Chapter 10

After half an hour of archery practice, the sun had already risen.

"Ringer, I will teach you footwork," said Weichi Xue, wearing a white fur, smiling at her son.

"Yes," Ji Ning replied.

Although his back and waist ached from the previous archery practice, his body recovered astonishingly fast due to the cultivation of the *Chi Ming Nine Heavens Chart*. Now, he felt refreshed and full of fighting spirit.

"In close combat, the importance of footwork is no less than sword techniques!" Weichi Xue said solemnly, "In a duel, the one with better footwork can dodge and move around, making it difficult for the enemy to hurt you, while you can easily injure them."

Ji Ning nodded.

He understood.

Close combat is not just a simple exchange of sword and knife. It is more like a dance of shadows, with both sides constantly changing positions. In the previous life, top boxers and kickboxers all placed great emphasis on footwork. The subtlety of footwork can make it impossible for the enemy to land a single punch, and even if they do, the force is weakened.

The importance of footwork even surpasses that of hand techniques! Due to his illness in the previous life, Ji Ning was very enthusiastic about watching sports competitions, so he understood the importance of footwork in boxing and kickboxing.

In this world, where gods and demons are present, the basic principles are likely similar.

Footwork is of utmost importance.

"The footwork I will teach you is called the *Wind Shadow Step*," Weichi Xue said, "Don't be fooled by its simple name; it is a profound technique, considered one of the best footwork techniques in the Ji Clan's five mansions, and only I know it! Once you master this footwork, you will be able to dodge and move within a small area, and also learn the method of lightness to escape."

"First, carefully observe the basic six steps," Weichi Xue flipped her hand, and a brown book appeared in it.

Ji Ning took it and immediately began to read carefully.

The book detailed the methods of the basic six steps of the *Wind Shadow Step*, with the footwork being extremely subtle in the way it uses strength.

"Stop guessing," Weichi Xue pointed to the distance, "Look over there."

Ji Ning turned his head and saw numerous wooden stakes standing in the distance, possibly over a thousand, of varying heights and distances, like a forest. Above these stakes hung numerous leather bags, densely packed, possibly over a thousand.

"That is called the Thousand Star Array!" Weichi Xue said, "With the Thousand Star Array, you should be able to master the *Wind Shadow Step* to the subtle level within ten years. Without the Thousand Star Array, it would take several times longer."

"The *Wind Shadow Step* has three levels of mastery."

"First, the basics."

"Second, the subtle level."

"Third, the realm of oneness with heaven and earth."

Weichi Xue looked at Ji Ning, "Actually, any footwork, sword technique, knife technique, spear technique, etc., can be divided into these three levels. For example, the second level of sword technique, 'subtle,' can also be called 'oneness with the sword.'"

"Have you memorized the subtleties of the basic six steps?" Weichi Xue asked.

"Memorized," Ji Ning nodded.

Weichi Xue then walked to the Thousand Star Array and pointed to a short wooden stake, "Go to that stake."

"Yes," Ji Ning easily stepped onto the stake.

Standing on the stake, he immediately felt it sway. The stake was not thick, only wide enough for one foot. Fortunately, due to the cultivation of the *Chi Ming Nine Heavens Chart*, his balance was extremely strong, allowing him to stand steadily.

"Now, follow my commands. When I tell you which of the basic six steps to perform, you perform that step," Weichi Xue said, "Advance!"

Ji Ning remembered the method of exerting force and tried a forward lunge, landing on the next stake with a swoosh. However, he hit a hanging leather bag and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Remember, when moving on the Thousand Star Array stakes, you must not touch any of the leather bags. If you do, you must start over," Weichi Xue said.

Ji Ning gritted his teeth.

He refused to believe he couldn't do it.

He climbed back onto the short stake and tried a forward lunge, dodging the sandbag and landing on the stake. However, the forward momentum was too strong, and he swayed for a while, waving his hands to maintain balance before finally standing on one foot.

"Remember, footwork is like a nail. Each step is a nail. When you land on a stake, you must be firmly planted there!" Weichi Xue said, "Each step must be neither too small nor too large, neither too light nor too heavy. If you sway like that, in a life-or-death battle, the enemy would have already found your weakness and killed you with a sword. Continue, advance!"

"Advance!"

"Walk!"

"Leap!"

"Retreat!"

"Pull back!"

"Turn!"

Weichi Xue gave commands one after another.

