Chapter 21

Yue Fangxing and Linghuchong were in the water, struggling forward. The underground current, affected by the vibrations from the secret passage, became even more turbulent. Both were shocked and dared not delay for a moment, fighting their way out of the water. They then hurriedly moved forward, out of the cave, and continued for a distance until they reached a high ground.

Sure enough, their worries were not in vain. After they emerged, the cave continued to rumble with a series of booms, indicating that it was still collapsing. Soon, water began to gush out from the cave entrance, flowing down the mountain slope and forming a shallow stream on the ground. The collapse and compression inside the cave had forced the underground current to burst through the surface, creating a stream.

Yue Fangxing and Linghuchong felt a lingering fear, both experiencing a sense of having narrowly escaped death. Although the overall journey was relatively smooth, the search in the middle and the final danger were quite perilous.

They rested briefly on the spot, and Linghuchong asked, "Junior Brother, what happened to you in the stone chamber?"

Yue Fangxing replied, "I don't know what happened. When I saw the sword techniques on the ceiling, I felt a wave-like momentum coming at me, and I kept resisting until I broke through it."

It turned out that after entering the stone chamber, Yue Fangxing first saw the sword techniques on the ceiling. Although they were simple moves like thrusting, striking, slashing, and chopping, they seemed to have a deeper mystery. Given that they were placed alongside the *Nine Yin Manual*, they were clearly extraordinary. He guessed that the great swordsman Yang Guo, driven by his competitive spirit, had carved his own sword techniques there to show that he had broken through Wang Chongyang's *Nine Yin Manual*, proving that the Ancient Tomb Sect's skills were superior to the Quanzhen Sect. Yue Fangxing, who had always followed the path of heavy swords and often practiced in water, immediately focused on understanding these techniques.

As soon as he focused, he felt a strong momentum from the ceiling, like a wave surging towards him. Instinctively, he used his inner strength to resist. However, this resistance was like poking a hornet's nest; the waves kept coming, becoming more intense and seemingly endless. Despite his first-rate inner strength, Yue Fangxing found it difficult to hold on.

In desperation, Yue Fangxing drew his heavy sword and wielded the Huashan Sword Technique to counter the momentum. Unexpectedly, as soon as he drew the sword, he felt a heavy pressure on it, making it hard to move. The sword was already heavy, and under this pressure, it seemed almost impossible to wield.

Fortunately, Yue Fangxing had often practiced in water and was familiar with the pressure on the sword, so he could still use the sword techniques. However, the pressure gradually increased, and he could only use simple moves to counter it. Eventually, he resorted to basic sword techniques like thrusting, stabbing, slicing, and slashing, but they were not systematic and could not effectively resist the pressure.

At this moment, he had an idea and began to use the techniques on the ceiling. Although Yue Fangxing had not practiced these techniques, they were only a few moves, and with his solid foundation, he quickly learned them. Initially, he struggled, but gradually he became more proficient, and the pressure lessened. Overjoyed, he focused even more on understanding the sword techniques and the momentum.

Yue Fangxing guessed that these techniques were left by Yang Guo at his peak, confident that they could break through Wang Chongyang's *Nine Yin Manual*. Otherwise, they would not have been carved there. The great swordsman Yang Guo must have reached an incredible level, as the sword momentum had not completely dissipated after hundreds of years.

Yue Fangxing's sword theory was largely based on Yang Guo's heavy sword techniques, and he had always followed this path. Over the years, he had crafted heavy swords and practiced in water, emulating Yang Guo. Although his inner strength was limited, he had many ideas. Seeing the true sword momentum, he naturally began to verify his theories. He found that many of his previous confusions were now resolved, and his sword techniques became more fluid and natural. In the end, he excitedly thrust his sword, using all his strength, which was the *Purple Qi from the East* technique that Linghuchong had seen, breaking through the ceiling.

Linghuchong was greatly envious upon hearing this. He knew that Yue Fangxing must have gained a lot, but he could do nothing about it. After all, he had seen the sword techniques but felt nothing. However, obtaining the *Nine Yin Manual* was enough for him, as his weakness was in inner strength, and he was confident in his sword techniques.

They then organized their gains. Although the journey was perilous, the rewards were significant. Even if they didn't consider the sword techniques that Yue Fangxing had understood, the few martial arts techniques recorded in the *Nine Yin Manual* were comparable to the Huashan Sect's best, and some even surpassed them.

After organizing, they found that only the *Sinew Metamorphosis Chapter*, *Acupoint Unsealing Secrets*, *Breath Holding Secrets*, and *Soul Transference Technique* were relatively complete, with minor omissions that did not affect their use. However, other techniques like *Spatial Shift*, *Snake Movement and Weasel Roll*, *Five-String Hand Movement*, and *Great Demon Fist* were recognizable but had lost much of their content. There were also some scattered techniques and martial arts principles, which could not be practiced but could be used as references to enhance their skills.

