“Luo Feng, write down all the weapons and equipment you want to buy. I will help you purchase them later,” Chen Gu said.
“Alright.”
Luo Feng nodded and immediately went to find pen and paper to write them down.
A full set of level 5 standard equipment: combat suit set, half price 9 million yuan. Blood Shadow Battle Saber 2 series, half price 3 million yuan. Level 5 shield, 1.5 million yuan. Ten level 6 flying knives, total price 1.5 million yuan. Total cost: 15 million yuan. Adding backpack, communication watch, and other small tools, his equipment was fully prepared.
On the second floor of Luo Feng’s home, in the training hall.
Morning sunlight shone through the window, filling the entire training hall with brightness. Luo Feng wore loose training clothes and sat cross legged barefoot in the centre. The over 100 square metre training hall was empty, with only him sitting there. In front of him lay a secret manual.
Nine Layers Thunder Blade.
“I heard the Nine Layers Thunder Blade is very difficult to cultivate. I wonder how difficult it really is.”
Luo Feng opened the manual and began reading.
On the first page of the Nine Layers Thunder Blade manual.
“Fast!”
The most prominent word on the title page struck Luo Feng like a blade of light. His heart trembled. This was only a photocopy of the original manual, yet even a single word could shake him like this.
One could imagine how terrifying the creator of this technique, Thunder God, truly was.
Luo Feng continued reading.
“All martial arts in the world, nothing is indestructible, only speed is unbreakable.”
“When your blade is fast enough, fast to the limit, you are invincible.”
As soon as he opened the first page, Luo Feng saw flowing calligraphy.
Even Hong’s ultimate technique, ‘Destruction of the World’, follows the same principle. His strongest move is also a speed at the extreme. One strike shakes heaven and earth, destroying everything.
“The essence of my Nine Layers Thunder Blade is one word, fast.”
Luo Feng turned to the second page.
“Why does speed have such great power?”
“First, when your blade is so fast that your opponent cannot react, you can cut their throat before they even swing their weapon. Even if your strength is only one tenth of theirs, their throat cannot withstand your blade. Speed allows you to strike the enemy’s weak points.”
“Second, speed also increases the destructive power of your blade.”
“According to energy calculation, attack power equals 0.5mv². This means that for a blade of fixed mass, the faster it moves, the greater the energy it contains. When speed reaches a certain level, even water jets can pierce steel, and paper can cut through steel.”
“Speed prevents the opponent from defending.”
“Speed makes your blade unstoppable. Whether from the perspective of weak point attack or absolute power, speed is the best path.”
Luo Feng nodded as he read. This principle was already well understood by most warriors in human society.
Speed to the extreme leads to invincibility.
“This principle is widely known among warriors, but very few can actually apply it in practice and succeed,” Thunder God wrote with overwhelming confidence. “My Nine Layers Thunder Blade gives me the fastest blade in the world, and also the fastest speed and strongest body.”
Luo Feng’s eyes lit up.
“The Nine Layers Thunder Blade contains a complete movement technique called ‘Flow Light’, a guiding cultivation method called ‘Nine Layers Origin’, and a blade technique called ‘Thunder Blade’. Among these, the guiding method is the foundation.”
“Only through the guiding method can you develop a powerful body.”
“Physical strength is the foundation.”
“Blade technique and movement technique are skills that require constant training and understanding.”
Luo Feng continued reading. The guiding method recorded in the manual had three parts. According to the manual, the Nine Layers Origin guiding method actually had nine parts. Similarly, the blade technique and movement technique also only contained the first three levels.
He read every word carefully.
By the time he looked up, the sun had already become intense. The August sunlight poured through the window, making the training hall even brighter.
“Incredible, truly incredible.”
Luo Feng was completely convinced by the Nine Layers Thunder Blade created by Thunder God. Even though it was only the first three levels, it already left him stunned. Compared to this technique, the so called online martial arts techniques were like fireflies compared to the sun.
“I should try this blade technique.”
He carefully placed the manual in the corner of the training hall, then took out his Blood Shadow Battle Saber.
