Perfect Saber Technique

Upon entering the third level, Qin Hao no longer held anything back. The instant he charged into the Golden Vulture flock, his body moved at high speed. His Perfect level movement technique was fully unleashed, his figure flashing rapidly. Although his physical fitness was only at the Beginner War General level and his speed was only 150 meters per second, bolstered by the fourth level of force generation from the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, his speed exceeded 500 meters per second, no less than that of an Advanced Warlord.

The combination of high speed and a Perfect level movement technique made Qin Hao's figure flash rapidly as the long saber in his hand swung without pause, clashing with the Golden Vultures charging at him.

Golden Vultures were raptor-type birds. The feathers on their upper bodies and wings were black, faintly gleaming with a silvery-gray sheen. The down on their lower bodies and abdomens, as well as the feathers beneath their wings, were golden. Their powerful talons and wings capable of delivering crushing blows were their strongest weapons.

However, under Qin Hao's extreme movement technique, they posed no threat at all. Amid the flock, the long saber in Qin Hao's hand turned into streaks of snowy-white saber light that flashed rapidly. Miserable cries resounded through the sky as Golden Vultures plummeted one after another.

At the same time, the other Golden Vultures attacked even more frantically. Even though he was already comparable to an Advanced Warlord, Qin Hao still felt a trace of pressure beneath the Golden Vultures' group assault.

"Flying beasts really are difficult to deal with." Flying beasts were much faster than land beasts. Though they were both Beginner Beast Generals, the Golden Vultures were no slower than Intermediate Beast General land beasts.

However, Qin Hao was not only fast—his strength was equally formidable. With 3.5 times force generation amplifying his 10,000 kilograms of strength, he possessed a massive force of 35,000 kilograms, already beyond the threshold of an Advanced Warlord.

With every slash, a Golden Vulture died. It was only because the Golden Vultures held the advantage of flight that Qin Hao had not ended the battle already.

Even so, Qin Hao took only around ten minutes to finish the battle.

"Qin Hao, congratulations on completing the Third Level Stage A Trial. The Stage B Trial will begin shortly. Your objective is to kill 200 Beast General-level Golden Vultures within 30 minutes: 190 Beginner Beast General-level Golden Vultures and 10 Intermediate Beast General-level Golden Vultures! Good luck!" The instant the electronic voice fell silent, a dark mass of flying Monsters appeared above the wilderness.

The numbers had doubled, and there were also ten Intermediate Beast Generals. The increase in difficulty was far more than double. Looking at the Golden Vulture flock in the distance, the pressure in Qin Hao's heart suddenly increased, and he became even more cautious in dealing with them.

As the Golden Vultures attacked, Qin Hao unleashed his Perfect level movement technique with all his strength. His Peak of Mastered Level Saber Technique flowed effortlessly, and he held nothing back with the fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade. Qin Hao fully displayed his strength and charged into battle with the Golden Vultures.

"Caw... caw... caw..."

The Golden Vultures dove down from the sky in dense masses, making even Qin Hao feel the approach of danger. At that moment, Qin Hao understood the difficulty of this level. No wonder so many War Gods were unable to pass it. Since the Limitless Martial Arts Center dared to offer such conditions, the difficulty of completing them was obvious.

One had to know that the reward for passing the third level was comparable to the highest-tier contract in Luo Feng's original story, yet it had been offered to him right after he signed his contract.

However dangerous it was, he still had to give it a shot. Isn't it just the third level? Since the Limitless Martial Arts Center proposed it, then with my strength, I have a chance of passing. Otherwise, Hong wouldn't have set an impossible task.

As the battle continued, Qin Hao grew increasingly excited, and his fighting spirit gradually erupted. Since becoming a martial artist, Qin Hao had fought quite a few battles, but none had truly allowed him to completely let loose.

Even when facing the siege of those four Japanese, Qin Hao had not felt much pressure.

Pressure is motivation, Qin Hao told himself. His attacks began to change. The fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade was unleashed again and again, like endless rolling waves, like an unceasing drizzle, like willow branches swaying in the wind.

Under Qin Hao's extreme control, the force behind every strike continuously changed. At times it was incomparably fierce, at times it possessed overwhelming penetrating power. The two layers of Manifest Force and Hidden Force turned decay into magic in Qin Hao's hands.

