Seeing the long blade swinging toward him, Luo Fan quickly raised his own blade to block.
Clang—
The two blades collided, the metallic sound echoing through the training room.
Because Luo Feng had restrained his strength, Luo Fan managed to barely block the strike.
The next moment, Luo Feng brought his blade down from the side,
then swung it in a sideways slash toward Luo Fan.
Luo Fan intended to continue defending with his blade, but Luo Feng suddenly switched from a slash to a thrust.
Luo Fan hastily dodged.
However, Luo Feng didn't let the opportunity pass.
He followed up with a rising slash.
The training blade struck Luo Fan's elbow.
Hiss!
Luo Fan immediately felt the pain, and his blade dropped to the ground.
"Brother, are you okay?"
Luo Feng quickly looked at Luo Fan and asked,
"Brother, are you alright?"
Luo Fan shook his head, picked up the blade from the ground, and rubbed his elbow.
"I'm fine. Let's continue."
At this moment, he also realized that although he had now gained two points of proficiency, there was still a noticeable gap between him and Luo Feng.
Luo Feng had been training with the blade every day for the past few years.
By now, he had mastered the Basic Blade Technique completely.
Each form of the Basic Blade Technique had been integrated seamlessly into his movements.
This level was at least considered minor mastery.
After all, Luo Feng's training environment had been far superior to what Luo Fan had in high school.
Luo Fan often spent money to hire instructors to guide Luo Feng.
Additionally, Luo Feng had sparring partners.
This allowed Luo Feng's Basic Blade Technique to be applied effectively in real combat—very different from Luo Fan's version, which still relied solely on forms.
"Come on, let's continue."
At this point, the progress bar on the system panel hadn't increased yet, so Luo Fan prepared to continue practicing.
Luo Feng, of course, had no objections.
He was more than happy to help his older brother.
If Luo Fan could also become a martial artist, it would make him even happier.
During their sparring, Fang Xueyi kept a close eye on the two.
If anything unexpected happened, she could immediately intervene.
With her strength approaching that of a warlord, the brothers moved in slow motion in front of her.
Stopping them would be effortless for her.
Luo Fan sparred with Luo Feng for a full hour to complete the task.
During this hour, if it had been a real life-or-death battle, Luo Fan would have been killed dozens of times.
However, he also felt that his blade technique had become noticeably more proficient.
Although the proficiency on the system panel hadn't changed yet, he remembered that it had taken him years of prior practice to reach his current level.
Sparring for an hour without system assistance and expecting a noticeable increase in proficiency was virtually impossible.
"Let's take a short break," he said.
After completing the task, Luo Fan voluntarily stopped.
He was a little tired now.
Sparring with Luo Feng required full concentration, which consumed a lot of his energy.
Luo Feng didn't mind either, though he wasn't very tired yet.
"You two go take a shower. At this time, Mom and Dad should be back soon to start cooking,"
Fang Xueyi said to the two brothers, who were sitting on the floor wiping sweat.
Hearing this, the brothers went to their respective rooms to shower.
Although Luo Fan no longer lived there, the master bedroom he previously shared with Fang Xueyi was still available.
Gong Xinlan also often helped keep the room clean.
After showering, Luo Fan went downstairs.
By now, Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan had returned as well.
They were sitting together downstairs, chatting.
Fang Xueyi was telling them about her experiences in the wilderness area.
It was at that moment that Luo Fan noticed the news on the living room TV.
"Breaking news: Just now, a Black-Crested Golden Eagle intruded into Base City."
"It was ultimately slain by a mysterious powerful individual."
"We also remind citizens…"
Huh?
Black-Crested Golden Eagle?
At that moment, Luo Fan remembered the information displayed during the system binding late last night.
So that's what the "plot starting" meant.
Indeed, in Swallowed Star, on the day the plot begins, Luo Feng encounters a Black-Crested Golden Eagle that intrudes into Base City.
But since Luo Feng hadn't gone to school and was training at home, he didn't encounter it.
Seeing Luo Fan come downstairs, Gong Xinlan prepared to cook.
Although the family was now well-off, Gong Xinlan still enjoyed cooking herself.
After the family finished breakfast and rested for a while, Luo Fan returned home with Fang Xueyi.
Once home, Luo Fan immediately entered the training room again.
"Claim reward!"
The next moment, another wave of information flowed into his mind.
Luo Fan felt his blade technique had become even more proficient,
and his mind felt clear and refreshed—a very pleasant sensation.
However, that was all.
After all, his comprehension had only increased by 1 point.
As for his luck rising to 667, he didn't feel any difference at all.
Walking over to the treadmill, he set up another exercise task and began running.
After finishing her shower, Fang Xueyi noticed her husband wasn't in the room.
Coming down to the training room, she saw Luo Fan doing push-ups.
She looked at him with a hint of reproach in her eyes and said softly,
"You come home and immediately start training?"
However, she didn't stop him.
With a sigh, she picked up her long spear and began practicing the power technique, "Wind-Cutting Spear".
Soon, Luo Fan completed yet another training task.
After claiming the reward, his physical fitness improved again.
At that moment, he glanced at Fang Xueyi practicing with her spear beside him.
"Huff—"
"Huff—"
"Huff—"
The two-meter-long spear whipped through the air with fierce momentum under Fang Xueyi's skilled hands.
Luo Fan stood about three meters away, and even the wind from her spear brushing his face felt slightly painful.
At this moment, he couldn't make out the trajectory of the spear at all.
Soon, Fang Xueyi stopped moving her spear.
She noticed her husband looking at her with fiery eyes.
Her face flushed at the intensity of his gaze.
Just then, Luo Fan spoke,
"Wife, can you give me some pointers?"
[Task: Spar once with Fang Xueyi, Reward: Basic Blade Experience +1, Physical Fitness +1]
Upon hearing this, Fang Xueyi's expression darkened immediately.
Fine, fine!
I finally just got back from the wilderness area, and now you want to spar with me here?
Fang Xueyi gave a "gentle" smile and said sweetly,
"No problem, husband!"
Although Luo Fan sensed something was off, he still walked up in front of her, eyes burning with intensity.
"Come on!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than her long spear swept toward his left foot.
Fang Xueyi's speed wasn't fast, and she barely applied any force.
Luo Fan clearly saw the trajectory of the spear,
yet, for some reason, he couldn't react in time to defend.
Bang!
The spear hit his left foot, causing Luo Fan to lose balance and fall.
He quickly got up, wearing a thoughtful expression.
"Your weight distribution between your left and right foot is uneven—most of your weight is on your right foot,"
"so with just a little force from me, you fell immediately."
Fang Xueyi, having years of real combat experience, instantly spotted Luo Fan's flaw and explained seriously.