"Steven, those few fist techniques you worked out yourself are fairly good. You've barely reached the threshold of the 'Force of the Heavens and Earth,' but I suggest you choose a weapon in the future." Since he had taken Steven as his magical beast companion, Luo Ao felt he ought to give him some guidance.
Unlike most dim-witted magical beasts, Steven had fairly good comprehension. Through fumbling around on his own, he had nearly reached the realm of the "Force of the Heavens and Earth." Luo Ao believed that with his guidance, Steven might one day comprehend the profound mysteries of the laws.
"Why should I use a weapon? I think fists are better." The Purple-Eyed Golden-Haired Ape shook his head, his face full of puzzlement. As he spoke, he gestured with his fleshy fists.
"Do you think your fists can be as hard as a divine artifact?" Ultimately, the Purple-Eyed Golden-Haired Ape was only a Saint-level magical beast. At the Saint level, he held a considerable advantage over humans of the same level, but that would not necessarily be true once he reached the Deity Level. After all, he did not even have an innate divine ability.
"Here, I think this staff would suit you." As he spoke, Luo Ao handed Steven a pitch-black iron staff.
Although the iron staff looked unremarkable, it was forged entirely from mysterious black stone. It was so heavy that even an ordinary human Saint-level expert would find it somewhat cumbersome. To the Purple-Eyed Golden-Haired Ape, with his boundless strength, however, it was nothing.
"I see you have fairly good control over your strength. You've already reached the stage of 'Wielding Heavy Things as Though They Were Light.' With your racial talents as well, you probably have some hope of comprehending the profound mystery of 'Strength.'" Luo Ao then shared some of his insights into the profound mystery of "Strength" with Steven.
Steven lived up to his reputation as an eager-to-learn magical beast and immediately listened attentively. It seemed that following Luo Ao as his master did indeed have its benefits.
Although Luo Ao himself had no affinity for the Laws of the Earth, the portion of the Edicts of Destruction he had now comprehended shared common ground with the profound mystery of "Strength" within the Laws of the Earth. It was more than sufficient to guide Steven.
Whether Steven could comprehend it would depend on his own comprehension.
Three days later.
Luo Ao arrived at the imperial capital, Darren City, as promised. Headmaster Kaslo had already sent someone to receive him, and that person was none other than Ladar, whom he had met a few times before.
"Hehe, Lord Luo Ao, Headmaster Kaslo sent me to tell you that the academy's elite students have all been assembled. Sorry for the trouble, but we'll be asking you to give these youngsters some guidance." The headmaster had been thoughtful enough to specifically send an acquaintance to accompany him.
Ladar was a shrewd man as well. Although he had called Luo Ao "little brother" before, Luo Ao had now broken through to the Saint level and stood on the same level of strength as Lord Kaslo. Naturally, he would no longer presume on their familiarity.
"Ladar, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Luo Ao." Ladar was an old acquaintance of his father's, so Luo Ao was naturally quite courteous toward him.
"Mr. Luo Ao, then please forgive my presumption. Among this batch of elite students, there's a youngster named Lansi who's quite gifted. If it's convenient, perhaps you could give him some extra instruction." Seeing that Luo Ao was not an arrogant man who held everyone beneath him, Ladar took the opportunity to make this request.
Lansi was, in fact, a disciple he thought highly of. However, he himself was only an eighth-level warrior and could no longer offer this disciple any guidance.
For ordinary commoner students and even those from the lower and middle ranks of the nobility, this might be the only opportunity in their lives to receive guidance from a Saint-level expert.
"Haha, Lansi, right? I'll remember him." It was only a small favor, so Luo Ao readily agreed.
Soon, the two arrived at the gates of Darren Magic and Warrior Academy.
"This academy really is enormous."
Darren Magic and Warrior Academy was the foremost academy in the entire Darren Empire.
Even across the whole Boya Continent, it ranked among the leading comprehensive academies. It admitted both magical prodigies and talented warriors.
The academy lay in a wooded mountain region more than eighty li south of the imperial capital, Darren City. Funded and built by the imperial family, it naturally had deep pockets and occupied an immense area, spanning nearly thirty li. An academy this large was almost comparable to a small duchy.
Outside Darren Magic and Warrior Academy, there was little sign of habitation, only an open stretch of mountain ridges. Restaurants, clothing shops, bars, and other service establishments were all located inside the academy. Its students could be said to live entirely within its grounds.
