Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, filling the room. Ron had completed his meditation for the day and was preparing to practice the "Corona Swordsmanship".
Ever since he slew Darrend previously, his understanding of this swordsmanship had leaped to a new level.
Especially during that life-and-death struggle, he had more profoundly realized the subtlety of combining swordsmanship with the Breathing Technique.
"Let's begin."
Ron adjusted his breathing, slowly raising the wooden sword in his hand.
Guided by the "Crown Breathing Technique," every movement of his carried a peculiar rhythm.
The first breath cycle, inhale for seven counts.
The wooden sword sketched a graceful arc from bottom to top, its tip pointing to the sky, as if a knight saluting the sun.
This was the "Ring of Dawn" move in Corona Swordsmanship, which emphasized dissolving attacks from all angles with a smooth arc.
The second breath cycle, hold the breath for three counts.
The sword parallel to the ground, held with both hands at the chest, forming a classic blocking posture.
This defensive stance, derived from ancient traditions, could redirect the enemy's force to the surroundings.
The glow on the surface of the wooden sword gradually brightened, as the unique energy of the "Crown Breathing Technique" accumulated on the sword body.
The third breath cycle, exhale for five counts.
The sword momentum suddenly changed, shifting from a horizontal grip to a stabbing motion, with the sword tip swift like a snake unsheathing.
This move was named "Dawn Cross," a rare technique in Corona Swordsmanship that combined both offense and defense.
The sword blade swept a perfect cross in the air, capable of blocking incoming attacks while containing powerful counterattack strength.
As the full set of sword techniques was practiced, the wooden sword traced a beautiful arc in the air, perfectly matching his breathing.
Unlike the previous awkwardness, now every move appeared smooth and effortless.
[Current Progress: Basic Swordsmanship (Entry Level 49/50)]
"Just a bit more..."
Ron took a deep breath and began to perform the final set of sword techniques.
This was the most complex set of moves in the "Corona Swordsmanship," requiring multiple direction changes in a short time.
But this time, he found his body seemed to have an autonomous consciousness.
Every transition was just right, with seamless connection between sword momentums.
A set of moves completed smoothly, Ron could clearly feel some kind of change within his body.
[Basic Swordsmanship Breakthrough!]
[Basic Swordsmanship (Entry Level 50/50) → Basic Swordsmanship (Skilled Level 1/100)]
[Gained Additional Trait: Sharpness (Increased penetration when using sword techniques)]
He lifted the wooden sword, gently swaying it.
The trajectory carved by the sword edge seemed to carry some invisible fluctuation, causing even the air to tremble slightly.
If he were to face Darrend again now, he could probably subdue him in a single encounter.
"Is this the difference between skilled and entry levels..."
Ron sighed to himself. After all, so-called "entry" and "skilled" evaluation standards were determined by the panel itself.
He felt that his swordsmanship, now merely at the "skilled" level on that panel, was already comparable to the acclaimed swordsmanship champions of the Kingdom.
Putting away the wooden sword, he began to prepare for today's Body Refining.
As he delved deeper into the "Crown Breathing Technique," his familiarity with the process of this Breathing Body Refining increased.
[Breathing Body Refining Experience Points +1]
[Current Progress: Breathing Body Refining (Entry Level 43/100)]
He could now roughly differentiate this skill, as skills like [Breathing Body Refining] and [Basic Meditation] belonged to cultivation skills.
The distinction from other skills was that these required more experience points, and accumulating experience was harder than other skills, but breaking through brought cross-level power enhancement.
Even though progress was just halfway, Ron wasn't in a hurry.
Body Refining differed from other skills, requiring a special oil, and needed time for body recovery after each refining session.
Additionally, rushing through foundational work often caused issues.
Having completed the Body Refining, Ron felt himself drenched in sweat and oil, deciding to head to the public bath for a wash.
Gathering his belongings, he was about to leave when he suddenly remembered Andre's warning.
In this world, even going for a bath required caution, as bathing and using the bathroom were moments of greatest relaxation.
"Hopefully, today will be quiet."
Ron murmured to himself, pushing open the door and stepping into the corridor.
The heat in the public bath was steamy. He chose a spot in the corner and began washing off the oil and sweat from his body.
Warm water flowed over his body, gradually relaxing his tense muscles.
