Chapter 1: Departure from the Mountain

The person who changes him is his master

Entering the secret chamber (these mechanisms naturally have no effect on Fang Tian), Fang Tian could not help but admire his own composure. Why, over the years, had he been so dismissive of this collection of hidden books, never even considering the thought of taking a look? Perhaps it only reflects his ignorance.

Upon reaching this thought, he felt a surge of anxiety, longing to hasten to his master's side to soothe his feelings of yearning. The prospect of seeing his master again after more than twenty years became overwhelming, and he could no longer restrain his emotions, wishing to descend the mountain immediately

"Master, why do you not appoint the senior disciple as the sect leader?" Peng Yuanwang inquired. Perhaps this would eliminate the internal conflicts within the sect, after all, our sect holds such great prestige, and the disciples of the Yan Yang Sect and the Xuan Yin Sect have made significant contributions. Of course, any disciple of the Yin Yang Sect who reaches the seventh realm immediately becomes a top expert in the martial world, further enhancing the reputation of the Xuan Xin Sect. In fact, the Xuan Xin Sect was at its strongest when a disciple of the Yin Yang Sect, who possessed exceptional martial skills, served as the sect leader. It is precisely for this reason that the other two sects dare not easily challenge the leadership position of the Yin Yang Sect's disciples.

As the howling ceased, he felt a sense of relief in his heart, and his mind immediately calmed down. He secretly made a decision: for his disciple Fang Tian, he would also seek these two items. If fate allowed, he could use Fang Tian to fulfill his own wishes. Perhaps he might even encounter his master? He couldn't help but feel hopeful, increasingly thinking about traversing the borderlands. Even if it meant seeing his master just once more, he wanted to share the hardships of these years, as well as his feelings of guilt and longing for his master.

This time, the retreat was unsuccessful, and he felt quite distressed. He sensed that he had let down his master's expectations. For the past ten years, he was well aware of his master's wishes; although his master had never explicitly stated them, he could feel a sense of resentment towards the sect emanating from his master. This made him harbor a longstanding aversion towards the sect and a poor impression of several of his senior brothers. Deep down, he had always wanted to quickly master the divine skills to show those senior brothers a thing or two and to vent his master's grievances. Thus, his practice became increasingly urgent, but this sense of urgency was, in fact, a major taboo in cultivation, which was one of the reasons for his lack of success. Of course, at this moment, he was unaware of this principle. Consequently, he felt frustrated by his lack of progress, which further eroded his confidence. All along, he had considered himself a genius; in front of his knowledgeable master, he learned everything very well and quickly, and his master had always praised him for his talent. However, over the past year, his progress had stagnated, continuously draining his confidence and leading him to doubt whether he was truly a genius.

What he did not expect was that his own disciple was also facing his own difficulties. He blamed himself for not having started looking for disciples a few years earlier. ... Perhaps if he had the intention to take on disciples a few years ago, he might have encountered Fang Tian earlier, then that would have been ...

Yet he understood in his heart that no matter how hard he tried, due to inherent limitations, he could at most achieve first-rate skills, and he would never become a top master in the martial world. He placed his hopes on the next generation. Thus began his journey to seek disciples, and he embarked on a long ten-year life of seclusion while teaching his students

Uncertain how much time had passed, the sky grew dim, and the setting sun had long since disappeared behind the western mountains. He began to worry about where his master would spend the night.

From then on, he became a homeless child, wandering with a group of homeless children of various ages, roaming from place to place, until that year when one person changed his life

At that time, Mo Wenfeng was already the foremost figure in the martial arts world, revered as the "Martial Sage." His reputation was so illustrious that no one in the Jianghu could surpass him. Everyone in the Jianghu considered it an honor to be able to join his school, and the four great disciples he had taken in during his early years had long since made their names known throughout the Jianghu. However, he had yet to find a suitable successor to inherit the teachings of the Yin-Yang Divine Skill.

