Hah! Hah! The relentless, high-intensity assault had completely drained my reserves; my chest felt like it might explode, my heart hammering against my ribs. I simply couldn't hold on any longer and threw up my hands in a gesture of truce, slumping onto the ground. It seemed my lack of stamina was always the primary constraint on my performance. Most critically, the Ling Feng Sword was entirely unsuitable for executing fencing techniques.

The Ling Feng Sword, being thirteen zhang long and weighing twenty jin, was already at my absolute limit to wield one-handed. More importantly, it lacked the specific springiness required for fencing; many characteristic fencing maneuvers were simply impossible to execute. Nevertheless, even with its bulk, the fundamental thrusting attacks characteristic of fencing, when applied to the Ling Feng Sword, still managed to manifest astonishing speed. Moreover, Feng had never encountered such an extreme style of swordsmanship, making him naturally unable to cope smoothly. As a result, Feng’s expression was no less strained than mine; his face was already beaded with sweat, suggesting the earlier exchange had indeed cost him dearly.

“Hng! Hah! Incredible! I didn't even have a chance to counterattack from beginning to end!” Chen Feng gasped, struggling for breath. “What kind of swordsmanship is this? It’s too fast! If your stamina hadn’t failed you, I wouldn't have lasted either!”

Hmph! I shot Chen Feng an annoyed glare, helpless, as I lacked the energy even to speak. Yet, I silently mused that if I had been wielding a proper dueling saber, I would have already run him through several times. Of course, that was just a thought.

After a long while, my strength returned, but neither Feng nor I harbored any thought of another full bout.

“Now you know how formidable I am!” I declared with smug satisfaction.

“Yes, your drawing speed is incredibly fast, and your angles are treacherous—it resembles the Ling Feng Sword Style very closely, but it is even faster and sharper!” Feng gazed at me with an expression of longing, as if recalling something distant.

“Ling Feng Sword Style!” I felt a flicker of surprise. Did such a skill truly exist on the Fama Continent?

“Of course!” Feng nodded slowly. “The Ling Feng Sword Style is the signature technique of Wan Luo, the Ling Feng Swordsman! Ten years ago, Wan Luo defeated Kuang Hu using nothing but his Ling Feng Sword Style to earn the opportunity to study advanced martial techniques at the Royal Academy! I was only thirteen then, but I was fortunate enough to witness that brilliant match! Your swordsmanship is strikingly similar to the Ling Feng Sword Style.”

“So that’s how it is!” Only then did I understand what the so-called Ling Feng Sword Style entailed. “What about that Wan Luo, the Ling Feng Swordsman, now?”

“I don’t know; there hasn’t been any news of him for a long time,” Feng’s expression grew somewhat somber. “Warriors who enter the Royal Academy often have the potential to become Sky Demon Warriors, and at that point, they must follow the arrangements of the Royal Family. It’s practically impossible for them to appear before common folk.”

“What a tragedy! To pursue the ultimate power, they actually surrender their freedom!” I sighed in lament.

“Enough about that!” Feng suddenly turned, looking at me with excitement. “Xiao Man, can you teach me fencing?”

“Sure! I only know a few moves, haven’t you seen them all? It’s just a few thrusts back and forth.”

“I know that, but your method of attack is truly unique. It’s so fast! If you combine it with Dou Qi, it would be utterly impossible to defend against!”

“Fine! If you’re willing to learn, I’ll teach you. But you have to teach me how to cultivate Dou Qi as well!” I proposed an exchange.

“You little schemer, always thinking of crooked ways!” Feng retorted with mock annoyance. “If you could cultivate Dou Qi, I would have taught you long ago!” Feng then looked at me with a serious expression. “You are still young; your muscles and bones are fragile and not suited for Dou Qi cultivation! Forcing yourself to cultivate it now would cause severe damage to your body! Do you understand?”

“I just want to know the method for cultivating Dou Qi!” I clarified. “Please tell me, won’t you?”

“Alright!” Feng pondered for a long time before finally resolving himself. “Actually, cultivating Dou Qi is very simple! It requires constant fighting, battling powerful demonic beasts time and time again. Eventually, a specific energy will generate inside your body—that energy is Dou Qi. Dou Qi, as the name suggests, is the energy generated through combat. Do you get it now?”

“Ah, it’s that simple?” I stared at Feng in disbelief. “Just by constantly fighting powerful demonic beasts, I can generate Dou Qi?”

