Duel

Due to the limitations of his attributes and meditation techniques, Lizer couldn't become a wizard apprentice for the time being, so he particularly cherished the opportunity for knight training.

After getting familiar with Felina, the instructor gave him a lot of extra guidance. The ground of the training field was slightly hot, and the surrounding witchcraft training dummies were still exuding a faint aura of magical energy.

In particular, his Pay-to-Win ability could digitize his training progress, making his improvement visible. This made him train non-stop.

Lizer had been training for several years and was already on the verge of a breakthrough.

Stimulated by the Pay-to-Win ability over the past few days, he trained like a madman and finally reached the threshold of a breakthrough.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The sweat dripped onto the ground, which was already soaked into a puddle...

Focused training in Knight Cultivation Method. Proficiency +1. Novice 100/100. Can consume 20 energy points to upgrade to the Proficient level.

Focused training in Basic Sword Art. Proficiency +1. Novice 100/100. Can consume 10 energy points to upgrade to the Proficient level.

"Phew!" Lizer stopped his movements, exhaling a puff of white breath.

The winter air was bone-chillingly cold. As soon as the white breath came out, it touched the nearby witchcraft streetlamp, causing its runes to flicker.

He rubbed his nose, feeling his whole body burning hot.

Nearby, seeing Lizer finish his training, Jackson walked over with George.

Jackson stood with his hands on his hips, while George hid behind him, peeking at Lizer.

Jackson was an apprentice seed in Lizer's class; his father was the director of the Land Bureau of Gray Mist Mountain Town.

Speaking of which, the apprentice seeds of the Gray Mist Mountain Lower Academy were mostly children of nobles or wealthy merchants. There were very few commoners with genuinely strong innate spiritual power.

In his previous life on the Blue Planet, the cultivation world had the concept of Wealth, Companions, Methods, and Land:

Wealth referred to the unique resources and treasures of the cultivation world.

Companions were fellow Daoists, referring to one's network in the cultivation world.

Methods were the techniques and divine abilities of cultivation.

Land referred to the blessed paradises rich in spiritual energy that aided cultivation.

This logic was equally valid in the wizarding world.

These nobles and wealthy people could obtain more treasures and opportunities unavailable to commoners to improve their children's attributes, making it naturally easier for them to meet the spiritual power requirements of a wizard apprentice.

Jackson had always been a fanboy of Instructor Felina. Every time Felina walked by with her witchcraft manual, he would stare fixedly at her.

Recently, seeing Lizer constantly talking to Felina made him extremely displeased.

In his eyes, Lizer was nothing more than a cowardly blacksmith's boy.

Meanwhile, he was a man destined to become a wizard. Why couldn't he achieve what Lizer did and win the favor of the goddess-like Instructor Felina?

Instigated by George, he decided to teach Lizer a lesson.

He surrounded Lizer with three lackeys and drew his knight's sword, the basic runes on the blade flashing:

"Boy! Instructor Felina is a noble wizard apprentice. Don't taint her, you blacksmith's son!

Stay away from her, or I'll beat you up every time I see you!"

Lizer rolled his eyes:

"Bro, are you sick in the head? What does me talking to the instructor have to do with you?"

Lizer glanced at George hiding in the back, whose eyes dodged his gaze.

Lizer patted Jackson on the shoulder:

"Don't let yourself be used as a tool. It's not worth being stupid."

Jackson glared at George, then patted his chest and said:

"Duel me like a man!

The loser is not allowed to go near Felina ever again!"

Hearing this, Lizer almost laughed out loud. This dramatic teenager was indeed amusing:

"I'd have to be crazy to duel you."

Seeing something interesting happening here, the surrounding teenagers slowly gathered around. Even Instructor Felina, who was explaining things to other students nearby, noticed the commotion.

Jackson felt that his status as an apprentice seed had been insulted. With a flushed face, he roared:

"You coward! What will it take for you to dare to duel me?"

Lizer touched the gold coins in his pocket, thinking that he was just about to build a weapons workshop. Jackson's father was the director of the Land Bureau, so he might be able to help.

Besides, his skills were about to break through, making this a perfect opportunity to test them out.

He raised an eyebrow and said:

"If I lose, I'll listen to you. If you lose, you do me a favor."

Hearing this, Jackson immediately drew his knight's sword and stood ready:

"Come on! Let your granddaddy teach you a good lesson."

Seeing Jackson so confident, Lizer frowned and activated the Pay-to-Win analysis skill.

The opponent's attributes were immediately displayed:

Jackson (Normal Human)

Strength: 2.0 Agility: 2.0 Constitution: 2.3 Spiritual Power: 2.6

Knight Cultivation Method: Novice Basic Sword Art: Novice

Knight Secret Art: Counter-Strike

Unfortunately, the analysis was based on Lizer's own knowledge, and he had no idea what Counter-Strike was.

Lizer bit his lip, thinking he had to be careful next.

Jackson had definitely come prepared.

