Chapter 230: Fuyao Skill

"You’ve practiced this Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill before?"

Chen Shihu asked.

"No."

Lu Bai coughed lightly and said, "I just had a bit of an epiphany after hearing you explain it, Brother Chen."

’This kid’s comprehension is that strong? This isn’t ’a bit of an epiphany,’ he’s already mastered it!’

Chen Shihu looked Lu Bai over again, thinking to himself, ’This kind of talent and comprehension... I’m afraid it’s far greater than even what Dad had back in his day.

’Dad’s comprehension only skyrocketed because of a fortuitous encounter. I wonder what kind of lucky break this kid has had.’

Lu Bai moved up and down the tent, his body technique slippery and elusive, his speed incredibly fast.

"Alright, come on down."

Chen Shihu waved his hand. "This body technique is a bit rudimentary. With your comprehension being so good, I’ll teach you a Celestial Tier Body Technique."

Lu Bai was overjoyed. He quickly dropped down, came before Chen Shihu, and said, "Please guide me, Brother Chen."

Chen Shihu fell silent, seemingly recalling some past event. A trace of melancholy flashed deep within his tiger-like eyes.

Lu Bai didn’t disturb him, waiting quietly to the side.

The two of them were very close.

Lu Bai took the opportunity to secretly size up Chen Shihu.

In truth, the renowned Duke of Chen possessed an excellent bone structure; his facial features were quite handsome.

His nasal bridge was high like a mountain ridge, his lips thin and well-defined, and his brows thick above large, commanding eyes. He had a dignified appearance.

However, from his temples to his chin grew a thick, curly, wiry beard. The whiskers spread wantonly like wild grass, completely obscuring his originally refined jawline.

This full, wiry beard was so striking that upon first meeting him, one was hit with an air of rugged untamedness, causing them to overlook the handsomeness of his features.

After a long while, Chen Shihu finally spoke slowly, "This body technique was created by my mother’s master. It’s called the Fuyao Skill and is composed of five sections."

"They are the Wind Listening Technique, the Wind Recognition Technique, the Wind Following Technique, One Step to the Clouds, and Feathered Ascension to Immortality."

"Actually, this cultivation technique originally included several types of swordsmanship, but I don’t like practicing with the sword, so I never learned them. I only learned the qinggong within it."

A Celestial Tier qinggong. Though not an Ultimate Skill, for the current Lu Bai, it was more than enough.

Chen Shihu continued, "According to my dad, the Fuyao Skill should be considered an Ultimate Skill. It’s just that of the five body technique sections, the final one, ’Feathered Ascension to Immortality,’ has been lost."

"Neither my old man nor my old lady knows it. By the time it was passed down to me, only four sections remained, which is why it can only be considered a Celestial Tier Body Technique."

Lu Bai said, "What a shame."

Chen Shihu said, "It is a shame. Not long after that old senior comprehended the fifth section, he was murdered. As for what ’Feathered Ascension to Immortality’ actually is, no one knows."

"Ah!"

Lu Bai let out a soft cry.

Chen Shihu seemed to think of something and suddenly smiled. "This old senior roamed the mortal world, acting as a knight-errant for justice. Even before his death, he put on a grand show—forcing back a great enemy with a single finger, then drinking and singing with several old friends, laughing heartily as they passed into eternity together."

For some reason, though it was just a few words, images of the scene vaguely formed in Lu Bai’s mind.

Chen Shihu looked at Lu Bai and said in a deep voice, "From what I’ve seen of your actions, you don’t follow a crooked path and have a righteous spirit within you. That’s why I’m passing this body technique to you. Today, only three people still know it.

"I hope that in the future, you will rely on this technique to roam the world and not tarnish this old senior’s heroic name."

"Rest assured, Brother Chen."

Lu Bai’s expression turned serious as he asked, "What was this old senior’s name?"

Chen Shihu replied, "One Step to the Clouds, Feng Xuyu."

"I’ll remember it."

Lu Bai nodded.

