White-Robed Chief

Stunned, Lu Zhengjun frowned. “Spirit Crane Technique?”

Chu Li asked, “Can I cultivate that?”

“No.” Lu Zhengjun shook his head. “That’s the fundamental heart technique of Green Deer Cliff and it is also the foundation of all inner cliff disciples. Outer cliff disciples are not allowed to cultivate it, it’s best that you drop the idea now.”

Chu Li was discontented. “Green Deer Cliff is best at Spirit Crane Technique, right? If I don’t cultivate that, what’s the point of me coming to Green Deer Cliff?”

“Who says that Green Deer Cliff is best at Spirit Crane Technique? Lu Zhengjun said snappily, “Spirit Crane Technique has no value at all, but inner cliff disciples must cultivate it to cultivate other martial arts. Spirit Crane Technique simply sets a foundation for them, above that is Dancing Cranes at Ninth Heaven. One’s profoundness in Spirit Crane Technique doesn’t matter, but it’s the prerequisite for Dancing Cranes at Ninth Heaven. Many disciples stop after cultivating the first level of Spirit Crane Technique since it’s not an exceptional ancient study, it’s just a heart technique for inner strength.”

“But Spirit Crane Technique is the most popular technique here,” Chu Li commented.

Lu Zhengjun explained, “In ancient times, it’s true that Spirit Crane Technique was reputable and threatening, but there’s a shortage of spiritual energy now. Spirit Crane Technique requires abundant spiritual energy or it can’t be cultivated. This is why none of the disciples on the island has cultivated Spirit Crane Technique past the third level. You should just cultivate another mystical art.”

“What martial art skill did you use to suppress Chu Li?” Chu Li asked.

It was rather odd for Chu Li to mention his own name, but since it was not his first time saying it, he did not make a mistake.

“Fillip Swift Thunder,” answered Lu Zhengjun. “You want to cultivate that?”

“Yes.” Chu Li nodded.

Chu Li felt that it could complement the Petrifying Finger and it might be more powerful if fused together.

“It’s not easy to cultivate Fillip Swift Thunder.” Lu Zhengjun frowned as he pondered. “Alright, I’ll pass it to you, but it’ll be up to your own nature to cultivate it… Due to the rich spiritual energy on the island, one will progress a few times faster than if one cultivated outside. You can recover your martial art while cultivating Fillip Swift Thunder.”

“Alright.” Chu Li nodded. “But I still want to cultivate the Spirit Crane Technique.”

“Why exactly do you want to cultivate Spirit Crane Technique?” Lu Zhengjun was puzzled. “Tell me, I won’t do any harm to you.”

Chu Li answered, “I heard that one can become an Enlightened Master by cultivating the Spirit Beast techniques of all four major sects.”

Lu Zhengjun was obviously surprised by his answer.

Chu Li asked, “Is that not right?”

“So you’re planning to cultivate Spirit Crane Technique, then the techniques from the other three sects?” Lu Zhengjun asked.

Chu Li nodded slowly.

“You…” Lu Zhengjun was at a loss for words. He later sighed. “I don’t know if I should describe you as being ignorant or being ambitious.”

He looked gentle now and he was no longer impatient toward Chu Li.

Chu Li responded, “I want to become an Enlightened Master or my life will be meaningless!”

“Mm…” Lu Zhengjun nodded his head.

Chu Li’s words hit him in the right spot.

It turns out that Lu Zhengjun was also planning to defy the law of nature to become God, and he had been secretly gathering Spirit Beast heart techniques of three other major sects. Unfortunately, there was not much progress. Lu Zhengjun had given up on Goddess Attraction Mountain as he could not find a way in. So, he simply began to search for the Spirit Snake Transformation heart technique. That being said, there was no progress on the other two sects too.

Normally, the heart techniques were kept as secrets since it was no longer ancient times when Spirit Beast heart techniques were popular. Back then, the four major sects did not keep those heart techniques for themselves, but rather, masters exchanged them with one another and became Enlightened Masters together.

Presently, due to the scarcity of spiritual energy, heart techniques had declined and became more precious. There was a change to the common practice as compared to ancient times, such that the major sects became strictly unconnected with each other, which resulted in the difficulty to acquire the heart techniques.

