Chapter 126: Chapter 125: Perfection of Startled Swan Step, Wind Shadow Step

With this thought, Fang Han delayed no longer. He got up and walked toward the familiar, secluded woods behind the Sub-Branch.

In the days that followed, Fang Han’s life became extremely disciplined.

Each dawn, he cultivated the Xunfeng Technique to strengthen his Inner Qi.

In the mornings, he honed his Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship to advance his sword skills.

In the afternoons, he poured all his energy into cultivating the Startled Swan Step.

With his Sixteenfold Stepping Talent Amplification, his understanding of this Step Technique grew with each passing day.

Subtle points that were once obscure and required repeated contemplation now often became clear in a flash of insight.

His movements and footwork became increasingly fluid and natural. His turns and changes in direction were as smooth as flowing water, and his speed steadily increased.

He was completely immersed in the wonderful feeling of constantly breaking through and improving, his mind free of distractions.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.

One afternoon, as the blazing sun slanted westward, the clearing in the woods was dappled with light and shadow.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH—

Fang Han’s figure moved like the wind, flashing and weaving across the clearing as he practiced the Startled Swan Step.

His form was already so fast that it dissolved into a series of blurry afterimages. His steps were silent, like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface, and every movement carried a unique rhythm.

The Inner Qi in his body surged naturally, perfectly in sync with his Step Technique.

At a certain moment, as he executed an extremely difficult series of directional changes and reversals within the Step Technique, the Inner Qi in his Dantian seemed to resonate in a wondrous way.

Inner Qi flooded the meridians in his feet in an unprecedented way, and he became acutely sensitive to the airflow beneath them.

’It was as if he wasn’t treading on solid ground, but on the very veins of the wind!’

SWOOSH—!

His speed suddenly exploded. He left a faint, lingering afterimage behind as his true form reappeared more than ten yards away.

It wasn’t a simple linear acceleration, but a near-perfect Z-shaped dash executed within an extremely small area!

Even more strangely, the air around his trajectory let out a faint whine. An invisible current of air wrapped around his feet, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.

’This is the sign that I’ve incorporated Wind Momentum into my Step Technique!’

Fang Han’s figure came to an abrupt halt, holding a profound posture as he quietly savored the enlightenment from that single instant.

The airflow around him slowly calmed, but an irrepressible light of joy erupted in his eyes.

’Startled Swan Step... Perfection!’

He slowly relaxed his stance, feeling the unprecedented lightness and power in his feet, as well as the intimate, harmonious connection with the surrounding airflow.

The hallmark of reaching the Perfection Level in a Low Grade Martial Technique was grasping "Momentum."

Swordsmanship had Sword Momentum, and Step Techniques likewise had Step Momentum.

And now, he had successfully integrated Wind Momentum into his Startled Swan Step.

’Although they are both Wind Momentum, they are different!’

With a shift in his thoughts, Fang Han carefully perceived the Wind Momentum in his Step Technique, comparing it to the Wind Momentum he had long since mastered in his Swordsmanship.

Although both originated from the same source—an understanding of the "wind"—their applications were entirely different.

The Wind Momentum in Swordsmanship focused more on concentration, tearing, and piercing, pursuing ultimate destructive power and attack speed. The wind on the sword’s edge became an all-destroying blade.

The Wind Momentum in the Step Technique, however, was exceptionally pure, focused entirely on speed, lightness, and change.

The wind beneath his feet became an invisible force that propelled his body, reduced drag, and increased the efficiency of his evasive movements.

One was for offense, the other for movement; their purposes were worlds apart.

He also tried to see if he could directly apply his understanding of the Step Technique’s Wind Momentum to his Swordsmanship, or vice versa.

But he quickly discovered that it was impossible.

Momentum didn’t exist independently. It was intricately fused with a specific Martial Technique, a sublimation of its spiritual essence. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Momentum of Swordsmanship stemmed from the execution of Sword Techniques and coordination with Inner Qi. The Momentum of a Step Technique originated from the variations in footwork and the circulation of Inner Qi.

The Magic Gates through which they operated, their Inner Qi pathways, and their force-application techniques were completely different, so the Momentum they produced naturally carried its own unique attributes.

Forcibly stripping the Momentum from the Step Technique and integrating it into the Swordsmanship was simply impossible.

Even if it were possible, the Swordsmanship would likely no longer be the original technique. Its Inner Qi circulation and body movements would have to undergo fundamental changes, which would be equivalent to creating an entirely new and unknown form of Swordsmanship.

The difficulty of such a task would far exceed that of cultivating an existing Swordsmanship to the Perfection Level.

Perhaps he could explore that direction later, when he ran out of Martial Techniques to cultivate, but there was no need for it now, in his early stages.

’You have to walk a road one step at a time, and eat a meal one bite at a time.’

Fang Han reined in his thoughts, suppressing those unrealistic flights of fancy.

To be able to cultivate the Startled Swan Step to Perfection and grasp the Wind Momentum within the Step Technique was already a huge gain.

At this moment, he felt his movement speed and agility were at least several times greater than when he was at the Great Success Level!

This was undoubtedly an enormous boost to his practical combat ability.

’It’s time to go to the Library Pavilion and exchange for a Middle Grade Step Technique.’

Fang Han gazed toward the Library Pavilion on the mountainside, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The Startled Swan Step at the Perfection Level had already reached the limits of a Low Grade Step Technique. If he wanted to continue improving, he had to switch to a higher-level technique.

He hurried to the Library Pavilion before it closed.

The afterglow of the setting sun coated Qingxuan Mountain in a warm, golden layer. With steady steps, Fang Han ascended the mountainside and once again arrived before the imposing seven-story ancient pagoda—the Library Pavilion.

The dark cyan pagoda appeared even more ancient and weathered in the twilight.

