The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 435 The Timeline is Wrong. (I have something to do today, so I'll only update one chapter.)
He possesses several unparalleled martial arts manuals and is also a research-oriented martial arts prodigy.

Tracing back to the source, innovating and developing, calculating the five elements, and integrating them.
Xu Xingchen's understanding of martial arts is so profound and thorough that it is comparable to that of Xiaoyaozi, the founder of the Xiaoyao Sect; Huang Shang, the creator of the Nine Yin Manual; the Drunken Monk who wrote the Nine Yang Divine Skill; and the unknown eunuch from the previous dynasty who left behind the Sunflower Manual.
Even worse!

Madam Wang asked Xu Xingchen for advice on the difficulties she encountered in practicing the Lesser Formless Skill.

Xu Xingchen would only need to think for a moment before giving the correct answer, which would often make Madam Wang suddenly realize the truth and feel happy.

And so it went, back and forth.
Even if Madam Wang did not explain the cultivation method of the Lesser Formless Skill, Xu Xingchen could still get a general idea from a small part and easily guess the path of cultivation of the Lesser Formless Skill.

Subsequently, using his profound and unparalleled martial arts expertise, he repaired and perfected the technique, and quickly summarized a complete set of Lesser Formless Skill.

Xu Xingchen was unaware of the similarities and differences between the Lesser Formless Skill he had developed and the Lesser Formless Skill practiced by Madam Wang. However, in terms of the effectiveness of the skill alone, it was by no means inferior to the original.

He failed to obtain the divine martial arts manual from Kumārajīva, but indirectly obtained it from Lady Wang. It can only be said that the big intestine contains the small intestine, and life is too unpredictable.

This was his intention in leaving Wang Yuyan in the manor to teach her martial arts.

He taught Wang Yuyan martial arts, and then received the Lesser Formless Skill from Madam Wang. It's fair that there's a give and take.

While instructing Madam Wang on her cultivation, Xu Xingchen still focused on her daughter.

Half a month later, he saw that Wang Yuyan had memorized all thirty-six internal energy circulation diagrams of the Beiming Divine Art and had begun to practice it formally, gradually making progress.

So, he also taught her the Lingbo Weibu technique!
When Xu Xingchen watched TV and read novels in her first life, she always thought that the most suitable person to cultivate Lingbo Weibu in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was not Duan Yu, but the beautiful Wang Yuyan.

Only a woman like this could perform this skill, making it most appropriate, suitable, beautiful, and absolutely stunning.

Her body was swift as a flying duck, elusive as a spirit, her steps light as a feather on the water, her silk stockings stirring up dust; her movements were unpredictable, sometimes precarious, sometimes serene; her advances and retreats were unpredictable, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing; her glances were radiant, her face glowing like jade; her words, though unspoken, were as fragrant as orchids; her graceful figure made me forget to eat.
This poem, "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," written by Cao Zhi during the Three Kingdoms period, was originally used to describe a goddess.

After Wu Yazi and Li Qiushui created this footwork style, they named it "Lingbo Weibu" (凌波微步), because when performing this footwork, one's figure resembles a graceful goddess floating on water, moving slowly and lightly.
Xu Xingchen taught this set of steps to Wang Yuyan because he wanted to see how graceful and ethereal the woman would be after learning it.

Compared to the resistance and helplessness towards practicing the Northern Darkness Divine Art.
Wang Yuyan was very fond of and devoted herself to practicing the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

This set of steps might be extremely difficult for other martial arts practitioners to learn, but it is not difficult for those who are proficient in the I Ching and Bagua.

Wang Yuyan, a martial arts encyclopedia who has memorized all the martial arts techniques of various schools and sects in the world, is no slower than Duan Yu in practicing the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

In just a few days, he memorized the entire Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) and was able to walk through it smoothly from beginning to end.

Lingbo Weibu is both a set of light-body techniques and a method of cultivating internal energy; with each circle, the blood and qi circulate through the meridians in the body, accumulating a trace of internal strength.

Wang Yuyan's cultivation of the Northern Darkness Divine Art was merely a process of familiarizing herself with the thirty-six meridian pathways, much like the initial construction of a vast network of canals that could accommodate all rivers, but before any water had even flowed in.

Everything is in preparation for absorbing the internal energy of others later!
However, the strands of internal energy cultivated from Lingbo Weibu settled in her dantian and became her original power.

In this way, her "Northern Sea" gained seawater, which in turn gave her Northern Sea Divine Skill initial momentum.

Unlike Duan Yu in the book, who relied on others to capture his acupoints and actively input his internal energy to earn his first pot of gold in the Wuliang Sword Sect.

Since learning the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique), Wang Yuyan seemed to have finally found something fun to do, and she became more and more interested in cultivation.

Xu Xingchen didn't need to urge him at all; he would get up early every day and practice the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) in the manor.

On the contrary, he secretly reduced the time spent practicing the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

Xu Xingchen naturally saw through Wang Yuyan's little scheme, but she didn't expose her.

Once she learns the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) and gains basic self-defense capabilities, she will inevitably have to use the Beiming Divine Art when encountering danger in the future.
Take Duan Yu, for example, who also practiced the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

He never intended to use this skill that harms others for his own benefit.
But sometimes, when the opportunity arises, others forcefully pour internal energy into his body, and he has no choice but to accept it!

After teaching Wang Yuyan the Northern Darkness Divine Skill and the Lingbo Steps, Xu Xingchen stopped teaching her any other martial arts.

He once again focused his attention on the various rumors circulating in the martial arts world.

According to the timeline of the story, news should have already spread that Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, has had his identity exposed and has become a Khitan lackey hated by everyone in the martial arts world.

