Knife Technique Breaks Its Limit, Knife Fast as the Wind!

Breakfast time.

The dining hall buzzed with voices.

More than a hundred wooden tables were packed to the brim.

The fragrance of coarse rice mingled with the salty scent of pickled vegetables, spreading through the steaming heat.

The clatter of bowls and chopsticks intertwined with laughter and chatter, making the dining hall as lively as a pot of boiling water.

Yet amid the uproar filling the room, a strange vacuum had formed in the southeast corner.

A square table stood there.

A dish of pickled vegetables, a bowl of plain porridge, and two white steamed buns gave off curling steam.

Li Qingxue sat upright before the table, her back ramrod straight.

She held her chopsticks in one hand and steadied the rim of her bowl with the other, chewing slowly and eating with unhurried composure.

The surrounding clamor seemed to have nothing to do with her.

Her gaze was indifferent. Occasionally, she looked up and swept her eyes across the dining hall, her eyes as cold and clear as autumn water, carrying neither the slightest warmth nor the slightest concern.

Though several tables around her stood empty, not a single person dared step forward and take a seat.

Even those sitting nearby unconsciously lowered their voices, not daring to let their eyes drift in that direction.

It was as though an invisible barrier stood around that area, or some savage beast lay lurking there. Draw even a little close, and one would invite disaster upon oneself.

A few newcomers who did not understand what was going on had just wanted to head over, only to be yanked back by those beside them, who repeatedly shook their heads in warning.

Compared to the near-frozen silence in the southeast corner.

The other side of the dining hall, near the entrance, presented an entirely different sight, so lively it was nearly about to explode.

A round table was surrounded three layers deep inside and three layers deep outside.

Every face bore excitement and ingratiating smiles.

All eyes were fixed on Zhao Tianxing in the main seat.

Zhao Tianxing had joined the Seven Star Gang only six days ago, yet he had already become a prominent figure who drew everyone's attention.

With Twelve Forms Boxing, he had reached Entry in Monkey Form in only two days.

His Blood Qi was so vigorous that it rivaled someone who had already broken through Blood Nourishment.

He had defeated a senior brother who had joined the gang three months earlier in ten moves.

He had fought one against five and easily beaten the five who had joined the gang at the same time as him.

Chief Instructor Cao Feng had taken notice of him and given him private tutoring...

Every one of these accomplishments was enough to be proud of.

His limelight had even eclipsed that of the genius Ling Feng...

Thus, many people wanted to befriend him.

No matter where he went, he was surrounded like stars around the moon.

One was still, one moved; one was cold, one was hot.

Li Qingxue remained seated in the corner, drinking her porridge at an unhurried pace.

The bustle over there was no more than an irrelevant gust of wind to her.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing was surrounded by the crowd, high-spirited and deep in animated conversation.

The dining hall of the Seven Star Gang branch had thus been invisibly divided into two worlds.

Each with its own clamor, each with its own quiet.

Yet they coexisted strangely beneath the same sky, forming a unique morning scene.

Chu Fan strode in, looked at the crowded dining hall, and frowned.

He collected a bowl of hot porridge, several steamed corn buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. He carried them to the table on Li Qingxue's right, set them down, and lowered his head to eat.

Li Qingxue tilted her head and glanced at him, then expressionlessly withdrew her gaze.

On the other side, Zhao Tianxing waggled his eyebrows at Chu Fan and waved repeatedly. Chu Fan acted as though he had seen nothing.

This area was quiet and comfortable, so why bother squeezing into that crowd?

Before transmigrating, Chu Fan had not yet reached the age of soaking goji berries in a thermos, but he had already grown fond of quiet and solitude.

Before long, Li Qingxue rose and left.

The instant she moved away, Zhao Tianxing sprang over like a nimble monkey. "Big Brother, you clearly saw my gesture, so why pretend you didn't?"

"Even if you didn't see me, could it be that you didn't see Senior Sister Qingxue either?"

"Are you not the least bit afraid of Senior Sister Qingxue?"

Those who had originally gathered around Zhao Tianxing followed him over as well.

A tall woman said, "Are you truly stupid, or are you pretending to be stupid? Do you know how formidable Senior Sister Qingxue is?"

