Sanctuary Paradise

Chapter 771 Life Mentor Xin Lailai [5.6k words]

Three days later, Tianmai Dragon Island.

Ding, ding, ding——!!

The clanging sounds of powerful swords clashing echoed from the training ground. On the field that had been renovated with rock magic, Liezhan and Tianduan were seen facing each other with their backs clenched, trying hard to resist the sword-wielding crystal men made of magic power that were attacking from all directions.

"Drink!!"

A golden-red slash formed by the sun's flames erupted from the flaming sword in Liezhan's hand with a heavy roar, forming a golden-red arc in mid-air and spreading towards the crystal swordsmen who were surrounding him.

But in the next second, the solar flame slash that should have been unstoppable was chopped into pieces like a rag by the broad swords made of several mana crystals, and failed to exert its full power.

Lie Zhan's expression changed slightly as he watched this scene, but before he could feel any specific emotions about it, several sword lights came towards Lie Zhan with an oppressive sound of breaking through the air, causing his pupils to shrink instinctively. He didn't even bother to get up and hurriedly raised his sword to block in front of him.

boom!
The next moment, the ear-piercing sound of swords colliding was heard, and Lie Zhan, who had no time to return to defend, groaned as his body was hit by multiple crystal swords at the same time. He vomited blood amid the sound of a large number of bones shattering, and was finally smashed away by the crystal swordsman in front of him. Not only that, Tian Duan on the other side was also sent flying in the same world.

Almost at the same time when the two men were defeated, the crystal swordsmen who were besieging them suddenly froze in place. The sound of swords stopping in mid-air exploded, and at the same time, a ray of light composed of life energy suddenly fell on the two men, quickly healing their injuries.

"Hmm... not bad. As a first-level contractor, your mastery of master-level techniques is exceptionally good."

A calm yet majestic voice came from outside the training ground. Xin Lailai, who was outside the ground, looked at Liezhan and Tianduan who had crawled up from the ground again, nodded slightly, and said in approval.

For a first-level contractor, because of the number of worlds they have experienced, it usually takes a long time to digest the master-level skills and abilities. Just like them, it was only after experiencing two deadly battles in the Black Four Worlds that they successfully digested those insights in the God Eater World and fully mastered their heavy sword master abilities.

Even though Liezhan and Tianduan had never experienced the same intense life-and-death battles as they had in the worlds of Hei Si and God Eater, they were still able to develop their master-level techniques to this level in just one and a half worlds. This can be said to be an outstanding performance.

In other words, this is what a normal top-tier contractor should be like in the novice stage. After all, the contractors who can enter this tier in the paradise can basically reach the S- level or above in terms of qualifications. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for them to experience a series of deadly battles but still need several worlds of progress to digest a master-level technical ability.

"However, although it's not bad, there are still some flaws in your use of the master's skills."

"First, let's talk about Lie Zhan. Although your understanding of the heavy sword is correct, you pay too much attention to the opening and closing of the heavy sword, which leads to a lot of omissions in details. If you encounter an assassin who is good at finding flaws and pursues a one-shot kill, this shortcoming of yours is likely to bring fatal risks."

"Of course, I'm not asking you to change your style by force. After all, a heavy sword master should have the spirit of forging ahead with unstoppable force. But you can take advantage of these omissions and turn them into traps to lure the enemy into falling into them."

"For example, you can master a defensive ability that has a time interval but is very effective, and use it to make up for the gap between the time you swing your sword and the time you swing your sword. You can even develop a technique specifically for counterattack based on this direction, so that you can always have the initiative in the battle in your hands, just like this."

Outside the training ground, Xin Lailai said as he looked at the crystal swordsmen on the side, controlling them to charge forward in unison, slashing at his vital points from different directions. Then, when they were about to hit him, he suddenly clenched his fist, and a fleeting golden light burst out from his body surface, repelling all the crystal swords that were slashing towards him.

