Starting from the world of martial arts in the Condor Heroes, practicing martial arts across the hea

The snow on the top of Kunlun Mountain never melts, covering the towering peaks in a pure white blanket, and has quietly lingered on the land of the Western Regions since ancient times.

The pure snow, like millions of flawless white jade pieces, covers the steep mountain ridge in layers, receiving and reflecting all the sunlight pouring down from the sky.

The sunlight shattered between the snow waves and clouds, transforming into countless golden fragments that dispelled the harsh gloom of the plateau morning.

At dawn, the eastern sunrise pierces through the thin, frigid atmosphere of the high altitude, first kissing the highest peaks of the Kunlun Mountains.

The frigid silver snow was suddenly bathed in warm gold, slowly spreading from top to bottom. Thousands of peaks were gilded and ten thousand valleys were filled with light. The sea of ​​clouds surged like cotton, making this sacred snow-covered mountain appear solemn and holy. This is a rare spectacle of the sun shining on the golden mountain.

A long wind swept across the Kunlun Mountains, stirring up fine snowflakes that drifted over the endless, desolate mountain range.

Here, there is no gentle, misty atmosphere like in the Jiangnan water towns, nor the bustling activity of the Central Plains. Instead, there is only the vastness of the sky and earth, the ruggedness of the mountains and rivers, and the constant, biting winds, carrying the unique desolation and grandeur of the Western Regions.

A sturdy, converted motorhome is parked steadily in an open space on the Qinghai-Tibet Ancient Road. Its wheels leave two deep ruts as they roll over the thin snow and frozen ground.

Jiangnan leaned against the door of the RV, gazing at the endless Kunlun Mountains before him, and couldn't help but scratch his head slightly, his eyes filled with a sense of bewilderment and emotion.

Before coming to the Western Regions, he only knew that Kunlun was the ancestor of all mountains, with a vast territory stretching for thousands of miles, and was a famous sacred mountain and secret realm in ancient books, myths and martial arts legends.

Only when you actually arrive at this place can you truly understand what it means to have boundless mountains and seas and a vast and boundless world.

Before me, the mountains rise in layers, stretching endlessly, with snow-capped peaks of varying heights, disappearing into the clouds and mist on the horizon. As far as the eye can see, there is only silver and blue, with no end in sight.

The Kunlun Mountains are so vast and boundless, with countless ravines, valleys, and hidden secrets. To find the site of the Lingjiu Palace, which was hidden a hundred years ago, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

A century has passed, and too much has been eroded, especially since the Xiaoyao Sect was a reclusive sect that only briefly left a strong mark on the martial arts world a hundred years ago.

The novel only describes that it took root in Kunlun Mountain, carved martial arts stone caves in the mountain wall, hidden among the snow-capped mountains and clouds, isolated from the world and detached from worldly affairs, but there is no specific path or landmark to follow.

There are no fixed mountain peaks or ancient paths to be found. The entire Kunlun Mountains are full of mountains and valleys, and everywhere seems to hide the traces of immortals, and everywhere is shrouded in mist.

No wonder the Ming Cult of later generations chose to establish a base here; it was indeed a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Jiangnan stood still and looked into the distance. All he could see were similar snow-capped mountains and deep valleys. He couldn't tell which way to go and didn't know where to start looking.

However, his journey westward across thousands of miles to Kunlun was not solely motivated by the desire for the ruins of Lingjiu Palace.

  

His attitude towards Lingjiu Palace was that if they found it, it would be a pleasant surprise; if they didn't, he would consider it a chance to take Huang Rong on a trip and broaden Xiaolongnu's horizons.

Besides exploring the ruins of Lingjiu Palace and searching for the legacy of the Xiaoyao Sect, he also harbored a more persistent goal in his heart—to find the secluded Valley of Buried Scriptures in the legend of Yitian.

It was a secret realm, unique from the harsh and cold land of Kunlun.

In the novel's description, the valley is surrounded by mountains on all sides, isolated from the fierce winds, and has geothermal heat and a constant temperature throughout the year. Even though the Kunlun Mountains outside are frozen for thousands of miles and the cold wind is biting, the valley remains evergreen and spring is everlasting.

