One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Three days later, at the cliffside on the back mountain.

After the previous "baptism," the ground of the cliff had been carefully repaired by the Taoist disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Although some faint traces could still be seen, it had largely returned to a smooth surface. The ancient pines around the area had also regained their vitality, their branches swaying gently in the mountain breeze.

Nie Lingfeng and the Old Celestial Master stood facing each other once again.

This time, the fatigue and irritability in Nie Lingfeng's eyes had largely dissipated, replaced by a calm sharpness. His three days as a "stay-at-home dad," though still chaotic, had somehow become more refined, perhaps out of habit, or perhaps because his mindset had been tempered through repeated "collapses" and "reconstructions." His aura was actually more restrained and solid than before. The crimson-gold energy within him, fused with the bloodline of the Qilin and the power of Nirvana, flowed more smoothly and freely, like refined iron repeatedly forged.

"Your mind is much calmer now." The old master looked Nie Lingfeng over and nodded with satisfaction. "It seems you've gained quite a bit these past three days."

"Thanks to the Old Celestial Master, I got a good beating... uh, well done." Nie Lingfeng grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. Getting a beating (sparring) from the Old Celestial Master was indeed the perfect way to release stress, concentrate the mind, and incidentally improve strength! (Although the process was a bit painful) (￣▽￣*)ゞ

"Then let this old Taoist see what progress you've made in these three days." The old Taoist master smiled slightly, still with that calm and collected demeanor, but this time, the natural aura emanating from him, in harmony with heaven and earth, seemed even more profound.

"Please enlighten me, Master!" Nie Lingfeng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without further ado, he moved and launched the first attack!

This time, he didn't immediately unleash the ferocious power of the Qilin bloodline. Instead, he used a profound footwork technique, his figure flickering like a ghost, leaving afterimages in his wake, instantly closing the distance with the old Celestial Master! It was the basic movement technique of the Wind God Leg—Catching the Wind and Shadows! But unlike before, this movement technique had less of the sharpness and speed of the wind, and more of the changeability and unpredictability of the clouds, showing signs of a preliminary fusion of the speed of the Wind God Leg and the variability of the Cloud Dispelling Palm!

"Oh? Interesting." A hint of surprise flashed in the old master's eyes, but he did not flinch or dodge. He simply raised one hand, palm facing outward, like an invisible shield blocking his way.

"Cloud-Dispelling Palm - Flowing Clouds and Water!" Nie Lingfeng shouted, unleashing his palm strike. It was no longer simply fierce and powerful, but rather like flowing clouds and water, dense and continuous. The palm wind howled, carrying a continuous soft force, enveloping the Old Celestial Master from all directions! The palm shadows were numerous, as if they had transformed into a flowing sea of ​​clouds, completely sealing off the space around the Old Celestial Master!

"Clouds are ever-changing, water has no fixed shape. This palm technique... you've grasped the basics." The old Celestial Master nodded approvingly. The hand that had been blocking his way suddenly changed, his five fingers blooming like lotus flowers, gently swaying out! There was no grand display, but Nie Lingfeng's dense palm shadows seemed to have struck an invisible wall, disintegrating completely! The old Celestial Master's five fingers seemed to carry a strange rhythm; each sway precisely struck the weak points of Nie Lingfeng's palm force, neutralizing the strongest attack with minimal force!

"Break!" Nie Lingfeng was not discouraged, and his palm technique changed again! The originally dense palm shadows suddenly contracted, transforming into a single palm. A flash of crimson-gold light appeared in the palm, and an icy, bone-chilling cold suddenly erupted! The moisture in the air instantly condensed into fine ice crystals! The chilling power of the Heavenly Frost Fist had actually been integrated into his Cloud-Dispelling Palm! Clouds turned into frost, and frost condensed on his palm!

"Frosty coldness within, cloud palm concealing sharpness? Interesting!" The old celestial master's interest intensified. He did not retract the outstretched palm, but instead slightly concave his palm, releasing a gentle yet incredibly powerful Qi energy, like an invisible vortex that absorbed and dissolved the biting cold energy! At the same time, he silently pointed his other hand, fingers like a sword, towards Nie Lingfeng's palm!

The fingers and palms collided, producing a crisp burst of air! Nie Lingfeng felt a sharp yet balanced finger force penetrate his palm and rush straight into his meridians! He groaned, using the force to float backward, his feet tapping repeatedly, using the Wind God Leg technique to its fullest extent to dissipate the finger force that had invaded his body.

"Quick reaction." The old master smiled slightly, his figure approaching like a ghost. This time, he took the initiative! It was still an ordinary palm strike, but in Nie Lingfeng's eyes, this palm strike seemed to cover all directions, blocking all his escape routes. Before the palm wind arrived, a heavy pressure as heavy as a mountain was already rushing towards him!

"Mysterious Tortoise True Skill - Mountain and Sea Force!" Nie Lingfeng took a deep breath, his crimson-gold energy surging wildly within him. A heavy, steady aura, like mountains and seas, rose from his body! He no longer dodged, but instead lowered his stance, his palms slowly drawing a smooth arc in front of his chest before pushing forward horizontally! This was a defensive stance he created himself, combining the defensive essence of the Mysterious Tortoise True Skill with his own understanding of power! Its aim was to respond to all changes with constancy, and to withstand immense pressure with overwhelming force!

