Meng Chuan didn't deliberately repair the form of the silicon gold stake.
Completely relying on the [Sharp Edge] trait, he wildly unleashed blade-like fist strength!
Yesterday, Meng Chuan had already successfully comprehended the power of cutting.
He Limit Broke a third-rate fist skill he learned early on, besides Cannon Fist, the metallic [Palm Strike]!
[Trait: Sharp Edge (Low Level)]
"With a light touch, break the armor; with a sharp blade, blood spills"
Effect One: Armor Break, weakens the target's physical resistance by 10% upon hitting with fists or kicks;
Effect Two: Bloodletting, causes the opponent to bleed faster upon hitting, and slightly increases bleeding speed.
Meng Chuan tried Armor Break, and found it effective even on dead objects like stakes.
The tattered and gradually recovering silicon gold stake in front of him was proof.
The second effect, Bloodletting, was even more monstrous, comparable to the Noxian Hand.
Moreover, it was a perfect match when combined with the previously acquired Bone Penetration trait.
"Bone Penetration penetrates the fist strength inside, while Bloodletting acts instantly to prolong bleeding. Combined, it's truly one plus one greater than two."
But this was just theoretical, as the method was too brutal to try easily.
However, he thought there was a suitable target for practice...
Lin Yue practiced a first-rate claw skill of the metal attribute, able to sharpen his palms to cut through iron and break his hard skill protection.
"That guy should be almost recovered recently, and will likely come to trouble me again by then.
I'll show him the power of traits."
Without cultivating a bunch of metallic fist skills, just with [Sharp Edge], he would let Lin Yue understand using one's method to overcome them.
He thought further:
"The Sharp Edge effect is also realistic; I wonder if wearing a steel skeleton hand would still maintain the sharpness..."
He's been in need lately, so he hasn't tried using the steel skeleton. He would know once he uses it some day.
The preparatory geniuses around him watched Meng Chuan ravage the silicon gold stake and switch to a new fighting style, secretly astounded in their hearts.
A while ago, he flattened and rounded the stake, and now he's showcasing a slashing technique.
"Amazing, I wonder what other tricks Brother Chuan has up his sleeve."
In martial arts, talent comes first, regardless of age.
Whether it was a second-year senior who stayed for an extra year or a newly discovered freshman from another school, they were all captivated by his prowess recently.
Thus, Meng Chuan's status in United University Preparatory High School was elevated to a respected rank again.
Everyone eager to learn, upon seeing Meng Chuan finish, rushed to him during the stake's recovery period to seek guidance.
Helping others solve puzzles also assisted in his own enlightenment.
Meng Chuan was more than happy to teach. After about ten minutes, seeing the stake fully recovered, he began a second round of practice.
When lunchtime arrived, Meng Chuan took off his martial arts training clothes and looked at the panel.
The path for Limit Breaking the Luo Clan Eight Extremes was more than halfway through.
"I wonder if I can Limit Break before the Supernova Competition?"
The Supernova Competition venue is currently being built quickly beside the Yong'an City TV Tower, expected to be completed by the end of the New Year.
Upon completion, it will transform into a massive provincial Martial Arts Competition Center.
Its grand scale can accommodate tens of thousands of spectators on-site.
The venue was specially built for the Supernova Competition, but it will later become the preferred location for martial arts events in Yong'an and even across San Qin.
"Speaking only of the Supernova Competition, the Limit Breaking of Chaotic Heaven is not the most important.
The priority is to intensify the practice of Five Elements Qiankun Fist, striving to reach mastery before the Supernova Competition, thus breaking through the eighth level's bottleneck."
The Supernova Competition is mainly participated in by Martial Arts University students, with a minimal number of preparatory students.
High school students who participate are the elite among elites.
Among Martial Arts University students, there are those steeped in martial arts for years, long stuck at eight or nine levels, unable to surpass reincarnated Martial Arts Family elders.
With seven levels of Qi Blood against them, no matter how Meng Chuan exploits his traits,
he might still find himself overshadowed by the vast difference in Qi Blood.
"Studying martial arts theory cannot be neglected; attend martial arts theory classes to enrich the rapid accumulation of breakthroughs."
As for reaching a high-level self-created cultivation technique, Meng Chuan hasn't thought that far ahead.
Because that would at least be something to consider after becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
However, ever since Limit-Breaking Palm Strike,
Meng Chuan noticed an apparent increase in the cultivation speed of his Five Elements Qiankun Fist.
Specifically, while nourishing the Five Qi of the Viscera, the circulation fluidity of the Lung's Metal Qi slightly increased.
"Is this the manifestation of [Sharp Edge] residing in the lungs?"
Although there is a considerable breakthrough distance from the core trait of internal five viscera, [Five Qi Chaoyuan],
since understanding related martial theory, Meng Chuan could vaguely perceive it.
Traits like Heavy Strike, Bone Penetration, and Sharp Edge, though not explicitly marked for comprehension improvement,
were quietly enhancing his aptitude for cultivating fist skills with corresponding attributes.
Meng Chuan pondered quietly.
"This should be the change brought by residing in the lungs. Once I acquire Five Qi Chaoyuan in the future, I'll likely be able to [dominate] these traits altogether, no longer having to guess like now.
Unfortunately, martial theory is only conceptual, akin to castles in the air and mirages, unrecordable on the panel energetically.
To improve, I must attend more martial arts theory classes and learn more.
After entering Martial Arts University later, studying with professors and scholars will presumably accelerate progress in martial theory."
