Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 58 Five Elements Thunder Sword

Xingyiquan emphasizes the internal three harmonies and the external three harmonies.

The three inner harmonies are: harmony between mind and intention, harmony between intention and qi, and harmony between qi and strength.

The three external harmonies are: shoulders and hips, elbows and knees, and hands and feet.

Previously, Qi Yun's body had been conditioned by the Five Internal Organs Fist, and after getting familiar with it, he naturally achieved the external three harmonies.

Zhao Yue exclaimed that it was a monster!

As for the inner three-part harmony, it still lacks a lot of refinement.

However, after the battle at Black Wind Stronghold, Qi Yun vaguely sensed the connection between Qi and strength.

Qi Yun's fist whistled through the air, his mind completely absorbed.

Chop, collapse, drill, cannon, horizontal—as the five elements circulate, a strange feeling arises within the body.

Each time the muscles and bones resonate, each time the power surges forth, one can feel one's own "qi" surging.

It attempts to blend seamlessly with the surging "force".

This feeling is clearly discernible, like a rushing spring encountering a breach in the embankment, surging and powerful, yet always lacking that final thread, unable to truly connect and unite.

That thin layer of window paper was incredibly resilient; it seemed so close yet always slipped through his fingers, leaving him both anxious and yearning.

Just as his breath hitched slightly and his fist became somewhat hesitant due to that slight hindrance, a glint flashed in the eyes of the Taoist Master Xuanqing, who was watching quietly from the side. His clear and melodious voice, like the sound of a jade chime, pierced through Qi Yun's mind.

"His thoughts flowed like water, and his spirit surged like the tide."

The power rises from the earth and pierces the nine heavens.

When mind and breath are intertwined, one forgets oneself.
A sliver of true yang energy pierces through the mysterious bridge!

These four lines of maxims are like pearls of wisdom, like lightning striking in the darkness, instantly illuminating the lost path that Qi Yun had been struggling to find!
“My thoughts flow like water, my breath rises like the tide, my strength rises from the earth and penetrates the nine heavens… My mind and breath depend on each other, and I forget myself completely…” Qi Yun’s heart trembled violently, and that stubborn barrier was broken by this sudden enlightenment.

With a "rip," it broke open!

"Ho!"

With a suppressed exhale, Qi Yun felt as if an invisible force was reorganizing his entire body.

The movements suddenly accelerated, and the force of the punches abruptly became deep and violent!

The chopping fist no longer tears through the night wind, but carries a muffled whistling sound like rolling thunder; the piercing fist thrusts out, and the air no longer makes a crisp "snap" sound, but a muffled "poof" sound, as if piercing through tough leather.

The cannon punch was unleashed, and the solid ground beneath his feet trembled slightly from the recoil; the horizontal punch swung around, creating a gust of wind in the courtyard!
Every punch and every kick seemed to unleash a torrent of energy coursing through his muscles and veins, propelling an unstoppable surge of power.

After finishing his set of punches, Qi Yun stood up, drenched in sweat, with wisps of white steam rising from his head, as if a steamer had been opened.

But the sweating was so intense that it didn't make me feel tired at all. Instead, I felt incredibly comfortable and refreshed, as if a blocked river had been completely cleared and my blood and energy were flowing freely.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging blood and qi within him, turned to face Master Xuanqing, and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle!"

The warm smile on Master Xuanqing's face had long been replaced by astonishment. He stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling with wonder, and exclaimed in amazement, "Excellent! Excellent! What kind of boxing technique is this? It's truly wonderful!"

Yun'er, the foundation of your boxing technique actually follows the path of harmonizing the five internal organs, circulating the five elements, and clearing the meridians!

This is practically from the same source as my Five Organs Boxing theory, and they complement each other perfectly!

He paced back and forth, his brow furrowed, lost in thought: "How strange... This fist technique is ruthless and fierce, decisive in killing, clearly making up for the weakness of the Five Internal Organs Fist, which only focuses on internal cultivation and is not good at offensive combat... Could it be..."

A flash of realization crossed Xuanqing's eyes. "That's it! It must be that one of the sage ancestors of my Five Viscera Temple once took in an outer disciple with extraordinary martial arts talent, but who was destined to be unrelated to the Daoist arts."
The master only passed on to him the basic Five Internal Organs Fist, to help him strengthen his body and prolong his life.

And this young man, relying on this unparalleled foundation and integrating his lifelong insights into martial arts, actually created this deadly and powerful fist technique based on the five elements' mutual generation and restraint!

Xuan Qing's gaze fell on Qi Yun again, but this time it was no longer just simple admiration; it held an indescribable intensity and depth, as if he wanted to see right through Qi Yun. Qi Yun felt somewhat uncomfortable under this gaze and couldn't help but ask, "Uncle-Master, is this... a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Hahaha!" Master Xuanqing suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with joy and satisfaction. "What a wonderful thing! Qi Yun, you rascal, you are truly connected to the Qi of my Five Organs Temple, a preordained destiny!"

