Chapter 22: Heavy Mountain Blade Technique
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ling Xiaotian’s announcement of Luo Feng’s victory was like a hammer that woke everyone up.
“That fella’s too terrifying. With the cultivation base of Strength Boundary’s middle phase, his force actually surpassed Li Tianyang’s, who was at Level Five Meridian Cycle, Iron Bone Boundary. Luo Feng’s force is twice as much as Li Tianyang’s! He’s a freak!”
“Not bad, I didn’t expect Li Tianyang to lose since he’s a famous genius from Purple Sun Institution. I wonder who exactly Luo Feng is.”
“I heard that Luo Feng’s a Silver Moon Class student from Purple Sun Institution!”
“A Silver Moon Class student!” The martial artists immediately looked at Luo Feng strangely.
They were aware that Silver Moon Class was for students with average talents, yet Luo Feng defeated Li Tianyang the genius! The great disparity left them speechless.
“No matter what, Luo Feng is now famous!” One of them mentioned.
Li Tianyang clenched his fists and withdrew his gaze from the Tiger Essence Saber. Filled with killing intent, he stared at Luo Feng.
He wanted to beat Luo Feng up so badly and snatch the Tiger Essence Saber, but the remaining rationality he had stopped him from doing so as he would be criticized for being a sore loser.
Besides, Ling Xiaotian would disallow him.
‘Hmph, Roaming King Tournament is in about ten days’ time, I’ll make you pay!’
Li Tianyang took a deep breath, then glared at Luo Feng. “Luo Feng, don’t be conceited, force doesn’t mean strength! See you at Roaming King Tournament in half a month!”
Subsequently, he flapped his sleeves, then strode off the arena with a dark face.
Luo Feng was concerned when he watched Li Tianyang leave.
Li Tianyang had the cultivation base of Iron Bone Boundary’s middle phase and had a tough body due to his Iron Hill Wall that was a Minor Success State. If they were to fight, Luo Feng hypothesized that his success rate would be less than 30%.
It was clear that Li Tianyang would fight Luo Feng during Roaming King Tournament.
“As long as I increase my strength to Strength Boundary’s later phase in thirteen days, along with this Tiger Essence Saber, I’ll have a fifty-fifty chance to defeat him!”
Luo Feng was not too worried. He was confident about elevating his cultivation base to Strength Boundary’s later phase during this period of time. If he could also cultivate Roaring Tiger Fist to Success State, he could possibly go head-on against Li Tianyang.
After giving his thanks to Ling Xiaotian, Luo Feng carried the Tiger Essence Saber on his back, then jumped off the platform.
“Luo Feng, congratulations.” Bing Ruolan walked over to him with her hands behind her back. She smiled at Luo Feng sweetly.
Luo Feng smiled back at her, then suggested leaving since there was a huge crowd.
Bing Ruolan stopped after walking just two steps. Confused, she looked at Luo Feng with her beautiful eyes that reflected the color of the sea. “Luo Feng, this isn’t the direction back to the institution, are you sure of where you’re going?”
Luo Feng turned to look at Bing Ruolan. “Who said that I want to return to the institution?”
“Where are you heading to then?”
“Drunken Deity Restaurant. I recall that I promised to treat you to a meal, I don’t want to break that promise.” Luo Feng pointed at a nicely decorated restaurant.
Bing Ruolan remembered that this was what she previously said to Lin Xiaoxiao, so she grinned. “You really want to treat me to a meal? Let me warn you, I have a big appetite.”
Luo Feng tapped the bag of money he carried and replied proudly, “You can eat until you can no longer move!”
Bing Ruolan raised her brows, then roared at Luo Feng, “I’m not a pig!”
“You’re the one who said that, I didn’t.”
“Luo Feng! You’re dead!”
…
While Bing Ruolan claimed that she was a big eater, she only ordered a few dishes once they arrived at Drunken Deity Restaurant.
After the meal, Luo Feng exchanged all his remaining money for a Vitality Condensation Pill.
Though a Vitality Condensation Pill was not very helpful in improving his cultivation base, it could replenish his vitality, such that he was always in good shape to focus on his cultivation.
