Combat Training

Kai entered the blood pool for the second time. This time, however, he was prepared for everything. Soon just like before the killing intent attacked his mind and soul.

Unlike before though, Kai knew what to expect. He let the blood assault his mind and soul. This was a good way to train both his mind and soul for when he truly faces a hollow.

Soon he entered deep meditation. Breathing in and breathing out. His breathing became in tune with the void breathing technique.

The man who stood next to the blood pool looked over in astonish. 'Has this kid already accomplished Void breath? Isn't this only his second time?'

It had truly shocked the man. It was known throughout Death Valley that Void breath wasn't the easiest Breathing technique to learn. Yet this kid had done it in his second try to the blood pool.

10 minutes were soon up and Kai was taken back. He was really happy with his results so far. Not only had he learned Void breath but he had entered level 9 of body refining as well. The blood pool did wonders for him.

Naomi had given them a year to learn void breath and so far it seemed only Kai had done this way before the deadline. This, however, didn't mean that he had mastered Void breath.

On the contrary, learning how to use Void breath and mastering it were two different things. Having control over your breathing technique was very essential. Hence what Kai needed to do now was to train to slowly master it which was much harder than just learning it.

When April arrived, there was yet another new course—combat.

From this moment onward, their easy life of cultivation had ended. Most of the time, the combat classes started with the instructor's teachings, then ended with the students practising against one another.

All of the first week, most people went to bed with bloody noses and swollen faces. Kai wasn't well off as well. Although he had learned how to fight from his dad. It was just some basic techniques.

He was meant to learn more when he was older but it never came to that. So although Kai could take on kids his level, it was hard to contend against level 10 body refiners who were mostly from Hope city and sons or daughters of aristocrats. They learned hand to hand combat at a young age from good teachers.

Most also picked on Kai cause If they were able to beat him enough that he would be unable to climb out of his bed, they would naturally have one less person to compete against for the Blood pool. Hence most people targeted Kai.

This was Death Valley, Sympathy didn't exist here and hence they did everything to win. Because of this Kai had his rankings fallen down to 45th. After looking at the rankings it was time for bed.

Kai had barely entered the barracks before the door behind him suddenly closed. A few dark shadows then rushed over and gripped him tightly. A hand locked tightly around his neck, preventing him from breathing or speaking.

This was the combat technique they had just started learning. It was now used on Kai in the blink of an eye.

The people surrounding Kai we're a few older kids who had joined before Kai. They always used to go hang out together.

A tall child with short hair approached Kai and assessed him as if he was looking at his prey.

This child was called Joseph. His character was both bold and brutal. The results of his physical subjects were ranked among the top ten, but his knowledge subjects were always a sore spot. As a result, his overall ranking had been overtaken by Kai not long ago.

He walked forward until his eyes met Kais and then leaned next to him. "Listen, you'll be doing bad in your knowledge subjects from now on! The blood pool is wasted on the peasants like you. To think a filthy kid who isn't even an aristocrat is trying to compete with us. It makes me sick. If you dare to disobey, then I will have my people beat you to death in every combat class. Furthermore, we will give you another round of beating every day before you sleep. Today's will be the first!"

With that Joesph punched Kai right in his stomach. Joseph was one of the few kids who had reached level 10 of body refining so his punch carried a lot of power. He didn't even try to hold back.

The punch was extremely devastating and Kai who had already been beaten enough in combat training couldn't take it. His stomach immediately bunched up, and the terrible urge to vomit arose. His throat however blocked by another guys arm wouldn't let him throw up. Hence his face turned purple.

Joseph took out a tape and sealed Kai's mouth. "Good now he won't be able to scream, beat him up!"

Kai was instantly pummeled to the ground as the group of seven or eight began kicking him from every direction. There was a class called Biological Structure that was paired with the combat class, and the first thing that had been explained was the structure of the human body.

The children who had learned about this were incredibly ruthless, and every one of their attacks was aimed at spots that could damage Kai's internal organs. However, they avoided places that could be seen clearly, such as the head and face.

If Kai allowed this to continue, he would suffer permanent damage to his body and be unable to endure the high-intensity training. He would become a corpse in less than a few days. Joseph and the others weren't just thinking of giving Kai a lesson—they were planning to just murder this low-class eyesore!

The other kids inside the barracks watched coldly. No one stood up to stop them, and no one reported it to the guards or instructors outside the room. There were several kids who were even stronger than Joseph. Gloom and wariness currently filled their eyes when they looked at him.

In Death Valley, private brawls were forbidden outside of the combat field. However, most people were well aware of why Joseph had chosen Kai as his target.

Kai was an orphan who originated from the border of the Hope realm. Towns in the borders of Realms were considered even lower than the poor parts of hope city. From the moment they began their knowledge classes, the information of the students started to spread, intentionally or otherwise. Anyone who paid attention would know the background and identity of another.