This really is grand, Luo Ao marveled inwardly as he walked through the academy.
"Mr. Luo Ao, over there is the academy's premier martial training hall. The elite students and some of the academy's instructors are probably all eagerly awaiting your arrival." As Ladar spoke, he hurried ahead to lead the way.
Luo Ao followed him at an unhurried pace.
When the two entered the martial training hall, the empire's emperor and Headmaster Kaslo were already seated on chairs atop the raised platform, waiting quietly.
At the sight of Luo Ao, both rose to their feet, smiling and nodding. Clearly, his status as a genius Sword Saint already carried considerable weight in their eyes.
Facing these two towering figures of the Darren Empire, Luo Ao did not behave too casually. He bent slightly at the waist in return, showing his respect.
Below the platform stood a group of young men and women with imposing bearing. Although most possessed distinguished status, the empire's emperor and a Sword Saint were visiting today, so naturally, each of them had to present their very best side.
"Is he the genius Sword Saint, Luo Ao?" Among the crowd, a silver-haired girl as enchanting as an elf raised her head to study the young Sword Saint.
Luo Ao was still dressed in a simple white robe today, but this garment had been made by the imperial family's master craftsmen. They had fashioned it from fine fabric and sent someone to deliver it to him.
Although he personally had no interest in such luxurious fabric, it was comfortable to wear. When adventuring outside, he preferred armor. However, he was only visiting the academy as a guest instructor this time, so this attire would suffice.
"We pay our respects to Your Eminence, Sword Saint Luo Ao." Seeing Luo Ao approach, the group quickly stepped forward and respectfully offered him a noble's salute. As for his extreme youth, they simply ignored it.
In the Darren Empire, where strength reigned supreme, age was not what determined one's actual standing. The title of "Sword Saint" alone made him worthy of such reverence.
Looking at them, Luo Ao's lips curved into an amused smile. These fellows are fairly sensible. Though they're all usually proud and haughty, they don't dare show it in front of me.
Luo Ao believed that if they were facing an ordinary academy instructor, these fellows would certainly not behave this way.
The four standing at the very front were presumably the academy's current leading students. They were also the only four eighth-level experts in the academy's group. Naturally, all four were warriors.
Although Luo Ao had also studied magic, publicly available information described him as a warrior who had trained in battle qi under his father since childhood. Thus, most of the elite students attending this time were naturally warriors as well.
Seeing that these fellows were behaving themselves, Luo Ao smiled, evidently quite satisfied. Then he said in a clear voice, "I'm sure you all know who I am, so I won't introduce myself. Besides, I don't much like wasting words. Next, I'll explain some of my personal insights into cultivation. I hope you'll all gain something from them."
"Yes, Lord Luo Ao." As Luo Ao's gaze swept over him, a black-haired young man in the crowd grew very excited.
"What's your name?" Luo Ao had a rather favorable impression of this lively fellow.
"My lord, my name is Lansi." There seemed to be light in the black-haired young man's eyes, and he brimmed with youthful energy.
"Good. When we get to practical combat instruction later, you'll be my sparring partner." Since he had promised Ladar, Luo Ao naturally would not go back on his word. Besides, his first impression of Lansi was fairly good.
"Yes, Lord Luo Ao!" Hearing this, the black-haired young man grew even more excited, while the others beside him showed some envy.
Although they came from distinguished families and could even find ninth-level warrior instructors, the opportunity to receive personal guidance from a Saint-level expert was still something that came once in a thousand years.
"Even the weakest among you is already a seventh-level warrior, and some have already cultivated to the eighth level. I believe breaking through to become ninth-level warriors won't be too difficult for you," Luo Ao spoke again. "Of course, that depends on you staying alive."
"A few days ago, I visited Firefly Forest and unfortunately came upon the sight of my old friend Greet being devoured by a Shadow Demon Panther." At the name "Greet," some showed no reaction, while others were greatly shocked.
"This Greet was a senior of yours. He was a genius back in his day, too, and had long since broken through to the ninth level. This time, he probably ventured into the heart of Firefly Forest to seek an opportunity to break through to the Saint level." Only upon hearing that Greet was a "ninth-level warrior" did everyone's expressions turn grave.