Ice True Qi

"One sword art, one palm art, one internal cultivation method—their essential mysteries are anything but ordinary. They are more than enough for you to study and train diligently, perhaps even become a renowned master in your own right."

Bái Xī Wén seemed full of praise for these three martial arts that came from the same lineage. Given his discernment, they were certainly no common wares. He continued,

"This sword art is called Songshan Swordplay. It has seventeen forms, stern and imposing in bearing, ancient and vigorous in strength. Xu Bin used this swordplay to fight me head-on for thirty moves without falling behind. It can certainly be counted as first-rate.

I guessed it was created by some ancient master after observing Songshan's towering peaks and mountain contours, hence its name.

The palm art is the Ice Divine Palm. It does not excel through techniques alone; it is a method that can display its power only when paired with the Ice True Qi. It was this palm art and the Ice True Qi that once made me suffer a hidden loss. Unfortunately, they still could not withstand my Invincible Treasure Codex."

Bái Xī Wén's words gave Duàn Yì considerable comfort. His eyes lit up. Wasn't this the martial art of the Songshan Sect from that Jin-style lineage?

The Ice True Qi in particular had been Zuo Lengchan's painstaking creation over many years, an internal cultivation method capable of restraining Ren Woxing's Star Absorbing Great Method. It had astonished the world at a single stroke, making people sigh that regardless of his temperament or character, Zuo Lengchan truly possessed talent and the bearing of a grandmaster in the martial path.

As for the swordplay, when the Five Mountains Sword Sects and the Sun Moon Divine Cult had fought to the death, both sides had been grievously weakened. Songshan had been left with only a few stragglers, and its martial arts had become incomplete.

It was Zuo Lengchan who gathered the surviving elders of his sect and recorded every sword technique they could remember, compiling them into a sword manual.

Over the following decades, he discarded the dross and retained the essence, revising every move in that manual that lacked ruthlessness and every stance that lacked grandeur. In the end, this Songshan Swordplay was formed.

Songshan Swordplay naturally fell far short of the Nine Swords of Dugu and the Bixie Sword Manual, but it could still be considered first-rate in the present age, overpowering the other four mountains. Its might was plain to see.

As for the Ice Divine Palm, it should have been a martial art built upon Ice True Qi, one that erupted through the circulation of qi. Duàn Yì knew little about it.

Yet at this moment, a doubt arose in Duàn Yì's heart. His expression turned hesitant as he asked,

"Brother Bái, the Ice True Qi sounds impressive, but it also seems rather extreme. If I am fortunate enough to learn other internal cultivation methods in the future, will it cause any hindrance?"

Indeed, the Ice True Qi was immensely powerful, but in his recollection, martial arts like this were difficult to combine with other techniques. If he obtained an even stronger cultivation method in the future but could not learn it, would that not be far too great a loss?

It was unlike the foundational internal arts of the major sects. Their attributes were unremarkable, but they were gentle and balanced enough that switching later to any other martial art would have no effect.

And no matter how one put it, although the Ice True Qi was indeed first-rate in this world, it was not peerless. With the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts in his grasp, how could Duàn Yì resign himself to being bound 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 cultivation methods will encounter hindrances. Only the severity, the solutions, and the outcomes differ.

Some people can learn more than ten internal arts, or even more, then transform qi back to its origin, unify and harmonize them, and wield boundless power.

Others learn only two or three and are already in such agony that they wish they were dead. Their true qi scatters and erupts, showing signs of Qi Deviation.

Ice True Qi is certainly domineering, and it cannot compare to some mediocre martial arts in gentleness. Still, that does not mean it cannot coexist with other arts. Everything depends on your circumstances and fortune.

If you wish to cultivate an ordinary internal art, I have some here as well. Do you want to learn one?"

Seeing Duàn Yì remain silent, seemingly having already made his decision, Bái Xī Wén smiled. For the first time, he displayed the bearing of a true master, his tone gentle yet especially profound.

"Duàn Yì, you are Jiaonu's younger brother, which makes you my, Bái Xī Wén's, younger brother as well. Let me teach you a principle.

"When opportunity comes, seize it, because you will never know what you have missed, nor whether a similar opportunity will ever come again.

"We are only human, not gods. We cannot control our own lives. We can only carve out a broad road through choice after choice.

