Chapter 2

Feeling a sense of awareness, the figure in blue raised his head to look. Not far away, a silhouette was rushing over at great speed, its form rising and falling with the undulations of the branches beneath its feet, drawing closer like a bullet. In the blink of an eye, it had arrived before the figure in blue, flipping over and kneeling on the ground: "Master, I apologize for keeping you waiting!" The figure in blue nodded slightly, casually broke off two branches, and tossed one to Feiyang, saying, "Alright, let me see what progress you have made these past few days."

Suddenly, the sword light retracted, and Feiyang's body tilted slightly. The purple lightning pierced through the swallow, unleashing the most lethal move from the Phoenix's arrival like thunder, accompanied by a piercing shriek. The branch flew towards the chest of the figure in green, yet at that moment, the figure unexpectedly came to a halt. As the branch was about to pierce into the opponent's chest, Feiyang couldn't help but exclaim in shock

On another full moon night, the figure in green stood quietly in the woods, waiting for the arrival of Xiao Feiyang. Over the past year, the figure in green had been extremely satisfied with this disciple. No matter the task, once it was in this disciple's hands, it would be mastered in just a few days, surpassing even those who had practiced for many years. Moreover, this disciple was not confined to conventional techniques, often bringing forth new ideas, which sometimes inspired the figure in green to devise even more ingenious strategies. What was particularly astonishing was Xiao Feiyang's rapid progress in internal energy, leaving the figure in green astounded. In just over a year, he had achieved what would take others four to five years of hard work. Although the figure in green possessed exceptional intelligence, he could not help but feel inferior in terms of training speed. At the age of Yun Feiyang, he had not reached the level that Xiao Feiyang had attained now.

Alright, you may go!

Feiyang took the branch and bowed respectfully, saying: "Please guide me, Master!"

Late at night, Xiao Feiyang tossed and turned, finding it difficult to fall asleep. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Lei Xiaotian with his chin held high and the indifferent gazes surrounding him would appear. No, Xiao Feiyang thought to himself: I must work hard and strive to improve, mastering martial arts with determination. One day, I will make you see me in a different light. I swear I will not rest until I have defeated you thoroughly.

Master, have you reached the realm of mastering intention?

The figure in blue looked deeply at Yun Feiyang and said, "When the time comes for you to know, you will naturally understand; there is no need to force it." With a flick of his sleeve, like a large bird, he vanished into the forest in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.

Master, how does my current martial arts compare to that of the disciples of the Divine Sword Manor?

Yun Feiyang hesitated and said: "Master, you have taught me for more than a year. As the saying goes, a master is like a father, yet I still do not know your name, nor do I even know what you look like. This..."

As for the mastery of intent, it is indeed a martial arts sanctum that is rarely encountered in a century. To my knowledge, thus far, only three individuals in the martial world have reached this realm, and all three of them are now untraceable.

At sunrise, he rises; at sunset, he rests. Xiao Feiyang traverses the mountains and forests daily, chopping wood and hunting, finding great joy in it. Each night, after going to bed, he naturally sits in meditation and breathes. Then, he counts the days on his fingers; every fifth day, he climbs out of the window and heads straight to the grove to meet his master. In the initial months, he had to be cautious and stealthy, but as Xiao Feiyang's internal energy grew stronger, he moved in and out without a sound. Not only did the old man Yun and his wife remain unaware, but even the large yellow dog they kept at home was oblivious.

Father, Mother, the child has returned! Yun Feiyang's mood was evidently low; he called out listlessly and walked straight into the inner room

The bewildered Xiao Feiyang was unaware that he had stepped into the realm of internal martial arts. The breathing techniques taught to him by the man in the green robe were an extremely profound form of internal energy. Last night, Xiao Feiyang practiced a small amount of superficial internal energy through the Dantian, moving to the Zhongting, Zigong, Xuanji, and Tiantu, then to the Fengfu, Naohu, and finally to the Baihui, before retracing his steps. He made this round trip five times, ultimately dispersing the energy throughout his limbs and bones, unlike other internal arts that store it within the Dantian. He moved through the Zhongting, Zigong, Xuanji, and Tiantu, then to the Fengfu, Naohu, and finally to the Baihui, before retracing his steps. He made this round trip five times, ultimately dispersing the energy throughout his limbs and bones, unlike other internal arts that store it within the Dantian.

The man in the green robe laughed heartily and said, "If you can master the first level of the Hunyuan Divine Skill, then Lei Xiaotian will not be your opponent!" Yun Feiyang, upon hearing this, could not help but feel greatly encouraged, his face beaming with joy. The man in the green robe secretly chuckled and said, "You little rascal, do you think the first level is so easy to practice? I spent a full three years mastering it back in my day!"

With a surge of energy that had nowhere to be directed, the fire in his heart grew stronger. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout, unexpectedly invoking the familiar "Phoenix Comes with Grace" and the *Tu* *Shu* *Yi*. In an instant, shadows of branches filled the space before the figure in blue, and the branches, faintly emitting a whistling sound, suggested that if they were to pierce the body, they would be no less formidable than a real sword.

