Three Skills Perfected, Attributes Soar

Wind Howl Valley was located thirty li west of Jiangnan City.

It was a long, narrow valley with towering rock walls on both sides, barren of any vegetation. The terrain inside was peculiar—higher in the north and lower in the south. Whenever the north wind blew, it would form a fierce Gale Wind that howled out from the valley mouth, its sound like the wailing of ghosts, hence the name "Wind Howl Valley."

Ordinary Martial Artists dared not set foot here—the Gale Wind was as sharp as a blade, easily tearing through common clothing and scraping the skin. Even a 1st Grade Martial Trainee, without a protective technique, would be covered in wounds after half an hour.

But for Lin Fan at this moment, this was the most ideal training ground.

He stood at the valley mouth, feeling the Gale Wind rushing toward him. The wind blades cut against his face, bringing a faint stinging pain, but they weren't enough to break the skin—with [Basic Breathing Technique] circulating, a thin layer of Origin Energy protected his body surface.

"This is the place."

Lin Fan took a deep breath and stepped into the valley.

The moment he entered, the wind force suddenly tripled! The gale, carrying sand and gravel, slammed into his face, making his cheeks ache. He had to squint and walk sideways, each step extremely difficult.

[Basic Footwork: Maintaining balance in the Gale Wind, Proficiency +2]

The panel notification lifted Lin Fan's spirits.

It works!

Bracing against the gale, he continued deeper into the valley. The further he went, the fiercer the wind became, until finally he could barely move forward. Every step forward consumed enormous physical strength.

But Lin Fan did not retreat.

He silently recited the footwork essentials in his mind: lower the center of gravity, steps light and agile, ride the wind's force without resisting it...

Gradually, he found the rhythm.

When the wind came from the left, he sidestepped right; when it came from the front, he leaned back slightly to deflect the force; when the wind weakened, he used the momentum to dash forward...

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +3]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +3]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +4]

The rate of proficiency growth was nearly double that of training in the alleyways of the Slum District!

"Not enough."

Lin Fan gritted his teeth and began attempting more dangerous moves—jumping, rolling, and sudden stops with direction changes in the gale.

One mistake, and a sudden burst of strong wind flipped him over, slamming him heavily against the rock wall. His back burned with pain; he guessed the skin was already scraped raw.

But he got up and continued.

Another time, he miscalculated the wind direction mid-jump, and the wind sent him flying sideways, crashing into a pile of rubble. His arms and thighs were cut in multiple places, blood seeping out.

Still, he continued.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +5]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +5]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +6]

The heavier the injuries, the faster the proficiency grew.

Lin Fan could feel his body adapting to this extreme environment. Every fall sharpened his perception of the wind; every injury strengthened his balance.

Three hours later.

Lin Fan sat leaning against a concave hollow in the rock wall, sheltered from the wind, panting heavily. He was covered in wounds, his clothes torn in several places, but his eyes blazed with startling brightness.

He opened the panel:

[Basic Footwork: Proficient (998/1000)]

Only two points left!

"One more time!"

Lin Fan struggled to his feet and charged back into the Gale Wind.

This time, he didn't deliberately practice the footwork. Instead, he completely relaxed his mind and body, letting his instincts handle the wind.

The wind came—he naturally sidestepped. The wind weakened—he naturally dashed forward. The wind shifted direction abruptly—he twisted his feet, turning his body in an almost bizarre posture, and stood steady.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

[Ding! Basic Footwork breaks through to Minor Accomplishment Level (1001/5000)]

[Attribute bonus gained: Speed +20%, Evasion Rate +15%]

[Feature unlocked: Follow Like the Wind (automatically adjusts center of gravity during movement, adapts to complex terrain)]

Done!

Lin Fan's heart leaped with joy, but before he could fully savor the changes from the breakthrough, the panel flashed two more notifications:

[Detected synergistic operation between Basic Footwork and Basic Breathing Technique, triggering resonance effect]

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +10]

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +10]

A flurry of notifications flashed rapidly.

Lin Fan froze for a moment, then understood—maintaining his footwork in the gale required continuous operation of the Breathing Technique to supply Vital Energy and recover stamina. And after his footwork broke through, his body used Vital Energy more efficiently, which in turn boosted his Breathing Technique.

He immediately sat cross-legged and fully activated [Basic Breathing Technique].

The fierce wind still raged, but at this moment, Lin Fan seemed to merge with the wind itself. Every breath carried the rhythm of the wind; Vital Energy flowed through his body, several times smoother than before.

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +5]

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +5]

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +5]

Half an hour later.

[Ding! Basic Breathing Technique has broken through to Minor Accomplishment Level (1001/5000)]

[Attribute bonus gained: Vital Energy Cap +50%, Recovery Speed +30%]

[Unlocked Trait: Endless Vitality (Vital Energy automatically recovers slowly, can be maintained even in combat)]

Lin Fan opened his eyes and let out a long breath of Turbid Qi.

