The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 13 Mastering Lightness Skill
Please select a martial arts skill to inherit its proficiency level.

1. The Wild Goose Technique (81.2% success rate)

The Tiger Head Escort Agency of Sichuan has a family-inherited lightness skill. When mastered, one can leap and land as swiftly as a wild goose, making no sound when stepping. Practicing this skill can greatly enhance one's lightness ability.

2. Tiger Head Door-Breaking Knife (Beginner Level 21.6%)

The Tiger Head Escort Agency of Sichuan has a family-inherited sword technique. The sword strikes are heavy and powerful, emphasizing the use of force to defeat the enemy. Practicing this technique can slightly improve one's sword skills.

3. The Art of Reversing the Flying Phoenix and the Luan Bird (Mastery 48.6%)

The Yin-Yang School's bedroom arts, through specific postures and breathing rhythms, can greatly enhance the experience of lovemaking for men and women, and have a slight effect of replenishing Yang through Yin.

4. Tiger Roar Skill (Beginner Level 22.8%)

The Tiger Head Escort Agency of Sichuan has a ancestral method of entering the country that can concentrate the power of a tiger's roar, so that every move is accompanied by the sound of a tiger's roar, which can awe the mind and spirit.

...

Han Qing's eyes swept up and down, thinking to himself, "This Jiang Qiu is over forty years old."

Having practiced martial arts for many years, all my skills have been focused on this one lightness skill. Since I happen to be lacking a lightness skill now, there's no reason not to choose it.

"Inheritance, the Wild Goose Technique!"

Han Qing murmured to himself. In an instant, a large amount of information appeared in his mind, and a new martial art, the Wild Goose Technique, appeared on the panel. Its proficiency began to rise rapidly.

When Han Qing returned to the side courtyard, his proficiency had soared from 0 to 20, indicating that he had already mastered the basics.

Various details kept flooding his mind, deepening his understanding of this light-body skill.

By nightfall, his proficiency had reached 81.2% of the highest level.

On the way back, Han Qing's walking posture naturally changed, his steps became more relaxed and swift, and his steps were silent.

However, he deliberately slowed down and lagged far behind the main group. When it was quiet and deserted, he glanced around and his gaze fell on a willow tree by the roadside.

He suddenly rose upwards, his toes lightly tapping the tree trunk repeatedly. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, he soared up like a wild goose, landing at the foot of the highest tree trunk in an instant, a full three zhang above the ground.

He leaped again, from top to bottom, arms outstretched like a wild goose spreading its wings, and landed gracefully without a sound.

"Excellent! With this mastered lightness skill by my side, my ability to protect myself has been greatly enhanced!" Han Qing was overjoyed.

He had previously worried that the Yin-Yang Sect would ambush and kill him, but now he felt much more at ease.

It doesn't matter if you can't win, as long as you can escape.

He possesses the Seven Killings Stele; as long as he survives, his strength will increase at an astonishing rate, and his so-called powerful enemies will soon be left far behind.

...

Back in the secluded courtyard.

For the next period of time, Han Qing's life became very regular. Every morning he would decoct medicine and read books, in the afternoon he would practice martial arts, and sometimes he would practice extra in the evening. Sometimes when Master Fang suddenly had a headache, he would use acupuncture to relieve the pain, and the effect was excellent.

Master Fang grew to like him even more, and would occasionally give him a pot of medicinal wine, and sometimes set out an extra pair of chopsticks for meals.

Every week, he would go out once to buy medicine from his family's pharmacy, spending six and a half ounces each time.

Previously, Xinglintang suffered suppression from Wan Fuchun, and its business was almost on the verge of collapse. Now, with Master Fang as a major client, it is earning even more than before.

Since he scared Wan Fuchun away last time, that old guy hasn't come looking for trouble again.

He heard that the old man had turned his attention to several other small clinics, using the same methods of coercion and enticement to force them to sell his prescriptions, which led to the closure of several small clinics.

The other thing he feared didn't happen either. The yamen runners patrolled the streets, posted notices everywhere, and arrested the Yin-Yang scholar. Seemingly under pressure, the Yin-Yang sect made no further moves, as if they had secretly left Baiyun County. …

"It's best to leave to avoid trouble, but it's more likely that this yin-yang scholar is up to something big behind the scenes."

