The difficulty in cultivating the Star Condensing Sword Point lay in two areas:
First, the path the True Qi had to travel was perilous and complex. Before the Celestial Book perfected it, the technique was only a fragment of the whole.
That point alone had crippled many who tried to practice it.
Second, it placed high demands on the body—or more specifically, on the strength of one's fingers.
This was because the True Qi had to be condensed into a single fingertip, putting immense pressure on it. The slightest mistake could result in a broken hand or finger.
Other cultivators practicing this finger technique had to first build up their finger strength.
Luo Tian, however, cultivated it without any such worries.
The perfected Star Condensing Sword Point had its risks greatly reduced.
As for finger strength, after opening his Divine Vein, his physical constitution far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
「The next evening.」
PSHH!
Luo Tian mobilized the True Qi in his body, condensing a ray of pale blue light on his middle finger that emitted a sharp, piercing whistle.
'I've successfully reached the first layer of the Star Condensing Sword Point!'
Luo Tian was astonished. 'When did my Comprehension become this powerful?'
After all, this was a Spirit Level Martial Skill, yet he had reached the entry level in just over a day.
Had it been an ordinary Meridian Opening Realm martial artist, even with the perfected version, it would have taken them one or two months just to get started.
'It must be the Celestial Destiny Creation Technique. By improving my Cultivation, Divine Soul, and Destiny, it has also greatly enhanced my Comprehension.'
Luo Tian deduced the answer.
SWISH! SWISH!
Luo Tian continued to practice, his Sword Pointing flashing like specks of starlight, dancing and blooming in the air.
'Go!'
He thrust a finger at the stone slab before him and felt as if he were poking tofu. With a PSHH, his finger pierced right through it.
'Such incredible penetration power!'
Luo Tian was amazed.
The attack power of that single finger probably rivaled that of a Third Layer Meridian Opening Realm expert.
「Two days later.」
Luo Tian had achieved a preliminary mastery of the first layer of the Star Condensing Sword Point, gaining a certain level of proficiency.
It was only then that he remembered he hadn't been to the academy for several days.
...
Cyan Peak Academy, Advanced Class.
When Luo Tian walked into the classroom, he immediately caused a stir of surprise and whispers.
"Luo Tian is here for class!"
"I heard a rumor that Luo Tian defeated Liu Yuanba a few days ago."
"Is that true?"
The students' gazes toward Luo Tian shifted from their usual contempt to suspicion and apprehension.
A short while later, Lin Xiaofeng walked in, and the classroom instantly fell silent.
"Luo Tian!"
"You've got some nerve, skipping class all this time!"
Lin Xiaofeng's cold, disgusted gaze locked onto Luo Tian as he began to berate him furiously.
Luo Tian remained seated, unmoved, quietly watching the teacher spit and splutter.
"If you think my class isn't worth attending, you can get the hell out and don't bother coming back!"
Lin Xiaofeng was infuriated by Luo Tian's attitude.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Luo Tian stood up with a smile.
In fact, he had come to the academy with a purpose.
"Luo Tian, are you trying to skip class again? Believe it or not, I can have the academy expel you!"
Lin Xiaofeng was completely enraged. The aura around him erupted, creating an invisible whirlwind in the air.
"If Liu Yuanba doesn't have to attend class, why should I?"
Luo Tian was perfectly composed.
"You're at the bottom of the advanced class, yet you dare compare yourself to the academy's elite."
Lin Xiaofeng sneered, his face full of ridicule.
"Liu Yuanba? He's a Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist. He enjoys special privileges and is exempt from basic classes."
"Privileges? In that case, I suppose I'm qualified for them now, too..."
Luo Tian said slowly.
As soon as he said this, the classroom grew even quieter. All the students turned in unison to look at Luo Tian.
They had heard the rumor: a few days ago, Luo Tian had defeated the Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, Liu Yuanba.
Liu Yuanba himself was too embarrassed to let the story spread, and the Liu Clan disciples who knew what happened didn't dare speak ill of him.
As a result, there were only minor rumors, and the students remained skeptical.
"Don't even dream of it! You're a Veinless! You'll never be qualified!"
Lin Xiaofeng shot him down without mercy.
He had long since determined that Luo Tian possessed a Wasted Vein and was fated to never become a Meridian Opening Martial Artist.
Lin Xiaofeng knew nothing about the fight between Luo Tian and Liu Yuanba.
The moment his voice fell.
WHOOSH!
Luo Tian opened his palm, and a ball of pale blue True Qi suddenly burst forth, emitting a faint chill!
True Qi!
The class erupted into an uproar. The students' eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Lin Xiaofeng's expression changed in an instant. His body trembled as he stared in disbelief.
"How is that possible? Did Luo Tian really break through to the Meridian Opening Realm?"
"But weren't we told that a Wasted Vein can't be opened? How could he possibly break through to the Meridian Opening Realm?"
"Did this piece of trash suddenly have a breakthrough?"
The students were shocked, jealous, and doubtful.
"True Qi! Y-You... you really broke through?"
Lin Xiaofeng's face was ashen as he forced the words out.
With the surge of True Qi, he could feel the fluctuations of a Qi Vein within Luo Tian's body.
