Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 166 The Realm of Returning to Truth, Limit-Breaking Special Effects!

Upon entering the Bone Forging Realm, Song Jing did not pause for a moment and immediately devoted all his energy to cultivation in the Outer Sect's cultivation techniques pavilion.

Compared to the outer sect's cultivation techniques pavilion, the so-called "cultivation holy lands" of the Tianshui City branch were practically like a sandbox for children to play on.

Before me stood a towering nine-story pagoda, its entire body seemingly cast from some kind of warm white jade and jet-black iron. The pagoda's body was covered with flowing patterns of light, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

The tower's interior is more expansive than imagined, divided into thousands of independent quiet rooms, capable of accommodating a massive number of disciples for cultivation at the same time.

There is no time limit here.

Any formal disciple, as long as their identity jade token is valid, can immerse themselves in it all day long, engaging in endless life-and-death battles and deep comprehension with those profound afterimages left behind by the powerful figures of Pingtian Sect throughout the ages, which can be described as "incarnations of cultivation techniques".

"This is the foundation of the sects in the prefecture city—" Song Jing thought with emotion. Those who could pass through layers of rigorous selection to enter the outer sect were all true geniuses gathered from all over Yunxiu Prefecture, the elite of the elite.

While sect resources certainly require competition, core cultivation venues like the Cultivation Technique Pavilion are completely open to all formal disciples, aiming to encourage the fiercest competition and the most extreme training, nurturing true powerhouses in a way that is akin to raising venomous insects.

For Song Jing, this was undoubtedly an excellent cultivation ground and a treasure trove of "experience."

In this environment, the talent of "Heaven rewards diligence" is brought to its fullest potential.

He regarded every battle with the afterimage as the most precious opportunity to "impart knowledge and skills," immersing himself in it wholeheartedly and frantically absorbing the martial arts principles that were almost "Tao" as shown by those "incarnations of skills."

Breaking through the Bone Forging Realm, transforming blood and qi into true qi, and leaping through the level of life, his microscopic control over strength and speed, as well as his understanding of the essence of martial arts, have all reached a new dimension.

This allows him to more clearly perceive the shortcomings of his own skills and to more deeply understand the profound mysteries contained in exquisite skills such as the Wildfire Spear Technique and the Nine Shadow Steps.

His primary goal was to attempt to reach the fifth level of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

However, the difficulty of the fifth level was beyond imagination.

The lingering figure guarding this pass has reached the "realm of perfection" in martial arts, almost a manifestation of the "Tao". Every strike contains a complete martial arts concept, and the moves are perfectly natural. Moreover, it will evolve into infinitely targeted changes according to the challenger's martial arts characteristics and fighting habits, leaving almost no flaws.

For a whole month, Song Jing challenged the challenge no less than a hundred times, and each time he was defeated cleanly and decisively.

At best, he could only withstand less than fifty moves against the opponent's overwhelming offensive before being "killed" by a finger strike that pierced through the void.

But how resolute was his will?

They become more courageous after setbacks.

Each crushing defeat served as a sharp whetstone, sharpening his understanding of his own martial arts techniques and his grasp of timing in battle.

The application of "momentum" has been honed to a deeper and more thorough level.

The mastery of all martial arts techniques—the Wildfire Spear Technique, the Nine Shadow Steps, the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique, the Chasing Wind Leg Technique, and the Golden Bell Cover—surged and transformed at an unprecedented speed in this intense and brutal confrontation with the "theoretical pinnacle."

One day at the end of the month, after years of arduous training, Song Jing was engaged in a fierce battle with the afterimage of the fifth level, which seemed to be the "incarnation of wind," in a secluded quiet room.

The afterimage's movements were as elusive as smoke, and the wind blades between his palms and fingers were sharp, cutting through the void and forcing him into a perilous situation.

In a desperate dodge, Song Jing pushed his already perfected Chasing Wind Leg Technique to its limit, his body twisting and turning nine times in a short distance, narrowly avoiding the deadly wind blade that almost blocked all his escape routes at an impossible angle!

Just as he successfully evaded the attack, his old strength exhausted, new strength about to emerge, and his mind extremely focused, a "whoosh!"

It was as if a thin veil that had always shrouded my mind was suddenly lifted by a clear and refreshing thought that originated from the essence of "wind"!

It was not a loud noise, but a clear and enlightening sound.

The Wind Chaser Leg Technique: Back to Basics! Achieved!

No, it's not just about perfection.

