Great Perfection!

The crowd below erupted in an uproar.

The apprentices were left stunned.

Zhou Cang's voice echoed throughout the entire venue, "Next, begin cultivating according to my method. Use your eyes to see, your heart to think, and your body to comprehend."

With that, Zhou Cang began reciting the incantation.

"Sink your qi to your dantian, focus your intent on your spiritual platform..."

The apprentices quickly sat down cross-legged, closed their eyes, and concentrated.

They began attempting to breathe according to Zhou Cang's guidance.

Lin Guanhuo also sat down amidst the crowd, but he didn't bury himself in practice like the others.

Instead, he opened his System interface.

[Name: Lin Guanhuo]
[Realm: Body Tempering Third Grade]
[Martial Art: Precept Breaking Saber Art (Killing Move)]
[Current Lifespan: 62 years]
[Remaining Draw Sword Uses: 1400]

After breaking through to Body Tempering Third Grade, his lifespan had directly increased by sixty years.

In this chaotic era where the average lifespan was less than forty years, this was considered a long life.

And the 1400 Draw Sword uses were accumulated from his recent efforts.

Little by little, the quantity had become considerable.

"Since the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique is a basic skill, it shouldn't be difficult," Lin Guanhuo mused. "I'll spend 1000 uses to test the waters, and say more if it's not enough!"

With that thought, Lin Guanhuo spoke directly in his mind, "System, consume 1000 Draw Sword uses to infuse the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique!"

[Draw Sword Uses Consumed: 1000]
[Deducing Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique...]

Within his consciousness, the shadowy figure reappeared.

It sat cross-legged and began to breathe in and out frantically.

Lin Guanhuo had initially thought that 1000 uses would at most allow him to reach the introductory or minor completion stage of this technique.

After all, for the fourth layer of the Precept Breaking Saber Art, 1000 uses wouldn't even cause a ripple.

However, the next second, the System's notification sound made him freeze.

[Deduction Complete.]
[Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique Breakthrough to Great Perfection!]

"It's... complete already?"

Lin Guanhuo opened his eyes, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

It was max level with only 1000 uses?

That was too cheap!

"Still, having more skills never hurts."

Since it was already max level.

There was no point in sitting there pretending.

So, while everyone else was still cultivating with their eyes closed.

Lin Guanhuo patted his butt, stood up, and went back to the corner to continue drawing his sword.

On the high platform.

Zhou Cang, who had been watching him, frowned sharply.

"He gave up after less than fifteen minutes?"

Watching Lin Guanhuo's monotonous sword-drawing movements, Zhou Cang's last shred of hope vanished.

When he had seen the sword marks on the stone wall that day, he had thought this kid was a hidden genius.

Or perhaps a wise fool.

Now, it seemed those marks were just... a coincidence?

"Fickle and restless, utterly lacking in focus."

Zhou Cang shook his head. If he couldn't even calm down to practice the most basic breathing technique, such a person wouldn't get far on the path of martial arts.

Two more hours passed.

"I've got it! I've got it!"

On the training grounds.

A surprised shout of joy suddenly erupted from the crowd of apprentices.

Shen Yifan, sitting in the front row, abruptly opened his eyes, his face filled with elation.

Right in front of him.

A newly formed, still faint Qi Vortex was slowly swirling.

This was the sign of successfully breaking through to the first level!

"Brother Shen broke through??"

"This... this is too fast??"

Seeing this, the other apprentices present couldn't help but cast their gazes over.

Their expressions were full of envy and admiration.

"His talent is simply incredible..."

"We haven't even found our Qi sense, and he's already condensed a Qi Vortex!"

The surrounding apprentices were so envious their eyes turned red, and they swarmed forward to curry favor.

"Not at all, it was just luck!"

Shen Yifan stood up, waving his hand. He appeared polite.

Despite his words, the smug and pleased smile on his face was impossible to hide.

Meanwhile, Instructor Zhou Cang, not far away, showed a rare smile on his usually indifferent face.

"Good, breaking through in two hours. Although it's only the first level, it's top-tier among the newcomers."

Time passed, and it was soon afternoon.

Several more people gradually grasped the breathing technique.

Shen Yifan was naturally the best, his talent truly exceptional. In just one afternoon, he had managed to condense three Qi Vortices!

Next was Zhao Ming from the Blood Heaven Martial Arts School, who condensed two.

The popular female apprentice Li Miaomiao also grasped it. Although she only had one Qi Vortex, it was enough for her to stand out among the newcomers.

As for the others, more than half of them hadn't even managed to achieve anything.

"Young Master Shen, I'm still a bit unclear about the circulation route of this Qi. Could you guide me?"

Li Miaomiao approached Shen Yifan, her pretty face slightly flushed, and asked humbly.

"No problem."

Shen Yifan was in a great mood. How could he pass up an opportunity to show off in front of a beauty?

Afterward, Shen Yifan patiently began to explain to Li Miaomiao.

Shen Yifan did have talent. His explanation greatly benefited Li Miaomiao.

"Thank you, Young Master Shen," Li Miaomiao said with a sweet smile.

She subconsciously turned her head.

Towards a corner of the training grounds.

There, Lin Guanhuo was still drawing his sword...

Over and over again, tirelessly, repeating the same movement.

"Hmm?"

Shen Yifan followed Li Miaomiao's gaze.

At this moment, many people on the scene had also noticed Lin Guanhuo.

After all, this person had been drawing his sword in the corner for the past few days, and Instructor Zhou Cang had even personally vouched for him today.

To outsiders, Lin Guanhuo indeed seemed like an anomaly.

"What is he doing?"

A female apprentice next to her muttered softly, "Why is he just repeating one movement by himself..."

Another apprentice chimed in, "I think he just can't learn it and is pretending."

"The path of martial arts isn't won solely through perseverance. Drawing his sword until the end of time won't help his martial path..."

"That's true. I heard he got in through the back door, so he probably doesn't have much talent."

Listening to the surrounding discussions.

Li Miaomiao looked at Lin Guanhuo's figure, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

When she first saw him in the Miscellaneous Room courtyard, she thought that although the young man was dressed in rags.

His calm and stern demeanor was very attractive, and she had assumed he was a master whose talents were unrecognized.

It seems I was overthinking things.

Where in this world are there so many hidden masters?

There are only ordinary people who are mediocre and don't even know it.

And in the corner, facing the surrounding chatter and gazes.

Lin Guanhuo paid no mind, just kept drawing his sword over and over again.

[Draw Sword Count +1]

[Draw Sword Count +1]

[Draw Sword Count +1]

Just then, a voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Brother, hold on a moment."

Lin Guanhuo turned his head and saw several figures walking towards him.

It was Shen Yifan, the most outstanding performer among this batch of apprentices.

Beside him were Li Miaomiao and several other apprentices.

Lin Guanhuo frowned slightly. In the few days he'd been at the Demon Suppressing Division, he hadn't interacted much with these people.

What did they want?