Chapter 37: The In-depth Development of Combat Techniques

Seeing the panel of Zhou Tianhao’s Spirit-Eater, Qin Lang could not help but gasp.

Prior to this, the strongest Spirit-Eater he had ever seen was the two-star one belonging to that officer from the Public Security Bureau, which was only one level away from three stars.

And now, appearing before his eyes, was an actual three-star Spirit-Eater!

Furthermore, the position where Zhou Tianhao summoned the Spirit-Eater was at the center of his collarbone. This location corresponded to the third star meridian of a Spirit Chef: Tianji.

This three-star Spirit-Eater before him was Zhou Tianhao’s third Spirit-Eater! The previous two were likely even stronger.

Watching the three-star Spirit-Eater approach Danbao, Qin Lang could not help but speak up.

"Brother Zhou, what is this?"

"It’s nothing," Zhou Tianhao said with a hearty laugh, waving his hand. "You let me taste such delicious roasted whole roe deer; it is only natural that I show my gratitude."

"As it happens, my Spirit-Eater also possesses the combat skill 'Breath of Blazing Fire.' I can have it offer your Spirit-Eater some pointers."

"Pointers?" A hint of pleasant surprise flickered in Qin Lang’s eyes.

He couldn't help but recall what Zhao Qian had said earlier: if a powerful Spirit-Eater were willing to teach, one could indeed have their Spirit-Eater learn self-taught combat skills.

However...

Judging by Zhou Tianhao’s words, this three-star Spirit-Eater was not going to teach a different fire-type skill, but rather the "Breath of Blazing Fire" that Danbao had already mastered.

"Brother Zhou, can a combat skill that has already been mastered be improved?"

"Of course it can." Zhou Tianhao nodded with a smile. "Hongdou, give them a demonstration. Use Breath of Blazing Fire toward the sky!"

"Jili-jili!"

The three-star Spirit-Eater called Hongdou responded, took a deep breath, and unleashed a torrent of scorching flames toward the sky.

If the limit of the "Breath of Blazing Fire" used by Danbao was a range of about five meters, the range of Hongdou's blast exceeded fifty meters. The moment the flames erupted, the entire sky seemed to be stained crimson.

This was the absolute chasm in strength between a three-star and a zero-star!

"What Hongdou just used was a standard Breath of Blazing Fire," Zhou Tianhao said, pausing briefly. "Hongdou, show them something else!"

"Jili!"

Responding to the command, Hongdou took another deep breath. This time, Qin Lang could clearly feel that the wind-up for the combat skill had become slightly longer.

The next moment, it unleashed a stream of golden-red fire, blasting toward the distance like a heavy cannon, traveling for nearly two hundred meters.

Qin Lang and Danbao were completely stunned.

"This..." After a long while, Qin Lang finally regained his composure, asking in disbelief, "This is also Breath of Blazing Fire?!"

"That’s right." Zhou Tianhao laughed and patted Qin Lang on the shoulder. "This is called the deep development of combat skills."

"No combat skill is immutable."

"As a Spirit-Eater becomes more proficient with a skill, the methods of utilizing it can become more flexible."

"Among Spirit Chefs who focus on combat, this is a common technique."

"What Hongdou just demonstrated was, in fact, a developed version of Breath of Blazing Fire following energy accumulation and convergence. Compared to the original version, its greatest feature is a massive increase in attack range."

"Beyond that, the flight speed of the flames is greatly enhanced, and the temperature of the fire is increased, thereby elevating the power of the skill."

"Deep development of combat skills..." Qin Lang’s eyes lit up. "So, there are such nuances to a Spirit-Eater’s combat skills?"

This was his first time interacting with a powerful Spirit Chef, and this special technique for using combat skills fascinated him.

"There’s more to it than that," Zhou Tianhao said with a smile. "Deep development of combat skills can take more than one direction."

"The previous direction focused on range and power, but the Breath of Blazing Fire has a characteristic: it is guaranteed to cause 'Burn' damage as a fire-type skill."

"Therefore, to improve the hit rate of the skill, there is a second direction." Saying this, Zhou Tianhao gave a wink to Hongdou in the air.

Hongdou took a deep breath and quickly unleashed its flames while spinning at high speed, causing the fire, which originally could only cover a fan-shaped area in front, to envelop an entire circular zone.

Qin Lang’s eyes grew even brighter.

"Brother Zhou, please, let Hongdou give Danbao some pointers!"

"Gulu-gulu!"

Danbao nodded vigorously, looking at Hongdou with eyes full of admiration.

Coach, I want to learn this!

"No problem." Zhou Tianhao laughed.

Hongdou pulled Danbao to the side, the two Spirit-Eaters whispering as if they were communicating, occasionally spitting out a ball of flame.

Watching Danbao’s earnest efforts to learn, Qin Lang smiled with emotion. He had not expected that sharing a meal with a stranger would yield such a gain.

"Brother Zhou, I truly didn't expect you to be a Spirit Chef, and such a powerful one at that." He looked at Zhou Tianhao with visible admiration.

"I wouldn't call myself powerful." Zhou Tianhao shook his head, showing no arrogance. "As of now, I am still training hard to earn the Second-Level Spirit Practitioner Badge. I am still a long way from being a truly powerful Spirit Chef."

"Second-Level Spirit Practitioner?" Qin Lang asked, unable to suppress his curiosity. "Hongdou is already three stars; does that mean it’s not enough to pass the Second-Level Spirit Practitioner assessment?"

"Of course it’s not that simple," Zhou Tianhao replied. "The assessment for a First-Level Spirit Practitioner involves a Spirit-Eater with two-star or three-star strength, and you only need to send out one; defeating it earns you the token."

"But for a Second-Level Spirit Practitioner, the Spirit-Eaters deployed are four-star to five-star, and the requirement is to field three of them, winning a 3v3 duel."

Hearing the requirements for the Second-Level Spirit Practitioner assessment, Qin Lang couldn't help but click his tongue. It was no wonder that someone of Zhou Tianhao’s strength had yet to pass.

If he remembered correctly, three Second-Level Spirit Practitioner badges were the requirement for a Spirit Chef following the combat path to activate their fourth star meridian. Therefore, despite having only three Spirit-Eaters, Zhou Tianhao had to win a 3v3 battle against three Second-Level Spirit Practitioners to unlock that fourth meridian.

"If I’m not mistaken, Hongdou must be the weakest of your three Spirit-Eaters. If you can advance it to four stars, will you have a chance, Brother Zhou?" Qin Lang asked curiously.

"Your guess is correct." Zhou Tianhao nodded. "Aside from Hongdou, my other two Spirit-Eaters have already reached four stars."

"However, even if Hongdou advances to four stars, passing the Second-Level Spirit Practitioner assessment will by no means be easy."

"That is why I am currently striving in another direction."

As he spoke, Zhou Tianhao touched the Tian-Shu star meridian on his forehead, and another brand-new Spirit-Eater flew out, the whirling motion bringing with it a cool breeze.

"Na-na!"

"This is my first Spirit-Eater, Cream."

Qin Lang instinctively scanned it.

[Type: Spirit-Eater]

[Level: Lv43]

[Flavor Attribute: Sweet]

[Elemental Attribute: Ice]

[Food Skill: Static Freshness Lock]

[Combat Skills (excluding self-taught): (Ice) Frost Flower Storm, (Ice) Ice Crystal Bloom, (Ice) Freezing Beam, (Ice) Frosty Current, (Ice) Frozen World]

[Experience Value: 100/100]