However, Xu Xingchen received news that the Beggars' Sect, under the leadership of its leader Qiao Feng, was developing rapidly and gaining increasing prestige. In battles against the martial arts figures led by the Western Xia and Liao kingdoms, they had repeatedly achieved great feats, and their fame had once surpassed that of Murong Fu, who was on par with him.

In contrast, Murong Fu...

Rumors circulated throughout the martial arts world that he used the "tit for tat" tactic to kill one renowned figure after another.

Although he could not compare to Qiao Feng, who fought against the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, his fearsome reputation grew stronger day by day, making him feared and dreaded by many heroes.

Many of the renowned figures in the martial arts world who were killed by Murong Fu had relatives, friends, disciples, and followers.

They once searched the vicinity of Suzhou City, intending to besiege the Murong family and seek revenge on Murong Fu, but they could not find the place.

The Murong family built the Canhe Manor in Yanziwu, in the middle of the lake, keeping it secluded and unknown to outsiders.

Without someone to guide you, outsiders simply cannot get in!

Due to their injuries and the escalating troubles their young master was causing in the martial arts world, Deng Baichuan and his three companions all stayed home to recuperate and remained hidden. However, they weren't completely idle!

They dispatched people to secretly spread information throughout the martial arts world, creating confusion and misinformation.

claim
An unnamed person appeared in the martial arts world. He had cultivated a divine skill called "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth," which was mysterious and extremely powerful. It could reflect all the attacks from his opponents back onto them.

The man was new to the martial arts world and wanted to make a name for himself quickly, so he killed heroes from all over the country as stepping stones.

Deng Baichuan and his three companions were extremely clever; they only spread this ambiguous news without mentioning their young master at all.

Let the people in the martial arts world judge and fill in the blanks for themselves.
Did Murong Fu kill those renowned figures in the martial arts world? Or did that mysterious man use the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth" technique to kill heroes from all over the land?

Fueled by them, two rumors spread like wildfire in a short period of time.

People in the martial arts world were discussing it heatedly, arguing endlessly.

The martial arts world seems to be getting more and more chaotic!
Xu Xingchen was always surprised whenever he heard passing martial arts figures talking about these things in the restaurants of Suzhou.

"Has this world changed so much? Even the Beggars' Sect's Xingzilin incident hasn't happened yet?"

"Has Qiao Feng's background changed?"

"Furthermore, the matter of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth must have been spread by Deng Baichuan and his group; perhaps out of respect for Wang Yuyan and Madam Wang, or perhaps out of fear of me, those four did not reveal my identity as a disciple of the Free and Unfettered Sect."

"Hmph! Why should I hide my identity? Even if the whole world knew, so what?!"

"Besides these messages, why didn't Kumārajīva come looking for me? Not even the people from the Lingjiu Palace on Tianshan Mountain showed up."

"My mountain villa is getting a little too peaceful!"

After finishing the last sip of tea, Xu Xingchen paid the bill and left the restaurant.

They bought some things on the street and had a horse-drawn carriage take them to the foot of the mountain at Dayu Mountain Villa.

After unloading the goods at the foot of the mountain and settling the freight payment with the carriage owner, Xu Xingchen waited until the carriage disappeared into the woods before lifting the bundle, which was as tall as a person, and leaping up the steps.

Back at the villa, we put the things in the warehouse.

Back in my courtyard, I saw a figure as ethereal as a fairy, moving swiftly and gracefully among the rockeries, bridges, pavilions, and terraces.

Even if encountering obstacles or hindrances, they can be easily and effortlessly avoided.
"To have mastered the Lingbo Weibu to this level in just over a month; Wang Yuyan, your martial arts talent is truly remarkable!"

Upon hearing Xu Xingchen's praise, the figure rapidly approached from a distance, its light footsteps treading the ground as if walking on water, and soon appeared in front of Xu Xingchen.

They stopped, revealing Wang Yuyan's incomparably beautiful face.

"Master Xu, you're back!"

Wang Yuyan greeted everyone with a bright smile, her face glowing.

Xu Xingchen nodded, a sudden thought struck her, and she fell into deep thought.

"Master Xu, what are you thinking about? Are you wondering what to eat tonight?"

Wang Yuyan's voice interrupted Xu Xingchen's thoughts. He looked up at her and asked, "Wang Yuyan, how long have you and your mother been at my Lantau Island Manor?"

Although Wang Yuyan didn't know why Xu Xingchen asked this question, she still answered, "It's been two months!"

"Two months? Adding the previous six months," Xu Xingchen muttered to herself, "Has it been eight months since I came to Suzhou?"

Wang Yuyan nodded gently: "Yes, it's been eight months. What's wrong? Master Xu, why are you so sentimental?"

Xu Xingchen snapped out of her daze, looked at Wang Yuyan again, and suddenly smiled: "You have mastered both of the divine skills I taught you; now, you can go down the mountain."

Wang Yuyan was surprised for a moment, then her face lit up with joy: "Master Xu, can I really go down the mountain now? You're letting me go?"

“Yes!” Xu Xingchen nodded and said, “Our fate has run its course, there’s no need for us to stay here any longer.”

Wang Yuyan carefully observed Xu Xingchen's expression. Seeing that his eyes were serious and he didn't seem to be joking, she happily said, "That's great! I can finally go down the mountain. I'm going back to Yanziwu to see my cousin. I'll go back and tell my mother right away."

Before the words had even finished, a fragrant breeze had already swept past Xu Xingchen.

Wang Yuyan used the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) to swiftly move through the courtyard, quickly passing through the gate and disappearing from sight.

Xu Xingchen watched her slender figure disappear into the distance, muttering to herself, "I wonder... if it's because of my intervention that the plot of this world has come to a standstill."

"I will send you down the mountain and back to Mantuo Manor, and see if that will cause any other changes."

(End of this chapter)