Chapter 5

Three months later, at the square in the suburban estate.

Shi Mu stood under the scorching sun, swinging a three-foot-long green blade, creating a series of sword shadows that flickered within a few dozen feet.

Around the square, there were suddenly several wooden stakes and a few straw dummies, even a few heavy stone locks, and a long wooden rack displaying various common weapons like swords and spears.

"Stop."

A rough male voice suddenly sounded.

Shi Mu paused, the sword shadows converging, and he immediately stopped, holding the sword in one hand.

"Not bad. You've finally grasped the basics of the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances. However, your current level is only at the initial stage. You're still far from being able to use it in combat."

The speaker was a lean man standing at the edge of the square, his arms crossed, eyes sharp, and skin bronzed, giving off a strong and astute impression.

"I owe this to Master Li's personal guidance. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to master such a profound sword technique in just three months," Shi Mu replied respectfully.

This lean man was none other than Li Canghai, a famous instructor at the Liufeng Martial Arts Hall, a mid-stage innate martial artist.

Three months ago, he came to the estate and demonstrated a stunning sword technique, immediately earning Shi Mu's recognition. Since then, he has been training with him for two hours every day.

"This Wind Chasing Sword Technique is a martial technique for martial disciples, but if you practice the corresponding cultivation method correctly, it can still be used in combat even at the innate stage. It mainly relies on wind power, with each strike faster than the last, and the techniques themselves are not overly complicated. I once used this sword technique to slay two martial artists of the same rank in just a few breaths. The most complex martial technique for martial disciples is the Small Circulation Sword Technique, which has 306 stances. Many people spend their entire lives without truly mastering it," Li Canghai said slowly.

"Master Li once said that martial arts are divided into martial techniques and cultivation methods. Martial techniques focus on defeating enemies in life-and-death battles, while cultivation methods focus on cultivating qi and strengthening the body. The two complement each other and are indispensable. But if we have to prioritize, which one do you think is more important, Master Li?" Shi Mu asked after some thought.

"Hehe, you're quite the thinker. This question has been asked countless times throughout history. Each martial arts expert may have a different opinion. For me, focusing solely on martial techniques will prevent you from reaching the innate stage, leaving you top-heavy and unstable. On the other hand, focusing solely on cultivation methods, even with profound true qi, can still result in being beaten to death by a lower-rank opponent. However, once a martial artist reaches the innate stage, they can use true qi to protect their body, making them invulnerable to ordinary weapons even if they stand still. They can also use true qi to kill opponents with a significant cultivation gap. Additionally, ordinary people can live to be over a hundred, but once a martial artist reaches the innate stage, their lifespan doubles," Li Canghai chuckled.

"It seems Master Li still believes cultivation methods are more important," Shi Mu smiled.

"Many advanced martial arts originally include both cultivation methods and martial techniques. Once a cultivation method reaches a certain level, the corresponding martial technique will naturally complement it, making them inseparable. Forcing a comparison is pointless. However, for martial disciples like you, focusing on martial techniques is the best way to improve your strength at this stage. Even if you have a world-class cultivation method in front of you, without the ability to sense qi, you cannot practice it. Moreover, most advanced martial arts have specific cultivation levels. Forcing a higher-level practice can result in no progress or even true qi backlash, making it counterproductive," Li Canghai said nonchalantly.

"I understand. But Master Li, can I watch you perform the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances again?" Shi Mu nodded and requested.

"Performing the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances is very tiring. I also need to teach you the Stone Crushing Fist today, so I can only demonstrate it once," Li Canghai frowned and reluctantly agreed.

Shi Mu naturally agreed enthusiastically.

In the next moment, Li Canghai walked to the center of the square, took the long sword from Shi Mu, and with a low shout, began to swing it rapidly.

Instantly, the air in the center of the square was filled with the sound of breaking air. The lean man seemed to be surrounded by a white ribbon that danced faster and faster, quickly blurring into a sheet of cold light, accompanied by a whistling wind.

Shi Mu watched with wide eyes, not blinking.

After a moment, the cold light slowly moved toward a wooden stake at the edge of the square.

Li Canghai shouted, and the cold light, accompanied by a strong wind, swept toward the wooden stake. The wind and cold light vanished instantly.

"Crack" "Crack" The wooden stake was cut into seven pieces, rolling to the ground.

Li Canghai's seemingly ordinary strike actually produced six cuts in a single breath.

