"So, he was once the owner of the Sky Jade as well?" Long Wei asked, half in disbelief.


    "He possessed the necklace form of the Sky Jade, an inheritance from his master, who passed down that miraculous healing technique. However, when he clashed with The Death Twins, not only was his treasured weapon stolen, but also his Sky Jade."


    Now everything made sense, Long Wei thought. No wonder the Mystic Devil had such faith in him and even passed down a powerful technique,he had once been the heir of the Sky Jade himself.


    Yang Feng let out a long sigh. "That was when his mind started to unravel. He felt ashamed for failing to protect the gift from his master,the weapon and the Sky Jade. After that, he vanished without a trace. When I met him again, he was already known as the Mystic Devil, the man you see today."


    Long Wei paused, processing everything Yang Feng had just told him. This was an overwhelming experience. He had just suffered the catastrophe of losing the pirate crew he considered his family, and now he was entangled in the complications surrounding the Sky Jade.


    "When we searched The Death Twins'' hideout, the Sky Jade was nowhere to be found," Long Wei recalled.


    "That means whoever killed them also stole the Sky Jade."


    Suddenly, Long Wei turned to face him. "Is that why you were so eager to chase them down that night and refused to stay at the village chief''s house?"


    The old man chuckled in response.


    Long Wei continued, "What if the necklace falls into the wrong hands?"


    "The Death Twins were ruthless," Yang Feng said firmly. "Let’s hope that whoever took the Sky Jade was a righteous warrior angered by their cruelty. Come on, let’s keep going. We’re almost at the summit."


    The path they took could hardly be called a trail, with thick undergrowth and tangled roots blocking their way. Long Wei struggled as vines coiled around his legs, and more than once, he almost stepped into a hole he feared might be a snake’s den.


    As the sun rose higher, exhaustion weighed on Long Wei, but he was relieved to see the trees thinning and the frustrating bushes diminishing. Yang Feng had said they were getting close when they heard the distant sound of a flowing river.


    Then, suddenly, an open expanse of grassland stretched before them. Long Wei''s mouth slightly parted in awe at the breathtaking sight.


    "We''ve reached the summit. This is where we’ll stay for a while,until your skills are refined or until my life ends, hahaha."


    A pang of sadness struck Long Wei at those last words, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Even the greatest healer acknowledged there was no cure.


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    However, that sorrow was short-lived, replaced by awe at the extraordinary scenery around him. Below his feet, cotton-like clouds drifted lazily in the wind, and in the distance, other towering peaks stood like silent competitors vying for grandeur.


    His reverie was interrupted when Yang Feng spoke. "Let’s build a hut." He pointed at a group of trees slightly below the peak. "Cut down those trees and bring the wood here. I’ll take care of the rest."


    Long Wei didn''t argue, even though he knew Yang Feng wouldn’t lift a finger for the actual cutting, as usual, only giving orders.


    He quickly descended to the trees, each trunk as thick as an adult’s embrace. Tilting his head back to gauge their height, he swallowed nervously. Doubt crept into his mind about whether he could bring one down.


    "Just do it!" Yang Feng shouted.


    Long Wei nodded and took his stance. He gathered his inner strength into his right fist and took a deep breath. When he was ready, he held his breath and struck.


    Braakk! A loud sound echoed.


    Long Wei was stunned,his own strike had nearly shattered the tree’s entire diameter. Just a little more, and the trunk would be completely severed.


    His amazement was cut short by a loud cracking noise. The tree was falling,toward him.


    He leaped away, rolling across the ground. A deafening crash followed as the tree slammed into the earth, fully uprooted.


    "Well done! Now bring it here!" Yang Feng''s voice carried clear excitement, truly pleased with Long Wei’s incredible feat.


    For the rest of the day until evening, they worked together to construct a simple hut at the mountain peak. By nightfall, only half was completed, forcing them to sleep outside. The next day, by midday, their modest shelter was finally finished and ready for use.


    It was a stilted house, raised about the height of a man from the ground. Yang Feng explained that this design would protect them from snakes. The roof was made of dried grass and leaves, painstakingly gathered by Long Wei.


    The hut had only one room, but it was spacious enough for them to sleep, talk, or simply sit in silence,not that such a thing was likely to happen.


    The moment the hut was standing firm, Yang Feng immediately instructed Long Wei to prepare himself for a new lesson.


    "With just the Sacred Im-Yang Mystic Arts, you have already mastered both offense and defense. It is a peerless technique, but it is already at an advanced level," Yang Feng explained, his tone wise and composed. "This time, I will teach you a striking technique. It may not be as powerful as what the Mystic Devil passed down to you, but that doesn’t mean it is weak. This technique will also help conceal your Sacred Im-Yang Mystic Arts, making it harder for enemies to gauge your true strength."


    Long Wei listened intently, his excitement making him tense. Without realizing it, he had already developed the hunger for martial knowledge, much like the warriors of the martial world.


    "This strike is called East Wind Topples the Mountain. Watch carefully."


    Yang Feng took his stance, spreading his legs wide and bending his knees slightly. "Despite its name, ''Topples the Mountain,'' this technique is actually a contest of endurance,yours versus your opponent’s. In my opinion, it possesses exceptional defensive capabilities while incorporating precise strikes."


    The old man''s hands moved in slow, deliberate strikes, yet Long Wei could feel the force behind them. His footwork followed a simple but firm pattern,slow yet unshakable.


    The East Wind Topples the Mountain consisted of four moves. Three were defensive, and one was offensive. Now, Long Wei understood why Yang Feng regarded it as a defensive technique supplemented by attacks.


    "It is based on Yang energy," Yang Feng continued after demonstrating all four moves. "The stronger your Yang energy, the more powerful this technique becomes."


    Long Wei nodded and sprang to his feet. "I''ll give it a try."


    From that day forward, Long Wei secluded himself in the mountains, training under Yang Feng, honing his skills year after year.