Under the extreme catalysis of his talent "Heaven rewards diligence" and the extreme tempering he endured on the brink of life and death in the Martial Arts Pavilion, this mid-grade mortal leg technique, which he had already cultivated to its limit, suddenly broke through its limits at the moment of perfection and stepped into a mysterious new realm—the Realm of Returning to Truth!

The so-called "returning to the truth" means stripping away all the embellishments and appearances of techniques, and pointing directly to the most fundamental and core "Tao" and "principle" of the skill.

Upon reaching this level, a martial artist's understanding of the technique will undergo a qualitative leap. No longer confined to the fixed framework of moves, they can freely disassemble, combine, and evolve it, creating ingenious techniques with ease. Furthermore, it greatly accelerates the comprehension of other similar and attributed techniques, even laying the most solid mental and cognitive foundation for future fusion and creation of their own techniques!

The return to the true essence of the Wind Chasing Leg Technique has brought about a complete transformation:

Speed ​​Explosion: Straight-line dash, small-range change of direction, and leg speed are increased by two times on top of the original perfect speed!

It moves as fast as a ghost, almost like a short-distance teleport.

The efficiency of comprehending all cultivation techniques skyrockets, and the speed at which proficiency is gained doubles! This means that he can gain terrifying additional bonuses by cultivating any other cultivation technique.

Specialization in body and leg techniques: For pure body and leg techniques, the efficiency of cultivation, comprehension, and breakthrough can be exaggeratedly tripled!

Sure enough, after Song Jing mastered the Wind Chasing Leg Technique and entered the Realm of Returning to Truth, he began to cultivate the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique, which was also a leg technique and contained the true meaning of "wind" and the violence of "thunder." His progress was astonishing.

What once required months of hard work to grasp the profound changes in the field is now clearly visible to him, like bamboo shoots being peeled back layer by layer, a natural and effortless process.

In just half a month, with a side kick that perfectly combined the extreme speed of the Returning to Truth Chasing Wind Leg Technique with the powerful explosiveness of the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique, his Wind and Thunder Leg Technique improved rapidly. Now he is not far from the Returning to Truth realm!

Although it has not broken through the limit again to enter the realm of returning to the true, its power, ferocity, and instantaneous explosive force have reached the ultimate level of the current top-tier mortal items.

Complementing the Returning to Truth's Chasing Wind Leg Technique, one emphasizes extreme speed, agility, and unpredictability, while the other emphasizes domineering ferocity and thunderous strikes. This allows Song Jing's close-quarters combat, mid-range assault, and even long-range sprinting abilities to reach a terrifyingly new level.

As dusk settled, Song Jing finished his day of "torture" and enlightenment in the fifth level of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion. Although he was exhausted both mentally and physically, and his clothes were torn in many places by sweat and residual energy, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, sparkling with the deep light of his gains and contemplation.

He was quite satisfied with his progress over the past two months, especially the breakthroughs in his two leg techniques, which gave him more confidence.

He walked slowly along the quiet stone path in the outer gate area toward his own courtyard in the yellow-character area.

Ancient trees line both sides of the road, with fragrant flowers in bloom, and the evening breeze carries a unique coolness and a faint medicinal fragrance.

Having just passed through a lush bamboo grove, at the fork in the road ahead, a figure appeared silently like a ghost, blocking the middle of the road and the dim light of dawn.

The newcomer was a young man in his early twenties, also dressed in the moon-white robe of an outer disciple. However, the collar, cuffs, and even the edges of the robe were embroidered with intricate flowing cloud patterns and auspicious beast designs in extremely fine gold thread, which shimmered faintly in the twilight, making them appear exceptionally luxurious and exquisite. This contrasted sharply with Song Jing's standard disciple robe, which was devoid of any decoration.

He was handsome with fair skin, but his eyes held an undisguised arrogance and scrutiny. His chin was habitually slightly raised, and his gaze fell on Song Jing, moving slowly as if examining a rather unsatisfactory old object that had just been unearthed from some hidden corner.

"You're Song Jing?" the young man asked, his voice high-pitched and deliberately condescending, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet evening.

Song Jing stopped and stood three feet away from the other person.

He raised his eyes, his gaze calmly meeting the other person's, showing neither surprise nor anger, but rather as if looking at a stranger on the street. He nodded and said, "It's me. Senior brother, what can I do for you?" He had no recollection of this person, but the other person's demeanor and tone clearly indicated ill intent.

"Instructions? Ha." The young man let out a short, mocking laugh from his nose, full of undisguised contempt.

