Chapter 949: War Master's Hall Members Arrived

Chu Jian was a first-year student, selected two years ago and sponsored by the Hongchi Empire to study here. After more than two years of immersion and rigorous training, he had reached the pinnacle of the Harmonization Realm, standing just one step away from the Bridge Heaven Realm. Under normal circumstances, he could have broken through three months prior. However, to prepare for the upcoming Warrior selection, he had continuously suppressed his cultivation. This allowed him to refine his Harmonization Realm power to absolute perfection, pushing it to the very apex of this stage.

This dedication enabled him to excel in the academy's internal selection, securing an impressive fifth place. As an unfavored imperial prince, becoming a Warrior would allow him to distinguish himself. Even if he couldn't ascend to the throne, he would undoubtedly achieve great renown. Having secured fifth place within the academy, he initially believed that with sufficient effort, he would succeed in the selection competition.

However, observing the demonstrations from the other three academies, his heart sank. Despite being in the same year, he realized their strength was fundamentally on a different level than his own. While there were no direct matches, the power emanating from them made it clear that in a fight, his strength might not even place him within the top forty. With only the top 20 students selected from each grade, a ranking of forty offered no hope whatsoever.

Although the Dean was scheduled to instruct them on combat techniques, he doubted that his abilities could significantly improve in less than an hour. Cultivation is an accumulative process, and combat proficiency, in particular, cannot be rapidly enhanced through short-term training. Even if the Dean's teachings were incredibly profound and offered some improvement, he would still face utter defeat against the experts from the three major academies. Their demonstrated strength had completely shattered his confidence.

He sighed and gazed ahead. He saw the Dean looking at them with a benevolent expression. The Dean's warm voice, like celestial music, resonated in his ears, explaining various combat techniques and martial skill applications. After hearing just a few sentences, Chu Jian's true qi instinctively surged, making him eager to learn more.

After listening for a while, Chu Jian felt a surge of admiration. Indeed, the Dean's comprehension of martial arts and combat had reached an unparalleled level, far surpassing any renowned master he had ever encountered! Yet, it was regrettable—the time was simply too short. A mere hour could effect no real change.

"If only the Dean had returned half a month earlier," he mused, "perhaps there would still be hope of winning..." He sighed. If they had been assembled two weeks in advance for instruction on combat techniques, combined with cultivation methods and practical application, they might genuinely have undergone a rapid transformation and a significant increase in cultivation. But with the selection about to commence, what was the point of further instruction?

He shook his head, debating whether to pay attention, when he noticed a junior student nearby whose eyes suddenly gleamed as if he had grasped a profound concept. The student pointed a finger forward, and a sword light instantly materialized at his fingertip, striking the ground precisely and piercing a hole.

"This... this is Human-Sword Unity?" he gasped. His pupils constricted in disbelief. He had sparred with this junior student previously, who, while possessing some talent in swordsmanship, was still significantly weaker than Chu Jian. How could it be that Chu Jian himself had not yet achieved Human-Sword Unity, but this student had reached it first? Human-Sword Unity is an exceedingly crucial stage in swordsmanship; achieving it causes an immediate, massive surge in power. This student, who originally ranked tenth, having grasped this realm, would undoubtedly rank among the top three in the first year if they were to compete again. It was terrifying!

*Creak! Creak!*

Still reeling from shock and unable to fully process what he had just witnessed, he heard nearby the sound of bones and muscles shifting, like muffled thunder, causing the ground to tremble faintly. "This... this is the sound of the Tiger Roar Vajra Fist reaching Grand Completion!" he muttered. "When I sparred with him yesterday, he had only just started practicing it, hadn't he?" Chu Jian's mouth twitched, and his eyes swam with disbelief. He knew the student making those internal sounds well. The student had ranked seventeenth in the first-year grand competition, and Chu Jian had sparred with him only yesterday. At that time, his Tiger Roar Vajra Fist martial art was merely at the introductory stage, still quite far from mastery. The stages of martial skill comprehension are typically categorized as: Introductory, Proficient, Minor Accomplishment, Grand Accomplishment, and Perfect Mastery. How... how could he have advanced three major stages and reached Grand Accomplishment in the blink of an eye? This was utterly unbelievable!

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

His astonishment hadn't subsided. Nearby, another young man's true qi erupted from his temples, forming a tangible, grotesque bird above his head, poised as if to take flight at any moment. A single glance confirmed that this, too, was a clear sign of a martial skill reaching the Grand Accomplishment stage.

*Bang, bang, bang! Pop, pop, pop!*

A chaotic symphony of sounds erupted from all directions. Within the restricted area, countless streams of true qi flew erratically. It seemed that every student, having listened to the Dean's explanation, had gained some profound insight and was experiencing breakthroughs. "The Dean's lesson... is it truly that powerful?" Only then did Chu Jian grasp the situation. Unable to suppress his shock and confusion any longer, he quickly quelled his swirling thoughts and began to listen intently.

Indeed, the Dean's explanation was incredibly precise, moving from simple to profound, unraveling martial arts and combat techniques with meticulous clarity before everyone's eyes. His teachings made previously enigmatic concepts remarkably simple and easy to grasp. After listening for just a short while, he became utterly engrossed, unable to tear himself away. Only then did he understand how superficial his many years of martial arts practice and comprehension truly were; compared to the Dean's profound explanations, they were laughably insignificant.

