Chapter 6

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This was clearly not good news.

However, if even the Lady of Hanyang could not sense it, it was likely not within the borders of the Heavenly Dynasty. In the wilderness, demonic beasts roamed and the demon race lay in ambush. Without the protection of a martial arts expert who had successfully established a foundation, one could hardly leave the territory of a single state.

Everyone was lying low, accumulating strength, waiting for the day they would break out of their cocoon and transform into a butterfly.

Su Qinnian looked at Liu Qingchan again. The lady was still facing away from him, but her figure had become transparent, turning from solid to ethereal. The air rippled like water, and she soon disappeared.

Shaking his head, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of Su Qinnian's mouth. The effort of the past half day had been in vain, and his heart was even more troubled than before.

He dipped his brush in ink and began to recite "The Taiji Song," writing it over and over again. An hour later, he sighed deeply. The night was already deep, and his heart was not at peace. He had missed the opportunity for the night.

After consuming the tiger meat and tiger bone soup, a surge of vital energy arose from his limbs and bones. Su Qinnian first stood in the Turtle-Snake Stance. The "Turtle-Snake Art" emphasizes latent strength, embodying the clear and tranquil mindset of Daoism. This Turtle-Snake Stance is the foundation of the entire "Turtle-Snake Art." Although he was just beginning to learn it, Su Qinnian, who had read extensively on Daoist scriptures, Buddhist principles, and Confucian doctrines, could faintly sense its essence. Combined with meditation, it could make the replenished vital energy penetrate every corner of the body more quickly.

After half an hour, Su Qinnian felt his vital energy was almost overflowing, and he felt a strong urge to release it. He set up his boxing stance, slowly moving his hands, relaxing his limbs, and lowering his shoulders and elbows. From the first to the second level of the "Turtle-Snake Art," he practiced ten times. The obstacles he felt during his morning practice seemed to have loosened somewhat, and his strength had increased a little.

Su Qinnian thought to himself that if he continued like this, with three meals of supplements each day, he could use his robust vital energy to bring the second level of the "Turtle-Snake Art" to perfection within ten days.

When the moon was high in the sky, Su Qinnian stopped practicing. He sat in meditation, digesting the remaining vital energy, nurturing and restoring his spirit, and using it as a substitute for sleep.

...

At dawn, Su Qinnian arrived at the riverside on time to observe the middle-aged Daoist Jingdu practicing the seventh level of the "Turtle-Snake Art." As a third-rate expert who had successfully established a foundation, with decades of practice, the "Turtle-Snake Art" was perfectly integrated in his hands, whether it was the Turtle-Snake Stance or the seventh-level boxing stance, without a single flaw.

Su Qinnian carefully considered and compared his second-level Turtle-Snake Stance and boxing stance, gaining some insights. However, compared to the transformation of his skills yesterday, each insight was becoming less and less. He understood that the third level of the "Turtle-Snake Art" would not be achieved in just one or two months.

"Turtle-Snake for ten thousand years!"

After completing the seventh-level boxing stance, Jingdu did not stop. His breathing became even longer. In the next moment, he struck with his fist, and his entire body suddenly contracted into a ball, then suddenly expanded, his limbs blooming like an ancient turtle that had been dormant for thousands of years suddenly awakening, emitting a profound and robust aura.

Turtle-Snake Fist!

Su Qinnian was startled, and then his eyes lit up. He did not expect the middle-aged Daoist to start practicing the seven forms of the Turtle-Snake Fist. Although he had achieved perfection in the first level of the "Turtle-Snake Art," due to his lack of experience and guidance, his boxing stance lacked the necessary insight and could not yet be transformed into a practical combat technique.

Whoosh!

At that moment, as the middle-aged Daoist Jingdu struck with his fist, the air around him surged, and his vital energy burst forth. Behind him, the air distorted, and a fiery red horse with hooves as large as bowls and a mane like flames tore through the air, as if crossing a vast expanse of time to arrive.

"Blood-sweating steed!"

"This is the Blood-sweating steed formed by the vital energy of the seventh level of the 'Turtle-Snake Art' when it reaches perfection. The strength of a Blood-sweating steed can carry a thousand catties!"

Many of the convicts awaiting execution gasped, their young eyes burning with excitement. The seventh level of the "Turtle-Snake Art" at its peak could grant the strength of a Blood-sweating steed, while a typical seventh-level foundation-building technique could only grant the strength of a fierce horse. Among the world's finest horses, none could match the Blood-sweating steed.

Bang!

As everyone gasped in amazement, a large, moss-covered boulder at the riverside was struck and exploded, shattering into pieces and flying into the air.

What a powerful punch!

Su Qinnian couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. This punch was not just about brute strength. Even a thousand catties of brute strength could not destroy such a boulder, which had been hardened by years of wind and rain. It was the destructive force created by the boxing stance, like the difference between an equal weight of cotton and iron.

"Turtle-Snake Roll!"

Next, Jingdu shouted, suddenly turning, his arm like a whip, his fist like a hammer, and he struck a Huangyang tree as thick as a man's embrace.

Crack!

The thick Huangyang tree was snapped in half, and the three-zhang-tall trunk fell, sending a shower of pebbles and mud into the air, creating a spectacular scene.

...

Turtle-Snake Mountain Crash! Wind Disk Water Sit! Hidden Current Surge! Earth Fire Brightness! Turtle-Snake Moon Swallow!

