Air-Splitting Slash, Flintlock

Hearing this was enough. As long as he could improve his strength, he would practice it first and worry about the rest later. If it truly did not work, then once he had more Merit Points, he could try deducing a way to improve the technique's quality.

If it could work from nothing, then improving its quality should not be a problem.

Gao Fei did not even wait for her price before directly flipping through it.

What if she named too high a price and he could not afford it? Then he could only freeload.

System, one Merit Point, add Savage Bull Force.

In the first year, you sensed a stream of clear energy seeping through your pores and entering your dantian with each breath. Savage Bull Force had reached the beginner stage, and you entered the Early Spirit-Absorption Realm.

When his consciousness returned, Gao Fei continued flipping through the book. He had to finish it somehow, or it would seem rather strange.

Li Qingyao had originally been smiling as she drank tea. Once someone obtained a cultivation technique, they would at least study it for an hour before deciding whether to cultivate it.

Drawing qi into the body could be fast or slow. Depending on one's aptitude, it could take anywhere from several hours to a year.

Gao Fei completely exceeded her expectations. Before the man in front of her had even finished reading a book, he had already drawn qi into his body.

Was his aptitude really that good? It was over. When she returned, her master would definitely scold her to death. She had finally discovered a heavenly prodigy, yet she had let him practice the Yellow-tier Savage Bull Force.

"Young Master Gao, how about you stop cultivating for now? After some time, when you go to Qing Province, you can find a higher-grade cultivation technique."

"No need. The more strength I have, the greater my chance of surviving." Gao Fei was still reading, not understanding what was going on, but that did not affect his decision.

"Actually, you needn't worry. The Fox Demon who returned after studying in Shangqiu was warned by my master. It probably will not enter the city..."

"I prefer to keep my chances of survival in my own hands. How much is Savage Bull Force?"

A trace of worry appeared on Li Qingyao's ever-smiling face. "No need. I'll give it to you. I only hope you won't blame me in the future!"

When Gao Fei heard it was free, delight appeared on his face.

"Do you have any martial skills that use spiritual power?"

"You have only just drawn spiritual power into your body. You simply cannot use those martial skills."

Then, as if Li Qingyao had thought of something, she said, "Wait here. I'll be right back."

With that, she hurried into the house.

When she returned, she brought out another book, Air-Splitting Slash. It was as thick as a palm.

"This is an unranked martial skill. You normally nourish several special meridians and acupoints in your arm with spiritual power, storing it within them. When using the skill, you instantly release a crescent-shaped blade aura. Its power depends on how much spiritual power you have stored."

Gao Fei took it and pretended to read for a while.

System. Ten Merit Points.

In the first year, you finished reading the martial skill and began practicing it, becoming familiar with the six meridians and fifty-five acupoints in your hand.

In the third year, you opened up one meridian, and Air-Splitting Slash reached the beginner stage.

In the eighth year, you opened up three meridians and five acupoints, and Air-Splitting Slash reached the proficient stage.

In the tenth year, you continued opening up meridians. Due to your insufficient spiritual power, it was difficult to open new acupoints and meridians.

When his consciousness returned,

Gao Fei focused his mind and calmed his breath. The wisp of newly born spiritual power in his dantian slowly rose, entering his arm from his shoulder and beginning to flow through the opened meridians.

After finishing the book, he placed it on the tea table.

He wanted to test its power. He raised his hand into a blade shape and chopped at a broom lying in the open space in the distance.

The spiritual power in one meridian was instantly drained, and a half-transparent crescent blade aura, like glass, shot forth in an instant.

The broom was sliced in two. When the strike hit the ground, it left a finger-sized gash.

"The power is a little weak."

Li Qingyao froze again. She had even forgotten to stop pouring after the teacup was full, and water continued to spill over.

It had taken her a month to reach the beginner stage with Air-Splitting Slash, and three months before she could store spiritual power and release a slashing aura.

Her master had even praised her as a genius seen once in a thousand years, yet what had she just witnessed?

