The words from Zhong Shenxiu’s mouth caused a veritable shockwave among nearly everyone present. Robin received the order and departed, yet the expressions on the faces of those remaining were still eerily vacant.
Leng Xiangxue even suspected her ears had played tricks on her. To actually intend on bringing Tuo Yaye back—Good heavens. Did he think that would be a simple matter?
Regarding Tuo Yaye, while Leng Xiangxue didn't know him intimately, she understood his strength; he was the one who had defeated her. Moreover, judging by his conduct while present, he seemed to be an aloof and indifferent person. To send a mere young girl alone to deal with such an individual—was he perhaps unaware…
The members of the Blade Class displayed expressions slightly different from the rest. Though they were also startled, a sense of anticipation flickered across their faces. They held no affection for that Tuo Yaye, who, relying on his slight strength, had been so arrogant and then stormed out. Who was he trying to intimidate?
At that moment, what they detested most were those who slighted their homeroom teacher. They knew clearly that their Teacher Zhong was an absolutely top-tier teacher, rare in this world!
They had grown accustomed to Zhong Shenxiu’s teaching style; if it were any other instructor, they would absolutely fail to adapt! Where else could one find a teacher granting them such ample free time? And which teacher could bring about such monumental changes in them in such a short span?
Nowhere. Absolutely nowhere!
Therefore, when they witnessed Tuo Yaye’s demeanor, they were filled with extreme indignation, genuinely wishing Robin could thoroughly make him understand the concept of 'there is always someone better, even beyond the heavens!'
In a flash, the entire tiered lecture hall fell into an unnerving silence.
Time crept by. Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, losing track of how long had passed, until suddenly, they heard the sound of the door opening. They looked up to see Robin returning!
Huh? Why is she alone? Didn't she go to capture that Tuo Yaye?
A wave of astonishment washed over them. They only saw Robin enter by herself; there was no sign of anyone else, much less a shadow of Tuo Yaye.
Some people offered self-deprecating smiles, chiding themselves for ever taking the matter seriously. How could a little girl possibly drag back a champion from the "Rookie Tournament"? Wouldn't that be a massive joke if it got out? Leng Xiangxue also felt a surge of relief; she had just been worrying about the young girl’s safety!
However, the scene that unfolded next made their jaws drop, startling them so much they nearly cried out!
With a slight wave of her small hand, Robin effortlessly drew the unconscious Tuo Yaye out of her Storage Bracelet!
At this sight, everyone froze, dumbfounded. Looking at the motionless Tuo Yaye on the floor, they even began to doubt their own vision—they had actually brought him back!
Judging by Tuo Yaye’s current appearance, he showed no outward signs of injury, suggesting Robin had knocked him out instantly!
The shock of the onlookers could no longer be described in words, and that included Angelia and Rhys. What stunned them wasn't that Robin had actually captured Tuo Yaye, but how she had materialized him.
Their gazes shifted from Tuo Yaye’s form to Robin’s small hand, where a faint, pale-purple magic ring rested. It was clearly meant to divert attention!
Heavens, she didn't put a living person inside a magic ring, did she?
This thought spread through their minds like an infection. They were utterly at a loss for words to describe their current state of mind!
It was common knowledge that magic rings could not store living beings. This wasn't just due to the lack of oxygen inside; the more critical reason was that the resistance of a living creature would cause unstable spatial fluctuations within the ring. At best, the ring would be ruined; at worst, it would trigger a spatial explosion, vaporizing the hand wearing the ring!
This was precisely why no one used captured opponents held within a magic ring as a direct weapon, as even a single struggle from the captive could invite catastrophic disaster!
Robin paid no mind to their stunned expressions. She cast a small water spell, instantly reviving Tuo Yaye.
“Where is this? How am I here?” Tuo Yaye shook his head, still feeling slightly dizzy.
Glancing around the area, his face finally registered utter astonishment—like a man kidnapped by aliens—when he saw Zhong Shenxiu’s sly smirk and the surrounding environment!
He vaguely recalled walking back toward the classroom, then suddenly everything went black, and he lost consciousness. How could he wake up here? He distinctly remembered leaving this very place!