The martial world, I have arrived! he shouted in his heart

Thinking about when I might see my master again, he appears ethereal, descending the mountain in a daze. Upon reaching my master's room, I gaze at the immaculate space, still as simple and unadorned as ever, with just a table, a chair, and a bed... nothing else. In a moment of reverie, it seems as if my master is sitting there practicing, reading under the light...

At that time, I had just assumed the position of the sect leader. A young man in his twenties taking over the leadership of the foremost sect in the world caused quite a stir.

Seeing Peng Yuanwang still with a worried expression, he said: "Your skills are somewhat lacking; it may be difficult for you to take on the role of the leader. ... ... Do not worry, in my lifetime, I will definitely come up with a method to enhance your abilities." After saying this, Mo Wenfeng's face showed a resolute expression

Alas! Peng Yuanwang sighed. The beautiful scenery that once could elevate his spirits has lost its enchanting charm.

That face was filled with disappointment, yet also carried a sense of bitterness, which left him feeling utterly dejected

However, today, his mood remains unsettled. He involuntarily recalls his days in the sect.

"As a teacher, I am already advanced in age and cannot commit acts that violate the ancestral teachings. Perhaps among the future disciples, there will be such extraordinary talents who can change the ancestral rules of our sect. I am unable to do so myself." Thus spoke Mo Wenfeng

Peng Yuanwang thought of this and felt a stir in his heart. Why was his master so certain? Could it be that...

He gradually realized that he would no longer break through his current realm. In fact, it was already a miracle that his martial arts had advanced to such a level. If it were not for his profound knowledge, his cultivation in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and the influence of famous mountains and rivers, his martial arts might have forever stagnated at the fourth level.

Additionally, you should also descend the mountain to gain experience. The world of martial arts is fraught with danger, so before you descend, you must visit the library to consult the classic texts of the martial world. You must thoroughly understand them before you can descend. Remember, remember!

The three years following his assumption of the position of sect leader were indeed a challenging period. Peng Yuanwang dared not look back on that time. At that moment, his master had already ventured far into the world, leaving only himself along with his senior brothers, senior sisters, and nephews in the sect. Everyone treated him with great respect, yet he understood that the respect was directed towards the position of sect leader, not towards him personally. Within the sect, he had no close friends; his two senior brothers and two senior sisters had already entered middle age, and could hardly be considered peers to him, resulting in a lack of communication between them, with daily interactions limited to official matters. As a person of literary inclination, he found himself lacking the necessary understanding of the ever-changing world of martial arts, with all affairs being managed by his senior brother and others. The only individuals in the sect who could be considered peers were his nephews, making communication exceedingly difficult.

Since then, he has been living in this tranquil valley, and it has been ten years now

Only after he finished reading these books—let's call them books for now—did he realize the extent of his ignorance. These books encompass all aspects of the martial world, from the origins and histories of various prominent families and sects to the details of shops, boats, and other minor paths of the martial realm. They meticulously document everything from the renowned masters of the older generation to the detailed profiles of the new generation of talented youths. Through reading these books, he could be considered knowledgeable about this martial world, albeit lacking personal experience, he could still be regarded as an old hand. When he entered the martial world, he came to appreciate the true value of these books, which are treasures beyond comparison.

Subsequently, he relied on his own knowledge and sought various means to compensate for his lack of skills. He specifically visited the esteemed masters of the Lu family in Shandong to study the art of civil engineering and machinery. By chance, he also developed a unique lightness technique known as the "Carefree Floating Body Method." As for astronomy, geography, and the principles of divination, those were well within his grasp.

hetushucom.com has been ten years, in the blink of an eye, a decade has passed. Over the past ten years, it has always been the master accompanying Fang Tian, who has made him feel the warmth of a father. This kind old man has always taken the place of his father in his heart

The cultivation of divine skills is inherently difficult. Throughout the lineage of seventeen generations, only the seventh-generation patriarch, the Ouyang brothers, achieved significant progress due to their twin bond and mutual understanding, allowing them to practice the divine skills simultaneously, which greatly benefited their advancement to the eighth level. It is also because they established a unique method for identifying suitable disciples that each generation has been able to find appropriate students, which has made a substantial contribution to the sect. Otherwise, it is possible that this unique skill would have become extinct after several generations.

