I picked up attributes in Swallowing Star.

"Alright, Luo Yuan, since I promised to teach you practical combat experience, I won't go back on my word. You can call me Sister Qian from now on. For the next three months, you can come to me whenever you have time, and I'll teach you if I happen to be available." Wang Qian said earnestly. She was determined to teach the young man in front of her well, as it would be very helpful for his future path as a martial artist.

"Today I'm going to teach you how to generate power, how to use the terrain to fight the enemy, and how to quickly and efficiently kill your opponent..."

Wang Qian patiently explained her practical experience to Luo Yuan, especially her experience fighting monsters and the habits and characteristics of some monsters. Luo Yuan benefited greatly from this. He had to admit that this woman had a wealth of practical experience, which she must have earned with blood and tears. This made Luo Yuan feel a bit of goodwill towards her.

"Alright, now for the real battle. I'll be your opponent. You can attack me in any way you like. Here you go."

Wang Qian took two Blood Shadow Battle Blades from the weapon rack and threw one of them to Luo Yuan. Luo Yuan caught it and felt that the battle blade was a bit light, probably only about a hundred kilograms.

P.S.: Dear gods, please give me rewards, monthly tickets, and add this to your favorites. I, Luo Yuan, am completely convinced.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 18 Intermediate Warrior

Wang Qian twirled the Blood Shadow Battle Blade with a graceful flourish, looking relaxed and carefree. She extended her left index finger and beckoned to Luo Yuan, her gesture full of provocation.

Luo Yuan had never used a knife before, so he simply swung his battle sword down at Wang Qian's head. However, Wang Qian easily dodged it, and her sword was already at Luo Yuan's neck. He couldn't even see when she drew her sword. The coldness from the blade made Luo Yuan shiver. This was the aura of death. No matter how strong he was, it was useless if he couldn't hit anyone. Therefore, actual combat is the true standard for testing strength.

Wang Qian sheathed her sword and smiled, letting Luo Yuan unleash his full power. However, no matter how Luo Yuan slashed, she easily dodged his attacks. Several times, she even held the sword to his neck. It seemed that he still lacked a lot in terms of actual combat. Even though he had a movement technique at the microscopic level, he couldn't completely dodge in front of a powerful expert with rich combat experience. If this were a real battle, he would already be dead. Moreover, this woman's movement technique was already infinitely close to the microscopic level.

"Speaking of swordsmanship, the most powerful is none other than Thor's 'Ninefold Thunder Blade,' but unfortunately it's too difficult to learn and so expensive," Wang Qian sighed.

"Ninefold Thunder Blade"? Luo Yuan had actually already made this manual his main cultivation technique, since many people practiced it.

"Again!" Luo Yuan shouted, then attacked Wang Qian.

And so, Luo Yuan spent the rest of the day practicing combat with Wang Qian. From initially only knowing how to slash, he gradually became more agile and felt that he had some talent in swordsmanship.

"You must treat the knife in your hand as an extension of your arm, so that your hand and the knife become one. Only then can you use your knife skills at will..." Wang Qian explained while dodging Luo Yuan's attacks.

Time flew by, and it was evening in the blink of an eye. Luo Yuan and Wang Qian were both a little tired. They had dinner on the first floor of the Extreme Club and then went home. Before leaving, Wang Qian gave Luo Yuan her villa address and said that he could come and visit if he wanted. The way the woman spoke at the time was very seductive, which made Luo Yuan unsure of what she was thinking.

Back at his villa, Luo Yuan took a quick shower and then began attribute fusion again. This time, he didn't feel much of a difference and finished in just two hours. He opened the attribute panel to take a look.

Name: Luo Yuan

Strength: Apprentice level (Advanced Warrior)

Strength: 6000kg

Speed: 72 m/s

Defense: 6000 kg

Spiritual weight: 3500 kg

Exercise: Five Hearts Facing Heaven Method

Skill: Movement Technique (Subtle Level)

Looking at his attribute panel, Luo Yuan knew that he would need to collect more and more attribute bubbles to improve his strength in the future, and the level requirements would also increase. This was a long-term process.

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will persevere in my pursuit," Luo Yuan sighed as he lay in bed.

And so, Luo Yuan began his daily routine of collecting attributes in the morning, learning practical combat experience from Wang Qian in the afternoon, and fusing attributes and cultivating the Five Hearts Towards Heaven Technique in the evening. Although it was somewhat tedious, he enjoyed it. His relationship with Wang Qian also became more and more familiar. However, the woman always tried to seduce him intentionally or unintentionally, and later she would occasionally get close to his body, which made the hot-blooded Luo Yuan feel a little overwhelmed.

