"Grandpa, please let go of me first, and I'll tell you, okay?" Han Feng was so dizzy from being shaken that he quickly begged for mercy.
Grandpa Liu then released his grip, but his eyes remained fixed on Han Feng, as if he had seen a rare treasure.
Han Feng rubbed his shoulder, which had been pinched sore. "My Stellar Power is rather special; it can switch between different primal energies." As he spoke, a blue aura reappeared in his palm—a characteristic of the Liu family's Azure Nether Technique. "As for imitating techniques..."
He paused, then a spark suddenly burst from his fingertip: "I've long been able to materialize energy, but I don't understand the operating principles of ancient martial arts techniques. Watching your demonstration just now was to verify my hypothesis."
"Energy materialization?" Old Master Liu frowned; this term was far too unfamiliar to him.
Han Feng didn't explain further. He simply made a grasping motion with his right hand, and a longsword, its entire body shimmering with starlight, appeared out of thin air. The sword was as transparent as crystal, yet its interior seemed to contain a swirling galaxy, breathtakingly beautiful.
"This..." Old Master Liu reached out to touch it, then withdrew his hand halfway. "You solidified energy into a physical form?"
"Pretty much." Han Feng flicked his wrist, and the longsword vanished again, turning into specks of starlight. "Your ancient martial arts techniques release energy dynamically, while my sword is a product of energy materialization."
Old Master Liu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he immediately activated the Azure Nether Technique, attempting to imitate Han Feng's method. Azure energy surged in his palm, but he couldn't condense it into a solid shape no matter what he tried. After several attempts, he ended up with his face turning red from holding his breath.
"The energy of these so-called ancient martial arts families is incomparable to the power of the stars." Zero's voice suddenly rang in Han Feng's mind. "Only the power of the stars can materialize. I advise him not to try it, or he might go astray."
Han Feng coughed lightly: "Grandpa, this might require a special constitution..."
Old Master Liu reluctantly withdrew his hand, but he was still unwilling to give up: "Now that you've figured out the principle, what insights have you gained?"
Han Feng smiled without answering, his eyes sparkling. He slowly walked to the center of the cultivation room, raised his right hand, and a fist-sized sphere of light began to condense. Unlike before, this time the sphere's internal structure was extremely complex, with countless tiny star trails crisscrossing and moving, resembling a miniature universe.
Grandpa Liu unconsciously took two steps back, instinctively sensing danger.
\"break!\"
With a soft shout from Han Feng, the sphere of light suddenly exploded. There was no deafening sound, only countless starlight shooting out in all directions like a torrential rain. Each point of light drew a beautiful arc in the air, seemingly avoiding Old Master Liu as if it had a life of its own, but riddling the rest of the cultivation room with holes.
"Click, click-click—"
The walls and ceiling groaned under the strain, riddled with countless holes, each ten centimeters wide. Had the training room not been specially reinforced, the entire building would likely have collapsed.
Old Master Liu's Adam's apple bobbed, and after a long pause, he finally found his voice: "This move... what's it called?"
Han Feng stroked his chin and thought for a moment: "Just something I thought of on the spur of the moment, haven't named it yet." He looked around at the signs of damage, "Let's call it 'Starlight Rain'."
"You came up with this on the spot?!" Old Master Liu's voice suddenly rose, his white beard trembling with anger. "You mean, you just created this move on the spot?"
Han Feng nodded innocently: "Yes, combined with your demonstration of the Azure Nether Technique's operation, and my understanding of the power of stars..."
"Monster!" Old Master Liu interrupted him abruptly, his old face flushed red. "Just what kind of monster are you, kid? Generations of geniuses in the Liu family have practiced diligently for decades and still might not be able to create even a single move. You think you can create a unique skill after watching two demonstrations?"
Han Feng grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth: "Grandpa, you flatter me. I'm only at the fourth level of the mid-stage of the Acquired Realm."
"What?!" Old Master Liu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. "Mid-stage Acquired Realm? Bullshit! This power is almost on par with mine!"
He suddenly grabbed Han Feng's wrist, channeling his Azure Nether Force into Han Feng's body to investigate. But the moment his internal energy entered Han Feng's meridians, it was gently pushed back by a vast stellar force. The sensation in that instant made Old Master Liu feel as if he had fallen into a galaxy.
"Do you believe me now?" Han Feng withdrew his hand. "My cultivation level isn't high, but my Star Power... is rather special."
Grandpa Liu stood there, stunned, suddenly feeling that his understanding of martial arts, accumulated over most of his life, had been completely overturned. The talent displayed by this young man had transcended the realm of "genius," it was practically...
"You brat." Old Master Liu took a deep breath. "Could you be some old monster reincarnated?"
Han Feng's heart skipped a beat—the old man's guess was spot on. However, he remained outwardly calm, simply smiling and saying, "Not at all, I was just lucky, that's all."
Grandpa Liu shook his head, then suddenly said seriously, "Han Feng, promise me one thing."
"You said."
"Unless absolutely necessary, never reveal the characteristics of your innate energy to other families." A worry flashed in Old Master Liu's eyes. "Their methods for dealing with people with special constitutions... are extremely harsh."
Han Feng nodded solemnly. Although he did not live in the environment of ancient martial arts families, he could tell from the fact that the Liu family's cultivation stone had been stolen that these ancient martial arts families were not a monolithic entity.
"So it seems..." the old man began, his voice low and rumbling like thunder, "that entrusting Mengran to you isn't entirely a bad thing."
Han Feng raised an eyebrow: "Are those people within the Liu family still trying to use Meng Ran as a bargaining chip?"
Grandpa Liu sighed deeply, his withered fingers trembling slightly within his sleeve. He turned and walked out of the cultivation room, Han Feng following closely behind. The two entered the courtyard, where Grandpa Liu poured himself a cup of tea that had long since gone cold and drank it all in one gulp.
"The Third Elder's lineage." The teacup slammed heavily onto the stone table. "They advocate for a marriage alliance between Meng Ran and the Nangong family in exchange for the right to use the 'Azure Stone.'"
A cold glint flashed in Han Feng's eyes. Although he knew that ancient martial arts families were ruthless, hearing that someone was openly trying to use Liu Mengran as a bargaining chip still stirred a violent rage within him. The power of the stars overflowed uncontrollably, forming tiny vortexes of starlight around his body.
"Control your energy!" Old Master Liu hissed, glancing nervously around. "Be careful not to be discovered by someone with ulterior motives!"
Han Feng took a deep breath, forcibly calming the surging power within him. The starlight gradually faded, but his voice remained as cold as ice: "The three-year agreement is still a long way off. By then, perhaps other ancient martial arts families will have to defer to me."
"Arrogant!" Old Master Liu instinctively retorted, but he choked on his words. He recalled the power of the move Han Feng had created earlier, and then he remembered that Han Feng was only at the early stage of the Acquired Realm when they first met a few months ago... Such a speed of cultivation was indeed unheard of.
The old man squinted and looked the young man over again.
"You..." Old Master Liu's Adam's apple bobbed, "Can you really break through to the Innate Realm within three years?"
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