Choosing a Movement Technique!

He pondered for a moment, gradually forming a few guesses.

Perhaps... it's because adding points lets me bring out a cultivation method's effects to their most perfect, ultimate state, without any deviation or loss?

Or... is it because I'd already cultivated the Basic Skin Tempering Method to perfection, laying a certain foundation? Did the effects of two perfected skin-tempering methods combine to bring about this incredible breakthrough?

He thought the latter was more likely. Heaven-defying as the point-allocation system was, it still worked based on the cultivation methods' own effects. Most likely, the perfected effects of the two methods had produced a wondrous chemical reaction, allowing him to ascend to heaven in a single step!

Of course... A glint flashed in Dongfang Yueming's eyes. This is also enough to prove that the Layered Wave Skin Tempering Method itself is outstanding! Its potential is enormous! Otherwise, with the Basic Skin Tempering Method alone, I probably couldn't have reached the Jade Skin Realm no matter what.

At that thought, he grew even more curious about Qian Jingming, who had delivered the cultivation method, and the person behind him.

He could produce a cultivation method of this caliber and even used a precious technique-transmission jade slip...

What exactly is the purpose of the gathering Qian Jingming asked me to attend?

Dongfang Yueming felt that things seemed less simple than they appeared. Still, his strength had surged once again, and he felt more confident.

When soldiers came, a general would block them; when water came, earth would hold it back!

Whatever their purpose, he, Dongfang Yueming, would face it!

Feeling the surging power contained beneath his jade-like, flawless skin, as well as that unprecedented sense of toughness and defense, Dongfang Yueming was filled with indescribable satisfaction and confidence!

In the Skin Tempering Realm, he had reached the mortal extreme!

Next, it's time to consider breaking through to the Flesh Refining Realm! Dongfang Yueming's eyes burned as he swiftly began making plans.

To break through to the Flesh Refining Realm, I need a flesh-refining method. The Basic Flesh Refining Method costs 120 contribution points. My daily patrols now earn me a steady six contribution points, and if I also count the occasional extra reward for killing a ferocious beast...

He calculated quickly. Even counting only the basic contribution points, I can earn 180 in a month! That's more than enough to exchange for the Basic Flesh Refining Method!

Once I get the flesh-refining method, with my eight hundred-plus points remaining, adding points to reach perfected flesh refining in one go shouldn't be a problem!

At that thought, Dongfang Yueming couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from rising. At this rate, a month from now, let alone Gao Hu merely being at major accomplishment in skin tempering-even if he luckily broke through to the Flesh Refining Realm, Dongfang Yueming would still be able to crush him with ease!

Meanwhile, inside the Gao Family's luxurious training room.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!"

Heavy gasps rang out like a battered old bellows!

Sweat poured off Gao Hu like rain, and every muscle in his body trembled and spasmed violently! He stood in an extremely bizarre, twisted posture, while the qi and blood throughout his body surged wildly like boiling magma, constantly pounding and tempering his muscle fibers!

Beside him stood an enormous wooden tub, containing remnants of a dark-colored liquid that gave off a strong medicinal smell-it was a medicinal bath the Gao Family had obtained at considerable expense to aid flesh refining!

"Break through!!!"

Gao Hu suddenly let out a beastlike roar! Veins bulged on his face, and his expression was savage!

Pop!

It was as though something inside him had shattered in response!

An even more powerful, explosive aura suddenly surged out of him! His already immensely bulging muscles now seemed denser and tougher!

"Hahaha! I did it! The Flesh Refining Realm! I finally broke through to the Flesh Refining Realm!!"

Gao Hu's eyes snapped open, filled with wild joy and utter smugness! He felt the explosive power within him, as though he could kill an ox with a single punch!

Flesh refining initiation!

With less than a week until school started, he had stepped straight from major accomplishment in skin tempering into the Flesh Refining Realm!

Such speed was absolutely unmatched among all the new students at the Martial Dao Academy!

"Dongfang Yueming? Hmph! A good-for-nothing!" Gao Hu snorted disdainfully. That nobody who had provoked him was probably still struggling to reach skin tempering initiation, wasn't he?

The arena match a month from now? It was nothing but a joke! When the time came, he could crush Dongfang Yueming to death with one hand!

Gao Hu's gaze had long since moved beyond an ant like Dongfang Yueming. His goal was the scenery at greater heights!

