After a while—
Village Head Wa Shi returned.
Several books were stacked in his arms.
He walked back to the table and placed them down one after another.
**Thud.**
A small cloud of dust rose from the wooden surface.
Lían looked at the stack.
Wa Shi reached into his sleeve and pulled out a yellow talisman.
He handed it to Lían first.
"Take this."
Lían accepted it carefully.
The talisman was made from yellow spiritual paper.
Faint spiritual patterns covered its surface.
Wa Shi explained,
"Give this to your mother."
"She only needs to place a small trace of her own essence inside it."
Lían looked up.
"Essence?"
"A strand of hair will work."
"A fingernail will also work."
"Even a small drop of blood is sufficient."
Lían nodded.
"Once the talisman recognizes her aura, she can carry it with her."
"If she's ever in danger, as long as she has it on her..."
Wa Shi paused.
"The defensive formation inside will activate automatically."
Lían carefully placed the talisman inside his coat.
"Thank you."
Wa Shi nodded.
Then—
he turned toward the books.
"There are four movement techniques here."
He spread them across the table.
One after another—
the covers became visible.
Lían stepped closer.
His gaze swept across the four books.
Wa Shi spoke calmly.
"They're all Low Mortal Grade movement techniques."
Lían's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"All four?"
"As if."
He pointed toward the stack.
"I couldn't give you that much without making the trade unreasonable."
Lían glanced toward the clam shell.
Wa Shi smiled faintly.
"That shell is valuable."
"But even so..."
He tapped the books.
"Two Low Mortal Grade techniques should be a fair exchange."
Lían frowned.
"So I'm only getting two."
Wa Shi continued.
"That's what I'm giving you, though you can go through all four."
"But I'd recommend choosing one."
"The others can remain as references."
Lían nodded.
He lowered his gaze.
The four books lay quietly before him.
Their names immediately caught his attention.
**[Cloud Step]**
**[Wind Chasing Steps]**
**[Shadow Drift]**
**[Flowing River Steps]**
Lían stared at them.
His eyes slowly moved from one title to another.
*Four movement techniques...*
He reached toward the first book.
Then—
he stopped.
His gaze shifted toward the other three.
*I should probably examine all of them before deciding.*
Wa Shi quietly watched him.
Lían stood there for several moments.
His fingers lightly rested against the edge of the books.
*If I'm going to face cultivators stronger than me in the future...*
*I need something that can actually keep me alive.*
His expression gradually became serious.
He began examining the four techniques one by one.
Lían slowly opened the first book.
**[Cloud Step]**
He turned the first few pages.
The technique immediately revealed its basic principles.
It focused on lightness.
Footwork.
And the ability to reduce the force exerted against the ground.
*So this one is mainly for agility.*
Lían continued reading.
The technique allowed the cultivator to move across uneven terrain almost effortlessly.
With sufficient mastery—
they could even briefly step upon objects that couldn't normally support their weight.
Branches.
Falling leaves.
Even thin layers of mist.
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Useful.*
But—
he wasn't completely satisfied.
There was no explosive acceleration.
No sudden burst of speed.
It was more focused on maintaining mobility.
Lían quietly closed the book.
He picked up the second.
**[Wind Chasing Steps]**
The moment he began reading—
his expression changed slightly.
This technique focused on acceleration.
The cultivator would circulate spiritual energy through their legs before releasing it in short bursts.
The stronger the cultivator's legs and meridians—
the greater the acceleration.
Lían's eyes brightened.
*This is better.*
He continued reading.
Wind Chasing Steps could allow a cultivator to rapidly close distances or retreat from danger.
However—
there was a weakness.
Repeated activation consumed considerable spiritual energy.
And—
if the cultivator failed to control their momentum—
they could easily lose balance.
Lían frowned slightly.
*The energy consumption is troublesome.*
He placed the book down.
Then—
he picked up the third.
**[Shadow Drift]**
Lían's expression became curious.
He turned the pages.
Unlike the previous techniques—
Shadow Drift focused on concealment.
The technique allowed the cultivator to merge their movements with surrounding shadows.
It didn't simply increase speed.
It made the cultivator difficult to detect while moving.
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*This could be useful for escaping.*
He continued reading.
The technique was especially effective at night.
Inside forests.
Or anywhere with sufficient shadows.
However—
in bright environments, its effectiveness dropped considerably.
Lían slowly closed the book.
*Too situational.*
His hand moved toward the final technique.
**[Flowing River Steps]**
The moment he opened it—
Lían's expression became thoughtful.
Unlike the other three techniques—
this one focused on continuous movement.
There was no sudden acceleration.
No complete concealment.
Instead—
the cultivator's body moved like flowing water.
One step naturally led into another.
Turning.
Dodging.
Changing direction.
Accelerating.
Slowing.
Everything became part of a continuous sequence.
Lían's eyes gradually brightened.
*This...*
He continued reading.
The technique emphasized maintaining movement rather than stopping and starting.
A cultivator who mastered it could change direction without losing momentum.
They could also use an opponent's attack to redirect their own movement.
Lían's fingers slowly tightened around the page.
*It's similar to water.*
His Water Elemental Physique immediately came to mind.
*Water doesn't move in a straight line.*
*It flows around obstacles.*
*It changes direction.*
*And it never wastes movement.*
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*This technique might actually suit me.*
He continued reading.
The deeper he went—
the more interested he became.
The technique even contained a section describing how spiritual energy should circulate through the legs and waist before spreading throughout the body.
Lían's expression became increasingly serious.
*My Water Elemental Physique should make this easier to learn.*
He glanced at the other three books.
Cloud Step.
Wind Chasing Steps.
Shadow Drift.
