Beggar Cultivation System-Chapter 302 : Training Don

Fighting against his own Master—it was a thought that had crossed Don's mind a few times. He knew it would happen eventually, but he never expected it to be this soon.

"You look troubled," Apollo said with a small smile as he noticed the frown on his disciple's face.

"It's just that… I'm going to lose, right?" Don asked, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.

"We're fighting to train, not to kill each other," Apollo chuckled. "Are you expecting me to beat you up until you can't stand anymore?"

"Well…" Don nodded slowly.

"You're silly," Apollo said. "But you're right."

"Wait, what?!" Don's eyes widened in disbelief. He had assumed they were going to fight seriously because of things he'd overheard.

When a Disciple reaches a certain stage, they're supposed to fight their Master to prove themselves and officially graduate.

"Yes," Apollo nodded. Then, as if realizing something, he added, "You think this is some kind of graduation ceremony? You're still far too young for that."

Apollo had read about this tradition in a book at the Great Serpent Library. It explained that defeating one's Master was considered the highest form of respect a Disciple could offer. Apollo thought the concept was cool, though not every sect followed this tradition. Some sects had vastly different customs, with some even involving twisted practices Apollo found abhorrent.

"Hehe," Don could only laugh bitterly.

"I'll rephrase that: you and I will have a spar," Apollo said, his body becoming a blur as he reappeared at one end of the stage. "We'll fight here. Don't worry—I'll lower my strength to the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage and only use my right hand."

Hearing this, Don's eyes widened. Won't this give him an advantage? His Master had already confirmed that Don's strength had reached the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage, even though he was technically at the 1st-Step. And now his Master was restricting himself to one hand? Confidence surged through Don as he walked to the stage and leapt onto the other end.

"Master, are you really sure you're only going to use one hand?" Don asked, settling into his stance.

"I see you're underestimating me," Apollo said, placing his left hand behind his back and raising his right. He motioned mockingly for Don to come at him. "Come at me with everything you've got."

"Keep your word, Master," Don said, taking a deep breath as his mind replayed all the movements from The Essence of Fighting. The technique he had learned mere moments ago felt so ingrained in him it was as if he'd mastered it years ago.

His body knew how to move, and his mind followed.

Don couldn't help but feel even more amazed by his Master, who could casually bestow such a technique upon him.

With The Essence of Fighting coursing through him, Don felt a newfound confidence. When he opened his eyes, they radiated determination.

"Here I come!" Don shouted before sprinting toward his Master at full speed!

Oh, I forgot he doesn't have a Movement Technique, Apollo thought, watching how "slow" his disciple appeared. To him, Don looked like he was jogging, even though the kid's determined expression suggested otherwise. Apollo could easily perceive and adjust the boy's pace to seem even slower, but since he had lowered his cultivation to the 1st-Step—an ability he'd only recently realized he possessed—his own speed was similarly restricted.

However, to a normal person, Don's speed would be shocking. The boy had covered a dozen meters in just a few seconds.

As Don reached his Master, he was equally amazed at his own speed. Never in his life had he imagined moving this fast!

Feeling strength coursing through him, Don's confidence soared. He raised one hand for balance while pulling his right fist back. Then, like a tightly wound catapult unleashed, his small fist shot forward, aiming for the beggar's face!

Don's smile widened in anticipation. At this speed, he was certain the punch would land.

But what happened next felt like a bucket of cold water being dumped over him.

His eyes widened in shock as he saw Apollo casually tilt his head to the side, avoiding the strike. And then Don saw it—the smile on his Master's face, one so ominous it would haunt him forever.

A resounding thud echoed through the stage as Don's small frame was sent tumbling backward.

The boy rolled several meters before coming to a stop, lying flat on his back. He blinked up at the blue sky, his chest heaving. As a cloud passed over the sun, he felt a sharp, searing pain radiating from his stomach.

"Ah!" Don cried out, clutching his aching midsection.

"Don't shout if you're in pain," Apollo said, his footsteps echoing as he approached, his figure looming over the boy.

Hearing this, Don quickly clamped his mouth shut, though his face remained scrunched in agony.

"Stand up. The sparring isn't over yet," Apollo said with a smile, his expression calm. However, to Don, his Master looked like a devil with eyes that seemed to glow red—a trick of the boy's imagination, fueled by his pain and frustration.

Apollo stepped back, giving his disciple space as Don struggled to his feet.

The boy took several deep breaths, trying to stabilize the pain and calm his mind.

"We're in the same stage. In fact, your cultivation is technically higher than mine," Apollo said, gesturing with his right hand for Don to come at him again. "So why am I faster? We're not stopping until you figure this out."

"Isn't it because… you have better skills?" Don asked hesitantly.

"I'm using the same technique as you," Apollo replied evenly.

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"R-really?" Don couldn't believe it. His Master had dodged his fist with ease and counterattacked so fast that Don hadn't even seen the blow.

"Don't doubt your Master," Apollo said with a frown.

"Sorry!" Don quickly bowed, realizing his words might have been offensive.

"Come at me again, and you'll find out," Apollo said, his tone firm.

Don gritted his teeth, knowing this was for his own good. He shouldn't have allowed himself to become overconfident. And now, recognizing the vast disparity between himself and his Master, even when they were supposedly at the same cultivation stage, his respect and admiration for Apollo reached new heights.

"Here I come!" Don shouted before dashing forward with everything he had!