He sized Song Jing up and down again, lingering for a moment on Song Jing's excessively plain disciple robes and the long, narrow object wrapped in ordinary gray cloth on his back. His disdain was almost overflowing. "I heard you're from Tianshui City—well, that poor, backwater place, a godforsaken backwater? And you even got in through that old bastard Chen Yanzhou's connections, making that good-for-nothing Chen Mo take good care of you?"

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Chen Yanzhou?

Senior Brother Chen Mo?

Song Jing instantly understood.

The other party wasn't after his reputation as a "genius newcomer," but rather was targeting Captain Chen and Senior Brother Chen Mo!

It seems that Commandant Chen does indeed have enemies in the prefectural city, or rather, outside the Pingtian Gate, and the grudge seems to be quite deep.

The person in front of me is probably the one from the opposing faction, pushed out to "teach" me, the "newcomer."

"I entered the sect by passing the examination according to the sect's rules. Senior Brother Chen Mo is very kind and has given me much guidance, for which I am deeply grateful. As for Commandant," Song Jing's tone remained calm and unhurried, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself, "he has indeed shown me kindness and care. May I ask how I should address you, Senior Brother? And what brings you to my side?"

"Based on ability? Promotion?" The young man seemed to have heard something extremely ridiculous, and the sneer at the corner of his mouth widened even more, almost reaching his ears. "Someone who can get into the outer sect just by reaching the peak of the Flesh Refining Realm—oh, now it's the early stage of the Bone Forging Realm?"

"That old scoundrel Chen Yanzhou, used to bullying everyone in those small places, is now reaching his own ears, trying to stuff any Tom, Dick, or Harry into the sect? Does he really think my Pingtian Sect is some kind of garbage dump? It's an absolute joke!"

He took a half-step forward, and a deliberately controlled yet still formidable aura emanated from him, carrying a clear sense of oppression as it enveloped Song Jing.

That aura was clearly that of a mid-stage Refining Realm cultivator!

It far surpasses Song Jing's current early stage of the Bone Forging Realm.

"Boy, listen carefully." The young man leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered, yet even colder and more piercing. "My surname is Zhou, and my given name is Ming. Zhou family, Zhou Ming. Let me tell you, outside Pingtian Gate, if you're a dragon, you'd better coil up before me! If you're a tiger, you'd better lie down before me!"

Especially someone like you, who got in through dubious connections and luck, you need to be more discerning and know your place! Stay away from Chen Mo, that good-for-nothing, and don't get involved with him, otherwise—”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the cold glint in his slightly narrowed eyes and the lingering threat were more chilling than any outright intimidation.

Song Jing's eyes finally turned cold, like a lake surface covered with a thin layer of ice.

He didn't want to cause trouble. Being new to the area, quietly improving his strength was the best approach.

However, this does not mean that he will allow himself to be bullied, nor does it mean that he can tolerate the other party wantonly insulting Commandant Chen, who has been kind to him, and Senior Brother Chen Mo, who has been helpful to him.

The other party's provocation had crossed his bottom line.

However, he still maintained his last shred of restraint. Having just entered the sect, the situation was still unclear, and it would be unwise to rashly clash with a senior disciple in the mid-stage of the Refining Realm. But backing down was certainly not in his nature.

"I've taken note of what Senior Brother Zhou said." Song Jing's voice remained calm, almost without any inflection, but beneath that calm, it seemed as if an undercurrent was surging beneath the ice. "If there's nothing else, please make way."

Zhou Ming clearly hadn't expected Song Jing to react this way. Under the oppressive aura of his mid-stage Refining Realm cultivation, this young man who had only recently entered the Bone Forging Realm not only showed no fear or apprehension, but was also remarkably calm, even displaying a hint of indifference and—impatience—in his words.

This made him feel that his dignity as a "senior" had been seriously challenged, and the arrogance he had been deliberately maintaining on his face was instantly replaced by a flush of anger.

"Good! Good! Good, I've got it!" Zhou Ming said three times, his eyes so sinister they were almost dripping with water, staring intently at Song Jing as if trying to etch his image into his mind. "Looks like you've made up your mind to refuse a polite offer and then suffer the consequences! Fine, kid, we'll see!"

He hardened his heart and began to plan how to use his connections within the sect.

The water vein is now in decline, and there is not even a vein master who can hold the fort. Only the eldest disciple is somewhat capable, but he cannot support the vein alone.

