The First Venerable of All Paths

"Hiss!"

The river flows swiftly through the mountain stream.

Silver swordfish emerged from the river every now and then, launching an attack on the figure three feet above the surface.

The swordfish has a body shaped like an arrow and moves extremely fast.

Each time it leaps powerfully out of the river, it transforms into a streak of silver light, cutting through the air.

Even ordinary Qi Gathering Realm martial artists could have their Yuan Power Gauze Clothes pierced by the arrowfish, injuring themselves.

Fang Xuan, however, rode on his flying sword, moving with incredible agility to dodge the arrowfish's attacks. He would occasionally unleash sword energy from his fingertips, stunning the arrowfish, and then use his soul power to pull it into a wooden barrel on the shore.

With the help of these swordfish, Fang Xuan cultivated his swordsmanship while tempering his soul power.

"Thump!"

Just after Fang Xuan stunned a swordfish and threw it into a wooden barrel, the river surface broke open.

A swordfish, three feet long and weighing over a hundred pounds, emerged directly from the river.

"Whoosh!"

This swordfish is incredibly fast.

Fang Xuan only saw a streak of silver light rushing towards him, and before he could dodge, he was hit by the silver light.

"Snap!"

His protective veil was torn open on the spot, and Fang Xuan was forced to retreat, barely managing to stabilize himself by manipulating his flying sword.

He pointed forward, unleashing a burst of sword energy, about to slash at the arrowfish, but the fish twisted its body and plunged back into the river.

"They slipped away pretty quickly."

Fang Xuan was also somewhat shocked when he saw the tattered clothes.

The strength of that swordfish was at least equivalent to a martial artist in the Condensation Realm.

Moreover, its speed surpasses that of ordinary martial artists.

"Such a large swordfish is quite rare."

Fang Xuan's eyes gleamed: "If we could capture him..."

With a slight smile playing on his lips, Fang Xuan finished his cultivation for the day and carried the wooden bucket back to his cave.

He glanced at the jade coffin within the array. Since Li Xintong climbed out of the coffin a month ago, there had been no further movement.

During this period, Fang Xuan diligently practiced every day as planned, his cultivation became completely stable, and his strength steadily improved.

The Primordial Long Fist has officially reached its first stage: the initial glimpse into the path.

Martial arts training also involves different levels and realms.

To first grasp the basics, to enter the inner sanctum, to reach the pinnacle, to achieve the ultimate.

For example, Fang Xuan's Dragon Fish Body Technique and Killing King Fist have both reached the pinnacle of perfection.

As for breaking through all methods, he had mastered the first five techniques to perfection, but he was still unable to grasp the essence of the unity of man and sword.

But Fang Xuan felt that he was just one step away from mastering this move.

While the fish soup was simmering, Fang Xuan began to refine the equipment for setting up the array.

These instruments are silver in color and shaped like small swords the size of a palm.

The number is so large that it has reached over a hundred.

This is a fish scale sword that Fang Xuan forged using the scales of arrowfish he collected.

Fang Xuan planned to use these fish-scale swords to set up a Returning Void Sword Formation.

The Guixu Sword Formation is the strongest formation that Fang Xuan has mastered so far.

The more fish-scale swords there are, the stronger this formation becomes.

During the forging of the Fish Scale Swords, Fang Xuan infused each small sword with a wisp of innate sword energy.

Because the amount of innate sword energy within the sword bone is limited, Fang Xuan cannot forge many fish-scale swords each day.

Having exhausted all his innate sword energy, he could only barely forge three small swords.

Now, Fang Xuan has already forged one hundred small swords.

"After forging eight more small swords, we can set up the Return to the Void Sword Formation."

Fang Xuan put down the last small sword and nodded in satisfaction.

The innate sword energy within his body had also been completely depleted.

For Fang Xuan, the process of forging swords was also a way to cultivate the way of the sword and a method of weapon crafting.

This can be described as killing three birds with one stone.

By this time, the fish soup was almost ready.

Fang Xuan picked up the large pot and started simmering.

After eating and drinking his fill, Fang Xuan sat cross-legged and began to cultivate the "Thousand Soul Illusion Dream Technique" to enhance his spiritual power.

