Chapter 29: Exploiting Loopholes
After leaving the reading room, Li Chang’an headed straight to the training ground to begin his daily practice. At the edge of the training ground, he picked up a tachi from the weapon rack. He first practiced the basic techniques a few tis, and after gaining so insights, he moved on to the advanced techniques.
The basic techniques of the tachi in Li Chang’an’s hands leaned towards quickly accumulating sword montum. According to the books in the reading room, an average tachi user needed about fifteen to twenty effective strikes to accumulate one full layer of montum. Li Chang’an, however, required fewer strikes, needing only ten to fill one layer.
This trait was not uncommon in the history of hunters, but what truly set them apart was the realm of “Seeing the Divine.” The realm of Seeing the Divine was essentially a leap beyond the existing foundation, achieving effects that were otherwise impossible. For example, in the “Mingyi” realm, similar to Li Chang’an’s, so hunters could accumulate a full layer of sword montum with just one strike, while others could seamlessly switch between rapid montum accumulation and blade-breaking strikes, cycling through them effortlessly.
Li Chang’an was still unsure of his future path. Currently, he was a complete novice among novices. Having seen too little and lacking experience as a hunter, even with his natural talent, it was difficult for him to reach the realm of Seeing the Divine in a short ti. Therefore, he focused his daily efforts on practicing advanced techniques.
The advanced techniques of the tachi included the “Blade-Breaking Strike” and the “Spirit Blade Slash,” corresponding to the two aspects of montum: release and accumulation.
The “Blade-Breaking Strike” involved releasing all the accumulated sword montum in one go, dealing significant damage. Li Chang’an had witnessed its effects firsthand—it was incredibly powerful. Even with an unsharpened tachi, it left a clear slash mark on a steel-like puppet. No, three marks, including two follow-up attacks that also left traces.
The “Spirit Blade Slash” continuously consud the accumulated sword montum, but during the process, it refined the user’s sword montum, making it purer and sharper. After the consumption, the user’s sword montum would start accumulating again from a higher baseline. This baseline montum was formidable, visible to the naked eye as a faint white glow on the tachi’s blade. After the second refinent, the montum would appear as a yellow glow. Finally, after the last refinent, the tachi would transform into a crimson blade, earning tachi users the nickna “Blood-Blade Wielding Madn.”
In the crimson blade state, whether it was a basic strike or a Blade-Breaking Strike, the power was terrifying. It was said to be capable of piercing the scales of a pure-blooded dragon of the sa level. It’s worth noting that while dragon bloodlines appeared to increase linearly, their power actually surged exponentially. Pure-blooded dragons were exceptionally fearso.
Dragon bloodlines could be categorized from highest to lowest as pure-blooded, sub-dragon, hybrid, mixed-blood, rare-blood, and at the bottom, dragon beasts. At the sa level, each bloodline had absolute dominance over the ones below. For example, a rare-blood dragon stood no chance against a mixed-blood dragon of the sa level unless a beast tar used a beast resonance to assist the rare-blood dragon against a wild, ownerless mixed-blood dragon. Otherwise, there were no exceptions.
The fact that a tachi user’s attack could break through a pure-blooded dragon’s defense spoke volus about the tachi’s offensive power. However, mastering the crimson blade technique required a high level of proficiency in controlling sword montum.
Although Li Chang’an’s advanced techniques had reached the “Ruwei” realm, theoretically allowing him to stack up to the second-level yellow blade state, he had only just managed to condense a white blade using the Spirit Blade Slash technique before exhausting himself, nearly losing control of the white blade’s montum. After several attempts with the sa result, Li Chang’an decided to ask Old Mu for advice.
Upon learning of Li Chang’an’s predicant, Old Mu laughed heartily and said, “The accumulation of sword montum is different from skill. Even if your skills are divine, without the baptism of real combat, they are nothing more than flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water. How can the montum you condense be solid? For example, compared to a formal tachi user’s white blade, yours is like cotton—pretty but useless. A tachi user who has experienced bloody battles has montum condensed into a single strand of white steel. If you clash with them, you’ll shatter instantly. How can they be the sa?”
“To achieve success in sword montum, you need not only refined skills but also killing intent, murderous aura, and an absolute will to face death without fear.”
