Chapter 267: Learning
Chapter 267: Learning
Chen Chuan had previously found the recommendation opportunities at the academy too expensive, but this time, he decided to give it a shot. He always felt that the money lying in his platform account would be taken away by someone one way or another, so he might as well exchange it for something valuable sooner rather than later.
He contacted the academy platform and found the application section, where he discovered an application form. The form included an appendix explaining that every official student of the Wu Yi Academy could apply once a month. The academy would adjust the order based on the student's application time, their evaluation score, and the number of applicants, among other factors. The internal fee for each session ranged from three to five thousand yuan.
Chen Chuan looked at the numbers and realized that even this ten thousand yuan wouldn't last long, maybe just two or three sessions at most. Still, it was enough to last two to three months, which was something. He could figure out another plan after that.
After filling out the form, he submitted it and soon received a notification that he had been added to the queue and should patiently await a specific response.
A little while later, another notification informed him that all quotas for the month had already been allocated at the beginning of the month, so he would have to wait until next month. They would charge him three thousand yuan, and there was an additional message below informing students that the academy could provide loan services with an interest rate of only 25%.
Chen Chuan casually dismissed the message about the loan. As long as he was sure to get his turn, waiting in line wasn't a problem.
He organized his things, took a shower, and then closed the curtains to browse the day's news after returning.
Despite the explosion at the Treasure Nest Market that had claimed many lives, there was no coverage on mainstream news, perhaps due to a lack of qualification or the timing. He couldn't find any reports, but there were some on the fringe news.
The reports there described the incident as a violent crime by a fighter, swiftly resolved by the enforcers of the Processing Bureau. As always, the comment section was filled with arguments.
Chen Chuan saw himself in the footage, and from the angle, it seemed likely that the person who released this scene was one of the security patrol members present at the time.
Below, there was a debate about his strength, with most people believing he was a third-limit combatant because his speed was almost beyond what a normal person could discern.
But Chen Chuan noticed an interesting voice-changed comment by someone named "Dancing on a Bottle Cap":
"I'm certain this is a second-limit combatant.
The second limit and the second limit are different. The reason you can't see his movements clearly is that this person's overall coordination is excellent. From the leap to breaking through the window and falling into the market's interior, the entire process is seamless, with no pauses in between. The distribution of strength is just right, not a bit more or less."
His comment immediately sparked a debate, with others accusing him of pretending to know more than he did and providing analyses to prove him wrong.
However, Chen Chuan knew that "Dancing on a Bottle Cap" was correct because, at that moment, he hadn't used speed and strength comparable to a third-limit combatant.
But not everyone disagreed with "Dancing on a Bottle Cap." One person supported him, saying he was right because the leap was so smooth and fluid, giving them, as martial arts enthusiasts, a very comfortable feeling.
Chen Chuan's face wasn't visible in the footage since he was facing away from the camera, so there was also a discussion about his identity below. Some believed he wasn't from the Processing Bureau because his clothes weren't their uniform and looked more like that of the Administrative Bureau. However, this comment quickly disappeared, and the person seemed to have stopped commenting after that.
As Chen Chuan was browsing, he suddenly received a contact request from Tan Zhi, who was looking for him. He accepted the call, and Tan Zhi's voice immediately sounded:
"Hey, Chen, how about some relaxation on this leisure day? I'll introduce you to a few classmates, and maybe we can help each other out in the future."
Chen Chuan asked, "Where are we going?"
Tan Zhi replied, "A one-day cruise on the ocean. A senior classmate is taking us, and I guarantee you'll see things you've never seen before."
Chen Chuan wasn't opposed to such interactions, as he might have to deal with these classmates in the future, and he could learn a lot from these exchanges.
He asked, "Is it safe?"
"Absolutely safe. They've organized many events like this before, and we won't leave the Central City sea area. All boundary tokens can be used, so it won't be boring."
"Okay, Tan, I'll go. Thanks."
Tan Zhi said, "Sure thing. I helped you with your enrollment, so we should stay in touch. You'll understand, Chen."
After the call, Chen Chuan browsed the news for a while longer and then scrolled down to watch a movie. His previous self loved watching movies, but the old-style films and those from Central City offered a unique immersive experience, especially when wearing the boundary token provided by the Processing Bureau.
Even old movies could feel novel, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the protagonist's world.
But after watching for three minutes, including the ads, he was prompted to pay, so he promptly closed it. It was almost ten o'clock, so he decided to rest.
