237: Chapter 17 Shocks Wuyazi

He was all too familiar with Swift Steps.

This Lightness Skill was indeed profound, but at most, it could only leave afterimages when executed; it could not produce phantoms.

Therefore, the latter part of Meng Li's practice of Swift Steps was definitely problematic.

When Meng Li finished practicing, Wu Ya Zi asked, "When you were practicing just now, in the latter part, did you integrate another Lightness Skill into Swift Steps?"

Meng Li nodded: "Indeed."

"When I first heard the deeds of my ancestor Long Cheng, I was amazed by his peerless talent in creating ultimate Martial Arts, and I secretly resolved to create several Martial Arts that would not be inferior to our ancestral ultimate skills. Even if I could not surpass the master, I must not be far behind."

"Only then can I not disgrace the prestige of the Murong Clan of Suzhou."

"The Mixed Finger Technique, Shifting Stars, and Long Cheng Sword Technique created by Ancestor Long Cheng have already reached the pinnacle among Martial Arts of the same type."

"With such jade already in place, it is absolutely not easy for me to stand alongside them, let alone surpass them."

"Therefore, I chose a different path, intending to start with other types of Martial Arts."

"Lightness Skill was one of them."

"However, creating Martial Arts is not easy. I admit my Aptitude is average and I cannot blaze a new trail on my own."

"But as the saying goes, if you read three hundred Tang poems proficiently, even if you cannot compose poetry, you can still recite it."

"If Aptitude is insufficient, experience will compensate."

"So, since childhood, I have extensively studied various Martial Arts, intending to gather the strengths of a hundred schools to form a profound skill of my own style."

Wang Yuyan blinked, and a string of question marks popped up in her little head.

Wasn't her cousin's previous ambition to restore the Great Yan Kingdom?

How did it turn into creating his own Martial Arts?

Could it be that the death of her aunt and uncle caused a change?

Wang Yuyan wanted to ask clearly, but then stopped herself.

She was afraid that this question would make her cousin revert to his former self.

The previous cousin was certainly good, but besides thinking about restoring his country, he was always engrossed in studying Martial Arts and didn't pay much attention to her. The current cousin, although he still likes to study Martial Arts, teaches her, and plays with her, A Zhu, and A Bi, and knows how to praise her beauty and make her happy.

His relationship with her mother was also better than before.

Comparing the two, Wang Yuyan preferred the current Meng Li, so she chose to remain silent.

Wu Ya Zi, on the other hand, was stunned by Meng Li's words: "Creating Martial Arts that are not inferior to ancestral ultimate skills? This... a great ambition."

He originally intended to say 'boastful ambition'.

Creating Martial Arts is easily said than done, but the number of people who can truly achieve it is very small; all successful ones are supreme Prodigies.

Wu Ya Zi considered his own talent extremely high, yet he never thought about creating Martial Arts himself.

This was because he hadn't even fully grasped the Martial Arts passed down by the Carefree Child.

Therefore, he was not optimistic about Meng Li's idea, but he changed the words on his lips.

This was because Meng Li's performance while practicing Swift Steps earlier had shocked him.

He could learn it after hearing it just once, and furthermore, he could integrate other Martial Arts to improve it.

This level of Aptitude, he had never seen before.

Perhaps Meng Li could truly succeed.

Thinking of this, Wu Ya Zi suddenly felt a trace of excitement.

He came from the Xiaoyao Sect; his starting point in life was an endpoint most people could not even dream of. Thus, he didn't have many pursuits; after falling into misfortune, he only wanted revenge by eliminating Ding Chunqiu. Now that his wish was fulfilled, while he was happy, he inevitably felt a bit empty—in short, he lacked a goal.

Meng Li's words sparked a new goal in him—creating Martial Arts!

This matter was very difficult for him in his current state.

Because although his mobility had been restored through treatment, that was all.

Practicing Martial Arts or fighting someone was impossible.

That was why he hadn't gone to find Ding Chunqiu.

However, since he couldn't do it, he could use Meng Li to do it, or rather, accomplish it together with Meng Li.

He had collected and studied many Martial Arts back then. Now he couldn't execute them, but he could tell them to Meng Li.

