Gale Swordmaster

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Fourth Grade Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 1228 Cal/1599 Cal

Mental Strength: 601 Hz/659 Hz

Bone Tempering: 177 bones (100%), 29 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Tempering Method—Internal Organs Chapter{Optimization +3}; High Grade Combat Method—Azure Sky Sword Art—Not Initiated{Optimization +2}; High Grade Footwork—Skywalk Step—Not Initiated{Optimization +2}; High Grade Combat Method—Body Forging Art—Not Initiated{Optimization +1}; High Grade Combat Method—Mahakala Fist—Not Initiated

Mid Grade Combat Method—Falling Blossom Sword—Major Achievement{Optimization +2}; Mid-Grade Footwork—Cloud Step—Major Achievement{Optimization +2}; Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method{Optimization +4};

...

Energy: 160211 points

Damage Status: 20.78%

It had increased by 0.45%.

Su Yi thought, Could 0.45% be the limit of a single combat method?

December 7th.

For the past eighteen days, Su Yi had focused on cultivating combat methods, then gone to the Battle Art Room to study High Grade Combat Methods.

He had already recorded every High Grade Combat Method in the Battle Art Room.

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Fourth Grade Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 1654 Cal/1759 Cal

Mental Strength: 644 Hz/659 Hz

Bone Tempering: 177 bones (100%), 29 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Tempering Method—Internal Organs Chapter{Optimization +3}; High Grade Combat Method—Azure Sky Sword Art—Initiated{Optimization +2}; High Grade Footwork—Skywalk Step—Minor Achievement{Optimization +2}; High Grade Combat Method—Body Forging Art—Initiated{Optimization +1}; High Grade Combat Method—Mahakala Fist—Initiated{Optimization +1}

Mid Grade Combat Method—Falling Blossom Sword—Major Achievement{Optimization +2}; Mid-Grade Footwork—Cloud Step—Major Achievement{Optimization +2}; Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method{Optimization +4};

...

Energy: 313666 points

Damage Status: 36.44%

During this period, his internal organs had absorbed Energy Particles on their own to cultivate, and Su Yi's Blood Qi had grown at an astonishing rate.

Once his Blood Qi stopped increasing, it would be time to begin tempering his heart.

His combat method cultivation had also been gratifying. The Azure Sky Sword Art had already touched the threshold of Minor Achievement; in a few more days, he would truly have entered its halls.

Skywalk Step had even reached Minor Achievement.

The repair status was somewhat unsatisfactory. At 36.44%, perhaps he would need some Grandmaster Combat Skills to continue raising it.

But that would be difficult. Grandmaster Combat Skills were generally self-created; even Magic Martial Academy only had a few.

The rate at which he accumulated energy had also begun to decline significantly. Yesterday, he had accumulated around eight thousand points of energy.

Perhaps after a while, Su Yi would have to consider taking out a new Tempering Method or deducing the Internal Organs Chapter.

Closing the panel, Su Yi got up and left the dormitory.

He and Fu Yinghao had agreed to meet at Haven later.

Fu Yinghao had been out of the Abyss for several days. The moment he came out, he contacted Su Yi.

At the time, the recording of the High Grade Combat Methods had yet to be completed, so they arranged to meet today.

When he arrived at Haven, Fu Yinghao had not yet come, and there were still around ten minutes before their appointed time.

Looking at the tranquil lake before him, Su Yi gradually felt his heart settle.

He stopped thinking about combat methods and cultivation, simply standing there in silence.

Within minutes, Fu Yinghao had arrived. Su Yi paid him no mind and continued looking at the clear lake surface before him.

Fu Yinghao did not disturb him either. He controlled his footsteps and quietly walked to Su Yi's side, also gazing at the lake.

This was Haven, the final harbor of refuge for everyone at Magic Martial Academy.

Once they left the residential area and went outside, once they descended into the Abyss, they had to fight, seize, and struggle.

After enjoying a moment of peace, Su Yi softly said, "Senior, I agree to the team-up you mentioned last time."

