Back at his residence, Lu Yuan was unaware of what had taken place after he left the Library.
Seated in a chair, he held the book in his hands and, for the first time, began to study its contents.
Before long, having flipped to the final page, he gained a rough understanding of the martial skill.
Just as its description in the Library stated, the Sevenfold War Saber Art was a martial skill meant for war, forged for the battlefield.
It didn't possess any mystical effects. Instead, it focused purely on killing the enemy in the most precise and efficient manner possible.
The Sevenfold War Saber Art didn't contain many movements. At its core, it relied on the accumulation of momentum, chaining attacks one after another.
With every blow, the power of the following strike would grow stronger. The second strike was twice as powerful as the first, the third thrice as strong, and so on, up to sevenfold.
'Of course, that's easier said than done. Not only must a cultivator master this Art to perfection, but the right conditions must be met.'
A real battle was not a game, where the two parties would take turns attacking each other. The environment, opponent, and even state of mind played a crucial role.
Under such unpredictable conditions, Lu Yuan estimated that achieving more than a fourfold increase was almost impossible.
'Still, this is already enough.'
If he were to fully master the Sevenfold War Saber Art, Lu Yuan was confident in his ability to contend with cultivators at the 4th Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, without the need to break through.
Yet, he didn't lose his mind.
Mastering a High Level martial skill was bound to be a long and arduous process. By the time he fully mastered it, he might have already broken through the 3rd Level, making this feat far less impressive.
With that in mind, Lu Yuan felt much more balanced.
He turned back to the book, rereading the diagrams and notes several times before standing up and taking hold of the saber beside him.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his posture and swung the saber forward.
The images he had seen in the book were etched in his mind, and by controlling his muscles, he consciously tried to imitate them.
His actions were awkward and stiff at first, but they gradually grew smoother as time passed.
Before long, his figure blurred across the training room, waving the saber as if he were performing a beautiful yet violent dance.
**
Under the pressure of the Trial, the atmosphere within the Azure Cloud Academy turned tense.
The scene of students leaving the Academy to train outside had become a common occurrence, while those who stayed behind were either in seclusion or seeking guidance from the teachers.
In comparison, Lu Yuan's schedule was fairly simple.
With the mysterious Everchanging Inner Cosmos Art as his cultivation technique and the Sevenfold War Saber Art as a means of attack, he lacked nothing and could devote himself fully to his training.
Each morning, he cultivated for several hours before shifting his attention to saber practice and the Sevenfold War Saber Art. Later in the day, he would stroll through the Academy or spend time with Chen Yao to relax.
In the evenings, back at his residence, he would resume training, practicing the saber and cultivating until late into the night.
In total, nearly eighty percent of his day was spent in cultivation.
Other people might have chosen to give up under such a grueling routine, but Lu Yuan did not. Not only did he not feel tired, but he also enjoyed it.
With every passing second, he could feel his strength grow at a speed that would make most cultivators turn green with envy.
Before he knew it, a week had passed.
**
The sound of metal clashing echoed across the training ground as two figures flashed around at high speed.
One was a woman dressed in white and wielding a sword, which gleamed with brilliance as it whistled through the air and reflected the sunlight.
Her expression was cold and indifferent, and her eyes devoid of emotion, as if she were not a human, but a goddess who had descended to the mortal realm.
Her opponent was a handsome young man dressed in black, holding a red saber. Not only did he defend against her swift attacks, but he countered with precision, aiming directly at her weak points.
Compared to the woman's indifference, the man was the complete opposite. Each of his attacks contained madness and desperation, as if he were putting his life on the line.
These two, Chen Yao and Lu Yuan, possessed their own unique temperament, yet showed extreme seriousness and decisiveness during their fight.
Suddenly, Lu Yuan noticed a faint flaw in Chen Yao's defense. Seizing the opening, he flicked his wrist and struck one attack after another, forcing her to retreat.
A crimson light flashed along the saber's edge, and its speed suddenly surged.
Clang!
The saber hit Chen Yao's sword, causing her grip to become unstable, sending the weapon to the ground.
"Brother Yuan, you win again."
Despite her defeat, Chen Yao didn't show any annoyance.
"I've already broken through the 3rd Level of Spirit Gathering Realm, yet I'm still not your opponent.", she said with admiration, before her expression hardened.
"In my opinion, the most talented person in our class is you, Brother Yuan. If not for Yang Chen's background, he wouldn't even be worthy to carry your shoes."
Her voice was harsh, making it clear that she held deep hatred toward Yang Chen for some unknown reason.
Lu Yuan remained silent.
Over the past week, he had fully merged with most of the memories of this body, and the initial unfamiliarity he originally felt toward Chen Yao had faded.
Of course, he was still not the original owner of this body and hence didn't have a strong attachment to her.
If anything, he only had a faint sense of goodwill, akin to how one would feel upon meeting a character from a movie they previously watched.
"Brother Yuan, shall we spar again later?"
Chen Yao changed the conversation when she noticed his silence.
"I don't have the time. I'll be leaving the Academy this afternoon."
"Really? Can I come with you?", she asked, her eyes lighting up with hope.
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan's response dampened her excitement.
"No. I'll be going to the Blackthorn Forest to train."
Chen Yao opened her mouth and wanted to say that she could follow him, but she held these words back.
It was indeed true that she wanted to accompany him, but unlike Lu Yuan, her parents were still alive. Not only were they alive, but they were also powerful cultivators.
As such, her cultivation path had already been set. She had no shortage of cultivation techniques, resources, or martial skills, but exactly because of that, she lacked the freedom of Lu Yuan.
One could argue which one among the two had it better, but either option would make a strong case.
At the end of the day, it all depended on what one yearned for the most. Freedom or ease.