Chapter 12

Over the years of cultivation, four more years had passed. The Huashan Sect had undergone significant changes during these years. The old servants, who were advanced in age, were sent home by Yue Buqun. He then recruited some people at the foot of the mountain to serve as outer disciples, teaching them some basic martial arts and assigning them tasks such as fetching water and chopping firewood. As a result, Huashan gradually regained some of its former vitality and was no longer as desolate as before.

Yue Fangxing had devoted himself to cultivation over these four years and finally succeeded in unblocking the twelve main meridians, allowing his true qi to form a complete circulation within his body. At this stage, his Hanyuan Gong could be considered to have achieved a minor success. He could then practice the Baoyuan Strength, which could be cultivated through the Hanyuan Palm or through sitting meditation and circulating qi, leading to faster progress. With his current level of skill, he could be considered a third-rate expert in the martial world, though he still had many areas that needed improvement.

Although the Hanyuan Gong did not pose a risk of qi deviation during cultivation, no one on Huashan practiced it except for Yue Fangxing. Initially, when he was unblocking the meridians, he lacked experience and might have suffered meridian damage if not for Yue Buqun's protection. However, after achieving minor success, he could focus on daily cultivation and accumulation of internal energy. This process was relatively safe and required no special precautions, allowing him to devote more time to other aspects of his training.

Yue Fangxing's diligent cultivation of the Hanyuan Gong over these years had brought significant benefits. The Hanyuan Gong combined internal and external cultivation, with a large amount of physical exercise and specific methods for converting food into energy, which greatly increased his appetite and accelerated his physical development. Although he was still shorter than Linghu Chong, who had just finished his adolescent growth, he was taller than his twin sister Yue Lingshan. His physique was now tall and robust, and in terms of physical strength, he could even surpass Linghu Chong.

Despite this, Yue Fangxing did not appear overly muscular. His face, though more angular, bore a resemblance to Yue Buqun. Combined with his extensive reading, his demeanor leaned more towards that of a scholar.

Linghu Chong had been diligently cultivating his qi over the past five years but still found himself being caught up by his junior brother. He had recently unblocked the twelve main meridians and thought he would lead Yue Fangxing for a while. However, Yue Fangxing quickly caught up, leaving him feeling quite frustrated. After all, Yue Fangxing was exploring his cultivation on his own, while Linghu Chong had the guidance of his master. If not for this, Yue Fangxing might have already surpassed him in internal skills.

Although Linghu Chong had been caught up by Yue Fangxing in internal skills, he was still much stronger in other areas, especially in swordsmanship. Over the years, Linghu Chong had completed the basic sword techniques of the Huashan Sect and had become very proficient. Even Yue Buqun nodded in approval, praising his talent. During the Huashan Sect's heyday, there were few disciples as talented as Linghu Chong, and he was even more talented than Yue Buqun himself, who had average talent but achieved his position through hard work and good fortune. If things continued this way, after a few more years of deeper internal cultivation and learning a high-level sword technique, Linghu Chong would be ready to venture into the martial world, maintaining the reputation of the Huashan Sect. He was quite proud of this.

Yue Fangxing, due to his practice of the Hanyuan Gong, had focused on palm and foot techniques. In terms of palm and fist techniques, Linghu Chong had long been surpassed by him. His body and footwork were also on par with Linghu Chong. However, in swordsmanship, Yue Fangxing had only learned the basics, such as thrusting, stabbing, and slashing.

This was not because Yue Buqun had not taught him, but because Yue Fangxing needed to focus on foot and internal skills and had no time for other things. He also understood the importance of a solid foundation, which took years to build. Therefore, he spent three to four years training these basics, making drawing and thrusting with the sword almost instinctive, and practicing with both hands to avoid being caught off guard. Although he had not yet formally learned the Huashan sword techniques, his precise sword handling combined with his strength allowed him to spar with Linghu Chong. Yue Buqun, seeing this, did not insist that he learn the Huashan sword techniques.

With his minor success in internal cultivation, Yue Fangxing could now freely move around Huashan. A few years ago, after he secretly climbed to the Chaoyang Terrace, Ning Zhongze had been very worried and set boundaries for his activities, prohibiting him from entering dangerous areas to avoid accidents. Now that he had achieved minor success and had a solid foundation in body and footwork, he was no longer restricted. Therefore, Yue Fangxing took the opportunity to tour Huashan and enjoy its scenery.

