Duàn Yì and Qi Yan followed Qū Dōng Liú to a study in the rear hall of the Golden Cauldron Sect's main hall.
Though the space was large, dense bookshelves and stacks of documents filled all four sides, making it seem quite packed. This was likely where Qū Dōng Liú handled his daily affairs.
"The martial art I will teach you is called the Bone-Melting Cotton Palm. It was once a supreme art passed down from the Valley of Evildoers on Kunlun Mountain. Its palm force is soft on the outside but hard within, exceedingly sinister and venomous. It is not simple to cultivate either. You must use it with caution in the future and must not commit wanton evil."
Qū Dōng Liú first gave them the usual warning and introduced the origins of the martial art, then handed the palm technique's manual to the two of them to copy down.
This was where the gap in aptitude became apparent.
Having lived two lives, Duàn Yì's soul had overlapped with itself, granting him an astonishing memory. After reading it only twice, he had already grasped and memorized every mental formula, stance, and essential point of the martial art. In fact, there was no need for this at all—the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts had already completed the Bone-Melting Cotton Palm manual.
Qi Yan, meanwhile, could only obediently copy it out with brush and ink. It took him roughly the time it took two incense sticks to burn before he finished.
This process also fell into Qū Dōng Liú's eyes, further strengthening his resolve.
Duàn Yì possessed extraordinary talent and exceptional comprehension. Given time, he would surely become Bái Xī Wén's powerful helper. His growth had to be restrained, even suppressed.
Qi Yan had long since prepared himself mentally and remained