Chapter 165

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The entire morning, Zhang Xiaohua spent his time in the medicinal field. After the rain, the ground was extremely muddy, making the work quite laborious. On top of that, the weeds in the field were growing like crazy, keeping Zhang Xiaohua busy without a moment to spare. He couldn’t understand why, just a few days ago, the weeds had lessened, but how come today they seemed to have multiplied once more?

By the time he finished his work, it was nearly noon. The sun was shining brightly, but the ground remained slippery. Without a suitable place to practice martial arts, Zhang Xiaohua sat inside the straw hut, meditating and cultivating his Carefree Heart Sutra. The cool, fine thread of true qi flowed through Zhang Xiaohua’s meridians, making him feel extremely comfortable.

As dusk approached, Zhang Xiaohua finally emerged from the hut. After a day of sun exposure, some areas of the ground had dried up, and Zhang Xiaohua eagerly started practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist, loosening his muscles and bones.

People have a natural sense of habit—once they become used to something, not doing it for a day leaves them feeling empty and uneasy. This was precisely the case for Zhang Xiaohua. If you called him diligent, it wouldn’t be wrong. Daily martial arts practice had become such a routine that if he missed a day, his bones would feel itchy.

The dry patch of land next to the shed wasn’t very large, but it was enough for him to practice his fist techniques. After going through several rounds of the Big Dipper Divine Fist, Zhang Xiaohua noticed he had made progress. His Big Dipper Divine Fist had advanced to the third level, and by the seventh round of practice, he could feel a cool flow moving through him, tempering his bones.

Zhang Xiaohua also realized that the cool sensation tempering his bones was different from the cool true qi circulating in his meridians. However, he couldn’t quite explain the difference, no matter how hard he thought about it.

In just a few short days, his Big Dipper Divine Fist was able to advance, making Zhang Xiaohua quite happy. But upon deeper reflection, he couldn’t figure out the secret to his progression. Even Zhang Xiaohua himself felt clueless, like a monk trying to figure out a profound mystery. All he could do was continue practicing blindly, hoping for another breakthrough.

In the days that followed, Zhang Xiaohua’s life returned to its usual calm. The weeds in the medicinal field gradually lessened, and He Tianshu hadn’t come by to disturb him, likely absorbed in his own study of the Piaomiao Step.

In the following days, Zhang Xiaohua’s practice of footwork advanced quickly. Through consistent training in the forest, he was able to transform the theoretical knowledge in his mind into practical footwork until he fully mastered the second layer of the Piaomiao Step. However, Zhang Xiaohua’s interpretation of the technique differed slightly from the written manual, and when he practiced, the deviations became more pronounced. Still, his version remained largely faithful to the original teachings.

Aside from the footwork, Zhang Xiaohua had little left to prepare. He had practiced the Big Dipper Divine Fist countless times—its moves were deeply ingrained in his mind. Although he hadn’t sparred with anyone since returning to Huanxi Villa, he felt confident that he wouldn’t lose in hand-to-hand combat. As for the left-hand sword technique taught by Elder Yu, he continued to practice it, relishing the warm sensation that coursed through his left arm. But he knew that despite his fondness for the technique, it wouldn’t be suitable for the upcoming martial competition. Ultimately, the only technique he could rely on was the Big Dipper Divine Fist.

After mastering the footwork of the Piaomiao Step, Zhang Xiaohua attempted to combine the Big Dipper Divine Fist with the Piaomiao Step. However, after practicing for a while, he realized that the footwork was simply that—a set of steps. It could be practiced on its own or used in sparring, but trying to practice both the fist technique and the step technique simultaneously felt disjointed, as if he were trying to force two incompatible elements together. After a brief attempt, Zhang Xiaohua abandoned the idea.

With this realization, Zhang Xiaohua shifted all his focus to cultivating the Carefree Heart Sutra when he wasn’t practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist.

Over several days of cultivation, the inner energy in Zhang Xiaohua’s meridians remained thin, like fine threads, without any significant growth. Whenever he tried to draw qi into his body, the Yuan Qi seemed to vanish, leaving him unable to detect it. However, Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t too concerned. He surmised that the Yuan Qi he was drawing was so faint and subtle that it became undetectable once inside his body. The inner energy flowing through his meridians without any blockage was likely absorbing these tiny, imperceptible threads of Yuan Qi.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel that his progress was frustratingly slow. He wondered when he would finally reach the second layer of the heart sutra.