He straightened his cyan Disciple’s Robe, strode inside, and went straight up the wooden stairs to the third floor.

Behind the third-floor counter was the same stern-faced, middle-aged Steward. Seeing a disciple arrive, he barely lifted his eyelids, gesturing with a finger toward two thick summaries placed side-by-side on the desk.

Fang Han nodded slightly in acknowledgment and picked up the tome with the dark blue cover: the *Qingxuan Martial Vault: Middle Grade Martial Technique Summary*. He went straight to the Wind Attribute Step Technique section.

The Startled Swan Step was a Wind Attribute Step Technique. Continuing to cultivate a Wind Attribute Step Technique would undoubtedly allow him to achieve twice the results with half the effort.

His gaze swept over the various Wind Attribute Step Techniques and their descriptions.

*Wind-Blown Willow Step*: Focuses on deceptive movements and stealth.

*Rapid Current Light Step*: Pursues ultimate straight-line speed.

*Nine Revolutions Wind Return Step*: Excels in short-range maneuvering.

...

These Middle Grade Wind Attribute Step Techniques each had their own strengths and weaknesses, and most required between one hundred and one hundred fifty Contribution Points.

He read carefully, constantly weighing the options in his mind.

Finally, his gaze landed on the introduction for a technique called the Wind Shadow Step.

"*Wind Shadow Step*, named for the concepts ’the wind leaves no trace’ and ’the shadow follows the form.’ Characteristics: Extreme speed, unpredictable movement."

"Cultivating this technique requires some comprehension of Wind Momentum. The circulation of Inner Qi must be light, nimble, and swift. When mastered, one’s form becomes like wind and shadow, difficult to capture."

"Advantages: Balances both straight-line speed and agile turning, showing particular strengths in complex environments."

"Disadvantages: Extremely difficult to cultivate. The requirements for Inner Qi control and aptitude for Body Techniques are exceptionally demanding. It is hard to learn and even harder to master."

"Evaluation: A Middle Grade Step Technique that places a high demand on one’s Stepping Talent!"

"Contribution Points required: One hundred twenty."

A sharp glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes. ’This is the one!’

The characteristics of this Wind Shadow Step seemed almost tailor-made for him. It balanced both speed and agility, which was exactly what he needed right now.

As for the extreme difficulty of cultivation... a faint smile touched the corners of his lips.

With his Sixteenfold Stepping Talent to rely on and the solid foundation laid by his Perfection Level Startled Swan Step, what did he have to fear?

The more difficult a technique was to practice, the more astonishing its power would be once mastered.

"Steward, I wish to exchange for the Wind Shadow Step."

Fang Han closed the summary and handed over his Identity Jade Token.

The middle-aged Steward glanced up at Fang Han, a nearly imperceptible trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He remembered Fang Han.

’This young man... last time he chose the difficult Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship, and this time he picked the equally difficult Wind Shadow Step. He certainly likes to tackle the toughest challenges.’

Without a word, he took the Jade Token, swiped it over a black, inkstone-like device, and handed it back to Fang Han before rising and entering the repository behind him.

A moment later, he returned and handed Fang Han a dark cyan booklet made of a special material, cool and supple to the touch.

On the cover were three characters in a powerful yet graceful ancient seal script that conveyed a sense of flowing movement: *Wind Shadow Step*.

After receiving the routine, stern warning, Fang Han solemnly accepted the booklet, carefully tucked it into his robe, and turned to go downstairs.

By the time he walked out of the Library Pavilion, it was nearly dusk.

His stomach rumbled with hunger, so instead of returning to his room immediately, he made a detour to the dining hall.

The dining hall was bustling with people. Fang Han found a quiet corner to eat, his mind already reviewing the General Heart Method of the Wind Shadow Step.

He was oblivious to the curious or probing glances that occasionally swept his way, his thoughts already focused on the cultivation to come.

Back in Room C-7, Fang Han bolted the door, lit an oil lamp, and eagerly took out the Wind Shadow Step manual in the dim, yellow light.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and then slowly opened the booklet.

"Wind has no fixed momentum; a shadow has no constant form."

The manual began with the general principles, explaining the core essence of the technique. It emphasized merging one’s body with the wind, Transforming Solid into Void, and pursuing the ultimate state of freely switching between motion and stillness.

Fang Han held his breath and focused, studying it word by word. The deeper he read, the more shocked and delighted he became.

This Step Technique didn’t just focus on external movement paths; it emphasized the fusion of Inner Qi, bodily intent, and the surrounding environment, pursuing a natural fluency akin to the ’harmony of man and nature.’ It was exceptionally profound and ingenious.

He continued to read. Following the principles were the Stepping Technique Atlas for twelve Basic Step Techniques and their detailed Inner Qi circulation pathways. Each form was accompanied by diagrams and tips for qi circulation, and its complexity far surpassed that of the Startled Swan Step.

Fang Han read very slowly, sometimes closing his eyes in contemplation to simulate the circulation of Inner Qi and the coordination of the steps in his mind.

Only when the night was deep and still, after he had already refilled the oil lamp once, did he finish reading the entire manual several times over, ensuring that every detail was seared into his mind.

Closing the booklet, his eyes showed some fatigue, but they burned more brightly with an eagerness to begin.

...

The next morning, Fang Han awoke as the first light of dawn appeared.

He sat cross-legged and cultivated the Xunfeng Technique. When he finished, he felt refreshed and clear-headed, his Inner Qi abundant.

After a simple wash and breakfast at the dining hall, he went straight to the familiar clearing in the woods behind the Sub-Branch.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled spots of light on the ground.

He didn’t practice his Swordsmanship as usual. Instead, he began cultivating the Wind Shadow Step. He needed to reach the Entry Level as quickly as possible.