Tuo Yaye was somewhat bewildered by the current reality. No matter how brilliant he was, he would never have imagined he had been captured and brought here!
“Hey, kid,” Zhong Shenxiu’s voice cut through the air abruptly. “Do you think highly of yourself?”
Tuo Yaye looked at Zhong Shenxiu. He was certain he had just left this location. So how had he ended up here?
Though unable to grasp the situation, he didn't wish to dwell on it. He stood up, intent on leaving again.
But this time, walking away wouldn't be so easy. He had only taken two steps when an invisible force suddenly enveloped him. The pressure made his blood churn, nearly forcing him to spew it out!
The incident was sudden, and the sheer magnitude of the invisible power was beyond his ability to resist, causing him to immediately drop to one knee.
What’s happening?
This question wasn't just on Tuo Yaye’s mind; the other students were equally confused. They had only seen Tuo Yaye stand up, only to inexplicably fall back onto one knee, his face as white as paper!
“Kid, you haven't earned the right to be this arrogant!” Zhong Shenxiu stated calmly once more.
If he hadn’t just acquired a new book and been in a good mood, Tuo Yaye would likely be flat on the floor by now!
“It’s… you?” Tuo Yaye painfully forced out the words. It was precisely this distraction that made the suppressing force almost force his other leg down as well!
Zhong Shenxiu smiled without answering. After a moment, he addressed Robin, “Robin, throw him out!”
Huh?
Tuo Yaye thought his hearing must have failed him. But his hearing was perfectly fine!
Robin approached. Without any visible strain, she simply lifted her small hand, raising Tuo Yaye into the air. With a slight exertion, Tuo Yaye’s body shot out toward the window.
Then came the sound of shattering glass, and Tuo Yaye had landed safely!
Robin’s entire sequence of actions was executed flawlessly, her ease making one wonder if Tuo Yaye was made of paper!
Those unfamiliar with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were utterly slack-jawed, their eyes nearly bulging out of their heads.
And Leng Xiangxue, for once, displayed the genuine surprise befitting a young girl!
“Wayne!” Zhong Shenxiu’s voice sounded again.
Wayne reacted swiftly, snapping to attention. He leaped up instantly. “Get me a tally of the names!”
“Yes!” Wayne didn't hesitate and immediately began moving from desk to desk, collecting everyone’s registered names.
Taking the list Wayne handed over, Zhong Shenxiu merely glanced at it before committing all the names to memory.
“Everyone follow me now!” Zhong Shenxiu commanded, leading the way out.
Angelia and those who understood Zhong Shenxiu’s temperament didn't dare delay and quickly rose to follow. The others exchanged glances before trailing after them.
They proceeded all the way to a closed training hall. This facility had been specifically prepared by the school for Zhong Shenxiu’s class to cultivate a quiet environment for practice!
Only top-tier genius students were permitted to use this training hall, and they were required to pay a usage fee. However, Zhong Shenxiu’s group was an exception; the Academy had already granted them special clearance for free use, allowing them access to any training area whenever it wasn't occupied.
Talented senior students like Solomon and Cherry had trained here before and were familiar with the place. But for the freshmen, this was different; it was their first time seeing such luxurious training grounds—a place that was worlds apart from the open-air arenas; one could say one was in the heavens and the other on the earth!
The hall extended downwards, spanning three levels, with the area expanding the further down one went! The individual training grounds within the hall were isolated from each other to prevent mutual interference.
Zhong Shenxiu and his students proceeded to the third basement level and selected the largest training ground.
Zhong Shenxiu surveyed the area, finding it satisfactory. He then addressed the students, “From now on, this is where your classroom will be located. Gather here whenever we have class!”
Everyone was momentarily stunned. This was the most luxurious third basement level; how could Zhong Shenxiu designate it as the classroom for this ‘virtual class’ so easily? Would the school agree?
Their worries were somewhat excessive. In exchange for securing a commitment from Zhong Shenxiu to teach a minimum of two classes per month, the Academy had granted him numerous privileges, and this was merely one of them!
Zhong Shenxiu paused before continuing, “I will notify you of class times in advance through Wayne and Daisy!”
