Chapter 116: Immense Progress

The elderly man in black held a pair of swords, his movements flowing between advance and retreat as the blades transformed into twin arcs of cold light, dancing like dragons and radiating an aura of boundless slaughter.

Shortly after, Gao Wu opened his eyes. Through the mental imprint within the silver crystal ball, he had mastered the "Roaming Dragon Dual Sword Technique."

The Roaming Dragon technique differs vastly between single and dual-wielding. The dual-sword variant is clearly designed for lethal combat; its strikes are exceptionally fierce and vicious, with far more complex and refined transitions. This secret sword style pursues nothing but destruction, prioritizing offense over defense—a complete departure from the single-sword style, which emphasizes agile, fluid movements.

While the power of this secret technique is immense, it is equally perilous for the wielder. It was no wonder Tie Dalong chose not to use it. Gao Wu, however, was quite fond of it; for him, the "offense-only" nature was not a significant issue, given his formidable physique.

There was, however, a minor drawback. The mental imprint inherited through the crystal ball felt somewhat stagnant, as if the finer nuances of its spirit had dulled over time. To put it another way, a mental imprint passed down directly from a martial arts master is like a freshly cooked meal—hot and vibrant. The crystal ball’s inheritance was more like a compressed ration; it provides sustenance, but the flavor is difficult to describe.

Gao Wu returned the silver crystal ball to Tie Dalong and bowed deeply, hands clasped. "Thank you, Teacher, for passing on this secret technique. I will never share it with anyone else."

Tie Dalong looked pleased. "This secret technique is a true method for battlefield combat. It is said to have been designed for use with military bio-armor, which is why it can afford to be so aggressively offensive. When we use it, we must be careful to protect ourselves..."

After Tie Dalong’s explanation, it dawned on Gao Wu. No wonder the technique was so radical and ferocious; it was meant to be paired with combat armor.

As it was already noon, Tie Dalong invited Gao Wu to a nearby restaurant. Gao Wu could not refuse his teacher’s kindness and ended up sharing a few drinks. The alcohol helped deepen the bond between master and apprentice.

It was four in the afternoon by the time Gao Wu reached the Hunter Association. He dealt with the same lady who had assisted him previously, and being acquaintances, he secured the intermediate Flying Squirrel reagent without any issues. However, news of his arrival spread, and many people rushed over to take photos with him.

Regardless of other places, Gao Wu was undoubtedly the biggest celebrity in Dongjiang. Even martial artists were not immune to the trend, always eager to follow a popular figure, and some even asked for autographs for their children. Due to the crowd’s enthusiasm, it was past six o'clock when he returned to his villa.

After dinner, Gao Wu told Song Mingyue about the Roaming Dragon dual-sword technique he had learned that afternoon. Song Mingyue was surprised. "I’ve never heard of a dual-sword version of the Roaming Dragon technique."

"It’s quite savage. Let me demonstrate it for you." Gao Wu was eager to show off his new skill. Given his aptitude, he would normally need time to master it, but the mental inheritance saved him the grueling initial phase, allowing him to start at a proficient level.

Lacking suitable swords, Gao Wu used two wooden practice swords. Though it shared the same sixty-four forms, the specific variations in the strikes were vastly different. Gao Wu swung the two blades in rapid succession, the impressive sound of his sword-whistles echoing through the hall.

After watching, Song Mingyue nodded. "It is indeed a technique designed for slaughter—fierce and ruthless. But it relies too heavily on dealing damage, making one vulnerable to counterattacks. It really does require bio-armor to be effective."

Gao Wu looked at her expectantly. "Should I get a set of bio-armor?"

Song Mingyue stared at him silently. Realizing his suggestion was absurd, Gao Wu laughed dryly. "I was just joking! Why are you looking at me so seriously?"

"You see, you're glaring at me so intensely again!"

"The dual-sword method has its own unique ingenuity, especially in how it emphasizes left-right balance. It has corresponding training methods that are highly beneficial for martial cultivation," Song Mingyue said earnestly.

Gao Wu nodded. He understood this well. A person’s hands are naturally divided into a dominant and a non-dominant side, with one always being less agile or strong. Even at the level of martial masters, this remains true. However, the Roaming Dragon secret technique treats both hands and legs equally, without distinction between primary or secondary. Practicing it helps achieve balance, which is a massive advantage for any martial artist. Of course, the difficulty is immense, and the physical requirements are exceptionally high. Tie Dalong likely never mastered it because his physical condition limited him.

With the Roaming Dragon technique in hand, Gao Wu had the perfect way to process the intermediate Flying Squirrel reagents.

The best part of this secret technique was that it shared the same core essence as the standard Roaming Dragon swordplay, meaning Gao Wu faced no obstacles in learning it. While he could use his Destiny Sword to push the standard Roaming Dragon technique to the Great Achievement realm, he couldn't do the same for the dual-sword version, as he only had one Destiny Sword; pairing it with another would create a physical imbalance.

