After thinking of the formula for movement techniques, Li Xuan came before the Bagua and said, "Disciple, you've been training hard these past few days. Your speed has improved, and your footwork has become much lighter and more agile.
"But you're still a long way from comprehending a movement technique.
"Now that you've gained some understanding of the path of movement techniques, it's time for me to teach you the formula.
"Listen carefully and remember it."
Xu Yan halted his movement and said excitedly, "Yes, Master!"
"The strength of movement techniques lies in lightness and speed. When light, they leave neither sound nor trace; when fast, they are like lightning..."
Li Xuan spoke in the tone of a lofty expert.
Xu Yan listened thoughtfully. Vaguely, he seemed to understand how he should go about comprehending a movement technique.
"As light as a swan's feather drifting down with a falling leaf, as swift as rolling thunder, leaving no shadow!"
Li Xuan recited the formula he had just cobbled together, one word at a time.
"Disciple, go and comprehend this formula properly!"
With that, he turned and left with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, Master!"
Xu Yan bowed.
Li Xuan had cobbled together two lines of formula for Xu Yan. Whether he could comprehend a movement technique next would depend on Xu Yan himself.
Still, Li Xuan believed his disciple would not disappoint him.
Xu Yan's mind was filled with those two lines. The more he pondered them, the more profound they seemed.
He looked up and saw that his master had already left. Just as he was about to continue cultivating, he suddenly froze.
"Master said that the strength of movement techniques lies in lightness and speed...
"What is this? Master's steps are so carefree, so light and at ease..."
When Xu Yan watched his master leave, he saw him walking with his hands behind his back, his steps leisurely and contented, exuding an indescribable ease.
"Master's steps are so leisurely. Did he inadvertently reveal a movement technique?
"No! Master's realm is so high that he has long since returned to simplicity. He appears to be walking slowly, but in truth, his steps conceal the supreme mysteries of movement techniques.
"As they say, teaching is done through both words and example. Master just taught me the formula, and these leisurely steps are his way of teaching by example?
"That's right! It must be so. I must comprehend the profound meaning contained in Master's steps!"
After a bout of wild speculation, Xu Yan's spirits soared.
He immediately fixed his eyes on his master's steps. He saw an indescribable leisure in them. Within their lightness and quickness was an even greater freedom and uninhibited ease!
The more he watched, the more he felt that his master's steps concealed the mysteries of movement techniques.
"As light as a swan's feather drifting down with a falling leaf, as swift as rolling thunder, leaving no shadow... I'm beginning to understand."
As Xu Yan stared at his master's steps, a spark of inspiration seemed to gradually surface in his mind. Those leisurely, light, quick, and uninhibited steps merged with the formula.
He vaguely seemed to comprehend something.
By then, Li Xuan's figure had already disappeared from Xu Yan's sight.
Li Xuan was in excellent spirits. He had cobbled together two more lines of formula and passed them to his disciple. Before long, he would be able to receive feedback on the movement technique.
Thus, as he walked, his steps were leisurely and unconstrained, and his entire person felt as if he were floating on air. He even felt like humming a couple of songs.
He had no idea that his carefree, unrestrained steps had been seen by Xu Yan, who had launched into a bout of self-generated speculation and was trying to comprehend the mysteries hidden in those steps.
Ever since Xu Yan had imagined that his master's steps concealed profound mysteries, whenever he comprehended the formula or cultivated the movement technique, those carefree, relaxed, and leisurely steps would continually surface in his mind.
Combined with the formula, his comprehension brought him new gains one after another.
It felt as though he only needed to pierce through a single layer of paper to comprehend a powerful movement technique.
Within the Bagua diagram, Xu Yan's steps became lighter and quicker. His feet landed without a sound, his turns became smoother, and when he leaped, he possessed an air of floating grace.
His figure drifted and darted across the Bagua, his steps growing lighter and lighter, his speed constantly increasing.
"Faster!
"I feel like I'm only a tiny step away from comprehending a movement technique."
Xu Yan's gaze was resolute.
