"Martial skills were divided into nine ranks, and alchemy into nine grades."
"For those of you in the Bone Tempering Realm, the martial skills you can train in range from the first to the third rank."
"As for fourth-rank skills and above, those are beyond you. They're for Martial Artists at higher realms."
"Powerful martial skills often possess extraordinary abilities. They give you more options in a fight and let you face your opponents with greater ease."
Sun Rui looked over the many young, attentive faces below him and spoke slowly.
"Extreme Shadow Swordplay is an introductory sword art. Though unranked, its power and difficulty rival many first-rank martial skills. It's also a required part of the College Entrance Examination."
"It has four stages: Afterimage, Void Shadow, Shadowless, and Extreme Shadow!"
At the mention of the College Entrance Examination, the students' breathing quickened!
If they passed the martial arts College Entrance Examination and entered an excellent martial arts university—or even one of the Five Great Academies—their futures would be boundless!
Social standing and a bright future in martial arts would be within reach!
What student chose the Martial Arts Class without dreaming of rising through martial arts?
"This era really does give people more hope because martial arts exist." Su Ye swept his gaze over the students' eager, excited faces.
"But..."
"The truly top-tier resources are still in the hands of those great lineages and powers!"
Though he had returned to the Su Family a month ago, he had yet to be accepted and knew little of its inner workings.
Still, from the smallest details, he could glimpse the leopard through the bamboo tube and see how terrifying the foundations of the Su Family and the other Three Great Families were.
A level-one Bone Tempering Pill cost five thousand apiece, yet direct descendants like Lin Qingyue could eat them like candy.
Even in their training, high-level Martial Artists guided them around countless wrong turns!
And there was even less need to mention Breathing Techniques.
Ordinary people could only wait for the school to teach them the Azure Cloud Breathing Technique. Children of the great lineages received superior visualization Breathing Techniques in advance and could begin training early. Without tempered Martial Bones, they struggled to draw their energy into the practice and progressed slowly, but they still started ahead of everyone else.
As for martial skills?
Su Ye had to scrimp and carefully budget just to sign up for extra classes.
Someone like Lin Qingyue had not one private tutor, but several!
Su Ye sighed. It was possible to turn one's fortunes around, but most resources and opportunities were still monopolized by these powerful factions!
Sun Rui then explained how this round would be tested.
Testing a martial skill was much simpler than the previous two assessments.
After all, it required neither an exact measure of punching force nor a test of Spiritual Power and temperament.
"When I call your stage, come forward and demonstrate."
A simple, straightforward test!
Martial skills were techniques, and each stage usually had obvious distinguishing features. They were hard to fake.
"Students who have reached the Afterimage stage of Extreme Shadow Swordplay, step forward."
Sun Rui looked down at the students and spoke calmly.
They exchanged glances. Then roughly a quarter stepped forward, Zhang Yuan among them.
The homeroom teachers, all at the Blood Nourishing Realm, nodded slightly. "That's a little better than previous years. Usually, only a fifth or a sixth of the students have mastered the basics by now."
The rest had not all reached Void Shadow or higher, of course.
Most had yet to master the basics at all!
"For most students, resources and energy are limited. Tempering a Martial Bone and mastering the basics of a Breathing Technique is already hard enough."
"Martial skills are an extra flourish—a way to earn bonus points."
Luo Ding, the homeroom teacher of Class 6, Grade 12, spoke quietly with several other teachers.
The homeroom teacher of Class 1, Grade 12 glanced at him. "Still, every year we get a few promising students with good comprehension. I wonder if this year will bring a surprise."
"I know the other three major high schools have strong students. Some have even achieved complete mastery."
"I heard they paid a fortune to bring in a Heavenly Chosen from the neighboring city, all for this School Competition."
At the mention of the School Competition, the teachers' expressions shifted. A hint of seriousness and anticipation appeared on every face.
In the testing area, the students finished demonstrating Extreme Shadow Swordplay.
Sun Rui's eyes flickered, and he called out clearly once more:
"Those who've reached the second stage, Void Shadow, step forward!"
This time, only a handful came out!
After all, Extreme Shadow Swordplay was only a small part of the College Entrance Examination, yet most students reached no further than Void Shadow by exam time. That alone showed how difficult it was.
The homeroom teacher of Class 6, Grade 12 made a quick count:
"Thirteen. Better than last year's nine."
"Every year, the competition gets fiercer!"
Those thirteen included Fang Yuan, Yao Hong, Li Yue, and others who had placed well in the earlier assessments.
Anyone who had reached Void Shadow already would be at least at the third stage, Shadowless, by the College Entrance Examination. Most would likely achieve complete mastery of Extreme Shadow.
The other students watched the thirteen with envy and complicated feelings!
Comparing yourself with others could drive you mad!
"Sure enough, those who did well in the first two assessments aren't falling behind in this round!"
But several homeroom teachers and many students noticed something strange.
The three who had drawn so much attention earlier had not stepped forward.
Lin Qingyue, Ye Xingli, and Su Ye!
"Could it be..." Their hearts gave a little jolt as a possibility occurred to them.
Sun Rui called out again:
"Students who've reached the third stage, Shadowless, step forward!"
In previous years, the best students had generally reached this stage!
Then, before everyone's eyes, Lin Qingyue strode forward proudly!
An uproar broke out!
Many students smiled bitterly, their faces full of resignation.
Shadowless!
You really couldn't compare yourself with some people!
Most of them had not even mastered the basics, yet the Young Miss of the Lin Family had already reached the third stage. It was frightening!
Lin Qingyue thoroughly enjoyed having every eye on her.
But an instant later, her fine brows drew together.
What was going on?!
She had been watching Ye Xingli, the rival in her heart, as well as Su Ye, whom she despised and looked down on.
Neither of them had stepped forward!
Her heart lurched with a sudden sense of foreboding!
Had those two failed to master Extreme Shadow Swordplay? She found that hard to believe!
But she had little time to dwell on it. She immediately demonstrated Extreme Shadow Swordplay!
Dozens of sword strikes flashed out, the real and illusory interwoven. Hidden within them were formless, shadowless blades. Her mastery was plain to see!
This was a source of Lin Qingyue's pride!
Her comprehension was exceptional!
She could even sense that, given a few more days, she might reach the highest stage of Extreme Shadow Swordplay!
"Students who've reached the fourth stage of Extreme Shadow Swordplay... Extreme Shadow, please step forward!"
After Lin Qingyue withdrew, still troubled by her suspicions, Sun Rui called out, his eyes gleaming.
Under everyone's gaze!
Ye Xingli took a step forward!
Su Ye's expression stirred, and he prepared to step forward too.
Just then, Zhang Yuan's eyes darted about, and he suddenly called out:
"Principal Sun, if someone has developed Extreme Shadow Sword Intent, does that count as the Extreme Shadow stage? Should they step forward now?"
Before you continue