C58

Despite several attempts to dissuade him, the elder finally relented and registered Chu Yan's choice. However, he made it clear to Chu Yan that he was free to switch martial skills at any time, as long as the elder was present to facilitate the change.

Chu Yan had exploited a loophole, and it even crossed his mind to master the Seven Stars Tornado Steps before feigning inability to learn it, just to exchange it for a different martial skill. If he didn't, he felt he would be dishonoring the elder's kindness.

Shortly after Chu Yan departed from the Martial Skill Pavilion, other members of the Lin family arrived and struck up a casual conversation with the guarding elder. One clan member, upon learning of Chu Yan's selection, hastily excused himself and left.

"Seven Stars Windstorm Steps? That incomplete martial skill?" Lin Yun was taken aback by the news behind a rockery in the Lin Family Fortress. The informant was none other than the one who had just extracted the information from the elder.

"What was he thinking? The Seven Stars Windstorm Steps isn't even one of our Lin family's martial skills, and there's no compatible technique to pair with it. Chu Yan had previously chosen the Blood Yang Spear Art, which has a plethora of complementary techniques—over a dozen. Why on earth would he opt for the unwanted Seven Stars Windstorm Steps? Is he out of his mind, or am I missing something?" Puzzled, Lin Yun dismissed the clan member and stroked his chin, unable to make sense of it.

"Let it be," Lin Yun sighed after a moment, shaking his head in resignation. "Knowing he's chosen the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps, there's nothing to be concerned about. Chu Yan, you had the audacity to shame me yesterday. Just wait until the Family Selection—I'll knock every tooth out of your mouth and show you what a son-in-law's place really is!"

With a cold huff, Lin Yun fingered the money pouch in his hand, which jingled with the unmistakable sound of Spirit Money, indicating it was full.

A little over two hours later, Chu Yan, having made his martial skill selection, had already hastened back to Evergreen Town. Upon his return, he immediately sequestered himself and began his cultivation in earnest.

He left a note for the household servant who delivered his meals daily, instructing them to simply place each meal on the stone table in the courtyard.

Chu Yan, on the other hand, shut himself in, sealing the doors and windows before immersing himself in the time-space cage to train.

Within the confines of the time-space cage, Chu Yan was the picture of concentration.

He wasn't practicing the Blood Yang Spear Art; instead, he was executing the recently acquired first move of the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash—Blooming Together.

The Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash, being a superior martial skill of the Mortal Realm, demanded higher cultivation conditions than the Blood Yang Spear Art. To practice the first technique, Blooming Together, one must reach the third level of the True Martial Realm.

The second move, the Ten Thousand Flowers Holy Lotus, required reaching the fifth level of the True Martial Realm to begin training.

Chu Yan's blade danced in his hands, its light flickering, casting a myriad of shadows.

His legs, meanwhile, moved in a peculiar stepping pattern.

At first glance, the steps appeared chaotic, yet a closer look revealed an underlying rhythm, exuding an air of mystery.

This enigmatic footwork, in tandem with the swirling blade shadows, seemed to amplify the force of the strikes. The gleaming blade light suddenly expanded, unleashing a formidable surge.

This intense focus, however, was short-lived as Chu Yan soon came to a halt, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.

Despite his fatigue, a look of satisfaction spread across Chu Yan's face.

"It's as I expected—the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash and the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps enhance each other perfectly. The agility of the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash combined with the fluidity of the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps magnifies the power of both techniques."

Chu Yan reflected on his training session, thinking, "So far, I've only mastered the first star's stepping pattern. There are still the second, third, fourth, and up to the seventh star to learn. The more stars I control, the more varied and intricate the footwork becomes. I need to make the most of my time to practice.

But, as the elder mentioned, the Seven Stars Wind Walk is an incomplete martial skill. Clearly, there's more to it than what's recorded. It's a pity the book only details up to the seventh star, leaving the rest shrouded in mystery."

A sense of longing filled Chu Yan's heart.

Yet, he quickly set aside these thoughts and refocused on the present.

Instead of yearning for elusive martial skills, Chu Yan decided it was better to have his feet firmly planted on the ground, mastering all the content at hand first.

Chu Yan sequestered himself for three days straight, not stepping outside his door. Thanks to the time-space cage, while the outside world had only passed three days, Chu Yan had effectively gained nine days within it.

During these nine days, Chu Yan dedicated himself to martial practice, taking only necessary breaks. He meticulously studied and practiced the newly acquired Seven Stars Tornado Steps, while also keeping up with his previously mastered techniques: Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash, Blood Yang Spear Art, and Raging Dragon Entwining Kill. He even honed the combat moves he had developed on the battlefield.

With his current physique—enhanced strength, quicker reflexes, greater agility, and improved recovery—his familiar martial techniques were now executed with increased fluidity and force.

By the third day in the time-space cage, Chu Yan had mastered the second star of the footwork technique. By the evening of the eighth day, he had conquered the third star. However, after that, he hit a wall with the Seven Stars Tornado Steps.

It wasn't a lack of understanding; he knew the movements well. The issue was that his body couldn't reach the precise positions or execute the powerful and accurate actions within the allotted time.

"This is odd," Chu Yan mused, perplexed. "Isn't the Seven Stars Tornado Steps considered a mid-rank Mortal Realm skill? Why does it feel like my body can't meet the requirements to cultivate the fourth star?"

A possibility dawned on him quickly.

"Could it be that the Seven Stars Tornado Steps isn't actually a mid-rank Mortal Realm martial skill at all?"

The more Chu Yan considered it, the more likely it seemed.

The Lin Family didn't originally possess this martial skill. Its incomplete nature had stumped the clansmen, who, despite sensing its mysterious qualities, deemed it a mid-rank Mortal Realm skill—something not quite satisfying but too valuable to discard.

Since it didn't mesh well with the Lin Family's own martial skills, it had largely been ignored. Chu Yan even wondered if anyone besides the Lin Family member who had discovered it had ever really examined it. Thus, the true nature of the Seven Stars Tornado Steps remained a secret until Chu Yan's own discovery.

Upon reflecting on the other two martial skills he had been honing, Chu Yan felt a sudden stir within him. "The Seven Stars Wind Walk demands even more in terms of cultivation than the Lotus Leaf Double Wood Slash. Could it possibly be of a higher grade than the High Rank Mortal Realm, ascending to the Earth Rank?"

The thought alone was almost too much for Chu Yan to entertain.

Yet, even without confirmation of the Seven Stars Wind Walk's true rank, Chu Yan was sure of one thing: this time, he might have serendipitously stumbled upon a gem.