Recently, Song Shi seemed to have some personal business to attend to. He only stayed at the Martial Arts Hall briefly, giving everyone some simple guidance before leaving alone. Any questions about training were left to Lu Yifan, Peng Chao, and Lin Shuguang.
The first two were acknowledged as experts within the hall, and both were about to take next month's Martial Arts Apprentice Exam.
As for Lin Shuguang, his strength was unknown because he had joined late, but everyone had seen his talent with the saber.
"Junior Brother Lin?"
At the voice, Lin Shuguang lowered his saber and looked over.
A short-haired young man walked up to him, his seemingly embarrassed smile carrying a hint of ingratiation.
His name was Li Xi. He had joined two months before Lin Shuguang and lived nearby.
Although his saber skills were not particularly good, he had awakened a special spiritual body, so he was fairly popular in the Martial Arts Hall.
He was shrewd, however. Whether it was Lu Yifan's circle or Peng Chao's little group, he offended neither and had never clearly committed to joining either.
He quite enjoyed the friendships he gained by holding out for the best offer.
With Lin Shuguang's sudden rise recently, though, Li Xi's attention had inevitably shifted toward him.
After observing him for days, Li Xi had to admit that Lin Shuguang was simply a genius born for the saber.
Whenever he watched Lin Shuguang practice, an inexplicable chill rose in his heart. He always seemed to feel that the saber in Lin Shuguang's hand would erupt with boundless power the next second, making him increasingly certain of Lin Shuguang's potential.
"Did you need something?"
Feng San was the person Lin Shuguang got along with best at the Martial Arts Hall, but Feng San rarely stayed put there, so Lin Shuguang seldom took the initiative to talk to anyone.
Perhaps because he had not spoken a single word that day, Lin Shuguang's "Did you need something?" sounded particularly stiff.
The corners of Li Xi's mouth twitched. Seemingly accustomed to Lu Yifan and Peng Chao's courtesy, he had never expected Lin Shuguang to be so cold.
He gave a dry laugh and forced himself to sound composed. "Junior Brother Lin, I've been having trouble controlling my power while practicing the Tiger Roar Saber Technique lately. Could I trouble you to give me some guidance?"
"The Tiger Roar Saber Technique? I haven't practiced that sort of low-level saber technique in a while."
Lin Shuguang muttered this.
Li Xi's lips trembled at his words, and his expression darkened.
He knew Lin Shuguang had already begun practicing a more powerful killing technique, but hearing it stated so plainly hurt his pride somewhat. He had yet to even grasp the basics of the Tiger Roar Saber Technique, let alone a killing technique.
After a moment's thought, Lin Shuguang said, "Actually, the principles of controlling power are the same, whether it's the Tiger Roar Saber Technique or the Star Prison Gale Slash. You need to grasp them yourself. No matter how much I say, it won't build muscle memory for you. I'll keep practicing in a moment. You can watch from the side. How much you understand will depend on your own comprehension."
Li Xi: "..."
By the time he came back to his senses, Lin Shuguang had already resumed practicing.
His lips twitched. Li Xi reassured himself that Lin Shuguang was simply a training fanatic, and only then adjusted his attitude and followed him.
Everyone saw what Li Xi did.
Lu Yifan had only intended to make friends in the first place, so he did not take it to heart.
Peng Chao, however, stood at a distance watching Li Xi curry favor with Lin Shuguang. A sneer soon formed on his lips. "Ignorant."
Someone beside him whispered, "Senior Brother Peng, Lin Shuguang learned a killing technique at such a young age. Could he be an exceptionally gifted prodigy too? A little while ago, I saw Teacher give him some notes about the exam. Could he be taking next month's exam too?"
Another person said in surprise, "Could Lin Shuguang really be a genius?"
Peng Chao narrowed his eyes and glanced at Lin Shuguang, seemingly a little surprised.
He would not admit that he had misjudged him.
He sneered. "Do you think just anyone can be a genius? He's still a long way off. So what if he takes it? Does he really think he can pass? What a joke!"
After saying this, his gaze grew determined, and he thought to himself, I have to pass the exam in a month. Then I can choose a better martial arts school and have a better chance of becoming a true martial artist in the future... Then I can enjoy wealth and glory!
