Chapter 144: Chapter 142: Swordsmanship Mastery, The Eve of Suspended Mountain, Combat Power Soars

In his apartment, Han Feng inserted the data card for the "Essentials of Basic Swordsmanship" into his personal terminal.

A light screen popped up.

A man in a simple martial arts uniform began to demonstrate swordsmanship in the holographic projection.

From the sword grip to the straight thrust, horizontal slash, upward flick, and downward chop, every move was broken down in meticulous detail.

Han Feng watched intently, committing every move to memory.

Half an hour later, the projection went out.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the jet-black Black Tungsten Gold Longsword and headed straight for the academy’s public training area.

The hall of the public training area was bustling with people, most of them students in D Level and C Level training uniforms.

When Han Feng appeared in his B Level Elite training uniform, he immediately drew a lot of attention.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

The girl at the reception desk’s eyes lit up when she saw Han Feng, and her smile became even more enthusiastic.

Han Feng was concise.

"I’d like to rent a weapons training room."

"Of course. Please show me your Identity Card."

The girl took the Identity Card and swiped it lightly on her terminal.

When she saw the B Level Martial Arts Student authority and the especially eye-catching "Comprehensive Talent Assessment: A+ Level," her hand trembled slightly.

Her attitude immediately became respectful, even tinged with a hint of awe.

"Senior Han Feng, your B Level Authority grants you twenty hours of free access to a high-level training room each month."

"I’ll arrange the best room for you right away, Room A-03. It has the highest defense rating and the most space."

"Thank you."

"It’s my pleasure! Please, follow me."

The girl personally led Han Feng through the noisy hall.

Seeing this, the surrounding students cast envious and curious glances, whispering among themselves.

"A B Level Student, huh? He even gets a personal guide. The treatment is on another level."

"Look at his training uniform. It’s the special edition from the Elite District. I think it even has a Rune Array on it."

"Anyone who can reach B Level is a monster."

The girl led Han Feng to a heavy alloy door and said respectfully,

"Senior, this is training room A-03. It’s fully equipped inside."

"If you need anything, you can call us anytime through the room’s terminal."

After seeing the receptionist off, Han Feng walked into the spacious, 300-square-meter training room.

He didn’t start right away, instead taking a moment to familiarize himself with the weight and feel of the Black Tungsten Gold Longsword in his hand.

Then, he closed his eyes, recalled the swordsmanship moves he had just seen, and began to practice them methodically.

Chop, slash, thrust, flick...

At first, his movements were clumsy and stiff, the heavy blade feeling like a disobedient lump of iron.

Han Feng wasn’t discouraged. He went through the motions once, twice, ten times...

He was completely immersed, and sweat soon soaked his back.

After completing the full set of basic moves for the dozenth time, the long-awaited voice finally sounded in his mind.

[System Notification: Through focused practice, you have mastered the basics of swordsmanship. New Skill acquired.]

[Skill: Basic Swordsmanship (Entry Level: 1/1000)]

’Success!’

Han Feng opened his eyes, a smile gracing his lips.

Looking at the notification on his panel, he felt even more motivated.

For the next half a month, Han Feng’s life became extremely disciplined.

Since his Cultivation in the Body Tempering Realm had reached Perfection, he completely gave up on the idea of using the fighter jet to "Krypton Gold" his way to higher levels and poured all his energy into the training room.

He only did two things every day.

First, practice [Basic Swordsmanship].

Second, practice how to attach Qi Blood to the blade of his sword, attempting to simulate the effect of "Sword Qi."

Although at his current realm he couldn’t yet make True Qi leave his body, he discovered that with the help of the Sword Control Technique, he could temporarily attach a highly condensed stream of Qi Blood Power to the sword’s edge, causing the power of his slashes to increase explosively.

This training was incredibly tedious, but Han Feng reveled in it.

He could clearly see the Skill Proficiency for his "Basic Swordsmanship" on the panel rapidly increasing.

Three days later, [Basic Swordsmanship] was upgraded to Skilled Level!

Half a month later, [Basic Swordsmanship] was upgraded to Mastery Level!

The moment the Skill upgraded, the familiar Skill Implantation occurred again.

A massive amount of insight and techniques for applying swordsmanship was poured directly into his mind.

His understanding of the Longsword instantly rose by several levels.

His swordsmanship was no longer bound by rigid forms; it had become fluid and free.

It would be no exaggeration to say he was a skilled practitioner of the Sword Dao with one or two years of experience.

On this day, as Han Feng finished his final set of swordsmanship practice, his personal terminal vibrated.

[Assembly Notice: The trial in the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm will commence tomorrow at 8:00 AM. All participants are to assemble at the central plaza. Please arrive on time. Latecomers will not be awaited.]

’It’s finally here.’

Han Feng put away his Longsword and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He opened his personal panel and took a look.

[Skill: Basic Swordsmanship (Mastery: 30/400)]

To take a Skill from zero to Mastery in just half a month—such a speed would be enough to scare someone to death if word got out.

