Chapter 65: Taking Initial Shape

“Boom!”

Lightning bolts, each carrying the wrath of the heavens, struck down one after another. Occasionally, two streams of electricity entwined like serpents in the sky, merging into a single, terrifying bolt. Such divine thunder, brimming with celestial fury, would reduce even lord-level monsters to ashes in an instant.

“Sharp! Piercing!”

“Destroy everything!”

Standing on the rooftop balcony, Luo Feng observed silently, murmuring to himself.

During these days, Luo Feng had been rigorously training his movement techniques and swordsmanship in the county town. He had barely reached the ‘Microscopic’ level in movement techniques. However, in terms of swordsmanship, Luo Feng could only say that his control over power had reached an astonishing level. Slaying over ten thousand monsters, combined with the strict power requirements of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade” technique, had brought his sword control to a level far surpassing that of Wei Tie and Wei Qing.

Yet, Luo Feng had not yet mastered the second layer of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade,” a stage he had longed for. This secret martial art was incredibly powerful—its first layer equated to 140% of one’s original strength, while the second layer surged to 210%. It more than doubled one’s might.

In other words, a high-level warrior could unleash the power of a junior warlord.

As for the ninth and final layer of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade,” it reached a staggering 700%—seven times one’s original strength!

A high-level warrior could nearly match the might of a high-level warlord. This was the sheer absurdity of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade.” However, currently, only the creator of this technique, Thunder God, was known to have mastered its ninth layer.

“Yes, it should be like this.”

While pondering over sword techniques, Luo Feng watched the thunderous lightning, a vague realization stirring in his mind. Without hesitation, he rushed back to the second floor to retrieve his Blood Shadow Blade, and then began his sword training on the vast rooftop, amidst the torrential rain.

In the distance, the lightning gradually became sparse.

“The manual says that every sword master must possess their own sword intent. According to the text, only by reaching higher levels of swordsmanship can one ascend to greater heights in the ‘Nine Heavens Thunder Blade.'”

“This thunderous lightning…”

In the storm, Luo Feng began swinging his blade repeatedly!

Unlike before, Luo Feng now pursued an inner epiphany with each swing, channeling his perception of the lightning’s fury. Each movement was a culmination of stored power, suddenly erupting in an intense, refined burst. His blade traced arcs of light—vertical slashes, diagonal cuts, upward sweeps, and horizontal strikes—like streaks of brilliance flashing through the air.

“Explode! Explode! Release it all!” Luo Feng repeatedly tried to channel that inner feeling, forcing his body to unleash successive waves of hidden force.

“It should be like this, but why can I only release one layer of hidden force? Why can’t I release the second?”

…

The rain poured heavily, but Luo Feng was completely immersed in his sword world, indifferent to the downpour. That night, he unusually skipped his usual training in “Genetic Origin Energy,” instead repeatedly practicing the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade.” The continuous slashes had already exhausted his body.

But he refused to stop. He merely paused briefly between each strike, then swung again.

…

At dawn the next day, the rain had long ceased. In the eastern sky, faint traces of morning glow began to appear. The chill of autumn and winter had set in, making the early morning bitterly cold. However, Luo Feng, soaked to the skin, sat on the balcony with his Blood Shadow Blade in hand, frowning in deep thought: “Where is it that I’m still missing something?”

Luo Feng could feel it himself—he should be able to release the second layer of hidden force. His deep muscle tension had already been activated. Yet, every time he seemed on the verge of doing so, it slipped away at the last moment.

Just a hair’s breadth away.

“Drip!”

A single drop of rainwater fell from the eaves of the balcony, landing in a puddle on the rooftop. The calm water rippled outward in concentric circles.

“Hmm?” Luo Feng’s heart stirred.

A vision flashed in his mind—the scene of lightning obliterating everything, sharp to the extreme!

Yet a single droplet, creating gentle ripples, was soft and subtle.

“Excessive force cannot last!”

