'Could it increase my Cultivation, too?'
Once the thought arose, it was impossible to suppress.
Although Han Feng guessed it probably wouldn't work.
The system's core logic was 'controlling a Flying Sword'.
'But what if there's a loophole to exploit?'
He acted on the thought immediately.
Han Feng stopped practicing the Body Forging Technique and closed his eyes.
The knowledge the system had granted him through Empowerment flowed through his mind.
He tried to mobilize the Qi Blood in his body.
He slowly circulated it along the special path described in the *Sword Control Technique·Entry Level*.
BUZZ!
His Qi Blood Power was no longer confined to his body; it burst forth.
It formed a membrane of Qi, invisible to the naked eye, across the surface of his skin.
The feeling of heaviness in his body instantly faded.
It was replaced by an almost weightless lightness.
The oppressive feeling from the 1.5x Gravity Field under his feet weakened significantly.
His five senses were magnified to an unprecedented degree.
Even the trajectories of dust motes suspended in the air became clearly visible.
He tried to take a step forward.
WHOOSH!
He instantly shot forward three or four meters.
He was so fast it left him a little dazed.
Strength, speed, reaction time...
An all-around enhancement!
However, when he suppressed his excitement and looked at the system panel, his heart sank.
The numbers in the [Cultivation] column hadn't budged at all.
Instead, his [Qi Blood] value was dropping rapidly.
[Actively using Entry Level Sword Control Technique. No Flying Sword Resonance detected. Unable to refine Cultivation. Qi Blood is being continuously consumed...]
"As I thought, it doesn't work."
Han Feng stopped circulating the Technique, and the last sliver of hope in his heart was extinguished.
'This system is as rigorous as an old pedant. There are no loopholes to exploit.'
Without the "Flying Sword" as a medium, the Sword Control Technique couldn't complete the energy refinement cycle.
It was merely a buff with a massive consumption cost.
Still, this discovery was a pleasant surprise.
In ground combat, briefly activating this state would provide a burst of terrifying speed, which could definitely be an unexpected ace up his sleeve.
Having figured this out, Han Feng refocused his attention on the *Body Forging Technique*.
The recent surge in his physical fitness had made his control over his strength a little clumsy.
He needed to recalibrate his body through this most basic form of hand-to-hand combat.
He had to bring every bit of his newfound power under his complete control.
Time trickled by during his monotonous Cultivation.
In the Gravity chamber, only the sound of Han Feng's heavy breathing and the whoosh of his punches and kicks remained.
He was completely immersed in the thrill of his rapidly increasing strength.
He paid no mind to the outside world.
After finishing a set of the Body Forging Technique, he was about to start the next one.
But a feeling of emptiness, originating from the depths of his marrow, brought his movements to a sudden halt.
He immediately sank his consciousness into his mind and pulled up the panel.
[Cultivation: Body Tempering Fifth Layer (222/1000) (+4)]
[Cultivation Technique: Body Forging Technique (Proficient 326/400) (+20)]
[Qi Blood: 5/522 (+1)]
The bright red, single-digit Qi Blood Value on the panel was like a needle piercing his eyes.
A warning bell, born from his survival instinct, rang in his head.
Only then did Han Feng realize he had been so caught up in his excitement, he had completely ignored the massive consumption of Sword Flight, as well as his body's much greater craving for Energy after its transformation.
With his original Body Tempering Fifth Layer Cultivation, training for three or four hours wouldn't have pushed him this far.
But now, the drain from "flying the plane" combined with practicing the Body Forging Technique had pushed him right to his body's limit.
The consumption of Qi Blood wasn't just a number; it was the ebbing of his Life Force.
This served as a wake-up call for him.
'Don't take the system's data lightly. If my Qi Blood hits zero, I could really die.'
However, this was a blessing in disguise.
Now that he understood the significance of the Qi Blood Value, he would be able to judge his body's condition more accurately in future Cultivation or combat.
Thankfully, he wasn't completely depleted.
'I'll go back to the dorm and drink a can of High-Energy Nutrient Liquid. It won't take long to recover.'
With that in mind, Han Feng immediately ended his practice session.
He then headed to the public washroom for a quick shower.
Afterward, he dragged his somewhat shaky legs back to his dorm room.
As a D Level Mechanic Student, he lived in a four-person dorm room assigned by the academy, mockingly called a "pigeon coop."
