Chapter 422: 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》

《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》: Supreme Art technique.

By using a special method of circulating Inner Force, it triggers an explosive release of power, instantly flooding the meridians with Inner Force and increasing attack speed by 100%! In theory, it allows two attacks to erupt in an instant, making them impossible for the enemy to block! (Costs 50 points of Inner Force to activate. Each strike consumes an additional 20 points of Inner Force. Duration: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 10 seconds.)

When Wangchuan saw the supreme art manual Gang Leader Luo Tiancong had handed him, he could not help sucking in a sharp breath.

A 100% increase in attack speed!

Activating it cost 50 points of Inner Force, and every attack after that required another 20 points.

The duration was pitifully short, only five seconds.

The effect of the supreme art was tyrannical!

Its Inner Force consumption...

was equally tyrannical, and its duration was absurdly short.

With his current reserves of Inner Force, if he attacked ten times in those five seconds, and each move normally consumed 2 points of Inner Force, then he would burn through 270 points of Inner Force in five seconds. That did not even include 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 or 《Cloud Ladder Leap》...

He only had as much Inner Force as he did now because he had taken three Three-Flavors Pure Yang Pills, which had increased his Inner Force by 60 points.

An ordinary veteran Fourth-Rank Martial Artist probably would not even reach his level,

with around 400 points of Inner Force at most.

In a real fight, they would burn through nearly everything in five seconds.

But in actual combat, the effect of activating 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》 was terrifying. With speed pushed beyond 260, what ordinary person could possibly stop it?

No one could.

So…

he had to cultivate it!

Wangchuan accepted the supreme art manual bestowed on him by Gang Leader Luo Tiancong and immediately bowed in thanks.

“Many thanks, Gang Leader!”

“This subordinate will certainly not fail your trust!”

“By the end of the sixth month next year, I will return to the capital in triumph!”

“Good.”

Luo Tiancong admired Wangchuan’s confidence.

Still, he could not help adding a reminder:

“The fact that you possess this supreme art must not be spread outside. Even when you cultivate it, you must be extremely careful and let no one see it. Otherwise, once word leaks out, the Beggar Sect will undoubtedly send experts to Sanhe Commandery to assassinate you!”

“This subordinate will remember it well!”

“And another thing...”

“This technique, 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》, is best used only after you reach the Fifth Rank. For someone with shallow Inner Force reserves, once one battle ends, their combat strength drops drastically. It is extremely dangerous. Once you reach the Fifth Rank, your Inner Force should increase by another notch.”

Wangchuan immediately thought of the 5 free attribute points he would gain after breaking through to the Fifth Rank.

He nodded.

“This subordinate will keep it in mind.”

“And finally...”

Luo Tiancong reminded him:

“Supreme arts must be honed between life and death. At the entry level, their power is only average. But once you have accumulated enough experience in battles to the death and reach Minor Accomplishment, their might becomes far more overbearing! Once you rise to the Fifth Rank, you would immediately stand among veteran Fifth-Rank Martial Artists. Among the elders of Caobang, you would not be inferior to any of them.”

Wangchuan was instantly moved and bowed again.

“This subordinate will remember it well!”

At last, Luo Tiancong took out an exquisite little wooden box and handed it over.

“To cultivate and use 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》, you need a way to speed up your recovery of Inner Force. Take these three Lesser Rejuvenation Pills with you for protection.”

Luo Tiancong suddenly became as warm and considerate as a master, which deeply moved Wangchuan.

“Many thanks, Gang Leader!”

“That is enough.”

“It is getting late.”

“Set out early. Leave the capital and return to Sanhe Commandery.”

Luo Tiancong was now clearly dismissing him.

Wangchuan was caught a little off guard.

He had only just arrived in the capital!

Not even one night’s rest?