"This is a blocking technique I developed based on body protection energy. Of course, I don't recommend you to imitate my method directly, as that would only seem to be the case. However, how to stimulate body protection energy is always one of the most important skills for a qualified technical master, especially for a heavy sword master. In many cases, body protection energy is our most reliable shield."

"However, it is not easy for a first-level contractor to accurately call upon the energy to protect the body. Therefore, I suggest that after you return this time, you can ask your mentor or guide if there are any similar defensive methods in your professional heritage, and then give priority to learning and mastering them."

"Also, here are some experiences related to body protection energy that I have personally summarized. They should be of some reference to you. If you have any questions, you can directly ask me or the members of your sect who have learned the blocking master technique."

As Xin Lailai spoke, he took out a note from the storage space and threw it to Liezhan. When Liezhan caught it and saw the contents on it that were specially engraved with soul runes and could be directly read with mental power or soul thoughts, his breathing became rapid.

"Boss Black Sword, this..."

"Take it. It's just a manuscript. It's not worth much. Just consider it as my compensation for accidentally hurting you."

Xin Lailai said with a chuckle. Upon hearing that, Liezhan nodded vigorously, then began to read the contents of the notebook impatiently.

Upon seeing this, Xin Lailai nodded slightly and looked at Tian Duan who was also showing curiosity and expectation. After thinking for a while, he said:

"As for you, Tianduan, you chose the route of combining longsword and flying sword. Therefore, the advice I give you may not be as accurate as Liezhan's. I hope you can forgive me for this."

"Well, I understand. Senior Black Sword, please continue speaking."

"Then I'll get straight to the point. Tianduan, in my opinion... your problem is much more serious than Liezhan's."

As Xin Lailai spoke, he lowered his eyes slightly and stared at the young swordsman in front of him who was carrying a sword case on his back, and said in a deep voice. Tianduan was stunned when he heard this, and even Liezhan on the side looked over in surprise. Obviously, he did not expect Xin Lailai to give such an evaluation.

As the captain of a team that had led Tianduan to conquer a large number of hidden areas, Liezhan believed that Tianduan, who was one of the three thousand formal members of the cult with the most stringent recruitment requirements among the large cults, was obviously much stronger than himself.

"This... I wonder what the specific problem is that Senior Black Sword is talking about?"

"You should know this better than me, Tianduan. If I'm not mistaken, you... should be forcing yourself to imitate Dao Ji, right?"

Xin Lailai looked at the young swordsman in front of him, squinting his eyes slightly. The other party's figure was reflected in his dark pupils, as if he could see through him completely. He spoke lightly in a calm but oppressive tone.

As these words fell, the swordsman who had only shown a trace of doubt could not help but stiffen, his pupils shrank violently, his lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to explain something, but in the end he still lowered his head, bowed to Xin Lailai, and apologized in a hoarse voice:
"I'm sorry to disappoint Senior Black Sword. As you said, I am just forcing myself to imitate Uncle Dao Ji poorly."

"Really? Can I hear your reason for doing this?"

"Because... I think the path I can take in my entire life is far from being comparable to the few corners I have gained by imitating Uncle Dao Ji."

Tian Duan said self-deprecatingly, with a slightly bitter smile on his face, and told Xin Lailai:
“In fact, when I first entered Paradise, I thought I could make a name for myself in swordsmanship. But after observing the sword energy that Uncle Daoji left behind when he was at the first level, I could no longer have the arrogant thoughts I had when I first entered Paradise. Even when I broke through the master’s technique, the sword energy that Uncle Daoji left behind was still what lingered in my mind.”

"For you, Senior Black Sword, this may be a little difficult to understand. After all, you are at the same level as Uncle Dao Ji. But for me, after seeing the traces left by Uncle Dao Ji, all my pride and dreams have been crushed without a doubt."

“In fact, whenever I think of Master Dao Ji, I feel lost. I wonder what the point of holding a sword is. In the end, I can only rely on imitating Master Dao Ji’s path in an extremely poor way like I am doing now to deceive myself and keep going.”

"To be honest, junior... no, sometimes I even regret why I was so self-important as to observe the sword moves left by Uncle Dao Ji."

