Evil dragon has a warm heart-Chapter 174 - 173 Half a Step

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Half a Step

Chapter 174 -173: Half a Step

The Tributary River Mouth is vast, stretching from south to north requires a day’s sprint.

The Tributary River Mouth is also very small, within a month, Russell, following his cousin Mel, had visited every castle, town, and even manor in the Tributary River Mouth.

He experienced different landscapes, hunted fierce beasts, and also tasted wild fruits.

He attended dozens of banquets, large and small, embracing who knows how many noble maidens and dancing gracefully with them in the ballroom.

He even received the favor of some aristocratic women, whether it was a suggestive glance, a secret note, or a whisper in the ear, hoping he would stay the night at their manor.

But Russell refused them all.

It wasn’t that he feared a repeat of Mrs. Kelly’s incident, but that mere carnal desires couldn’t shake his steadfast heart. Nor was he preserving his chastity for anyone in particular, he was simply looking for a girl who could make his heart skip a beat.

On this day.

In the morning knight’s early lessons, Russell, dragging his reluctant cousin Mel, once again began to battle on the training field.

As a Great Knight, Mel had already begun preparations for contracting a Fantasy Beast.

It can be said that his Battle Qi application skills had reached the pinnacle of what a Great Knight could achieve, making his combat power extremely formidable.

But there was one aspect in which he was weaker than Russell.

That is Swordsmanship.

Having connected all the main meridians and mastered the Battle Qi sword aura, Russell’s primary Swordsmanship skill shifted from “Radiant Swordsmanship Technique” to another technique, the widely circulated advanced Battle Qi martial skill “Shadowflame Asura Swordsmanship.”

Any Battle Qi martial skills that require external projection of Battle Qi belong to the category of advanced Battle Qi martial skills.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

With the Swordsmanship talent endowed by the Sword Butterfly.

Russell’s mastery of “Shadowflame Asura Swordsmanship” was astonishingly fast, and in just one month, he had already excelled in it.

Yet, just like with the “Radiant Swordsmanship Technique,” he was stumped by the final hurdle, unable to comprehend the secret technique of the swordsmanship.

“Do we have to compare?” Mel yawned, showing a lack of interest.

“Put some effort in, Mel, a knight must not shy away from hard work,” Russell casually flicked a sword flower, with the fine steel longsword’s tip pointing at Mel.

“I really don’t get why you are so competitive!” Mel said helplessly, picking up his fine steel longsword and stepping into the training ground.

He then complained, “Fighting against you, your swordsmanship improves every moment, but fighting against you, I don’t make any progress!”

“You’re just not putting your heart into it, Mel. Even though you have become a Great Knight, and all your meridians are fully excavated, forming the Grand Circulation which continually refines your Battle Qi, there is still room for improvement.”

Even after advancing to a Great Knight, with all the meridians fully excavated and forming the Grand Circulation to constantly refine Battle Qi,

But even a Great Knight still has aspects to cultivate.

Battle Qi techniques are endless.

“Moreover,” Russell said and suddenly made his move, attacking Mel with his swordsmanship, “you are far behind me in swordsmanship!”

“Although I’m not as good as you in swordsmanship, my Battle Qi crushes you!” Mel swung his sword to block, the Battle Qi sword aura flickering along the blade of the fine steel longsword, “One force can subdue ten skills, Russell, even if your swordsmanship is stronger, you are no match for me!”

With Mel exerting force, his offensive suddenly became fierce, and his Battle Qi burst forth from all parts of his body as if forming an invisible Qi armor.

This was the application of Qi Shield Vigor.

The longsword moved with broad, sweeping strokes, with a sword aura flashing with each attack.

“Well done!”

Russell gradually adapted to Mel’s attacks. Over the month, he had sparred with Mel countless times and knew that brute force alone would leave him without a chance of winning.

All he could rely on was his swordsmanship.

