Training Grounds of the Warrior Division

In the afternoon, the training grounds of the Warrior Division were as noisy as ever. The sounds of clashing metal, heavy panting, and the instructors' reprimands blended together, filled with the scent of masculinity and sweat.

The figure of Lin Qin appeared here, not particularly conspicuous. He wore a simple training outfit, with that broadsword wrapped in cloth strips on his back. As a student of the Magic Department, he had the right to use the public equipment area here, provided he did not interfere with the formal courses of the Warrior Division.

He first completed a set of basic physical training, then walked toward the weight-training corner. Various stone locks and barbells were placed here. He selected a stone lock that matched his current strength level and began practicing snatches and clean-and-jerks. His movements were standard, his rhythm steady, and every exertion was accompanied by a short, sharp exhale.

Several students wearing the Warrior Division uniform were resting nearby, watching Lin Qin's meticulous form and whispering to each other.

"Is that kid from the Magic Department? He's here mooching off our equipment again."

"I heard his name is Lin Qin. He has top-tier mental power and mid-tier elemental affinity, though I don't know why he's working his body so hard."

"Who cares? Look at his form; it's quite standard, no worse than some of us."

Lin Qin turned a deaf ear to the discussion. He set down the stone lock, adjusted his breathing, and felt the soreness in his muscles and the activity of his Battle Qi as he reached exhaustion. This tangible sense of growing strength made him feel at ease.

After a short rest, he walked to the wooden dummy area specifically for sword practice. There stood many wooden dummies wrapped in thick leather, provided for students to practice hacking and thrusting. He chose an unoccupied dummy and unslung the broadsword from his back.

"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"

Unlike the sound of air being cut during practice swings, the broadsword struck the solid wooden dummy with a dull, powerful impact. He didn't use any flashy techniques, sticking to basic hacking, yet every strike landed in almost the exact same spot on the dummy, leaving deep gouges. During his practice, he deliberately controlled the output of his Battle Qi, sometimes letting it burst at the moment of contact to increase destructive power, and other times letting it evenly coat the blade to increase durability.

Sweat slid down his temples and dripped into the dust at his feet. He was fully immersed in his "dialogue" with the wooden dummy, feeling the recoil transmitted to his arms and adjusting his posture to dissipate the force.

"Hey, kid from the Magic Department."

A slightly rough voice rang out from the side. Lin Qin stopped his movements and turned to look. A youth, significantly taller and broader than him and wearing the Warrior Division uniform, stood nearby with his arms crossed, his face showing a hint of scrutiny and... curiosity?

"Something up?" Lin Qin asked calmly, using a cloth to wipe the wood shavings off his blade.

"My name is Buck," the youth said, pointing to the dummy Lin Qin had just been hacking at. "I've been watching you practice for a while. Your movements are steady, and your force application is solid. How long have you been training?"

"A few years." Lin Qin gave a vague answer.

"A few years?" Buck raised an eyebrow. "You don't look that old. Interested in sparring? No Battle Qi, just basic swordsmanship." He was clearly intrigued by this "oddity" and wanted to test his mettle.

Lin Qin looked at Buck, then at the broadsword in his hand, and nodded: "Sure."

The two walked to an open space and stood facing each other. Some of the resting warrior students noticed the commotion and gathered around with great interest.

"The Magic Department kid sparring with Buck? Interesting."

"Buck's foundations are very solid; that kid is probably going to suffer."

Buck took a wooden training sword from a nearby rack and weighed it in his hand: "Come on."

Lin Qin also gripped his broadsword; although it was unsharpened, the weight and feel were familiar.

Buck launched the first attack, his wooden sword whistling as it thrust forward; the speed was not slow, and the angle was quite tricky. Lin Qin did not meet it head-on, his feet shifting slightly as his body sidestepped. At the same time, his broadsword swept up from below, parrying Buck's thrust, and the tip of his blade followed through to point at Buck's wrist.

Buck let out an "Oh?" and quickly changed his move, blocking horizontally. The two traded blows, the collision of the wooden sword and broadsword producing "clack-clack" sounds.

The onlookers gradually lost their "just watching the show" expressions. They realized that this kid from the Magic Department had unexpectedly solid swordsmanship foundations! His footwork was steady, his defense tight, and his counterattacks precise. Although he seemed inferior to Buck in strength, he managed to trade blows evenly with him by relying on excellent anticipation and concise, effective movements.

Buck grew more and more alarmed as they fought. He felt as if every one of his attacks was being seen through by his opponent, always being neutralized in the most energy-efficient way. The opponent's sword path was simple and direct, without any wasted movement, yet it always threatened him at critical moments.

"Stop!" Buck jumped back, put away his wooden sword, and looked at him with admiration: "Impressive! Your foundations are better than mine. I've been training for so long, but I still can't quite control my strength, and my movements aren't as clean as yours."

Lin Qin also stood with his sword sheathed, his breathing only slightly rapid: "Your strength is great, and your speed is good too."

This was the truth. Buck's physical fitness was clearly superior to his, only his control over his strength was not yet refined enough.

"Haha, you're a good guy!" Buck laughed heartily and patted Lin Qin on the shoulder, causing Lin Qin's body to stiffen imperceptibly. "Come practice often! Sparring with you is much more interesting than with those guys!" He pointed at his companions who were watching the show, drawing a burst of laughter and teasing.

Lin Qin nodded. He did not reject this kind of pure exchange of skills; it allowed him to discover his own shortcomings.

The simple sparring session ended, and the onlookers dispersed. Lin Qin continued his sword-swinging practice, while Buck stood to the side, imitating Lin Qin's concise and efficient way of applying force, muttering to himself: "So that's how to make the force flow smoother..."

As the sun set, Lin Qin finished his training, put away his broadsword, and walked toward the dormitory. The training ground was still lively, but his heart was at peace. This small interlude in the Warrior Division was like a pebble thrown into a lake; the ripples quickly faded, yet it left a unique mark on his disciplined life of cultivation. He knew that tomorrow would still be a day of swinging his sword, meditating, and studying—a repeating cycle. And he loved every bit of it.