Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 272: Wuji Manor (II)
"So Brother Zhao, what lightness and movement techniques have you cultivated? I will go back and look for a few to practice as well, to see whether I can reach your level," Li Yanming asked curiously.
"That’s right. There’s no need to be as impressive as Brother Zhao. I would already be very satisfied if I could reach even half of it," Li Yunfeng said.
"One of them is the Ten Thousand Troop Steps. Another one of them is the Spirit-Wondrous Movement Technique. As for the one taught by my master, I will not mention it. They are all rather ordinary techniques, however. I imagine you have not heard of them," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.
Even if he did not say it, attentive observers could still discern the style of his lightness and movement techniques. However, these two techniques both originated from the Southern Barbarian Region. In the Central Plains, martial cultivation flourished, and powerful techniques emerged endlessly. These scions of esteemed families likely had never even heard of them.
"Hmm. I seem to have heard of Ten Thousand Troop Steps. Is this technique suited for battlefield combat in the army?" Li Guoming, who had remained silent, suddenly asked.
"Yes. Senior, have you heard of this technique?" Lin Zheyu nodded and asked curiously.
This technique was something he had obtained from that black and crimson-robed figure of the Nine Nether Sect. It was quite profound. It was precisely by integrating Ten Thousand Troop Steps and Phantom Shadow Step that Lin Zheyu's lightness and movement techniques had risen to their current astonishing level.
"So it truly is this technique. In the Great Wei army, there is a true technique called Ten Thousand Troop Blood Fiend True Technique, which helps the user cultivate Blood Fiend true intent. It’s an extraordinary true technique. There is a strong possibility that Ten Thousand Troop Steps was separated from the Ten Thousand Troop Blood Fiend True Technique," Li Guoming said.
When he was young, he traveled extensively and made many friends. Among them was a friend in the army who cultivated the Ten Thousand Troop Blood Fiend True Technique. Earlier, Li Guoming had noticed traces of familiarity in Lin Zheyu's lightness and movement techniques and had been pondering what technique he had learned.
So Ten Thousand Troop Steps has such an origin!
Hearing Li Guoming's words, Lin Zheyu was greatly astonished.
This technique obtained from a Nine Nether Sect disciple turned out to be a leg technique separated from a true technique cultivated within the Great Wei army. No wonder he had felt that this technique was especially suited for life and death combat on the battlefield when he first practiced it.
"I have also heard of Ten Thousand Troop Steps. To be able to cultivate this technique to such a degree is truly terrifying. Even within the army, there are likely very few who can reach Brother Zhao's level," Li Yanming said with emotion.
"Brother Yanming, please do not flatter me. It’s merely a helpless measure. If I had a complete true technique or a powerful lightness and movement technique, why would I be willing to waste time cultivating so many techniques?" Lin Zheyu said with a bitter smile.
These were his true thoughts. A truly powerful lightness and movement technique might surpass his Golden Goose Technique formed from the fusion of three techniques. It might even be stronger than the Golden Goose Technique that had undergone multiple fusions and enhancements.
"Brother Zhao is right. In this world, it is truly too difficult for ordinary people to rely on themselves to achieve something in martial cultivation. Good resources and techniques are all controlled by esteemed families and sects. Ordinary people simply have no way to obtain them," Li Yanming said with a sigh.
Even though he had been nurtured by Li Mengxi's father since childhood, everything he possessed today had been earned through his own sweat and effort. Only he himself knew how much hardship and suffering he had endured to reach his current achievements. Meanwhile, the disciples of esteemed families and sects needed only a little effort to enjoy conditions ten or even a hundred times better than his.
"Brother Zhao, with your martial cultivation talent, once word spreads, many sects and forces will surely come to recruit you. If you change your mind and are willing to accept recruitment, you must give our Li Family priority consideration," Li Mengxi said with a smile.
"Certainly!" Lin Zheyu smiled and replied solemnly.
After the earlier unpleasant experience, their pace increased significantly. Before long, they arrived outside Wuji Manor. Wuji Manor was built in a grand manner, covering an area of roughly several hundred thousand square meters. At the entrance, disciples of the Wuji Sect stood guard, verifying the identities and qualifications of those who arrived. Only invited forces could participate in the martial cultivation exchange. Ordinary martial artists could not enter even if they learned of it from elsewhere.
After entering Wuji Manor, Li Guoming said to everyone, "You all go and look around on your own. I will go look for a few friends."