Clang.
The blade was drawn. It was 101 cm long, with a 78 cm blade and 5.2 cm width. The blade was already sharpened, made from second grade Kro alloy. Even at half price, it cost 3 million yuan and weighed 112 kg.
“Begin.”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Luo Feng stood in the centre of the hall and repeatedly swung the saber.
The Nine Layers Thunder Blade technique relied on a special method of force application.
An ordinary person might use full strength in a slash, 100 percent force. But a Nine Layers Thunder Blade practitioner uses only 70 percent force in the initial strike. Then, at the moment of release, the body produces a second burst of force, also 70 percent. The two forces combine to 140 percent.
Nine Layers Thunder Blade has nine levels.
First level adds one hidden force, reaching 140 percent power.
Second level adds two hidden forces, reaching 210 percent power.
Third level adds three hidden forces, reaching 280 percent power.
…
Ninth level adds nine hidden forces, reaching 700 percent power, seven times original strength.
What does this mean?
A beginner fighter mastering the ninth level could nearly match a beginner general level warrior.
“Too difficult. The rumours are true. This is extremely hard to cultivate. Even the entry level is this difficult.”
Luo Feng swung hundreds of times. He tried again and again to produce a second hidden force during a single slash, but he could not do it.
Too difficult.
A single slash happens in an instant. In that instant, the body must produce a second internal force simultaneously. It was almost impossible.
“I should not aim too high. The first level of blade technique has 18 moves. The manual says practising these helps understand the first level of force application.”
Luo Feng nodded.
Practise the moves repeatedly, and with enough understanding, one would naturally grasp the essence.
“Xiao Feng, dinner is ready.”
“Xiao Feng, hurry up.”
His parents’ voices came from downstairs.
“I am coming.”
He sheathed the Blood Shadow Battle Saber, hung it on the wall, and returned the manual to his room before going downstairs.
Time passed. Although Luo Feng joined the Fire Hammer Squad, they were currently on break, giving him time to study the blade technique, movement technique, and guiding method. The guiding method combined with genetic energy cultivation showed the most obvious improvement. His physical strength increased significantly faster.
As for the movement and blade techniques, he had not yet mastered even the first level.
However, his movement had become more agile, and his control over strength had improved.
“Even though I cannot instantly release a hidden force, my muscle control is far more precise than before.”
In the training hall, Luo Feng slowly put on his combat trousers. Five flying knives were strapped to his thighs. He wore alloy combat boots, a combat vest, arm guards, and carried a shield and Blood Shadow Battle Saber. A communication watch was fixed to his wrist guard. Water and high energy food were packed in his backpack.
“Today, 28 August, is my first time leaving the base city to officially carry out a mission.”
Luo Feng took a deep breath.
Yes. Today was the day Fire Hammer Squad set off.
“Luo Feng!”
Chen Gu’s voice came from outside.
“I am coming.”
He ran downstairs and saw his father, mother, and brother waiting in the hall. Luo Hua sat in a wheelchair, silently watching him.
“Xiao Feng, be careful,” his mother said, unable to hold back.
“Don’t worry, Mum,” Luo Feng smiled, nodding at his father, then looking at his brother.
“Brother, maybe when you come back, I will already be handing out wedding sweets,” Luo Hua suddenly said with a smile.
“Wedding sweets? So fast? You have known her less than two months,” Luo Feng laughed.
“When feelings are good, what is wrong with being fast?” Luo Hua said proudly.
“Alright, I will come back and eat your sweets. Make sure they are good ones, and give me plenty,” Luo Feng said with a grin, patting his brother’s head. “Alright, Dad, Mum, I am leaving. I will be back in a few days.”
He ran out of the door and met Chen Gu at the villa entrance.
Watching Luo Feng in his combat suit leave with another fully armed burly man, the family stood silently for a long time.
“Let’s go. Now the three of us will go to the HR Alliance Mall, meet the captain, and then set off for the wilderness area.”
“Yes, Brother Chen.”
Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and another man carrying a spear got into the Extreme Martial Arts Hall vehicle and quickly departed.