He could feel that his Vital Energy was nearly twice as dense as before! And it circulated smoothly without any stagnation.

"Now for the fist technique."

Lin Fan stood up and looked at the pile of rubble in the valley.

Scattered there were stones of various sizes, some as large as millstones. In the fierce wind, these stones trembled slightly, emitting a grinding, scraping sound.

He walked up to a boulder half his height and set his Boxing Stance.

[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1292/5000)]

"To throw a punch in the gale, I have to both resist the wind resistance and keep the fist's force concentrated..."

Lin Fan took a deep breath and punched out!

"Bam!"

His fist struck the boulder, producing a dull thud. But the force was weakened by thirty percent in the wind, leaving only a shallow white mark on the stone's surface.

Not enough.

Lin Fan pulled back his fist, adjusted his breathing, and punched again.

This time, he tried to channel Vital Energy into his Fist Edge, exploding it out at the moment of impact.

"Boom!"

A crack appeared on the boulder's surface.

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +3]

Effective, but not fast enough.

Lin Fan frowned in thought. Practicing punches in the gale, the biggest problem was that wind resistance scattered the fist's force. How could he keep the force concentrated as it pierced through the wind wall?

He closed his eyes and carefully recalled the feeling of his last punch.

The wind... wasn't an obstacle, but a medium.

The fist's force shouldn't fight the wind, but borrow from it.

A flash of insight.

Lin Fan punched again. This time, instead of using brute force, he let his fist advance in a spiral motion, like a drill piercing the wind wall.

"Shiiing—"

His fist scraped against the air, producing a sharp whistle.

"Boom!"

The half-height boulder split in the middle, sending rubble flying!

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +8]

[Unlocked Technique: Spiral Force (fist force rotates to penetrate, destructive power increased)]

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

He had found the method.

In the time that followed, Lin Fan immersed himself in relentless training.

By day, he practiced footwork and fist technique in the gale; by night, he hid in a leeward spot, running his Breathing Technique to recover stamina. When hungry, he gnawed on dry rations; when thirsty, he drank spring water seeping from the rock walls.

The wounds on his body scabbed over, then split open, then scabbed again. But he paid them no mind.

The proficiency on his panel grew at a visible rate.

[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1897/5000)]

[Basic Footwork: Minor Accomplishment (1324/5000)]

[Basic Breathing Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1215/5000)]

The evening of the third day.

Lin Fan stood at the deepest point of Wind Howl Valley, where the Gale Wind's intensity was over three times that at the valley's entrance. An ordinary 1st Grade Martial Disciple would be severely injured here within ten breaths.

But he could already stand steadily.

Not only that—

Lin Fan moved, weaving through the raging wind. His steps were as light as feathers, each movement precisely avoiding the areas of strongest wind force while using the momentum to accelerate.

In ten breaths, he shifted through thirty-seven positions within a ten-zhang radius, without a single mistake.

Then, he suddenly stopped, facing a boulder twice the height of a man.

He threw a punch.

No sound.

Where the Fist Edge passed, the Gale Wind parted automatically, forming a vacuum channel. The fist struck the rock wall without any obstruction.

"Crack... crack..."

On the boulder's surface, centered on the fist imprint, cracks spread like a spiderweb.

"Boom!"

The entire boulder shattered into countless fragments, swept away by the fierce wind.

Lin Fan withdrew his fist and stood still.

On the panel, the proficiency of three skills jumped simultaneously:

[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (2103/5000)]

[Basic Footwork: Minor Accomplishment (1502/5000)]

[Basic Breathing Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1408/5000)]

Though still far from Major Accomplishment, compared to three days ago, this was a qualitative leap.

More importantly—

Lin Fan called up the Attribute Panel:

[Character: Lin Fan]

[Age: 16]

[Realm: 1st Grade Martial Disciple (1st Tier)]

[Lifespan: 100 years]

[Strength: 15 (+3)] (Base 12, Fist Technique Minor Accomplishment adds 50% = 18, displayed as rounded integer)

[Defense: 11 (+2)] (Base 9, Breathing Technique Minor Accomplishment adds 50% = 13.5, displayed as rounded integer)

[Speed: 13 (+3)] (Base 10, Footwork Minor Accomplishment adds 50% = 15, displayed as rounded integer)

[Spirit: 15]

[Comprehension: 15]

[Bone Structure: 18]

[Vital Energy: 220/220] (Basic Breathing Technique Minor Accomplishment, Vital Energy Cap increased by 50%)

[Skill Points: 0]

[Technique: Basic Breathing Technique (Minor Accomplishment 1408/5000)]

[Martial Skills: Basic Fist Technique (Minor Accomplishment 2103/5000), Basic Footwork (Minor Accomplishment 1502/5000), Gale Sword Technique (Beginner 45/100)]

All three basic skills had reached Minor Accomplishment Level, granting a 50% attribute boost each!

