145 Last Practice

"No! I don't want it!" Su Yue immediately rejected the idea.

Alex's eyes flashed. He took advantage of that "Since, She doesn't want. I will respect her wish. Senior, I bade farewell. I need to practice for the tournament two days from now."

"I spoiled this girl too much."

Alex looked at her and shook his head. 'Besides, If she beside me when I'm refining something, I afraid she will make it fail with her temperament'

"What did you say!" Su Yue's sixth sense noticed Alex's disappointment on her. Even though she didn't know what is that but she still felt irritated

Alex ignored her and left hurriedly.

"Haiz!" Su Hua looked at his granddaughter. Then turned to the examiners, "Then, prepare the badge for him."

"This way, Alexander" One of the examiners nodded. he didn't see Alex as a junior anymore. After all, they both are Alchemist, and Alex's rank is the same as him.

"Thank You" Alex followed him to get his badge. He brought him to the first floor. He passed the female receptionist earlier. When she saw Alex walking together with one of High 2nd Rank Alchemist in the guild and they seem pretty friendly to boot. Her lips trembled, Her body shivered. From the look of it, it seems that Alex was really an Alchemist. She is only a normal citizen, but he is an Alchemist. What will happen to her after this? She can only lower her head when they passed her.

Alex looked at her. She is currently trembling. Fortunately, Alex wasn't someone who picks on a small problem.

"Alexander?"

"Ah, nothing. Let's go, Old Lex"

"Sure" Old Lex, his full name is Lexy Stias, He need to make a good relationship with Alex. After watching this, Old Lex investigated the issue. After he found the issue, he immediately dismissed the Narcissist girl and she left with tears streaming on her face.

After all, an Old Alchemist with a Young Alchemist in the same rank, who is more important? He was sure everyone knows the answer. He handed a silver badge to Alex. On the badge, there are two gold stars.

"Old Lex. Why is his star in bronze?" He looked at a middle-aged man, there are two bronze stars in his badge. So Alex can't help but ask.

"You didn't know about it?"

Alex shakes his head.

"You know there are three divisions each rank, right?"

Alex nodded, "You mean…"

"That's right. Bronze for Low-grade, Silver for Mid-grade, and Gold for High-Grade. The one who you pointed at is currently a Low 2nd Rank Alchemist."

"I see. Thank you. Since I have the badge with me. I need to go back."

…

Alex went back to Himura's House. He is wondering if he needs to take the Fire Spirit Pill now. He decided to not after thinking for a while. He decided to eat it after he reached the sect. When he came back, Kenshin greeted him. It seems that he is waiting for him.

"Alex, you finally came back. Let's spar"

"Sure"

Kenshin didn't ask him where or what he did. He fully trusts Alex as a sworn brother. Alex nodded. They fought for a bit. "Kenshin. Do you have any more sword art other than this 'Splitting Sword' or only this?"

"I do have another one. It is Low-Level Profound Tier Skill, called Five Strike. This is one of the three highest rank martial arts in our family, the other families also only had Low-Level Profound Tier Skill. Want to read the manual?" Kenshin asked.

"Low-Level Profound Tier Skill?"

"Ah, you don't know about that too? There are five tiers for Martial Arts. They are Yellow Tiers, Profound Tier, Earth Tier, Heaven Tier, and Saint Tier. Actually, there is another Tier above Saint Tier. It is called God Tier or Divine Ability. But no one had seen it. Even the top four sects only had Low Earth Tier skill. Each tier has three divisions. Low, Mid, and High"

Alex pondered, it seems that his journey still long way to go. "How about you use this 'Five Strike' thing. I will just learn it from your movement. It won't be called Giving a Technique to an outsider, right? After all, you just use it and the opponent learns it from that. It was a coincidence."

Well, since he even wanted to give him the manual. Alex sure that Kenshin didn't mind about it. On the other hand, Kenshin looked at him with a smile. He also understood Alex's intention. "Sure. But this art called Five Strike because it is a continuous Five Strikes. I can only use up to the Third Strike."

"I don't mind about that" Alex nodded.

"Then, here I go" Kenshin raised his sword. He charged toward Alex. He swings his sword. "First Strike!"

*Clang!*

Alex parried it with his sword. Kenshin continued, "Second Strike!"

*Clang!*

Alex blocked it again. But he can feel the difference between them. The Second Strike was at least twice stronger than the First Strike.

"Third Strike!"

This time, When Alex tried to block it, He found himself can't do so. He was losing in power.

"Immovable Step"

He immediately used his Immovable Step to counter the power. This time, the power was also twice stronger than the previous Strike. There are five strikes, Each strike will get twice the power from the previous strike. That means, in the Five Strikes, it was 16x power.

"Alright. Time to get serious. Don't hold back, Kenshin!" Alex said.

They continue their clash. Kenshin started using the Five Strike more often. At first, he wanted to surprise this 'Brother' of his in the tournament. But since Alex had asked about it, He used it. after an hour, Alex managed to use the Third Strike. Kenshin was a bit hurt when he found Alex doing the same thing as him. Especially after another two hours sparring. Alex managed to use the Fourth Strike. He overpowered Kenshin for a moment. Alex also told him his understanding. And not long after, Kenshin also managed to use the Fourth Strike too. Kenshi's heart wasn't hurt anymore. It might also be better to exchange their understanding of Sword Arts.

At the Fourth Strike, Alex felt the Fourth Strike have the same power as his Sanguin Sword Art, Eleventh Slash. But it was only a normal Eleventh Slash, he didn't put any Element or his Sword Intent. If not, this art was never equal to his Sanguin Sword Art. From the look of it, His Sanguin Sword Art seems to be in Profound Tier Martial Skill, it was either in Middle Profound Tier or High Profound Tier.