Clearly, Luo Tian had genuinely broken through.
Logically, Lin Xiaofeng should have been happy.
But he had just made those harsh remarks. Luo Tian releasing his True Qi at this moment was like a vicious slap across his face in front of all the students!
The dignity as a teacher he had maintained for years collapsed in an instant.
In reality, with Lin Xiaofeng's level of Cultivation, he could have seen Luo Tian's Cultivation if he had paid even the slightest attention.
But he was too arrogant and had never taken Luo Tian seriously. He had even been planning to kick Luo Tian out of the advanced class.
"Teacher Lin, may I leave now?"
Luo Tian asked with a smile.
"Y-Yes..."
Lin Xiaofeng's face looked like he was constipated as he ground out the word.
Even after Luo Tian left, he still found it hard to accept.
After a long moment, Lin Xiaofeng composed himself, his expression turning stern once more. "Alright, class begins now!"
But suddenly, Luo Tian's voice was heard again. "Teacher, I remember that students who break through to the Meridian Opening Realm can choose one Martial Skill from the academy. I'm qualified for that now, right?"
Interrupted by Luo Tian, Lin Xiaofeng suppressed his rage, his mouth twitching as he said, "Yes, you are. Go to the Library Pavilion and pick one yourself!"
Luo Tian disappeared again.
This time, Lin Xiaofeng waited a moment to make sure Luo Tian wouldn't reappear before finally starting his lecture.
...
The Library Pavilion of Cyan Peak Academy housed all sorts of Martial Arts Skills and Techniques.
In terms of the number of texts, not even the three great clans of Qingchang City could compare.
"You've broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm?"
The teacher at the Library Pavilion was slightly surprised.
He then said, "Upon breaking through to the Meridian Opening Realm, you may choose one Mortal Level Middle Grade Martial Skill, or two Mortal Level Low Grade Martial Skills..."
Since he already had a powerful Attack Martial Skill like the Star Condensing Sword Point, Luo Tian decided to choose a Mortal Level Middle Grade Martial Skill of a different type.
And in Luo Tian's opinion, a Body Martial Skill was more practical than a Defensive Martial Skill.
Purely defending was too passive, whereas a Body Martial Skill could be used for both offense and survival.
After searching for a moment, Luo Tian finally settled on a Middle Grade Body Martial Skill.
'I'll take this Wandering Body Step.'
After copying it down, Luo Tian left.
He went to the back mountain of the academy. He was about to start cultivating the new Martial Skill but hesitated.
After all, the Attack Martial Skill he was cultivating was Spirit Level.
In comparison, Luo Tian couldn't help but feel that a Mortal Level Middle Grade Martial Skill was a bit weak.
'Celestial Book, can this Body Martial Skill be perfected and upgraded?'
Luo Tian couldn't help but ask the Celestial Book.
"Yes!"
A single word appeared on the Celestial Book.
In truth, most Martial Skills in this world could be continuously perfected and strengthened.
"Begin the Inference!" Luo Tian didn't hesitate.
BUZZ!
On the book's page, the cyan-gray light began to recede abruptly.
Fortunately, the Wandering Body Step was not of a high level, so the power he had accumulated over the past two days was just barely enough.
When the bright area on the page had receded to its lowest point...
A brand new Wandering Body Step was presented. Its Tier had been raised from Mortal Level Middle Grade to Mortal Level Upper Grade!
'Excellent! An Upper Grade Body Martial Skill!'
Luo Tian's face showed his excitement as he began to cultivate it.
「The academy's back mountain.」
WHOOSH! SWOOSH SWOOSH!
Luo Tian moved through the forest with strange footwork, his pace shifting from slow to fast, like a nimble, swimming fish.
A Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill was far less difficult to learn than a Spirit Level one.
In just half a day, Luo Tian's Wandering Body Step reached the Initial Achievement realm.
A typical Martial Skill was divided into four realms: Initial Achievement, Minor Achievement, Great Success, and Perfection.
Reaching Initial Achievement in half a day was an astonishing pace.
It was important to note that after being perfected and upgraded by the Celestial Book, the Initial Achievement of his Wandering Body Step was equivalent to the Minor Achievement realm of the original version.
'Could it be... that I'm actually a martial arts prodigy?'
Luo Tian was stunned.
His Comprehension had been high before, but never this monstrously good. The effects of the Creation Technique were simply heaven-defying.
Just possessing Spiritual Sense was a characteristic of Martial Artists at the Earth Element Realm and above.
Within the academy, even so-called geniuses would need at least half a month to reach Initial Achievement in a Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skill.
With the Star Condensing Sword Point and the Wandering Body Step, Luo Tian's overall strength had risen by at least one level!
However, despite his strength, he had little actual combat experience.
'With my current strength, I can go to the Black Demon Ridge to hunt Demon Beasts.'
Luo Tian planned to go to the Black Demon Ridge to hone his combat skills.
Besides, the materials from Demon Beasts could all be sold for money.
He hadn't forgotten his promise. He absolutely could not let Xueyao marry Du Yuncheng. He had to pay off the debt of Twenty Thousand Gold Coins as soon as possible!