Chapter 210 - 209: Staff Intent
"After Shouyi breaks through to the Qi Realm, the family has its own Heart Method to pass down. We won’t trouble you, Elder." Chen Shouheng shook his head.
"Utterly pedantic! What a waste of talent!"
Liu Zongying snorted in dissatisfaction, as if watching a piece of raw jade being forcefully covered with coarse cloth and hidden in a humble room, yet he was helpless to do anything about it.
He ignored Chen Shouheng and turned to Sun Shouyi, saying irritably, "Kid, show me that shoddy Saber Technique of yours again."
Sun Shouyi looked to Chen Shouheng. Seeing him nod, he did as he was told and performed the Eight-direction Saber Technique.
"Your saber’s form must be steady, with power rising from the ground. Your wrists must be nimble, with power following the turn of your waist. Your gaze must be sharp, with your intent following the saber..."
Although Liu Zongying was crippled, his Grandmaster’s insight remained. As he watched, he pointed out the crude aspects of his power generation, power channeling, and coordination with his footwork, casually offering a few crucial pointers.
Sun Shouyi’s comprehension was extremely high; he often understood with just a single pointer. His Saber Technique became visibly more refined and fierce.
This made Liu Zongying both nod and sigh as he watched, feeling it was an ever-greater pity.
Just then, Chen Li walked into the courtyard holding a newly carved wooden staff.
"Elder Liu, the wooden staff is ready."
Chen Li handed the wooden staff over.
Liu Zongying took the wooden staff, weighed it in his hand, and gave it a casual flourish. It felt quite good.
He looked at Chen Li and said directly, "Patriarch Chen, please demonstrate a set of the Staff Technique you normally practice. Allow this old man to see your style and the depth of your foundation."
Chen Li paused in thought for a moment. Without any intention of hiding his skill, he directly performed the Qiankun Qi Wandering Dragon Staff Technique.
The wooden staff in his hand was like a wandering dragon emerging from the sea or Mount Tai crashing down—its momentum was immense, its power heavy, its ferocity unparalleled.
Liu Zongying watched from the side, his expression initially critical. But as Chen Li’s staff moves unfolded, his face gradually changed.
First, his pupils shrank in surprise, then his brows furrowed, turning into deep confusion.
What surprised him was that the Staff Technique Chen Li was demonstrating—in the ingenuity of its moves, the complexity of its variations, and the grandeur and depth of its artistic conception—was actually a cut above the Heaven-Fighting Unyielding Staff Technique that had made his own name.
But what confused him was that Chen Li’s execution of this Staff Technique was... exceedingly strange.
The transitions between moves were extremely clumsy, as if he were forcibly stitching together a series of isolated, exquisite moves, completely lacking any sense of smooth, harmonious flow.
His power generation was all ferocity and no finesse. He only knew how to blindly exert strength, showing almost no grasp of the finer points of Power, such as the transition between hard and soft or the interplay of feint and reality.
It didn’t look like he had received a complete lineage of teaching at all; instead, it was as if he had gotten a Martial Arts Secret Manual and was just haphazardly piecing things together and practicing on his own.
Once Chen Li finished the entire Staff Technique, he retracted his staff and stood at rest.
A sharp glint flashed in Liu Zongying’s eyes as he took the wooden staff Chen Li handed back to him.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Patriarch Chen, this Staff Technique of yours... its caliber is extremely high, and its artistic conception is vast. This old man has never seen anything like it in my life."
His tone then shifted, tinged with pity, "But the staff is the ancestor of a hundred weapons. Its methods emphasize using both its long and short reach, wielding it with one hand or two, and integrating offense and defense. Its Techniques are both numerous and intricate.
Your Staff Technique’s ferocity is certainly one of its flavors, but there are also many other variations, such as nimbleness, coiling, snapping, and pinpoint striking. You must combine hardness with softness and illusion with reality to grasp its true essence."
He mimicked a move Chen Li had just performed, the "Wandering Dragon Sea Exploration," and said, "Take this move, for example. When you perform it, you only seek the power of a swift thrust, but you lose the ’wandering’ nimbleness and the ’exploring’ precision. Your Power should be contained but not released, like a dragon diving into the abyss—touch and retreat, rather than blindly charging forward."