When he arrived at the cliff on the back mountain, his gaze fell upon an empty expanse, devoid of any trace of his master.

The library contains a vast collection of books, encompassing the Four Books and Five Classics, the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, and astrology. In the past three years, the master has opened the library to him, yet there are still many books he has not read, including those on the secrets of the martial world. Fang Tian was never interested in these matters since childhood, but now it is different; fate has destined him to venture into the martial world. Without understanding some of its hidden secrets, he can only seek his own demise.

The character '师'.

However, at that time, his feelings were not solely of joy; there was also a kind of obscure frustration. The reason was simple: his abilities were not sufficient to preside over the number one sect in the world. At that time, his martial arts skills were not only inferior to those of his four senior brothers and sisters, but many of the younger generation, including his disciples, also surpassed him in martial arts.

We met too late, Master and disciple, all is irretrievable now

In the mountain morning, the chirping of birds echoed through Fang Tian. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and stepped outside. The mountain breeze floated gently, the water flowed softly, the morning glow filled the sky, and the shadows of bamboo swayed. Fang Tian's mood brightened; indeed, for the sake of his master, he must not disappoint his master's expectations and must also practice his skills diligently. He silently vowed in his heart.

When he was seven years old, his adoptive father also passed away. He was a kind old man, but after a plague, he left this suffering world forever. Only he continued to survive tenaciously

The master has already departed, and I can no longer rely on him. Fortunately, I will be able to see him again during the Mid-Autumn Festival next year. With this thought in mind, he quickly walked into the library. The master was a great scholar in his own right; after studying martial arts under his ancestor, he did not abandon his literary cultivation. Instead, he relied on his profound knowledge to achieve the sixth level of the Yin-Yang divine skill, which was previously deemed impossible. It can only be described as a miracle. Although there remains a formidable barrier to overcome, looking at the predecessors in the sect who practiced the divine skills, there are still many who, even in their youth, could not break through the sixth level. This illustrates the master's exceptional abilities.

This type of book is secretly stored by the master in a large chest, which is located in a hidden chamber underground, and the master has set up ten traps around it. The final trap is even a destructive mechanism, which illustrates the value of these books

Only Master Ouyang has left this method within the sect, perhaps this is one aspect of the miracles found in the eighth realm. Fang Tian thought to himself that he must advance to the eighth level in the future; what others can achieve, he can achieve as well

Fang Tian awakened from his meditation

Master, I ... ...

However, it is regrettable that Peng Yuanwang is too old, having begun to learn martial arts at the advanced age of seventeen. It is indeed too late. With Peng Yuanwang's intelligence and wisdom, by the age of twenty-five, he has only just entered the second stage of cultivating the Yin-Yang Divine Skill, reaching the fourth level of mastery.

The Yin-Yang Divine Skill is the authentic heart method of the sect, but due to the limitations of physical constitution, there will not be many disciples. In fact, maintaining even one disciple per generation is quite challenging. A sect with too few disciples lacks influence in the martial world, while the founding ancestor of the sect needs to maintain significant power in the community. In a difficult situation, the ancestor, with supreme wisdom, divided the Yin-Yang Divine Skill into two, which led to the creation of the Sunfire Divine Skill and the Profound Yin Divine Skill. However, in the ancestor's heart, these two skills are not regarded as the authentic ones, thus he established a legacy instruction that those who cannot cultivate the Yin-Yang Divine Skill cannot become the sect leader. This was how Martial Sage Mo Wenfeng answered his disciple's question.

