The Two Outstanding Techniques

Ling Jiu regarded Ling Xiao in disdain.

He naturally had some reasons for intentionally letting Ling Xiao touch those two paintings.

These two paintings had been left behind by the ancestors of the Ling Clan. Allegedly, they had sealed two outstanding techniques here.

However, those two outstanding techniques were very difficult for any martial artist to cultivate. Nevertheless, as with many things, if one could successfully complete them, there would be a lifetime of benefits.

In addition, if one wanted to obtain these two outstanding techniques, one had to first break the restrictions on those paintings.

Why had the Ling Clan's ancestors done this? They hadn't mentioned any specific reason, merely mysteriously saying that they awaited the destined person.

For hundreds of years, countless people had tried to obtain these two outstanding techniques, but they had all ultimately failed.

This even included the powerful current patriarch of the Ling Clan.

Naturally, Ling Jiu had also tried. He had truly desired to give these two outstanding techniques to his son to cultivate.

Unfortunately, he had also failed.

Because of all this, he didn't believe that Ling Xiao would succeed.

However, in the next moment, Ling Jiu's eyes opened wide and almost popped out.

With almost no effort, Ling Xiao plucked two outstanding technique manuals from those two paintings.

One was <Bull Demon Strength>. The other was <Soaring Cloud Step>.

"Give them!"

After his initial shock, Ling Jiu soon revealed his greed.

"Uncle Jiu, just now, didn't you say that if I were able to take out these two books, I could take them away?"

Ling Xiao frowned and quickly browsed the summaries of those two books, making copies in the library of his Landscape Painting.

Because he knew Ling Jiu would eventually snatch these books, he had to make sure that he wouldn't suffer a loss.

"Didn't you hear my words: 'give them to me'?"

Suddenly, Ling Jiu waved his hands, and a powerful wave of energy directly sent Ling Xiao flying. Ling Jiu caught the two merit laws that had fallen from Ling Xiao's grasp.

"Hahahaha, this truly is traveling far and wide in search of treasure, only to find it easily at home!"

Ling Jiu wildly laughed. Then casually taking out two books from a nearby bookshelf, he tossed them towards Ling Xiao.

"Boy, don't be dissatisfied! These two outstanding techniques are not something you can obtain. However, those two books I just selected for you are intermediate merit laws. Take them back and train them properly. You will not suffer any loss."

"Hahahaha!"

Ling Jiu heartily laughed before flipping through the book; he was very impatient to read those two outstanding techniques.

Although Ling Xiao had been hit and vomited blood, relief swelled in his heart.

He had already copied both outstanding techniques.

Still, today's enmity, he would not forget.

Ling Jiu, remember that there will come a day that I, Ling Xiao, will make you suffer a hundredfold humiliation!

Ling Xiao said nothing, simply leaving with the two merit laws Ling Jiu had thrown at him. Coincidentally, these two merit laws happened to be among the few books he had gad yet to copy.

It's free, so he would take it!

"Hahaha, a beggar wants to cultivate the outstanding techniques of the my Clan? That truly is a joke!"

Upon seeing Ling Xiao obediently leave, Ling Jiu felt complacent. Looking at the summaries of those two outstanding techniques, they were indeed somewhat unusual.

It was a pity that these two outstanding techniques had a condition. Only awakening stage martial artists could cultivate these techniques. In other words, those above Rank Three Martial Vein couldn't cultivate them unless they destroyed their cultivation.

But who would be so stupid?

He could only give these outstanding techniques to his son, Ling Chong.

Ling Xiao left the Library Pavilion in sore straits. All along the way, people pointed at and ridiculed him nonstop.

A version of the matter that had happened in the Library Pavilion had been spread by the present disciples with some added details. Supposedly, Ling Xiao had attempted to steal a pair of martial arts in the Library Pavilion. As a result, THE insightful Ling Jiu had seen through him and taught him a lesson.

Ling Xiao was not entirely unaware of these rumors, but he knew that it would be useless to explain himself now. The only chance to prove his innocence was to exceed Ling Jiu's strength.

He also believed that Ling Jiu wouldn't take things too far; otherwise, someone would inevitably learn the real facts. At that time, he wouldn't be able to keep his face.

