More than 100 years ago, in the Battle of Death Valley, the black martial artists, led by the Skeleton Demon, suffered a terrible defeat. The white martial artists, led by the Black Guest, emerged victorious.
The battle between the Skeleton Demon and the Black Guest lasted for two full days, with the Black Guest winning by a single move. After the battle, the Skeleton Demon escaped with severe injuries, and his signature martial arts techniques were lost.
The consequence of the Skeleton Demon's defeat was the collapse of the Skeleton Sect. With the sect's disintegration, most of its members were wiped out by the white martial artists. Many sect members were massacred, and only a few managed to escape.
The three demons of Mount Zhongliang were named Tu Fang, Tu Chang, and Tu Yang. Their master was one of the few who escaped, and not just an ordinary sect member, but a top-tier elder of the Skeleton Sect. Therefore, it could be said that some of the Skeleton Demon's martial arts were resurrected through the three demons. Simply by acquiring fragments of the Skeleton Demon's martial arts, the three demons of Mount Zhongliang managed to thrive as top figures in the dark martial arts world for many years. This demonstrates how formidable the Skeleton Demon's martial arts truly were.
Now, unexpectedly, a situation has arisen where Fong Jiefang, the only grandson of the scholar Fong Zhouda, is about to learn and practice partial techniques of the formidable Skeleton Demon, a top figure in the dark world. Will the knowledge conquer the person, or will the person be able to use the knowledge beneficially? Only time will tell.
Fong Jiefang stepped into the three demons' house. The interior of the moderately spacious wooden house was cluttered with belongings, making it clear that the three demons had departed in a hurry, unable to tidy anything.
At the head of the house was a bed frame. On the wall above it, a piece of cloth was hanging, concealing something. Fong Jiefang noticed that beneath the cloth was a long sword made of extremely high-quality steel.
Fong Jiefang was delighted. When he took down the sword and swung it, he found the steel sword to be excellent, with a chilling aura emanating from its blade. In fact, this sword was the personal weapon of Tu Fang, the leader of the three demons. The fact that Tu Fang, a swordsman, left his own sword for Fong Jiefang clearly showed his goodwill towards him.
On the bed frame lay a book. Fong Jiefang picked it up. The cover of the book read "Five Blood-Red Sword Techniques." Fong Jiefang understood that these techniques were sword forms to be used in conjunction with the steel sword.
He flipped open the cover and read:
"These five sword techniques are the first five of the ten Blood-Red Sword Techniques personally created by the Skeleton Demon. The latter five have been lost from the martial arts world since the Skeleton Demon disappeared. Even the Black Guest, who is regarded as the premier martial artist, only narrowly won by a single move thanks to the power of the Black Dragon Divine Sword. I, Tu Fang, have managed to rank among the top in the martial arts world for many years with just these first five Blood-Red Sword Techniques."
Fong Jiefang grew more and more interested as he read. If he mastered these sword techniques, wouldn't there be hope for him to avenge his grandfather? He decided to practice diligently.
Next to the bed frame was a table. Fong Jiefang saw an old, worn-out small book and a slightly newer-looking one on it. The cover of the worn-out book read "Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art." He flipped through the book and read:
"Under Heaven refers to the sky.
The nature of the sky is lightness. It embodies emptiness.
Earth refers to the element of earth.
The sky is immeasurably vast.
The earth is extremely dense and infinitely compact.
In the world, everything is a harmonious combination of opposing principles. Nature arises from the balanced combination of hot and cold, light and dark, white and black. Nothing is too much, nothing is too little.
The internal martial arts techniques in this book are based on these principles and have been repeatedly devised and refined over many years.
If two opposing forces cannot be combined in balance, this internal art cannot be said to be mastered. I, the Skeleton Demon, confess that I was only able to train the Grand Yang Internal Art to its limits, resulting in some weaknesses in the Blood Sword and Blood Palm techniques. Nevertheless, my current martial arts are unparalleled. Today, I shall conquer the martial arts world!"
Fong Jiefang was startled as he read. "My goodness! This scripture was written and recorded by the Skeleton Demon himself before the Battle of Death Valley!" His hands trembled. His heart pounded. The scripture, written by the Skeleton Demon, the supreme leader of the dark world of a bygone era, was now in his hands.
