Outsiders look on for the excitement, insiders look for the techniques.
Everyone in the training hall was familiar with elemental sword aura. They did not look down on Xiao Lin, but elemental sword aura was something that needed the support of both magic and close combat-based courses, so a new student being able to master it was something unthinkable.
That was why when they saw Xiao Lin’s flame sword aura, they could at least see that the new student did have the qualifications to attend this class, but their expressions did not change too much. They only had looks of pity for Xiao Lin in their eyes.
“Not bad,” Professor Zhang praised. “Come! Let me see how strong your sword aura is!”
Xiao Lin was still hesitant. He could already unleash his elemental sword aura, but in truth, it was still not at the point where he could fully control it. If he swung his blade, he was not sure if the old man could withstand it. Even though the training hall had its recovery system, the old man only had casual clothes on, without even the most basic defense. If he was killed in one blow, then he would lose his life span for no reason, which was not ideal.
“Oh? Afraid now?” Professor Zhang provoked.
“Careful!”
Xiao Lin finally stopped hesitating, but he still chose to hold back, even if he still could not completely control his strength. As his blade danced, his flames followed suit, and the embers started to cover half the training hall. However, everyone there was an upper-year student, and flames of that level were not enough to harm them.
“Your communication with the elements is strong, and your control is better than what I expected. Your Basic Meditation must be quite good.
“It’s a pity your control of flames is way too weak. You’re only coating the flames on your blade with no thought, only to enhance the power. It’s the biggest mistake rookies make, but you’re still much better than most new students.
“Your communication with the elements is too aggressive. I really don’t know what your meditation teacher taught you.”
Facing Xiao Lin’s fierce slash, the old man did not have a trace of nervousness, merely standing there and muttering his evaluations. Xiao Lin felt more and more anxious, and could not hold himself back from shouting out, “Be careful, Professor!”
The professor’s warm expression suddenly sharpened, finally raising his steel training sword slowly. His blade was very slow, like a snail, yet in a flash, a bright deep red glow suddenly emitted from his blade.
Flame sword aura!
Professor Zhang was planning on using the same flame sword aura to block the slash. It was the same element, yet it looked completely different. Xiao Lin’s flames were mostly external, his flames almost burning away the training hall, yet the professor’s flames were reserved and internal. The candle-like flame gave the feeling that it could be swallowed by Xiao Lin’s at any time.
Boom!
The two flames suddenly collided. Xiao Lin’s flame elemental sword aura was like a gigantic monster, and it opened its flaming mouth, biting down with its berserk flames.
Professor Zhang’s body quickly disappeared in the light of the flames. Xiao Lin’s heart sank, yet after a few seconds, the flames dispersed and the professor’s frail silhouette slowly reappeared. He stood there unharmed, and the flames on his blade had disappeared as well. The sword itself emitted white steam, and the tip of the sword had been burnt black.
Xiao Lin let out a sigh of relief seeing that the professor was safe and sound, yet he could not understand how. His eyes had been completely fixed on the professor the entire time, and the professor’s elemental sword aura had felt weak to him. Yet, the clash between sword auras seems to have ended in Xiao Lin’s defeat.
No, even if it was a defeat, the defeat was still very strange.
Xiao Lin was puzzled. The power of his sword aura should have suppressed the professors. Being defeated by a weaker sword aura was something that left him stumped.
“Professor is so biased.”
“He held back in the end.”
“Of course. Otherwise, how could the new student still be standing there?”
The mutterings behind him caused Xiao Lin to feel like he had misunderstood something. Professor Zhang put his glasses back on, and his wrinkled face had a peaceful smile once again. “You’re better than I expected. No wonder he kept on recommending you to me. Alright, you can stay on. Your training partner will be me from now on.”
Xiao Lin was still in a daze when Cheng Xiaolin walked over, saying in admiration, “You’re so lucky! The professor rarely teaches anyone personally! I’ve been in this course for two years, and you’re the first!”
The short performance had led everyone to be disappointed because Professor Zhang did not use his true power, but facing a new student, that was to be expected.
“Professor, you mentioned someone earlier? Who was the one who recommended me to you?” Looking at the professor turning around to leave, Xiao Lin hurriedly went over.
“Song Junlang.”
“Huh? Him! Ahem, I mean, so, it was Department Head Song.”
“Haha! That brat is quite cheeky.” Professor Zhang seemed to be able to guess a little about Xiao Lin and Song Junlang’s relationship. Then, his tone turned slightly sentimental. “Back then, he was really talented at elemental sword aura. What a pity.”
This time, Xiao Lin understood; the old man was probably Song Junlang’s teacher back then. It seemed like Song Junlang had recommended Xiao Lin to the old man before, but Song Junlang had never mentioned it.
“Did you remember what I said just now?”
“What?”
“Your elemental sword aura is definitely better than most rookies, but it’s still too weak. However, your potential is better than I expected. It’s probably even better than Song Junlang way back then. Not bad, not bad. I haven’t seen a brat like you in many years.” Professor Zhang muttered to himself as he walked.
The ones who were anticipating a good show of the professor trouncing Xiao Lin could not help but look at Xiao Lin in another light. Professor Zhang rarely praised anyone–never really. The words of praise he said then were probably more than he had said in the past few years.
After the brief excitement, the training hall went back into the usual training. To the upper-year students who were going to enter the New World soon, rather than wasting time admiring the potential of the new student, it was more practical to think about their own future.
The professor did not rush to duel with Xiao Lin. He brought Xiao Lin to the lounge next to the training hall. The lounge was obviously something that had been added on, and seemed to have been built in consideration for the professor. The professor sat down and made himself some tea as he massaged his back, sighing, “I’m so old! Let me ask you, have you been through any instruction or study regarding elemental sword aura?”
“No.” Xiao Lin said in embarrassment, his tone was much more respectful than before. It was obvious that the old man in front of him was secretly a boss.
“That’s good! That’s good!” The old man let out a breath, smiling happily.