The seven forms of the Turtle-Snake Fist, demonstrated by the middle-aged Daoist Jingdu, displayed unparalleled offensive power. Without using internal energy, it was still the peak martial power before foundation-building, leaving everyone in awe. The owners of the thatched cottages by the river, in particular, showed signs of deep thought, comparing it to their own skills and gaining some insights.

Su Qinnian was also lost in thought. The Turtle-Snake Fist had both hardness and softness, embodying the essence of Wudang Taiji, but it emphasized yang energy, making it more suitable for martial artists who had not yet established a foundation. Without internal energy, it was better to use one's robust vital energy and fierce strength to the utmost.

Three times!

The middle-aged Daoist Jingdu performed the seven forms of the Turtle-Snake Fist three times. Su Qinnian closed his eyes and stood still for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He had compared the Turtle-Snake Fist to the Daoist texts he had read and recalled the movements of Jingdu's fists, gaining some insights. He was confident he could easily perform the first form of the Turtle-Snake Fist.

After completing three sets of the Turtle-Snake Fist, Jingdu turned and left. Servant Daoists came to distribute the meat of demonic beasts.

"Su Qinnian, after tomorrow, you will be entering the mountains, right?" As he received his breakfast, a teenager of about sixteen or seventeen years old slightly lowered his head, smiling ambiguously, and said, "Are you ready?"

The teenager's tone was light, with a hint of playfulness. Without waiting for Su Qinnian to respond, he turned and walked away under the curious but familiar gazes of several servant Daoists.

A follower of the owner of the sixth thatched cottage by the river!

A cold light flashed in Su Qinnian's eyes. The convicts awaiting execution in this Xiaoyao Valley were divided into several groups, with the thatched cottages by the river as the leaders. Although he did not recognize the teenager, he remembered that the night before, he had been following the owner of the sixth thatched cottage.

"This is a warning, a hint, a taunt, and a threat. I, Su Qinnian, have experienced two lifetimes and read the classics of sages. How can I be intimidated by a petty person? If I cannot achieve my goal tonight, it will be a matter of life and death. A martial artist, if he bows and scrapes, fearing authority, cannot advance bravely and unhesitatingly. Even a commoner's anger can cause blood to splash three feet, let alone me, Su Qinnian!"

A scholar's blood was hot, and a martial artist's anger could lead to killing. Both sought a clear mind and a righteous spirit. Even though he was currently in prison, Su Qinnian felt a surge of passion.

"Be careful when gathering herbs."

"There may be a heavy fog or snowfall the day after tomorrow."

As Su Qinnian walked back to his thatched cottage, people passed by him, giving seemingly well-intentioned warnings. Both sides had an unspoken understanding and did not break the silence.

That day, Su Qinnian did not leave his room. He meditated, pondered the Turtle-Snake Stance, practiced the second-level boxing stance of the "Turtle-Snake Art," and wrote "The Taiji Song," calming his mind and discarding all distractions, sinking into a state of complete tranquility.

That night, the moon was high in the sky, and the stars were brilliant.

In front of the cold wooden bed, the charcoal fire burned brightly. Two bowls of leftover tiger meat and tiger bone soup were simmering on the side, emitting a rich aroma.

Su Qinnian sat in meditation, carefully contemplating the essence of the "Mihun Great Technique," determining the first star point to be opened, centered on the Dantian at the center of his forehead, with the north and south above and below, and the east and west to the left and right. The first star point was located to the east of the Dantian, with two acupoints to be opened.

When his mind was completely calm, without a single distraction, Su Qinnian slowly mobilized a stream of vital energy, not using his full strength at first but choosing a moderate level. He was unsure of the force needed to open the star points and had to rely on his own exploration.

Hmm?

As soon as the vital energy began to circulate in his body and flow back into his brain, Su Qinnian sensed something was wrong. He felt as if he were drunk, his entire body becoming drowsy, his face turning red, and feeling an intense heat.

He soon began to experience hallucinations, seeing scenes he should not have seen. The heat quickly spread throughout his body, and in a moment, Su Qinnian was drenched in sweat.

Steam rose from the wooden bed, like a cloud of mist. In the middle, Su Qinnian's entire body turned as red as a cooked shrimp, every inch of his skin flushed and dripping with sweat.

What is this?

Suddenly, Su Qinnian saw a monkey with a body burning with fierce flames jump out of his body, baring its teeth and waving its arms. Soon after, a fiery horse leaped into the air, neighing loudly and defiantly.

"Not good! It's the Heart Monkey and the Willing Horse!"

A shiver ran through his body, and Su Qinnian regained a bit of clarity. He remembered the martial arts instructor who had guided him saying that martial artists, when reaching the third-rate foundation-building stage, faced the most dangerous mental and willpower challenges. Often, the Heart Monkey and the Willing Horse would run rampant, and if not subdued, they would cause one to go mad, with their tendons and muscles breaking.

Su Qinnian did not expect that the "Mihun Great Technique" would summon the Heart Monkey and the Willing Horse from the start. Fortunately, the Heart Monkey had not yet subdued the Willing Horse, and the two were in conflict, restraining each other. Otherwise, if they combined, it would be beyond his current ability to control them. But now, it gave him a chance.

"The Taiji Song!"

Embracing the righteous spirit of a great master, with the support of the people, any杂念 and 心魔 would be shattered to pieces. (Please vote for me every day to boost my ranking, and please add me to your bookshelf! Thank you all.)

(Note: The last sentence is a direct translation of the Chinese text, which includes a request for votes and bookshelf additions. The terms "杂念" and "心魔" are translated as "miscellaneous thoughts" and "heart demons" respectively, but the context suggests they refer to negative or distracting thoughts and mental obstacles.)