They Just Weren't the Ones She Favored

After Gu Shao'an had calmed himself, Miejue slowly began to speak.

"Golden Summit Burning Clouds, Elephant Pool Sinking Moon, Using Softness to Dissolve Fierceness, Nine Revolutions to Achieve Yang, Qi travels through the Ren Meridian, Transforming Dantian Empty Fire, Triple Burner Guiding Flowing Spring."

Had it been Zhao Jingxuan and the others, Miejue might have recited it several more times.

But having witnessed Gu Shao'an's memory, Miejue recited the first level of the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" only once before asking, "Have you remembered it all?"

Gu Shao'an replied, "This disciple has remembered everything."

Miejue nodded. "Your inner force has only just condensed, and your control over it is insufficient. Try cultivating the Emei Nine Yang Skill now. If any problem arises, I can lend a hand immediately."

Hearing this, Gu Shao'an did not waste words. He sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and used his consciousness to guide the inner force within his dantian along the circulation route of the first level of the Emei Nine Yang Skill.

The human body was wondrous. If the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Standard Meridians within the body were the Yellow River, then there were hundreds upon thousands of Hidden Meridians branching out like tributaries throughout the body.

Different internal cultivation methods involved different Hidden Meridians, and the meridians and acupoints that needed to be opened were likewise different.

This was also why the inner force cultivated through different internal cultivation methods possessed different characteristics.

The Emei Nine Yang Skill originated from the Nine Yang Manual and was later integrated by Emei's Grandmaster Guo Xiang with her own martial arts in her later years. It was profound and mysterious, and its circulation route was naturally complex.

As Gu Shao'an circulated his inner force, he felt it moving through his body like a crawling snail, slow to the extreme.

If it had been anyone else, they might have become discouraged upon finding cultivation so difficult. Once their mind grew restless, their inner force would be interrupted, and they would have to begin again from the start.

But Gu Shao'an had a steady temperament and understood the profundity of the Emei Nine Yang Skill, so he was naturally patient.

Even though his inner force moved through his body at an exceedingly slow pace, Gu Shao'an did not feel the slightest bit impatient.

It took a full half hour before Gu Shao'an successfully guided his inner force through one complete cycle according to the first level of the Emei Nine Yang Skill.

Once his inner force had completed a cycle according to the internal cultivation method, not only did it increase by a strand, but it also felt somewhat changed.

It was as though it had become two tiny flames, growing several degrees hotter.

This was precisely the change brought about by the Emei Nine Yang Skill.

Emei Nine Yang Skill entered the beginner stage. Achievement Points +10.

After his inner force had completed one cycle along the circulation route, the following cycles became much faster.

The time needed for the second cycle was greatly reduced, and his inner force increased by another two strands.

By the third cycle, the time had shortened to one incense stick's time, while his inner force had increased by four strands.

By evening, after cultivating continuously for nearly two hours, dozens of strands of inner force flowed gently within Gu Shao'an's body.

Within his dantian, dozens of strands of Original Inner Force also moved like small fish biting one another's tails.

But at that moment, Gu Shao'an suddenly felt a faint stabbing pain in his meridians, causing him to frown slightly.

At the same time, a vigorous stream of energy suddenly surged in through Gu Shao'an's shoulder.

Under the influence of this energy, the inner force circulating within Gu Shao'an's body was suppressed back into his dantian.

Opening his eyes, he saw Miejue with one hand resting on his shoulder, a smile in her eyes.

Seeing Gu Shao'an open his eyes, Miejue asked, "Did you just feel some discomfort in your meridians?"

Gu Shao'an nodded lightly.

Miejue explained, "Inner force requires the meridians as a vessel through which to flow, but the human body's meridians are frail. Once they are overexerted, they will be damaged."

"You are still young, and your meridians are even more fragile. As you grow older and your inner force tempers them, the length of time they can sustain the flow of inner force will increase. You need only proceed step by step."

