The Spiritual Pivot of Mortal Cultivation

After the autumn rains stopped, Caixia Mountain was blessed with a rare sunny day.

The bluestone on the training ground at the front of the mountain, washed by several days of rain, had become an even colder blue, slightly slippery underfoot, yet this also made its sharp edges more apparent. The wooden stakes, stone locks, and weapon racks had all been moved to the sides, leaving a large open space in the middle, which was surrounded by gray-clad disciples. The sounds of people rising and falling, shouts and laughter mixed together, adding a touch of heat to the otherwise cool mountain air.

The ten-day examination has finally arrived.

For Bai Xuanxin, this match was not simply about winning.

Winning a match simply means gaining another somewhat capable disciple in the outer sect.

But if you win just right, so that the right people can see it, that's another matter entirely.

What he wants today is not to make a name for himself, nor to reveal all his cards to the world.

He wants the students to remember:

This child has a knack for understanding movement techniques.

They are composed enough when facing the enemy.

It's worth a glance.

As for other things, such as the true energy within his body that is approaching the threshold of second-rate—it's not time to reveal it yet.

Bai Xuanxin stood at the edge of the crowd, her expression calm, but in her heart she had already divided this scene into different levels.

In the first performance, only "Luo Yan Bu" was shown.

And it can only be lit for three and a half minutes.

Because these three and a half minutes are enough for someone in the know to see the trick.

These days, he has practiced the "Luoyan Step" the most and made the most corrections.

This footwork technique originally excelled in the word "deception," emphasizing oblique advances, lateral shifts, loss of balance, and borrowing momentum to forcefully seize a half-step opening at the precise moment of falling or veering off course. If mastered to a high level, it truly has the feel of smoke and wind, making it impossible to predict the opponent's actions.

However, the original training method also has obvious flaws.

The first point is too painful on the ankle.

The Luo Yan Step relies heavily on the rotation of the ankle. The original method often involved forcefully pressing down on the outer edge of the foot, using the momentary diagonal bend of the outer ankle to forcefully twist out the second step. While this is fast and unpredictable, prolonged practice will first damage the line between the outer ankle and the outer knee. Traditional Chinese medicine states that the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang descends along the outer thigh and is most susceptible to repeated lateral force. From a musculoskeletal perspective, this means that the delicate connections between the outer ankle ligament and the lower end of the fibula are overexerted; the effects may not be immediately apparent, but they will become a problem later.

The second problem is that it consumes too much energy.

The breathing techniques in the original book tend to focus on holding one's breath to generate power, resulting in a short, explosive, and naturally fierce attack. However, once one is repeatedly moving around and changing directions on the stage, the breath in the chest is very easy to become disordered. Traditional Chinese medicine says this is due to the lungs failing to disperse and descend, and liver qi rising upwards; if we were to apply the method Bai Xuanxin learned before his transmigration, it would be that the pressure in the chest cavity rises and falls too rapidly, causing the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to stiffen first, and once the breathing becomes disordered, the footwork will fall apart.

Bai Xuanxin did not completely reject this footwork technique.

With his current abilities, he can't do it.

He only quietly changed two places.

First, when stepping down, don't let the force hit the outside of the ankle directly. Instead, let the arch of the foot roll half an inch first, releasing the diagonal force along the sole of the foot, and then use the knee and hip line to receive the follow-up momentum. In this way, although the steps are slightly slower, they are much more stable and can withstand more continuous walking.

Secondly, when walking, do not hold your breath in your chest, but let your breath in and out slowly through your nose, with your tongue touching the upper palate, and your breath sinking to the lower middle part of your body, so that your chest does not feel blocked first. To put it simply, it means not letting yourself suffocate in your own footwork.

These changes may seem insignificant, but when it comes to actually fighting the enemy, they can be enough to determine the outcome.

Just then, the steward at the front flipped through the register and shouted:

"Next match—Bai Xuanxin versus Gu Sanhuai!"

A rustling sound immediately arose from the crowd.

"Gu Sanhuai?"

"The one who specializes in fast legs?"

"This is going to be interesting."

Bai Xuanxin looked up and saw a thin young man standing at the other end of the arena. This man had a slightly long face and a vacant look in his eyes, but his lower body was extremely agile, and his legs were more solid than those of ordinary people, showing that he had worked hard on his legs in his daily life.

Bai Xuanxin recognized him.