After all, Ling Clan was not a monolithic bloc, so Ling Jiu had some misgivings regarding certain sensitive matters.

Upon returning home, Ling Xiao immediately entered his room and took out that <Soaring Cloud Steps>.

<Soaring Cloud Steps>: a growth type movement technique currently at the <Soaring Cloud Steps> stage. With each growth in level, the name and required conditions for this merit law will change, but the goal will always remain the same!

After cultivating it, a martial artist will be as light as a swallow, step on clouds to chase the moon, control cloud mist… At its highest stages, a martial artist can even ride the clouds and fly on mist, proudly laughing at the highest heavens!

This movement technique can only be cultivated from the awakening stage; otherwise, the practitioner's foundations would be too solidified, and it will be impossible to achieve success.

Even at the <Soaring Cloud Steps> stage, if he were able to cultivate it to perfection, he would be able to briefly cross the void and step on clouds for a short period!

Reaching that level would make him almost invincible in the gang qi stage, i.e. below a Rank Six Martial Vein.

After realizing this, Ling Xiao's pain disappeared and was replaced with excitement!

An unmatched movement technique below the gang qi stage!

Didn't this mean that he wouldn't have to change movement techniques until reaching Rank Six Martial Vein? And this was just the <Soaring Cloud Steps> stage!

This outstanding technique could grow.

Briefly crossing the void and fighting while stepping on the clouds, even if Ling Xiao were ignorant and ill-informed, he would know this was something important. He, however, was also a disciple of the Ling Clan and still had never heard of such a mighty movement technique.

In any case, he was certain that there was absolutely no such technique among the intermediate movement techniques. As for the advanced movement techniques, he truly didn't know whether such a thing existed, but he guessed that there was only a very low chance of it. After all, there were many experts in the Ling Clan that had cultivated advanced movement techniques, but none of them could step on the clouds to fight.

It truly was worthy of being an outstanding technique!

However, such a good movement technique… Why had the ancestors of the Ling Clan sealed it using a painting rather than letting their juniors cultivate it?

Thinking about this confusing aspect, Ling Xiao continued reading. Sure enough, upon turning to the last page, he saw some handwritten words.

"Only those who have an awakened martial soul can successfully cultivate this outstanding technique. If ordinary martial artists cultivate it, although there will be certain results, they will only be at the level of an intermediate martial art, mediocre without any outstanding results. Moreover, the difficulty of cultivating this technique is too great. It might affect the progress of our disciples, so it will be sealed!"

This ancestor of the Ling Clan had also known about martial souls. He might have even seen people who had awakened a martial soul!

Could it be that martial souls weren't extinct? Maybe it was only that very few people could awaken martial souls nowadays, so it could only be considered near extinction?

Hahaha!

Hahahaha!

Ling Xiao couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh.

Ling Jiu; ah, Ling Jiu! You didn't consider your own face and shamelessly robbed this outstanding technique from my hand, but in the end, it was all in vain. You lack the talent to use it!

Okay, I will use this outstanding technique to teach your son a lesson in the upcoming annual exam!

Besides the stringent requirements, the cultivation of <Soaring Cloud Steps> had a further condition.

He had to first achieve perfection in another intermediate movement technique. Only then would he be able to use even the first heavenly step of <Soaring Cloud Steps>.

Moreover, <Soaring Cloud Steps> altogether had nine heavenly steps.

In other words, there was no fixed cultivation method for this technique. He had to accumulate experience from other movement techniques to improve this outstanding technique. It required more than simply following a set of instructions since he had to perceive his own path. At first, Ling Xiao frowned, thinking it would take a long time for him to realize the benefits of these arts, but he suddenly smiled. Growth techniques perfectly matched his abilities that allowed him to accumulate countless martial arts techniques.

Seeing this, he hastily browsed through <Bull Demon Technique> and discovered an interesting matter.

<Soaring Cloud Steps> sought elegance and speed as a movement technique.

However, <Bull Demon Technique> sought overbearing strength and focused on the application of martial skills.

Not only that but <Bull Demon Technique> was also another growth-type martial art. Unlike <Soaring Cloud Steps>, which grew by accumulating experience, <Bull Demon Technique> grew by devouring others.

Not devouring true qi or people but rather by devouring cultivation experience.