Strength at 18 points—over three times that of an ordinary adult!

Speed at 15 points—a hundred-meter sprint in about six seconds!

Defense at 13 points—ordinary blades could hardly wound him!

Vital Energy at 220 points—greatly enhanced endurance!

Now, though Lin Fan's realm was still 1st Grade Martial Disciple, his actual combat power far surpassed ordinary 1st Grade, and could even threaten a 2nd Grade Martial Artist!

"Finally..."

Lin Fan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

Three days of hellish training—worth it.

He looked up toward the valley entrance. The setting sun dyed the sky a blazing orange.

The assessment was tomorrow.

"Wang Hao, you wanted to teach me a lesson, didn't you?" A cold glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "Let's see who teaches whom a lesson tomorrow."

He packed up his things, ready to leave Wind Howl Valley.

But just as he turned, Lin Fan suddenly stopped.

He keenly sensed movement at the valley entrance.

It wasn't the wind, nor was it a beast—it was the sound of footsteps, and more than one person.

Lin Fan immediately ducked behind a large boulder, held his breath, and switched [Basic Breathing Technique] to an internal circulation state, lowering his aura to the minimum.

After a few breaths, three figures appeared at the valley entrance.

The leader was a tall, thin man in gray close-fitting clothes, with a blade at his waist. Behind him followed two strongmen, both wearing fierce expressions.

Clearly, they weren't here to train—they scanned the valley warily, hands always on their weapons.

"Boss, would that kid really come to a place like this?" One strongman frowned. "This godforsaken spot has wind strong enough to blow a man away."

"Young Master Wang's leads won't be wrong," the tall, thin man said in a low voice. "That kid hasn't shown up in the city for days. He must have found a secluded spot for special training. Wind Howl Valley's harsh environment is perfect for practicing footwork. It's the most likely place."

Lin Fan's heart jolted.

Wang Hao's men! They'd actually tracked him here!

"But the valley's huge. How do we find him?" Another strongman asked.

"Split up," the tall, thin man ordered. "Remember, Young Master Wang wants him alive. Breaking his limbs is fine, but don't kill him. He still needs to 'use' him before the assessment."

"Understood."

The three scattered, searching deeper into the valley.

Lin Fan hid in the shadows, his gaze icy.

Wang Hao didn't just want revenge—he wanted to cripple him before the assessment, making him unable to participate!

Such ruthless methods.

If this were the past, Lin Fan might have chosen to avoid the confrontation. But now...

He glanced at his Attribute Panel.

18 points in Strength, 15 points in Speed, three basic skills at Minor Accomplishment Level.

"Perfect timing. I'll test myself on you."

Lin Fan moved silently, merging into the shadows of the rock walls like a specter.

His target was the strongman on the left—the weakest of the three, roughly at the peak of 1st Rank, and the least thorough in his search, constantly complaining about the wind.

The strongman reached a pile of rubble, stopped, and prepared to rest for a moment.

Just as he turned around, a figure flashed out from behind the rocks!

It was so fast that the strongman only saw a blur, with no time to react.

"Bam!"

A precise hand-chop struck the side of his neck.

The strongman's eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground.

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +2]

[Combat Experience +1]

Lin Fan didn't pause. He quickly dragged the strongman behind the rubble to hide him, then moved to his next target.

This time, it was the strongman on the right, slightly stronger—close to 2nd Rank—and more alert.

Lin Fan didn't force a direct fight.

He picked up a small stone and tossed it into the distance.

"Clatter."

The sound of the stone hitting the ground was faint in the wind, but the strongman still heard it. He immediately turned to look, drawing a short blade from his waist.

The moment his attention was diverted, Lin Fan struck.

Not from the front, not from the side—but from above!

He silently climbed the rock wall, leaping down from three meters high, his feet slamming heavily onto the strongman's back!

"Crack!"

The sound of breaking bones was clear.

The strongman screamed, collapsed face-first, and couldn't get up again.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +5] (High-Altitude Ambush)

[Combat Experience +2]

One left—the tall, thin man.

He was the strongest of the three, at least at the mid-stage of 2nd Rank, and experienced.

Lin Fan did not strike rashly. He lurked in the shadows, observing the other party's movements.

The tall, thin man had clearly sensed something was wrong—his two subordinates had been silent for too long.

He stopped in his tracks, scanning his surroundings warily, his right hand already gripping the hilt of his blade.

"Come out," the tall, thin man suddenly spoke, his voice scattering in the wind. "I know you're here."

Lin Fan did not move.