Here, with powerful experts of the Wuji Sect standing guard, there was no need to worry about safety. After Li Guoming left, Li Yunbo and Li Yunfeng also departed together, as they too had matters to attend to.
"Brother Zhao, is there anywhere you would like to go? I can show you around Wuji Manor," Li Mengxi said with a smile.
A martial cultivation exchange was held at Wuji Manor every few years, and Li Mengxi had attended many times, making him very familiar with the place. He had originally wanted Li Wensi to show Zhao Hao around, creating an opportunity for the two of them to spend time alone. However, thinking of how innocently foolish the girl could be, and fearing she might accidentally cause trouble, he gave up on the idea. Those who could attend the martial cultivation exchange were all prominent forces, many of whom even the Li Family dared not offend.
"I will just wander around casually. There is no need to trouble you," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.
"How can that be considered a problem? Brother Zhao, you are being too distant. I am free anyway. I will accompany you and help you get familiar with Wuji Manor, and also show you some of the interesting and entertaining places at the martial cultivation exchange," Li Mengxi said with a smile.
"Then I will come along as well. I have nothing to do anyway," Li Yanming said.
"And me, and me! I want to be with Young Master Zhao as well," Li Wensi said with a cheerful grin.
The little girl was an optimist. After seeing that Lin Zheyu's injuries were not serious, she quickly stopped worrying and returned to her usual carefree and cheerful self.
"Sister Mengqi, will you come with us?" Li Wensi looked at Li Mengqi and asked.
"Mhmm. I do not have anything to do either." Li Mengqi nodded.
"Alright. Since everyone is free, how about we first go take a look at where we will be staying?" Lin Zheyu suggested.
"That makes sense. The Li Family has been arranged to stay at Lanrui Garden. Let’s head over first, choose some rooms, and settle our belongings," Li Mengxi said.
After settling their belongings, the group began to stroll around Wuji Manor. Wuji Manor was extremely lively, with stalls, shops, and restaurants of all kinds. Many martial artists had arrived ahead of time, and powerful martial artists could be seen everywhere.
"By the way, didn't you guys mention that there would be a combat arena? Where is it?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.
Originally, he had little interest in combat arenas, since fighting and killing held little appeal. However, after hearing that the reward was actually a true technique, he became interested.
"Haha. I knew that although Brother Zhao said he wasn’t interested, he actually was. Any martial artist who has condensed a Dominance true intent seed is extremely combative. If one can continuously defeat powerful genius martial artists, accumulating an invincible momentum and conviction, it would be of great benefit to the condensation of Dominance true intent," Li Yanming said with a laugh.
"Brother Zhao, you can indeed give it a try. With your strength, you might truly be able to achieve a hundred undefeated battles. Every martial artist who fights in the arena will be of the same level. The martial cultivation exchange has stricter standards for classifying martial artists' strength, you see. Someone like Tang Zhentao, who has condensed traces of true strength, would not be considered to be in the Marrow Refining realm.
"Only martial artists who have not condensed true strength are allowed to step onto the stage to challenge. Brother Zhao, you’re already able to repel an assassin who had already condensed traces of true strength. With such strength, you’re a top tier existence within the Marrow Refining realm. Even against Luo Shaoning, you might still have a chance to win," Li Mengxi said.
He also agreed with Li Yanming's viewpoint. After witnessing Lin Zheyu's strength, he now had great confidence that Lin Zheyu could accumulate a hundred undefeated victories in the arena challenges.
"That is exactly what I had in mind. Obtaining a true technique is far too difficult, so one as the reward for one-hundred undefeated battles is indeed very tempting to me," Lin Zheyu said candidly with a smile.
"What happens if no one dares to come up and challenge, and it does not reach a hundred battles? Is it considered successful once time runs out?" Lin Zheyu voiced his doubts.
"That is correct. As long as no one dares to step onto the stage to challenge within a single day, it will be considered your victory. Or, if within five consecutive days, all martial artists of the same level who stepped up to challenge are defeated, it will be considered your victory, regardless of whether the number of fights reaches one hundred," Li Mengxi said.
"So that is how it is. It officially starts three days from now?" Lin Zheyu asked.
"Mhm. There is nothing interesting over there right now. We might as well go drink at Xifeng Tower. On a big occasion like the martial cultivation exchange, Xifeng Tower will bring out a lot of West Fragrance Wine. We should hurry over. If we go too late, it will all be gone," Li Mengxi said with a sly laugh.
