"The One Hundred and Eight Dipper Apertures Grand Cycle Secret Art... the One Hundred and Eight Dipper Apertures Grand Cycle Secret Art." Fabridis's eyes shone with a mixture of envy and deep regret. "If only this were ten years ago... no! Even five years earlier, I would have shattered all my battle qi to beg you for this secret art, to strike again and accomplish things I've only dreamed of in my life." Qian Jin didn't know what to say, waiting quietly for Fabridis to continue. "Tell me about yourself then." Fabridis suddenly regained his vigor, looking intently at Qian Jin: "Do you know who your opponent is tomorrow?" "Kael's nephew, Keiji," Qian Jin stated the only name he knew. "Do you know Keiji's other identity?" Fabridis leaned in, drawing out each word: "A Bloodline Warrior."

Qian Jin’s body gave a slight jolt, a faint excitement rising in his chest. Bloodline Warrior! Bloodline Warrior! In the history of the Zhence Dynasty, the elite standing at the very apex of warriors were almost invariably Bloodline Warriors! And standing at the absolute pinnacle were the three who could push their bloodline power to the level of ultimate awakening: the Three Ultimate Bloodline Warriors!

The Elf King Bloodline Warrior! The War God Bloodline Warrior! And the mysterious Three-Headed Golden Dragon Bloodline Warrior!

Any warrior facing a Bloodline Warrior could not avoid emotional fluctuation, and Qian Jin was no exception, but unlike most who felt fear, his heart held only excitement! "Bloodline Warrior?" Qian Jin's eyes blazed with fighting intent. "What bloodline? No matter what awakened bloodline warrior he is, if he dares try to steal my woman? Hmph..."

Luo Qingqing's cheeks flushed, and she stole a shy glance at Qian Jin, her heart overflowing with sweetness. Her previous conversation with Kael had been driven by words exchanged in the heat of the moment; this direct acknowledgment felt like a different kind of happiness. "Thunder Leopard Bloodline, initial awakening," Fabridis supplemented after a moment's thought. "I hear he's been awake for nearly two years now."

"Thunder Leopard Bloodline?" Qian Jin recalled the descriptions he had seen in books. "This line excels in speed and explosive power during combat. When they use the Bloodline Battle Form, their speed and burst power increase even further!"

Fabridis realized Qian Jin knew far more than he had anticipated, even being so clear on the terminology used for a Bloodline Warrior after activating their awakened power—Bloodline Battle Form!

"The biggest difference between Bloodline Warriors and ordinary warriors lies in their speed of breakthrough when cultivating battle qi," Qian Jin said, looking eager. "They break through more easily than ordinary warriors, and at every level of awakening, using the Bloodline Battle Form grants a small, specific additional ability." Fabridis nodded repeatedly; any warning he had intended to give now seemed utterly unnecessary.

"Very good! A Bloodline Warrior, is he? While I don't know why the Kael family produced one," Qian Jin said with a cold smile, "he killed the Fatty and now wants me dead. He’ll have to be prepared to pay a steep price for that." Fabridis pondered for a moment. "Besides this Grand Cycle Secret Art, what other battle techniques have you learned?"

Qian Jin shook his head. Apart from using the 'Eighteen Forging Hammers of Ascent' and the skill technique 'Myriad Shadows'—which he used for forging—as methods of combat, the only formal techniques he knew were the Qian family's 'Kun Technique,' and the '[Tree-Chopping Eight Strikes]' taught at the Oakland Magic and Warrior Academy. He hadn't even learned the '[Mountain-Shattering Nine Strikes]'. His entire combat repertoire was cobbled together from life-or-death struggles against demonic beasts—wild, untamed methods. "That’s understandable."

Fabridis gave Qian Jin a wry smile. "In less than two years, you've shot up from a Rank Nine Warrior to the '[Demon-Slaying Nine Battles]' realm. If you had time to learn battle techniques on top of that, it would be a genuine oddity."

Qian Jin had no retort. He had intended to spend some time in the battle qi chamber within the '[Endless World]' to see if he could pick up a technique or two, but his schedule there was packed: forging, potions, mysterious herbs... he simply hadn't found time to explore the battle qi rooms thoroughly.

"We still have time before tomorrow," Fabridis reached out, taking Qian Jin's Zhanmadao (horse-cleaving saber), and walked into the courtyard. "It's a pity you use such a strange blade. My sword style isn't suited for you, but a friend’s '[Seven Styles of Blood Combat]' might suit you well."

Battle techniques were combat skills that warriors explored and summarized through countless battles, designed to unleash immense power when combined with battle qi. Among the most famous techniques in the Zhence Dynasty were the so-called 'Beast Battle Techniques,' developed by humans by observing wild beasts and demonic creatures.