Peng Yuanwang hailed from a prominent family in Jiangnan and was renowned as a "child prodigy." He achieved the highest degree at the age of twelve and became a successful candidate in the imperial examination at fifteen. By the age of seventeen, he had already emerged as a leading figure in the literary circles of Jiangnan. At that time, Peng Yuanwang was charismatic and exceptionally talented, spending his days in gatherings with literary friends, frequenting brothels, enjoying light songs and graceful dances, and composing poetry. His name had long been known in the halls of power, and it seemed he was on the verge of entering the court to serve as an official, embarking on a path toward nobility and high office. However, due to his master Mo Wenfeng, he was led onto a completely unfamiliar yet more colorful path of life.

In the early stages of practicing the Yin-Yang Divine Skill, progress is rapid, but advancement beyond the seventh level is extremely slow. For instance, the master ancestor entered the seventh level at a young age, yet it took him five years to consolidate his power, and thereafter he was never able to reach the eighth level in his lifetime. There are two major drawbacks to practicing this skill. First, it requires the practitioner to possess a special constitution, which is exceedingly rare in the world. Moreover, encountering a master who can teach this skill is even more difficult to come by. He still vividly remembers the look of surprise on his master's face when they first met, and what kind of feeling that was. Many years later, Fang Tiancai truly understood this sentiment, and the struggles he faced in his earlier search for this skill were even harder to express to outsiders.

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Peng Yuan looked towards the back mountain and, after a few ups and downs, arrived at the cliff of the back mountain. Climbing high and gazing far, the mountains overlapped endlessly, shrouded in mist and clouds, exuding an utmost tranquility and serenity. He usually took great pleasure in the scenery here; often coming to this place brought him a sense of ease, making all his gloomy feelings vanish without a trace

Did the master go in search of these two things? A pang of sorrow struck his heart; at that time, the master was already over sixty years old. For more than twenty years, there had been no news of the master. He had always thought that the master was in a secluded place, practicing in obscurity. Now... it seemed very likely that the master was wandering in the deep mountains and forests, seeking that distant, legendary divine object

By chance, Mo Wenfeng passed through Jiangnan and heard of Peng Yuanwang's reputation. On a whim, he decided to see what kind of person this renowned "prodigy" truly was

The valley where Peng Yuanwang and his disciples live in seclusion is located in the foothills of the Daba Mountains. The scenery here is beautiful, with a steep cliff at the back and a waterfall cascading down, forming a pool below. In this pool, a unique type of fish grows, known for its exquisite taste. The valley is surrounded by dense forests and is situated deep within the mountains, making it rarely visited by people. Peng Yuanwang is deeply fond of the tranquility here, so he decided to settle down.

Peng Yuanwang felt a sense of disappointment and some frustration. He had a premonition about Fang Tian's failure in this seclusion, as Fang Tian had already started practicing at an older age, having long passed the golden period for training. Moreover, the martial arts of their school placed such a strong emphasis on talent.

Peng Yuanwang felt a sharp pain in his heart and let out a long howl towards the sky

In the face of such circumstances, even the unparalleled martial skills of the Martial Saint Mo Wenfeng were of no avail. Shortly thereafter, Mo Wenfeng passed the position of sect leader to Peng Yuanwang and then wandered the rivers and lakes, disappearing without a trace

"Tian'er, it is getting late, you should have your meal and rest early. As for your practice, do not overthink it; it is best to let things take their natural course." Master Peng Yuanwang comforted his disciple for a few moments before leaving Fang Tian's room

Fang Tian understood that his master was comforting him. Perhaps he would never be able to overcome this difficulty in his lifetime. It is important to note that he started practicing too late. Although his master spent fifteen years, he began training at the age of five. By the time he reached the age of twenty, he had already achieved great martial prowess, and five years later, he became a top master in the martial world, with few rivals in the Jianghu. Furthermore, at the age of thirty, he bravely confronted Master Luojia, the foremost expert of the Western Secret Sect, and became the number one figure in the martial world, with no one able to withstand his might.

