Chapter 287: Chapter 229: Stats Explosion! An Anxious Lei Hu
Meanwhile, at East Sea Martial Arts University, Tianshui Lake No. 9 Villa.
The Underground Cultivation Chamber was muggy and stifling, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe.
Han Feng sat cross-legged, a visible current of silver-white energy swirling around his body.
This energy flowed over the surface of his skin in a strange, rhythmic pattern.
Inside him, six wide, resilient Dao Veins now shone with a dazzling light.
Sword Essence rushed through these six main channels like a raging river. The sound it produced was no longer a gentle babble but a deep rumble, like the roar of an engine.
The Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin, the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming, the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin, the Triple Burner Meridian of Hand Shaoyang, the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin, and the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang.
All six meridians were now open.
As the final Great Cycle completed its revolution, Han Feng’s eyes snapped open.
WHOOSH—
He exhaled a stream of turbid air. The breath was so condensed that it shot out two meters, striking the alloy wall with a crisp POP.
"Meridian Passage Third Layer, Perfection."
Han Feng clenched his fists, satisfied with the feeling of power that radiated from his knuckles.
This was all thanks to the nourishing and restorative effects of his Proficient-level Sword Storage Technique.
Half a month.
In just half a month, bolstered by a near-insane combination of splurging cash and "flying planes"...
He had opened two more Dao Veins, pushing his Cultivation to the cusp of Perfection in the Third Layer.
With a thought, the light blue system panel, visible only to him, instantly materialized in his vision.
The data displayed on it had already undergone a world-shaking transformation.
[Host: Han Feng]
[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm Third Layer (Perfection)]
[Dao Veins: 6/20 (Solidified)]
[Sword Essence Reserve: 800/800 (Qualitative Improvement)]
[Root Bone Physique: Innate Sword Body (Middle Level) — Progress: 395/10,000]
[Skill Bar]:
[Sword Control Technique·Mastery (2,896/4,000)]
[Sword Storage Technique·Proficient (621/2,000)]
[Sword Qi Release·Proficient (1,523/4,000)]
[Spirit Patterns Armament Construction·Mastery (147/4,000)]
Looking at this magnificent string of data, Han Feng’s heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment.
He casually closed the panel, grabbed an Energy Potion from nearby, and downed it in one gulp.
If word of his Cultivation speed got out, it would probably shatter the confidence of so-called geniuses.
For a normal Martial Artist—even a core disciple from a great Inner City family with unlimited resources—cultivating from the Meridian Passage First Layer to Perfection in the Third Layer would take at least a year. Just the slow, painstaking work of nourishing the meridians and expelling impurities required that much time.
However, compared to the pressure he currently faced, Han Feng knew it still wasn’t enough.
He stood up and walked over to the electronic calendar hanging on the wall.
The countdown timer on it was still ticking away coldly.
Nine years and eleven months remained until the Sky Mark fully stabilized and the Tier Six life-forms arrived.
’At this rate, it will take about another four months to reach Meridian Passage Realm Perfection.’
Han Feng’s fingers tapped lightly on the table as his mind raced. ’After four months, I’ll break through to the Enlightenment Realm.’
’The Enlightenment Realm involves opening the body’s major acupoints and a qualitative transformation of True Qi. It’s more than ten times harder than the Meridian Passage Realm.’
’Even with the system’s help, even if I fly fighter jets until they fall apart every single day, it will probably take me three to five years just to touch the threshold of the Divine Containment Realm.’
’As for the Tier Five Celestial Being Realm... fifty or sixty years?’
Han Feng shook his head.
He knew the members of the Council didn’t truly expect his generation to reach a level where their Martial Arts Cultivation alone would be enough to contend with Tier Six beings within ten years.
Their goal was more to cultivate as many Enlightenment Realm experts as possible, or perhaps have a few more Divine Containment Realm masters emerge.
Only at that level could one pilot the most advanced Spiritual Energy Equipment and fight against the hordes of Tier Four and Tier Five Demon Beasts.
The main force for fighting Tier Six life-forms would likely still be the current crop of top-tier Martial Artists at the Celestial Human Realm.
The current push to develop Spiritual Energy Technology and weaponry was likely aimed at creating weapons, Battle Armor, or fighters that Celestial Human Realm Martial Artists could wield.