Actually, regardless of the footwork, the basic steps are always the same: advancing, retreating, etc. However, different techniques have vastly different subtleties... some can change like lightning, some are as light as the wind, and some are as elusive as a ghost.

The subtleties of footwork result in different practical outcomes.

"Thud!" Due to not squatting deep enough, his back still brushed against a leather bag, causing him to fall off the stake.

Ji Ning silently climbed back onto the stake and continued.

"Thud!" His knees were not bent enough.

"Thud!" The force was too light.

...

Ji Ning moved and flashed among the thousands of stakes, frantically practicing the basic six steps. Due to the hanging leather bags, he had to adopt various postures to avoid them, but regardless of the posture, the prerequisite was that his center of gravity and feet must be stable!

"Mother, how long do I need to practice?" Ji Ning was bruised and battered.

"Ringer, start from the shortest stake, walk through all 1,008 stakes, and leap from the tallest stake! Without touching any of the leather bags along the way!"

"Complete it within ten breaths, and you will have mastered the first level, 'basics,'" Weichi Xue smiled.

Ji Ning was taken aback: "What, ten breaths? That's such a short time... even on flat ground, it would take more than ten breaths to run that distance." There are 1,008 stakes, which is over a thousand meters. Running over a thousand meters would take a while.

"Once you complete the first level of the *Chi Ming Nine Heavens Chart*, you should be able to run that distance on flat ground within ten breaths," Weichi Xue smiled.

"This..." Ji Ning was taken aback.

"On the Thousand Star Array, it should feel like walking on flat ground. That is when you have reached the first level, 'basics,'" Weichi Xue smiled.

"What about the second level, 'subtle'?" Ji Ning couldn't help but ask.

Weichi Xue pushed the leather bags, causing them to collide with each other. Soon, all the thousands of leather bags were swaying and colliding in an irregular pattern.

"The second level, 'subtle,' means that even with all the leather bags swaying and colliding, you must still start from the shortest stake and walk through all 1,008 stakes within ten breaths, and leap from the tallest stake without touching any of the leather bags," Weichi Xue looked at Ji Ning, "If you can do that, you will have mastered the second level, 'subtle.'"

"How, how, how is that possible? All the leather bags are swaying and moving, how can I avoid them? The opportunity might only be a split second, and I have to avoid all the leather bags and step on the stakes. And in such a short time..." Ji Ning felt it was too difficult, how could it be possible.

"That's why, with the help of the Thousand Star Array, you should be able to master the *Wind Shadow Step* to the 'subtle' level within ten years," Weichi Xue said, "From now until lunch, you will practice on the Thousand Star Array stakes."

"What about the third level, 'oneness with heaven and earth'?" Ji Ning couldn't help but ask.

Weichi Xue looked at Ji Ning and smiled, "That is a realm, and you will know when you reach it."

"How strong is it? Can you give me an idea?" Ji Ning pressed.

"Well, if I must say... it means that even if ten thousand arrows are shot at you, none will touch you," Weichi Xue looked at her son.

"Ten thousand arrows?" Ji Ning thought of countless arrows shooting at him, but none touching him, which seemed impossible. A human body is so large, and countless arrows would fill all the space, making it impossible to dodge.

Weichi Xue smiled, "Don't be discouraged. Among the warriors of the various tribes, the best usually only reach the first level, 'basics.'"

"Born spirits usually reach the second level, 'subtle,' in footwork."

"Zi Fu cultivators usually reach the third level, 'oneness with heaven and earth.' Of course, some exceptional born spirits can also reach 'oneness with heaven and earth,' like your father!" Weichi Xue said.

"Father?" Ji Ning was pleasantly surprised.

"Your father's footwork is at the 'oneness with heaven and earth' level, and even his sword technique, which is harder to master than footwork, is also at the 'oneness with heaven and earth' level," Weichi Xue smiled, "That's why your father is the undisputed strongest in the Ji Clan's Western Mansion, and can awe countless tribes."

Ji Ning felt a surge of ambition. If his father could do it, he could too! With the *Nüwa Chart* and the wisdom from his previous life, he could definitely achieve it!

"Continue!"

"Advance!"

"Turn!"

"Leap!"

Ji Ning's small figure carefully moved and flashed among the stakes of the Thousand Star Array, occasionally falling.

...

In the afternoon.

After eating and resting for a while, his father took him to the training ground. The afternoon spring sun was bright and warm.

"Father," Ji Ning looked at his father, who was dressed in