Ice True Qi

"One sword, one palm, one internal energy technique; the essence within is extraordinary, enough for you to study diligently and even become a renowned master in a region."

Bái Xī Wén seemed to have high praise for these three martial arts, which were passed down in succession. With his discerning eye, they were certainly not common goods. He continued, "This sword technique is called the Songshan Swordplay. It has seventeen forms, with a majestic and imposing atmosphere, ancient and robust. Xu Bin used this swordplay to fight me head-on for thirty stances without being at a disadvantage. It can be considered top-tier.

I suspect it was created by a past sage who observed the peculiar peaks and terrain of Mount Song, hence its name.

This palm technique is the Ice Divine Palm. It doesn't excel in its stances but is a method that unleashes its power when combined with the Ice True Qi internal energy. It was this palm technique and the Ice True Qi that caused me to suffer a hidden loss back then, though ultimately I still couldn't defeat my Invincible Treasure Codex."

What Bái Xī Wén said brought a measure of comfort to Duàn Yì's heart. His eyes lit up. Wasn't this the martial art of the Songshan Sect from the Jin-系的 lineage?

Especially the Ice True Qi, which was an internal energy cultivation method meticulously developed by Zuo Lengchan over many years. It was potent enough to counter Ren Woxing's Star Absorbing Great Method. It was truly remarkable, making one lament that this person, regardless of his temperament or character, indeed possessed talent and the demeanor of a grandmaster in the martial arts.

As for the swordplay, during the fierce battle between the Five Mountains Sword Sects and the Sun Moon Divine Cult, both sides suffered heavy losses. Songshan was left with only a handful of members, and their martial arts were incomplete.

Zuo Lengchan gathered the surviving elders of his sect and recorded all the sword techniques each of them remembered, compiling them into a sword manual.

Over the next few decades, he refined it, removing the dross and preserving the essence. He modified all the less ruthless stances and less imposing postures in this manual, eventually forming this Songshan Swordplay.

Naturally, the Songshan Swordplay was far inferior to the Nine Swords of Dugu and the Bixie Sword Manual, but it could still be considered first-class in the world, overpowering the other four mountains, which demonstrated its might.

As for the Ice Divine Palm, it was likely a martial art that relied on the eruption of energy based on the Ice True Qi. Duàn Yì didn't know much about it.

However, Duàn Yì felt a surge of doubt at this moment, his expression hesitant. He asked, "Brother Bái, this Ice True Qi sounds impressive, but it seems quite extreme. If I have the good fortune to learn other internal energy techniques in the future, will it cause any conflicts?"

Indeed, the Ice True Qi was incredibly powerful, but in his impression, such martial arts seemed difficult to reconcile with other martial arts. If he were to obtain other, stronger internal energy cultivation methods in the future, wouldn't it be a significant disadvantage if he couldn't learn them?

This was unlike the foundational internal energy techniques of major sects, which had neutral attributes but were more than adequate. They wouldn't affect the future practice of any other martial arts.

Furthermore, after all is said and done, the Ice True Qi, while top-tier in this world, wasn't the absolute pinnacle. With Duàn Yì holding the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts, how could he be content to be confined by a single martial art?

Bái Xī Wén was somewhat surprised by Duàn Yì's calmness, but he patiently explained, "Anyone who cultivates multiple internal energy cultivation methods will encounter conflicts, just to varying degrees, with different solutions and outcomes.

Some people can learn over ten types of internal energy, even more, and then unify and regulate them, achieving immense power.

Others find that learning just two or three leads to unbearable pain, with their True Qi scattering uncontrollably, bordering on Qi Deviation.

While the Ice True Qi is indeed overbearing and less gentle than some mundane martial arts, it's not impossible to integrate with other martial arts. Everything depends on your encounters and destiny.

If you wish to cultivate ordinary internal energy techniques, I have those as well. Do you want to learn them?"

Seeing Duàn Yì remain silent, seemingly having made up his mind, Bái Xī Wén smiled, revealing a demeanor of a master for the first time. His tone was gentle yet exceptionally profound, "Duàn Yì, you are Jiaonu's brother, which makes you my brother, Bái Xī Wén. I will teach you a principle.

When you have an opportunity, seize it, because you never know what you might miss, nor will you know if a similar opportunity will ever arise again.

We are merely human, not gods. We cannot control our lives; we can only forge a broad path through repeated choices.

