Chapter 82: Broken Blade and Blunted Sword
It was clear at first glance that Chen Youyu and Aba weren't blood siblings; their features were too different Aba looked fierce and rugged, while Youyu was delicate and graceful.
"Forgive me for asking, but what's the story behind your sibling relationship?" Huo Quan asked with a curious scratch of his head.
Chen Youyu, finding Huo Quan respectful and trustworthy, explained openly, "My brother and I grew up in the same orphanage. He's a year older than me and was the eighth child taken in there, so they called him 'Aba,' which eventually just stuck. Since he was always looking out for me, I started calling him 'Brother Ba,' and we've thought of each other as siblings ever since. Later, we both awakened innate spirit power. But because we didn't have a strong background, we've been traveling across the continent training ever since we graduated from the junior academy."
"So, you two came here to apply to Tianxing Advanced Academy, right?" Huo Quan guessed.
Seeing their ages and potential, Huo Quan had his suspicions. Ye Wen had advised him to recruit any rare spirited, highly talented young spirit masters under sixteen. That was why Huo Quan had extended an invitation to Aba in the arena.
"Yes," Youyu nodded. "But with the semester still a ways off, my brother and I thought we'd earn some extra tuition money through the spirit arena."
Huo Quan nodded, understanding that though Aba had reached the Spirit Elder level, he wouldn't be able to claim the beginner subsidy of 100 gold spirit coins once he broke through to level 40, unless he learned to control his spirit power output precisely. Only Ye Wen had taught his students to do that.
"If you don't mind, may I ask about your ages, spirits, and levels?" Huo Quan inquired.
"My brother is 15, but he'll be 16 when classes start, and his spirit power is at level 38," Youyu answered. "I'm 14, but my spirit power is only at level 20 barely meeting Tianxing's entry requirements."
Huo Quan was pleased to hear it, surprised that Aba, who looked older, was the same age as he was.
"Congratulations, then! You both meet the requirements. As you know, I'm a direct disciple of Tianxing Academy's dean, Ye Wen. He's instructed us to recruit promising young spirit masters with unique spirits, and I think your brother has the potential to join my master's sect. Could you persuade him?"
Seeing Aba still fuming from their previous fight, Huo Quan suggested this to Chen Youyu. She sighed, then gave her brother a playful tug on the ear.
"Enough, Brother Ba. You lost to someone nearly at Spirit King level who didn't even use spirit abilities you should be grateful he held back! Do you realize how many people here wanted to teach you a lesson after your recent wins?"
"Quiet! I…" Aba started to protest, but the warning in Youyu's gaze silenced him. His grumbling was now almost a whisper. Finally, he sighed and turned over on the bed. "Fine. So, when is this master thing supposed to happen?"
"Actually, it can wait," Huo Quan explained, pleased. "Our master is away and won't return until classes begin."
"Great! More waiting… Waste of time," Aba muttered irritably. He sat up with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Since you want me as your junior disciple, then start acting like a senior disciple! Let's finish our fight!"
What? This guy was relentless! Even injured, he still wanted to spar?
Smack!
Chen Youyu planted her hand on Aba's head, clearly unimpressed. "You're still hurt, and you're already talking about fighting again. Just rest!"
"Let go! I'm fine!" Aba protested, squirming to escape her grip. Youyu ignored his protests, shoving him back down onto the bed with a firm hand.
"My apologies," she said, turning to Huo Quan. "My brother has been battle obsessed since awakening his spirit."
Huo Quan chuckled at the odd scene before him, then asked Youyu about her own spirit. Considering Aba's talent, he wondered if Youyu might also have a unique spirit worth training.
Youyu hesitated but soon summoned her spirit, knowing she'd have to reveal it if she wanted to enroll at Tianxing Academy. In her hand appeared a sleek, unadorned longsword, only two fingers wide, resembling Aba's jagged blade. However, where Aba's sword was ragged, hers was evenly balanced, with a shimmering quality. The only flaw was at the sword tip, which appeared broken, turning what could've been a thrusting weapon into a blunt edged sword.
Her two hundred year old spirit rings granted her the skills Sword Qi, allowing for a long range strike, and Whispering Wind, a speed boosting technique.
Though basic, these abilities were fitting for a low level spirit master. However, with Ye Wen's instruction in self developed techniques, Huo Quan could replicate Sword Qi with training alone, just as Tang San's Blue Silver Grass used simple extensions to bind targets rather than wasting a spirit ring on a technique. While the power of early stage spirit rings eventually waned at higher levels, the skills they granted had limited uses.
The second skill, Whispering Wind, however…
Well, the Tianxing Academy starter pack included the Shunpo skill. With Shunpo, there wasn't much use for Whispering Wind.
She may not be able to become Ye Wen's disciple, but she was certainly qualified for enrollment. Rather than dampening her enthusiasm, Huo Quan gave her an honest assessment of her spirit and encouraged her to focus on her studies at the academy to unlock her full potential.
Youyu listened attentively, finding the insight refreshing, as her junior academy training was only basic. She and Aba had come to Tianxing seeking its famed entry benefits and the chance to develop their abilities fully.
(Chapter end)
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