Chapter 180: Chapter 111: Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber Perfection, Cao Feng Shocked; The ’Seven Stars Castle’ Characters Are the Same, Chu Fan Terrified

But a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

He had taken the first step, and his foundation was exceptionally solid.

He could feel that his perception and control over the qi and blood within his body had improved significantly.

’Completely fusing seventy-two wisps of qi and blood to create Force is not something that can be achieved overnight.’

Chu Fan rose and stretched his stiff limbs. ’But now that the path is clear, all I need is perseverance.’

As he felt the two wisps of qi and blood beginning to merge within him, he gained a more direct understanding of the mysterious nature of "Force".

It was the beginning of a qualitative transformation, the key to elevating his power to a higher plane.

Gazing at the setting sun on the horizon, Chu Fan’s eyes were serene.

’The path of cultivation is long. Today, I’ve merely glimpsed the gate to the Entering the Realm of Strength.’

But he was confident that before long, he would be able to push that gate open and truly step inside.

By then, his qi and blood would flow like a great river, Force would generate on its own, and his control would become Microscopic. His power would take a true leap forward!

Just as he was about to contemplate "Entering Force" further, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the courtyard’s tranquility.

Cao Feng walked in carrying a bamboo basket, a gentle smile on his face as usual.

"Fan, I brought something for you and Tianxing."

Cao Feng placed the bamboo basket on the table.

Chu Fan relaxed his stance and sniffed the air. "That smells amazing!"

Cao Feng lifted the cloth covering the basket, revealing several fruits of various shapes inside.

Some were crimson as flame, others as azure as water.

Though no heavenly aura shot into the sky, they brimmed with a Spiritual Mechanism. A single glance was enough to tell they were no ordinary items.

"I happened upon these Water and Fire Vermilion Fruits and Ice Heart Blueberries today."

Cao Feng’s tone was casual, as if it were a trivial matter. "They’re not particularly valuable Treasure Plants. For those like Qingxue and myself who have reached Mortal Transformation, they’re of little use."

"But for you and Tianxing, they will be a great help in breaking through the five passes of Foundation Establishment and solidifying your base."

Chu Fan stared at the fruits, a lump forming in his throat.

Master Cao knew full well that he and Zhao Tianxing had come into a fortune and were quite wealthy, yet he still went out of his way to find these Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for them.

Li Xingxuan had once said that even the direct descendants of the Li Family and Cao Family couldn’t easily get their hands on the things Master Cao gave to him and Tianxing.

"This disciple... thank you, Master."

Chu Fan bowed deeply, a thousand unspoken words caught in his chest.

Cao Feng waved his hand, dismissing the formality. His gaze fell upon the long saber in Chu Fan’s hand. "Enough pleasantries. You’ve been practicing the Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber for some time now. Perform it for me. I want to see your progress."

"Yes."

Chu Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling emotions in his heart.

He walked to the crabapple tree in the center of the courtyard, sank into his stance, and tightened his grip on the saber’s hilt.

In an instant, his eyes grew as sharp as a blade. The tranquil aura around him erupted, transforming into a formidable presence.

"Thunder from the Earth!"

With a low cry, his saber flashed like a bolt of lightning tearing through the quiet air.

The wind from the blade howled, kicking up fallen leaves that danced around his moving form.

"Deafening Thunder!"

"Serpentine Lightning!"

"Thunder from Heaven!"

He executed one technique after another.

The light from his saber was a dense net woven from lightning.

His footwork was nimble, matching a profound and mysterious rhythm.

He wasn’t deliberately pursuing speed or power. Instead, he fully immersed his mind in the Mental Realm of the saber technique.

The Fivefold Blade Force within him surged like a tide, layer upon layer, gathering at the edge of his blade, held but not unleashed.

Wherever the blade passed, the air hummed faintly, accompanied by the subtle sound of wind and thunder.

Cao Feng had initially intended only to test him and watched calmly.

