Heavenly Mountain

Nature: Defensive Origin: Kun'lao Flourish: Defensive

One of the oldest martial arts originating from Kun'lao, standing alongside 5 Animals and Divine Void in being the original trinity of Kun'lao martial arts. Heavenly Mountain is soft-style personified, relying on fluid movements and a simple yet efficient Qi ability known as Xiao Li. This style teaches its adherents a Qi technique without the need for a Qi scroll, but is also extremely vast in the amount of techniques it can bestow upon its user. This makes it simple to learn, but extremely difficult to master. It is primarily built for self-defense, with the martial arts' motto being "martial arts is for the weak to conquer the strong." As such, Heavenly Mountain assumes the user is smaller or less muscular than the opponent.

Xiao Li allows for users to "become like water," absorbing strikes send directly into their body without feeling an ounce of pain. Because of this, Heavenly Mountain's flourish is Defensive.

Core Principles

There are a few key elements to those who practice Heavenly Mountain. These elements are central to the martial art's key concept: Focusing on self defense, and avoiding taking legitimate damage while using misdirection to defeat one's opponent.

• Overcome Weakness: Heavenly Mountain assumes the user is smaller and less muscular than their foe. As such, in addition to Xiao Li, Heavenly Mountain teaches its adherents to use misdirection in battle. This involves the use of feints to trick opponents into lowering their guard, or even use of even more advanced techniques. This includes Earth Crouching Dragon, a Feint Flying Kick followed by a uppercut from the ground.

• Offensive & Defensive Xiao Li: Xiao Li is an extremely useful defensive tool, allowing the user to absorb strikes or curve their body around attacks. The supreme body control needed for defensive Xiao Li also allows for users to loosen their muscles to the point where, so long as they know how to move their body, they can redirct the energy from their muscles so efficiently that they can manifest super-strength like offensive attacks.

• Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master: It is easier to reach a high level of skill with Heavenly Mountain than most martial arts. Learning Xiao Li does not require Qi scrolls. The Qi technique is learned by understanding the lessons and training one's body related to the philosophy of Heavenly Mountain. This makes it the easiest style to learn Qi for. However, Heavenly Mountain has so many special techniques on how ot apply Xiao Li that it could literally take decades learning them all.

Weapons

Although used as a self defense style, Heavenly Mountain teaches its users how to properly utilize weapons as part of its traditional training.

• Bo Staff: A single staff that can be used with deadly proficiency. Its shape is simple enough that one can find a makeshift weapon in similar form. Ideal for Heavenly Mountain style.

• Nine Section Whip: Often used more to teach lessons than in actual battle due to its lethality. Adherents learn the movements of their body whilst using Xiao Li through mastering the movements of the nine-section whip. Although intended for just teaching a lesson, this means that most practicioners of Heavenly Mountain know how to use this weapon.