Chapter 72: The Arrangement Is Crystal Clear [2-in-1]
Ge Bai and Teacher Xiaolu exchanged glances for a while, but she conceded defeat and said helplessly.
“Yes, Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute, Teacher Luo Wan knows clearly.”
“This bonus is mainly because the wild spirit plant I contracted has enormous growth potential, which can’t be explained in just one or two sentences.”
After giving a brief explanation in two sentences, Ge Bai noticed the atmosphere was off and deliberately changed the topic, pretending to be relaxed.
“Teacher Xiaolu, I’m really strong now. I made it into the shortlist for the City Level Arena Competition Preliminary today.”
Seeing Ge Bai pretending to be relaxed, Teacher Xiaolu couldn’t keep a stern face any longer and sighed helplessly, their tone somewhat low.
“Ge Bai, promise me, you absolutely must pay attention to safety.”
“Teacher Xiaolu?”
Ge Bai was puzzled at how it suddenly came to this; she thought arena battles weren’t that dangerous.
“Promise me!”
Teacher Xiaolu repeated sternly.
“Okay.”
Seeing Teacher Xiaolu’s serious expression, Ge Bai also took it seriously and answered very earnestly.
Hearing Ge Bai’s response, Teacher Xiaolu hesitated to speak, wanting to say more but not knowing where to start, and let out another sigh, patted Ge Bai’s head, and went back inside.
Watching Teacher Xiaolu’s back, the sensible Ge Bai didn’t ask about the matter between her and Professor Luo Wan.
She knew very well that if Teacher Xiaolu didn’t want to say, no amount of asking would help; when they wanted to tell her, they naturally would.
After all, her Teacher Xiaolu wouldn’t harm her, so what was there to worry about.
She would come back to visit often in the future, Ge Bai decided inwardly.
Looking up at the sky, the sun was setting in the west, and golden sunlight bathed the courtyard.
It was still early, so Ge Bai didn’t follow Teacher Xiaolu back but turned toward the open ground in the back mountain.
“Qian Dai, let’s start with you. That match just now was won very smoothly, but mainly because everyone was unfamiliar with your skills; we had the first-move advantage and caught them off guard, achieving such a good result.”
“In the next battle, no matter the opponent, they will focus on defending against your Spatial Teleportation skill.”
The summary meeting was late but arrived.
Ge Bai placed Big Willow and Qian Dai on the ground, sat down cross-legged herself, and didn’t forget to call Little Peach out from her spiritual consciousness space to listen together.
“So what if they defend? If they can’t defend, they still can’t defend.”
Qian Dai Thousand Generations Orchid was one to talk back; she had won the match happily today, but unexpectedly, upon returning, Ge Bai started criticizing her.
“If you keep being so sloppy, anyone could beat you next time, and you’ll have time to cry!” Ge Bai didn’t hold back at all.
“Woo.” Qian Dai’s flower bud drooped down.
Ge Bai glanced at her, didn’t comfort her, moved her spiritual sense, opened the Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas, and pulled up Qian Dai Thousand Generations Orchid’s current attribute panel.
[Type: Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid (Hegemon Race)]
[Age: Spirit Plant Biological Age 2, Spiritual Sense Birth Age 2]
[Spiritual Power Value: Mortal Spirit Realm Level Eight (362.39/800)]
[Beginner Attribute: Space Element]
[Skill: Spatial Teleportation-Beginner (89/100)]
[Skill: Thousand Generations Sword-Proficient (21/200); Pseudo Qian Dai Sword-Beginner (17/100)]
She knew it was hard to improve proficiency in advanced skills, but Qian Dai Thousand Generations Orchid was still too lax.
“Here’s the plan, Qian Dai. Your task tonight is to practice Thousand Generations Sword.”
Actually, these past two days, Ge Bai had been thinking about Qian Dai’s cultivation plan.
No matter which direction they developed, Qian Dai needed to first raise the proficiency of her two existing skills.
“I’ve observed that you now master two forms of Thousand Generations Sword: one is the Thousand Generations Sword that uses space distortion to explode, and the other is the Pseudo Qian Dai Sword without space power.”
“These two skills complement each other; improving the proficiency of one will also boost the other’s proficiency.”
“Alternating between the two skills in battle can effectively confuse opponents.”
“But that requires you to unleash Thousand Generations Sword or Pseudo Qian Dai Sword at will anytime; tonight, focus on Pseudo Qian Dai Sword. In theory, the Pseudo Qian Dai Sword without space power requires much less energy and spiritual power. Since you’ve mastered the method, if you can’t use it proficiently, you just lack practice.”
Ge Bai explained in great detail, every point making perfect sense.
Qian Dai wanted to retort but couldn’t find a single point to argue, and instead nodded involuntarily as she listened.
Carrot and stick, Ge Bai understood this principle; after saying so much, she had to give Qian Dai some hope.