Having had breakfast, the spirited Xiao Feiyang took up the machete and followed his father into the mountains. Regardless of the circumstances, life must go on.

Gazing into Master’s piercing eyes, Yun Feiyang fell to the ground in reverence: "Master, please fulfill the disciple's heartfelt wish. The disciple will remember it deeply and will certainly not disappoint the Master's high expectations"

The spirit soars unbidden, and I ask: "Master, what then is the skill I am practicing now?"

Feiyang Dao: "To listen to its meaning, to master the techniques is to rely on routines, winning through moves, much like the Fengyi swordsmanship of the Divine Sword Manor, which is incredibly complex, varied, and bizarre, making it difficult to defend against. Mastery of power means that the stronger will prevail. But what is mastery of intent?"

Yun Feiyang could not help but feel disheartened upon hearing this, sighing and saying: "That is far inferior to the two estate owners!"

Feiyang was originally an exceptionally intelligent person, and the master and disciple were momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief silence, the person in the blue attire finally spoke: "Xiaoyun, you have already completed the foundational skills of our sect. Given your talent, it is unnecessary for you to learn the other martial arts of our school. What I am teaching you now is the core technique of our sect. I have practiced it for over twenty years and have only reached the sixth level. To advance further is akin to ascending to the heavens. Your comprehension in martial arts is astonishing, and perhaps in the future, you will surpass the realms that I cannot reach. At that time, the flourishing and expansion of our sect will rest upon your shoulders."

The person in the blue attire smiled and said: "All martial artists, as long as they are not monsters like Xiao Aotian, practice both techniques and internal strength together. After all, to possess the unparalleled talent of someone like Xiao Aotian is a rarity in the world."

"Good!" the person in blue remarked, "If the opponent has no flaws, then force the opponent to reveal a flaw. In this world, there may be people without flaws, but there will never be martial arts without flaws. When two armies face each other, momentum is of utmost importance. Of course, if you are at a significant disadvantage compared to your opponent, it is best to flee for your life."

After teaching you this skill, the master will have nothing more to teach you. The level you ultimately reach depends entirely on your own fortune. As we part tonight, I do not know when we will meet again. Take care of yourself!

As the moon rose higher and higher, Old Man Yun became increasingly anxious. Just as the elderly couple was in a state of restless worry, the courtyard door creaked open, and the figure of Xiao Feiyang appeared before them.

Xiao Feiyang felt a wave of anxiety, as if the figure before him was not a person, but a towering mountain, insurmountable and imposing, or perhaps a vast ocean, unfathomable and deep, leaving him at a loss for how to proceed. Gritting his teeth, he swung the branch, accompanied by a soft whistle, and aimed directly at the left shoulder of the figure in green. Feiyang understood that if he did not act now, after a moment, he would be completely at a disadvantage in terms of momentum, and without a fight, he would have already lost.

As the person in the green spoke, Feiyang had already thrust out over a hundred swords, but each sword had to be changed mid-attack before it could be fully executed. The person in green remained standing still, and whenever Feiyang launched an attack, he would merely twist his wrist slightly, causing the branches to stab at the areas Feiyang had to defend against. In an instant, the person in green remained completely motionless, yet forced the young Feiyang to circle around him in a chaotic manner.

Turning his head to glance at the two elders, Xiao Feiyang felt a pang in his heart and choked out, "Father, Mother, they no longer want me!" Seeing the distressed Xiao Feiyang, Old Man Yun couldn't help but laugh heartily, saying, "Child, if they don't want you, then so be it. We won't stop either! Although we have benefited from them these past two years, you are still so young. Running around like this makes both your mother and me worry, and it is also unsafe. From now on, you will accompany your father to the mountains to gather firewood and hunt. Are we really going to starve to death?" Although we have benefited from them these past two years, you are still so young. Running around like this makes both your mother and me worry, and it is also unsafe. From now on, you will accompany your father to the mountains to gather firewood and hunt. Are we really going to starve to death?

Old man Yun leaned against the door frame, his gaze anxious. Little Yun usually returned home by this time every day, but today, for some reason, even at this hour, not a single shadow could be seen. Could it be that something happened in the mountains? Inside the house, the food prepared by his old partner had been heated and cooled, then cooled and heated again, already going back and forth several times.

Master! Yun Feiyang took two steps forward, his eyes filled with tears, extending both hands as if to grasp the figure in green. However, he knew well that the martial arts of the two were worlds apart, and pursuing would be futile. With a thud, he knelt on the ground, bowing three times to the direction in which the figure in green had departed, and then he leaped away, disappearing into the darkness

As the branch swayed, he remained calm and composed, his eyes radiating a profound light as he fixed his gaze on the man in green. The man in green stood there casually, his feet not quite aligned, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes

With a heart full of resentment, I could no longer sleep. I simply sat up, crossed my legs, and directed my five hearts towards the heavens, focusing intently on practicing the breathing techniques taught by the green-clad figure.

