Unique Skill, Huanri Technique

"I... the technique I practice is called the Huanri Technique. I obtained it by chance in a large tomb before I joined the Blood Wolf Gang."

"This is a supreme technique. I have the Body Tempering chapter on me. If you can spare my life, I can write down the Zhuqi Realm portion of the Huanri Technique for you."

Ma Wen gasped for air, his left hand trembling as he reached into his robes and pulled out a thin booklet, holding it above his head.

"A supreme technique?"

Chen Xuan felt a stir in his heart.

He took the booklet, opened it, and glanced through it.

The booklet was very thin, consisting of only a dozen pages.

The first page was a general outline, stating that this technique was derived from the Wuxiang Divine Technique, which had been studied by a great martial arts Grandmaster.

The Body Tempering chapter of the Huanri Technique did not possess much offensive power; it focused entirely on breath control. When cultivated to the peak, one could completely suppress their own aura, making them appear as lifeless as an object. If the Body Tempering chapter were perfected, it could even deceive the spiritual perception of experts at the seventh level of the Zhuqi Realm, the Tuotai Realm.

Once reaching the Zhuqi Realm chapter, beyond further advancements in breath concealment, one could also alter their appearance and simulate the true qi of other techniques. As long as one had fought against a martial artist, their true qi could be simulated and transformed.

If cultivated to the peak, even without having fought the person, one could simulate the corresponding true qi simply by knowing the technique they practiced.

The name "Huanri" (Changing the Sun) originated from this.

Ma Wen had only cultivated the Body Tempering chapter, yet that powerful ability to conceal his breath had allowed him, with his seventh-level Body Tempering cultivation, to lurk in the shadows and monitor Chen Xuan for so long without being discovered. The value of this technique was self-evident.

The Zhuqi Realm chapter offered even greater breath concealment, along with the ability to simulate the true qi and martial arts moves of other techniques.

What did this mean?

It meant that if someone mastered the Huanri Technique, they could disguise themselves as a disciple of any sect.

The appearance changes brought about by the Huanri Technique were different from ordinary disguise arts; they did not rely on human-skin masks or similar props, but rather on the actual transformation of one's own muscles and bones. Combined with the simulation of aura and true qi, there were basically no flaws to be found.

Today, one could be a disciple of the Guiyuan Sect; tomorrow, a disciple of the Ten Thousand Sword Villa; and the day after, a disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect.

The value of this technique went far beyond combat.

Framing others, infiltration, espionage...

In terms of combat, the Huanri Technique was not weak either.

Once the Huanri Technique reached the peak, it was equivalent to having mastered all supreme techniques. As long as one had come into contact with an opponent's true qi or obtained other supreme techniques, one could directly simulate the corresponding true qi and replicate their martial arts moves.

When locked in a life-and-death struggle, one would be ever-changing and unpredictable.

"Do you really have the Zhuqi Realm and Grandmaster Realm chapters?"

Chen Xuan asked.

If the Huanri Technique only had the Body Tempering chapter, it wouldn't be of much significance, but if it included the Zhuqi Realm or even the Grandmaster Realm chapters, the value would be entirely different.

"I do, I do," Ma Wen said hurriedly. "Before I joined the Blood Wolf Gang, I made a living by tomb raiding. I obtained this technique from a hidden, large tomb before I joined the gang."

"Inside the tomb lay a skeleton, likely the remains of some senior expert. The Huanri Technique was right beside the remains. But my aptitude was too poor; I only reached the seventh level of Body Tempering after twenty years of practice. I could only cultivate the Body Tempering portion, and even that was just the surface..."

"I know the principle that an innocent man is guilty of a crime because of his treasure, so I told everyone I only practiced a basic Breath Concealment Technique. I have never shown the full version of the Huanri Technique to anyone else."

"Have you memorized the entire Huanri Technique?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"Yes..." Ma Wen nodded. "The Zhuqi and Grandmaster chapters are in my head, memorized word for word. I was afraid the manual would be stolen, so I didn't dare write it down. As long as you spare my life, I can write the entire Huanri Technique out for you."

"Good." Chen Xuan nodded. "As long as the technique you write is correct, I will not kill you."

After saying this, Chen Xuan hauled Ma Wen up and returned to the branch headquarters.

In the courtyard.

