Chapter 63: The White Elephant Sage, Lotus Ridge

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"The essence of our Giant Mountain Sect’s techniques lies in the stability of the body, immovable as a great mountain, movement as earth-shattering as a landslide, retreat as light as drifting clouds—the key is the transformation between heaviness and lightness..." Wen Liangong explained to Gu Changqing, then proceeded to demonstrate the core principles of the Giant Mountain Sect’s boxing on an open ground.

Given the physique of the sect’s disciples, they indeed stood as steady as mountains, yet in their steps there was a feather-like lightness; at the moment of striking, their force shifted from light to heavy, transforming from the gentleness of a feather to the collapse of mountains. The mystery of this alternation between heaviness and lightness was truly profound.

"Excellent, excellent!" Gu Changqing clapped softly. The Giant Mountain Sect’s martial arts far surpassed the Flying Dragon Saber in level.

However, this sect required unique qualifications, and thus had few disciples. When Gu Changqing entered earlier, he saw only a dozen or so, all of whom seemed to have been in the sect for many years. Though each was heavily built, they all possessed that sense of effortless lightness.

This was not something one could achieve in a short time.

"The essence of our sect’s technique lies in momentum. When attacking, one must use heavy momentum, overwhelming and irresistible! But when moving or changing stance, it turns to light momentum, as if an elephant were dancing..." As Wen Liangong spoke, he walked a circle in the courtyard, not even stirring up the dust, and with a light step, he landed atop the wall.

Li Youling watched with shining eyes. This man, as corpulent as a mountain of flesh, could move with such agility—it was a most peculiar sight.

"And the key to this shift between heaviness and lightness lies in a single breath within the chest!"

Gu Changqing felt he had truly stumbled upon a treasure this time.

Although the Giant Mountain Sect practiced martial arts of blood and vigor, their method of alternating lightness and heaviness was extremely useful for him.

He lacked not for offensive means; his weakness was in his direct and forceful approach, relying solely on explosive strength, but his speed was insufficient.

Thus, when confronting an enemy, if he could overpower them, he would simply crush them with the Eight Desolate Fists, just as he had with Daoist Xu.

But if the fight dragged on, lacking methods to adapt to changes, he could easily suffer a loss.

Wen Liangong directly produced the secret manual of the sect’s martial arts and respectfully handed it to Gu Changqing. Yet the title inscribed was not "Giant Mountain Technique," but "Cloud Mountain Technique."

Opening the first page, Gu Changqing saw a painting of a lone mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist below. The sense of weight and etherealness was vividly conveyed by the image alone.

He gazed at it for a while, committing it to memory, then proceeded to study the techniques described.

The essence of the Giant Mountain Sect's art did indeed rely on a single breath, but it was not something easily cultivated. It required using blood and vigor to continuously stimulate and strengthen the internal organs, aided by medicinal herbs and specialized training routines.

Even talented disciples needed at least half a year to cultivate a hint of agility, eventually reaching the point where men weighing several hundred pounds could walk along the edge of a pan weighing only twenty pounds as if on flat ground, without tipping it over.

However, Gu Changqing was already a practitioner of Qi refinement, having undergone marrow cleansing and blood replacement, and daily stimulated his cells and organs with spiritual energy. Learning the Cloud Mountain Technique came easily to him.

He sat and perused the manual for a while, then used his spiritual energy to stimulate his internal organs and drew in a breath as if a dragon inhaling.

After a short practice, Gu Changqing’s posture remained unchanged, his height and build unaltered, but Li Youling beside him sensed a subtle shift in his presence.

Not far away, Wen Liangong watched with a mix of astonishment and envy.

When he had learned the Cloud Mountain Technique, he had spent who knows how long and consumed countless herbs before managing to cultivate a hint of agility.

Yet this cultivator before him had achieved the same effect in less than half an hour.

How could he not be envious!

Gu Changqing stood and walked slowly about the courtyard, and with each step, his bearing grew ever lighter.

Whereas once he had exuded the aura of a giant beast, every gesture heavy and powerful, as if he could shatter the ground at any moment, now, after a few circuits, he grew ever lighter and faster, changing direction with increasing ease. What had at first been awkward became as smooth as flowing clouds and water.

Suddenly, Gu Changqing shot forward like an arrow. Previously, he had relied purely on explosive leg strength, like a cannonball.

But now, though his speed was no slower, the stone tiles beneath his feet remained unbroken. In midair, he shifted from lightness to heaviness and stomped down.

It was like a divine elephant stamping the earth, landing with a thunderous crash.

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Boom!

The whole ground shuddered, and a large pit appeared where Gu Changqing’s foot had landed.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Gu Changqing laughed heartily. This Cloud Mountain Technique suited him perfectly—especially the shift from light to heavy, which carried the power of a collapsing mountain. When combined with the Eight Desolate Fists, its might was greater, and much harder for an opponent to defend against.

Now, with this art of shifting between lightness and heaviness, he had much more flexibility.

If he were to meet that ice woman from the Chiming Division again, he could surely defeat her without suffering a single injury.

"Not bad, I have high hopes for you!" Gu Changqing tossed the Cloud Mountain manual back to Wen Liangong.

"With an immortal master’s favor, I have gained much more confidence in myself!" Wen Liangong said with a smile.

"Haha!" Gu Changqing found this fellow quite tactful and articulate.