“If you can practice the firing frequency of Pseudo Qian Dai Sword to two shots per second, you can replace Big Willow and become the main lynx sparring partner!”
At Yun He Martial Arts School, Ge Bai clearly saw how Qian Dai coveted Big Willow’s position as main sparring partner.
Sure enough, when she mentioned it, Qian Dai’s eyes lit up. “Really? Can I really be a sparring partner myself?”
“Yes! If you achieve it!”
Ge Bai nodded seriously, planning to dangle this carrot to keep Qian Dai motivated.
If all went smoothly, by the time the lynx sparring goal was achieved, Qian Dai’s Pseudo Qian Dai Sword skill would leap to a whole new level.
While agreeing with Qian Dai, Ge Bai winked at Big Willow.
Big Willow, suddenly robbed of her job, was still dazed, glancing at Qian Dai, then at Ge Bai, wanting to say something.
Qian Dai was impatient; getting Ge Bai’s affirmative answer, she immediately bounced up. “I’ll go practice now!”
With that, she ran to the other side of the open ground and started practicing diligently.
“Space Element nutrient solution is in your space bag; drink it when you’re tired!” Ge Bai shouted toward Qian Dai.
“Got it!”
One down!
“Bai Bai.”
Big Willow looked at Ge Bai eagerly and called softly.
When Ge Bai had just scolded Qian Dai, she hadn’t held back; he knew his own issues were no fewer than Qian Dai’s, so better to stay honest.
“Sigh, Big Willow, you watched matches all day today too. Sparring, sparring partner, arena competition—they’re quite different, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Big Willow was playing the obedient treasure persona today—ah, no, tree persona?
Seeing Big Willow being understanding, Ge Bai wasn’t as sharp.
“In the first match, though you won steadily, even a lion hunting a rabbit needs full effort. How do you know the opponent didn’t have a hidden trump card? If you can end it in one strike, don’t drag it to the next round. That’s the first thing you need to note.”
“Okay, Bai Bai, I’ve got it.”
Actually, no need for Ge Bai to say; after that match, Big Willow had realized something was off.
“Also, your Wind Blade isn’t flexible enough. I know after full preparation, you can fire 12 Wind Blades at once, which is good, but don’t count on stunning opponents with round after round of simultaneous Wind Blades.”
“How many per round? What angle? How to achieve the best effect with minimal consumption? These are things to think about in future battles.”
“When you really need a one-strike win, wouldn’t Wind Weave Domain and Storm Willow Blade Hammer be better than simultaneous Wind Blades?”
“Also, the connection between Wind Blade and Willow Weave, alternating Wind Blade and Wind Weave Domain, using Storm Willow Blade Hammer after Flash—they’re all still very rough.”
What Ge Bai was telling Big Willow now was about skill usage methods, much higher requirements than what she had for Qian Dai earlier.
Though it seemed like she was saying Big Willow was useless, neither Ge Bai nor Big Willow realized that if these standards were truly met, it wouldn’t be much worse than a Hegemon Level professional battle pet beast.
Big Willow listened with sinking spirits; he understood but felt it was daunting.
So hard; he really didn’t know how to practice. Big Willow kept his head down, twisting his willow threads, silent.
Ge Bai saw Big Willow’s apprehension; actually, Big Willow was already quite good now.
[Type: Weeping Ancient Willow (Commander Race)]
[Age: Spirit Plant Biological Age 212, Spiritual Sense Birth Age: 11]
[Spiritual Power Value: Zero Order (Mortal Spirit Realm) Level Five (21.63/500)]
[Beginner Attribute: Wind Element]
[Skill: Willow Whip-Proficient (197/1000)]
[Skill: Wind Blade-Proficient (569/1000)]
[Skill: Storm Willow Blade Hammer-Beginner (62/100)]
[Skill: Wind Weave Domain-Beginner (75/100)]
“Don’t worry, what I said is just a direction. As long as you keep this awareness in mind during battles, it’ll be fine. That’s why I told Qian Dai to work hard; the sparring partner task suits her now more than you.”
“Big Willow, get ready. If Qian Dai can handle the sparring partner task, I’ll schedule sparring sessions for you in the mornings from then on.”
“Okay!”
Hearing this from Ge Bai, Big Willow finally relaxed a bit.
“You can’t slack on skill proficiency practice either. There’s a world of difference between Proficient and Profound Meaning skills.”
“I don’t expect you to quickly raise Wind Weave Domain and Storm Willow Blade Hammer to Proficient or Profound Meaning in a short time, but Wind Blade and Willow Weave can be improved quickly with effort.”
Big Willow was familiar with grinding skill proficiency; hearing this, he nodded vigorously.
“Also.”
Seeing Ge Bai about to continue, Big Willow’s expression changed.
Ge Bai didn’t go easy; problems that needed saying must be said.