Gu Sanhuai practiced the fast leg and pressing steps commonly found in the outer school, and he loved the word "seize". Such people, once they seize the initiative, often overwhelm their opponents with a single breath; but if they miss their first two moves, their impatience rises the fastest.

This kind of person is perfect for testing the waters in today's first match.

The two men clasped their hands in a fist salute.

"Senior Brother Bai."

"Junior Brother Gu."

With a wave of his hand, the deacon immediately took action.

He was indeed an impatient man. He rushed out, stirring up a line of water on the bluestone beneath his feet, and his right leg, like a whip, swept horizontally towards Bai Xuanxin's waist and ribs.

The kick came quickly and fiercely, without even a hint of probing.

Bai Xuanxin, however, did not confront him directly.

With a slight shift of his foot, he lowered his center of gravity and slid sideways, following the wind from the opponent's leg. His entire body seemed to be carried half a foot to the side by an invisible gust of wind. Gu Sanhuai's kick was clearly a solid sweep, but in the end, it only grazed a corner of the clothes and didn't even catch the shadow of the person.

First leg empty.

Gu Sanhuai's eyes narrowed, and without stopping, he used the force of his landing to launch his second leg, this time sweeping his lower body.

Bai Xuanxin lightly touched the ground with his toes, his knees and hips slightly relaxed, his steps not large, yet his body seemed to shift smoothly across the bluestone ground. It didn't look fast, but when Gu Sanhuai's leg just swept to where Bai Xuanxin had just landed, he was already gone.

The second leg was empty again.

A low commotion immediately arose on the sidelines.

"You dodged it again."

"It's not retreating, it's sliding."

"Why do my steps seem so unsteady?"

Gu Sanhuai was already furious.

When you're on a fast track, the worst thing is to miss with both hands. Especially under the watchful eyes of everyone, if you miss with your first kick, you can say you're testing the waters; but if you miss with your second kick, you can no longer suppress your restlessness.

Gu Sanhuai took the third step and rushed forward, raising his knee and pressing down with his arm, clearly determined to force Bai Xuanxin to death at close range before considering his next move.

At this moment, Bai Xuanxin's eyes lit up slightly.

This is exactly what we've been waiting for.

If you seize the opportunity, you'll gain momentum; if you gain momentum, blind spots will appear.

His feet seemed to be veering to the left, but his shoulder line suddenly tightened, and his whole body cut diagonally into the gap between Gu Sanhuai's knee and elbow positions, which were about to meet.

This step was slow, and even looked somewhat risky.

But at the most dangerous moment, Bai Xuanxin slid and slipped away from Gu Sanhuai's right side. By the time Gu Sanhuai realized something was wrong, Bai Xuanxin was already half a step behind him.

Blind spot.

Gu Sanhuai turned around hastily.

Bai Xuanxin still didn't use any heavy blows, but only gently pressed down on his shoulder from behind, using the force of his forward lunge to shift him slightly to the side.

This seemingly casual press and borrowing actually struck at the crucial juncture where old strength had not yet been exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated. Gu Sanhuai felt his momentum suddenly pulled to the side, his feet immediately became unsteady, and he staggered two steps before regaining his footing.

The training ground fell silent for a moment.

Then came a low murmur that couldn't be suppressed.

"Is this really 'Luo Yan Bu'?"

"Gu Sanhuai's several kicks, he didn't even manage to touch the hem of his clothes?"

"It's not that he's fast, it's that he's strange... He always manages to slip into people's blind spots before they can react."

The instructor in the green robe under the eaves finally raised his head, his gaze lingering on Bai Xuanxin for a moment.

Bai Xuanxin saw it all, but her heart remained calm.

That's enough.

What he wanted was for people to see these three things:

First, his movement technique is genuinely skillful, not just luck.

Secondly, he remained calm in the face of the enemy and was able to stay composed even when the opponent was at the peak of their momentum.

Third, he doesn't just know how to retreat; he knows how to leverage resources, change positions, and exploit blind spots.

These are more valuable than winning itself.

After Gu Sanhuai regained his footing, his face had turned ashen.

If missing his first two kicks only made him feel annoyed, then that one step that just slipped past him was truly embarrassing. The suppressed noise around him sounded even more piercing to his ears than Bai Xuanxin's palm strike and parry.

He stared intently at Bai Xuanxin, and the anger in his chest was forced to subside.

This time, he didn't rush to grab it, but slowed down and began to walk around Bai Xuanxin.

This kind of response is more difficult than before.