The next morning, he woke up promptly at five and started his daily training. At eight, he contacted Teacher Zheng, who taught him sword techniques, and was told that the teacher was available right then. So, he quickly got ready and left.
Zheng Teacher's residence was located in Wuding District, not far from the Mystic Palace Tower, and it only took him about ten minutes to drive there, so he arrived before 8:30. After knocking on the door, the teacher himself answered and led him inside with a smile.
The teacher was in his late forties, with a robust build, a ruddy complexion, and a full beard. He had a loud voice and spoke straightforwardly, giving off a very generous and outgoing vibe.
Upon entering the main gate, they stepped into a spacious courtyard. On both sides, under retractable awnings, were various types of swords, at least several dozen, showcasing a wide range of domestic and foreign designs.
Zheng Teacher said, "This house may look big, but I'm still in debt. I also have to complete assignments from the Processing Bureau. Young man, you should start thinking about your future too. When you graduate from the academy and want to make a name for yourself in Central City, you'll need a place to call your own eventually."
As he spoke, he walked over to the weapon rack and continued, "Let me see your foundation. I'll just take a look." He casually picked up a sword from the rack and gently swung it towards Chen Chuan in a chopping motion.
His movements were not fast, allowing Chen Chuan to see them clearly. However, Chen Chuan had a feeling that he couldn't dodge it, so he quickly raised his sword to block. But he didn't feel any force on the sword, as if it were just a light swing.
Just as he thought so, a sudden force surged towards him. He reacted and adjusted, but the force still pushed him half a step to the side.
Zheng Teacher put down the sword and said, "I have a general idea of your level now."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. From the moment he entered, he had been suppressing his state, as this type of skill training often yielded better results when one's state was suppressed. Otherwise, if he relied solely on his strength and speed, this training session would be pointless.
But with that swing, he felt that even if he released his state, he might not be able to block it. It was highly likely that he would still be unable to defend against it.
There was nothing special about it; it was just that Zheng Teacher's skill in force manipulation far surpassed his. Even if Chen Chuan understood the intricacies of that swing, he might not be able to adjust his strength in time.
Of course, this was not a matter of life and death, but in terms of skill, he was undoubtedly being outclassed. However, this was precisely why he had come here to learn.
Zheng Teacher said, "Skills can be practiced, but one's spirit and confidence are not easily built. Just now, you couldn't block my swing, but I saw the determination and resilience in your eyes. That's great! It's not shameful to be outskilled by someone; you just need to find a way to catch up. If you lose that spirit, then all the training would be in vain."
"Your foundation is solid, so we can skip many steps. Based on your situation, I'll divide this training into several phases. Today, I'll start by teaching you how to defend."
He got straight to the point, without any hesitation, and began to demonstrate with the sword, teaching Chen Chuan how to unload and transform force through breathing and altered organs.
Zheng Teacher was patient, and his teaching style was different from his outwardly fiery personality. At critical moments, he could point out the subtle details that Chen Chuan overlooked. His teaching style was like his sword techniques—rough yet refined.
After practicing for the entire morning, Chen Chuan had grasped the essence of force manipulation. After all, he had a solid foundation, and the Zhou Yuan Power Technique had enhanced the compatibility of his altered organs, so he didn't need to struggle with adjustments like others.
In reality, if the altered organs were insufficient to support the required force, the teacher would need to find ways to adjust the student's force application or suggest the use of drugs to promote the growth of altered organs in the affected areas.
This was the true role of a skills instructor.
They often couldn't teach the entire skill set to students but had to selectively choose or adjust the force application based on the student's altered organs. This required knowledge and expertise, and even though some fighters possessed formidable combat power, they might not have the ability to teach students in this manner.
Chen Chuan's quick grasp of the skills delighted Zheng Teacher, as it meant they could skip the adjustment phase and move directly to the crucial parts.
"The best way to master skills is through real combat sparring. There's nothing better to hone a fighter than this. For a fighter, one round of sparring is worth a hundred lectures."
Zheng Teacher called out, "Zheng Tongtong!"
Quick, rhythmic footsteps approached, and soon, a robust young woman in her early twenties entered. She resembled Zheng Teacher, with broad arms and legs, but without any hint of clumsiness. Her movements were graceful and agile.
Zheng Teacher introduced, "This is Chen Chuan, a fellow student. You two can spar a few moves."
"Okay!"
Zheng Tongtong seemed to have inherited her father's outgoing nature. Without hesitation, she grabbed a hefty broadsword from the rack and greeted Chen Chuan with a fist bump, "Junior, please guide me."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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