Chapter 2: Flowing Wind Technique
Chapter 2: Flowing Wind Technique
Gai Tiancheng lightly stretched his ape-like arms. The Sky-Piercing Halberd carved a cold gleam through the air, parting the air currents. It carried a momentum that could split mountains and seas as it thrust directly toward Mu Yuan’s back. With Zhenqi channeled into it, a faint shimmer glowed along the halberd’s shaft. The blade shimmered like flowing water, appearing even sharper!
Mu Yuan reacted quickly. Ten years of Qi Refinement achievements instantly showed at this moment. He swung his left arm, and Chu Fei immediately flew through the air like a kite with a cut string. He soared over the battlefield and fell outside the Heavenly Dragon army. With a long scream, he landed among the Tiandu forces. Chu Fei shrieked loudly, thinking he would either die or break many bones from the fall. Unexpectedly, when he landed, a stream of air appeared beneath his feet. He stood firmly on the ground!
Chu Fei was slightly stunned. Surrounded by roaring soldiers, charging and shouting, his fear of life and death vanished. His blood boiled with excitement. Holding a long spear, he shouted and charged forward with the army.
Mu Yuan had no time to concern himself with this. The powerful energy from Gai Tiancheng’s halberd was already upon him. He twisted his body and swung his sword. In an instant, he struck over ten times. The sword lights flashed brilliantly, like stars dotting the sky or fireworks exploding. Each strike met the cold gleam at the halberd’s tip!
With every clash, Mu Yuan felt a strong force travel through the Iron Sword into his body. His arm went numb. He couldn’t help but think, “This guy has tremendous strength!”
He executed the Longevity Palace’s Heavenly Flight Longevity Sword technique. Redirecting and borrowing force, his entire body used Gai Tiancheng’s powerful Zhenqi to rise another three feet. He spread his arms, circling like a large bird. His iron armor split open, dissipating all the force. Underneath, his blue Daoist robe was revealed, flapping fiercely in the swift wind!
“Excellent sword technique!” Gai Tiancheng shouted loudly. He swung his halberd furiously. The heavy, cumbersome Sky-Piercing Halberd moved as flexibly as a fine sword in his hands. Every strike aimed at Mu Yuan’s vital points. If hit, it would surely pierce through him. His body might even be shattered by the powerful force!
At the same time, soldiers below bent their bows and shot arrows. Like rain, numerous arrows shot into the sky. They made sharp, piercing sounds that shook the soul!
“What a situation! Fighting in the enemy’s army, this general alone is enough to kill me, not to mention all these soldiers! As the saying goes, enough ants can kill an elephant. But they aren’t ants, and I’m no elephant!” Facing such danger, Mu Yuan’s mind remained calm. His wrist trembled continuously, releasing countless sword lights, sparkling like stars. They shattered the arrows. His feet tapped each other, and his figure swiftly flew toward the outskirts of the formation!
Mu Yuan had good talent but was somewhat lazy. He cultivated in seclusion at Longevity Palace for ten years, practicing Qi Refinement daily. Among the younger generation, he was quite renowned. His most proud skill was his lightness technique!
Longevity Palace’s Longevity True Qi was divided into nine layers. Only upon reaching the fifth layer could one soar through the skies. The first four layers only refined the body to be lighter, using Zhenqi vibrations to leap and glide through the air. Longevity Palace’s wind-riding technique was called the Flowing Wind Technique. In the early stages, it allowed riding the wind. Though limited, it was still a method of flight!
On the plain, the battlefield’s charge stirred raging winds. For Mu Yuan, this was like a fish in water. He rose and fell with the wind, swaying along. He looked incredibly carefree and joyful!
Gai Tiancheng saw this and was quite surprised. He was a proper secular martial artist. Lightness skill was a widely spread technique, equivalent to using Zhenqi for leverage to glide through the air, like skimming. One could go at most four or five zhang before needing to land again. Someone like Mu Yuan, floating so freely in the air, riding the wind, seemed truly miraculous to him!
