It had been over eight months since he was cast out by the reborn family, one-third of the two-year agreement already elapsed. In these eight months, he had brushed against death several times, progressing from a Second-Rank Fighter to his current Seventh-Rank status—a speed of advancement that could only be described as blistering!

Yet, he knew that progress would not remain as swift now that he had reached the Seventh-Rank Fighter cultivation. The cultivation of Fighters was divided into three distinct cycles. The first was the attainment of the 'Sense of Qi,' a state preceding becoming a Fighter. It was precisely the lack of this Sense of Qi that had led Chen Feng•Kainth to be branded a 'waste' by his clansmen. The second cycle began when Battle Qi could manifest externally, solidifying and spilling beyond the body, a stage achieved at least by a Third-Rank Fighter, where strength would jump another tier. The third stage, reached upon entering the ranks of High-Rank Fighters, involved the compression and containment of one's own Battle Qi!

Battle Qi, as the source of power, could not be absorbed limitlessly. Upon reaching the Seventh-Rank Fighter cultivation, one would discover the body could no longer accommodate any new influx of Battle Qi! To alter this situation required an entirely new understanding of one's Battle Qi—the ability to compress it, to change its very form! This process was known as Battle Qi Liquefaction!

Only by completely liquefying the Battle Qi could one break the shackles of the Fighter realm and ascend to the Master Fighter realm!

Liquefying Battle Qi was an exceedingly difficult endeavor; some never found the path throughout their entire lives, thus remaining forever trapped at the Seventh-Rank Fighter cultivation!

It was precisely because of this difficulty that Chen Feng believed his advancement would slow compared to before.

Straightening his clothing, Chen Feng walked forward.

This outfit—the pitch-black top, fiery red trousers, and white apron, complemented by the crescent moon emblem on his back—had been custom-made in that small town during his trip with Yas. It was practically an alternate-world version of Iori Yagami!

Creating such striking attire wasn't due to affectation on Chen Feng's part. For some inexplicable reason, ever since cultivating the Dark Cyclone, his temper had grown arrogant, and his state of mind began to subtly align with Iori’s. Naturally, his aesthetic preferences followed suit, perhaps suggesting that such flamboyant clothes were the only way to express the feelings brewing within him!

Chen Feng always felt that though Iori was wild and ferocious, he was ultimately a solitary man—a proud yet lonely soul! He possessed unparalleled innate talent, an icily detached exterior, and power that eclipsed ordinary men, yet he had no friends, no one to confide in; his only companions were his enemies!

Chen Feng sometimes questioned whether it was precisely because he sensed this solitude that the power of the 'Kusanagi Style Fist' felt so much weaker than when he manifested Iori's own techniques!

After all, one's state of mind was intrinsically linked to the strength of one's moves, much like Yang Guo in Jin Yong's novels, who could only unleash the 'Sorrowful Soul Palm' when his heart was steeped in bitter desolation. Perhaps, to better unleash the King of Fighters' techniques hidden within him, his own inner disposition needed to align more closely with the personalities of those KOF characters!

Kyo Kusanagi grew up in Kusanagi City as the pampered young master of the Kusanagi family, living a life free of material want and basking in universal admiration; his heart must be filled with a sense of superiority! Iori Yagami, however, as the descendant of a traitor, endured the cold stares of the world, and at the age of ten, he watched his father murdered by his fated rival. His heart must be overflowing with solitude and hatred!

Chen Feng, arriving alone in this other world, was utterly adrift in a strange land, without friends or kin, unable to share anything he knew. This feeling was undeniably lonely; being falsely accused and expelled from his family undoubtedly fueled a burning hatred within him. Therefore, his current state of mind should mirror Iori's!

This might explain why, though the Kusanagi Style Fist first appeared in his mind, he only mastered two moves: 'Ao Ibuki' and 'Ouri.'

But the moment Iori’s Cyclone Force reversed, he learned four moves: 'Yumebizume,' 'Yami Barai,' 'Aoi Hana,' and 'Saka Sakazuki'!

State of mind? Fist techniques?

Raking his shock of red hair, Chen Feng let out a soft laugh and walked on. The armor forged from the shovel was now worn beneath his outer garments. The shovel’s ability to conceal cultivation proved extraordinary; it could actually manipulate the degree of concealment using the Cyclone Force within his body! Just as before, when he was a Fourth-Rank Fighter and could hide his strength as a First-Rank, or when at Sixth-Rank, he could appear as a First-Rank to outsiders! Now, at Seventh-Rank, he could cloak himself as any rank between one and six, purely by choice!

How on earth did Senior Yan Long forge this item? It was truly miraculous!

With a sigh of wonder, Chen Feng’s foot sank, the thick snow immediately reaching his ankle. It seemed this thing was still quite heavy; if he weren't constantly using his Cyclone Force to levitate slightly, he would leave a huge crater wherever he stepped!

Recalling the group of mercenaries he had slain half a month ago, Chen Feng felt a pang of melancholy. Perhaps it was time for him to leave. His injuries had healed, and his cultivation had advanced smoothly; lingering here might only disrupt the peaceful lives of John and Yas. He and they belonged to different worlds—they sought comfort and security, while his pursuit was... merely vengeance?

Chen Feng shook his head. Revenge was a minor affair in his journey through this other world. The true task, perhaps as Senior Yan Long had instructed, was to exert his full light and warmth, to make the entire world change because of him, the transmigrator!

But before leaving, he had to do something for the simple old man and his grandson! They weren't wealthy, and he possessed many Soul Cores and Demon Cores. Though he couldn't give them more directly, he could exchange them for currency and offer that!

With this plan solidifying in his mind, he turned and shot away like a long, fleeting shadow toward the nearest town!

The closest town was called Grenam Town, home to barely a hundred thousand people; among the Four Great Empires, a settlement this size was considered the smallest tier.

Despite its modest size, the town boasted a relatively developed commercial sector. The reason was its proximity to the Icy Demon Garden, which attracted numerous mercenary bands. Most traveling merchants preferred to purchase pelts and essence cores from magical beasts and fighting beasts here, transporting them to the Imperial Capital and other cities to sell, profiting from the price differential between the locations!

Chen Feng moved with extreme speed, sticking to the densest parts of the forest, unconcerned about discovery.

Emerging from the woods, he casually found a shop, purchased a long robe and a cloak to entirely obscure his face and physique. He wasn't worried about others coveting the Soul Cores and Demon Cores he carried; he simply wished to avoid unnecessary trouble.

He currently concealed his cultivation to around the Third-Rank; at his age, this level was neither ostentatious nor mediocre.

Once prepared, he located the largest item exchange venue in Grenam Town and stepped inside!

This exchange venue had a name consisting of a single character: "Zu" (), signifying that it possessed everything, an abundance of goods!

To boast such a claim in this place was testament to the venue's sheer scale.

Indeed, the venue was vast; even upon reaching the town street, he saw its majestic structure, towering perhaps fifteen or sixteen stories, each floor broader than four or five football fields combined.

Because trading here occurred frequently, many merchants preferred to remain thoroughly wrapped in cloaks and robes to avoid complications. Chen Feng, similarly attired, walked down the street without attracting undue attention.

As he was proceeding down the street, he heard a sharp "Clatter-clatter!" sound echoing rapidly from behind him. Two burly men in green robes on horseback sped past him from behind!

The road was thronged with people, yet these two showed no sign of slowing down, scattering the crowd in alarm.

"Get out of the way! Are you blind?!" one of the great men yelled wildly from horseback, not slowing his charge at all, heading straight to collide with Chen Feng’s back!