Silent all night.

The next day.

As the first rays of dawn shone into the mountain stream, Fang Xuan woke up precisely on time.

A dark glint flashed in his eyes, and his soul power had increased slightly compared to yesterday.

"Soon."

Fang Xuan assessed his surroundings and realized that he was not far from becoming a second-grade Soul Master.

Moreover, after drinking swordfish soup for a full month, his physique became stronger than before, and his mastery of the Chaos Holy Body improved significantly.

Once Fang Xuan reached the Qi Gathering Realm, he was invincible.

Even against an opponent a whole realm above him, Fang Xuan could easily defeat them without using his trump cards.

This is the result of Fang Xuan's cultivation over the past month!

Fang Xuan stood up, shaking off the dust, and his powerful aura emanated from him before quickly receding.

After tidying up the cave, he stepped out.

Looking at the surging river, Fang Xuan's eyes gleamed.

Today, he's going to get his hands on that big fish.

"Whoosh!"

Fang Xuan flashed and landed steadily on the shore.

Facing east, Fang Xuan assumed a boxing stance.

In his mind, the moves of the Killing Path King Fist flashed by one after another.

A murderous aura gradually emanated from his body.

The next moment, Fang Xuan unleashed a punch.

King's Fist Shakes the World!

With overwhelming force, the mountain will be shattered!

Dao Falls, Fist Ends!

Fang Xuan unleashed three punches in succession.

The force of the fists surged, stirring up gusts of wind.

Especially after the final move, the Dao Meteor Fist, was unleashed, a nearby reef was shattered to pieces by the fist's energy.

"In the memories passed down by the Goddess of Slaughter, reaching the pinnacle is not the highest level of this fist technique, but rather the true essence of martial arts."

Fang Xuan was somewhat looking forward to seeing what kind of power this fist technique would possess once it reached the true essence of martial arts.

This fist technique allows one to attain enlightenment through killing.

To achieve complete perfection, Fang Xuan needs to improve and grow in battle.

Fang Xuan closed his eyes and began to suppress his killing intent.

A morning breeze swept across the river, stirring up fine mist that brushed against Fang Xuan's shoulder.

He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his aura deep and unfathomable, and changed his boxing stance.

The next moment, Fang Xuan continued practicing the Primordial Long Fist.

This set of boxing techniques is simple and profound, without any fancy changes. The moves are wide and powerful, emphasizing returning to simplicity and proving the Tao through strength. It is the best way to temper the physical foundation and hone the Qi, blood and meridians.

The opening posture is the beginning of enlightenment.

Fang Xuan slowly raised his arms, drawing two arcs from bottom to top. The movement was not fast, but his muscles and bones resonated.

The surging blood and qi in the body flowed along the fixed meridians, and the power that was originally dormant in the limbs and bones was fully mobilized.

The Chaos Sacred Body operates spontaneously, slowly releasing the potential of the physical body. Every inch of muscle and every tendon is stretched and tempered under the guidance of the fist technique.

The air was stirred by the powerful force of the punch, and a faint wave of air suddenly appeared in front of him, rippling outwards towards the river.

He had already grasped the basics of this boxing style, and every move he made carried a natural and profound charm.

At the same time, he used the Dragon Fish Body Technique on his feet, transforming like a dragon fish.

Even on the damp, soft riverbank, no footprints were left.

The Dragon Fish Body Technique, when mastered to its pinnacle, allows one to transform into a dragon fish and unleash extreme speed.

Fang Xuan was multitasking, practicing his fist techniques while also refining his Dragon Fish Body Technique.

Learn from the past.

He lowered his waist and elbows, his lower body as firmly rooted as an old tree, remaining as stable as a rock despite the howling river wind.

As the punch landed, the Yuan energy within his dantian trembled. The originally smooth and flowing Yuan energy merged perfectly with the punch, combining strength and gentleness into a unified whole.

Immediately afterwards, the primordial energy gathered.

Bring your fists together in front of your chest, as if embracing mountains and rivers.

