Mysterious Heaven Skill

Mysterious Heaven Skill

Tang San sighed inwardly. Just as Feng Yao had said, the die was cast; saying more would be pointless. At his current stage of cultivation, it truly was unwise to rashly change his training path again.

"You needn't worry so much, Tang." Feng Yao lightly plucked the zither strings, his voice gentle and reassuring. "From the Grandmaster's perspective, the path he planned for you is already as perfect as it could be—it compensates for Blue Silver Grass's lack of offensive power in the early stages while also complementing Hidden Weapons." Feng Yao smiled faintly and continued, "Among those of the same rank, very few can defeat you. Even Dai, whose Soul Power is several levels above yours, may not be your match."

Feng Yao's words were like spring rain, gradually easing Tang San's tightly furrowed brow. Thinking it over, if he had not encountered such an anomaly as Feng Yao, he truly would have had few rivals among people his age.

"All right, Tang. Let's begin." Feng Yao gestured gently, his fingers brushing the strings.

Understanding, Tang San sat cross-legged and slowly began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Though his injuries had yet to heal and he could not exert himself fully, basic breathing regulation and cultivation posed no problem.

Feng Yao watched Tang San enter meditation, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. With a turn of his wrist, a clear zither note rippled outward, followed by invisible spiritual fluctuations.

As Feng Yao closed his eyes and immersed himself, a hazy figure unexpectedly emerged within his sea of consciousness. Though it was merely an outline, a point of spiritual light flowed along a profound trajectory like starlight, as though the sun and moon pushed each other onward and yin and yang revolved in turn.

So this is the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Feng Yao marveled inwardly. It truly accords with the Heavenly Dao. No wonder it is an authentic Daoist inheritance. But how did it end up in the Tang Sect's hands?

The zither music beneath Feng Yao's fingertips gradually became ethereal. Immersed in his sea of consciousness, he watched that mysterious figure. As the melody flowed, he unconsciously began imitating the path of its spiritual light, and the circulation of Soul Power within his body quietly began to change.

"So that's how it is..."

Feng Yao gained an insight. The music beneath his fingers gradually slowed as he quietly guided his Soul Power along the path traced by that spark of light within Tang San. At first, his Meridians were sluggish and difficult to traverse, but as time passed, his Soul Power actually began adjusting its circulation route on its own, flowing with increasing smoothness.

"This is..." Feng Yao abruptly opened his eyes and looked uncertainly at Tang San, who was still cultivating. Once he confirmed that Tang San had noticed nothing, he relaxed slightly. Using zither music as the medium and Spiritual Power as the guide, he had somehow stirred his own Soul Power into autonomous circulation while observing the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

At that moment, the two of them resembled the twin fish of yin and yang. Tang San focused on circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, while Feng Yao used the zither music as a bridge, allowing Spiritual Power and Soul Power to resonate and harmonize.

Could this be the dual cultivation method spoken of by Daoists? A storm surged through Feng Yao's heart. He had only intended to glimpse the principles behind the Mysterious Heaven Skill's circulation, yet by sheer accident he had touched upon another way of using this technique.

What shocked him even more was that after just one full cycle of Soul Power, he felt an unprecedented change. His Soul Power had become increasingly solid and pure, and even his Spiritual Power had undergone a subtle transformation.

Seeing this, Feng Yao did not dare continue recklessly. He immediately calmed his mind. Holding his breath and concentrating, he meticulously etched the profound path of flowing spiritual light within that phantom into the depths of his sea of consciousness, as though copying an ancient score.

The zither music beneath Feng Yao's fingertips gradually became soothing, quietly drawing to a close like a babbling stream. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, the sharp light in his eyes receding as he settled all of his recent insights.

Tang San also happened to finish cultivating at that moment. He looked at Feng Yao with some confusion. "Feng, that zither music just now..."

"It was merely some insight from cultivation." Feng Yao calmly put away the ancient zither, a faint smile on his lips. "How do you feel, Tang? Did you gain any new insights?"

Tang San frowned slightly and hesitated. "Your zither playing does calm the mind, but it does not seem particularly special."

Feng Yao chuckled. "Do you think I was holding something back?" His fingers lightly brushed the strings. "This piece, 'Yangchun Baixue,' is no different from when I played it in Nuoding City."

"But back then..." Confusion appeared in Tang San's eyes. "I clearly felt the vitality of all things reviving, and my Soul Power broke through to level twelve in one go."

"So that's it." Feng Yao came to a realization. "No wonder the Grandmaster specifically instructed you. Think carefully, Tang. If my zither music truly had such miraculous effects, why would I need to cultivate bitterly every day?"

Tang San still refused to give up. "Then how did you, with innate level-four Soul Power, manage to..."

"I cannot disclose the reasons." Feng Yao raised a hand to cut him off. "But if zither music could truly help people break through, why would my classmates need to cultivate? Wouldn't listening to music every day be far more enjoyable?"

