Heaven Rewards Diligence, Void Shadow Stage!

Countless insights flooded into his mind!

"So this was Extreme Shadow Swordplay?"

Su Ye closed his eyes and swiftly absorbed his understanding of Extreme Shadow Swordplay, as though he had already practiced it alone hundreds and thousands of times.

[Consumed 1 Manifestation count, Extreme Shadow Swordplay (Beginner)]!

[Extreme Shadow Swordplay (1/1000)]!

Su Ye was itching to move. An urge to pick up the training wooden sword beside him and unleash Extreme Shadow Swordplay rose within him!

At the same time, Su Ye gradually worked out some of the rules behind the Manifestation Talisman.

"When I have the most basic understanding of a Cultivation Method, Breathing Meditation Method, or martial skill, I can use the Manifestation Talisman to quickly get started."

At the front, Li Aoxue looked over the crowd below, a trace of displeasure flashing through her Beautiful Eyes.

Her gaze paused briefly on Su Ye, and that seeming dissatisfaction deepened.

"These people paid for tutoring classes, only to waste them like this?"

Many boys who clearly came from well-off families had their burning gazes fixed on her, while very few paid attention to her explanation.

She greatly disliked that feeling.

And that handsome Third Year student still wearing First High School's uniform had actually closed his eyes?

What was that supposed to mean?

Did he think she taught poorly? Or had he not come here to learn Extreme Shadow Swordplay at all?

Li Aoxue's impression of Su Ye worsened somewhat!

One class lasted two hours.

For the first half hour, Li Aoxue explained the swordplay. The remaining hour and a half was for individual practice and paired drills, during which Li Aoxue moved among the students to offer guidance.

"The explanation is over. You may use the martial arts hall's equipment to train."

"If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask me at any time."

Li Aoxue's voice was cool as she swept her gaze across the crowd below.

As an outstanding student in her Second Year University at one of the Five Great Academies, she was more than qualified to instruct them!

The moment her words fell, several students eagerly hurried toward Li Aoxue!

Zhang Yuan ground his teeth in frustration and slapped his thigh.

"Damn it! These people are really sly, rushing up there so fast!"

"Brother Ye, don't just stand there! Let's hurry over and ask Coach Li for guidance!"

Su Ye glanced at Zhang Yuan speechlessly, then shook his head.

"No need. Go by yourself."

"I'll practice on my own."

With the Manifestation Talisman, the fastest way for him to improve was to practice by himself!

With that, Su Ye picked up a training wooden sword and quietly headed to a corner!

Zhang Yuan gave Su Ye a look of exasperation, as though steel could not be forged into iron, then trotted eagerly toward Li Aoxue!

"Extreme Shadow Swordplay has twelve sword forms."

Su Ye gripped the slightly worn sword hilt, insights flashing through his mind.

"The first three forms are thrust, feint, and shake!"

"When combined in a special way, they can achieve the first stage of Extreme Shadow Swordplay—Afterimage!"

Su Ye bent his knees slightly, pointed his toes forward, and took on a horse stance, instantly lowering his center of gravity!

He took a deep breath, then suddenly thrust his sword out. It seemed to tear through space, carving a startling afterimage through the air!

For the second sword, the blade was like a roaming dragon, clawing and dancing as it feinted with shadows!

For the third sword, his wrist flicked lightly. Though it was clearly a straight sword, it seemed to turn into a whip in Su Ye's hand as it lashed out, making its landing point impossible to grasp!

[The sword was like a roaming dragon, following the shadow—Extreme Shadow Swordplay progress +1]!

[Extreme Shadow Swordplay (2/1000)]!

Strands of realization gradually surged into Su Ye's heart, and his movements became increasingly proficient!

This made Su Ye feel even more exhilarated.

"It is as though I have a proficiency bar. As long as I keep practicing, Heaven Rewards Diligence—there will definitely be gains!"

This kind of positive feedback made him feel more and more at ease!

Unnoticed by everyone else, Su Ye continued practicing his sword in the corner!

[Extreme Shadow Swordplay progress +1]!

[Extreme Shadow Swordplay progress +1]!

Li Aoxue was surrounded by people seeking guidance. It was nearly an hour before she finally got a brief chance to rest!

"Whew!"

Li Aoxue let out a long breath. If this had not been her family's martial arts hall—

she would not have wanted to come help at all!

Of the dozen or so people she had just guided, many were clearly not there for the wine but for the scenery. Several had already gotten started and reached the Afterimage stage!

"Hmm?!"

All of a sudden, her Beautiful Eyes narrowed sharply as she looked toward a corner not far away!

Her expression changed at once!

"What is this?"

That Third Year student who had closed his eyes and dozed off during her explanation?!

Her pupils contracted slightly. A flicker of surprise and uncertainty crossed her face as she walked toward that corner!

Li Aoxue's every movement was naturally the center of everyone's attention.

Seeing what she was doing, one gaze after another followed the direction in which she was walking.

There was only one person in that corner!

Zhang Yuan's eyes went wide.

"Holy crap? That's Brother Ye's direction?!"

Su Ye had long since forgotten everyone around him. The wooden sword in his hand moved as naturally as his fingers, as though he had painstakingly studied it for years!

Thrust, feint, lift, cleave...

A multitude of movements unfolded in his hands. Finally, they merged into one strike, yet it drew two startling sword shadows through the air!

One solid, one hollow—fast to the extreme!

Applied in actual combat, it could not only combine the real and the illusory to confuse an opponent, but also shift at any moment!

"Have you reached the Void Shadow stage?"

A cool voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Su Ye!

Su Ye stopped his swordplay. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead, and a faint fragrant body scent drifted into his nose.

Only then did he realize that Li Aoxue had already come to his side. He simply had not noticed because he had been so focused!

"Yes, Coach Li."

Glancing at the progress bar on his Manifestation Talisman—[282/1000]—Su Ye answered between breaths!

His eyes shone brightly!

In just one hour, he had successfully gotten started with Extreme Shadow Swordplay and practiced it to the second stage, the Void Shadow stage!

That being the case, before the Martial Arts Branch Exam—

he would definitely be able to train Extreme Shadow Swordplay to its highest stage, the Extreme Shadow stage!

He would take another step closer to the top ten before the Martial Arts Branch Exam!

Li Aoxue stared deeply at Su Ye with her Beautiful Eyes.

To practice martial skills, one had to first temper at least one Martial Bone.

Only upon reaching Third Year would students begin Tempering their Martial Bones.

In other words, Su Ye had reached the second stage of Extreme Shadow Swordplay within a month!

And judging by the way he looked, he clearly had not merely just entered the Void Shadow stage!

Such talent for comprehending martial skills was truly astonishing, enough to leave even Li Aoxue slightly surprised!

But the next moment, Li Aoxue's expression turned even colder, and she questioned him in a cool voice.

"My training class clearly states that it only teaches beginner fundamentals, and enrollment is limited to students with zero foundation."

"Since you had already reached the Void Shadow stage so early, why did you still sign up a few days ago?"

She stared at Su Ye, but her words were also meant to caution the others!

Not far away, Zhang Yuan muttered, "Holy crap," his eyes widening.

Brother Ye had reached the Void Shadow stage?

How had he never known that Brother Ye's talent for comprehending martial skills was so damn incredible?

Hearing Li Aoxue's words, Su Ye was also slightly taken aback.

After a moment of silence, he replied calmly.

"Coach Li..."

"Could it be that I reached the Void Shadow stage during these past few days... or even during this class?"