During his tour, he found a good place, the Chaoyang Terrace, where he had been as a child. The Chaoyang Terrace had a wide view, and on clear days, one could see the sunrise, which broadened the mind. In his previous life, he had read many martial novels that mentioned the benefits of absorbing the purple qi of the sunrise. Therefore, every morning, he climbed to the Chaoyang Terrace, faced the sunrise, and practiced sitting meditation, circulating his internal energy, and then practiced the Hanyuan Palm. He did this every day without fail, sometimes even inviting Linghu Chong to join him, and they encouraged each other.

Yue Buqun, seeing this, was somewhat puzzled and asked him one day, "Xing'er, why do you practice on the Chaoyang Terrace every day? Wouldn't the training ground be just as good?"

Yue Fangxing replied, "Father, I read in books that ancient cultivators and qi practitioners would absorb the purple qi of the sunrise every day. Although I don't know why, I believe it has some effect. Moreover, every time I see the sunrise and the sky filled with purple light, I feel as if I gain some insight, though I can't quite explain it. Besides, climbing up and down every day also helps with my body and footwork, so I go up the mountain every day."

When Yue Buqun heard the first part of Yue Fangxing's answer, he was somewhat dismissive, thinking his son had been influenced by the Daoist texts and wanted to teach him a lesson. However, when he heard the part about "feeling some insight when seeing the sunrise and the sky filled with purple light," a flash of inspiration struck him. "Could it be that the ancestors of the Huashan Sect were inspired by the sunrise to create the Zixia Divine Skill?"

Over the years, although Yue Buqun's meridians had been somewhat improved by practicing the Yijin Twelve Postures, his internal skills had continued to accumulate, becoming more resilient and profound. According to Yue Fangxing's estimation, his internal skills were almost on par with those of the original story at the beginning of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer." However, he had not yet broken through to the next level of the Zixia Divine Skill, and the use of Zixia True Qi was still intermittent and not under his complete control.

The Zixia Divine Skill, derived from Hao Datong, was created by the founder of the Quanzhen Sect, Wang Chongyang, based on the characteristics of his disciple. Later, the ancestors of the Huashan Sect combined various techniques to create this divine skill, making it a legitimate Daoist internal skill. Like other Daoist techniques, the Zixia Divine Skill emphasizes accumulation, becoming more powerful as one progresses. When practiced to its highest level, the Zixia True Qi would spread throughout the body, creating a vast and overwhelming force, earning the Huashan Sect the reputation of "the nine skills of Huashan, with Zixia being the first." People in the martial world admired it greatly, calling it a "divine skill."

Therefore, the power of the Zixia Divine Skill was immense, but Daoist skills, though balanced and harmonious, were slow to cultivate and difficult to master. The Zixia Divine Skill was no exception. The first few levels were mainly foundational, though they could enhance one's skills, they were quite draining and could not be used lightly. Only when the Zixia True Qi spread throughout the body could it be used freely, truly demonstrating the power that earned it the title of "divine skill."

Since the creation of the Zixia Divine Skill, most of the Huashan ancestors had been stuck at this level. Yue Buqun had been in this state for many years, having long met the requirements for breakthrough but still unable to find the direction for the next level.

In theory, the path of internal cultivation was the most challenging, and it was normal to be stuck at a level for decades. Moreover, Yue Buqun was only in his forties, and reaching his current level was already quite impressive in the martial world. However, with the decline of Huashan, although Yue Buqun was considered a top expert in the martial world, he was not among the absolute best. He was not as skilled as the supreme expert Zuo Lengchan of the Songshan Sect, and even two of the thirteen Songshan elders working together could make him hesitate. Furthermore, with the gradual decline of the demonic sect in recent years, internal conflicts within the Five Mountains Sword Sects had become more apparent, with the Songshan Sect gradually dominating and showing signs of controlling the Five Mountains. Although Zuo Lengchan had not taken any major actions, many in the martial world could sense his ambition to吞并其他四岳，与少林、武当鼎足而立。