Zhao Yuanshan was leading several gang members to clean up the remains left behind by Lei Hu. Most of the blood and gore on the ground had been shoveled away, and the bluestone slabs had been washed with water, but a thick, bloody stench still lingered in the air.

Seeing Chen Xuan return, Zhao Yuanshan straightened up. His gaze fell on Ma Wen, whom Chen Xuan was dragging, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Junior Brother Chen, is this an accomplice of the intruder?"

"He has something I want," Chen Xuan said. "Senior Brother Zhao, please have someone bring pen, ink, paper, and an inkstone to the study."

Zhao Yuanshan looked at Ma Wen, then back at Chen Xuan. He didn't ask further and turned to instruct the gang members nearby: "Go, bring pen, ink, paper, and an inkstone."

A gang member hurried away.

Before long, the gang member returned to the study carrying a tray with the writing supplies and an oil lamp.

"Write!"

Chen Xuan spread out the paper, dipped the brush in ink, and handed it to Ma Wen's left hand.

Ma Wen took the brush with his left hand, his hand trembling incessantly.

His right hand had been crushed by Chen Xuan; the bones were shattered, and the entire hand was swollen like a bun, completely useless.

Although his left hand was not his dominant hand, for a martial artist, it was barely sufficient for writing.

Ma Wen took a deep breath, struggling to calm himself, and then placed the tip of the brush onto the paper.

Soon, the first sheet of paper was filled with characters.

Although crooked and slanted, it was still legible.

An hour passed.

Only then did Ma Wen finish transcribing the Huanri Technique manual.

Chen Xuan gathered all the papers, arranged them in order, and read through them from beginning to end.

The Huanri Technique written by Ma Wen was extremely detailed, containing chapters for both the Zhuqi Realm and the Grandmaster Realm, ranging from the general outline to the mental cultivation methods, from the circulation paths of true qi to the critical points of practice, from the technique to conceal one's aura to the method of altering it, and from simulating true qi to mimicking martial arts, etc. It was comprehensive and lacked nothing.

Huanri Technique/Not yet initiated

After Chen Xuan read through the detailed explanation of this technique, it appeared on his panel, which indicated that the manual Ma Wen had transcribed was correct and could be accelerated using Zhaoxi Value.

"Can I go now?"

Ma Wen's voice rang out weakly.

"I said that as long as the technique is correct, I won't kill you." Chen Xuan said to Zhao Yuanshan outside the room, "Senior Brother Zhao, see him out."

Zhao Yuanshan walked into the study, glanced at Ma Wen, who was slumped in the chair, and then looked at Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze meeting Zhao Yuanshan's for a fleeting moment before shifting away.

That look was light and faint, but Zhao Yuanshan understood it.

"Let's go!"

Zhao Yuanshan stepped forward, supporting Ma Wen with one hand and holding his waist with the other, hoisting him up from the chair.

Ma Wen's lumbar spine was already broken, and his lower body was completely unresponsive, leaving him hanging on Zhao Yuanshan like a pile of mud.

"Tha... thank you..."

Ma Wen's voice was so weak it was almost inaudible, but his eyes were filled with the relief of having survived a disaster; he believed that Chen Xuan would really let him go and that his life had been spared.

Zhao Yuanshan did not speak, supporting him as he walked out of the study, crossed the courtyard, and headed toward the entrance of the branch.

Moonlight spilled onto the bluestone path, stretching their shadows long.

When they reached the entrance of the branch, Zhao Yuanshan stopped.

"Zhao... Master Zhao..." Ma Wen raised his head, looking at Zhao Yuanshan, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes, "Why did you stop?"

Zhao Yuanshan lowered his head and looked at him.

"Junior Brother Chen promised not to kill you." Zhao Yuanshan's voice was very calm, "But I never said I would let you leave."

Ma Wen's pupils shrank, his mouth opening as if to say something.

Zhao Yuanshan's right hand had already gripped his neck.

"Snap—"

A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed in the night sky, short and dull.

Ma Wen's eyes widened, his mouth agape, but he could no longer make a sound; his body twitched once, then went completely limp.

Zhao Yuanshan let go, and Ma Wen's corpse slid to the ground, sprawling on the steps of the branch entrance.

"Take him away." Zhao Yuanshan instructed the guards at the door, "Throw him outside the town and bury him; don't let anyone see."

"Yes!"

Immediately, two guards stepped forward, lifted Ma Wen's corpse, and quickly disappeared into the night.