manynovel Chapter 11 Leaving No Trace in the Snow
Chapter 11 Leaving No Trace in the Snow
After calling out to Shi Zhongyu, Feng Wanli turned around and walked out of the training ground.
Shi Zhongyu didn't understand why, but he still followed.
He found that the further he followed his master, the more difficult the path became.
At first there was only a thin layer of snow, but later the snow covered his ankles.
Seeing that his master showed no sign of stopping, Shi Zhongyu gritted his teeth and followed.
As he walked, Shi Zhongyu discovered a strange place.
That was the path Master had walked, without any footprints at all.
But he was different; every time, he would sink his feet deep into the snow.
Another fifteen minutes passed before Feng Wanli finally stopped.
Feng Wanli turned around and looked at Shi Zhongyu, whose ankles were buried in snow.
"Do you know why your master brought you here?"
Shi Zhongyu looked around. This place was the back mountain of the Snow Mountain Sect, where a cold wind was blowing snow all over the sky.
Everywhere was covered in snow, and he saw that the ground was frozen in several places.
"This disciple does not know."
Shi Zhongyu answered honestly.
He was also curious about why his master had brought him to this place.
Feng Wanli nodded slightly.
"Our Snow Mountain Sect practices stance training in the morning, swordsmanship and internal energy cultivation in the late morning, and lightness skills in the afternoon!"
Shi Zhongyu suddenly realized.
"Did Master bring his disciple here to teach him qinggong (lightness skill)?"
Feng Wanli nodded slightly.
"Our Snow Mountain Sect is located in the icy plains of the Western Regions, where snowstorms rage and cliffs stand tall. Without superb lightness skills, it is difficult to move an inch."
"All new disciples, in addition to learning swordsmanship and mental techniques, must also master the sect's basic lightness skills."
Shi Zhongyu's eyes lit up.
He had seen the lightness skill his master used to walk.
He was very much looking forward to learning light-body skills.
Shi Zhongyu then bowed and said, "This disciple respectfully listens to Master's teachings."
Feng Wanli nodded slightly, lightly touched the snow with his left foot, and floated forward several feet like a wisp of cold smoke.
Where the toes landed, the snow sank only slightly before being smoothed out by the wind and snow in an instant, leaving no trace.
"Watch closely. This lightness skill is called 'Treading on Snow Without Leaving a Trace,' and its foundation actually lies in the snow mountain rock foundation. Only when the foundation is firmly established can the internal force sink to the soles of the feet, preventing the body from becoming unstable."
"So now that you have learned the lightness skill, remember to be even more attentive when practicing stances in the future."
As Feng Wanli spoke, he gestured and pointed out the key points of Shi Zhongyu's lightness skill.
"Concentrate the cold energy of the snow mountain into the Yongquan acupoint, gently release the internal force to support your body, and avoid brute force to fall. When you land, it should be like a snowflake touching the ground, light, fast and stable. Touch the ground with your toes first, and then use the force to float out. Do not put your whole palm on the ground."
After saying that, Feng Wanli once again stretched out his figure and traversed across the vast snowfield.
His green robe fluttered, his figure was as elusive as a crane, and he left as soon as his toes touched the snow, leaving only a faint trail of marks behind him.
The wind and snow swept by, leaving no trace.
Feng Wanli stood on a rock, his green robe fluttering in the wind.
He looked at Shi Zhongyu beside him, his voice deep and slow.
"Ordinary disciples would find their feet sinking into the snow as they ran through it, encountering numerous obstacles."
"Our school's lightness skill uses the cold air to condense snow, making the ground firm and dense, so as to use this to move swiftly and silently."
"The key has been taught to you; give it a try!"
When Feng Wanli said this, there was a hint of expectation in his tone.
If Shi Zhongyu were to read his instructions once, he would be able to learn the basics of light-body skills.
So he acknowledged that Shi Zhongyu was an unparalleled genius in martial arts.
When Shi Zhongyu heard that his master wanted him to demonstrate, he took a slight breath.
The martial arts moves were already explained on the pages of the book when Master was teaching.
[Analysis of "Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace" complete.]
Shi Zhongyu took a step forward.
The first step, as always, is to step deep into the snow.
Feng Wanli's eyes did not move.
Shi Zhongyu took a second step and began to mobilize the icy internal energy within his body.
At this step, his ankles were still deeply embedded in the snow.
Feng Wanli frowned.
Shi Zhongyu took the third step, followed by the fourth, fifth, and sixth steps...
He walked faster and faster.
What used to be sinking deep into the snow with every step is now actually 'rising' higher.
Feng Wanli saw this and was delighted, even offering his guidance.
"Your internal energy is too volatile! Calm down! This isn't treading on snow, it's stomping on snow! Lighten your movements, like a willow catkin in the wind, not like a stubborn rock falling to the ground!"
Shi Zhongyu took a deep breath, composed himself, and took another step.
This time, the cold breath flowed smoothly, and with a light touch of the toes, the body indeed floated up.
Although it is still a bit rough around the edges, it is already taking shape.
Feng Wanli gazed at his figure, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, but his tone remained stern.
"It's acceptable."
"This skill is only the beginning. When you can run through knee-deep snow without splashing a single snowflake, and walk on icy cliffs as if on flat ground, you can be said to have truly mastered the essence of walking on snow without leaving a trace."
Shi Zhongyu listened carefully and kept it in mind.
Each time the master gives guidance, the proficiency of the "Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace" skill will increase.
Half an hour passed.
Shi Zhongyu froze for a moment, then fell to the ground in the snow with a thud.
A figure walked over and lifted the jade stone that was buried in the snow.
After several shifts, they arrived at a flat area.
Feng Wanli looked at Shi Zhongyu, who had exhausted his inner strength, and couldn't help but scold him.
"You brat, don't you understand the principle of not using up all your cold energy?"
Shi Zhongyu bowed to his master.
"Master, I understand this principle!"
"With my master here, I am willing to use every last bit of my inner strength to practice my lightness skill!"
As Shi Zhongyu spoke, joy welled up within him.
Name: Shi Zhongyu
Realm: Beginner (Mortal)
武学：基础剑法入门（32/100）、雪山剑法入门（82/100）、雪山派心法入门（19/100）、雪山磐石桩入门（35/100）、踏雪无痕入门（35/100）
The reason he used up his last bit of internal energy was so that his master would keep giving him guidance.
His master's guidance continuously improved his proficiency in light-body techniques.
However, Shi Zhongyu did not believe that his master's guidance would enable him to continuously improve his martial arts proficiency.
Once you reach a certain level, you should stop.
However, he hasn't triggered it yet.
Feng Wanli never expected Shi Zhongyu to give such an answer.
He was silent for a moment, then said softly, "You must never do that again!"
Shi Zhongyu said in a deep voice, "This disciple will remember!"
"Let's go! Let's go back with Master!"
The two returned to the training ground together.
"Go practice your skills!"
"yes!"
Shi Zhongyu arrived at the spot where the ice pillar had been yesterday, and then sat cross-legged on the ground.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
"Effective movement, proficiency +5."
Introduction to the Snow Mountain School's Mind Techniques (24/100).
Shi Zhongyu took out a porcelain bottle and swallowed the Cold Breath Pill.
Fifteen minutes later.
Shi Zhongyu closed his eyes again to practice the Snow Mountain Sect's mental cultivation method.
Due to time constraints, he could only cultivate for half an hour.
"Effective movement, proficiency +2."
Introduction to the Snow Mountain School's Mind Techniques (26/100).
Boom!
After a bell rang, Shi Zhongyu slowly opened his eyes.
It's time for dinner.