, or he seemed to not have trained in a while. Thus, Bennet knew to be patient for now. He began to throw a few probing punches, which Bai Jingshen blocked and evaded. The latter looked a bit shaky, but his basics were obviously there.
As an emperor who once ruled a whole universe, Bai Jingshen had both a strong will and pride though. Most of the time he was rather laid back, but in a fight he would always be 110% serious. He admonished himself for still not having his emotions in check and forced his body and soul to work together in order to find his old mindset again. Even Bai Jingshen didn't realize, how fast he regained control over his body though and a subtle aura seemed to pervade the room now.
Faster and faster the punches flew in the sparring ring, prompting everyone in the room to slowly gather around those two fighters. Bai Jingshen and Bennet didn't hold back anymore and ruthlessly let their fists rain down on their opponent. Slowly Bennet got the feeling of fighting in a real life and death fight when he looked into his enemies eyes. Reacting to Bai Jingshen's increasing ferociousness, Bennet suddenly switched techniques and began using his metal covered right arm more and more.
Kayleen was transfixed one the fight, not having expected Bai Jingshen to go toe to toe with the instructor. Suddenly she flinched as Bai Jingshen's fist met one of Bennet's spikes right on. Blood freely ran down Bai Jingshen's arm as his left hand stuck to Bennet's bionic. No emotion could be seen on Bai Jingshen's face though, as he even tightened his grip on Bennet. Now the two fighters were looked together in short range, as they tried to break the others defense with their free arms. After a few minutes in a standstill like this however, Bennet used a bit of his cultivation to grab Bai Jingshen's right wrist.
"Haha, boy, who would have thought there is so much fight in this thin body of yours.", could the loud, boisterous laugh of Instructor Bennet be heard.
With this sentence, Bai Jingshen slowly left his fighting mindset toe, and a light smile appeared on his lips. He looked at Bennet, praising him: "Great fight, Instructor.", then his eyes fell on his left hand still stuck on Bennet's glove and he ruthlessly pulled his hand back. Even the brawny men around the ring felt a cold shudder running down their spine.
Bennet looked at the glaring wound on Bai Jingshen's hand, shaking his hand.
"I could have retracted those spikes, you know."
Everyone around them chuckled a second, but it made Bennet realize how his trainees had gathered around them. The instructor threw them a disapproving look, and quickly shouted:
"Ok everyone, since you already stopped your training we can at least do the introductions right now. You all will be teammates from now, so greet the newcomer. Oh, and Kayleen, can you call for a medic real quick? It's the cross button next to the door!"
Bai Jingshen followed Bennet out of the ring while finally taking a good look at his new teammates. Because of their body stature all of them looked really similar at first glance, but he realized that this thought didn't do them justice. While Bai Jingshen's gaze came to rest on the leftmost person in their team, the brawny man nodded at him and began to speak:
"I was surprised when I heard we would get a new team member, but you seem to fit right in here. I'm Ryan and I'm our team's leader. These are George, Michael, Koi, Daniel, Mark, Richard, Zell, Sam, and Lloyd. You will have time to get to know them later. From what I understand, you probably don't know what our team is. We are trained as an RSS, a resource securing squad. Our job in the New World will mostly be fighting over or defending resources. We will mostly be sent to places with a high likelihood of fighting against other humans. Sometimes also beasts. I'm impressed that you could tie Instructor Bennet in close quarters combat. I slightly feared we would get an inexperienced rookie, but I'm sure you will be a great addition to our team."
After his introduction, Ryan gave Bai Jingshen a gentle smile, which didn't fully fit with his brawny body image, but Bai Jingshen thought, the same could be said about his smart looking face and eyes. Still, the former emperor really didn't want to hear Ryan's last sentence.
Sure, Bennet was even a Golden Core Realm cultivator, three realms higher than Bai Jingshen. But his former friends would still laugh at him if they knew he could only tie with Bennet at the same cultivation realm. It seemed he had a lot to train to get into form again. In the Great Cultivation World, Bai Jingshen wouldn't even have looked at a Golden Core Realm Junior. Only if you surpassed the Golden Core Realm, went through the minor tribulation stage, and reached the Nascent Soul Realm could you even be called a cultivator in Bai Jingshen's eyes. He really had to push himself now to quickly reach the Qi Gathering Realm, making it through Foundation Establishment and Golden Core after. His existence right now was just too disappointing.
However, in a much better mental state after his fight, Bai Jingshen could accept his current situation. He exchanged a few words with his future team mates, before Instructor Bennet sent them to train again. At this point the room's door opened again and a mature woman in white robe came in. She was obviously the ordered medic. She took a look around the room and upon spotting Bai Jingshen, she nodded at him and led him to the side.
Normally Bai Jingshen wouldn't call a healer for a small injury like this, but since she was already here it didn't matter. The lady also didn't do much. She only cleaned his wound a bit, took out a few bandages, and spread a green, slimy liquid on it, before wrapping it around his hand. Afterwards she packed her things and left quickly. Such injuries really seemed to be daily business to her.
As Bai Jingshen sat near the training ground, watching his teammates, Kayleen made her way over to him.
"Here, your robe.", began the Redhead.
"Thanks for taking care."
"Well, I didn't do much."
"Still. Very important to me.", told Bai Jingshen, while a quick longing gaze swept through his eyes.
"Oh? You seem to be in a better mood now. Care to tell me more about you?", asked Kayleen. By now she had no idea about what to make out of Bai Jingshen anymore. He only seemed mysterious to her. She could also tell that Bai Jingshen felt more comfortable now and hoped he would open up to her.
"No, sorry. Not now at least."
Well, maybe it was to early to ask. Kayleen had a slightly awkward look on her face, but Bai Jingshen's next words made her feel elated.
"Thank you for everything though."
Kyleen would have liked to talk more with Bai Jingshen, but Instructor Bennet stopped the training for today. Bai Jingshen's teammates had to go to afternoon classes soon, and so did Kayleen. Bai Jingshen said goodbye to everyone, before talking to Instructor Bennet.