106: Chapter 106 The Fivefold Thunderfire Blade is Complete

On the 100th floor of the Starry Sky Group, outside the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

Zhao Wuxie and Meng Fan were resting on the perimeter. Just then, they received news of changes to the Transcendent Combat Power Rankings and exchanged glances.

"Fang Zhuo actually broke into the top thirty of the Transcendent Rankings. How long has it even been? How is that possible?!"

Meng Fan looked at Fang Zhuo, who was sitting cross-legged in the center with his eyes closed. His fighting spirit waned, so he turned to look at Zhao Wuxie, constantly provoking him with his eyes.

...

Inside the 'Heaven-Reaching Tower'.

The trial for Stage C of the third floor was nearing its end.

Fang Zhuo panted slightly. With a single strike of the fourth level of the Thunder Fire Blade, he cleared the last wave of 5 Transcendent Exotic Beasts that had spawned early.

"Trial for Stage C of the third floor passed. Total time: 3 minutes and 18 seconds."

After the electronic voice announced the score, Fang Zhuo exited the 'Heaven-Reaching Tower' and immediately checked the rankings.

First place: Wang Jinhua, time taken: 1 minute and 36 seconds.

Second place: Fang Zhuo, time taken: 3 minutes and 18 seconds.

Third place: Xiao Yan, time taken: 3 minutes and 29 seconds.

He had surpassed the original second place, Xiao Yan.

But Fang Zhuo wasn't too satisfied.

Because the gap between him and his target, Wang Jinhua, was quite large.

"In Stage C, the intelligence of the 5 Transcendent Exotic Beasts that spawn in each wave is too high. They won't just stupidly charge in together, so I can't clear them all with one strike..."

"With Brother Wang's score, ignoring stages A and B, he must be clearing all 5 Transcendent Exotic Beasts in Stage C with a single strike."

"Is the gap between the fourth level and the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade really that big?"

Fang Zhuo was somewhat curious.

He wasn't completely clueless about the fifth level. Over the past period of training, he had already grasped the basics and estimated he could master it in less than half a month.

In his view, other than providing a higher boost to his own strength, the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade shouldn't be that much stronger than the fourth level.

The fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade... perhaps there was some other mystery to it?

Fang Zhuo pondered this as he headed straight back to his residence, completely oblivious to the scrutinizing gazes cast by the martial artists in the group along the way.

That night.

When Wang Jinhua returned to the group's headquarters building, his white combat suit covered in blood and his battle blade slung over his shoulder, he arrived in a flurry.

Someone from the Operations Department told him about the changes to the combat power rankings.

"This kid is catching up fast, but he still has a lot of training to do if he wants to break my record." Wang Jinhua chuckled.

At this moment, his colleague from the Operations Department, Yan Long, teased:

"Come to think of it, you're practically Fang Zhuo's mentor since you brought him into the group. If he surpasses you, won't you lose face?"

Wang Jinhua shook his head and feigned indifference, saying, "It's just a small record in the 'Heaven-Reaching Tower'. If he surpasses it, so be it. Besides, he might not even be able to surpass it."

"That's true."

Yan Long analyzed, "With a Life Level of 43, it's too hard to fully comprehend the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade! Not everyone is like you, maintaining mental power that consistently leads your Life Level even during the Transcendent stage."

"However... his Martial Aspect is special, and his Life Level growth rate is practically monstrous. I'm afraid it won't be long before he really catches up to you."

Yan Long wore a gleeful expression.

He and Wang Jinhua were considered the two strongest Transcendent Martial Artists in the group, and both were in the Operations Department, known as a peerless pair.

They had sparred many times over the years, and Yan Long had always been suppressed and constantly frustrated. Now, he was eager to see Wang Jinhua 'stumble'.

Wang Jinhua glanced at Yan Long and retorted, "After I participate in the 9th Blue Star Transcendent Martial Arts Tournament, I will start focusing on breaking through to Flying Sky. It won't be that easy for him to catch up to me."