Then Miejue changed the subject. "Stand up now and look into the distance."

Though Gu Shao'an did not understand why, he still rose as Miejue instructed and gazed into the distance.

"Hmm?"

Before long, Gu Shao'an sensed that something was amiss.

As he looked farther away, Gu Shao'an discovered that his eyesight had actually improved somewhat.

Fixing his gaze on the grass one zhang away, Gu Shao'an could even see the patterns on the blades of grass.

Though Gu Shao'an had possessed good eyesight before, he definitely could not have achieved this.

Not only that, but with every breath, Gu Shao'an found the air fresher, while the sound of flowing water at his ears became clearer as well.

At this point, Miejue spoke again. "In a contest of martial arts, the five senses come first. When facing an enemy, the ears and eyes are paramount. If you cannot even see your opponent's moves clearly, how can you possibly respond?"

"Therefore, all martial artists must temper their five senses. There are two methods for doing so: external cultivation and internal cultivation."

"There are many external cultivation methods. For example, to temper one's vision, incense sticks may be placed beside both temples to steady the head, then candle flames may be swayed, with the eyes following the flames."

"Internal cultivation, on the other hand, does not require such trouble."

"Ancient texts say, 'The Liver's Foot Jueyin Meridian connects to the eye system. A branch of the Foot Shaoyang Sinew binds at the outer corner of the eye, forming the outer support before rising to the forehead. The eyes are the servants of the heart, and the heart is the dwelling of the spirit. The heart governs the blood vessels; the eyes receive blood and are thus able to see.' Thus, as a martial artist's inner force continuously nourishes the corresponding meridians, it can strengthen our five senses."

"The Emei Nine Yang Skill is vast and profound, involving many meridians and Hidden Meridians. As one's cultivation improves and the corresponding meridians and acupoints are opened, the five senses can be greatly strengthened."

"When facing an enemy, even if their moves are swift, we will be able to notice them at once."

"However, in the future, this will still need to be paired with corresponding training methods to further help you master your five senses."

Gu Shao'an looked enlightened and understood why martial artists' reactions far surpassed those of ordinary people.

At times like this, the value of having a good master became apparent.

What Miejue taught Gu Shao'an was not particularly profound, but it was the foundation and common knowledge of cultivation.

For someone who had learned through unorthodox means, if they did not know these things, they might not even understand where their own improvements came from.

Seeing Miejue carefully explain the basics of cultivation to Gu Shao'an, Zhao Jingxuan and the others tactfully slipped away on light footsteps.

They looked at Miejue in the distance, who still wore a gentle expression before Gu Shao'an.

Sitting some distance away to rest, Zhou Zhiruo rested her chin on her knees and said enviously, "Master is truly gentle with Junior Brother Gu."

Thinking back to after she had become Miejue's disciple, every time she saw Miejue, the woman had been stern and unsmiling, enough to make one fearful at a glance.

During daily cultivation, it was almost always the three Shijie who taught her.

Yet before Gu Shao'an, Miejue now seemed like a gentle elder at home. Her face bore a satisfied, appreciative smile, and her manner and tone were exceptionally warm. Even after teaching for a full hour, she had not shown the slightest impatience.

Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's words, Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi could not help turning to look at Miejue, and a few traces of envy rose in their hearts as well.

Not to mention Zhou Zhiruo—even the three of them had not been treated so gently by Miejue in all these years.

Even when their cultivation improved or they completed a task for the sect, it was already exceedingly rare to receive a mere "Mm" from Miejue, or a nod accompanied by a "Not bad."

Over time, they had all believed that Miejue treated everyone with that same frost-cold, unfeeling demeanor.

Only today did they discover that Miejue was not like this with everyone. It was simply that they were not the ones she favored.

For a moment, Zhao Jingxuan, Zhou Zhiruo, and the others stared at the master and disciple outside the distant bamboo courtyard, their hearts filled with a touch of jealousy.