To practice, Gao Wu ordered two forty-kilogram heavy swords. They were slightly too heavy for him, making them difficult to control. Consequently, his practice was initially clumsy and awkward. The Flying Squirrel reagent, which greatly enhanced his nervous system, only made his body feel more uncoordinated. He often misapplied force and risked injuring himself. Had it not been for his extraordinary physique, he would never have dared to attempt such training.

The effect of the intermediate Flying Squirrel reagent was potent. Normal martial artists would take five to eight days to inject one, followed by half a month to digest it. Gao Wu, however, began with small doses and soon progressed to one full vial per day. He didn't use neutralizers, opting instead to consume various energy fluids. Normal food could not supply the energy his body required for evolution, so he purchased high-grade Ginseng Oral Liquid—the same kind Shen An had given him previously. It cost 500 points per vial at the Hunter Association—the equivalent of 500,000 in cash. While the price was staggering, points were easy enough to come by for him.

Over twenty days, Gao Wu absorbed ten vials. His agility increased by a full point, reaching 11.5. This was 0.1 higher than his strength, allowing him to fully unleash his power, increasing his punching force by another two hundred kilograms.

The results were better than he expected. He suspected the Qilin reagent he had taken earlier played a role, as Song Mingyue had mentioned it primarily improved the nervous system and bodily coordination. Furthermore, the practice of the Roaming Dragon secret technique continuously refined this coordination. Though his natural talent was average, he was able to practice for ten hours every day, compensating for his shortcomings with sheer diligence—a feat only possible due to his superior physique.

Normal martial artists, when performing high-intensity training, could only manage two to three hours a day to maintain health. Gao Wu’s intensity was four to five times that of an average martial artist, and when combined with his breathing techniques, his progress was rapid.

Having tasted success, Gao Wu bought ten more vials. After another ten days of absorption, his agility reached 12, though he could feel he was nearing a limit. There was also the issue of the reagent's side effects; while he could neutralize the physiological ones, the sense of euphoria was harder to ignore, and he knew he had to stop.

With 20,000 points remaining, he and Song Mingyue decided to exchange them for twenty vials of intermediate Diamond reagent. Gao Wu valued the physical strength boost it provided, as it allowed him to leverage his high constitution. He couldn't bear to spend cash on high-grade ginseng liquids, so he asked Song Mingyue to help him source fourth-grade beast meat instead. It was as effective as the liquid and satisfied his appetite, though it required him to eat six meals a day. To keep the cook happy, Gao Wu gave him a 30,000 bonus.

The twenty vials of Diamond reagent pushed his strength to 13, bringing his punch force to a terrifying 5,000 kilograms. According to Song Mingyue, this was the level of a high-tier martial artist—one who would usually need to channel internal energy to achieve such results.

More importantly, his overall physical toughness had improved to a degree that was hard to quantify. Based on his experience, the palm strike from Wan Cangsong that had once nearly shattered him would now pose zero threat. From his skin and muscles to his bones and internal organs, he had become incredibly resilient. With a constitution of 20, he no longer knew where his limits lay.

After fifty days of hard training, his Roaming Dragon secret technique was still at the "proficient" level, but his "War Soldier Fist" had reached "Minor Achievement."

As July approached, Dongjiang grew hotter by the day. Gao Wu, shirtless, practiced in the courtyard. Compared to the air-conditioned hall, he preferred to sweat under the scorching sun. He didn't tan, and despite the intense training, he barely broke a sweat.

Song Mingyue, who disliked the sun, would watch him from the veranda. Having watched him for dozens of days, she had learned the movements, but without the corresponding internal energy techniques and visualization methods, she struggled to unleash the true power of the style.

Finishing the final move, Gao Wu sheathed his swords and caught his breath. The two swords weighed eighty kilograms combined. While he could handle them easily, the complex interplay between the blades was mentally exhausting.

He walked over to Song Mingyue. "What’s for lunch?"

"My father is hosting a lunch," she replied. "Go shower and change; we’re leaving soon."

"Uh..." Gao Wu hesitated. "Why is he hosting?"

"It’s about the sponsorship for the Fierce Dragon energy drink," Song Mingyue explained. "Longteng Corporation is interested in having you as the spokesperson for the North Province series. They haven't fully decided yet, so a vice president from the headquarters is coming to Dongjiang to meet you in person."

"Oh? That’s great news!" Gao Wu was pleasantly surprised.

Between his winnings, the Qilin Cup prize money, and the school award, he had 16 million. He had thought he was wealthy, but the cost of martial supplements was astronomical. He had already burned through the 50,000 points from the Hunter Association in less than two months, and his food expenses alone were two million this month. He only had 14 million left. With his rate of consumption, he needed more money, especially if he wanted to buy property in Anjing.

He was reluctant to take on random advertisements from social media, as the risks were too high. But Longteng was a top-tier corporation. Becoming their spokesperson wasn't just about the money; it was about aligning himself with a giant. Their PR and legal teams had immense influence. If he became a stakeholder in their success, they could help him resolve troubles like Wan Canglong.

Capital only cares about profit. If the profit is high enough, they will do anything. With that realization, Gao Wu was very much looking forward to the meeting.