"Damn, you're still participating in this year's Blue Star Transcendent Martial Arts Tournament?"

Yan Long looked nauseated.

"The Peak Group prize is one million civilization points. Why not take it? Otherwise, wouldn't it just be a bargain for someone else?"

Wang Jinhua looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"...That's true. It's a pity my household registration isn't on Blue Star, otherwise I would definitely strive to participate, take you down, and then claim that damn championship—along with the one million civilization points!"

Yan Long sighed dramatically.

Wang Jinhua didn't speak, just eyed his colleague sideways.

Yan Long felt a bit unnerved and snorted, "You just won the first battle, and then you used the advantage of the civilization points to snowball. Otherwise, it's hard to say who would be the group's number one Transcendent now!"

"A defeated opponent dares to speak of courage?"

Wang Jinhua gave a thumbs-down gesture.

Yan Long's face flushed red with anger. After a while, he changed the subject, "By the way, two years ago, when Chairman Song Shou summoned you, what did he say?"

"You want to know?"

Wang Jinhua put down his battle blade and pulled out a rag to wipe it.

"Yeah."

Yan Long nodded. He didn't just want to know.

Several Cosmic Martial Artists within the group were always elusive, especially the founder and Chairman, Song Shou.

Cosmic Martial Artists other than Song Shou, such as Director Xiao Yuan, would occasionally summon individual geniuses of the group when they returned to headquarters to rest.

"My combat boots are a bit dirty. If you help me clean them, I'll tell you."

Wang Jinhua put down his battle blade, lifted one foot, and placed it on the low table.

"You!"

Yan Long gritted his teeth. His gossip-loving soul overcame his indignation. He slowly crouched down and wiped Wang Jinhua's combat boots clean.

"Can you tell me now?"

"Yeah, sure." Wang Jinhua was just about to open his mouth.

"Shh!"

Yan Long made a gesture to cover his mouth, leaned in, and said, "Keep it down, tell me now."

He had paid a huge price, and with so many eyes in the department, he didn't want others to get a free ride on the fruits of his labor.

"It has to do with the future of the Blue Moon Federation."

Wang Jinhua said indifferently.

"It has to do with the Federation's future?!"

Yan Long's eyes widened, his breathing quickened. He swallowed hard and hurriedly asked, "What specifically?"

Wang Jinhua grinned: "Specifically... only geniuses deserve to know."

"You bastard, you're messing with me!"

Yan Long was furious and immediately drew his battle blade.

...

Over the next two weeks.

Fang Zhuo trained almost obsessively, swinging his blade tens of thousands of times every day.

His focus became increasingly pure: master the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade and break the record held by Wang Jinhua on the third floor of the 'Heaven-Reaching Tower'.

One day, the sky was cloudless.

The warm winter sunlight streamed through the window, landing in the Transcendent training room on the 90th floor of the Starry Sky Group.

Fang Zhuo stood in the center with his blade, his training clothes completely soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body and faintly outlining his well-defined muscles.

"Almost there. Now I finally understand why Brother Wang can speed-run the 'Heaven-Reaching Tower' with the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade...!"

During a break from her training, Bai Shiwei sat in a grand armchair, her fair, slender legs crossed, one hand resting on the armrest and the other supporting her chin.

Her beautiful eyes gazed infatuatedly at Fang Zhuo in the arena.

"Husband is about to master the fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade... My second level has only just begun to take shape; my comprehension is still far too lacking."

Bai Shiwei was thinking.

Fang Zhuo moved in the center. Twisting his waist and swinging his arm, he flipped his wrist and slashed his long blade out, creating an arc-shaped, fiery red blade shadow nearly five meters long.

Rumble!

As the blade shadow lit up, it was accompanied by a dull rumbling of thunder.

"The fifth level of the Thunder Fire Blade, it's done!"

"So, besides a higher boost to strength, it also comes with a powerful suction force. It must have been designed for slaughter efficiency during group battles."

Fang Zhuo retracted his long blade.

Bai Shiwei immediately jumped off the chair, holding a water cup, and ran over.