Ultimate Method: Practice your fist a hundred times, and use violence to control violence.

The last class in the afternoon was basic swordsmanship, similar to an elective course in university in my previous life. Everyone held a wooden sword and practiced famous moves.

The instructor was a burly man with a dark complexion, surnamed Song, who was always serious and rarely smiled.

It is said that he used to be a martial artist who roamed the martial arts world, but no one knows if it is true or not. However, ever since he personally beat up the troublemakers who were causing trouble, leaving them covered in blood, the students have been filled with awe for him.

The "Basic Swordsmanship" course at the Saint City Noble Academy is uniformly designated by the Ministry of Education and is based on the Eight Mothers of Swordsmanship, namely, the eight movements of chopping, thrusting, parrying, hooking, clouding, pointing, collapsing, and intercepting.

As usual, swordplay teacher Lao Song spent only fifteen minutes reviewing the eight movements with his students before announcing free practice.

This gave Wanze ample time to complete his promotion task.

Five seconds, ten swords.

The moment the movement was completed, the basic swordsmanship was successfully mastered, and the information about basic swordsmanship in the mind became more profound.

But this is not enough.

After glancing at the intermediate-level missions, Wan Ze didn't linger for a moment.

Two minutes later, the twenty chopping, stabbing, and sweeping movements were successfully completed, marking the intermediate level completion.

He then shook his numb arm, regained his composure, and focused his gaze on the red data box in his field of vision.

……

[Illustrated Guide: Basic Swordsmanship] (Intermediate level mastered)

[Ability: Enhances physical flexibility (coordination +0.02)]

[Advanced skill requirements: Practice each of the eight moves 200 times and defeat an opponent using basic swordsmanship]

……

Advanced skills do indeed require two conditions to trigger, and they're not that difficult...

Wan Ze remained silent, then looked away and continued to practice his movements diligently.

A slender boy with a buzz cut was showing off in front of a group of girls, drawing cheers from them. He only slunk away after being glared at by Old Song. A few quick steps later, they approached Wan Ze, stared at him for a moment, and then realized something was amiss. One of them asked strangely, "Old Wan, you're not really planning to practice martial arts, are you?"

"What's wrong with practicing martial arts?" Wan Ze asked with a smile.

The visitor was named Zhao Hexiang. The two came from similar backgrounds and were in the same class in junior high school, so they often saw each other.

"But..." Zhao Hexiang opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

The saying "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is no joke.

The initial cost of becoming a student is not a small amount. I heard that during the training period, a large amount of medicinal herbs need to be purchased, which may cost several thousand yuan a year. Now, with the wave of layoffs, this cost is simply not something that an ordinary family of three can easily afford.

Moreover, Wanze has a younger sister.

Zhao Hexiang looked at Wan Ze with a strange expression, as if he were looking at his past self.

Many people dream of becoming a grandmaster, establishing their own school, and reaching the pinnacle of life. But the reality is that they exhaust their family fortunes and still cannot graduate, ending up impoverished for the rest of their lives.

Because learning martial arts depends not only on your financial resources but also on your talent.

Therefore, he couldn't imagine why Wan Ze dared to do this.

Wan Ze ignored his surprised look, just smiled, and continued to practice his movements.

Just then, Zhou Xianchuan walked over, grinning, and put his arm around Zhao Hexiang's shoulder, asking, "Old Zhao, are you going to the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts School this afternoon?"

"What are you going there for?" Zhao Hexiang didn't understand.

Zhou Xianchuan gestured a couple of times: "Of course we'll go practice martial arts together. Aze and I will go after school. Do you want to come? The three of us can even form a small team."

Zhao Hexiang was somewhat tempted, but the thought that the expense was far beyond his family's means inevitably disappointed him. However, he curled his lip in disdain and said, "Learn what? What's the use of learning martial arts these days! No matter how skilled you are, you can still be shot dead with one spear!"

"You can't say that. The instructors at my uncle's martial arts school can't even hit you with a gun at a distance of ten meters," Zhou Xianchuan explained with a smile.

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Hexiang sneered and retorted, "And what about within three steps? You'll still be doomed."

After saying that, he waved his hand, indicating that he had no interest in listening to any more.

Zhou Xianchuan wasn't angry. He turned to Wan Ze and smiled, saying, "Actually, my uncle told me that in the martial arts world, there are strong people who are invulnerable to swords and spears. To kill such a person, you have to use artillery and tie him to the center of the explosion. Otherwise, you simply can't kill him."

