With the assistance of Jiayan and Dongling, the pressure on me eased considerably. Since this was my first time leading the morning training session, I didn't want to introduce any drastic changes rashly; the cultivation drills were largely focused on practical combat.

I also paid close attention, observing the strength levels within the group. Most of the veterans of the ** Group had reached the peak standard of Intermediate Warriors; with just a little more effort, they could attain the strength of a High-Rank Initial Stage. As for the newly joined ** Group warriors, most were still stuck at the peak of the Junior Rank. Garo, of course, was the exception.

To get them accustomed to high-intensity combat requirements as quickly as possible, I implemented a pairing system alternating between veterans and newcomers. Although they were all ** Group warriors, I categorized them into two groups: Veterans, and the Young and Vigorous. The warriors found these two titles, used to distinguish between them, novel and readily accepted them.

My pairing method involved having one Veteran lead one or two Young and Vigorous warriors through practical combat drills. The results were surprisingly satisfying.

Perhaps spurred by anxiety over the village's uncertain future, everyone was studying with intense dedication. The Veterans did their utmost to impart their experience and insights to their pupils. And the Young and Vigorous, eager to rapidly boost their own strength, absorbed every piece of experience and insight the Veterans poured into them like thirsty earth. The morning session, originally scheduled for four hours, was dragged on by them until noon.

The other villagers also quietly departed, ceasing to watch as spectators. In this world, formidable strength was the bedrock of survival. A prosperous and wealthy village, lacking a powerful force to protect it, could easily become a target for others to devour. Therefore, the most crucial duty of a warrior was to enhance their own power and fulfill their responsibility to safeguard the villagers. Likewise, the other villagers would contribute their efforts to create more wealth, fostering the prosperity and affluence of the village.

The entire village originally numbered just over fourteen hundred people. There were about six hundred able-bodied, strong adult males who formed the core of the village defense. However, in the last battle, nearly two hundred adult warriors were killed, severely diminishing the village's defensive capabilities. This news was bound to attract the covetous eyes of others with ill intent. Even while rescuing Mother and the Madam of the Household, the Lord of the Household intentionally left the great general Chen Zhen and over three hundred and fifty warriors behind. The number he personally kept with him was only about fifty warriors, including Chen Feng. This clearly illustrated how vital village defense was at all times, and the Lord of the Household always placed the safety of the village above all else. Despite this, lately, furtive figures had frequently been spotted lurking around the village—likely scouts sent by those people to probe the village's movements, ready to strike at the first suitable opportunity.

Everyone was consumed by worry, but there was little that could be done about it. Thus, they could only channel this anxiety into motivation for training. The practical combat drills were almost akin to fighting for one's life, resulting in a large number of casualties, mostly among the passionate and spirited Young and Vigorous.

But I also knew that conventional methods would yield no significant progress in such a short time. How, then, could I help them advance their strength further in a limited timeframe?

Carrying this difficult question, my thoughts drifting, I returned home.

From afar, I saw a figure standing guard at the entrance—it was Chen Feng.

I knew it; he would surely come looking for me. It had been two years since we last met; I wondered just how much his strength had improved. When I left, I had taught him the Fencing sword technique. Given Chen Feng’s temperament, he certainly wouldn't have neglected it.

“Why are you only returning now?”

“It couldn’t be helped; everyone was so enthusiastic, and before I knew it, the training had gone on this long,” I replied with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Enthusiastic,” Chen Feng said with a bitter smile, “What an easy way to put it.”

“Ah!” Chen Feng’s expression seemed off, but after a moment’s thought, perhaps I had indeed made it sound too lighthearted. These people were being forced; if they couldn't quickly improve their strength, the village’s security could not be guaranteed. Everyone would have to live in constant fear, which was no good thing.

“Perhaps so,” I thought, forcing a bitter smile.

“Actually, this crisis is far more severe than imagined,” Chen Feng stated, his gaze fixed on me with gravity. “The last batch of medicinal herbs was intercepted en route. Nearly a year's harvest has gone to waste. Add to that the ransom subsequently paid to the stronghold, and the village’s finances have fallen into crisis. Of course, the death of Jiani and the others was the heaviest blow; we now dare not easily dispatch personnel to guard merchant caravans traveling outside.” As Chen Feng spoke, he walked into the courtyard.

