"Sorry, Senior Brother Lu, for keeping you waiting!"
Li Youtian came jogging out of the Escort Agency.
Lu Changfeng reached out and gently patted Li Youtian on the shoulder.
At nearly 1.98 meters tall, Lu Changfeng looked like an adult patting a child’s shoulder as he did so.
Copy complete.
Lu Changfeng withdrew his hand. "So, any news lately?"
Lu Changfeng had a good reason for seeking out Li Youtian.
Escort agencies were well-informed.
In these chaotic times, he had Li Youtian help gather information, offering him certain rewards in return.
Naturally, Li Youtian was more than happy to oblige.
"Have you heard anything recently?" Lu Changfeng asked.
’One must commit to the act.’
Unexpectedly, Li Youtian delivered some explosive news.
Li Youtian whispered, "Senior Brother Lu, I heard the Profound Nether Sect is going to make a move on Feng City!"
’The Profound Nether Sect?’
Lu Changfeng pondered for a moment before asking, "Is that the Profound Nether Sect from Cyan Mountain Prefecture?"
"The very same!"
"The Profound Nether Sect has occupied the nine cities of Cyan Mountain Prefecture, including all the territory bordering Yunyang Prefecture."
"Now, we escorts aren’t even allowed into Cyan Mountain Prefecture’s territory. There are no detours either; the Profound Nether Sect sends out patrols! If you’re caught, they’ll string you up and slaughter you like a pig!"
"Our agency’s Chief speculates that the Profound Nether Sect is planning to move against our Yunyang Prefecture. They’ve sealed the routes to prevent any leaks about their troop movements!"
"Feng City borders Cyan Mountain Prefecture. If the Profound Nether Sect really makes a move, we’ll definitely be the first to suffer!"
Lu Changfeng nodded slightly. What Li Youtian said was plausible.
’It seems I really need to make plans in advance.’
He tried to see it from their perspective. The three major sects of Cyan Mountain Prefecture were currently holding each other in check. If he were in charge of one of them, he might also look for an opportunity to expand and break the stalemate.
"Thanks for the information."
Lu Changfeng tossed a piece of broken silver to Li Youtian.
Li Youtian caught the silver and returned to the Escort Agency, overjoyed. ’It really pays to listen to and remember what powerful people like the Chief say,’ he thought. ’It can actually be exchanged for money!’
Lu Changfeng returned to the Martial Arts Hall.
Back in his room at the Martial Arts Hall, Lu Changfeng began to merge the [Swordsmanship] Talents.
’Merge!’
As Lu Changfeng thought the command,
the four [Swordsmanship] Talents quickly vanished, replaced by a new one.
High-Grade Talent [Swordsman].
The moment this Talent formed,
all the nuances of the Gale Swordsmanship flashed through Lu Changfeng’s mind.
A moment later,
a sharp, wind-like aura erupted from Lu Changfeng’s body.
’This is... Sword Intent!’
’I’ve comprehended Gale Sword Intent!’
Lu Changfeng pulled up his attribute panel to check.
Sure enough, it had changed!
Name: Lu Changfeng
Root Bone: Upper A
Talent: High-Grade Talent [Swordsman], Middle Grade Talent [Light Body Technique]
Realm: Blood Forging Fourth Layer
Blood Forging Technique: [Le Mountain Angry Vajra] (Minor Achievement)
Martial Arts: [Gale Swordsmanship] (Perfection), [Blood Burst Step] (Great Success), [Antelope Leaping Skill] (Great Success)
Martial Arts Insights: Gale Sword Intent (Basic Sword Intent) (Swordsmanship power increased by 50%)
Copy Interval: 49 days.
Because [Gale Swordsmanship] itself wasn’t a particularly advanced martial art, the Sword Intent he condensed was only a Basic one.
However, this also indirectly demonstrated the height of Lu Changfeng’s Sword Dao Talent—to be able to condense Sword Intent from such a common, run-of-the-mill swordsmanship!
Although Gale Sword Intent was only an Elementary Sword Intent, it was still a Martial Arts Insight!
