Around noon.
Mingyue District.
Outside Wei Wen's villa, a staff member from the Limit Training Hall arrived, carrying a secure black briefcase.
"Mr. Wei Wen, here are the materials for the first five levels of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade technique you purchased. You can unlock it with your fingerprint," the staffer said respectfully, handing the case over.
Wei Wen accepted it casually, then brushed his finger across the scanner.
Beep!
"Fingerprint verified."
The case unlocked with a soft hiss. Inside were a single thick manual—roughly five centimeters thick—and five optical disks.
"Nine-Layer Thunder Blade," Wei Wen read aloud, eyeing the bold characters on the cover. He closed the case.
"Please sign here," said the staffer, still trying to remain composed. But in his eyes was disbelief.
After all, even at half-price, the first five levels of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade cost one billion Huaxia credits. That kind of money was not something a new fighter could easily spend.
Wei Wen signed the digital form.
The staffer then formally reminded him of the standard agreement: all rights to the technique remained with Thunder God. What Wei Wen had purchased was a personal license to study and use the secret technique. It was illegal to copy, sell, or teach it to others.
For instance, if Luo Feng, who hadn't purchased the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade, were caught practicing it, he'd be detained immediately. Purchase records were maintained in a central database shared by the Limit Training Hall, the Underground Alliance, Thunder Martial Hall, and other major organizations.
Also, techniques couldn't be bought under another person's name. There was no such thing as proxy purchasing for secret techniques. However, weapons and gear didn't follow these restrictions—Wei Wen could have someone else buy those for him if he wanted.
"One manual and five discs... and it costs a billion credits," Wei Wen chuckled softly.
"Thunder God's Nine-Layer Thunder Blade has been sold countless times. Think about the numbers—it's easy to see how rich Thunder God must be."
"Creating techniques is insanely profitable. If I ever need money, I'll just develop a few of my own."
He grinned.
"But with Luo Feng working under me, I probably won't have to worry about cash ever again."
"That said, for people at the top, money starts to lose its value. The things I want now... money alone can't buy."
Second Floor Training Hall
Wei Wen sat cross-legged on the polished floor. In front of him lay the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade manual, open to the first chapter.
This technique came in three components:
The Blade Method – the core technique of force application, designed for explosive power. At its peak, it could unleash up to seven times a user's raw strength.
Flowing Light, the footwork technique – excellent for speed and agility, and useful even for someone like Luo Feng still grasping basic movement methods.
Ninefold Primal Source, the internal cultivation method – designed to increase the absorption rate of Genetic Energy. According to existing records, it was likely the most effective technique of its kind available on Earth. This was also part of why Thunder God, the technique's creator, had the most powerful physique on the planet.
"Let's try the blade method first."
Wei Wen grabbed a standard training saber and began swinging in precise arcs, following the instructions from the manual.
The secret behind the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade's immense force was its unique layered-force method.
For a normal warrior, swinging a blade with everything they had meant using 100% of their physical power in a single stroke.
But this method was different.
A practitioner would deliberately restrain their first strike to 70% of their strength. At the moment of contact, they'd trigger a second internal surge—another 70%—layering it over the first.
The result? A composite strike equal to 140% of their raw strength. And with more layers... that number could go even higher.
Wei Wen kept swinging—dozens, then hundreds of times—trying to trigger that second burst during each swing.
But it wasn't working.
The motion was just too fast. Within the fraction of a second that the blade completed its arc, he couldn't yet manipulate his internal strength to deliver another force burst on top of the first.
Even Luo Feng, after a month of focused practice, still hadn't cracked it.
"I'll just have to wait for Luo Feng to break through first," Wei Wen thought.
Meanwhile, Luo Feng's warrior credentials were finalized. Just like in the original story, he'd purchased the first three levels of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade technique.
Suddenly, in Wei Wen's mind, new information downloaded itself—silent, seamless, complete.
Your bonded companion Luo Feng has purchased the first three levels of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade. You've received the optimized version of the first three levels.
Wei Wen's eyes flew open. A flood of revised, enhanced technique data now occupied part of his memory.
"I already studied Thunder God's version," he thought. "But it always felt crude—forceful without finesse."
"This optimized version is on a whole different level. I can feel it. I'm going to improve fast."
"Even if my raw talent isn't high, with this updated technique, I might end up outpacing Luo Feng."
The original Nine-Layer Thunder Blade was primitive in some ways—powerful, yes, but repetitive. Its philosophy was blunt: a thousand repetitions bring enlightenment.
You just drilled the same strikes, again and again, hoping for mastery through brute familiarity.
That was fine for someone like Thunder God, who developed it using intuition and trial-and-error—like a blind man feeling out the shape of an elephant.
But the optimized version was leagues beyond that.
Its design corrected flaws in the original force layering and even introduced a synchronizing mechanic that allowed defensive movements to flow naturally with offense.
Just reviewing the first set of instructions, Wei Wen felt it. The motions flowed more smoothly. The internal strength was easier to control.
Before this, hours of practice brought him almost no progress.
Now? In minutes, he could feel his technique improving.
He began adjusting everything—timing, speed, angle—experimenting with the first stage of layered-force application.
Time passed. Wei Wen alternated between frustration and elation, tweaking each motion by degrees.
And just then, his communicator buzzed.
A call from Zhou Zhengyong.
"Why is Director Zhou calling now...?" Wei Wen frowned, answering the call.
"Wei Wen," said Zhou with a friendly tone. "Your warrior registration is complete. You've received your startup funds and free secret technique quota, right?"
Wei Wen smiled. "Yes. Thank you for the extra support, Director. My benefits far exceed what most new warriors receive."
"Haha, don't worry about the money," Zhou laughed. "You've got talent. I assume you've already used your quota to buy something?"
"I've already made my purchase," Wei Wen confirmed.
"Oh?" Zhou was briefly caught off guard. "What did you choose?"
In his view, most people at this stage should pick simple, practical techniques with low difficulty—something with fast gains, even if the long-term ceiling was lower.
Something like Nine-Layer Thunder Blade? Way too advanced. Most who tried it made zero progress in a month.
And he had high hopes for Wei Wen—he wanted to push him into the Elite Training Camp. So early, tangible results were critical.
Now Zhou was curious... and maybe a little concerned.