But Han Feng also knew that without an absolute advantage in Cultivation, the war in ten years would be a bloody war of attrition.
By then, it would likely take a huge number of Tier Three, Tier Four, and even Tier Five Martial Artists piloting advanced Spiritual Energy Fighters and Battle Armor just to have a chance at taking down a single Tier Six being.
But that was only a chance. According to analysis from Martial Arts scholars studying the Sky Mark, Tier Six life-forms had likely already touched upon the domain of Laws.
That was a plane of existence unattainable by the humans of Blue Star.
No matter how much the people of Blue Star speculated or overestimated, it was probably impossible to truly comprehend the terrifying might of a being that could touch upon Laws.
Han Feng didn’t understand it either, but he wasn’t willing to bet on humanity winning a war of attrition against such a being.
Of course, the most fundamental reason was that he refused to become just another casualty, another number in the attrition.
If he had neither the opportunity nor the ability, that would be one thing.
But now, with the system’s help, he had a chance to seize the initiative.
He had to grasp this sliver of an opportunity, raise his own power to a level equal to or even greater than his enemy’s, and take firm control of the situation.
That was the outcome he desired.
’I need a faster vehicle, a more intense stimulus.’
His gaze sharpened.
Ordinary training jets, and even that modified "Hunting Falcon," were gradually failing to keep up with his current physical strength.
The oppressive feeling from the G-forces was weakening, and his Cultivation efficiency was suffering from diminishing returns.
He needed a stronger dose.
Just then, the military-grade terminal on his wrist vibrated.
An encrypted message popped up.
Sender: East Sea Council · Special Projects Division.
Content: [Advisor Han, the personnel, site, and equipment for the "Ghost" project have been initially prepared.
Please report to Celestial Craft Group’s Hangar 0 at 9 a.m. tomorrow for the initial kickoff meeting.]
Seeing this message, a smile finally broke through the tension on Han Feng’s face.
"It’s finally here."
He had been waiting for this day for far too long.
That X-01 "Ghost" prototype wasn’t just an aircraft; it was his designated "Lifebound Flying Sword."
More importantly, he now possessed the ultimate weapon: [Spirit Patterns Armament Construction (Mastery)].
Before, he could only fly planes.
Now, he could modify them.
He could absolutely use this Skill to take theoretical technology that still only existed on blueprints and bring it to life by building it from scratch.
He would transform that fighter jet into a true, unprecedented Technology Spiritual Energy Flying Sword.
"Tomorrow..."
Han Feng’s eyes burned with intensity. ’If I’m going to play, I’m going to play for keeps.’
...
「Meanwhile.」
In the East Sea City Black Market, in front of Long Xiao’s firearms stall.
The two brothers, Lei Xiao and Lei Hu, had appeared once again.
"Long Xiao, how’s the item coming along?" Lei Hu asked, his tone laced with urgency.
Long Xiao leaned against the counter, his single eye sweeping over the two of them, his expression neutral.
"Lei Hu, this weapon of yours... weren’t you told there’d be news in half a month?"
Lei Xiao snorted from the side, his voice dripping with displeasure.
Long Xiao stroked his chin.
"Master Han hasn’t notified me, so that means it’s not ready," he said in his gruff voice.
Lei Hu’s heart skipped a beat.
"Not ready yet?"
His voice was a little weak. "But he said half a month... It’s already... been sixteen days."
Hearing this, Lei Xiao shot Lei Hu an ’I told you so’ look.
"I told you these freelance practitioners from the Black Market are unreliable."
Lei Xiao clapped Lei Hu on the shoulder, his tone one of profound disappointment.
"A Tier Three Weapon isn’t that easy to make. You listen to some gun dealer’s boasting and just hand over such valuable materials?"
Scolded by his older brother, Lei Hu couldn’t even lift his head.
His heart was in a turmoil, filled with anxiety.
He could only hope that Master Han was just running late, not that he had ruined the forging.
"Long Xiao, can you ask him for me again? When exactly will it be ready? Get me a definite answer," Lei Hu said, looking at Long Xiao.
Long Xiao hesitated for a moment.
"Alright, I’ll make a call." He turned and walked into the back room.
