So what I've seen is just an incomplete technique suitable for 3rd-Step Foundation Building and below? Apollo thought, his eyes glancing back at the two martial students who were already talking with each other, probably discussing their previous spar.

Well, come to think of it, his sword technique is called Simple Sword Technique, and the word 'simple' is already in it. Being excited about only producing air waves with every attack is not something to be proud of.

"So tell me, Yoma, why are you here?" Sir Guo asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Am I obligated to tell you that?" Apollo asked back. This is the second time that he said these words as this is not the first time the two of them met.

"Not really," Sir Guo shook his head with a smile. "I'm just curious, that's all."

Apollo stared at the man with the bamboo hat with squinted eyes before he smiled. "I'm joining the Advancement Examination."

"Oh? You stole one of the invitations?" Sir Guo asked.

"Sort of," Apollo didn't go into details. How could he? Should he say some martial student was thrown beside his feet, unconscious, and the moment he woke up and left, the invitation fell from his pocket? That's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?

"Is that so?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow.

"Yup," Apollo nodded. "By the way, you seem to be an important figure here. Do you know the details about the Advancement?"

Sir Guo went silent for a while before he opened his mouth. "You have an invitation but don't know anything about the examination? You are not from here."

The beggar didn't answer and just continued staring at the man with the bamboo hat.

"You are a strange kid," Sir Guo said. "You caught my attention, but… I'm also not particular about the details. However, if there's something I'm sure of, this year will be interesting."

Useless, Apollo immediately thought with disappointment. Why did I even bother asking?

"What? Disappointed? You should be glad that I even answered your question," Sir Guo frowned.

"No, I'm actually glad, Sir Guo!" Apollo said, almost shouting from 'excitement.'

"That should be it," Sir Guo smiled. "If you are going to train, then train. I should go back to cultivating."

"Sure, sure." Apollo nodded, waving his hand.

The man with the bamboo hat walked towards the platform in the middle of the training ground and sat on its step.

Apollo recalled that this man was a creep who liked staring at women. He looked around and found that there were no women in sight. Don't tell me he also likes men? This made him more disgusted with Sir Guo, especially when that guy said he caught his attention.

Although he didn't know Sir Guo's position, he seemed to be an important figure, seeing that the martial students were looking at him with fear and admiration. It's better not to have too much interaction with people like him.

Shaking his head, the beggar went to find his spot.

Apollo looked around once more and saw a man surrounded by translucent swords. He was waving the wooden sword in his hand, making the translucent swords around him follow his movements.

The beggar turned to the side and noticed a man dashing from left to right, leaving an afterimage behind.

Apollo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His confidence had taken such a toll that he just wanted to find a hole and hide inside forever.@@novelbin@@

Sir Guo mentioned that the two men who sparred earlier were using a Sword Technique only suitable for 3rd-Step and below. So there's a high possibility that the others here are the same.

Even with low cultivation, as long as they have good Techniques, their strength will receive an enormous boost.

The upcoming Advancement Examination will likely be a competition. They even said that there's going to be a battle test.

Apollo will have to fight these cultivators with such techniques. Even with his 4th-Step Foundation Building cultivation, it won't guarantee that he will win, let alone kill that guy to complete his mission.

If even a 3rd-Step Foundation Building cultivator has such Techniques, what about Arke? A more experienced cultivator?

Just thinking about this stressed the beggar. "Sh*t! Just focus!" Apollo cursed. He closed his eyes, raised the sword in front of him, and slashed.

The feeling of cutting the air, producing sharp sounds, and sending airwaves calmed his chaotic mind.

It's just a simple cut that even a toddler could do. There's no extravagant effect, but the strength behind it is evident. However, when one compares it to what the martial students did previously, it's miles apart. That's what Apollo thinks.

Following the movement from the Simple Sword Technique, Apollo kept slashing with the same motion.

At first, his movements were not steady, but as time passed, he felt like he became a robot, moving with precise motion.

Raising his sword high, the beggar brought it down in a forceful motion. However, this time, the sword didn't create a whistling sound nor was wind brought up.

"Eh?" Apollo couldn't help but tilt his head. "What's happening?"

He raised his sword and slashed again. But the same thing happened for the second time. The attack became so simple that it couldn't even be considered an attack.

With confusion written on his face, Apollo searched for the reason inside his mind. As the Simple Sword Technique was etched deep inside his mind, he immediately found out the reason why.

Wait, that's it?

"Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered before a frown appeared on his face. "What the actual f*ck does that mean?!"

Out of frustration, he waved the sword horizontally, and the sword made a whistling sound followed by wind that messed up his hair and raised up dust.

"Eh? It's back?" Apollo became more confused. He raised his sword and brought it down, but the attack didn't produce the same effect as it did just now.

The beggar raised it in front of his eyes but found that nothing was strange with the wooden sword. Suddenly, he realized something.

He slashed the wooden sword horizontally, and the whistling sound came back. Then Apollo raised his hand before bringing it down. The sword acted like a stick, simple and weak.