Prologue, Wanling in winter

Chen Ang, seeing the street pavilion in sight, gently patted the horse's neck. The horse, as if sensing something, slowed down and matched the pace of the carriage. After walking slowly and exchanging glances with Chen Ang for a long time, he let out a long sigh and pulled the reins to stop the carriage

A thousand miles of companionship ultimately leads to a parting. Ziang, let us stop here.

Outside Wanling City in Donghai County, there is a street pavilion ten miles long

As the season just enters the ninth day of the first month, the cold wind invades the land, and the leaves of the trees fall completely

A stubborn-looking child climbed out of the cart and tumbled down. This was Xu Xing's only son, Xu Ruyu, whose nickname was Gengsu. At the age of thirteen, he appeared to be no more than ten due to his frail constitution and underdevelopment. Xu Ruyu fixed his gaze on Chen Ang and said loudly, "Godfather, after Gengsu recovers from his illness, can he come back to learn the Divine Spear from you?" Chen Ang looked into Xu Ruyu's eyes, filled with anticipation, and felt a pang in his heart, yet he replied in a booming voice, "Of course you can. Gengsu is my most prized disciple, and I look forward to you promoting the Divine Spear to greater heights. Gengsu, you must remember that as a man stands in the world, he should possess a lofty and righteous spirit in his heart; even without martial skills, one can still earn the respect of the world like your father."

Chen Ang and * the * book nodded, bitterly saying: "After several years, we finally gather here. Today, as we part, who knows when we will meet again? Zixing, after seeing the old man Biehe, I hope you will write to inform me of your safety."

Xu Ruyu was born with a deficiency in the Great Circulation, his meridians and veins were weak, making him unsuitable for martial arts. Xu often associated with scholars and rarely discussed martial matters. He observed his father, who was elegant and refined, and felt a sense of pride, lacking a strong desire to practice martial arts. At this time, following Xu Yu to learn the Spirit-Alarm Technique was merely a childish whim; he could not withstand Xu Yu's provocation and secretly practiced. Xu Yu claimed that with just a few months of practice, one could channel energy to perform strikes, while those of mediocre talent would take one or two years to achieve the same. Xu Ruyu, who was physically weak and often ill, felt inferior and withdrawn compared to other youths. Hearing Xu Yu's boastful words, he hoped to channel energy and perform strikes before her. However, after three days of practice, he could only stimulate the energy in his spine and tailbone, and felt a slight sensation in his lower dantian. Yet, due to the blockage in the Great Circulation, the energy stored in the dantian could not flow through his body, and even after months, he still could not channel energy to perform strikes. Ruyu was a stubborn person; despite being mocked by Xu Yu, he did not lose heart. He believed that diligence could make up for his shortcomings, and with effort and study, he would surely master the Spirit-Alarm Technique. He usually avoided others, focusing solely on practicing the Spirit-Alarm Technique.

Ordinary individuals cultivate internal energy, often with men possessing a yang nature and their energy emanating from the dantian as fiery energy, also known as yang energy; while women, with a yin nature, have their energy flowing from the dantian as cold water, referred to as yin energy. The Jing Shen Jue is one of the few superior techniques for cultivating dan energy in the world, divided into yin and yang methods, and only when these two methods are combined can one truly master the Jing Shen Jue. However, due to the differences in male and female bodies, the order of practice also varies. Men, being yang in nature, should first practice the yang method, and only after achieving some progress can they practice the yin method. Conversely, women, being yin in nature, follow the opposite order. The Jing Shen Jue passed down by Shu Yu is the yin method within the Jing Shen Jue, serving as the foundational yin skill for women practicing the Jing Shen Spear. If an ordinary person with a yang nature practices with a yin body, the yin energy activated by their innate essence will disperse throughout the yin body and cannot accumulate in the dantian, making it impossible to master the yin method. However, Xu Ruyu, born with an obstructed Great Circulation, finds that the various channels and the dantian do not connect, allowing him to accumulate cold energy and successfully practice the yin method. Over time, as he practices, the cold energy thickens and accumulates in the dantian, becoming substantial, akin to a block of cold ice placed there. During practice, he cannot help but tremble all over. Xu Ruyu thinks to himself that this is an essential trial in martial arts, and he grits his teeth in silence.

