Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Shield!”

“Roar!”

“Slash!”

“Roar!”

Under Chiliarch Ling’s slogan, everyone was training with their sabers and shields.

Time ticked by. After half an hour, Zhao Gao suddenly heard the system prompt.

“Skill acquired: Basic Saber and Shield”

“Slash!”

As Chiliarch Ling’s slogan continued. Zhao Gao did not dare to stop and could only continue training.

Zhao Gao did not check his screen but it did not mean that the others did not check theirs either.

“Ah! It hurts! F*ck! You can’t even hold a saber properly!”

All of a sudden, an unlucky fellow was hurt by someone else’s ‘flying’ saber. He cursed loudly in pain.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose.” said a young girl with acne all over her face, standing behind him. She knew that she had done something wrong and quickly apologized to the man who had been cut.

“What are you doing? What are you doing? You’re still distracted during training. If you do this again, you’ll enter the prisoner-of-war camp.” shouted Chiliarch Ling as he cast his gaze over.

Chiliarch Ling was furious when he saw what was happening.

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” the young girl hurriedly apologized. When she heard the words ‘prisoner-of-war camp’, she recalled the scene yesterday. She was so scared that her whole body trembled, her eyes red as she bowed and apologized.

“Hmph! There had better not be a next time.” Chiliarch Ling snorted coldly. After warning the young girl, he lifted the injured man by the collar and threw him to the adjutant.

He asked the adjutant to bring the man away for a bandage.

“Continue training!”

“Shield!”

“Roar!”

After another half-an-hour of training, Chiliarch Ling ordered everyone to stop and start eating breakfast.

When he finally had free time, Zhao Gao opened the system interface while queuing up to get food. He began to check the Skills he had just obtained.

“Name: Zhao Gao”

“Gender: Male”

“Level: 3 (12 8000)”

“Storage EXP: 123 788”

“Essence: 7”

“Spirit: 5.5”

“Magic: 8”

“Talent: Greed in the Blood”

“Skill: Elementary Breathing Technique (15)”

“Basic Saber and Shield (1) ↓”

“Evolution: 0”

“Freedom Stats: 15.5”

Zhao Gao clicked on the symbol ‘↓’ on the Basic Saber and Shield, and examined the detailed introduction of this Skill.

“Basic Saber and Shield: The combination of saber and shield technique. It is also the most basic utilization technique.”

“Evaluation: Erm.. skills used by new recruits.”

“Proficiency required to level up: 1000”

Zhao Gao did not care about the Evaluation. As long as it was a technical problem, it was solvable.

Zhao Gao began to level up the Basic Saber and Shield by clicking on the ‘↑’ symbol. He hit it 10 times, causing the Skill to become level 10.

“Skill upgrade successful!”

“Basic Saber and Shield has broken through Level 10!”

“Basic Saber and Shield → Elementary Saber and Shield”

“Basic Saber and Shield Level 10. Proficiency required for the next level: 36 000.”

The moment the system notification ended, Zhao Gao’s consciousness was pulled back to the peak of the mountain.

Once again, Zhao Gao stood at the top of the mountain. His consciousness was completely focused on his Saber and Shield training.

Day after day; month after month; year after year. Rain or shine, he was unmoved by external matters.

He practiced his Saber and Shield Technique as if he was demon-possessed.

He raised his shield to block, twist and shift, and raised his Saber to slash. He practiced these steps year after year.

The steps began to engrave themselves into Zhao Gao’s bones and soul.

Finally, after ten years of practice, Zhao Gao had chiseled all the basic skills of using the Saber and shield into his body.

In the next instant, Zhao Gao’s consciousness returned to his body. He returned to the moment when he was queuing up for food.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and let the next one come forward!”

“Oh, oh! I’m sorry, I was distracted.” As the soldier shouted, Zhao Gao quickly took his food and gave his place to the next person.

The breakfast today was quite good. The steamed rice was mixed with corn flour, and there was stir-fried pork with vegetables.

Zhao Gao tasted it. The taste was neither good nor bad.

Zhao Gao reckoned this was probably the best food in the ancient homes of commoners!

There was meat for all three meals. Zhao Gao did not feel that the taste of the food was bland.

One had to know that in ancient times, there was no good technology to obtain sea salt. Hence salt was almost as precious as gold.

For ordinary commoners, it was considered good enough to be able to eat salt once a week.

After the meal and resting for less than 15 minutes, Chiliarch Ling gathered everyone together again.

“Gather!”

Everyone quickly took their positions. The entire process took less than 10 minutes.

“Not bad. You’ve finally done something right by gathering quickly.”

“But don’t celebrate too early. If you can’t satisfy me in the training later, I won’t let you have it easy!”

After saying these words, Chiliarch Ling walked up and down in front of them, taking delight in the frightened expressions of Zhao Gao and the others.

“Training starts now!”

“This time, I will teach you how to quickly finish off your enemies in the event that your weapons are destroyed”

“Watch carefully. I’ll only demonstrate once.”

“This attack method was devised by our Blackstone Army over many years.”

“It’s a technique that can kill enemies quickly in close combat without a weapon. It’s also a barbaric killing technique.”

“Black Stone Fist!”

“Although it’s called Fist, it consists of the use of fist, palm, and kick techniques.”

“Every part of the body that can kill quickly, is an offensive weapon.”

“And this technique is also the best technique to mobilize the strength of the body.”

After saying that, Chiliarch Ling stopped talking.

He began to demonstrate to Zhao Gao and the others.

Chiliarch Ling stood in front of everyone. He started kicking, punching, and grabbing. Zhao Gao and the others could clearly see his boxing styles.

Zhao Gao and the others all knew that this vigorous, ruthless technique was not just for show.

Zhao Gao knew that this was not all there was to Chiliarch Ling’s strength. Based on what happened yesterday, Zhao Gao could deduce that, with his physique, Chiliarch Ling could even appear invisible when he ran.

With his current demonstration, Zhao Gao wondered if Chiliarch Ling even displayed 20% of his strength?

After Chiliarch Ling demonstrated the entire set of techniques, 15 minutes had passed.

“See! As long as you practice the Black Stone Fist well, you will never be restrained by melee attacks.”

“Now, start learning from this soldier.” After saying that, Chiliarch Ling waved to a Pikeman, beside him.

The Pikemen came over and stood beside Chiliarch Ling. They began to demonstrate the Black Stone Fist step by step, allowing Zhao Gao and the others to start learning.

Strike, kick, claw, twist and shift.

The steps were demonstrated so that Zhao Gao and the others could see clearly.

“Practice diligently. Practice seriously. Practice with all your might. A beginner only needs to learn the routine. After years of diligent training, your body will naturally remember it.”

“At that time, you will let your enemies know what fear and death are.”