Tian Duan said this and closed his eyes. His face showed an expression of extreme pain and fatigue, just like an insomniac who had been unable to sleep all night, emitting a deep sense of desolation.

"Brother Tianduan, you..."

Lie Zhan, who was standing aside, was looking at this scene. Seeing the other party's distraught appearance, he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to comfort him. Or perhaps, he had never expected that Tian Duan was hiding such a thing.

"Well, I see. It's pretty much what I expected."

On the contrary, Xin Lailai, who was sitting in his own chair, paying attention to the situation on Tianduan's side while flipping through the "Basics of Runes" in his hand, just nodded slightly, as if he had expected it.

"I'm sorry to disappoint Senior Black Sword. It's my fault that I'm too clumsy. Bai..."

"Disappointed? Oh, why should I be disappointed?"

On the training ground, Tian Duan, whose secret was discovered, apologized to Xin Lailai in disappointment. But before he could finish, Xin Lailai suddenly chuckled, looked at the swordsman in front of him, and said with a smile:

"You just gave up after being beaten by Dao Ji. What's so disappointing about that? I'm more surprised that you still have the courage to stick to the path of swordsmanship in the face of a guy like Dao Ji."

"I... eh?!" Tian Duan was stunned when he heard the words, thinking that the other party would be disappointed or scold him for his self-abandonment. He obviously didn't expect Xin Lailai to praise him in return. But then he seemed to think of something and smiled bitterly:

"Senior Black Sword, there is no need to comfort me. I am very aware of my current situation. Although I am very grateful for your kindness, there is no need to specially..."

"You don't think that what I just said was a lie to comfort you in order to make you regain your confidence, do you?"

Xin Lailai's voice rang out, interrupting Tianduan's words once again. He stared at the young swordsman in front of him and said:

"In that case, I'll say it again."

“Tian Duan, I don’t know how you can think of the specific nature of this matter, but in my opinion, for a new contractor like you who has extremely high pursuit of swordsmanship, it is already a great thing that you can not be discouraged and completely give up the path of swordsmanship after seeing Dao Ji. After all, I know better than you how despairing the height of that guy’s swordsmanship talent is.”

"Also, you may have made a mistake. For me, Dao Ji's level is also an unattainable realm. Even I, after his amazing performance, once thought that I was not worthy of being on par with someone like him."

"?!!"

On the training ground, Xin Lailai looked at Tianduan with a hint of reminiscence in her eyes and said with some emotion. When Tianduan heard what she said, he was stunned, with an expression of surprise and disbelief on his face.

The other party had actually been hit by Uncle Dao Ji to the point of losing self-confidence?

But if he remembered correctly, the other party had been promoted almost all the way in the paradise with a legendary reputation, and there was no report of him losing confidence to the point of wanting to give up on becoming a member of the outer-level team.

"What? Are you surprised? By the way, do you mind asking, Tianduan, what is your swordsmanship aptitude level?"

"Uh... S+ level."

"Hmm? Good boy, you are a level higher than I thought. Not bad. With your qualifications, if you work hard, you can definitely gain a foothold in the super-top echelon. It is not impossible to even be in the outer echelon."

"This... Senior Black Sword, I..."

"Do you know what my aptitude was in heavy sword?"

"B-level, and this is already my highest level of aptitude. In fact, it took me two worlds of effort to master even a heavy sword master, and that was even when I had no lack of experience in death battles."

"?!!"

"Oh, yes, I remember the progress of the world when I completely mastered the Heavy Sword Master was reported in the newspaper. Let me think... it should be the issue about the World War of the God Eater World. If you look carefully, you should be able to find a small report like 'Black Sword's Enlightenment on the Battlefield'?"

"Tsk, there were people in the comment section who used this to brag about my talent in swordsmanship. Now that I think about it, it's really embarrassing. I put in so much effort, but in the end I only figured out a technique that can only be successfully performed with the help of magic theory. If it were Dao Ji, he would have probably developed a perverted-level technique long ago."

