Purple Mist Dao Master-Chapter 181 - 162: Talent Springs Forth!

Insufficient strength!

The plan has changed!

The plan to conduct a second exploration of Woniu Mountain and hunt the tiger cat has been discussed and ultimately decided to be canceled. Everyone’s itinerary will undergo corresponding changes—

Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi will head to ’Hunxi Royal City’.

Huo Zhen, intent on following Yan Chuan, will also go along.

Cheng Fengxiao and Chen Ze also want to join, but this time they obtained a considerable amount of Essence Stones. Although they have entrusted Wang Kuan to take them back, they originally stayed to assist Yan Chuan in fighting and hunting the ’tiger cat’.

Since this matter is set aside, their current priority is naturally to return to Great Yan as soon as possible, refine the Essence Stones they acquired, and convert them into strength.

As for Jian Rong—

"The mundane affairs in Guangling Academy are overwhelming, Brother Wang is seriously injured, I must return."

Jian Rong must also return.

Thus, the group of six divides into four paths—

Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi join hands, with Huo Zhen accompanying, heading to ’Hunxi Royal City’, to familiarize themselves, scout ahead, and integrate early, in preparation for the recruitment assessment in ’Hunxi Royal City’ next July.

Cheng Fengxiao travels alone, returning to Great Yan through the ’Star Stone’. He has not long broken his limit and needs to stabilize.

Chen Ze travels alone, returning to Great Yan through Guangling Academy’s ’Academy Star Gate’. His Essence Stones have either been taken back by Wang Kuan, brought back by Cheng Fengxiao, or have been refined. Returning now avoids taxes, which is a pleasant surprise, saving a lot.

Jian Rong travels alone, returning to Great Yan through the ’Star Gate Prototype’ at Suanzao Mountain. Unlike Yan Chuan and the others, as an Inner Court Elder of Guangling Academy, she is bound by loyalty for the court’s pay. She can evade taxes and take on side jobs, but she cannot neglect her main duties. After all, the court’s stipend is not given in vain.

Six people split into four directions.

Each walks a different road.

Parting happens at a moment’s notice.

...

"The area of ’Guangling Territory’ is roughly fourteen to twenty times that of ’Guangling County’, larger than the entire Jian Province. Six royal cities are situated in the four directions around ’Yize Swamp’. ’Danhu Royal City’ and ’Hunxi Royal City’ are adjacent. From Woniu Mountain, a twenty-day journey north leads to ’Danhu Royal City’, while a twenty-day journey northeast leads to ’Hunxi Royal City’."

"’Hunxi Royal City’ is skilled in breeding warhorses. The ’Green-Maned Horse’ can travel hundreds of miles a day, the ’Red Fire Horse’ can sprint a thousand miles, and the ’Black Dragon Horse’ can carry a thousand jin. Based on these three types of warhorses, ’Hunxi Royal City’ has, beyond the ordinary City Guard Army, the three elite forces of ’Green-maned Riders’, ’Red Fire Light Cavalry’, and ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’."

"Similar to ’Danhu Royal City’, the recruitment assessment in ’Hunxi Royal City’ mainly allows joining the ’Green-maned Riders’. As for the ’Red Fire Light Cavalry’ and ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’, selections are only made internally within the ’City Guard Army’ and ’Green-maned Riders’. The soonest we can join is the year after next."

...

"The official dialect and text used in the Six Great Royal Cities are generally the same. Martial artists, who travel in all directions, have more or less some exposure and mastery, with at most differences in accent. My accent leans towards the southern area of ’Danhu Royal City’, near Sanshui, but this doesn’t affect much. At least in the Black Armor Army, as long as they speak the official dialect slowly, they can understand."

"When arriving in ’Hunxi Royal City’s territory, there’s no need to enter the royal city. Just staying briefly in the surrounding small towns, while adjusting the accent might be hard, getting familiar and understanding shouldn’t be difficult."

...

...

"When starting ’Xingyi Boxing’, I’ve summarized ’Ten Flaws’—"

"Tilting the head, shrinking the neck, the posture is incorrect, leaning forward and backward, all is a flaw in the body, this is the first."

