9th Thunder Sword Art: The First Strike

County-Level City No. 0349

With a swift motion, a flash of fire-like blade light cut through the air at a subtle angle, slicing like lightning across the neck of a three-meter-tall, cyan-scaled Blue Scale Wolf.

As Wang Yi delivered a severe slash to the Blue Scale Wolf's neck, he suddenly felt as though he was touching something. He staggered slightly, narrowly avoiding an attack from a Green Scale Wolf behind him. At the same time, Wang Yi spun around, his blood-stained fiery sword turning into a cold light that cut through the soft abdomen of another Blue Scale Wolf from below, causing blood and internal organs to spill out.

"Okay!" The Storm Squad watched from a distance, observing Wang Yi being surrounded by a pack of Green Scale Wolves on the street without any intention of intervening.

These over twenty Blue Scale Wolves, each a high-level beast soldier, moved like the wind, working together with fierce and treacherous coordination. Typically, junior generals would be overwhelmed by such a group, but Wang Yi handled them with ease.

In no time, more than half of the Blue Scale Wolves were killed or injured. The remaining wolves, frightened, whimpered and fled, not daring to engage Wang Yi any further.

One Blue Scale Wolf, slower in its retreat, was pursued by a shadowy figure. A cold, blood-red sword light flashed, and the next moment, the wolf's head flew off.

"Woo~~" The remaining wolves scattered in panic. Wang Yi did not chase them but instead stood still, cleaning the Flowing Fire Sword in his hands, seemingly indifferent to the materials on the ground.

"This kid." Captain Jiang Feng shook his head, but Zhao Wei and several other team members grinned and hurried over to strip the materials from the slain monsters.

Although high-level beast soldier materials are less valuable than those from beast general-level monsters, the accumulation of such materials can still amount to a significant sum. The materials from the Blue Scale Wolves Wang Yi had killed could fetch hundreds of thousands when sold.

Wang Yi's earnings from his previous year's training were only in the tens of thousands of dollars.

This is merely a small step in the grand scheme.

Indeed, the wealth of a warrior grows with their power; the greater the strength, the greater the rewards in the wilderness, and the stronger the ability to earn.

Yet, the expenses on weapons, combat uniforms, potions, and cheats are also substantial.

Wang Yi was currently reflecting on the intricacies of the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword technique he used in battle.

He continued to experiment, with faint thoughts swirling in his mind.

He had to admit that comprehending the sword technique through actual combat was incredibly beneficial!

Most of the powerful techniques and secrets are derived from understanding and summarizing them through practical experience.

Originally, the Storm Team had planned to take Wang Yi into the wilderness area to hone his skills.

But they soon realized that this kid was far more extraordinary than they had imagined!

Ultimately, Wang Yi was refining his sword skills in the wilderness, while the Storm Team served more as a support team.

But everyone in the Storm Team was more than willing.

Seeing that Wang Yi seemed lost in thought, Jiang Feng waited until his teammates had nearly finished collecting the monster materials and packing them into their backpacks. He then approached the thoughtful teenager and said, "Wang Yi, it's getting late. It's time to move on."

Wang Yi snapped out of his reverie, glanced around, and noticed some monsters faintly appearing, attracted by the battle's commotion and the strong smell of blood.

Wang Yi nodded. The entire Storm Team proceeded silently, speaking only in low tones, and quickly left the street where the battle had taken place.

At night, a bright moon hung high in the dark sky, casting its silvery light over the abandoned city, which appeared to be covered with a white veil.

In a 15-story residential building in the east of the city, a figure sat quietly in the shadows under the eaves on the top floor, gazing at the moon, with two faintly glowing red swords beside him.

"I have been in the wilderness area for almost half a month, and I'll be heading back soon. The Nine-Layer Thunder Sword, First Layer. Although I've made some progress and gained insights during this time, mastering it and enabling my body to produce more dark energy is still elusive," Wang Yi thought, feeling distressed.

The Nine-Layer Thunder Sword is the world's top cheat book and the ultimate technique for human warriors!

Its creator is the world's second strongest, the Thunder God!

The Nine-Layer Thunder Sword is also known as the most difficult technique to master. To practice it, one must have extremely high aptitude and understanding. Even many War Gods may not be able to master it successfully.

Wang Yi kept thinking about the content and principles of the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword in his mind.

The Nine-Layer Thunder Sword's power lies in its unique method of force application.

An ordinary person might swing a sword with all their strength, which could be perfect. A practitioner of the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword, however, only uses 70% of their strength when swinging the sword. By channeling a secondary force at the same 70% strength when initiating the first gravity channel, the combined power amounts to 14%!

The Nine-Layer Thunder Sword is divided into nine layers. At the first level, one additional secret force can be utilized, resulting in 14% strength!

The second level allows for two additional dark forces, achieving a total of 21% strength!

...

At the ninth level, nine additional dark forces can be used, resulting in 70% strength! This is exactly seven times the original physical strength.

While it sounds easy, achieving this is extremely difficult; otherwise, the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword would not be considered the most challenging secret to master!

Even globally, there are few who can successfully practice the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword.

"How did Luo Feng in the original work practice the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword for the first time?" Wang Yi pondered, struggling to remember the details as his memory was blurred. He recalled that Luo Feng had touched upon the third level of the swordsmanship during a night in a wilderness city after defeating Li Wei. Luo Feng had realized it all at once. The fourth level had been achieved in a virtual space during a life-and-death battle with a certain student. Wang Yi could only envy the protagonist's fortunate circumstances.

Regardless of Wang Yi's thoughts, he couldn't remember how Luo Feng succeeded in the first and second levels of cultivation.

"It seems I really don't have the protagonist's luck…" Wang Yi thought, somewhat surprised.

The golden panel appeared in his mind.

"Check in."

The golden panel remained unmoved.

As expected.

Wang Yi pursed his lips.

He picked up the Flowing Fire Sword from the ground, stood up, and his eyes became resolute.

With a swift motion, he executed a series of rapid strikes.

Swish, swish, swish… Wang Yi's figure moved across the rooftop. The sword continued to split the air, performing the first 18 strikes of the first-level technique of the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword, illuminated by the moonlight. The red light of the sword formed a captivating display.

Suddenly, while immersed in the swordsmanship's artistic conception, Wang Yi glanced at his shadow and a flash of inspiration struck him. He was suddenly stunned.

"Shadow?"

He seemed to grasp something, his thoughts racing.

"Sword, shadow, dark power…"

"Combining them…"

As his understanding crystallized, the fog that had clouded his mind cleared. Wang Yi's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Haha!"

He leaped high into the air and, at the same time, slashed with the Flowing Fire Sword.

As the first strike was delivered, his body shuddered slightly, generating a new force. The two forces merged, causing Wang Yi's sword's power to surge dramatically!

"Hahaha…"

Wang Yi couldn't help but laugh.

After nearly twenty days of practice, he finally mastered the first layer of the Nine-Layer Thunder Sword.

The joy of this accomplishment surpassed even the reward he had received for the first calamity of the "Secret of the Nine Tribulations" from the sign-in panel.