"boom!"

The old Celestial Master's palm struck solidly against Nie Lingfeng's outstretched hands! This time, there was no earth-shattering roar, only a muffled, heart-palpitating rumble! The hard rock beneath Nie Lingfeng's feet cracked, sinking half a foot downwards from his feet! Countless spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly! His bones creaked and his blood surged, but he gritted his teeth, his palms like mountains rooted to the earth, firmly resisting the old Celestial Master's seemingly casual yet incredibly powerful palm strike! The profound power of the Xuanwu True Skill and the resilience of the Qilin bloodline were brought to their peak at this moment!

"Excellent! What a magnificent mountain and sea formation! Solid foundation, as stable as a rock!" A glint flashed in the old Celestial Master's eyes, and the force in his palm suddenly increased by three points!

"Crack!" The rock beneath Nie Lingfeng's feet sank again, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. But the flames in his eyes burned even more fiercely! He blocked it! He actually blocked the Old Celestial Master's casual palm strike head-on! Although it was a struggle, and although he was slightly injured, he had indeed blocked it!

"Roar—! True Form of the Qilin!" Seizing this fleeting opening, Nie Lingfeng roared, and the Qilin bloodline power that had been suppressed within him for so long erupted! A blazing crimson-gold light shot into the sky! Fine, metallic-sheen scales instantly covered his entire body! A domineering, ferocious, and all-consuming aura, like an ancient beast awakened, swept across the entire cliff! His arm muscles bulged, and his strength surged! He forcefully pushed the old Celestial Master's mountain-like, heavy hand upwards by an inch!

"That's more like it!" The old master laughed heartily, seemingly very satisfied with the power Nie Lingfeng could unleash. His hand, which was pressing down on Nie Lingfeng's palm, trembled slightly, and an even more powerful and refined Qi surged out like a mighty river!

"Open up for me!" Nie Lingfeng's eyes were bloodshot as he pushed the newly born power fused with the power of Nirvana to its limit, and his arms suddenly swung upwards! At the same time, he pushed off with his feet, using the force of the recoil to shoot backwards like a cannonball, creating distance between himself and the old Celestial Master.

"Wind God Leg - Swift and Decisive!" In mid-air, Nie Lingfeng's leg technique had changed! No longer a fleeting, elusive movement, it had transformed into pure speed and power! His right leg, like a streak of crimson-gold lightning, teared through the air with a piercing sonic boom and terrifying heat, aiming a fierce kick at the Old Celestial Master's head! This kick combined all the power he could muster at that moment—fast! fierce! ruthless!

"Well done!" The old master neither dodged nor avoided, but simply raised his other arm slightly, his sleeve billowing as if inflated, and gently flicked it.

"Bang!"

Legs and sleeves clashed, producing a muffled thunderous explosion! The crimson-gold leg force and the colorless Qi force collided and annihilated each other once more! The violent shockwave swept up the surrounding rubble! Nie Lingfeng felt an irresistible force, and he was once again thrown backward, tumbling several times in the air before barely managing to steady himself. He landed on the ground, staggering back several steps, feeling a tightness in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat, almost spitting out another mouthful of blood.

But the excitement in his eyes intensified! Although the series of attacks and defenses he had just faced were easily neutralized by the old master, he clearly felt that his application and combination of different martial arts techniques were more skillful and seamless than before! The swiftness of the wind, the shifting clouds, the biting frost, the solidity of the mountains, the ferocity of the Qilin… these previously somewhat distinct forces and states of mind were slowly merging through repeated practical experience, forming his own unique fighting style!

"Not bad, not bad. You used to possess many unique skills and were exceptionally talented, learning everything quickly, but you neglected the essence of martial arts." The old master withdrew his arm, lightly brushing his sleeve, which remained perfectly smooth. He looked at Nie Lingfeng, who, though disheveled, had eyes that were growing brighter, and nodded in satisfaction. "Wind, cloud, frost, mountain, fire... you can handle all kinds of martial arts with ease, and have already begun to integrate them, showing some signs of developing your own style. What's even more commendable is that you can initially integrate these different powers and essences into your own bloodline martial arts, rather than simply copying them. Such comprehension is truly rare."

"Thank you for the praise, Master! It's all thanks to your guidance... it was excellent!" Nie Lingfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned. Although his whole body ached, and his bones felt like they were falling apart, the feeling of clearly sensing his progress was simply amazing! It was even more addictive than breaking through to a higher realm! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

"Heh, stop flattering me." The old master chuckled, his eyes full of amusement. "Let's call it a day. Your injuries are quite severe; you need to recuperate properly. Come back in three days."

"Yes!" Nie Lingfeng replied respectfully. He knew that knowing when to stop and digesting what he had learned were equally important. Besides... what he needed most right now was to go back, take a medicinal bath, and then lie down! ⊙﹏⊙∥