Fang Xuan's chest rose and fell slightly as he breathed deeply, inhaling the spiritual energy of the morning dew from the mountains and absorbing it all into his body.

He could clearly feel that his muscles were becoming tighter and tighter with each exertion and retraction, and his physical resilience and explosive power were steadily increasing.

Unlike the ferocious and domineering Killing King Fist, the Primordial Long Fist carries a distant and boundless aura.

Like the ancient ancestors who opened up mountains and expanded the land, it was steady and powerful, with every effort being solid to the extreme.

Each move, each step, is learned gradually.

Hammer swing!

Fang Xuan took a sudden step forward, stomping his right leg heavily on the ground, causing the soil to sink slightly.

His right fist, imbued with powerful blood and vital energy, slammed forward with a thunderous roar.

The fist whistled through the air, producing a muffled sound of air being torn apart, and a powerful and unparalleled force shot straight towards the river surface.

"Boom!"

The force of the fist struck the river surface several meters away, causing the calm water to suddenly explode, with water splashing several feet high and waves surging downstream.

Countless swordfish were shaken off and fell to the shore, struggling and rolling around before coming to a standstill.

Fang Xuan did not stop his fist stance, but changed his move accordingly, striking out with his left fist horizontally, which was the Broken River Stance.

The Fifth Move!

The Sixth Form!

......

until a certain moment.

The force of his punch, which had been projecting outwards, gradually began to subside.

The wind from the punches no longer roared and exploded, but the oppressive feeling emanating from his body became even more intense.

This is a sign that the boxing technique is about to reach a higher level.

"Pop!"

Fang Xuan's body surface erupted with fist energy, tearing through the air.

"call!"

Fang Xuan slowly opened his mouth, and the turbid air transformed into a faint white mist, which condensed in front of him for a moment before slowly dissipating.

The essence of boxing has shifted from outward expression to inward concentration, with power hidden within the body and its release controlled by the mind.

The Primordial Long Fist: Entering the Hall of Mastery!

"Whoosh whoosh!"

But in the next instant, several water arrows shot towards Fang Xuan from the river, as fast as a startled swan.

Fang Xuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he threw a punch.

All the water arrows were shattered before they even touched Fang Xuan.

Fang Xuan took a step forward, his body like a golden dragon fish, leaping to the surface of the water and smashing his fist down into the river below.

"Thump!"

The river water churned, and countless swordfish were thrown out.

However, the culprit that had condensed the water arrow nimbly dodged the fist's energy with incredible agility and swam downstream.

"Are you able to leave?"

Fang Xuan chuckled, stepped on the water without falling, and quickly gave chase.

When the Dragon Fish Body Technique is perfected, one can resemble a dragon fish and walk on water.

Beneath the river, a giant swordfish, three feet long, raced wildly, trying to escape Fang Xuan.

But Fang Xuan just happened to clash with the other party.

Such a large swordfish, if boiled into fish soup, might even further enhance Fang Xuan's physique.

"Choo choo choo!"

Fang Xuan stomped his feet repeatedly, quickly catching up with the giant swordfish, and threw a punch.

The "Broken River Style"!

"Boom!"

The river burst open, as if its flow had been cut off.

The giant swordfish paused, looking slightly flustered, its movements hampered.

Fang Xuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he was about to throw a punch when his opponent...

Who would have thought that this giant swordfish would leap out of the water, arc through the air, and plunge back into the river with a splash.

Fang Xuan was completely dumbfounded.

Can you do this?

Moreover, Fang Xuan actually saw a hint of... mockery in those white-eyed fish.

Is this... being led around by a fish?

Before Fang Xuan could react, a large net descended from the sky, perfectly covering the giant swordfish. With a sudden pull, it was scooped directly out of the river.

"Hey, it's caught! It's caught!"

A surprised exclamation came from the shore. Fang Xuan turned his head and saw a small boat moored on the bank.

A girl with her hair in a bun was excitedly waving her arms and legs.

"Brother, look, I caught it!"

The girl looked at the young man beside her, only to see that his gaze was fixed on the river, and his muscles were tense.

Following his gaze, the girl then noticed Fang Xuan standing on the reef.

"Huh, it's you?!"