Early the next morning, Ye Ling arrived at the Martial Arts Pavilion.
“Miss Ye Ling, what brings you here?”
“You didn't go to the martial arts arena today?”
The two guards of the pavilion greeted her, both wearing puzzled expressions.
Ye Ling was a well-known cultivation fanatic in the Ye family. Normally at this time, she would definitely be practicing her swordplay in the martial arts arena.
The Martial Arts Pavilion was the foundation of the Ye family, housing a vast collection of cultivation methods and martial techniques. Its importance was paramount.
Ordinary disciples were only qualified to choose a martial technique upon breaking through to the Houtian Third Layer and the Houtian Sixth Layer.
Only martial artists at the late stage of the Houtian Realm could frequently borrow and read them by using their clan contribution points.
Ye Ling nodded slightly. “I have already broken through to the Houtian Sixth Layer. Can I go in now?”
“Yes, of course you can!”
The two of them quickly stepped aside.
Ye Ling stepped through the main gate. Behind her, the two guards on duty lowered their voices and began to chat, their eyes still fixed on the pavilion door, their tones filled with admiration.
“If I remember correctly, Miss Ye Ling isn't even fifteen yet, right? To think she has already reached the Houtian Sixth Layer.”
“Back then, even Young Master Ye Ling and Miss Ye Fei failed to achieve this.”
“Indeed, I remember it clearly. Both of them only broke through when they were nearly sixteen.”
“Tsk, tsk, this talent is truly astonishing. No wonder she defeated Ye Long with a single strike in yesterday's fight.”
“Speaking of Ye Long, he really lost all face this time. I was wondering before why he kept badgering Ye Chen after the engagement was broken off. Today, I finally understand.”
“Yesterday, one of his lackeys accidentally let it slip.”
“It turns out that on the day Jiang Xue came to annul the engagement, Ye Long intercepted her in private, wanting to take Ye Chen's place and ask for her hand in marriage, only to be rejected on the spot.”
As he spoke, the guard deliberately lowered his voice, mimicking Jiang Xue's tone.
“‘I came to annul the engagement because it was merely a casual agreement made by our elders. Ye Chen and I have no affection for each other.’”
“‘In the past, I had no choice, but now that I can make my own decisions, I naturally must put an end to this.’”
“‘Furthermore, in my eyes, you are far inferior to Ye Chen.’”
The two guards exchanged a look and couldn't help but chuckle.
Ye Ling had just stepped inside when she overheard their conversation.
When they spoke of her cultivation, her expression remained calm, and her heart was untroubled.
“Let them praise me. It's not the first time anyway.”
It was only when she heard the story of Ye Long's proposal being rejected—and how he had been targeting Ye Chen because of it—that the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
“So that's how it is. No wonder.”
She actually felt a bit more appreciation for Jiang Xue now.
That girl was about the same age as her, and having reached the Houtian Fifth Layer before even turning fifteen, she was also exceptionally talented.
She acted decisively and without hesitation.
She had heard before that after Jiang Xue annulled the engagement, she was taken by her maternal aunt to cultivate in Xuanling Valley.
They probably wouldn't cross paths again in the future.
Ye Ling pulled back her thoughts and looked up at the Martial Arts Pavilion.
The Martial Arts Pavilion was divided into three floors. The first floor housed Yellow-grade low-tier martial arts and cultivation methods, the second floor housed Yellow-grade mid-tier ones, and the third floor housed Yellow-grade high-tier ones.
Since she was eligible to choose two Yellow-grade mid-tier martial arts, she went straight to the second floor.
She had already mastered two Yellow-grade low-tier martial techniques, the Wild Bull Fist and the Breeze Sword Technique, as well as the Shaoshang Sword Technique, a Yellow-grade mid-tier technique gifted by the instructor.
This sword technique was quite good among those of the same grade and was more than enough for her, so she didn't plan on choosing another one for now.
“I'll pick a movement technique first.”
When out in the world, if she couldn't win, she could at least run away.
With a good movement technique, she could maneuver nimbly during combat and avoid becoming a sitting duck.
She flipped through the manuals one by one.