However, both were very satisfied. The *Sinew Metamorphosis Chapter* was the foundation of the *Nine Yin Manual*. Huang Shang, who had already reached middle age when he comprehended the principles of martial arts, still managed to cultivate extraordinary skills, thanks to the *Sinew Metamorphosis Chapter*. This technique was extremely suitable for Linghuchong. The *Acupoint Unsealing Secrets*, *Breath Holding Secrets*, and *Soul Transference Technique* were interconnected and highly effective for breaking through inner strength barriers. When acupoints and meridians are blocked, they cannot be unblocked without external force. If one can temporarily stop breathing using the *Breath Holding Secrets*, the internal energy can be paused, allowing the blocked acupoints and meridians to be unblocked. However, holding one's breath is extremely difficult and requires the use of the *Soul Transference Technique* to detach the mind from the body, allowing for a brief period of breathlessness without suffocation. The three techniques are interconnected and form a complete system.

Yue Fangxing was greatly relieved to see that these techniques were complete, as they were exactly what he needed. Since achieving the *Mixed Yuan Power*, his progress in martial arts had slowed. The *Sinew Metamorphosis Chapter* was a technique for both internal and external cultivation, similar to the *Mixed Yuan Power* and could further improve his physical condition, making it suitable for his current practice. The *Breath Holding Secrets*, if mastered, would solve his problem of practicing in water. Previously, he had to keep his upper body outside the water to maintain breathing, and even in the water, he could not hold on for long, so his progress was limited. Now, this problem would be resolved, and it would be essential for future practice in the sea.

Yue Fangxing was organizing his gains when he heard Linghuchong say, "Junior Brother, we have gained a lot this time. We should quickly return to Huashan to avoid any unexpected events!"

Yue Fangxing had also thought of this but paused for a moment and said, "Senior Brother, we have been here for over half a month. Now, a new stream has appeared on Zhongnan Mountain, which might attract the attention of some people. If they see us hurriedly returning to Huashan, they might suspect something. I suggest we stay in the mountains for a few days, move forward along the mountain path, and then leave. That way, no one will pay attention to us."

Linghuchong, being a smart person, understood immediately. If they hurriedly returned to Huashan, people might suspect something, even if they were not initially concerned. If they acted calmly and pretended to know nothing, the matter would gradually be forgotten. After all, the appearance of a new stream on Zhongnan Mountain was not a big deal, and no one in the martial arts world would pay much attention. He nodded in agreement, "No wonder Master often praises your thoroughness. I think we should go to Chang'an City in a straightforward manner. Otherwise, returning to Huashan after leaving the mountains would still raise suspicions."

Yue Fangxing also agreed. Speaking with a smart person was simple. Linghuchong not only understood his thoughts instantly but also quickly improved the plan. However, his suggestion to go to Chang'an City was not purely for the plan; he probably also wanted to find some good wine. Chang'an was the largest city in Guanzhong, and there must be plenty of good wine. However, Yue Fangxing did not say much about this. Linghuchong had been in the deep mountains for over half a month and was probably eager to get out. Even if he tried to stop him, it would be futile.

They then proceeded through the mountains, reciting the content of the *Nine Yin Manual* several times to avoid any mistakes and then destroyed the copies. If anything went wrong, it could leak, and the Huashan Sect could not afford it.

Of course, Yue Fangxing and Linghuchong were not just memorizing. If they had any insights, they would practice and verify them with each other. Over the next few days, although they did not learn the advanced martial arts techniques, they made significant progress. Their original martial arts techniques became more fluid and natural, and they could achieve the same results with less effort, sometimes even better. Especially Yue Fangxing, who had completely digested the momentum he had resisted in the stone chamber, making his sword techniques simpler and more powerful.

In the past, when Yue Fangxing and Linghuchong practiced sword techniques, Yue Fangxing often relied on his inner strength and heavy sword to suppress Linghuchong, which allowed them to be evenly matched. Now, in terms of sword techniques alone, Yue Fangxing could also match Linghuchong. However, Yue Fangxing's nature was more stable, and his sword techniques were more defensive, while Linghuchong's nature was more agile, and his techniques were more offensive. Their complementary styles made them a good match.

However, no matter how good the defense, it was only enough for self-preservation and not for defeating the enemy. Yue Fangxing knew this but could not improve it for the time being. After all, he had lived two lives, and his real age was over forty. He was not as impulsive as a young man. Moreover, he had a subconscious awareness of the dangers of the martial arts world and was cautious about taking risks without ensuring his safety. He was not willing to take the desperate approach of trading injuries for victory, as Linghuchong did in the original story. Therefore, he preferred to focus on defense to avoid accidentally losing his life. Whether this was good or bad could only be determined in the future.

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