He and the other trainees followed Instructor Canes to the section of the academy with the equipment they need. This section is out in the open, but it has large metal blocks placed in formation on the ground.
The formation was similar to the standing formation of the trainees in that the metal blocks were arranged in rows of ten. But the distance between them wasn't one meter. It was three metals, so the space between the blocks was large.
There were also hammers on the metal blocks. These hammers were long sledgehammers. They were heavy on their own, but what he would have to do with them was worse.
Everyone picked a metal block and stood in front of it. They were waiting for instructor Canes to tell them to start.
She first introduced the fighting technique to them because of the two new trainees joining them today.
She said, "There are many types of breathing techniques and many forms of mana techniques in the world. The fire mana techniques that we train with here are just a part of them."
"There is the earth mana technique that improves the defense and durability of the body. There is the water mana technique that improves flexibility and healing. There is also the air mana technique that improves speed and agility."
"Each mana technique has its breathing, exercise, and fighting techniques. These grant it the advantages I stated earlier. There are other advantages that I haven't stated."
"For example, the water mana technique is the easiest to learn. It is also the one with the highest boost to the transformation of the body, so those who train with it have the fastest cultivation, heal faster, and recover their stamina faster."
Then she turned to someone and asked, "Tell the class why we don't use the water mana technique if it is so great."
The girl that was called out performed the etiquette and said, "Because the fire mana technique is strong while the water mana technique is the weakest."
Instructor Canes nodded and said to the class, "You've heard her. We don't use the water mana techniques because the fire mana technique is the strongest. It has the greatest attacking potential. No other mana technique can compare."
"Since the fire mana technique deals with strength, its fighting technique is direct training for the utilization of strength. But more than that, it also trains the body and helps it transform faster."
"Fire explodes. By using the fire mana technique, you make energy burn and explode within you to create power. But that kind of power can be difficult to control. It is even very difficult to produce, much less control."
"Unlike the strength of water, which is mellow and flows freely, the strength of fire needs kindling and a spark. Then there must be an ignition. This ignition is violent. It is difficult to control and can even damage the body."
"This is where the fighting technique comes in. It helps you produce the power of fire through ignition and use the ignition to temper your body from within."
"If you've been paying attention, you will notice that the breathing technique provides the fuel for transformation and stamina for the body, the exercise technique controls the body and makes movement efficient, and the fighting ignites the fuel in the body to provide strength and tempers the body, thereby helping it transform."
"The three techniques work hand in hand. They assist each other. In fact, they need each other to work better. You need to master all three if you hope to transcend the first mortal coil."
No one asked any questions. So she said, "Let us begin."
She picked up the sledgehammer and said, "Always remember the breathing and exercise techniques. Remember and use them at all times. Let them become a part of you. You will surely need them for this."
She took a stance according to the exercise technique, raised the sledgehammer above her head, and then brought it down on the metal block.
There was a harsh collision between the hammer and the metal block.
Even without the harsh sound, he could imagine the kind of force that her body would be feeling from holding the hammer. The backlash would be intense. But it was just the start.
Instructor Canes moved using the stance of the exercise technique and struck the hammer again. Then she struck it again.
She said to them, "The key to this technique is speed. If you do the same amount of work in a shorter amount of time, your power output will be higher. As this exercise is meant to increase your power output, you have to prioritize speed."
"Your goal is to strike the anvil 1,000 times. The 30 who do it the fastest will get one point for the exercise. After this, the 30 who have the highest number of points will get the major blood pill. So do your best."
Arthur picked up the hammer solemnly. He planned to do his best. But his best is to keep his hand in the hammer at all times. He doesn't hope to reach the top 30 at all.
He grumbled to himself, "First was the competition of skill. The second was of endurance. The third is of power. All of them were designed to make my life hell."
He tried to lift the hammer. Even with his strength at the sixth transformation, it was still heavy. He had to lift it with his whole body. Then he had to swing it.
Lifting and swinging something so heavy strained his whole body and put it out of balance. It reminded him of the exercise technique.
He can perform the actions of swinging the hammer without the exercise technique, but doing so will mean inefficient movements and wasted energy. While others are competing to finish the 1,000 strikes quickly, he might never finish the 1,000 strikes at all.
He also needs stamina to perform the strenuous physical work. So he had to use the exercise and breathing technique, or he can forget about completing the challenge.