When Han Feng pushed open the dorm room door, a strange smell—a mixture of fragrant meat, sweat, and machine oil—wafted over him.
"Well, well, if it isn't our ace Pilot, returned in glory!"
A teasing voice called out.
It was Xiaoli, who was sitting at his desk, lovingly polishing a brand-new Spiritual Energy Power Wrench with a piece of deerskin cloth.
It was a Treasure he had saved up for two months to get.
But when his gaze fell on Han Feng's face, his hands stopped moving.
The teasing smile froze on his lips.
"Holy shit! Feng, you look terrible!"
"Did you fly the plane, or did the plane fly you?"
"Why are you as white as a sheet of paper!"
On the small balcony, the burly Pang Hu was squatting in front of a small electric hot pot, practically drooling.
He whipped his head around at the sound.
The next second, he shot up and rushed to Han Feng's side in a few large strides.
"Feng, are you okay?!"
Pang Hu's simple and honest face was filled with anxiety and concern.
"Did someone beat you up outside?"
"Tell Brother Hu, and I'll..."
"Oh, give it a rest," Xiaoli interrupted with a pout. "Feng is almost at the Fifth Layer. Who could beat him up?"
"Besides, with your fourth-layer Cultivation, you'd just be cannon fodder."
At another desk, Zhou Wen, who had been engrossed in his materials, also looked up.
He pushed up his black-framed glasses and walked quickly over to Han Feng.
His eyes swept over Han Feng's pale face, and he lowered his voice, his tone serious:
"Han Feng, your Qi Blood is in disarray and unstable. These are signs of severe overexertion."
"Did something go wrong with your Cultivation?"
Zhou Wen had a quiet personality, but he was the most perceptive of them all.
Seeing his dorm mates' unconcealed concern, Han Feng's heart warmed.
He smiled and waved his hand, his voice a little weak.
"I'm fine. I just went a little too hard practicing the Body Forging Technique and used up a lot of Qi Blood."
"I'll be fine after drinking some nutrient liquid and getting a night's rest."
"You call this fine? Your legs are shaking!"
Pang Hu's eyes widened like a bull's, and without another word, he firmly pushed Han Feng down into a chair.
Zhou Wen immediately ran to pour a glass of warm water and handed it over, instructing him seriously,
"Qi Blood deficiency can damage your foundation! You absolutely can't push yourself this hard anymore. You have to progress step by step!"
Han Feng nodded and took the glass of water.
Pang Hu paced back and forth, then suddenly gritted his teeth as if making a huge sacrifice.
He rushed back to the small balcony.
He yanked the lid off the electric hot pot, which was bubbling away and steaming.
A rich, meaty aroma instantly filled the entire cramped dorm room.
"What good is drinking water? To replenish Qi Blood, you have to eat Demon Beast Flesh!"
Pang Hu picked up a chipped enamel bowl and carefully used a large ladle to scoop up a big bowl of thick broth with minced meat from the pot.
Almost all of the precious minced meat in the pot ended up in Han Feng's bowl.
He carried the bowl back, his steps slow and deliberate, taking extreme care not to spill a single drop.
From his expression, you would think he wasn't carrying a bowl of meat broth, but a rare family heirloom passed down for generations.
"Quick, Feng, drink some of this Demon Beast Essence! Replenish your strength!"
Pang Hu shoved the bowl into Han Feng's hands, his voice gruff.
"I just bought this minced Iron Feather Bird meat today!"
"I've been saving up for days!"
"This is all of it. Hurry up and drink it to recover!"
Xiaoli stared at the bowl of meat, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
"Damn, Pang Hu, talk about making a sacrifice!"
"After Feng drinks that soup, you'll be crying into an empty bowl in your dreams tonight!"
"Get lost!"
Pang Hu's face darkened, and he lunged forward to give Xiaoli a punch.
Han Feng held the warm enamel bowl, watched his two friends fool around, and didn't say anything more.
He picked up the spoon and began to drink in large gulps.
A warm current spread through his abdomen, but the feeling was completely different.
It was no longer the simple warmth of food, but a stream of pure Energy.
It flowed along the meridians in his body, precisely nourishing his nearly-depleted sea of Qi Blood.
[Low Tier Spiritual Energy Food consumed. Qi Blood +10.]