Mother was busy preparing lunch; seeing us enter, she merely nodded slightly.

Once seated, Chen Feng continued to detail the predicament facing the village.

It turned out the medicinal herbs intercepted previously represented the entire village's hard work for a year, valued at over twenty million. The contracted pharmacy, having not received the regular shipment of herbs, also suffered immense losses. According to the contract terms, the Lord of the Household had to pay them varying amounts in breach-of-contract penalties. As compensation alone, this consumed nearly five years of the village’s savings. The ransom further aggravated the already difficult situation, adding frost to the snow. To raise that sum, the Lord practically sold off all his properties—the pharmacies distributed across the continent—to scrape together the money and pay it off.

It could be said that Ginkgo Village was truly at its wit’s end. Furthermore, the large number of household retainers killed had drastically reduced the existing defensive forces. At this time, the Lord of the Household could certainly not spare more people to protect outbound merchant caravans. Yet, hiring wandering swordsmen to guard the caravans incurred significant expense. Currently, the entire Ginkgo Village’s gold coin reserves were less than five million—barely enough to hire powerful wandering swordsmen for escort duty. Without initial working capital, no business could proceed.

On the other hand, the heavy losses of adult warriors led to a labor shortage within the village. Yet, even so, the defensive force could not be drastically reduced, while the warriors still growing into their strength had to dedicate even more time to training, leaving no excess time for routine labor production. Thus, they seemed trapped in a terrible vicious cycle.

Soon, the annual Crimson Moon season would arrive, which was also the harvest season for Ginkgo City's specialty, the Grass Bead. The Grass Bead was one of Ginkgo City's most important export medicinal materials, as well as the primary raw ingredient for commonly used continental medicines like Gold Wound Powder, Healing Salve, and Sun Water. Every year around this time, numerous bandits would lie in wait around the various villages near Ginkgo City, awaiting a suitable opportunity to strike and rob. If they lacked a powerful escort team, the consequences were predictable. Chen Feng coming to find me was for this very reason.

How to gather a sum of money in a short time. Reconciling the conflict between production and training. Strengthening the village’s defensive capabilities.

These three points became the immediate problems the village desperately needed to solve.

The food on the table was nearly cold, but neither Chen Feng nor I had any appetite. Mother also knew the difficulties the village faced. However, she could not think of any good solutions either. But seeing our anxiety, she worried deeply. It took several insistent urgings from her before Chen Feng and I absentmindedly finished two bowls of rice.

“Regarding funds, can’t you try borrowing some from others first?”

“The Lord of the Household planned the same. Chen Zhen and I are leaving tomorrow to borrow some money from the City Lord and a few nearby villages,” Chen Feng replied, adding, “I believe we should be able to borrow some.”

“En!” I nodded slightly. “I will find a way to reconcile the conflict between production and training; you can rest assured.”

“Heh heh,” Chen Feng chuckled. “It seems you have an idea.”

“I have some thoughts, but I need to look into them further.” Saying this, I recalled the confusion I felt today on the lawn.

“Brother Feng, I’ve never understood the principle behind the generation of Dou Qi. Why does Dou Qi naturally arise within our bodies after killing monsters?” For a long time, my impression of the Mafa World seemed to be that the strength of one’s Dou Qi determined their martial cultivation, and the strength of Dou Qi was directly related to the number of monsters one killed. The more monsters killed, the stronger the condensed Dou Qi. But what was the exact relationship between killing monsters and the strengthening of Dou Qi? I still couldn't grasp this.

Chen Feng once explained to me that Dou Qi was called Fighting Qi precisely because it was the energy generated through continuous combat. But this explanation was too general, essentially meaning nothing.

