C10 Practice

Except for Ye Tian, all of Class 3's students had gathered at the center of the martial arts field, led by Du Chun.

Previously, the sparring matches on the field followed an elimination format: a defeated contender was immediately replaced by another, and victory was declared only when one side had no one left to fight.

But upon Du Chun's arrival, Gu Kun surveyed the students of Class 3 and decided to change the sparring rules on the spot.

"Sequential fights won't truly benefit you. Now, each of you from Class 3 will face me one-on-one, and I'll offer personal guidance," Gu Kun declared, gesturing nonchalantly, which made Du Chun tense up once more.

It was clear that Gu Kun was conserving the strength of his own Class 2, showcasing his prowess as a standout fighter.

His confidence in taking on multiple opponents was evident; he believed he could single-handedly best all of Class 3.

Moreover, this sparring opportunity had been hard-won by Zi Hanyue. Confronted with Gu Kun's challenge, Du Chun found himself unable to refuse, much less dare to.

"Senior Brother, we all know of your wisdom and valor. Please, go easy on us later," Du Chun said, forcing a smile as he approached Gu Kun to intercede on behalf of his classmates.

Inwardly, he harbored a growing list of grievances against Ye Tian.

"Enough talk. Let's get started. Decide who's up first, and I'll give you a thorough lesson," Gu Kun commanded, his eyes sharp. Du Chun, silenced by the intensity, quickly organized his classmates for the match against Gu Kun.

The first student from Class 3 to face Gu Kun found him to be unnervingly composed as he effortlessly swept his five-foot sword forward.

"Spirit Cloud Nine Swords, Floating Technique!"

The blade whirled like a ribbon, its path invisible to the onlookers, and in an instant, the student from Class 3 was sent soaring through the air.

"Not enough strength, too slow to react. You're far from ready," Gu Kun commented coolly, standing with his sword slung across his back, casting a dismissive glance at the student sprawled on the ground.

He dispatched his classmate with a single move, sending a ripple of tension through Class Three. How could they possibly stand against such prowess?

Meanwhile, Ye Tian, observing from above, seemed utterly at ease. He recognized Gu Kun's exceptional talent but couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"Not bad, but still lacking quite a bit..."

Ye Tian mused internally. Over tens of thousands of years, he had witnessed countless heroes. To him, encountering young talents like Gu Kun was nothing out of the ordinary.

After all, as the Heaven Soaring Great Monarch, his judgment was unparalleled.

In under an hour, a wave of defeatism swept over Class Three. Each student, without fail, was swiftly overpowered by Gu Kun's single strike, none able to muster a counterattack.

It was widely known that Gu Kun had mastered the Spirit Cloud Nine Swords to near perfection—a technique originated by the venerable Spirit Cloud Ancestor, whose potency was beyond question.

Though he couldn't yet harness the full potential of the Spirit Cloud Nine Swords, Gu Kun's mastery at the Qi Profound Stage Level Nine was more than enough to give his classmates from Class Three a harsh lesson.

The students of Class Three exchanged helpless glances, none daring to meet the gaze of their counterparts from Class Two. Even the merciless taunts from Class Two only served to redden their faces as they hung their heads in shame.

"What's the matter? Have you reached your limit already? Can no one from Class Three step forward? Useless!"

Gu Kun remained firmly in place, not budging an inch, his previous opponents unable to make him so much as shift his stance.

His declaration that Class Three was worthless went uncontested; to them, Gu Kun, wielding the Spirit Cloud Nine Swords, was an insurmountable barrier.

"Du Chun, as the class leader, it's not enough to push others forward—it's your turn now!"

Gu Kun rested his sword on his back and pointed directly at Du Chun, whose heartbeat quickened at the challenge.

Du Chun was well aware he was no match for Gu Kun. He had hoped to buy time by sending others from his class into the fray, stepping in only as a last resort.

However, now that Gu Kun had singled him out by name, Du Chun found himself unable to decline. Reluctantly, he steeled himself and stood up to face Gu Kun.

Gu Kun then shifted his gaze to Ye Tian, who was spectating the duel. His cunning eyes betrayed every thought in his mind, leaving nothing concealed.

Du Chun, at the eighth level of the Qi Profound Stage, was slightly outmatched by Gu Kun. His training focused on the Gale Finger technique from the academy's scripture vault, renowned for its emphasis on speed.

Despite the disparity, Du Chun approached the challenge with great caution. He bowed respectfully to Gu Kun, fists cupped, and in an instant, his speed surged, stirring the air around him into a whirlwind as his Genuine Qi swirled, creating a visible current.

Extending his finger toward Gu Kun, Du Chun's Genuine Qi seemed to sharpen at the tip, significantly amplifying the potency of his Gale Finger attack.

Gu Kun, observing Du Chun's offensive, lost his initial composure. He squinted, his body shifting sideways in a rare display of urgency, as he swiftly countered with his sword!

As Du Chun's finger neared its mark, Gu Kun raised his long sword to intercept, resulting in a resounding clang!

The onlookers from Class 3 collectively gasped at the sound, a testament to Du Chun's formidable resilience.

Yet as the echo subsided, Du Chun's face contorted with pain; his finger throbbed intensely. But as the class leader, he couldn't afford to back down from this clash with a fellow classmate.

Du Chun redoubled his efforts, and sparks flew at the point of contact between his finger and Gu Kun's sword!

Caught off guard, Gu Kun failed to brace in time and stumbled backward. His eyes hardened, and with a swift invocation of the Flying Character Technique, his sword flicked upward, sending Du Chun airborne once again!

Though Du Chun had managed to hold his ground against Gu Kun for a time, his fate was the same as his classmates'—defeated by Gu Kun's hand.

"You have decent strength and your speed is commendable, but your power falls short. Should you strive to reach my level, you'll earn the right to be my rival," Gu Kun declared.

Gu Kun executed a flourish with his sword, his gaze indifferent as he watched the groaning figure of Du Chun on the ground. His assessment was, perhaps, the highest praise anyone in the third class had received.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!" Du Chun, his pride wounded by Gu Kun's display, clumsily rose to his feet and bowed with a fist-in-palm salute. "Senior Brother, none of us in the class can match you. Today's lesson has been invaluable. Perhaps we should call it a day?"

The students of Class Three were visibly disheartened, their heads hung low. With the end-of-semester exams looming, Du Chun had no choice but to concede.

"Don't be so hasty," Gu Kun interjected. "There's still someone in your class acting all high and mighty, yet I haven't heard a peep from him. I think it's time for a proper lesson!"

Du Chun, on the verge of departure, was promptly halted by Gu Kun's words. Realization dawned on him; Gu Kun was referring to Ye Tian. The thought of Gu Kun giving Ye Tian a thorough schooling brought a secret thrill to Du Chun, and he was certainly not about to decline.

"But Class President, that's not possible. Ye Tian is only at the second level of the Qi Profound Stage. If he steps up now, he'll surely be disqualified from this year's end-of-semester exams!"

Murong Xue could see right through Du Chun's facade and knew full well that he had no intention of making things easy for Ye Tian. It was clear to anyone that if Ye Tian were to face Gu Kun's "instruction," there was no doubt that Gu Kun would show no mercy.

"We can't pass up such an opportunity," she countered. "How can we ignore Senior Brother Gu Kun's generous offer?"