“That’s only the first step. Once Dou Qi is generated, knowing how to use it is what’s most important!” Feng continued. “In truth, I only sensed the existence of Dou Qi when I was eighteen, and only then did I begin practice in utilizing it under your father’s instruction.”

“When will I be able to sense the presence of Dou Qi?” I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me at that moment. “With my Demon Devouring Body, perhaps I won’t even be able to sense Dou Qi.”

“Probably not,” Feng reassured me. “Dou Qi isn't the power of magical elements, so you don’t need to worry about not sensing it.” Feng then added, “But your current physique is far too weak, do you understand?”

“Even though you say that, I still want to begin cultivating Dou Qi as soon as possible!” After thinking for a while, I finally made up my mind.

“I knew you would say that!” Feng sighed helplessly. “Then you should fight hard. However, I know that killing creatures only at the Scarecrow level won't cultivate any Dou Qi.”

“Then what kind of monsters are necessary to cultivate Dou Qi?” I asked impatiently.

“I don’t know about other demonic beasts, but the first time Dong Lun and I sensed Dou Qi was in the Centipede Cave in Mengzhong Province! We stayed in that cave for an entire year to cultivate Dou Qi. The Pincer Worms, Centipedes, and other beasts I killed must have numbered at least ten million.”

“Ah! How could it be so many!” I was utterly shocked! Yet, in that instant, I was reminded of the monster-slaying system settings in the Legend game from my previous life. Perhaps this method could indeed achieve the goal of cultivating Dou Qi.

“Actually, I feel that sensing the existence of Dou Qi that year wasn't my greatest gain. Instead, the mastery of moves, the utilization of strength, and the growth in stamina, endurance, and explosive power gained during the process of killing ten million demonic beasts were far more valuable!”

“Mengzhong Province! Centipede Cave!” I muttered to myself. “That's going to be a very long journey!”

“Not only is it far, but the demonic beasts inside are extremely powerful! I doubt you could defeat them with your current strength. You must know that the Pincer Worms in the Centipede Cave have astonishingly high defense; even I needed the Sha Kill Sword Technique to inflict damage on them! With your current strength, even if a Pincer Worm stood still and let you strike, you couldn't hurt it! As for the Jumping Bees and Black Maggots, their speed is terrifyingly fast. While you might handle the speed aspect well enough, the key is that they are not only incredibly fast but also possess formidable defense and attack power. Your current physique simply cannot withstand their blows! Furthermore, even if you cultivate Dou Qi, you cannot use it rashly, as your bones and flesh cannot yet bear the backlash of Dou Qi. Forcing its use will only result in massive physical harm. Therefore, under no circumstances are you suitable for cultivating Dou Qi right now!” Chen Feng finished speaking rapidly and still looked at me with deep concern. “Xiao Man, listen to me this time! At least wait until you have mastered the Attacking Kill Sword Art before heading to Mengzhong, okay?”

“Alright! I’ll listen to you!” Though extremely unwilling, Feng's reasoning was sound; I was still too weak right now. I knew that although my earlier performance had left Feng in a sorry state, I was far too naive to believe Feng had used his full strength. Strictly speaking, what Feng had done earlier was merely sparring with me. If it had been a fight to the death, I wouldn't even have been able to withstand a single strike from him.

“Then teach me how I can improve my strength as quickly as possible and comprehend the Attacking Kill Sword Art,” I asked the most crucial question.

“That… I’ll explain in detail when we head home later,” Feng pondered for a moment before continuing. “Actually, your fencing style from this morning does have significant practical value. However, I also noticed that fencing is fundamentally an extreme offensive method that doesn't heavily emphasize personal defense. Even when facing an opponent's attack, it relies on coordinating movement and footwork to evade strikes, thus avoiding direct confrontation.” Chen Feng’s expression turned serious and grave. “But I must tell you that such a sword style has flaws. Once you face group combat where evasion is impossible, it becomes a fatal weakness! And if you raise your sword to block, you lose the true power of the thrusting sword, making subsequent attacks ineffective. Therefore, you must overcome this weakness.”

“Ah!” I stared at Chen Feng in astonishment. I couldn't believe he could discern the strengths and weaknesses of that style simply from one exchange. Such insight was truly admirable.

“I never thought you would see through it at a glance!” I remarked with emotion.