Outside the restricted area, where sights and sounds were blocked, no one realized that many students had already achieved significant breakthroughs in their understanding of martial arts. Elder Mi looked utterly bewildered, seeing the Dean gathered with numerous students, instructing them at this particular moment. "Isn't it a bit too late for the Dean to begin his lecture now?" he mused. According to his information, the Warrior Hall representatives could arrive at any moment. Giving a lecture now... it was far too late even for a last-minute effort!

"It is too late," Zhao Bingxu conceded, shaking his head. "A cultivator's strength is forged through countless battles," he continued. "Classroom learning alone cannot bring significant improvement. The Dean's actions are likely just a desperate, last-ditch effort." Xu Changqing nodded in agreement. It wasn't that they lacked faith in the Dean, but rather that students' comprehension abilities were limited. In a mere hour, even the most eloquent lecture would be useless if the students couldn't grasp it. Furthermore, even if they did understand, it would be futile if they couldn't apply the knowledge in actual combat. It appeared the Dean was still too young and his ideas overly naive. "Indeed! There's nothing we can do but await the outcome," Zhao Bingxu added. Zhao Bingxu shook his head and said no more, but the worry in his eyes was palpable and impossible to conceal.

It wasn't only the ten Great Elders who lacked faith in the Dean. Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and Wu Ran also found themselves shaking their heads. While it was commendable to teach students and enhance their understanding of combat, such efforts do not yield quick results. It depended on various factors such as students' talent, attitude towards learning, and other complex issues. If a few lessons alone could significantly boost combat prowess, wouldn't everyone become an expert in the Warrior Hall? Warriors wouldn't be so formidable then, nor would countless renowned masters have striven so hard to achieve that status!

"Perhaps he... simply refuses to concede defeat!" Wu Ran mused, recalling Zhang Xuan's identity. This was a super genius capable of even identifying errors made by Master Kong! His pride was undoubtedly immense. Witnessing his own students' significant inferiority compared to others, he must have found it unbearable, which made his current actions understandable. However... the outcome was destined to be failure!

Disregarding the opinions of others, Zhang Xuan meticulously taught his understanding of Heavenly Dao martial arts and combat experience using the most concise methods, holding nothing back. His instruction was no different from how he taught Wang Ying and his other direct disciples, truly embodying selflessness.

"Combat isn't about who strikes faster to gain an advantage," Zhang Xuan explained. "The most crucial aspect is understanding the purpose and intent behind your opponent's moves. Once you grasp these, and preemptively prepare for their techniques, you can effectively anticipate and react." Zhang Xuan's voice was calm and deliberate, carrying a unique rhythm. His Heart of a Teacher, coupled with a state of mind akin to a seven-star master teacher, ensured that the knowledge he imparted was immediately clear to students; upon clarity, they understood it, and upon understanding, they mastered it.

"No, there's not enough spiritual energy," he murmured. As he observed the numerous students before him, many of whom had already grasped the core tenets of his lecture, their true qi boiling and their comprehension of martial arts rapidly ascending, Zhang Xuan's brow furrowed instead of relaxing in satisfaction. For a martial artist to fully integrate and master a martial skill, comprehension is one crucial aspect, but unimpeded true qi flow is equally vital. Many ultimate martial techniques, for instance, possess unique true qi circulation routes. If true qi has never traversed these paths, blockages can easily occur. This is also why many martial arts are not instantly mastered. After all, not everyone possesses Heavenly Dao true qi, which allows for unimpeded flow through any meridian.

Since cultivating martial skills and circulating true qi naturally consume spiritual energy, and his lecture had prompted so many students to achieve breakthroughs simultaneously, the spiritual energy within the restricted area had been completely depleted and was no longer sufficient. Continuing without replenishing the spiritual energy would easily interrupt their profound comprehension of the martial skills. Once interrupted, regaining that state would prove extremely difficult. It was akin to an epiphany—it could not be disturbed.

He narrowed his eyes and, without a moment's hesitation, reached out. Earth Vein Spirit Liquid surged from his fingertips, falling like rain onto the acupoints of the numerous students. Although his supply of Earth Vein Spirit Liquid was dwindling with each use, he could not afford to be concerned about it now. While the spiritual energy from high-grade spirit stones was purer, it was not as easily absorbed, making its immediate effect far inferior.

*Sizzle!*

As the spirit liquid dispersed, the many students engrossed in their epiphanies felt a great surge of vitality. Their understanding of martial arts deepened even further, and their previously blocked meridians instantly opened. The spirit liquid not only contained abundant spiritual energy but also a small amount of Heavenly Dao true qi. As it entered their bodies, it automatically cleared any previous blockages.

"Hmm?" Zhang Xuan sighed with relief. Just as he was about to continue his explanation, his brow suddenly furrowed, and he couldn't help but look ahead. Under the vast blue sky, a colossal flying sacred beast sliced through the air, appearing directly above the academy. "It's the people from the Warrior Hall," he realized. "It's only been half an hour..." He had anticipated lecturing for a full hour, but to his surprise, they arrived after just thirty minutes.

"Alright, that concludes today's lesson!" Halting his instruction, Zhang Xuan saw that everyone had emerged from their meditative state. He then reached out and dispelled the restrictive barrier. With the arrival of the Warrior Hall representatives, the lecture could naturally no longer continue.

The Warrior selection... had officially begun!