Prologue

Wudang's sacred land, blessed with spiritual energy and ethereal beauty, is shrouded in mystery. The holy mountain of Taoism, Wudang, is perpetually wreathed in violet mist and graced with breathtaking scenery—the Han River meanders northward like a swimming dragon, while the Bashan Mountains rise to the south like a jade screen.

There are also wondrous visions in myriad forms: the clear dawn at Heavenly Pillar, the surging tides of the land and sea, the Lightning and Fire Refining Hall, the Sea Horse Spouting Mist—each unique and enchanting.

Of course, Wudang Mountain is renowned not only for its scenery but also for its legendary martial arts.

Wudang Internal Boxing boasts a profound and mysterious heritage. It subdues the active with stillness, overcomes strength with softness, cultivates both energy and spirit, balances hardness and gentleness, and hones both the internal and external. Its techniques are not only effective in combat but also beneficial for health and longevity.

Wudang's lightness skills are especially distinctive, famed throughout the world. Even the best parkour masters from various countries have come to challenge them, only to leave defeated.

At the foot of Wudang Mountain lies the Sihang Taoist Academy, led by Director Cheng Sihang, who has loved martial arts since childhood. He began practicing external boxing at seven and, by eleven, became a devoted disciple of the Wudang Sanfeng school, enduring rigorous training.

Master Sihang, blessed with intelligence, respect for his teachers, upright character, and extraordinary insight, is cherished by his master and beloved by his fellow disciples.

He has achieved high mastery in qigong, tai chi, bagua, xingyi, and lightness skills.

On this day, at the base of a cliff behind the academy, Master Sihang stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the sheer face that rose over sixteen meters high.

Behind him, a group of disciples could barely contain their excitement, each holding up a phone, recording the scene.

Master Sihang turned his head slightly and spoke warmly, “You may film as you wish, but do not share the videos without permission.”

“Rest assured, Master. Without your consent, we would never post them,” the disciples replied.

Satisfied, the master nodded and finally moved.

He crossed his arms before his chest and then spread them outward. With knees slightly bent, he leaped powerfully upward, soaring over three meters into the air.

Just as his ascent seemed to slow, his left toes gently tapped the instep of his right foot, and he shot even higher.

The disciples erupted with excitement.

“There it is! Left foot steps on the right, the legendary Wudang Ladder Climbing Cloud technique—like leaping to the moon from a standstill!”

“Oh my, Wudang really does have the Ladder Climbing Cloud skill! It was worth traveling all the way from Northeast China to Ezhou to become a disciple.”

“Why are you so excited? Even if it exists, do you think you can master it? Master practiced for over twenty years before succeeding. You’ll have to be patient!”

“As long as it’s real and master is willing to teach, I’ll practice for thirty years if I must.”

In the blink of an eye, Master Sihang stood atop the cliff, sixteen meters above, looked down at his disciples, and smiled gently before leaping back down.

The disciples immediately swarmed around him.

“Master, Master, can we post this video on Vibrato Shorts?”

Master Sihang shook his head. “No. In fact, you should delete my account altogether from now on.”

“What? Why, Master? You have over a million followers! What a shame!”

Looking at the young disciple, the master raised his hand and gently stroked the boy’s head, sighed, and walked back toward the academy without another word.

“Smack!”

“Ouch, brother, why did you hit me?”

“Idiot, Master always tells his followers to believe in science, that there’s no such thing as lightness skills in this world. Posting this would contradict his own words!”

“But, didn’t Master used to say the same thing—believe in science, no such thing as lightness skills—and then leap off a fifteen-meter cliff right after? Isn’t that contradictory too?”

“Nonsense, that was jumping down, not flying up. And stepping on your own foot in mid-air? That’s not scientific at all! Can you lift yourself by pulling your own hair?”

“Uh…”

One curious disciple caught up to the master and asked, “Master, why was it that you could never master the Ladder Climbing Cloud before, but now you can?”

With hands clasped behind his back, Master Sihang lifted his gaze to the drifting violet mist at the horizon and replied in a gentle voice, “Because, between heaven and earth, there are now things that once should have existed, then vanished, and now have returned.”

“What things?”

“The spiritual energy of heaven and earth.”