Wan Ze raised an eyebrow: "Are there many people like that?"

Zhou Xianchuan coughed guiltily and touched the tip of his nose: "I reckon it's not much... otherwise there would be big trouble."

Wan Ze suddenly flipped his hand: "Want to try?"

"Try what?" Zhou Xianchuan asked, puzzled.

Wan Ze raised his wooden sword to strike, and Zhou Xianchuan, startled, hurriedly tried to dodge. He then heard Wan Ze chasing after him, shouting, "Do you admit defeat?"

"You're my grandpa!"

Zhou Xianchuan immediately retorted, showing no fear of power, but in the blink of an eye, the wooden sword in his hand was cleaved away.

He suddenly froze, instinctively taking a step back. Quickly realizing what he'd done, he hurriedly raised his hands in surrender: "I give up, I give up! You're my boss, okay?!"

Wan Ze chuckled and glanced down.

The encyclopedia task is complete!

……

[Illustrated Guide: Basic Swordsmanship] (Advanced level already mastered)

[Effect 1: Improves body flexibility]

【Effect 2: Enhance Strength (Increases Strength by +0.02)】

[Skill Superior Requirements: Defeat 10 opponents using basic swordsmanship] (1/10)

……

Wan Ze secretly sighed in regret. If the mission required defeating ten opponents, Zhou Xianchuan would have to call him "Grandpa" ten times over.

"Defeating ten opponents...that's quite difficult."

He turned his head, suddenly remembered something, and waved: "Xiang, come here quickly, something good has happened."

Zhao Hexiang, puzzled, jogged over. "What good news?"

"Take this, grandpa's sword!"

"...Damn it!" Zhao Hexiang laughed in anger, raising his sword to block the attack. It was just a playful fight, so he didn't take it seriously.

Unexpectedly, Wan Ze suddenly said, "Quickly admit defeat, and I'll buy you a drink later."

Zhao Hexiang decisively tossed his sword aside. "Really, Brother Wan? Then I want to drink Da Le Bao!"

"Let's talk about whether you admit defeat or not first?" Wan Ze asked to confirm.

"I give up, I give up."

"Okay." Wan Ze turned and left.

"Not Brother Wan, my Da Le Bao...?"

"I'll definitely do it next time." Wan Ze said this, but he had already disappeared.

"What?"

Zhao Hexiang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what he had done and became furious: "Damn it, Wan Ze, are you even human? How could you deceive my feelings like this?"

"Just don't treat me like a human being."

"...Damn, you're awesome!"

Zhao Hexiang was speechless, and raised two middle fingers at Wan Ze's back!

But then he saw Wanze teasing other boys in the same way, and he was amused. He just didn't know what was wrong with Wanze today.

……

[Illustrated Guide: Basic Swordsmanship] (Advanced level already mastered)

[Special Skill Condition: Defeat 10 opponents using basic swordsmanship] (6/10)

……

"Four more are needed to unlock the Special Grade..."

It's a bit of a pity about Wanze.

It seems we'll have to find another way.

"You've trained before?" Swordsmanship teacher Lao Song appeared behind him without him noticing, and his words startled Wan Ze.

Once he was sure the other person was talking to him, Wan Ze steadied himself and said calmly, "I just practiced randomly."

"Just blindly practicing?" Old Song raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone flat, unsure whether he believed or not. "The sword technique has eight mothers giving rise to sixty-four pieces. It's not about specific moves, just like the fixed opening moves in Go aren't meant to be rigidly adhered to. The training involves adapting to changing circumstances and the wisdom of unifying sword and Go... You have a good foundation. If you master it further, you can become a master with these basic skills. If you have the opportunity in the future, you might as well go to a martial arts school for further training, so as not to waste this talent."

Wan Ze's heart skipped a beat, and he was about to ask a question when he heard the school bell ring in the distance. Old Song stopped talking and turned to leave. After announcing the end of get out of class, everyone dispersed.

Zhou Xianchuan leaned forward and put his arm around Wan Ze's shoulder: "What's Old Song babbling to you about?"

"It's such a pity to say that I'm a martial arts genius, one in a million." Wan Ze suddenly sighed.

Zhou Xianchuan, puzzled, asked, "What's a pity?"

"I originally wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but unfortunately, my strength doesn't allow it." Wan Ze slapped his hand away, shook his clothes, and said nonchalantly.

"...Damn, will you die if you don't show off?"

Believe it or not!

"Are you serious?! You're not lying to me?"