'So fast!' A storm raged in Li Wen's heart, and his pupils contracted instinctively.
This speed was completely beyond the limits of his reaction time at the Advanced Grand Completion realm. Compared to this, the Tiger Saber Skill he had learned before seemed like a toddler clumsily swinging a stick.
Then came the "Second Form—Rainbow Shadow."
SWOOSH!
The flash of the blade appeared again, still as fast as a phantom.
This time, the angle was even more devious and uncanny, like a shadow pouncing in the sunlight. All Li Wen could perceive were the cold, lingering glints of the blade at its starting and ending points.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Each form was faster than the last! Each slash more cunning than the one before!
The rapier in the middle-aged man's hand seemed to transform into an invisible beam of light, a true rainbow-chasing shadow, weaving a web of desperate speed and lethal principles within the confined space.
Every slash carried the sharp hum of cutting air and an unstoppable, ferocious momentum.
The flashes of the blade were at times as vast and majestic as a surging river, then as sinister and treacherous as a striking viper, or as relentless as a sudden squall... The sheer variety of its subtleties defied imagination.
Li Wen was utterly dazzled and mesmerized. He felt as if his brain's processing power had been completely drained, unable to keep up with the inhuman rhythm.
His body tensed instinctively, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. The demonstration of the sixty-four forms was over in what felt like an instant, yet it also seemed like an eternity of torment.
"That was a demonstration of the Rainbow Light Saber Skill at its proper speed. It's normal that you couldn't see it clearly. Don't be anxious or impatient."
As if sensing Li Wen's shock and hint of frustration, the middle-aged man's voice sounded again, tinged with a comforting tone.
"Now, practice with me. I will slow down and guide you through it, breaking down each step."
Hearing this, Li Wen felt like a drowning man grasping a piece of driftwood. He let out a long sigh of relief as his overwrought nerves finally began to unwind.
The faint hope—and worry—about 'mastering the basics in two days' mostly vanished. 'Thank goodness!'
If the lesson had ended right after that demonstration, he wouldn't just have failed to master the basics in two days; he probably wouldn't have even scratched the surface in two months.
No amount of absolute focus could compensate for the fatal flaw of being unable to see the movements at all.
He walked quickly to the weapon rack in the corner. Among the assorted weapons on display, he found a Standard Rapier exactly like the one the projected man was holding.
It felt cool and heavy in his hand, with excellent balance. The blade was long and slender, its edge gleaming with a cold light.
Grasping the blade settled his nerves somewhat. He returned to the center of the room, faced the projection, and, following the man's instructions, assumed the opening stance of the Rainbow Light Saber Skill.
"First Form—Long Rainbow!"
The projected image of the man slowed down, breaking the movement into distinct frames like a patient teacher.
How to lift the arm, how to rotate the wrist inward, how to sink his center of gravity before lunging forward, how power should flow from the feet to the legs, through the waist and back, into the shoulders and arms, and finally concentrate in the wrist and fingers to erupt from the very tip of the blade like a startled bird taking flight...
"Feel it carefully. Let your qi and blood follow the movement's guidance and erupt from a single point."
Li Wen's movements were a bit clumsy and stiff, but his eyes were resolute as he meticulously mimicked every detail.
Supported by the foundational body awareness from his [Advanced Saber Skill: Grand Completion], which was already ingrained in his very bones, and aided by the clear recall of the previous explanations thanks to [One-Time Certification is Permanent Certification], Li Wen's learning pace was far beyond what anyone would imagine.
He could instinctively adjust his center of gravity without having to consciously recall the key points, and the path his power traveled was much smoother.
In his mind, he constantly compared the projection's slow-motion movements with his own, rapidly building muscle memory.
"Second Form—Rainbow Shadow..."
The projection continued to guide him, the explanations remaining detailed and the movements clear and slow.
Again, and again...
Time slipped by unnoticed in his state of absolute focus.
Outside the window, the melodious bell signaling the end of the school day faintly pierced the soundproof barrier of the quiet room.
Li Wen seemed not to hear it, his entire focus fixed on the blade in his hand and the guiding figure before him.
His temples were already beaded with sweat and his breathing had grown deep, but his eyes were growing astonishingly bright.
With [One-Time Certification is Permanent Certification] safeguarding his progress, his memory of the forms he had learned was perfectly clear.
Even though nearly two hours had passed since he learned the first form, "Long Rainbow," he only had to think of it for every detail to be perfectly and accurately recalled in his mind, without the slightest fuzziness or deviation.
This was an advantage unique to him.
Any other student, subjected to such a dense and complex infusion of techniques, would likely have their mind filled with a muddled mess of half-remembered fragments and incorrect information, requiring a great deal of time to sort out and correct.
Li Wen, however, avoided this huge cognitive drain.
The last rays of the setting sun vanished from the horizon, dyeing the sky a deep, bruised purple.
In the silent, high-level technique-comprehension room, the only sounds were the steady commands of the middle-aged man and Li Wen's slightly ragged breaths, a result of his sustained focus and physical exertion.
Finally—
A faint HUM was accompanied by the middle-aged man's calm voice, "Sixty-Fourth Form—Sun Piercer... Conclude!"
As Li Wen mirrored the final movement—a stationary, blade-sheathing pose—a faint vibration from his wrist made him freeze. The image of the middle-aged man didn't vanish but remained standing there quietly.
Li Wen, however, looked as if he had just been pulled from the water. He was soaked in sweat, and the hair on his forehead was plastered to his skin.
Nearly four hours of extreme learning, demanding immense mental concentration and physical effort, had almost completely drained his stamina. His lungs worked like a bellows, each gasp bringing a burning sensation.