Dear Tian, after much contemplation, I have decided to descend the mountain. The Mid-Autumn Festival next year marks the time for the martial arts selection competition of our sect. We, master and disciple, will meet at Huaiyuan Town at the foot of Mount Lou. I will surely find a way to enhance your skills.

That year, he was twelve years old

For three years, he endured the life of a sect leader, yet he never adapted to this existence, and his interest in the role waned increasingly. Throughout these three years, his martial arts skills stagnated, making no progress whatsoever. Others may not have mentioned it, but he himself had long since lost confidence. Ultimately, he made a firm decision to leave the sect and secretly vowed that he would not return until he had strengthened his own abilities

He was greatly anxious, not knowing what had happened to his master. He began to search around and soon discovered a message left by his master on a large rock

Fang Tian understood that his master was anxious. He was practicing the first divine skill of the sect, the Yin-Yang Divine Skill, which emphasized talent above all. This skill is divided into three stages and nine realms. The first stage involves cultivating the Yang Fire True Qi and the Xuan Yin True Qi, refining the inner elixir to achieve a balance of Yin and Yang, and rotating like the Yin-Yang fish to reach great success and break through to the third realm. The second stage involves the presence of Yang within Yin and Yin within Yang, where Yang Qi flows through the Yin meridians and Yin Qi flows through the Yang meridians, allowing the entire body's meridians to adapt freely to the transformation of True Qi between Yin and Yang. Gradually, as Yin and Yang merge, the True Qi within the body becomes indistinguishable between Yin and Yang, breaking through from the sixth realm to the seventh realm, thus achieving mastery of the divine skill. Fang Tian was currently at this stage, having undergone numerous closed-door training sessions, yet he could not achieve the merging of True Qi. Although the Yang Fire and Xuan Yin True Qi were becoming increasingly profound, without merging, he would never grasp the true essence of the Yin-Yang Divine Skill. The third stage involves the merging of True Qi penetrating through the body's meridians, resulting in an exceptionally sensitive body where power can be exerted from all parts. The merging of Yin and Yang True Qi effectively doubles one's own power, making one a top expert in the martial world. Furthermore, at this stage, the spiritual awareness brought about by the merging of True Qi often leads practitioners to sudden insights into the true essence of martial arts, with the extent of understanding depending on individual talent. In the past, the legendary martial sage Mo Wenfeng took five years to comprehend the unparalleled divine skill that looked down upon the world. As for realms above the eighth, they are nearly miraculous; historically, only the seventh-generation patriarch, the Ouyang brothers, have entered such realms, yet they remained tight-lipped about their experiences and immediately retreated from the world, no longer concerning themselves with worldly matters.

Unexpectedly, at this glance, Mo Wenfeng has finally found his own disciple.

Master, is this the reason why the sect is divided into the Sunfire Sect, the Profound Yin Sect, and the Yin-Yang Sect?

The howl echoed long, filled with sorrow and melancholy, spreading far and wide. To others, the position of the leader of the world's greatest sect was an unparalleled honor, yet within him lay an indescribable anguish. He had harbored grievances against his master for compelling him to undertake tasks beyond his capabilities, but out of gratitude for his master's kindness, he had always refrained from deep contemplation. Now, upon realizing his master's heartfelt intentions and the difficulties he may have faced over the years, he could not help but feel regret for not understanding his master's feelings sooner. The howl also contained a deep sense of longing for his master and a tinge of guilt.

As the leader of a sect, one is always privy to certain internal secrets. He recalled a legend recorded in the sect's ancient texts, which spoke of two types of ancient beasts in the world: one is the Fire Toad, and the other is the Xuanbing Snake. It is said that obtaining the inner elixirs of these two creatures can instantly enhance one's Yin-Yang divine skills to an incredible degree

Reflecting on my life, if it were not for my master, perhaps I would have taken an entirely different path

In the following decade, he traveled extensively to renowned mountains and beautiful landscapes around the world. Under the influence of the natural beauty and the spiritual essence of the world, his martial arts skills advanced rapidly, soon reaching the critical threshold of the seventh level.