The valley is filled with peach trees, forming groves that flourish year after year. They are quite different from the common peach trees in the Central Plains, and even more so from the exotic peaches of Peach Blossom Island.

The peach trees on Huang Yaoshi's Peach Blossom Island are spiritual trees that have been artificially sculpted and nurtured by Qimen Dunjia formations. They only bloom with a sky full of dazzling flowers, and the falling petals are beautiful and breathtaking. However, they never bear a single fruit all year round. They are only there to embellish the elegant atmosphere of the island and are rare and beautiful trees for ornamental purposes.

The peach trees in Kunlun Valley, blessed with the earth's energy and the spirit of the snowy region, absorb the essence of the snow-capped mountains over thousands of years, making them uniquely blessed. In spring, the branches are covered with blossoms, and the fields are filled with fragrance. In summer and autumn, they are laden with plump and ripe fruit, with juicy flesh and sweet juice, possessing a pure and mellow spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

In the novel *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, the spiritual peaches in the valley are no ordinary fruit, possessing mysterious effects. Ordinary people who eat them can moisturize their skin, maintain their youthful appearance, and prolong their lives; those who cultivate internal energy can eat them to subtly nourish their meridians, enrich their internal strength, and imperceptibly enhance their foundation and improve their martial arts skills, with effects comparable to rare spiritual fruits for cultivation.

This secluded valley, blessed by nature, is always warm like spring, with evergreen peach groves and naturally growing spiritual fruits. Undisturbed by anyone, it is the most ideal place for Jiangnan to settle down.

With chaos looming, Peach Blossom Island, though isolated overseas, is too famous, and people will inevitably seek it out, making peace elusive. Jiangnan asks for little, only a secluded paradise, far from the chaos, turmoil of the martial world, and human turmoil, to find a secluded place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, brimming with spiritual energy, to live a peaceful life of cultivation and tranquility.

The universe revolves, neither existing because of Yao nor perishing because of Jie. Jiangnan has no ambition to unify the world. Just thinking about the emperor's endless work gives him a headache, makes him nauseous, and being confined to one place is not Jiangnan's wish. Of course, if he himself wants to stay at home, that's another story.

Perhaps, if he encounters a great hero like Guo Jing who is dedicated to the country and its people, he might lend him a hand. But don't expect anything more; he's too lazy! If he meets Jiaxuan, perhaps he could help Guo Jing learn from him.

The ideal life in Jiangnan: watching the Kunlun Mountains bathed in golden sunlight during the day, admiring the starry sky over the snowy plateau at night, watching peach blossoms bloom in leisure time, falling asleep to the sound of mountain breeze when tired, and devoting oneself to honing martial arts and refining internal skills when there is nothing to do, peacefully cultivating one's own abilities, this is the most perfect life in the secluded world.

Of course, if you get tired of it after a while, you can take Huang Rong back to Peach Blossom Island for a change of scenery.

Hmm... We could visit the Valley of Heartbreak later. It's a secluded paradise, though the Gongsun family seems to have settled there a century ago. But it's not a good idea to seize it by force. Let's go to the Sword Tomb outside Xiangyang instead! There are no people there, and the giant eagles aren't human, so there's no need to worry about human rights, and it won't create any conflict between humans.

Because he harbored the idea of ​​living in seclusion here, Jiangnan deliberately avoided all densely populated towns and bustling markets since he entered the Western Regions.

He only made brief stops at the villages and towns along the Silk Road that he passed through, purchasing necessities such as rice, flour, cooking oil, dried vegetables, meat, and winter supplies to replenish his RV's reserves. He never lingered for long and did not engage in much conversation or interaction with local merchants or travelers.

Throughout his westward journey, he was accompanied by his modified RV, traveling by day through snow-capped mountains and ancient roads, and sleeping in remote valleys at night. He completed all his meals, daily routines, and rest in this mobile cabin, minimizing the noise and bustle of crowds and ensuring a peaceful existence.

To cope with the extremely harsh climate of the Kunlun Mountains, Jiangnan had already spent a lot of time and effort, and used many methods to completely transform the RV before setting off westward.

The temperature difference between day and night in the Western Regions is extreme. During the day, the sunlight is scorching and the ultraviolet rays are biting. After nightfall, the cold wind is biting and the ice and snow are penetrating. Especially in the Kunlun Mountains, the temperature at night can often drop to tens of degrees below zero. Ordinary vehicles and horses simply cannot withstand the cold, let alone stay for a long time.