"The Flesh Refining Realm is only the beginning!" Ambition gleamed in Gao Hu's eyes. "My goal is the Seed Class selection in three months!"

The Seed Class! It was where the Martial Dao Academy concentrated its finest resources to nurture its top geniuses! Only by entering the Seed Class could one enjoy the best cultivation methods, the best resources, and guidance from the best instructors!

And even...

A fiery light flashed in Gao Hu's eyes. "I've heard that once Seed Class students reach perfection in the Body Tempering Realm, they have a chance to gain access to... a method for breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm!"

The Qi Refining Realm! That was an entirely different level of life! A transcendent existence capable of cultivating true "internal force"! Its cultivation methods were incomparably precious and simply unavailable on the market! Only the dynasty's core institutions and those top-tier powers possessed them!

Entering the Seed Class was a crucial step toward taking a higher path in Martial Dao and even pursuing higher status in the future!

"Lin Qingyao..." He thought once more of that breathtaking figure. "Once I enter the Seed Class and become a true favored son of heaven, let's see how your Lin Family can still look down on me! When the time comes, sooner or later, you'll be mine!"

Immersed in his rosy dreams of the future, Gao Hu felt full of heroic spirit, as though the entire world would prostrate itself at his feet!

Coming back to his senses from his rosy plans for the future, Dongfang Yueming soon began calmly analyzing his own situation again.

The Jade Skin Realm's defense is formidable, and the perfected Basic Fast Saber is fierce enough, but... my speed is still a weakness, he thought.

Patrol squad assignments do carry a certain degree of danger, after all. Although there aren't many mundane beasts in the city, if I run into something fast or a large number of them, relying on taking hits and using a fast saber might not be enough to handle every situation.

Besides... Dongfang Yueming's gaze turned slightly cold. That fellow Zhang Meng clearly has a problem with me. Who knows whether he'll pull any more tricks behind my back? It never hurts to have another way to save my life and maneuver.

Looks like I need a movement technique!

Having made up his mind, Dongfang Yueming once again opened the Martial Dao Academy's internal website with practiced ease, entered the "Cultivation Methods and Martial Arts" exchange section, and began filtering for movement techniques.

Compared with offensive saber techniques and defensive skin-tempering methods, there were fewer movement techniques, and their prices were generally high.

Dongfang Yueming browsed for a while, and soon a martial art called the Gale Movement Technique caught his attention.

Exchange price: 30 contribution points.

It wasn't too expensive, just within his means.

He opened the details page and, out of habit, looked at the student comments below first.

But the tone of the comments section made him struggle not to laugh.

"Holy shit! What genius could possibly master this Gale Movement Technique? I practiced for three months, and all I got was a head full of bumps from falling!"

"Brother above, you're not alone! I feel like this movement technique is downright inhuman! The way you have to exert force is too weird!"

"Friendly reminder: before you reach major accomplishment in the Gale Movement Technique, make sure you have a hospital bed and medicine for bruises and injuries ready beside you! Don't ask me how I know!"

"Hahaha! I'm dying here! But seriously, it's hard even to reach Entry in this movement technique, let alone Minor Accomplishment or major accomplishment."

"I did hear that once you master the Gale Movement Technique, you're as fast as a ghost, and it's especially effective for maneuvering and dodging in tight spaces!"

"Hm? Now that you mention it, I think I remember... A senior mentioned before that the Gale Movement Technique seems to be a perfect match for the Basic Thirteen Fast Saber Forms?! One pursues the ultimate in speed and variation, while the other pursues the ultimate in saber-drawing speed. Combined, their power multiplies?"

"Seriously? Is that really a thing? But... both are notoriously hard to learn and master. Who could master them both?"

Reading these comments full of teasing and "complaints written in blood and tears," Dongfang Yueming not only refused to back down, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter!

Hard to learn? Easy to fall? He could add points and ignore the difficulty!

Not very effective before major accomplishment? He would max it out directly!

A perfect match for the Basic Thirteen Fast Saber Forms? That was a match made in heaven!

This movement technique was practically tailor-made for him!

And 30 contribution points...

Dongfang Yueming glanced at his contribution point balance: 42 points.

I got exactly 30 contribution points as a reward for killing those three Frenzied Carrion Rats yesterday! His heart leaped. Isn't this heaven's will at work behind the scenes?!