Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps

Qiusheng strode into the front courtyard of the Public Mortuary and loudly greeted Uncle Nine.

"Master, I'm here."

With that shout, Wencai was finally freed.

Uncle Nine looked at the tardy Qiusheng but did not say much, merely gesturing for him to come over.

"Come, Qiusheng. Today, I'll teach you a set of footwork. Come learn it together with your junior brother."

Hearing his master call him, Qiusheng immediately grew interested. He eagerly ran to his master's side and stared at the Bagua Diagram Uncle Nine had drawn on the ground, inwardly clicking his tongue in amazement.

Damn, Master really is Master. This Bagua Diagram technique is practically lifelike.

As he marveled inwardly, Qiusheng carefully watched his master's steps as he paced back and forth across the Bagua Diagram, his eyes shining.

"One breath of primal chaos fills my form; Yu Steps advance and ascend to Yangming.

Heaven turns, earth revolves, treading the Six Jia; stepping on the Dipper and covering the Big Dipper, aligning the Nine Spirits.

The subduing finger points, demons fall and evils quake; the heavenly gods aid me in hiding myself, and all calamities shall never invade."

As Uncle Nine performed the Yu Steps, he softly recited the corresponding incantation, leaving Qiusheng utterly enthralled.

Very soon, Uncle Nine completed the entire set of Yu Steps three times. Afterward, he turned his gaze toward his two disciples.

"Did you both watch carefully? What I just demonstrated was the Daoist method of Pacing the Dipper. The footwork I used was the Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps among the Yu Steps. This footwork is the foundation for setting up altars, casting techniques, and learning Mystical Gate Dunjia."

"Only after you have thoroughly mastered these Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps will you be qualified to learn deeper things."

While Uncle Nine was still giving his lengthy explanation, Qiusheng had already stepped onto the field.

He awkwardly took several steps forward-left and forward-right, then spun around and returned with an eerie sequence of steps.

After watching Uncle Nine perform Pacing the Dipper three times, he had suddenly gained a trace of insight. Unable to restrain himself, he began imitating Uncle Nine and practicing the Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps.

Watching Qiusheng continue without pause, his footwork becoming increasingly fluid and his movements faster and faster, Uncle Nine could not help but smile faintly.

As for Wencai, who was still standing in place scratching his head, he was now dumbfounded.

Since when has the gap between Qiusheng and me become this huge?

With this thought unconsciously surfacing in his mind, Wencai sighed, shook his head, and prepared to leave, only for his master to seize his wrist.

"Wencai, you saw it too. Your senior brother only watched me perform the Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps a few times, yet he can already make them look convincing."

"Master, I understand. Senior Brother has exceptional talent, while I'm just worthless mud that can't be shaped into a wall."

Wencai lowered his head as he spoke, using his sleeve to wipe the aggrieved tears from the corners of his eyes.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Wencai? Your talent is not poor. What you lack is the determination to diligently study Daoist arts."

"Look, your senior brother is working hard to practice the Yu Steps right now. You can't be lazy either."

As he spoke, Uncle Nine used his foot to draw another Pre-Heaven Bagua Diagram on the ground.

"Wencai, come. Slowly practice behind your senior brother. If he practices for one hour, you practice for two or three. I believe that as long as you cultivate earnestly, you will definitely catch up to your senior brother someday."

Uncle Nine wore a warm smile as he lied through his teeth.

In truth, their usual cultivation already made the difference between Qiusheng and Wencai apparent.

Especially after everything that had happened in Wang Village yesterday, he became even more certain of a fact he had always believed.

Qiusheng and Wencai's talent for cultivating Daoist arts simply could not be compared. The difference between them was like clouds and mud.

However, he could not say that outright. If he did, Wencai would be finished.

Thus, left with no choice, Uncle Nine could only keep lying through his teeth and vigorously encourage Wencai.

As for Qiusheng, Uncle Nine intended to firmly suppress that arrogance of his.

He knew his own disciple well. Though Qiusheng had excellent cultivation talent, he was somewhat lazy and carried an inexplicable pride in his heart.

Whenever he made even a little progress in cultivation and received his master's praise, he would become unbearably smug.

Therefore, after giving Qiusheng, who was still practicing within the Bagua formation, a sinister look, Uncle Nine walked straight out of the Public Mortuary's gates.

As soon as Uncle Nine left, Wencai watched Qiusheng perform the Yu Steps and began imitating him step by step.

He had no choice but to imitate him. His brother had already cast off lowly interests, so shouldn't he work hard too?

The two of them practiced like this for an entire day.

At dusk, after Qiusheng slowly finished his final set of Lightning Bolt Fist, he gradually withdrew his fists, his thoughts churning endlessly.

It had to be said that devouring the original owner's soul that morning had affected him tremendously, enhancing his talent and comprehension to an almost absurd degree.

At this point, he could be considered a genuine Daoist cultivation prodigy.

On his first time learning the Yu Steps, he had actually cultivated this foundational Daoist technique of Mystical Gate Dunjia to the intermediate level. If that did not make him a cultivation prodigy, what did?

Though the Heavenly Dipper Bagua Steps Uncle Nine had taught them were the most basic Yu Steps, they were still not easy to cultivate.

Wasn't Wencai still over there stepping on the Bagua Diagram one step at a time? Qiusheng had already seen it: if this junior brother did not stubbornly grind away at the Yu Steps for three to five days, he probably would not even be able to get started.

"Qiusheng, isn't your cultivation speed for the Lightning Bolt Fist far too slow? An entire day has passed, yet you have only barely reached the entry level. Compared to your eldest martial uncle, you are truly worlds apart."

Qiusheng had only just withdrawn his fists when he heard his master say this, making his eyelids twitch.

Seriously? I've practically got cheat codes, and I'm still worlds apart from that eldest martial uncle? Is Master just bragging?

Qiusheng could not help complaining inwardly. Then he turned to Uncle Nine and asked.

"Master, really? Eldest Martial Uncle's speed and progress in cultivating the Lightning Bolt Fist were actually that outrageous?"

Seeing Qiusheng's expression of Master, I haven't read much, don't fool me, Uncle Nine could not help snorting coldly.

"Hmph. What do you know? Do you think your current talent for Daoist cultivation is already impressive?"

"Qiusheng, you are mistaken. In the cultivation world, the only ones who can truly be called cultivation prodigies are those with all kinds of spirit bodies."

"Like your eldest martial uncle's Thunder Spirit Body, or my Innate Spirit Body. Those are what truly count as Daoist cultivation prodigies!"