Tenfold Hidden Force

Opening the first page of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' manual, Luo Feng's heart trembled. The single, most striking character on the title page, 'Swift!', made him feel as if a blade flash was rushing towards him. This was merely a copied version of the original 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' manual, yet even the copied character 'Swift' could make Luo Feng's heart race. One could only imagine the terrifying power of Lei Shen, who created this technique.

Luo Feng continued reading.

'All martial arts, though formidable, are broken by speed alone.'

'When your blade reaches its ultimate speed, you become invincible.' Luo Feng saw the elegant, powerful calligraphy as he opened the first page. 'Even Hong's ultimate technique, 'World Annihilation,' follows this principle. His most potent move is one of extreme speed, capable of shaking heaven and earth, annihilating all.'

'The fundamental essence of my 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' is a single word—Swiftness!'

Luo Feng turned to the second page and continued.

'Why does swiftness possess such immense power?'

'Firstly, when your blade is so swift that your opponent cannot react, you can sever their throat before they even have a chance to swing their own blade! Even if your strength is only a tenth of theirs, their throat will not withstand your sharp blade. Thus, swiftness allows you to strike at an opponent's weaknesses.'

'Secondly, swiftness grants your blade astonishing power.'

'According to the energy calculation formula—a blade's attack power equals 0.5mv^2. This means that with a fixed mass, the faster the blade, the more terrifying the energy it contains! At a certain speed, even a jet of water can pierce steel. A mere sheet of paper can cut through steel!'

'Swiftness leaves opponents no time to defend!'

'Swiftness makes your blade unstoppable! Whether viewed from the angle of striking weaknesses or absolute power, making your blade swift is the optimal method!'

Luo Feng nodded in agreement. This principle was, in fact, understood by most warriors in human society: only ultimate speed leads to invincibility!

'Many warriors across the world grasp this principle, but few successfully apply it in practice!' Lei Shen's description in the manual exuded boundless confidence. 'My 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' granted me the fastest blade in the world! It also gave me the fastest speed and the strongest physique!'

Luo Feng's eyes gleamed as he read.

'The 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' encompasses a complete movement technique, 'Flowing Light,' a full set of guiding techniques, 'Ninefold Primordial Source,' and a comprehensive blade technique, 'Thunder Blade.' Among these three, the guiding technique is the foundation!'

'Only through the guiding technique can you forge a powerful physique!'

'Physical conditioning is paramount!'

'Blade techniques and movement techniques are skills, requiring repeated practice and insight!'

Luo Feng continued to flip through the pages. The guiding technique recorded in this manual comprised three sections. According to the manual, the 'Ninefold Primordial Source' guiding technique had a total of nine sections. Similarly, this manual only contained the first three layers of the blade technique and the first three layers of the movement technique. Luo Feng read every word carefully.

He looked up...

By now, the sun was scorching. August sunlight streamed through the window, making the entire Training Hall even more dazzling.

'Incredible, truly incredible.'

Luo Feng was utterly captivated by Lei Shen's 'Ninefold Thunder Blade.' Even with only the first three layers, it had left him dumbfounded. Compared to this manual, the so-called techniques circulating online were like fireflies next to the Sun.

'Time to test this blade technique.'

Luo Feng carefully placed the manual in a corner of the Training Hall. Then, he drew the Blood Shadow Battle Blade from its sheath with a 'shing.' The Blood Shadow Battle Blade measured 101 centimeters in total length, with a 78-centimeter blade and a width of 5.2 centimeters. This battle blade was already sharpened, its primary material being a Second-tier Kro alloy.

Even at half price, this Blood Shadow Battle Blade cost 3 million, weighing 112 kilograms.

'Begin!'

'Whoosh!' 'Whoosh!' Luo Feng stood in the center of the Training Hall, his Blood Shadow Battle Blade slashing out repeatedly.

The immense power of the Ninefold Thunder Blade technique stemmed from a wondrous method of exerting force.

A normal person's full-power slash might be ten units of force! However, a practitioner of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' would only use seven units of force when slashing. As they unleashed the first layer of force, they would strive to make their body unleash a second layer of force, also seven units. The two layers of force combined would amount to fourteen units of force!

The Ninefold Thunder Blade is divided into nine layers.

The first layer allows for one additional hidden force, unleashing fourteen units of power!

The second layer allows for two additional hidden forces, unleashing twenty-one units of power!

