15: Chapter 15 Switching to the Azure Sky Heart Method

"The Azure Sky Heart Method follows a soft and yielding path. Its True Qi flows slowly through the Meridians like water, gentle and reserved. It is completely different from the reckless, charging style of the Mysterious Tiger Force; the True Qi of the Azure Sky Heart Method automatically bypasses damaged meridian nodes and flows along the intact paths."

"This is practically tailor-made for you."

"With the blessing of the Martial Arts Prodigy, your cultivation speed remains astonishing. One month later, your martial arts cultivation has recovered to the Post-Heaven Peak."

"The azure True Qi in your Dantian flows steadily, and every breath you take pulls at the fine currents of Qi. You raise your hand, and a ball of pale blue True Qi condenses in your palm, soft yet dense."

"Compared to the rigid, fierce, and violent nature of the Mysterious Tiger Force, the True Qi of the Azure Sky Heart Method is much better suited for you. It is like having worn a pair of stiff, pinching boots for a long time and finally changing into a pair that fits perfectly."

"You walk over to the bronze mirror in the courtyard and take a look."

"Your complexion is much rosier than it was four months ago, and your blood and Qi are slowly recovering under the nourishment of the Azure Sky Heart Method. However, the weight you lost won't come back immediately; your cheekbones are still a bit prominent, and your eye sockets are still somewhat deep."

"But at least you don't look like a ghost anymore."

"You sit on the stone bench in the courtyard, contemplating your next steps."

"The damage to your Meridians is a fact, and the Post-Heaven Peak is already your limit. To break through to the Innate stage, you need True Qi to penetrate all your main Meridians, but you have irreversible cracks in at least three of them."

"Unless you encounter some kind of Opportunity, this simulation can only stop at the Post-Heaven Peak."

"You think for a moment and then consider another question—when the simulation concludes, will it be calculated based on the Innate stage you once reached, or the Post-Heaven Peak at the end?"

"There is no answer to this question for now."

"You sit for a while, then stand up."

"If it stops, it stops. If you cannot improve your martial arts cultivation, you can still practice Martial Skills. You have four Martial Skills in your possession: the Golden Light Sword Technique, Iron Eagle Claw, Snake Step, and Wind-Splitting Saber Technique. You have only just mastered the basics; you are far from Perfection. If you ever encounter an Opportunity to repair your Meridians, you cannot just have Internal Energy without any Moves."

"You decide to act immediately."

"You begin to live in seclusion, practicing in the courtyard every day before dawn and only stopping when the sun sets. You occasionally go out to buy groceries to replenish your food, and all other time is spent refining your Martial Skills."

"Seven months later."

"Iron Eagle Claw — Perfection."

"Snake Step — Perfection."

"Wind-Splitting Saber Technique — Perfection."

"All four Martial Skills have reached Perfection. Added to the previous Great Perfection of the Golden Light Sword Technique, you now possess five Martial Skills at the Perfection level."

"If you don't count the gap in Internal Energy, just based on the purity of your Moves, you can probably walk sideways across the entire Qingyang County."

"But you are not satisfied."

"Each of the five Martial Skills has its own strengths: the Golden Light Sword Technique strikes quickly, the Iron Eagle Claw is for close-quarters grappling, the Snake Step is elusive and agile, the Wind-Splitting Saber Technique is grand and open, and the True Qi of the Azure Sky Heart Method is yielding and dense."

"What if you could fuse them together?"

"Once this thought emerged, you couldn't suppress it."

"You remember that failed attempt on Daliang Mountain—at that time, you only had the Mysterious Tiger Force, your knowledge reserve was insufficient, and you hit a dead end by forcing the creation of a Cultivation Technique. But it is different now. Seven months of training in Perfection-level Martial Skills, combined with the Martial Arts Prodigy's deep perception of Meridians and strength, means your understanding of martial arts is no longer what it used to be."

"You begin to work on it."

"One month later."

"In the courtyard, you hold an iron sword and slowly assume your stance."