Lei Xiao watched Long Xiao’s back, then turned to Lei Hu.
"See? The truth is coming out now, isn’t it?"
Lei Xiao said in a low voice, "If it were really done, wouldn’t he already know?"
"You know the rules of the Black Market better than I do. If it was ruined during forging, he’d definitely drag his feet.
Then he’d find an excuse, say the materials were poor quality or that there was a problem with the formula you provided."
"And then he’ll just give you a defective piece and say it was a failure.
Who are you going to complain to then? Just chalk it up as an expensive lesson."
"Bro, can’t you hope for the best for me for once?"
Lei Hu grimaced. "We both saw Master Han’s skill at forging a Tier Two Spiritual Soldier. He’s genuinely amazing..."
"Are Tier Two and Tier Three the same?"
Lei Xiao poked his younger brother’s forehead in exasperation. "It’s a qualitative leap! Do you know why you have to book an appointment six months in advance at the Celestial Workshop to get a Tier Three Weapon forged?"
"Because they work as a team!"
"The ones controlling the temperature, carving the Runes, smelting the materials—they’re all specialized masters, each with their own role.
Even then, the success rate is only sixty or seventy percent."
The more Lei Xiao spoke, the more convinced he was of his own theory, his tone growing more certain.
"I reckon there’s an eighty percent chance he had a furnace explosion."
"A material like Armor-Piercing Profound Gold turns into a pile of useless slag if the heat is even slightly off."
Lei Xiao got more and more animated as he spoke, as if he could already see the tragic sight of Lei Hu getting scammed.
Lei Hu grew flustered listening to him but was powerless to retort.
He knew in his heart that what his brother was saying were all facts.
A Tier Three Spiritual Soldier was no joke.
He just didn’t want to believe his judgment of character was that poor.
Just as Lei Hu was getting a massive headache from Lei Xiao’s nagging, Long Xiao walked out of the back room.
An unconcealable smile hung on his face—a smile containing a bit of surprise, a bit of understanding, and a bit of... schadenfreude.
"It’s done!"
Long Xiao clapped his hands together, his voice booming.
"The Master said the item is forged! Someone will be delivering it shortly, he asks you to wait a moment!"
Upon hearing this, the heavy weight in Lei Hu’s heart instantly lifted.
He leaped to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.
"See! Big Brother! I told you Master Han had the skills! I knew he wouldn’t cheat me!"
Lei Hu pointed at Lei Xiao, gloating, "You could tell from the Tier Two Spiritual Soldier he forged! His Artifact Refining skills are incredible, far beyond those of ordinary Artifact Refiners!"
Lei Xiao’s brows instantly knitted together, the smug look on his face freezing.
He looked at his younger brother, who looked as if he’d just won a great victory, and then at Long Xiao’s meaningful smile, and felt that things might not be as he’d thought.
But he still refused to believe that a "freelancer" could forge a top-quality Tier Three Spiritual Soldier.
"Hmph, don’t celebrate too soon."
Lei Xiao said stubbornly, "So what if it’s done? Maybe he barely managed to forge it into a Tier Three. The quality definitely won’t compare to one from a renowned master at a major workshop.
When the blade dulls and can’t even cut a Demon Beast, it’ll be too late for tears."
His brother’s words made Lei Hu choke, and he swallowed the retort on the tip of his tongue.
Truthfully, he was also a bit anxious. It was a Tier Three Spiritual Soldier, after all. He hoped it would be perfect, not just a passable piece of work.
As the two brothers waited in anticipation, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance to the Black Market.
Gao Fei came jogging up to the stall, carrying a Spirit Wood Box.
"Uncle Long, Master Han asked me to deliver this. He said it’s the custom-made Tier Three Spiritual Soldier for Brother Lei Hu."
Gao Fei handed the box to Long Xiao, a mysterious smile still on his face.
Long Xiao took the box. It was heavy and emitted faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.
At that moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Spirit Wood Box.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense with anticipation.
Lei Hu’s breathing became heavy, and Lei Xiao’s gaze sharpened.
They all wanted to know about this Tier Three Spiritual Soldier, forged by the hands of a "freelance master."
Was it the real deal, or just for show?
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