Flowing Cloud Steps Cultivation

In the days that followed, Shen Hao threw himself entirely into practicing the Flowing Cloud Steps. He barely set foot outside his room, spending every moment not taken up by necessary Breathing and Cultivation on delving into the mysteries of the Flowing Cloud Steps.

This footwork technique was far more complex and exquisite than the Basic Footwork Technique he had grasped before. It had nine layers, each building on the last, with different variations in footwork and increasing difficulty. The first layer was "Flowing Cloud First Appearance," which boosted movement speed by ten percent; the second was "Flowing Cloud Surge," increasing it by twenty percent... The ninth layer was "Flowing Cloud Formless," raising speed by ninety percent to a transcendent level, truly achieving the ability to come and go without a trace.

Shen Hao sat cross-legged on the Jade Bed, carefully studying the cultivation method of the Flowing Cloud Steps. He read every word, committing to memory each shift in footwork, every adjustment of his center of gravity, and each route of Spiritual Energy circulation, leaving no room for error. Cultivating the Flowing Cloud Steps demanded extremely precise control over Spiritual Energy; a single misstep could cause Qi deviation and injury, so he had to be exceedingly cautious.

Once he had thoroughly memorized the method for the first layer, he moved to the open space in the room and began to practice.

At first, his movements were clumsy, his steps weak and unsteady, wobbling like a child learning to walk—he couldn't even maintain the basic footwork. The Spiritual Energy flowing through the meridians in his legs felt sluggish and rough, far from smooth and effortless.

But he didn't lose heart. He practiced over and over, getting up every time he fell, adjusting his breath, and starting again. Sweat slid down his cheeks, dripping onto the floor and forming small dark patches, soon soaking his clothes.

He slowly channeled Spiritual Energy from his Sea of Qi into the meridians of his legs. The energy flowed through the meridians, already tempered wide and resilient by the Meridian Tempering Art, and his legs instantly felt much lighter. Following the technique's instructions, he adjusted his center of gravity, sensed the trajectory of Spiritual Energy through his meridians, and groped for the knack step by step.

Time slipped by—from dawn to noon, then to dusk. Outside the window, the sun gradually sank, its last rays spilling across the floor, coating it in a golden halo.

After countless repetitions, when Shen Hao took another step, his figure suddenly became ethereal. He moved through the open space like drifting clouds, his steps light and fluid, without a hint of stiffness. His speed had increased by more than ten percent.

"The first layer, Flowing Cloud First Appearance—finally mastered!" Shen Hao stopped, exhaled a long breath of stale air, and a relieved smile spread across his face.

He could clearly feel that his movement speed had improved by ten percent. Though only a tenth, in combat that margin could decide victory or defeat, allowing him to dodge fatal attacks in critical moments.

He didn't pause. After a brief rest to recover some expended Spiritual Energy, he continued practicing the second layer of the Flowing Cloud Steps: Flowing Cloud Surge.

The footwork of the second layer was even more intricate than the first, demanding finer control over Spiritual Energy. It required a more delicate circulation of Spiritual Energy through the leg meridians, keeping it flowing like a continuous stream to support the shifting steps.

Shen Hao practiced relentlessly, striving for precision in every step and every turn. Sweat dripped like broken pearls from his forehead, and his clothes, soaked through, clung tightly to his frame, outlining his lean but upright figure.

His gaze was focused and resolute, showing no trace of fatigue—only a steadfast dedication to cultivation. He knew that on the path of immortal cultivation, there were no shortcuts; only by treading steadily, one step at a time, could one go further.

The sun set, night fell, and moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a silver sheen over Shen Hao's silhouette.

After who knew how long, his movements grew increasingly fluid and agile. His steps became as unpredictable as flowing water, yet within the cramped room, they conjured a sense of boundless space. His speed had also improved noticeably.

"The second layer, Flowing Cloud Surge—mastered too!" Shen Hao stopped abruptly, a thrilled smile lighting up his face. He could clearly sense that his movement speed had increased by another ten percent, for a total of twenty percent. Though still far from the peak of the Flowing Cloud Steps, this was already a huge leap forward.

He didn't push on to the third layer. He knew that haste makes waste. Cultivating the Flowing Cloud Steps required gradual progress and a solid foundation. Only by honing the first two layers to perfection and integrating them thoroughly could he attempt the third; otherwise, he'd only achieve half the results with twice the effort, or even damage his meridians.

He walked to the Jade Bed, sat cross-legged, and took out the Companion Jade Pendant, infusing it with a wisp of Spiritual Power. A cyan light flickered, and the Spirit Devouring Vortex in his dantian began to rotate slowly, drawing in the free-floating Spiritual Energy from the air. The Spiritual Energy poured into his body in an endless stream, purified by the pendant into refined Spiritual Power, which merged into his Sea of Qi, replenishing his expended energy.

He needed to recover his depleted Spiritual Power quickly, then continue practicing the Ziyang Inner Sect Basic Qi Cultivation Art to raise his cultivation base. After all, footwork was only an aid; cultivation base was the foundation. Only by strengthening his cultivation could he fully unleash the power of the Flowing Cloud Steps.