A Trickle Becomes a Stream

Li Yuan's performance today had shocked everyone at the martial arts school. The disciples' faces were glowing with excitement. An Inner Force Realm cultivator had actually fought a True Qi Realm expert to a standstill, and every disciple in the school was discussing the strength of their newly appointed senior fellow disciple.

At that moment, Li Yuan had already arrived at the rear courtyard of the martial arts school.

This was where the school master, Qi Zhengyang, lived. Aside from Li Yuan and Qi Zhengyang, there was no one else here, so some things were easier to discuss.

"Li Yuan, you should be able to forcefully break through the mystic pass and enter the True Qi Realm at any time now, right?"

Qi Zhengyang's eyes were exceptionally sharp. He had seen through Li Yuan's current state at a glance. As long as Li Yuan could refine his inner force until it was fully mastered and strengthen his physique to a certain level, he could attempt to forcefully break through the mystic pass, open the first martial arts acupoint within his body, and condense true qi.

To put it bluntly, Li Yuan's current foundation was several levels stronger than Qi Zhengyang's had been when he broke through to the True Qi Realm. Li Yuan would have no trouble breaking through.

Li Yuan slowly nodded and admitted it directly. "Yes, I can enter the True Qi Realm at any time."

Qi Zhengyang slowly drew in a breath of cold air. His gaze at Li Yuan was exceedingly complicated. "It's been barely over a month since Vice School Master Feng Xiang died. Our Zhengyang Martial Arts School lost a True Qi Realm expert, yet I never expected someone to enter the True Qi Realm so soon."

"And that person... is actually you."

Qi Zhengyang's voice was filled with emotion. Li Yuan's revealed martial arts talent left him looking up from far below. Perhaps the wisest thing he had ever done in his life was taking Li Yuan into the school.

"When do you plan to forcefully break through the mystic pass and enter the True Qi Realm?"

Li Yuan answered honestly, "I'll wait a little longer. My strength can still improve a bit more."

Qi Zhengyang understood Li Yuan's intentions. The stronger one's physique was in the Inner Force Realm, the stronger the martial arts true qi condensed upon entering the True Qi Realm would be, and the greater one's potential.

Clearly, Li Yuan had set his sights quite high. Qi Zhengyang nodded in satisfaction. "It's good that you have your own plans. Then I won't interfere."

After a pause, Qi Zhengyang continued, "You're now the school's senior fellow disciple. You may receive one hundred taels of silver each month. When you travel outside, you also represent the martial arts school, so you must uphold its reputation and must not act recklessly."

The senior fellow disciple was an important target of the martial arts school's cultivation and enjoyed many benefits. Naturally, he also had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities. The words were entirely reasonable, and Li Yuan immediately replied, "Of course."

Qi Zhengyang nodded in satisfaction. "Since you can enter the True Qi Realm at any time, I'll pass on a High-grade martial art to you. Once you condense martial arts true qi, you'll be able to cultivate it whenever you wish."

As he spoke, Qi Zhengyang took a manual from his robes. At a glance, it was none other than the school master's prized technique, Cloud Stream Sword Record.

"I've noticed that you're skilled with your fists and feet, but unfortunately, the school doesn't have any High-grade martial arts focused on fists and feet. For now, you can only practice this Cloud Stream Sword Record."

There was a trace of regret in Qi Zhengyang's voice. He felt that the technique he was giving Li Yuan was not one suited to Li Yuan's strengths. The Zhengyang Martial Arts School was a small establishment, not a colossal organization like the Special Capture Division, where one could casually choose from countless techniques. Yet Qi Zhengyang did not know that Li Yuan had already intended to cultivate a sword art.

During their trip to Changgan, Zong Lin had let them choose any one Rune Soldier. Li Yuan had selected a Rune Soldier Longsword at the time, which complemented this Cloud Stream Sword Record perfectly.

Li Yuan had learned about it earlier. The Cloud Stream Sword Record was a sword art that also contained a fairly formidable lightness movement technique called Cloud Dragon Seven Folds.

This happened to align with Li Yuan's intentions. He had planned to cultivate another powerful lightness movement technique. Although his self-created Shocking Step was not bad, he always felt that it was missing something.

With lightness techniques, naturally, the stronger and more numerous, the better.

As the saying went, among all the martial arts under heaven, only speed was invincible. There was nothing wrong with moving a little faster. Lightness techniques were useful whether pursuing and killing enemies or retreating and escaping. If one was too slow, one might even end up in the awkward situation of a Dou Emperor expert being unable to catch a Dou Master.

Li Yuan accepted the Cloud Stream Sword Record and began flipping through it.

"You may only read this Cloud Stream Sword Record here. You must not take it out of the martial arts school, nor may you teach it to others without permission."

Li Yuan nodded. "Yes."

After flipping through the manual from beginning to end, Li Yuan handed it back to Qi Zhengyang. A new icon had already appeared on his personal panel.

Cloud Stream Sword Record (Not Initiated)

Seeing Li Yuan return the manual after only one reading, Qi Zhengyang did not take it to heart. With the other's heaven-defying martial arts aptitude, he had probably learned most of it after a single look.

"If there's anything you don't understand about this sword art, you can come ask me anytime."

It had to be said that Qi Zhengyang valued Li Yuan greatly. Li Yuan also sincerely thanked him. "Thank you, School Master. I'll take my leave now."

