As Arthur returned to stand together with the rest of the class, the instructor stood up.
"Let me start your induction. I will give you an introduction to what we do here, what we aim to achieve, and how long you have to achieve it."
"First of all, my name is Lawson. Just call me Instructor Lawson. Is that clear?"
They replied with a short shout, "Yes, sir."
"Good. What we do here is to train the body. We try to help you push your body to the limits so that mana in the surroundings can enter your body and fill up the deficiency. When you do this for a long time, your growth and transformation will speed up."
"That is the goal of the training. We do it because the body needs to undergo ten transformations before you can undergo your first molt and transcend the first mortal coil. It is why the first mortal coil is called the body forging stage."
"So yes, this training facility is for forging your body. As the instructor for your first year, my job is to help you reach the third transformation as quickly as possible."
"Some of you might take longer than one year, and some might take less than one year. But once your body reaches the third transformation and I certify it to be so, you will be able to begin systematic training with martial art techniques."
"That is what we do here and what our goal for the first year is. But we have a bigger goal throughout your time in this training facility, and that is to help you reach the sixth transformation. When you reach the sixth transformation, our job will be done, and you will leave the academy."
"Like I said earlier, the time it will take each of you to reach the goal will be different. But I advise you to take your training seriously and use as little time as possible because you will be forced to leave the academy by 20 even if you haven't reached the sixth transformation."
He paused to look at them to make sure that they were all listening. Only when he was certain that every one of them was paying attention did he continue.
He said solemnly, "Besides that deadline, there is also the special regional sect evaluation examination that only those below the age of 24 can attend. It is held once every five years, and you will have to compete with everyone in the Turin Kingdom for the chance to enter a sect."
"I'll be blunt with you: a sect is your best chance to change your fate. Even the Dyson family, despite how powerful it is, is just a vassal of a sect."
"If you fail to make full use of your youth and let that chance slip out of your grasp, you will regret it forever. You might never transcend the first mortal coil if you miss this opportunity. Things are that serious."
The instructor was moving now. He was clearly agitated.
"Take my advice and try your best. Some of you are 13 years old, so you have 7 years to reach the sixth transformation and 11 years to make yourself worthy enough to enter a sect. It might seem like a lot of time, but it is not."
The instructor shook his head and said, "It is not a long time at all. 90% of the population never transcends the first mortal coil throughout their lives, so there is a lot at stake here."
Then he stopped walking and turned to face them. He said, "There will be opportunities in the training facility to help those who are dedicated and hardworking. Do your best to acquire those opportunities and make full use of them to grow stronger."
"That is all. On behalf of the external training facility of the Dyson family, I welcome you to the path of transformation and evolution. I hope one day that you will become strong enough to become a Dao Lord."
Then he smiled at them. His smile was wide and unnerving.
His eye "Now that the talking is over, it is time for actions. Go to the back of the class and pick a mat. Spread it on the ground. Stand on it and spread your legs."
"Spread it like this and squat for me."
He paused to demonstrate it for them. Then he said, "The ten of you that last the longest will be rewarded with a blood pill."
They did as they were told to do. They got their mats, spread their legs on top of it, lowered themselves as if trying to sit on an imaginary chair, and then maintained the posture.
After they did this, instructor Lawson came down from the podium in front of the class room to check their posture and correct those who had erred.
He did a lot of corrections by pushing them lower so that the posture would be more difficult. This caused a lot of them to groan and for their breathing to become labored.
As they struggled to hold on, instructor Lawson walked around speaking and making occasional corrections to their posture.
"The rank one minor blood pill is one of the opportunities that are available here at the training facility. It costs 1 silver coin outside if you want to buy it."
"If I remember correctly, that is about the one-month salary of some of your parents. So you can understand how valuable it is."
"If you still can't recognize its value, you can liken it to one-tenth of a medicinal bath. Its effect is weaker than a medicinal bath, and it doesn't affect the whole body."
"It only improves the blood, but as long as you exercise very well and break your potential, just this little improvement to your blood can be magnified several times."
His speech helped to distract them from the pain of their aching thighs and wobbling legs. What's more, it encouraged them not to give up.