“Hehe! I am a battle-hardened veteran, after all!” Chen Feng showed no sign of false modesty. “Furthermore, your sword style only shows miraculous effectiveness when fighting other humans. If you use this thrust-focused style against demonic beasts, you will certainly suffer greatly. You must know that not all demonic beasts have a single fatal weakness like the Scarecrow that results in death upon being pierced. Beasts like the Centipedes and Pincer Worms in the Centipede Cave can only truly be killed by being cut in half. If you used thrusting strikes in the Centipede Cave, even after piercing them hundreds of times, you might not kill them. So, what I must tell you is: if you wish to cultivate Dou Qi, it would be best to abandon this sword style—at least until you have mastered Dou Qi.”

“I understand!” Hearing Feng’s words, I felt a pang of disappointment. I had thought I found a sword style that was uniquely mine, only to be forced to abandon it for the sake of cultivating Dou Qi. The feeling was worse when I remembered the dozens of silver coins I spent forging three specialized dueling sabers.

“Just because you can’t use it for cultivating Dou Qi doesn’t mean you can never use it again, right?” Feng seemed to sense my dejection and offered comfort.

“That’s true!” I thought that since killing demonic beasts demanded a focus on pure destruction, I might as well forge a Tang Saber best suited for hacking and slashing. After all, the Eastern swords of later generations evolved from the Tang Saber. I refused to believe I couldn't hack these monsters to death. With this realization, the gloom and frustration vanished completely.

It seemed I needed to draw up another blueprint.

“Alright, let’s head back. It’s nearly noon, and your mother asked you to come home early for lunch!”

“Mm.”

When we arrived home, Mother was still not there. But the food on the table was portioned for two. Chen Feng showed no hesitation; after all, this wasn't the first time.

After eating, I took out my brush and paper to start calculating the forging of a precious blade optimized for chopping. The Tang Saber still had certain deficiencies. At that moment, I recalled the Hundred Battles Precious Saber designed by Xiang Shaolong, as depicted by the great master Huang Yi in A Step into the Past. I might as well use that as the model. Since my own imagination was unlikely to conjure anything better, why not use something readily available?

With that in mind, I carefully drew the design of the Hundred Battles Precious Saber.

Chen Feng, initially looking on with confusion, suddenly changed color when he saw me complete the blueprint. He stared at me with an expression of seeing a ghost.

“Xiao Man! How did you conceive of a weapon like this!” Clearly, with a warrior’s keen eye, Feng instantly perceived the terrifying destructive power latent in the Hundred Battles Precious Saber.

“Hehe! This was designed by a true master, Master Huang Yi!” I replied casually.

“Huang Yi!” Feng frantically searched his memory for any record of such a person. “What a genius! A blade like this must maximize the power of slashing! Your fencing style must also be the work of this man!”

“Ah!” Now it was my turn to be astonished. This fellow’s imagination truly ran wild.

“It seems this esteemed figure named Huang Yi has a penchant for extremes—either stabbing or chopping! I imagine there must be another specialized weapon corresponding to the fencing style!” Feng rested his chin in his hand, analyzing with a serious expression. “But who exactly is this Huang Yi? Why have I never heard of him! A martial arts genius of this caliber could not possibly be obscure!”

“Hehe!” I could only offer a strained, dry laugh, hoping to gloss over the issue. “Great masters have their own eccentricities; this Huang Yi simply doesn't seek fame!”

“So that’s how it is,” Feng gazed at me thoughtfully.

It made me feel extremely uneasy.

“It seems there must be a corresponding Saber Style to complement this weapon!”

Damn it! He even thought of that. I felt a knot forming in my stomach. There wasn’t really a specific saber style, but those few moves from the little Japanese techniques were indeed effective, and I had thoroughly studied the three great killing moves of the Mo School found in Huang Yi’s A Step into the Past. I might as well utilize those for now. Someone once said a classic quote that remains fresh in my memory: To achieve immediate success, you must find a good horse; once you mount that horse, success is almost inevitable. Since I was just an ordinary person, why shouldn't I borrow the achievements of Master Huang Yi, which far surpassed those of ordinary men, for my own use? I just wondered if the Mo School techniques would be effective in this world. I’ll worry about that later.

After finishing the blueprint, Chen Feng and I rushed to the blacksmith’s shop without delay.

“Ah, Xiao Man is here!” Uncle Wei greeted me warmly upon seeing me. “Sit down, have some water first!”

“Thank you, Uncle Wei!” Chen Feng and I took the cups of water offered by Uncle Wei.

“The swords you ordered are ready; I’ll bring them out now!” Uncle Wei said, stepping into the inner room, and moments later, he returned with the three dueling sabers I had requested.

“Take these! These are yours!” Uncle Wei said. “Truly strange. I’ve been forging iron for most of my life and have made every kind of weapon, but I’ve never seen a strange sword like this!”