The boost to his Combat Power was terrifying. Most importantly, the 50% increase to his swordsmanship power came with no stamina cost.
This was different from using the Ultimate Technique of [Gale Swordsmanship], Gale and Torrential Rain, or the Changle Divine Palm. Activating a Martial Arts Ultimate Technique required a large amount of stamina.
Sword Intent was like a permanent, passive buff that cost nothing to use.
’Choosing to use so many copy opportunities to fuse a High-Grade Sword Technique Talent was worth it.’
Feeling the Gale Sword Intent that he could now call upon at any time, Lu Changfeng finally had a trump card of his own.
Eager to test the power of his new trump card,
Lu Changfeng grabbed his Treasure Longsword, ’Autumn Water,’ and sped off to a secluded, wild area outside the city.
"Gale and Torrential Rain!"
Lu Changfeng’s Treasure Longsword flashed out, delivering four lightning-fast thrusts within a single breath.
BANG!
The half-man-high boulder in front of Lu Changfeng, struck by the four thrusts, suddenly shattered.
’Next, with Sword Intent...’
After catching his breath slightly, Lu Changfeng once again unleashed Gale and Torrential Rain!
Empowered by the Gale Sword Intent, Lu Changfeng thrust out eight times in a single breath!
BOOM!
Another half-man-high boulder actually exploded after being struck by eight thrusts in such a short time!
’Impressive,’ Lu Changfeng thought.
He then channeled his Sword Intent while performing his normal Sword Techniques.
He discovered that both his speed and power had increased significantly.
It was as if each of his ordinary moves was now thirty percent stronger than an all-out strike without Sword Intent.
’With Sword Intent, I should be able to fight and defeat an ordinary Blood Forging Fifth Layer expert.’
Lu Changfeng came to a conclusion.
Lu Changfeng destroyed all traces of his presence at the scene and returned to the Martial Arts Hall, satisfied.
...
Inside the Changle Martial Arts Hall.
A dozen or so Named Disciples were practicing [Le Mountain Angry Vajra].
The Named Disciples who remained had all reached the Blood Forging Realm and had naturally progressed from the Changle Palm Method to [Le Mountain Angry Vajra].
All of them had been personally taught by their master, Zhang Desheng.
Chunzhu, dressed in training clothes, was also practicing among them, her tall figure having taken on a more womanly air.
For some disciples with low Root Bone, [Le Mountain Angry Vajra] was still too difficult to practice. Every now and then, someone would exhaust their strength halfway through and collapse on the ground to rest.
Lu Changfeng watched the Named Disciples practice from the side, occasionally offering a few words of guidance or encouragement.
At some point, Zhang Desheng appeared in the training yard, pulled up a chair, and watched his disciples cultivate.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Zhang Desheng let out a violent, dry cough, and Lu Changfeng went over to gently pat his back.
Zhang Desheng had lost a lot of weight; even the muscles on his back had atrophied.
His aura was extremely faint, and it seemed he could fall from the Martial Master Realm at any moment.
Lu Changfeng knew that his master probably didn’t have much time left.
’Once Master is gone, what will happen to the Martial Arts Hall?’ Lu Changfeng began to make plans in his mind.
"Changfeng, when are you and Chunzhu getting married?" Zhang Desheng suddenly asked out of the blue.
Lu Changfeng scratched his head. "There’s no rush, is there? I think things are fine as they are."
In the distance, Chunzhu, who was in the middle of her practice, trembled when she heard this. A look of disappointment appeared on her face, which was turned away from Lu Changfeng.
"No rush? Wouldn’t it be great to have a child sooner rather than later?" Zhang Desheng said.
Lu Changfeng replied, "A child? I haven’t thought about having children. I can’t even secure my own place in the world yet. Bringing a child into this world wouldn’t be a good thing. Besides, a child would be a vulnerability, and I don’t want to create a weakness for myself."
Zhang Desheng, failing to persuade him, shook his head. "You young people and your ideas... I just don’t get it!"
Zhang Desheng got up and unsteadily walked toward his small courtyard.
"Master, should I help you?"
"No need, I can still walk!" Zhang Desheng shouted, his voice surprisingly full of energy.