"Me?" Grey pointed at himself, looking like a confused cat.
"Yes, Instructor Daniel. I've been waiting here for you this entire time. It's good that you finally arrived. We can now begin the training for the Zenith Sword Art," Lia said matter-of-factly. "Before we start, would you like me to transfer the fee of 5,000 Union Credits for five hours of guidance, as you mentioned?"
"5,000 Union Credits?" Grey's expression changed instantly—from blank confusion to a sharp, locked-in look.
Five thousand Union Credits…
The average salary of a middle-class household was only around 400 Union Credits. With that much money, he could easily buy a normal car in this economy!
He honestly wondered if this beautiful woman in front of him was playing some kind of prank. But looking at her luxurious, "rich girl" getup, he doubted it.
Then, it struck him. The girl had called him Instructor Daniel. It must be a misunderstanding. She had mistaken him for someone else—likely her actual instructor for guiding her in the Zenith Sword Art.
Grey knew of the Zenith Sword Art. Back in Nova-5, it was the favored practice of the young masters from prominent families. Most of the time, this sword art was the talk of the class, often used as the benchmark to compare with other techniques.
It was notoriously difficult to cultivate, requiring immense guidance and countless resources to even grasp, let alone master.
But then, a grin spread across Grey's face.
Did that concern him?
Not at all. With just a single glance, he believed he could comprehend it to the master level—or even the grandmaster level!
After all, he possessed the Defier of Heavenly Logic. His entire existence was a walking cheat, capable of comprehending anything and everything. Which meant… he could definitely guide the lady standing before him!
He was once called Instructor Daniel back in the village!
Sorry, Instructor Daniel. I'll be stealing your student today.
First come, first serve!
How unlucky for you!
Grey looked at Lia with the grin of a businessman who had just landed a massive deal.
"Yes, Miss Lia," he said smoothly. "Please wire the money over. I guarantee you will be satisfied with my five hours of guidance!"
Grey flashed a big smile at Lia and pulled out his phone, showing her his bank details.
Lia nodded calmly and gestured to Albert, who stood silently behind her like a ghost. Without a word, the bald man took out his phone and swiftly completed the transaction.
[Ding! 5,000 Union Credits have been transferred to your account from sender: XXX. Current Balance: 5,043.28.]
"Alright, Miss Lia, let's begin." Grey spoke with a professional expression—the same kind of look a car salesman would flash the moment they realized their customer was filthy rich.
"Yes." Lia nodded lightly. "I've already booked a top-tier training room for practice. Please follow me, Instructor Daniel."
Grey nodded as if everything was natural and followed alongside Lia, with her butler trailing closely behind. Together, they swiftly made their way toward the training room she had arranged.
From the very start, Grey could feel an extremely oppressive aura radiating from both Lia and the butler. There was no doubt—they were powerful evolvers.
But did he care?
Not in the slightest.
What mattered to Grey was the money. Besides, while training her, he could also observe the unique energy patterns flowing within Lia.
To cultivate the Zenith Sword Art, one had to either be a Martial Artist, a Genetic Warrior, or an Immortal Cultivator. Grey immediately ruled out the lower-ranked evolutionary paths.
Someone as wealthy as Lia clearly came from a prominent family with a powerful bloodline. She most likely had strong compatibility with cosmic energy—or perhaps even with spiritual energy born of heavenly resonance, the kind utilized by Immortal Cultivators.
When they finally reached the room, Lia stepped in first. Grey followed right after, but when Albert attempted to enter as well, Grey suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
"Did you pay me to guide you in the Zenith Sword Art?" Grey asked, his tone carrying the air of an experienced expert. "You can stay outside and keep watch. Don't let anyone disturb us."
Of course, the truth was much simpler. He absolutely didn't want this guy inside!
What if he slipped up and Albert discovered he was just an ordinary mortal scamming the young lady?