Luo Feng bode Bing Ruolan farewell after they returned to the institution. He later headed to Martial Arts Hall to pick a blade technique to be cultivated.
“Gale Blade Technique, Green Snake Blade Technique, Criss-cross Blade Technique, Heavy Mountain Blade Technique…”
Since there were limited Fundamental Blade Techniques in Martial Arts Hall, Luo Feng finished browsing through them very quickly.
Gale Blade Technique focused on speed, where one’s saber would be as strong as the wind; Green Snake Technique required one to have an excellent Light Body martial art and flexibility as it was a graceful skill, which was suitable for females; Criss-cross Blade Technique was tyrannical in nature, which could be cultivated easily, but was only powerful to a certain extent, hence was fitting for students with average apprehension; Heavy Mountain Blade Technique was the most outstanding one among all Fundamental Blade Techniques that emphasized on force, resulting in an uncommon power, but required one to have profound apprehension.
At last, Luo Feng decided to go for Heavy Mountain Blade Technique. After all, he had exceptional apprehension, thus it only made sense that he picked the best.
Luo Feng brought the manual to the registration counter.
It was the same middle-aged mentor who helped him with his previous registration, and he recognized Luo Feng right away. “How is it going? You haven’t cultivated Soaring Dragon Steps, have you? It’s not too late to choose another Light Body martial art now.”
Luo Feng smiled, then handed him the manual for Heavy Mountain Blade Technique. “I’m good, I’m here to borrow this manual.”
“Heavy Mountain Blade Technique, not bad! The technique may be simple, but it requires complex prospects due to its uncommon power. If you cultivate it to Success State, it’s comparable with a Yellow Rank Lower Class martial art.” The middle-aged mentor nodded, then let Luo Feng register.
Luo Feng wrote his details down.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged mentor frowned when Luo Feng showed no signs of returning Soaring Dragon Steps’ manual. “Roaming King Tournament is about ten days away, it’s very important to have a Light Body martial art, aren’t you going to try another Light Body martial art?”
Once Luo Feng was done with the registration, he looked up and smiled. “I think Soaring Dragon Steps will be enough for me to fight in Roaming King Tournament.”
The middle-aged mentor nodded subconsciously, then quickly came to a sudden realization. He widened his eyes. “Are you saying that you managed to cultivate Soaring Dragon Steps!”
“Something like that.”
Luo Feng did not want to explain further, so he left Martial Arts Hall with the newly-borrowed manual.
The middle-aged mentor was in disbelief.
He was aware of Soaring Dragon Steps’ cultivation difficulty, and even the director of Purple Sun Institution himself confessed that he could not comprehend it fully too. Three years ago, even the super genius of Purple Sun Institution, Lu Xiaoyun, could only get to the edge of Soaring Dragon Steps’ threshold.
A martial art that could not be deciphered by the director and a genius like Lu Xiaoyun was definitely not for a disciple from Silver Moon Class.
“Luo Feng’s being overconfident.” The middle-aged mentor shook his head as he sighed. Clearly, he did not trust Luo Feng.
…
Luo Feng did not return to his courtyard after he left Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he headed toward Purple Spirit Peak with the Tiger Essence Saber.
Facing the sea of clouds at the cliff where he trained, Luo Feng retrieved the Tiger Essence Saber, then adjusted his breathing before he began cultivating.
Instead of cultivating Heavy Mountain Blade Technique right away, he started from basics.
Sweep, slash, stir, pare, brush, hold, chop, strike. These were the eight basic moves in blade techniques, which were known collectively as Eight Blade-wielding Artistry, and was the foundation of all blade techniques.
Luo Feng was aware of the importance of fundamentals, hence he began simple cultivation with the Tiger Essence Saber.
Two days passed by in the blink of an eye.
For the past two days, Luo Feng had been cultivating Eight Blade-wielding Artistry. With the help of the Vitality Condensation Pill to replenish his vitality, he cultivated without stopping, and finally mastered Eight Blade-wielding Artistry. Each time he wielded his saber, he could maneuver it in the most ideal path.
