Chapter Thirteen: The Azure Sky Technique

  The sky above Tianyin Village is dotted with stars, sprinkled on the passing evening wind, adding a few more melancholic feelings.

  Makai, in this world, apart from humans and youkai, there are also mazoku, Makai!

  So, I, am I a monster or a demon? But no matter which one it is, if those righteous people find out my true identity, will they let me off? What should I do?

  Why? I haven't done anything wrong!

  Mu Shan suddenly felt that the starlight of the entire sky had dimmed a lot, and even the evening wind whizzing past his side seemed to be mocking him.

  As soon as Mu Shan thought of his identity and the possible treatment he might face, he felt a sense of injustice and grievance raging deep within him. His fists clenched unconsciously: "The Demon Clan, descendants of Chi You, can't they really be tolerated in this world?"

  Qing Long's experience and insight, at a glance, Mu Shan's expression and tone of voice at this moment, how could he not know what he was thinking: "Don't think too much, you're different from them. Although I don't know what kind of history and glory your bloodline has, but from now on, you don't have to worry about your bloodline problems, you are no different from an ordinary person."

  Mushan listened to Qinglong's words, thinking of what Qinglong had said before, that his own bloodline would never be able to awaken again. In the midst of excitement, he couldn't help but feel a hint of melancholy.

  Mu Shan hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth to ask: "If... if in the ancient times, Huang Di and Chi You's war, Chi You was the winner, what would be the situation now?"

  Qing Long gazed at Mu Shan with profound meaning, the more he looked, the more he felt that Mu Shan's future would not be just an ordinary mountain village husband. Chun Chun instructed: "Your thoughts are more than those of your peers, and you think further. Intelligence is a good thing, but if it gives rise to opportunism or using intelligence for evil purposes, it will ultimately lead to self-destruction."

  "In ancient times, things have long been impossible to investigate. After all, in this world, only the victors are qualified to write history. The passed-down written records have long been altered beyond recognition, and who can say clearly about the various things? However, if Chi You had won back then, the current situation of gods and demons would be nothing but a reversal. Whether it's gods or demons, they're all fighting for a piece of land to survive and the right to live in peace. On the mountain, I could have easily killed Jiang Shengming, but I spared his life because I pitied his circumstances.

  Qing Long looked at Mu Shan with a confused expression and let out a long sigh, saying: "Forget it, don't talk about these things. Once you've experienced more in the future, you'll naturally understand."

  Victors have the right to write history!

  Mu Shan's mind kept repeating the sentence, as if he had grasped something in the dark, but it wasn't quite clear. Only deep down inside, his longing for power grew stronger: "Uncle, what martial arts are you going to teach me?"

  The Azure Dragon raised its head and gazed up at the sky, with its hands clasped behind its back. It said proudly: "There are four realms for martial artists: Post-Heaven, Pre-Heaven, Heaven-Man, and Void-Shattering. Each realm is further divided into three stages: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The corresponding techniques also fall into four categories: Lower Vehicle, Middle Vehicle, Upper Vehicle, and Transcendent. Techniques of different levels will lead to different realms in the future."

  The voice of the Azure Dragon, in the dark and quiet night, within the heart of Mount Mu, was stirring back and forth: "Heaven has five elements, water, fire, metal, wood, and earth, which divide and transform to give birth to all things. Humans are the spirits of all things, born with the power of the five elements. However, they are not balanced, sometimes leaning towards water or fire, sometimes biased towards metal or wood, each one different. On this basis, our predecessors researched countless techniques, discovering the strongest attribute within their own five elements and cultivating it to gain extraordinary powers. Yun Chang himself is a Wood element with a Thunder system, so he matches well with my Azure Dragon Altar, making his cultivation twice as effective. As for your attributes, I am not clear, but the technique I will pass on to you is an attribute-less technique, suitable for anyone to cultivate, called the 'Heavenly Void Technique', meaning infinite and unparalleled. This technique can also be considered one of the world's most powerful techniques, unfortunately it is an attribute-less technique, without any strengthening or sublimation of a specific attribute, so in terms of power and endurance, it falls slightly short, but it will still make you a strong master."

  When Mu Shan first heard the implication of Cang Yun Jue, the blood in his body was boiling, but when he heard Qing Long say that it was slightly inferior to the ultimate technique, he suddenly felt that the blood in his body and his enthusiasm had cooled down, and his interest was lukewarm!

  Qing Long's eyes immediately detected Mu Shan's loss and depression, and he scolded with a stern face: "The heart is not enough to swallow the elephant, you have the opportunity tonight, but it was your mother who put down her dignity in exchange for it. If you don't cherish it well, how can you repay your mother's kindness?"

  Daughter...