Albert was most definitely an evolver at Rank 2 or Rank 3. Only those at higher ranks could constantly exude such an oppressive presence. Compared to him, Grey didn't feel much from Lia, which meant her butler was the truly strong one. Grey could easily tell whether someone was a mortal or not—and this man was far from ordinary.
Of course, he knew the truth. The fact that he was scamming Lia would eventually be exposed once the real Daniel Carter contacted her.
But did Grey care?
Once again, not at all.
In the end, what truly mattered was customer satisfaction. He firmly believed that with his Defier of Heavenly Logic, he was a far better teacher than this so-called Daniel Carter. By the time this session ended, he was determined to leave Lia so satisfied with his guidance that she wouldn't even feel angry when she discovered the truth.
In fact, he would make sure she would definitely call for him again.
"Apologies for my butler's behavior," Lia said, bowing slightly toward Grey. "He was instructed by my father to guard me at all times. But now that we are inside the Evolvers' Association, I have no need for protection. After all, I have the powerful Master Daniel Carter with me."
She turned her gaze toward Albert. After a brief silence, the bald butler finally stepped back, retreating to his post outside and closing the training room door behind them.
After Albert left, Grey looked around. The training room was spacious, with seats along the side and a vending machine with drinks in one corner. In the other corner, there was a rack of weapons—from maces to axes to long swords. They were of basic quality and couldn't really do much damage, but they were perfect for training.
"Perfect. Let's start." Grey clasped his hands behind his back, imitating the posture of a seasoned expert.
"Yes." Lia replied softly and, without hesitation, began removing her t-shirt right in front of him.
Grey was immediately caught off guard.
Wait—why is this girl suddenly stripping?!
Are we about to practice some kind of dual cultivation technique?!
But what he expected never came to pass. Underneath, she wore a snug sports bra and short training pants. The oversized t-shirt had simply been covering her proper training attire.
With her sunglasses also set aside, Lia's natural beauty was finally revealed in full. Her long black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and a soft fringe framed her delicate face. Her crimson eyes gleamed brightly, illuminating the training room itself.
Clad in fitted sportswear that highlighted the proportions of her well-endowed figure, she looked nothing short of breathtaking—elegant, athletic, and undeniably alluring.
"Very well, let's start with the basics. Start performing the Zenith Sword Art, and I will guide you from there," Grey said casually as he sat down on the seat beside the door of the training room.
He patiently waited for the show to begin so he could comprehend the technique and start teaching.
Lia took a deep breath, her hands steadying on the hilt. She planted her feet shoulder-width apart, lowering her stance, and then raised the sword above her head in salute to the heavens.
The first strike came with a sharp step forward—the blade swept upward, carving an arc as though to split the clouds. Without pause, she pivoted her body and brought the sword crashing down, the edge whistling as it cut through the air.
She shifted her weight onto her back foot, thrusting the blade straight ahead. The thrust flowed into a smooth withdrawal; her arms circled outward, turning the blade sideways before slashing across in a wide horizontal sweep.
Her footwork carried her in a half-circle, each step measured and precise. The sword followed, tracing crescents in the air—first to the left, then to the right—before she spun lightly and brought the blade around in a rising diagonal slash.
From the diagonal, she transitioned into a fluid overhead cut, both hands firm on the hilt. She stepped in closer, driving the blade forward in a piercing thrust, then twisted her wrists, turning the thrust into a sweeping parry that cleared the space before her.
Finally, she exhaled softly, steadying her breath, and ended the sequence with both hands gripping the hilt as she drew the sword back to her side in a finishing stance.
"How was it, Instructor?" Lia turned her gaze toward Grey and asked.
However, to her surprise, the instructor was now looking at her with a strange expression on his face.
[By observing Lia perform Zenith Sword Art, you've comprehended "Great Zenith Sword Art."]
[By observing Lia, you've realized the heavenly workings and gained insight into "Endless Potential Physique."]
Grey: ???