It seemed that the master of the three demons was a close confidant of the Skeleton Demon. When the Skeleton Demon's situation became dire, he likely fled alone with the "Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art" scripture. Due to the relentless pursuit by the martial arts world, he probably didn't have time to take the Blood-Red Sword Technique, Blood Palm Technique, and Demon Fang Hidden Weapon. That's why those martial arts were incomplete, and he could only teach the three demons what he had originally learned.
Regardless, many years after the Battle of Death Valley, the names of the three demons of Mount Zhongliang became widely famous in the dark world, demonstrating how powerful even the incomplete martial arts of the Skeleton Demon were. It was also evident that the three demons had not been able to master the Grand Internal Art completely. If they had, they wouldn't be hiding in a place like Red Bone Valley.
Fong Jiefang pondered for a while, then picked up the other book. On its cover, it read "Blood-Red Palm Technique and Ghost Shadow Lightness Art."
Afterward, Fong Jiefang took the steel longsword and the three martial arts scriptures and returned to his hut. His Uncle Wu would surely be waiting for him to eat.
On the way back, he would take a detour by the pond to catch some fish. Uncle Wu liked grilled fish very much, didn't he?
It must be said that Fong Jiefang's three years in Red Bone Valley were not in vain. During these years, he became more defiant towards life's hardships, and not only his mental state but also his physical body became extremely strong.
Fong Jiefang was no longer the innocent little Fong Jiefang who left Tranquil Home in Hangzhou three years ago. His grandfather's dream of Fong Jiefang being Hangzhou's ornament, the Tang Dynasty's number one scholar, had vanished like smoke.
Within three years, Fong Jiefang practiced the Eight Silken Brocades (Ba Duan Jin) exercises, also known as the Silk Robe Technique, every single day without fail, whenever he had time. Not only he, but he also made Wu Tatone practice it. The Ba Duan Jin was truly an extraordinary exercise.
Within three years, neither of them fell sick, and without knowing a single martial arts technique, they comfortably endured the harsh weather of Red Bone Valley. This could only be attributed to the help of the Ba Duan Jin. Otherwise, both of them would likely have become skeletons in Red Bone Valley.
Thanks to the Ba Duan Jin, Fong Jiefang's body grew stronger day by day, and his concentration improved greatly. His intelligence became sharper than before; he learned and understood things easily. The Ba Duan Jin could even be described as a preparatory exercise before a major event.
At this moment, he was in the most suitable condition to learn and practice any kind of skill. The opportunity to practice the martial arts legacy of the three demons, occurring at such a time, was truly like a prepared pond and lotus for Fong Jiefang, as if created by the gods.
Fong Jiefang first decided to begin practicing the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. How difficult and profound must this internal art be if even its original creator, the Skeleton Demon himself, could not successfully master it?
Whether he succeeded or not, he would try his best to practice. He planned to practice the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art and the Blood-Red Palm Technique concurrently with the internal art.
Fong Jiefang's decision was correct. After creating the Blood-Red Sword Technique, the Skeleton Demon was not satisfied. Whenever he used the sword technique, he felt something was missing, so he tried to devise an internal art to complement the sword forms.
After many years of repeated contemplation, he conceived an internal art that required the balanced combination of two opposing forces: male and female, hot and cold. However, being someone who used immense power and had a stubborn personality, he could not combine the two forces due to his inherent nature. It could also be said that his desire to conquer the martial arts world played a part. Instead of taking the time to continue practicing, he hastily tried to conquer the martial arts world and consequently suffered a terrible defeat under the Black Guest's Black Dragon Divine Sword.
Therefore, the Skeleton Demon's martial arts techniques were all based on the Grand Internal Art. While all the martial arts forms themselves were powerful, without the Grand Internal Art, they would be bland, like a dish without salt.
Fong Jiefang picked up the old, worn-out book to practice the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. He then read through the written principles roughly to understand them. After a rough read, he read them in detail again. He continued reading them repeatedly.
