"So? Want to learn?" Elder Yan asked, looking at the vibrant gleam in Shen Haoran’s eyes.

"I do!" Shen Haoran replied without a moment’s hesitation. ’Only a fool would pass up on a Body Technique this good. Besides, a Body Technique with this kind of power can’t possibly be just Earth Tier Low Level. It could be Celestial Tier, or even higher!’ A wave of excitement washed over Shen Haoran at the thought. ’A Celestial Tier Martial Skill! I’ve never even seen one before!’

"Good! If you want to learn it, I’ll teach you. I only hope that you won’t tarnish the great name Xiaojiu once held!" Elder Yan said, staring at Shen Haoran with a grave expression. ’I will make the name of the Nine Heavens Venerable resound throughout the Xingluo Continent once more!’

"Don’t worry, Elder Yan. I will not bring shame to the name of the Nine Heavens Venerable!" Shen Haoran said solemnly, his expression turning serious.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s solemn expression, Elder Yan smiled in satisfaction. He understood Shen Haoran and believed in his potential. Entrusting the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step to him felt right. ’Perhaps he can go even further than the Nine Heavens Venerable himself!’

"Alright, then let me tell you the key principles of the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step! I did give Xiaojiu some pointers when he first created it. With the Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step, what’s important isn’t the footwork, nor the speed, but your state of mind. To be precise, it has no fixed moves or footwork. It requires the body to move with the mind. Because there are no set patterns, it’s impossible for an opponent to find or disrupt your rhythm. Back in the day, that kid was unrivaled in the world with this very technique!

To make your body move with your mind, you need not only superb physical coordination but also inhuman reflexes! Your physique is already powerful, so you can handle the initial stages of its cultivation. For the next while, I will focus on training your reaction speed!"

"How will we train?" Shen Haoran asked.

Elder Yan jutted his chin toward the large tree behind them. "See those leaves? In a moment, I’ll knock them down. Before they hit the ground, you need to carve the word ’Shen’ onto each and every one. Remember, every single leaf, and you can’t damage them!"

"Huh?" Hearing Elder Yan’s words, Shen Haoran gave a wry smile. ’Is something like that even possible?’

"What are you ’huh’-ing about? When Xiaojiu was training, he had to carve the Three Character Classic onto heavy water. All I’m asking you to do is carve the single word ’Shen’ onto a leaf. Is that really so difficult?" Elder Yan said, rolling his eyes at Shen Haoran.

’They’re all monsters!’ Shen Haoran lamented inwardly upon hearing Elder Yan’s words. ’Carving the Three Character Classic onto heavy water... Looks like the Nine Heavens Venerable was a total beast!’

"This training isn’t just about your reflexes," Elder Yan said earnestly. "More importantly, it’s about your control over timing and your output of Spiritual Power. The benefits to your future cultivation of any Martial Skill will be immense!"

"I understand, Elder Yan!" Shen Haoran nodded, realizing the good intentions behind the difficult training.

"Then let’s begin!" With that, Elder Yan smacked a branch with his palm, sending ten leaves fluttering down.

Watching the leaves drift down, Shen Haoran leaped into the air and began carving on them with his hands.

SWOOSH... A moment later, Shen Haoran landed just as the leaves settled on the ground.

Seeing only a single intact leaf on the ground, Elder Yan shook his head. "Your control over your Spiritual Power is terrible, and your timing is even worse. Again!"

Shen Haoran shook his head helplessly. ’This really is difficult. The leaves are so flimsy, and since I refined the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, my Spiritual Attribute has become incredibly volatile. Even the tiniest bit of stray Spiritual Power will incinerate a leaf instantly. To carve on them, I’ll need to have absolutely precise control over my Spiritual Power!’

’The first step is always the hardest.’ Watching another ten leaves fall, Shen Haoran leaped up again. ’I refuse to believe I can’t do what the Nine Heavens Venerable did all those years ago!’

For the next few days, in Shen Haoran’s small courtyard, leaves fell from the tree without end, and his figure constantly tumbled through the air. This scene continued for three whole days.

「Three days later...」

Shen Haoran was lying on his back in a pile of leaves, panting heavily. Sweat had soaked his clothes, but his eyes shone with excitement. He turned his head to look at the ten perfect leaves in his hand. On each was an elegantly carved word: ’Shen’. After three days and nights of non-stop cultivation, the large tree in the courtyard was now bald, and Shen Haoran could finally manage to carve the word on ten leaves at once.

"Not bad. Three days is acceptable," Elder Yan said nonchalantly, looking at the beaming Shen Haoran. Inwardly, however, he was stunned. ’Back then, it took the Nine Heavens Venerable nearly a month to complete this first step. Even though his training was considerably harder than Shen Haoran’s, to finish the first stage in just three days... Shen Haoran’s aptitude is simply heaven-defying!’

Hearing Elder Yan’s praise, Shen Haoran sat up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled in satisfaction. ’I finally hit Elder Yan’s target. Looks like these three days of suffering weren’t for nothing!’

"Junior Shen!" Just as Shen Haoran was celebrating, Long Mo’s voice called out from outside the courtyard.

Hearing someone approach, Elder Yan instantly vanished. Shen Haoran quickly got to his feet and straightened his drenched clothes.

"Junior Shen, we..." Long Mo trailed off as he took in the scene. He stared at the courtyard, which was blanketed in fallen leaves, a single bare tree trunk, and a soaking-wet Shen Haoran standing in the middle of it all. For a moment, he was utterly bewildered.

"Junior Shen, what is all this...?" Long Mo asked, confused. ’This is a bizarre sight!’

"It’s nothing, just a bit of cultivation. Did you need me for something, Senior Brother Long?" Shen Haoran said with a casual smile.

"Oh, the three days are up. It’s time for us to head to Black Wind City," Long Mo replied, explaining why he was there.

’Black Wind City! How could I forget about that!’ Shen Haoran slapped his forehead. He asked Long Mo to wait a moment, then ran inside to quickly pack a few things before coming back out.

"Are we leaving now?" Shen Haoran asked.

"First, we report to our Master, then we’ll head down the mountain," Long Mo said, leading Shen Haoran toward Elder Huo’s Palace.

The two of them endured another lecture from Elder Huo, committed all his warnings to memory, and finally set off down the mountain.

"Brother Haoran, wait for me!" Just as the two of them passed through the mountain gate, a voice like silver bells chimed from behind them. Ji Lingxuan appeared, seeming to glide on the wind as she hurried to Shen Haoran’s side.

"Ling Xuan, what are you doing here?" Shen Haoran asked, looking at the girl in front of him.

"I heard you were leaving the mountain, so I thought I’d come along for some fun!" Ji Lingxuan said playfully, clasping her hands behind her back.

"Don’t be ridiculous. Doesn’t She Hall Master keep an eye on you?" Shen Haoran frowned slightly. ’The mission from that old man Huo is no simple task. What if something happens to Ji Lingxuan while she’s with us?’

"Brother Haoran, I know you’re worried about me, but I’m not weak, you know? Please let me come with you! I already got permission from my Master, and she said yes!" Ji Lingxuan whined, grabbing Shen Haoran’s arm and shaking it, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

"Alright, alright! But you have to promise me you’ll listen to everything I say!" Shen Haoran relented helplessly. ’Ji Lingxuan really is quite strong. An extra person could be useful.’

"Okay!" Ji Lingxuan beamed.

The three of them set off together toward the Red Flame Mountain Range. A Tier Four Spirit Beast was waiting there for them to kill.