Chapter 164 Cloud Walking Technique

"What, Little Sister Qingyan’s true form is a white fox?" Shen Ying covered her mouth in surprise.

At the dining table, Lu Zheng grinned while eating the food Shen Ying prepared for him and said helplessly, "You knew all along?"

Lu Zheng is not foolish. Once he knew Liu Qingyan was a fox girl and recalled what Shen Ying had told him, as well as their conversations, how could he not realize that Shen Ying already knew her identity?

"It was that little girl Qing Quan. Last year, her Merit Qi wasn’t strong, while the old peach tree had its roots in the ground and sensed things a bit more sharply, so I noticed the clues," Shen Ying chuckled lightly, her posture becoming proud.

"So she knows about us, and you knew as well?" Lu Zheng shook his head, taking a drink of Peach Blossom Brew, thinking it tasted a bit sweet.

"I originally thought she didn’t know, but then I realized she knew while we were playing chess that day," Shen Ying giggled, looking like a little fox herself. "But that’s fine by me, she even calls me sister," she added.

Lu Zheng couldn’t help but gnash his teeth, "So I’m the only one who didn’t know?"

Shen Ying gently exclaimed and then extended herself to convey a stream of Incense and Candle Qi to Lu Zheng, "Isn’t the current situation one of joyful happiness?"

Lu Zheng nodded, looking at the food in his hand, thinking that the meals at Taohua Village were indeed quite good; truly a situation where everyone is happy and satisfied.

...

The next day, Lu Zheng ascended Shaotong Mountain.

"Master, are you injured?"

Upon seeing Daoist Mingzhang again, Lu Zheng noticed that his master’s complexion was somewhat pale.

Daoist Mingzhang nodded, "I just got back yesterday. If it weren’t for the Cloud Pattern Sword you gave me, whether I could have returned alive is debatable."

"What happened?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Didn’t I go with your Uncle-Master Ming Jun to attend the scripture lecture at Jade Sun Temple? We ran into a snake demon seeking revenge on our way back," Daoist Mingzhang said with a shake of his head, "It was karma from twenty years ago. Who would’ve thought that the small flower snake I spared back then turned out to be a cultivation genius."

"Then did he..." Lu Zheng began.

Daoist Mingzhang nodded, "Killed it. This concludes that karma from back then, achieving complete closure."

Lu Zheng instinctively nodded along, thinking to himself that karma is settled this way—completely wiped out, bringing it to a perfect conclusion, which makes sense.

"Yuan Jing told me about the Southern Border wizard affair." At this point, Daoist Mingzhang’s brow furrowed, "The disturbances from the Southern Border with demons appearing shouldn’t be possible. The Great Jing Dynasty is at its peak, with many Confucian scholars and even more martial artists from noble families, let alone the continuous offerings to the emperor’s ancestors, keeping the Ghost Gods at their zenith—far from the point of internal strife."

Daoist Mingzhang blinked, "Or was it just a coincidence that we encountered it?"

Lu Zheng blinked in response, thinking that if even his master wasn’t sure, he could certainly make no guesses—being just a small transmigrator who hasn’t even fully understood the cultivation system here yet.

"Enough, what matters now is that it appears a single ’White Cloud Swordsmanship’ is insufficient. Since you’ve come up the mountain today, I’ll pass on the ’Cloud Walking Technique’ to you."

Lu Zheng’s eyes gleamed, "Thank you, Master!"

Daoist Mingzhang stated, "This technique is a secret art exclusive to White Cloud Temple. You may learn it, but must not teach it to others, nor can you transcribe the scriptures from the temple. If you wish to view them in the future, you must come back to the temple."

"Yes!"

"Good, let’s have Yuan Jing join us, and I will pass on the techniques to both of you."

...

Teaching and discussing the scripture: it must be said, the ’Taiqing Crossing Profound Qi Cloud Secret Scripture’ is significantly more complex than the ’White Cloud Swordsmanship’. The qi-controlling cloud-walking techniques within are exceedingly intricate, extraordinarily mystical, and deeply profound.

Over the following days, Lu Zheng climbed the mountain each morning, returned home at night, while also finding time to accompany Lin Wan and Liu Qingyan. He was so busy he had no time to visit Shen Ying’s side, let alone keep the drinking appointment with City God Xin Zhanting.

...

Ten days later, having completed the scripture teaching, Lu Zheng took a moment to quietly capture the entire ’Cloud Walking Technique’ onto his phone, descending the mountain with joy.

"I’ve made a fortune, made a fortune," was the only thought in Lu Zheng’s mind.

This ’Cloud Walking Technique’, worthy of being a secret technique from White Cloud Temple, contained methods of True Qi attacks, the spell of Cloud Condensation Curse, and numerous renowned divine techniques such as cloud traveling and controlling wind. Although it lacked a pure qi cultivation technique, it greatly aided with condensing True Qi, enhancing cultivation, and refining the Three Treasures of Jing, Qi, and Shen.

On the basis of this ’Taiqing Crossing Profound Qi Cloud Secret Scripture’ and the ’White Cloud’s Common Refining Qi Scripture’, it alone was enough to cultivate him to an extremely high realm.

Lu Zheng discreetly inquired with Yuan Jing, finding that the ’Cloud Walking Technique’ was already among the top-tier secret techniques of the temple. Beyond it were only the core direct-lineage ’Innate Taiqing Rootless Cloud Qi Scripture’ and two additional volumes: the ’Innate Cloud Transformation Qi Method Scripture’ and ’Taiqing True Scripture of Cloud Refining Secret Technique’.

The first of these was a qi cultivation technique, which followed on from the ’White Cloud’s Common Refining Qi Scripture’, and Lu Zheng could technically learn it too. The second was reserved only for direct disciples, similar in type to the ’Cloud Walking Technique’, although more advanced, its breadth was actually inferior to the ’Cloud Walking Technique’.

Thinking of it this way, White Cloud Temple’s treatment of registered disciples was indeed quite generous.

Moreover, given his connection to the temple, once he displayed superior power, even as a lay practitioner, it is likely they would present those two direct-lineage secret techniques to him.

"Walking on clouds and riding the mist! The Dragon King! Immortal!" Lu Zheng was both ecstatic and apprehensive, "The depths of this world are truly profound, utterly terrifying!"

...

"Why the sudden meal invitation today? Haven’t you been extraordinarily busy lately too?" Lin Wan asked.

Lu Zheng nodded, "I’ve been in seclusion learning something these past few days; today I’ve finally mastered it and am in high spirits, so I wanted to treat you to a meal."

"What have you mastered?" Lin Wan inquired.

Lin Wan wasn’t trying to pry into Lu Zheng’s secrets, but since he brought it up, she felt it was alright to ask.

Lu Zheng fought back the urge to mischievously inform Lin Wan about mastering the ’Cloud Walking Technique’, instead conveying his joy, "I’ve been practicing calligraphy in seclusion these past days, and I’ve finally succeeded today."

"Calligraphy practice?" Lin Wan was bewildered; the topic had strayed far afield—she had assumed Lu Zheng had learned a new skill or made a breakthrough in his arts.

"Yes, calligraphy, Wang Xizhi’s running script," Lu Zheng nodded.

"Well, it’s just perfect then. Our department is planning to hold a calligraphy and painting contest soon; how about you write something for me?"

"No problem, a small matter!" Lu Zheng assured with a pat on his chest, "I’ll make sure you stand out and take first place!"