"And the core technique of this blade art is the 'Wind Force' I created.
Once you master the first vibration, you can harness the wind to unleash 1.2 times your normal strength.
Master the first form of Wind Blade: Breeze Slash.
Breeze steals lives, rushing at you without a sound.
Once you master the second vibration, you can harness the wind to unleash 2.4 times your normal strength.
Master the second form of Wind Blade: Gale Slash.
Gather wind into a roar, an explosion without a sound.
Once you master the third vibration, you can unleash 3.6 times your normal strength!
Master the third form of Wind Blade: Storm Slash.
Advance with the breeze rushing at your face; retreat with the gale gathering strength. Shift between the two without a trace, and control them at will."
After watching the video, Xu Feng could only think that this blade art was absurdly powerful.
But after finishing the tutorial, all he could think was, My brain gets it, but my hands don't.
It was hard. That was the whole story.
All day long, Xu Feng said it countless times.
Studying until he wanted to give up.
The Wind Blade Triple Strike had brought back his old fear of studying.
"I'm done! What the hell am I even practicing for? I'm giving up!"
Xu Feng flopped onto the bed, his face numb.
After lying there for five minutes, he remembered his 1.9 million loan and dragged himself back up.
"No way. I can't afford to lose a single cent!"
That afternoon.
After Lu Fei picked Xiao Dan up from school and brought her back, she hurried off again.
Xu Feng had tried to make small talk, but she hadn't given him the chance.
After dinner, Xu Feng practiced the Nine Star Body Refining Art for a while longer.
Only when his body was completely "full" did he pick up the medicine.
"Dad!" Xiao Dan sprang up from behind the table. "The doctor said you need to rest more! I'll do it!"
"It's fine. I'm much better now." Xu Feng smiled and ruffled her hair.
After resting for the past few days, his injuries really had improved a lot.
As long as he didn't overexert himself, he could even practice the blade art slowly.
"Then don't you go and—cough, cough—don't overdo it and hurt yourself."
Xiao Dan stopped halfway through, then hurriedly changed the subject.
Xu Feng narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. "Were you about to swear again? Has it been two days since I last taught you a lesson? Getting itchy for one?"
"Oh, I just want you to rest!" Xiao Dan stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
Then she snatched the ointment for bruises and blood stasis and helped Xu Feng spread it over the spots on his chest and back he couldn't reach.
After that, she turned and ran out to play.
Ever since they'd moved into the base, the girl seemed to have rediscovered her carefree nature.
Even Xu Feng felt so relaxed that he no longer had to worry about his life being in danger.
But he knew this was only temporary.
Soon, they'd have to trudge back to the Shanty Town.
Whew. It's all temporary. Once I get stronger, living in a big house, driving a luxury car—no, a spaceship—and marrying a beautiful wife won't just be a dream.
He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the blade, and continued practicing.
Nine that night.
"Argh! This is so hard! No wonder it's powerful but cheap."
"What the hell is this Wind Force? Can anyone actually learn it?"
Xu Feng held the blade in his right hand, his arm trembling slightly.
It looked like a twitch—or like the neighbor, Wu Lao Er, had accidentally been electrocuted.
"Imitate the wind's vibrations to counter the wind. I know every word in that sentence, so why the hell don't I understand it when they're put together?"
Fortunately, though,
each level of this blade art contained nine blade moves.
If you didn't have the talent to grasp Wind Force as soon as you started, you could still keep practicing the blade moves and learn its mysteries along the way.
At least, that was how it worked in theory.
Countless people had practiced the Wind Blade Triple Strike.
According to Lu Fei, very few had mastered it.
Still, Xu Feng believed in himself.
If he kept at it, he'd be one of the few who mastered it.
With the master-level White Wolf Blade Technique as his foundation, Xu Feng's basics were undeniably solid.
So even though progress came with plenty of torture, after practicing the nine blade moves that went with the first vibration of Wind Blade about twenty times,
Xu Feng finally caught a faint sense of Wind Force.
