Cultivating Martial Arts! Smoke-Mist Steps, Thunderous Saber Technique!

In the blink of an eye.

Nearly a month had passed since Han Feng became Wang Juechu's disciple.

Over this month, Han Feng had barely stepped outside his door.

He had become a complete ghost, spending all his days in his own courtyard.

Aside from the two maids who tended to his daily needs, he had almost no contact with anyone.

To outsiders, such a dull and monotonous life seemed like pure torment.

But Han Feng reveled in it.

The buzzing rumors about him had gradually died down because of this near-reclusive behavior.

After all, if a genius never showed his face, people's curiosity and gossip would eventually be replaced by newer matters.

During this time, his Master Wang Juechu visited a few times.

He had worried that his young disciple, suddenly thrust into a high position, might be dazzled by vanity and slack off in his cultivation.

But every time he came, he found Han Feng sweating profusely in the courtyard or shut away in his room, training hard.

This filled Wang Juechu with great relief, and he felt even more certain that he hadn't misjudged the boy.

Diligent, disciplined, neither arrogant nor impatient.

This was the true temperament of a peerless genius!

Overjoyed, Wang Juechu generously approved a large batch of pills and rare herbs to aid Han Feng's cultivation.

Now, in the room.

Han Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, a faint layer of white energy swirling around him. With each breath he took, the energy contracted and expanded.

His eyes were shut tight, and his temples bulged slightly—an outward sign of having reached a profound level of Internal Force mastery.

After a long while, Han Feng slowly exhaled a stream of turbid air. The arrow of breath shot out half a meter before dissipating in the air.

He opened his eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through them.

Without any hesitation, he immediately opened the attribute panel that only he could see.

Code
Host: Han Feng.
Level: Second-rate Realm.
Age: 10.
Spiritual Root: None.
Cultivation Technique: Positive Yang Force (Layer 6).
Attribute Points: 11.5.

Positive Yang Force had nine layers in total. From the fifth layer onward, each advancement became incredibly difficult, requiring exponentially more energy.

Over this month, Han Feng had converted almost all the gifts he'd received last time, along with the cultivation resources his Master Wang Juechu had later provided, into Attribute Points.

This had barely pushed his technique from the peak of the fourth layer to the early stage of the sixth layer.

Even so, he had officially stepped into the ranks of Second-rate Masters, a realm that martial artists dreamed of.

If he advanced one more layer, he would become a First-rate Master.

"Still too slow."

Han Feng was not satisfied.

The remaining 11.5 Attribute Points were nowhere near enough to support a breakthrough to the seventh layer.

To go further, the resources needed were astronomical.

In the short term, relying on pills to raise Positive Yang Force's level was no longer realistic.

After some thought, Han Feng decided to temporarily stop improving his internal cultivation.

"Having a body full of Internal Force but no way to use it is ultimately a castle in the air."

He was well aware of his current predicament.

He was like a child holding a huge powder keg—immensely powerful, but without a fuse or a lighter, he couldn't turn that power into effective lethality.

If he ever faced a real life-or-death fight, he might not even get a chance to strike back before an experienced enemy took him down easily.

The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be broken by the wind.

Now that he held a high position, he seemed glorious on the surface, but undercurrents churned beneath.

The jealousy of Inner Sect Senior Brothers, the possible resentment of Hall Masters who hadn't gotten him, and the Wild Wolf Gang, the Seven Profound Sect's mortal enemy...

These were all swords hanging over his head.

He had to master martial arts capable of protecting himself as soon as possible!

The very next day after he made this decision, Wang Juechu happened to visit him again.

Seeing Han Feng practicing a crude outer-sect fist technique in the courtyard, each move full of vigor and force, Wang Juechu nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. You understand the importance of balancing internal and external cultivation, without reaching for the stars."

"Master."

Han Feng stopped his movements and bowed respectfully. "Your disciple feels that my Internal Force has reached a minor level of success, but I lack means to face an enemy. I wish to go to the Seven Absolutes Hall to select two martial arts for self-defense."

Wang Juechu's approval deepened upon hearing this.

This disciple not only possessed unparalleled talent, but his mind also far surpassed his peers. Every step he took was clear and steady.

"Just as it should be!" Wang Juechu clapped his hands and laughed. "In a martial artist's struggle, Internal Force is the foundation, and techniques are the branches. Neither can be lacking. If you only buried your head in internal cultivation, that would be the inferior path. To realize this on your own—very good!"

He took out a warm, smooth White Jade Token from his bosom and handed it to Han Feng.

"This is my personal token. With this token, you may freely enter the top floor of the Seven Absolutes Hall and select any martial art. Go on, pick the two that suit you best."

"Thank you, Master!"

Joy surged in Han Feng's heart as he respectfully accepted the token.

Holding the Sect Leader Token, Han Feng passed unimpeded and soon arrived at the Seven Profound Sect's vital ground, the Seven Absolutes Hall.

It was an ancient stone pagoda seven stories high, housing all kinds of martial arts manuals collected by the entire Seven Profound Sect over centuries.

Before the pagoda, an Old Man with white hair and beard lay on a rocking chair, eyes closed in repose, as if asleep.