That being said, Luo Feng was not too excited about mastering Eight Blade-wielding Artistry.
The Tiger Essence Saber was much heavier than he imagined. While it produced exceptional powers, it slowed him down and hindered him from wielding the sword smoothly.
“I must solve this issue.” Luo Feng pondered as he looked into the sea of clouds at the edge of the cliff.
A brief moment later, his eyes sparkled. He quickly ran down the peak with the Tiger Essence Saber.
After running roughly six miles along the mountain, Luo Feng was drenched in sweat. All of a sudden, the sound of rushing water was heard and a wide river came into view.
Upon seeing the strong current, Luo Feng was excited. He quickly jumped into the river to cultivate the blade technique.
Cultivating a blade technique in the river was ten times or even a hundred times harder than doing it on land. Due to the strong current from all directions, Luo Feng felt that the Tiger Essence Saber was at least twice as heavy as it was on land!
“Woosh!”
Swaying the saber made Luo Feng feel as if a cow was crossing the sea. The edge of his saber drew a shallow white mark on the water surface, and he was only at 20% of his normal strength!
“It’s just as I had expected, it’s much more difficult to wield the saber in the water, but this is exactly what I want. If I can perform the blade technique easily in this strong current, I’ll advance greatly!”
Determined, Luo Feng began training in the river.
The strong river current was like a water monster that moved around Luo Feng restlessly. It was holding him back from wielding the Tiger Essence Saber which caused him to maneuver the saber very slowly.
With an unprecedented focus, Luo Feng felt the force within the flowing water, and waves formed in the river as he wielded his saber.
As time passed, Luo Feng eventually sensed an intriguing balance in the water and he was able to move faster than before.
A day’s cultivation later, Luo Feng’s power from performing the blade technique in the river was 70% of his normal power. He began cultivating Heavy Mountain Blade Technique.
Heavy Mountain Blade Technique only had three levels. Level One was Shake Mountain, Level Two was Countercurrent, and Level Three was Break Mountain and River.
The three techniques of this blade technique were violent as they carried the aura that could seal one’s death. It was as if one could break everything with this technique!
After cultivating according to the manual for half a day, Luo Feng slowly comprehended the overbearing nature of Heavy Mountain Blade Technique.
The blade technique was exactly how the middle-aged mentor had described it as, a difficult Fundamental Class martial art. Luo Feng believed that if he cultivated Heavy Mountain Blade Technique to Success State, his peers of the same class would not be his match if he used the Tiger Essence Blade!
Three days went by again. As Luo Feng stood with his saber in the river, he released an awe-inspiring aura. The python-like river with surging waves became insignificant to him.
Shake Mountain!
All of a sudden, Luo Feng leaped into the air, then pounced like a ferocious tiger!
Light from the saber could be seen, causing the waves to gush up a few meters, then forming a huge white wave mark in front of Luo Feng.
Countercurrent!
Luo Feng roared to himself, then turned half a circle in the river before he went against the current with his saber.
“Hua la!” The waves that were initially heading in his direction flowed backward.
“Break Mountain and River!” Luo Feng raised his brows. Strong killing intent could be sensed from his loud voice, which caused ripples to form continuously on the river. Followed by that, he chopped the five feet long saber with unstoppable momentum.
“Chi!” The saber split the flowing water within five radii into half, to the extent that the silt at the river bottom could be seen.
Luo Feng exhaled. He was elated when he saw the murky river in front of him.
In just three days, he cultivated Heavy Mountain Blade Technique to Minor Success State and could perform the blade technique smoothly without being held back.
On top of that, Luo Feng was close to advancing his cultivation base to the next level. He was only a step away from Strength Boundary’s later phase but had finished all fifty Vitality Condensation Pills.
“Roaming King Tournament is a week away, and I’ve arrived at a bottleneck. I should head to Red Training Mountain Range to test my combat ability, and earn some silvers from hunting demonic beasts.”
Once Luo Feng decided, he carried his Tiger Essence Blade on his back, adjusted his clothes, and then walked toward Red Training Mountain Range.