Seeing Tang San deep in thought, Feng Yao continued, "There is one possible explanation. Would Tang care to hear it?"

"Please explain."

"When Tang broke through that day, were you in a meditative state?"

"Indeed."

Feng Yao lightly plucked a string. "Zither music is most adept at stirring the emotions. Perhaps the timing and circumstances were right that day, and my music happened to resonate with your state of mind, allowing the breakthrough to happen naturally. But now your mind is restless. Your thoughts are all fixed on my zither music, and you have completely forgotten that the essence of meditation should be understanding your own Martial Soul."

Tang San fell into thought. The Mysterious Heaven Skill he cultivated was vastly different from ordinary meditation—it emphasized breathing and inhaling energy, guiding Soul Power through specific Meridians to draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body. This method of cultivation was indeed more easily affected by external rhythms.

Seeing that Tang San seemed to have gained some understanding, Feng Yao smiled faintly. "It seems Brother Tang has grasped the essence. If there is nothing else, I shall continue cultivating." As he spoke, his fingers had already begun brushing the strings, gradually entering a state of total immersion.

Watching Feng Yao's utterly absorbed state, Tang San's expression grew distant. The other party was cultivating before him with such complete lack of guard that the doubts in Tang San's heart gradually faded.

Tang San simply stood quietly and observed. Gradually, he noticed a unique rhythm surrounding Feng Yao, as though his breathing had merged with that of heaven and earth. Recalling the scene of his breakthrough years ago, a flash of understanding suddenly appeared in Tang San's eyes.

"So that's it! His zither artistry has reached such an extraordinary realm that it can easily influence the environment. Under certain circumstances, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is stirred, indirectly helping me absorb energy better. So he truly was not deceiving me..."

"But how exactly did he cultivate from innate level-four Soul Power to his current realm?" This question surfaced in Tang San's mind once more. He looked complicatedly at Feng Yao, who was immersed in his zither music not far away.

After thinking for a long time, a bitter smile appeared on Tang San's face. According to the Spirit Master theories he knew, for someone with innate level-four Soul Power to reach level thirty-four at this age was simply a fantasy. Yet Feng Yao before him had truly shattered that ironclad rule.

Even if I taught the Mysterious Heaven Skill to a child with innate level-four Soul Power, their cultivation speed could never surpass mine... Tang San pondered silently.

At that moment, Feng Yao's earlier words suddenly echoed in his mind. "Brother Tang, your mind is restless at the moment. You are overly focused on the zither music and have instead forgotten that the true meaning of meditation lies in comprehending the origin of your Martial Soul."

That's right. Tang San came to a realization. Why should I obsess over this? He looked toward the sky. The Mysterious Heaven Skill is already enough to let me stand at the very peak of this world. Then, a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. Still, I should report this matter to Teacher. Perhaps he can derive some new theories from it.

With that thought, Tang San no longer lingered. He turned and walked toward the dormitories. Sunlight stretched his shadow long behind him, but the confusion that had once filled it was gone.

Yet Tang San did not notice that after he turned and left, a meaningful smile curled at Feng Yao's lips.

As dusk deepened, inside Tang San's dormitory.

While eating the food Yu Xiaogang had specially brought him, Tang San recounted in detail what he had gained from his exchange with Feng Yao that day. When he mentioned his earlier breakthrough, the chopsticks in Yu Xiaogang's hand abruptly stopped. Rare surprise appeared on his usually steady face.

After Tang San repeated Feng Yao's explanation word for word, Yu Xiaogang set down his bowl and chopsticks and said seriously, "Teacher, I believe Feng Yao was telling the truth. If his zither music could truly help people break through, why would the Imperial Dou Team let him cultivate alone?"

Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed deeply as his fingers unconsciously tapped against the table. "Then in your opinion..." His gaze turned piercing as he looked at Tang San. "Where did his cultivation come from?"

Tang San thought for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "That is also what I cannot understand, no matter how much I think about it."

A trace of loneliness and jealousy, too faint to detect, flashed through Yu Xiaogang's cloudy eyes. He sighed softly and patted Tang San's shoulder. "Forget it. Set this matter aside for now. Your injuries have not healed, so proper rest is what matters most."

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher." Warmth rose in Tang San's heart, and his voice unconsciously softened.

Elsewhere, Feng Yao sat alone in a quiet room, eyes closed in concentration as he slowly circulated his Soul Power according to the Mysterious Heaven Skill's method from his memories. After completing one minor cycle, he imitated Tang San's breathing rhythm, but his brows gradually knit together. The Mysterious Heaven Skill's effects were far below expectations—only slightly faster than meditation.

"The zither music cleansed my marrow, and Immortal Grade treasures reshaped my bones. My physique is already nothing like before, and my aptitude is naturally far greater than it once was." Feng Yao gathered a wisp of Soul Power at his fingertips. "Still, this unique method and route of Soul Power circulation has merits worth adopting. I can try incorporating internal cultivation into my own training."

