Ye Wen was quite pleased to have obtained the Mian Zhang (Cotton Palm), as finally possessing this technique meant he now had a decent palm style he could use against opponents.

Even though it wasn't the sword style he currently desired, one couldn't be too greedy, could they?

Flipping through the relatively thin manual, he quickly scanned it to gain a general understanding of the palm style. He could finally confirm that this Mian Zhang originated from the Wudang Sect's version in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, not from any other lineage.

The Mian Zhang technique refers to a complete set of movements, much like Chang Quan (Long Fist), with many branching traditions. While the overall structure is similar across these schools, many specific details differ.

The manual in Ye Wen's hand was, in the original novel, considered the progenitor of this entire palm style lineage. Therefore, the technique was simply named Mian Zhang, unlike other similar martial arts in the same tradition which required prefixes like Jin Ding (Golden Summit) or Han Bing (Icy Cold) to distinguish them.

Ye Wen, who had always enjoyed reading novels, naturally knew a great deal about this palm style. To some extent, this technique shared common principles with the later-developed Tai Chi Fist. When used against an opponent, the Mian Zhang appeared soft and yielding, yet concealed powerful, rigid force. Its execution was seamless and continuous, often leaving the opponent struggling hopelessly to defend against attacks shifting from left to right.

The Mian Zhang adhered to the Wudang school's martial arts philosophy of balancing hardness and softness. The palm strikes incorporated both yielding and firm elements, resulting in considerable power. An ordinary practitioner with low cultivation, if struck by one of these blows, would likely suffer severe internal injuries. However, this also placed certain demands on the practitioner's strength or internal energy (in reality, all martial arts require cultivation, just to varying degrees; in the original text, Song Qingshu began practicing Mian Zhang very early, focusing only on the stances as a child; he couldn't utilize the force mechanics effectively until years later when his internal energy had slightly matured).

Although Ye Wen wasn't overwhelmingly strong, his internal energy had achieved a minor level of attainment, so using this palm style posed no issue. The only real challenge was rapidly committing to memory the numerous movements, the fluid concept of Yun Zhuan Ru Yi (effortless circular motion), and the technique for flexible force application.

Regarding concepts like Yun Zhuan Ru Yi and controlling speed and intent, Ye Wen had a foundation in Tai Chi Fist, giving him some familiarity. Even though what he had learned was merely surface level, these fundamentals proved greatly beneficial for comprehending the Mian Zhang. Ye Wen was confident he could quickly memorize the stances, but the next two days would undoubtedly require diligent practice to deepen his familiarity with the style.

Figuring this out, the only remaining difficulty was the technique for shifting between hard and soft force, especially coordinating it with the flow of his own internal energy. Even just by reading the manual without formal practice, he sensed the complexity involved.

While quickly committing the manual's contents to memory, he massaged his injured foot, aiming to restore mobility as soon as possible, all while contemplating how to quickly convert this martial art into actual combat capability.

After about half an hour, Ye Wen had nearly memorized all the stances and roughly grasped the key oral instructions, lacking only practical application.

He flexed his foot; the pain was gone, and he judged himself fully mobile. He then put on his shoes, secured the manual close to his body, and left the room.

He intended to find a place to practice thoroughly. Carrying the manual was for easy reference; if he encountered confusion or forgot a critical point mid-practice, he could retrieve it instantly for further contemplation.

The moment he stepped out, however, he remembered that the entire Mount Shu Sect was practically a construction site. Although most people were gathered near the main hall, the area in front of his residence only saw sparse traffic, but surely he couldn't take out the manual and study it openly?

More critically, his junior martial sister was practicing her sword nearby, and he hadn't yet revealed his secret of summoning manuals to her.

Yet, watching her execute the Yu Nü Jian Fa (Jade Maiden Sword Art) as if a celestial maiden was dancing according to her will, he knew this girl must have dedicated considerable effort recently. What astonished Ye Wen even more was the faint sound of air being cleaved by the sword tip, indicating that Ning Ruxue had not only mastered her swordsmanship and achieved refinement, but her internal cultivation was also not far behind—perhaps nearly equal to his own.

Watching for a few moments, Ye Wen muttered inwardly, "Just a month away from practice, and I'm nearly being overtaken by this nominal junior sister. If I don't boost my strength soon, this girl might beat me black and blue and force me to hand over the Sect Master position."

Recalling how forcefully she stomped his foot that morning, he suspected she wouldn't hold back if a real fight broke out. If he were actually defeated by his junior sister, he’d have nowhere to hide his shame.

He touched his chest; the thin manual resting there gave him a sense of reassurance. "Thank goodness, thank goodness, lucky break, lucky break."

Looking left and right, Ye Wen finally decided to find a secluded spot for serious practice. Mount Shu was vast, and Ye Wen had effectively sectioned off a large area for himself, so he didn't need to leave the sect gates to find a quiet place; it would just require a longer walk.

Seeing Ye Wen turn away after observing the progress of the craftsmen, Xu Xian, who had been standing idly watching his senior sister practice the sword, asked, "Where is Senior Brother going?"