He didn't know how much time passed. His entire mind was absorbed in the principles of the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. The written principles were all new things Fong Jiefang had never heard of in his life, making him feel like a jungle dweller who had stumbled into a grand palace, lost and bewildered. How magnificent! How astonishing!
The Skeleton Demon was truly a genius. It was only his misfortune to have appeared at the same time as another genius, the Black Guest. Otherwise, the Skeleton Demon would undoubtedly have been the number one person in the martial arts world.
After reading and understanding the principles, Fong Jiefang began to practice the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. He found that this internal art was indeed very difficult to master. Heaven and Earth, by nature, are not things that can be combined from the beginning of the world; they are eternal truths that remain separate.
Two different things are like two parallel lines. Mathematically, it is stated that two parallel lines can meet at infinity. But in practice, it is incredibly difficult to combine them. The more he practiced, the harder it became. The more he thought, the deeper it became. Fong Jiefang found himself facing such a situation.
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Time passed slowly. Red Bone Valley also flowed along with the changes in nature, now hot, now cold. Red Bone Valley was a separate world, cut off from the outside world. Within this isolated world, two humans lived, relying on each other.
Another three years passed like this. Fong Jiefang, who had left Tranquil Home in Hangzhou at the age of seven, was now thirteen. Though his face still retained some childishness, the adolescent Fong Jiefang grew more manly and handsome each day. He grew taller, and his body's joints and muscles, due to constantly struggling against nature and practicing martial arts whenever he had time, became disproportionately strong and robust for his age.
Fong Jiefang had also been practicing the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art for exactly three years. Along with the Grand Internal Art, he had concurrently practiced nine Blood-Red Palm Techniques and had become proficient in all nine within these three years. The problem, however, was the Grand Internal Art.
This internal art was truly mysterious, difficult, and profound. It required cultivating calmness and awakening dormant energies within the subconscious. And that was not all. One also had to sense the heat of the sun and the coolness of the moonlight, striving to harmonize the hot and cold energies with one's own internal energy. Then, one had to continue practicing to combine these two opposing forces in balance and circulate them through the blood vessels.
During the three-year period, Fong Jiefang had managed to reach the fifth stage of the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. However, when he continued to practice, symptoms of internal energy deviation appeared. Fong Jiefang's body would sometimes burn intensely as if thrown into a fire, and at other times, it would become icy cold and pale as if frozen in a snowfield.
This was not surprising. How could a 10-year-old child's haphazard practice be correct and effective? That he even managed to reach the fifth stage was already worthy of immense praise for a child his age. It was only thanks to the Ba Duan Jin, also known as the Silk Robe Technique, that Fong Jiefang, at his age, was able to reach this level in the Grand Internal Art.
After successfully mastering the Blood-Red Palm Technique, Fong Jiefang decided to continue practicing the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art and the Blood-Red Sword Technique. What was the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art? It could be said that the Skeleton Demon, more than 100 years ago, was able to escape with his injuries from under the hands of the Black Guest, the premier martial artist, thanks to this Ghost Shadow Lightness Art. This alone indicates the level of the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art.
In the martial arts world, there are renowned lone martial artists famous for their lightness art. There are also quite a few sects that emphasize lightness art. Therefore, it can be said that there are numerous types of well-known lightness arts in the martial arts world.
There are countless variations of lightness art, such as "Picking Flowers on the Stream," "Path of the Flying Mantis," "Rowing a Boat on the Mountains," "Cloud Ladder," and "Riding the Wind." Compared to these lightness arts, the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art is also a type of lightness art that should be ranked among the very top.
No matter how many different types of lightness arts exist, and how many different practice methods there are, the fundamental principle of lightness art remains the same.
Fong Jiefang was busy in the open space beside the only large pond in Red Bone Valley. He cut three branches, about the thickness of a wrist, and trimmed off their smaller branches. Then, he planted these branches into the ground, leaving about one and a half to two feet above the surface. This was a strange action. What kind of idea led him to do something so unusual?
After planting the branches in the ground, Fong Jiefang jumped onto the top of one. The branch swayed slightly, but Fong Jiefang managed to maintain his balance without falling. Even without having practiced lightness art yet, due to the Grand Internal Art and the Silk Robe Technique, his body was extremely light and agile, allowing him to stand steadily on the branch tip.
