Section 138: Ling Xu

Tang Tian opened his eyes. The morning sun spilled onto his face, warm and gentle.

He stretched, then sprang up with a sharp, agile movement. He had slept incredibly well; Tang Tian felt as though he were brimming with endless energy, feeling completely revitalized.

Gu Xue was still fast asleep. Over the past few days, she had been pushed to the absolute limit, both mentally and physically. Even in her deep slumber, faint tear stains lingered at the corners of her eyes.

Tang Tian felt a pang of emotion. Although Gu Xue had displayed a composure and sophistication far beyond her years from the very beginning, her heart must have been filled with sorrow.

Mu Lei was stirred by Tang Tian’s movements. He opened his eyes slightly, glanced at Tang Tian, and then closed them again.

Tang Tian looked around and his eyes suddenly lit up; there was a well in the corner of the courtyard. He found an intact bucket among the debris and began to draw water.

*Splash!* The bone-chilling well water poured over him from head to toe. Every pore on his body contracted, and all traces of drowsiness vanished instantly.

Thinking of the mornings in Star Wind City, Tang Tian couldn't help but grin.

It had been a long time since he practiced basic martial arts!

As soon as the thought occurred to him, Tang Tian felt an itch to start. Without another word, he took his stance and began to practice his basic techniques.

Perhaps it was because he hadn't practiced them in a while, but the techniques felt slightly rusty. However, having practiced them for five full years, he quickly rediscovered the old rhythm.

A familiar sensation flooded every part of his body.

As he practiced, Tang Tian became increasingly focused. His angular face, bathed in sunlight, wore an expression of deep contemplation.

He was gaining new insights.

***

Mu Lei watched the focused and dedicated Tang Tian with some surprise. Basic martial arts—Tang Tian was practicing basic martial arts, and he was repeating the movements with tireless patience.

He was even somewhat stunned.

Basic martial arts were only taught at the most elementary enlightenment academies. In fact, most people were taught these basics by their parents at the age of four or five to build a foundation.

A powerful genius, waking up in the morning, actually starting his day by practicing basic martial arts!

The scene before him felt incredible. If he knew that Tang Tian had spent five full years on these basic techniques, one could only wonder what his expression would be.

Gu Xue was awakened by the sound of Tang Tian’s fist wind. She sat up, and once she was clear-headed enough to notice the techniques Tang Tian was practicing, she was taken aback. "Basic martial arts?"

Mu Lei was interrupted by Gu Xue’s exclamation. He snapped out of his daze, turned, and looked at her with concern. "Miss, are you awake?"

The surprise on Gu Xue’s face faded significantly. She gave Mu Lei a sweet smile. "Yes, I had a very restful sleep."

"Uncle Mu, is he really practicing basic martial arts?" Gu Xue’s gaze shifted toward Tang Tian, filled with confusion.

Mu Lei nodded. "He’s been practicing for a while. His foundation is extremely solid—no, it would be more accurate to say it is perfect! This is the first time I have ever seen such perfect basic martial arts. He must have spent a great deal of time on them."

Suddenly, the sound produced by Tang Tian’s fist wind began to change.

Mu Lei let out a soft exclamation and immediately turned his head to look.

The sound of the fist wind... that wasn't right...

The fist wind was indeed different. The wind from basic martial arts was usually the most ordinary kind, as these techniques were straightforward and emphasized basic force application rather than complex moves.

But this fist wind...

It was too deep!

It was so deep that even from a distance, Mu Lei could feel a faint, subtle vibration. The surprise on Mu Lei’s face turned into shock.

To think someone could cultivate basic martial arts to such a level!

Suddenly, a cold snort echoed as if it had exploded right beside Mu Lei’s ear.

Mu Lei’s expression shifted.

A figure drifted in like a wisp of smoke, moving with a grace that seemed slow yet was lightning-fast. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before them.

Mu Lei’s pupils contracted sharply.

Ling Xu!

***

Tang Tian was completely immersed in the basic martial arts. Having discovered something new in techniques he thought he knew to his very bones, he was overcome with such a sudden, overwhelming joy that he forgot everything else.

Basic martial arts taught the fundamental techniques of force application, which every martial artist learned. But after reaching the second rank, the intervention of True Power often caused pure physical force techniques to become significantly diminished.

By comparison, the variations of True Power were more complex and powerful.

Physical strength was significant at lower ranks, but as one’s rank increased, the power of True Power rapidly replaced the utility of physical strength.

Tang Tian was now a fifth-rank martial artist, and his pure physical strength had gradually lost its potency. As his rank continued to climb, this phenomenon would only become more pronounced.

However, today, as Tang Tian went back to revisit these basic physical force techniques, he discovered that physical strength and True Power were not mutually exclusive. He found a subtle, almost imperceptible connection between them, and he was filled with inexplicable excitement.

Perhaps the two could be fused?

As this bold idea surfaced, Tang Tian’s eyes lit up.

Basic force application was achieved through the muscles, but muscles also contained minute meridians. What would happen if he channeled True Power through these minute meridians while simultaneously applying physical force?

This whimsical idea led Tang Tian to begin experimenting. Unlike others who were restricted by convention, Tang Tian had never been bound by those myriad rules from the start. For example, when the fifth-rank Crane Qi Art didn't feel right for his Crane Body Force, he had tinkered with it himself and successfully elevated the Crane Body Force to the fifth rank instead.

