Chapter 134: The Cognitive Blind Spot of the Strong

“Sorry, although I can feel that everyone watching is having a great time, I just can’t be happy today,” Catherine said to the camera. “A few days ago, my performance in the rainforest was considered by my master to have problems both in strength and mindset. After three days of adjustment, my master decided to take me to a mysterious place for a brutal training regimen. When someone like my master says 'brutal training,' I can already imagine just how terrifying it will be. I’m actually trembling now. By the way, does anyone know how to skip classes with Teacher Ling? I’m waiting online and it’s urgent…”

“Awesome! Just hearing 'brutal training' makes me happy!”

“The streamer wants to skip class? You must be crazy!”

“LOL, flirting with disaster on the edge!”

“Listen, streamer, tempting death will get you killed!”

“Train honestly and you might survive; run away and you’re dead for sure!”

“Whoa, streamer, what are you three planning? Why are you running so fast?”

“I feel like you’re running even faster than three days ago! Could it be your strength has improved again?”

“Am I the only one who thinks that?”

“...”

Reading the comments, Catherine grinned and said, “Alright, let’s stop the nonsense here. Friends, I’m no longer just an ‘Intermediate Martial Artist.’ See this faint flame flickering over my skin when I run? It’s incredibly efficient at conserving energy, giving me unparalleled endurance. I can now be called a ‘Pseudo-Advanced Martial Artist,’ so running this fast is perfectly normal.”

Her expression grew serious as she continued, “The deeper I delve into martial arts, the more I realize its power! Based on my personal experience these past few days, martial arts might lag a bit behind magic in world exploration, but once your martial arts reach a certain level, the biggest change is that your demands for the environment lessen dramatically!”

As she ran, she gestured to the misty, cold rainforest around them. “Before I practiced martial arts, living in such a harsh place would have suffocated me. Forget running, even a few steps could make me collapse. When I was still a beginner martial artist, I could endure this environment, but it definitely drained my stamina. Now, though... Wow, the monster-infested rainforest is actually a great place to survive! The air’s fresh, and being here feels much better than being home! Every magical beast inside is impressive, their roars so beautiful—I absolutely love it here!”

Hearing Catherine’s exaggerations, Vienne, running behind her, couldn’t help but reach out and give Catherine a sharp smack on the butt. She said irritably, “Senior sister! Save some energy. You’ll be crying when we get there!”

“Ah!” Catherine squealed and twisted her hips, then looked back at Vienne’s strange, disdainful gaze. She hurriedly explained, “Don’t look at me like that, you pervert! It’s because these pants my master gave me have excellent physical defense. When you hit me, it actually feels like a gentle caress, which is why I couldn’t help but yell!”

As she spoke, several comments caught Catherine’s attention:

“The streamer’s upgraded to some ‘pseudo-advanced martial artist,’ so running fast is understandable. But Vienne is still a beginner martial artist, right? How can she keep up?!”

“Good point! Vienne isn’t struggling at all while running!”

“Compared to the streamer’s stamina as a beginner, this isn’t magic?”

“Could Vienne be an even bigger talent than the streamer?”

“No way! Aren’t beginners supposed to not have mastered breath control yet and have insufficient lung capacity?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true!”

“...”

Only when the comments pointed it out did Catherine realize something odd about Vienne. She said with some surprise, “Yeah, it does seem that way. A beginner martial artist shouldn’t have such endurance.”

Vienne, who had also linked with the Magic Eye Elves, naturally saw the comments. Hearing Catherine’s question, she kept her pace steady and calmly replied, “It’s simple. I’ve cast the Wind attribute ‘Swift Wind’ and the Dark attribute ‘Miniature Anti-Gravity’ under my feet. Running feels several times easier than normal, so naturally I can keep it up.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be practicing martial arts? Master, she’s cheating with magic! Aren’t you going to do something?” Catherine said foolishly, then suddenly realized something and almost jumped in shock.

“No! What’s going on? How can you still use magic?!”

“Why not?” Vienne looked at Catherine as if she were an idiot. “I may not have much magical talent, but I’m still an advanced mage. Casting two level-three spells isn’t that surprising.”

“You made advanced mage with no magical talent? Are you asking to get slapped?!” Catherine thought bitterly of her own hard-earned promotion to advanced mage, while this person casually dismissed her lack of talent. Tears welled up as she gritted her teeth, but then she quickly recovered and said loudly, “I didn’t mean that! I’m saying you’re practicing martial arts and have already switched to being a martial artist, right? How can you still use magic?!”

“What does being a martial artist have to do with it? My spiritual power is still there, so of course I can use magic.”

Catherine’s mouth opened and she suddenly realized she had been trapped by her own fixed mindset. Her master never used magic because he was a pure martial artist who simply couldn’t use magic. She herself didn’t use magic because she had burned her magic foundation in order to escape. But Ling Mo never said that once you learn martial arts you can no longer be a mage!

With this in mind, she excitedly asked Ling Mo, “Master! Master! As long as a martial artist has enough spiritual power, can they still cast spells? Didn’t you say that becoming an advanced martial artist transforms you completely? Will my magic foundation be restored as part of that? Will I be able to regain my advanced mage strength?!”

Ling Mo frowned and answered without turning his head, “I advise you not to mess with it. Below the advanced martial artist level, martial arts don’t conflict with magic. But starting from advanced martial artist, your spiritual power and soul begin to merge with your body. When you break through to great martial artist, your soul and body will fuse completely. Even if you have spirit power at the mage level, it will dissipate then.”

Ling Mo expected his words to discourage Catherine, but to his surprise, she grew even more excited.

“So, below advanced martial artist, martial arts don’t affect your magic level at all? Even when you become an advanced martial artist, it only slightly reduces spiritual power? That’s amazing!”

Seeing Catherine’s excitement, Ling Mo and Vienne exchanged puzzled glances. Ling Mo said hesitantly, “You mean ‘dual cultivation of magic and martial arts’? That path is a dead end. You won’t get far…”

Catherine took a deep breath and smiled, “Master, junior sister, you two are powerful beings on a higher plane. The path you can’t take seriously because it won’t get you far is exactly what ordinary people like me need. A great many are even less talented than me! Reaching beginner or intermediate mage level is their lifetime satisfaction. They don’t dream of becoming great martial artists or grand mages!”

“Is it important that the ‘dual cultivation’ path isn’t very far? The physique of a beginner martial artist combined with the spiritual power of a beginner or intermediate mage is far superior to a pure intermediate mage! How much advantage would that be when looking for a job? Master, if you want to promote martial arts, this should be your selling point! Just look at the livestream chat—everyone’s as excited as I am!”