Kendo class representative Bai Ziyu! Let's not talk about sword intent yet, let's hold the sword steady first!

After Bai Ziyu finished his high-minded discourse on the "Sword of a Gentleman" and the "Extension of Will,"

The entire Martial Arts Arena immediately fell into a brief silence.

Every student stood with their mouths agape, staring dumbfoundedly at the youth standing straight-backed in the middle of the crowd.

Wait, brother... we're all freshmen who just enrolled. Even ten odd days ago, we were just ordinary college students who only knew how to scroll through our phones.

How can you be so showy as to comprehend such profound principles?

After the brief silence, an irrepressible wave of exclamations instantly erupted from the crowd.

"Holy crap!!"

"Listening to your words is better than practicing the sword for ten years!"

"Is this the insight of a true Sword Dao Genius? It's so thorough!"

"I've learned something! I've learned something! So the sword can be understood like this!"

"I'm getting fired up just listening! I feel like the sword in my hand is vibrating, as if a Sword Spirit is about to come out!"

Bai Ziyu's words could be described as simple and easy to understand, yet they pointed directly to the core.

The students who originally only treated the sword as a piece of iron for killing or a prop for acting cool now felt as if they had been enlightened by a divine light.

As they looked at the longswords in their hands, their gazes changed.

It was no longer just simple excitement, but held an added layer of reverence and contemplation.

So, what they held in their hands was not just a weapon, but their own heart, their own Dao!

"Good!!"

"What a line: 'Only when the heart has a conviction does the sword have a spirit'!"

Atop the high platform, Li Fan couldn't help but clap in praise, his eyes filled with undisguised appreciation.

"Student Bai Ziyu, your understanding of the sword is very profound!"

"One could even say you've already touched upon the core essence of a Sword Cultivator!"

"With this Comprehension Ability alone, you have already surpassed countless people!"

Li Fan's words were a extremely high evaluation.

Subsequently, he immediately made a decision and announced loudly:

"In view of Student Bai Ziyu's excellent performance and unique insights into the Sword Dao,"

"I announce that from this day forward, Bai Ziyu is the Sword Dao Class Representative!"

"In the future, everyone should learn from him and consult him more regarding Sword Dao cultivation!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd was in an uproar, but everyone was genuinely convinced.

After all, that speech he just gave was truly a dimensional strike; there was nothing to criticize.

"Ah?"

Hearing Li Fan suddenly appoint him as the class representative, Bai Ziyu was first startled, clearly not expecting such a move.

But he quickly reacted and did not decline. Instead, with a solemn expression, he bowed respectfully to Li Fan.

"Thank you for your favor, Teacher!"

"This student will certainly not fail your high expectations and will do my best to assist the teacher and help my classmates!"

His tone was sincere and his attitude humble, showing not a hint of arrogance or self-satisfaction despite the praise.

"Neither arrogant nor impetuous—such a Heart-Nature is truly rare."

Watching Bai Ziyu's performance, Li Fan felt another wave of emotion in his heart.

No wonder he could comprehend the Haoran Sword Intent; this gentle yet upright character was indeed the best vessel for Haoran Righteous Qi.

"Alright, sit down."

Li Fan waved his hand, signaling Bai Ziyu to take his seat, before scanning the crowd once more.

"Everyone, Student Bai Ziyu's speech just now must have brought you some inspiration."

"Indeed!"

"For a Sword Cultivator, a sword is not just a sword, but an extension of one's own will!"

"Whatever is in your heart, that is how your sword will be!"

"If you wish to protect, the sword is a shield of protection."

"If you wish to kill, the sword is a weapon of slaughter!"

"And a true Sword Cultivator must be able to carry this will through to the end, thereby comprehending their own—Sword Intent!"

Li Fan's voice gradually became powerful and resonant.

"Otherwise, without Sword Intent, a sword is truly just a slightly sharper weapon, no different from a fire poker!"

"Then Teacher Li..."

Just then, Fang Yi, who was sitting next to Ye Hao, couldn't help but raise his hand and ask loudly:

"Since Sword Intent is so important, how can one comprehend it?"

This question undoubtedly voiced the thoughts of everyone present.

