Chapter 781: Teaching a Blade Technique

"Guard the gate?" Ying Qin, Bai Mian, and the others clenched their fists, nearly exploding with rage.

They were fourth-year students, peak Void Step experts, and a freshman wanted them to guard the gate?

Was this a bet?

He was deliberately humiliating them!

"Didn't you just say you wouldn't lose? If you won't lose, there's no need to worry about guarding the gate. What, lost confidence already?" Zhang Xuan smiled slightly, looking over.

"Change the terms!"

His face dark, Ying Qin flicked his sleeve.

Even if he wouldn't lose, making such a bet was humiliating!

"No need to be shy. It's normal to fear losing; nothing to be ashamed of. It's only human." Zhang Xuan comforted him.

"You..."

Hearing this, Ying Qin, Bai Mian, and the others nearly spat blood.

What did he mean by 'shy'? What 'normal to fear losing'?

We won't lose; we just think your terms are too much...

Just as they were about to retort in anger, the young man in front lowered his head in thought: "How about this: if you're still afraid to lose, I won't fight. I'll just casually instruct a few freshmen to battle you. If that's not enough, I'll instruct... those you just defeated. That way, you don't have to worry!"

"You..."

Seeing that he was getting more and more outrageous, seemingly deliberately humiliating them, Ying Qin could no longer hold back and gritted his teeth: "Fine, we agree! I hope your strength matches your tongue!"

"Good that you agree. Ruo Huan, Song Chao, send a few people to repair the gate over there. Otherwise, we'll have gatekeepers but no gate—that won't do!" Seeing them agree, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction and gave an order.

The freshman area had entrances and exits but no proper gate. Since they were betting, if these guys lost, where would they be stationed? How awkward!

"Yes!" Ruo Huan, Song Chao, and the others quickly nodded.

"Looking for death!"

Seeing how he despised them, assuming from the start that they would lose, Bai Mian could no longer hold back. His dark face twisted with ferocity, his beard bristling. He shook his large blade, producing a buzzing hum, and looked at Ying Qin: "Let me teach this guy a lesson!"

With that, he leaped onto the center of the platform, his gaze like lightning as he looked over: "Zhang Xuan, I'll fight you first. Dare to face me?"

"Don't rush! Young people are so impatient." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"You..." Bai Mian swayed again, his face turning even darker, almost like the bottom of a pot.

We look young, but we're all over fifty! You, on the other hand, are about twenty, yet you call seniors 'young people'—have you no shame?

"Are you all talk? If you're a man, come up!"

Knowing he couldn't outtalk this youth, Bai Mian clenched his teeth.

"If I go up, you'll definitely lose. I don't bully others. I said I'd find a few freshmen to fight you, and I won't go back on my word."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand, ignoring the nearly mad Bai Mian on the stage. He looked around at the freshmen: "Which of you uses a blade and lost to this guy just now?"

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.

They thought Zhang Xuan was just trying to anger the other side. Was he serious?

They had already lost; even if their injuries weren't severe, they couldn't win!

"I... lost just now."

After a pause, a young man stepped forward.

He was a freshman about twenty-five or twenty-six, only at the initial stage of Harmonious Spirit realm. He had a blade wound on his body, not serious but looking fierce and terrifying, as if the opponent could have split him in two but held back.

"Not bad." Zhang Xuan observed carefully and nodded: "You'll do. In a moment, go up and fight this guy again and defeat him."

"I..."

The young man was startled, his face full of conflict: "I'm no match. I couldn't even block one move."

In the previous fight, as soon as he got on stage, he was struck down before even raising his blade. Fighting again would be another loss!

"It's fine. I'll teach you a blade technique now. When you go up, just use it and try to strike him down in one move." Zhang Xuan said.

"One blade technique?" The young man was stunned.

What good was one move?

The opponent's strength lay in his martial skills and understanding of the blade. Teaching one move, even ten or a hundred, wouldn't change the outcome!

"Right. Give me your blade." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Yes!" Not knowing what the president was up to, the young man handed over his long blade, though utterly confused.

"Damn it..."

Seeing him about to teach a blade technique, Bai Mian on stage was nearly furious.

A freshman said he would definitely lose... and then he picked a defeated opponent, taught one move, and expected to win?

What a joke!

He was a top student from the Martial Arts Academy. If he were so easily beaten, how could he call himself an expert?

Arrogant!

Too arrogant, too presumptuous!

Not even the dean of the Martial Arts Academy would speak like that!

"Bai Mian, since this Master Zhang wants to teach a freshman a blade technique to fight you, we won't take advantage. Close your six senses, don't watch, and wait until he finishes teaching."

