This method of inducement varies from person to person.
I generally like to hold my sword near the right side of my body, then entice the opponent to use a mid-level attack to strike my left arm from the left side.
Of course, if the opponent could use an extremely fast attack skill like the Light Katana, I definitely wouldn't be able to defend.
But dealing with these little kids didn't require that much effort.
I easily induced the opponent to attack, then used my wooden sword to deflect the trajectory of his swing, causing it to pass harmlessly over my head, and then followed up by cleaving down from above onto the enemy's head.
Of course, the Water God Style is different from the Sword God Style; practitioners of the Water God Style wear very thick protective gear.
So, even when using a wooden sword, it wouldn't hurt the opponent much; the goal was just to knock them down.
Attacking was also very simple; a feint was enough to throw the child sparring with me off balance.
Once his stance was broken, I could easily end the fight.
These eight people sparred in 1v1 matches for a total of three rounds.
Facing the oldest child, who was eight, I easily achieved the final victory.
I didn't intentionally hide my strength; I just didn't use any techniques above the beginner level of the Water God Style.
It was simply unnecessary because these children weren't skilled enough.
After the sparring concluded, Teacher Uriel stared at me meaningfully for a moment and asked if I knew how to use magic.
I don't know how he could tell that I could use magic.
Next was physical training.
Wearing heavy defensive armor, I ran laps around the dojo, which was over 200 square meters.
I ran nearly ten laps before the students behind me all collapsed.
I felt like I had only just finished warming up; they were truly weaklings.
I finished the last 20 laps by myself.
Those classmates looked at me as if I were a monster.
I can only say that being pampered harms people; they haven't experienced the harshness of society.
Kids like them wouldn't even be able to outrun their own teammates if they needed to flee, so wouldn't they just be cannon fodder on the battlefield?
Oh, right, they are noble children; they don't need to go to the battlefield or become adventurers.
They probably learn Water God Style sword techniques just to look cool.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of alienation from them; my pursuits were completely different from theirs.
Teacher Uriel probably noticed this too, as he came over to ask me during a break.
"Daolin, have you studied swordsmanship before?"
"Yes, Teacher. I started learning Water God Style Swordsmanship and magic when I was two and a half."
"Started learning at two and a half? That's truly insane. How far have you progressed now?"
"Teacher, I have reached the intermediate level in the Water God Style, and my magic is at the advanced level."
Teacher Uriel fell silent.
After a moment, he said to me:
"It's likely you won't improve much by staying in this class. I can recommend you to a more suitable teacher, but she seems to dislike teaching noble children.
Let me ask her if she agrees before giving you a final answer.
You can return home to rest after practice ends today; you'll have an answer by tomorrow.
Even if she refuses to teach you, you can attend the intermediate class for knights then. However, your classmates will be a group of teenagers in their teens and twenties."
"Understood, Teacher. I can accept attending the intermediate class, and I am very much looking forward to studying the Water God Style sword techniques under the more suitable teacher you recommend.
I will arrive here punctually tomorrow and await your reply."
And so, I finished today's lesson and returned to my grandfather's villa.
My grandfather seemed especially busy today and didn't return home to dine with me.
After finishing my meal alone, I began my magic training for the day.
I certainly didn't want to neglect my beloved magic training just because I was learning swordsmanship; after all, the experiments I never dared to think of before still relied on magic to achieve.
Meanwhile, in the deepest training hall of the Water God Style main dojo, an old woman who looked about 60 sat quietly on a cushion.
Kneeling below her was the teacher who had instructed the noble beginner class earlier that day, Uriel Hunter.
Kneeling to her right was a little girl with long blue hair, a serene appearance, and exceptionally gentle eyes.
"Respected Water God, in the noble beginner class that just enrolled today, I discovered a child with extremely good aptitude; I think we can focus on cultivating him."
"The noble beginner class? You mean those little brats who just enrolled today?
Noble children are all pampered kids who can't endure hardship.
Uriel, you didn't accept a bribe to recommend these noble children, did you?"
"Absolutely not, Water God. Among the newly enrolled children today, there is one who is four years old who can already use intermediate Water God Style sword techniques, and his magic is even more formidable; he can already use magic up to the advanced level.
He told me he started learning the Water God Style and magic when he was two and has persisted until now.
Furthermore, during the sparring competition for the new intake group today, he easily secured first place, defeating several children over eight years old.
During the subsequent physical training, he was also able to run more than thirty laps around the dojo while wearing armor; I witnessed all of this myself."
"Oh, that's quite good. Starting learning at two and reaching intermediate level at four—that talent is indeed exceptional.
However, I have already taken Izoruti as a disciple; you should ask if any other Water Emperor or Water King is interested in taking him as a disciple.
Oh, what is his name?"
"Yes, Water God. I will go ask the other Water Emperor or Water King sirs.
This student's name is Daolin Prodia Grellat, the grandson of Darius Prodia Grelat."
"A member of the Prodia Family? That is rather interesting. Izoruti, you try him out tomorrow."
"Yes, Teacher."
Although it was only four words, the voice was as smooth as velvet, gently caressing the heart, causing even the breath to lighten.
This was the voice of the blue-haired girl kneeling on the cushion to the right.
(For friends who haven't read the original work, here is a brief explanation of the world's ranking system.
In this world, whether it's any sword style or magic, they are divided into seven ranks: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint, King, Emperor, and God.
Among these, the God rank is an honorific title for the most powerful person in that lineage.
For example, the most powerful person in the Sword God Style is called the Sword God.
The most powerful person in the Water God Style is called the Water God.
Magic users have the suffix 'Level' added to the end, for example, a mage who can use Saint Level Earth Magic is called an Earth Saint Level Mage.