The recent Body Refining made his physique even more robust, especially the lines of his meridians and muscles became extremely distinct.
When several Candidate Apprentices entered the bathhouse and saw Ron's figure, they instinctively avoided him, choosing positions farther away.
After the Darrend incident, coupled with Andre helping him out before, they were both in awe and somewhat fearful of this neighbor who could single-handedly take down an Aberration with a wooden sword.
After finishing his wash, Ron dressed and grabbed his toiletries, preparing to return to his room.
The corridor was quiet, with only a few dim Magic Crystal Lamps flickering.
Just as he was about to reach his room, a figure suddenly emerged from around the corner.
"Master Ron."
It was a well-dressed young woman, whom Ron recognized as one of Marcus's servants.
Compared to other servants, her attire was more luxurious, with a gem-studded necklace around her neck.
"I'm Danni, Marcus's personal maid," she said, slightly bowing, her voice gentle and pleasant:
"I heard that you work at Lady Allen's herb store?"
Ron looked at her expressionlessly, "What's the matter?"
"It's like this." Danni gave a polite smile:
"My master has always been very interested in Magic Potion Making. I've heard you've achieved quite a lot in it recently. I wonder if you could..."
"No." Ron directly cut off what she was about to say.
He was too aware of these servants' tricks, initially probing for information indirectly and then trying to find leverage.
Besides, he and Lady Allen had a confidentiality agreement; this kind of knowingly playing dumb act was rather clumsy.
"This…" Danni showed a troubled expression:
"If it's a matter of price, we could negotiate. My master said that he is willing to offer if you're willing to share some recipes…"
"Not interested, step aside."
Ron did not want to continue this meaningless conversation, bypassing her to leave.
At that moment, as he brushed past Danni, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, and a triumphant smile curled her lips.
Her slender fingers made a subtle gesture beneath her sleeve, silently uttering a spell at the same time.
This was a zero-ring spell called "Light-Handed Skillful Extraction," which had no offensive effect but was concealed and hard to detect.
A scarcely perceptible dark energy tendril seeped from her fingertips, drifting towards Ron like a wisp of smoke.
At this distance, even an experienced Apprentice, caught off guard, would find it hard to detect such an energy fluctuation.
While casting, her eyes were fixed tightly on the bulging pouch at her target's waist.
Inside it were not only Magic Stone Fragments but also a few Potions Ron had painstakingly refined.
The energy tendril had nearly reached the pouch, just needing another moment to teleport the pouch into her hands with this theft spell.
Then, she would just need to falsely accuse him of attempting to steal her belongings, effortlessly...
—— At the critical moment, Ron's Spiritual Perception suddenly captured that trace of bizarre energy fluctuation.
It was an extremely subtle discordance, like something repeatedly plucking at the strings of his spirit, making him irritable and unsettled.
Danni saw the young Apprentice, who had walked past her, suddenly stop in his tracks, and alarm bells rang in her heart.
But it was too late. The speed at which the wooden sword was drawn was astonishing, showing for the first time the terrifying power of Skilled Level "Corona Swordsmanship."
The sword light flashed, followed by a sharp, chilling scream.
Danni's right hand, along with the dark energy touch, was sliced open, blood spraying out instantly.
She looked in horror at her severed wrist, about to scream again, when Ron, without any compassion, kicked her viciously away.
At the same time, he quickly caught his pouch that was about to fall to the ground, which contained his Magic Stone Fragments and Potions.
"If it weren't for being in a public area with 'Surveillance Eyes'..."
Ron flicked the blood off the wooden sword, his gaze biting cold: "You'd already be a dead person."
Danni rolled to the ground, taking a long time to get up, her once magnificent dress tarnished with dirt and dust, a conspicuous footprint on it.
She struggled to hold her bleeding wrist, her elegance completely gone, leaving only fear and pain: "How dare you..."
At this moment, a cold voice suddenly came from the end of the corridor:
"Hmph, just like the rumors say, a brawn-for-brains brute!"
Marcus had no idea how long he had been lurking there, wearing a dark gray apprentice robe, a green badge on his chest gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"I've just witnessed with my own eyes how you cruelly injured my servant."
This somewhat ugly, short man's face showed a grim smile:
"The School explicitly forbids internal fighting, especially you, a mere Candidate Apprentice, daring to lay such a heavy hand on the property of an Official Apprentice..."