The morning sun cracked open, its radiance piercing through the clouds and bathing the skyscrapers of Hua Du City. Light dappled the bustling streets teeming with morning commuters rushing to clock in.
On top of Saint Hall Mountain, Elder Hong, Elder Chen, and several other tycoons of the previous generation were practicing Tai Chi sword by the open space next to the rest pavilion, just like any ordinary elderly gentlemen.
Simultaneously, a few elderly ladies were dancing to music. The commotion stirred Wan Yunting and Li Shuyun, who had been meditating on a protruding stone platform nearby. After more than an hour of meditation, they felt invigorated and brimming with energy.
"Hoo, you two..."
Lu Xiaodie, clad in a form-fitting tracksuit, her tall figure accentuated by the outfit that perfectly outlined her enviable curves, was even more stunning than typical fitness enthusiasts. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, whipping behind her as she, too, sprinted to the summit, breathless. She complained to Wan Yunting and Li Shuyun, "You didn't call me to practice."
Seeing Lu Xiaodie, Wan Yunting's expression turned somewhat unnatural. He said, "You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to disturb you."
"Hmph."
Lu Xiaodie playfully rolled her eyes. However, facing Wan Yunting, she also felt a bit sheepish, though she didn't show it, maintaining her usual straightforward demeanor. She asked, "Shuyun, are you done meditating?"
"Mmm," Li Shuyun nodded and asked, "How do you feel?"
"How do I feel about what?"
Lu Xiaodie's expression was puzzled; she didn't quite grasp the question.
Wan Yunting shot Li Shuyun a glare, but the latter, as if she hadn't heard, continued, "How was your dual cultivation last night? Did you break through?"
"Ah, how did you know?"
Lu Xiaodie exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stared at Li Shuyun. Li Shuyun calmly replied, "I overheard you."
"You..."
"We're even," Li Shuyun added with a slight smile.
Wan Yunting slapped his forehead and turned to leave. "You two chat. I'm heading down."
"You can't go. Didn't you say last night you'd teach me a set of techniques?"
Lu Xiaodie stopped bickering with the quirky Li Shuyun and grabbed Wan Yunting's arm to stop him from leaving. Li Shuyun also narrowed her eyes and looked at them. "You're teaching her techniques, why not me?"
...Wan Yunting froze on the spot, feeling peculiar as both Lu Xiaodie and Li Shuyun stared at him.
He had indeed told Lu Xiaodie last night that he could teach her a set of techniques, but he hadn't mentioned it to Li Shuyun. Li Shuyun had only just broken through to the early stage of Dan Jin, while Lu Xiaodie was already at the late stage of Hua Jin. Perhaps another round of dual cultivation could help her reach the early stage of Dan Jin.
"Teach, teach, I'll teach both of you. Is that okay?"
A helpless Wan Yunting sighed. He turned and walked to the protruding stone platform, sitting down. "However, I can teach you, but I need to tell you about the origin of this set of techniques before you decide if you want to learn!"
"Then hurry up and tell us..."
Lu Xiaodie and Li Shuyun sat before him. Wan Yunting began, "Didn't I tell you before? I had an encounter and learned the martial arts of the Carefree Sect!"
"Mmm, you mean you fell off a cliff and found the martial arts manuals left by a master of the Carefree Sect in a cave?"
Lu Xiaodie's beautiful eyes widened slightly. Wan Yunting had mentioned it before, but Li Shuyun, sitting beside him, hadn't heard it and looked at him with a wistful gaze.
"That's right."
Ignoring Li Shuyun's slightly jealous gaze, Wan Yunting continued, "It's similar to what I told you, except I fell into a valley and indeed found a cave dwelling. It was where Kang Guangling, a former sect leader of the Carefree Sect, and his wife Li Qingshui lived. They left behind many martial arts manuals of the Carefree Sect, and we've basically learned them all."
"Wait, 'we'!"
Lu Xiaodie seized on the keyword. Her beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled at Wan Yunting and said, "Tell me, besides dual cultivating with us, who else have you dual cultivated the Peerless Yin-Yang technique with?"
Wan Yunting, having let slip, looked a bit embarrassed and waved his hands. "That's not the main point. What I want to say now is, I can teach you a set of techniques from the Carefree Sect, but my only condition is, if I ever revive the Carefree Sect in the future, will you be willing to help me?"
Lu Xiaodie's expression faltered. "You mean, you want to revive the Carefree Sect in the future, and have us join it?"
"Mmm."
Wan Yunting nodded. "I inherited the legacy of Senior Kang Guangling of the Carefree Sect, and one of the stipulations was this."
But Lu Xiaodie said, "Aren't you the master of Wuliang Daoist Temple now? Why revive the Carefree Sect?"
Wan Yunting waved his hands and chuckled. "It's not really about reviving the sect as a formal organization. What I mean is, finding someone to carry on the lineage of the Carefree Sect, you understand?"
Lu Xiaodie nodded. "I understand. You mean finding successors for the Carefree Sect!"
"Exactly."
Wan Yunting nodded. He was currently the master of Wuliang Daoist Temple, and it was uncertain if he would go to Wuliang Mountain in the future.
However, Wan Yunting had been thinking lately that if he didn't pass on the martial arts of the Carefree Sect, he would be letting down Senior Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui.
