Stepping back to evade the blade of the illusion of Gu Yali, I swiftly devised a strategy in my mind.
"First, I won't resort to using my long sword, Gu Yue. Instead, I'll engage with tenfold strength, and then launch a surprise attack with the Holy Light Bullet!" I then executed a spinning kick.
I had never practiced any martial arts; my fighting relied purely on instinct. With my enhanced strength and speed, even seemingly ornate maneuvers became effortless. Although my spinning kick had its vulnerabilities, I was confident that if I connected, the illusion of Gu Yali would surely suffer a broken neck.
"Combat power assessment rising, combat style changing!" The illusion of Gu Yali announced, deflecting my flying kick with ease. In an instant, her speed increased fivefold, and a side kick struck beneath my ribs.
Caught off guard, I was propelled five meters away, with the sound of cracking ribs echoing in my ears. Fortunately, I had spare healing cards on hand and quickly activated one with a spell to restore my injuries.
"If it weren't for the healing cards, I might have been crippled just now! This foreign woman possesses incredible strength!" Infuriated by Gu Yali's mercilessness, I sprang to my feet, the long sword Gu Yue materializing in my grasp, and swiftly charged toward her shoulder with a fierce slash. Even with the fivefold speed boost from Gu Yue, Gu Yali still evaded my strike effortlessly, retreating with calm precision before countering with a wrist lock.
Luckily, my dynamic vision card allowed me to catch her preparatory movements, enabling me to react and dodge her unarmed strike aimed at my blade. I unleashed a flurry of basic sword techniques—slicing, hacking, slashing, and thrusting—transforming Gu Yue into a whirlwind of white light that kept the illusion of Gu Yali at bay.
After several exchanges, I gradually grasped some combat insights, feeling less tense as I contemplated, "The Sandstorm technique requires a considerable amount of inner power. I can only execute five strikes at most, so I must wait for the right moment to unleash it!" Though I wielded an additional weapon, Gu Yali's experience and skills far surpassed mine, and her physical prowess slightly outmatched me. If the battle continued, I would soon be unable to keep pace with her ever-shifting tactics. A careless moment had me caught off guard as the red-haired foreign beauty landed a kick to my left leg, momentarily halting my movements.
"Alright! Test concluded." Gu Yali's illusion stated coldly, yet her assault showed no sign of abating. A series of leg strikes connected with my back, ribs, and shoulder. If I hadn't been dodging for my life, she could have easily knocked my head off.
"That merciless woman! I'll fight back with everything I've got!" Ignoring the pain of her kick, I boldly activated the Sandstorm technique. The scorching energy surged from my blade, forming a small whirlwind, and a mirage of a sandstorm engulfed the space around me.
Instinctively, Gu Yali's illusion closed her eyes, granting me a fleeting opportunity amid the chaos. Although the effects of the two violent pills I had taken earlier had worn off, the latent ferocity within my spirit remained undiminished.
I hadn't even noticed that my temperament had become fiercely combative, a stark contrast to my former self as an ordinary first-year student. As I swung my blade down, I harbored no thoughts of the consequences of killing; instead, an unsettling blend of savagery and ecstasy stirred within me.
"Combat power assessment rising again, switching to spirit power combat mode! Basic technique: Yan Qing Fist! True strength output at fifteen percent!" An ethereal glow erupted from Gu Yali, and I once more felt the overwhelming aura that accompanied her presence. This time, however, the illusion seemed to lack any substantial enhancement, even as its speed diminished.
"What a strange sensation?" As a woman, Gu Yali was tall and beautiful, undeniably alluring with her graceful form. Yet now, as I focused on her illusion, it felt as if I were a frog laid bare on an autopsy table, an involuntary chill crawling up my spine. Despite my relentless application of the Sandstorm technique, an uncanny shift began to unfold within me.
Just as I had anticipated, the illusion of Gu Yali suddenly transformed her movements, executing seven nimble somersaults just above the ground, narrowly avoiding my blade, all while keeping her eyes closed. After four consecutive strikes with the Sandstorm technique, I hadn't even grazed the hem of her illusion's attire. Realizing the peril of my situation, I instinctively withdrew my remaining inner power for one final strike.
Though my inner power limit had increased after receiving a card from Ling Xue, I had never achieved a full recovery. As I maintained a critically low level of inner power, if I had exhausted it during my initial assault, I wouldn't be able to wield my formidable techniques any longer.
Retaining enough inner power for one last attack was merely a reflexive response. As my blade slowed, Gu Yali's illusion closed the distance, making clear the disparity in our combat knowledge.
I let out a roar, deploying my final skill. "Holy Light Bullet!" Seeing the projectile hurtling toward her, Gu Yali gathered the ethereal light in her palms, redirecting the force to deflect my Holy Light Bullet to the ground.
"Combat power assessment rising again, switching to spirit power combat mode, true strength output at fifteen percent! Enhanced technique: Infinite Combat Style! Spirit Bomb!" The formless flame between Gu Yali's hands coalesced into a glowing sphere.
"Damn it! Whatever I can do, she can do too—and she understands it all better than I do! How am I supposed to win?" Lacking her finesse in redirecting force, I could only brace myself with a protective barrier of holy energy against her Spirit Bomb.
Just as I thought I would be battered into submission beyond recognition, the illusion of Gu Yali suddenly froze in place after launching a Spirit Bomb.
"Combat power assessment has reached the maximum standard for this card. Test complete. The most challenging spirit power training course will now commence…"