Raging Wind Slash was hardly a rare spell. Quite the opposite: among the many spells involving Sword Qi, blade qi, and slashing gang energy, it was utterly commonplace. It merely incorporated a little gale and metal-escape power, giving it a keen cutting edge.
Gale Berserker Wolves could wield this power by nature, so spirit creatures refined from them could also cast this spell.
Watching Fang Qianyuan unleash his flurry of wind slashes, the spectators vaguely recognized traces of Raging Wind Slash in its execution. Yet its peculiar way of inflicting damage, exaggerated attack range, and sheer number of strikes left them thoroughly puzzled.
As far as they remembered, no such move existed.
Fortunately, Gong Yuan knew something of what Fang Qianyuan had been doing lately. He immediately guessed the truth, prompting the others to consider that possibility as well.
"This move really does resemble Raging Wind Slash, yet it isn't quite the same. It might be an improved finishing move."
"Where did he learn it? Elder Gong, could it have been you...?"
The elders could not help looking at Gong Yuan. If anyone among the Training Institute's leaders present knew the whole story, it had to be him.
Gong Yuan gave a wry smile. "He only mentioned it in passing when he asked me to buy Inscribed Talismans for him. I thought it unlikely and paid it little mind. I never imagined he would actually create this move himself!"
The Institute Master was about to say something more when he saw Wu Longjie struggle a few times on the platform, panting heavily, before collapsing to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him.
He looked much like someone who had been slashed seventeen or eighteen times in a street brawl. Wounds of varying sizes, depths, and lengths covered his body.
The crisscrossing cuts left by the energy blades in the platform's bluestone slabs were equally shocking.
"Save him first," the Institute Master said instead.
The Training Institute's medic, who stood ready, immediately hurled a ball of blue-green medicinal energy toward him.
Spirit essence imbued with healing power entered his body and instantly flowed toward his wounds, stimulating the vitality of his flesh.
His wounds soon stopped bleeding, but the vitality he had lost could not be replenished for the moment. He could only struggle into a sitting position and say with a pale, rueful smile, "Thank you for showing mercy, Junior Brother Fang."
"Senior Brother Wu, my apologies," Fang Qianyuan said.
"No. Blades have no eyes on the platform. Without that move, defeating me wouldn't have been easy. Even wounded, I still had moves I could stake my life on, but I absolutely couldn't use them here. If you find yourself in a real battle someday, be very careful. Others have similar means as well," Wu Longjie said.
With that, he struggled to his feet again. An attendant beside him hurried to support him and helped him off the platform.
Fang Qianyuan fell into thought.
Wu Longjie's final remark had salvaged some dignity for himself, but that did not mean it had not also been sincere.
Although Human Rank Spirit Tamers still fell within the bounds of ordinary mortals, they had already embarked on the path of cultivation. Ordinary wounds were not, in fact, fatal to them.
What Fang Qianyuan had unleashed, however, had not been ordinary mortal blades, but Gang Edge infused with metal-escape power.
This Gang Edge could cleave metal and sever iron, rivaling the treasured swords of mortal imagination. That was why it had been able to wound Wu Longjie so severely.
If its power proved insufficient and an opponent retained the strength to retaliate-or possessed extraordinary gifts like his own and was not so badly injured-he would face a counterattack.
"Ha! He won!"
"Beautifully done!"
Amid the cheers of Ding Long and the others, Fang Qianyuan stepped off the platform. Before he could exchange more than a few words with them, however, an attendant disciple came to fetch him.
"Greetings, Institute Master. Greetings, elders. May I ask why you summoned me?"
It turned out that the Training Institute's leaders wanted to see Fang Qianyuan.
"Qianyuan, was the move you used on the platform an improved finishing move you created yourself?" the Institute Master asked warmly, showing none of the displeasure he had displayed when Fang Qianyuan previously sought credit for a major contribution.
"That's right," Fang Qianyuan said.
"Could you tell us how it came about?" the Institute Master asked.
"There wasn't much to it. I just found Raging Wind Slash too rigid, so I changed the way the energy circulates when it's released at the end," Fang Qianyuan said candidly.
"Is that so?" The others were inwardly moved by his answer.
Fang Qianyuan made it sound simple, but in reality, it required a thorough understanding of both the foundational cultivation method for circulating spirit essence and Raging Wind Slash itself.
Beyond that, it also required a measure of creative talent.
How long had Fang Qianyuan even been cultivating?
Even counting every last day, it had been less than half a year.
The Institute Master asked about several more details and discovered that Fang Qianyuan had made substantial changes to the move, turning Raging Wind Slash's single-stage attack into a multistage assault. This greatly increased both its range and overall power, but it also came with corresponding drawbacks.
"It consumes more spirit essence? And it requires a certain level of strength in the muscles, bones, and meridians, or the backlash can injure the arm?"
"This move is very difficult to cultivate, and it isn't suitable for ordinary people..."
"It's rather like chicken ribs-little meat to enjoy, yet a pity to discard."
Their enthusiasm swiftly cooled, as though a basin of cold water had been poured over them.
They had initially thought it was a truly original finishing move, never expecting it to be merely an improvement.
Even an improvement would have been a meritorious contribution if it could be spread widely for everyone to cultivate.
Yet Fang Qianyuan's modifications were entirely tailored to his own traits and bore a strong personal imprint.
Only someone with spirit essence as abundant as his and equally powerful muscles and bones could cultivate it, or would even have any need to.
"Qianyuan, this cultivation method of yours seems rather like chicken ribs," the Institute Master finally said helplessly, exhaling a weary breath after holding back for a long while.
"That doesn't matter. As long as I can use it well, that's enough," Fang Qianyuan said.
"Actually, I was planning to have you contribute it to the sect in exchange for merit," the Institute Master said. "Since ancient times, disciples who improve cultivation methods or create new moves have earned tremendous merit, along with considerable honor and benefits. But if the improvement only suits one individual, that makes things rather difficult."
"That is indeed the case," Gong Yuan said. "Many people assume that wondrous cultivation arts and secret manuals must be superior, but they fail to understand that a towering building rises from level ground. Broad applicability is the most important condition for a cultivation method to endure and spread. However powerful a wondrous art may be, what use is it if no one can master it? By contrast, the widely circulated foundational methods are not only balanced and mild in nature, allowing them to accommodate all sorts of secret arts and finishing moves, but can also lead to profound heights. Truly, the great Dao is supremely simple!"
"If everyone could cultivate this finishing move of yours, it would be no exaggeration to say that you had immediately earned a great contribution benefiting countless generations. The Training Institute and the sect would certainly reward you generously. And if it were not a killing move, but a foundational cultivation method that helped strengthen one's foundations, that would be even more extraordinary-a true achievement that would leave your name in history!"
"What a pity. What a pity," the elders said, shaking their heads regretfully.
Judging by their expressions, however, they did not seem particularly disappointed. After all, they knew that such things were beyond Fang Qianyuan's current abilities.
Without expectations, there could be no disappointment. What they regretted was merely the lost opportunity for him to exchange it for merit.