Chapter 50: Chapter 25 The Battle of Brothers_2
Na Ye smiled faintly, "Actions speak louder than words. Dangdang, Kongkong, you have five minutes to prepare. You must give it your all in the upcoming spar. Dangdang, no holding back."
Long Dangdang looked at Long Kongkong with some confusion. Indeed, in these past few years, Na Ye had never arranged for him and Long Kongkong to spar. Between studying with two teachers, he was too busy for anything else, let alone this. But he knew how much effort and hardship he had put forth. He also understood his own strengths very well. No one was more aware of Kongkong's lack of talent than him. And with constant cultivation and advancement, the importance of talent became more apparent.
Kongkong's initial innate magic spiritual power and innate inner spiritual power were at level 9 and 10, respectively. The Elemental Vortex Spirit Furnace seemed to be able to slowly enhance his talent, but in just four years, and without reaching the 4th Rank, could he really last half an hour against him, a Peak 4th Rank fighter? Was that realistic?
The threshold for the 4th Rank was a total Spiritual Power of 500, and in the peak of the 4th Rank to the threshold of the 5th Rank was 2,000. Long Dangdang's total Spiritual Power already exceeded 1,900, nearing the 5th Rank. Meanwhile, Long Kongkong was still under 500. The gap between them was vast. Yet, for a talent like Kongkong that had reached 500 in four years, this was inconceivable.
Feeling his brother's gaze, Long Kongkong's mouth also curled upwards, resembling Na Ye's expression. However, for some reason, the expression on his face seemed a bit cocky.
"I'll keep the time. If Kongkong can do as Na Ye said, then there's no issue with his admission to the Spirit Furnace Academy. What do you think, Brother Hai?"
Hai Jifeng nodded and responded, "I don't have a problem. When we return to the Temple Headquarters, I'll bring the Holy Diversion Spirit Furnace."
"It's decided then," Na Ye said, smiling faintly and gesturing towards Zi Tianwu.
Zi Tianwu waved his hand, causing a whirlwind to rise from the ground. The swirling wind kicked up dust and solidified rapidly into the shape of an hourglass in the sky.
"Dangdang, Kongkong, you both heard our conversation just now. Kongkong, this will determine whether you can go to the Spirit Furnace Academy with your brother. However, Dangdang, you must give it your all. If we notice any reservation, this agreement will be void. Understood?"
"Understood." Long Dangdang nodded. He was amazed. Although he often saw Kongkong these past few years, Kongkong never took action in front of him, appearing mysterious. He was too busy cultivating. But now, he wanted to see what his younger brother had learned from Teacher Na Ye over the years.
Na Ye stepped forward, pulled Kongkong aside, and said, "Kongkong, I know you have no interest in going to the Spirit Furnace Academy. You're content to just get by. But remember, life is an adventure. You should explore and strive to reach the top. How else will you see the beauty of the world? The Holy City is teeming with beauties. According to the Federation regulations, you're an adult when you turn sixteen."
Long Kongkong blinked, "Teacher, are you encouraging me to start dating?"
"I am not, don't talk nonsense, don't you dare insult your teacher's integrity. Well, it's been over four years, yet my advice remains the same: safety first." As he spoke, he patted Kongkong's shoulder, his smile fading into an expression of soft warmth.
Looking at the crow's feet at the corners of Na Ye's eyes and his cloudy eyes, Long Kongkong took a deep breath, "Don't worry, old man, I won't let you lose."
While speaking, he confidently strode toward Long Dangdang.
Only he knew how much effort Na Ye had put into him over the past four years. The Archangel's Embrace cast once a week was a 9th Rank skill exclusive to divine knights! Each time, in a concealed spot, his body was improved bit by bit, triggering the Elemental Vortex Spirit Furnace. He had seen Na Ye age visibly over the years. He had suggested stopping several times, but Na Ye was always stubborn.
Na Ye told him that after signing a mentor-student contract, they were closer than a father and son. His only wish was for Kongkong to become stronger.
Today, as Long Kongkong watched the other two 9th Rank experts, who looked almost the same as they did four years ago, compared to Na Ye, something within him was boiling over. After all, he was a teenager of blood and fire!
The two brothers stood thirty meters apart.
Long Kongkong waved his right hand; the Space Ring flashed, and a shield appeared in his hands. Indeed, it was just a shield, not a sword—merely a standard knight's shield.
The Cowardly Knight was thus named because he only had a shield - no sword. He was the purest protection knight, or shield knight.
However, Long Dangdang did not use a weapon - he simply stared calmly in his brother's direction.
Zi Tianwu shouted loudly: "Begin!"
Long Dangdang snapped his right fingers with a "pop", and a piercing sound erupted in the air, followed by a green wind blade that was projected without any spell or pretense - near-instantaneous.
The wind blade was only about a foot long as it first flew out, but as it traveled through the air, the blade's surface burst forth with an increasingly bright green glow. Massive wind elements converged onto the wind blade, causing cacophonous vibrations in mid-air. At the same time, Long Dangdang's eyes had turned a jade green, and he slowly floated above the ground.
Upon reaching the 5th Rank, a knight could fly for short periods without the aid of a mount. However, wind specialty mages could already achieve this at 3rd Rank.
Long Kongkong did not dodge or hide behind his shield - instead, he gripped his shield and charged towards Long Dangdang's wind blade.
The resonating wind blade in mid-air suddenly tripled in size. Just as it was about to collide with Long Kongkong, the wind blade split into three. One continued its frontal assault, while the other two curved round to attack Long Kongkong from behind.
Long Kongkong still did not use his shield to block the attack. Instead, he Slide-Stepped nimbly and just barely buried through the gap between the frontal and left-side wind blades. However, the three wind blades did not fly past him - instead, they whirled around and pursued him from behind, evidencing that Long Dangdang had complete control over them.
Long Kongkong fiercely stamped his left foot. With a "boom", his speed increased dramatically, and he charged directly towards Long Dangdang. The knight's skill - Charge!
The three wind blades whistled as they pursued him from behind, while Long Dangdang had shot out two more wind blades from the front. They too blossomed in mid-air, splitting into three each, and a total of nine wind blades completed the surround on Long Kongkong.
But at that moment, Long Kongkong demonstrated his impressive evasive skills. While maintaining his charging posture, he swooped low, his body shifting in small movements, always barely managing to avoid the strikes of the wind blades.
It wasn't that he couldn't use his shield to resist the magic attack - rather, he chose not to. The disparity in spiritual power between them led him to actively conserve his spiritual power output.
At this point, the distance between the two was rapidly closing.
As Long Dangdang controlled his wind blades, he also Slide-Stepped backwards to distance himself. Teacher Na Ye had taught him Slide-Step, and he could use it as well. As he used the muscles in his calf and his spiritual power, his retreat speed was even faster than Long Kongkong's charge.
As he retreated, Long Kongkong's lips curled slightly upwards. The velocity of his charge abruptly changed direction, heading sideways instead, and he dashed through the nine wind blades effortlessly.
He was not aiming to defeat Long Dangdang - rather, he aimed to endure thirty minutes in this fight.
Long Dangdang's eyes slightly narrowed, the nine wind blades in the air suddenly turned into one, transforming into a colossal wind blade that struck.
The wind blade was not moving fast this time, but Long Kongkong could distinctly feel the wind elements in the air becoming viscous. The gigantic wind blade was entirely locked onto him.
Supporting magic - Spirit Lock!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone