Crane Soars Through the Void [1st Update]

"The crane soars through the vast sky."

Zhong Xuan stared at the booklet in his hand.

I happened to be able to see the handwritten preface on it.

"It's a skill of lightness and agility!"

In martial arts, besides swordsmanship and knife skills, lightness skills are also extremely important. A superior lightness skill can make a martial artist more agile in combat, and can decide whether to advance or retreat at will.

However, the skill of lightness of movement is hard to find, and even harder to master.

It is time-consuming and laborious, and often the results are not good. It was not included in the six subjects of the imperial examination, so most martial arts schools do not teach it.

Since his lightness skill was bestowed upon him by Cui Bai, it couldn't possibly be bad.

Zhong Xuan was about to speak.

Cui Bai spoke up first: "No need to overthink it. If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have resorted to such a low method. If you can master the techniques in the booklet, come to Zhushan to find me, and I will grant you a great opportunity."

Zhong Xuan looked down at the booklet in his hand.

Just as Cui Bai said.

When the gap between two people is too large, then there is absolutely no need for any scheming or plotting.

Given Cui Bai's status, if he wanted to kill him, he could simply strike him dead without anyone pursuing the matter.

If I give away the practice method today, then it is a true gift.

Zhong Xuan accepted the booklet.

Cui Bai chuckled and said, "I listened to your lecture just now. The phrase 'learning by doing' was very good. I'll lend it to you. As for the money for the calligraphy... I'll include it in this lightness skill. There are countless people outside who would kill for this skill. You won't lose out."

Done.

The door to the library slammed open, and Zhong Xuan saw Cui Bai gracefully depart with his hands behind his back. There was no one else in the library.

"The Crane-shaped Void?!"

Zhong Xuan was startled.

If I'm not mistaken, Cui Bai's technique just now was most likely the lightness skill described in the booklet.

After a few breaths.

Cui Bai then arrived outside Xiahe Village.

He appeared and disappeared without a trace; none of the villagers in Xiahe Village even noticed the old man's comings and goings.

Cui Yi, a young girl from the academy, stood in the woods waiting. When she saw her grandfather appear, she ran to greet him.

"Grandpa, did you really pass on the complete 'White Crane's Journey' to him?"

Cui Bai shook his head: "I only taught him the lightness technique first."

It's not that they're stingy.

Rather, he knew that giving all of Bai Hexing to Zhong Xuan would not be a blessing but a calamity. How many people in the martial arts world have been hunted down by thousands of people because they obtained a divine skill?

If we're going to send artificial intelligence, we need to think things through carefully.

Cui Yi blinked and asked curiously, "Grandpa, why have you decided to pass on the Dharma again?"

She clearly remembered that during the previous imperial examination, her grandfather, Cui Bai, had not been tempted at all.

Upon hearing his granddaughter's words, Cui Bai said, "It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. If it turns out to be a happy accident, then it's a good thing. Otherwise, this technique is useless to me."

After saying that, he muttered to himself:

"Could it be that he's really getting old and his eyesight is failing?"

During the imperial examination, he clearly remembered that Zhong Xuan's physical attributes were ordinary.

If I hadn't noticed the sword aura left by Zhong Xuan on the inscription when I was looking at the characters at the Zhang family temple, I would have almost missed a gem.

of course.

Is it truly a pearl?

We also need to see how Zhong Xuan performs afterward. He's already sixty years old, so we can't just look at his potential; we need to see more about his ability to deliver on it.

"Let's go, we've been out for so long, it's time to go back."

Cui Bai's departure from Yongning Prefecture was motivated by a desire to find a successor.

Now that our goal has been achieved, it's time to head home.

"What a pity, it's too old."

"If it's a young man, we could consider having him marry into the family..."

......

......

"Riding the righteousness of Heaven and Earth, controlling the differentiation of the six qi, to roam the vast void... Qi flows through the Yongquan point, feet tread on the seven stars, body like a white crane, one step a hundred zhang..."

The booklet is written in the small, elegant calligraphy style.

Therefore, it contains several thousand characters.

Zhong Xuan watched intently until dusk, then slowly closed his eyes, showing no signs of fatigue, his gaze becoming even more radiant.

"Truly brilliant."

Ordinary light-body skills are nothing more than training some leg and foot techniques, but Crane Walking in the Void can guide the qi and control the body. It is a very rare light-body skill that can mobilize breathing techniques. Even practicing body techniques can also improve breathing.

"If I can master this lightness skill, then almost no one in the Bone Refining stage will be able to kill me."

Zhong Xuan sought immortality.

This lightness skill, "Crane Leaps Across the Void," is extremely suitable, and its ability to protect one's life will definitely increase significantly.

Zhong Xuan adjusted his breathing according to the instructions in the booklet.

Before they knew it, a night had passed.

......

......

The next day.

Zhong Xuan arrived at the Zhang family.

"Has Old Master Cui already passed away?"

"Yes, Master Zhong."

Steward Zhang nodded respectfully: "They left early this morning. The young master said that the provincial examination is approaching, and Mr. Cui wants to take them back to the prefectural school to prepare for the exam."

Thank you.

Zhong Xuan was quite disappointed.

He had originally planned to take this opportunity to consult with Grandpa Cui, but now it seems that the chance is gone.

"The provincial examination..."

Judging by the timeline, the provincial examination will be held in less than half a year, so it is only natural to return to the prefectural school as soon as possible to prepare for the exam.

Zhong Xuan was about to leave.

But Zhang's steward stopped him: "Master Zhong, please wait, the master invites you."

"Oh?"

Although Zhong Xuan did not know why Zhang Lie wanted him to stay, since he had already come to the Zhang family, he could not refuse the host's face.

He followed the Zhang family steward through various pavilions and towers, finally arriving at a small, square courtyard.

"This is the study. The master has been waiting for quite some time."

The Zhang family steward opened the door and bowed, gesturing for the guests to enter.

As Zhong Xuan stepped across the threshold, he saw Zhang Lie already standing up to greet him.

"Brother Zhong, please have a seat."

As he spoke, Zhang Lie personally brewed tea for Zhong Xuan.

Seeing this scene.

Zhong Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Although Zhang Lie's martial arts level had been stuck at the Bone Refining stage for over ten years and he wasn't considered top-tier in Baisha County, he was skilled in business and even had many connections in Yongning Prefecture.

This is why he was allowed to enter and leave the county magistrate's residence and was treated as an honored guest.

Throughout Baisha County, there are not many people for whom Zhang Lie can personally brew tea.

Zhong Xuan remained silent, simply waiting for Zhang Lie to speak.

For a moment, only the gurgling sound of pouring tea remained in the room.

Zhang Lie pushed the teacup toward Zhong Xuan's side, then sighed softly, "Brother Zhong, Pei Yong has already told me about what happened that day. Lin Chun has been spoiled since childhood, so I hope you won't take it to heart."

Zhong Xuan smiled faintly.

Just as he had guessed, Zhang Lie was apologizing for his son's matter.

"Brother Zhang, what are you saying?"

"I won't take it to heart."

Upon hearing Zhong Xuan's words, Zhang Lie sighed inwardly once more.

Having seen countless people, he could certainly tell that this matter was not yet over.

But it concerns paving the way for his son's future.

Zhang Lie continued with a hearty smile: "Brother Zhong, I heard that the Riverside Academy's library only has a few dozen books, which is hardly enough."

"My little brother, I just like places with culture."

"In this way, I will collect three thousand books and donate another three thousand taels of silver to build school buildings for the academy."