While the two gate masters were plotting to ruin his life, Kent arrived at Saintess Neomi’s house with Ingrid, who was pestering him to explain why he couldn’t be a normal human and ignore things.
He could have walked away when Randy challenged him, yet he never did. Instead, he went ahead and sweetened the pot by offering a rather arrogant stake.
“Have you ever lost a battle before?” Ingrid asked as they arrived.
“Why do you ask?” Kent responded with his own question.
“I just don’t understand why you chose to patronize Randy instead of just walking away,” Ingrid said, looking at Kent.
Kent just smiled. “I enjoy chaos, so why not cause some while in the Spear Gate? The last time I checked, an Inner Disciple has no business fighting a Core Disciple. So imagine the chaos that will ensue when I wipe the floor with him.”
“That will be the case if you actually win. Randy may be arrogant, but he is also a Core Disciple, and Core Disciples are some of the best cultivators on the continent,” Ingrid said, reminding Kent not to underestimate his opponents.
“Why don’t we have a duel… a friendly duel?” Kent asked, but before Ingrid could reply, another voice cut in.
“That would be great… We can have a friendly duel,” Saintess Neomi said, walking toward Kent and Ingrid.
[Looks like you’re screwed, Master,] Gaia was quick to tease Kent, who was about to have his day turned upside down.
He may be a monster, but he is not that formidable against someone like the Saintess. The Saintess is someone at the peak of the Saint Spear Path. If Kent wants to match her, he would have to push himself to the limit.
[On the bright side, this is your chance to see your strength. Though you are my master, I don’t see you winning this… so take solace in knowing you will finally be measuring your capabilities against a real opponent.]
Kent sighed.
“I was actually hoping Ingrid and I would have a go first,” Kent said.
“Ingrid is not feeling well, so I will have to take her place… right, Ingrid?” the Saintess asked, looking intently at her disciple.
“Yes… I’m not feeling well,” Ingrid said with a sickly yawn. Kent wanted to smack the back of her head, but he was a man, so he chose to endure—for now.
‘On the bright side, I will see how strong the Saintess is… I am not afraid,’ Kent said inwardly, showing no signs of panicking at all.
“Then let’s go,” the Saintess said before leading Kent to her training ground, which was large enough to serve as a stadium on Earth.
“There are formations here that will prevent permanent death. But don’t worry, I won’t aim for your life… That said, you must endure,” the Saintess said, standing far from Kent.
‘Gaia, display my stats and undistribute points,’ Kent began preparing.
_____________________
⟦ STATs ⟧
Physical Strength: 1,750
Physical Agility: 1,960
Physical Stamina: 1,625
Spiritual Strenght: 2,875
Mental Strength: 2,165
[Attribute Points: 0]
______________________
‘My strength is enough. It seems climbing just 20 steps had some impact on my strength. I guess body cultivation was the best thing that happened to me,’ Kent said.
‘Also, my stamina was affected. Now, the only thing left is my speed.’ Kent paused and stared at the Saintess…
‘She is a Level 3 Root Great Sage, meaning her speed is several times higher. I can’t underestimate her. Gaia, add the undistributed points to Agility.’
Kent made the decision without even testing the Saintess first. The only upside to this decision was that he was confident in his strength but not his speed.
Right now, the only thing he was lacking was speed… Thankfully, he could beef it up a bit. Gaia added the points, and they could feel the energy. Now, all that was left was to utilize his skills to their limit and be sure to survive long enough.
After making the necessary changes, he walked into the arena.
“Are you ready?” Saintess Neomi asked.
Kent didn’t immediately answer; he first extended his hand, and the golden sword sheath materialized out of thin air into his grasp.
He then took a deep breath and nodded, signaling that he was ready.
“Then be sure to endure.” Immediately after she said that, she moved, and the next second, a long spear came swinging at Kent, who stood his ground and parried the attack.
BOOM
The strike was powerful enough to send shockwaves. Kent was pushed back but didn’t falter as he prepared for the next strike, further forcing him back.
‘She packs a punch… there’s no doubt about that,’ Kent thought inwardly.
He then moved and evaded her next attack. Activating his sword intent and sword qi simultaneously, he began channeling his energy into his attacks as more and more strikes rained down from Saintess Neomi.
Kent was parrying all her attacks.
They were all just using their weapons without any active skills. It was a pure clash between metals. Well, Kent was using his sword sheath while the sword was still sheathed.
The moment he drew the sword, his true aura would be unleashed, and that would mean he would start using active abilities.
Though what he was doing could be regarded as arrogance, it wasn’t like he had a choice. That was his sword path, and that was how he would walk it.
The Saintess didn’t mind him using his sheath, so they kept clashing, sending shockwaves everywhere.
Ingrid was watching with a calm expression, but she had to admire Kent’s tenacity. He matched her master’s attacks, though she could also say her master wasn’t using her true strength.
Again, if she were to measure her performance with Kent, she had to say the purple-haired handsome brat was holding his own against the Saintess better than she could have done.
Kent was doing all he could to see his limit, and right now, his limit was not satisfied. Twenty minutes into the battle, Kent was pushed back several meters, but he could tell he was still far from unsheathing his sword.
“You can put some force into your attacks, Lady Saintess,” Kent said, making the Saintess stop and look at him.
“I have to give it to you, Kent. You are capable, but are you ready for what is coming?” She smiled. Like Kent, she had been testing him for the past few minutes.
“We will never know until we try,” Kent replied with a smile.
“Very well… Be sure to scream well.” When she ended her words, a powerful spear qi and intent surged from her body, filling the arena.
Then she moved and stabbed her spear at Kent’s chest. Kent reacted quickly and deflected the strike but was slightly slow as the spear grazed his shoulder.
He was sent running back, but she was upon him with a quick stab at his stomach before he could stabilize himself. Kent defended, but he was sent flying back.
‘I have to get serious,’ Kent thought as he stumbled back and fell, rolling on the ground. The Saintess was upon him again, this time with an overhead swing.
“Oh shit…”
Kent rolled to the side, evading the attack, but the shockwave lifted him into the air, sending him flying.
He landed on the ground and straightened his back…
“Ha.”
That was all Ingrid and her master heard before a powerful sword qi, intent, and true aura erupted from Kent. Just like that, a battle that would shake the Spear Gate was underway…
“_”
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