After standing on the branch tip for a while, Fong Jiefang performed a strange action: he yelled loudly. Because he used the fifth stage of the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art to yell, his voice was incredibly loud.
It was not the sound of a human screaming at the top of their lungs, but rather the roar of a demon. The sharp, loud roar seemed as if it would spread beyond Red Bone Valley all the way to Yangming Pass.
Fong Jiefang himself was startled by his own voice. If there had been nearby villages around Red Bone Valley, Fong Jiefang's roar would surely have scared them to death.
Lightness art is a discipline based on four major fundamental factors: sound, power, mind, and body. When Fong Jiefang used all his power to yell loudly, his concentration was no longer on the branch tip but scattered, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. Thus, Fong Jiefang spent an entire morning in a cycle of yelling and falling. His throat became sore from yelling, and his voice became hoarse. His head felt dizzy and he was unsteady.
In the afternoon, he continued in the same way, yelling and falling, and time passed again. Fong Jiefang did not lose his determination. He continued to practice diligently. Another year passed. Fong Jiefang was now 14 years old. Finally, he was able to yell using internal energy without swaying, even on the top of a very tall tree, and he even progressed to being able to perform martial arts moves. This was the fruit of his efforts.
Once he understood the essence and basic methods of the Ghost Shadow Lightness Art, Fong Jiefang's lightness art improved by leaps and bounds. At this point, his lightness art had instantly reached the top tier of the martial arts world. Jin Sen, who was unanimously regarded by all martial artists as the number one in lightness art with his "Riding the Wind" technique, would likely consider Fong Jiefang his rival upon seeing his movements.
Now, it was time to practice the Blood-Red Sword Technique. Fong Jiefang believed that among the Skeleton Demon's martial arts legacies, the Blood-Red Sword Technique would be the most valuable. A Blood-Red Sword Technique that could almost match the sword forms of the Black Guest, wielding the Black Dragon Divine Sword, surely wasn't an ordinary sword technique.
Fong Jiefang decided to begin practicing the Blood-Red Sword Technique. He held the steel longsword and walked towards the pond.
Under the gleaming sunlight, his bare upper body, disproportionate for a 14-year-old boy, was remarkably muscular and robust. Holding the longsword in his right hand, head held high, chest out, his posture exuded complete self-confidence, majestic and proud, as if he dared to shake the world.
A certain inexplicable grace, a certain grandeur, emanated steadily from Fong Jiefang's body. It could be described as a majestic splendor that spontaneously made onlookers want to kneel. This young man would undoubtedly become a hero, one of a kind in an era, respected by all.
"For one who practices the Blood-Red Sword Technique, it is crucial to control the mind. All sword movements must be commanded by the mind. The mind and the person, the mind and the sword, must be one. The body must follow where the mind leads. When the mind and the sword become one, one will gain the ability to foresee the enemy's martial arts moves. I, Tu Fang, have thrived at the top level in the martial arts world for many years with just these five techniques. Practice with faith. Strive to uncover the remaining five techniques of the Blood-Red Sword Technique."
The above preface was the text written on the first page of the martial arts scripture that recorded the Blood-Red Sword Technique. It was written by Tu Fang, the leader of the three demons of Mount Zhongliang, himself.
Tu Fang's sincerity in writing to help Fong Jiefang understand the essence of the sword technique was evident. Not only that, but it was also clear that he hoped Fong Jiefang himself would uncover the remaining five sword techniques.
The Blood-Red Sword Technique was truly a mysterious sword art. Merely memorizing the sword forms and practicing them repeatedly was not a good method. A swordsman who used this method to practice would become a good swordsman, but would never reach the level of an unparalleled sword emperor. This is because true swordsmanship lies within nature, and only one who can thoroughly understand the existence, changes, and balance of nature and the world can obtain the secret of swordsmanship.
However, Fong Jiefang did not have many choices. He had no master to guide him and no friends to advise him. All he could do was memorize the techniques written in the book and practice them.
The name of the first technique of the Blood-Red Sword Technique was "Blood Moon from Blood Valley."
