"Chen Chu, it's unfortunate that your saber technique doesn't match your primary kung fu."
"Your knife technique seems rudimentary, not even reaching the first level. With your strength and agility, you could be more potent."
After four o'clock in the afternoon, in the 33rd-floor reading room, Luo Fei, holding a Great Compassion Mantra scripture, expressed regret.
Dragon Elephant Kung Fu excels in strength and defense, making it challenging for the Mind-Eyed Sword, a lower-level kung fu, to showcase its strengths, especially when one is just starting with saber skills.
Compared to Xia Youhui, Xuanwu Houtu Kung Fu incorporates a defensive shield method, significantly boosting power and technique upon breaking through.
Similarly, others practicing advanced exercises possess supplementary combat skills, elevating their prowess as they reach the second level.
In response to this, Chen Chu simply smiled, saying, "I'm content with my current strength. Perfection doesn't exist; practice consistently."
Luo Fei complimented, "Your mindset suits cultivation perfectly."
"Wherever I am, I make progress quietly, advancing to the Second Heaven," Chen Chu replied.
"Why do I feel like we're bragging about business?"
"I'm just stating the facts," Chen Chu replied, wearing a bemused expression.
Luo Fei smiled, returning to her reading.
Observing this, Chen Chu also cracked a smile, casually flipping through his book. This daily afternoon routine, with beautiful company and peaceful reading, brought him comfort and relaxation.
Feeling the warm sunlight through the window, Chen Chu's consciousness dipped, while more than 30 meters underwater, a sand-dwelling creature with peculiar eyes stirred.
Grrrrrrrr!
This creature had grown to 1.5 meters in length, boasting a thick, black-armored body. It expelled bubbles and stirred up sediment with its tail.
With its sturdy armor, towering dorsal fin, robust limbs, and red feathered horns resembling wings on both sides of its head, the heavily armored creature grew increasingly ferocious.
Having devoured all the mutated fish within tens of miles around the river mouth, Chen Chu had guided the creature downstream for the past two days, arriving at the sea mouth over a hundred kilometers away.
As they neared the sea mouth, the river's width and depth expanded, teeming with fish.
In the distance, a ferocious mutated fish darted toward the heavily armored creature at an astonishing speed, aiming for its neck with its fang-filled mouth.
Typically, these ferocious mutated fish harnessed their burst speed's kinetic energy to tear apart their prey upon approach.
However, this time was different. When the fish's jaws clamped down on the heavily armored creature's neck, a crack echoed.
When kinetic energy couldn't rend the prey, the force rebounded onto the attacker. As a result, half of the fish's jaw shattered on impact.
Boom! Splashing ensued.
The heavily armored creature lashed out with its front paws, crushing the fish's head with formidable force. The fish's skull crumbled, splattering blood and white matter.
This was the heavily armored creature's hunting method: lure enemies with its impregnable defense, then counterattack for an instant kill.
This approach was chosen because of its sluggish speed. As it grew larger and its defense intensified, its weight reached staggering levels. Despite being able to unleash strength a hundred times its own, gravity impeded its underwater agility, rendering it slower than streamlined fish.
Beneath the turbulent river surface, blood and flesh residue splattered as the heavily armored creature bit and chewed, attracting numerous small fish.
While the heavily armored creature occasionally swallowed a small fish, it couldn't quell their frenzy.
Just as it was about to finish devouring a two-meter-long fierce fish, it abruptly halted, gazing into the distance.
A massive black shadow cruised in the blurry, ten-meter-distant river, as if assessing the heavily armored creature, exuding a subtle yet ominous aura.
This sensation of danger marked the first time the heavily armored creature had encountered it since its release.
The heavily armored beast couldn't help but lower the fish head it held, muscles tensed throughout its body, its three pairs of red feathered horns on both sides of its head extended, poised for an attack.
However, it appeared to deem the heavily armored beast a formidable adversary. After circling twice, the six-meter-long creature vanished into the depths of the water.
Only when the mutated fish had vanished did the vigilance in the armored beast's eyes slowly dissipate. "I didn't expect such a ferocious mutated fish near the sea's mouth."
"It seems we must exercise caution."
Deep in thought, Chen Chu directed the heavily armored beast to swim towards the shore a few miles away, intending to create a nesting spot and settle in.
Despite the presence of menacing mutated fish, the abundant food met the avatar's growth requirements, so Chen Chu had no intention of leaving.
En route to the shore, the armored beast hunted and devoured a 2-meter-long mutant fish resembling a sea wolf.
Having sated itself, Chen Chu guided the heavily armored beast to dig a new hole on the riverbank. He then withdrew his focus and noticed the girl across from him gazing at him.
"What's wrong, is there something on my face?" Chen Chu queried, touching his cheek quizzically.
Luo Fei naturally averted her gaze and softly responded, "It's nothing, I just noticed it's getting late and wondered if I should wake you."
"It's nearly six o'clock; time flies," Chen Chu remarked, glancing at the wall clock, sighing.
At that moment, Luo Fei inquired, "By the way, Chen Chu, do you have time this Sunday?"
Chen Chu looked puzzled. "Is there something going on?"
Luo Fei nodded slightly. "During this afternoon's training, the squad leader mentioned that all the hundred-acre lotus flowers in Moon Lake are in full bloom. He plans to organize everyone for a leisurely outing on Sunday."
"As of now, aside from our club's five members, Lin Yu, the squad leader's sister, has confirmed her attendance. She asked me to inquire if you'd like to join."
Faced with this query, Chen Chu didn't immediately decide whether to attend but rather smiled and looked at the girl across from him. "Well, would you like me to go?"
Luo Fei's eyes flickered slightly, and she feigned indifference, responding softly, "I think it would be nice if you joined. Everyone's been mentally drained since the school year began."
"This outing could serve as a relaxation opportunity, allowing us to return to practice with a refreshed mindset. What do you think?"
Chen Chu nodded in agreement. "That makes sense."
The girl's eyes sparkled. "So, are you going?"
Chen Chu gave an affirmative nod. "Yes, after all, even if I don't do it for the squad leader, I should do it for you, Luo Fei."
In response, the girl simply raised the corners of her lips, her eyes reflecting a smile as she turned her head away.