“This!” Chen Feng paused slightly before replying, “So-called Dou Qi is a potential residing within the human body, but this potential is only likely to be fully unleashed in moments of life-and-death crisis. Only when facing death can a person’s essence, spirit, and will become highly concentrated, thereby stimulating the latent potential within the body. Dou Qi cultivation is merely a process of continuous self-transcendence, continuously excavating one’s own potential. The best way to achieve this goal is by constantly fighting monsters of superior strength, because in battle, in order to secure victory, one must focus their essence, spirit, and will to the extreme, thus triggering inherent potential and strengthening one's abilities. Naturally, the Dou Qi will improve.”

“Then why doesn’t sparring with comrades increase the intensity of Dou Qi?” I asked.

“This question has been studied by many for a long time. The conclusion reached was that actual combat is not a true life-or-death struggle; that is, it cannot truly trigger the body’s Dou Qi. Stripped down, this is directly related to a person’s will to fight—the killing intent. Only with killing intent, meaning a genuine desire to kill the opponent, can one mobilize their potential 100% without reservation and improve their Dou Qi cultivation. In sparring, everyone is aware that the opponent is a partner; there is subconscious restraint. As long as the slightest trace of this thought exists, the essence, spirit, and will cannot achieve high concentration, naturally preventing the triggering of latent potential, thereby defeating the purpose of cultivating Dou Qi.”

“So, only in a true fight for survival, when the spirit is in a state of extreme excitement, can the latent potential within the body—that is, Dou Qi—be stimulated, achieving the goal of Dou Qi cultivation?”

“Exactly,” Chen Feng confirmed. “And all of this can only be accomplished through monster killing during cultivation. Monsters are not human, so they can be killed without reservation. That is why, for thousands of years, Dou Qi cultivation has always proceeded via monster slaying. Thus, the household retainers take turns going out to cultivate for a period, allowing their Dou Qi cultivation to improve.”

“It seems the crucial issue lies in the problem of killing intent,” I finally understood the fundamental reason for Dou Qi generation.

“Precisely.” Chen Feng’s eyes flickered with hesitation as he spoke. “Xiao Man, let’s put this aside for later. I have to leave tomorrow, and it’s unlikely I’ll return soon. Honestly, after two years apart, I’m very eager to know what level you’ve reached. That’s also why I came to find you today.”

“What, do you want to spar?” I asked with a faint smile.

“Of course,” Chen Feng replied. “The sword technique you taught me, I’ve been practicing it secretly day and night for the past two years. It’s just that I lacked a true opponent for practical application, so I don't know what progress I’ve made.”

“Coincidentally, I also wanted to verify something with you.”

“Excellent!” Chen Feng agreed.

In the courtyard, Chen Feng and I stood facing each other. Our two slender rapiers were held straight, parallel to each other. To my surprise, Chen Feng had also forged a rapier for himself, and its length and weight were almost identical to the one Lu Tong had crafted for me. However, he was slightly stunned when he saw the new rapier I drew.

“The old one was too light,” Chen Feng said with a smile. “I didn’t expect you to change yours too. It seems your strength has advanced considerably.”

“Likewise.”

.............................

In this world, apart from myself, Chen Feng was the only person who truly understood the essence and spirit of Fencing. Therefore, I could not treat him like any other opponent on the continent. And Chen Feng truly did not disappoint me.

My light, brisk lunge step danced forward and back without any discernible pattern on the ground. The slightly vibrating blade tip was like a coiled snake ready to strike, poised to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. It could be said that what Chen Feng was currently displaying was the true strength of a professional fencer.

At this moment, I felt as if I had returned to the modern fencing salle. Standing before me was not Chen Feng, but Tiantian. Yes—the focused gaze, the steady aura, and the agile footwork; everything was almost identical to Tiantian.

Roar! In that momentary lapse of focus, Chen Feng suddenly lunged forward, his arm blurring into several afterimages. Sharp sword energy whistled toward me.

