The strongest barbarians were the ones that headed the attack while the weaker ones shot arrows at Tommy from the side with power not weaker than Ki techniques.

Facing their brutal attacks, Tommy met them fearlessly. His figure became a blur before turning into a black line as he dashed forward. His sudden acceleration broke the dirt under his feet and caused the soil to hover in the air for a single moment before exploding outwards.

Standing at 1.9 meters tall, Tommy was like a battering ram as he charged over.

The first one that met him was at Huang Grade Titan Rank physical strength. In an instant, he was struck and flew back faster than his approach. The next few that attacked was around the same power or slightly weaker and without exception all of them were repelled. In a battle between External Cultivators, to see bodies flying all over the place isn’t uncommon. In comparison, when Internal Cultivators fight each other, there are plenty of explosions.

While those that were hit by Tommy survived, everyone was struck on the weak points. Unlike Internal Cultivators that depended on their Meridian System and feared any attack that aimed at their Ki Centre, the External Practitioners are famously difficult to take down. Moreover, crippling them requires far more effort than killing them. Yet against Tommy, none of them lasted more than a single blow.

Tommy’s background was something known to his brothers for the longest time, and thus enabling them to plan ahead. Before this fight, Alan had thoroughly revised the weakness and strike areas of the human body with Tommy. The most common weakness of an External Practitioner is their mental fortitude.

As cultivators that focus on physical strength, few have time to delve deep into mental exercises like Internal Cultivators would. As different cultivation methods have differing strength and weakness, the soft spots on most of these Frosthral soldiers are their head.

Internal Cultivators have uncountable schools of thought and innumerable techniques; Formation Arrays, Runic Arts, Sealing Arts, Elemental Arts, even Demonic Arts.

To defeat their enemies, a technique’s variation is no less important than its strength.

Thus, Internal Cultivators have strength in adaptability and mental strength. They are not too unlike the Mages of the South, plus having Ki coursing through their bodies actually gave them far stronger physiques at the price of having a far smaller scale of attack when compared to magic users.

On the other hand, External Cultivators focus on the benefits brought by infusing Ki into their flesh. It allows them to fully take advantage of the strengthening effects and make them far more resilient.

Their methods may be simple, but they have comparable strength to wild beasts, even without scales and claws. It gave them inhuman stamina with jaw-dropping restorative strength and moreover, it made their five senses far more powerful.

This is what makes the strong both fear and respect those that train their bodies.

Amongst the most dangerous type of practitioner to offend, the Curse-type spell casters rank first while the External Practitioners are second.

To imagine having an enemy that is extremely difficult to kill and ceaselessly hunting you down is thing of nightmare for anyone.

When an army of External Cultivators amass, it can become a national crisis. If not because of Galahad changing the empire’s stance to become pro-cultivator so many years ago, will there still be a Saint Empire this day is largely in the air.

Likewise, for three hundred thousand Frosthral troops to linger at their border, it is a serious threat to Saint Empire. To be able to spare only the same amount of Saint Empire soldiers to fight back speaks volume of how strained the current situation is for their empire.

Fortunately, with the Starfire Array and the Snowdrifts’ new inventions, they managed to pin-down the north thus far. Granted, the main reason the frontlines had not fallen, and the Northern Fort was not overrun, is contributed to the Great Khan’s desire to analyse Saint Empire’s fighting techniques before their invasion beings.

Thus when Tommy challenged the Frosthral frontlines it was an unbelievable thing to Esley and the other commanders.

Even if it is only a promotion trial, Tommy is a cultivator that grew up in Saint Empire.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

The Internal Cultivation’s arts might be potent, but equally draining. Moreover, the martial skills might not be enough to take down the hardy External Cultivators.

Against such a large group, they believe it is tantamount to suicide until they saw Tommy in battle. With mental fortitude as their weakness, by infusing the correct amount of Ki and striking at specific spots, Tommy could take them down easily. The External Practitioners that can take multiple blows to their head in stride fell in a single blow.

More and more were defeated, and those watching started becoming curious by just how strong Tommy is right now.

His internal cultivation is at Peak S rank but his physical strength didn’t seem much weaker.

“Sixteen years old and already such a powerful internal-external dual cultivator?”

“Hmph, he is just a child with great strength, waving his arms without form. Let me at him!”

