Upon arriving in Niushan City, Lu Fan made his way to the prominent Niu Family weapon shop, known for its extensive selection and discerning clientele. Approaching the counter, he presented several early Foundation Building weapons to the attendant.
"I'm interested in selling these," Lu Fan stated, laying the weapons before the attendant.
The attendant's eyes widened as he examined the exceptional craftsmanship. "These are remarkable pieces. May I ask where you acquired them?"
"From my travels," Lu Fan replied succinctly.
"Very well. I can offer you a fair price," the attendant said, quoting a substantial sum.
After a brief negotiation, they reached an agreement, and Lu Fan concluded the transaction, replenishing his resources.
Unbeknownst to Lu Fan, as soon as he departed, the attendant reported the transaction to the higher-ups of the Niu Family. In the family's grand hall, members convened to discuss the unexpected opportunity.
"A cultivator just sold us several Foundation Building weapons of exceptional quality," the attendant reported.
"Did he mention their origin?" inquired Niu Weishan, the family's sole Foundation Building expert.
"He claimed to have acquired them during his travels," the attendant responded.
A middle-aged man, one of the family's strategists, leaned forward. "Such weapons could significantly bolster our strength. Should we consider... relieving him of any remaining assets?"
Niu Weishan pondered this, his fingers drumming on the armrest. "Attacking a fellow Foundation Building cultivator is not a decision to be taken lightly. The risks could outweigh the benefits."
As the family deliberated, weighing the potential gains against the dangers, Lu Fan, ever cautious, had already anticipated such a reaction. He promptly left Niushan City, understanding that lingering could invite trouble.
By the time the Niu Family reached a consensus, Lu Fan was already beyond their reach, continuing his journey.
After departing from Niushan City, Lu Fan journeyed to another cultivator city renowned for its extensive collection of martial arts manuals. Navigating through the bustling streets, he visited several reputable bookstores and martial arts academies, seeking to expand his repertoire. After careful selection, he acquired several innate martial arts techniques, including:
Sunrise Fist Art: A technique that channels the energy of the rising sun into powerful strikes.
Blazing Ember Fist: A method focusing on generating intense heat within the fists to deliver scorching blows.
Scorching Palm Art: A discipline that allows the practitioner to emit searing heat from their palms, capable of inflicting severe burns.
Firestorm Step: A movement technique that engulfs the user in flames, increasing speed and agility while intimidating opponents.
Lightning Flash Step: A rapid movement skill that mimics the speed and unpredictability of lightning, enabling swift dodges and attacks.
Thunderous Roar Punch: A powerful punching technique that releases a concussive blast upon impact, echoing like a thunderclap.
With these new techniques in his possession, Lu Fan returned to his island home.
After delving into the intricacies of the innate martial arts he had acquired, Lu Fan discerned a fundamental pattern: each technique comprised two core components—Blood Qi and an external elemental influence. For instance, the Blazing Ember Fist involved utilizing fire-element Qi to temper one's Blood Qi, thereby imbuing it with fiery attributes. Similarly, the Thunderous Roar Punch required the infusion of thunder-element Qi to enhance Blood Qi with thunderous properties.
This observation led Lu Fan to question the necessity of replicating specific movements for different elemental effects. The answer became evident upon reflecting on the Karmic Flame Purging Technique, which emphasized the role of belief in facilitating the absorption of external elements by Blood Qi. The structured movements and forms of these martial arts served as conduits, aligning the practitioner's intent and belief, thereby making it easier for Blood Qi to assimilate the desired elemental properties.
Although these mortal martial arts held limited direct utility for someone of Lu Fan's advanced cultivation, they provided him with valuable insights. Armed with this understanding, Lu Fan realized he could devise numerous innate martial arts tailored to various elemental attributes. Given his background as a Level 2 Body Tempering expert, he possessed the capability to create innate arts which are Levels 0 or barely Level 1, thereby expanding his repertoire and deepening his mastery over the interplay between Blood Qi and elemental forces.
Lu Fan devised two new innate martial arts: Sunfire Fist Art and Thunder Attraction Art. The Sunfire Fist Art functioned as a primary cultivation technique, channeling the power of fire to refine Blood Qi, while the Thunder Attraction Art served as a supplementary method designed to attract lightning and has ability to heal burn marks.
This combination was both practical and extreme. Sunfire Fist Art allowed for steady and controlled training, but for those seeking rapid breakthroughs, the Thunder Attraction Art provided a brutal yet effective alternative. By deliberately drawing lightning strikes upon themselves, practitioners could forcibly overcome cultivation bottlenecks, accelerating their progress at great personal risk.
Drawing further inspiration from the Karmic Flame Purging Technique, Lu Fan sought to incorporate the power of belief into his creations. He purchased Vedic Mantras associated with the Sun and Fire on Amazzone, studying their structure and effects. With this knowledge, he crafted a pirated version, a simplified mantra designed to guide practitioners in forming a flame with purifying properties.
However, whether this newly created mantra would function as intended remained uncertain. It was an experimental endeavor, but Lu Fan was willing to test its limits. If successful, it could provide an entirely new path for cultivation—one rooted not just in Qi, but in belief and elemental resonance.
Even if his mantra didn't work as intended, it was still a genuine innate martial art. The structure was complete, and the training method was practical. At worst, it would serve as a fire cultivation technique, helping practitioners refine their Blood Qi with fire attributes. At best, if the mantra held even a fraction of its intended purifying effect, it could become a powerful tool for body refinement.
Lu Fan wasn't particularly attached to whether the pirated mantra succeeded or not. What mattered was that he had broken down the essence of innate martial arts and reconstructed them based on his own understanding. If this one failed, he could simply adjust, refine, and create more