"The first Move—the sword tip extends horizontally, with True Qi flowing along the blade, soft as water. This is the foundation of the Azure Sky Heart Method."

"The second Move—your wrist turns, the sword tip suddenly changes direction, transitioning from a thrust to a lift and then to a slice; the conversion between the three directions is completed in an instant. This is the product of incorporating the movement principles of the Snake Step into the sword Move."

"The third Move—the sword body vibrates, and a piercing force erupts from the tip, causing a crisp sound in the air. This is the short-range force of the Iron Eagle Claw."

"The fourth Move—grand and open, the sword light spreads out, sweeping out while wrapped in azure True Qi, cutting a dead tree in the corner of the courtyard in half. This is the Aura of the Wind-Splitting Saber Technique."

"The final Move—all strength is gathered into one point, and a blue speck of light the size of a fingernail condenses at the tip of the sword. You gently thrust it forward."

"The speck of light sinks into the courtyard wall."

"A fist-sized round hole appears on the wall, its edges smooth as a mirror."

"You retract your sword."

"You let out a breath."

"It is done."

"System Notification: Congratulations, you have created your own Martial Skill, Frost Moon Sword Technique—a Fusion of the essences of the Golden Light Sword Technique, Iron Eagle Claw, Snake Step, Wind-Splitting Saber Technique, and Azure Sky Heart Method. With yielding True Qi as its core, it possesses the four characteristics of speed, accuracy, penetration, and breadth, totaling nine Moves. Evaluation: Exquisite and peerless."

"Since you created it yourself, every Move and stance grew from your own body and understanding, so it is extremely quick to master."

"Three days later."

"System Notification: Congratulations, you have cultivated the Martial Skill Frost Moon Sword Technique to the realm of Perfection."

"You lean against the courtyard wall, looking at the iron sword in your hand, the corners of your mouth curling up involuntarily."

"On this path of martial arts, you may never break through the Post-Heaven Peak. But at least at this level, you are confident that you can wrestle with anyone."

"You have finished practicing your Cultivation Technique and reached the limit of your Martial Skills; your Meridians are ruined, so you cannot break through. Every day, you do nothing but practice and eat, or eat and stare blankly. Your days pass like a stagnant pool of water."

"On this day, while you are practicing the Frost Moon Sword Technique in the courtyard, the gate is knocked."

"The person who arrives is Auntie Zhao from next door, a plump woman in her forties with a warm personality who often greets you when passing by."

"'Little Lin, practicing?' Auntie Zhao enters the courtyard, smiling as she carries a plate of osmanthus cakes. Her eyes roll over you a few times. 'I say, girl, you've been moved in for almost a year now, right? Every day you stay cooped up at home playing with swords and blades, never going out for a walk.'"

"'Auntie, is something the matter?' You put away your sword."

"'Look at you, child, what could Auntie possibly want?' Auntie Zhao places the pastries on the stone table, takes your hand, and speaks earnestly. 'Auntie can see that you aren't young anymore; it's not a solution to always be cooped up alone like this. Even though you wear a veil, Auntie can tell—your features and figure, tsk tsk, you won't find a second one like you on this whole street.'"

"You have already vaguely guessed what she is about to say."

"'Auntie...'"

"'Don't rush, don't rush, just listen to me finish.' Auntie Zhao lowers her voice and leans in. 'The third son of the Wang family from the Wang Pharmacy in the east of the city, he's twenty-six this year, looks upright, and his family has shops and farmland. He just passed the Early Stage of the Acquired realm last month. I am old friends with his mother, and she entrusted me to come and ask your thoughts...'"

"'Not marrying.'"

"You don't wait for her to finish, blocking her with two words directly."

"Auntie Zhao is stunned, then smiles bitterly. 'Girl, you should at least meet the person first...'"

"You reach out and pick up a piece of wood as thick as a forearm from the stone table—it's what you usually use to practice your Iron Eagle Claw. You grip it tightly with your five fingers and channel your Internal Energy."

"Crack."

"The wood shatters into powder in your hand, falling in a rustle from between your fingers."

"Auntie Zhao's smile freezes on her face."