"She is the Number One Swift Saber of our Seven Star Gang! When her saber light rises, blood light falls!"

"Not a hundred, but at least dozens of Blood Saber Sect fiends have died beneath her blade!"

"Those fierce and overbearing fellows from the Blood Saber Sect turn into rabbits before an eagle whenever they see her, only hating that their parents did not give them two extra legs!"

"Only an ignorant kid like you would dare to—"

"Noisy!" Zhao Tianxing raised his head and coldly glanced at the woman.

The woman's pretty face immediately flushed crimson. She stammered, "Tianxing, your talent is outstanding, and your future achievements will be limitless. Why mix with someone of such poor talent who does not know whether he lives or dies?"

Slap!

Before she had finished speaking, Zhao Tianxing had already slapped two boiled eggs onto the table.

With a trace of anger in his voice, he said, "I say, you have been in the Seven Star Gang for four months already, haven't you?"

"After four months, you have yet to touch the Blood Nourishment realm. What face do you have to mock Chu Fan for having poor talent?"

"Are you blind in the eyes or blind in the heart? Didn't you see that on the day Chu Fan joined the Seven Star Gang, he practiced Twelve Forms Boxing for the first time and did not take a single whip? Such talent is considered poor in your eyes?!"

"Furthermore, are the tables around Senior Sister Qingxue forbidden to sit at? Sitting there means one does not know whether he lives or dies?"

"Take your eggs back. I cannot enjoy them!"

The woman's face turned deathly pale, and she fled as though escaping for her life.

Seeing Zhao Tianxing angered, the people around them fell silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a word.

Without even raising his head, Chu Fan said, "She kindly gave you eggs because she wanted to befriend a genius like you, yet you scolded her until she was drenched in abuse. Why bother?"

"What genius am I? My foundation is merely a little better." Zhao Tianxing shook his head with a smile. "If we are talking about geniuses, your talent is far above mine. These people are simply shortsighted and have failed to notice it!"

"What?" Everyone nearby was startled and looked at Zhao Tianxing in confusion.

It had indeed been astonishing that Chu Fan had not taken a single whip that day, but to say that his talent surpassed Zhao Tianxing's...

How was that possible!

Zhao Tianxing waved his hand. "Scatter, scatter. Crowding into a lump like this is annoying as hell!"

The group dispersed with awkward laughs.

The area nearby immediately opened up.

Chu Fan kept his head down and ate.

Zhao Tianxing added, "Also, when you joined the Seven Star Gang, I could not see through your Chopping Wood Saber Technique, but I clearly saw the disbelief in Cao Shi's and Senior Sister Qingxue's eyes."

"A saber technique, or talent in the saber, that could shock them both—how could it possibly be ordinary?"

Chu Fan raised his head and glanced at him, still saying nothing.

Seeing that he remained silent, Zhao Tianxing did not mind. He simply placed the two eggs in front of Chu Fan. "They were gifts from the senior sisters. There is no need for you to envy me. Being handsome is something I cannot help."

Chu Fan laughed despite himself. "You truly are full of yourself."

Zhao Tianxing added, "But right now, I only wish to focus my mind on cultivation. Matters of romance between men and women can wait."

He did not want thoughts of romance, yet he still accepted her eggs?

He accepted the eggs, then scolded her away...

Zhao Tianxing suddenly glanced cunningly around and lowered his voice. "Chu Fan, do you know whether Senior Sister Xue has someone she likes?"

"Watch that loose mouth of yours. Do not get me beaten because of you!" Chu Fan carried his bowl and moved to another table.

In merely six days since joining the Seven Star Gang, he had already seen several people beaten black and blue by Li Qingxue.

He was not afraid of Li Qingxue, but neither did he wish to take a beating for no reason.

That claw Li Qingxue had used to grab him on the day he joined the Seven Star Gang still left him with lingering fear.

This guy Zhao Tianxing actually dared set his sights on her!

"Seven days from now, I will begin preparing to condense my first strand of Qi and Blood Force..." Zhao Tianxing also carried his bowl and sat opposite Chu Fan.

"So fast!" Chu Fan was startled.