This is a perfect opportunity to unite the disciples of the other four lineages—metal, wood, fire, and earth—who are on good terms with the Zhou family or dissatisfied with Chen Yanzhou's lineage, and isolate and suppress this arrogant brat in every way!

Make it impossible for him to move an inch, deprive him of all resources, and in the end he will either have to leave or beg for mercy on his knees!

After saying that, he gave a heavy, warning snort, and finally stepped aside to make way.

But his eyes, like those of a venomous snake, remained fixed on Song Jing, filled with undisguised malice and scheming.

Song Jing stopped looking at him, as if he were just a cloud of polluted air. He walked straight through the narrow gap that Song Jing had made, his steps still steady, and his figure quickly disappeared into the deepening twilight and bamboo shadows ahead.

Even after he had walked a long way, he could still clearly feel the cold, venomous gaze behind him, like a lingering wound, that lingered for a long time.

"Zhou Ming—the Zhou family. Enemies of Commandant Chen and Senior Brother Chen Mo—" Song Jing silently recited in his heart, firmly memorizing this surname and that malicious face.

It seems that the outer gate of Pingtianmen is far from being as peaceful and serene as it appears on the surface.

Factions abound, and grudges and entanglements are everywhere.

Because of his connection with Commandant Chen, he had not yet formally chosen a master, but he was already involuntarily drawn into a turbulent struggle.

However, he felt little fear, only a cold clarity.

In the world of martial arts, strength ultimately reigns supreme.

No matter how many schemes and plots you have, or how many factions you try to form, as long as I am strong enough, I can defeat them all and sweep away all evil spirits.

"The Five Outer Sects—" Song Jing recalled the information that his senior brother Chen Mo had mentioned in casual conversation.

The outer sect of Pingtianmen is roughly divided into five lineages based on the attributes of their cultivation techniques and the emphasis of their lineage: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Each lineage has its own main cultivation system, cultivation resources, and even style of conduct.

After a disciple enters the sect, they must choose a lineage to follow and receive its true teachings. This almost determines their future development trajectory and network of connections within the sect.

This Zhou Ming, whose surname is Zhou, is so arrogant that his faction must wield considerable power among the Five Families.

"The Water Vein—seemingly the weakest of the five veins." Song Jing recalled that Senior Brother Chen Mo once mentioned it with a hint of helplessness and self-deprecation after drinking. Among the five veins, the Water Vein has been suffering from a decline in talent in recent years, with a lack of successors. It has repeatedly suffered setbacks in sect competitions and resource battles, and its prestige has been declining. Many talented new disciples keep their distance from the Water Vein.

However, Song Jing's thoughts drifted further afield. He recalled the mysterious legends about the "Five Elements Sect" in the "Geography and Customs of Yunxiu Prefecture," as well as the secret that Master Wang Xuanwu had casually mentioned: "The combination of the Five Elements Secret Methods can yield a supreme martial arts technique."

Is there some unknown connection between the five branches of the outer sect of Pingtianmen and the legendary Five Elements Sect?

Is it merely a coincidence, or...?

"The weakest may not be without hidden opportunities and true skills; the strongest may not be suitable for me now." Song Jing's eyes flickered, and he already had a vague plan in mind.

Tomorrow will be the day when the five outer sects officially open their doors, conducting a public selection process for all new disciples to be accepted into the sect.

This is not just a simple choice of mentorship; it may directly affect one's future situation within the sect, access to resources, and even the open and covert attacks one will face.

"It seems that choosing which lineage to join requires utmost caution and careful consideration," Song Jing murmured to himself, quickening his pace.

He returned to his humble abode in the Huangzi District, Jia San Yuan, and closed the not-so-thick wooden door behind him, temporarily shutting out the rising evening breeze and the potential undercurrents outside.

Without lighting any candles, he sat cross-legged on the cold stone bed, relying on the last bit of daylight filtering in from the window.

Every detail of his confrontation with Zhou Ming today replayed in his mind: his malicious gaze, his threatening words, and the scattered information about the five outer sects.

Unconsciously, his fingers tapped lightly on his knees, making a soft, rhythmic tapping sound.

"Strength—ultimately, is fundamental." He finally exhaled a long breath, his eyes regaining their firmness and sharpness. "No matter which path you ultimately choose, no matter what troubles and challenges you will face, the only right way to deal with everything and break through the mystery is to continuously improve your own strength."

"Tomorrow, we'll go and see what the five outer sects are really like. And that—the weakest, the 'Water Sect.'"