"Let me tell you plainly: your talent is very good, but you began practicing martial arts too late. If you cultivate martial arts like the Golden Cauldron Sect's introductory cultivation method, you can only remain an ordinary mediocrity forever, unable to turn your life around.

"Even if an opportunity appears before you in the future, you may not be able to seize it, because you lack the strength.

"And though Ice True Qi takes the edge of the sword and walks a crooked path, not the grand and orthodox road, such extremity is also a kind of strength. From the very beginning, it will set you apart from the mediocre and erase the gap between you and some others.

"Let me give you an example. If you begin cultivating Ice True Qi and nurture a full breath of true qi, then in a simple contest of internal cultivation, you could defeat quite a few outer disciples of the Golden Cauldron Sect. Yet they have cultivated internal arts for years, even more than a decade. Such a result would be enough to drive them to despair.

"Do you know why?"

Without waiting for Duàn Yì to answer, Bái Xī Wén explained it himself,

"Because the Golden Cauldron Sect's introductory cultivation method is simply too mediocre. Although it carries no danger of Qi Deviation, the Internal Energy it produces has no offensive power. Even if it is ten or twenty times as abundant as yours, that fact will not change.

"Do you know venomous snakes? Ice True Qi is an incomparably poisonous snake. No matter how small it is, it can still kill.

"And the Golden Cauldron Sect's introductory cultivation method is a sheep. In size and weight, it may be dozens or even hundreds of times greater than the venomous snake, yet it still cannot kill anyone."

Bái Xī Wén's words were reasonable and heartfelt, like a single remark waking a dreamer. Duàn Yì suddenly understood: without the present, how could there be any talk of the future?

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

Opportunity was already before his eyes, yet he was letting his resolve waver for the sake of some so-called divine manuals of the future. It was simply foolish beyond measure.

It was like the countless scrolls within the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts, vast as a sea of smoke—yet all were mirages, shattering at a touch. The future was truly too impractical.

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

And honestly speaking, what moved him most was Bái Xī Wén's view on opportunity and strength.

When opportunity came, seize it and think of every possible way to strengthen oneself.

Once he truly possessed strength in the future, he could create opportunities even where none existed. At that time, he could turn passivity into initiative, and his prospects would be boundless.

Duàn Yì let out a long breath of stale air. All the doubts and confusion in his heart seemed to vanish without a trace. He rose to his feet, his brows relaxing and his expression calm, then deeply bowed to Bái Xī Wén and said sincerely,

"Just now, Duàn Yì did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. If not for Brother Bái's guidance, I fear I would still be sitting here daydreaming. Many thanks."

A person capable of becoming a powerful master was indeed not merely some fool. Once Bái Xī Wén became serious, he truly possessed the qualities of a strong man that inspired confidence.

Moreover, his words made it clear that he had truly done his utmost for Duàn Yì. Otherwise, if he had casually passed down some ordinary internal art, could Duàn Yì have said no?

Others treated him with kindness and righteousness, and Duàn Yì was naturally not one to repay kindness with enmity. When he saw Yuè Jiāo Nú again in the future, he would certainly put in a good word for Bái Xī Wén.

"Haha, good. You are quite perceptive, kid. Even if you did not learn martial arts, you would still make something of yourself in the future.

"But martial arts can never be mastered overnight. Your foundation is too weak. From now on, I will train you hard, so do not complain of being tired."

Seeing Duàn Yì treat the matter so solemnly, his eyes full of gratitude, Bái Xī Wén also felt comforted. At least he was not teaching an ungrateful wretch, so his painstaking effort had not been wasted.

Besides, Duàn Yì truly was promising material. Bái Xī Wén had taken a liking to his talent, which was why he was willing to teach him profound martial arts.

And he had not exaggerated. Setting external arts aside, internal cultivation alone involved knowledge of the human body's meridians, acupoints, martial terminology, and many other matters. How could it be easily mastered?

Then there was swordsmanship, a path easy to learn but difficult to perfect. Though Songshan Swordplay was not peerless, neither was it something a person with no foundation could casually wield and master. That too was enough to give one a headache.

Yet Bái Xī Wén could never have imagined, even in his dreams, that Duàn Yì possessed a Tower of Hidden Martial Arts. It was destined to overturn everything he thought he knew about certain matters.