"White clouds gather and disperse unpredictably, drifting and elusive beyond grasp... At the highest realm, one can pass through a barrage of arrows unscathed, standing in the undefeated position of Innate, known as—Carefree Wanderings."
In White Cloud Hall, Ning Xunqiu finished reading Wind and Cloud Double Extremes, White Clouds Drifting Leisurely, and fell silent.
In the world of martial arts, only speed is unbreakable.
White Clouds Drifting Leisurely is recognized as the first superior light body technique in the world, created by the third generation Ancestral Master of Cyan Mountain during chaotic times of war for self-preservation.
"No wonder in my life as the Sword Demon, I would often charge into armies with my sword, taking heads like passing through an unguarded realm, slaughtering in Jianghu, and jointly three Grandmasters of the same realm couldn't kill me.
Assassinating King Jin... You probably charged right in, is this assassination? I can only say... serves my reputation well."
Ning Xunqiu was not surprised.
If he had no attachments, he might be more arrogant than the version of himself in the book.
But having relived a life, a life fulfilled, with future prospects, he must lie low, no, it should be called—delayed gratification.
In his past life, he played cautiously, enduring humiliation, silently nurturing, emerging after eighteen minutes with three hundred stacks.
Had it not been for the ultimate victory, for the moment the Celestial God descended, enduring the opponent's prolonged "weakness" in the early stages would have been meaningless.
Just as in reality, Ning Xunqiu knew that venturing into Jianghu could unlock more [Life Achievements].
Yet he chose to lie low on the mountain.
Why? Naturally, to become a Grandmaster, possessing the power of self-preservation, before beginning the indulgence of accumulating life achievements (enjoying life).
But now Ning Xunqiu has the Celestial Derivation Volume, even Immortal Technique appears in the book, meaning that eternal life is not impossible...
With greater goals in mind, Ning Xunqiu finds the mortal world mundane, losing interest even in becoming a Grandmaster and making a name for himself down the mountain.
"First cultivate White Clouds Drifting Leisurely to the realm of the Great Success of Carefree Wanderings."
Ning Xunqiu begins focused cultivation in the hall, Lifebound Character: Martial Saint activates, he learns instantly, moving swiftly and unpredictably in the hall, his figure ghostly.
Time passes unnoticed, slowly.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, Senior Sister is calling you to eat."
Outside the hall, a little girl with twin braids softly calls out.
She perks up her ears, waiting for a response.
Ning Xunqiu raises his eyes, the light inside the dim hall is faint.
He had been practicing since dawn until nightfall.
In a flash, his afterimages multiply. In an instant, he quietly stands behind the little girl.
The girl is unaware, still standing at the hall door.
Ning Xunqiu focuses his mind, a line of information appears before him:
[White Clouds Drifting Leisurely (Initiated): 21/100]
Seeing White Clouds Drifting Leisurely has been initiated, he couldn't help but smile slightly.
This body technique ultimate skill involves an arithmetic, obscure and difficult; his master is not proficient in arithmetic, having practiced for decades, achieving at best Minor Success.
Previously, this Celestial Book-like ultimate skill would take him at least ten days to half a month to begin formal cultivation, three months to initiate, and that's with "several points of comprehension" added.
Each time Ning Xunqiu finishes serious martial arts practice, new "enlightenment" floods his heart, encountering bottlenecks, performing a round naturally leads to breakthroughs.
This is the effect of Lifebound Character: Martial Saint's guaranteed success in practice, truly terrifying.
"Ah Qing, let's go."
Ning Xunqiu suddenly speaks.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, how come you're here, wouldn't you be..."
Ah Qing turns around startled, glances back at the hall door, seems to realize something, swallows nervously, stares tightly at Ning Xunqiu, retreats a few steps, then... turns to flee.
"Why run?"
Ning Xunqiu can't grasp the situation, grabs Ah Qing.
"Moo, moo~ don't, don't eat me... Ah Qing is too skinny and bad-tasting..."
Ah Qing's eyes widen, tears welling, hands up pleading.
Ning Xunqiu pauses, he knows Ah Qing's background.
Besides the family marquises learning on Cyan Mountain for several years, some are those his master, while traveling the world, couldn't bear to see suffer and adopted.
