Chapter 1433: Shen Gong, Breakthrough!
Above the sea of clouds, a massive shadow swiftly traversed the sky, covering several kilometers in the blink of an eye. It wasn’t until the shadow completely disappeared that a sharp, continuous sonic boom spread out, its speed far surmounting sound.
The Green Jade Spirit Boat ascended into the sky and gradually stabilized. Luo Feng stood on the deck and looked back.
The vast landscape beneath the sea of clouds unfurled like a traditional ink painting, quickly receding like flowing water, leaving the sight of Cloud Brocade City far behind.
Screech!
In the distance, a monstrous bird as large as a small mountain, with feathers like flames reflecting a cold metallic sheen, discovered the Green Jade Spirit Boat and flapped its wings, trying to close in.
Yet, no matter how hard it flapped its wings, the distance between them increased further and further. Finally, it let out an angry screech and opened its mouth, spewing a massive ball of fire that set half the sky ablaze.
Watching the bird driven to madness, Luo Feng smiled faintly, a mild sentiment rising within him:
“A ship that can fly in the sky—had I not set foot out of the Canglan Dynasty, I might never have witnessed such a spectacle in my lifetime.”
Footsteps sounded, and Chixiao came over, gazing at the swiftly retreating clouds along the edge of the ship, and said with a smile:
“There are countless wonders in the world. What you and I have seen and heard is just a drop in the ocean. It’s precisely because of this that countless people forge ahead on the path of Martial Arts. Standing tall allows one to see far; this simple phrase holds profound meaning.”
Luo Feng nodded; human curiosity is innate.
Looking at the vast sea of clouds, he couldn’t help but feel immensely ambitious: What kind of scene would it be to stand at the pinnacle of Martial Arts one day?
Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng glanced back at the monstrous bird far behind and said, “I wonder how this ship was crafted. Its speed surpasses even that of a True Yuan Realm Martial Artist.”
“Probably no one in the world knows today.”
Chixiao shook his head and said, “In the past, the Puppet Sect wasn’t that prosperous. After all, in the eyes of Martial Artists, mechanisms and puppets were mere side paths, not something respectable. That was until a thousand years ago when one person became the Puppet Sect’s Sect Leader and changed that situation, elevating the Puppet Sect from a medium power to a colossal force comparable to the nine great sacred lands.”
“One person raised a power to the level of the nine great sacred lands?” Luo Feng looked surprised.
Chixiao smiled: “I didn’t believe it when I first heard it, but it’s true. This person, named Shi Tian, was an eccentric. The moment he debuted, he showed an astonishing talent for cultivation and invention. After entering the Puppet Sect, he created all sorts of incredible inventions, such as puppet beasts and the famous Hundred Battles Armor of the time, and of course, this Green Jade Spirit Boat was his handiwork. Because of this, after he became a Sealing King, he was honored as the Sovereign of Machinery. The title ‘Shen Gong’ (Divine Artisan) was known to all.”
Sovereign of Machinery…
Luo Feng’s spirit stirred; what an impressive title.
“Since the Puppet Sect vanished, many major powers tried to replicate these things. Some even dismantled the Green Jade Spirit Boat piece by piece, only to find its intricacies unimaginably complex, impossible to replicate, and ending up destroying many Spirit Boats and treasures to no avail. Afterward, no one mentioned it again. So, unless the Sovereign of Machinery reappeared, there’s probably no one in this world who could understand how to craft the Green Jade Spirit Boat,” Chixiao chuckled.
Luo Feng nodded. If it were easy to replicate, then the world would be crawling with puppet beasts and Green Jade Spirit Boats by now.
“Alright, let’s go inside. Getting to the Hundred Battles Dynasty isn’t a task for just a day or two.”
After chatting for a moment, seeing the Green Jade Spirit Boat stabilize, Chixiao spoke.
“Alright.”
Luo Feng nodded, turning to enter the cabin.
Heading to the Sword Tomb first requires going through one of the four great dynasties, the War Dragon Dynasty. Even at the speed of the Green Jade Spirit Boat, it would take more than half a month.
In the days that followed, except for when the Spirit Boat stopped for rest, Luo Feng remained secluded in the cabin, diligently cultivating.
Yue Haitang, in the capacity of a blood kin of the Holy Swordmaster, was destined to face challenges on this journey to the Sword Tomb.
Moreover, Luo Feng was also mindful of the trip to the Puppet Sect’s ruins. With significant figures like the Seven Kill Demon King of the Blood Demon Sect heading there, he couldn’t predict what dangers awaited. The more he could enhance his strength now, the safer it would be then.
