Chapter Five: Yuè Jiāo Nú's Shock

"Young Master, you?"

Just as Duàn Yì was immersed in practicing the routines of the Minor Capturing Hand, Yuè Jiāo Nú pushed open the door, carrying a Seven-Colored Brocade Chicken and two still wriggling Big Green Fish. Her expression was one of shock, as if she had witnessed something incredible.

"Hmm, Sister Yuè, what's wrong? Is there something unusual about me?"

Seeing Yuè Jiāo Nú's astonished look, Duàn Yì feigned ignorance. In reality, he knew very well that it was his astonishing progress in practicing the Minor Capturing Hand that had surprised her. However, he couldn't reveal this.

Something unusual? Of course, and very unusual at that.

Yuè Jiāo Nú was a formal disciple of the Moon Worship Palace. She had been practicing martial arts since childhood, receiving direct instruction from masters, and possessed a solid theoretical foundation. While not necessarily possessing supreme martial arts skills, her knowledge was undoubtedly exceptional.

Although her family's Minor Capturing Hand was not a top-tier profound skill, it could be considered a fundamental hand technique. It also included the identification of human joints and acupoints, which would be beneficial for future learning of more advanced palm techniques, fist techniques, finger techniques, and claw techniques. It was by no means comparable to crude and common farming moves.

For Duàn Yì, who had no martial arts foundation and had never been exposed to martial arts before, to memorize such a technique in just a few hours and practice it so skillfully, reaching a level of mastery according to the realm classification, was simply beyond Yuè Jiāo Nú's comprehension.

Such performance had only one explanation: Duàn Yì was an unparalleled martial arts prodigy, possessing even greater martial arts talent than his mother, Yán Fāngfēi.

"Could it be that heaven has opened its eyes, and my Moon Worship Palace's great vengeance finally has hope?"

Yuè Jiāo Nú felt joy welling up, her eyes subtly moistening.

She was only in her early twenties. Having suddenly faced a great upheaval, she was also at a loss. Now, seeing Duàn Yì's talent, as long as he could master the Divine Light Skill that the previous Palace Master had instructed on her deathbed, he would surely be able to kill Yuè Bì Nǔ and Qū Dōng Liú, that pair of scoundrels, and avenge the previous Palace Master and the sisters who died for the Moon Worship Palace.

After regaining her composure and seeing Duàn Yì's bewildered expression, Yuè Jiāo Nú assumed the young master was startled by her reaction. She quickly shook her head.

"No, no, Young Master, you did very well. Please continue practicing. I'll go and cook for you."

With that, she walked into Duàn Yì's kitchen, carrying the ingredients.

Only after Yuè Jiāo Nú's figure disappeared did Duàn Yì relax his expression and continue practicing, though with some distraction.

"Practicing martial arts without cultivating internal energy is a waste in old age. Although the Minor Capturing Hand is good, without internal energy, it's ultimately difficult to enter the ranks of masters. I need to find a way to cultivate an internal energy technique."

Why must one practice martial arts?

Setting aside Duàn Yì's own curiosity and yearning for martial arts.

Did you not see that before Yuè Jiāo Nú arrived, Duàn Yì was almost starving to death? Yet, Yuè Jiāo Nú, who was also penniless, was able to feed Duàn Yì well in a short period. Did this not explain something?

However, Duàn Yì knew very well that if he wanted to practice martial arts, unless a pie fell from the sky, he would still have to start with Yuè Jiāo Nú.

After eating, Duàn Yì and Yuè Jiāo Nú gathered again in the small room to discuss their next course of action.

According to Yuè Jiāo Nú's plan, she wanted to take Duàn Yì into the Jianghu to search for the whereabouts of the Blood Head Monk. As long as they found this person and obtained the Divine Light Skill, with Duàn Yì's talent, he would surely be able to master the divine skill and have the capital for revenge.

However, Duàn Yì disagreed.

"Sister Yuè, it's not that I'm pouring cold water on you, but since this Blood Head Monk is elusive and hasn't appeared in the Jianghu for ten years, where in the vast Great Xia will you find him?"

The Great Xia Dynasty in this world resembled ancient China. The administrative divisions of the realm were divided into Dao, Zhou, and Xian. As for the lower levels like townships and villages, they all existed based on the county towns.

Great Xia was divided into fifteen Daos and two hundred and seventy Zhous, with over three thousand county towns. It was a land of abundance and gifted people, serving as the center of Shenzhou. Beyond that, there were other small countries such as Dali, Tubo, Western Xia, and Fusang.

Finding an invisible Blood Head Monk was simply unrealistic, and Duàn Yì had no intention of wasting time on meaningless things.

"Actually, we don't necessarily have to focus on the Blood Head Monk. That's too vague.

Learning martial arts from other famous sects or finding a renowned master could also lead to mastering profound martial arts. Do you have any suggestions, Sister Yuè?"

That's right, as the saying goes, if the east is not bright, the west is. The Blood Head Monk, being a loner, is hard to find. Aren't those with families, or even those who have established sects, easier to find?

Upon hearing Duàn Yì's words, Yuè Jiāo Nú did not show a look of sudden enlightenment. Instead, she smiled bitterly.