Those with good root bone learn martial arts, those with intellectual potential study, and those with dull talent acquire a skill; upon adulthood, they leave the mountain to make a living.
Except for the two direct disciples of Wind and Cloud, everyone else on the mountain is a registered disciple.
When his master brought back Ah Qing, she was still in swaddling clothes, stained with blood, the lone survivor of a village.
"Senior Brother is not a man-eating ghost... you see, he's warm."
Ning Xunqiu's voice is gentle, he pinches the rosy cheeks of the little girl.
"Uh..."
Ah Qing feels the warmth from the hand, tears stop, visibly relieved.
Ning Xunqiu carries Ah Qing, leaves White Cloud Hall, and stops at a flat area on the mountainside behind.
Here, a row of wooden houses serve as the place for sect disciples to reside and eat, although at the moment few are present.
He pushes open the largest room; the table is laden with fish and meat, tantalizing aromas.
Besides his Junior Sister Gao Fei Xue, there are two others, an ordinary-looking dark-skinned child, and a chubby fair-skinned child, both about eight years old.
The dark-skinned child is Zhao Ping, the chubby fair-skinned child is Zhang Han.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother,"
Zhao Ping, steady in demeanor, immediately sets down his bowls and chopsticks, stands, and salutes gracefully.
Zhang Han, mouth packed full, follows with a shout.
Ning Xunqiu gestures, sets down Ah Qing, sits beside Gao Fei Xue.
He tries a piece of braised pork, lavishly praises.
"Rich in color, tender without being greasy, melts in the mouth; Junior Sister's cooking skill has improved."
Upon hearing this, Gao Fei Xue's toes point slightly, the compliment deeply pleasing; she has secretly honed her skill by using Zhao Ping, Zhang Han, Ah Qing, and others as tests, just for this moment.
"Hmm, it's alright."
She eats a piece with an impassive face, nonchalantly commenting as if it were trivial.
However, Ning Xunqiu can notice the faint lift and compression of Gao Fei Xue's lips.
"..."
Sigh, all because he didn't set a good example as this Senior Brother.
"Truly a mortal world delicacy. Coming to Cyan Mountain was the right choice. Even princes below the mountain wouldn't taste something so exquisite."
Beside Zhang Han expresses amazement.
"I've only ever eaten pig food before; this is truly living."
With that, he picks up a juicy piece of braised pork, swallows it whole, showing a face of satisfaction.
The Seven Kingdoms dishes are all primarily "boiled, steamed, roasted, and stewed," even the top aristocracy doesn't eat anything extraordinary.
Hearing these words, Ning Xunqiu and Gao Fei Xue exchange smiles.
Back then, he captured Gao Fei Xue's heart with this very trick; his Junior Sister used to be aggressively adorable.
After the meal,
The breeze whispered by, Ning Xunqiu watched the children chasing and playing, his Junior Sister practicing her sword nearby, with determination in his heart.
For someone who was once a weary, mentally exhausted societal worker, this is the true golden life.
He relishes this leisurely lifestyle, hoping none will disrupt it.
No one!
...
When midnight arrives,
Ning Xunqiu opens his eyes, leaves his Junior Sister Gao Fei Xue's gentle embrace, then eagerly flips through "Second Playthrough, I Want to Defy the Heavens to Change One's Fate."
[I choose to descend the mountain to secretly assist my master.]
Ning Xunqiu takes out the Spring and Autumn Brush, strikes out this text.
[Would you like to use a bit of fortune to rewrite this part of life?]
Indeed, it's once a day for rewriting.
Ning Xunqiu smiles, no one knows Golden Finger better than he.
He's about to use a bit of fortune to rewrite.
"Wait... rewrite this part of life? Rewrite?!"
Ning Xunqiu's eyes suddenly brighten, he picks up the Spring and Autumn Brush and writes an addition to the Celestial Derivation Volume.
[I choose to stay on the mountain in seclusion, aiming for Above Innate.]
[On the second day, I enter Unity of Heaven and Man state at White Cloud Peak, enlightenment reaches ninety-nine, golden lotus blooms from the earth, Purple Qi arrives from three thousand miles east.]
[I attain Dao with one step, immortal and eternal, the Great Dao boundless.]
...