Chapter Thirty-Six: Progress

With a single thought, two source points vanished without a trace. As the martial arts level on the panel blurred, a torrent of memories surged forth, engraving countless training experiences into his muscles in an instant. Simultaneously, a tingling sensation spread from the severed end of his right arm; cells blossomed, blood vessels fused, and the once-severed limb reconnected silently, as if it had never been broken.

Yet, a question lingered: why did the martial art’s upgrade only cost two source points this time?

Could it be that Liu Tian’s moment of enlightenment had saved him so many source points?

The answer was obvious: Liu Tian had not, in fact, upgraded Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path, but another martial art entirely—Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step.

Now, on the points panel, the Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step had forcibly advanced by one level. Since most of its special effects had already been overridden by the Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path, the cost was minimal—even with no foundation and while simultaneously healing his severed limb, Liu Tian had spent only two source points.

And this was not the end!

Add more!

Again!

And again! Add! Add! Add!

With each pulse of Liu Tian’s will, another eight source points vanished in an instant.

In a daze, Liu Tian felt as if he had spent decades training alone in remote mountains, on snowy plains, in swamps and at the edges of cliffs, enduring wind and rain, struggling and drifting. Then, one stormy night filled with thunder and lightning, he broke through the highest realm his founder had ever reached, achieving the purest mastery of footwork and surpassing the level of a mere martial artist.

His body resounded with cracks and snaps; in an instant, Liu Tian grew nearly five centimeters taller. His once robust frame became streamlined, his figure light and graceful. The faint white serrated battle markings on his face disappeared, replaced by a new pattern: a fierce eagle with wings spread wide, centered on his brow.

Meanwhile, the special effects of Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step had changed as well:

Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step: Level 7, Special Effects: Lightness (Level 5), Phantom.

Upgradeable, can be fused.

Perhaps because he had reached the founder’s highest realm, the upgrade button had been replaced with "Evolve."

Though the level gap was vast, due to the differing difficulty and training focus, even with only six source points remaining, Liu Tian could still push one step further.

Upon reaching the founder’s realm, he pressed onward toward an even higher peak.

Without hesitation, Liu Tian focused once more.

As the last six source points faded, following the martial art’s creative essence, he ascended yet another step, and a brand-new special effect—one even the founder had never possessed—was born.

Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step: Level 8, Special Effects: Lightness (Level 6), Mirage Form.

The options to evolve or fuse vanished again, and an understanding dawned in Liu Tian’s mind.

Following this intuition, he stepped forward lightly. There was no sound—not even the whisper of wind.

Silent as a shadow, in the blink of an eye, Liu Tian traversed nearly ten meters in a single stride. Looking back, only those with true intelligence could see a fading afterimage left behind, gradually dissolving.

It was the remnant image of his spirit in motion; while it could not interact with anything, it left behind a phantasmal silhouette as vivid as reality.

Even though no camera could capture this mirage, it was enough to deceive all sentient beings into believing it real.

This meant that if Liu Tian wished, his enemies wouldn’t even be able to touch his shadow during battle, lost utterly on the blurred border between truth and illusion.

With such power, and a fine divine weapon in hand, Liu Tian was certain that the twisted man who called himself Snake would be unable to even brush his sleeve before being cut down.

Shadow-Seeking Dragon Step—a third-rate secret martial art, once notable only for a single special effect—fully revealed its terrifying power after this breakthrough.

At this moment, Liu Tian’s raw speed even surpassed Heavenly Dao.

After all, even Heavenly Dao had only trained this step technique to the level of a martial artist.

Though the Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path was comprehensive, it could not match the specialization of a single-focused martial art.

“Liu Tian!” a loud voice called from behind—his second uncle, Liu Zhengde, mixed with other unfamiliar shouts.

It was clear that Liu Zhengde had come in person, leading a team up the mountain to search for Liu Tian and eliminate the hidden threat.

Wasting no time, Liu Tian stepped back lightly and sped away, leaving behind a string of almost-real mirages.

...

Elsewhere, in an unremarkable small manor, Snake lay on a hospital bed, having just escaped battle.

Medical skills were used to treat him, aided by the most advanced personal equipment from Blue Dream Corporation. Given Snake’s extraordinarily robust constitution and the healer’s expertise, and taking into account the difference between magic-martial cultivators and ordinary people, his condition soon stabilized.

Though not fully recovered, he was at least out of danger. But even with Blue Dream’s pharmaceutical support, he would not be fit for combat in the coming days.

“This place actually has someone strong enough to threaten you?” After the tense surgery ended, a man asked his strongest fighter, “Who did this to you—who could have inflicted such wounds?”

“I was careless.” The aftereffects of his head injury still lingered. Snake kept his eyes closed, unwilling to face the blurry world, and replied, “I didn’t expect that someone so unassuming on the outside would be so ruthless within, willing to risk injury just to seize a fleeting opportunity. Truly worthy of the Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path, truly a disciple of Heavenly Dao.”

“It was Liu Tian who hurt you?” The day, both brief and interminable, had not been wasted. The man quickly checked the records and found the names of the only two practitioners of the Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path. Eliminating the impossible Bai Cinan and Heavenly Dao, only Liu Tian remained.

“To think that someone not yet of age could possess such strength and resolve. A fine talent, born in the wrong place—he will have no chance to grow further.” After hearing Snake’s account of the battle, the man said coldly, “The Ox and the Tiger will arrive the day after tomorrow. Snake, you must stay put and recover over the next six days. Make sure you’re ready to act when the time comes.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll live. As long as there’s enough medicine and food, recovery won’t be difficult. I’ll personally settle this debt in six days,” Snake said, licking his lips. “He’ll become my finest trophy—bar none.”

“I hope so.” Though he had suffered setback after setback, the man remained calm, his air of confidence unbroken. Long accustomed to unexpected changes in his plans, he was unfazed by this latest twist.

Though there had been many surprises this time, nothing had escaped his control. Everything was still in his grasp.

A mere Liu Tian, who had only come this far thanks to Snake’s carelessness and a sudden burst of ruthlessness, posed no threat to his overall plan.

“Six days left.” Glancing at the calendar by the bed and the group of brightly smiling people in the photograph he held, the man fell into thought. “Everything will end in six days—this time, I will not lose.”