"Taking down my two men without a sound—you've got some skill," the tall, thin man continued. "But do you really think that's enough to win?"

He spun around abruptly, a flash of steel arcing toward a patch of shadow behind him!

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal.

Lin Fan had parried the blade with his Pig Iron Short Sword, but the sheer force numbed his wrist and drove him back three steps.

"So it's you." The tall, thin man recognized Lin Fan's face and sneered. "Young Master Wang was right. You slum rats are best at skulking in the dark."

Lin Fan said nothing. He adjusted his breathing and set his Boxing Stance.

"Still want to fight?" The tall, thin man scoffed. "I don't know how you took down those two wastes, but against me, you don't stand a chance."

His blade shifted, splitting into three streaks of light that slashed at Lin Fan's upper, middle, and lower body simultaneously!

The full strength of a 2nd Grade Martial Artist was on display—fast strikes, fierce power, and vicious angles.

If this had been Lin Fan from three days ago, he could never have blocked that blow.

But now...

Lin Fan's footwork shifted, his body swaying like a willow in the wind, narrowly evading the three blade shadows. At the same time, his right hand thrust the short sword straight at the man's wrist.

"Oh?" The tall, thin man let out a surprised grunt, withdrawing his blade and stepping back. "Not bad footwork."

But he wasn't flustered. His blade style changed, becoming denser, like quicksilver spilling across the ground, enveloping Lin Fan within a three-foot radius.

This was the Mortal Tier Mid Grade blade technique, the Fine Rain Blade—renowned for its persistence and density, perfect for attrition battles.

The tall, thin man's strategy was clear: suppress with realm advantage, drain Lin Fan's Origin Energy, then take him down with ease.

But he had miscalculated.

Lin Fan's Origin Energy was far more abundant than he had imagined.

With a total of 220 points of Origin Energy and the automatic recovery from the [Endless Vitality] trait, Lin Fan stubbornly held on through the storm of blades!

Thirty moves, fifty moves, a hundred moves...

The tall, thin man grew more alarmed with each passing exchange.

This kid's tenacity was terrifying! Clearly only a 1st Grade, yet he could endure this long under his blade, and his footwork grew smoother, his fist techniques sharper.

Even more frightening—it seemed the boy was... learning?

Every time the blade edge closed in, Lin Fan dodged with greater finesse; every counterattack was more vicious and harder to defend against.

"I can't drag this out any longer!"

A ruthless glint flashed in the tall, thin man's eyes. He took a deep breath, channeling Origin Energy into his blade, which began to glow with a faint cyan light.

Mortal Tier High Grade Martial Technique—Wind-Rending Slash!

This was his trump card. One slash could sever metal and split stone. Executed at the 2nd Grade, it was enough to gravely wound a martial artist of the same rank.

The blade light shot out like a bolt of silk, tearing through the Gale Wind, straight for Lin Fan's face!

This strike could not be dodged.

But Lin Fan had no intention of dodging.

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. His right hand suddenly flung the short sword forward, aiming for the man's chest—a feint.

The real killing move was in his left hand.

A punch.

Spiral Force!

His fist rotated forward in a bizarre arc, piercing through the gaps in the blade light, and struck the tall, thin man's chest with precision.

Thud!

A dull impact.

The tall, thin man's body stiffened, his blade momentum halting. He looked down at his chest—his clothes were intact, but the organs inside his ribcage had been displaced by the Spiral Force.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slowly collapsed.

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +15] (Defeated a 2nd Grade Martial Artist above your rank)

[Combat Experience +5]

[Achievement "First Display of Prowess" unlocked: Defeated a 2nd Grade Martial Artist for the first time]

[Reward obtained: Skill Points x1]

Lin Fan withdrew his fist, breathing heavily.

That punch had consumed nearly half of his Origin Energy. But it was worth it.

He walked over to the tall, thin man, crouched down, and checked on him. The other was still breathing, but his internal organs were severely injured—he would need at least three months to recover.

"Go back and tell Wang Hao," Lin Fan said coldly. "If he dares to provoke me again, next time it won't be just serious injuries."

He searched the three men, finding some coins and healing medicine, but nothing else.

Lin Fan hadn't killed them—not out of softness, but because he didn't want to stir up trouble before the assessment. Severely injuring all three was enough to intimidate Wang Hao for a while.

He dragged the three into a sheltered rocky cave, left some water and dry rations, then turned and left Wind Howl Valley.

The setting sun had completely sunk below the horizon, and the sky was growing dark.

Lin Fan glanced back at the valley once, then looked toward Jiangnan City.

Tomorrow was the assessment day.

All grudges, all schemes, would be settled there.

He touched the Identity Card in his chest, his gaze firm.

This time, he would make everyone know—the boy from the Slum District could also soar to the heavens.

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