Chapter 189: Daoist technique, Daoist technique! (2/2)
Initially, when he started walking, he looked just like any normal person. His steps were not particularly quick… but, upon further scrutiny, Song Shuhang realized that Venerable White’s advancing speed was extremely fast—at least a few times faster than if Song Shuhang himself were to sprint with all his might.
Furthermore, when Venerable White was walking, countless changes were happening to his body.
After his demonstration was complete, Venerable White went back and asked Song Shuhang, ”So, which footwork have you decided to learn?”
”Senior, can I choose more than one?” Song Shuhang felt that each technique had its own pros and it was hard to pick only one from the bunch!
”Don’t be greedy,” Venerable White smiled. ”Based on your current cultivation, learning too many types of footwork requires too much time, and this would only hold you back and slow down your progress. Right now, the best thing for you to do is to pick only one kind of footwork and practice hard. When you’ve reached the Second Stage and after your qi and blood have become true qi, then you can consider learning a few more kinds of footwork to aid you and help you increase your agility.
Song Shuhang nodded and started to ponder.
The Buddhist ‘Tiger Subduing Footwork’ isn’t worth considering much… unless there really isn’t any better choice.
‘Shadow Stealth’ has too many limitations, making it unsuitable as the main footwork to practice; I can consider learning it in the future as an add-on.
Even though ‘Illusory Form Footwork’ feels bizarre and mysterious… it pales in comparison when being compared to the remaining two techniques.
Finally, it’s down to ‘Instantaneous Body s.h.i.+fting’ and ‘Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk’.
❮Instantaneous Body s.h.i.+fting❯ was a very strong footwork technique without a doubt. Speed trumped everything else. Think about it—instantaneously s.h.i.+fting your body behind your enemy and stabbing them. This was a very practical footwork technique. Just that, at the start, it put a lot of strain on one’s body, hence continuous usage would be rather troublesome.
As for the ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯, it didn’t give one as much advantage compared to the former, but its other aspects were pretty good, and it had a lot of room for upgrading.
After considering carefully, Song Shuhang asked Venerable White for his opinion, ”Senior White, what would you recommend me?”
”Hmm, if it were up to me, it would be the ‘Tiger Subduing Footwork’. You have already learned the ❮Basic Buddhist Fist Technique❯ and the ❮True Self Meditation Scripture❯—they fit pretty well with the Tiger Subduing Footwork,” replied Venerable White after pondering.
”I understand! Senior… I choose the ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯!” Song Shuhang decided.
”Eh? But the one I recommended was the ❮Tiger Subduing Footwork❯,” said Venerable White.
”Oh, no worries, Senior. The ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯ is indeed not bad! I trust your judgment!” Song Shuhang said as he clenched his fist.
”Ah… alright then. I will impart the footwork technique and chant for the ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯ to you,” Venerable White laughed.
He taught Song Shuhang the footwork technique and chant bit by bit, helping him understand it. Thereafter, he even guided Song Shuhang through the whole process and steps of the ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯ once himself.
After they were done, Venerable White asked him, ”Have you memorized the steps?”
”Yes, all of it,” Song Shuhang nodded. He just had to add the chant together with the steps and get familiarized with it a few times, then he would be able to master it.
”Go practice a few more times on your own. The ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯ is a suitable technique to be infused into your daily life. Whenever you are walking, you can try to practice this technique. Get familiarized with it whenever you can,” Venerable White smiled and sat at the side ,watching Song Shuhang practice the footwork technique.
Occasionally, he gave Song Shuhang some advice in the aspects he was lacking in, trying to help him perfect it.
❄️❄️❄️
After Song Shuhang grasped the basics of the ❮Virtuous Man’s Ten Thousand Mile Walk❯, it was almost 5 PM. He heaved a sigh and at the same time felt that the qi and blood within his aperture rose a little. He was very pleased.
Venerable White clapped softly and said, ”Very good. The rest is on you to practice and master it. Lastly, I have another Daoist technique I would like to teach you.”
”Daoist technique?!” Upon hearing this, Song Shuhang’s eyes lit up.
Daoist techniques… well, he’d initially thought that he had to wait at least till he reached the Second Stage—when his qi and blood energy within his body has become true qi—to be capable of using Daoist techniques. Who would have known that one was able to use a Daoist technique in the First Stage Realm?
”It is only a very basic, introductory Daoist technique. It can’t kill or hurt anyone. But if you use it against ghosts and similar ent.i.ties, it can be useful. It only needs qi and blood energy, as well as runes to activate it,” replied Venerable White.
”What Daoist technique is that?” Song Shuhang asked excitedly—ever since he had gotten himself into the world of cultivators, even though he had already learned a lot and had seen lots of strange and mystical things, he had merely practiced a few simple martial arts techniques himself.
”Lightning Palm, a basic technique to control lightning. When you’re of a higher level, you can upgrade it to the ‘Heavenly Lightning Palm’. The upgraded version’s power is pretty decent,” explained Venerable White.
The reason why he chose to teach Song Shuhang the Daoist technique ‘Lightning Palm’ now was because he was preparing to bring that young lady from Penniless Thief Sect on a trip with him to retrieve back his flying Meteor Sword.
Song Shuhang, on the other hand, was preparing to go to the neighboring city in the next two days to look for the ghost cultivators—the underlings of Altar Master.
Their timings clashed, hence Venerable White was unable to accompany Song Shuhang to the neighboring city. Therefore, he chose to guide and teach him the lightning technique that was specialized in countering ghosts as a protective measure for Song Shuhang.