Chapter 21 Physique Transformation

Despite the..... weird sounding code names that Chen Fei and Ichika both received, both new members of the Crooked Blades were immediately taken away by their respective teachers, already planning to teach them skills and knowledge about the organization.

Considering that Chen Fei and Ichika's teachers, Crooked Jack and Crooked George were both partners, the contents of what they would be teaching would inevitably be advantageous when used in tandem with each other. Some combat techniques that created a resonance between two parties spiritual power would often be much more powerful than individuals using their combat techniques.

However the drawbacks were often much more severe.

If something when wrong during the resonance, it would inflict serious internal injuries to both Chen Fei and Ichika. The party whose spiritual power either spiked to high or ran too low were often hospitalised. In worse cases, they even lost limbs from the backlash of energy coursing through their body.

"The Twisting Wind Dance is the most basic of dual combat techniques in the Crooked Blades. Every new recruit learns it, and can also be found within the repositories of all of the Three Big Ones once someone has reached the Bronze Knight Rank. It allows two people to connect their spiritual power and essentially boost their physical abilities two-fold. While uncommon, its not exactly a rare technique per se".

Chen Fei looked down at the small paperback manual in front of him. It was only about two dozen pages thick, but mentioned in great detail the movements of not just the body, but a Knights spiritual power when the Twisting Wind Dance was activated.

The technique itself only had two stages to it, the initial stage; Violent Wind. And the second stage; Gentle Wind. The first only doubled the physical strength and speed of the two performing the technique, while the second stage allowed for one party to borrow the strength of the other, increasing their attack power by several folds for a single moment.

It wasn't a bad technique. But like Crooked Jack said, it wasn't the best.

Chen Fei nodded, placing the book in the bag Jack had given him.

"You'll have to be with Ichika to practice that technique, so for now I think I'll just explain some stuff to you about your transformation. I did originally agree to teach you how to control it after all, and I'm not the type to go back on my word".

Crooked Jack pulled Chen Fei to the table in her apartment. At least, it was the apartment that Crooked Jack resided in.

She cleared her throat and pulled out another small manual. This one, despite its size, was several times thicker than the Twisting Wind Dance manual that she had just given to Chen Fei.

"This is a copy of Endless, the Cultivation Method you are cultivating right now. Normally, when cultivated, it creates an endless loop in which the Knight is unable to break. Even breaking through from the Golden Knight Rank to the Lord Knight Rank will not stop the loop. It has been a cause of much grief and concern to the Three Big Ones, and has been researched greatly over the past hundred years or so.....".

"As you are aware, using pure, unrefined mutated monster and demonic beast blood can be used as a catalyst to stop the endless loop. As you already know, it contains huge amounts of life force and spiritual essence that has yet to be refined. This, serves as a catalyst to guide the endless loop of spiritual power towards the physique, transforming it".

Crooked Jack gestured to the claws and talons on Chen Fei's hands and feet.

"There has been multiple experiments on why or how this is possible, however within the Endless Cultivation Method, seven different transformations have been mentioned, none of which described or even alluded to in the later sections of the manual. The first, obviously, is the transformation that you have experienced. Physique Transformation".

Chen Fei couldn't help but ask.

"What exactly does the Physique Transformation do exactly? Other than transform my physical body?".

Crooked Jack scrunched up her face slightly before letting out a small sigh.

"We..... don't exactly know that yet. From past experiments, and from your own circumstances, we can tell that the Physique Transformation alters the body to something more suitable for cultivation. Normally the physical traits of mutated monsters and demonic beasts are taken. Claws, talons, scaled skin, denser bones and even extra appendages. The extent of the Physique Transformation hasn't properly been documented yet considering.....".

Chen Fei saw the look on Crooked Jack's face before letting out a sigh of his own.

"Considering that I'm the only living specimen, correct?".

Crooked Jack nodded, not seeming guilty in the slightest.

"Most of the time the compatibility rate is much too low for a successful rotation of Endless to be cultivated. When we saw that your compatibility rate was over 90%, we were completely shocked and I'm sure Crooked Red and the others will be shocked as well. No-one has ever seen a compatibility rate as high as yours before. We want to know why, and how you are able to cultivate this seemingly death-sentence of a Cultivation Method".

"If we can learn how, then maybe more people who have the ability to become a Demi-God will appear.....".

The last few words escaped Chen Fei's notice, and he instead turned his attention towards the Endless Cultivation Method, and the mentioning of the seven transformations that would occur.

"... Physique Transformation..... Boundary Transformation..... Essence Transformation.... Wellspring Transformation.... Life Transformation..... Death Transformation..... And Nirvana Transformation... Wait a second, if you haven't got any living specimens who had reached Physique Transformation, then how did Crooked Red know that my own Physique Transformation was incomplete? He said it was only a fraction of the way to completion".

Crooked Jack raised an eyebrow before glancing away and letting out another deep breath.

"You're not an idiot, I'll give you that much", she muttered.

"To put it simply, Endless is the only Cultivation Method with seven transformations. Other ancient Cultivation Methods do record possessing Transformations, however most only go up to the first or second Transformation. Those exceeding the Boundary Transformation are extremely rare, even by our standards. To our knowledge, only the Big Three Ones have Cultivation Methods that reach the fourth and fifth Transformation. None have been discovered that reach the sixth".

Chen Fei nodded understandingly. A lot more things had become clearer with just this single conversation.

"Can I know the extent of the Transformation from other Cultivation Methods?".

Crooked Jack nodded.

"When the Physique Transformation is complete, a much higher quality physical body has been refined. Strength, speed, stamina, endurance, even reflexes move at dozens of times their normal speed. In addition, completing Physique Transformation allows a person to open up all their spiritual wellsprings. Since opening more gives a greater chance of becoming a Knight, it is a great thing to have when something like Endless, which by itself opens up all the spiritual wellsprings, can't by cultivated".

"But in comparison the physical changes the body experiences is nothing compared to your own. Some people awaken special eyes, or gain a special type of physique when they complete Physique Transformation. Making it easier to cultivate or even allow them to hold more spiritual power within their spiritual wellsprings. Physical changes like yours, are unseen, considering most of them don't use pure unrefined monster and beast blood as a catalyst".

Chen Fei tsked slightly before showing an annoyed expression.

"Then.... what about reversing the Transformation? At least so I can hide in plain sight. With hands and feet like these, I'd get caught before I'd even get within a hundred metres of the target. Can you at least tell me about that?".

Crooked Blade smiled and nodded at her little student. She knew full well that Chen Fei wasn't completely dedicated to the Crooked Blades, however, that didn't mean in time he couldn't learn to love this organization.

After all, most students did follow in their teachers footsteps.