"The foundation of the Fuyao Skill is to perceive, experience, and comprehend the power and changes within the wind, thereby listening to the wind and riding it..."

Chen Shihu held nothing back, teaching Lu Bai the Fuyao Skill’s Heart Method Mantra and sharing his many insights.

Lu Bai listened intently.

This time, the teaching took quite a while.

After he finished, Chen Shihu sat back down and observed Lu Bai.

Lu Bai immersed his Heart and Spirit in the Ancient Mirror.

On the mirror’s surface, in the Cultivation Technique section, another line of text had appeared.

[Fuyao Skill · Celestial (Not Comprehended) (Repairable)]

Lu Bai’s eyes lit up.

Just now, Chen Shihu had said that because the Fuyao Skill was missing its fifth section, it could only be considered a Celestial Tier Technique.

And now, the word ’Repairable’ displayed on the mirror’s surface meant that as long as he had Soul Light, he had a chance to complete the fifth section, ’Feathered Ascension to Immortality’!

However, only a single strand of Level 2 Soul Light remained in the Ancient Mirror.

Based on past experience, it was unlikely that he could repair the Fuyao Skill to the Ultimate Skill level.

Upgrading from Celestial Tier to Ultimate Skill usually required high-level Soul Light.

He could, however, use this Soul Light to comprehend the Fuyao Skill first.

In the next thought, Lu Bai directed the Soul Light into the line of text, silently reciting ’Comprehend’ in his mind.

A moment later, Lu Bai opened his eyes.

This Fuyao Skill was even harder to comprehend than he had imagined!

Chen Shihu had taught him four sections, and with one strand of Level 2 Soul Light, he had only managed to comprehend the first one: the Wind Listening Technique.

"How is it?"

Chen Shihu asked, staring at Lu Bai.

Lu Bai answered honestly, "I’ve had some insights into the first section, the Wind Listening Technique, but I still have no clue about the other three."

Chen Shihu let out a soft sigh of relief.

’Good, he only comprehended the first section.’

’If he had comprehended all of them in such a short time, that would be truly heaven-defying.’

’In Dad’s words, that would make him a cheater!’

Chen Shihu had another thought.

’Damn it, comprehending one section in just a moment is already scary enough.’

’Back when I learned the Fuyao Skill, I suffered a lot. They threw me into places like natural chasms, cliffs, and canyons to endure all sorts of raging winds.’

’Those few days, the wind battered me until I was dizzy and disoriented. I nearly lost my life.’

’Only under those conditions was my potential stimulated, allowing me to comprehend the Wind Listening Technique.’

"Let me see what you’ve comprehended. Don’t just be full of hot air."

Chen Shihu barked, "Close your eyes. Draw your sword."

Lu Bai took a deep breath, calmed his heart and mind, and slowly closed his eyes. He grasped the Cyan Cloud Sword, focused his spirit, and carefully sensed the surrounding airflow.

The Wind Listening Technique wasn’t just about ’listening’.

It was about using that ’listening’ to guide one’s perception, to feel the changes in the aura of the surroundings.

The aura between All Things in Heaven and Earth is never absolutely still.

Even a single breath or the slightest movement can alter the aura around a person.

Different weapons and different moves can also stir up different flows of aura, creating all sorts of ’wind’.

"SWOOSH!"

The sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air suddenly rang out behind him.

Lu Bai didn’t move an inch, nor did he turn his head.

’It’s a three-chi longsword.’

Lu Bai didn’t even open his eyes to look, yet the general information about the blade appeared in his mind.

The moment he sensed the disturbance in the aura, he swung his sword back.

CLANG!

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

The longsword fell to the ground.

Lu Bai withdrew his sword and stood firm.

Immediately after, Lu Bai suddenly struck out with his sword again, thrusting diagonally to his left.

CLANG!

A throwing knife, the length of a finger, fell to the ground.

The throwing knife had made no sound, yet it had still altered the aura, allowing Lu Bai to predict its trajectory.