Chapter 070 – Sai Lei Testing Instrument
Translated by: Ting
Edited by: Robin, Leo and De Andre
“Rank four mental cultivation, that sort of spirit card.” Tang Tian raised his hand, “Do you have any special mental cultivation cards?”
“Rank four… … suitable for my store, as expected.” Sai Lei realised, but was still puzzled. “You are really weird to have came all the way to Three-Spirits City just to buy a rank four spirit card. It seems like you are buying for your own use, did you reach the third level from training?”
“Crane-Style Qi Manual,” Tang Tian honestly replied.
“Crane-Style Qi Manual!” Sai Lei’s expression changed suddenly, her blue pupils revealing her astonishment, and sized him up, “I couldn’t tell, young man, you have some skills! Crane-Style Qi Manual is known for its difficulty!”
Tang Tian had his arms akimbo with a face of cockiness, “Haha! That’s true, I am a godlike young man! Feel free to put out any formidable cards you have!”
“Young man so full of confidence huh.” Sai Lei’s sexy red lips slightly curved upwards, “Speaking of which, I do have a few interesting cards here. Which technique do you major in?”
“I am a Close Quarters Combat Expert.” Tang Tian had no wish to be humble at all, “I’m really formidable!”
“Close Quarters Combat Expert… …” Sai Lei was stunned, “Now I’m really piqued.”
She pushed open the door to the warehouse, “Come on, young man, let’s see how capable you are!”
Tang Tian became aroused, “Are you going to spar with me?”
“Spar with you?” Sai Lei laughed, “I have no intention of taking on a Close Quarters Combat Expert.”
The warehouse behind was much larger than expected, much longer than 200 metres, much wider than the sparring field of Caramel Academy. There were numerous weird devices and many machineries. Tang Tian now vaguely understood why Sai Lei was so fond of the ostrich.
Sai Lei walked towards a black iron robot, “Come on, young man, let’s see how good you are.”
[Robin: Just an iron robot which is black, it’s not the same thing as Tang Tian’s black metal gloves :)]
Tang Tian moved closer in curiosity, “What’s this?”
“Sai Lei Testing Instrument.” Sai Lei’s beautiful face was now serious and proud, “This is my most successful creation. I have always been keen on collecting all sorts of low level spirit cards, and in the research of spirit cards, so I have many findings. Spirit cards are a method of energy procurement, while star rocks are the sources of energy, if these two are combined, wouldn’t it be a perfect system? However, I have wasted much time without any success, till last year, when I finally realised the most important missing key in my idea: Star Treasures!”
Tang Tian was deeply captivated by Sai Lei’s speech, and subconsciously blurted, “Star Treasures?!”
It was the first time that he heard someone who explained spirit cards in such a manner, but the more detailed it was, the more apt it sounded. Using spirit cards to explain martial techniques, and martial techniques are a form of energy application!
“Till now, as to how Star Treasures are formed, there is no accurate explanation yet. Star Treasures of the same constellation usually have some similarities, that is why humans named them according to their constellations. Star Treasures’ most peculiar area is that they possess a Martial Spirit. The higher rank the Star Treasure is, the closer its Martial Spirit is to human. They can train by themselves, absorb and cultivate the surrounding energy. This, not one Spirit general has been able to do so.”
Sai Lei sonorous voice with a tinge of insanity echoed in the warehouse.
Upon hearing this, Tang Tian wanted to oppose it, for Uncle Bing can train by himself too!
However, he was instantly captivated by what Sai Lei said next.
“I suddenly realised; this is similar to humans! Although we have meridians, True Power, and a Dantian, what controls them is still our brain. In the system of spirit cards and star rock structures, there is no brain! And conveniently, Star Treasures offset this flaw perfectly. When I started to add Star Treasures into the system, very quickly, I succeeded!”
Tang Tian listened intently.
“Because of the energy they possess, everyone has been using Star Treasure as weapons. But this is such a wasteful act, for the spirituality of the Martial Spirit in the treasure is completely wasted! Humans only care for its energy, but no one cares about the spirituality of the Martial Spirit. Only those high level Star Treasures whose Martial Spirits can self-train and become stronger by themselves can gain the favour of humans. Such short-sighted people!”
“And then, and then!?” Tang Tian could not contain himself.
“And then I completed creating this Sai Lei Testing Instrument,” Sai Lei answered smugly.
Tang Tian’s attention fell on the Instrument. It looked exactly like a human, but was black in colour, with the same size and stature as humans and very explicit body structures. The brain, and even the features, could be differentiated easily, and the joints on the arms and legs looked quite complicated.
“Initially, bronze is the best, but the ancient bronze formula has long vanished. I have tried many times, but the energy conduction wasn’t good. In the end I chose black steel, yup, black steel is cheap too.” Sai Lei immediately continued, “The treasure inside is a piece of Bronze Treasure, a cheap thing that I got. Hmm, since you are the Close Quarters Combat Expert, I have to carefully select a few cards then.”
After which, Sai Lei picked five cards, opened the instrument’s back, and inserted all five cards.
“Welcome to the witnessing of the Sai Lei Testing Instrument’s first sparring!” Sai Lei enthusiastically pointed to Tang Tian, “Go! Sai Lei Testing Instrument!”
The black robot suddenly moved.
Tang Tian was startled, that was fast!
Without further ado, he jumped to the side and launched an explosive hook from the side.