More than two months have passed in the blink of an eye. On the evening of July 31, Luo Yuan sat cross-legged in the martial arts training hall of his villa.

"Open my properties panel."

Name: Luo Yuan

Strength: Apprentice level (Intermediate Warrior)

Strength: 17000kg

Speed: 162 m/s

Defense: 17000 kg

Spiritual weight: 6500 kg

Exercise: Five Hearts Facing Heaven Method

Skill: Movement Technique (Subtle Level)

Looking at the results of his hard work in collecting attributes and cultivating over the past two months, Luo Yuan nodded in satisfaction. His strength and speed had reached the level of a mid-level warrior, but his mental strength was still only at the level of a high-level warrior. This was all achieved after he spent the ten million yuan investment Jiang Nian had given him to buy a litter of phantom fox pets and raise them in his villa, collecting mental attributes every day.

Luo Yuan spent over two months collecting attributes from the second to the ninth floor of the Extreme Club, but he never saw any of these martial artists drop any mental attribute bubbles. This made him sigh that mental masters were truly rare, one in ten thousand.

"Tomorrow, August 1st, is the martial arts combat assessment. Making me, a mid-level warrior, take the assessment alongside those novice aspiring martial artists is just bullying, isn't it?" Thinking of this, Luo Yuan chuckled to himself.

Luo Yuan couldn't help but think of Luo Feng, the chosen one. On July 1st, when Luo Feng came to the Limit Club to participate in the quasi-martial artist assessment, Luo Yuan had even visited. He had to admit that Luo Feng was indeed a true genius. The mental attribute bubbles that Luo Feng dropped were actually yellow, a high-level color bubble that he had never seen before. One bubble could increase mental attribute by 5 points, and Luo Feng was only at the quasi-martial artist level.

Later, Supervisor Zhuge Tao came again, this time to test Luo Feng's strength. Under Zhuge Tao's deliberate guidance, Luo Yuan and Luo Feng got to know each other briefly. When Luo Yuan heard the future City Lord Luo call him Senior Brother, he felt particularly pleased and couldn't help but treat him to a meal.

………………

On the morning of August 1st, led by a martial artist from the Extreme Club, more than 8 prospective martial artists, including Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, and Yang Wu, headed to the train station.

"Clatter-clatter—" The friction sound of the train moving quickly was very faint, but the train carriages were filled with noise. The train carriages were completely enclosed, with no glass or other windows to see the outside world. At this moment, a figure appeared on the large screen in each carriage.

Inside the carriage, a large number of aspiring martial artists were seated.

"Fellow aspiring martial artists, future martial artists, I come from the HR Alliance." A middle-aged man's speech was being broadcast live on the large screen in the carriage. "I believe you have all heard of the HR Alliance! The most powerful group in the world, the richest group, the group with the most martial artists! You are probably also familiar with another name for our HR Alliance—the Underground Alliance!"

The aspiring martial artists inside the carriage gradually quieted down.

Luo Feng and Yang Wu sat side by side, looking up at the big screen. Across from them sat Luo Yuan, who seemed bored. They happened to know each other, so they just sat together.

"Our alliance is the world's largest platform for martial arts exchange! Here, you can accept missions with huge rewards."

"Our alliance has a tremendous influence all over the world! By joining our alliance and becoming a part of us, you can enjoy top-notch services even in the United States, the European Union, and other regions."

"Our alliance possesses formidable military and political power. Join us..."

……

Luo Yuan curled his lip; he wasn't very interested in this HR alliance, just a bunch of rich people banding together for warmth.

He couldn't help but think of Xu Qian, that aloof woman, wondering how she was doing now. To be honest, Luo Yuan had some inexplicable feelings for that woman. Although they had only known each other for a short time, he had felt warmth during those vulnerable days, the warmth of being cared for by others.

P.S.: Dear gods, please give me rewards, monthly tickets, and add this to your favorites. I, Luo Yuan, am completely convinced.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 19 Martial Arts Combat Assessment

"To all future martial artists."

On the screen hanging in the carriage, a different man with a serious expression appeared. "Let me introduce myself. I am Liu, the deputy director of the Security Bureau of Jiangnan Base City. In China, the government and the military are undoubtedly the strongest! Join the government and the military, and you will receive the best support no matter where you are in China."