With that thought, Feng Yao's gaze sharpened slightly as he slowly closed his eyes. Soul Power within him flowed slowly like a stream along the Mysterious Heaven Skill's Meridians route, while three Spirit Rings flickered faintly around his body. The instant he tried to open his eyes, his breathing suddenly halted, and the previously docile Soul Power immediately charged wildly through his Meridians like a runaway horse.

"Cough." He hurriedly steadied his mind. Once his Soul Power had calmed, he gave a bitter smile. "Even such an ordinary action as opening my eyes disrupts the circulation of internal energy. It seems that if I wish to maintain this technique as naturally as moving an arm, I must train my breathing, Soul Power, and instinctive reactions until they become one."

Feng Yao looked toward the swaying tree shadows outside the window. "Since there is no simulated environment here, I will use these next few days to see whether I can keep the Mysterious Heaven Skill continuously circulating in my body during ordinary daily life." His gaze gradually deepened. The Soul Power within him began flowing anew like a spring stream breaking through ice, and the Mysterious Heaven Skill's path glimmered within his Meridians. He deliberately maintained a slow breathing rhythm, even carefully minimizing the flutter of his robes as he walked.

At that moment, Feng Yao's idea was to integrate cultivation into his life, until walking, sitting, lying down, and standing all became cultivation.

At dawn the next day, the morning mist had yet to disperse.

When Feng Yao walked along the bluestone-paved road to the Cafeteria, his body appeared somewhat stiff. Every step seemed precisely measured, and even the sway of his robe hem was deliberately restricted to the smallest possible range.

Zhu Zhuqing arrived on the morning dew, her cat-like eyes reflecting the boy's unnatural figure. "Morning." Her cool voice startled a droplet of dew from the eaves.

"Morning." Feng Yao answered reflexively, but before his words had finished, his body suddenly froze. The Soul Power cycle he had barely maintained collapsed with a crash as his breathing was interrupted. Feng Yao could not help grabbing his own hair, his face full of frustration.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted slightly, and a trace of concern entered her cool voice. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Feng Yao brushed his fingers over the Jade Pendant at his waist and adjusted his breathing with a bitter smile. "I'm just pondering a minor cultivation problem."

Zhu Zhuqing's cat ears twitched, and surprise flashed through her cool eyes. "Even someone with your mastery of the zither is troubled by cultivation?"

"Do you think..." Feng Yao suddenly raised his eyes, morning light flowing within them, "cultivation can be integrated into daily life as naturally as breathing?"

"Heh." Zhu Zhuqing's lips curved slightly, her tail drawing an elegant arc behind her. "That sounds like those spoiled young masters dreaming all day about becoming stronger while lying down."

Feng Yao was startled, then laughed. "You have a point." He watched the girl's departing back, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the zither strings. The chaotic Soul Power within him gradually calmed.

Perhaps only people from the Body Sect ten thousand years from now could achieve this sort of cultivation. Because of their Martial Souls, they can perfectly control their bodies. As a Soul Elder, I might manage it for a while, but maintaining it without affecting normal life is absolutely impossible. I cannot sacrifice one thing for another. Daytime cultivation must be separated from nighttime cultivation, Feng Yao thought to himself.

Watching the silhouette in the morning light, Feng Yao silently said in his heart, Thank you. You helped me understand something.

Soon, seven days of exchange flashed by. While the morning mist had yet to clear, the members of the Imperial Dou Team were already assembled before Shrek Academy, ready to depart. Yu Tianheng stood at the front, while Feng Yao stood at the back of the group holding Fuxi, his gaze sweeping over the Shrek group who had come to see them off.

"This exchange has benefited us greatly." As the leading teacher, Qin Ming cupped his hands and bowed to Flander and Yu Xiaogang.

"Qin Ming, the next time we meet, it will be us old fellows relying on your care." Flander remarked with a half-joking sigh.

"You flatter me, Dean. I believe the three Education Committee members will certainly welcome you." Qin Ming smiled.

Dai Mubai laughed heartily and looked at Yu Tianheng. "The next time we meet, I won't lose again."

Yu Tianheng smiled. "I'll be waiting."

Feng Yao noticed Zhu Zhuqing standing at the edge of the crowd. His fingers brushed the zither strings as he gave a slight bow. "Farewell."

A smile could not help appearing on Zhu Zhuqing's cool face. "Farewell."

Qin Ming gave a light cough, and the Imperial Fighting Team immediately composed themselves. The Shi Mo brothers waved honestly at the Shrek group.

"Set out." At Qin Ming's command, the Imperial Dou Team departed through the morning dew. Feng Yao walked last and suddenly looked back.

Feng Yao turned and disappeared into the morning mist. Not far away came Dugu Yan's teasing voice. "What, can't bear to leave that little wildcat?" Yu Feng's laughter followed.