The Sword Of The Fire Dragon

Training

During his conversation with the old hermit, Sarwana received a mandate to guide the genius he would encounter to meet the hermit.

Sarwana took a deep breath, then stood up and surveyed the place he had chosen to train Arya. After a brief inspection, he swiftly returned to his tree-top hut.

The next day, before heading to the training site, Arya reopened the King Dragon Techniques manual that he was about to learn.

Among the techniques of unarmed combat and swordsmanship, the Dragon Claw Splits the Sky and the Prideful King Dragon Sword were the ultimate techniques in the manual.

Additionally, there were techniques like the Mighty Dragon Palm, Heavenly Dragon Roar, King Dragon Wingbeat, Heavenly Fire Breath, and the Dragon Hunter Sword.

Before long, Sarwana entered the tree-top hut. “Are you ready?” he asked.

Arya turned to him and nodded confidently. He closed the manual and handed it to Sarwana. “Take this manual with you. I’ve memorized everything,” he said.

“You’re certain you’ve memorized it all?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it all committed to memory,” Arya replied.

Although still doubtful, Sarwana refrained from questioning further. Whether Arya’s claim was true would be revealed in time.

“Alright then, let’s go. But first, I’m going to teach you the Light Body Technique so you can run and move as swiftly as possible,” Sarwana said.

“How do I learn that?” Arya asked curiously.

“Let’s get down to the ground first to practice freely!” Sarwana replied. The large monkey leapt lightly out of the hut.

Arya followed suit, jumping down and landing effortlessly beside Sarwana.

“Now here’s how it works: just like when you focus your mind to land lightly, you must also channel your inner energy into your legs.”

Arya listened intently, imagining Sarwana’s instructions. Then he attempted to put them into practice, using a similar focus as when he controlled his descent.

In just two tries, Arya succeeded in executing the technique. Without much effort, he managed to control his rapid movements.

Sarwana shook his head in disbelief at how quickly Arya absorbed and executed his instructions. His conviction that Arya was the foretold genius deepened.

“Excellent, Arya. Your speed depends on the amount of inner energy you have.”

“How do I increase my inner energy?” Arya asked.

Sarwana smiled, pleased with Arya’s eagerness to advance. He was confident that Arya would master all the techniques in the King Dragon manual quickly. He estimated the young man could finish it in less than half a year.

“Let’s head over there, and I’ll show you how,” Sarwana replied.

Without waiting for Arya’s response, Sarwana sped off.

Not wanting to be left behind, Arya tried to match Sarwana’s speed. However, the difference in skill was evident. When they arrived at the destination, Arya was still far behind.

Arya’s eyes scanned the area that would serve as his training ground. Unlike the rest of the Panguripan Gorge, this place was dry and barren. The heat was intense, as if the area never experienced nightfall.

“Isn’t there a cooler spot? Training here might dry me out!” Arya complained.

“Hahaha... You haven’t even tried yet, Arya. Why jump to conclusions? Let me tell you: of all the places in the Panguripan Gorge, this one has the most potent elemental energy. That’s why it’s so dry and hot. And that’s precisely why I brought you here,” Sarwana explained with a grin.

“Another thing to note: the more elemental energy you absorb here, the cooler it will become. That’s why you need to absorb as much as you can.”

“So, the dryness here is caused by the elemental energy?”

“Exactly! Once the energy is gathered in your body, you need to bind it with your pure essence.”

“Pure essence? What’s that?” Arya asked, feeling overwhelmed by the numerous stages required to become a warrior. “Does everyone who wants to become a warrior go through all these steps?”

“They should, Arya. But not every warrior has your capabilities. As for pure essence, everyone has it, but not everyone can fully utilize it.” Sarwana pointed to a flat black stone in the center of the barren land.

“Now sit on that stone and meditate. Before learning the basics of martial arts, you must first build your inner energy.”

Arya nodded and walked confidently toward the flat stone. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

“Now focus your mind. Absorb the heat here and draw it into your body. Once your pure essence reacts to the absorbed energy, merge and bind the two together. Do you understand?”

Arya nodded slightly, his eyes remaining closed as he concentrated.

Sarwana stepped back several meters away from Arya.

Arya’s breaths were calm and steady as they passed through his nostrils. His face radiated tranquility. Although sweat soaked his clothes, his focus remained unshaken—a sign he was at the peak of concentration.

After several attempts, the elemental energy in the area began to flow into Arya’s body. His fair skin gradually reddened as the energy entered him.

Sarwana smiled as he watched Arya absorb the elemental energy. But moments later, his brows furrowed in concern. He felt his own energy being drawn away along with the surrounding elemental energy.

“What’s going on?” he muttered as he leapt even farther away.