Thunderous Charge Saber was a Black Iron-grade saber art that was powerful and fierce, breaking through all techniques with speed. Its blade struck like a sudden peal of thunder, tearing through the sky.
It had five saber moves: Lightning Shadow Strike, Whirlwind Thunder Cut, Thunder Moon Slash, Rushing Thunder Flash, and Rampaging Thunder Break.
Ninefold Thunder Flash was a Silver Rank Movement Technique that focused on one thing: speed.
It compressed powerful Lightning Element beneath the feet, allowing for rapid short-distance bursts or long-distance charges.
Ninefold Thunder Flash grew faster with each level. At the highest, ninth level, the martial artist moved as if treading wind and thunder, as fast as lightning.
However, this movement technique demanded a great deal of physical strength and control over the Lightning Element. If the body wasn't strong enough, the legs and feet wouldn't be able to withstand the terrifying explosive force of Ninefold Thunder Flash, and the user would injure himself instead.
Qin Tian had only exchanged for the first three levels of Ninefold Thunder Flash, which cost about as much as a Black Iron-grade martial skill.
Actually, Qin Tian had also looked at several Dark-type movement techniques, such as Night Ghost Steps, Shadow Escape, and Night Roam. But their effects overlapped with Shadow Leap, and they were no better than Shadow Leap in terms of stealth and surprise.
After weighing his options, Qin Tian decided to choose a Lightning-type movement technique focused on speed. It would complement his saber art, Thunderous Charge Saber, while also improving his ability to charge over long distances.
Ninefold Thunder Flash suited his needs perfectly. It was also a Silver Rank Martial Art with great potential. Although he could only exchange for the first three levels for now, he could get the complete version after earning more Military Merit Points.
"Have you made up your mind? Just these three?" Qin Dadi asked.
"Yeah!"
Qin Tian nodded. The cultivation technique Shadow Thunder Prison Technique and the martial skills Thunderous Charge Saber and the incomplete Ninefold Thunder Flash would form the foundation of his Psionic Energy system.
"Then let's exchange them."
The three of them watched as Qin Tian clicked the confirmation button. Three cultivation techniques and martial skills then appeared in his personal account, complete with detailed text and video explanations.
The techniques would remain available for a month. After that, the information would be deleted from his account. In other words, Qin Tian had to memorize every detail of all three within a month.
"Qin Tian, there's something I need to remind you."
Xiao Yunlong's face grew unusually serious. "Any techniques exchanged with Military Merit Points are forbidden from being shared privately. Anyone who violates this rule will be severely punished and spend the rest of his life in prison."
"Understood."
Qin Tian replied earnestly. He thought the rule was reasonable. If everyone could freely share cultivation techniques and martial skills, the entire Military Merit exchange system would collapse.
"However..."
Xiao Yunlong changed his tone and suddenly grinned. "If you buy a technique with money, you can teach it to anyone you want. The Empire's regulations are fairly relaxed about that. If you make it big someday, don't forget to look out for me~"
Qin Tian's lips curved slightly. "Sure."
"Then thanks!"
Xiao Yunlong chuckled. He had high hopes for Qin Tian's future. Qin Tian had astonishing talent and a cool head. His background as a clone, once a disadvantage, had now become an advantage, allowing him to benefit from the special talent development program.
Perhaps one day, Qin Tian would rise to great heights and be transferred to the Imperial Capital to join Marshal Lin's command.
When that happened, Xiao Yunlong would cling to Qin Tian's coattails.
"Qin Tian, the Hidden Kill Rune Gun is in a warehouse at another base. It'll take about a day to get it here."
Qin Dadi said, "For now, take some time to study these techniques. We won't disturb you."
"That's right. Remember to read the cultivation technique first. You can study the martial skills later," Xiao Yunlong advised.
"Okay!"
Qin Tian nodded. Now that he had the techniques, his curiosity and anticipation had reached their peak.
Once the three had left, he immediately opened Shadow Thunder Prison Technique and studied it line by line. He watched the instructional video three times to make sure he hadn't missed a single detail.
In his previous life, he'd needed to check a parcel tracking number three times. But now, his memory was excellent.
In just two hours, he had mastered Shadow Thunder Prison Technique.
"I can begin."
Qin Tian assumed a special seated posture, closed his eyes, and emptied his mind.
Before long, he sensed the Psionic Factors all around him. His body cried out with thirst, urging him to absorb Psionic Energy as quickly as possible.
Qin Tian drew upon the faint Psionic Energy inside him and circulated it through his meridians along the route described in Shadow Thunder Prison Technique, while following a specific breathing method.
Gradually, the Psionic Factors around him grew denser and flowed into his body with each breath.
Among them, Lightning and Dark Psionic Factors made up the majority.
The two kinds of factors were like droplets of water, one by one joining the stream of Psionic Energy and making it grow.
Qin Tian remained immersed in cultivation. He didn't know how much time had passed before a swollen sensation rose within him, like he'd eaten too much. Only then did he slowly open his eyes.
After examining himself internally, he was delighted to discover that dark-purple Psionic Energy had gathered in his dantian, more than twice as abundant as before.
Qin Tian stood up and raised both hands. A moment later, purple lightning burst from his left hand, while black mist rose from his right.
Thanks to his Purple Lightning Bloodline, the Lightning Element factors he absorbed condensed directly into the higher-grade Purple Lightning Psionic Energy. Shadow Muscle and Bone also made his Dark Psionic Energy more condensed.
Now, he had officially entered the first rank.
However, this first rank was incomplete.
Only after he opened his first Star Aperture would he truly count as a first-rank, one-star Psionic User.
Opening all nine Star Apertures would allow him to break through to the second rank and condense a Star Vortex.
"The road ahead is long..."
Qin Tian couldn't help sighing. Although he could now fight second-rank Transcendents to a standstill, he was still a complete novice when it came to the path of Psionic Energy.
Night had fallen. Stars dotted the sky beyond the window.
Qin Tian wasn't sleepy at all, so he opened the martial skill Thunderous Charge Saber and began studying the Black Iron-grade saber art.
The principle behind Psionic Martial Skills was simple.
The user drew on the Psionic Energy within his body to resonate with the Psionic Factors in the surroundings. With Psionic Energy enhancing his movements, each attack became more powerful and varied.
However, although it sounded simple, it wasn't easy to master.
Controlling Psionic Energy was delicate work. If the user lost control, the raging energy could damage his meridians and organs.
That meant martial artists had to be extremely careful during training. They could only use a martial skill in actual combat after becoming fairly proficient at it.
Otherwise, they wouldn't hurt their enemy—they would injure themselves first.
Thanks to Clear Heart Saber, Qin Tian grasped the many principles of Thunderous Charge Saber after reading it just once. However, his Psionic Energy was still weak, so he could only attempt the first move, Lightning Shadow Strike.
It was a move that combined a rapid charge with a downward slash, making it useful for opening an attack and quickly closing the distance.
But the current surroundings weren't suitable for practicing the move.
Qin Tian could only suppress his excitement for the time being and turn his attention to the other movement technique, Ninefold Thunder Flash.
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