Bloody Evolution Chapter 56 (Patreon)

"I have heard from several teachers that you have gotten a good deal stronger, especially in terms of swordsmanship as well. Is there any truth to those claims?" Weiss asked with some interest.

I tilted my head to the side as I considered her words before I said rather calmly but not arrogantly. "I have fought Masters and held up my end several times during the raids."

My physical strength in becoming a cultivator had exploded especially with how my foundation in cultivation was built entirely from the God of Light's own divine power.

So that foundation was as strong as it could come. Having used a 'Creator God's' own energy to build it.

"And how has your sword training been going?" I asked Weiss though I knew she was more focused on her magic.

Weiss made a thoughtful hum before she said truthfully. "I have been more focused on my magic after all. So since our previous meeting I haven't exactly made any grand strides with it."

Then Weiss's lips curled in amusement as she said idly. "Jingliu however, has been training hard since the last class trial as she struggles against waves of higher-tier Grimm."

I nodded thoughtfully at that as Jingliu was clearly trained to overwhelm elite enemies with her aggressive greatsword style and ice magic.

All the while she was supposed to work with Weiss, who could easily wipe out endless chaff with her ice magic that could create powerful, long-lasting brutal blizzards.

"While you are here. How would you like to spar with Jingliu for a bit? I am sure she would appreciate a sparring partner. As lately many students and teachers are... Not that welcoming of us after Atlas corporate forces invaded Vale." 

"That should be fine I guess? We can ask her first if she is actually interested." I said with a shrug as I was curious at this point. Where I stood with my cultivation compared to the martial path of this world.

Because Jingliu in terms of swordsmanship, was as far as I knew. The best in my year I think.

And in terms of other powerful swordsman in particular... I was remotely even connected to and could ask to train with was my teacher Lux's older brother Garen. And he, he was somewhat troublesome to get too close to.

As Garen was part of the Crown Prince's actual Peerage and thus soul-bound to the life of the Crown Prince. Something I really, really didn't want to remotely get close to me as I was already building up power and influence well away from noble and especially royal control.

I blinked as Weiss in an action of total and complete sluttery, took my hand and pulled me out of her room. Where Jingliu who was sitting across the hall looked at our conjoined hands... Raised an eyebrow and then smiled as Weiss asked all but bluntly.

"Jingliu, Jake offered to be your sparring partner. Would you be interested in seeing each other's growth since the Class Trial?" 

Jingliu elegantly got up and smiled softly before she said in a cool tone. "There is a training room in the basement. Follow me."

And following behind Jingliu as she went down the stairs... I subtly tried to let go of Weiss's hand to walk down the stairs. But Weissy gripped my hand ever so slightly tighter, with an adorable tiny 'sniff' escaping her.

A sniff of cosmic law being laid. If I broke our handhold... She would stomp on my feet with her high heels and pout for days. That was the unspoken message.

In turn, I squeezed her hand, and her whole body shuddered and jolted as I pushed my qi into her body... And ruthlessly tickled her belly button with my Qi!

Weiss's hand turned to steel with her nails giving me a warning poke within my own hand. But I smiled, as I won this battle!

We got down into the large open basement, and in the middle of it was a heavily reinforced pad that had glowing runes active surrounding the pad that would prevent rogue magic and martial ki from escaping.

"This arena is set to restrict blows from Master tier and below... So Jake, do not use that giant explosive you used to kill that Abomination during the class trial." Jingliu said with a dry tone.

Finally Weiss let out a huff as she let go of my hand, and in the meantime she strode forward and walked over to a set of seats as I said dryly.

"Yeah... That thing isn't something I want to go off in my face as well, Jingliu. Don't worry, I won't use it." I said with a helpless chuckle.

Because honestly. Who the hell wanted a literal fucking nuke to go off in their faces?

Then, with a hum. I took out my long curved sword as Jingliu likewise took out her greatsword, which was then covered in a thick layer of ultra-sharp ice.

Our gaze met for a long moment before she tilted forward and shot forward to bring her greatsword down at me with a heavy slash.

I met her slash with my own. And as our blades met powerfully. She was thrown backwards, as after a month of training with Summer Rose, a peak Grandmaster and dual cultivating with her at damn near every possible chance. My physical strength had grown greatly!

As Jingliu caught herself, I was already upon her with my sword. And as our swords clashed, I didn't force her further back and into the ring's activated barrier. Nope, as our blades were met, I literally just punched her in the shoulder as she avoided the punch to the throat I was aiming at.

She still was knocked back another meter as she damn near perfectly rolled with the punch and in turn she used the force to send a slash of icy ki from her sword towards me.

I shattered the sword energy beam sent at me, and even then she sent a flurry of weaker sword beams. She charged at me all the same.

"My turn then." I said quietly as a truly brutal chill filled the room, and I answered the flurry of sword slashes with a flurry of my true cultivation-grade sword art, which sent a storm of deadly snowflakes forward.

Jingliu, with the natural danger sense of a martial artist, threw herself backwards and through the barrier as the icy flakes easily broke through her sword beams and with each snowflake. A fist-sized pitch-black ice crystal formed that visibly froze the air around it.

"That... That was interesting. Show me more Jake. I wish to see how strong you really are compared to the other royals I have fought!" Jingliu said with her eyes glowing red as she strode back into the arena.