The “Shadowflame Asura Swordsmanship,” a high-order Battle Qi martial technique that had become commonplace, was rejuvenated with a new brilliance as he executed it.

He did not possess Mel’s robust Battle Qi, nor could he release Battle Qi from other meridians, but merely by channeling it through the meridians in his hands and then extending it with his weapon to create a sword aura, he was already capable of endless variations and elusive phantoms.

As he dodged and weaved around Mel’s offensive maneuvers, an occasional sword strike from him was as hard to trace as an antelope hanging by its horns.

And then, with an ever so slight margin, he forced Mejie to fall back in defense.

In the past, when he dueled with his sister Rolin, who was merely an Armed Knight, he had to rely on the Tortoise Strategy to turn defeat into victory.

Yet now, in his duel with Mel, already a Great Knight, he could defend and attack, each assault bringing a cold sweat to Mel, showing a rise in combat strength that was incomparable to before.

“Just as I thought, slippery as an eel!” Mel angrily said, “Russell, stand still and then fight with me!”

“One always utilizes their strengths against the opponent’s weaknesses, not their own weaknesses against the opponent’s strengths!” Russell responded solemnly.

The two figures moved rapidly, with sword auras flashing everywhere, having already fought for more than twenty rounds.

“In battle, it is necessary to leverage one’s strengths against the opponent’s weaknesses; but this is training, Russell. Training is about overcoming your shortcomings… Ah, you little rascal, you almost stabbed me to death!” Mel hadn’t finished speaking when he was startled by a brilliant strike from Russell.

“Don’t get distracted, Mel!” Russell’s eyes were sharp as electricity, his attention highly focused, fully committed to the sparring match.

Boom!

What met him was a heavy blow from Mel, thrusting the sword aura two meters forward, plowing a crack directly into the training ground’s lawn.

Without further words, the two brothers began to fight at high speed.

Outside the training ground, Viscount Mejie stood with Earl Merlin, quietly arriving without disturbing the battling brothers, the father and son watching intently.

“Russell has made great progress, able to hold his own against Mel now,” Viscount Mejie admired.

“Not good enough; Mel is clearly holding back. Otherwise, with Qi Round Vigor in play, Russell’s sophisticated swordsmanship would hardly break through his defense,” Earl Merlin immediately perceived the subtle dynamics of the fight.

After a pause, he continued, “However, Russell is a rare talent when it comes to swordsmanship.”

“Roman is truly lucky, having two sons so outstanding.”

“Is it not also your sister’s fortune?”

“Both, indeed.”

“Mel is not bad either; this child will surely surpass your achievements, and catching up with this old man is not out of the question.”

“It’s a pity that our house has a bit of a strained relationship with Grand Duke Kunstan, and Mel is unwilling to go to Red Castle to assist Grand Duke Kunstan,” Viscount Mejie said with regret, though in lamenting Mel’s situation, he couldn’t help but feel regret for himself as well.

He too wished to go to Red Castle and make his mark on the political stage but was unwelcome there due to Earl Merlin.

Earl Merlin glanced at his son and huffed, “If Mel can manage our lands well, he’ll do better than assisting Grand Duke Kunstan. The same goes for you.”

“Father’s lesson is well taken.”

“Have Kuna also take it easy; she needn’t always worry about Grand Duke Kunstan now that she’s part of the Rainflower Family.”

“Yes.”

The conversation between father and son gradually fell silent.

Meanwhile, in the training ground, the victor had been decided; with Mel going all out, even Russell’s exquisite swordsmanship could not withstand the Great Knight’s overwhelming Battle Qi.

Left with no choice, he leaped outside the circle, panting, “I lost!”

“Even after a hundred times, it would still be you, you losing…” Mel was likewise out of breath, “But to be able to push me this far with the strength of an Armed Knight, you can take pride in yourself! Even a knight freshly advanced to Great Knight level might not be able to withstand your assault.”

At these words, Russell burst out laughing, “Does that mean I can say I’ve reached… half-step Great Knight level?”