He reinforced the overall frame of the RV, thickened the double-layer insulation panels, sealed all air gaps, and transformed the vehicle body into an indestructible structure, capable of withstanding the onslaught of high-altitude gales, blizzards, and frost.

Most importantly, he specially built a solid cast iron stove by hand in a corner inside the RV, along with a neat exhaust pipe, which can not only provide stable heating and dispel the cold inside the vehicle, but also eliminate the risk of smoke backflow.

The stove fire can burn firewood and charcoal, burning day and night. Even when the wind and snow howl outside and the land is frozen for thousands of miles, the interior of the car remains warm and cozy, enough to support him to stay in the Kunlun snow region for a long time and explore at his own pace.

Aside from his desire to find a valley to settle down and visit Lingjiu, Jiangnan also had an easy opportunity to obtain martial arts skills on his journey to the Western Regions—the supreme protective divine skill of the Tantric sect: the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

This skill has not yet become famous throughout the world. Although it is the most secret martial art of the Western Regions Tantric sect, the first few levels are said to be known all over the Western Regions.

Legend has it that this skill progresses step by step, with each level granting the user the power of a dragon and an elephant. The power is immense, domineering, and unparalleled. Upon reaching a high level, one can exert tremendous force with every move, capable of shaking mountains and shattering peaks. It is one of the most outstanding external and internal martial arts techniques in the world.

During his long journey westward from the Central Plains, he took advantage of the opportunity to trade goods and gather intelligence with merchants traveling along the Silk Road. He spent a considerable amount of money to purchase a handwritten copy of the secret manual of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu from an old merchant who had traveled extensively throughout the Western Regions for many years.

However, this secret manual is not complete; it only contains the first seven layers of mental techniques, breathing methods, and basic moves.

Jiang Nan carefully studied the secret manual; for him, the seven levels of the cultivation method were already sufficient.

He never sought quick results or was obsessed with the overwhelming power of unparalleled martial arts. Instead, he progressed steadily and safely, relying on his proficiency panel to improve his cultivation. His martial arts level far surpassed that of his peers, which was the core foundation of his journey.

Looking back on his own path of martial arts cultivation, Jiangnan's internal strength foundation has always followed a steady and gradual approach, never being radical or reckless.

When he first entered the world of martial arts and settled in Zhongnan Mountain, he did not have a complete internal energy cultivation method. He only had a fragment of the Nine Yin Manual. With no other choice, he could only devote himself to cultivating the internal energy of the Nine Yin Manual fragment to lay the initial foundation of martial arts, temper his meridians, and accumulate internal strength.

Later, by chance, while resting in Niujia Village outside Lin'an City, he obtained the book "The Song of the Great Dao of Quanzhen" from the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty. He was able to glimpse the orthodox core of the Quanzhen School and resolutely changed his internal energy foundation, abandoning the incomplete Nine Yin Manual and focusing on cultivating the orthodox internal energy of Quanzhen.

Since then, no matter how many internal energy cultivation methods and top-notch divine skills he subsequently acquired, he has always adhered to the foundation of Quanzhen internal energy cultivation and has never changed it in the slightest. As he has continued to cultivate, his foundation has become increasingly solid and profound.

This steadfastness was not stubbornness, but rather the most prudent and suitable choice Jiang Nan made after careful consideration and weighing of the pros and cons. He understood the reasons behind it perfectly.

Firstly, Quanzhen internal martial arts are orthodox, balanced, and peaceful, without any violent tendencies or deviations. They are the most comprehensive and reliable internal martial arts method in the world.

The Quanzhen internal energy cultivation method is comprehensive and versatile, covering all aspects such as increasing strength, speed, healing, opening meridians, nourishing qi, preserving youth, and strengthening the foundation. Although it seems to be proficient in everything, it is not proficient in anything and does not have any particularly outstanding domineering power. It seems ordinary and unremarkable, without any heaven-defying or extraordinary characteristics.

What others find weak is precisely what is Jiangnan’s greatest advantage.

With the help of a proficiency panel, any martial arts technique, as long as one practices diligently, can break through its original limitations and surpass the limits of its creator.