"Who is the cultivator behind you, and when will they be arriving?" Gu Changqing asked.

"I'll have my disciples send out word at once; in as little as two or three days, or at most five, the immortal master will arrive. As for the name, it is the White Elephant Venerable," Wen Liangong replied.

Gu Changqing looked at Wen Liangong’s mountainous physique, his face full of fleshy rolls, considered the name "White Elephant Venerable," and sneered, "Why does that name not sound like a virtuous person? What sort of strength does it take to call oneself a ‘venerable’?"

"Immortal master, you misunderstand! The White Elephant Venerable delights in befriending fellow cultivators! And ‘venerable’ is a title of respect among us..."

Listening to this, Gu Changqing suspected the title was an official rank in some sect or cult. In a flash, he appeared before Wen Liangong and reached out to grab him.

Wen Liangong was startled by the sudden movement. "Immortal master, what is the meaning of this?"

"I'm just curious about this White Elephant Venerable you speak of... Tell me, what are you people really, and who exactly is this White Elephant Venerable?" Gu Changqing sneered, grabbing Wen Liangong by the neck and hurling him to the ground.

Boom!

Wen Liangong bounced up like a ball, his fat quivering, and looked at Gu Changqing with a mixture of suspicion and fear.

Since their first meeting, he had shown nothing but respect—even passing on the secret Cloud Mountain Technique—yet Gu Changqing had turned on him in a heartbeat.

His earlier intuition was correct: this man was fickle and ruthless, not a good man.

"Immortal master, is there need to make things hard for me?"

"If you won’t speak, then you’re making things hard for me, aren’t you?" Gu Changqing’s gaze turned vicious. His hand, initially feather-light, now launched a fist as heavy as a mountain, unstoppable.

He had already combined the Cloud Mountain Technique’s alternation of heaviness and lightness with the intent of the Eight Desolate Fists.

Wen Liangong was terrified. He feared that with a single blow he would be obliterated, so he hurriedly retreated and shouted:

"Spare me, immortal master! I’ll tell you!"

Gu Changqing’s fist did not pause, though his body remained motionless.

With a single punch, a fierce gale swept through the courtyard. Wen Liangong felt the force and quickly ducked aside.

Gu Changqing, satisfied with the power of his strike, walked over to a chair and sat down.

"Speak!"

In truth, regardless of whether the White Elephant Venerable was a problem or not, he intended to interrogate Wen Liangong. Otherwise, meeting someone without knowing their identity or strength was too risky—he might run into a demonic cultivator.

Wen Liangong gritted his teeth and confessed, "The White Elephant Venerable is a cultivator from Lotus Ridge! Our Giant Mountain Sect is but an outer branch!"

Seeing that Gu Changqing showed no reaction, Wen Liangong was further convinced that he was indeed a rogue cultivator, probably unaware even of Lotus Ridge.

"Lotus Ridge is one of the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges, each with its own power..."

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Hearing this, Gu Changqing’s interest was piqued. Nine Mountains, Twelve Ridges—twenty-one factions. It all sounded deliciously chaotic!

He liked such chaos.

Moreover, with each faction occupying just a single mountain or ridge, their strength likely wasn’t overwhelming.

But Wen Liangong knew little of the specifics, not even much about Lotus Ridge itself. However, anyone descending from Lotus Ridge was addressed as a "venerable" by these outer branches.

For the past decade, it was the White Elephant Daoist who had been active outside, often befriending capable rogue cultivators and absorbing them into Lotus Ridge.

From this, Gu Changqing guessed that the White Elephant Daoist was likely a Qi-refining cultivator, though he wasn’t sure at which level.

"Is Lotus Ridge a proper orthodox sect, or a den of heretics?" Gu Changqing asked with a sly smile.

"Immortal master, in this world, what difference is there between orthodox and heretical? As far as I know, Lotus Ridge values strength above all. With your might, you’ll be as free as a fish in water there. Moreover, Lotus Ridge possesses many legacies and cultivation resources..."

Gu Changqing laughed. That was indeed true.

In this world, what is right or wrong? The strong are righteous, the weak are wicked!

But Lotus Ridge, ruled by strength, sounded even more chaotic, which suited him perfectly.

As for Lotus Ridge itself—

He immediately let Wen Liangong off, saying, "Send your disciples to notify the White Elephant Immortal!"

"I’ll wait here for three days. If the immortal hasn’t arrived by then, I have other matters to attend."

"Also, which is the best brothel in this city? Take me there!"

...

With the Giant Mountain Sect as a local guide, things in Tongren became much easier.

Gu Changqing ordered Wen Liangong to rent a courtyard near Sanyan Fist Hall, leaving Li Youling there.

She could spend her days learning from Sanyan Fist. The hall’s master dared not refuse.

As for Gu Changqing, he moved directly into the city’s best brothel, drinking and indulging himself in wanton pleasure.

Two days later, around noon, a voice called from outside his room:

"Immortal Gu, the White Elephant Venerable has arrived and is awaiting you in the sect!"

Gu Changqing finally rubbed his head and climbed from the wide bed, surrounded by intertwined jade arms and legs.

Indeed, Tongren’s finest brothel and its best girls had formed a veritable "formation" of beauty around him!

Were he not a cultivator, he might not have survived it!

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(End of chapter)