The snow had just stopped, and the air in the small courtyard was crisp and sweet.
With all her emotions and concerns set aside, Fei Huangfu adopted the most respectful posture of inquiry and said, “Master Qingyuan, I have practiced the Divine Halberd Technique of the God of Thunder for six years already, but I have never grasped its essence. I wonder why? The same goes for the True Five Thunder Formula; I have never fully understood its key points, feeling only that my progress is slow and that there is no one to guide me.”
Discussions on martial techniques often began with general inquiries.
“First, practice and use it more. Only through familiarity can one become skillful, grasp the unchanging principles within the variations of moves, and thus comprehend their essence,” Meng Qi replied, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his scholar’s robe gently swaying in the breeze, exuding grace and elegance.
He paced back and forth a few steps, smiling as he continued, “Second, listen more, observe more, and contemplate deeply to understand with your heart.”
“Except for those born innately powerful, most beings achieve strength through cultivation—either imitating their predecessors or learning from nature itself. Some basic techniques are even modeled after animals, following the principle that humans follow the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature.”
“To cultivate the Thunder’s Righteous Method and its corresponding techniques, if you do not observe lightning and thunder or experience their majestic force, it will be difficult to gain a comprehensive mastery…”
“For example, the swiftness of lightning, the weight of thunder, the emptiness of the heavens, and the contrast of slowness can all be experienced when watching a storm…”
“Look at this slash—it mimics the meaning of emptiness embracing all things through a full and inward motion…”
Meng Qi’s voice was deep and resonated around the courtyard. Occasionally, he drew his long knife to demonstrate, causing Fei Huangfu and Lady Huangfu to feel their minds calming, lost in thought.
“Merely observing thunder and lightning directly is insufficient, as their majesty and sensations are abstract and elusive. Hence, one must also study the notes of predecessors and contemplate them in relation to one’s own techniques…”
After his explanation, Fei Huangfu, with a hint of joy, said, “I seem to have gained some understanding. I will now re-practice the Divine Halberd Technique of the God of Thunder and the corresponding Five Thunder Formula, and I humbly request Master to guide me step by step.”
…
A month later.
Fei Huangfu stepped out of her room, ready to begin her daily practice and inquiry.
Dressed in a simple green dress with a plain hairpin, she looked like an ordinary young lady. Yet her rosy complexion and natural beauty could not be concealed.
Passing by the kitchen, she greeted her mother before entering the courtyard. She instinctively held her breath, for the figure of Master Qingyuan sitting beneath a tree exuded an inward, concentrated aura, as if brewing something mysterious, making her reluctant to disturb him.
Over these past weeks, Fei Huangfu had often seen Master Qingyuan in such a meditative state. Initially puzzled, she had gradually grown accustomed to it, no longer finding it strange. However, today, the sense of emptiness and brewing around him felt even more intense, subtly affecting her emotions and senses.
“Master, I’m here,” Fei Huangfu said, bowing respectfully as she regained her composure. She had long abandoned her former self-reference.
In just a month of practice, sparring, and refining her techniques, Fei Huangfu felt her Divine Halberd Technique had improved dramatically compared to the past, and the Five Thunder Formula had also become much clearer. If not for the short time, she might have already achieved a breakthrough!
Behind him, the trees stood straight and bare; before him, Meng Qi sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed.
Upon hearing her voice, he suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils deep and fathomless, like an infinite void.
Ancient, solemn, and vast, he seemed to transform into the universe itself, towering above all. Fei Huangfu instinctively took a step back, feeling both reverence and awe toward Master Qingyuan, an involuntary urge to kneel before him.
The sensation vanished in an instant, like a dream. Fei Huangfu heard Meng Qi laugh and say, “Today shall be the final guidance.”
After achieving minor success in the Eight-Nine Primordial Unity, and also cultivating the “Muscle Transformation Sutra,” nearly all techniques of the Qi Opening Stage held no more secrets for Meng Qi. As long as he knew the Qi flow routes and corresponding methods, he could quickly simulate them. Once one principle was understood, all principles became clear.
Moreover, to Meng Qi’s quiet delight and astonishment, the cultivation method of the “Yuan Shi Golden Scripture” strangely harmonized with the Eight-Nine Primordial Unity. Thus, within just over half a month, he used the Eight-Nine Primordial Unity to simulate the Qi of the “Yu Xu Opening Heaven Technique,” mastering the thirty-six forms of Yu Xu Palm with refined and ancient precision, as if he had practiced them for years.
Over the next two weeks, he dedicated himself to mastering the three external techniques. Having already simulated the first half of the “Reversing Heaven Seal,” he swiftly unraveled the intricacies of “Heaven and Earth Reversed.” By leveraging the Eight-Nine Primordial Unity, he could forcefully replicate its effects, achieving roughly eighty percent of its standard power. However, his progress with “Immovable Golden Lotus” and “Three Treasures Ruyi Fist” was comparatively slower, likely necessitating another month before attaining proficiency.
The reason he momentarily lost his imposing demeanor just now was because today marked the “Great Completion” of the Qi Opening stage in the “Yu Xu Opening Heaven Technique”!
“The final… guidance?” Fei Huangfu’s eyes widened, her expression shocked and disbelieving.
Meng Qi slowly rose, smiling, “All gatherings must come to an end. I still have matters concerning the evil spirit to attend to.”
Fei Huangfu suppressed the sudden surge of sorrow at parting and sincerely bowed, “Thank you, Master. The gains of this month will benefit me for life.”
The Five Thunder Formula and the Divine Halberd Technique had been cultivated to an extremely profound level. Fei Huangfu was convinced that, given time, her father could achieve an even higher realm of ascension, and her own cultivation would not be confined to the ordinary Nine Orifices.
