Ming Hao and the others wandered around the sprawling academy, finally managing to find the classroom.
Holding their tokens, they swiped them gently at the entrance. Once their identities were verified, they slowly pushed open the door and entered.
The moment they stepped inside, Ming Hao and the others were stunned by the sight before them-the enormous classroom already held more than two hundred people.
And a steady stream of people was still making its way over. They had never expected the Martial Arts Class to be so popular.
Ming Hao and the others found a few empty meditation cushions near the back of the classroom and hurriedly sat down.
Their bottoms had barely touched the cushions, and they had yet to catch their breath, when a clear bell rang out.
Immediately afterward, a lean, muscular man in his thirties strode inside.
He casually closed the classroom door, then swiftly cast a formation that enveloped the entire room.
After all, this class charged a fee. Naturally, those who had not paid could not be allowed to eavesdrop outside and get a free lesson.
Once the formation was in place, the instructor stepped onto the platform, switched on the screen, and launched into an explanation that flowed as ceaselessly as the waters of the Yangtze.
His explanations progressed from easy to difficult, from the basics to deeper principles, and his language was clear and accessible. Many disciples instantly understood martial arts questions they had previously failed to unravel despite racking their brains.
Time ticked by. About forty minutes later, the instructor finally stopped lecturing. He smiled at the disciples below and said:
"All right, the floor is now open for questions. Feel free to bring up any problems you usually encounter, and I'll answer them one by one."
Lin Yong and the others listened with utmost attention, afraid of missing any important point. Every one of them stared intently at the instructor, unwilling to miss a single word he said.
Later, Lin Yong and the others also asked several questions. The instructor cleared up each one, bringing them to sudden understanding on the spot.
"Instructor, why is there a gulf between people's fighting strength when they're all in the same realm and have learned similar moves?"
One disciple voiced the question, instantly striking a chord with everyone. After all, such things were everywhere around them. How could they not care?
The instructor first gave that disciple an approving look, then began explaining in detail:
"That's a good question. I'm sure everyone is curious about this, since it concerns how strong each of you is.
"Take a recent hot topic as an example. Ten days ago, a group of four fought a team of nearly a hundred. They were all in the same major realm, and many were even at the same cultivation stage.
"Have you all heard how it turned out?"
"We have. Friends who were there said those four disciples not only came out unscathed, but even beat the other side until they scattered like fallen flowers and flowing water!"
Another disciple hurriedly answered.
"Exactly. That's right."
The instructor nodded with a smile and continued,
"The reason was that those four disciples fully exploited their advantages in battle, while their opponents failed to do so.
"Combat isn't merely a contest of moves. It's also a contest of intelligence and strategy.
"Under the same conditions, those who can flexibly use their advantages and seize opportunities in battle will often achieve better results."
"Why don't you guess what made their fighting strength so outstanding?
"It comes down to the following points:
"First, they had more combat experience than their opponents and were more flexible and adaptable. That was a major advantage.
"Second, they coordinated better and fought fearlessly, without shrinking from death. Just imagine:
"One group is terrified of dying, everyone passing the buck and wanting their teammates to stand at the front, while the other side fears no death and works together seamlessly. How could they compare?
"Third, one side consisted of body refiners or people who emphasized physical cultivation, while the other mostly consisted of ordinary spell cultivators unsuited to close combat.
"Imagine your full-powered strike only giving your opponent a slight injury, while a casual blow from them leaves you seriously wounded. How could you win?
"Fourth, the martial skills they practiced differed, as did their proficiency. Their fist technique had reached major mastery, while yours was only at the beginner level. How could you contend with them?
"Fifth, everyone's body and meridians absorb spiritual energy differently. Some people's meridians are like mighty rivers surging endlessly, and the spiritual energy within them is several times that of others.
"Some people's meridians are like little streams and rivulets. They hold far less spiritual energy than others, and every blow they strike carries less spiritual energy than their opponent's.
"Sixth, everyone has a different physique. Some possess a saint body, while others have only an ordinary physique.
"Some don't even have a special physique at all. If your opponent has a Demonic Ape Saint Body and you have an ordinary combat physique, it was never a fair match to begin with.
"Seventh..."
Standing on the platform, the instructor explained all kinds of knowledge and techniques, his words pouring forth like a cascading river. His voice rose and fell, brimming with passion, as though it could pierce everyone's soul.
Under his explanations, many who had been confused suddenly felt the tangled brush clear from their minds. Understanding dawned on their faces, and they nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Lin Yong and the others exchanged glances, understanding one another without a word.
They could be said to have the most authority to speak on this subject. After all, the people involved were sitting right there, and each of them had his or her own distinct cultivation focus and specialty.
Lin Yong primarily practiced physical techniques. He excelled at close-range combat skills and possessed an extraordinarily powerful body and an immense pool of health. He was practically a human tank!
In battle, he was like an indestructible fortress, able to withstand the enemy's ferocious attacks and deliver powerful counterblows.
Lin Hao focused on movement techniques and martial skills that killed in a single strike. Though his body was stronger than an ordinary person's, it still fell somewhat short of Lin Yong's.
However, his movement was lightning-fast. He could often win through surprise at critical moments, leaving enemies unable to guard against him.
Lin Zihan primarily practiced spells and close-range combat skills, while also devoting some attention to physical cultivation.
Her long, beautiful legs were not only part of her charm, but also her weapons. At nearly 1.9 meters tall, her legs accounted for well over half her height.
In battle, she could use her legs with great agility, unleashing fierce kicks that left her opponents powerless to fight back.
Ming Hao, meanwhile, practiced a little of everything. His knowledge and skills were a vast, jumbled assortment.
His problem, however, was that many of his skills could not be used as freely as he wished.
Take the Devouring Great Art, for example. It was an extremely formidable method, but if he actually used it, he would likely be treated as a demonic cultivator immediately. The consequences would be unthinkable.
Likewise, once he used the Tyrant Art, the Nine-Turn Emperor Art, the Nightmare Great Art, and so on, others could easily uncover his secrets.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the class was over.
The disciples were still immersed in the instructor's brilliant explanations, feeling that they had not had their fill.
Quite a few even purchased the next lesson without hesitation, eager to continue learning.
After leaving the classroom, Lin Yong and the others were about to part ways with Ming Hao. They had recently acquired some spirit stones and had booked various classes.
This was something they would never even have dared dream of before, and their strength was advancing by leaps and bounds.
They could break through to the Out-of-Body Realm at any moment, but had been suppressing their cultivation these past few days.
This only strengthened their conviction that following Ming Hao would eventually let them rise above the crowd. As long as he did not drive them away, they would follow him in whatever he did.
They then said their goodbyes, agreeing to do battle at the Dining Hall again the next morning.