“Sword Slave! If it’s you, then even if he is stronger by ten times, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Not only me. I brought Swordy with me.”

Two towering men stepped forward. The one called Sword Slave held a single katana while Swordy carried a giant blade.

Under the glaring afternoon sun, their skin were shiny bronze and their muscles branched and bulging. Without discussing, the two ripped apart their clothes and revealed their bodybuilder physique. Compared to Tommy, the two muscle-bound giants looked far less sculpted and much bulkier.

It is hard to think that they could move fast with those hindering meat around their arms and legs.

The two basked in everyone’s stare seemed to have the fires in their eyes lit up and started arching their arms and flexing their biceps.

The sunlight that fell on their smooth shiny skin was enough to blind those that stood too close.

“Ohhhh!”

*Clap clap clap*

Around them, an applause of appreciation followed.

Tommy took a good look at the two then mumbled, “I see… the promotion trial requires me to surpass the barbarians in not just firepower but also looks. I will take up your challenge!”

“Huh, what is this guy saying?” A few barbarians around whispered but the serious look in Tommy eyes caused them to quieten down.

There was a silent in the air, as though a hurricane is brewing.

Then, Tommy uncovered the top portion of his robes revealing his chest. His top fell.

His hair, thick like a lion’s mane, started bleaching into pure white much like his contract beast’s fur as it wavered in the air as though carried by the winds.

He had powerful shoulders and a perfect lean figure that hides an unfathomable strength.

Instead of clothes, ice and lightning robed him.

Staying frequently in the elemental furnace that Kairos made had risen his affinity tremendously at the same time of giving him incredible resistance.

But as if it wasn’t enough to paralyse everyone with awe, a frightening warrior’s spirit burst out from him and formed a Vajra circle at his back – a symbol of the Dharma mantra.

Golden light started seeping out from his skin as his irises turned iridescent white.

At this moment he had the visage of a war god.

The barbarians around were even more delighted than before and they threw their arms in the air and cheered.

*HURAAHHH!!*

Sword Slave and Swordy took one look at his current form and shrunk, the two literally deflated.

“Tch.”

In terms of looks, they have completely lost. The two shot Tommy a look of unhappiness.

As an Internal-External dual cultivator, Tommy’s display is far more spectacular than theirs.

However, the next moment, they charged at Tommy without fear.

Those mistaken that their confidence was quashed will pay dearly, this shrivelled look is their actual fighting appearance.

The External Practitioners direct their Ki to refine their bodies and slowly as the energy merged with their flesh they become stronger than normal humans. They may lack the intricate ability to project or mould their Ki out of their bodies but it doesn’t mean that they cannot control their Ki well.

The reason they looked like branched grapes with their bulging muscles is because of their Ki control, and it is to display their level of physical strength.

Those well-versed in External Cultivation could tell with a look that those two are at the level of Earth Grade Titan Rank and already very close to Heaven Grade.

In battle, this control over Ki could help them gather their strength on certain parts of their body for all kinds of purposes. For example, they could strengthen the skin to resist elemental attacks or harden their fist to strike. It is quite similar to Kairos’ Eternal Empyrean martial art except it requires a powerful body and enough time to execute the move.

The Eternal Empyrean on the other hand could be used with a single thought and is a physical skill that could be used by both Internal and External Practitioners. Of course, as a high-grade technique, it is also far more potent.

Thus, when Swordy and Sword Slave attacked, they were only running at their usual top speed and unable to boost their acceleration like the Eternal Empyrean: Burst.

Tommy immediately realised that the two External Practitioners have weapon mastery, but it is different from Internal Practitioners.

The two swordsmen struck like vipers. Their movements were swift but heavy and filled with power.

They swung their weapons downwards with wide movements at Tommy.

With his Soul Perception that helped struck down so many enemies at their weak points with top precision, he could sense their attacks coming from a mile away.

He jumped backwards with plenty of time and prepared to charge forward at the opening after their swing.

As he landed on his heel, an overwhelming sense of danger caused him the abandon his previous plans and quickly raised his arms in defence.

*PANG*

Tommy’s armguards went up just in time to protect him. He looked down at his protectors and saw two thin grey lines were left by the sudden slashes he blocked.

“I definitely avoided their attacks… so how come?”

As he whispered how unconceivable he felt it was, two red lines slowly appeared on his shoulders and sides with blood gushing out.