Fong Jiefang controlled his slightly agitated mind and focused all his attention on the sword in his right hand. Thanks to six years of practicing the Silk Robe Technique, his mind quickly became calm. He waited until his mind became the sword, or the sword became his mind.
Then, he placed his right hand level with his shoulder and extended the steel longsword straight out. His eyes were fixed on the direction of the sword.
This stance was the preparatory stage of the first technique of the Blood-Red Sword Technique, "Blood Moon from Blood Valley."
"Hmph!"
With a loud roar, his body leaped about six feet into the air. It wasn't a vertical leap straight up from his original standing position, but rather a jump in the direction of the sword. Combined with the Grand Internal Art, his movements were incredibly fast, as if possessed by a demon. Many sword shadows moved from the longsword in his hand. What an amazing sword technique!
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The moon shone brightly. Gentle breezes rustled. When the peaceful moonlight combined with the soft breezes, the beauty of the night bloomed to its fullest, enough to momentarily cheer up even someone who felt like dying from sadness.
The brightly shining moon did not frown upon Red Bone Valley as a despicable place. It gave equal light. Under the pale moonlight, the valley's fiery red ground, instead of appearing beautiful, took on a terrifying appearance, as if splattered with blood.
It was the middle of the night. For ordinary humans, this was the time for sleep, so anyone who couldn't sleep at this hour must have a reason. Or perhaps they were mad.
Beside the pond in the valley, a handsome young man was practicing internal energy, still awake even in the dead of night. Sitting cross-legged on the grass, motionless, the young man appeared like a deity. He was completely out of place with the ugly natural surroundings of Red Bone Valley.
Steam was rising from the young man's head. His face alternately turned red and then pale. If anyone were to approach the young man, they would experience alternating heat and cold, and the powerful energy waves emanating from his body were strong enough to make them faint.
This was the mid-stage of the Under Heaven and Earth Grand Internal Art. As long as he couldn't combine the two forces, he wouldn't be able to advance to the next stage of the Grand Internal Art. If he continued to practice in this manner, the outlook for the young man was not good. There was a risk of internal energy deviation, which could lead to paralysis on one side of his body.
After some time, the young man's body stirred. He let out a loud roar. With a terrifying battle cry, the young man suddenly stood up from his sitting position, a sword already clutched in his hand.
Then, the young man swiftly moved his sword, forming a terrifying sword technique. His entire body leaped about six feet into the air and forcefully lunged forward. The sword moved like a flash in the air. Due to the incredibly fast sword drawing, the sword itself was not visible; instead, it appeared as if many white shadows were emerging from the young man's hand. This was the first sword technique of the Blood-Red Sword Technique, "Blood Moon from Blood Valley."
Then, the sword technique changed. The second sword technique of the Blood-Red Sword Technique, "Hell Flower in the Blood Sea." His body suddenly became horizontal in the air. His legs fluttered like butterfly wings, and he plunged the sword downwards with terrifying momentum. It could be described as a fish moving in the air.
The young man was indeed Fong Jiefang.
Fong Jiefang landed back on the ground. His movements did not stop. He continued to execute the third sword technique. The third sword technique of the Blood-Red Sword Technique, "Return of Hell's Child." As soon as he landed, he spun his body once and thrust his sword straight forward. It was not a single strike, but three strikes. However, his movements were terrifyingly fast, making it appear as if a single white streak of light shot out from Fong Jiefang's hand.
The entire surroundings were chilling, covered only by the aura of death. Each sword technique that emerged from Fong Jiefang's hand took on a terrifying appearance.
Fong Jiefang did not stop there. He executed the fourth and fifth techniques of the Blood-Red Sword Technique in quick succession: "Blood Vomit" and "King of Hell's Roar." Fong Jiefang's sturdy body became like a speck of dust floating in the air, like a cotton ball drifting in a storm. Due to his demonic speed, the person and the sword were indistinguishable, and only multiple shadows could be seen.
After two years of practice, he had successfully mastered the first five techniques of the Blood-Red Sword Technique. Fong Jiefang was now 16 years old.
The time had come to leave Red Bone Valley. Fong Jiefang decided to depart the valley as soon as morning broke. He was about to step into the martial arts world. He still had duties to fulfill, didn't he?