Kai felt as if he had returned to his Town and was being beaten by a bunch of older children and men once more. Since he was unwilling to bow his head, he had been frequently beaten in the past.

He protected his vitals as best he could and waited for his chance. Intense pain continuously exploded in his body, but the more pain that Kai felt, the calmer he became.

He had been through much worse pain before. All he needed was his chance. His eyes slowly became cold.

Joseph finally thought that it was enough, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Alright! How dare a bastard who was born in some lowly Town try to compete with us. Who knows he might just be a son of whore for all we..."

Yet before he could finish his sentence, Kai who looked as if he had passed out, suddenly sprung up and rammed his whole body in Joseph's chest.

Off guard, Joseph didn't expect Kai to stand up. Kai then moved his left leg behind Joseph's legs and with a hard push to his upper body caused him to fall down. As soon as he hit the ground, Kai sat on his stomach and looked down at the older kid.

The rest of Joseph's friends realised what had just happened and rushed to help him, however, froze on the spot as Kai tilted his head back a little exposing one of his eye.

The eye radiated extreme cold aura as if he would devour them. These kids had spent their life in death valley long enough to be used to scary stares but when Kai looked at them, it was as if they were getting looked down by a demon.

Turning his head back towards Joseph, Kai looked down to meet his eyes. Joseph who was about to ask why they had stopped, had his eyes wide open when he saw the look on Kai's face.

"What did you just call my mother?" His voice was extremely calm yet it sent shivers down Joseph's spine. "What are you..." Before he could finish his words, a fist came flying down his face.

The older kid was a level 10 and Kai was only level 9 yet Joseph felt like he was hit by a level 10 body refiner and one that was at its peak. "Say it again, I dare you" he, however, didn't give him a chance to say anything.

Simply moving both his fists, he kept punching Joseph's face left and right. The other kids looked in horror. They all knew how much beating Kai had taken and Joseph being stronger than Kai, yet right now the older kid was at his mercy.

The punches kept raining down without stopping, Joseph's face had pretty much swelled up so much it was hard to even find his eyes. Blood kept seeping from his mouth.

The door to the barracks was kicked open with a bang.

A guard who charged in frowned at the scene before his face immediately became sinister. He removed the whip at his waist and began to look at the boys and girls inside the room maliciously.

Jack, who was only wearing a pair of cargo pants, walked in five minutes later and glanced at the scene.

Seeing a kid on the floor completely beaten up, with his face pretty much crushed he frowned. Then his eyes fell on Kai who was in a pretty bad shape himself, with his forehead covered in blood, yet he kept staring at the kid on the ground with murderous looks. Taking out his whip, Jack whipped Kai once. Causing him to fall down but the kid quickly recovered, only kneeling on one knee. Yet his eyes never left the older kid.

A nurse soon came in to check on Joseph "His face is completely crushed" she told Jack.

Jack looked slightly surprised, then nodded "Drag him out later"

The man then began to smack his whip against his palm and looked at all the kids "Now tell me what happened?"

One of the kids who was Joseph's friend quickly came forward and told Jack that Kai attacked them. However, before he could fully tell his story a while came flying down sending him zooming back in the wall. The whip was so harsh that it caused his shirt to tear and expose his flesh. "How dare you try to lie to me. You think I won't be able to tell your lie from how you are breathing"

No, longer trying to lie out of it they all just pet quite. It was two other kids who had just watched it all unfold, came forward and told Jack the true story.

Jack kicked the half-dead older kid who had been severely injured by Kai and coldly said, "So that's what happened! You mean to say that not only did this unlucky bastard fail to bully his victim, he was even thrashed within an inch of his life? What absolute garbage! Drag him away!"

Later on, the punishment that the kids underwent adhered to in Jack's style of cruelty. Aside from Joseph who was already half beaten to death by Kai, every older kid who ganged up on and beat Kai was strung up on the field and whipped a total of ten times. These ten lashes were enough to bring them within an inch of losing their lives, but tomorrow's training would not diminish in the slightest.

This also meant that there was no way they could rank above fifty in the next one or two weeks. Furthermore, they had to think of a way to overcome their injuries so that they wouldn't be crippled by the others during combat classes.

It was most likely that most of them would be disqualified. This was music to most of the kids ear. Less competions meant, more chances for them to end up in top 50.

From this little fight, a lot of people who had harboured ill thoughts against Kai had to rethink again. He had after all beaten a level 10 body refiner to near death.

Just like that months passed and soon the 1-year deadline arrived. Kai and the rest had to prove if they had mastered Void breath or not.

Kai wasn't slacking at all in these months. He had constantly tried to maintain Void breath and was now able to maintain it for longer periods. Just turning 13 and due to the blood pool, he was able to reach the peak of body refining 9. Not only that, he had grown as well. He was now 5ft and 5inches which was taller than most 14-year-olds.

Soon they all gathered and waited for Naomi.