Rising Reputation

The result of Lin Feng's battle against Chen Feng was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up waves in the Jiangnan City martial arts world.

The "Martial Domain Forum" was almost flooded with related posts. Battle videos from various angles (though only a few seconds long), slow-motion analyses, and combat power comparison posts emerged endlessly.

"Crushing! An absolute crushing! Lin Feng's strength is unfathomable!"

"Catching an Earth-tier martial skill with bare hands? What kind of monster physique is this?"

"Does Chen Feng not even qualify to make him use a martial skill?"

"Where are the people who doubted Lin Feng's simulated exam performance? Come out and take a step?"

"Third High School has truly produced a true dragon this time!"

The narrative had completely shifted. The previous doubts and mockery vanished without a trace, replaced by awe, admiration, and all sorts of speculation about Lin Feng's background and mentorship.

The rumors of the "Dao Comprehension Physique" were confirmed, and even became more exaggerated. Some said he was the personal disciple of a hidden master, others that he had inherited ancient lightning path techniques... Various rumors cast an even more mysterious halo around him.

His name was no longer confined to the student level; it had entered the sights of many martial artist families and high-level figures in Jiangnan City. Preliminary dossiers on him were placed on the desks of major powers.

"Eighteen years old, Martial Artist realm, suspected Dao Comprehension Physique, combat power far exceeding peers, valued by Lei Lie..."

These keywords made it impossible for any farsighted power to ignore him.

What followed was an even more overwhelming wave of recruitment. Not only did the major martial arts universities increase their offers, but many local martial arts families, large corporations, conglomerates, and even forces from other cities extended olive branches to Lin Feng through various channels. Generous treatment, precious resources, and even hints of marriage alliances were offered endlessly.

However, Lin Feng remained indifferent to it all. He asked Steward Wang to help him fend off most of the unnecessary social engagements, returning all the invitation letters and gifts sent to him at the Martial Arts Bureau untouched. His attitude was clear and firm – he intended to focus on cultivation, prepare for the Martial Arts Examination, and had no intention of joining any faction.

This composed, goal-oriented attitude, ironically, left an even better impression on those in high positions.

Inside the Thunder Listening Pavilion, under the ancient tree.

Lei Lie looked at Lin Feng, whose aura was becoming increasingly steady and whose eyes were clear and determined, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not arrogant, not complacent, not swayed by external things. Very good," Lei Lie praised. "You handled the Chen Feng incident well. You demonstrated your strength, established your authority, yet did not overextend yourself, maintaining a proper measure."

"My teacher overpraises me. I merely did what I should have done," Lin Feng replied respectfully. He knew well that if not for his identity as Lei Lie's disciple, those powers would not have been so polite, and various insidious methods would likely have been employed already.

"You have just entered the Martial Artist realm, and your foundation is stable. It's time to plan for the next step," Lei Lie said, changing the subject, his expression turning serious. "The Martial Arts Examination finals will gather geniuses from the entire province; it's by no means comparable to the Jiangnan City mock exam. There will be disciples meticulously trained by major families, perhaps even individuals with special physiques or fortuitous encounters, and many will have reached the mid or late stages of the Martial Artist realm."

Lin Feng's eyes sharpened as he listened intently. He knew that Jiangnan City was not at the forefront of martial arts cultivation in the entire province.

"With your current strength, breaking into the top ranks won't be difficult, but if you want to contend for the championship, you'll need even greater strength and trump cards," Lei Lie said. "Although the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade has infinite potential, what you obtained is merely the initial chapter. The subsequent cultivation methods are missing, limiting your growth."

Lin Feng's heart stirred, knowing his teacher might be about to impart the Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art.

However, Lei Lie did not immediately produce the cultivation technique. Instead, he asked, "How do you understand the powers of 'True Qi' and 'Blood Essence'?"

Lin Feng pondered for a moment, combining his own insights with knowledge from texts, and replied, "Blood Essence is the foundation of the physical body, the source of strength; True Qi is the refined and sublimated form of Blood Essence, the manifestation of energy. The Martial Artist realm is about continuously transforming Blood Essence into purer, more powerful True Qi, opening up the meridians and constructing a circulation."

"Your understanding is good, but not deep enough," Lei Lie nodded slightly, extending a finger. A wisp of faint purple electricity danced on his fingertip, emitting a heart-palpitating aura of destruction. "Look, this is my 'Thunder True Qi.' It's not simply transformed from Blood Essence. Rather, it is I who, with my own will, draw upon and refine the lightning spiritual energy in the heavens and earth, integrating it with my own origin."

He flicked his finger, and the wisp of electricity shot towards a nearby Lightning Attracting Wood. Instead of exploding, it was absorbed by the charred trunk as if a drop of water merging into the sea. The faint vitality on the trunk's surface seemed to strengthen slightly.