"This……"

"Now, do you understand? In my opinion, what happened to you is not a big deal at all. I don't even think there is anything wrong with you imitating Dao Ji. The real problem is that you are only imitating him physically, but your spirit is not imitated at all."

On the training ground, Xin Lailai, who had deliberately suppressed her pressure and made herself look as approachable and pleasant as possible, spread her hands and said with a nonchalant smile, which made Tianduan's expression unconsciously ease up in shock. At the same time, he asked tentatively:
"Um, Senior Black Sword, don't you think it's too late... don't you think my situation is disappointing?"

"Well...if you were a member of the outer echelon, or someone with LV.MAX swordsmanship talent, or a child of the world with some important mission, I might indeed be disappointed with your reaction and think that you are not worthy of your status or talent."

"but--"

"Since you are just a contractor, not even a special agent, then I don't think anyone has the right to blame you for these things, except for those who really have high hopes for you and have given you sufficient help."

"Just like what I said just now, in my opinion, it is already a remarkable thing for a fledgling new contractor like you to still stick to the path of swordsmanship after seeing the talent of Dao Ji instead of completely escaping from it."

"Even when I heard that someone like you with S+ swordsmanship aptitude could be beaten like this by that pervert, I, who just recently raised my aptitude level to A-level, felt a little comforted?"

"As for imitating Dao Ji? To be honest, if there is someone who dares to imitate his path exactly, I might even admire him. After all, the path he takes is something that a guy like me who can't let go of my concerns will never have the courage to take."

Xin Lailai said with a smile, looking at the swordsman who was gradually recovering from his daze, and asked:
"How is it, are you feeling better?"

"Well, it is true. However, I don't quite understand why you would..."

Tian Duan was silent for a while, looking at the black-haired young man in front of him, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"Why should I tell you all this? Well... let me think about it. One reason is that when I see you, I will think of myself at that moment in the past. Another reason is that you are an official member of the Three Thousand Gods Religion, and I owe you a lot of favors. Therefore, I don't mind helping you with this matter."

"Of course, if it's even worse, you can also treat this as a simple investment. After all, a newcomer with S+ swordsmanship aptitude who has been hit by Dao Ji but still managed to not give up swordsmanship, I personally think it is still worth investing in."

Xin Lailai said with a smile, while Tianduan stared blankly at the black-haired young man in front of him, his mind churning with thoughts. For a moment, he didn't know how to start. Just as he was lost in thought, the other party's words came again:
"By the way, although I don't think it's shameful to imitate people who are better than you, sometimes it's better to follow your heart."

"After all, if I'm not mistaken, you are obviously more interested in the art of controlling swords than in swordsmanship, right?"

"!"

A calm and inexplicably reassuring voice sounded in Tianduan's ears, and when he heard the word "controlling the sword", he trembled violently and came back to his senses in an instant.

"Senior Black Sword, I..."

On the training ground, Tianduan subconsciously looked in the direction of Xin Lailai, but he only had time to see something flying towards his face.

Wow——! !

A slight sound of breaking through the air passed by, bringing with it a slight gust of wind, which collided with Tian Duan's hand that was subconsciously blocking his face, causing the thing that caused the noise to suddenly stop:

It was a notebook. Judging from the material, it was almost identical to the notebook that Liezhan had obtained. However, there were wisps of soul fluctuations lingering on it that had not yet subsided, as if indicating that this notebook was made not long ago.

This is……

"These are some notes I wrote based on my own understanding of energy manipulation and controlling objects. They can't be compared with Dao Ji's insights, but they should be worth reading. Just consider it as the compensation we agreed on before."

"By the way, I will be on the island during this period. When I am free, I will take the time to come and see your training situation."

When the black-haired young man's voice fell, Tian Duan raised his head, only to find that the other party was no longer there. He looked at the empty chair, and after a moment of silence, he clasped his hands, bowed deeply in the direction where the man had left, and said:

"Thank you for your guidance, senior!"

……

(End of this chapter)