Now that they knew the goal, they had to know how to get there, right?

"Good question!"

Li Fan nodded, his expression becoming serious.

"This is also what I will be teaching you next, and what you will need to pursue over a long period of time."

"However..."

He shifted his tone, directly pouring cold water on this group of hot-blooded students.

"Before this, you need to know a cruel fact."

"Something like Sword Intent heavily tests a person's Comprehension Ability!"

"It is something mysterious and profound, which can be understood intuitively but not conveyed in words."

"I cannot guarantee that all of you will be able to comprehend Sword Intent; that is unrealistic and impossible."

"One could even say that out of the three hundred-plus people here, if a dozen or so can eventually comprehend Sword Intent, it would already be a stroke of immense luck!"

Li Fan had to say the harsh truths upfront.

Concepts like this had always been profound, obscure, and ethereal in the Cangxuan Great Realm.

Many Cultivators spent their entire lives stuck outside the threshold.

Even with guidance from a famous teacher, it wasn't certain that one would succeed in comprehension.

So he had to give these students a warning to prevent them from having expectations that were too high, only for their Dao Heart to collapse due to setbacks.

"So that's how it is..."

"Don't worry, Teacher Li, we understand!"

Hearing Li Fan's words, the students below were not discouraged; instead, they nodded one after another in understanding.

"Something as high-end as Sword Intent definitely can't be comprehended just like that!"

"If anyone could comprehend it, wouldn't Sword Immortals be everywhere?"

"In the novels I read, which of those experts who can comprehend Sword Intent isn't a ceiling-level existence? It's only normal for it to be difficult!"

They were all youth of the new era who had been influenced by web novels, so their acceptance of this kind of setting was extremely high.

The harder it was, the more it actually aroused their desire to conquer it!

"It's good that you understand."

Seeing that the group's enthusiasm hadn't been dampened, Li Fan nodded with satisfaction.

"Next, I will first demonstrate a set of the most basic sword techniques."

"Watch closely and learn carefully!"

"As the saying goes, a ten-thousand-foot building starts from the ground. Hold your sword steady first and learn the basic movements clearly before we talk about comprehending Sword Intent!"

Food must be eaten bite by bite, and the road must be walked step by step.

The students before him, although they had passed the assessment, were essentially a group of rookies who hadn't even touched a sword for more than a few days.

They barely understood how to grip the sword and exert force, so why talk about Sword Intent?

Subsequently.

Li Fan held the iron sword, his body sinking slightly.

"Watch closely!"

"First form, Thrust!"

Swish!

The iron sword in his hand thrust out plainly. The movement wasn't fast, nor did it carry any spiritual energy.

But that moment of stability, accuracy, and ruthlessness made everyone's eyes light up.

"Second form, Upward Slash!"

"Third form, Cleave!"

Li Fan practiced the most basic movements in the Sword Dao over and over again.

His movements were standard to the extreme; every point of exertion and every angle was of a textbook level.

"Do you understand?"

After the demonstration, Li Fan sheathed his sword and stood still, his breathing steady.

"Next, it's your turn!"

"Everyone, spread out!"

"Keep a ten-meter distance between each person in all directions. Don't injure your classmates!"

"Start practicing!"

"Yes!!"

With Li Fan's command,

The three hundred-plus students shouted in unison, their momentum shaking the heavens.

Then, the crowd quickly dispersed, each finding their own position.

Swish, swish, swish!

For a moment, sword light flickered across the Martial Arts Arena.

All the students put in twelve-tenths of their focus and began clumsily yet extremely seriously to imitate the few movements Li Fan had just shown.

Even if it was just the most tedious basic practice, not a single person slacked off.

Because they knew that this was the first step toward becoming strong!

...Meanwhile.

In the shade of the trees not far from the Martial Arts Arena.

Lin Xiyue and the others had quietly arrived at this spot at some unknown time.

"Tsk tsk, I didn't see it coming."

"Little Brother Li usually looks like a silent type, but he's quite decent when it comes to teaching students!"

Lin Xiyue crossed her arms, a hint of admiration appearing in her eyes as she watched Li Fan on the platform seriously instructing the students.