  Mu Shan recalled Qin Mei kneeling under the sky in front of this thatched hut, and his whole body was invigorated. The laziness from before instantly dissipated, and his eyes also ignited with endless fighting spirit: "Uncle, please instruct me strictly, no matter how bitter or tiring it is, I won't complain a single sentence. No matter what, I won't disappoint my mother!"

  "A child can be taught!" The Azure Dragon nodded in satisfaction, slowly stretched out his hand and placed it on Mu Shan's shoulder, with a solemn expression said: "Close your eyes, carefully feel the direction of my internal energy flowing through your body and the sensation, this is the internal energy cultivation route of the Heavenly Void Technique. Wait until you can cultivate internal energy on your own, then follow the qigong route I taught you tonight to practice!"

  Mu Shan closed his eyes, only to feel a fierce and violent energy surging through his body, bringing with it a tingling sensation wherever it passed.

  How could this be? This kid's body is like a swamp, and yet he has never cultivated before. As soon as my internal energy entered his meridians, it was immediately absorbed and refined away by 70%. What's going on here?

  Could it be because of his bloodline? This is getting tricky, I don't know how much of the internal energy he cultivated himself can be preserved.

  The Azure Dragon hesitated and withdrew his right hand, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light as he asked in a low voice, "Do you remember?"

  Just now that surge of energy has passed, the body seems to have become a bit lighter, and even the strength of the body has increased slightly. Is this internal power? It's too amazing!

  "Remember that!" Mu Shan nodded enthusiastically, looking at Qing Long with expectation, saying: "Uncle, what moves does this set of skills have?"

  "No, this set of skills is purely internal power, applicable to any move. What made Qinglong Hall famous was knife techniques, so I didn't pay much attention to swordsmanship. However, all the sword techniques in the world are simplified from complex ones, and no matter what moves, they can't depart from the most basic stabbing, chopping, pointing, collapsing, hanging, sweeping, wiping, cutting, intercepting, clouding, pricking, and supporting!"

  "Open your eyes and take a good look, I'll demonstrate it once." Qing Long's hand suddenly appeared with a light and agile treasure sword. With a serious expression, he walked behind Mu Shan, grasped his hands, and set up the stance: "When using a sword, you must use it alive, you can't just rely on your arm strength, internal energy must circulate within the body, reach the meridians in your hand, combine with your own physical strength, and strike out together."

  "It's like this!" Qing Long grabbed Mu Shan's arm, and with a sword thrust out, only to hear the sound of whistling rising, a fierce gust of wind shot forward like a sharp sword, disappearing only after tens of meters.

  "Wow!" Mu Shan exclaimed, unable to conceal his wild excitement: "Awesome!"

  Qing Long grasped Mu Shan's hand, moving his body and making all the basic movements: "Remember, these basic movements are crucial, you must practice them every day without slackening, until they become second nature to your body. Also, no move should be made old, use 70% of your strength, and leave 30% for variation!"

  Qing Long let go of Mu Shan's hand and said with a hint of scrutiny, "Alright, now you try it yourself. Let me see if there's anything that needs correction."

  Mushan's little face was excitedly flushed red, relying on the feeling just now, he continuously and unceasingly used the moves that Qinglong had taught him.

  Qing Long looked at Mu Shan's standard and fluent posture, and thought to himself: Although he is also a rare martial arts talent, compared to Yun Chang, he is still slightly inferior. Never mind, I shouldn't ask for too much, after all, he has his own path, and the only thing that can help him is this.

  "Not bad!" After Mu Shan finished his practice, Qing Long nodded in approval and flipped his left hand, instantly producing a book and a jade stone: "This is the oral formula and mental method of the 'Cangyun Quan'. You keep it to slowly comprehend on your own. I've helped you set this sacred spirit stone into a necklace, wear it close to your body, as long as the jade doesn't change, you can live like an ordinary person without any restrictions."

  Mu Shan didn't expect that this high and mighty person, who was like a fleeting acquaintance, would be so tolerant and protective of him. His heart warmed up immediately, and he knelt down on the ground, kowtowing to Qing Long: "Thank you, Uncle! I will always remember in my heart the kindness you have shown me by saving my life and teaching me, and I will never forget it."

  "It's not necessary. I did it half because of your mother, and the other half because I couldn't bear Yun Chang's persistent begging!" Qing Long didn't help Mu Shan up, but instead walked towards the thatched cottage by himself: "Also, we'll be leaving Tian Yin Village tomorrow. Yun Chang asked me to tell you not to see him off tomorrow, so as to avoid him getting all teary-eyed and acting like a woman!"

  "Changsheng..." Mu Shan's mouth kept murmuring this name, with a hint of tears in his eyes, accompanied by a faint warmth, under the starry sky, incredibly bright.