The person in the blue attire laughed heartily and said: "Among the third-generation disciples of the Divine Sword Manor, not a single one is your match; the second-generation disciples are slightly stronger than you"

Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Feiyang felt a surge of warmth rising slowly from his lower abdomen, spiraling around his crown before descending back down along the same path, reaching his soles. This back-and-forth motion continued for five complete cycles before dissipating throughout his limbs and body, vanishing without a trace. Xiao Feiyang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, only to find that the outside world was already showing signs of light; indeed, the sky had brightened. He was greatly astonished, as he had only felt that a short while had passed, yet it seemed that more than half the night had gone by. Rising from the bed, he felt refreshed and invigorated, even more so than after a long sleep. He could not help but think, "It seems that what Master taught has some merit; I can do this every day in the future, practicing my skills while also resting well. Truly, it is a case of killing two birds with one stone."

The figure in blue gradually taught Xiao Feiyang the incantations of the Hunyuan Divine Skill and the Da Luo Zhou Tian Divine Sword, sentence by sentence, until Xiao Feiyang had completely memorized them, at which point he let out a sigh of relief

The figure in blue chuckled and said: "Did I not meet your expectations? Then it will depend on your own fortune. Rise, for my master's ultimate skills are named the Hunyuan Divine Skill and the Da Luo Zhou Tian Divine Sword. The Hunyuan Divine Skill absorbs the essence of heaven and earth for use; with each level you practice, your internal strength will double. The Da Luo Zhou Tian Divine Sword is developed in conjunction with the Hunyuan Divine Skill. For every level of Hunyuan Skill you master, you can practice one move of the Da Luo Zhou Tian Divine Sword. There are only eight moves, each utilizing internal strength in a different manner, and the internal strength consumed by each move increases exponentially. If you have not mastered the corresponding Hunyuan Skill and forcefully attempt to use the corresponding Da Luo Zhou Tian Sword, you may lightly fall into madness or, at worst, explode and perish. You must remember this."

"Good, good!" The person in the blue attire nodded in satisfaction, "Feiyang, come here."

The figure in blue laughed heartily, and the forceful branch came to a stop just two inches from the chest of the figure in blue. The tip of the branch trembled incessantly, yet it could not advance an inch. After a moment of stalemate, the branch finally exhausted its strength and fell with a snap.

Upon hearing such difficulty, Yun Feiyang could not help but change his expression in astonishment

Yun Feiyang was taken aback: "Master, are you not going to teach me anymore?"

The figure in blue revealed a look of longing in his eyes and sighed, "I have yet to fully master the control of my power, let alone the intent behind it. If I could truly reach the realm of intent, alas, I do not know what that state would be like. Perhaps only upon reaching that level can one truly appreciate its essence."

The master and disciple sat cross-legged on the ground, the person in blue looked up at the sky, organized his thoughts, and slowly said: "Xiao Yun'er, the so-called martial arts can generally be divided into three categories: controlling techniques, controlling power, and controlling intent. Each category can further be divided into different levels."

"Yes, yes!" Aunt Yun echoed. "Good child, come and eat! Look, your father caught several wild rabbits in the mountains today and saved one just for you." She firmly pulled Xiao Feiyang to sit at the table

The elderly couple exchanged a glance, and the old man Yun gave a subtle signal. His partner quickly stepped forward, reached out to link her arm with the young Feiyang's, and gently asked, "Child, what is the matter today?"

The figure in blue laughed heartily and said: "The child can indeed be taught. As for the skill of controlling techniques, you are generally correct, but the levels of mastery within it are distinctly different. An ordinary martial artist, throughout their life, would find it difficult to reach the pinnacle of controlling techniques. If one could attain the highest peak of controlling techniques, they would be an absolute master in the world. Thirty years ago, there was a remarkable figure in the martial world who, due to a peculiar illness, could never cultivate internal energy throughout his life. However, he brought the skill of controlling techniques to its utmost limit, gaining fame in the martial world and ranking fifth among the top ten masters. His name was Xiao Aotian."

The person in the blue attire smiled and said: "Master still has matters to attend to, and besides, I have nothing more to teach. There will be another day for us to meet. Remember this: the Hunyuan Divine Skill and the Da Luo Zhou Tian Divine Sword must not be taught to anyone without my permission. If you step into the martial world in the future, be very cautious. Until you have reached the fourth level of the Hunyuan Divine Skill, you are not allowed to use any of the skills I have imparted to you"

As for mastery, it is not merely a matter of the strong prevailing. If that were the case, then some brutes could easily claim a place in the martial world. The so-called strength refers to the inner power cultivated by an individual. External strength has its limits, while inner strength is like an ocean, boundless and infinite. Once one enters this path, there is no end, and until the end of life, one may never know where the conclusion lies.