Rapid Progress

After simplifying it, using Roaming Mountains and Rivers to raise the proficiency of Treading Mountains and Rivers—what about directly performing Treading Mountains and Rivers itself?

Would proficiency increase, not increase at all, or only yield ordinary training effects?

Chen Yue decided to run a simple test.

With his intent set, Chen Yue felt the force application method and body-shifting principles of Treading Mountains and Rivers in his mind, slightly sinking his waist, centering his weight on the balls of his feet.

The next instant, Chen Yue took a step forward. An explosive force struck the ground, the blue brick beneath his foot vibrating with a dull thud. His body shot forward as if launched by an invisible bowstring, instantly crossing a distance of one zhang.

Then, the second step, the third step...

Step after step in rapid succession, each one heavy as a giant elephant stomping the earth, stirring up fine dust from the ground, while his speed blurred into a dizzying spectacle!

Moreover, Chen Yue's trajectory wasn't a straight line. Within that extreme velocity, it contained unpredictable, subtle shifts, like a mountain torrent crashing against rocks—splitting on impact, slipping through gaps, agile and unfathomable.

When he reached the seventh step, Chen Yue let out a crisp shout, grinding his right foot heavily against the blue stone floor. Using the immense recoil force, he wrenched his body a full foot into the air, completing a flawlessly intricate twist and turn mid-flight.

Like a giant eagle wheeling back, the eighth step landed steadily three zhang away, his breath long and even, his stance as solid as a mountain.

This set of footwork unfolded—swift as thunder, shifting like a ghost, heavy as a peak—all three aspects perfectly fused into one!

At the edge of the field, Zhou Jingfeng's hand, which had been loosely holding a teacup, had unknowingly tightened.

He watched Chen Yue's fluid movements, which in no way resembled a first-time practice, and a dazzling light burst uncontrollably from his eyes.

Though Chen Yue's steps clearly carried a strong foundation and circular intent from Roaming Mountains and Rivers, making this Eight-Step Cicada Chase somewhat less purely explosive, it still couldn't obscure one fact: Chen Yue had only watched it once, yet had already grasped the core essence of Eight-Step Cicada Chase and could perform it so seamlessly.

This comprehension ability was simply beyond belief!

Yu Kan stood behind Zhou Jingfeng, his mouth unconsciously hanging slightly open, as if he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight.

In the field, Chen Yue had just finished performing Treading Mountains and Rivers in full several times, slowly drawing to a close. He appeared to be adjusting his breath, but in truth, he looked at the panel.

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

Previously 9521, now 9551. Just a few rounds of practice, and proficiency had directly increased by 30 points! On average, each complete performance yielded about 10 points of proficiency!

A faint gleam lit up Chen Yue's eyes. Directly cultivating Treading Mountains and Rivers itself could also bring proficiency growth.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Jingfeng clapped his hands and laughed, the genuine joy on his face nearly overflowing. "Chen Yue, you've already grasped the true essence of this Eight-Step Cicada Chase. What's rarer is that you've integrated your own understanding and made it your own. Excellent! From now on, just practice diligently like this."

Beside him, Yu Kan watched his master's delighted expression, feeling both a shared pride and a faint bitterness at being utterly overshadowed by the brilliance of genius.

His gaze swept the courtyard unconsciously, and he suddenly noticed that from the moment Chen Yue started practicing, his junior brother Ma Jun had quietly slipped away at some point, now nowhere to be seen.

"That guy... sure ran fast." Yu Kan let out a wry laugh.

Ma Jun's talent and temperament had always been slightly inferior among the disciples. He'd probably foreseen that staying here meant watching the little junior's monstrous performance, so he'd simply turned a blind eye and sought peace.

Zhou Jingfeng's smile faded, and he spoke to Chen Yue with a serious tone. "That Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder has a fierce medicinal effect; it can easily damage the meridians' foundation. Too much is as bad as too little. Don't use it until the time is right!"

"Yes, disciple would never dare act recklessly." Chen Yue replied solemnly.

"Mm, good that you understand."

Zhou Jingfeng nodded in satisfaction, then added, "Your master will go to the Zhou Family now to handle some trivial matters, so I can return sooner. During this time, if you need anything for the martial hall or daily life, tell Yu Kan."

With that, Zhou Jingfeng's gaze shifted to Yu Kan. Though he said nothing more, the meaning in his eyes was clear.

Yu Kan quickly cupped his hands. "Master, rest assured."

He knew full well that in his master's heart now, this newly inducted junior disciple was a true treasure.

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

Chen Yue cupped his hands toward Yu Kan. "Senior Brother Yu, I'll just train on my own. If I truly encounter something I can't solve, I'll certainly trouble you."

Yu Kan nodded, didn't insist on staying, and turned to handle other matters.

Only Chen Yue remained in the courtyard. He didn't immediately perform Treading Mountains and Rivers. Instead, with a thought, he unfolded his body and began executing Roaming Mountains and Rivers, a technique long ingrained in his instincts.

His steps were smooth and circular, like a stream winding around stones, his form weaving lightly through the yard.

With every step, twist, and turn, images of the more refined, more explosive force application and body-shifting methods of Treading Mountains and Rivers naturally surfaced in his mind.

Each performance deepened his understanding of Treading Mountains and Rivers. Those mysterious step variations and power techniques, like spring rain moistening the earth, silently seeped into his body memory, becoming a deeper instinct.

After one full round of Roaming Mountains and Rivers, Chen Yue stopped and stood still, turning his mind to the panel.

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

Proficiency had increased by 10 points, exactly the same effect as performing Treading Mountains and Rivers once directly.

Chen Yue was slightly surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood the key.

Directly performing Treading Mountains and Rivers consumed far more physical strength, internal energy, and mental focus than Roaming Mountains and Rivers.

Both yielded 10 proficiency points, but Treading Mountains and Rivers would require much longer to recover and regulate his breath.

Roaming Mountains and Rivers, already practiced to instinct, was effortless to perform, with minimal consumption, making its proficiency-gathering efficiency actually higher!

This meant using less energy to gain the same experience, maximizing training efficiency.

With his thoughts clear, Chen Yue looked at the panel again.

"Simplify!"

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

The subtle sensation of silver vanishing came through. By now, the four taels or so of silver on Chen Yue were nearly spent, leaving only a few copper coins.

Chen Yue's gaze swept over the row of Plum Blossom Stakes of varying heights in the corner of the courtyard. A thought stirred, and he leaped up onto them. Standing on a round stake just wide enough for one foot, he took a deep breath and split his focus in two.

Beneath his feet, the Roaming Mountains and Rivers footwork unfolded. His form moved across the smooth wooden stakes as if on level ground, darting nimbly—sometimes charging forward at speed, sometimes sidestepping with deceptive grace—steady to an unbelievable degree.

At the same time, Chen Yue's hands were not idle. Within the cramped space, he executed the Mountain-Climbing Art, pressing or chopping with fists heavy and condensed, his force concealed yet present, subtly echoing the footwork below.

In that instant, profound insights into the shifting mysteries of the Treading Mountains and Rivers movement technique, along with the subtle understanding of how the Mountain-Crushing Art's fist force flowed and his blood and qi surged, arose like two clear streams, ceaselessly born from the practice and pouring into Chen Yue's sea of consciousness.

They were swiftly understood, absorbed, and digested by him, ultimately transforming into muscle memory and instinctive reactions.