……

"Ladies and gentlemen," the screen in the carriage switched to another person after a moment, "I am Wang, the manager of the Thunder Martial Arts Hall in Jiangnan Base City. Our Thunder Martial Arts Hall was founded by 'Thor,' the world's fastest and invincible warrior, and we have branches all over the world..."

……

"Future martial artists, the previous three have already been introduced. No need for further explanation, you all know I'm from the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy!" The screen in the carriage then displayed another person. "My surname is Zhuge! The Ultimate Martial Arts Academy… this is the world's largest martial arts academy, founded by the world's strongest individual! Our academy possesses the world's strongest power…"

……

The propaganda from four different factions sparked a flurry of discussion among the aspiring martial artists in the carriage.

Luo Yuan and Luo Feng were relatively quiet because they had already signed contracts with the Limit Martial Arts Academy in advance. Yang Wu and the others were newcomers trained by the Limit Martial Arts Academy, so they should naturally join the Academy.

"Brother Yang, look at this train, how many quasi-martial artists are there?" Luo Feng looked around and suddenly asked.

“There are a lot of people.” Yang Wu pursed his lips. “I just heard people talking about how there are two martial arts combat assessments a year, and each time, more than a thousand prospective martial artists from the entire Jiangnan Base City come to participate.”

"Over a thousand people?" Luo Feng was taken aback.

"Heh, although there are many people, how many will come out alive, and how many will pass the martial arts combat test? I'm afraid many will become food and excrement for the monsters," Luo Yuan interjected. He remembered that so many prospective martial artists died in this test that trucks were needed to transport their corpses.

"Huh? Senior Brother Luo Yuan, don't scare me!" Luo Feng was a little nervous when he heard Luo Yuan's words.

"Haha, Luo Feng, your strength is among the best of these quasi-martial artists, what are you afraid of?" Luo Yuan joked.

“Hey, Brother Luo Yuan is right. The ones who should really be worried are ordinary quasi-martial artists like me,” Yang Wu said with a worried expression.

"Brother Yang, you practice martial arts so hard, you'll have no problem with this assessment," Luo Feng encouraged Yang Wu.

"I hope so," Yang Wu said with a bitter smile.

moment--

"Attention all prospective martial artists, the train is about to arrive at the station. Please prepare to disembark." The announcement came from the loudspeaker inside the carriage as the train gradually slowed down until it came to a stop.

With a whoosh, the carriage doors opened, and the quasi-martial artists in each carriage disembarked.

Soon, the vast group of aspiring martial artists entered the large military camp. The camp covered an area of ​​immense size, and especially on its perimeter, numerous heavy and firearms were scattered throughout, with cannons pointed directly outwards. Many soldiers carried a variety of sophisticated weapons.

Outside the military camp's perimeter, some hungry monsters roared, but they dared not approach the camp.

"Gah—"

With a piercing scream, the aspiring martial artists looked up almost simultaneously, only to see hundreds of monstrous birds and beasts swooping past in the azure sky.

Seeing so many monsters, Luo Yuan couldn't help but realize that this fallen area was also a good place to collect attributes, but it was too dangerous.

"Everyone—"

A loud voice reached the ears of every prospective martial artist, "Welcome to the North Military Region of Jiangnan City. This time, the martial arts combat assessment for all 1680 of you will be held in our North Military Region. I hope that most of you will pass the assessment, and I hope that all of you will survive this combat assessment!"

It was afternoon.

1680 prospective martial artists stood in an open square. At the front of the square stood high-ranking officials from the Jiangnan City North Military Region, as well as some high-ranking officials from the Thunder Martial Arts School and the Extreme Martial Arts School.

"Now, those aspiring martial artists who have reported their names, come forward to receive your combat uniforms and weapons...."

There were ten officers on the stage calling out the names of the prospective martial artists. The prospective martial artists whose names were called went up to receive their combat uniforms and weapons.

"Luoyuan".

"Luo Feng".

"Yang Wu."

……

"This is your combat uniform and boots, and this is the Blood Shadow Blade you need." An officer handed Luo Yuan a set of items. "This is a communication watch with positioning and communication functions, and this is a hexagonal shield."

Luo Yuan found a place to put on his gear. He felt the equipment was a bit ugly, but he didn't care too much. As for the hexagonal shield, he casually tossed it aside. He didn't need it and it hindered his movement.