In the early morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Long Dangdang was awakened by a low knocking at the door.
After a night of meditation, coupled with the pill given by Teacher Zi Tianwu yesterday, he felt invigorated and full of energy. More importantly, he was now able to clearly sense the existence of his mental spirit ocean. Zi Tianwu had told him yesterday that this point was critically important for mages, indicating true initiation into their craft.
Upon opening the dormitory door, Hai Jifeng was already standing at the entrance, his Reckless Knight appearance showing no signs of the duel with Zi Tianwu from the day before.
"Good morning, Teacher Hai." Long Dangdang hurriedly greeted.
"Hmm. Punch me." Hai Jifeng patted his own chest.
"Ah?" Long Dangdang was taken aback.
"Use all of your strength, mobilize all the power you can use, and punch me. I want to see your current level." Hai Jifeng said in a somewhat cold tone.
"Oh, okay."
Long Dangdang took a deep breath, and swung a punch at Hai Jifeng's chest.
With a soft "thump," Long Dangdang felt as if he had hit an iron plate. The powerful counter-shock force threw him backwards, causing his right hand to throb with pain.
"Overall spiritual power just over one hundred." Hai Jifeng nodded.
"I don't care what Zi Tianwu taught you, but you must learn what I teach you. I will assess you once a week, and if you fail the assessment..." At this point, a cold glint flashed in the divine knight's eyes, making the hairs on Long Dangdang's back stand up.
"Today I want to teach you that the best defense is a good offense. You don't need to learn too much from Na Ye. The only thing of value is his footwork, the rest is garbage."
As he spoke, the flash of a blade shone in his hand. Two estocs appeared, each one four feet long with a broad, dull blade. "These two swords are for your cultivation. The right sword weighs thirtysix catties, the left sword thirtytwo. Your mission for this week is to be able to use them in combat."
Long Dangdang hesitated for a moment and said, "Teacher Hai, I have integrated the Holy Diversion Spirit Furnace. Shouldn't I become a protection knight?"
Hai Jifeng gave him a cold glance, "Be a protection knight? Even if the Holy Diversion Spirit Furnace is pulled in for slaughter, it's the same. Be a punisher knight. I am a punisher knight."
"Okay."
Without saying much, Long Dangdang took the two heavy swords. Suddenly, his hand felt heavier, and with a "thump," the tips of the estocs hit the ground.
He really wasn't used to having such a heavy knight's sword in one hand.
With an all-out effort, he barely managed to pick up the swords again.
Hai Jifeng suddenly disappeared, and in the next moment, Long Dangdang felt a palm pressing against his back, "Remember, every muscle in your body is useful. The coordination of the body comes from your control of all muscles, the stretch of tendons, the elasticity of blood vessels. Carefully feel the changes in muscle's strength, and try to control it. Infuse the inner spiritual power into it, and let your weapon and body become one. When you can achieve unity of mind and body, then you have the foundation of a knight."
A somewhat domineering fiery aura flowed from him into Long Dangdang as he spoke, causing Long Dangdang's spiritual power to operate naturally under Hai Jifeng's guidance. His muscles trembled, and his internal spiritual power blended with his body. He quickly committed this feeling to memory. The heavy swords in his hands seemed to get lighter.
Chopping Slash! Under Hai Jifeng's guidance, he completed an action of a double Chopping Slash. The heavy swords whistled through the air with a soft "whoosh."
"Remember this feeling, remember the changes in muscle strength and the mobilization of spiritual power during exertion. During this process, the changes in your body are an important part of it."
Under Hai Jifeng's guidance, Long Dangdang completed three Chopping Slash moves.
Hai Jifeng withdrew his hand and calmly said, "Now it's your turn."
"Yes." Long Dangdang responded, taking a deep breath, mobilizing his spiritual power, and using his waist to drive his back muscles. This chain of motion travelled to his shoulders, upper arms, and forearms. Finally, the moment he swung up his double estocs, spiritual power surged into them, and the heavy swords flew out, performing a Chopping Slash downwards.
The heavy swords descended with a low hum, stopping in mid-air about a foot from the ground. The blade trembled slightly.
Long Dangdang looked at Hai Jifeng, "Teacher, is this correct?"
A flash of surprise crossed Hai Jifeng's eyes. Even if a ten-year-old child had a spiritual power of over one hundred, maneuvering a pair of swords weighing nearly seventy pounds wasn't that easy. Even with the muscle memory of just having been manually operated by him, it was still the same. It wasn't easy to control the estocs. He wasn't surprised that Long Dangdang could swing the heavy swords, but to be able to suspend them in mid-air, just like when he had guided the slash himself, now that wasn't easy. This control wasn't from his muscles, but from his spiritual power. His muscles couldn't possibly have that kind of strength.
"Continue." Hai Jifeng said indifferently.
Long Dangdang focused again and performed another Chopping Slash.
"Whew", the heavy swords performed a double Chopping Slash again. Compared to before, the control seemed to have improved slightly.
How did he do it? A question flashed through Hai Jifeng's heart. A seemingly simple Chopping Slash demands comprehensive skill.
"Continue!"
Long Dangdang performed one Chopping Slash after another. Gradually, his body began to tremble slightly. His physical strength and spiritual power were limited, and maneuvering such heavy swords was far from easy.