A barrage of questions arrived at Sixth Elder's direction, but despite what his fierce appearance and reputation would suggest, he showed surprising patience.
Every time a student asked a question, he would accurately get to the bottom of the matter and find a solution, explaining it in an easy-to-understand manner.
This only served to increase the students' enthusiasm, and with their fear of the Sixth Elder retreating, more and more of them began asking their doubts.
Although Lu Yuan remained silent and didn't take the initiative to ask anything, he still paid full attention, listening attentively to every word said.
As a result, he gained a lot. This was not only true regarding cultivation knowledge, but also when it came to information about this world. This was knowledge that seemed useless at the moment, but would be very helpful in the future.
Time slowly passed, and just when the lecture was coming to an end, a student sitting only a few seats away from Lu Yuan raised his hand, and after receiving a nod from the Sixth Elder, he put forward his own question.
"Elder, I heard you say that the Blazing Sun Fist you previously demonstrated is a Middle-Grade Mortal martial skill. What does this mean?"
His question just so happened to be one of Lu Yuan's doubts, too. So, he immediately perked up his ears and waited for the answer.
Thankfully, the Sixth Elder didn't keep him waiting for long.
With the same flat voice and expressionless face, he looked at the student and opened his mouth:
"I believe that you already know the differences between Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills. Cultivation Techniques allow the cultivator to absorb spiritual energy, while Martial Skills are a way to utilize that energy, mostly used to enhance a cultivator's combat power."
"But whether it is Cultivation Techniques or Martial Skills, they are divided into different Grades based on their power and how difficult they are to master. Each Grade is further divided into three Levels. Namely: Low, Middle, and High."
"Most of the Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills you'll find in the library, such as the Azure Cloud Technique given to you by the Academy, are only Mortal Grade. Only if you show sufficient talent, receive it as a reward, or become an Elder will you come into contact with Spiritual Grade techniques and skills."
The Sixth Elder's explanation seemed a little convoluted, but Lu Yuan, who had been paying attention, understood. Basically, techniques and martial skills were divided into Grades. The stronger they were, the higher their Grade would be.
Lu Yuan couldn't help but think of the Everchanging Inner Cosmos Art he was currently practicing.
Just based on the fact that it didn't require a Dantian to practice, it was obvious that the Grade of the Everchanging Inner Cosmos Art should be quite high. It was impossible for it to be a mere Mortal-Grade or Spiritual-Grade technique.
Lu Yuan suspected that it should be at least a few Grades higher.
This realization strengthened his resolve to hide the fact that he was practicing the Everchanging Inner Cosmos Art. He swore that he would never reveal it unless he had enough strength to protect himself.
"Thankfully, cultivators at the Spirit Gathering Realm can not sense another cultivator's realm but can only estimate their strength based on their aura. Otherwise, the fact that my cultivation changed from the 3rd Level of Spirit Gathering Realm to the 2nd would raise a few eyebrows."
While Lu Yuan was deep in thought, the lecture continued as usual, and before long, its end had arrived.
On the side, Chen Yao glanced at Lu Yuan, who was deep in thought, and seeing that he didn't seem to have noticed, she gently patted his shoulder.
"Brother Yuan, the lecture is over.", she spoke softly, and her voice jolted Lu Yuan awake.
Raising his head and taking a look at the podium, he indeed confirmed that the Sixth Elder had left at some unknown point, and most students had already left their seats and were walking out of the Lecture Hall.
He looked at Chen Yao, and seeing her nod with a smile on her face, he got up and said, "Let's go."
However, just then, a slightly discordant voice came from behind his back.
"Junior Brother Lu, why do I feel like there is something wrong with your aura? Were you injured?"
Unknowingly, Yang Chen had at some point arrived behind the two of them and asked with a voice filled with concern.
However, when this seemingly well-intentioned voice fell in Lu Yuan's ears, it held a completely different meaning.
'Sure enough!', he thought, and Yang Chen's words and concern further confirmed his previous guess that this guy must know something about 'his' death.
Still, he knew that now was not the time to make a big deal out of it.
He turned his head and, facing Yang Chen, he asked with some doubt: "What do you mean, Brother Yang? How could I possibly be injured while inside the Academy?"
His tone contained some puzzlement, as if he didn't know what Yang Chen was talking about. Such a look made Yang Chen pause for a split second, but he immediately reacted.
"Is that so? It seems that I was mistaken. That's good! I was worried that Junior Brother Lu would miss next month's Trial.", Yang Chen breathed a sigh of relief, as if he was genuinely worried for Lu Yuan.
If somebody didn't know and happened to chance upon this scene, they would mistakenly think that the two of them were close friends.
Even Lu Yuan had to praise Yang Chen's acting skills. If he had not been suspicious of him and if not for the previous look he gave him, even he would have been fooled by his performance.
Of course, he wouldn't expose this guy's true face. After a few more words, he said goodbye and left together with Chen Yao.
Yang Chen stared at Lu Yuan's retreating back with a cold, calculating look flashing in his eyes.
'Just one more month. I don't know how you managed to survive, but the next month's Trial will be the day of your death.', he thought, his fists clenched.
"Senior Brother Yang, did something happen?", Yang Chen heard a subordinate of his ask, and taking his eyes off Lu Yuan, he turned around, the cold glint in his eyes vanishing.
"No.", he shook his head, and added: "It's just that I was thinking of something. Let's go!"