Li Chang’an sighed deeply. He was just a student and didn’t qualify for hunting missions. How could he engage in real combat?
Old Mu, aware of Li Chang’an’s dilemma, tapped Li Chang’an’s head with his smoking pipe. “Ouch!” Li Chang’an exclaid in pain.
Old Mu took a puff of his pipe and said, “You’re so rigid! Just because you’re not qualified in the Hunter’s Guild doesn’t an you’re not qualified in the Beast Taming Association! Didn’t you know? Hunters from the Hunter’s Guild can also register as formal beast tars in the Beast Taming Association. Your level and your pet’s strength should et the requirents. Go take the formal beast tar exam at the Beast Taming Association, and then you can take on missions.”
“Others use their pets to fight, but you can just go in with your tachi. The Beast Taming Association doesn’t care how you complete the mission, as long as it’s legal.”
Li Chang’an’s eyes lit up. That’s right, there was this loophole! He also rembered the young receptionist ntioning that the Hunter’s Guild and the Beast Taming Association identities didn’t conflict. His pet, Mao Mao, had already reached the 1-star transcendent (supernatural) level, which was enough to pass the formal beast tar exam.
Li Chang’an thanked Old Mu, promising to bring so good wine next ti. Old Mu pretended not to care, but his eyes showed satisfaction. Before Li Chang’an left excitedly, Old Mu reminded him, “Rember to use a wooden sword. An iron sword will kill too quickly and won’t provide any training value.”
Li Chang’an waved without looking back, shouting, “Got it!”
At the Hunter’s Guild’s logistics departnt, Li Chang’an bought ten wooden training tachis and stored them in his spatial ring. The receptionist glanced at Li Chang’an, who still had a look of anticipation on his face, and pointed to a potion na on the purchase list.
“Buy so healing potions too. Better safe than sorry. Even if you’re confident, you should still be prepared.”
Li Chang’an was surprised because he sensed that the receptionist wasn’t trying to upsell him. Then he heard the receptionist add, “I’ve seen countless young people like you over the years. Sigh, forget it. The regulations between the two organizations do have so loopholes. But I must remind you, many students have lost their lives due to carelessness. You’d better be ntally prepared.”
Li Chang’an’s expression turned serious, and he imdiately ordered ten healing potions, spending all his monthly allowance. The receptionist handed him ten light green healing potions, saying, “They can be used externally or internally. If there’s infection or pus, make sure to treat the wound before applying the potion.”
Li Chang’an thanked the receptionist, who had worked there for over a decade.
The Beast Taming Association wasn’t far from the Hunter’s Guild. After leaving the Hunter’s Guild, Li Chang’an took the No. 11 bus and arrived at the Beast Taming Association after a few stops. Compared to the Hunter’s Guild’s old wooden doors, the Beast Taming Association was much more impressive, with tall gates and white walls. The polished floors alone surpassed the Hunter’s Guild’s stone bricks, and the place was bustling with activity.
People and pets of various kinds moved in and out of the gates—Blue Lake Dogs, White Electric Cats, Heavenly Orchids, and more. Li Chang’an even spotted a rare Dark-Scale Horse, its owner seemingly a high school student. He could only admire such daring individuals who would contract a dark-type pet as their first. Without the right talent to resist it, the dark elent’s corruption would weaken the body, and over ti, it could shorten one’s lifespan. How much lifespan was lost depended on whether one’s cultivation progressed faster or their lifespan depleted quicker. As long as one reached the King-level beast tar before their lifespan ran out, the dark elent’s corruption would no longer be a concern.
The sa applied to light-type pets, except the side effect was emotional excitent instead of lifespan reduction. Due to the light elent’s purifying effect, the beast tar’s body would remain awake for long periods, essentially forcing them into a 007 work schedule or worse. Over ti, the risk of sudden death was extrely high, even more so than with dark elents.
Li Chang’an dared not take such a life-draining path—it was even more dangerous than being a hunter. This was why schools always emphasized not to covet powerful attribute pets, as they could literally kill you.
Li Chang’an took a number and waited for a long ti before his turn ca. A well-dressed receptionist asked, “Sir, what service are you looking for?”
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