Chapter 28: Chapter 28
Ron’s idea was not entirely a spur-of-the-moment whim. In fact, ever since learning that this world possessed a path of transcendence based on the human body and self-cultivation, the path of the Knight, he had already decided to conduct related research at this time.
Physical education research was not just to answer his own questions regarding the Ice Sword Art, but more importantly, to pave a smoother road for his future Knight’s journey.
Strictly speaking, the Knight’s path should actually be encompassed within physical education research!
If the term “physical education research” sounded somewhat unrefined, it could alternatively be called 【Sports Science】. That immediately elevated it to a far more impressive level.
But regardless of what it was called, the essence remained unchanged. It was a systematic endeavor to study the human body itself, the interrelationships between the human body and movement, and the underlying principles governing them.
…
On the training ground.
After Ron demonstrated the sword technique movement for the Second Sword Stance once, Morris quickly called a halt to the rest of the Blood and Fire Squad’s attempts:
“Ron has already found the sword technique movement for the Second Sword Stance. Now let Ron explain how he did it. You all should learn more from him!”
Morris’s words made Ron feel somewhat uncomfortable. He instinctively glanced at Justin and the others’ faces. Seeing no jealousy there, only surprise, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He then used the most accessible language possible to explain how he had found the Second Sword Stance’s sword technique movement. Simply put: imagine that a person stood at the position where the Second Sword Stance’s sword tip pointed, then draw the sword in whatever way felt most comfortable and fastest.
This wasn’t actually anything profound or incomprehensible. Once it was spelled out plainly, even the dullest person could grasp it.
“So that’s how it is! I’ve figured it out too. Can the subsequent Sword Stances be decoded and practiced the same way?”
Karel let out an exclamation, then cast an expectant gaze toward Instructor Morris. Morris’s answer was naturally affirmative, but he also threw a bucket of cold water on the somewhat overly optimistic members of the group:
“Merely understanding the sword technique movement corresponding to a Sword Stance is far from enough. You also need to be able to execute those movements proficiently, and go even further to completely master the corresponding Sword Stance! The road ahead of you is still long!
“Let me tell you the truth: if you can fully master all twelve Sword Stances of the Ice Sword Art, you won’t be far from becoming Formal Knights!”
Hearing this, Justin and the others all revealed excited expressions, itching to learn all twelve Sword Stances immediately and then fully master them.
But Ron silently shook his head inwardly. This Instructor Morris was truly skilled at pumping people up.
In truth, based on what the man had previously revealed about the key to attaining Formal Knighthood, it was likely not the case that fully mastering the twelve Sword Stances would automatically make one a Formal Knight. Rather, it should be:
If one could fully master the twelve Sword Stances, then the probability of becoming a Formal Knight was extremely high. That probability might even be one hundred percent!
And this reminded Ron of something his teachers had said when he was in high school: as long as you thoroughly digested every knowledge point taught in class, the college entrance exam would be no problem.
In fact, it wasn’t just the college entrance exam that would be no problem. If one could truly achieve that, getting into the very top universities would be no problem either.
Teachers, as people who had been through it, understood the essence of the college entrance exam. Just like Instructor Morris at this moment, who understood the essence of Knight promotion. And so he had hinted at the greatest difficulty in a relatively lighthearted tone.
…
Next, with the five members of the Blood and Fire Squad helping one another, they quickly learned the first five Sword Stances of the Ice Sword Art.
Of course, this so-called “learning” merely meant that they had completed the sword technique movement once and experienced the instantaneous Sword Stance state once.
They were still a far cry from full mastery!
“The twelve Sword Stances of the Ice Sword Art can essentially cover strengthening for all parts of the human body, so you needn’t worry about developing weak points. But in the early stages, you must also make trade-offs!”
Morris’s meaning was that in the initial period, they should still prioritize strengthening limb strength as much as possible, while everything else could take a slight backseat.
Ron didn’t agree with this approach, but considering that the Sis Territory was constantly in a state of crisis, he still went along with Morris’s recommendation.
After internal discussion within the Blood and Fire Squad, the five unanimously chose the First and Fourth Sword Stances as their primary body strengthening plan. The First Sword Stance focused more on strengthening the right hand, right leg, and waist.
The Fourth Sword Stance leaned more toward the right hand, left leg, and torso.
This would allow them to gain, at the fastest possible speed, enough strength to adequately protect themselves during the Aberrant Beast invasion!
Although new apprentices were not required to participate in front-line combat, they were still classified as combat personnel. If the situation turned dire, they could absolutely be deployed to the front lines.
Therefore, in the remaining months, what the territory cared about most was whether these new apprentices could acquire the most basic self-preservation ability and, a step further, the capacity to participate in combat.
These Knight seeds, one by one, couldn’t afford to suffer heavy losses from just any stray shockwave of battle!
…
After making their choices, the five members of the Blood and Fire Squad, with Instructor Morris’s assistance, maintained prolonged Sword Stance states through the method of disrupting Life Energy circulation.
This training continued until the sky darkened before they finally stopped. Morris reminded Ron and the others: “Eat your fill at the training ground before heading back. Tomorrow afternoon, practical combat training will be added. Prepare yourselves mentally.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
The five exchanged glances. After Morris departed, Karel said with some concern: “It’s only the second day and we’re already doing practical combat training. Is that really appropriate?”
“Don’t worry, Karel. The instructor is just scaring us. Practical combat training doesn’t mean throwing us straight into real combat. It’s training to prepare for real combat. Actually participating in live combat won’t come until the later stages of training!”
“Oh, is that so! Why didn’t the instructor say that clearly? He had me so nervous!”
“Perhaps he just wants us to approach tomorrow’s training with the same attitude we’d bring to real combat!”
“You’re right. I was indeed getting a bit restless.”
Karel admitted his mistake without hesitation. Seeing this, Justin didn’t press the matter further. The five then headed together to the open space between the three training fields to get their food.
…
When a person threw themselves wholeheartedly into something, time flew by, and eating was no exception. By the time Ron left the training ground and arrived at his own doorstep, he suddenly realized that the day had passed in a flash!
Gone in the blink of an eye, without him even noticing!
Returning inside, he lit a fire in the fireplace. Only then did Ron lie back on his bed with deep satisfaction, letting his body rest while his consciousness withdrew and returned to his Light Orb true form.
This could be considered a form of rest, but as long as the intensity of his work didn’t exceed a certain threshold, he didn’t actually need this kind of rest.
He had spent this day in an extremely fulfilling manner, which naturally left many issues that he was eager to reexamine through the perspective of his Light Orb true form.
For example, Sword Stance analysis, investigating the operating mechanisms of Life Energy, possibilities for improving the Comprehensive Body Refinement Technique, and the attribute panel development that he was very much looking forward to.