Ordinary cultivators who practice Quanzhen internal energy are mediocre in everything and find it difficult to reach the pinnacle. But when he cultivates it, he becomes proficient in everything, excels in everything, and has no weaknesses.

His comprehensive and solid foundation, coupled with his extraordinary talent for continuous improvement, is enough to allow him to rise step by step and become invincible. This path is far more sustainable than cultivating a single, extreme mental technique or a martial arts path with fatal flaws.

Secondly, Quanzhen internal energy cultivation has a unique and irreplaceable magical characteristic—autonomous energy storage and circulation.

Most internal energy cultivation methods in the world require cultivators to concentrate their minds, meditate, regulate their breathing, and actively circulate their energy in order to accumulate internal strength and improve their cultivation. Once they stop practicing, their cultivation will stagnate, and they may even become rusty and regress in their skills over time.

Only the Quanzhen internal energy, once its foundation is solid, can form an autonomous circulation within the body. There is no need to deliberately meditate or practice the energy; the internal energy will circulate automatically during daily activities such as walking, resting, enjoying the scenery, and sleeping, slowly accumulating and purifying itself.

Furthermore, the deeper one's cultivation and the more powerful one's inner strength, the faster one accumulates power, like a snowball rolling downhill. The further one progresses, the faster one advances and the more substantial one's foundation becomes. Over time, the difference becomes vast. This passive growth potential is a top-tier characteristic that no other divine skill or ultimate technique can match.

Thirdly, along his journey, he encountered many top-tier internal cultivation methods, all of which had their own drawbacks and hidden dangers, and were not as safe and reliable as the Quanzhen Internal Cultivation.

The internal energy cultivation method of Peach Blossom Island, passed down by Huang Yaoshi, leans towards elegance and refinement, with abundant spiritual energy but lacking depth. It is suitable for cultivating a refined and elegant character, but not for a place like Jiangnan where a solid foundation is needed. The mental cultivation method of the Nine Yin Manual lacks a general outline and is heavily focused on yin and cold. When cultivated to a high level, it is easy to suffer from excessive yin energy and go into qi deviation. The Shaolin Yi Jin Jing requires detachment from worldly affairs and a clear mind. Anyone with strong attachments who forcibly cultivates it will not only never be able to grasp the essence of the art, but will also go into qi deviation due to excessive practice. The internal energy cultivation method of the Ancient Tomb Sect is cold and ruthless. With prolonged cultivation, it will inevitably lead to a detachment from the seven emotions and a alienation from people's hearts. One's temperament is very likely to become biased and eccentric, which is tantamount to self-imprisonment.

As for the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill in his hand, its widespread dissemination might be for the purpose of experimenting with the technique. Moreover, no one has ever been heard of being able to cultivate it to the eleventh level. Countless high-ranking monks of Tantric Buddhism have died or perished due to forcibly cultivating higher realms.

What Jiangnan seeks is never a sudden surge in skill or overwhelming martial prowess, but rather a stable path of cultivation, long-term progress, freedom from disasters and calamities, and step-by-step ascent to the peak.

What he wanted was a steady and solid path in martial arts, one that required no shortcuts, no risky actions, and no sacrifice of character for cultivation.

Therefore, he only intended to thoroughly understand the first seven levels of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, to learn about its creative philosophy, broaden his horizons, and accumulate knowledge.

With this thought in mind, Jiangnan raised his hand and looked at the endless Kunlun snow-capped peaks in the distance. The golden light of the morning sun on the mountains had faded, and the golden glow on the peaks gradually turned into a pure and dazzling silver-white. The sea of ​​clouds flowed slowly, enveloping the entire sacred mountain valley.

The wind from the Western Regions was still biting, making his clothes flutter, but it couldn't shake the unwavering composure in his eyes.

The RV's fireplace was warm and cozy, and all around was quiet except for the gentle whistling of the wind and snow and the mountain breeze passing through the forest.

He made a plan in his mind, and in the days to come, he would use this RV as his temporary residence and slowly travel through the mountains of the eastern section of Kunlun.

While patiently searching for that secluded valley where spring reigns all year round and peaches are everywhere, they also explored the terrain and slowly investigated the traces of the former site of Lingjiu Palace.