岳不群自然也察觉到了这一点，这些年他虽然表面上不显，内心却焦急如焚，不断寻找各种方法来帮助自己突破，但都没有取得多大成效。近一段时间，他更是日思夜想，几近入魔。一听到儿子的这句话，想起自己前些年观看过的朝阳日出的景象，正和紫霞神功的一些秘要相符，顿时灵光一闪，盘膝坐地。

这一下各种感悟纷至沓来，仿佛紫霞神功下一层次的种种要点正在眼前，平时一些没想通的也俱都想通，体内的紫霞真气也不知何时自行运转起来，如长江大河，奔腾不息，周身紫气蒸腾，不由纵声长啸起来，这声音犹如龙吟大泽，虎啸深谷，远远传送出去。

岳方兴在一旁看到岳不群的举动，初时有些奇怪，他素知自己父亲注重仪表，从不在外人面前失礼，在弟子、儿女面前也注意维持形象，如今居然在自己说话时突然盘膝坐地，想来定是有所领悟，迫不及待。待看到岳不群身上所现异象，不由大喜，他虽没看过紫霞秘籍，但也知道岳不群的紫霞神功将要突破。待听到岳不群纵声长啸，心里更是又惊又喜，没想到岳不群竟然达到了如斯境界。

要知道一个人内功练到一定境界，往往会不知不觉地发出异声。到达这一境界后，只要勤修苦练，终有一日会达到绝顶境界。前代五绝之一的东邪黄药师也是三十岁后才达到这个境界，岳不群能在现在达到此境界可以说是相当不凡了，成为绝顶高手也很有希望。

岳方兴总以为他父亲武功不是甚高，这却是他原来读书时形成的印象，在原书中岳不群虽说也是江湖上的一流好手，但总体给人的感觉就是实力不强，直到练了《辟邪剑谱》后才以诡计胜了左冷禅，不过还是比不上那时的令狐冲，只能勉强算是绝顶高手。其实真要说起来，在原书中他未修习《辟邪剑谱》时，单论内功也只是比左冷禅差一点点，只是无法完全发挥而已，后来面对并派的压力，更是不得不寄希望于辟邪剑谱。

要说这辟邪剑谱和紫霞神功也有些渊源，辟邪剑谱出自葵花宝典，而华山派的紫霞神功也有一部分借鉴了葵花宝典，两者可以说略有相通之处，这也怪不得岳不群在原书中谋夺辟邪剑谱了。

不过这一世却不一样了，岳方兴的易筋十二式无意间使岳不群的内功能够不断积累，单说内功，岳不群可以说几乎赶得上原书中七八年后的水平，早已达到了突破紫霞神功下一层次的要求，只是还差那临门一脚而已，如今这一脚也被岳方兴不经意的一句话补上了。

岳不群这一啸声约莫持续了一顿饭时分，方才渐渐沉寂。这一次把整个华山上的人都惊动了，众人不知发生了什么事，纷纷前来观看。

岳方兴见此，怕众人喧哗起来，惊扰了父亲，因此急忙在一旁维持着秩序，宁中则也在旁边阻止众弟子。这些人也猜测岳不群是有了突破，纷纷静了下来，不敢喧哗。连平时最喜闹腾的岳灵珊也在宁中则的看护下大气都不敢出。

待到岳不群长啸之后调息完毕，睁开眼睛，只见宁中则声音里带着一股喜气，问道：“师兄，可是你突破了？”她也知道岳不群将要突破，只是还差临门一脚而已，因此向他询问。

岳不群环视周围，笑道：“已经突破了，只是还略有不稳，想必过几日就好了。”

众人听到岳不群的话，都颇为兴奋，毕竟华山实力越强，他们自然也水涨船高，说不定掌门一高兴，把他们收为弟子，那他们就也能纵横江湖了。

岳不群见众人如此，很是欣慰，现在的华山派虽然弱小，却绝没有以前气宗剑宗剑拔弩张的氛围，制度更加完善，众人也都上进，呈现出一种生机勃勃的势头。他平日里就看中了几个外门弟子，今日大喜之下，见众人表现，越看越满意，决定再收几个进入内门，光大华山门楣。

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