"Opening the mouth, sticking out the tongue, eyes without spirit, blocked meridians, unclear vision, this is the second."

"Left and right tilting, hunching the back, unstable center of gravity, inflexible stepping technique, this is the third."

"Chest puffed, abdomen protruding, air strained clumsily, energy not sinking, heart and body damaged, this is the fourth."

...

"The principle of ’Xingyi Boxing’ emphasizes being centered and upright, supremely simple and easy, without bias or oddity, harmonious without being erratic, encompassing all and leaving nothing aside. Extend it, and it reaches the Six Harmonies; roll it back, it retreats to concealment, its taste is endless, it’s all true learning."

"To learn ’Xingyi Boxing’, one cannot do without the ’Three Body Formation’. Based on the ’Three Body Formation’, one should then practice ’Five Elements Boxing’ and ’Twelve Forms’. In the beginning, perfection is not required; one can start from a particular element or form, learning and practicing it thoroughly before learning other forms. Once each form is well-practiced, they are integrated and unified. When practiced to the extreme, the forms transform into a single hand move, with each move being a thought, resembling something originating from the void, that’s when the practice is deep."

"Appreciate virtue, not just strength; it’s about storing energy and spirit!"

"This is ’Xingyi Boxing’."

"However, the impression of Boxing is something deep; for beginners, it still needs to be approached step by step. Hands have the capability to manipulate, both hands traverse the entire body, forming the basis of offense and defense, hence there’s the saying ’hands like knife and gun’. Today we will first discuss the ’Hand Skills’ of ’Xingyi’—"

...

On the way to ’Hunxi Royal City’, Wang Zhengyi introduced the six great royal cities of ’Guangling Territory’ to Yan Chuan and Huo Zhen, with a focus on information about ’Hunxi Royal City’, meanwhile also teaching them the language and characters of the six royal cities.

Yan Chuan was not idle either.

During the journey, he had no other resources to exploit, so he seized the opportunity with Wang Zhengyi and Huo Zhen, teaching them Xingyi Boxing every day. He started from the basics of Xingyi Boxing, occasionally combining with the ’Six Harmonies Fist’ and ’Butterfly Palm’ that each of them practiced, as well as with Hundred Schools Boxing for further explanation.

Think!

Feedback!

Among three people, there’s always a teacher!

Wang Zhengyi and Huo Zhen not only excelled in boxing but were also at the limit-breaking level, providing Yan Chuan with a lot of valuable feedback.

Traveling together.

The three of them gained a deeper understanding of each other.

Particularly, Huo Zhen was actually quite similar to Yan Chuan. He was an orphan, taken in by the old sect leader of the Butterfly Sect, Wang Qu, and taught martial arts. He was even given the true teaching of ’Butterfly Palm’. In the past, Huo Zhen and the son of the old sect leader, Wang Sheng, were peerless in martial arts, known in the Jianghu as the ’Butterfly Heroes’, ranked among the ’Taikang Seven Heroes’.

However, as the court began spreading martial arts, the division between Huo Zhen and Wang Sheng grew deeper. Or rather, more precisely, the disagreement between Wang Sheng and Wang Qu, the father and son, became more and more pronounced—

Wang Qu adhered to tradition, unwilling to side with the New Faction.

Wang Sheng was ambitious, believing that the court’s big actions meant the New Faction was the future.

The father and son argued endlessly.

At that time.

Huo Zhen stayed out of it, firmly standing by his master, Wang Qu.

It wasn’t until four years ago, when Taikang established its academy.

Ignoring Wang Qu’s words, Wang Sheng joined Taikang Academy with the ’Butterfly Palm’, and Wang Qu, in anger, passed the position of sect leader to Huo Zhen, thereafter retiring.

This was remarkably similar to Yan Chuan—

Cheng Fengxiao adhered to tradition.

Cheng Wenlong and Cheng Ah Bi were rebellious, joining Guangling Academy.

Yan Chuan staunchly supported his mentor, earning the position of master!