“If one’s physical strength is already so strong, and the ninth layer requires an explosive force seven times beyond one’s physical limits, how can the body endure if one constantly pursues the ultimate of force?” Excitedly, Luo Feng immediately stood up, gripping the Blood Shadow Blade. He slashed forward with the blade. At first, the speed of the strike was merely fast.

But in an instant, the blade’s speed surged—then surged again—twice in succession!

The blade sliced through the air!

“Boom!” A sonic boom echoed.

His right arm swelled almost instantly, visibly thicker than the left.

“This is it!” Luo Feng withdrew the blade, a delighted smile spreading across his face. Just now, his muscles had rippled like water, naturally unleashing two layers of hidden force in succession. The Blood Shadow Blade, infused with these forces, accelerated to an astonishing speed—like lightning itself!

The second layer of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade” had finally been mastered!

With swordsmanship alone, Luo Feng could now unleash the power of a junior warlord. Combined with his Microscopic-level movement techniques, even ordinary junior warlords might not be his match.

…

Overcome with joy, Luo Feng went downstairs, immediately ordered breakfast, and happily ate before preparing to cultivate his Genetic Origin Energy.

“Something’s off.”

“My strike is powerful, yes, but it’s just brute force.” Luo Feng shook his head and picked up the Blood Shadow Blade again. “I can now unleash two layers of hidden force, and I can completely control the rhythm between them. This makes my blade speed even more unpredictable.”

He began swinging the blade in the training room.

Because of the two layers of hidden force, his blade accelerated twice—this was the key distinction between a practitioner of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade” and an ordinary swordsman.

“Woo~ woo~” The blade moved with eerie unpredictability.

Strike after strike!

In his mind, he repeatedly recalled the scene of lightning crashing from the sky, followed by the gentle ripples from a droplet. He pursued that feeling, swinging his blade again and again. What he sought was his own unique sword style. The “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade” only provided a technique for power generation.

The sword intent had to be discovered by Luo Feng himself. Only what suited him best would be truly effective.

Only when one’s understanding was sufficient could one endure the immense strain of the “Nine Heavens Thunder Blade” without harming the body.

…

Lost in this creative process, the fatigue in his body could not affect his mental exhilaration. His strikes became increasingly unpredictable and swift. At times, the blade itself vibrated subtly due to the dual accelerations, producing faint shockwaves.

Luo Feng had no idea how long he had been at it…

“Whoosh!” A streak of blade light flashed past like lightning and mist.

It was hazy, almost illusory. Yet in that brief moment of illusion, the lightning-fast slash had already vanished.

“This is it!” Luo Feng finally smiled. That effortless, fluid motion—relaxing his muscles before suddenly unleashing hidden force, then returning to a relaxed state—allowed him to last longer in battle.

“According to the levels of swordsmanship, I’ve now surpassed the basic stage and touched the realm of sword intent, albeit just the edge of it,” Luo Feng thought joyfully.

What should he name this sword style?

“Since I gained this insight while observing the lightning, I shall call this sword style…”

“Pilichi!”

Luo Feng had finally created his own sword style.

“This Pilichi sword style is only the beginning. But in the future, I will continue to refine its intent,” Luo Feng murmured to himself. He glanced at his communication watch—already past 2 PM. He hadn’t realized it, but he had been immersed in sword training for nearly twenty hours straight.

“In a few days, the Hammer of Fire team will reconvene. My swordsmanship and movement techniques have reached a new level. I should return home and rest for a few days,” Luo Feng thought happily. After having lunch and packing his belongings, he boarded a train, leaving the supply base behind and heading toward the Jiangnan Base City.

Fifty days of training, slaying over ten thousand monsters—Luo Feng’s movement techniques and swordsmanship had reached new heights.

And his newly created sword style, “Pilichi,” had finally taken its first tangible form.

Though it was still rudimentary and shallow, its creator was only eighteen years old. No one could say how far this “Pilichi” sword style would one day reach!