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Ren had already mastered the basic combat technique. The only thing that’s lacking from it was actual combat to test it out.

But Ren had no sparring partners. Alex wasn’t around when he searched for him, so he could only shelf this for now.

To spice up his independent training, he decided to practice the basic footwork technique and the chakra sensing technique too.

The basic footwork technique teaches mobility, proper spacing, evasion, and how to adjust to uneven terrain. It’s very general, simple, and straightforward, perfect for beginners like him.

The chakra sensing technique is also another beginner-friendly skill that allows him to sense his environment by releasing chakra pulses. This technique is also an introductory material for chakra control and manipulation.

The basic combat technique, the basic footwork technique, and the chakra sensing technique are, in fact, the beginner-friendly package.

Almost every noob martial artist is told to start with this because they’re simple and effective.

These skills aren’t flashy, don’t provide too many benefits or bonuses, or hold some deep secrets that excavate one’s potential. But they’re easy to learn and are the basis behind most of the advanced martial techniques out there. Therefore, it’s beneficial for beginners to still start with them.

Ren had already memorized these techniques by heart and mind. He could recite them word for word already and have completely understood the concept behind them.

The reason why he began with the Basic Combat Technique, as most do in his position, is because the others require chakra to use, and it’s the Basic Combat Technique that teaches how to mix chakra first.

The basic footwork technique increases the user’s raw speed by 50% when used. It also improves the user’s flexibility, agility, and dexterity and slightly improves stamina management. The active effect drains chakra, which also serves as a preliminary lesson for beginners to learn how to manage their chakra levels.

It’s been stated before, but Chakra doesn’t stay around for too long. It’s generated using motion, meaning that the martial artists must be moving, or in constant motion, to continue producing it.

When the practitioner slows down, their chakra production slows down too. And if they stop moving, the chakra production halts too. Sure, the human body still ’moves’ even though it’s completely still, but that movement wasn’t anywhere near enough to continue generating chakra, not even enough to stop it from dissipating.

The ’active’ part of the basic footwork technique is a burst movement where the practitioner spends a good chunk of their accumulated chakra for an immediate burst of speed. The technique is flexible; its active part could be used in linear or winding ways. But the ceiling of the bonus only reaches 50%, which is one of the lowest bonuses any movement technique could give.

Its ’passive’ bonuses, while not that crazy, build a decent foundation for beginners moving forward, at least. It teaches them flexibility and improves their agility and dexterity. It also teaches them how to jump and offset bad landings to prevent horrible injuries. It builds a solid basis for when the practitioner eventually moves on and learns another movement technique.

That’s why it’s still recommended even to this day.

As for the Chakra Sensing Technique, it’s considered an auxiliary martial art. It teaches one how to mobilize their chakra to interact with their environment.

In RPGs this would be equivalent to the ’Magic Missile’ spell. It teaches energy control, shaping, proper intent, and has a simple concept every beginner could understand.

The range of this technique doesn’t have a ceiling; it doesn’t have a minimum or a maximum. It depends on how much chakra one used to cast it.

This technique interacts with the surrounding environment with a chakra pulse, similar to how one’s chakra seed releases a pulse that their body absorbs to be stronger. The difference is that the chakra pulse Chakra Sense requires must return like a ripple so that the user can interpret the feedback.

At the initial success stage, the user would still need to stomp their feet laced with the chakra pulse to use this technique, or they could use their palms instead. This was their training wheels, per se. An action that would help learn and get used to how to release the pulses.

The range wouldn’t be impressive, of course, and the feedback wouldn’t be too clear either, just enough to get hints.

At the minor success stage, the range increases. 5 times out of 10, the user could produce the pulse without needing to deliberately stomp their feet or smack the ground with their palms. The feedback becomes better too.

At the major success stage, the training wheels are off. There should be no need for the user to stomp or touch the ground just to release the reading pulse. The minimum range was 10 meters at least, and the feedback would be much better. It would even allow them to sense the heartbeat of another living being within their range.

At the perfection stage, everything becomes much, much better. The pulses could be released at any given moment, and the signs of them using it become harder to detect too. The range increases greatly, and the feedback provides a little bit of foresight too. Interpreting the feedback becomes instinctive, and the pulses could even be used inwardly. Meaning that at the perfection stage, the Chakra Sensing Technique could be used to sense how the user’s body was doing.

It’s like having a black and white inner vision. It allows the user to see the state of their body clear. And with finer use, the details seen could be highlighted even better.

All of this was possible just by mastering this technique, which also highlights how important it is for martial artists to gain good control over their chakra, because at the end of the day, many of the martial arts out there rely on good control and chakra manipulation anyway.

Hell, even strong folks out there still use the Chakra Sense Technique itself. They don’t see any need for something advanced when the simple and easy technique could get them the same results they want.

Ren learning these two techniques shouldn’t get him into trouble with his uncle. After all, these three, the basic combat technique, the basic footwork technique, and the chakra sensing technique, were usually packaged as a whole.

It’d only make sense for a beginner like him to have and use the same package, right?

**

Mikel groaned as he rested his back against his swivel chair. He stared at the ceiling for a bit before closing his eyes and feeling the weight behind them.

The good news is that he and his elders weren’t forcibly drafted for the raids.

The king definitely raged at the city lord, and the city lord, having lost some face being scolded like a kid, had his revenge on them.

Mikel didn’t have it hard since the dungeon break had nothing to do with him and his clan. Besides, the clan’s records were clean and verified. He and his clan did their part and more, so no blame could really be put on them.

Those who are involved and expected to prevent the overflows, on the other hand, suffered from the punishment of the city lord. Not only were they scolded and cursed at, they were heavily fined and forcibly drafted to the dungeon raids.

The raid starts at Stage 1 of the dungeons all the way to Stage 70; they won’t stop until they’ve cleared everything. They will certainly suffer some casualties there, but the city lord doesn’t care. They should’ve been doing their jobs anyway.

As for Mikel and the Banished Arms Clan, while their records are clean and verified, they must still contribute in whatever way they can.

This meant supplying the raid parties with potions and reinforcing the hospitals with the healers they trained.

The good thing is that they will be properly compensated for this; the city lord even added a bonus to thank them for their consistent service.

The bad news is that the clan will be, once again, stretched too thin.

There weren’t many of them to begin with, and there are even fewer who actually qualify as an expert in medicine, healing arts, or potion making; most are busy increasing their strength through learning the clan’s unique martial arts.

This means that Mikel and the elders will have to be busy again for the time being.

Mikel sighed. Such is the conundrum of a small clan with a long history. It’s already challenging for them to keep maintaining their consistent performance, yet they’re still being pressured for more.

Shaking his head, Mikel left his office to get some fresh air.

On his way out, he glanced down and unconsciously saw a lone figure on the empty field of Training Hall 1, diligently practicing the basic footwork technique with nigh-surgical and almost unnatural precision.

It was his nephew.

And judging from how drenched his entire body was with sweat, especially under the harsh glare of the sun, Mikel could tell that he’s been at this for a while.

A sad smile appeared on his face. He couldn’t help but think:

’Oh, sister of mine...if you could only see how diligent and talented your son is, I bet you’d be so proud of him.’

’How I wish that you and my brother-in-law were still here.’