Red peonies by the bridge, blooming year after year, for whom do they bloom?

Yangzhou slow.

Li Xiangyi was slightly surprised by Cao Hansheng's choice. The reason he had a resounding reputation in the martial arts world was because of his fast sword skills and the unique footwork and speed of the "Po Suo Bu" (a martial arts style). On the contrary, the "Yangzhou Slow" was the least well-known.

"Brother Cao, why did you choose Yangzhou Slow Style? Why didn't you learn my swordsmanship or footwork?"

"Master Li, actually I don't know what to choose, but I've heard that when you master Yangzhou Slow, you can stay young forever. I've also heard someone say that if you practice martial arts but don't practice internal skills, you'll end up with nothing in your old age. So I've chosen Yangzhou Slow."

Upon hearing Cao Hansheng's reasoning, Li Xiangyi nearly choked on his own phlegm. He had no idea that this technique could preserve youth, but he knew that cultivating internal energy to a high level could indeed slow down aging.

"Brother Cao, Yangzhou Slow doesn't have that effect. However, the saying 'Practicing martial arts without internal energy is a waste of time in old age' is both true and false. But when it comes to self-cultivation, it is certainly true. No matter what kind of internal energy you cultivate to a deep level, it can produce some unique effects."

However, when it comes to navigating the martial world, martial arts skills are not the most important thing. Poisoning, traps, ganging up, and other methods are endless. If you are not careful, let alone practicing any martial arts, even a deity protecting you cannot save your life.

"Master Li is right, but I still choose Yangzhou Slow. The main reason is that I love the name Yangzhou Slow. It is a famous city on the left bank of the Huai River, a beautiful place by the bamboo grove, where one can dismount and pause briefly at the beginning of the journey."

Spring breezes blow for miles, and all is green with shepherd's purse and wheat. Since the Hu horses spied on the river, the abandoned ponds and tall trees still seem to hate talking about war. As dusk falls, the clear horn blows cold, all in the empty city.

Du Lang, with his keen eye, would surely be astonished if he were to return now. Even with his exquisite lyrics and enchanting dreams of courtesans, he could not capture the depth of his feelings. The Twenty-Four Bridges still stand, the water ripples silently under the cold moon. I think of the red peonies by the bridge, blooming year after year, for whom do they bloom?

As Cao Hansheng spoke, he recited a poem. In terms of martial arts, there were only a handful of people in the martial arts world who could rival him, but to produce a poem like this left Li Xiangyi completely dumbfounded.

"Brother Cao is truly talented. Although I don't understand it very well, I can still tell that the poem is very well written. Even if you don't know martial arts, going to the imperial court to participate in the imperial examination is a bright path for you."

"Master Li, you flatter me. I didn't write this. I heard it elsewhere before. I don't really understand it, but I think the lyrics are very good. It just so happens that the title of this lyric is Yangzhou Slow."

"That's quite a coincidence. Since that's the case, then I'll teach Brother Cao the Yangzhou Slow Style. Everyone in the martial arts world thinks that I have the best swordsmanship and footwork, but little do they know that this Yangzhou Slow Style is my masterpiece."

However, practicing internal martial arts is quite risky, and one must not be too hasty. A slight mistake can lead to qi deviation, which can result in paralysis or even death. Let me first talk about some basic common sense.

All martial arts under heaven are based on opening up the twelve meridians and nourishing the five internal organs, six bowels, torso, and limbs. Opening up one meridian is the entry level, opening up six meridians is the third level, opening up nine meridians is the second level, and opening up all twelve meridians is the first level.

Different meridians lead to different emphases in the techniques of different schools, resulting in endless variations. When combined with divine weapons, poisons, favorable terrain, and popular support, even a third-rate master may not be unable to kill a first-rate master.

But above the first-rate masters, there are the supreme masters. Those who have opened any one of the eight extraordinary meridians are supreme masters. It is said that if one opens all eight meridians, one can open the bridge between heaven and earth, return from the acquired to the innate, and become an innate master, who can become a terrestrial immortal.