Ying Qin's face was also ugly with anger, but as a master teacher, he couldn't lose face, so he waved his hand.

If they watched him teach, given their talent as geniuses of the Martial Arts Academy, they might learn the move before the freshman did. Then how would they fight?

Even if they won, it would seem dishonorable.

Better not to see or hear. That way, if the guy lost, he couldn't complain.

"Fine!" Bai Mian nodded and was about to close his six senses when Zhang Xuan looked up from below: "No need for such trouble. Since you are experts from the Martial Arts Academy, you must know a lot about martial techniques. Watch while I teach, and feel free to correct me!"

Bai Mian and Ying Qin exchanged glances, blinking in confusion.

Had this guy just been hit by a door or kicked by a donkey? He was teaching a blade technique for a fight against him, and he wanted him to watch?

How could they fight then?

"Since he wants us to watch, let's watch. When he loses, we'll see what he has to say." Just as they were at a loss, Bai Mian heard Ying Qin's voice transmission.

Among the three, Ying Qin was the leader. Since he said so, Bai Mian had to agree. He focused his gaze on the young man below who was about to teach.

"Just one move. Watch closely!"

Ignoring the bewildered crowd, Zhang Xuan smiled, shook the long blade, and slashed diagonally downward.

The blade moved very slowly, like a brush painting on paper.

"This is a blade technique?"

Bai Mian stood dumbfounded.

Since he started learning the blade at age five, he had never seen such an ugly move. This wasn't a blade technique; even ordinary wood-chopping was more refined!

He thought there would be some powerful technique that could defeat him in one move, but he never expected this...

Was he messing with him?

Not only was he stunned, but the young man waiting to learn the technique was also about to cry.

He thought the president was confident and would teach something amazing, but it turned out to be this...

Even with his limited insight, he could see that this move was nothing—it couldn't even kill an ant, let alone defeat a fourth-year senior who had beaten him in one move...

He had no confidence at all.

"My blade technique values intent over form. This is the essence and mystery of the blade. Comprehend it well!"

Just as he was feeling frustrated, not knowing what Zhang Xuan was doing, he heard a faint voice in his ear. Then his body shook, and a thought was transmitted into his mind.

"This... soul transmission?"

Feeling the sudden cultivation technique in his mind, the young man trembled all over.

Soul transmission was said to be an ability only七星 master teachers possessed. How could the president do it?

"Don't overthink. Focus on memorizing the technique and the blade intent I'm giving you. Later, execute it according to this intent."

Seeing him dazed, Zhang Xuan transmitted a scolding.

"Yes!"

The young man snapped back to reality and quickly looked at the blade technique in his mind. Indeed, it contained a blade intent, surging like lightning, sharp and irresistible.

"This..." His pupils contracted.

Though he lacked Bai Mian's experience, he was a master teacher who practiced the blade. He could immediately see the power of this blade intent.

By merely imitating it, he could deepen his understanding of the blade by several steps, reaching an astonishing level.

He circulated the technique in his body, mobilized the blade intent, his eyes flashing like blade edges. He took a deep breath and bowed deeply: "Thank you, President!"

"Mm, go and defeat this guy."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Bai Mian had immersed himself in blade techniques for years. Even teaching a simplified version of the Heavenly Path Blade Technique would make it hard to win in a short time. So Zhang Xuan had to teach blade intent.

Weapon intent can be understood but not easily conveyed. Others, even if they comprehend it, cannot transmit it.

But Zhang Xuan cultivated the Heavenly Path Blade Technique, where the great path is simple, the blade intent pure and flawless. Combined with his soul oracle techniques, he could transmit it and let the other use it.

"Yes!"

Taking a deep breath, the young man nodded and leaped onto the platform.

If earlier he was still intimidated by Senior Bai Mian and thought victory impossible, now, with Zhang Xuan's blade intent within him, he had no fear.

"You think you can beat me?"

Seeing that this guy actually came up to challenge him after learning a move worse than chopping wood, Bai Mian was nearly bursting with rage. He suppressed his anger and snorted.

"Sorry for the offense!"

The young man nodded. His long blade shook, and a aura that seemed to tear the sky suddenly emerged. Then he slashed down.

Swish!

Though he was only at the initial Harmonious Spirit realm, the blade light was like an electric arc, instantly spreading several zhang and reaching Bai Mian in the blink of an eye, as if tearing the air apart.

"Blade-born lightning... This is, this is the ability of comprehending the blade heart? How is it possible..."

Bai Mian's body trembled, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. Then he heard a roar in his ears, like thunder about to explode at any moment.