Luo Feng took a deep breath. As the mist of the spring water entered his nose and mouth, he immediately felt a slightly hot sensation coursing through his lungs, invigorating him and dispelling some of the fatigue from the battle.

Raising an eyebrow, Luo Feng glanced at the flower bed beside him, his eyes lighting up.

"This is the Phosphorus Fire Primordial Flower!"

The Phosphorus Fire Primordial Flower is not a common plant, but a second-grade spirit plant that absorbs underground fire energy to grow. The flowers dissolve in water, and the broth can temper a martial artist’s muscles and bones, restore yuan qi, and have some healing effects.

Although second-grade spirit plants are not uncommon, such a large patch of Phosphorus Fire Primordial Flower is not easy to collect.

"No wonder Dayang Mansion has such a fine place."

A smile appeared on Luo Feng’s face as he undressed and entered the spring water.

In an instant, the scorching sensation permeated his entire body, and a sense of comfort exploded within him, causing him to moan involuntarily.

He did not know that these two courtyards originally belonged to Yang Wanyi. One side was her usual living area, while this Jumping Tiger Residence was her training venue.

After each training session, Yang Wanyi would unwind in the hot spring, and this Jumping Tiger Residence had never allowed any men to enter. Even Yang Dingtian had not set foot in here since she turned ten. Luo Feng was the first man to enter here in nearly a decade.

Lying in the spring water, Luo Feng completely relaxed, his eyes slightly closed as he recalled the details of today’s fierce battle.

Yang Dingtian, Elder Huang, the scenes of clashes between the two heads of Dayang City and the two demon generals repeatedly played in his mind.

The more he recalled the confrontations of these masterful figures, the more Luo Feng felt his own inadequacies, whether in martial arts realm or experience, both were far behind.

It wasn’t that his level was low, but those people were exceptionally strong. Both the demon generals, Yang Dingtian, and Elder Huang were renowned martial artists of the Spiritual Rotation Realm. Even if their aptitude wasn’t as good as his, the weight of years could not be underestimated.

However, this was actually a good thing for Luo Feng.

The life-and-death duels of experts like Yang Dingtian and the Blood Poison Demonic General were uncommon. Coupled with Luo Feng’s strong soul power, he could recall the details of the great battle with precision. Each recollection allowed him to grasp many insights, as if several top masters of the Spiritual Rotation Realm were personally guiding his training. His battle experience and understanding of martial arts were advancing by leaps and bounds without him realizing it.

The setting sun sank into the hills, and night fell, stars twinkling.

Not long after nightfall, Luo Feng opened his eyes, his gaze sharp, silently separating the mist of the hot spring around him.

"Indeed, martial arts are boundless. I am still lacking in many areas..."

Splash!

Luo Feng leaped up, standing beside the hot spring.

The moonlight shone on the lingering steam around him, making it dreamlike and hazy. His tall and slender figure could be vaguely seen. At sixteen and having achieved Spirit and Flesh Unity in his cultivation, he had nearly fully matured, grown taller, and every inch of his muscles was extremely smooth, containing extraordinary explosive power.

Changing into a clean set of clothes, Luo Feng walked to the center of the moonlit courtyard, taking out Elder Huang’s storage ring and that secret manual.

Looking out at the giant mountains beyond Dayang City, faintly visible, Luo Feng let out a slow breath and began to check the contents of the storage ring.

Elder Huang’s possessions were not particularly abundant. The storage ring contained only a hundred thousand second-grade yuan stones, besides some pills and several martial arts manuals.

Most of these manuals were Yellow-level martial arts with little value. There were a few Profound-level martial arts manuals, with two at the highest grade, one being a saber technique.

The Flowing Cloud Saber Technique, Profound-level superior grade.

The other manual was a cultivation technique manual, rated at Profound-level ultimate grade, which was the Three Day Torrential Cloud Art practiced by Elder Huang.

"The Three Day Torrential Cloud Art, Profound-level ultimate grade, requires martial artists to cultivate before the age of eighteen. Its characteristic is yuan qi that flows long and unending, granting longevity to Spiritual Rotation Realm martial artists, extending their lifespan by ten to twenty years. When cultivated to the Great Achievement Realm, it allows burning of essence blood to enhance strength and can even pass on cultivation to others."

Flipping through the Three Day Torrential Cloud Art, Luo Feng quickly closed it again.

Undoubtedly, this cultivation technique stands out among Profound-level ultimate grades. The mere fact it can extend the life limit of Spiritual Rotation Realm martial artists by ten to twenty years is invaluable.

It’s known that Spiritual Rotation Realm martial artists generally can only live up to one hundred and forty years. If they do not step into the True Yuan Realm before then, they must face death.

The additional lifespan given by this technique might provide martial artists more chances to break through to the True Yuan Realm, and for those with less talent, it’s considered priceless.

After all, no amount of wealth can purchase life.

Though powerful, Luo Feng did not intend to cultivate the Three Day Torrential Cloud Art. He was confident that breaking through to the True Yuan Realm was just a matter of time for him. Trading the Divine Dragon Nine Changes for merely ten more years of life was simply giving up the essential for the dispensable.

Although he wouldn’t practice it, the value of Three Day Torrential Cloud Art was significant. Luo Feng carefully stored the manual.

