"Good!"
Abbess Miejue let out a low shout, unable to suppress the delight in her voice.
Her figure flashed forward like a ghost. No longer probing, she struck Gu Shao'an's chest with her left palm, using the Golden Summit Cotton Palm as well!
Gu Shao'an hastily drew in a breath and swung his palm to meet it, countering each move as it came.
One large and one small figure, their palms whirled through the air at the same time.
Zhou Zhiruo, standing to one side, could no longer make out their movements.
Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi, however, grew increasingly solemn as they watched, unconsciously revealing shock on their faces.
"In just one month, he had already cultivated the Golden Summit Cotton Palm to the Glimpse the Path realm. What kind of talent was that?"
Before the bamboo courtyard, after Gu Shao'an and Miejue had exchanged more than a dozen blows, Miejue suddenly raised her right hand in an orchid-finger gesture and swept it before Gu Shao'an's eyes. As she blocked his vision, her left palm shot forth like a venomous snake striking from its hole.
It was the sixth move of the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, Buddha's Light Ferry.
Yet this palm was not aimed at Gu Shao'an's heart, but at his shoulder.
The strike came with such speed that it completely sealed off the space around Gu Shao'an.
There was no escaping it!
Gu Shao'an sank his body and fiercely thrust out a single palm. It was swift and powerful, direct and unyielding, carrying an air of unstoppable momentum.
Their palms met, and Gu Shao'an used the residual force transmitted through his hand to drift backward several yards.
Miejue followed closely behind, her palm shadows howling toward him with the force of the wind.
Seeing this, Gu Shao'an reached with his right hand for the wooden sword he had planted in the ground before their exchange.
The wooden sword left its sheath, and a sharp gleam flared in Gu Shao'an's eyes!
In the instant before the palm wind struck his body, he advanced rather than retreated! The core of his waist and abdomen erupted with astonishing twisting force. There was none of the softness of cotton palm techniques, none of the agility of movement arts—only the pure, tyrannical ferocity of the Sunset Swordplay!
The fusion of his strength, combined with the effect of Drawing Sword Like a Rainbow, made Gu Shao'an's sword strike as swift as a startled swan.
But in the next instant, two fingers suddenly rose and directly caught the wooden sword as it slashed down through the air.
She stopped Gu Shao'an's attack, but Miejue could not conceal her stunned expression.
Holding the wooden sword between two fingers, Miejue stared blankly at Gu Shao'an.
This move alone was enough to reveal Gu Shao'an's attainments in the Sunset Swordplay.
He had clearly entered the Glimpse the Path level as well.
Abbess Miejue slowly withdrew her arm, her wide sleeve falling back down.
She stared at Gu Shao'an, who stood two steps away, still catching his breath and barely steadying himself. Her gaze was deep and solemn as an abyss, while beneath her icy expression, a storm plainly surged.
The youth's back, straightening once his breathing calmed; the hand gripping his sword, steady as a mountain; his astonishingly bright eyes... all confirmed a fact that shook her to the core!
After a long while, Miejue took a deep breath and said with a smile in her eyes, "In one month, the Sunset Swordplay has gained the might of molten gold, the Golden Summit Cotton Palm has acquired the essence of deflection and dissolution, and Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon can already advance and retreat with ease. All three martial arts have reached the Glimpse the Path realm! Very good!"
Though their exchange had lasted less than a hundred breaths, how sharp was Miejue's eye?
Not to mention that all three martial arts Gu Shao'an had used were taught by Miejue herself. How could she fail to see his level of mastery in them?
After hearing Miejue confirm Gu Shao'an's progress, the shock in Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi's hearts deepened further.
Yet unlike Zhao Jingxuan and Bei Jinyi, who were delighted by Gu Shao'an's progress and talent even amid their shock—
Ding Minjun's jealousy nearly overflowed from her eyes.
Faced with Miejue's praise, Gu Shao'an smiled, while inwardly letting out a long breath.