Both men encountered the same circumstances.

Here, it can also be seen, although Huo Zhen adhered to tradition, he at least had good character and integrity, which is why Yan Chuan was willing to befriend him, willing to form a deep friendship.

This is Huo Zhen.

As for Wang Zhengyi.

He also has a rival, resembling Che Qi—

However, Che Qi had a misunderstanding with his father, Che Zheng, and the father and son were like enemies.

Whereas Wang Zhengyi and Wang Kuan had a great relationship, relying on each other, the father was kind and the son filial, with Wang Kuan joining Guangling Academy and Wang Zhengyi following suit.

But Wang Zhengyi was proud and strong-willed. Academy disciples pointed fingers at him, saying he only had a place in Guangling Academy because of his good father, considering it to be of little significance.

Thus.

Wang Zhengyi resolved, traveling solo, building his achievements in the Mountain and Sea Realm quietly, emerging as the second ’Secret Method Breaking Limit’ in Guangling Academy.

He had self-respect!

He had backbone!

He had talent!

Wang Zhengyi was undoubtedly a Heaven’s Chosen Son!

Huo Zhen.

Wang Zhengyi.

Both had excellent qualities, both had bright spots.

And Yan Chuan?

He was no less!

...

"Brother Yan’s energy and focus are truly awe-inspiring!"

At night, Wang Zhengyi, looking at Yan Chuan who was still writing diligently under the moonlight, had eyes full of admiration.

Aside.

Huo Zhen also sighed, "Such vigorous energy, such extreme focus. It is only after spending this time with Palace Master Yan that I realize his achievements today are not by chance, but inevitable."

They were both shocked by Yan Chuan.

The journey had already taken ten days.

During these ten days, Yan Chuan walked practicing boxing, rested practicing boxing, slept practicing martial arts, day in and day out, without a pause. Meanwhile, he was also learning the language and writing of the six royal cities with Wang Zhengyi and teaching the two to practice ’Xingyi Boxing’.

In brief intermissions, like now, under the moonlight, Yan Chuan took out paper and pen he carried with him, recording many small words about his bursts of inspiration, containing martial arts he created himself—

Divine Gate Fist, Wild Fox Fist, Mysterious Trace Boxing, Duck Walk Fist, Divine Fist...

These are fist techniques!

Heart-cutting Palm, Sky Flipping Palm, Wind Thunder Palm, Shaking Mountain Thirty Palm...

These are hand techniques!

Four-direction Blade, Soul-breaking Saber, Road Barrier Breaking Door Blade, Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber...

These are saber techniques!

Yan Chuan’s inspiration was like a spring, easily spawning martial arts.

Daytime.

Nighttime.

Whether idle chatting or discussing martial arts, it seemed to always trigger Yan Chuan’s inspiration, resulting in a creation of a new martial art that he openly allowed Wang Zhengyi and Huo Zhen to examine. Both felt a sense of déjà vu, as if it aligned with some of their thoughts, some of their inspirations, seeming like something discussed today or a few days ago.

They themselves hadn’t found it particularly remarkable, but with Yan Chuan’s summarization and innovation, it became a new martial art.

They had never seen martial art creation be so simple.

Yan Chuan carried a bookcase, gradually being filled with newly created martial arts secret manuals.

Energy!

Focus!

Talent!

In these ten days, both Wang Zhengyi and Huo Zhen had their eyes opened.

They watched as Yan Chuan’s martial arts seemingly advanced day by day, and as the secret manuals in his bookcase increased day by day. They were astounded, but also delighted, delighted that while discussing boxing and martial arts with Yan Chuan, their own boxing skills and martial understanding seemed to improve day by day, far surpassing normal times.

Yan Chuan had a kind of magic, his explanations often profound and easy to understand.

They loved listening.

Just like that.

In this atmosphere, the trio did not feel the passage of time at all.

In the blink of an eye, twelve days passed.

There was still distance to ’Hunxi Royal City’, but the first city within ’Hunxi Royal City’s territory was already in sight.

The city’s name was—

"Nanxiong!"

...