Chapter 71

"Fourth-stage mind technique type soul general card." Tang Tian raised his hand, "Do you have any special mind technique cards?"

"Fourth stage... It seems to fit my shop perfectly." Sairei understood, but found it a bit strange, "To come to the City of Three Souls to buy a fourth-stage soul general card, you are quite peculiar. It looks like you are getting it for yourself. What did you practice at the third stage?"

"Crane Qi Technique." Tang Tian answered truthfully.

"Crane Qi Technique!" Sairei was visibly moved, her blue eyes flashing with surprise as she sized up Tang Tian, "You don't look it, but you've got some skills, young man! The Crane Qi Technique is notoriously difficult to practice!"

Tang Tian placed his hands on his hips, looking smug, "Haha! That's right, I'm a god-like young man! What powerful cards do you have? Just bring them out!"

"Young man, you're full of confidence." Sairei's red, sexy lips curved into a slight smile, "Speaking of which, I do have a few interesting cards. What martial techniques do you specialize in?"

"I'm an expert in close combat." Tang Tian was completely unreserved, "I'm very good at it!"

"An expert in close combat..." Sairei was taken aback again, "I'm really curious now."

She pushed open the door to the warehouse, "Come on, young man, let's see what you're made of!"

Tang Tian's spirits were lifted, "Are you going to fight me?"

"Fight you?" Sairei laughed, "I don't plan to fight an expert in close combat."

The warehouse was much larger than expected, over two hundred meters long, and much bigger than the training ground at Sachima Academy. It was filled with all sorts of strange tools and machinery. Tang Tian began to understand why Sairei was so fond of bronze mechanical ostriches.

Sairei walked up to a black iron robot, "Come on, young man, let's see your level."

Tang Tian curiously approached, "What is this?"

"The Sairei Tester." Sairei's beautiful face was serious and proud, "This is my most successful work. I have always been passionate about collecting various low-stage soul general cards, and in my research, I have made many discoveries. Soul general cards are a way to apply power, while star stones are the source of power. If these two are combined, wouldn't it form a perfect system? However, I spent a lot of time and never succeeded until last year, when I realized that my concept was missing a crucial element: star treasures!"

Tang Tian was deeply attracted by Sairei's words and blurted out, "Star treasures?"

He had never heard anyone explain soul general cards in such a way, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Soul general cards interpret martial techniques, and martial techniques are a way to apply power!

"So far, there is no definitive explanation for how star treasures are formed. Star treasures from the same constellation often share certain commonalities, which is why humans name them after constellations. The most unique aspect of star treasures is that they possess martial spirits. The higher the stage of the star treasure, the closer its martial spirit is to a human. They can cultivate and absorb energy from their surroundings on their own. No soul general can do this."

Sairei's resounding and slightly mad voice echoed through the warehouse.

Tang Tian was about to object, thinking of Uncle Bing who could cultivate on his own, but he was immediately drawn in by Sairei's next words.

"I suddenly realized. It's just like humans. We have meridians, true energy, and dantians, but what drives them is our brain. In the system built by soul general cards and star stones, there is no brain! Star treasures perfectly fill this gap. When I started adding treasures to this system, I quickly succeeded!"

Tang Tian was completely engrossed.

"Star treasures, because of their power, are all used as weapons. But what a waste! The spiritual nature of the martial spirits within the treasures is completely wasted. People only value their power, and they look down on the spiritual nature of the martial spirits. Only high-stage star treasures, whose martial spirits can cultivate and strengthen themselves, are favored. How short-sighted humans are!"

"Then what? Then what?" Tang Tian asked eagerly.

"Then I completed the Sairei Tester." Sairei said proudly.

Tang Tian's gaze fell on the Sairei Tester, which was completely human-like, entirely black, life-sized, and had a very intricate structure. Even the facial features and the joints of the hands and feet were quite complex.

"Originally, bronze would have been best, but the ancient bronze formula has long been lost. I tried many times, but the energy conduction was still not good. Later, I chose black steel, which is also cheap." Sairei continued, "The treasure inside is a bronze treasure, a cheap find. Since you are an expert in close combat, I need to pick some good cards."

Sairei then selected five cards, opened the back of the Sairei Tester, and inserted the five cards.

"Welcome to the first battle of the Sairei Tester!" Sairei's face was filled with enthusiasm as she pointed at Tang Tian, "Go! Sairei Tester!"

The black iron robot suddenly moved.

Tang Tian's heart tightened, "So fast!"

Without a word, he sidestepped and punched at his side.

Bang!

Tang Tian's fist and the iron fist of the opponent met without any pretense.