The last time he had faced Miejue, his inner force had only just taken shape. Even using martial arts, he could at most unleash a few moves.
Strictly speaking, this was the first time Gu Shao'an had truly faced an opponent using martial arts.
It would have been impossible for him not to feel nervous.
Fortunately, the outcome was good.
Gu Shao'an then replied, "Thank you for your praise, Master."
Congratulations, player. You have passed the master-disciple assessment. Achievement Points +200.
Glancing at the system notification that appeared before him, Gu Shao'an's gaze shifted slightly.
As expected, merely completing an assessment gave more Achievement Points than making a breakthrough in martial arts proficiency.
Miejue smiled. "Though your progress is gratifying, remember not to become complacent."
"This disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master."
Seeing Miejue's smiling eyes and her gentle, kindly manner, Zhou Zhiruo recovered from her shock and could not help imagining the day when she, too, might receive Miejue's recognition and praise.
"Oh, right. Two days ago, the disciples stationed in Jiading Prefecture sent a message back to the mountain. Their letter said that mountain bandits had been plaguing Jade Mountain City in Jiading Prefecture these past few months, and it was said that several of their leaders knew martial arts."
"Since you have mastered all three martial arts I taught you to the Glimpse the Path level, you may accompany them this time. Gain some practical combat experience, temper your courage, and broaden your horizons."
Gu Shao'an had not expected that after joining the Emei Sect for only a little over a month, he would be able to descend the mountain again so soon.
"I will abide by Master's arrangements in all things."
Miejue nodded. "Then we will set out in two days. Remember to pack your belongings. If you do not know what to bring, ask your other shijie."
Seeing that Miejue was preparing to return to the bamboo courtyard, Gu Shao'an hurriedly said, "Master, this disciple has successfully cultivated the Emei Nine Yang Skill First Level. I ask Master to impart the subsequent inner cultivation method to me."
Hearing Gu Shao'an's words, Miejue was briefly startled. But recalling his near-secluded, grueling cultivation over the past month, she quickly understood.
"In that case, follow me inside!"
After saying this, Miejue swept her gaze over Zhao Jingxuan and the others before saying, "Also, Minjun and Zhiruo, come as well! Should anything happen while I am away, Minjun, you will need to look after Zhiruo and Shao'an."
Ding Minjun promptly replied, "This disciple accepts the order."
After Zhou Zhiruo answered, delight appeared on her face.
Miejue waved a hand in dismissal, and the others sensibly dispersed.
Yet after they had scattered, Miejue's gaze lingered imperceptibly on Ding Minjun's back.
A trace of resolve unexpectedly flashed through her eyes.
The shifting thoughts in her mind made Miejue's expression inexplicably gloomy. But when her gaze returned to Gu Shao'an, it felt as though her eyes had been immersed in a clear spring, and her mood immediately improved considerably.
Even the haze in her heart seemed to have been dispersed by more than half in that instant.
After leading Gu Shao'an into the bamboo courtyard, Miejue casually asked, "To what level have you mastered the Emei Nine Yang Skill First Level?"
Gu Shao'an replied, "Before coming here, this disciple had just cultivated the Emei Nine Yang Skill to the Greater Mastery realm."
It was not that Gu Shao'an did not trust Miejue.
But comprehension could not be measured. No matter how quickly Gu Shao'an improved in martial techniques, others would only assume that his comprehension was extraordinary and would not suspect anything else.
Bone Structure, however, could be measured.
Gu Shao'an's Bone Structure was merely above average, yet he had cultivated the Emei Nine Yang Skill First Level to the perfected realm in a single month. That rate of progress would probably rival even those peerless Heavenly Prides with exceptional Bone Structure.
How could Miejue not grow suspicious?
Then complications would inevitably arise.
Excess in all things ultimately brought more harm than benefit.
Rather than tell the truth, it was better to conceal part of it. That would not only spare him much trouble, but also ensure that no one would ever know Gu Shao'an's true strength.
Before you continue