…
Time flew by in cultivation.
On the sixth day after leaving Cloud Brocade City, Luo Feng’s cultivation successfully broke through to the mid True Yuan Realm, a few days earlier than expected.
However, he had used up a significant amount of Spiritual Medicine these days, consuming all six Blood Essence Yuan Pills he had left, two Extreme Fire Screaming Dragon Silkworm Eggs, and two full jars of the wine from his teacher, as well as thousands of third-tier Yuan Stones, equivalent to millions of second-tier Yuan Stones!
If an ordinary mid True Yuan Realm Martial Artist attempted this, their meridians would likely be unable to bear it, potentially leading to madness. But with Luo Feng’s robust physique and the extraordinary speed of refining Yuan Qi from the Divine Dragon Nine Changes, he managed to persevere smoothly.
Whether influenced by Luo Feng’s relentless cultivation or not, everyone else was also in seclusion, working hard on their cultivation. Yue Haitang, in particular, wasn’t seen during several meals.
Unknowingly, more than ten days passed.
In one of the cabins, Luo Feng sat cross-legged on a jade bed, suddenly opening his eyes, which glittered brilliantly.
“Peak of the sixth layer of the True Yuan Realm. In the short term, breaking through further might be difficult. It’s time to solidify my realm properly.”
With more than half a month of dedicated cultivation, Luo Feng propelled his cultivation from the mid sixth layer of the True Yuan Realm to its peak, progressing at an impressive pace.
Not only had his cultivation advanced, but with the daily supply of Five Elements Qi from Xuelian, his Five Elements Transformation had also reached the third level, significantly enhancing his mastery over the Five Elements Yuan Qi.
Though lacking opportunities for practical application, Luo Feng estimated that his Four Symbols Ultimate Saber Technique would have its power increased by about twenty percent with each move. The technique itself hadn’t changed; this was the consequence of his True Yuan enhancement.
Raising his gaze, Luo Feng looked toward another jade bed across the room.
On the jade bed, Xuelian sat cross-legged, her charming figure surrounded by a layer of blood mist, her silhouette oscillating between transparency and solidity, constantly shifting between the real and ethereal.
With Luo Feng by her side, Xuelian’s cultivation speed greatly improved, and a few days ago, her cultivation had broken through to the peak of the seventh layer of the True Yuan Realm, currently impacting the eighth layer.
“I wonder when I, as her master, will have my cultivation surpass hers.”
Luo Feng chuckled, shaking his head, deciding to take a walk outside.
Such intense cultivation placed a substantial burden on both the martial artist’s body and spirit; he merely extended this limit somewhat, not escaping its influence. Continuing relentlessly like this would only prolong the time required, and the effectiveness might not match the current one, better to relax first.
Without disturbing Xuelian, Luo Feng pushed open the door and walked out.
“You’re all here.”
As soon as he stepped out of the cabin, Luo Feng noticed Yue Haitang, Jiang Fengfeng, Su Zhuyun, and Chixiao all on the deck. Since leaving Cloud Brocade City, everyone had been in seclusion, cultivating; this was the first time the five of them gathered together.
Chixiao glanced at Luo Feng, raising an eyebrow and smiling, “Luo Feng, you’ve advanced to the peak of the sixth layer of the True Yuan Realm?”
Luo Feng nodded, “Just broke through.”
Advancing twice in half a month; such progress could be described as extraordinary, yet to the few of them, it had become commonplace. Staying around Luo Feng, even feelings of astonishment had become a habit.
Only Jiang Fengfeng huffed, rather unwillingly.
Not just Luo Feng, Su Zhuyun’s and Chixiao’s auras had also strengthened considerably, and Yue Haitang had entered the mid third layer of the True Yuan Realm.
Jiang Fengfeng had also smoothly broken through to the mid sixth layer of the True Yuan Realm, advancing quickly. Naturally, compared to Luo Feng, it seemed somewhat lacking. Ever since meeting Luo Feng, everything seemed to be overshadowed, and no wonder she felt a bit unwilling.
After a few casual exchanges, Luo Feng recalled the Yin Yang Nine Orifice Pill Chixiao had given him.
It wouldn’t be long before he’d break through to the seventh layer of the True Yuan Realm; it was time to consider progressing to the Yuan Sea Realm, so he asked Chixiao:
“Chixiao, what’s the difference between the Yuan Sea Realm and the True Yuan Realm levels?”