I will tell you plainly: although your talent is excellent, you started practicing martial arts too late. If you cultivate martial arts like the introductory techniques of the Golden Cauldron Sect, you will forever remain mediocre and unable to rise above it.

Even if an opportunity presents itself in the future, you might not be able to seize it due to a lack of strength.

The Ice True Qi martial art, while unconventional and not the orthodox path, possesses an extreme power that allows you to immediately widen the gap with ordinary people and narrow the disparity with some others.

Let me give you an analogy: if you master the Ice True Qi and cultivate a strong internal energy, you could defeat many outer disciples of the Golden Cauldron Sect purely in terms of internal energy cultivation. They might have practiced internal energy for years, even decades, yet the outcome would be despairing.

Do you know why?"

Before Duàn Yì could answer, Bái Xī Wén provided his own explanation, "Because the introductory techniques of the Golden Cauldron Sect are too mediocre. Although they carry no risk of Qi Deviation, the internal energy they produce is completely devoid of offensive power. Even if its magnitude were ten or twenty times yours, it wouldn't change this fact.

Do you know what a venomous snake is? The Ice True Qi is like a highly venomous snake; even a small one can kill.

The Golden Cauldron Sect's introductory technique is like a sheep. In terms of volume and weight, it's tens or hundreds of times larger than the snake, yet it cannot kill anyone."

Bái Xī Wén's words were logical and insightful, truly awakening Duàn Yì from his daze. He realized with sudden clarity: without the present, how could there be a future?

If he truly had a choice, would he have risked his life to come to the Golden Cauldron Sect to learn martial arts from Bái Xī Wén?

Opportunity was already before him, yet he was wavering over hypothetical future divine skills and secret manuals. It was utterly foolish.

It was like the countless scrolls within the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts, a vast ocean of knowledge that was merely a mirage, shattering at the slightest touch. The future was too unrealistic.

What he should do, what he needed to do, was to seize the present.

Moreover, to be frank, what moved him most was Bái Xī Wén's insights on opportunity and strength.

When an opportunity arises, seize it. Find every way to strengthen yourself.

Once he possessed true power in the future, he could create opportunities even if none presented themselves. At that point, he could completely shift from a passive to an active role, with great prospects ahead.

Hoo, Duàn Yì exhaled a long breath, feeling all the doubts and confusion in his heart dissipate. He stood up, his eyes clear and his expression serene. He bowed deeply to Bái Xī Wén and said sincerely, "Earlier, I was ignorant of my own limitations. If not for Brother Bái's guidance, I would still be daydreaming. Thank you sincerely."

To become a powerful figure in a region, one couldn't simply be a clown. When this Bái Xī Wén became serious, he truly possessed the qualities of a strong individual, earning respect.

Furthermore, from his words, it was evident that he was genuinely putting his heart into helping Duàn Yì. Otherwise, if he had simply passed down an ordinary internal energy technique to Duàn Yì, would Duàn Yì have been able to refuse?

If someone treats me with kindness and righteousness, Duàn Yì is not someone who repays kindness with enmity. When he sees Yuè Jiāo Nú again in the future, he will definitely speak highly of Bái Xī Wén.

"Haha, good. You have excellent comprehension, young man. Even if you didn't study martial arts, you would achieve great things in any endeavor you pursue in the future."

"But learning martial arts is never something you can achieve overnight. Your foundation is too weak. I'll train you rigorously from now on, so don't you dare complain about being tired."

Seeing how serious Duan Yi was, his eyes filled with gratitude, Bai Xi Wen felt relieved. At least he wasn't teaching a thankless wretch, so his efforts wouldn't be in vain.

Furthermore, Duan Yi was indeed a promising talent. It was this appreciation for his potential that made Bai Xi Wen willing to impart profound martial arts to him.

And what he said wasn't untrue. Setting aside external martial arts, internal energy alone involved knowledge of the human body's meridians, acupoints, martial arts terminology, and various other aspects. It certainly wasn't easy to master.

Then there was swordsmanship, which was easy to learn but difficult to perfect. While the Songshan Swordplay wasn't top-tier, it wasn't something someone without any foundation could just pick up and master casually either. It was quite a headache.

However, Bai Xi Wen could never have dreamed that Duan Yi possessed the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts, which was bound to change his perception of certain things.