12 Training to win

Ling Chen POV:

After thinking about my money-making scheme some more I finalized my plan I would bet 550 spirit stones that Li Zhou would win the competition but before I could do that I had to discuss it with him to make sure he is on board with the plan. So I waited until he was training and then I walked up to him "Hello Li Zhou may I have a word with you?" I asked him. "What do you want?" he replied with a cold expression.

"I wanted to talk to you about the upcoming competition," I said. "What about it?" he replied. "Well, I wanted to make a bet with you," I said. "What kind of bet?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "I wanted to bet 550 spirit stones that you will win the competition," I said. "Why would you bet that much money on me? You don't even know me," he said with a suspicious expression. "Well, I have a feeling that you are going to win and I want to make some money from it," I replied. "Bu.. but I'm only in the qi gathering and I won't be able to break through in the next couple of weeks also even if I did I still probably wouldn't have the martial arts skills to win the competition," he said. "That's why I want to help you specifically you are an underdog so I will earn more profit but also you have experience in using powerful weapons and how to leverage that advantage to beat opponents of a higher cultivation level so I'm going to provide you with some pretty good kit and also create your tactics for you so all you have to do is to train hard and do what I say," I told him.

"But immortal weapons are strictly banned and aren't you a mortal yourself how in gods name could you possibly help me?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I'm not just a mortal I'm also a very talented blacksmith and I have access to the new steel equipment which is as powerful as grade 1 immortal weapons while having no qi in them," I said. "What how do you know about them they have just been released by the main clan and even I can't get access to them," he said with a suspicious look "Well my master is the one who created them so I suppose I get a special privilege to them but that's not the only thing I'm going to give you because with just that I don't think you'll be able to win. I'm also going to give you a few other things that will help you greatly in the competition," I told him. "Like what?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you that now because if I do then it won't be a surprise," I replied with a grin. "Fine I'll agree to let you help me but you better not be pulling my leg mortal you hear me" He replied with a flustered shout. We shook hands to seal the deal and then we went our separate ways. I went back to Zhuang's workshop and started working on the equipment and tactics that I would give Li Zhou. Even though he doesn't believe it yet I'm going to make him the champion of this tournament.

Li Zhou POV:

The next day after having that discussion with the strange mortal I was waiting outside this weird building that I have never seen in the village before. It was very large with an unusual-looking exterior it looked very clean and new like it had just been built. After a few minutes, the door opened, and out walked Ling Chen "Hello, Li Zhou are you ready to start your training?" he asked me with a grin. "Yes, I'm ready, let's get started," I replied with a determined expression.

"Very well follow me," he said while leading me into the building. The inside of the building was very different from the outside it looked like a strange blacksmith workshop with all kinds of tools and materials lying around. "This is my workshop where I create all kinds of things," he said while gesturing around the room. "But what does this have to do with training for the competition?" I asked with a confused expression. "Well, I'm going to be creating your equipment and tactics so everything we do here will be related to that," he replied.

"So what kind of equipment are you going to make for me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I'm going to make you a set of armor and a weapon that will be made from steel so I need to get your measurements first," he said while pulling out a measuring tape. "What kind of weapon do you want?" he asked me. "I want a sword," I replied. "Very well a sword it is then," he said while starting to measure my body.

After he finished taking my measurements he started working on my equipment straight away. While he was working I started practicing my martial arts techniques. Even though I don't have much experience in using them I have been training hard for the past few years and my body is very strong. So I'm confident that I can at least put up a good fight in the competition. A few hours later Ling Chen called me over to take a look at my equipment. "Here you go this is your armor and sword," he said while gesturing to the items on the table.

I picked up the armor and put it on it fit perfectly and it was very light but also felt very strong. I then picked up the sword and started swinging it around it felt very good in my hand and it was also very sharp. "This is amazing Ling Chen how did you make such high-quality equipment?" I asked with a shocked expression. "Well, I told you I'm a very talented blacksmith didn't I?" he replied with a grin. "But this is way too good for me shouldn't you be saving this for someone else?" I asked with a suspicious expression. "No, I made this specifically for you so that you can have the best chance of winning the competition," he replied.

"But what about the other things you said you would give me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, those things are well they are not ready yet I'm still developing them but they should be ready before the competition starts so don't worry about that what I need you to do is to read these reports I'm giving you they cost me a pretty penny to create but they will give you a big advantage in the competition," he said while handing me a stack of papers.

"What are these?" I asked with a confused expression. "They are reports on all of the other participants in the competition so that you will know their strengths and weaknesses as well as what kind of techniques they use. This way you can be prepared for anything that comes your way," he replied. "Wow, this is amazing thank you so much Ling Chen I will definitely win the competition for you," I said with a determined expression. "I know you will now go home and get some rest because tomorrow your training starts in earnest," he said while shooing me out of the workshop.

I went home and started reading through the reports that Ling Chen gave me. Even though I don't have much experience in using martial arts techniques I'm a very quick learner and I will make sure to memorize them thoroughly.