The path to becoming God became a defiance of nature as one was not only limited by the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, but it was also obstructed due to condemnation from people.

Chu Li asked, “Am I really not allowed to cultivate Spirit Crane Technique?”

“… Yes, you can’t.” Lu Zhengjun sighed. “Although you’re my son, I can’t teach you inner cliff martial arts of Green Deer Cliff in secret. If I do that, both of us will be in deep trouble, and none of us will be able to escape.”

“… Alright,” Chu Li replied casually, “I’ll just cultivate the Fillip Swift Thunder for now!”

“Mm, I’ll bring you the secret manual later,” Lu Zhengjun said. “Spend your time well by cultivating properly, get rid of any distracting thoughts.”

“Yes,” Chu Li responded.

After that, Lu Zhengjun fluttered away while Chu Li went over to the small martial arts field.

The three men who were practicing looked at him curiously.

The three young men were around his age. One was fat and tall, one was thin and short, whereas the other was medium-sized and had an attractive face.

“Brother, are you an outer cliff disciple too?” The thin and short young man said with a smile, “I’m He Shu. This is Zhang Ya, and this is Sun Jie. We’re all outer cliff disciples, we’ll be living together from now on.”

He Shu had a friendly smile. He had also introduced the tall fatty and the handsome young man.

Chu Li gave them a fist salute. “Lu Guangdi.”

“Master’s Senior Lu is your…?” he Shu asked as he smiled.

“I’m his illegitimate child,” Chu Li answered honestly.

“That’s Master’s Senior Lu!” The tall fatty spoke loudly, “You’re actually Master’s Senior Lu’s son! Uh, you must’ve gone through a good reincarnation. I’m envious!”

Chu Li scoffed. “If I went through a good reincarnation, why am I an illegitimate child!”

“You may be an illegitimate child, but you’re stronger than us.” Sun Jia the handsome young man smiled. “With Master’s Senior Lu’s support, your path is smoother, and you might get promoted to the inner cliff.”

“I can be promoted to the inner cliff?” Chu Li asked.

“Of course!” Sun Jia explained, “If your martial art is more superior than the inner cliff disciples of your age, you’ll naturally become an inner cliff disciple. Other than that, you can also be promoted if you’ve completed enough praiseworthy services.”

“Isn’t that harder for us?” Chu Li was unhappy.

Zhang Ya the tall fatty quickly nodded. “Exactly, exactly. Look at the martial art skills that we cultivate and compare them with the ones cultivated by inner cliff disciples. They’re even provided with spirit pills! Trying to surpass them is simply wishful thinking!”

“What if we have strange encounters, and we’ve really managed to surpass them?” He Shu chuckled. “We should still dream on!”

Chu Li noticed that the three men were very easygoing and they were not cunning at all. Perhaps they were only behaving like that because of Lu Zhengjun, or perhaps Green Deer Cliff was generally strict at selecting disciples that even outer cliff disciples were required to have a good nature.

Lu Zhengjun returned very quickly. He waved his hand at the three young men who greeted him before he called Chu Li over to the wooden house. Over there, Lu Zhengjun handed a silk book to Chu Li. “This is Fillip Swift Thunder’s secret manual. Memorize it before you cultivate it.”

Elated, Chu Li immediately took a look at it.

Page after page, Chu Li finished reading the secret manual that had 38 pages.

He then looked up at Lu Zhengjun.

Lu Zhengjun asked, “Is it confusing?”

Chu Li nodded.

There were six levels to the technique, and the heart technique for each level was confusing due to the complicated channeling routes. If another person were to read it instead of Chu Li, that person would have felt dizzy.

“You must be patient and be still to cultivate this,” Lu Zhengjun told him gently. “Thunders emerge from stillness. This phrase holds the major principle of Heaven and Earth, so take your time to comprehend it. A still mind is the first technique in Fillip Swift Thunder.”

“Mm.” Chu Li put the secret manual away.

Lu Zhengjun shook his head. “Remember it now. Remember the first level, then I’ll bring you the manual again for the second level once you’ve cultivated the first level.”

Chu Li nodded. He flipped the manual again but this time, he had actually memorized all heart techniques.