Gale Steps: very fast over short distances, suitable for surprise attacks, but average in other aspects.
Wind-Treading Steps: allowed brief airborne movement, but left openings upon landing.
Shadow Track Steps: left afterimages while moving, which looked impressive, but consumed too much spiritual energy.
Ground-Shrinking Steps: highly efficient for traveling, but not agile enough in actual combat.
Spirit Snake Swim: twisted and shifted the body, suitable for close-quarters combat, but the footwork wasn't fluid enough.
As she read through them, she found that the previous options each had their own strengths, but their shortcomings were also very obvious.
Until she flipped to the Flowing Cloud Movement Technique.
The Flowing Cloud Movement Technique offered an elegant posture and smooth footwork, with strong dodging capabilities, making it difficult for opponents to lock onto her during close combat.
“This one is good.”
She made up her mind immediately; she would choose this one.
“It's balanced and comprehensive with no obvious weaknesses, perfect to train as my primary movement technique.”
Having chosen her movement technique, she began searching for her second martial art.
In truth, she also wanted a body-tempering cultivation method.
She didn't want to focus solely on offense without any defense, turning herself into a glass cannon with high attack but low defense.
However, after searching through all the shelves on the second floor, she couldn't find a single body-tempering method.
They were all martial techniques for hand-to-hand combat or weapons.
“Well, I was overthinking it.”
These kinds of methods were inherently rare. The cost of acquiring and practicing them was high, making them unaffordable for ordinary families.
It was likely that only large sects possessed complete heritages for them.
After some thought, she finally chose a set of Tiger Fist.
It was Yellow-grade mid-tier, higher in grade than the Wild Bull Fist she was currently practicing, making it the perfect replacement.
The Wild Bull Fist had already been trained to Great Perfection, leaving no room for further improvement. The Tiger Fist would fit in perfectly.
Having selected both manuals, she cradled the books and walked toward the registration desk.
The guardian of the Martial Arts Pavilion was the Second Elder of the Ye family, Ye Yunyan.
She had a head of silver hair and a few light wrinkles on her face, looking only about fifty or sixty years old, with a gentle demeanor.
However, her actual age was nearly a hundred, and her cultivation had reached the Houtian Twelfth Layer, making her an undisputed top expert of the Ye family.
One could not hold this position without great strength.
Ye Ling stepped forward, cupped her hands, and bowed. “Greetings, Elder. May I trouble you to register these two martial arts for me?”
The Second Elder slowly opened her half-closed eyes, sized Ye Ling up, and only then took the manuals to begin the registration.
With a smile in her eyes, her tone was full of praise.
“So it's Ling'er. I didn't expect you to have already cultivated to the Houtian Sixth Layer. Your progress is truly rapid. The future of the family will rely on you youngsters.”
Her gaze fell upon one of the manuals, and she was slightly surprised. “Flowing Cloud Movement Technique? Why did you choose this one?”
She looked up at Ye Ling, her tone turning serious.
“This movement technique is quite difficult to practice, but once you achieve results, it is almost comparable to a high-grade movement technique. Have you thought this through?”
“If you struggle to even cross the threshold, you will only waste a lot of time.”
Ye Ling bowed. “This junior is aware,” she said in a steady voice. “But I still want to try. I am confident I can master it.”
The Second Elder cast a glance at her, nodded, and said no more.
In the afternoon, the sun was warm and gentle.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the woods.
Ye Ling arrived at her exclusive training ground, the small grove.
The trees here were dense, their branches intertwined, and the trunks stood in an orderly yet staggered layout. The space was narrow, with many obstacles.
Practicing a movement technique in an open area would only amount to striking poses, which had little practical value in combat.
But in the woods, it was different. Every dodge, shift, and weave added to her practical combat experience.
This environment perfectly suited the Flowing Cloud Movement Technique, allowing her to move nimbly and weave gracefully.
The abundance of trees and narrow paths forced her to constantly increase her speed, shift positions flexibly, and gradually comprehend the essence of the movement technique.
She stood at the edge of the woods and took a deep breath.
Opening the first page of the Flowing Cloud Movement Technique, she began to comprehend it.
Rate on N.U.