All three had their strengths.
But—
Flowing River Steps felt different.
It didn't simply teach him how to move faster.
It taught him how to **move better**.
And that was exactly what he needed.
Lían slowly closed the book.
He looked toward Wa Shi.
"I'll take this one."
Wa Shi raised an eyebrow.
"Flowing River Steps?"
Lían nodded.
"Yes."
Wa Shi stared at him for a moment.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
"Good choice."
Lían looked at the remaining books.
"Can I keep the others for reference?"
Wa Shi shook his head.
"You can read them here."
"But the books remain with me."
Lían nodded.
"That's fine."
He reached for Flowing River Steps again.
Wa Shi watched him quietly.
Then—
he suddenly asked,
"Why did you choose that one?"
Lían paused.
He looked down at the book.
"Because..."
He thought for a moment.
"It feels familiar."
Wa Shi frowned.
"Familiar?"
Lían nodded.
"My physique."
He tapped the cover.
"This technique seems compatible with it."
Wa Shi's eyes narrowed slightly.
*His physique.*
The old man's gaze narrowed slightly.
"What do you mean by your physique?"
Lían paused.
He glanced down at the book in his hands.
Then—
he smiled lightly.
"Hmm..."
"There's something I haven't mentioned."
Wa Shi waited.
Lían continued.
"My master helped me awaken a Spiritual Physique."
The old man's expression changed.
"A Spiritual Physique?"
Lían nodded.
"A Water Elemental Physique."
Silence.
For several moments—
Wa Shi simply stared at him.
Inside—
his thoughts immediately raced.
*Impossible.*
*A Spiritual Physique?*
*That's the reason...*
His eyes narrowed.
*Is that why his cultivation has increased so quickly?*
He remembered Lían's spiritual root.
A poor spiritual root.
Yet—
within such a short period of time—
Lían had already reached the Third Stage of Spirit Refining.
Even with cultivation resources—
that speed was astonishing.
But now—
everything suddenly made more sense.
*A Spiritual Physique.*
Wa Shi's gaze became complicated.
*What kind of existence is behind this child?*
*To think he could awaken a Spiritual Physique...*
His heart couldn't help but feel shaken.
*Such fortune.*
*This child is truly fortunate.*
Lían didn't notice the old man's thoughts.
Or perhaps—
he noticed.
But he simply didn't care.
He lightly tapped the cover of **Flowing River Steps**.
"My master said it's only a Mortal Grade Spiritual Physique."
He smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"He said my natural talent was too poor."
Wa Shi's expression twitched.
*Mortal Grade...*
Even the lowest-grade Spiritual Physique was something ordinary cultivators could only dream of obtaining.
And this child—
had actually awakened one.
Moreover—
it was a Water Elemental Physique.
Wa Shi's gaze slowly became more serious.
*With the help of that mysterious master...*
*His potential has already changed completely.*
Lían's smile remained.
But inside—
his thoughts were much calmer.
*It's better to reveal some of my cards.*
*If I hide everything...*
*He might think I'm completely helpless.*
His eyes briefly flickered.
*I don't intend to create any conflict with him.*
*But if I want to avoid trouble...*
*I need him to understand that I'm not someone he can casually manipulate.*
Lían wasn't trying to threaten Wa Shi.
He simply wanted the old man to understand one thing.
There was a reason he had been able to change so dramatically.
And behind that reason—
stood Lizarius.
Even if Wa Shi couldn't meet him—
knowing that such an existence was backing Lían was enough.
Wa Shi slowly exhaled.
"So..."
"With the help of your master..."
"You now possess a Spiritual Physique."
Lían nodded.
"Yes."
Wa Shi shook his head slightly.
"Your master truly is extraordinary."
His gaze drifted toward Lían.
"To think he could help you awaken a Spiritual Physique."
He paused.
"It seems I underestimated him."
Lían smiled.
"My master is quite capable."
Wa Shi gave a faint laugh.
"I can see that."
Then—
a trace of regret appeared in his expression.
"What a pity..."
"I've never had the opportunity to meet him."
Lían remained silent for a moment.
Then—
he bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry about that."
"I wouldn't mind introducing you to him."
"But..."
Lían hesitated.
"My master told me not to reveal too much about him."
Wa Shi immediately waved his hand.
"You don't need to apologize."
"I understand."
He leaned back slightly.
"If an existence capable of awakening a Spiritual Physique wishes to remain hidden..."
"Then there must be a reason."
Lían smiled.
"Thank you for understanding."
Wa Shi nodded.
His gaze lingered on Lían for another moment.
Inside—
his thoughts remained complicated.
*This child...*
*He really has changed.*
*And the person behind him is far more mysterious than I initially imagined.*
He glanced toward the book in Lían's hands.
*Perhaps choosing Flowing River Steps wasn't a coincidence either.*
Lían lowered his gaze toward the technique.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Then I'll take this."
Wa Shi nodded.
"Take it."
"Study it carefully."
"Movement techniques may appear simple..."
"But mastering one is far more difficult than learning the basic principles."
Lían nodded.
"I understand."
He carefully picked up the book.
Wa Shi looked at him.
"And Lían..."
Lían paused.
"Yes?"
"Don't rely too heavily on your master."
Lían's expression became slightly curious.
Wa Shi continued.
"If you intend to become stronger..."
"You'll eventually have to walk your own path."
Lían smiled.
"I know."
He glanced down at **Flowing River Steps**.
"That's why I'm learning this."
Wa Shi stared at him.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
"Good."
Outside—
the night wind quietly passed through the village.
Inside the room—
Lían held the movement technique tightly.
For the first time since returning—
he felt that he was truly beginning to prepare for what lay ahead.