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the man before her had brought one cultivation technique and one martial skill to the beginner stage.

And he was actually complaining that its power was too weak.

"It's full. The teacup is full!" Gao Fei got no response when he said it once, so he raised his voice.

Li Qingyao came back to her senses, set down the teapot, and gave an embarrassed smile. She felt like a sinner—a sinner who had delayed a genius.

"Oh, sorry!"

"With one meridian, it still hasn't stored much spiritual power. If all the meridians and acupoints in your hand are filled, then releasing it all at once would make killing someone of the same realm as easy as turning over one's hand. It might even be possible to fight above your level."

"How much is this book?"

Hearing the explanation, Gao Fei was very satisfied. For now, he had only trained his right hand. Once he finished, he would use Merit Points to train his left hand as well.

"No need. This martial skill is common as dirt, easy to learn but difficult to master. Most people can cultivate two or three meridians and four or five acupoints. After that, the difficulty doubles with every new meridian opened. This martial skill is only meant as a transition after drawing spiritual power into the body."

Gao Fei found that even more interesting. "So, you don't know exactly how powerful it can become either?"

"I know someone who cultivated it to four meridians and eight acupoints. He could unleash a full-strength strike at the same level."

After learning the answer, Gao Fei stopped dwelling on the matter. Speed was his weakness, and he also dreamed of flying over eaves and walking on walls.

"Is there any cultivation technique I can practice now? For example, a lightness skill?"

"Even if you learn one now, it would be useless. Your spiritual power is only enough for you to run ten-odd zhang, which is pointless. It won't be too late to learn it once you reach the Middle Spirit-Absorption Realm."

Li Qingyao had gone through the same thing. At that moment, she also got a taste of the pleasure of lecturing like a master.

"In that case, thank you for your guidance, miss. I'll take my leave."

After speaking, Gao Fei stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and remained where he was, hesitating over whether he should say something.

The young woman had given him two cultivation books for free, and he felt somewhat embarrassed.

"I sincerely invite you to Qing Province. I'll introduce you to my master."

Li Qingyao watched the person who was about to leave and hurriedly voiced her invitation. A genius like this would be fiercely sought after anywhere.

"We'll talk about it then. But can you give me the thousand taels of silver first?"

Li Qingyao's face instantly turned crimson. Embarrassed, she took out her purse and removed a banknote, handing it to him.

"Thank you!"

Gao Fei took the banknote and quickly left.

He swiftly returned home.

By then, the splinters from the wooden table he had smashed that morning had vanished without a trace from the courtyard.

When Gao Linyue saw Gao Fei return, he did not ask anything.

Early the next morning.

Gao Fei had just gotten up when he saw Lu Xiaoliu sitting on the ground with his back to him, seemingly watching ants on the ground.

"Xiao Liu, what are you doing?"

Lu Xiaoliu turned around and saw who had arrived.

"My lord, the parts and iron pipes you wanted have been forged. I'm studying how to assemble them. Take a look and see if it's right."

A flintlock appeared in Xiao Liu's hands, and he passed it over.

Gao Fei examined it carefully, found no problems, and handed it back.

"Good work. How much of that powder from yesterday have you had people make? Bring it over and let's test the results."

In truth, Gao Fei did not know much about it either. The craftsmen here were simply skilled—they had finished forging all the parts in one day. Their efficiency was truly high.

"Over there. The entire county's blacksmiths researched and forged them together, and some of their family members also helped manufacture them..."

"Alright, make sure you pay them."

Gao Fei took the black powder and silver bullets from Lu Xiaoliu, then demonstrated every step to him hand in hand.

"Cover your ears!"

With that, Gao Fei pulled the trigger at a wooden board beside the wall.

Bang!

A huge cloud of black smoke erupted.

A large hole had been blasted through the wooden board.

"There was too much gunpowder!"

Gao Linyue, who had been nowhere to be seen just moments ago, rushed over and snatched the flintlock from Gao Fei's hand.

"Can this thing be manufactured on a large scale?"