Occasionally, Zhang Xiaohua would let his mind wander during his cultivation, dreaming of future achievements, only to sigh and shake his head in resignation.

More than ten days passed, and still, there was no sign of He Tianshu. Zhang Xiaohua, once content with his quiet cultivation, began to grow anxious. Could it be that He Tianshu hadn’t yet grasped the Piaomiao Step?

But then, a thought struck him—why was he waiting for He Tianshu in the first place?

Was it because he needed He Tianshu to teach him the second layer of the Piaomiao Step?

But Zhang Xiaohua had already learned the second layer of the Piaomiao Step by himself, what need was there for He Tianshu to teach him?

Zhang Xiaohua, upon reaching this thought, couldn’t help but cover his forehead with his hand, furrowing his brows deeply. He realized that he had become overly reliant on others, falling into a mental trap. Even when he had already learned a martial art, he still felt the need to consult someone, to confirm whether he had practiced correctly. To put it bluntly, he sought others’ approval so that he could give himself reassurance, thinking: look, everyone says you practiced it right, so stop doubting yourself.

While this approach has some merit—after all, as the ancients said, “When three people walk together, one of them can be my teacher”—this method can help one improve by learning from others’ strengths. However, when it came to the Piaomiao Step, He Tianshu was also learning it for the first time, still in the process of comprehension. Moreover, Zhang Xiaohua had already started to deviate from what was recorded in the manual. If He Tianshu’s teachings differed from his own understanding, then where would that leave him?

As a result, Zhang Xiaohua had no choice but to pause his practice of the Heart Sutra and begin to ponder this issue deeply.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long before Zhang Xiaohua’s furrowed brow relaxed. In truth, the solution was simple. Even if He Tianshu were to teach him the footwork of the Piaomiao Step again, Zhang Xiaohua wouldn’t change what he had already comprehended. Just like with the Big Dipper Divine Fist, many of the techniques he practiced had diverged from those passed down in the martial world. He certainly wouldn’t change his habits or alter what he had made his own simply for the sake of imitation. Moreover, Zhang Xiaohua knew one thing for sure: the Big Dipper Divine Fist had the effect of tempering bones—did any other fist techniques offer the same? If he had only ever pursued learning from others, would he be where he was now?

As the ancients wisely said: In this world, there is no road; it is only when people tread upon it that a path is formed.

Perhaps many walk the paths others have set, but his path ahead had no road yet. Still, as long as he continued to move forward, a path would emerge. What he left behind may only be footprints, but to those who followed, those footprints might become markers. When enough people walk that way, the direction he took would naturally become a path.

With this realization, Zhang Xiaohua felt a great sense of relief, his spirit invigorated, as if he had matured considerably.

The ancients also said, ‘Learning without reflection leads to confusion’. In the past, Zhang Xiaohua only focused on studying, always feeling inferior to others, and believing that everyone was above him, so he buried his head in his studies. But the accumulation of recent experience and knowledge had given him the foundation to raise his head. This brief pause, during which he stopped practicing and focused solely on thinking, became the starting point of releasing his stored potential, a turning point where quantity transformed into quality. It will have a profound impact on Zhang Xiaohua’s path ahead.

Now that he had set aside the mindset of relying on others, Zhang Xiaohua immediately turned his thoughts to the third level of the Piaomiao Step—the true art of Qinggong.

[TL_Note: Qinggong is the formal name for lightness techniques, so to avoid further confusion with the terms of lightness, I’ll use the formal term]

This was the skill Zhang Xiaohua had dreamed of mastering. Just imagining it was exhilarating—the ability to leap freely through the forests, no longer needing to measure the land step by step with his feet. It would feel as if the entire world belonged to him.

At the very least, once he mastered Qinggong, he wouldn’t need to take a carriage to return to Guo Village. Wouldn’t that save him quite a bit of money too?

As Zhang Xiaohua felt his heart racing with excitement, he could hardly wait to rush into the forest to practice his Qinggong. However, just as he stood up, a sudden chill ran through him, and he silently scolded himself. He had just deeply contemplated the importance of forging a path that had not been walked before, but such a path was not easily traversed. Each step must be taken with care; otherwise, if he were always so rash and loses his composure, he risks stumbling at the very beginning.

