"I've given you the key to the house. After all this talk, I'm just here to help you get acquainted with the place... That's about all a teacher can do. I've only charged you such a small sum. Do you really expect me to be like those grandpas who transfer skills in novels, bestowing hundreds of years of power upon you and then throwing in my daughter as a bonus?"

That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Huai Shi really wanted to say that, but even if he had hundreds of guts, he wouldn't dare to say such a thing in front of the old man.

Instead, he put on a sincere and upright expression, as if implying the old man was overthinking things, and that he, Huai Shi, was solely focused on honing his body daily, with little interest in women.

If he angered the old man, never mind attending class, he probably wouldn't even live until it was over.

However, Luo Xian, who was knitting nearby, heard this. She tied up her hair, propped her chin on her elbow, and said teasingly with a faint smile, "I don't mind at all. It's just a matter of whether Father is willing to part with me."

Huai Shi's heart leaped into his throat, but the old man just glanced at her and slowly shook his head. "You're still young. Wait a few more years before you say such disrespectful things about your father."

Luo Xian shook her head and smiled at Huai Shi. "Father is just teasing you, don't be scared."

Huai Shi smiled stiffly.

He still hadn't recovered from the terrifying chill of his Death Perception. When the old man had glanced at him moments before, he'd felt as if he were on the verge of death.

Unable to move.

If this was a joke, he'd pick up the knife from the floor and swallow it whole right now.

Seeing Luo Lao approaching him with a seemingly good-natured smile, he quickly squeezed out a flattering, utterly sycophantic grin. Luo Lao glanced at his cowardly demeanor and shook his head dismissively.

"A pity. If you had just agreed, I might have seriously considered it."

Heh, consider which item on the floor to hammer me to death with!

Huai Shi's expression twitched. He let the old man have his moment. Once the 'performance' was over, he asked, "So, what exactly are we learning today?"

"I'll teach you something I've kept in reserve."

Luo Lao said calmly, "Whenever a student finishes their training with me, as their teacher, I always impart a special skill, so others won't say I'm stingy. However, you're a more difficult case than the others, and I've never been quite sure what to teach you."

Huai Shi was taken aback, then feigned magnanimity. "Just teach me anything!"

Regardless of what was taught, he couldn't complain. A glance at the entry-level Drummer and Yu Step was enough to show how many treasures the old man possessed. Since he called it one of his signature skills, it naturally wouldn't be anything ordinary.

"Forget it."

Luo Lao glanced at Huai Shi and sneered, but didn't say much more.

He had said it long ago: Huai Shi lacked perseverance. It wasn't that he wasn't hardworking or diligent, but that his focus wasn't singular. One look at his diverse Sword Art was enough to tell.

Axes, Short Knives, Long Spears... not to mention the various firearms he handled even more skillfully.

A complete mishmash.

To put it nicely, he was eclectic. However, if not managed well, he'd end up a jack of all trades, master of none. He was always thinking, "I want it all," but the reality was he could do without any particular one.

More or less, it didn't matter to him. It was fine if he had them, and no great loss if he didn't.

On the surface, he appeared valiant and determined to advance, but deep down, he was content to just get by.

He did have quite a few unique skills. But rather than teach this fellow some half-baked technique he'd only use to embarrass himself out in the world, it was better to teach him something different.

But what to teach him had been a real headache for the old man.

If not for yesterday's display of the Performance Method, which had somewhat impressed the old man and confirmed Huai Shi wasn't entirely unteachable, this lesson wouldn't be happening.

When capable people learn and utilize many things, it's called 'drawing on the strengths of all.' But when incapable people are greedy for too much, they're just like 'a bear picking corn cobs'—clumsy and ineffective.

If you don't have the talent, why pretend to be an expert?

Huai Shi had now submitted a perfect answer sheet, so to speak, leading the old man to tentatively acknowledge his Ability. Since he couldn't 'specialize,' excelling in 'variety' was also acceptable.

"In the end, weapons are just tools. If you can truly use one well, that's enough; you don't need to be as flashy as you are. But since you like being flashy, there's a way."

Luo Lao said slowly, "I know you've learned the Multi-Sword Stream of the Theravada Tantra, but it's fundamentally meaningless for other Sublimators and ultimately leads nowhere.

Besides, even if you grew hands all over your body and became a thousand-handed Guanyin, when it comes down to it, don't you still just strike your opponent down in a single decisive blow?

If you ask me, three or four arms are just an unnecessary burden. One arm is a bit lacking, but two arms are just right."

Right in front of Huai Shi, he picked up a Long Spear, a Hand Axe, and a Short Knife from the ground—precisely the tools Huai Shi used most often.

After thinking for a moment, he also grabbed a rope.

Huai Shi was stunned for a long while.

Was the old man planning to tailor something especially for him?

"Xiao Xian, step outside for a bit," Luo Lao turned and instructed. "According to tradition, this part can only be learned by the student himself."

Luo Xian said nothing, merely smiling as she rose and left. She even patted Huai Shi's shoulder encouragingly.

For her, anyway, even the most profound and abstruse things could be grasped with just a couple more glances.

The old man asking her to leave was merely a teacher's gesture towards his student.

Otherwise, it wouldn't count as a signature skill anymore.

Watching Luo Lao pick up the Hand Axe and Long Spear, Huai Shi immediately grasped something. "Are you going to teach me the art of fighting with both hands?"

"That's not difficult. You can figure it out yourself later."

The old man picked up a remote and pressed it. A steel stake rose from the ground in front of Huai Shi, which resembled a human figure, clearly intended for demonstration.

After Huai Shi was fully focused and seated, the old man cautioned, "What I'm teaching you today isn't hard either, it's just a bit complicated. You'd better watch very carefully."

As he spoke, he flicked the Long Spear on the ground with his toe, sending it upright, then planted it in the earth beside him. He continued, "Since you're dual-wielding, you shouldn't be content with an outcome of one plus one equaling two. If you use one weapon well, you can naturally unleash the Power of three or even ten. Scattering your focus would only result in the losses outweighing the gains. It's only worthwhile if you can achieve an effect where one plus one is greater than two.

Like this—"

In that instant, the old man's figure flashed past the iron stake.

Only then did a deafening roar explode.

After the whirlwind of force and shattered iron swept past, Huai Shi remained frozen in place—stunned not only by the deafening, shrill whistle but also by the scene before him.

After one strike, the distinct marks of an Axe Blade, a knife's edge, and a Long Spear were clearly imprinted on the iron stake!

Then, the stake crumbled apart.

It was a feat achieved with inconceivable technique, a destructive power more than ten times greater than a simple strike.

Amidst the debris, the old man tossed aside the now red-hot Short Knife and Hand Axe, then slowly turned and said, "This is what you will be learning for the next few days."

"This can be called a special move tailor-made for you. It doesn't require mastery, or even full comprehension. In your current state, simply applying it rigidly will produce extraordinary effects."

"We can tentatively call it—"

"—Dragon."

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