As he spoke, he casually demonstrated. The same move in his hands possessed an extra measure of ease and variation, the Power pulsing unpredictably, making it difficult to fathom.
Then, without another word, Liu Zongying’s figure moved, and he performed a completely different Staff Technique.
This Staff Technique appeared simple and unadorned, lacking any earth-shattering might, but every single move was fluid and harmonious, and his application of Power was exquisite to the finest detail.
"Patriarch Chen, watch closely."
Liu Zongying said in a deep voice, his wooden staff sweeping, dotting, snapping, or coiling, "The foundation of the Staff Technique lies in listening to power and Huajin. A sweep should be like the autumn wind scattering leaves; the force penetrates to the staff’s tip, but the intent lingers.
A dotting strike is like a dragonfly skimming water; force is concentrated at a single point and quickly retracted. A snapping strike is like a startled bird taking flight; the Power is released suddenly and sharply. A coiling move is like a vine wrapping around a tree; it sticks and follows, never losing contact or letting up."
He deliberately slowed his movements so Chen Li could clearly see every change in the Power: "The secret to channeling power is to use your waist as the axis and your legs as the root. Power rises from the ground and flows through the entire body, rather than relying solely on the brute force of your arms.
Your breathing must be synchronized with your movements; exhale when exerting force to increase its momentum, and inhale when retracting force to store it. Even more importantly, your Intention must follow the tip of the staff. Only when the intent arrives can the qi and the power follow."
After finishing the set, Liu Zongying retracted his staff and stood, panting slightly. He looked at Chen Li. "Patriarch, did you see this Basic Staff Technique clearly?"
"I saw it clearly," Chen Li nodded.
With the current strength of his Divine Sense, it wasn’t difficult for him to memorize this entire Staff Technique.
"Please try it once, Patriarch."
Chen Li stepped forward and took the wooden staff. He walked to an empty space in the courtyard, held his breath to concentrate, and then began to practice, mimicking the demonstration.
His moves, angles, and footwork were, astonishingly, a perfect mirror of what Liu Zongying had just demonstrated.
A trace of surprise flashed in Liu Zongying’s eyes. ’His memory is quite good.’
However, as soon as Chen Li finished performing the Staff Technique, he himself immediately and keenly felt a huge gap.
Without using the Inner Qi in his body, relying only on the physical power of his muscles and bones to control the wooden staff, his movements, though similar in form, were far from achieving Liu Zongying’s state of effortless grace, smooth Power flow, and fluid rotation.
It was as if an invisible barrier stood between them.
He turned to Liu Zongying for guidance, "Elder Liu, I just tried to mimic your demonstration. Although the form was similar, I deeply felt that the flow of my Power was sluggish and stagnant, far from your level of smooth and unimpeded flow. May I ask what are the subtle secrets to channeling and exerting power?"
Seeing his sincere attitude, Liu Zongying began to explain in detail the essential points, such as relaxing and sinking the joints, using Whole Strength, coordinating breathing, and guiding with Intention.
Chen Li focused, memorized everything, and practiced as instructed.
For the next month or so, Chen Li went to the small training courtyard every morning, often practicing for the entire day.
For the first three days, Chen Li’s movements were still a bit clumsy. He focused on the relaxation, sinking, and breathing coordination that Liu Zongying had taught him, constantly adjusting his way of generating force, searching for the feeling of power following the staff.
Liu Zongying watched from the side, secretly shaking his head. ’This Patriarch Chen has decent comprehension. But he’s older, his bones and muscles are already set. Trying to change old habits will be difficult, I’m afraid.’
By the fifth day, Chen Li was able to preliminarily integrate the feeling of relaxation and sinking into his movements. The staff was no longer rigid as he wielded it, and the transmission of Power was noticeably smoother.
Liu Zongying was surprised. ’He’s actually managed to find the doorway.’
By the tenth day, Chen Li’s progress accelerated. He could now apply Whole Strength relatively well, the power from his waist and legs was gradually coordinating, and his performance of the Basic Staff Technique looked quite respectable. His Power was also beginning to show signs of becoming fluid and harmonious.
The surprise in Liu Zongying’s eyes deepened. ’Such progress in just ten days? Patriarch Chen’s control is far beyond that of an ordinary person.’