The academy tested the students' physical fitness every once in a while, so Jackson definitely knew Lizer's previous attributes.

His attributes almost completely crushed Lizer's, and he also had the knight's special skill Counter-Strike. No wonder he was so confident.

Under normal circumstances, Lizer couldn't win, but his Knight Cultivation Method and Basic Sword Art were just about to break through.

The outcome would be different now!

Consumed 20 energy points. Knight Cultivation Method (Novice) 100/100 upgraded to Knight Cultivation Method (Proficient) 0/100.

Note: Can slightly improve physical fitness. Additional Strength +0.2, Agility +0.4, Constitution +0.2.

The cultivation effect changed from slow to slight, and it additionally improved his physical attributes, with agility increasing the most.

Consumed 10 energy points. Basic Sword Art (Novice) 100/100 upgraded to Basic Sword Art (Proficient) 0/100.

Note: Practicing the sword a lot brings improvements. When fighting with a sword, Strength +0.2, Agility +0.3, Sword Swinging Speed +20%.

Lizer clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. The muscles in his arms instantly tensed, and an unprecedented sense of power surged through his entire body along his blood vessels.

The moment he consumed energy points to upgrade his skills just now, it felt as if a warm current had been injected into his limbs and bones.

The originally rusty Knight Cultivation Method suddenly became incredibly smooth, with every breathing rhythm engraved into his very marrow.

The hacking, slashing, thrusting, and lifting of the Basic Sword Art felt like they had been practiced thousands of times. He could even accurately control the angle of his sword wind.

He couldn't help but widen his eyes, his heart pounding—this Pay-to-Win ability could actually let him instantly master skills that took others years to perfect?

It was simply unbelievable!

He tried to perform a sword stance. The movement was so fluid that even he was surprised, as if his body had already memorized all the details and would never make a mistake again.

After his skills broke through, Lizer's strength increased significantly. In particular, his agility broke through to 3.0, reaching the knight tier.

The knight tier was the physical limit that ordinary people could reach. One could completely control their body, utilizing strength and speed to the extreme.

Facing Jackson, who hadn't yet reached the knight tier, Lizer felt that his chances of winning were high.

Lizer touched the hilt of his sword, thinking: A knight tier thrashing a non-knight, could he possibly lose?

Lizer shook his head. He didn't think a single knight secret art could change anything, but he still gripped his sword tightly. He had to be careful not to make a careless mistake.

Jackson raised his sword to his chest, pointing the tip at Lizer, and said:

"You attack first!"

He thought he could easily block and then counterattack, taking out Lizer in one fell swoop.

Lizer swung his sword over, and Jackson blocked it with his own. With a "clang," Jackson's hand went numb.

He hadn't expected Lizer's strength to be so great; he couldn't counterattack at all.

Lizer followed up with a second and third strike, his speed increasing. Jackson could only dodge, completely unable to strike back.

Gritting his teeth, Jackson secretly gathered strength in his feet, preparing to use his family's secret knight technique to counterattack.

As his feet pressed against the ground, the runes of the training field flickered.

Jackson counted the number of Lizer's attacks:

"Eight, nine, ten!"

He suddenly pushed off the ground, the power traveling from his feet to his arm, and his sword slashed rapidly toward Lizer's wrist.

The speed was a bit faster than before, and it looked like it was about to hit.

Seeing Jackson suddenly speed up, Lizer immediately recognized this as the "Backhand Strike."

He had been guarding against this move all along and hadn't used his full strength.

The surrounding youths were stunned. Lizer's sword suddenly sped up, leaving only a blur of sword shadows.

With a twist of his wrist, his sword slashed toward Jackson's.

With a "hiss," the sword light flashed across Jackson's wrist. His hand dropped, and blood dripped down the sword onto the ground.

Lizer sheathed his sword and stood up straight.

A youth nearby shouted:

"Someone's hurt!"

Instructor Felina also walked over.

Lizer pulled a packet of "Lesser Healing Powder" from his waist and sprinkled it on Jackson's wrist.

As soon as the powder touched the wound, the bleeding stopped immediately, and the wound slowly healed.

Jackson and the other youths widened their eyes, saying:

"Lesser Healing Powder!"

They couldn't believe Lizer actually had this.

Lizer leaned close to Jackson and whispered:

"Remember what you promised me."

Lizer turned and walked away, going to the shade of a nearby tree. He leaned against it, digesting what he had learned from the fight.

[Observed opponent executing the knight secret technique 'Backhand Strike'. Spend 40 energy points to unlock the 'Backhand Strike' training method.]

[Backhand Strike: While both feet are in contact with the earth, accumulate twenty percent of the opponent's attack power in your legs with each strike. After enduring at least eight attacks, you can unleash an incredibly swift counterattack.]

This move is truly devious. If someone could withstand many attacks before erupting, how powerful would that be?

Lizer thought to himself.

Unfortunately, he didn't have enough energy points. Lizer patted his pockets; he would have to wait until next time.