He had already asked quite a few instructors about Fu Yinghao. His character and strength had both received rather good evaluations. While Su Yi would not trust him completely, an initial partnership was still possible.

Fu Yinghao nodded lightly, as though he had not yet emerged from that tranquil state.

"Which part of the Abyss are you planning to go to, Senior?"

"Before I answer that, let me tell you about my combat strength. I'm currently at the Fourth Grade Peak, with nearly 2000 Cal of Blood Qi. I can kill Fifth-Rank Mid Abyss Warriors."

He used a sword. The combat methods he cultivated were the High Grade Combat Method, Gale Sword Form, and Skywalk Step."

Fu Yinghao lifted his chin slightly. He was quite proud of his own combat strength.

Not everyone could fight above their rank. But seeing the amused look in Su Yi's eyes as he watched him strangely, Fu Yinghao suddenly felt somewhat powerless. He was indeed a genius, but then again, who here wasn't?

Su Yi's combat strength and achievements were far more terrifying than his. When he had just returned, Fu Yinghao had heard that Su Yi had erected five Heaven-Earth Bridges in one go, reaching Fourth Grade Mid.

When he first heard it, he had thought Su Yi must have spent not half a month in the Underworld, but half a year.

When No. 15 entered the Underworld, Su Yi had still been Third-Rank High Stage. By the time he emerged on the 30th, he was already Fourth Grade Mid.

And he had heard that Su Yi broke through to Fourth Grade on the 19th, which meant that just after Breakthrough to Third-Rank Peak, his essence, qi, and spirit had merged as one, allowing him to continue breaking through.

Su Yi had no intention of mocking him. Fu Yinghao was already very strong; it was simply that Su Yi was stronger.

Still, when he had seen Gale Sword Form in the High Grade Combat Method room, he had found it quite interesting. He had not expected Fu Yinghao to cultivate it.

The Gale Sword Form—charging forward without hesitation.

Yet it always reminded him of a hero buried deep in his memories.

"Su Yi, Fourth Grade Mid. His previous best record was killing a Fifth-Rank Peak, but at the time, he had used Spiritual Power to detonate a large quantity of Energy Stones, severely wounding him before he could kill him.

"Now that he has reached Fourth Grade Mid, he should be able to face a Fifth-Rank High Stage head-on. As for a Fifth-Rank Peak, that remains uncertain."

Fu Yinghao nodded in understanding. This was roughly what he had estimated as well. There was quite a gap between Fifth-Rank Peak and Fifth-Rank High Stage.

But Su Yi could actually use Spiritual Power to detonate Energy Stones?

It seemed his Spiritual Power was far stronger than Fu Yinghao's. The immense energy unleashed by detonating a large amount of Energy Stones could injure a Fifth-Rank Peak. Though it could not be used often, it was still a killing move. Perhaps with even more energy, it could severely wound a Sixth Grade Initial powerhouse.

"He also uses a sword. His High Grade Combat Method is nearing Minor Achievement, Skywalk Step is at Minor Achievement, and his Mid Grade Combat Method has reached Major Achievement."

Su Yi stopped there. There was no need to say anything else; knowing the basics of each other's strength was enough.

His speed in cultivating combat methods was this fast too?

As expected of Su Yi—a top-tier Prodigy.

"Su Yi, how many Energy Stones did you need to use that Spiritual Power detonation to severely wound a Fifth-Rank Peak?"

Fu Yinghao thought that if the cost was not too high, he could use it once or twice. The resources carried by a Fifth-Rank Peak would not be scarce.

Su Yi was somewhat speechless. This was not easy to calculate, but 10 grams of Life Essence alone was worth over 100 grams of Cultivation Energy Stone.

Add two more Cultivation Energy Stones, and that was already nearly half a jin, worth more than two hundred million Huaxia dollars.

If he actually used it to blow someone up, he might not even make his money back. If it failed to severely injure them, that would be an even greater loss—and he might not even be able to kill them.