Thus, Zhang Xiaohua returned to his straw hut, sat cross-legged, and calmed his mind to practice the Heart Sutra. Only after did he retrieve the memories of the Light Body technique from his mind.

Although he had not yet formed a complete image of the lightness method recorded in the Piaomiao Step manual, he remembered the key phrases clearly. He carefully meditated on them, pondering each detail until he was confident he had not overlooked anything. Then, he made his way to the forest.

However, the results of his practice were both beyond his expectations and also not beyond his expectations.

To his astonishment, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t even master the first step of the lifting technique. No matter how hard he tried or what methods he employed, he couldn’t make his internal energy flow through the meridians as described in the Piaomiao Step, producing the desired lightness.

What surprised him was that he had thought internal energy was the basis for Qinggong. He believed that as long as he had internal energy and followed the techniques outlined, he could execute the Qinggong. However, reality revealed a harsh truth to him: any speculations are illusory, and only practice is the true path.

What didn’t surprise him was that throughout his martial arts training, nothing had ever been achieved easily. Each skill had come with its own struggles and setbacks, and experienced different twists and turns. If mastering Qinggong were a smooth journey, Zhang Xiaohua would truly have to question the depth of his character.

As Zhang Xiaohua exited the forest, frustrated by his failure in his Qinggong practice, he couldn’t help but think of He Tianshu. Although he had determined his own path, it was always beneficial to observe how others walked theirs. Haha, besides, it had been quite a while since he had received guidance from his cheap master, and Zhang Xiaohua was eager to hear his thoughts.

Zhang Xiaohua walked toward the small courtyard, convincing himself along the way.

Unfortunately, He Tianshu was not in the house, leaving the eager-to-learn Zhang Xiaohua hitting a wall. He had no choice but to return to his straw hut, where he sat down to meditate and practice.

It wasn’t until the following afternoon that he finally saw He Tianshu again.

Seated before Zhang Xiaohua, He Tianshu had a radiant complexion and was full of energy, showing none of the previous weariness from staying up late to comprehend the footwork. Zhang Xiaohua was quite surprised—could it be that fully understanding these footwork techniques also had remarkable restorative effects?

After careful questioning, Zhang Xiaohua learned that He Tianshu had not yet fully comprehended the second level of the Piaomiao Step. However, he had recently returned from the Medicine Hall, where he had managed to easily defeat someone he had previously struggled against in a competition, using only the parts of the technique he had grasped. The scene had astonished everyone present, turning those who had come merely to watch into eager supporters wanting to know the secret behind his victory. This unexpected recognition brought He Tianshu a great sense of relief, especially since he had often been overlooked in the Medicine Hall.

Unfortunately, he was far too cautious to share the details of the Piaomiao Step with others; he could only return and share his joy with Zhang Xiaohua.

Seeing He Tianshu elated and satisfied because of his victory, Zhang Xiaohua felt a pang of sadness. The Jianghu was always a realm of the strong preying on the weak, and the Piaomiao Sect was no different. Without formidable strength, one would always be at the mercy of others.

Once He Tianshu finished recounting his experience at the Medicine Hall, Zhang Xiaohua joined in the laughter before finally broaching the subject of Qinggong.

Curious at Zhang Xiaohua’s sudden interest in Qinggong, He Tianshu asked: “What made you think of Qinggong? You have lived in that straw shed for many days, have you felt your sense of qi?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “I have begun to sense my qi, but…”

Before he could finish, He Tianshu clapped his hands in delight and exclaimed: “That’s great! Zhang Xiaohua, you’ve done well! I thought it would be hard for you to make any progress in your internal energy cultivation. But now, using the <Wild Ox Strength> technique you’ve actually developed a sense of qi! This technique truly has its merits.”

After hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua wanted to correct him, but as he opened his mouth, the words just wouldn’t come out.

He Tianshu, oblivious to Zhang Xiaohua’s expression, continued: “However, just because you’ve developed a sense of qi doesn’t mean you can practice Qinggong yet. I remember that I also practiced internal energy for two years before I started learning Qinggong. You need to solidify your sense of qi and cultivate your internal energy to a certain level before you can manipulate it to perform Qinggong.”

