Chapter 7: Flowing Like Clouds and Water

At first, it felt somewhat awkward; many of the seemingly graceful and fierce movements were simply beyond the capabilities of a novice cultivator like him, which made it seem somewhat clumsy. Moreover, the hand techniques often did not coordinate well with the footwork, resulting in a somewhat incongruous appearance

The strange events that occurred one after another today shattered his originally calm and bitter life. While bringing him calamity, they also brought him a turning point. Possessing such a precious treasure, he had reason to believe that he could realize his dreams and wishes with his own hands, and that it would happen soon!

In the gradually clarifying courtyard, Du Feiyun stood upright with both palms extended sideways at his waist, silently reciting the mantra of flowing clouds and water in his heart

However, his qualifications were truly ordinary. After he investigated the condition of the twelve main meridians, he realized that the meridians within his body were indeed extremely ordinary. The twelve major meridians in his body not only had multiple blockages but were also weak and tender, clearly having not undergone any shaping or tempering, and were not resilient enough.

Some cultivators, however, do not require this precious tonic; after the age of eight, they will automatically generate seeds of primordial energy within their bodies, becoming cultivators in the Body Refinement stage. Such cultivators are generally of excellent aptitude

According to the teachings in the Secret Method of Lianshan, as long as one uses this set of Eight Methods of Movement as the foundation for cultivation, one can establish a very solid base. When practicing more advanced martial techniques, it will then be much easier to assimilate them.

Under the golden morning sun, Du Feiyun's feet moved with a flash, stepping in a rhythm that contained some marvelous pattern, while his hands floated like falling flowers in a stream, creating trails of afterimages in the small courtyard. Although in some areas, his steps and hand techniques were still not sufficiently coordinated and natural, and his movements appeared somewhat stiff and awkward, the ethereal and lively momentum was indeed a delight to behold

Although Du Feiyun was surprised by the strange phenomenon that had never occurred during his previous cultivation, he attributed it to the magical jade slip without much thought. Instinctively, he closed his eyes and, relying on his feelings, began to move by mimicking the images in his mind

The second part consists of some extraordinary tales and travel notes written by the original owner of the jade tablet, titled "Travel Notes of Lushan." It records numerous mysterious and unfathomable stories, legends, and famous mountains and lakes.

The first part is the longest, which is the Lushan Pharmacopoeia that records the formulas and experiential insights of alchemical elixirs

Having completed the task, I turned my head to look out the window, only to find that it was already dawn. A hint of gray light appeared on the horizon, and the roosters were crowing in a chorus.

Moreover, due to his humble family background, he lacked the funds to purchase various supplements and secret methods to expedite his cultivation, which is why his path to cultivation has been so arduous. Therefore, over the years, Du Feiyun has never been negligent, consistently dedicating himself to rigorous training, and it is precisely for this reason that he has laid a solid foundation.

After a long time, Du Feiyun, whose heart was filled with passionate emotions, finally calmed down. He did not fall asleep but instead focused again on his cultivation. Once he guided the elemental energy within his body to circulate through the eight major meridians in his dantian and channels, he felt that the gentle medicinal power within him had finally faded, as if it had been absorbed by his limbs and bones.

Whether it is Baishi Town, Qianjiang City, or even the entire Qingyuan Kingdom, the vast majority of cultivators begin practicing martial arts at the age of 8, refining their bodies and tempering the flexibility of their bones and meridians

However, as the sun gradually rises, after the passage of an hour, Du Feiyun, who follows his feelings wholeheartedly, begins to deeply comprehend the images in his mind. His movements and steps become increasingly coordinated, and this set of footwork and palm techniques gradually becomes more proficient.

After quickly getting up and grooming himself, Du Feiyun came to the small courtyard to prepare for his martial arts training. Normally, he would first practice standing meditation for half an hour, and then perform a set of boxing techniques. However, today he changed his mind; he intended to train in a new martial art technique.

The footwork is referred to as the Cloud Walking Step, while the hand technique is known as the Flowing Water Palm. The footwork and hand techniques complement each other, harmonizing the orthodox and the unorthodox.

Subsequently, after the body has established a certain foundation, individuals of mediocre talent can take a tonic made from century-old ginseng and decades-old poria around the age of ten. This allows them to absorb the innate vital energy within, which then condenses into a seed of primordial power in their dantian, thus becoming a practitioner in the Body Refinement stage.