"It should be enough for self-defense in an emergency."

He didn’t linger, leaving the training room and returning to his apartment.

On the way, he sent a message to Gao Fei.

"Fatty, do me a favor. Find Uncle Long and buy a batch of Tier Two Spiritual Energy Armor-Piercing Bullets. Money is no object, but I have to get them tonight."

The bullets he had bought from the Black Market before were only Tier One.

According to the information he had redeemed, real Tier Two Demon Beasts existed within the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm.

Tier One bullets would be far less effective against the thick scales and protective energy of a Tier Two Demon Beast.

His strongest trump card was still his Sand Python pistol combined with Qi Blood-enchanted bullets.

He absolutely couldn’t afford to drop the ball on this.

Gao Fei was as efficient as ever.

At 9:00 PM, he appeared at Han Feng’s apartment door, panting and carrying a heavy metal ammo box.

"Brother Feng, here’s the stuff you wanted!"

Gao Fei placed the box on the ground and wiped away his sweat.

"Twenty Tier Two ’Cannibal Fish’ Armor-Piercing Bullets. Every single one is inscribed with an Armor-Piercing Rune, made especially for those tough, thick-skinned Tier Two Demon Beasts!"

He clicked his tongue, a pained look on his face.

"This stuff is ridiculously expensive! The market price is two thousand Contribution Points a pop. Twenty of them is forty thousand!"

"Uncle Long gave you a discount since it was for you and only charged thirty thousand."

"Thank Uncle Long for me."

Han Feng nodded and transferred the Contribution Points.

After sending Gao Fei off, Han Feng placed the ammo box into his Storage Space, his mind finally at ease.

All preparations were complete.

He walked into the Spirit Gathering Quiet Chamber that came with his apartment but didn’t rest immediately.

’Time to break through in Rune Construction, too.’

He glanced at his panel: [Rune Construction (Entry Level: 998/1000)]. He was just a step away from leveling up.

He took the dark gray "Ghost Bat" Wingsuit out of his Storage Space.

During this time, aside from practicing his swordsmanship, he had spent a little time each day using his Spiritual Power to cultivate the wingsuit’s Spiritual Energy circuits, Nurturing it as if it were a real Flying Sword.

Han Feng put on the Wingsuit and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, slowly extending his Spiritual Power and meticulously immersing it into the complex rune structures inside the Wingsuit.

He traced every Energy Circuit, feeling the vibrations of the microscopic Wind Element Runes.

This was an extremely mentally draining activity, but Han Feng was long used to it.

Time passed, second by second.

Just as his Spiritual Power was about to run out and he began to feel dizzy, a jolt shot through his mind!

[System Notification: Through persistent practice, your understanding of Runes has reached a new level. The Skill ’Rune Construction’ has been upgraded to ’Skilled Level’!]

[Skill Implantation activated! A large amount of Rune knowledge and application techniques are being instilled...]

A cool sensation surged from the depths of his mind, instantly dispelling all his fatigue.

A vast amount of knowledge on Rune combinations and array construction was deeply imprinted into his consciousness.

After the Empowerment ended, Han Feng felt the Wingsuit on his body again and immediately discovered numerous problems.

Upon noticing these issues, Han Feng didn’t hesitate. He used his Skilled Level Rune Construction skill to once again Nurture and refine the Wingsuit.

An unknown amount of time passed.

BZZZT—!

The frame of the "Ghost Bat" Wingsuit emitted a soft hum.

The Spiritual Energy Paths on its surface, made from the powdered spine of a Shadow Leopard, momentarily lit up with an eerie blue glow before fading away.

A thought struck Han Feng, and he immediately checked the Wingsuit’s information.

[Item Name: Ghost Bat·Modified (Enhanced)]

[Item Grade: Tier Two Lower Grade]

’The Grade... it increased!’

Han Feng’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them.

The "Ghost Bat," originally only Tier One Upper Grade, had broken through its shackles with this Skill upgrade and entered the ranks of Tier Two Spiritual Energy Equipment!

He could clearly feel that the Wingsuit’s overall structure was more stable, and its internal Spiritual Energy Paths had become tougher and wider, enough to withstand a more powerful burst of his Qi Blood.

This was a truly pleasant surprise!

Han Feng stood up, took off the Wingsuit, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

Longsword, firearm, wingsuit...

All his preparations were now perfected.

He let out a long breath, stopped overthinking, and lay down directly on the cushion in the Quiet Chamber, falling into a deep sleep.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, Han Feng’s eyes opened at the crack of dawn.

He changed into the B Level Elite training uniform embedded with the "Clear Heart Rune," slung the Black Tungsten Gold Longsword over his back, secured the Profound Turtle Shield to his left arm, and holstered the "Sand Python" pistol in the quick-draw thigh holster.

Before the mirror stood a fully armed figure with sharp eyes.

Suspended Mountain.

’Here I come.’