At the same time, Qin Hao's saber technique began to change as well. His Mastery level saber technique grew increasingly refined, as if it could break through its limits at any moment.

However, that boundary was far more difficult to cross than he had imagined.

"Time used: 24 minutes and 34 seconds. Qin Hao, congratulations on completing the Third Level Stage B Trial. The Stage C Trial will begin shortly. Your objective is to kill 200 Beast General-level Golden Vultures within 30 minutes: 190 Beginner Beast General-level Golden Vultures, 9 Intermediate Beast General-level Golden Vultures, and 1 Advanced Warlord-level Golden Vulture! Good luck!"

Having completed Stage B, Qin Hao still had not broken through. Hearing the contents of the Stage C Assessment, he was somewhat surprised. Although the numbers were nearly the same, with only one additional Advanced Beast General, the difference in difficulty was enormous.

Even with 3.5 times force generation, he had only barely crossed the threshold of an Advanced Warlord. He could crush Beginner Beast Generals and Advanced Beast Generals, but against an Advanced Beast General, he held no advantage at all.

Before Qin Hao could think further, a dark mass of flying Monsters appeared above the wilderness. Under the command of the Advanced Beast General, the Golden Vultures' attacks became more organized. The Beginner Beast Generals charged in first, obscuring Qin Hao's vision. The Intermediate Beast Generals followed, attacking amid the chaos, while the Advanced Beast General also joined the battle.

As he fought, Qin Hao considered how to break the deadlock.

His saber flashed out like lightning. Previously, every strike could take a Monster's life, but now, with the Advanced Beast General obstructing him, it was difficult to achieve anything.

I have to deal with the Advanced Beast General first. Otherwise, I won't be able to clear this at all. Qin Hao kept thinking. Every time he tried to directly clash with the Advanced Beast General, the Golden Vultures' attacks made it impossible.

It seems I won't be able to pass unless my saber technique breaks through. Qin Hao understood his current situation. With his Perfect level movement technique, he could survive, but he could not kill all the Golden Vultures, and thus could not pass.

The only thing he could improve now was his Saber Technique Realm. His movement technique had only just reached the Perfect level, and although his proficiency had increased considerably, he was still far from the Artistic Conception level. The fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade had also only broken through recently.

His Saber Technique Realm had reached the Peak of Mastered Level and was about to enter the Perfect level. If he stepped into the Perfect level, his strength would surely rise again.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Hao calmed himself once more and focused all his attention on the battle, experiencing his saber technique through combat.

Perfect level movement technique is about controlling and borrowing force from the surrounding environment. Saber technique is similar—it is about dual control over both the inside and the outside. Qin Hao continuously contemplated the direction of a Perfect Saber Technique. With his experience of breaking through in movement technique and the experience of pushing his Mastered Saber Technique to its limit just now, Qin Hao felt that the vague boundary was gradually becoming clear, ready to be broken at any moment.

Lifting the heavy as if it were light, Lifting the light as if it were heavy, Manifest Force, Hidden Force, Transforming Force, momentum... Inspiration continuously surged through Qin Hao's mind, and his saber technique changed as well. At times it was nimble and swift, yet the slash carried immense force. At other times it was like a mountain, its attack concealing direct force that pierced through the body surface and destroyed the Golden Vulture's internal organs from within.

What is perfection? It is perfect control of strength, perfect control of the saber, perfect control of the body. It is the fusion of body and mind, spirit harmonizing with intent, intent harmonizing with qi, qi harmonizing with force.

The Perfect level is a step toward the Artistic Conception level, and even toward the future paths of domains and Law. To comprehend them, one must achieve Unity of Heaven and Man—moving from internal control to external control, unifying inside and outside, attaining Heaven-Man Resonance.

As inspiration continued to erupt, the saber technique in Qin Hao's hand began to change. His saber technique became more natural, and even his force generation shifted. The power generated by his body became smoother, his saber technique more natural, and it even began to produce an imposing aura.

"Perfect level... achieved." As his saber technique changed, the surrounding Golden Vultures began to diminish rapidly until only the Advanced Beast General remained.

"For this final strike, let this beast witness the Second Saber Technique I created." With that, Qin Hao slashed out. The long saber seemed both fast and slow, creating an illusion. Before the Golden Vulture could react, the blade had already passed through its body, splitting it in two.

"This strike is called Like a Dream, Like an Illusion."