Rapid Progress

After simplifying it, he could raise Treading Mountains and Rivers' proficiency by practicing Roaming Mountains and Rivers. But what if he performed Treading Mountains and Rivers itself?

Would his proficiency increase, not increase at all, or would he only get the benefits of ordinary training?

Chen Yue decided to run a simple test.

Having made up his mind, Chen Yue focused on the method of channeling force and the shifting footwork of Treading Mountains and Rivers in his mind. He lowered his hips slightly, shifting his center of gravity onto the balls of his feet.

In the next instant, Chen Yue took a step forward. An explosive force slammed into the ground, making the green bricks beneath his feet tremble with a dull thud. His body seemed to be flung forward by an invisible bowstring, instantly covering a distance of ten feet.

Then came the second step, the third...

His steps flowed one after another, each one as heavy as a giant elephant treading the earth, stirring up faint clouds of dust. His movements were so fast they dazzled the eye!

And Chen Yue's path was no straight line. Even at such extreme speed, his movements contained subtle, unpredictable turns, like turbulent rapids racing down a mountain stream, parting around rocks and finding their way through narrow gaps—nimble and inscrutable.

When he reached the seventh step, Chen Yue let out a sharp shout and ground his right foot hard against the flagstones. Harnessing the tremendous force of the rebound, he wrenched his body a foot into the air and executed a remarkably precise twist and change of direction midair.

Like a giant eagle wheeling around, his eighth step landed firmly thirty feet away. His breathing was steady, his figure standing firm as a mountain.

This footwork was as swift as rolling thunder, as elusive as a ghost, and as solid as a mountain—all three qualities fused perfectly into one!

At the edge of the training yard, Zhou Jingfeng's hand, which had been holding his teacup loosely, had tightened slightly at some point.

Watching Chen Yue's fluid movements—nothing like those of someone practicing them for the first time—his eyes blazed with an irrepressible light.

Although Chen Yue's footwork clearly drew heavily on the foundations and flowing turns of Roaming Mountains and Rivers, making Eight-Step Cicada Chase somewhat less purely explosive, that did nothing to obscure the truth: Chen Yue had seen it only once, yet had already grasped its core principles and could perform it with such effortless fluidity.

Such comprehension was practically inconceivable!

Standing just behind Zhou Jingfeng's shoulder, Yu Kan's mouth had fallen slightly open without his noticing. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight.

In the training yard, Chen Yue finished performing Treading Mountains and Rivers several times and slowly came to a stop. He appeared to be regulating his breathing, but in truth, he was checking his status panel.

[Treading Mountains and Rivers (Perfected 9581/20000)]

It had been 9521 before, and now it was 9551. After just a few rounds of practice, his proficiency had increased by 30 points! On average, each complete round earned him about 10 points of proficiency!

Chen Yue's eyes brightened slightly. Practicing Treading Mountains and Rivers itself could also increase its proficiency.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Jingfeng clapped his hands and laughed, genuine delight almost overflowing from his face. "Chen Yue, you've already grasped the essence of Eight-Step Cicada Chase. More impressive still, you've blended it with your own understanding and made it your own. Excellent! Keep practicing it diligently, just as you did today."

Watching his master's joyous expression, Yu Kan felt both pride and a faint bitterness at being completely overshadowed by a genius.

His gaze swept around the courtyard almost unconsciously, and he suddenly realized that ever since Chen Yue had begun practicing his footwork, his junior brother Ma Jun had slipped away without anyone noticing. He was nowhere to be seen.

"That guy... sure ran fast." Yu Kan couldn't help laughing.

Ma Jun had always been a little less talented and strong-willed than his fellow disciples. He must have known that if he stayed, he would have to watch his junior brother's monstrous performance. Better not to see it at all, he'd probably decided, and gone off to find some peace and quiet.

Zhou Jingfeng's smile faded as he solemnly warned Chen Yue, "That Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder is potent and can easily damage your meridians and foundation. Too much of a good thing can be harmful. You must not use it before the proper time!"

