From despair to hope, this feeling was especially intense. For William Harper, Sarah Bennett's desire to nurture him far surpassed that for any other disciple.

“Mentor, I want to practice more sword techniques, but I don't have any contribution points. Can I learn the sword techniques first and make up the contribution points later?” William Harper asked straightforwardly.

Sarah Bennett brushed aside the hair on her forehead, frowned slightly, then relaxed and said, “The sect's rules are outdated. If I send you to the Martial Arts Pavilion to study, the elders there might not agree. Why don't I just teach you directly? Which sword technique do you want to learn?”

As a swordsmanship mentor, Sarah Bennett had naturally practiced many sword techniques.

According to the proper procedure, whatever sword technique a disciple learned in the sect, Sarah Bennett would guide them in that technique.

Directly teaching a sword technique was neither the right nor the duty of a swordsmanship mentor. For ordinary disciples, Sarah Bennett definitely wouldn't do it, but for William Harper... it was a different story.

Being taught personally by the mentor was no different from learning in the Martial Arts Pavilion. William Harper was overjoyed and said, “I want to learn a power-type sword technique!”

As for speed-type sword techniques, William Harper had already practiced the Gale Sword Technique thoroughly and comprehended the true essence of the gale, greatly increasing his speed.

If he could also master a power-type sword technique and comprehend a power-type true essence, it would naturally greatly increase his strength. This would be very beneficial for both his cultivation progress and his overall power.

“A power-type sword technique!” Sarah Bennett nodded slightly and said:

“I haven't received the sect's approval to teach you sword techniques on my own, so I can only teach you a sword technique that doesn't belong to the Ancient Sword Sect... As it happens, I know a technique called 'Condensing Mountain Sword Technique,' which I learned during my training outside. It's a first-rank advanced sword technique, so I'll teach it to you! Come with me...!”

Sarah Bennett led William Harper to the backyard.

“Focus, and watch carefully!”

Sarah Bennett had William Harper stand in a corner while she walked to the center of the yard, drew her sword, and performed the 'Condensing Mountain Sword Technique.'

“Sword intent condenses the mountain!”

“Lone peak stands tall!”

“Mountains collapse and the earth cracks!”

“Waves crash like mountains!”

...

Each time Sarah Bennett performed a move, she would recite its name. After finishing the entire set, she explained the mental formulas for each move to William Harper.

“How much have you learned?” Sarah Bennett asked.

“About eighty or ninety percent!” William Harper answered honestly.

A strong look of shock appeared on Sarah Bennett's face. “I only taught you once, and you learned eighty or ninety percent?”

William Harper nodded.

Sarah Bennett handed the sword to William Harper and said, “Give it a try. Let me see how many moves you can perform.”

William Harper took the sword, walked into the yard, and then performed the entire 'Condensing Mountain Sword Technique.'

Sword intent condenses the mountain!

As soon as William Harper performed the technique, a surge of sword intent carried a sense of heaviness. There was no trace of lightness in the technique, only weight and solidity.

Lone peak stands tall!

Mountains collapse and the earth cracks!

...

William Harper performed move after move. Sarah Bennett watched, her red lips slightly parted, drawing in a sharp breath. She had only taught it once, yet William Harper had truly mastered it, even grasping its essence.

This learning speed... Sarah Bennett, who became an outer sect elder before the age of thirty, was already considered a rare genius, but at this moment, she was awed by William Harper's extraordinary learning speed.

“Truly a once-in-a-million sword genius! If not for those three years of stalled cultivation, who knows how far he would have progressed by now? Perhaps... he would already be in the inner sect?”

Watching William Harper perform the Condensing Mountain Sword Technique, Sarah Bennett thought to herself, “But he's only fifteen. There's still time for everything. With his potential, he will surely surpass me in the future, maybe even those inner sect elders. Like Gu Ruifeng, he might even become the sect master or a grand elder!”

Looking at William Harper, Sarah Bennett admired him even more, and other thoughts arose in her mind: “In terms of talent, he's unmatched in the outer sect. In terms of potential, he rivals Gu Ruifeng. In terms of looks, he's perfect—the best in the entire Ancient Sword Sect.

Such a young man, once he grows up, what a perfect man he will be! Who knows how many women in the world will be captivated by him? It's a pity I'm more than ten years older than him. By the time he matures, I'll already be old.

He's so young and full of life, how could he ever fancy an old maid like me... Pah, pah, pah... What am I thinking? The woman worthy of him must be an absolutely stunning beauty!”

As soon as she thought of an absolutely stunning beauty... the image of that proud daughter of heaven from Qingyan Valley immediately came to Sarah Bennett's mind.

William Harper hadn't finished performing the Condensing Mountain Sword Technique when he sheathed his sword and said, “Mentor, I still don't quite understand the last move, 'A Thousand Mountains and Rivers,' and can't perform it.”

Sarah Bennett gave a thumbs up and said, “For you to reach this level after just one lesson is already incredible. I'll teach you again, and you'll be able to master it completely. As for how far you can go, that depends on your own effort.”

As she spoke, Sarah Bennett took the sword from William Harper and performed the Condensing Mountain Sword Technique again. When she got to the last move, 'A Thousand Mountains and Rivers,' Sarah Bennett performed it twice in a row, explaining as she went.

In William Harper's mind, the Condensing Mountain Sword Technique took complete shape. In his imagination, he practiced the entire set smoothly, and a sense of familiarity surged up, as if he had practiced it many times.