The disciples on the sidelines gradually quieted down. Everyone could see that Gu Sanhuai was forcing Bai Xuanxin to make the first move. If Bai Xuanxin continued to wait for the opponent's momentum as before, he might not be able to succeed so easily again.

Bai Xuanxin remained unhurried.

He stood still, his center of gravity low but not rigid, a sliver of life remaining between his toes, knees, and hips. When Gu Sanhuai turned to the left, his gaze followed slightly; when Gu Sanhuai moved diagonally to the right, his shoulders and back relaxed slightly.

This seemingly ordinary movement, with its alternating tension and relaxation, its leaning and tilting, is actually based entirely on the "Luo Yan Bu" style.

Later on, Luo Yanbu (a type of martial art) is no longer just a simple "walking step".

Instead, it makes it impossible for people to ever figure out where your true strength comes from or where your body will fall.

Gu Sanhuai's forehead gradually became sweaty as he watched.

Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer. He suddenly lunged forward, blocking Bai Xuanxin's left side, and extended his right arm as well, intending to cut off his path first and then use his leg to press down on him.

But this exploration revealed an opening.

Bai Xuanxin's shoulder line, which had been leaning to the left, suddenly tightened. With a light tap of her foot, she slid along the bluestone and quickly circled around to the outside of Gu Sanhuai's right arm.

Gu Sanhuai was greatly shocked. When he hurriedly turned around, Bai Xuanxin was already half a step behind him.

It's still a blind spot.

This time, Bai Xuanxin still didn't use excessive force, only gently pressing Gu Sanhuai's shoulder with her hand, her tone calm:

"Junior Brother Gu, you flatter me."

Gu Sanhuai was already caught off guard and was pushed forward two steps by the force of the movement, nearly falling over. When he turned around again, Bai Xuanxin had already retreated to his original position, his gray robe fluttering slightly, his aura calm, as if his previous movements were merely casual.

The surrounding noise could no longer be suppressed.

"Impressive footwork!"

"Gu Sanhuai was completely taken aback by the joke."

"This footwork... is unlike anything that ordinary disciples in the sect could learn."

Even the stewards under the eaves exchanged glances.

Bai Xuanxin remained calm and simply cupped his hands in greeting.

That's enough for the first round.

His victory wasn't fierce or ruthless; it even seemed too "easy." But the more it was like that, the more discerning people could see the significance in it.

This person's internal strength may not be very strong.

His footwork is very stable.

Extremely accurate eyesight

Moreover, they are very good at striking when their opponents are at their most vulnerable.

The deacon bowed his head, flipped through the roster, and announced in a loud voice:

"Bai Xuanxin wins this match."

Gu Sanhuai stood there, his face grim. After a moment, he finally clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"Senior Brother Bai's movement technique is superb; I admire him."

Bai Xuanxin returned the greeting, her tone gentle:

"Junior Brother Gu's leg techniques are not weak, but he rushed in just now. If he had slowed down even half a step, this match might not have been decided so quickly."

This wasn't flattery, but it offered a perfect way out. Gu Sanhuai's expression softened somewhat, and he gave a muffled reply before retreating.

Bai Xuanxin intended to retreat to the sidelines, but the steward had already reopened the roster. His gaze lingered on the roster for a moment before he raised his voice and shouted:

"Next match—Bai Xuanxin versus Shi Jian!"

As soon as that sound fell, another buzz immediately erupted from the sidelines.

"Shi Jian?"

"That Shi Jian who practices heavy, powerful punches?"

"This time it's not the fast-running method like Gu Sanhuai's..."

Bai Xuanxin paused, then slowly raised her head.

From the crowd, a burly man stepped forward.

This man was more than half a head taller than ordinary outer disciples, with broad shoulders and thick arms, and his movements carried an air of heavy pressure. Before he had even truly settled down, his joints were already making slight cracking sounds in his sleeves, clearly showing that he had put in extremely deep and painstaking effort in both external martial arts and heavy punches.

This kind of opponent is completely different from Gu Sanhuai.

The weakness of the "fast-moving" school lies in its "speed";

The difficulty of practicing powerful punches lies in their "solidity".

In the first match, he only showcased his footwork.

This time, we probably can't just hide anymore.

Bai Xuanxin watched Shi Jian walk into the arena step by step, but her expression became even calmer.

A mountain breeze swept through the area, causing the flags at the four corners to flutter in the wind.

Shi Jian had already stood opposite him, his fists clasped together, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Bai Xuanxin slowly exhaled a long breath and then raised her hand.

At that moment, all eyes turned to him.