Ye Wen casually replied, "Nowhere special, just wandering around. Don't call me for lunch." Because Ning Ruxue's rapid progress had spurred him on, Ye Wen was determined to practice hard this time. As the Sect Master, especially with a junior sister eager to overthrow him, he must ensure his strength remains among the top in the sect. Ye Wen made a significant resolution this time (for the sake of a meal!): he absolutely had to make something of this Mian Zhang technique first.

To learn the basic form of a completely unfamiliar martial art in a single day—if word got out in the martial world, many would criticize him as 'arrogant.' Learning martial arts, particularly a new style, often takes months just to grasp the fundamentals for many practitioners. To truly hone a newly learned art to a level where one could credibly use it in combat usually required years—unless one was a true genius or possessed extraordinary innate talent.

Ye Wen didn't consider himself a genius, but the current situation pressed him. At the ceremony in a few days, he would very likely need this technique to fight someone. Therefore, he was compelled to absorb, digest, and apply this martial art in the shortest possible time.

Of course, Ye Wen understood these principles. Fortunately, regarding most people within Mount Shu, their martial standing was such that he didn't even need the Mian Zhang to defeat the vast majority. Relying on his superior internal energy and the Tai Zu Chang Quan (Ancestral Long Fist) would suffice against them.

There were only a few individuals against whom he wasn't completely confident of victory; Zhang Gui was certainly one of them. But he wasn't without confidence in winning either. Ye Wen trusted his cunning... no, his astuteness—he was certain he wouldn't lose. However, if he couldn't defeat his opponent cleanly and decisively, the objective of establishing the sect's authority while everyone was gathered would not be achieved.

"I must not only win, but win quickly and thoroughly, leaving no room for doubt." This was why Ye Wen felt such urgency to master a superior technique for combat.

As for how to learn a new martial art in such a short time... Luckily, Ye Wen's original world was overflowing with information and data, which was cheap and plentiful. Shaped by countless 'literary classics,' his mind was packed with theoretical knowledge, including many martial arts aphorisms.

Concepts like You Xiang Wu Xing (Having Form, Lacking Form), Wu Xiang Wu Xing (Lacking Form, Lacking Form), Unarmed beats Armed Technique, Defeating the Enemy with the Intent of the Move—countless ideas swirled in his head. Now, Ye Wen planned to emulate Zhang Wuji's victory on Wudang Mountain: first, deeply comprehend the core tenets and essence of Mian Zhang. As for the specific stances and routines, he intended only to grasp the general framework for now; the detailed techniques could come later.

Although the Mian Zhang stances were exquisite, practicing each movement individually, comprehending it, and integrating it into combat took too long. Zhang Wuji also spent a considerable period slowly mastering Tai Chi Fist only after repelling a powerful foe. While Mian Zhang and Tai Chi Fist were not on the same tier of martial arts, Ye Wen was certainly not Zhang Wuji.

Therefore, Ye Wen was confident that with his current internal cultivation, supplemented by the Mian Zhang's underlying principles and methods, defeating the disciples on Mount Shu who hadn't seen truly profound martial arts would pose no problem.

"Besides," he mused, "I still have the Three Immortals Sword. I can suddenly draw my sword halfway through the fight and scare the hell out of them."

Grinning inwardly, Ye Wen wandered aimlessly until he finally found a secluded spot. Upon closer inspection, he realized this was the cliffside where Xu Xian had once brought him.

"How did I wander all the way here?" He glanced at the solitary small mound. Few would suspect that a martial arts predecessor was buried here. Ye Wen approached and offered a respectful bow, thinking, "Never mind, the scenery is beautiful, and it’s rarely visited. It truly is an excellent place for practice."

He immediately assumed a stance, preparing to begin his Mian Zhang practice.

He didn't care about the specific forms; he merely wanted to understand how the Mian Zhang maintained its soft, yielding engagement with the enemy, how the rigid force was expelled during seemingly gentle strikes, and how to adapt his internal energy flow to match the palm style, exploring how his Quanzhen internal energy could harmonize with the Mian Zhang.

Once he began practicing, he lost track of time. It wasn't until the sun dipped below the horizon that Ye Wen, standing by the cliff enjoying the lingering glow of the sunset, continuously moved his palms. Between the back and forth, his movements flowed like moving clouds and running water. Ye Wen had preliminarily grasped the Mian Zhang's concept of seamless, continuous motion. Although the inhalation and exhalation of force was still slightly stiff, he had found a knack for it, and he believed that with a bit more time, he would completely understand the force application methods of this palm style.

He executed another palm strike. Initially, it appeared soft and weak, but just as the force seemed to dissipate, the strike suddenly vibrated, momentarily exerting power. A small clump of dirt that Ye Wen had agitated into the air during his previous movements happened to be directly struck by this discharge; it instantly shattered into dust and scattered everywhere.

Ye Wen concluded the strike with satisfaction, only then noticing Xu Xian standing a short distance away with a strange expression—like someone who had started a yawn mid-way and forcibly stopped it.