C6 Bloodthirsty Sword Lightning Steps

Lee Mo was lost in thought when the sound of footsteps interrupted him. A middle-aged Martial Master walked toward him, his tall and burly figure casting a long shadow, his complexion as dark as coal. He frowned at the sight of Lee Mo, clearly finding his presence inappropriate.

The man retrieved two books from the top shelf and turned to leave. Surprised to see that there were Mystic Manuals still available, Lee Mo quickly inquired, "Teacher, may I take a look at those spell manuals?"

The Dark-faced Martial Master turned, his smile laden with meaning. "You? These spell manuals have eluded beginners for decades. No matter how talented, all have ultimately abandoned their efforts. After a review earlier this year, I planned to relocate these to the second floor. It's certain that you won't be able to master them," he stated, his tone laced with condescension.

Yet Lee Mo stood his ground, "I would still like to see them."

Seeing the young man's stubbornness, the Martial Master replied with a hint of irritation, "Very well, I'll let you satisfy your curiosity." He scoffed and tossed the spell manuals to Lee Mo.

Catching them, Lee Mo saw the titles: Bloodthirsty Sword and Lightning Steps, both labeled as exceptionally difficult. He read the introductions: Bloodthirsty Sword: A sword that drinks blood, commanding an extraordinary presence. With one swing, it brings ruin to all. Lightning Steps: Traverse distances with the speed of lightning, crossing miles in an instant.

The Martial Master was taken aback, having expected Lee Mo to be daunted by the descriptions. Instead, the young man was not only undeterred but eager to learn both spells. "You must recognize your limits. Chasing the unattainable is sheer folly," he said sternly.

Lightning Steps: One moves like lightning, covering ten miles in an instant.

Lee Mo flipped through the Mystic Manual and then declared, "Teacher, I wish to practice these two spells."

"What?" The Dark-faced Martial Master was taken aback. He had assumed that the mere description would have Lee Mo's face turning pale with fear. But to his surprise, not only did Lee Mo aspire to master these spells, he boldly requested both.

"One must be aware of their own capabilities. To persist in attempting the impossible is the height of folly!" he lectured coldly.

Lee Mo met his gaze firmly and said, "I may have average talent, but I possess unwavering determination. Even though these spells have been unmastered for decades, I wish to courageously give them a try!"

Seeing the resolve in Lee Mo's eyes, which hinted at an intimidating presence, the Dark-faced Martial Master frowned slightly and scoffed, "Mediocre talent is one thing, but to be stubbornly foolish is another. Since you refuse to heed my advice, do as you please."

With a dismissive snort, he strode away, leaving Lee Mo to smile with satisfaction before he too left the True Martial Tower.

Soon after, Lee Gaoyuan also appeared. Lee Mo examined the three level two spells his friend had chosen and nodded slightly in approval. The selections were indeed respectable.

However, Lee Mo had no interest in those spells.

"Let's go check out the training field," Lee Mo suggested.

"Alright," Lee Gaoyuan, eager as any newcomer to the Martial Academy, agreed readily.

After getting directions, they swiftly arrived at the training field. The area was vast, divided into different zones by high walls: sword technique, sabreplay, archery, and more.

In the sword technique zone, they found rows of man-high Iron Wood Posts neatly arranged, with many students wielding Ironwood Swords, practicing earnestly. The available spots were not adjacent, so they split up.

Lee Mo grabbed a practice Ironwood Sword and found a spot at the corner of the sword technique area. As a former level eight practitioner, he had quickly mastered the basics of the two level one spells.

He silently invoked the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell and raised his arm to initiate the swordmanship. Vital Energy immediately flowed into the sword, making the ten-pound Ironwood Sword feel significantly heavier.

With each successive strike, the power surged, outdoing the last. This sword technique was like drinking poison to quench thirst—a dangerous gamble. A misstep could lead to the energy backfiring, potentially severing meridians or, in severe cases, damaging internal organs. Yet, it was precisely this formidable sword technique that Lee Mo sought.

He started over again and again.

One sword move!

Two sword moves!

Three sword moves!

With every third move, Lee Mo's body nearly buckled under the intense drain of Vital Energy, teetering on the brink of losing control, forcing him to begin anew. Lee Mo was relentless, each attempt strengthening his resolve. The sword, insatiable as a beast, kept devouring his Vital Energy.

Drenched in sweat and exhausted, Lee Mo's determination only solidified. If he couldn't master even this basic martial spell, how could he ever hope to shatter the shackles of martial arts?

Day and night he trained without pause, his fighting spirit never waning. As he persisted, the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell within him intensified, and the Vital Energy in his body swelled to meet the sword's demands.

That afternoon, he finally managed to perform the third move with control. Lee Mo let out a gentle breath, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, though he felt no thrill of victory. After all, it was just a level one spell with fifteen forms, and he had only mastered the first three, not even achieving Small Completion.

The journey to transcend martial arts and ascend beyond level nine into the Spirit World loomed large. The Bloodthirsty Sword was merely the first step. After a short rest, he pressed on, making breakthrough after breakthrough.

Four consecutive sword techniques!

The fifth strike!

The Bloodthirsty Sword had reached Small Completion!

Eager to continue his progress, Lee Mo moved to the Lightness Technique Area to practice the Lightning Steps. Focusing his energy into his feet, he leaped and bounded, his movements still clumsy and nearly causing him to stumble upon landing. For an earth-level Alchemist, such a display was quite embarrassing, eliciting snickers from observing students.

