Chapter 006: The Dance of the Spirit Serpent

Xu Xuan stood in his own courtyard and began to practice the first transformation of the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent, the “Soft” technique.

Each movement in the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent was strangely unique; some even surpassed the limits of human capability. For example, the nine motions in the first transformation, the “Soft” technique, when combined, were nearly impossible for ordinary people to master in just a few days or weeks. Yet, as Xu Xuan attempted these movements, he encountered almost no resistance and quickly grasped the essence. In the Sea of Memories, he had already comprehended all the secrets and mysteries; now, it was simply a matter of “retraining.”

With a deep breath, Xu Xuan gradually became absorbed, his body bending and twisting, his limbs, neck, head, hands, even his eyes and mouth performing strange actions. If each movement were viewed alone, it would seem awkward and bizarre. But when strung together, they flowed with an unusual harmony and fluidity.

A stifled laugh escaped Xu Huilan.

“What is it? Are these movements unsightly?” Xu Xuan’s face darkened slightly.

“Not exactly unsightly, just a bit odd, kind of like—”

“Like what?”

“Like dancing—a grown man dancing!” Xu Huilan burst out laughing, doubling over.

“Dancing? Then why don’t you try?” Xu Xuan replied with an indifferent smile.

The essence of the first transformation, “Soft,” in the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent, lay in cultivating the body’s extreme flexibility and resilience.

“Alright, who’s afraid?” Xu Huilan snorted lightly.

Xu Xuan demonstrated the movements for her to imitate.

After some effort, Xu Huilan couldn’t even execute a single movement properly.

“Is it dancing? Shouldn’t girls’ bodies be more suited for dancing?” Xu Xuan struck a victorious pose.

“How… How can this be?” Xu Huilan was speechless. She remembered clearly that her brother had never been as dexterous as she was.

It wasn’t that Xu Xuan was clumsy; dexterity was a natural advantage for women. In fact, Xu Huilan had previously apprenticed with a formation master in town, who claimed that her meticulous nature far exceeded the norm and that she possessed considerable talent in forming techniques, thus taking her as a pupil. Only after the mine explosion, when the family fell on hard times, did Xu Huilan return home to help her mother weave spiritual garments to make ends meet.

About half an hour later, Xu Xuan finished practicing the first transformation, “Soft.” When these highly flexible, difficult movements were performed in a continuous flow, his body seemed especially coordinated and supple, like a dancing spirit serpent.

Xu Xuan felt a slight soreness in his limbs and body. Yet, at the same time, a peculiar, tingling warmth, like an electric current, flowed through every part of him.

He nearly let out a sound—it was so strange and exhilarating.

That mysterious tingling warmth lasted only a moment, coinciding precisely with the completion of the first transformation of the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent.

Xu Xuan’s body froze, as the electric-like warmth surged through him, bringing a mixture of numbness, lightness, and pure pleasure. The sensation lingered, almost like an illusion.

He vaguely sensed that when this strange current coursed through his body, it stimulated and enhanced him.

“Again!” Xu Xuan’s eyes glimmered as he practiced the “Soft” technique repeatedly.

In the realm of consciousness, these movements were even more flawless. Each time he performed the nine actions in a single breath, that strange sensation returned. Gradually, his physique began to change.

After two hours, Xu Xuan was drenched in sweat, and as the sunset painted the sky, he executed every movement perfectly, flowing from one to the next. In that moment, his body moved like a spirit serpent, finishing each subtle action before the last ray of sunlight faded.

Xu Huilan witnessed this scene, her mouth agape in awe, a nameless shock stirring her heart.

Just as the sun completely disappeared, she seemed to see a spirit serpent dancing in the twilight, swallowing the last glow of dusk and ushering in darkness.

“It worked.” Xu Xuan felt a surge of joy; the tingling warmth was now stronger, flowing through his body and dispelling much of his fatigue.

“Brother, where did you learn those dance steps? I never expected them to be so beautiful.” Xu Huilan asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

“Dance steps?” Xu Xuan nearly choked and corrected, “These are body-tempering techniques.”

“I see,” Xu Huilan giggled, covering her mouth, unable to resist adding, “But what kind of body-tempering technique is so graceful?”

Xu Xuan rolled his eyes, too tired to explain further.

In truth, the early stages of the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent focused on flexibility, while later stages would become increasingly powerful and forceful. If the body lacked sufficient flexibility at first, practicing forceful body-tempering techniques would inevitably cause harm, leading to hidden ailments over time.

More importantly, a body made flexible and resilient in the early stages laid the foundation for later breakthroughs in strength.

Most body-tempering practitioners in this world began with rigid training methods, which were simple and powerful but led to stagnation and invisible constraints in the future.

Xu Xuan understood the progression of the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent; the later transformations would be truly astonishing.

That night, Xu Xuan’s father returned home, exhausted.

“Father’s back.”

Xu Xuan quickly stood up.

Seeing his son lively and energetic, Xu’s father was surprised but relieved after asking a few questions. However, upon learning of the confrontation between Xu Xuan and Xu Xiaohu that morning, he first felt curious, then frowned deeply.

“To pay off the debt in half a month is simply too difficult…”

Xu’s father sighed with worry.

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll find a way to pay off the debt within half a month,” Xu Xuan promised confidently.

But neither his father nor mother believed him; they were skeptical and didn’t take it to heart.

During dinner, Huilan served Xu’s father a cup of tea and massaged his back.

“Father, I have a question,” Xu Xuan suddenly said.

“Go ahead,” his father replied calmly.

“I want to know… is there a tenth stage in body-tempering?”

Xu Xuan asked cautiously.

“Never give up on the ten stages of body-tempering.”

That voice, so deeply etched in the memories of his past life, was indelible in Xu Xuan’s mind.

He asked because his father had once been the pride of the village, achieving even more than Xu Dahuo, but had fallen due to an accident and become disabled. Xu Xuan believed his father’s knowledge far surpassed ordinary practitioners.

“The tenth stage of body-tempering?” His father’s brows shot up, his eyes suddenly cold and stern. “Who told you that?”

Crash!

His father’s teacup shattered on the floor, tea splashing everywhere.

Suddenly, the room was filled with oppressive silence as his father’s face flushed with anger.

Xu Xuan dared not meet his father’s gaze, realizing his question might have been foolish.

“There are only nine stages in body-tempering. Even Huilan knows this. Didn’t you learn anything in the village school? If you ask such stupid questions again, I’ll break your legs.”

His father rebuked him sharply.

Only nine stages in body-tempering?

Xu Xuan was shaken to the core.

He had obtained memories from his past life, blending emotions and experiences, and longed for the legendary tenth stage. But he wasn’t sure if it really existed. He only had memories up to his sixteenth year.

Even the Nine Changes of Dragon and Serpent had only nine layers, corresponding to nine stages.

Now, from his father, he learned there was no tenth stage in this world.

Could his past memories be mistaken?

Who was right and who was wrong?

Xu Xuan’s heart grew heavy.

(Today’s second update. New book, steady releases, rolling on the ground begging for recommendations…)