Peng Chao had already postponed taking the exam for three years, hoping to enter a top martial arts school. Only then would his chances of becoming a martial artist increase.
Steeling his resolve once more, Peng Chao chose to ignore Lin Shuguang and began training even harder.
Although he could not unleash his true strength in the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Shuguang's training did not require him to reveal it.
He performed each move in turn, quietly sensing the flow of his blood energy. Practicing this way would keep him from needlessly wasting extra strength when using his saber techniques in the future.
The earlier improvement to his [Basic Body Refining Technique] had unlocked part of his body's potential.
During this time, aside from discovering that his physical capabilities were clearly stronger than those of people his age, and even people with the same blood energy value, Lin Shuguang found that his perception seemed to have improved tremendously.
Evolution?
Lin Shuguang was not sure whether he had evolved. It seemed that with a single thought, he could clearly sense everything inside his body. When he concentrated intensely, he could even just barely stimulate his cells to release a burst of blood energy.
Li Xi kept up his attentiveness for two whole days, until the day Lin Shuguang arrived at the Martial Arts Hall and found, unusually, that no one was training. Instead, everyone was gathered together, talking animatedly.
Lin Shuguang looked puzzled.
Just then, Feng San walked over, pulled him aside, and pointed ahead. "See that guy?"
He motioned for Lin Shuguang to look at the black-haired youth beside Song Shi.
What caught Lin Shuguang's attention, however, was the burly man beside that black-haired youth. He was like the sun, his blood energy surging.
A martial artist?
Lin Shuguang instinctively looked toward Song Shi.
Unfortunately, even now, he still could not sense the extent of Song Shi's blood energy.
Either he practiced some technique that could conceal his blood energy, or this down-to-earth hall master's blood energy was actually beyond Lin Shuguang's understanding.
As he was thinking, Feng San whispered, "That guy's name is Ye Tianhao. He's the Ye Family's sole heir—a young aristocrat born with a silver spoon in his mouth, you could say. People have always said he's a prodigy who practices both sword and saber. I didn't expect the rumors to be true. He actually came to our Martial Arts Hall to practice the saber.
"I heard he went to the famous Nanjiang Martial Hall not long ago to study swordsmanship. To think he'd come to our Martial Arts Hall so soon. He certainly is confident."
"The Ye Family?" Lin Shuguang raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding the name somewhat familiar.
Then it dawned on him.
Wasn't this the person Xu Jie mentioned?
Feng San remarked casually, "They're a renowned martial artist family here in Huai City. Come to think of it, they have some history with our Martial Arts Hall.
"Over eighty years ago, their family's ancestor studied saber techniques under our Martial Arts Hall's second hall master for a while."
Lin Shuguang suddenly asked, "Who's the man beside him?"
Feng San paused, looked at Lin Shuguang, and chuckled. "You've got a good eye. You spotted the expert right away. His name is Ye Wu. He's a martial artist, and he supposedly works for the National Special Department. He's very strong."
He really was a martial artist!
Lin Shuguang looked at Ye Wu thoughtfully.
"Then I'll leave him in your care, Hall Master Song." Ye Wu was very courteous toward Song Shi. He then looked at Ye Tianhao, nodded, and left under everyone's envious, fearful gazes.
Song Shi beckoned. "All right, quiet down, everyone. Let me introduce someone..."
He gestured toward Ye Tianhao, who stood beside him with an indifferent expression, and told everyone, "This is our Martial Arts Hall's new student, Ye Tianhao. He'll be training with everyone until next month's exam. He's new here, so look after him.
"Ye Tianhao has extraordinary talent in both swordsmanship and saber techniques. You can exchange ideas with him as well. You might find some inspiration."
Song Shi's words made the surrounding students draw sharp breaths.
"The rumors really were true! Ye Tianhao really does practice both sword and saber!"
"He's taking next month's Martial Arts Apprentice Exam too? Damn, what a monster!"
Among the crowd, Peng Chao stared at Ye Tianhao with an almost tangible gaze.
He envied Ye Tianhao's background and talent.
At the same time, he wondered why Ye Tianhao had chosen the Storm Martial Arts School for this final half month.
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