The legacy of our ancestor has somehow ended up in your hands. You learned this style of boxing and then became a disciple of my school. Isn't this destiny?
It seems that my Five Organs Theory, dormant for many years, is now flourishing, and the hope for its revival rests on your shoulders!

As soon as Xuanqing said this, he immediately felt that it was inappropriate; he shouldn't have said these things to Qiyun directly.

As the saying goes, the will of Heaven is unpredictable, and every word spoken carries its own consequences.

Some things are fine to know in your heart, but once you say them out loud, the outcome becomes unpredictable!
He suppressed his smile and said seriously, "This fist technique is excellent. You should continue to refine it!"
However, in the world of martial arts, relying solely on fists and feet is insufficient. You also need a weapon for protection and to learn a technique for lightness and agility to be truly well-rounded.

Xuanqing paused, a hint of reminiscence and pride in his eyes: "In the art of weaponry, I am only proficient in the sword."

What I'm practicing is the "Five Elements Thunderclap Sword," created in my later years by the "Green Pine Master" of the Five Viscera Observation School!

"Master Qingsong?" Qi Yun listened intently.

"That's right. Our ancestor's secular surname was Lin. In his early years, he was a renowned wandering swordsman with superb swordsmanship."

Later, I was fortunate enough to be recognized by the wise eyes of Master Yunhe, who led me into the Taoist path. In my later years, I achieved profound enlightenment and returned to my true nature.

He combined the essence of his life's swordsmanship with my principles of observing the five internal organs and the five elements, and refining internal energy, discarding the dross and retaining the essence, to finally create this 'Five Elements Thunderclap Sword'!

Master Xuanqing said in a firm tone, "This sword technique is no ordinary external sword technique."

It is based on nourishing the five internal organs, with the sword moving with the body and the energy flowing through the sword's edge!
Every move and stance subtly embodies the principles of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint.

When unleashed, the sword's momentum can be like spring trees bursting forth, ever-growing; or like a raging fire spreading across the plains, swift and explosive; or like thick earth bearing all things, steady as a mountain; or like golden spears and iron horses, sharp and unparalleled; or like a cold pool in autumn, continuous and endless!

Furthermore, its unique power generation, with the shifting of energy, allows the sword blade to pierce the air, generating a sound like thunder and lightning, intimidating the enemy's mind; hence the name 'Thunderclap'!

"As for lightness skill," Master Xuanqing continued, "this sword technique is accompanied by a unique movement technique called 'Stepping the Fighting Step'!"
This footwork is inspired by the Big Dipper. Stepping on the Big Dipper, the body moves as if the stars are shifting and the constellations are changing, making it mysterious and unpredictable.

Furthermore, its unique method of channeling energy allows it to lighten the body and remain undisturbed, excelling in agile maneuvering within a small area, perfectly complementing the swiftness and ferocity of the 'Five Elements Thunderclap Sword'!

After the introduction, Master Xuanqing's eyes shone brightly as he said to Qi Yun, who was still processing the information, "Look carefully!"

Before he finished speaking, Master Xuanqing's figure floated into the courtyard like a green leaf.

He didn't draw his sword, but used his finger instead, yet his imposing, restrained aura instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

With a slight shift in his footing, his figure seemed to teleport out of thin air, precisely the starting stance of the "Stepping the Dipper" technique, moving without raising a speck of dust, yet as swift as a ghost.

At the same time, the fingers are held together like a sword, and the wrist is slightly shaken.

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out! The trajectory traced by the fingertip carried a faint trace of scorching heat—the power of the "Fire Element," swift as thunder!

Immediately afterwards, his body turned again, his footwork was as smooth as a wheel, and the sword finger suddenly became heavy and powerful, as if it was pressing down with the power of a mountain. This is the profoundness of the "Earth Element"!

Spin and thrust! The sword finger transformed into a sharp, cold light, the sound of it tearing through the air sharp and piercing—it was the unparalleled sharpness of the "Metal Element"!

The footwork changes again, flowing like clouds and water, the sword pointing continuously, entangled and strangling, the strength is flexible and long, it is the dense "water movement"!

Finally, his figure suddenly rose up, full of vitality, his sword pointing from top to bottom, wide and sweeping, full of the meaning of endless life, which is the vitality of the "wood element"!

The five elements cycle endlessly, creating a continuous cycle of life!
Master Xuanqing's figure transformed into a blurry blue shadow in the courtyard, his movements swift and unpredictable, the Five Elements Sword Intent flowing endlessly.

The wind cuts through the air, sometimes making a light "crackling" sound, like the first rumble of spring thunder; sometimes a low, mournful wail, like an earth dragon turning over.

Although he had no real sword in hand, the powerful sword intent stirred up the air currents in the courtyard, causing fallen leaves to flutter down, which made Qi Yun, who was standing to the side, tremble with excitement and be mesmerized!
After completing a set of sword techniques, Master Xuanqing stood still, his breath long and deep, as if he had never moved.

In the small courtyard, only the invisible sword intent and shock remained, lingering in the night.

(End of this chapter)