…

"Fourth Strike"

"Fourth Strike"

*Clang*

They repelled each other attack. They have been sparing for a few hours.

"Let's Stop" Alex said.

"Yes. I'm sure that mother is preparing our dinner."

"I think we will train separately for tomorrow. I wanted to adjust my mind before the tournament."

"Sure"

They went inside. After taking a bath, Alex joined the dinner, along with Kenshin. It was a warm dinner. At night, Alex took out a Body Refining Pill and ate it. Body Refining Pill can strengthen his body even further. If not, because he can only take three of them. It wasn't because he only had three at the moment, but it was the limit, another more won't have any effect on him. It is perfect for his body training for a short amount of time. The refining process was a bit slow, it took him an hour before he finished refining the first one. After that, he took another one.

After he finished his second pill, He refined another set of Body Refining Pill before he cultivates once again.

The next day, Although he said They are going to practice alone today. Alex visited Kenshin first.

"Kenshin"

"Alex! I thought you said we are going to practice alone today?"

"Yeah. I'm planning to do so. But before that, Take this" Alex took out three blue pills from his Space Ring

"What are they?"

"Body Refining Pill. Have you eaten them yet?"

"No, Father was planning to get this pill for me back then. But he said it is better to wait for a pill without impurities. But it was bought by Soejima's House from the auction for 200 Spirit Stones back then. So I never had one"

"They are Body Refining Pills. I have copied your Low Profound Tier Martial Skill, so I can't learn it for free, can I? So here they are"

"They are really Body Refining Pills?"

Alex nodded.

"This… I can't accept this. They are at least 600 Spirit Stones. If they are auctioned one by one, I'm sure it will be higher than that."

Alex patted his shoulder "Eat it if you recognize m as 'Your Brother"

Alex said that and left. Kenshin looked at him. 'I will always be your brother'

…

"First Strike"

"Second Strike"

"Third Strike"

"Fourth Strike"

*Swoosh*

Alex is practicing his new Sword Art. He has reached the Twelfth Slash on his Sanguin Sword Art. At least, he needs to take a week to use the Thirteenth Slash. So after he mastered his Twelfth Slash, he is practicing this strikes. There is another reason why he wanted to practice alone, he can't be seen that he learned Himura's House Sword Art, can't he? Especially those himuras. Fortunately, these few days, there is no trouble like he was expecting from CN Novels, where the first antagonist will come to this place and challenge the Protagonist and will take his revenge in the Tournament.

"Huft. Tomorrow will be the tournament huh… What kind of tournament will it be? One on One fight? or maybe a battle royal? But surely, I'm waiting for Kenshin to cut that lustful person. Well, he is surely can do it. His movement itself was very fast and precise after using the katana. Though because of its unique shape, he needs to make a custom made weapon if he wants a stronger weapon."

He continued his practice and after another two hours, He finally did it.

"Fourth Strike"

"Fifth Strike"

*Swoosh*

He finally succeeds in the Fifth Strike. Its power was very strong. It is at the same level as his Sanguin Sword Art, Twelfth Slash using his Fire or with his Sword Intent. But only one of them. This can be his main Sword Art for now. Since he needs to keep his Fire as a secret. Though the Alchemist guy already knew it, he was sure that he won't blabber about it, since there is no reason for him to do so. And since he is an Alchemist too, He must be thinking that he didn't have a good Martial Prowess along with excellent handling on Weapons. If he thinks that since Alex wanted to go to Heavenly Sword Sect, he must be somewhat good with a weapon. But he won't expect that Alex is this good.

He keeps practicing the Fifth Strike to get used to it. But when he practiced this Sword Art, he got a strange feeling. And that strange feeling get stronger and stronger as he continues his practice with this Sword Art. Alex felt that he is almost there. He felt that he can get rid of this feeling when he reached there. This is the reason why Alex keeps practicing this Move.

Alex continue practicing until night. Then suddenly,

*Swoosh*

Alex was dumbfounded. The ground cracks because of the wind formed by the slash. Though it was only a small crack, Alex didn't use his mana to make a sword wave-like attack. He only used his physical body and Art. That means, the wind produced by his Sword Swing alone can crack the ground. Alex looked at his sword, still unbelieve.

He continues practicing this move for another hour before he let his body rest for tomorrow. The Strange feeling has gone after he succeeded in using the new move. And He didn't get any weird feeling anymore after completing the move. Alex thought that it couldn't be any stronger than this. But this power alone was equal to his Twelfth Slash with his element and Sword Intent. If he wasn't sure before, now he was sure to make this Art to be his main Sword Art for the moment. Since he still needs to complete the last three slash for Sanguin Sword Art. It seems that Sanguin Sword Art is at the same level as this new technique. They are in Middle Profound Tier Martial Skill. He wasn't sure why he can master this Art before the Sanguin Sword Art? Maybe because he had a demonstration from Kenshin?

Well, even though they are at the same level. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, This 'Fifth Strikes' can only be accompanied with His Sword Intent, while Sanguin Sword Art can be accompanied with his Sword Intent along with his Element. So, at the last step, Sanguin Sword Art is stronger.

When the morning came, Alex opened his eyes. Kenshin is waiting for him outside with his new outfit. Unfortunately, this world didn't have any Samurai Kimono or Hakama Pants. Alex really wanted to dress Kenshin up with those.

"Alex, let's go"

"Sure"

The Sword Duo finally on their way to the competition.