Lee Mo tuned out the ridicule and immersed himself in his training. His natural talent and deep comprehension of martial arts were exceptional; he just needed his body to adapt to the new techniques. For several days, he engaged in rigorous practice, undeterred by fatigue or hardship, his sights set on the pinnacle of martial arts. Through relentless practice and continuous insight, he was now able to leap over ten feet at a time. However, for him, this was far from enough. The Lightning Steps were not just about reaching the limits of speed but also distance. After several days of unwavering dedication, Lee Mo finally achieved Small Completion with the Lightning Steps.

In just ten days, he had reached Small Completion with two different spells, an achievement beyond the wildest dreams of most. Having mastered two spells to Small Completion, Lee Mo roused Lee Gaoyuan early that morning and they made their way to the Mission Area at the north gate of the Martial Academy. Although dawn was just breaking, the area was already teeming with students clustered around the notice boards. Many of these students had been at the academy for years, with cultivation levels spanning from the Monolith Stage to the Iron Bone Stage. Lee Mo, at the Qi Condensation Stage, stood out among them.

The boards were covered with a variety of missions from the academy, presenting opportunities for students to earn both silver and glory points. Lee Mo had a specific goal; he was searching for missions that involved hunting Barbarian Beasts. These creatures, born from the essence of heaven and earth, could live for centuries. The most powerful Barbarian Beasts could effortlessly destroy cities and bring disaster to entire nations.

Every part of a Barbarian Beast was valuable: their bones could be made into weapons, their blood used to strengthen the body, their hide turned into armor, and most importantly, their Inner Core was a Supreme Treasure sought after by martial artists to boost their cultivation.

Having progressed to the Middle Period of the Qi Condensation Stage, Lee Mo found that the Origin Returning Pill was losing its effectiveness for him. He was now ready to refine a more potent Yellow Level pill, which often required components from Barbarian Beasts.

Lee Gaoyuan, always the more audacious, was visibly thrilled by the idea of hunting beasts, pointing excitedly at one mission after another. Lee Mo, however, took a more calculated approach, carefully selecting which Barbarian Beast would be the most suitable target for their combined abilities.

Having made some progress with two spells, Lee Mo woke Lee Gaoyuan early in the morning and they headed to the mission area at the north gate of the Martial Academy. Dawn was just breaking, but the area in front of the numerous notice boards was already bustling with students. Most of these students had enrolled years earlier and their cultivation ranged from the Monolith Stage to the Iron Bone Stage. Lee Mo, with his cultivation at the Qi Condensation Stage, stood out conspicuously among them.

The boards were plastered with missions issued by the academy, allowing students to exchange completion of various tasks for silver and glory points. Lee Mo had already planned to search for a suitable mission to hunt Barbarian Beasts. These creatures, formed by absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, could live for hundreds of years. Top-level Barbarian Beasts could easily destroy cities, causing disasters that affected entire nations. However, every part of a Barbarian Beast was valuable: their bones could be used to make tools, their blood to strengthen the body, their hide to make armor, and especially their Inner Cores, which were considered Supreme Treasures for martial artists looking to enhance their cultivation.

Lee Mo, now in the Middle Period of the Qi Condensation Stage, found that the Origin Returning Pill was becoming less effective for him. Therefore, he was preparing to refine a higher-grade Yellow Level pill, which often required Barbarian Beasts as ingredients.

Lee Gaoyuan, on the other hand, was pointing excitedly at one mission after another. Naturally bold, he was thrilled at the prospect of hunting beasts. Lee Mo, however, didn't make an immediate decision, weighing which Barbarian Beast would be most suitable for their levels of cultivation.

As they were selecting a mission, a teenage boy and girl approached them. The boy was sturdy, with a large axe on his back, while the girl was delicate and pretty, with a long sword at her waist and a hint of shyness on her face.

The boy greeted them with a traditional salute. "Junior Brothers, are you choosing a mission?" Lee Mo nodded, and the boy got straight to the point. "My sister and I have our eye on a mission, but we're short-handed. If you join us, I'm sure we can complete it with ease." Though he was speaking to both, it was clear he was impressed with Lee Gaoyuan's abilities at the Middle Period of the Monolith Stage.

While they were perusing their options, a young man and woman approached them. Both appeared to be in their mid-teens; the young man was robust, carrying a large axe, while the girl was petite and pretty, with a long sword at her waist and a touch of shyness on her face. The young man greeted them with a fist and palm salute. "Junior Brothers, are you in the process of selecting a mission?" Lee Mo nodded, and the young man got straight to the point. "My sister and I are interested in a particular mission, but we're short on hands. If you're willing to join us, I'm confident we can complete it successfully." Though he addressed both of them, his interest clearly lay with Lee Gaoyuan's prowess at the Middle Period of the Monolith Stage.

"What's the mission?" Lee Mo asked, open to the idea of collaborating. He wasn't yet at a level where he could undertake missions alone, and teaming up could make things much easier. "We're tasked with hunting down the elite Crimson Horn Oxen," the young man replied seriously. "Hunting the elite Crimson Horn Oxen? Let's do it, Lee Mo," Lee Gaoyuan said, his excitement palpable. Lee Mo agreed, recognizing the mission as a significant challenge.

The four of them formed a team and, after accepting the mission, they left the city. The county was bustling with the morning's activities, with carts and horses coming and going. As they traveled, they learned that the siblings were also from a branch of the Lee family and hailed from Direstar City. The brother was named Lee Xiaoyong and the sister, Lee Jing.

Leaving the city behind, they soon reached the Darkvine Oldwoods to the north. This ancient forest spanned over a hundred miles, with its towering trees, steep mountains, and deep ravines, and was inhabited by a diverse array of Barbarian Beasts.