It hadn't taken shape yet, but he had a feeling.
If he kept practicing like this, he'd reach the threshold within a month.
Sure enough.
As soon as that feeling appeared, Xu Feng immediately opened his status panel to check.
His original White Wolf Blade Technique had disappeared.
In its place was a brand-new panel.
Wind Blade Triple Strike [First Four Levels] · Beginner (10/50)
"Great. Now that there's a progress bar, I can improve!"
Xu Feng excitedly continued practicing.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
But he hadn't practiced for long when someone knocked on the apartment door.
Xu Feng raised an eyebrow, walked over, and opened it without a second thought.
But the visitor wasn't Lu Fei. It was someone he knew.
"Mr. Luo?" Xu Feng looked at the visitor in surprise.
At the same time, he reminded himself not to let a comfortable life dull his vigilance.
If he were in the Shanty Town, he'd never have opened the door so impulsively.
"Good evening, Mr. Xu. How are your injuries? I hope I'm not bothering you by dropping by so late."
Luo Feng stood in the corridor, smiling as he spoke. He also held up the fruit in his hand.
Xu Feng very much minded, but smiled as he ushered him inside. "Come in. You're not bothering me. I'm just sitting around anyway."
Xiao Dan, who had been doing her homework, hurried out to pour their guest a glass of water.
"Hi, Brother Luo!" she called sweetly.
"Haha, what a good girl." Luo Feng smiled, looking a little awkward. Then he looked up at Xu Feng and added, "Let's each call her whatever we like."
Xu Feng smiled. "Have a seat."
Once they'd sat down, Luo Feng explained why he'd come. "Senior Sister Lu has already reported the incident to our Security Department.
"I knew you weren't an ordinary person. Anyone who knows Senior Sister Lu must have a few tricks up their sleeve.
"Though you're only a Quasi-Warrior, Mr. Xu, you kept your cool in a dangerous situation and helped Senior Sister Lu foil the enemy's attempt to infiltrate us.
"On top of that, you killed several enemies who were above your level.
"After reviewing the matter, our Security Department has decided to award you the Award for Outstanding Contribution as recognition for your efforts."
Xu Feng reflexively shook his head, about to turn down the empty title. "This award—"
"It comes with a 200,000 bonus," Luo Feng quickly added.
"I'm hardly worthy of this award, but it shows how discerning the leaders of the base Security Department are. Thank you very much."
Xu Feng immediately placed one hand over his chest and rose slightly in a respectful salute.
One word: classy.
Luo Feng smiled with satisfaction. "Here's your certificate. The bonus will be transferred to your account within eight hours.
"Also, we'll announce your award over the base's internal and external broadcast system. Would you like to use your real name, Mr. Xu?"
Xu Feng froze slightly. He thought plenty, but replied, "I'll pass on using my real name. I'm really not someone who cares for empty fame."
Luo Feng said admiringly, "All right. Mr. Xu really is an extraordinary person."
Xu Feng smiled calmly on the outside, but sighed inwardly.
If he weren't afraid of dying, who wouldn't want a little fame?
Who wouldn't enjoy being admired wherever they went?
But first, you had to be strong enough.
He didn't think he was.
Never mind. He'd just quietly collect the bonus. He didn't want to risk retaliation from the Eagle Alliance.
Luo Feng stayed for a while, then left.
It seemed he'd come only to present the award.
But before he went, he invited Xu Feng to join them once more.
Xu Feng still refused, keeping his head.
After ten, Lu Fei arrived with some medicine.
This time, Xu Feng didn't feel right taking it for free, so he transferred 20,000 to Lu Fei.
Lu Fei didn't refuse. She smiled, accepted the money, and prepared to leave.
Seeing Lu Fei about to go, Xu Feng casually said, "Oh, right, Miss Lu, have you heard of the Award for Outstanding Contribution?
"Mr. Luo Feng from your Patrol Squad came by today to give me the certificate. He even wanted to announce my real name.
"Honestly, don't you think that's putting me on the spot?"
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