Soul General Cards were certainly convenient, but they were ultimately the personal realizations of their predecessors, containing too many subjective elements. The same technique practiced by different people would yield vastly different insights, and the Soul General Cards they created would be equally distinct.

Do not blindly worship Soul General Cards, even if they are Golden Soul General Cards.

This was the lesson Tang Tian had learned during this period.

The Crane Qi Art that Tang Tian practiced had a unique approach to channeling True Power through minute meridians, and Tang Tian was exceptionally familiar with these meridians after developing his Crane Body Force.

Tang Tian immediately noticed the changes.

When True Power and muscle strength operated in tandem, the once unremarkable basic martial arts saw a massive increase in power. This was evident just from the change in the sound of his fist wind.

Tang Tian’s current True Power could simulate three types of force: Vibration, Crane Body Force, and Heavenly Dragon Force.

Basic martial arts infused with different forces took on entirely different styles. Basic martial arts were not Tang Tian’s ultimate goal, but if he could fuse True Power and muscle strength in higher-level techniques like the Great Stele Palm, would that not elevate their power as well?

Just as Tang Tian was lost in his world, a cold snort rang in his ear. Immediately following it, a sharp, piercing sound—like an alarm being triggered—ripped through the air.

A silver spear with a red tassel, like a dragon emerging from its cave, struck toward him in an instant.

Tang Tian reacted on instinct, twisting his waist and snapping his leg!

*Tan Leg Blade!*

His straightened toes whipped up a blinding streak of blade-light, with a faint mist scattering into the air.

*Clang!*

The blade-light and the spear-tip collided. Both felt an immense force and were sent reeling backward.

Ling Xu retreated five steps before steadying himself, a sense of alarm rising in his heart. *What a fierce and sharp Tan Leg Blade!* The arrogance on his face vanished, and he began to study Tang Tian anew.

To be able to defeat people like Da Wei and Chi Lan—he truly was not an ordinary opponent.

The fighting spirit within Ling Xu ignited. It wasn't often that one encountered such a strong opponent!

Tang Tian was inwardly ecstatic. He had succeeded!

That Tan Leg Blade was completely different from his usual ones. While his previous Tan Leg Blades could form a blade-light, it had been dim and far less solid and sharp than this one. The faint mist emitted by the blade was likely due to the Crane Body Force.

Tang Tian hadn't yet figured out the purpose of the mist, but it was clear that the new Tan Leg Blade was significantly more powerful.

***

The battle-hungry Ling Xu exclaimed, "What a fierce Tan Leg! Again!"

With a flick of his wrist, the silver spear moved like lightning. The sharp, cold tip traced a straight trajectory through the air, aimed directly at Tang Tian’s face!

*So fast!*

Tang Tian narrowed his eyes. However, having just had a breakthrough, his momentum was at its peak, and he was utterly fearless. He unleashed another Tan Leg Blade!

The white leg-blade, carrying a faint mist and a shrill whistle, sprang into the air.

The leg-blade and the spear-tip were about to collide once more.

A flash of light crossed Ling Xu’s eyes. The sharp point of the spear suddenly performed a strange, tricky maneuver, brushing past the leg-blade to strike directly at Tang Tian.

Tang Tian’s formidable intuition played a huge role. Almost simultaneously, without changing the tension in his extended toes, he used his knee as a pivot, folded his lower leg, and swung it continuously in a tiny, rapid arc!

*Ding! Ding! Ding!*

Several tiny leg-blades struck the spear shaft at an incredible frequency.

This move in the Tan Leg style was called the "Lower Leg Blade."

The Lower Leg Blade had little power but a very high frequency. It was lightning-fast, striking the spear shaft like a rainstorm. The spear shaft was deflected, brushing past Tang Tian’s cheek.

Ling Xu had not expected that a move he used successfully time and again would be countered by Tang Tian in such a manner, and he couldn't help but be greatly surprised.

However, Tang Tian wasn't thinking about that. This guy who had popped up out of nowhere didn't look like a good person, and to dare to attack him...

So much for the harsh words he had laid down yesterday!

Tang Tian’s expression turned grim. As a successful veteran school bully, Tang Tian understood deeply that if he didn't immediately defend his authority over his territory, those fools who were feeling restless yesterday would soon lose their fear of him.

To be attacked on his own turf?

Unacceptable!

Without a second thought, Tang Tian pushed off with his left leg, his whole body launching toward Ling Xu like a projectile. His right leg in mid-air utilized his lower leg to unleash seven consecutive Lower Leg Blades in one breath!

The seven blade-lights crisscrossed in the air, forming a screen of blades.

However, Ling Xu’s reaction was equally swift.

As his spear retreated, so did he, moving so fast he left an afterimage. Even in such a brief moment, he managed to step back and turn.

Facing the incoming Lower Leg Blades, the cold glint from his spear tip scattered outward like a spray of raindrops!

*Ding! Ding! Ding!*

The sharp, dense sounds of the collision were enough to make one's ears ring.

The two figures separated upon contact.

Only then did Tang Tian get a clear look at the intruder. He rubbed his toes against the ground, feeling a tingle of numbness. But seeing that Ling Xu was no better off—frantically shaking his palms—Tang Tian suddenly called for a timeout.

"Hey, kid, let's take a ten-minute break!"

Ling Xu was stunned by the request and blurted out, "What for?"

"I haven't had breakfast yet!" Tang Tian declared righteously.

Ling Xu’s expression froze. "..."