However, these are just legends. Li learned from his mentor that there hasn't been a trace of a master of innate talent in the martial arts world of Da Xi for nearly a hundred years. We still need to work hard.

There isn't even a single innate master. It seems this world isn't very useful. If we measure it by the standards of Jin Yong's world, the level is probably similar to that of The Deer and the Cauldron. However, it's still better than my current level. I'll learn it first.

"I wonder what realm Master Li has reached now?"

"I am but a humble scholar, having only mastered three of the eight meridians. With your talent, Brother Cao, it would not be difficult for you to surpass me. There are many capable and extraordinary people in the martial world. If you are to travel in the martial world in the future, Brother Cao, you should be more cautious."

Please calm your mind and memorize the internal energy cultivation method, Brother Cao. I will then explain the operation of the hidden gates of the cultivation method to you. Please do not make any mistakes in memorizing it, because I have important business to attend to at Sigumen, and I do not know when we will meet again.

"Thank you, Sect Leader Li. I am ready."

Li Xiangyi didn't mince words and immediately began to impart the secret techniques. When he explained the two manuals once in a row, Cao Hansheng remembered 60% of them. After reciting them twice more, he had memorized them completely.

Then Li Xiangyi explained the acupoints that needed to be known to operate the technique several times, and then explained the hidden gates in the technique several times. There were really a lot of secret codes in it. It can only be said that those who have the secret manual and master the peerless martial arts are really lucky.

If there is no one to pass on the skill orally, it will basically be practiced in silence. Either you will not learn anything, or you will suffer a qi deviation and die. The only ones who can learn it in this way are basically the chosen ones.

Li Xiangyi would explain something three or five times, and Cao Hansheng could remember it clearly. Li Xiangyi was secretly amazed by his talent and, in his delight, taught him some basic sword moves.

Sword techniques consist of eight basic movements: thrusting, chopping, parrying, hooking, clouding, pointing, collapsing, and blocking. The footwork used in conjunction with these movements includes bowing, feinting, squinting, resting, crouching, inserting, leaping, following, jumping, sitting, turning and dodging, and raising the knee.

In Li Xiangyi's words, no matter how skillful the swordsmanship, it cannot escape these limitations. More than three hours had passed since he finished teaching these techniques. After Li Xiangyi helped to check for any omissions and fill in the gaps, he left with the words "See you in the martial world" and then drifted away under the cover of night.

He truly has the demeanor of a great hero. It's just a matter of whether they'll be friends or foes next time they meet. After seeing Li Xiangyi off, Cao Hansheng couldn't wait to open his system panel and click on the system notification.

[System Message: As the host is learning internal energy cultivation techniques, the system has enabled the skill level assessment function and awarded 1 attribute point. Please explore the specific functions on your own.]

Note: Cultivation techniques have an upper limit, divided into Mortal Rank → Spirit Rank → Divine Rank. Each rank of technique is further divided into nine grades, and each grade is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. The cultivation level is (Beginner → Beginner → Minor Success → Major Success).

Cao Hansheng glanced at the notes. The skill level and skill realm classification were both acceptable and straightforward. He just didn't know if the skill could be upgraded. He would just have to take it one step at a time.

In any case, I now have some ability to travel through the heavens. I casually added the attribute point I received as a reward to my agility, and my stats immediately looked much better.

Honestly, at that moment, Cao Hansheng had an urge to use the Boundary-Breaking Talisman. Maybe the next world would be a modern world, and Cao Hansheng really didn't want to stay in this ancient world anymore.

However, looking at the system's friendly reminder that he could get rewards by experiencing the storyline, he figured that as long as he didn't stick his neck out in everything, he might be able to get through the storyline and then the rewards would be within his grasp.

Of course, getting the reward wasn't the goal. I still had several debts to settle in Liujiaji, and I couldn't keep them waiting too long, otherwise it would delay their reincarnation, which would be my fault.