Chapter 54: So This Makes You a Dual-Force Warrior? Are You Some Kind of Freak?

Zhang Chu kept his head down, fiddling away as if he were addicted to his phone.

Guan Zifang suddenly found the corn in his hand tasteless.

This kind of young man who remains unflustered even in the face of trouble—he was like the perfect snack to go with a drink. Just looking at him made one feel like downing a whole bottle of spirits.

"Ding-dong!"

"Detected that host has purchased Grade 5 Superior Identity 'Flash Silver.' Would you like to load and study it?"

Zhang Chu made the payment online, and the electronic version of 'Flash Silver' appeared in the system’s backend.

As soon as he opened the footwork martial technique and glanced at it, the system auto-recognized it.

"Learn!" Zhang Chu murmured to himself.

In an instant, his eyes became like scanners, and the contents of 'Flash Silver' flashed rapidly through his mind.

A virtual figure began to study the technique automatically.

Learning a Grade 5 Superior martial technique was somewhat slower than learning a Grade 1.

Most importantly, the system seemed to understand Zhang Chu’s current need, and it began to automatically combine 'Flash Silver' with the 'Thirteen Swords of Blazing Fire' for integrated practice.

Under the curious eyes of Hu Sanyi and Guan Zifang, Zhang Chu closed his eyes.

Was he... asleep?

How big-hearted could he be! He was exactly like Guan Zifang in his youth!

Guan Zifang was at a loss. Though he hadn’t truly intended to take the kid’s life, the fact that this boy didn’t even regard him—a Four-Star Dual-Force Warrior—had thoroughly sparked his competitive spirit.

Hush!

Guan Zifang whistled. The Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon soared into the sky, its wings stirring up fierce winds as it dove from above and spat a fireball straight at Zhang Chu.

"Brother Chu, dodge!" Hu Sanyi shouted anxiously.

If Zhang Chu died, Hu Sanyi knew he would be doomed as well.

Dodge, then! In the nick of time, Zhang Chu suddenly opened his eyes.

The fireball was less than five meters away, blazing heat surging toward him.

He sidestepped, agile as a serpent, his movement so swift that several afterimages appeared.

The Grade 5 martial technique 'Flash Silver' was best known for its close-range bursts, and when paired with assassin-type close-combat skills, it could unleash its full potential.

Zhang Chu simply performed to perfection.

In less than a breath, he was behind the Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon, stumbling a few steps before steadying himself. "Damn, just learned it and still not quite used to it—nearly did a face-plant!"

"This kid... is he cheating?"

As a Four-Star Dual-Force Warrior, Guan Zifang had already seen through Zhang Chu’s abilities.

For such a high-level movement technique to appear out of nowhere—what could it be if not cheating?

He was ruined. This loss stung!

Watching Zhang Chu draw out the Xuangang Greatsword, its invisible sword intent enveloping him, Guan Zifang hurried over in alarm. "You brat, stop right there!"

Flash!

Slash!

But Guan Zifang was already too late.

With a few flickers, Zhang Chu appeared above the Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon, and the Xuangang Greatsword, imbued with sword intent, fell heavily.

Two waves of sword energy sliced straight through the dragon's wings.

"Roar!" The dragon let out a piercing scream and crashed to the ground, its wings falling to either side.

Zhang Chu raised his sword to finish off the Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon.

Guan Zifang suddenly appeared.

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Chu was restrained. "You really go all out, don’t you? This old dragon’s been my treasured companion for years!"

Bah!

Zhang Chu spat to the side and managed to raise a middle finger. "Four-Star Dual-Force Warrior, and you have no sense of honor!"

Guan Zifang’s face flushed hotly.

He truly had acted dishonorably—no wonder Zhang Chu despised him.

But then again, anyone who could instantly master a Grade 5 martial skill and wield it with such finesse was worthy of being taken as a disciple.

Such a temperament… such a perfect match.

"Kid, apart from the Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon, you can slay any other beast you wish. I have no objections." Guan Zifang began to bargain.

"Forty of them!" Zhang Chu raised the price on the spot.

Slaying the dragon didn’t matter—having leverage over Guan Zifang was the smartest play.

Why not become a legend at the zoo with ease?

Raising the price on the spot?

Hu Sanyi found the scene oddly familiar, yet he still shouted, "Senior, could you put me down first? I’m really numb here!"

With a wave of his hand, Guan Zifang let Hu Sanyi fall to the ground.

Seeing the resolve in Zhang Chu’s eyes, Guan Zifang’s heart bled as he turned away with a dismissive wave.

The message was clear: do as you please…

The Grade 6 exotic beasts of the zoo stared in disbelief as Zhang Chu, excitement in his eyes, advanced with his Xuangang Greatsword.

"Damn it, so you’re all noble—saving the dragon but leaving us to die?"

...

At some point, Guan Zifang and Hu Sanyi ended up sitting together, eating walnuts and watching Zhang Chu rampage through the zoo.

Quick flash.

Quick slash.

Extract the core.

Kick away the corpse.

The Four Steps to Godhood.

Zhang Chu’s movements were so skilled that it made Guan Zifang’s heart ache.

He deeply regretted now ever reminiscing about his youth at the old manor last night.

Soon, forty exotic beast cores were in hand.

Zhang Chu didn’t want to kill too many more. Seeing the rage Guan Zifang could barely suppress, he forced himself to rein in his impulses.

The old man was at least true to his word. If pushed too far, a fight would break out and everyone would die.

When Zhang Chu left the exotic beast zoo, thoroughly satisfied, Guan Zifang hurried them both to leave.

He no longer wished to take this disciple.

After all, the exotic beasts he’d raised for over a decade weren’t even enough for Zhang Chu to pick his teeth.

"Old Man Guan, at the very least let us have a meal and a night’s rest before we go. I’ll pretend you never asked to be my disciple," Zhang Chu joked.

Hu Sanyi was already famished.

Guan Zifang, in misery, could only head to the kitchen to cook.

Zhang Chu ordered: smoked venison, stir-fried baby greens, braised pork…

Guan Zifang could only endure.

If a Four-Star Dual-Force Warrior ended up apprenticed to a brat at Grade 6, he’d become a laughingstock among the old codgers of Binzhou.

In the guest room of the wooden house, Zhang Chu finally took out forty Grade 6 exotic beast cores. "I wonder what it’ll feel like to break through to Grade 6!"

While Hu Sanyi snored away, Zhang Chu began swallowing the cores.

"Ding-dong, detected that host has consumed one Grade 6 core: Vitality +10,000!"

"Ding-dong…"

Forty cores—almost four pounds.

Zhang Chu nearly vomited from eating so many.

Fortunately, after reaching Grade 6, the system improved the conversion efficiency of the cores.

After resting for a few minutes, his stomach was empty again.

"Ding-dong, detected host’s Vitality has reached 101,011! Would you like to activate the Mental Power System and advance to Dual-Force Warrior?"

Just as he swallowed the last core, the system’s voice echoed in his mind.

His personal status panel popped up automatically.

In addition to the usual information, a new Mental Power level had been added.

"Activate!"

Zhang Chu’s heart pounded wildly.

As soon as he spoke, all data for Vitality began to scroll rapidly—then reset to zero.

At the same moment, Zhang Chu felt a loud buzz in his brain, as if all his senses were being enhanced. He could even hear the wings of flies buzzing nearby.

In the kitchen outside, just as Guan Zifang finished cooking and brought out the dishes, he suddenly felt a powerful surge of mental force.

Crash!

The four hard-won dishes he had spent an hour preparing all fell to the ground.

"Dammit!"

"That’s Level 1 mental power!"

"That brat actually broke through!"