But now is definitely not the time to aim too high.

Kevin Grant was actually able to track him down through William Clark's corpse—this was something Adam Harper hadn't expected.

These martial artists who have been mixing in the jianghu for decades are not simple people.

From now on, he would have to be extra careful in everything he did.

In the following half month, James Thompson was perhaps so angered by Kevin Grant's domineering behavior that his temper was constantly foul, and even his lessons became much harsher.

The disciples at the martial arts school were all walking on eggshells, afraid that a single mistake would earn them a scolding from James Thompson.

Adam Harper, however, didn't mind—he had never made a mistake.

In this half month, Adam Harper had opened up ten more acupoints, making it a total of eighty.

As his proficiency in Iron Elephant Skill increased, his cultivation speed also became faster and faster, even when he was outside.

The greatest benefit of cultivating in the Gluttonous Furnace was actually not saving time, but being able to observe the true essence of martial arts.

Mastering the true essence of a martial art allowed one to accumulate proficiency much faster.

For martial techniques, higher proficiency meant greater power could be unleashed in battle.

For internal cultivation methods, higher proficiency meant one's cultivation speed would increase.

During morning class, this time James Thompson didn't have everyone continue practicing fist techniques, but instead led them to the weapon rack.

"Today, I'm going to teach you about weapons!"

James Thompson held a heavy iron whip in his hand and suddenly smashed it through the air, producing a piercing whistle.

"For martial artists, weapons are an extension of your fists and feet.

Practicing martial arts and fist techniques is the foundation, but weapons allow you to unleash even more terrifying killing power in combat.

However, I don't know things like saber or sword techniques; I will only teach you the basics of weapon use.

The weapon paired with my family's ancestral martial art, 'White Ape Arm-Extending Fist,' is the iron whip. This weapon is rather niche, and I don't recommend you choose it.

The sword is the king of all weapons—flexible and versatile, with many styles. If you want to roam the jianghu in the future, you can choose the sword.

The saber is heavy and forceful, focused on dominance and killing power. If you seek ultimate lethality, choose the saber.

The spear is a weapon of the battlefield—breaking through enemy lines, unstoppable. If you aspire to join the army, choose the spear.

Now, you can go to the weapon rack and choose your own weapon."

Although Zhenwei Martial Arts School charges high tuition, the benefits are truly good.

Nowadays, with the world in chaos, weapon prices have also risen—a fine steel longsword costs more than ten taels of silver.

"Adam Harper, what are you choosing?" Samuel Thompson asked.

"I'm choosing the saber."

Adam Harper didn't hesitate much.

In troubled times, to protect oneself, of course one should pursue the ultimate killing power.

After speaking, Adam Harper directly chose a saber with a long, straight blade, shaped like a wild goose feather—a Yanling saber.

Samuel Thompson scratched his head and also chose a saber, but his was a heavier golden-ring broadsword.

With his build, a sword definitely wouldn't suit him.

A spear wasn't a good fit either—he had no intention of joining the army.

With the world so chaotic, if he joined the army and got sent to fight rebels, he'd be in trouble.

So the saber was the most suitable.

Chapter 7: The Great Zhou Founds Its Nation on Martial Strength!

Sabers and swords have always been the most common weapons for martial artists.

In the end, half of the martial arts school's disciples chose the sword, forty percent chose the saber, and the remaining ten percent chose the spear, staff, or hammer.

There was even one disciple who chose the same weapon as James Thompson—the iron whip.

Quite a few people present looked at that disciple as if watching a joke.

Right now, they were only apprentices at the martial arts school, and what they could learn wasn't James Thompson's true core martial arts.

James Thompson's true core martial art was only one: 'White Ape Arm-Extending Fist.'

But not just anyone could learn White Ape Arm-Extending Fist.

In each batch of disciples, only the most outstanding one was qualified to learn it.

At that point, he wouldn't call James Thompson "Headmaster" anymore, but "Teacher."

Although it wasn't a true master-disciple inheritance, it was much closer than the relationship of those who studied for a year or two and then left.

This guy chose such an obscure weapon as the iron whip—did he really think he could stand out in the end?

If he didn't get to learn White Ape Arm-Extending Fist, then choosing this weapon would be for nothing, and all his effort would be wasted.

James Thompson's teaching was strict but responsible.

After giving everyone a general explanation of the common details of weapons, he then explained the specifics according to each weapon.

When he came to the group of disciples who had chosen the saber, James Thompson suddenly stopped in front of Adam Harper.

"Adam Harper, have you ever seen someone killed?"

Adam Harper nodded. "I've seen a beheading."

That was the truth—Adam Harper remembered that when he was a child, his father had taken him to watch a beheading.

Thinking about it now, his old man in this life was quite a character.

He actually took his son to watch a beheading, not worried at all about traumatizing the child.

But it seemed that in a small place like Heishi County, whenever the county office executed a criminal, quite a few people would gather to watch.

"The saber is all about killing—it requires an unstoppable sharpness and murderous aura.

I can teach you this, but you won't really learn it. Only those who have truly experienced life-and-death combat can grasp its essence.

Watch closely!"