Bam!
Tang Tian’s fist collided coincidentally with the opposition’s metal fist.
Tang Tian staggered backwards, such powerful force! The key was that the punching force of the black robot was very strange. It was akin to a drill that wanted to drill into Tang Tian’s fist.
The black robot kicked his heels hard, and his body shot up like an arrow, towards Tang Tian.
With a shake of Tang Tian’s palm, the Broken Shadow Palm blasted forth.
The black robot drew a circle in the air with its left palm, and the Broken Shadow vanished, while the right fist was akin to an arrow that left its bow, aiming straight.
Tang Tian stepped aside and dodged the punch, the biting cold energy grazed Tang Tian’s face, Tang Tian’s fingers curled up and pincer-gripped the other party’s wrist.
Alas, the black robot grabbed him backhanded at the same time.
Tang Tian’s reaction was lightning fast, he took the chance and pulled hard, scoring a knee kick up close.
Bam!
The black robot retaliated similarly with a knee kick.
Bam bam bam!
The duo exchanged super quick blows in the tiny area, dazzling the spectators’ eyes.
Sai Lei became anxious, while Bing looked extremely calm.
As he was excited, Tang Tian’s moves became faster and faster. It was the first time in a while that he had sparred so heartily. It had never been easy to find a suitable sparring partner. The few techniques executed by the black robot were so strange and tricky that Tang Tian did not even know their names.
But Tang Tian did not show any signs of fear as his actions became increasingly nimble. All kinds of techniques came in handy. All these techniques were what he was skillful in. From the level of proficiency, Tang Tian was already the best. This was already the perfect level in theory, and a level higher would be the great master level. That was only achievable if one has a deeper understanding of such martial techniques.
Great master levels can break through the binds of the same level.
It was the first time Tang Tian met an opponent with similar reactions as himself. Enemies in the past may have far superior techniques than him, but he was unparalleled in reaction speed. This is also why Old Fart Wei suggested for him to become a Close Quarters Combat Expert, as Tang Tian had speedy reactions that were far superior than the others.
The duo’s shadows and actions kept speeding up, and Sai Lei became more and more anxious, as she had become unable to see them clearly.
In her eyes, both parties were blurry figures.
In Tang Tian’s eyes, a red flame appeared. People who are familiar with him know that this is when Tang Tian’s sparring will has started bubbling, but no one knew that Tang Tian now had a heart as cold as ice.
His instincts, were akin to a smooth mirror, clearly reflected in the surrounding details.
His attacks and changing of techniques became even faster, and even more reasonable.
At the start, Tang Tian still had some choppy moves that were incoherent. Although each technique had been separately perfected previously, he never had the need to merge them all together coherently. But now, those areas that were choppy, were slowly perfected. Tang Tian’s moves became more coherent, and he was able to use them as he liked.
Following Tang Tian’s progress, the black robot instantly felt pressure.
The eyes of the black robot flashed an eerie red, and its attack increased substantially.
Sai Lei’s expression changed at the side, as she knew what that meant. This meant that the instrument felt that normal attacking methods did not pose any threats to Tang Tian, and the powerful mode was activated. Under this mode, its star rock would be doubly exhausted, and its spirit card might even get burnt and destroyed.
Tang Tian immediately became caught in an embarrassing situation, since the black robot’s attacks suddenly changed to that of a thunderstorm.
He was instantly on the lower end of the stick.
However, Tang Tian’s resolve was not shaken, and he did not become anxious. Instead, his fighting spirit burned even more passionately, and deep in his heart, it was still like ice, and smooth, like a mirror.
Half a minute!
In the half minute after the powerful mode was activated, Tang Tian was completely suppressed, completely falling into a disadvantageous situation. He could only manage to guard his manhood. His shoulders, thighs and other areas had all suffered a few blows.
But at the fortieth second, Tang Tian began to stabilise the situation. His attacking frequency increased once again, and the coherency between his techniques became even more fluent.
Tang Tian’s attention was more focused than ever, and the different techniques began to become fuzzy in his mind.
Bam bam bam!
Both parties’ fists and legs came into contact frequently.
Tang Tian had stabilised the situation, and, he was not sure if it were due to his utmost concentration, but the black robot’s thunderstorm-like attacks were no longer that scary in his eyes.
Sai Lei was in inexplicable horror. The frequency of Tang Tian’s attacks was still continuing to rise! She subconsciously realised that she had met a freak!
Suddenly, a cold light flashed in Tang Tian’s eyes.
There was a weakness at the black robot’s right shoulder!
Almost subconsciously, he used his palm to block the robot’s punch, and Tang Tian peculiarly retracted and flicked his shoulder. Using a regular move, he threw himself toward the robot’s shoulder.
The black robot’s actions immediately became flustered, and it attempted to block the attack with its elbow.
However, it seemed that Tang Tian had expected this move. With his palm in a locking move, he slid it to the robot’s elbow joint and locked it, at the same time, his elbow bent into a sharp angle and struck at the robot’s chest with all his might.
The elbow struck in a bull’s eye at the robot’s chest, and the Crane Body Energy flowed in turbulence.
The struck robot’s body stiffened.
Hoo, a flame appeared on its chest, within moments, the fire had spread. Tang Tian was shocked, regained his senses from his sparring mode, and hurriedly escaped to the side.
Sai Lei was transfixed at the side.