Chapter Fifty-Five: A Second Sparring Session
The young man named Ling Feng took the Wind-Stepping Manual.
“I will not fail you, Master.”
Xu Chen watched the boy from a unique perspective, sighing inwardly, uncertain how many years this cycle would require once again.
Days passed as the youth secluded himself in the forests, practicing diligently every day with the Wind-Stepping Manual in hand.
Yet, soon Xu Chen realized that his master’s earlier words had been far too cautious.
“This isn’t merely a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius—within your small world, it would be rare even in a hundred thousand years.”
Ling Feng mastered the basics in a single day, reached proficiency in ten, became adept within a month, transformed his movements in two months, and achieved the level of understanding after three.
By the fourth month, he had attained the unity of form and intent, moving with the lightness of a breeze, so swift he left afterimages behind.
At that moment, Xu Chen felt the sensation of his soul being pulled away.
Just as he was about to depart, he heard Ling Feng speak.
“This manual seems flawed. If I alter a few places, perhaps I could shatter the void itself.”
Instantly, Xu Chen’s soul was drawn into the Holy White Space.
A flood of insights into the cultivation of the Wind-Stepping Manual surged into his mind.
Compared to the first time, when he received insights about the Six Forms of the Sacred Ape, this was far less overwhelming.
Soon, Xu Chen absorbed all the insights.
His consciousness returned to his body, and Xu Chen quickly pulled out a bottle of Qi and Blood Pills from his storage pouch, swallowing them all.
In the training ground at home, shrouded by the Mist Array, Xu Chen practiced the Wind-Stepping Manual over and over.
With each repetition, his skill advanced; with each round, his qi and blood grew stronger.
After two days and a night, Xu Chen finally stopped.
“My power has grown, perhaps by the strength of a tiger.”
He felt the changes in his body, joy lighting his face.
He had thought that cultivating such a worthless foundation method would barely increase his qi and blood, but it had actually granted him the strength of a tiger.
Most importantly, his movement speed had increased by at least forty percent.
Just as Xu Chen was celebrating his improved abilities, a thought struck him.
“So it turns out I took a lot of detours before?” Xu Chen touched his chin.
“Still, that might not be fair. Even with inferior manuals, the path eventually leads to alchemy and forging weapons.”
“The timing might differ, but not by much.”
Feeling the surge of qi and blood within, Xu Chen decided to test the limits of the Twelve-Wave Clone again.
Inside the Holy White Space, Xu Chen stood before the clone, battle knife in hand.
The Thousand-Forge Blade was smeared with Corrosive Blood Juice.
“Impressive presence. You seem rather confident this time,” the clone remarked leisurely.
---
“I’ve made some progress. I’ve come to seek your guidance.”
Xu Chen charged at the clone, transforming into a shadow.
The clone, previously relaxed, grew serious, a hint of gravity in his gaze.
Waves of phantom energy rippled outward from the clone’s center, as if he stood amid a raging sea.
“Boom!”
The clone unleashed a powerful palm strike from a distance, denying Xu Chen any chance to approach.
Xu Chen, moving so quickly he became a blur, changed direction instantly to evade the force of the strike.
Like relentless waves, the clone sent palm after palm, each as fierce as a tsunami, but Xu Chen dodged them all with Wind-Stepping Footwork.
“Could I actually succeed this time?” Excitement stirred in Xu Chen’s heart. If he could just land a blow on the clone, he would gain the upper hand.
“If your speed were just a bit faster, you might have had me,” the clone said. “Today, let me show you the strongest move of the Wave-Turning Palm.”
The clone rushed at Xu Chen, massive waves of energy rising behind him like a force set to destroy heaven and earth.
Xu Chen retreated rapidly, his figure shifting.
Although his speed surpassed the clone’s, the clone’s sudden charge narrowed the gap between them.
“Bang!”
Like a giant stone dropping into calm water, a surge of energy spread outward from the clone.
Xu Chen moved swiftly, but the force caught him.
A strange energy entered his body and detonated, pain searing through him and halting his movements. The clone seized the moment and unleashed another distant palm strike.
“Pff—!”
Xu Chen was sent flying several yards, blood pouring from his mouth.
Despite the severe injuries and intense pain, Xu Chen smiled at the clone.
“I’ve discovered your secret!”
With those words, Xu Chen collapsed, his breath fading.
Inside the Holy White Space, his consciousness condensed and then returned to his body.
In his room, Xu Chen rose and drew several jade slips from his storage pouch, all worthless qi and blood foundation methods scavenged from the tenth basement of the scripture repository.
“My speed is still lacking. I need to learn foundation methods for defense, vision, and hearing as well.”
“Dragon Colt Meditation, Vajra Five Forms, Sight of the Three Gods, Earth Listening Transformations.”
“Within half a year, I’ll master these four qi and blood foundation methods.”
Xu Chen felt his entire body surging with determination.
---
At dawn, as Xu Chen prepared to begin his day’s training, his disciple token vibrated.
He took it out—another task from the Valley of Illusions.
“Probably that ice-cold one again. Is she stuck to me now?”
“No matter. As long as I earn spirit coins, it’s fine.”
Xu Chen made his way with practiced ease to the small illusion formation in the valley.
Mist rose; Xu Chen inhaled deeply and entered the world of illusions.
White clouds drifted endlessly over a vast grassland, where Xu Chen appeared.
Once more, he faced the woman whose gaze was as cold as ice. This time, she wore a deep blue gown.
“Senior sister, we’re acquainted by now.”
“A person of your stature surely knows my name.”
“Senior sister, how should I address you?” Xu Chen asked softly.
“Bai Ningxue,” her voice cold as the winter wind.
“Barehanded or weapons?” Xu Chen looked around.
“Barehanded.”
A dense phantom of icy mist spread out from Bai Ningxue.
Xu Chen responded in kind, a sacred ape phantom appearing behind him.
“Bang!”
After the first exchange, both retreated several steps; beneath Bai Ningxue’s feet, the ground turned to permafrost.
Feeling the chill within his body, Xu Chen gazed at the frozen earth.
The energy he had embedded in Bai Ningxue had been immediately discharged into the ground.
“Impressive!” Xu Chen couldn’t help but praise her, though he hadn’t used his full strength.
“You’re not bad yourself.”
From their first clash, Bai Ningxue sensed how much Xu Chen had improved.
Previously, she had the advantage in speed, but now, she found herself outpaced.
“Continue!”
They engaged again. Since Xu Chen’s energy couldn’t penetrate Bai Ningxue, he shifted to bold, sweeping attacks, relying on speed and the experience of dying tens of thousands of times, relentlessly pressing Bai Ningxue.