"Young Master, it's not that Jiāo Nú doesn't understand this principle, but although this idea is feasible, it is also very difficult."

After Yuè Jiāo Nú's explanation, Duàn Yì realized that he had been thinking too simply.

Great Xia's martial arts were prosperous, and the forces of the martial world were as numerous as the hairs on a cow, countless. However, the protection of martial arts and the selection of disciples were extremely strict, even to the point of being harsh.

For example, the matters of the Beggar's Gang and Peerless City that caused a stir in the Jianghu a few years ago.

The Beggar's Gang was a gang in Great Xia, claiming to have the largest number of members. Wherever there were beggars, the Beggar's Gang existed. Their generational inherited martial arts, the Dragon Subduing Palm Technique and the Dog Beating Staff Technique, were both supreme skills.

The Dugu Family of Peerless City was even more prominent, claiming to be the number one sword dao family in Great Xia. They possessed multiple divine skills, including the Sacred Spirit Swordplay, Nine Swords of Dugu, Dragon Subduing Divine Leg, and Cape Staff Technique.

The successive family heads inherited the position of City Lord of Peerless City and held the noble title of Marquis of Peerlessness, enjoying extraordinary status in Great Xia.

The Dragon Subduing Palm Technique and the Dragon Subduing Divine Leg, not only shared similar names but also had overlapping martial arts routines. This had violated taboos.

The Beggar's Gang shouted at Peerless City, "Ah, our Beggar's Gang's Dragon Subduing Palm has a long history and is incredibly domineering. Your Dugu Family turned palm into leg, plagiarizing our supreme skill. How shameless!"

The Dugu Family retorted, "Go to hell! Our Dugu Family's sword dao is unparalleled and invincible. Why would we steal the Beggar's Gang's Dragon Subduing Palm? Are you shameless?

Although the Dragon Subduing Divine Leg is not as famous as my Dugu Family's sword techniques, it was still created and passed down by our ancestors. What does it have to do with your Beggar's Gang? Don't try to piggyback on us."

Then there was a barrage of verbal attacks, which also involved several other families with Dragon Subduing Palm heritage. It caused a great uproar and several fights, creating a huge disturbance. Finally, it was only after the Dragon Guarding Manor intervened to mediate that things calmed down.

Oh, and to mention, the Dragon Guarding Manor was an official force of Great Xia, collectively known as the five sharp swords of Great Xia along with the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, Brocade-Clad Guard, and Six Gates. These institutions were filled with countless masters and powerful individuals, targeting civilian martial arts forces and curbing the growth of the Jianghu.

Therefore, regarding martial arts, especially divine skills and supreme techniques, any force or individual valued them extremely.

The reason the Blood Head Monk might have passed on his divine skill to Duàn Yì was entirely due to Yán Susu, and their relationship was definitely not shallow. It had nothing to do with Duàn Yì.

As for taking in disciples, given Duàn Yì's age, he was considered a bit too old. For example, one of the recruitment standards for the Broken Sword Hut, one of the prominent sword dao families in Great Xia, was to be under seven years old. Only then could the sword bone be shaped, the sword heart condensed, and the sword dao achieved.

Another reason was that younger individuals were more malleable and could be instilled with ideas of loyalty to the sect. To put it crudely, it made them easier to brainwash.

Those who were fourteen years old were more self-willed. Although they could still be trained, it required more effort, and thus they were less favored.

Considering all of the above, Duàn Yì could only hope to join a major sect or even find a renowned master if he had connections or was lucky enough to be favored by a benefactor.

Even if he joined a sect and found a master, he wouldn't necessarily learn profound martial arts. This is because the more powerful the martial art, the more fiercely it's guarded. Some are even tied to lineage, only to be learned by the sect leader.

Take the Broken Sword Hut, for example. Their supreme ultimate skill, the Innate Body-Piercing Formless Sword Qi, is only qualified to be practiced by the Sword Master.

Then there's another sword dao giant, the Divine Sword Sect. Myriad Swords Return to Origin can only be practiced by the Sect Master, passed down to only one person per generation.

Do you think martial arts are like cabbage, readily available for you to pick? That's not happening.

To put it bluntly, if Duàn Yì didn't have the identity of Yán Fāngfēi's son, Yuè Jiāo Nú wouldn't have taught him the Minor Capturing Hand.

Don't underestimate the Minor Capturing Hand; it's an excellent foundational martial art even within major sects.

Upon hearing this, although Duàn Yì's mood soured, he remained persistent.

"Then, Sister Yuè, don't you have any other connections? Perhaps you know a powerful expert who could introduce me to them?"

Actually, Duàn Yì only asked on a long shot.

Thinking about it carefully, if Yuè Jiāo Nú truly knew such a person, would she still place her hopes on the Blood Head Monk, who was completely out of the picture?

However, Yuè Jiāo Nú's reaction brought a surprise to Xiàng Yāng.

Her eyes glazed over as if she was recalling something. Her pretty face first flushed red, then turned pale, and finally, with a hint of sadness, she softly said, "If you're talking about a true powerhouse, I do know one person. Unfortunately, he won't help us get revenge."