“High-ranking swordsmen, if they can complete certain tasks issued by the kingdom, can already be granted a title and become a noble knight. Once you become a knight, you are exempt from all taxes. If our family had such a knight, we wouldn’t have to register the family business under Sir Roche’s name and hand over a large sum of money every year for nothing.”

“If I could become a high-ranking swordsman, I’d be set for life, never having to worry about food or clothing. Even if I just sat at home doing nothing, I wouldn’t have to worry about starving.”

“All right, everyone, please quiet down. Now, I will teach you some basic movements of the Myriad Flow Dueling Sword Technique, as well as the essential points you need to master.”

Jane Howard said this as she demonstrated on the small platform in the center of the hall: “The Myriad Flow Dueling Sword Technique is a combat sword art, not some flashy performance swordplay. The key to this sword technique lies in the words ‘myriad flow.’ ‘Myriad’ means tens of thousands, and ‘flow’ is like flowing clouds and water. Just as its name suggests, this sword technique requires you to thrust tens of thousands of times in one breath, without the slightest bit of disorder, always maintaining a smooth, unbroken flow. This is a powerful offensive sword art—once you seize the initiative, the destructive power unleashed is unimaginable, leaving your enemy with no chance to catch their breath or turn the tables... Of course, the prerequisite is that you have truly mastered the essence of the Myriad Flow Dueling Sword Technique, able to thrust tens of thousands of times without your hands trembling or your footwork faltering, always as smooth and continuous as flowing water...”

Instructor Jane Howard was teaching and demonstrating freely on the platform.

With her beautiful face and slender figure, every movement she made had a unique grace. Even setting aside her swordsmanship, just watching such a beautiful instructor teach swordplay was a true pleasure. As a result, most of the students’ eyes were fixed on Instructor Jane Howard, absorbing the knowledge she imparted—including William Carter.

“The Myriad Flow Dueling Sword Technique—its power is almost on par with the seventy-two linked sword forms of the ancient sword sect in our world, the Taibai Sword Sect. Only true disciples and personal disciples of the Taibai Sword Sect are qualified to learn the seventy-two linked sword forms, and even then, they can’t learn the complete technique—usually only the sect master can master it in full. Such a sword technique is considered top-tier among all sword cultivators, a true treasure. Yet now, a technique no less powerful than the seventy-two linked sword forms, the Myriad Flow Dueling Sword Technique, is being taught at this academy. Any student interested can continue learning it as long as they pay enough money...”

Looking at Instructor Jane Howard demonstrating on the platform, William Carter felt a sense of awe in his heart.

The sword cultivation system in this world was far more advanced and complete than he had imagined. If the sword techniques available to any student at the academy were already this refined, what level must the sword arts of the true sword masters have reached?

“Hmm, look who I’ve found! Isn’t this the famous genius martial artist of our academy, William Carter!”

“Neil, don’t talk nonsense. This person isn’t just the top genius of Bihui City’s Third Intermediate Swordsman Academy—he’s the number one genius among all eight intermediate swordsman academies in Bihui City. Do you understand what ‘number one genius’ means? The most outstanding talent in the entire city!”

Just as William Carter was fully immersed in the sword technique, two voices suddenly came from the side, speaking with cold arrogance.

“Bihui City? Which city is that? I’ve never even heard of it.”

“Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean Bihui City doesn’t exist. As far as I know, Bihui City is one of the most renowned cities in the Luohe Province, with a population of four hundred thousand. If you count its subordinate territories, the population is even larger. And the Third Intermediate Swordsman Academy in Bihui City alone has over a hundred students at the martial artist level.”

“Over a hundred martial artist-level students? That’s a lot! That’s enough to scare someone!”

“Exactly. To stand out as the number one genius among more than a hundred martial artist students—what an incredible honor! Under the brilliance of such glory, I can barely keep my eyes open. No wonder he’s bold enough to challenge even Senior Samuel Grant.”

As they spoke, the two of them looked William Carter up and down with sharp, unrestrained gazes, as if they were looking at a clown who didn’t know his own limits.

“Henry York, Raymond Miller, this is Instructor Jane Howard’s class. Are you two trying to offend Instructor Jane Howard with your sarcastic remarks?”

Seeing that the two were clearly targeting William Carter, Quinn Harris immediately stepped forward, her expression stern as she rebuked them.

“Don’t use Instructor Jane Howard as a shield. We haven’t done anything—just taking a look at this clown who’s like a toad lusting after a swan. He actually dares to have designs on Miss Helen Clark, and even agreed to a duel with Senior Samuel Grant for her sake. Someone at Senior Samuel Grant’s level is not someone a mere martial artist like you can even hope to look up to.”