The faces of Wayne and Daisy lit up with joy. Zhong Shenxiu stating this was an undeniable sign of his trust in them!
“The class executives for the Blade Class remain unchanged. If you have any uncertainties, you may consult them!” Zhong Shenxiu added.
This statement made Wayne and the others feel extremely uneasy. They, who possessed the weakest cultivation levels among the group, were all class executives—they found this hard to believe.
The others offered no objection to Zhong Shenxiu’s decision; their primary focus was enhancing their strength, and they held little interest in executive positions.
“Does anyone have any further questions?” Zhong Shenxiu asked casually.
Silence followed. Zhong Shenxiu then said, “Since no one has any issues, we will commence our first lesson! Now, follow my command: Swordsmen stand on the left, Mages stand on the right, and all stand in the center!”
Once they were positioned, they realized the Swordsmen made up more than half the class; there were only five Mages, and counting Leng Xiangxue, there were only two who practiced both Martial and Magical arts.
Next, Zhong Shenxiu instructed everyone to sit on the floor and then remarked languidly, “What I am about to teach you is something you have never encountered before. Prepare yourselves mentally!”
All the students looked highly expectant, especially those who already knew Zhong Shenxiu’s nature!
“Hey, kid, come here for a moment!” Zhong Shenxiu pointed at Solomon and called out.
Solomon was startled but walked over, inwardly trying to guess Zhong Shenxiu’s intention.
“Show me your Battle Aura!” Zhong Shenxiu commanded.
Solomon asked no further questions and immediately unleashed his Battle Aura, exerting himself especially hard to make a good impression on Zhong Shenxiu.
As Solomon manifested his Battle Aura, Zhong Shenxiu turned to the other Swordsmen seated below and asked, “Is your method of releasing Battle Aura the same as his?”
Those students nodded. It wasn't just them; virtually all Swordsmen in the Winter Moon Empire utilized this release method!
Zhong Shenxiu then turned back to Solomon and inquired, “Kid, how long can you sustain your Battle Aura released like this?”
“Ten, ten minutes!” Solomon admitted somewhat hesitantly. If he maintained this full-power release, he could only last a little over six minutes! “Alright, you can stop now!” A subtle smile began to grace the corners of Zhong Shenxiu’s mouth. After Solomon returned to his seat, Zhong Shenxiu uttered a sentence that astonished everyone.
“I am now telling you that the method you use to exert your Battle Aura is incorrect; you are merely wasting your energy!”
Incorrect?
Everyone was momentarily stunned, especially Solomon. They had been practicing this method since childhood, and nearly all Swordsmen used the same technique.
A minor addendum: Sword techniques might vary from person to person, but the method of releasing Battle Aura is identical, as everyone studies it using similar instructional materials! Sigh!
“Girl, come here and demonstrate for them!” Zhong Shenxiu then called to Angelia.
Angelia cheerfully walked over and briefly demonstrated the Battle Aura control method Zhong Shenxiu had taught her!
Leng Xiangxue froze for a moment. She had witnessed this exact Battle Aura control technique when she competed against Angelia; only now did she realize Zhong Shenxiu was the one who taught it!
“What Angelia is showing you is just the introductory stage of the ‘Battle Aura Control Method.’ Would you like to see the final form?” Zhong Shenxiu posed a highly tempting question.
Rarely had they shown such unanimous agreement as they nodded now, and even Angelia looked excited. She had heard Zhong Shenxiu mention before that this ‘Battle Aura Control Method’ had a final form, but she had never seen it!
Zhong Shenxiu seemed intent on building suspense; he didn't demonstrate immediately, but asked another question: “You have probably all heard that Swordsmen are not skilled in long-range attacks, correct?”
The crowd nodded in unison again. This was common knowledge, something even small children knew.
“But I tell you, that statement is wrong!” Zhong Shenxiu declared with another shocking claim.
Wrong??
The crowd was even more astonished than before, as they truly could not see where the error lay!
And at this precise moment, Zhong Shenxiu finally made his move, beginning to demonstrate the final form of the ‘Battle Aura Control Method’ for them!