Carefree Wind-Riding Art: I, the Poetry-Reciting Immortal Venerable, King of Thieves

Heaven Sword Peak.

Jiang Li returned to his Cave Residence and immediately opened the panel.

Name: Jiang Li.

Identity: Disciple of Heaven Sword Peak, Heavenly Mystery Holy Land / the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's 350th possession vessel.

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 10.

Primary Cultivation Techniques: Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art, Emperor's World-Shocking Art.

Primary Spell: Dragon Slaying Sword.

Primary Movement Technique: Carefree Wind-Riding Art.

Looking at the information displayed on the panel, Jiang Li was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

An unprecedented Qi Refining Level 10 realm, the highest-grade Glazed-Tier Mana, a body tempered to rival the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, spells at the major mastery realm, the second realm of Sword Dao—within the Qi Refining stage, he had already reached the limit of this realm.

Perhaps someone could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, but no one could possibly surpass him.

He had already achieved the utmost perfection.

If he wanted to advance further, he could only undergo Foundation Establishment.

"Judging by what Master said, refining the Fire Spirit Mushroom into a pill—and producing a top-grade pill at that—will take at least another seven days. Just enough time to try out this Movement Technique that borders on a divine ability."

Jiang Li murmured.

"Activate the Cultivation Technique Growth Plan."

Activation successful.

Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" has begun taking action.

Jiang Li skillfully relinquished control of his body, allowing the Movement Technique to take over.

The complete Carefree Wind-Riding Art had no detailed adjustments compared to the half-volume he had obtained. It merely included cultivation methods for the major mastery and perfected realms.

Its core still lay in those four stages.

Chase the wind, merge with the wind, command the wind, become the wind.

Of course.

Concepts were concepts; reality was reality.

At the beginner stage, the Movement Technique could only increase a cultivator's speed, allowing them to erupt with a momentary burst of extreme velocity.

At minor mastery, one could cross ten zhang in an instant.

At major mastery, it was a hundred zhang.

Whether fleeing or pursuing an enemy, it could play a crucial role.

Just as he was thinking.

A cold mechanical electronic voice rang out.

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" believes that you are building a cart behind closed doors. To ride the wind, one must naturally go and experience the wind firsthand.

Jiang Li's body moved.

It walked straight out of the Cave Residence and headed beyond the sect.

Jiang Li: ...

Hey, now you were lecturing him?

Though he had long expected the system to interpret things literally, wouldn't chasing the wind make him look a little too eccentric?

But on second thought.

He was just a wind-chasing youth. He was not bothering anyone, nor was he trying to show off. He could accept that.

Before long.

Jiang Li appeared at the entrance of the Holy Land.

Usually, it was a plaza for the Spirit Boat rental platform, but today it was exceptionally lively.

One hundred and eight rainbow bridges stretched outward from the entrance of the Holy Land.

No one knew where they led.

One hundred and eight dazzling mystic mirrors floated in the air.

They displayed live scenes from the rainbow bridges.

In the images, disciples constantly raced along on flying swords. Some charged straight ahead, some interfered with competitors, some destroyed their competitors' Competition Tokens, and some created obstacles...

The plaza was packed with spectators.

Startled cries rang out from time to time.

There were even elders watching, placing bets and making investments.

Jiang Li: ?

Wait.

Was this the Flying Sword Competition his master had mentioned?

Why was it being held here?

Every year, Heavenly Mystery Holy Land held a sect-wide competition in a different style. Last year had been a marathon, the year before had been mountain climbing, the year before that had been demon beast hunting, and this year, it had become a Flying Sword Competition.

Participants were restricted to below the Golden Core stage.

Every participant received a consolation prize.

First place would receive a top-tier first-rank spirit artifact.

It was an old tradition.

But...

Jiang Li had never imagined that this event's location would overlap with the destination of the Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art."

Was he going to become the center of attention again?

A bad feeling rose in Jiang Li's heart.

After being an undercover agent for so long, he instinctively rejected anything that put him in the spotlight.

Especially in Heavenly Mystery Holy Land.

Just as he was thinking.

The body controlled by the Movement Technique had already stepped onto a rainbow bridge.

The cool breeze blew directly against his face.

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" personally experiences the flow of the wind. Progress +10%.

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" touches the form of the wind. Progress +10%.

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" simulates the wind's path of motion. Progress +10%.

Ding...

As the system prompts continued to sound, Jiang Li's steps grew lighter and lighter.

It was as though all the weight had been lifted from his body.

His speed increased faster and faster.

Several afterimages appeared behind him.

Jiang Li could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

In less than ten minutes, his Movement Technique progress had surged by 60%, and he was about to reach the beginner realm.