"Six cuts in a single breath, and that's without using true qi! Master's mastery of the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances is truly flawless," Shi Mu exhaled and clapped in admiration.

"If I use true qi, I can achieve nine cuts in a single breath. When this sword technique reaches its peak, it can achieve thirteen cuts in a single breath. Unfortunately, I am still far from that. Additionally, there is a rumor that the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances are actually a single innate sword technique that has been artificially broken down into thirteen stances, which is why it has been reduced to a martial disciple level and lost much of its power. Of course, you shouldn't take this seriously. If the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances were truly derived from an innate sword technique, it wouldn't have been so easily spread and would have been restored by countless experts long ago," Li Canghai chuckled.

"Thirteen cuts in a single breath, can it really reach that level? Who could withstand such a strike?" Shi Mu was greatly astonished.

"If you can achieve thirteen cuts in a single breath, you can dominate the entire innate stage, even if not the innate realm. Now, let's move on. I'll explain the key points of the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances one last time before teaching you the Stone Crushing Fist. This sword technique appears to have thirteen stances, but once performed, it is continuous, mainly relying on wind power to increase the speed of the strikes, making them unstoppable..."

Li Canghai explained seriously, and Shi Mu listened intently, memorizing every word.

"Alright, that's it for the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances. Now, let's start with the Stone Crushing Fist. This fist technique is different from the Thirteen Wind Chasing Stances. It is a pure external martial technique, with very simple stances, and its power comes entirely from the fists. As the name suggests, if you master the Stone Crushing Fist, you can break stones and split rocks." Li Canghai walked to a stone lock the size of a basin, took a deep breath, and kicked it with a swift leg movement.

"Bang!"

Despite his lean build, Li Canghai's kick sent the large stone lock flying into the air.

"Roar!"

Li Canghai punched the air, his lean body swelling instantly, looking like a fierce lion.

"Boom!"

The stone lock, struck by the punch, exploded, sending fragments flying in all directions.

Shi Mu's eyes widened in amazement.

"Listen carefully. Whether you practice sword techniques or swordsmanship in the future, there may be times when you don't have a sword or a blade. In such situations, if you encounter an enemy, you can only rely on your own fists. The Stone Crushing Fist, though simple, is sufficient for martial disciples and can lay a good foundation for practicing higher-level fist techniques in the future. However, despite its fame and power among martial disciples, few people practice it because it requires strengthening your fists with external forces, which can be very painful. Additionally, this fist technique emphasizes strength, so if you have innate strength, you can achieve more with less effort. The punch I just demonstrated did not use any true qi," Li Canghai explained expressionlessly.

"But how much strength does Master Li have now?" Shi Mu asked.

"I can lift a 500-pound stone lock without using true qi, relying solely on my physical strength."

Li Canghai walked to the second-largest stone lock at the edge of the square.

This stone lock was as large as a person, looking extremely heavy.

Li Canghai shouted, squatted into a horse stance, grabbed the stone lock with both hands, and with a sudden effort, lifted it high above his head.

Shi Mu watched in amazement, praising him repeatedly.

The lean man's face showed a hint of pride.

Indeed, in the entire Fengcheng, few innate martial artists could lift such a heavy stone lock with their physical strength alone.

After half an hour, Li Canghai left the estate, leaving Shi Mu alone in the square with a small medicine bottle and a light white book.

The medicine bottle contained a special formula prepared by Li Canghai to aid in practicing the Stone Crushing Fist, and the book was the manual for the Stone Crushing Fist.

Shi Mu glanced at the medicine bottle, opened the cap, sniffed it a few times, put it away, and then sat on the nearby grass, carefully reading the book.

If it weren't for the old scholar at the private school near the fishing village, who had allowed him to study for free since he was an orphan, he probably wouldn't have been able to read a single word.

After quickly flipping through the book, Shi Mu looked at the medicine bottle in his other hand and suddenly showed a strange expression.

"The more strength, the better!"

The young man muttered, put away the book, and turned to look at the stone locks nearby, walking toward the largest one.

This stone lock was as large as a table, almost twice the size of the one Li Canghai had lifted, weighing at least a thousand pounds.

He squatted down, moved his right arm, and grabbed the handle of the stone lock.

"Boom!" With a muffled sound, Shi Mu lifted the massive object with one hand and easily raised it above his head.