Seeing this, Zhao Cheng didn't let the occasion intimidate him. He strode forward and addressed everyone openly. "Hello, everyone. My name is Zhao Cheng. Zhao, as in Zhao Qian Sun Li, and Cheng, as in success."
After speaking, Zhao Cheng bowed slightly, then returned to his original spot.
"Haha!"
"What a fine 'Cheng'—success!"
Director Shi laughed. It seemed he was speaking to everyone present, yet also as if talking to himself.
"Since we have a newcomer, I'll go over the old rules again: Qingyuan's Sword Trial."
"The Qingyuan Sword Trial is held every half month. Students spar with one another to test their swordsmanship."
"The rules of the Qingyuan Sword Class are simple. Aside from the most basic resources, all other resources used for sword training must be redeemed with study points. The number of points you receive depends on your ranking in the Kendo Class."
"Newcomers may feel these rules are unfair to them and favor the old students. But that's how reality works. Resources always tilt toward the strong. That's an unbreakable law!"
"And yet, that is the charm of the sword. Everything is won through the sword alone. With a sword in hand, anything is possible. The weak can defeat the strong, and the strong can become weak. It all comes down to your own ability!"
"Resources are limited. If you want them, you have to fight for them. The path of the sword is long and arduous. Without the fighting spirit to win everything through the sword alone, you might as well give up now!"
"If you don't even have the will to win in a place as small as Qingyuan, how can you expect to compete with others once you leave?"
"Enough idle talk. Now, let's go over the rules of the Sword Trial."
"Newcomers naturally start at the bottom of the rankings. However, they do have one hidden perk. During their first Sword Trial, if they're confident in their abilities, they can keep challenging others as long as they don't lose—even all the way to first place."
"As for the old students, they may choose any opponent ranked up to five places above them. Win or lose, they only get one challenge!"
"Also, as another newcomer perk, newcomers get to begin their challenges last."
"Now, starting with last season's bottom-ranked student, the Sword Trial begins."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Tianyi stepped aside, leaving the center of the floor to the students about to compete.
Meanwhile, Wu Nian turned to Zhao Cheng. "This is your first Sword Trial, so just do your best."
"Let me explain a few details. Since this is only a trial and not real combat, you'll wear protective gear during the matches."
"You probably know how it works. The gear has six parts: the torso, four limbs, and the neck. When you spar with someone, you only score points by hitting their gear. If you hit anywhere else, the referee will decide what to do. If it was intentional, you'll be disqualified immediately. If it was accidental, you simply won't score. Don't think you can fake it—the eyes of a group of swordsmen are never to be underestimated."
"Hitting the limbs or torso earns one point. The first to five points wins. A hit to the neck wins the match outright."
"The reasoning is simple. You can keep fighting if your limbs or torso are injured. But if someone cuts your neck, a normal person dies on the spot."
"Also, the Sword Trial runs from the bottom of the rankings upward. Since you can choose from five ranks above your own, everyone except the top-ranked student only has to defend against two challenges before they're exempt from further matches. Of course, if you feel you can still fight, you can continue accepting challenges."
"Newcomers are the exception. If you want to challenge someone, no one can refuse."
"Oh, and each time you challenge someone, you can only choose an opponent ranked up to five places above you. You can't challenge first place directly."
"Here are a few tips. When the others compete later, watch them carefully. The more you watch, the more you'll understand the tricks of a match. Watching the Sword Trial and sparring with others can help you improve, even if it can't compare to a real fight with live blades."
"In peacetime, there aren't many opportunities for real combat. It's nothing like the ancient sword heroes, who honed themselves through one real battle after another—though even more of them died along the way."
"Besides, before your turn, make sure to regulate your breathing and visualize to get yourself into the right state. Look at the old students. Some of those about to compete, or who might compete, have already begun adjusting their breathing while Director Shi is speaking."
"Before a match, the ancients didn't just regulate their breathing and visualize. They even burned incense and bathed to prepare their minds. Of course, there's no need to go to such lengths nowadays."
"Also, Director Shi seems to think highly of you. I'll go feel him out in a bit. He's a formidable man."
At the mention of Shi Tianyi, Wu Nian gave a peculiar smile.
"All right, that's all I have to say. Watch carefully. I'll go over to Director Shi for a while."
Wu Nian's voice was very low, but Zhao Cheng heard him clearly. He had evidently used some special technique, especially in that last sentence, which had the air of a secret transmission.
Before his words had even faded, Wu Nian had already hurried over to Shi Tianyi, making a great show of himself in front of the man.
Seeing this, Zhao Cheng paid them no further attention and turned his gaze to the floor.
While they had been talking, two boys had already stepped out to compete. One of them was last season's bottom-ranked student, a first-year high schooler.
His opponent was ranked thirty-first. Before Zhao Cheng joined, there had been thirty-two people in the Kendo Class.
Both were already wearing their protective gear. They stood still, calming their minds and focusing completely.
At the referee's command, the two wooden swords crashed together.
Both had steady sword forms and plenty of explosive power, but to Zhao Cheng, they were riddled with openings. After all, his swordsmanship level in the mental realm was simply too high.
Besides that, he had experienced several real battles—true life-and-death struggles—and gained enlightenment in the midst of them. His swordsmanship now carried emotions that belonged to him alone.
He was already on a different level from these two students.
There was a world of difference between those who had experienced life-and-death combat and those who had not.
The former wielded swords that were far more decisive, resolute, and murderous than the latter's. With every swing, they put life and death aside. They fought with their backs to the wall, and only then could a sword's lethality be pushed to its limit.
The swords of the two before him reminded Zhao Cheng of himself during his first fight with the Fist Art Master. His movements had been steady, but cautious and self-preserving, unwilling to take risks. He hadn't seemed to be wielding a sword so much as a shield.
Their swordsmanship wasn't meant for killing or overcoming the strong while weak. It was meant for self-preservation.
There wasn't a trace of the sword's edge in it!
Of course, Zhao Cheng didn't look down on the two of them. Not everyone had the advantages he did. Before he began the simulations, he hadn't been much stronger than them.
While Zhao Cheng watched the match, Wu Nian had nearly finished feeling out Director Shi. When he judged the moment was right, he asked as if the question had just occurred to him, "Why did you laugh while you were speaking just now, Director?"
Director Shi smiled. "I thought your student was interesting. At such a young age, he already understands the principle of keeping one's weapons concealed and waiting for the right moment. He has an edge, but doesn't reveal it carelessly."
"When I was his age, I wasn't nearly so mature."
"That 'Cheng' of his doesn't mean success in a career. With a seed for such a murderous Swordsman, I don't think he's seeking career success. That 'Cheng' probably means Formation-Existence-Destruction-Emptiness. He achieves Emptiness through Formation, seeking the Dao through slaughter!"
Though his voice was not loud, every swordsman there had sharp eyes and ears. At once, many of the teachers turned their attention toward him, completely ignoring the clumsy exchange of blows on the floor.