"Ice-Controlling Art"

Pages rustled as they turned.

Here he comes again...

The old Daoist opened his eyes helplessly and saw Cao Jinxing in a new set of clothes. He said sincerely:

"You certainly rise through the ranks quickly. You only became a Baihu a few days ago, and now you're already a Deputy Qianhu. I've spent over a decade in the Pacification Commission, and this is the first time I've seen one so young."

"Senior."

Cao Jinxing set down the book and looked at the old Daoist. Deciding that asking directly would save time, he said, "I have a few questions about cultivation. I'd like your guidance."

"Oh?"

Seeing how serious he was, the old Daoist sat upright. "What questions? Go ahead."

"What does it mean to 'have only the cultivation method, but not the techniques'?"

Bai Yunxiu had previously said that he possessed only the cultivation method of the Cold Toad Art, not its techniques, and had therefore concluded that he was not Song Chengxi's personal disciple.

Did techniques mean the martial arts that went with it?

Cao Jinxing felt there had to be more to it.

"Ah, that."

The old Daoist stroked his beard. "The Pacification Commission Treasury encompasses martial arts from across the world. It has breadth to spare, but lacks depth. Everyone cultivates alone, teaching themselves and cobbling things together, so the results inevitably become a hodgepodge. Your question is a classic example. Take the Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon-Tiger Mountain. What is its cultivation method, and what are its techniques?"

Cao Jinxing knew something about this sect. "Its cultivation method is undoubtedly the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Formula. As for its techniques... would that be the Five Thunder Palm?"

"Yes, and no," the old Daoist said.

"Senior, I'm really not good at riddles," Cao Jinxing said helplessly.

The old Daoist smiled. "The cultivation method is the Dao; techniques are skills. Zhuangzi said, 'That which connects heaven and earth is virtue; that which moves through all things is the Dao; that which governs people is affairs; that which enables accomplishment in an art is skill.' The Dao is the source of all methods, while skills are consummate arts aligned with the Dao. There have always been two interpretations. Given the thinking martial artists have followed all this time, you probably know only the first."

Cao Jinxing nodded. "Internal cultivation methods and the various martial arts. That's the most common understanding of cultivation methods and techniques."

"Exactly."

The old Daoist continued, "But there is another interpretation, one you can understand only after reaching Xiantian and encountering spiritual martial arts. Let me ask you: what is the Dao of the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Formula?"

In an instant, everything clicked for Cao Jinxing.

"So that's it... is this the true meaning of 'spiritual martial arts'?"

He murmured to himself.

The old Daoist felt both delighted and painfully envious. What astonishing comprehension! The slightest hint, and he understood immediately!

Seeing that Cao Jinxing understood, though he was probably still at the stage of grasping it intuitively rather than being able to put it into words, the old Daoist decided to explain outright:

"The Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Formula is a supreme divine art created by the founding patriarch, Zhang Daoling. Once mastered, it allows you to turn true qi into lightning, draw lightning with your own body, and harness thunderbolts of tremendous might.

"Controlling lightning is its Dao! Every means of attack based on that lightning-controlling cultivation method is a technique! There are many similar examples.

"The Shushan Sword Sect follows the Dao of controlling swords, the Miaojiang Five Poisons follows the Dao of controlling gu, the Myriad Beasts Manor follows the Dao of controlling beasts, and the Demon Cult Bright Lineage follows the Dao of controlling fire. The list goes on and on.

"Over thousands of years, countless martial arts and countless forms of true qi have fallen into only eight categories: heaven, earth, mountain, marsh, wind, thunder, water, and fire!

"Mortal-grade martial arts can only temper the body, but spiritual-grade martial arts can command all things!

"The Heavenly Sword-Linked Finger turns water into ice, while the Cloud-Discharging Palm gathers cloud qi from the nine heavens. Both are applications of water, though still at an elementary stage. That is the limitation of sixth-grade arts.

"The higher an art's grade, the deeper its understanding of the Dao and the greater its ability to apply it. Do you understand now?"

Cao Jinxing bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I am deeply grateful."

"There's no need for that."

The old Daoist hurriedly helped him up. "I've only cleared up your confusion. You practice several Daos, so now you must choose: specialize in one or cultivate several, which to cultivate first, and which afterward..."

Cao Jinxing smiled. Now that he understood, of course he would choose the one that offered the greatest return.

He quickly picked up the book, turned to a particular page, and pointed it out to the old Daoist. "Where is this one?"

The old Daoist looked closely.

Three large characters were written there in bold, flowing strokes:

-Ice-Controlling Art.

"Excellent!"

The old Daoist could not help praising him, then began aching on behalf of the Celestial Masters' Mansion again. Such a gifted, perceptive young prospect. What a shame!

"Fourth floor, section A, sixth across and seventh down."

As usual, the old Daoist took out a key and handed it to Cao Jinxing. "Take it easy while reading. This art is far too overbearing. Don't hurt anyone else."

"Senior..."

Cao Jinxing was speechless. "What sort of people qualify to read fifth-grade arts? You said yourself that I'm the youngest. How could I possibly pose a threat to the others?"

"You never know."

The old Daoist lay back in his armchair and said leisurely, "Read carefully and learn well. This book is special. It's harder to understand than any of the martial arts you've practiced before, but once you grasp it, you'll understand techniques too. When that happens, you'll undergo a complete transformation. I'm looking forward to it."

"I'll be off, then."

With the key in hand, Cao Jinxing went straight up to the fourth floor.

This time, he distinctly felt that there was much more empty space throughout the floor, with far fewer martial arts manuals. He easily found the right spot, opened the drawer, and took out the secret manual inside.

He opened the title page.

Besides the three large characters, it also listed its author: [Celestial Master Ye Jingneng of the Tang dynasty.]

"A remarkable figure from the Tang dynasty..."

Cao Jinxing knew only two Daoists from that period: Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang, who had written the extraordinary Tui Bei Tu.

He turned the pages and read carefully.

This time, he read more attentively than ever before.

The entire Ice-Controlling Art explained how to condense true qi into ice and control it, cutting straight to the heart of the Dao of controlling water!

As long as he could learn it, he would be able to use his true qi more efficiently, and all his water-based martial arts would become vastly more powerful!

This was the choice that offered the greatest return!

But it was incredibly, incredibly difficult to understand.

Even the author had explicitly stated in the introduction: [This art is profound and obscure, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Written on a passing whim, it is left for one with whom it shares an affinity. May that person cherish it.]

Cao Jinxing refused to believe he could not master it.

"With my maxed-out comprehension, as long as you've written something meaningful, there's no way I won't understand it!"

Gradually, he immersed himself in it.

It felt as though a new world had opened before him.

He was so absorbed in reading that he failed to notice another Deputy Qianhu in a Flying Fish Uniform standing silently behind him, two rows of bookshelves away.

The man stood like a withered wooden post, eyes closed and utterly motionless. Then, as though sensing an opportunity, he slowly drew the saber at his waist...