This efficiency was simply horrifying.

At this rate, he would reach perfection in just a few days.

Was this what a secret art that relied purely on comprehension and required no cultivation resources was like?

It was practically a perfect match for the system's autopilot mode.

Jiang Li had a feeling that this would be the fastest-progressing of all his cultivation techniques.

Besides.

The outward display of this Movement Technique could only be described as ordinary.

Other than himself, no one would pay it much attention.

Very nice.

On the one hundred and eighth rainbow bridge.

Jiang Li had reached the middle section.

He was already faster than many lagging Qi Refining stage disciples. His figure was like a phantom, leaving trails of afterimages behind him.

Yet he did not attract any attention.

After all.

The stars of this Flying Sword Competition were those Foundation Establishment Realm disciples riding flying swords.

The fastest among them were already nearing the finish line.

Their group of Qi Refining stage disciples were merely a bunch of weaklings pecking at one another. Hardly anyone paid them any mind.

It was at that moment.

The delightful system prompt sounded again.

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" has successfully comprehended the true meaning of wind. Its understanding of riding the wind carefree has deepened. A shepherd of the wind must act as the heart desires, uninhibited and unrestrained, forever enjoying the meaning of freedom and ease.

Carefree Wind-Riding Art has entered enlightenment. Movement Technique has reached minor mastery.

"Body like thistledown before the wind for a hundred years, heart like tides beneath the moon for ten thousand miles. Comprehend the true realm of freedom, and dance upon the green duckweed's tip till dawn."

A leisurely voice drifted out.

Jiang Li softly chanted.

Riding the wind, he rose into the air.

He did not rely on the advantage of a flying sword. Instead, he merged into the wind itself and used the breeze to fly.

It was clearly different from the normal version.

Jiang Li: ?

Huh?

Enlightenment was enlightenment, but why were you suddenly reciting poetry?

Jiang Li was a little flustered.

This sudden commotion had drawn the attention of the other competitors on the rainbow bridge. Seeing Jiang Li fly through the air without even reaching Foundation Establishment, their eyes filled with shock and envy.

Damn.

Fine, you could fly—but you had to recite poetry too?

Was that really necessary for showing off?

Even those Foundation Establishment disciples were not as good at putting on airs as you.

The many Qi Refining stage disciples were envious and jealous, secretly grumbling to themselves.

Then...

They saw that Jiang Li did not ride the wind away or pursue the person ahead of him. Instead, he transformed into a breeze and swept past them.

Just as they were baffled, Jiang Li's figure appeared again, and he suddenly chanted:

"Through a bag of ten thousand treasures I pass, not a trace stains my body. The whole city glares in fury, yet I have already toyed with the azure clouds."

As the words fell.

Jiang Li's figure became a breeze and drifted away.

Only a line of poetry remained.

The many disciples looked at one another.

They had no idea what it meant.

What did that mean?

Just then.

One of the disciples let out a shriek.

"My Competition Token! My Competition Token is gone!"

At those words.

The others' expressions changed, and they instinctively reached for their waists.

Without a Competition Token, they could not prove that they had participated in the Flying Sword Competition, and they would not receive the consolation prize.

This was the most direct way to eliminate opponents.

"Mine is gone too!"

"Mine too!"

"Fuck, that bastard took them! 'Through a bag of ten thousand treasures I pass, the whole city glares in fury'—he was even provoking us!"

This time.

Every disciple was furious.

He had stolen their Competition Tokens right in front of them, then left behind a poem to provoke them. That bastard deserved to die.

Was he not afraid of incurring public wrath?

"Chase him! Take back our Competition Tokens!"

At one call, the Qi Refining stage disciples all answered.

In a mighty swarm, they charged after Jiang Li. They had to recover their Competition Tokens, or they would not even receive a consolation prize.

Elsewhere.

Jiang Li stared at the system's actions in shock.

He felt like he was about to split apart.

Fuck.

He had misplaced his trust again.

He had thought this Movement Technique would merely chase the wind. Who would have thought it was actually a king of thieves?

And a flamboyant one that liked reciting poetry at that.

"System, what the hell? Is this how you understand carefree freedom? I told you to be uninhibited and unrestrained, not become a thief."

Ding! Movement Technique "Carefree Wind-Riding Art" has an accelerated heartbeat and feels intensely thrilled. It feels even more carefree and at ease. Cultivation Method Progress +10%.

Jiang Li nearly spat out blood.

This was over.

Before he had even officially become a Holy Son Candidate of Heavenly Mystery Holy Land, he was about to become the Holy Land's public enemy first.