Free Web NovelChapter 108: The Second Trial (2)
Liang lowered his arm. His white beard twitched as his frown deepened. "You are the top sword practitioner among the second-year academy disciples. This is a simple evaluation spar. Why do you refuse?"
Marco rubbed the back of his neck. He looked away from the center of the ring. "I challenged him to an official arena duel back at the academy grounds. He beat me senseless with just his fists in front of the student body. Fighting him again when he has a weapon, I already know how that ends."
The surrounding first-year students erupted into loud whispers. Dozens of teenagers pointed at Solomon and exchanged shocked expressions.
The floating stream interface vibrated with new text.
[LazyCat: LMAO HE BROUGHT MARCO!]
[User12: bro has PTSD from that arena fight.]
[NewbHunter: Marco knows exactly what happens when you mess with Solo Man.]
[Skeptic: wait, he actually beat the top second-year student?]
Liang pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling Marco to step aside.
"Go down to the lower courtyard and fetch an instructor-in-training," Liang ordered the sect worker. "Tell him to bring his gear."
The worker sprinted down the stone steps. The crowd of students murmured continuously while the minutes ticked by.
Solomon adjusted his grip on the hilt of Eden’s Penance. The pristine steel continued to send painful electrical shocks into his palm, but he focused on channeling his internal energy to suppress the rejection.
Footsteps announced the arrival of the next challenger. A young man wearing the deep blue robes of the Azure Dragon Sect leaped over the final stone steps and landed smoothly in the dirt ring.
He possessed a lean build and kept a curved steel saber sheathed at his waist.
The young man bowed respectfully toward the elder. "Instructor-in-training Zhao Feng reporting for duty."
Liang gestured toward Solomon. "You will conduct the evaluation spar against this student. Draw your actual weapon for this match."
Zhao Feng blinked in surprise. He looked at the wooden training swords resting on the nearby racks. "Using a real weapon against a new disciple seems highly inappropriate."
Liang pointed a wrinkled finger at the giant blade resting on Solomon’s shoulder. "That boy wields a divine relic. A wooden training sword will shatter into splinters the second you cross blades. Use your steel saber."
Zhao Feng turned his attention back to Solomon. He inspected the oversized executioner’s sword and nodded. His hand dropped to the hilt of his curved blade.
"I am Zhao Feng," the cultivator announced, drawing his saber with a loud ring of metal. "Let us begin the evaluation."
Solomon grinned and lowered Eden’s Penance. He dropped into a balanced stance and prepared himself for the long awaited duel.
Solomon lowered his greatsword and pointed his free hand toward Zhao Feng. "You can take the first strike."
Zhao Feng narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his curved steel saber. "Do you mock me in front of my peers? I am an instructor-in-training!"
"I just need to gauge your strength," Solomon explained while shifting his weight onto his back foot. "I need to know how much power I should put into my swings so I avoid breaking your bones."
[GoonLord: THE DISRESPECT IS REAL!]
[LazyCat: Solo Man really treats an instructor like a tutorial mob.]
[BloodKnight: Proper assessment of an opponent is crucial for a warrior.]
"Why do you guys keep commentary on everything I do?" Solomon sighed.
[User12: lmao. What else are we supposed to do?] frёeωebɳovel.com
"Gifts and donations."
Zhao Feng darted forward across the dirt ring. He swung his steel saber in a diagonal arc aiming for Solomon’s shoulder. Solomon simply raised Eden’s Penance and blocked the incoming strike with the flat side of his blade.
A metallic clack echoed across the training ground. Zhao Feng pulled back and launched a flurry of quick thrusts. Solomon casually pivoted on his heels, shifting his wrists to deflect every single attack without breaking a sweat.
The spar continued flawlessly for a full minute. Zhao Feng pushed his attacks, while Solomon effortlessly swatted the saber away. The encounter lacked any real excitement or danger.
Solomon parried another horizontal sweep and took a step back to create some distance. He turned his head toward Elder Liang. "Is there a time limit for this fight? Are we supposed to just keep trading basic swings until one of us gives up?"
Liang stroked his white beard and frowned at the display. "This is an evaluation of your martial foundation. You must actually demonstrate your skills and prove your worth to pass the trial."
"Understood," Solomon replied, returning his attention to Zhao Feng. He rolled his shoulders and adjusted his grip on the hilt of his executioner’s sword. He decided to use the Imperial Sword Arts without channeling any aura. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Solomon planted his boots firmly into the dirt. He aligned his spine and raised Eden’s Penance high above his head. Relying purely on perfect body mechanics and gravity, he brought the pristine steel crashing down to execute the first form.
Zhao Feng brought his saber up horizontally to catch the vertical chop. The weapons collided with a resounding crash. Zhao Feng gritted his teeth as his knees buckled slightly. His hands visibly vibrated from the physical force transferring through his steel.
Before the instructor could recover his balance, Solomon seamlessly twisted his hips to transition into the second form. He snapped his core forward and unleashed a devastating horizontal sweep.
The flat side of Eden’s Penance slammed against Zhao Feng’s struggling guard.
The curved steel saber instantly slipped from Zhao Feng’s vibrating fingers. The weapon launched into the sky, spinning dangerously toward the crowd of first-year students standing near the weapon racks.
A different blue-robed instructor leaped from the sidelines and snatched the flying blade out of the air before it could hit anyone.
[GamerGuy: DISARMED IN TWO MOVES!]
[User12: that horizontal swing was beautiful.]
[NewbHunter: RIP to that instructor’s pride.]
[Skeptic: wait, he did that without even using aura?]
Elder Liang raised his hand and stepped forward. "The spar is over. You have sufficiently demonstrated your foundation. You pass the evaluation." He gestured toward the edge of the training ground. "Go rest by the perimeter while the other disciples finish their simultaneous matches."
Solomon nodded and rested his sword against his collarbone. He walked toward the wooden racks while the surrounding students parted like the ocean to give him plenty of room.
The local martial artists observing the trials from the surrounding mountain peaks kept their gazes locked on the silver-haired boy.
Marco Alfoy stood near the back of the crowd. He watched Solomon casually lean against a stone pillar. Marco let out a long breath and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
He had challenged Solomon to a duel back at the academy not long ago. Seeing the devastating power of those sword techniques made Marco genuinely grateful that Solomon hadn’t drawn a weapon during their arena fight.
Solomon looked at the other first year students who were busy sparring.
’I wonder what the next trial is. If they are going to teach weapon mastery, then I don’t think I need to learn one. Maybe I will ask Elder Liang to teach me how to expand the aura core and also unlock the other meridians."