At a certain moment, only his master's leisurely, carefree, and uninhibited steps remained in his mind. They gradually became more profound and clearer.
A realization surged into his heart.
"As light as a swan's feather drifting down with a falling leaf, as swift as rolling thunder, leaving no shadow... I'm beginning to understand. Light as drifting swan feathers, floating soundlessly; rolling thunder lasts but an instant... This shall be called Light Swan Movement Technique.
"Although I haven't grasped its true essence, I've ultimately taken my first step into movement techniques.
"Light as drifting swan feathers, soundless and vanishing in an instant—Light Swan Movement Technique!"
At a certain moment, endless insights surged into Xu Yan's mind. In that instant, his figure began to flicker unpredictably.
With a single sway, he seemed to teleport, appearing in another position.
He landed without a sound, not even stirring a speck of dust.
His figure flickered incessantly within the Bagua diagram, growing faster and lighter. In the blink of an eye, he had shifted to another position.
Moreover, despite such astonishing speed, it did not produce even the slightest sound of wind.
As he flickered, he was as light as a swan's feather, leaving neither sound nor trace.
"I finally succeeded in cultivating Light Swan Movement Technique!"
Xu Yan was wildly excited.
He let out a long howl and shot into the air. In an instant, he was a hundred zhang away. Raising his hand, he unleashed a Dragon Subduing Palm, and a crimson dragon erupted with a thunderous boom, blasting a crater into the ground.
As Xu Yan's figure flickered, he unleashed Dragon Subduing Palm, appearing sometimes to the left and sometimes to the right, sometimes above and sometimes below. He shifted and darted around, changing positions in an instant, while Dragon Subduing Palm naturally blasted out from different directions in the same instant.
After comprehending a movement technique, Xu Yan's battle prowess soared instantly.
"Next, I have to train hard and advance to the minor mastery stage of the Qi and Blood Realm as soon as possible!"
Xu Yan was brimming with excitement.
"Your disciple successfully cultivated the movement technique you created and named it Light Swan Movement Technique. You directly attained great mastery of the movement technique, ten times stronger than others in the same realm."
On the third day after passing the formula to Xu Yan.
Li Xuan was sitting in a chair, playing with the Jade Ruyi.
Suddenly, golden light appeared.
In an instant, the mysteries of Light Swan Movement Technique surfaced in his mind, and he directly attained great mastery.
Li Xuan immediately stood up, excitement showing on his face.
"As expected, having a formula and not having one really makes all the difference.
"My disciple's talent is truly monstrous. As long as he has a formula, he can comprehend it.
"It wasn't in vain that I racked my brains to cobble together that formula.
"Looks like I can pass on the cultivation method for the Innate Realm to my disciple ahead of time, letting him familiarize himself with it and comprehend it in advance so he can strive to break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible."
With a movement of his feet, he became as light as a swan's feather, leaving neither sound nor trace, and in an instant had already left the little village.
His figure flickered, his speed astonishingly fast, yet he did not stir the slightest sound of wind, vanishing without a trace.
Still playing with the Jade Ruyi in his hand, Li Xuan had already arrived at the place where Xu Yan was cultivating.
He saw his disciple practicing his movement technique, constantly unleashing Dragon Subduing Palm, using the movement technique in conjunction with the palm technique to practice strategies for facing enemies.
"It's time for Master to show off again!"
A smile appeared on Li Xuan's face.
With a movement of his figure, he silently arrived behind Xu Yan.
With his cultivation at the great mastery stage of the Qi and Blood Realm, a strength a hundred times greater than others in the same realm, and great mastery of Light Swan Movement Technique, ten times stronger than others in the same realm, how could Xu Yan possibly sense his arrival?
Xu Yan was practicing excitedly, completely unaware that someone was behind him, following him as he shifted and darted about.
With both hands clasped behind his back, Li Xuan followed behind Xu Yan no matter how Xu Yan turned and leaped, moving without a sound. Xu Yan did not notice him in the slightest.
"Disciple, in a little while, I'll let you experience your master's might!"
A delighted smile appeared on his face.
Before you continue