By the fifteenth day, Chen Li had not only completely mastered channeling power in the Basic Staff Technique, but he had even begun to ponder the connections and variations between moves. The casual swings of his staff now carried a hint of an indescribable, nimble charm.
Liu Zongying’s inner shock intensified, and he began to seriously doubt his judgment of Chen Li.
This could not be explained away by merely having a good memory or high comprehension.
A beginner wouldn’t even be able to grasp the rudiments of power without one or two years of practice. How could his progress be so miraculously fast?
On the twentieth day, Chen Li was immersed in his practice, his Heart Spirit clear and empty.
At the peak of his practice, although the aura around his body remained restrained, the trajectory of the wooden staff in his hand became increasingly profound and hard to describe, faintly stirring the airflow around him.
What horrified Liu Zongying the most was that, from within Chen Li’s seemingly plain Staff Technique, he could feel a unique wandering dragon intent quietly coalescing.
’Staff Intent?’
Liu Zongying stared at Chen Li, his heart in turmoil. ’It’s only been twenty days? This... How is this possible?’
Chen Li slowly retracted his staff, carefully contemplating the experience.
In reality, this wasn’t due to his exceptional natural talent.
Rather, it was the result of years spent comprehending the True Intent of Qiankun Qi Wandering Dragon Staff.
With the help of the True Intent Map, he had long been able to comprehend the Staff Intent of the Qiankun Qi Wandering Dragon Staff Technique.
Qiankun Qi encompasses all phenomena; it is the suppression of a domain.
The wandering dragon is about being able to be obscure or bright, small or enormous, short or long—ever-changing and unpredictable.
It can launch a fatal strike with the force of a thousand thunderbolts, yet also dodge and weave within a tiny space.
The Wandering Dragon Staff Intent seeks this very Spirituality within the staff.
In the past, Chen Li could only rely on the True Intent Map and his Inner Qi to drive his technique.
But now, as his Staff Technique became more refined, man and staff merged, as if becoming a single entity, and this Wandering Dragon Staff Intent was born naturally.
...
Chen Li was immersed in the Cultivation of his Staff Technique, free from all distractions.
Meanwhile, Chen Shouheng and Chen Shouye, with two horse-drawn carriages carrying thirty thousand taels of silver, set off on the road to Liyang.
In Jingshan County and even the Liyang region, although the people’s livelihoods had not yet fully recovered, the security on the official roads had improved significantly. Petty thieves had vanished, and their party encountered no bandits.
The only two setbacks they faced came, ironically, from the new tax checkpoints set up by the Court.
After the convoy had traveled a hundred li, it was stopped at a checkpoint.
The tax collectors and Soldiers’ questioning and inspections were tedious, and their tone was deliberately obstructive.
Chen Shouheng did not want to cause trouble, and he was even more afraid that complications would expose the silver taels.
Each time, he secretly handed over several dozen taels of silver. The tax collector would weigh it in his hand, and the icy expression on his face would immediately melt, after which he would let them pass without any more fuss.
"These Court checkpoints are more like bandits than actual bandits."
After the carriage started moving again, the usually silent Chen Shouye couldn’t help but complain in a low voice.
Chen Shouheng sighed and said, "It’s a small price to pay to avoid trouble. It’s just a little money, no need to dwell on it."
Two days later, the carriages arrived smoothly at Liyang Commandery City.
Chen Shouheng, familiar with the way, led Shouye through the bustling streets to the front of the Zhou Mansion.
As soon as they got close, they sensed something was wrong.
The Zhou Mansion, which was usually bustling with carriages and servants, now had its main gates tightly shut, exuding an unusually gloomy atmosphere.
The gatekeeper recognized Chen Shouheng as an old acquaintance of his master and didn’t dare to be disrespectful. He bowed silently in greeting, then led the two inside without a word.
The servant led them to a side hall. "Young Master Chen, please wait here. The young miss will be here shortly."
After speaking, he bowed and withdrew.
Before long, the sound of somewhat hurried footsteps approached.
Zhou Shuwei’s figure appeared in the doorway.
She was still wearing an aqua-blue, soft-gauze dress, but she no longer had the languid demeanor from their last meeting at the Zhou Family’s home.
Her face showed unconcealable exhaustion, and a thick cloud of sorrow was locked between her brows. Her once bright, sharp eyes now seemed somewhat dim and vacant.