If Meng Li could truly create Martial Arts based on this knowledge, he would have a share of the credit.

Doing so would also repay the favor Meng Li had shown by helping him eliminate Ding Chunqiu and bringing his granddaughter to acknowledge him.

Furthermore, Wu Ya Zi could see that Wang Yuyan's attitude towards Meng Li was unusual; the relationship between the two was far from that of ordinary cousins.

If he could help Meng Li, Wang Yuyan would surely be happy, and she could also learn a lot in the process.

This way, he could compensate for some of his debt, and also see Wang Yuyan more often.

A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind, and Wu Ya Zi made up his mind, following the thread of conversation, he asked, "Then, have you made any progress in creating your own Lightness Skill now?"

Meng Li replied: "A little progress. I have tentatively created a Lightness Skill called 'Floating Ascent Shadow Steps'."

This Lightness Skill was created in his previous life, combining the Lightness Skills of Yihua Palace, Spiral Nine Shadows, Golden Goose Skill, Skyward Teleportation, Spirit Turtle Steps, and many other Lightness Skills and movement techniques.

It allowed for ascending high like floating and traveling long distances, as well as staying close like a shadow and engaging in close-quarters combat.

The phantoms created when he practiced Swift Steps just now were the result of integrating parts of the Floating Ascent Shadow Steps.

Next, Meng Li revealed all the key secrets of this part.

After hearing it, Wu Ya Zi pondered seriously for a moment, and couldn't help but praise: "Wonderful! Extremely exquisite!"

Meng Li was not surprised by this.

The secret to creating phantoms originated from Spiral Nine Shadows.

In the Jin-series Wuxia world, Swift Steps would surely rank among the top for Lightness Skills, but Spiral Nine Shadows was not inferior either.

After this matter, Meng Li and Wu Ya Zi began an in-depth discussion about Swift Steps and Floating Ascent Shadow Steps, starting from the superficial. In the superficial parts, they directly used Wang Yuyan as an example, asking her to practice according to what they discussed.

This situation was somewhat similar to Hong Qi and Ouyang Feng using Yang Guo as a medium to compete on Mount Hua in *The Return of the Condor Heroes*.

Regardless of who won or lost, the intermediary benefited the most.

Wu Ya Zi was happy to see this, so he discussed even more earnestly.

Meng Li was the same.

Wang Yuyan had a blood tie with Wu Ya Zi, but her relationship with Meng Li was better and deeper.

And Wang Yuyan herself did not resist.

Because Meng Li was there, and because she knew that what the two were doing was for her own good.

For a time, the atmosphere was harmonious, and time flew by.

It wasn't until the sky darkened and Su Xinghe came in to remind them that they stopped their discussion and practice.

Then, Meng Li and Wang Yuyan stayed on Leigu Mountain as planned.

However, there were no spare residences on the mountain, so they had to go down the mountain to find an Inn to stay.

After briefly explaining, the two left together.

As soon as they left, Wu Ya Zi seemed to remember something and said to Su Xinghe: "Xinghe, I remember you also have Disciples. Back then, you were forced to expel them due to Ding Chunqiu's threats. Now that Ding Chunqiu has been removed, find some time to officially take them back into the sect."

Su Xinghe had the same intention and readily agreed: "Yes."

Afterward, he said a few words and left to convey this matter to the eight members of the Hangu Eight Friends, including Kang Guangling.

The Hangu Eight Friends were overjoyed when they learned the news.

The next day, Su Xinghe held a ceremony to officially take the eight Disciples back into the sect.

Wu Ya Zi, Meng Li, and Wang Yuyan were present to witness it.

After the ceremony concluded, Su Xinghe, seeing that there was nothing else to do, sent the eight Disciples away.

Meng Li asked Kang Guangling to help pass a message to A Zhu and A Bi, then continued to exchange Martial Arts with Wu Ya Zi, while also guiding Wang Yuyan, the 'Disciple'.

Wu Ya Zi saw that ordinary Martial Arts couldn't impress Meng Li, and Wang Yuyan could benefit from following along, so he directly brought out his ultimate secret skill—Beiming Divine Skill!

Then...