“It’s about spiritual power value. Lately, we’ve focused more on skill proficiency; now we need to prioritize raising spiritual power value too.”
At this point, Ge Bai thought for a moment. “Here’s the plan: starting today, every evening I’ll take you to Plum Garden for two hours; running the meditation method there is more efficient. Later, I’ll redeem some Wind Element resources for you. Once our new house is ready, I’ll set up a Wind Element spiritual power field for you; absorbing spiritual power will be even better then.”
“Okay! Bai Bai, I like the spiritual power field at the Spirit Plant Research Institute.”
Raising spiritual power value was much simpler for many pet beasts than raising skill proficiency.
With advanced resources, spiritual power value could even be piled up quickly; though a bit hollow, hollow gains were still gains.
Ge Bai didn’t plan to force-pile Big Willow’s spiritual power value with resources, but since she had the ability, she would do her utmost to find resources for Big Willow.
As long as there was a clear path to effort, Big Willow wasn’t afraid at all; he could grind like crazy—who couldn’t?
“Alright, go practice whatever you want. After I talk to Little Peach, we’ll head to Plum Garden.”
“Mm!”
With a bunch of training tasks in mind, Big Willow glanced at the well-behaved Little Peach sitting there, and poked Little Peach’s head with a willow thread.
Shouldn’t be a big issue; Little Peach didn’t compete, so Ge Bai probably wouldn’t be too harsh on her.
Big Willow left reassured and found a stone wall not far from Qian Dai to practice Willow Whip.
“Qian Dai, give me two bottles of Wind Element nutrient solution!” While practicing, Big Willow shouted toward Qian Dai.
Qian Dai didn’t even look up, grabbed five bottles of Wind Element nutrient solution from her space bag, and tossed them to Big Willow.
Big Willow extended willow threads and caught them steadily.
Qian Dai glanced toward Ge Bai, then took out two bottles of young plant nutrient solution from her space bag, but didn’t dare throw them; she used Spatial Teleportation Skill to deliver them steadily to Ge Bai’s side.
Little Peach had empty hands now; Ge Bai would surely ask her for nutrient solution soon.
This young plant nutrient solution wasn’t nutrient solution at all; Qian Dai had tasted it—sweet and fragrant like milk, something to coax kids with.
Ge Bai took the young plant nutrient solution, watched one willow and one flower practicing vigorously, and nodded in satisfaction.
Turning back to the adorable Little Peach, Ge Bai’s heart melted again.
After all, this was the little spirit plant she watched be born, and a talent for effortless wins; she really couldn’t bear to scold too harshly.
[Type: Golden Powder Peach Demon Tree (Commander Bloodline)]
[Spiritual Power Value: Mortal Spirit Realm Level Three (271.99/300)]
[Beginner Attribute: Life Element]
[Skill: Spirit Recovery Peach-Beginner (45/100)]
[Skill: Bewitching Peach Fragrance-Proficient (175/1000)]
[Skill: Golden Powder Peach-Beginner (0/100)]
Lately, having Little Peach actively emit Bewitching Peach Fragrance during sparring was very beneficial for improving that skill’s proficiency; after reaching Proficient, Little Peach could choose not to emit it passively.
As for Spirit Recovery Peach, Ge Bai didn’t even want to mention it.
9 fruits! From condensing the first Spirit Recovery Peach at Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute to now, Little Peach had only condensed 9 Spirit Recovery Peaches total.
A few were even condensed out of boredom during sparring, tossed around for fun.
Ge Bai had observed carefully: condensing one Spirit Recovery Peach consumed less than one-fifth of Little Peach’s spiritual power.
Meaning, even now, Little Peach could continuously condense 5 Spirit Recovery Peaches non-stop at full effort.
Condensing one Spirit Recovery Peach gave 5 proficiency points; grinding this skill to high proficiency was a matter of minutes.
“Little Peach, how have the past two days felt? Having fun?”
Though inwardly complaining, looking at the cute Little Peach, she couldn’t say a single harsh word.
Ge Bai unscrewed a bottle of young plant nutrient solution, handed it to Little Peach, pulled her into her arms, and rubbed vigorously for a while.
Mm, it felt as refreshing as petting a cat.
“Pretty good, Peach.”
Little Peach’s voice was soft and glutinous.
“From now on, can we condense a few more Spirit Recovery Peaches every day? If we give to Big Willow, we should give to Qian Dai too.”
Look at that, look at that tone—good thing Big Willow and Qian Dai treated Little Peach like a kid and never minded her.
“Okay, and for Bai Bai too.”
This request was no pressure for Little Peach.
Hearing Little Peach still thinking of her, Ge Bai’s heart warmed even more.
“Also, Little Peach, can you condense another kind of fruit?”
Ge Bai coaxed Little Peach like a child.
“Mm, seems like it.”
Little Peach pondered for a moment, sensed it, and gave an affirmative reply.