Zhang Xiaohua cautiously asked: “So, Captain He, how long did you practice Qinggong?”

Without hesitation, He Tianshu replied: “One year. I remember it clearly—an entire year. I’d say it can be regarded as a moderate level. Although the Qinggong we practiced is a secret of the Piaomiao Sect, we have many Qinggongs within our Piaomiao Sect, and that one is considered average.”

Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback. “It takes so long.”

“That’s right, what? How long did you think it would take? One day or half a year?” He Tianshu chuckled.

He then said: “Qinggong is a technique for using internal energy; they do not require the same internal energy as martial techniques. The meridians in martial techniques are fixed; you simply need to follow the martial techniques and direct the internal energy along the appropriate channels.”

“Fist techniques have their own meridians?” Zhang Xiaohua asked in surprise.

“Yes,” He Tianshu clarified. “Many internal martial techniques are also methods for cultivating internal energy. Each move must be coordinated with the appropriate internal energy. Of course, not all fist techniques work this way; many have lesser power and are accessible to most practitioners, while the former are secrets of various sects.”

Zhang Xiaohua contemplated his own Big Dipper Divine Fist, realizing that the inability to use internal energy was likely related to this very principle.

He couldn’t help but wonder if, once he reached the ninth level of the Big Dipper Divine Fist, that bone-tempering internal energy would be of any assistance.

Then He Tianshu asked: “Why are you bringing up Qinggong again? Did your second brother find you some internal energy manuals?”

Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily taken aback. “Captain He, have you seen the third level of the Piaomiao Step?”

He Tianshu looked confused. “I just looked at the second level. Why? Is there a problem?”

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but smile. “You should really take a good look at the third level. You’ll understand once you do.”

He Tianshu, intrigued, carefully took out the technique from his robe and picked out the third level he hadn’t yet examined.

The third level consisted of only two pages, and as He Tianshu studied the first page for quite some time. There more he looked at it, the more his excitement grew, his eyes practically shining. Zhang Xiaohua was baffled—was this technique really that impressive?

He felt nothing extraordinary.

After a long while, He Tianshu reluctantly shifted his gaze from the first page to the second. This time, as soon as he read the first line, He Tianshu’s expression changed dramatically. He shot up from his chair, murmuring: “How can this be? How is this possible?”

He quickly scanned the two pages, absorbing the content rapidly. The first page had taken He Tianshu a long time to digest, but the second was finished in no time. Once he finished, He Tianshu returned to his chair, closed his eyes in deep thought, and after a while, opened them to look at Zhang Xiaohua with some fatigue. “Zhang Xiaohua, you’ve read the Qinggong recorded on these two pages, right?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “Yes, Captain He. I looked at them last time I borrowed them, but while practicing the first page, I just couldn’t control my internal energy.”

He Tianshu smiled and said: “You’re aiming too high. You’ve just developed a sense of qi—where’s the internal energy to fuel your practice?”

He then lifted the technique in his hand and added: “Zhang Xiaohua, I really have to thank you. I’ve had the chance to learn such profound Qinggong because of you. I owe you a favor.”

Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback and quickly waved his hands. “Captain He, please don’t say that! You’ve put in so much effort to teach me fist techniques; I haven’t even had the chance to thank you for that. Plus, your contributions in saving the Villa Owner are significant—you should thank Sect Master Ou instead.”

He Tianshu smiled and said: “I know my own matters well enough. Well, I won’t be so polite anymore; I’ll keep your situation in mind. Didn’t I mention earlier that the Qinggong I practiced is part of the foundational techniques of our Piaomiao Sect, which almost everyone must cultivate? Do you know the value of this Qinggong?”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head, thinking to himself: “It doesn’t seem like much.”

He Tianshu smiled widely. “The advantages and disadvantages of different Qinggong techniques primarily depend on the efficiency of internal energy usage and their potential for development. The Piaomiao Step is the pinnacle of our sect’s Qinggong techniques. It’s on a completely different level from what I practiced before. With this technique, not only can I elevate my current Qinggong, but as I refine my internal energy, this technique has even more potential to tap into. The superiority of Qinggong techniques can often be the key to victory or defeat in competitions, and in some cases, it could even be a matter of life and death.”

Zhang Xiaohua was astonished. “It so serious!”
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