Thus, he conceived the idea of finding successors for the Carefree Sect, and Lu Xiaodie happened to appear at this opportune moment!
"So you mean, you want me and Shuyun to inherit the martial arts of the Carefree Sect?" Lu Xiaodie's beautiful eyes lit up, and she felt a secret joy and excitement.
To her surprise, Li Shuyun said, "I'm from the Xingyi Quan school!"
Wan Yunting glanced at her and then pointed at Lu Xiaodie with a smile. "Lu Jie, are you willing?"
"I'm more than willing."
Lu Xiaodie was excited. "Little brother, you have no idea how stifled I've been, being forbidden to use the martial arts of the Hengshan Sect by that old geezer. That's why I had to create my own martial arts. If I can truly inherit the martial arts of the Carefree Sect, then I can use them openly from now on."
"Are the martial arts of the Carefree Sect very powerful?" Li Shuyun asked.
"Of course, they are powerful," Wan Yunting turned to her. "I admit Xingyi Quan is also good, but the Carefree Sect was once a major sect. Whether it's internal cultivation methods or various martial arts techniques, they are definitely top-notch. Otherwise, how could I be so powerful now?"
"Hehe, little brother, you shameless fellow, you're praising yourself too."
Lu Xiaodie giggled charmingly and gave him a flirtatious glance. Wan Yunting smiled and waved his hands.
After some thought, Li Shuyun also said, "Alright, I'll withdraw from the Xingyi Quan school and learn the martial arts of the Carefree Sect."
Wan Yunting blinked in surprise and laughed. "Aren't you afraid your Xingyi Quan master will break your legs?"
Li Shuyun said seriously, "As long as my martial arts are better than his, I won't be afraid."
"Hahaha..."
Lu Xiaodie burst into laughter and gave Li Shuyun a thumbs-up. "Sister-in-law, you're amazing."
"Alright, enough nonsense."
Wan Yunting waved his hand and looked at Lu Xiaodie and Li Shuyun, saying seriously, "One last question, are you both really willing to learn the martial arts of the Carefree Sect?"
"Willing," Lu Xiaodie nodded excitedly without hesitation, and Li Shuyun also nodded.
"Good, it's too crowded and eyes are everywhere here. I'll teach you at home."
Wan Yunting immediately got up and headed down the mountain. Lu Xiaodie became excited, and she and Li Shuyun went down the mountain with him, one on each side. Wan Yunting said, "When the time is right, I'll take you to Kunlun Mountain to meet Senior Kang Guangling. It will also be considered finding someone to carry on the lineage of the Carefree Sect..."
Back at home, after a hasty breakfast, Wan Yunting took them to the spacious living room on the second basement level, where he began to earnestly impart the Carefree Sect's White Rainbow Palm, Heavenly Mountain Plum Blossom Hand, Heavenly Mountain Six Yang Palm, and Minor Formless Skill, among other internal cultivation methods and manuals.
"The Eight Desolations Divine Art is not suitable for you to practice at this stage," Wan Yunting said, sitting cross-legged on the floor and looking at Lu Xiaodie and Li Shuyun, who were also seated. "However, Lu Jie, if you break through to Dan Jin, you might be able to practice the domineering and peculiar Eight Desolations Divine Art. As for you, Shuyun, continue practicing your Qi. Once you reach the late stage of Hua Jin, you can practice other techniques. But for now, I will teach you the Minor Formless Skill!"
"Minor Formless Skill?"
Lu Xiaodie's beautiful eyes widened in excitement. "You mean the Minor Formless Skill that, once mastered, allows one to imitate other techniques?"
"That's right."
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled. "When the Minor Formless Skill is mastered, you can imitate other martial arts, even surpassing the original version. So, if you truly master the Minor Formless Skill, you will be truly remarkable."
"Then, little brother, what stage have you reached?"
Lu Xiaodie asked. Wan Yunting shook his head and chuckled. "I'd say I've only just begun. After all, I haven't been learning for long. Recently, I've been studying the Eight Desolations Divine Art and our Wuliang Daoist Temple's Limitless Heavenly Net Swordplay and Fist techniques. Alright, I'll now teach you the mantra for the Minor Formless Skill. You must engrave it in your hearts..."
Thus, Wan Yunting taught the cultivation mantra of the Minor Formless Skill to Lu Xiaodie and Li Shuyun, and then guided them hand-in-hand on how to begin.
He had learned the Minor Formless Skill with Zhou Ruoxi below the valley before, but the profound technique was still only at its introductory stage for Wan Yunting. To reach mastery would take at least a lifetime.
Cultivation is like this; there is no such thing as instant success, only gradual self-reflection.
Some people can become invincible in the world by practicing a single martial art for a lifetime; the saying "one move to conquer the world" refers to this.
The entire day, Wan Yunting, Lu Xiaodie, and Li Shuyun remained in the large hall on the second basement level. They didn't even eat lunch when Huang Guilann came down to call them. It wasn't until dinner time that the three went upstairs to eat.
After practicing all day, they were indeed hungry. Besides practicing the Minor Formless Skill, Wan Yunting also taught them the martial arts of the White Rainbow Palm and Heavenly Mountain Plum Blossom Hand. Regardless, now that the techniques had been passed on, how much they could learn depended on their own fortune.