"Half a jin at minimum, and you have to be at close range. If you don't hit the head, it probably won't severely wound them."

"Uh, forget I said anything."

Fu Yinghao's face twitched as he replied helplessly.

Half a jin as a starting point—if he had that many resources, how could he bear to blow them up?

"The Meat Grinder isn't safe to visit for now. Your bounty is still posted, and these past few days, plenty of Abyss Warriors have been searching for your trail. I don't want to be besieged by a group of mid-rank martial artists.

"But I know a few villages. Their strongest fighters are only Fifth-Rank Peak. We can go make a killing, though it'll mean going a bit deeper in."

"Tell me more!"

"The nearest one to Hope City is a large village town about 150 li northwest of Heaven's Gate City. Its strongest fighters are Fifth-Rank Peak—two Fifth-Rank Peaks, over a dozen Fifth-Ranks, and thirty or forty Fourth-Ranks. Among the villages I know, it's both the nearest and the strongest.

"Of course, I'm not counting villages with no value. Most people in some small villages are ordinary civilians.

"The most suitable target for us is a village several dozen li farther on. Its strongest fighter is only Fifth-Rank High Stage, and there are fewer than ten Fifth-Ranks in total. The two of us will definitely come away with plenty."

Heaven's Gate City was eighty kilometers directly north. Add another 150 li, then several dozen more li—it would be roughly 180 kilometers to the northeast.

Su Yi silently did the math. Fu Yinghao had gone quite far, though all the places he visited were northeast of Hope City. Had he wandered around for a long time?

"Are there any to the northwest? I heard before that there's a large village slightly northeast of West Phoenix City, and its strongest fighters are also Fifth-Ranks."

Su Yi asked.

Northeast of West Phoenix City? West Phoenix City was five hundred li northwest! Was there someone even more reckless than him?

"I haven't gone that far northwest, but I do know of a village three hundred li away. Its strongest fighters are also Fifth-Rank Peak. Is that friend of yours reliable?"

The Ten Thousand Ants Desert lay four to five hundred li directly west of Hope City. The village he knew was between the two.

He did not think Su Yi was making things up out of thin air. Everyone knew that on his first descent into the Underworld, Su Yi had spent all his time fighting in the Meat Grinder. He would not have had the chance to go that far.

"He's quite reliable."

Su Yi said confidently. Could something recorded in the original novel possibly be unreliable?

Normally, the Underground Cave Humans would not move away from their villages, especially not from a place northeast of West Phoenix City.

Hardly anyone ever went that far, five hundred li into the Underworld, and no war had reached that place either.

Still, it was hard to say. More than ten years had passed, after all.

He could not rely too heavily on information from the original novel, especially information that had never been explicitly stated. Who knew what changes might have occurred?

"But that's too far. Let's deal with the closer, easier targets first."

Fu Yinghao said with a smile. It wasn't that he distrusted Su Yi, but there really was a more suitable target at the moment.

As for the village Su Yi had mentioned, they could wait for another opportunity to visit it. It was so far away; it should still be there when they went next time.

"No problem. When?"

"As for the time, I'm free whenever. But do you still need to cultivate?"

He still needed some time before breaking through to Fifth Grade. He had also been back for several days this time, and had rested enough.

"How about five days from now? I'll refine my swordsmanship a little more and make some preparations over the next few days."

Su Yi still intended to cultivate his swordsmanship to Minor Achievement first. He was just one kick away from the door; heading into the Underground Cave could wait a few days.

"Alright. We'll set off in five days."

Fu Yinghao answered decisively. Going down a few days earlier or later was no great issue to him.

If Su Yi's High Grade Combat Method advanced further and his combat strength increased, Fu Yinghao would benefit as well.

The two discussed it briefly and agreed on a time and place to meet five days later.

Su Yi left first, while Fu Yinghao remained in Haven, continuing to gaze over the lake.

The lake surface, catching a wisp of sunlight, rippled faintly.