After lunch, Meng Chuan practiced two third-rate fist skills of the earth and water elements to help digest.
"Once these two are Limit Broken, it will be just right to verify my related speculations. The progress is swift, and not far from Perfection..."
Nighttime.
Inside Huayun Prefecture's residential area.
Meng Chuan dodged and guarded against the attacks from Chen Xuewu with a blindfold over his eyes.
His steps were nimble, practicing the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada through perception and body technique.
Chen Xuewu, though not living in Huayun Prefecture, had his master here, Extreme Fist Liu Sanduo, as a resident.
Meng Chuan coincidentally met him tonight and asked for his help in practicing body techniques.
On the grinding stone beach of the community, Chen Xuewu stuck to his back, launching Baji short strikes in close succession.
Meng Chuan dodged the attacks while also being cautious of the hurdles formed by the scattered stones beneath him.
Initially, Meng Chuan was occasionally hit on the back by Chen Xuewu.
Gradually, his movements became smoother, and just as he was about to be hit, a fleeting shadow trailed him in an instant.
He moved three zhang away, as if teleporting.
[Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada: Beginner (99%) → Proficient (2%) awaiting Limit Breaking]
The shadow was as thin as a cicada's wing, signaling a step into proficiency in the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada.
Half an hour passed, and Chen Xuewu couldn't land a hit on him, and after exhausting his energy, he signaled Meng Chuan to stop.
"Brother Chuan, take off the blindfold and take a break.
I give up; you are becoming more and more monstrous; now, even with my eyes closed, I can't hit you."
When they first met, Meng Chuan had much less Qi Blood than him.
Now, he had been left far behind by Meng Chuan.
Chen Xuewu still had a long way to go before the Seventh Barrier, while Meng Chuan was on the verge of stepping into the Eighth Barrier.
Meng Chuan did not remove the blindfold and continued to practice the body technique in the chaotic stone beach, as his energy was still plentiful.
While practicing the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada alone, Meng Chuan laughed and said:
"This is the practice method of the Eight Steps I learned recently at the United University Preparatory High School, hahaha."
"So impressive; my master advised me to focus on fist skills first, and our school doesn't even teach top-tier body techniques."
Chen Xuewu said with envy.
Meng Chuan continued:
"Your master is right; get the fist skills into the Seventh Barrier first, then there's no rush to learn the rest."
Chen Xuewu was helpless:
"Sigh, you're almost at the Eighth Barrier; when you have time, teach me about the Luo's Baji you're practicing.
I've been trying for so long, and still can't quite master the harmony of hardness and softness."
Meng Chuan smiled and said:
"No problem, I've perfected Luo's Baji; just ask if you have any doubts."
"Alright, then I'll go back to practicing fists, you keep practicing your body technique here."
Chen Xuewu didn't want to stay here; hanging out with Meng Chuan was just too frustrating.
"Alright, alright, be careful."
After seeing him off, Meng Chuan continued to practice the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada.
Having just made a breakthrough, he used this time to solidify it completely.
He continued to blindfold himself, blocking off his vision to rely entirely on perception and the rhythm of his steps to evade the chaotic stones.
Eyes observing in all directions, ears listening in all directions.
The Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada emphasizes training in five senses and nerve reflex, not simply running fast.
More importantly, it requires using the body's perception to adjust limbs to evade harm.
The sky dimmed, and Meng Chuan darted around the stone-laden beach like a ghostly silhouette, gradually grasping the core essentials of this body technique.
At nine o'clock in the evening, he took off the blindfold and looked at the panel.
[Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada: Proficient (2%) → (4%) awaiting Limit Breaking]
"Didn't expect that after reaching proficiency, the progress still increases nicely. It seems mastery won't take too much longer."
After body technique reached proficiency, it could start being applied in real combat.
Meng Chuan leaped onto a treetop, balancing like a cicada on a twig.
Following this, his form drew a phantom shadow as he leaped high, landing and then bursting into wild sprinting.
While running, Meng Chuan grasped the key points of the Eight Steps to Catching a Cicada.
From time to time, he stepped onto the Cloud-Ascending Ladder, leaping high, and when landing, shook up stones and dust, using the counterforce to activate a second burst of speed in the Eight Steps; thunder boomed across the flat ground!
While running, he felt the howling wind swirling around him, lifting him one step forward.
Gradually, Meng Chuan had an epiphany.
"It is not the wind; it is the Qi flowing."
Thanks to daily practice of Qi Eating Skill, Meng Chuan gradually could discern the flow pattern between breaths and differentiate the relationship between Qi and wind.
After stopping, he reached out to feel the direction of the wind.
"Wind is the manifestation of airflow movements, while Qi is the essential root of it."
Thinking of this, he stood still and began to practice his punches.
Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—five different fist stances creating different air flows, as he pondered the distinctions.
"As I punch and kick, the strength variation causes density changes in the Qi, generating different wind forces."
He involuntarily punched again, relishing the familiar sensation of exhilaration.
After a long time, Meng Chuan entered a state of enlightenment again!
At the same time, on the panel, the proficiency of the Five Elements Qiankun Fist increased rapidly.
Two hours later, the state disappeared; not only in terms of martial arts theory, but proficiency levels also saw a massive boost.
[Five Elements Qiankun Fist: Proficient (24%) → (56%) awaiting Limit Breaking]
He didn't get carried away by the substantial progress, continuing to practice his punches,
while further contemplating the relationship between the wind and Qi.