But from Chu Fan’s very first strike, his expression changed.

First, there was surprise, then disbelief, and finally, utter shock!

He had long known that Chu Fan’s talent in the Saber Dao was supreme; otherwise, he would not have broken with tradition to accept him as a disciple and teach him everything he knew.

But he had never imagined that in just a few short months, Chu Fan’s mastery of the Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber would reach such an exquisite level!

His saber technique was beyond proficient; it was utterly fluid and seamless!

Each technique flowed into the next flawlessly. The circulation of his Force was smooth and unimpeded. In his hands, the entire set of saber techniques seemed to come alive, breathing with a life of its own!

The fierce and violent Thunder Shocking Saber Technique now possessed a strange sort of beauty...

It was not the ferocity of a deadly battle, but the natural rhythm of a great river flowing or of lightning appearing and fading!

It was clearly a deadly saber art, yet somehow it was as pleasing to the eye as a dance!

Cao Feng watched, mesmerized.

How could he have known that just today, Chu Fan had pushed this saber technique from the Realm of Great Success all the way to the unprecedented Perfection Level!

Cao Feng stared intently at the edge of Chu Fan’s blade, feeling the layered power that, though contained, made his skin tingle. A storm was raging in his heart.

’To be able to execute his saber techniques with such ease and grace even after fusing and stacking his Blade Force!’

’It’s truly unimaginable!’

Once he finished the routine, Chu Fan sheathed his saber and stood tall, his eyes brighter than ever before.

The courtyard fell silent, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Cao Feng stood frozen in place. After a long moment, he finally let out a long, heavy breath.

He took a few steps forward and clapped Chu Fan firmly on the shoulder, his voice trembling with excitement. "Good! Good! Good!"

The three words expressed all the turbulence in his heart.

"Fan, you... you’ve given your master another incredible surprise!"

Cao Feng looked at his increasingly composed disciple, his eyes filled with undisguised relief and excitement.

He could almost see a new star of the Saber Dao, destined to illuminate the world, slowly rising from this small courtyard.

The two began to chat in the courtyard.

Cao Feng, a man usually of few words, was now talking a mile a minute... from the Cao Family’s "Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber," to the Li Family’s "Seven-Star Bead Slash," and finally to the Blood Saber Sect’s "Nine Blood Soul Blades"...

He didn’t stop until the sky began to darken, still feeling as if he had more to say.

Seeing him about to leave, Chu Fan suddenly recalled something. "Master Cao," he asked, "do you remember the three large words, ’Seven Stars Castle,’ on the plaque at the castle’s entrance?"

"What kind of question is that!"

Cao Feng shot him a look. "I may not manage the Seven Stars Gang’s affairs much these days, and it’s been a while since I’ve been to Seven Stars Castle, but how could I forget those three words?"

Chu Fan immediately fetched a brush and ink. "Could you imitate those three words and write them for me?"

"..."

Cao Feng gave him a strange look, completely baffled.

But he was in such a good mood that he would have agreed even if Chu Fan had asked him to go wading in the river to catch fish, let alone just write a few words.

He took the brush and, with a few quick strokes, wrote the three large words "Seven Stars Castle" on the paper.

"The old Gang Leader wrote those three words himself back in the day. I’m very familiar with his calligraphy."

Cao Feng asked, "Why the sudden interest in Seven Stars Castle? Have you been there?"

"No, I haven’t." Chu Fan forced an awkward smile. "This disciple will see you out, Master Cao."

Cao Feng was completely baffled, but he didn’t press the matter. He just patted Chu Fan’s shoulder and left the courtyard.

Chu Fan went back inside and collapsed onto his chair with a THUD.

The three words on the table...

...were identical to what he had seen in his nightmare.

’Could it be... that it wasn’t a dream?!’

The images from his dream flooded his mind, and Chu Fan’s eyes turned red as he struggled to breathe.