Take care, Zi Ang

With tears in his eyes, Xu Xing knew that this journey was unavoidable. He had come to the East Sea to visit his friend Chen Ang, intending to return in the spring of the following year. Unexpectedly, he encountered Chen Ang's young daughter, Chen Shuyu, who was adorned with a small silver spear, dancing to perfection, her entire body decorated with silver flowers, a truly captivating sight. Moreover, a chill filled the air, and he felt an overwhelming envy in his heart. Shuyu, who rarely stood out among her fellow disciples, noticed that Xu Xing had not practiced martial arts and, wishing to show off, secretly taught him the Chen family's astonishing spear technique.

Xu Ruyu felt a surge of emotions in his heart, prostrated himself on the ground, and said: "Gengsu must remember the words of his godfather"

Take care as well, my child. Chen Ang turned his horse to the side and called down, "Geng Su, why aren't you coming out to bid farewell to your godfather?"

Without further ado, my child, set out as soon as possible. I will immediately perform the Great Zhou Tian Gong of the Jing Shen Yang Jue, storing the true fire of Yang Jue within your foolish four limbs, ensuring that you remain unharmed for a month. I will write a letter for you to take to Elder Bie He. If he can intervene to save my child, I will deploy troops to restrain the Ghost Riders of Qingzhou for ten years, rendering them incapable of northern incursions.

A fine steed galloped forward, followed by a horse-drawn carriage. The rider was Chen Ang, the head of the Chen clan from the prominent family of Wanling in Donghai County. Chen Ang had a ruddy complexion and a long beard, was already in his forties, and had a face chiseled like a knife, weathered by the elements. The driver of the carriage was Xu Xing, a renowned scholar from Xinghua in Qingzhou, and a close friend of Chen Ang.

Chen Ang and Xu Xing had not seen each other for many years, and their conversation was very agreeable. He only instructed his disciples to practice martial arts and avoid Ru Yu, not expecting that Shu Yu would sow the seeds of a strange disaster. By the time they realized it, Ru Yu had already made some progress in the Shock Spirit Technique, with a point in his lower abdomen feeling as if it were placed in cold ice, while his whole body felt as if it were being scorched by fire, and he cried out: "Father, it's cold"

Xu Xing's mind was in turmoil. Since the death of his beloved wife, most of his thoughts had been focused on his young son. It was rare for him to be exceptionally intelligent and well-behaved from a young age, which made Xu Xing love him even more. Who would have thought that such a calamity would befall them, lamenting that heaven was too harsh on him and his son. In the following days, Chen Ang taught Xu Ruyu the Yang Technique. However, as Xu Ruyu's dantian initially formed Yang fire, the cold energy within the dantian surged, and he could not bear it, fainting immediately. The cold energy then invaded the dantian, extinguishing the Yang fire at once. After several attempts, the Yang fire had not yet formed, but the cold energy became even more ferocious. Seeing his son trembling with a blue-purple complexion, Xu Xing himself grew increasingly haggard. After much hesitation, he finally made a decision. "There is only the hope of a visit to Youji. Even if I have to end my life at the mountain gate to apologize, I still ask the elder to intervene and save us once more."

Chen Ang felt a twist of fate around him and discovered that the meridians throughout his body, which could reach the Danfu, were as thin as a thread and extremely fragile. If he were to directly use the Yang Jue's true energy to dispel the cold energy in his Danfu, it would indeed heal him, but it would also damage his Yin Wei, Yin Qiao dual meridians, and the meridians of his hundred bones, rendering him a useless person unable to exert any strength. The only way was to cultivate the Yang Jue himself, storing the Yang breath in the Dan Tian, and then adjusting the mutual interaction of his own Yin and Yang true energy to alleviate some of the suffering from the cold and fiery torment. Upon thinking of this, Chen Ang could not help but sigh: "In just a few months, one can master the initial stages of the Yin Jue, yet we are far from it. Only by cultivating the Yang Jue ourselves, storing the Yang breath in the Dan Tian, and adjusting the mutual interaction of our own Yin and Yang true energy can we alleviate some of the cold and fiery torment. Upon thinking of this, Chen Ang could not help but sigh: 'In just a few months, one can master the initial stages of the Yin Jue, yet we are far from it. It is as if heaven is jealous of your foolish talent, granting him unparalleled gifts, yet not allowing him to use them. Even if one day water and fire are harmonized, he would still be powerless as if he could not even tie a chicken. This heaven is truly detestable.'

Xu Xing felt a deep sense of gratitude in his heart, knowing that words could not fully express his feelings, so he chose not to say much. He turned to prepare for his departure, uncertain of how this journey would unfold, and as he turned, tears streamed down his face.