Lin Zhentao spoke up from behind to remind him, “Hall Master Wangchuan, the Hall Masters of Xiangyun Commandery and Nandian Commandery lost more than twenty thousand taels of gold because of you today. Once they return, they will definitely try to trip you up. If you leave overnight, they will not have time to arrange anyone to track you... The Gang Leader is doing this for your own good as well.”

Wangchuan suddenly understood.

Fine.

He might not get the chance to visit the Treasure Pavilion, but at least he had gained a supreme art.

“This subordinate obeys!”

“Gang Leader, this subordinate takes his leave!”

“Mm. Go do your work well.”

Luo Tiancong smiled and said,

“This Gang Leader will be waiting here for your tea of apprenticeship.”

Wangchuan turned and left under Lin Zhentao’s escort.

Now that Wangchuan knew Lin Zhentao’s true identity, he treated him with even more respect. At parting, he cupped his fists and said,

“Take care.”

“Hall Master Wangchuan, may your journey be smooth.”

...

After Wangchuan left,

Lin Zhentao returned to Gang Leader Luo Tiancong’s courtyard.

“Gang Leader, this move of yours truly surprised this subordinate.”

“You were actually willing to accept Wangchuan as a personal disciple and even bestowed your supreme art manual upon him.”

Lin Zhentao genuinely had not expected Luo Tiancong to make such a move.

Luo Tiancong drew a deep breath. His gaze darkened, and his entire bearing turned razor-sharp as he said, word by word:

“Since the Blood Moon Incident this year, Caobang has indeed lost quite a number of men. It cannot be called crippling damage to our foundations, but the shipping business in every region has obviously suffered, and profits have fallen. That is a fact.”

“What I did not expect...”

“was that while the gang’s profits were shrinking, these people still dared to embezzle openly and line their own pockets!”

“If not for the fact that the Beggar Sect and the various sects and families all wanted a share of the river transport business and were pressing too hard, this Gang Leader would have liked nothing more than to chop them all down before the year’s end and throw every one of them into the river to feed the fish!”

Luo Tiancong had truly been stirred to murderous intent today.

Lin Zhentao looked at the Gang Leader and said after a moment’s thought, “So Gang Leader intends to raise Sanhe Commandery up as an example, to warn the major Halls and the elders not to go too far?”

“This year’s Blood Moon Incident was already severe enough. No one knows what will happen during next year’s Blood Moon.” Luo Tiancong’s eyes were full of worry.

Lin Zhentao grew grave as well.

Caobang...

was now truly beset by troubles from within and without.

Internal corruption.

Powerful enemies outside.

And no one knew what would happen on the fifteenth day of the seventh month next year.

Accepting Wangchuan as a personal disciple was also meant to ensure that Caobang’s financial chain would not break.

Part of Caobang’s money had to be turned over to the Ministry of Revenue and the Transport Commission.

If the interests of those powerful figures above were harmed, there would be no reason for Caobang to continue existing.

“What does Gang Leader intend to do next?” Lin Zhentao asked.

Luo Tiancong’s gaze hardened.

“Tomorrow, the news will be spread.”

“Sanhe Commandery turned in its full quota for the second half of the year on time, while the Hall Masters of Xiangyun Commandery and Nandian Commandery admitted fault and accepted punishment on the spot! They will make up every last shortfall next year.”

“Then send carrier pigeons to all the major Halls, ordering every Hall Master outside of Heitu Commandery and Shenyu Commandery to come to the capital in person to receive punishment!”

The moment Luo Tiancong said that, Lin Zhentao’s expression changed slightly.

“Gang Leader, that would make Hall Master Wangchuan the target of all arrows. Would that not affect the future shipping business of his Hall?”

“If he wants to become this Gang Leader’s personal disciple, naturally it cannot be that easy!”

Luo Tiancong’s expression did not change as he said,

“This Gang Leader means to break the deadlock of next year’s Blood Moon. The survival of Caobang depends on it! What he must break is the deadlock created by the many elders and Hall Masters within this gang! If he cannot even do that, what right does he have to become a disciple of Luo Tiancong?”