Ah! So fast! As soon as he stepped forward with his electric step, I instinctively retreated several paces. As a fencing enthusiast hailing from the modern era, no one understood the terrifying speed of a fencer’s thrust better than I did. Just as the human eye cannot track the trajectory of a bullet, the speed of a sword thrust, though incomparable to a bullet, registers similarly within human reflex nerves. Especially for a genius like Chen Feng, whose thrusting speed far outstripped human reflex capability. By the time you perceive his sword movement, his blade has already pierced your body. Therefore, the only way to counter fencing is through foresight—much like in a gunfight, one must anticipate the shooter’s firing vector to execute an evasion maneuver early. The most fundamental method is naturally controlling footwork to always maintain a safe distance, keeping the sword out of its effective range.

Whoosh! My body became an afterimage as I rapidly retreated. Yet, even so, the armor over my chest and lower abdomen was pierced by the sharp energy of his fierce blade. Chen Feng, having seized the initiative, made no pause, continuing his electric step with blinding speed. His slender rapier stabbed furiously toward every point around my body, like a raging storm—the face, throat, chest, abdomen, thigh, calf, shoulder; every part of my body was completely exposed to his blade. Every thrust was incredibly fast, making it utterly impossible to block; every thrust was so tricky and unpredictable that evasion was impossible. Every sharp whistle carried by his blade brought forth a bone-chilling tremor of suffocation, helplessness, and fear. At this moment, I finally understood the deep helplessness and despair felt by those masters who had died under my rapier when facing such an attack. Besides fighting desperately to escape, they had no chance to counterattack, let alone anticipate the speed of a rapier thrust. Of course, they couldn't have prepared mentally beforehand. Thinking about this, I realized how lucky Chi Kun must have been to escape my sword twice.

Roar! I retreated nearly ten meters in a series of fast steps before barely escaping Chen Feng’s torrential assault. Seizing the moment Chen Feng paused slightly, I immediately lunged forward with an electric step, executing a ‘One Sword, Three Lines,’ thrusting out fiercely.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!

Face, throat, chest—the first wave of attack, three targets nearly simultaneous, were covered.

Roar! Chen Feng showed no hesitation. As soon as his attack briefly stalled, he leaped backward. He knew clearly that the speed of a rapier thrust was impossible to block; there was no other recourse than to evade early. I didn't think either, using my lunge step, still lightning-fast, following him like a shadow, while my rapier thrust out furiously at an astonishing frequency. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—every wave consisted of three incredibly fast consecutive thrusts. I attacked more than thirty times without managing to strike Chen Feng’s body. At this point, I could feel my offensive momentum reaching its breaking point. After delivering one final wave of attacks, I simultaneously pulled back.

However, Chen Feng did not pursue. Instead, he stopped his movement and stared at me, his face filled with astonishment.

“I knew this sword style was astonishingly fast,” Chen Feng said, extremely excited. “But only just now did I truly comprehend how fast it is.”

“Heh, did it feel somewhat unstoppable?” I breathed slightly.

“Unstoppable,” Chen Feng exclaimed excitedly. “It was simply impossible to block; there was no way to counter such an attack except to fight desperately for escape. If you hadn't told me beforehand, I would have foolishly tried to block those fast thrusts. It's hard to imagine what the scene would have been like if it were someone else.”

“Heh, want to compare a bit more!”

“Forget it. I now know how formidable this sword style is; that puts my mind at ease,” Chen Feng sighed with emotion.

“Brother Feng,” I said, feeling a prickle of unease in my heart, “Promise me, don’t use this sword style unless it's the absolute last resort.”

“En! Don't worry,” Chen Feng reassured me. “Didn’t you tell me before? Look, for these two years, no one knew I was practicing this style.”

“En, that’s true.” Given Chen Feng’s disposition, he wasn't the type to seek conflict for its own sake, so I trusted his character.

“Actually, the reason I came to find you was to ask you to take exclusive responsibility for training Garo and this group of young warriors, making your utmost effort to help them increase their strength in a short time,” Chen Feng continued, sounding troubled. “At the same time, daily production cannot be delayed. I know this is extremely difficult, but I believe you, kid, must have a way, heh heh.”

“……” I was somewhat speechless: this guy still regarded me as some kind of prodigy.

“Alright, I should be leaving now!” Chen Feng said.

“Go early and return soon.”