Then, he understood.

The first hurdle of Martial Dao Foundation Establishment, Blood Nourishment, was exceedingly difficult for most ordinary people.

People like Liu Da and the other hooligans had trained at martial halls for more than half a year, yet they had still failed to break through this hurdle.

They might even be unable to cross this threshold for their entire lives.

But Zhao Tianxing was different.

He ate beast meat, drank beast blood, raced with elk, fought tigers and wolves, and had even consumed many precious herbs as well as the flesh of the Crimson-Scaled Blood Python.

Before joining the Seven Star Gang, his vigorous Blood Qi had already rivaled that of a Blood Nourishment martial artist!

What Zhao Tianxing lacked to break through Blood Nourishment was merely a method for Circulating Qi and Blood.

Breaking through Blood Nourishment could be divided into two steps.

The first step was Blood Nourishment like mercury.

Practicing Twelve Forms Boxing, eating beast meat, and drinking medicinal soup were all part of this step.

The second step came after one's Blood Qi had become vigorous: sense the Qi and Blood Force, condense three strands of Qi and Blood Force, and finally circulate the Qi and Blood Force throughout the entire body.

And Zhao Tianxing had plainly skipped the first step entirely!

All he needed to do was sense the Qi and Blood Force, then circulate and condense it!

Zhao Tianxing continued, "Martial Dao cultivation is truly wondrous... Cao Shi said that my Blood Qi was already powerful, but I simply did not know how to use it and had never condensed it."

"After practicing Twelve Forms Boxing bitterly for several days, along with three bowls of medicinal soup every day, I can now hear my own Blood Qi roaring like the tide whenever I focus my mind even slightly."

"Cao Shi said this is the foundation for condensing Qi and Blood Force."

"Starting tomorrow, Cao Shi will teach me the method of condensing Qi and Blood Force."

"Seven days from now, I will attempt to condense my first strand of Qi and Blood Force!"

As he spoke, the excitement in Zhao Tianxing's eyes was impossible to conceal.

"Congratulations." Chu Fan smiled faintly and nodded sincerely. "Once you succeed in condensing it, be sure to tell me about your experience."

"Rest assured!" Zhao Tianxing patted his chest. "I will tell you everything I know and hold nothing back!"

As they spoke, the two of them went to collect a bowl of Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup.

Chu Fan raised the bowl and gulped it down.

[Spiritual Essence: 10.2]

His Spiritual Essence was finally sufficient.

Of these ten points of Spiritual Essence, three had come from the two pieces of Crimson-Scaled Blood Python meat Zhao Tianxing had given him.

Chu Fan walked out of the dining hall. With a thought, he placed his attention on the plus sign after "Chopping Wood Saber Technique."

["Chopping Wood Saber Technique" has reached the limit of Perfection. 10 points of Spiritual Essence can be consumed to Break Limit. Consume?]

Chu Fan did not hesitate any longer. With a slight movement of his mind.

The Spiritual Essence points on the panel instantly decreased by ten.

The panels for "Chopping Wood Saber Technique" and the Mountains and Rivers Map immediately changed.

At that instant, Chu Fan felt a strange force flowing all over his body.

Countless streaks of chilling saber light flashed through his mind, their cold brilliance slicing through the vast sky!

Though these saber lights contained only simple chops and cleaves, they concealed a strange rhythm that left Chu Fan somewhat entranced.

At the same time, it felt as though countless ants were crawling over both his arms, while waves of itchy numbness rose from deep within his muscles and bones.

Chu Fan closed his eyes and felt the changes within his body.

A moment later, everything returned to calm.

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment First Stage, Blood Nourishment 43%]

[Skill: Chopping Wood Saber Technique (First Break Limit 0/3000) (Trait: Knife Fast as the Wind)]

[Skill: Literacy Technique (Minor Accomplishment) Progress: (169/200) (Trait: None)]

[Skill: Twelve Forms Boxing (Minor Accomplishment) Progress: (2/300) (Trait: None)]

The limit of the Chopping Wood Saber Technique had been broken.

A new progress bar had appeared!

Not only that, it had gained an additional trait...

"Knife Fast as the Wind"!