Li Yanshan had never expected Fang Chen to have such a gift for Footwork. Genius no longer covered it. He was a monster.
The speed and agility Fang Chen displayed now surpassed even Li Yanshan's, despite his third-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivation.
If they fought now, Li Yanshan might not even be able to touch him.
With the Misty Turtle Step, Fang Chen could probably protect himself even if he ran into Zhang Tielin.
After running for a while, Fang Chen came over and looked at Li Yanshan expectantly. "Uncle Li, how was that?"
"Ahem..."
Li Yanshan cleared his throat and put on an unruffled expression. "So-so."
Fang Chen pressed him at once. "Then can you lend me some other manuals now, Uncle Li? I want to learn swordsmanship!"
The Misty Turtle Step had given Fang Chen speed and agility, but he still lacked a way to attack.
Li Yanshan stroked his chin. "You want to learn swordsmanship?"
"Mm!"
Fang Chen nodded vigorously.
"In the Glazed Sword Sect, nearly every peak, whether in the inner or outer sect, has Inheritance Stone Tablets or caves. The tablets and cave walls hold sword techniques and secret arts left by the sect's experts. Dog Head Ridge has one too!"
"Dog Head Ridge does?"
Fang Chen's eyes brightened.
Li Yanshan nodded. "Yes. If you want to learn swordsmanship, go to the top of Dog Head Ridge. There's a huge stone up there with an advanced sword technique carved into it. See if you can comprehend it. Elder Yun and I haven't been up there in ages, though, so weeds and trees have swallowed the path. You'll have to find your own way. There's a Stone House at the summit where you can rest when you're tired. You'd best take food and bedding and stay up there for a while. Come with me; I'll give you some provisions."
Li Yanshan headed toward his quarters.
Fang Chen followed and waited outside the Stone House.
Li Yanshan went inside the Stone House. A little later, he returned with a cloth bag and a large bundle. "There are more than a dozen Spirit Wheat Flatbreads in the small bag. They're very filling—even a Qi Refining Realm cultivator could go at least three days without eating after half of one. There's some dried meat too. Take these for now and come back for more if you need it. The bundle has a straw mat, a quilt, and two firestones. If it gets cold up there, you can make a fire."
"Thank you, Uncle Li!"
Fang Chen accepted the bag and bundle, then bowed slightly in thanks.
Li Yanshan took a black porcelain bottle from his robe and handed it over. "This holds cooling water. There are poisonous insects and wasps on the mountain. Their stings won't kill you, but they'll hurt. Rub this on the wound to ease the pain."
"Thank you, Uncle Li!"
After thanking him again, Fang Chen set off up the mountain with the bag in his arms and the bundle on his back.
Once Fang Chen was out of sight, Elder Yun emerged slowly, leaning on his cane. He looked up the mountain and asked Li Yanshan, "What did that boy want with you this time?"
"He came asking for manuals. I gave him the Misty Turtle Step just now, and he mastered it in less than One Hour! I've sent him to the summit to see whether he can learn the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique."
"What? He mastered the Misty Turtle Step in less than One Hour?"
Elder Yun stared at Li Yanshan in disbelief. He had given Li Yanshan the technique and had practiced it himself. He knew exactly how difficult it was.
Forget One Hour. Anyone who mastered the Misty Turtle Step within ten years could be called a genius.
His first thought was that Li Yanshan was joking.
But they had known each other for decades. Elder Yun knew Li Yanshan would never joke about something like this.
He could not help asking, "Did the boy really master the Misty Turtle Step?"
"Yes."
Li Yanshan nodded. "He may not have a Spiritual Root, but his talent for Footwork is terrifying."
"Hahaha..."
Elder Yun burst out laughing. "Looks like Dog Head Ridge has found itself a treasure!"
Li Yanshan nodded, then frowned. "If the boy proves too exceptional, I'm afraid he won't stay on Dog Head Ridge long."
"What's there to fear? If he's truly a genius, he'll leave Dog Head Ridge sooner or later!"
Elder Yun walked over to Little Donkey, leaning on his cane, and swung himself onto its back. "I'm going to the market. Don't expect me back for dinner."
"All right!"
Li Yanshan nodded.
Elder Yun rode off on Little Donkey, with Xiao Liu the black dog following along.
Meanwhile, Fang Chen climbed the mountain path with the bundle on his back.
After One Incense Stick, weeds and trees blocked his way. He tucked the cloth bag into the bundle on his back, summoned the Floating Immortal Sword, and began cutting through them.
Swish, swish, swish...
The Floating Immortal Sword was so sharp that a light swing severed the saplings and weeds before him. Wisps of cool energy flowed through its hilt into his palm, then surged along his Meridians throughout his body.
Looking inward, Fang Chen saw countless green motes of light enter his dantian. He immediately activated the Glazed Qi Refining Art, and the Vortex within his dantian spun faster.
For those who had a Spiritual Root, it appeared at the center of their True Qi Vortex. Its help gave the spinning Vortex a stronger pull on the surrounding Spiritual Qi, allowing them to absorb it faster. It also helped them refine the Spiritual Qi entering their bodies more quickly.
Fang Chen had no Spiritual Root, so the center of his Vortex was empty.
But when he swung the Floating Immortal Sword to cut something, the Spiritual Power flowing from the sword into his body made his Vortex spin faster. It increased both the rate at which he absorbed Spiritual Qi from his surroundings and the rate at which he refined it.
One Hour later, the sun was setting.
Fang Chen finally reached the summit of Dog Head Ridge.
There were few trees at the broad summit. He spotted a stone three zhang tall, covered in moss and surrounded by Thatch Grass taller than a person.
Beside it stood a small Stone House. The hut was damaged, and weeds choked its entrance.
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