The third layer allows for three additional hidden forces, unleashing twenty-eight units of power!

...

The ninth layer allows for nine additional hidden forces, unleashing seventy units of power! This is a full seven times one's original physical strength.

What does this mean?

It means that a beginner-tier warrior, if they master the ninth layer of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' technique, can almost rival a beginner-tier Warlord!

'So difficult. The rumors were true. This 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' is incredibly hard to cultivate. Even the entry level is this challenging.' Luo Feng slashed hundreds of times, repeatedly trying to unleash an additional hidden force on top of a single slash. But he simply couldn't do it.

It was too difficult!

A slash ends in an instant. To make the body unleash a second burst of internal force immediately after the first, all within that fleeting moment, seemed impossible.

'I can't be too ambitious. The first layer of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' technique has 18 stances. The manual states that practicing these 18 stances helps in comprehending the force exertion of the first layer of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade'.' Luo Feng nodded. As the saying goes, 'Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself.' It was the same principle.

Practice these 18 stances enough times, and with even a little insight, one would naturally grasp their essence.

'Xiao Feng, dinner's ready.'

'Xiao Feng, hurry up.'

His parents' voices drifted up from downstairs.

'Coming!' Luo Feng sheathed the Blood Shadow Battle Blade, hanging it on the wall. He then returned the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade' manual to his bedroom before heading downstairs for dinner.

...

Time flowed on. Although Luo Feng had joined the Fire Hammer Squad, they were currently on vacation. Luo Feng seized this opportunity to thoroughly study the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade's' blade technique, movement technique, and guiding technique. Among them, the guiding technique, when combined with gene original energy cultivation, showed the most significant effects. Luo Feng's physical strength increased at a noticeably faster rate.

As for the movement technique and blade technique of the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade,' Luo Feng hadn't even mastered the first layer.

Even without mastering it, Luo Feng's movement technique was now more agile, and his control over blade force had become considerably more precise.

'Although I can't unleash a hidden force instantly, at least my muscle control is far more precise than before.' Luo Feng, alone in the Training Hall, silently began to put on his combat uniform trousers. Five throwing knives were strapped to the outer thigh of each leg, and he wore alloy combat boots.

He wore a combat vest, his arms bare, with wrist guards on both hands.

On his back were a warrior's backpack, a hexagonal shield, and the Blood Shadow Battle Blade. A communication watch was fixed to the wrist guard on his right wrist. Inside his backpack, he had prepared water and some high-energy food.

'Today, August 28th, marks my first time leaving the Base City to officially undertake a mission.' Luo Feng took a deep breath.

Indeed...

Today was the day the Fire Hammer Squad departed!

'Luo Feng!' The voice of 'Cannon' Chen Gu called from outside.

'Coming!' Luo Feng replied, immediately rushing downstairs. As soon as he reached the living room, he saw his father, Luo Hongguo, and mother, Gong Xinlan, standing by, while his younger brother, Luo Hua, sat in his wheelchair, silently watching Luo Feng. They knew today was the day Luo Feng would leave the Base City and venture into the Wilderness Area.

The Wilderness Area was a general term for the continent outside human Base Cities, encompassing ruined cities, suburbs, mountains, forests, lakes, and more.

'Xiao Feng, be careful,' Gong Xinlan couldn't help but say.

'Don't worry, Mom.' Luo Feng grinned, nodded to his father, and finally looked at his younger brother, Luo Hua.

'Brother, maybe when you return, you'll be eating my wedding candy,' Luo Hua suddenly chuckled.

'Wedding candy? That fast? You've only known that girl for less than two months, haven't you?' Luo Feng laughed.

'When the feelings are right, what's wrong with being fast?' Luo Hua smiled smugly.

'Alright, I'll eat your wedding candy when I get back, but make sure it's good, and give me plenty.' Luo Feng chuckled, ruffling his brother's head. 'Okay, Mom, Dad, I'm off. I'll be back in a few days.' With that, Luo Feng ran straight out the door to meet Chen Gu at the villa entrance.

Watching Luo Feng in his combat uniform and another equally burly, fully equipped man quickly depart, Luo Feng's family watched in silence for a long time.

'Let's go, Luo Feng. The three of us will head to the HR Alliance Mall to meet up with the captain and the others, then we'll set off for the Wilderness Area.'

'Understood, Brother Chen.'

Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and another man carrying an iron spear boarded the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo's special vehicle and quickly set off.