"Destruction and vitality, both within a single thought. The true Dao of Thunder is by no means a one-sided pursuit of brute force and explosion. The essence of the Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art lies in the word 'Spirit,' in the communication and resonance with the thunder of heaven and earth, transforming the power of heaven and earth for one's own use, rather than merely draining one's own Blood Essence."

Lin Feng felt as if he had been struck by lightning, instantly understanding many crucial points! He had always felt that the force-wielding methods of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade were strong but lacked sustained power and placed a heavy burden on himself. The root cause was this! It focused more on excavating one's own Blood Essence to simulate thunder, rather than drawing upon the power of the external world!

"Please guide me, Teacher!" Lin Feng bowed respectfully, his heart filled with longing.

"Imparting the true method of the Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art requires you to be in peak condition, with complete Qi and spirit, and to be accompanied by a special ritual to draw upon a trace of innate lightning Qi to establish your foundation. We cannot rush this," Lei Lie said. "The Martial Arts Examination is imminent, and time is pressing. The priority now is to further enhance your existing strength."

His gaze swept over Lin Feng. "Your Nine Heavens Thunder Blade has reached a bottleneck. With mere hard training, progress will be difficult. You need a true, evenly matched life-or-death battle. Under extreme pressure, you may stimulate your potential, achieve complete mastery, and perhaps glimpse a sliver of the subsequent path, or even... cause this initial chapter technique to undergo an unexpected transformation."

Life-or-death battle? Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.

"Teacher, you mean...?"

Lei Lie looked towards the depths of West Mountain, his gaze distant. "Do you remember the report you saw earlier about the abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations in the West Mountain branch?"

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. "Teacher, are you referring to... that place suspected to be a Secret Realm?"

"Suspected, but its risk level has been re-evaluated," Lei Lie said gravely. "Enhanced fluctuations and increased electromagnetic interference have been detected, with an eighty percent probability that a small lightning-attribute Secret Realm is forming and is expected to open soon. It will undoubtedly contain lightning-attribute heavenly treasures, but it will also inevitably harbor powerful lightning-attribute Yao Beasts."

He looked at Lin Feng, his eyes sharp. "This is your opportunity, and your trial. Do you dare to go?"

Secret Realm! Lightning-attribute heavenly treasures! Powerful Yao Beasts!

Lin Feng felt a surge of blood rush to his head. Instead of fear, his eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit!

Crisis accompanied by opportunity! This was exactly what he needed most right now!

"Disciple is willing to go!" Lin Feng's voice was decisive.

"Good!" Lei Lie's eyes showed even greater admiration. "The specific opening time of the Secret Realm is undecided, but it will be within these three to five days. Go back, adjust your state, and prepare. I will give you the exact location and a life-saving jade talisman. Remember, act within your capabilities, and prioritize your life!"

"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!"

Lin Feng suppressed his excitement and respectfully withdrew.

Watching Lin Feng's upright and determined back as he left, Lei Lie stroked his beard and smiled, murmuring to himself, "Only by experiencing storms can a fledgling eagle soar through the skies. Kid, let me see what your limits truly are."

Returning to the Advanced Training Room at the Martial Arts Bureau, Lin Feng's heart was filled with excitement.

Secret Realm! Life-or-death battle! This was undoubtedly the best opportunity for him to break through his current bottleneck!

He sat down cross-legged, not starting to cultivate immediately, but instead sinking his consciousness into the System.

[Host: Lin Feng]
[Realm: Martial Artist (Early Stage)]
[Strength: 585kg] ( Steadily increasing under 3x gravity)
[Agility: 33m/s]
[Physique: Excellent (Meridians Unblocked 41%)]
[Spiritual Power: 35]
[Cultivation Technique: Basic Body Tempering Technique · Body Quenching Chapter (Perfect)]
[Martial Skill: Nine Heavens Thunder Blade (Opening Chapter), Mastery: 38%]
[Deducible Items: Nine Heavens Thunder Blade (Opening Chapter)... Warning, core runes are missing. Forcing deduction requires immense energy and the success rate is less than 10%.]

As expected, the System also indicated the difficulty of further deducing the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade. It seems the path pointed out by the Teacher is correct; I must rely on external opportunities and my own comprehension to break through.

He adjusted his state to its optimal condition, while simultaneously beginning to simulate various dangerous situations he might encounter in his mind, and how the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, Electric Light Finger, and Galloping Thunder Steps should be coordinated in a life-or-death moment.

"Life-or-death combat..." Lin Feng muttered to himself, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes, "Bring it on, let me see what challenges await me in this Secret Realm!"

His fists clenched subtly, and faint arcs of electricity flashed and vanished at his fingertips.