As Li Yuan was leaving, Qi Zhengyang seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. Regarding that Shocking Step you created yourself, you can consider submitting it to the Special Capture Division."

Submitting it to the Special Capture Division?

Li Yuan asked in puzzlement, "Why?"

Qi Zhengyang smiled faintly. "Your Shocking Step is quite good. If it's made public, many people will definitely come to learn it."

"If the Special Capture Division adds Shocking Step to its exchange catalog, then whenever someone exchanges for this footwork, you can receive thirty percent of the contribution points they spend!"

After Qi Zhengyang's explanation, Li Yuan understood the trick behind it.

If he handed Shocking Step to the Special Capture Division, he would receive a steady stream of contribution points in the future. It was far better than doing missions himself and laboring away. What he wanted was a small stream that would flow forever.

Shocking Step was his own creation. Li Yuan had every right to decide whether this lightness footwork should be kept private or used to generate income.

This is a good deal!

It had to be said that taking odd jobs and doing missions for the Special Capture Division was hard work. Naturally, he would not pass up an easy way to earn contribution points.

Although Shocking Step was decent, it had merely been something he had created on a whim. He felt no reluctance about handing it over. As long as he could sell it for a good price, there would be no problem.

As for whether someone would use Shocking Step against him, that was even more laughable.

Li Yuan was the creator of Shocking Step. He knew all of its strengths and all of its weaknesses. Moreover, any technique could be strengthened by him to the ultimate mastery level. Even if everyone cultivated the same technique, he, Li Yuan, would always be the strongest one.

After leaving the martial arts school, Li Yuan returned to his residence, fetched paper and a brush, and wrote down the principles and cultivation method of Shocking Step. He then found some paste and glued the sheets together, turning them into an extremely crude little booklet.

Li Yuan fiddled with the freshly made martial arts manual and flipped through it, always feeling that something was missing.

He took out another sheet of white paper and pasted it onto the first page of the booklet. Then he wrote two large characters on it: "Shocking Step."

He bit the tip of his brush, then wrote several smaller characters beneath "Shocking Step."

Created by Li Yuan.

"Perfect!"

Li Yuan was thoroughly satisfied. He picked up the manual, left the house, and headed toward the Special Capture Division.

After arriving at the Special Capture Division, Li Yuan found the three-story stone building where cultivation techniques were exchanged with ease. Two administrators were on duty at the entrance.

Qi Zhengyang had told Li Yuan that these two administrators handled the submission of martial arts techniques.

"Brothers, sorry for the trouble."

"I'm here to submit a martial arts technique to the Special Capture Division."

As he spoke, Li Yuan handed over the manual in his hand.

It was relatively rare for someone to submit a technique. One of the administrators was somewhat surprised. He accepted the little booklet from Li Yuan, then immediately froze.

"Shocking Step?"

He rubbed the writing on the cover. "It's still wet?"

Had this booklet just been written?

There were also several crooked little characters on the cover: Created by Li Yuan?

The entire booklet gave off an air of shoddy workmanship. Even if it had been placed on a street stall, no one would have bought it. Could this really be considered a martial arts manual?

The administrator holding the booklet looked at Li Yuan suspiciously. "May I ask where this manual came from...?"

Li Yuan gave a sheepish grin. "It's a technique I created myself. Also, my name is Li Yuan."

The administrator grew even more suspicious. He exchanged a glance with his colleague, and both of them found it rather unbelievable.

Creating a technique was not something just anyone could do.

Anyone capable of creating their own technique was a renowned martial arts authority in their region. Yet this young man had come along claiming that he had created a technique. Could this... really be trusted?

Could he have come here just to amuse himself?

The administrator did not casually flip through the Shocking Step manual. He placed the booklet on the long desk, cleared his throat, and said, "The two of us aren't qualified to judge the authenticity or quality of this Shocking Step. Therefore, we need to submit this manual to the Young Commander for his decision. What do you think?"

This was the truth. The two administrators on duty were only at the Inner Force Realm. Their martial arts foundation was worlds apart from that of the half-step True Essence Realm Young Commander, Chu Han. Having the Young Commander judge this matter was the most appropriate course of action.

If this young man had truly come only to fool around, he should turn back now. After all, he would gain nothing by making trouble before the Young Commander.

But Li Yuan's face showed no panic or retreat. He nodded. "Then I'll trouble you."

The administrator said no more. He rose and led the way deeper into the Special Capture Division.

At that moment, the Young Commander Chu Han and the Spirit Master Zong Lin were seated upright in a courtyard. Their expressions were solemn, as though some thorny problem had them troubled.

The administrator walked in and interrupted their conversation.

"Your Excellency Young Commander, someone named Li Yuan is asking to see you outside."

"He created a technique called 'Shocking Step' and wishes to submit it to the Special Capture Division."

Li Yuan?

Chu Han found the name somewhat familiar. Zong Lin, seated beside him, asked, "Is it the Li Yuan from the Zhengyang Martial Arts School?"

The administrator nodded. "It seems so."

Chu Han remembered who this person was. After Zong Lin had returned from Changgan, she had told him that a martial artist at the Inner Force Realm from the Zhengyang School named Li Yuan had killed a Half-step Blood Robe. Later, Yan Nian had also mentioned him, saying that Li Yuan possessed extraordinary potential.

This Li Yuan had even created a martial arts technique himself?

Interesting.

"Have him come in."

PS: Brothers and sisters, how do you think this book is so far? Please leave some comments.