But this was ultimately just a technique. From their earlier exchange, Gai Tiancheng clearly sensed that his opponent’s Zhenqi cultivation was inferior to his. He immediately gathered his energy and pursued quickly!
When Gai Tiancheng exerted himself, his movement speed surpassed Mu Yuan’s wind-riding. A mighty air current swept around Gai Tiancheng. In mid-air, it transformed into a dragon-like illusion. With a roar, it slashed down furiously!
Heavenly Dragon Empire’s imperial martial art, Divine Dragon Roars to Heaven Technique. Gai Tiancheng had repeatedly achieved military merits and gained the emperor’s favor. He was granted the Divine Dragon Roars to Heaven mental method. After over twenty years of diligent cultivation, plus his original prowess, he far surpassed Mu Yuan!
Mu Yuan chuckled in mid-air. He waved his Iron Sword, pouring Longevity True Qi into it. A hazy blue light immediately appeared on the sword’s surface. The tip extended a sharp sword radiance, extending and retracting like a spiritual snake. Avoiding the solid, striking the weak, finding gaps to break through, he shattered the mid-air dragon illusion with several sword strikes!
Though the Divine Dragon Roars to Heaven Technique was powerful, it was still secular martial arts. In terms of insight and knowledge, it was far inferior to Longevity Palace’s orthodox Daoist mental methods. Though Mu Yuan was young, his understanding was no less than a national general like Gai Tiancheng. Usually, he read countless texts in Longevity Palace’s Elegant Pavilion. Though he hadn’t experienced many battles himself, the insights and experiences of countless Longevity Palace predecessors were nothing ordinary!
Bugles blew angrily, war drums pounded wildly. The Tiandu army finally broke through the Heavenly Dragon army’s crossbow blockade and charged to the front lines. The two armies immediately engaged in close combat. The clattering of weapons colliding sounded continuously. Soldiers kept falling, blood flowing wildly!
The Heavenly Dragon army, commanded by Lin Qingdu, was no less effective than when Gai Tiancheng took the field personally. Gai Tiancheng calmed his mind, free from distractions, and tangled with Mu Yuan. In just a short while, he firmly gained the upper hand! The halberd’s light gradually suppressed the Iron Sword’s sharpness!
Under Gai Tiancheng’s powerful aura and fierce attacks, Mu Yuan wielded his long sword tightly, creating an impenetrable defense. Though suppressed, winning was very difficult!
This was Mu Yuan’s first real battle. Usually in the palace, he sparred with fellow disciples, but they were all similar in age and Magical Power. They competed in sword techniques and skills, emphasizing subtle changes and profound mysteries. Nothing like today, where his opponent’s aura was overwhelming, Zhenqi like an ocean. Whenever Mu Yuan tried to change sword moves, they were forcibly intercepted by the immense Zhenqi. His “Greenwood Divine Radiance” sword technique felt awkward and clumsy, making him furious!
“Damn it! You’re a national general, almost forty years old! Why pick on a kid like me? Don’t you know shame?” Mu Yuan shouted angrily, his voice thunderous.
Gai Tiancheng laughed loudly. “On the battlefield, there’s no distinction between old and young, or women and children. Since you stepped onto the battlefield, you should have been prepared!”
As they spoke, the two exchanged blows again. The impact made Mu Yuan’s arm numb and weak. Even the Longevity True Qi inside him felt unstable. He immediately thought, “Why should I compete with you in cultivation? I’m a Daoist Sect disciple after all; I know some spells! No matter how strong your martial arts are, what use are they?”
With this thought, he forcefully raised his Zhenqi. Swish, swish, swish—he struck out over ten sword blows, forcing Gai Tiancheng back. With his left hand, he secretly formed a hand seal. His tongue erupted like spring thunder: “Evil spirits, ghosts, and demons! Confuse the heart, disturb the spirit, bewilder the mind!”