In a side room of a secluded courtyard.

Han Qing sat on the stool again to decoct the medicine. The medicine was boiling and bubbling, and the whole room was filled with the bitter smell of Chinese medicine.

Han Qing took out the koi jade pendant from his pocket again, stroked it for a while, but couldn't see anything special about it.

He put the jade away, pondering the matter of the Yin-Yang Scholar. He felt that this matter would not end so easily.

Judging from his memory, the search for the jade pendant was not Yin Yang Scholar's own idea, but an order from the higher-ups of the Yin Yang Sect. Therefore, even if Yin Yang Scholar died, the Yin Yang Sect would send someone else to be in charge of this area.

"I need to become stronger. This matter will be a hidden danger sooner or later. Let me read the book first."

Han Qing had a book on his lap, titled "Miscellaneous Talks on Refining Spirit Methods Over Thousands of Years," and the author was Su Jin.

According to the book, although this person is a woman, she is a Confucian sage from the former Yuelu Academy, a sacred place for martial arts, and her strength is extremely terrifying.

As for what constitutes a Confucian sage? The book explains that the method of refining the spirit can lead to sainthood or immortality. The strongest person standing atop the mountain is a sage. Such a person is elusive and rarely seen; ordinary people have never even heard of them, let alone met them in person.

"The book says that sages can fly through the sky and disappear into the earth, and are capable of anything. Those who refine their spirit are far stronger than martial artists and possess all sorts of miraculous methods."

"If I could obtain a method for cultivating the spirit, that would be wonderful!" Han Qing thought with longing.

He remembered that incomplete version of the Medical Dao Refining Spirit Method. Although he had missed it, he did not regret it.

The book warns that the Refining Spirit Technique should not be learned casually. The higher the level of the Refining Spirit Technique, the lower the risk of going into demonic possession. Incomplete versions should not be touched at all.

"That mad Taoist priest thought he had found a treasure, little did he know that the incomplete Refining God Method was not a treasure at all, but a harmful thing," Han Qing sighed.

He continued reading, and it said that there were many schools of thought in the art of refining the spirit. From ancient times to the present, there have been thousands of different methods.

For example, Confucianism and Taoism use words to convey the Way of Heaven. Their pens can startle wind and rain, and their poems can move ghosts and gods. A powerful Confucian or Taoist master once wrote a poem called "Ode to the Cold River" that caused snow to fall for thousands of miles and the mountains and rivers to freeze over. Their power is unbelievable.

Take the inkstone as another example. With its myriad skills and craftsmanship, it can wield towering structures hundreds of feet high, traverse mountains and valleys, destroy cities and fortresses, and its divine might is unstoppable.

Other powerful schools include the Farmers, who can determine the timing of the seasons, alter the terrain, and manipulate spiritual plants; the Yin-Yang School, who can observe the stars to predict good and bad fortune, devour human life force, and replenish Yin and Yang; and the Military School, which uses killing intent to empower itself.

After reading it, Han Qing felt no longer arrogant or complacent.

"This world is very complex. In the eyes of these big shots, I, a mere beginner martial artist, am nothing more than an ant."

"To become a top master, one must not only practice martial arts but also cultivate one's spirit. But where can I find a method for cultivating my spirit?"

Han Qing pondered for a moment, then, seeing that the medicinal soup had been simmered long enough, he got up, poured it into a white porcelain bowl, and carried it toward Master Fang's house.

As soon as he entered, he smelled the aroma of chicken. On Fang Ye's table were three dishes and a soup, as well as more than a dozen white steamed buns. The most impressive dish was a crispy fried chicken, golden in color and with a rich aroma that filled the entire room.

Han Qing put down the white porcelain bowl, his throat bobbed, and saliva was secreted rapidly from his mouth.

"Master Fang is no ordinary person," he thought to himself.

Not to mention the books in the room, the daily meals were extremely lavish, and the people in the yamen treated Lord Fang with great respect. He had no idea what was going on here.

"Put it down and sit!"

When Master Fang saw Han Qing, his eyes finally opened. His sleep quality had improved significantly over the past month, and he was no longer in a sickly, half-asleep state. As a result, he treated Han Qing better and better.

(End of this chapter)