“Hehe!” I said with a dry laugh while accepting the three swords. Chen Feng, on the other hand, looked utterly shocked, then snatched the heavy sword from my hands and began practicing forms with it continuously.

“If you had been using this sword this morning! I might not have managed ten parries!” Chen Feng’s expression was extremely agitated, and the hand gripping the dueling saber trembled slightly. Clearly, he instantly recognized that this sword was specifically designed to complement the fencing style.

“I originally thought this sword style had weaknesses in defense and was unfavorable in group fights!” Feng stared obsessively at the dueling saber in his hand, his left hand gently caressing the sharp steel guard near the hilt. “If I used this sword, those weaknesses would vanish. And I wouldn’t have to fear close-quarters fighting from opponents using short weapons.” Feng sighed deeply. “It’s perfect. Who exactly is Huang Yi!”

Feng murmured to himself, leaving me and Uncle Wei staring blankly.

“Did that little Feng suffer some kind of setback?” Uncle Wei speculated.

“Mm!” I nodded involuntarily.

“He must have been defeated by someone!” Uncle Wei analyzed. “The person who defeated him is called Huang Yi!”

“Um!” My face was already dark, breaking out in cold sweat. “I think… yes!”

“Poor little Feng!” Uncle Wei looked distressed, showing how much he cared for Feng.

“Um, Uncle Wei!” I pulled out the blueprint for the Hundred Battles Saber from my robes. “Please forge three of these for me as well!” My Hundred Battles Saber also came in three sizes: large, medium, and small.

“Forge one of the large ones for me too!” The previously dazed Feng suddenly spoke up, and when he looked at Uncle Wei, his expression was stern, carrying a faint, oppressive killing intent! “Make the elongated one ninety jin!” I was secretly pleased that Chen Feng also wanted my Hundred Battles Saber.

“Ah! Oh!” Uncle Wei was slightly intimidated by Feng’s sharp gaze. “Little Feng! Winning and losing is common in warfare; don’t take it to heart!” Uncle Wei muttered quietly while timidly examining the blueprint in his hands. “What material should I use?”

“The same as this morning!” I interjected.

“A large one weighing fifty jin, a medium one thirty jin, a small one twenty jin, plus an extra-large one weighing ninety jin—that’s one hundred and ninety jin of material in total. That will be ten gold coins.”

“Ah, ten gold coins!” I only had two in my pocket. “I’ll pay two now, and the rest when I come to collect, is that okay?”

“This…” Uncle Wei seemed hesitant and wanted to say more.

“Take it! I’ll pick them up before evening!” Chen Feng had already pulled out a handful of gold coins and coolly handed them to Uncle Wei, his demeanor suggesting Uncle Wei had just charged him two million gold coins.

“This…” Uncle Wei looked at me with difficulty. “I can only finish two by the evening at the earliest. These sabers are not like those little things this morning!”

“Then just forge the extra-large one and one small one first!” I considered for a moment and proposed a suitable arrangement.

“That’s fine! Come pick them up tonight!” Uncle Wei quickly took the coins and hurried into the inner room. He also seemed to sense that Chen Feng was acting unusually today, like a subdued volcano. I felt it too; ever since Feng saw the three dueling sabers, his expression had been grave.

“Um! Chen Feng! I’m heading back first!” Seeing Feng staring into the distance, clutching the heavy dueling saber, I hesitated. “If you like that sword, I’ll give it to you!” As I spoke, I hurried back toward my home.

“Mm! Ah!” Chen Feng snapped back to reality. “Wait for me!”

“Phew! This guy has finally returned to normal,” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though I was still puzzled as to why he wanted to come to my house.

“Don’t forget, you promised to teach me sword skills!” Chen Feng quickly caught up with me.

Oh yes! There was indeed such a matter.

Back at home.

“Xiao Man! Use your sword and spar with me again!” As soon as he entered the courtyard, Chen Feng looked at me with a solemn expression.

“Are you sure!” I had actually expected Feng to make this request and was secretly delighted; this was the perfect chance to test my sword style on him.

“Yes. But this time, I will use protective Dou Qi!” Chen Feng declared firmly. “So, you don’t need to hold back. I want to see the true power of the fencing sword style.”

“Good!” I gripped the improved dueling saber lightly in my hand, silently calculating my strategy for this fight. I ultimately decided to crush him completely in the first round of attacks before he could adapt to the fencing style. After all, now that he was using protective Dou Qi, I didn't have to worry about injuring him, meaning I could attack him without reservation this time.