Tang Tian took several steps back, "Such strong power!" The key was that the black iron robot's punch was very strange, like a drill trying to penetrate Tang Tian's fist.

The black iron robot suddenly exerted force with its feet, and its body shot forward like an arrow.

Tang Tian's hand trembled, and the Shadow Shattering Palm suddenly exploded.

The black iron robot circled its left hand in the air, and the shadow shattering palm disappeared. Its right fist shot out like an arrow, striking with great force.

Tang Tian shifted his feet, sidestepped the punch, and the fierce energy grazed his face. Tang Tian's fingers curved, locking onto the opponent's wrist.

But the black iron robot simultaneously grabbed back.

Tang Tian's reaction was also very quick. He took advantage of the situation, pulled, and delivered a knee strike.

Smack!

The black iron robot bent its knee in response.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Both sides fought in a very small area, moving so fast that it was hard to see clearly.

Sairei looked tense, while Bing remained calm and composed.

As the fight intensified, Tang Tian's movements became faster, and he fought more passionately than ever. Finding a suitable sparring partner was not easy. The black iron robot's martial techniques were all unknown to Tang Tian, strange and tricky.

But Tang Tian was not afraid. His movements became more flexible, and he used various techniques with ease. Each of these martial techniques, he had practiced to perfection. In terms of proficiency, Tang Tian was already flawless. This was theoretically the perfect level, and the next level was that of a master. To reach that level, one needed a deeper understanding of the martial technique.

A master's level would transcend the constraints of stages.

Tang Tian had never encountered an opponent whose reaction was on par with his. In the past, some people might have been better in martial techniques, but none could match his reaction speed. This was why Old Wei suggested he take the path of an expert in close combat. Tang Tian's reaction speed was far beyond the average.

The shadow of punches and movements of both sides continued to accelerate, and Sairei's expression became increasingly tense. She could no longer clearly see their actions.

In her eyes, their movements were like blurry shadows.

Tang Tian's eyes glowed with a red flame, a familiar sight to those who knew him, indicating that his fighting spirit was rising. But no one knew that Tang Tian's mind was as cold as ice.

His intuition was like a smooth mirror, clearly reflecting every detail around him.

His attacks and changes became faster and more reasonable.

Previously, Tang Tian's movements were somewhat stiff and not very fluid. Although he had practiced each martial technique to perfection, he had never needed to combine several techniques perfectly. But now, those stiff parts were gradually smoothed out, and Tang Tian's movements became more fluid, with a sense of freedom.

As Tang Tian improved, the black iron robot immediately felt the pressure.

The black iron robot's eyes flashed with a strange red light, and its attacks intensified.

Sairei's expression changed slightly. She knew what this meant: the Sairei Tester believed that ordinary attacks could not threaten Tang Tian. The Sairei Tester activated its strong mode. In this mode, the consumption of star stones would double, and there was a possibility of the soul general cards being burned.

Tang Tian immediately became disheveled, and the black iron robot's attacks became like a storm.

He quickly fell into a disadvantage.

But Tang Tian did not become anxious or nervous. His fighting spirit only grew stronger, and his mind remained as cold as ice, his intuition like a mirror.

Half a minute!

In the half-minute after the black iron robot activated its strong mode, Tang Tian was completely suppressed and fell into a disadvantage. He could only barely defend himself, and he took several punches to his shoulders and thighs.

But at forty seconds, Tang Tian began to stabilize the situation. His attack frequency increased, and his movements became more fluid and reasonable.

Tang Tian's attention was unprecedentedly focused, and the various martial techniques in his mind seemed to blur together.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sounds of their fists, palms, and legs colliding were as dense as rain.

Tang Tian had stabilized the situation. Perhaps due to his unprecedented focus, the black iron robot's storm-like attacks seemed less terrifying to him.

Sairei was shocked. Tang Tian's attack frequency was still increasing! She suddenly realized that she had encountered a freak!

Suddenly, a cold light flashed in Tang Tian's eyes.

There was a weakness in the black iron robot's right shoulder!

Without hesitation, he blocked the black iron robot's punch with his hand, and his shoulder suddenly contracted and then extended in an unconventional movement, colliding with the black iron robot's shoulder.

The black iron robot's movements became disordered, and it tried to block the attack with its arm.

But Tang Tian seemed to have anticipated this. His hand locked onto the robot's elbow joint, and his elbow bent sharply, striking the robot's chest.

His elbow hit the black iron robot's chest without any pretense, and the Crane Body Qi surged in.

The black iron robot's body stiffened.

Hiss, a flame appeared on its chest, and in a moment, the flame spread. Tang Tian was startled, snapping out of his battle state and quickly moved to the side.

Sairei, standing nearby, was stunned.

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