The third part, which is also the shortest, is titled "The Secret Methods of Lushan." It contains various esoteric techniques, each of which is obscure and unfathomable. After browsing for a moment, Du Feiyun found only a basic introductory cultivation method, namely the Qingfeng Xuangong.

Although her son is of average talent, he practices diligently and has never shown the slightest sign of slackness. With a son like this, how can one not feel gratified? Du Shi gazed at the figure of Du Feiyun in the courtyard with satisfaction and a smile, her eyes gradually becoming blurred, her thoughts drifting away. In a moment of reverie, she seemed to see once again the figure from years past, clad in white, as if draped in snow.

Each part of the Eight Methods of Movement has a beautiful and profoundly meaningful name. The first part, named "Flowing Clouds and Flowing Water," consists of a set of footwork and hand techniques

In the tranquil courtyard, a sudden gentle breeze stirred, and Du Feiyun's figure floated gracefully through the small yard, his hands gliding like butterflies weaving through flowers, exuding a unique and dynamic aura

At this moment, it was already the second watch of the night, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky. The town of Baishi was tranquil and serene, and everyone had already fallen into a deep sleep. However, Du Feiyun was restless, unable to fall asleep.

Although his own qualifications are mediocre, Du Feiyun believes that with the miraculous treasures such as the Nine Dragons Cauldron and the Lie Mountain Pharmacopoeia, he will surely improve his predicament quickly, and his strength will undoubtedly experience a significant enhancement

Each and every *Illustration* monk possesses a seed of primordial energy located in their dantian, which serves as the repository for the primordial energy within their body

In a previous life, one lived a mundane existence, drifting among the crowd. Upon arriving in this world, fate offered a turning point, yet one still could not escape the shackles of mediocrity, which constitutes a tragedy

The contents of the jade tablet can be broadly divided into three parts

After searching high and low, he ultimately had no choice but to select the Qingfeng Xuangong heart method, along with a set of martial arts techniques that were barely suitable for his cultivation, known as the Xingyou Eight Methods

As he held his breath and focused intently on reciting the flowing mantra, he vividly envisioned himself, as if he were truly there, stepping with a graceful and ethereal gait, executing the smooth and effortless movements of the Huo Huo palm technique.

Originally, he sought to find a more advanced technique; however, he could never comprehend the essence of other methods. Struggling to continue, he eventually encountered ghostly illusions, and his mind felt as if it were being pierced by needles. He realized this was a sign of falling into evil, and thus had no choice but to abandon further reading

Thus, last night he carefully selected and deliberated within that jade slip, choosing two techniques suitable for his current cultivation level. One is a cultivation method called the Clear Wind Profound Skill, and the other is a martial technique known as the Eight Methods of Travel.

There is another type of practitioner who does not need to take supplements, as their bodies will automatically generate energy seeds. However, they will have energy seeds automatically produced in their dantian before the age of eight. Moreover, some are born with innate energy, and their bodies already contain energy seeds from birth

However, he has reason to believe that after taking the Rebirth Pill, this predicament will gradually improve. The medicinal power that spreads to every part of his body will surely help him to expand, shape, and refine his meridians, making his muscles and meridians more resilient

He knew that in the year he turned ten, his mother sold all her jewelry, even pawning a cherished purple pendant she had kept close to her for years. In the end, she managed to gather fifty taels of silver to buy him medicinal supplements, enabling him to become a practitioner.

This cultivator is truly a genius among cultivators! Possessing a talent for cultivation that is difficult for ordinary people to reach

The reason it is said to be barely suitable for his cultivation is that this set of martial arts consists of eight parts, ranging from the most basic first part to the most profound eighth part, which is suitable for cultivators from the Body Refinement stage to the Innate stage.

However, Du Feiyun is clearly not a genius, nor can he even be considered to have above-average aptitude. He is merely a mediocre cultivator who barely managed to produce a seed of primordial energy after taking tonic medicine at the age of ten

Du's wife appeared at the door, having finished her grooming at an unknown time. Leaning on the door frame with a cane, she gazed at Du Feiyun, who was immersed in his thoughts in the courtyard, her pale face filled with a sense of contentment

According to the description in the secret methods of Lianshan, this set of Eight Methods of Travel is the simplest yet most fundamental martial skill within the Lianshan secret techniques

Despite his limited strength, he understands that possessing a great amount of inner power without advanced martial skills is still of no use, rendering him merely a brute