Azure Cloud Maze

Hearing Elder Wu's words, Qin Fengming found himself involuntarily drawn in. Such a wondrous and inconceivable Lightness Skill went far too much against common sense...www..com...

"Elder Wu, may I ask where this skill is now? I would like to study it a little."

"This skill is in the treasure vault of this estate. You may go there and look for it yourself. No one here will stop you." Seeing Qin Fengming show such interest, Elder Wu gave a chuckle.

Qin Fengming bowed and saluted, then impatiently took his leave of Elder Wu. Turning around, he headed straight for the treasure vault within the estate.

When he had first arrived at this courtyard, Qin Fengming had already seen where the treasure vault was.

Watching Qin Fengming hurry away, Elder Wu could not help but chuckle twice. He muttered under his breath:

"Another youngster who doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is. This skill has been left in the treasure vault for several hundred years, yet only a handful of people have ever truly mastered it. If it were easy to learn, it wouldn't be called an impossibly difficult skill."

Regardless of what Elder Wu thought, Qin Fengming went straight to the treasure vault's door. He bowed to the two large men in purple shirts standing on either side and respectfully said, "Junior Brother Qin Fengming wishes to enter and find a set of martial arts techniques. Senior Brothers, please do me this favor."

The two large men looked at Qin Fengming, merely nodding without saying a word or stopping him.

Although he did not know why the two men neither questioned nor stopped him, since they were allowing him to enter, Qin Fengming did not hesitate. He pushed open the doors with both hands and entered the treasure vault.

The treasure vault was extremely spacious, covering several zhang on each side. Five bookshelves stood in the center, each divided into upper, middle, and lower compartments, with dozens or even hundreds of books placed in every compartment.

Looking at the sheer number of books, Qin Fengming was overjoyed. There were far more books here than he had seen in the Elite Hall back then.

He walked to the first bookshelf, casually picked up a book, and flipped it open. It was a collection of insights into Jade Maiden Swordplay, written by a woman named Du Yuting. The contents were extremely detailed, but unfortunately, he had never practiced this swordplay.

The next three books he picked up in succession were all records of martial arts insights and experiences.

If someone who practiced the corresponding martial arts came across these insights, they would certainly be thrilled. As long as they fully understood these books, their own martial arts would undoubtedly improve greatly.

However, these insights were not Qin Fengming's purpose in coming here.

He examined the bookshelves one by one. The martial arts, internal arts, weapons, and other techniques within them varied widely, and all were lost arts that had vanished from the world. Yet he still did not find the Azure Cloud Maze technique.

It was not until Qin Fengming reached the fourth bookshelf that he discovered it contained Lightness Skill and vertical-leaping techniques.

After flipping through dozens of books in succession, he finally found a book bearing the words "Azure Cloud Maze" in a corner of the bottom compartment. Without even looking through it, he took the manual and excitedly hurried back to Elder Wu.

Seeing Qin Fengming's delighted expression, Elder Wu naturally knew that he must have found the manual. However, he did not say anything more about how difficult the technique was to practice.

"Thank you for pointing me in the right direction, Elder Wu. I found the manual for the Azure Cloud Maze technique in the treasure vault. However, I have one more matter I need to trouble you with."

"I wonder what else you need this old man to help with? Just tell me." Hearing the young man before him say this, Elder Wu asked with some surprise. Now that he had found the technique, he naturally would not be looking for another martial art to practice.

"Disciple has some items that need to be made by a craftsman. I wonder if Elder Wu could help?" As Qin Fengming spoke, he flipped his hand and pulled a stack of blueprints from his pocket. They were the component drawings for Cold Star that he had prepared long ago. He then respectfully handed them to Elder Wu.

Elder Wu accepted the blueprints with a puzzled look. After studying them carefully, he understood what they were for. He pondered briefly, then immediately nodded and said:

"These are blueprints for a concealed weapon. Making it will not be difficult. Our sect has craftsmen who specialize in forging weapons, and their skills are exceptionally high. Making these components will be well within their ability. However, finding the materials needed to refine the core components will take some time. Still, you can rest assured. At least a few months, at most half a year—we will certainly have them finished."

"Then I will have to trouble you, Elder. I am deeply grateful."

After taking his leave of Elder Wu and returning to his residence, Qin Fengming immediately took out the Azure Cloud Maze manual and began studying it carefully.

This single look lasted for five full days. During those five days, aside from eating and sleeping, Qin Fengming devoted himself entirely to studying the technique's manual. As his understanding of the technique deepened day by day, the expression on his face grew increasingly solemn.

By the sixth day, Qin Fengming gently put away the manual, his brows tightly furrowed and his face plainly filled with confusion. After studying it carefully, he found the manual extraordinarily unbelievable. Everything it described had completely overturned his understanding.

Just as Elder Wu had said, once this technique was successfully cultivated, it required not the slightest bit of internal energy. One could still rise into the air and leap rapidly through it. Such an uncanny technique was like asking someone with no strength to bind a chicken to swing a several-dozen-jin iron staff—it was simply too unreasonable a demand.

In just a few days, Qin Fengming had not yet seen through the mysteries of the technique, but he had not given up on it in the slightest. Though he was young, his mind was exceptionally tenacious. From then on, Qin Fengming began pondering the mysteries of the Azure Cloud Maze at every moment...

In the blink of an eye, a month passed. Qin Fengming had made no progress whatsoever with the technique and had not the slightest clue.

Another month passed, yet he still had not advanced an inch.

From then on, Qin Fengming became practically obsessed. Whether he was eating or sleeping, the only thing occupying his mind was the Azure Cloud Maze technique.

One day half a year later, Qin Fengming was sitting beside the stream before the courtyard, his face faintly dull.

Suddenly, Qin Fengming sprang to his feet. He quickly took out the manual and read through it once. Then he closed his eyes, his mind becoming utterly clear and empty. He remained seated like that for several hours.

Even when the boy who delivered his meals quietly came to his residence, saw the untouched food, shook his head, and gathered up the bowls and chopsticks before leaving, Qin Fengming did not awaken.

It was not until deep into the night that Qin Fengming suddenly rose to his full height. Brilliant light flashed in his eyes, and his face was filled with delight. He opened his mouth and let out a long howl. Within that howl, the gloom that had shrouded him for months was swept away...

Half a month later, when Elder Wu brought the completed concealed-weapon components and several dozen Heart-Questioning Nails to the rear mountain of Rosy Cloud Peak, he saw from afar a figure flickering ceaselessly through the mountain forest.

The figure appeared sometimes in the east and sometimes in the west, drifting unpredictably. It was like a ghost, and its speed was so fast that it seemed almost to teleport.

Standing blankly in the distance and watching the shifting figure, Elder Wu, who had seen much of the world, was utterly shocked. He knew clearly that the young Qin Fengming had undoubtedly mastered the Azure Cloud Maze movement technique.

Seeing Elder Wu arrive, Qin Fengming's figure swayed. In scarcely a few blinks, he had leaped dozens of zhang and stopped before Elder Wu.

"Disciple greets Elder Wu. May I ask whether you have come with good news to tell Fengming?"

Looking at the young teenager of thirteen or fourteen before him, Elder Wu's face showed both surprise and delight. Yet he answered a different question instead:

"I never imagined that you would actually succeed in cultivating the Azure Cloud Maze movement technique. This is the most joyous event our sect has seen in several hundred years."

"Disciple was merely fortunate enough to glimpse the path. I am still far from having truly mastered it, so I do not deserve such praise from Elder Wu. May I ask why you have come looking for me?" Qin Fengming said calmly, a modest expression on his face.