"Yes, Master. I would never dare use it recklessly," Chen Yue replied gravely.

"Good. As long as you understand."

Zhou Jingfeng nodded in satisfaction, then continued, "I'm going to the Zhou Family to take care of a few odds and ends. That way, I can return sooner. In the meantime, if anything comes up at the martial arts school, or if you need anything in your daily life, talk to Yu Kan."

As he spoke, Zhou Jingfeng turned his gaze to Yu Kan. He said nothing more, but his meaning was plain.

Yu Kan hurriedly cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Master."

He knew perfectly well that in his master's eyes, this newly enrolled junior brother was now a bona fide treasure.

Zhou Jingfeng gave a few more instructions, then turned and left.

Chen Yue cupped his hands toward Yu Kan. "Senior Brother Yu, I can practice on my own. If I run into anything I can't figure out, I'll be sure to trouble you."

Yu Kan nodded. He didn't insist on staying, and turned to take care of other matters.

Alone in the courtyard, Chen Yue didn't immediately perform Treading Mountains and Rivers. Instead, he focused his thoughts, set his body in motion, and began practicing Roaming Mountains and Rivers, a technique that had long since become instinctive to him.

His steps flowed in smooth, rounded arcs, like a stream winding around rocks, as he darted lightly through the courtyard.

With every step, twist, and turn, the more exquisite, explosive methods of channeling force and shifting his body from Treading Mountains and Rivers naturally surfaced in Chen Yue's mind.

Each time he performed the technique, his understanding of Treading Mountains and Rivers deepened. Its mysterious changes of footwork and techniques for applying force soaked into his body's memory like spring rain nourishing the earth, becoming a deeper instinct.

After finishing a round of Roaming Mountains and Rivers, Chen Yue came to a stop and checked his status panel.

[Treading Mountains and Rivers (Perfected 9561/20000)]

His proficiency had increased by 10 points, exactly the same as after one full round of Treading Mountains and Rivers itself.

Chen Yue was a little surprised, but after thinking it over, he understood why.

Performing Treading Mountains and Rivers directly consumed far more stamina and inner breath than Roaming Mountains and Rivers, and demanded greater mental focus.

Both methods earned him 10 points of proficiency, but Treading Mountains and Rivers would surely require more time to rest and recover afterward.

Roaming Mountains and Rivers, on the other hand, had long since become instinctive. It was easy and natural to perform, with minimal exertion, so it was actually a more efficient way to earn proficiency!

It was like gaining the same experience for less energy, maximizing his training efficiency.

Having sorted out his thoughts, Chen Yue looked at the panel again.

"Simplify!"

"Mountain-Crushing Art simplifying... Simplification successful... Mountain-Crushing Art → Mountain-Climbing Art!"

A faint sensation of silver coins vanishing came over him. This left Chen Yue with barely any of his four-plus taels of silver, just a few copper coins.

Chen Yue glanced at the row of Plum Blossom Stakes of varying heights in the corner of the courtyard. An idea struck him, and he leaped onto them. Standing atop a round wooden post barely wide enough for one foot, he took a deep breath and split his attention in two.

Below him, he performed the Roaming Mountains and Rivers footwork. He moved across the smooth wooden posts as if walking on level ground, darting nimbly from one to another, now surging forward, now shifting sideways with uncanny speed. His balance was astonishing.

At the same time, Chen Yue's hands stayed busy. In the cramped space, he performed Mountain-Climbing Art, pressing or chopping, his fists heavy and controlled, his force contained but not revealed, subtly echoing the movements of his feet.

In an instant, profound insights into the shifting forms of Treading Mountains and Rivers, along with subtle understandings of the force of Mountain-Crushing Art and the flow of qi and blood, welled up continuously from his practice like two clear springs, flowing into Chen Yue's mind.

He quickly understood, absorbed, and digested them, until they became the memory of his muscles and the instinctive response of his body.