Master, ... ... "Fang Tian's tears flowed uncontrollably; he knew that Master had made a significant decision. Perhaps only this method could compel him to decisively part from the disciple he had not left for a decade.

He felt refreshed, with keen hearing and clear sight, his entire body filled with a warm aura, and his meridians brimming with explosive power. However, he knew that this time his skills had not reached a breakthrough, and he still could not ascend to a higher level. This could be verified by the expression on the face beside him

He was mentally prepared for his descent from the mountain. Both he and his master understood that if he could not succeed in secluded cultivation, he would have to go down the mountain and take his chances. After all, it is through experience in the martial world that one can truly enhance their skills. However, Peng Yuanwang was always concerned about Fang Tian's safety in the martial world and was reluctant to let his disciple descend.

When the master's howl echoed, Fang Tian was clearly taken aback. The master had never emitted such a howl before, filled with sorrow, which made Fang Tian's heart ache, nearly bringing him to tears

He recalled the night before the grand ceremony of the sect leader, when he was alone with his master. He had once asked his master why the position of sect leader was not passed on to the senior brother. The answer he received was: "This is the ancestral teaching of the sect"

Since the master stepped out of the house, Fang Tian fell into deep contemplation

The second drawback is that the requirements for cultivation time are extremely strict. Generally speaking, if one has not broken through to the sixth realm by the age of twenty-five, it will be very difficult to make further progress for the rest of their life. The master of the sect, Peng Yuanwang, who passed down the teachings to Fang Tian, is already the seventeenth generation, and including him, there have been nine individuals who have not entered the seventh realm.

Sighing, Mo Wenfeng said, "This is a flaw that the founder could not have anticipated. The division of sects within the school is inherently detrimental to the strength and prosperity of the sect. Therefore, although our sect is said to be the largest in the world, its actual influence in the martial world is not as significant as one might imagine. The reason lies in the numerous internal conflicts within the sect."

Fang Tian was greatly astonished; he could not understand why his master would choose such a way to leave him. What could possibly have caused his master to not have time to bid him farewell in person

He was worried about what might happen to his master, so he hurried to the back mountain

By the time he was found by his master, he was already twelve years old, which was indeed past the optimal age for training. Therefore, the master exhausted all means to accelerate Fang Tian's progress in his practice. In the first five years, Fang Tian had already reached the fourth level and was soon entering the plateau region, where progress was slow. The master devoted a significant amount of time to teaching Fang Tian the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, divination, and astrology. Fang Tian lived up to expectations, mastering various disciplines, and with the help of external resources, he successfully advanced to the sixth level. He was just one step away from entering the seventh level. This final step took Fang Tian a year and a half to study. Despite his talents in mastering music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, divination, and astrology, he still could not break through, highlighting the difficulties involved.

Three days later, he walked out of the library and also out of the mountain.

He reminisces about the grandeur of his master in those years, how imposing it was; perhaps he will never be able to reach even a fraction of his master's prowess in his lifetime

"Tian'er, do not be disheartened; it is also because Master is anxious. In those years, your grandmaster, a prodigy, took fifteen years to overcome this challenge. Alas..." Master Peng Yuanwang sighed as he gently patted Fang Tian's head

He is an orphan, with no recollection of his biological parents, and the only thing he possesses is his name—Fang Tian—which still bears a faint connection to his biological father

This person is his master, who is filled with hope for him; however, ten years have passed, and that hope has yet to materialize

What is destined to be will eventually come, and what is not destined should not be forced. This is also due to the teacher's impatience; such eagerness for quick results goes against the true essence of practice, and can lead to the opposite of the intended outcome.