Swish, swish, swish!
More than two hundred students, dressed in brigandine armor, brandished their monster-slaying sabers in unison.
The gleaming blades reflected dazzling light beneath the sun, forming a blinding white expanse from afar and creating a striking visual impact.
Sweat dripped continuously from their foreheads, but no one stopped to wipe it away.
Not even the female students, who normally cared about their appearance.
At this moment, on the training ground, there was no distinction between boys and girls.
There was only a group of students advancing toward becoming Blood Warriors.
Following Lady Aurelia's speech, the lesson officially began.
However, all the students seemed filled with a surge of energy, as though they possessed inexhaustible strength.
They threw themselves into training with far more focus than usual.
The six instructors were very satisfied with this.
They had invited a distinguished guest precisely to inspire the students.
It seemed that their goal had been achieved.
Among the students, Ryan was equally focused on wielding his monster-slaying saber.
Ryan had already been in this world for a month and had trained diligently throughout that time.
Combined with the muscle memory inherited from the original owner of this body, following the saber drills wasn't difficult.
Based on his memories, he knew that the saber technique he and the other students were practicing was called the Blazing Heaven Severing Saber.
It was one of the practical combat techniques taught by Aegis Martial Academy.
"Very nice."
Standing at the front of the training ground, Aurelia watched the students immerse themselves in their training and gave a barely perceptible nod.
The scene before her reminded her of her own days at the academy.
A trace of nostalgia appeared on her face.
She had once stood in exactly the same place and gone through the same training.
"I have to thank you, Lady Aurelia. Your words just now made even me feel excited, let alone these little ones. They're all eager to show their best in front of you."
Edwin Harrow wore a humble expression.
Although he was much older than Aurelia, he didn't dare act superior in front of her.
In terms of strength, Edwin was only a Rank 1 Blood Warrior.
Aurelia, meanwhile, was already a Rank 4 Blood Warrior.
The gap between them was enormous.
Naturally, Edwin remained careful and respectful around her.
Although his backing was Aegis Martial Academy, which itself was supported by the Windsor family, the academy would obviously never offend such a young powerhouse for his sake.
Even the Windsor family would go to considerable lengths to maintain good relations with someone like Aurelia.
If she had already reached this level at such a young age, what heights might she reach in another ten or twenty years?
Aurelia remained unmoved by Edwin's flattery.
Her gaze continued sweeping across the students.
Suddenly, a hint of interest appeared in her eyes.
"Hmm? He's already reached the Peak Stage of Blood Warrior Apprentice, and he's only in his first year? This kid has good potential!"
"You flatter me, Lady Aurelia. That is Adrian Blackwood, a student in my class and the most talented among this year's students."
Hearing Aurelia praise his student, Edwin smiled slightly with satisfaction.
"Oh, so he's a member of the Blackwood family. No wonder."
Aurelia nodded, a look of understanding crossing her face.
The advantages possessed by children from Greyhaven's founding families weren't limited to material resources.
Generation after generation, those families had produced and nurtured talented Blood Warriors.
As a result, strong Cultivation Talents appeared among their descendants more frequently than they did among ordinary families.
Generally speaking, the children of founding families had a greater chance of possessing higher Cultivation Talents.
"I wonder if Lady Aurelia would be interested in giving them some guidance?"
"Alright."
After a moment of consideration, Aurelia nodded.
Slap! Slap!
Having received Aurelia's agreement, Edwin's expression immediately became serious.
His authority as the year head returned.
He clapped his hands, bringing all the students to a stop.
"Now, please welcome Lady Aurelia to give us some guidance. Lady Aurelia, please!"
Receiving Edwin's signal, Aurelia nodded and gracefully stepped forward.
"It's clear that all of you have very solid foundations. Your instructors are extremely professional in this respect. Even I couldn't do much better than them."
"As someone who's been through the same training, however, I want to tell you that the Blazing Heaven Severing Saber isn't something you can truly master through drills alone."
"Only in battle can you truly grasp its essence."
She looked across the group of students.
"Simply put, the only way to master the true essence of a combat technique is through actual combat."
Aurelia paused.
"Explaining it with words alone might confuse you. So I need someone to act as my opponent."
"Who is willing to come up?"
Upon hearing this, the group of students, who had previously been extremely excited about receiving guidance from Aurelia, immediately fell silent.
For a moment, the training ground became so quiet that a pin could have been heard dropping.
Who was Aurelia Voss?
The Golden Saber Maiden.
At such a young age, she had already become a powerful Rank 4 Blood Warrior.
If students who hadn't even reached Rank 1 went against her, the difference between them was obvious.
At this moment, even Adrian Blackwood hesitated slightly.
Being defeated in front of more than two hundred students was something someone as proud as him had difficulty accepting.
"I do."
Just as everyone was hesitating, a boy's voice suddenly rang out.
It stood out clearly in the silent training ground.
Every student turned toward the speaker.
A black-haired, blue-eyed boy stepped out from among the crowd and resolutely walked toward Aurelia.
It was Ryan.
In fact, he had been waiting for an opportunity like this for quite some time.
His original target for copying a talent had been Adrian Blackwood.
But ever since he learned that Aurelia Voss would be attending today's lesson, he had immediately abandoned that idea and turned his attention toward her instead.
The reason was simple.
The guests invited by Aegis Martial Academy were all powerful Blood Warriors.
And Aurelia herself was a renowned Rank 4 Blood Warrior.
Although Adrian Blackwood possessed excellent talent, there was no reason to believe his talent surpassed hers.
"Very good!"
Seeing Ryan step forward without hesitation, Aurelia smiled slightly.
Putting everything else aside, in terms of courage alone, this young man was undoubtedly among the boldest students present.
"Take your position and attack me without holding back!"
"Yes."
Ryan didn't hesitate.
He raised his monster-slaying saber and took his stance.
He naturally didn't waste time wondering whether he might accidentally injure Aurelia.
He already knew how powerful even a Rank 1 Blood Warrior could be.
His own class instructor was one.
That level of strength alone was enough to make students like Ryan feel powerless.
Aurelia was a Rank 4 Blood Warrior.
Therefore, there was no need whatsoever to consider whether Ryan might hurt her.