Although Beast Battle Techniques were widespread and often looked down upon by many, Qian Jin knew that if mastered properly, they could allow one to dominate the world! He just hadn't had the chance to encounter them before; in future battles, he definitely needed to study and absorb the essence of Beast Battle Techniques. Fabridis held the Zhanmadao with both hands, stood in the courtyard, and closed his eyes for a brief moment of stillness. When his eyes snapped open, the killing intent emanating from him merged entirely with the saber. His battle qi hummed, causing the Zhanmadao to emit a faint resonance.

The hairs on Qian Jin's body stood up instantly; years of fighting for his life told him that this set of '[Seven Styles of Blood Combat]' was even more formidable than he had imagined.

In the small courtyard, a brutal atmosphere of sorrow and rage permeated the air. Every arc the Zhanmadao swept through the air carried the weight of a life-or-death struggle, making the observer feel as if they were suddenly plunged onto a blood-soaked, iron battlefield.

Night gradually fell. Fabridis had ceased his practice and was now sitting on a wooden chair in the mourning hall, sipping clear tea.

Qian Jin stood motionless in the courtyard, clutching his Zhanmadao. His mind meticulously replayed every movement and breath Fabridis had exhibited while wielding the blade. His entire presence was drawn inward, making him stand like a stone statue in the yard.

Fabridis looked up at the newly risen full moon, asking quietly, "Will the Kael family truly be so obedient as to wait until the duel time tomorrow?"

"Mr. Gran, are you absolutely sure that doing this tonight won't expose any flaws to Fabridis and the City Lord during tomorrow's duel?" Kael sat in the brightly lit room, where four oil lamps burned, his tone carrying a slight final thread of worry, looking at Gran. "They are both Demon-Slaying Warriors."

Gran, clad in black leather armor, hefted his greatsword and walked toward the door, smiling. "Mr. Kael, you are the headmaster of the Magic and Warrior Academy, yet you don't fully grasp the nuances of us Demon-Slaying Warriors. In the five years I have been a Demon-Slaying Warrior, I have maintained diligent, hard cultivation, and gradually discovered that there is a significant degree of strength disparity even among Demon-Slaying Warriors."

"There’s such a thing?" Kael feigned surprise, though inwardly he was highly dismissive. Keiji’s strength already far surpassed Gran’s. However, since Qian Jin also seemed to be a Demon-Slaying Warrior, it was beneficial for Gran to deplete some of Qian Jin's battle qi under the cover of night to ensure his nephew’s most dazzling victory tomorrow. If he could severely wound Qian Jin without being discovered, that would be best! "Of course," Gran lifted his head proudly. "I have completely mastered this level of power, and I am confident I can conceal it from anyone. So, just wait for good news." "That’s excellent!" Kael said, reaching out. "I wish you success tonight. I’ll go find a woman to wait for your triumphant return." "One?" Gran habitually snorted dismissively. He raised his hand, fingers spread wide. "Five! Prepare five for me." "Five?" Kael feigned shock. "You are fighting a Demon-Slaying Warrior tonight; you should expend quite a bit of stamina..." "Don't worry about it," Gran walked out of the room with large strides, a disdainful snort echoing from a distance. "I don't even consider one Demon-Slaying Warrior worth mentioning."

The back door of the room opened, and Kael turned to look at his nephew, Keiji, who had entered, his heart filled with complex emotion. This boy, who had seemed weak in childhood, had transformed entirely since his Thunder Leopard Bloodline reached its initial awakening. Even his formerly pale yellow hair had gradually turned a brownish hue, like wild animal bristles, and his lean body now gave off the dangerous aura of a ferocious beast.

"Keiji, you've arrived." Kael hurried to stand up, offering the young man a seat, yet subconsciously sitting on a chair farther away from him. Even as relatives, he felt an instinctive reluctance to be too close to the young man; sitting too near gave one the feeling of being watched by a predator. Keiji picked up the teapot on the table and poured tea directly into his mouth from the spout, asking, "Where is that waste, Gran?"

"Gran?" Kael's smile was strained as he pointed toward another doorway. "He just stepped out on an errand. Nothing important. By the way, why are you here so early? Why not stay at school a little longer? The Kael family's hope rests on you. The upcoming selection is the first major stepping stone for any warrior."

"It's the same everywhere," Keiji leaned back indifferently, not looking at Kael. "What can they teach me there? Only a truly advanced academy can make me stronger. I heard that waste Gran provoked Fabridis and the City Lord today?"

Kael paused slightly, inwardly cursing which of the accompanying warriors might have defected to Keiji, as he knew such details so clearly. "Yes," Kael replied with a stiff smile. "Just a minor matter. We are all Demon-Slaying Warriors, after all..."

"Pah!" Keiji spat a mouthful of saliva onto the floor. "Does Gran even qualify to be called a Demon-Slaying Warrior? That idiot! I dare not provoke Fabridis now, yet he dared to provoke him! The prestige of the Demon-Slaying Warriors is ruined by fools like him!"

Kael watched Keiji with trepidation, not only because Keiji was a potential heir to the family but more so because of the wild, beast-like aura he exuded, which made him feel excessively dangerous.