Chapter 201: Chapter 115: Another Limit Break for the Running Technique and Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill, the Final Frenzy of Lin Luoxue and the Others

He took a deep breath. The scar on his temple contorted with the effort, and the last trace of hesitation was replaced by ruthless determination.

A sudden gust of wind burst through the window, sending the lanterns inside the hall swinging violently.

The dim, yellow light cast the five men’s shadows on the wall. The shadows twisted and warped, like five fiends with bared claws, snarling at their invisible prey.

The sycamore leaves in the courtyard rustled loudly in the wind, interspersed with faint wails carried from a distance.

The rain of blood in Cyan Yang Ancient City had only just begun.

...

Morning dew dotted the grass of the Seven Stars Gang Sub-Branch’s Martial Arts Arena.

A passing breeze swirled up a few blades of withered grass, which seemed more alive than the people training in the arena.

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, Chu Fan’s toes tapped the ground as his figure flitted about like a dove darting through the woods. The wind stirred by his hem wasn’t strong, yet every step he took was incredibly stable.

[Running Technique Experience Points +5]

His speed wasn’t particularly fast, but each step landed with a precise, unique rhythm. His breaths were deep and long, creating an ineffable cadence of their own.

To the panicking crowd in the Martial Arts Arena, the scene seemed all the more bizarre.

Ever since the Seven Stars Gang’s bloody purge had turned everything on its head, this once bustling Martial Arts Arena had grown much quieter.

The figures who had once desperately honed their qi and blood, eager for a breakthrough, were now few and far between.

Fear spread like an invisible plague—

Some had died. Others had been captured.

Even more were mired in the cruel truth that the Blood Nourishing Realm was nothing but a "great medicine" for others, and they lived in constant terror.

How could they possibly calm their minds enough to cultivate?

Now, only a few scattered disciples from the Cao and Li Families were training in the Martial Arts Arena.

Their expressions were rather odd as they watched the tireless figure running at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

Whispers broke out from time to time.

"Is that Chu Fan? What on earth is he doing? Just running foolishly like that? What’s the point?"

"Maybe it’s some unique Secret Technique? But no matter how you look at it, he’s not even running that fast..."

"What Secret Technique? If there really were one, why wouldn’t Second Uncle have taught it to the disciples of our Cao and Li Families?"

They simply couldn’t comprehend what sort of technique Chu Fan was practicing.

In the face of monumental change and the fear of the unknown, such clumsy, tedious, and "pointless" persistence seemed utterly out of place.

HUP!

Right under their strange gazes, Chu Fan channeled his energy and leaped over a protruding stone slab.

He felt a light Force buoying his feet, as if his body were being gently pushed by the wind.

He barely disturbed the morning dew on the bluestone slab when he landed.

[Skill: Running Technique (Second Limit Break 5996/6000) (Traits: Wind under the Feet, Light as a Feather)]

’Just four more points...’

Chu Fan took a deep breath and stopped deliberately controlling his speed, letting his qi and blood flow from his legs through his entire body—first to his waist and spine, then to his shoulders and arms, until a warmth spread to the very tips of his fingers.

A breeze blew from beneath an old locust tree on the eastern side of the Martial Arts Arena.

A current of air seemed to slip into his body through his collar, twining with his qi and blood.

It unexpectedly lessened the resistance he felt while running.

His toes landed as if on cotton.

Even the sound of his fluttering sleeves grew quieter...

Only the strands of hair at his temples fluttered in the airflow, giving him the true appearance of being as "Light as a Feather."

Just then, Chu Fan felt the qi and blood in his legs surge violently, as if shattering an invisible barrier!

[Running Technique Experience Points +5]

["Running Technique" has reached its limit. Consume 100 Spiritual Essence to break the limit. Consume?]

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Fan consumed 100 points of Spiritual Essence.

A warm current shot through his meridians, coursing throughout his body. The soreness in his legs instantly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented feeling of openness.

He took a step, and everything felt completely different!

The qi and blood coursing through his body suddenly changed. It was no longer confined to the meridians in his legs.

It spread naturally throughout his limbs and torso, creating a wondrous resonance with the air flowing around him and the solid earth beneath his feet!

When his feet landed, it felt less like he was stepping on solid ground and more like he was treading upon an invisible, resilient wave of wind.

An imperceptible yet tangible lift rose from below, making his every step considerably lighter. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Even his breathing synced with the rhythm of the wind!

The oncoming wind resistance felt as if it had been cut by more than half.

His sleeves and the ends of his hair billowed back, rustling audibly.

With but a thought, the qi and blood in his body automatically began a cycle through a more complex network of pathways.

The subtle fatigue from his long run was instantly swept away, and his breath grew even deeper and more robust.

[Skill: Running Technique (Third Limit Break 1/10000) (Traits: Wind under the Feet; Light as a Feather; Wave Riding and Wind Chasing)]

[Wave Riding and Wind Chasing: This running method has surpassed mortal techniques, offering a glimpse into the "Mental Realm." Qi and blood circulation is no longer limited to the legs, allowing for a preliminary fusion with the surrounding ambient energy. When running, your feet tread upon invisible waves of wind, your clothes billow in the airflow, and wind resistance is reduced by more than half. With a tailwind, you can borrow its power to sprint like an arrow loosed from a bow. During long-distance runs, a self-sustaining Qi and Blood Circulation is established, minimizing exertion. This is the embryonic form of "Land Divine Walk."]

Chu Fan came to an abrupt halt, his toes tapping lightly on the bluestone slab.

He glided another three feet on the remaining momentum, coming to a steady stop beneath the old locust tree.

’The Trait from the Third Limit Break allows for a preliminary fusion with the ambient energy of the environment, letting me borrow the wind’s power to increase my speed.’

’It reduces resistance against a headwind.’

’And with a tailwind, I can move like an arrow loosed from its bow.’

’For long-distance treks, exertion is minimized!’

Chu Fan suppressed the wild joy in his heart, carefully sensing the changes both inside and outside his body.

’This is a qualitative leap. It’s not just about being faster, more efficient, or more coordinated—it’s about being closer to nature itself!’

He felt like a fish in water; the ever-present air resistance had transformed into a force he could now command and use to his advantage.

Chu Fan tried to channel his qi and blood again. To his surprise, the flow of energy in his Dantian began to circulate through his meridians on its own, a cycle of Everlasting Life that no longer required any conscious guidance—