The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, Shen Haoran opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. The healthy, rosy color had returned to his face!

’The Chaos Divine Body is truly domineering,’ Shen Haoran mused. ’My injuries healed completely overnight, and my strength has stabilized at Tier Nine Spirit Pupil. Fighting really is the fastest way to get stronger.’

After getting out of bed and stretching his limbs, Shen Haoran headed straight for the courtyard. He sat cross-legged under a tree and took a Scroll from his Storage Ring. It was precisely his reward for taking first place in the new disciple assessment: an Earth Tier Low Level Martial Skill!

"Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step!" Upon opening the Scroll, those five words leaped into view.

’Huh? A Body Technique Martial Skill?’ Shen Haoran was pleasantly surprised. Among Martial Skills, Attack Martial Skills were the most common, while Body Technique Martial Skills were comparatively rare. As a result, they were also more valuable!

If a Martial Artist had to choose between an Attack Martial Skill and a Body Technique Martial Skill of an Equal Tier, they would certainly pick the Body Technique. Why? There’s an old saying: in all of martial arts, speed is unbeatable. A good Body Technique Martial Skill lets you move with complete freedom in battle. Its unpredictable footwork can not only disrupt your opponent’s rhythm but also create numerous openings for you. Even if there is a huge power disparity, if you’ve mastered a Body Technique, you can always escape if you can’t win!

After his initial joy subsided, Shen Haoran immediately immersed his Heart Spirit in the Scroll and began to read...

"I poured my entire life’s effort into creating the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step. With it, I defeated countless enemies and could even hold my own against a Saint. It is my proudest work. To you who have obtained it, I hope you will not fail its reputation, or mine. Remember my name: the Nine Heavens Venerable!"

’The Nine Heavens Venerable!’ Shen Haoran gasped. The creator of this Body Technique Martial Skill was actually a Spirit Venerable! Shen Haoran had no concept of what a Spirit Venerable even was. In the current era, such experts were exceedingly rare. He had never heard anything about a Spirit Venerable, let alone met one in person!

"Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step: With one step, tread the gentle breeze; with the next, leave the mortal world astray. Cultivated to Great Success, one can soar beyond the nine heavens and glide through the vast cosmos! The Cultivation Method is as follows..." Shen Haoran soon lost himself in the Cultivation of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step.

Time flew by. After a good while, Shen Haoran slowly opened his eyes and muttered, "Nine Heavens Shocking Clouds, treading the breeze, leaving the world astray, soaring to the nine heavens, gliding through the cosmos... What an incredible Body Technique. This Nine Heavens Venerable was a true prodigy!"

Shen Haoran had cultivated a Body Technique Martial Skill before: the Profound Tier Middle Level Wind Step gifted to him by Ji Lingxuan. Relying on the Wind Step and his powerful physique, Shen Haoran was practically invincible among his peers. This just went to show how formidable Body Technique Martial Skills were. But now, after reading the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, he finally understood the meaning of moving without a trace, as swift as a bolt of lightning! ’If I can master the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, I won’t be at a disadvantage even when fighting Shui Ruolan! Sect Master Chen Yu really gave me an incredible gift!’

"But..." Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. After studying the Cultivation Method, he felt that the advantage of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step wasn’t just its phantom-like speed. Otherwise, there was no way its creator could have challenged a Saint as a mere Venerable, relying on a single Body Technique! He had a persistent feeling that this Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step was incomplete.

"Elder Yan? Can you come out and help me?" Shen Haoran called, seeking his guidance.

A moment later, an incredibly solid figure appeared before Shen Haoran. If not for the fact that he was floating in midair, anyone would have mistaken him for a real person!

"Elder Yan, your..." Shen Haoran began, pleasantly surprised as he looked at Elder Yan’s incredibly solid form.

"Haha, it’s all thanks to the Chaos Celestial Ladder! Under its nourishment, my Spiritual Thought has recovered at an incredible rate. My power has almost reached Spirit Aspect Peak!" Elder Yan laughed heartily, thrilled by the feeling of power welling up inside him. ’How long has it been since I last felt such strength?’

"Haha, congratulations, Elder Yan!" Shen Haoran said with sincere joy. ’After spending so much time with Elder Yan, I’ve long since come to see him as my teacher, my grandfather. The stronger he becomes, the happier I am!’

"It’s thanks to you too, you brat! Now then, what did you need from me?" Elder Yan asked with a soft chuckle.

Seeing that Elder Yan was getting to the point, Shen Haoran’s expression turned serious. "Elder Yan," he asked, "have you ever heard of someone called the Nine Heavens Venerable?"

"The Nine Heavens Venerable? You mean Xiaojiu?" Elder Yan cried out in astonishment.

’Xiaojiu?’ The corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth twitched. ’What kind of nickname is that? The man was a Spirit Venerable, but being called "Xiaojiu" makes him sound like a pet!’

"Tch. Just a worthless disciple. Where did you hear his name?" Elder Yan scoffed. Although his words were dismissive, Shen Haoran could still see the eagerness in his eyes. ’Looks like Elder Yan really does know him. But just how powerful was Elder Yan before he died? To actually have a disciple at the Spirit Venerable Tier?’

"Here." Shen Haoran handed the Scroll to Elder Yan, indicating for him to take a look.

Elder Yan took the Scroll and skimmed through it. Suddenly, the rims of his eyes grew red.

"The Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step... This is Xiaojiu’s Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step. That little rascal, he passed it down after all. It seems he didn’t completely ignore my words!" Elder Yan said, his voice thick with emotion as he stroked the Scroll, tears streaming down his cheeks.

’How long has it been since I’ve heard any news of my family? Those disciples... they were like my own sons. When I left all those years ago and never returned, they must have been devastated. In my whole life, I’m confident I’ve never wronged anyone... except for my nine disciples. For them, I feel an unspeakable guilt!’

Seeing Elder Yan so overwrought with emotion, Shen Haoran tried to console him. "Elder Yan, there’s a saying: ’A teacher for a day, a father for life.’ The Nine Heavens Venerable surely saw you as his own father. What son would ever blame his father?"

"Sigh... I’m the one who let them down." Elder Yan calmed his turbulent emotions. "But never mind, it’s all in the past. Let’s talk about Xiaojiu’s Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step. You wanted to ask if it’s incomplete, right?" he asked, looking at Shen Haoran.

"Yes," Shen Haoran nodded. "I have a feeling that there’s more to the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step than what’s on the surface."

"You’re right. This is only the Cultivation Method for the first half. Back then, after Xiaojiu created this technique, he had a chance encounter where he comprehended the Momentum of Heaven and Earth. This led him to create a Martial Skill that complements the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step: the Nine Dragon Stomp!

The Nine Dragon Stomp is divided into nine steps! The first step builds your aura. The second step reveals its sharp edge. The third step breaks your enemy. The fourth step shakes mountains and rivers. The fifth step reverses the flow of great streams. The sixth step calls down Celestial Thunder. The seventh step shatters the void. The eighth step pulverizes the starry sky. And with the ninth step, you will shake the nine heavens above and stir the Nine Netherworld below! Everything in heaven and earth will bow at your feet! That is the true power of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step!"

HISS... Shen Haoran drew in a sharp breath. He could almost picture it: the Nine Heavens Venerable striding through the void, all ages submitting at his feet. An indescribable emotion rose in his heart. ’Is this admiration? Aspiration? Or the feeling of absolute supremacy?’