Luo Feng’s gaze fell on the manual Elder Huang had given him separately. "This manual, which Elder Huang kept close and valued so highly, what could it be?"

Opening the manual, Luo Feng’s eyebrows rose.

This was just an average Yellow-level mid-grade saber technique, and what surprised Luo Feng was not the manual itself but the densely recorded contents on top of it.

The content detailed Elder Huang’s understanding of saber techniques, including his insights, and the thoughts and insights of other saber men. The theories at the start were very basic, but as he flipped page by page, the content gradually became profound, with each word taking Luo Feng a long time to process and savor.

"Good stuff!"

Upon reading a third of the secret manual, Luo Feng let out a sigh of admiration, closed the book, and his face was full of excitement.

The content of this secret manual documented Elder Huang’s journey from a Martial Artist of the Meridian Wheel Realm, advancing step by step to the Spiritual Rotation Realm, up to the eighth level peak of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, along with various insights. It didn’t stop there; it also included the cultivation insights of some renowned saber masters.

Elder Huang, in his 140-plus years of life, spent more than half of his lifetime dedicated to researching saber techniques. Given his limited aptitude, he knew breaking through to the True Yuan Realm was hopeless, so he focused entirely on studying saber techniques, consulting renowned saber masters from all around. His knowledge of saber techniques could be described as reaching the pinnacle.

Don’t underestimate theoretical knowledge. To a martial artist, without theory, one can only become an ordinary expert. To become a supreme expert, or even a grandmaster, theory must underpin the foundation.

It’s like chopping wood, where a brute only knows to win with power, but can only exert seven or eight-tenths of full strength. On the other hand, a person rich in theory can apply skillful techniques, exerting ten-tenths effect with only seven-tenths of strength.

Though the difference may seem slight, the actual disparity is as far as heaven and earth. This is why, among martial artists of the same realm, the one with rich combat experience often wins in the end — the experience gained from actual combat is another form of theory.

Frankly speaking, this secret manual is of such value to Luo Feng that it surpasses all his wealth—it is a priceless treasure!

Once the knowledge in this secret manual is fully digested, he’ll possess the experience and insights of a saber master deeply immersed for over a hundred years. Calling him a saber technique master would not be an exaggeration. By then, he could combine the strengths of many masters, forge his unique path, advance to higher realms, and be strong enough to sweep through any martial artist of the same level.

Gazing distantly at the massive mountain shadow outside Dayang City, Luo Feng murmured to himself:

"Master, you not only risked your own life to impart cultivation to me, but also entrusted me with all your life’s work. I will engrave your charge in my heart, and not let anyone harm Waner a bit. I will diligently practice the contents of this secret manual and never let it gather dust or suffer disrespect!"

Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng bowed in the direction of the mountain and put away the secret manual.

Practicing saber technique theory is not a matter of a day or two, and the cultivation insights recorded later in this secret manual are extremely profound, difficult to comprehend with his current realm. He plans to practice step by step steadily.

Walking to the center of the courtyard, Luo Feng sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began cultivating.

The primal Yuan Qi Elder Huang imparted to him was too massive, even the Divine Dragon Nine Changes couldn’t fully refine it in a short time, leaving a large part within him. Luo Feng planned to utilize these few days to focus on cultivation and break through to the late stage of the seventh level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm.

...

The night was silent with only the stars flickering.

A hundred miles outside Dayang City, in the desolate plain, five martial artists walked amid the boundless night, their eyes scanning the surroundings aimlessly.

"I think the blood corpses have been completely eradicated. In this wilderness, if there were any blood corpses, they would’ve detected our presence and shown up. We should go back to Dayang City. This battle has finally ended, let’s go find some fun and relax."

A young martial artist blew a whistle, resting his head on his hands, he turned back and spoke to the four people behind him.

The young woman beside him looked displeased:

"Lin Shan, have you forgotten how those blood corpses killed our companions during the day?"

The young martial artist’s face stiffened, he smiled awkwardly: "I was just joking."

"That joke is not funny."

The young woman pressed her lips tightly, her gaze cold, during the daytime battle, her childhood friend was bitten to death by a blood corpse trying to save her.

"The blood corpses are too evil; if there’s even one left, it would be a disaster for ordinary people. We shouldn’t be careless; search another fifty miles, and if there’s nothing discovered, then return to Dayang City. Since we accepted the commission from the Dayang Mansion, we shouldn’t do a perfunctory job," said a middle-aged swordsman from the back.

"Yes."

The middle-aged swordsman was the leader of the five, upon hearing his words, the others fell silent.

Woo woo...

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the front.

"Who’s there!"

Everyone’s faces changed drastically, drawing their swords, eyes filled with vigilance.

"Blood corpse chased me... broke my leg... woo... it hurts..."

A slender figure was curled up on the ground ahead, low sobs carried with the wind, the voice clear and pleasant, but somewhat unclear.

"Gave me a start."

The young martial artist exhaled and stepped forward.

The middle-aged swordsman felt something was wrong, stopped him: "Lin Shan, hold on."

"Leader, what’s the matter? The blood corpses’ voices aren’t this pleasant..."

The young martial artist turned back and smiled, spoke halfway, then abruptly fell silent as his head flew off his neck.

When he saw his body, his face had a bewildered expression, wondering why his body was drifting further and further from him.