“When both parties benefit, why speak of thanks?” Meng Qi waved his hand dismissively.
Fei Huangfu insisted on bowing once more before saying, “Master, Senior Brother He is also hiding in this city, and only I know his exact location. Shall we go meet him today and retrieve the Xuanwu Pendant?”
She had focused solely on cultivation this month, not allowing herself to be distracted by romance.
“Not yet,” Meng Qi chuckled, casually flicking his sleeve. “First, watch me demonstrate a sword technique. Observe carefully.”
With that, he drew Tian Zhi Shang and began his demonstration. The sword force was sometimes heavy as thunder, sometimes swift as lightning, sometimes empty and embracing all things, sometimes making time seem slow, sometimes supremely forceful, radiating purity, righteousness, and destruction.
The rolling sword light seemed to transform into a silver-white sphere, enveloping him. A breathtaking sword technique was performed within a confined space, yet even Fei Huangfu, standing nearby, felt no sharpness or wind.
Rumbling sounds echoed continuously, like a warning before heavenly punishment.
Suddenly, the sword light vanished, and the courtyard fell into eerie silence and dimness.
A brilliant ray of light pierced down from the heavens, illuminating the courtyard.
Boom!
Thunder followed the lightning, heavy and unusually loud, though Meng Qi deliberately contained most of the sound waves, allowing only a small portion to escape.
The five essences—emptiness, weight, slowness, speed, and ferocity—seemed to merge into one, radiating supreme righteousness and brightness, as if executing divine punishment—Five Thunders Striking from Heaven!
Meng Qi had nearly perfected the “Heavenly Five Thunders Strike” technique, needing only a bit more to fully integrate all the previous movements into a single strike. He estimated that it would take only a few hundred more merits!
Even so, the accumulated momentum behind this final slash slightly surpassed the power of “Thunder Shocking the Nine Heavens”!
The blinding sword light almost obscured Meng Qi’s figure, its electric traces frozen in Fei Huangfu’s dark, bright eyes.
…
Later, Meng Qi left secret marks for Qi Shaochong and Huang Ling, instructing them to arrive at different times. He then hid in the shadows, changing his appearance to secretly follow them, ensuring no danger before guiding each one to meet Fei Huangfu and Lady Huangfu.
At night, Fei Huangfu changed her disguise and led Meng Qi into a vast mansion within the city, knocking on the side courtyard door in a special rhythm.
Inside the house, there was first silence, then hurried footsteps.
The courtyard door was suddenly flung open by a man in his thirties, his expression excited as he said, “Little junior apprentice sister…”
Even though she was disguised, he still recognized the woman who had haunted his dreams.
Upon seeing her beloved once more, Fei Huangfu could barely hold back her emotions. As their hands touched, she was just about to speak when she suddenly remembered Meng Qi standing beside her. With a hint of embarrassment, she said, “Senior Brother, this is Master Qingyuan. It was thanks to him that my mother and I were rescued.”
He Canshang’s cultivation was nearly at the level of Communion of Heaven and Man. The instant he laid eyes on Fei Huangfu, he noticed Meng Qi. Yet, his heart was in turmoil, and he placed absolute trust in his junior sister. Thus, he refrained from asking any questions and merely bowed respectfully.
“Thank you, Master Qingyuan. Your deeds have spread far and wide. To defeat the Azure Blood Dragon King with only Qi Opening cultivation is truly admirable.”
Fei Huangfu gestured for Meng Qi to enter the courtyard and quietly explained the situation. Finally, she said, “Senior Brother, the Xuanwu Pendant is linked to the evil spirit—it is an inauspicious object. Please deliver it to Master Qingyuan as soon as possible.”
He Canshang smiled bitterly. “So that’s why I couldn’t decipher any technique and kept having nightmares, always hearing someone sighing in my dreams.”
As he spoke, he took out the Xuanwu Pendant.
It was a jade pendant nearly shattered by yin corrosion, engraved with the image of Xuanwu.
“What was the sighing about?” Meng Qi immediately became interested.
As he took the pendant, a chilling coldness spread through his hand, as if it had lain buried in a tomb for countless millennia.
He Canshang replied, “To Master Qingyuan, it sounded like it was sighing ‘Wuyou Valley’…”
“Wuyou Valley?” Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brow. He probed his spiritual sense into the pendant and, amidst the coldness, indeed heard a long sigh:
“Wuyou Valley.”
This voice, lofty and awe-inspiring, pierced through the eons and entered Meng Qi’s ears.
“Step Three of the Mystery of the True Martial’s Demise: Locate Wuyou Valley.”
At the same time, the indifferent, emotionless voice of the Six Dao Reincarnation Lord echoed in his mind.
“I have never heard of Wuyou Valley,” He Canshang thought Meng Qi was asking him.
Fei Huangfu also shook her head.
If Wuyou Valley was not in the Nine Towns, then there must be clues in the main world… Meng Qi mused thoughtfully.
Relying on a reincarnation task to find it would be nearly impossible.
He nodded slightly, his green shadow flashing as he vanished, his movement technique so strange and powerful that He Canshang was momentarily stunned.
Sighing, Fei Huangfu turned away.
“What’s wrong?” He Canshang asked in confusion.
“Nothing. I was just thinking how Master Qingyuan is truly a transcendent cultivator, like a Thunder God descended from heaven,” Fei Huangfu said, turning her gaze back.
…
Near the “Spring Valley” city of Tianzhi Township.
A bodyguard twisted and turned, his movements agile like a fish weaving through a crowd, soon disappearing into the sea of people.
Before long, he arrived near a secluded courtyard, cautiously scanning the surroundings before carefully pushing open the door and descending into a secret passage where he met another man and woman.
“Have the important figures from Xianji arrived yet?” he asked anxiously.
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