Time flowed like water.
Inside the Bamboo Hut, Gu Shao'an's inner force flowed gently through his body.
In just two short days, Gu Shao'an's inner force had grown by an amount equal to what he had gained in five days of previous cultivation.
Such a tremendous change was certainly due in part to the more profound inner cultivation method, but the greater reason was that when Gu Shao'an cultivated the second level of the Emei Nine Yang Skill, he had first brought the first level to perfection.
Only then had the source of inner force within his body reached an exceptionally pure state.
This made the growth of his inner force even faster.
Moreover, over this past month, the nourishing effects of his inner force, coupled with Gu Shao'an's physical growth, had also increased the width and resilience of his meridians.
The time he could spend cultivating his inner cultivation method each day had also increased by half a shichen.
Being able to feel his inner force steadily increasing at every moment gave Gu Shao'an an addictive sense of satisfaction.
If not for the limits of what his meridians could withstand, Gu Shao'an could have sat there from dawn till dusk, wholly devoted to cultivating his inner force.
Congratulations, player. You have cultivated an inner cultivation method for half a shichen. Achievement Points +5.
By the time the notification appeared before Gu Shao'an, the first ray of morning sunlight had streamed through the window into the Bamboo Hut.
Guiding all his inner force back into his dantian, Gu Shao'an finally began to dress and wash up.
He picked up the scabbard containing his wooden sword, then flicked it toward the table. The bundle he had packed the night before on the bamboo table was hooked up by the scabbard and slid down into Gu Shao'an's hand.
By the time Gu Shao'an reached Miejue's bamboo courtyard, Ding Minjun and Zhou Zhiruo were already waiting at its entrance.
Seeing Gu Shao'an dressed in a fitted blue-and-white outfit, his jet-black hair tightly bound with a ribbon and his features handsome yet refined, not only Zhou Zhiruo, but even Ding Minjun could not help inwardly praising him.
Yet in the next instant, Ding Minjun's expression darkened as she spoke coldly.
"As a disciple, when Master has given instructions, you should have come early and waited. How could you be so late?"
The moment she opened her mouth, she condemned Gu Shao'an from the moral high ground.
Gu Shao'an had joined the Emei Sect only a little over a month ago. During his time on this back mountain, he had conducted himself properly in all things and observed etiquette without fault.
Yet even so, Gu Shao'an could still sense Ding Minjun's dislike for him from the way she looked at him.
As for the reason, it was nothing more than jealousy over the talent he had displayed.
Over the past month, he had kept a low profile. Apart from immersing himself in cultivation, he had also tried to avoid Ding Minjun, lest unpleasantness arise and sour his mood for no reason.
Who would have thought that Ding Minjun would still make trouble out of nothing? He had clearly done nothing, yet she used her status as shijie to scold him.
A trace of displeasure flickered through Gu Shao'an's heart, but none showed on his face. He cupped his fists and said, "Second Senior Sister is right. If there is a next time, Shao'an will remember to arrive early and wait."
His attitude was earnest and humble, as though he had truly recognized his mistake.
That response instead left Ding Minjun's following reprimand lodged in her throat. She could neither spit it out nor swallow it down, and she felt inexplicably stifled.
Just then, the tightly shut gates of the bamboo courtyard suddenly opened.
Miejue, dressed in plain robes, stepped out through the gate.
Upon seeing Miejue, Gu Shao'an, Zhou Zhiruo, and Ding Minjun hurriedly saluted her.
"Greetings, Master."
Miejue gave a soft hum. Her gaze brushed lightly over Ding Minjun before she glanced at Zhou Zhiruo.
Only when her eyes settled on Gu Shao'an did her gaze soften somewhat.
She brought her right hand out from behind her back, revealing a longsword in her grasp.
The silver scabbard was exquisitely crafted and covered in patterns. At its center, fine lines formed two characters: "Cheng Xin."
Once the three of them looked at the sword in Miejue's hand, she raised her arm lightly and directly tossed it toward Gu Shao'an.
As Gu Shao'an caught the longsword, Miejue said, "Though you are young, you were Born with a Sword Bone. The bones and sinews in both your arms surpass those of ordinary people. Even without being tempered, they are no weaker than those of a normal martial artist. A wooden sword is no longer quite suitable for you."
Miejue said warmly, "Try it and see how this sword feels."
Hearing that, Gu Shao'an did not decline. After carefully examining the longsword in his hand, he held the scabbard horizontally before him with his left hand and gripped the hilt with his right.
The instant his hand closed around the hilt, the effect of Drawing Sword Like a Rainbow activated, giving Gu Shao'an a long-lost sense of familiarity.
It was as though this sword had long belonged to him and he had wielded it countless times.
As his fingers tightened around the hilt, the blade slowly slid free from the scabbard.
A streak of cold light immediately reflected from the snow-white blade into Gu Shao'an's eyes.
When the entire longsword left its sheath, its snow-white blade gleamed with a chilling radiance beneath the morning sun.
It was clearly no ordinary weapon.
His gaze swept over the blade as Gu Shao'an swung the longsword, unleashing sword move after sword move. His movements were not particularly fast, as though he were adapting to this new sword in his hand.
A few breaths later, Gu Shao'an suddenly thrust his sword to one side. Just as the motion was about to stop, his wrist shook, and five or six afterimages instantly burst from the tip of the sword, like willow fluff rushing toward one's face.
Miejue watched as Gu Shao'an performed Floss Shadow Thousandfold from Willow Leaf Swordplay, then nodded.
As expected of someone Born with a Sword Bone. Even the first time wielding a real blade, he showed not the slightest discomfort. In Gu Shao'an's hands, the Chengxin Sword felt like an extension of his arm.
In truth, Gu Shao'an indeed felt no discomfort at all as he held the Chengxin Sword.
He could even feel that compared to the wooden sword he usually used, the sword in his hand lacked that weightless feeling entirely and was instead much easier to wield.
With his interest piqued, Gu Shao'an could not help trying several more Sword Moves in succession. Only then did he sheathe the longsword in satisfaction, his face filled with delight.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me this sword."
Miejue replied with a smile, "This Chengxin Sword was forged by skilled craftsmen whom your Grandmaster sought out when I came of age. It is a fairly decent weapon. Today, I will give this sword to you. I hope that in the future, like its name, you will remain clear and pure, hold fast to your original heart, and spread the name of Emei."
With a solemn expression, Gu Shao'an said, "This disciple will certainly remember Master's teachings."
At the side, Ding Minjun stared at the Chengxin Sword in Gu Shao'an's hand, the jealousy in her eyes nearly impossible to conceal.
This Chengxin Sword had been forged from a special piece of ore found in Emei in those years.
Though it was not as formidable as the Heavenly Sword, capable of cutting through iron like mud, it was undoubtedly still a high-grade weapon.
Even Ding Minjun's own sword was inferior to it in many respects.
Ding Minjun had once found an opportunity to hint subtly that she wanted Miejue to give her the Chengxin Sword, but Miejue had acted as though she had not heard a thing.
But when it came to Gu Shao'an, he had not even needed to ask before Miejue took the initiative to give him the sword.
This made Ding Minjun curse Miejue's favoritism inwardly.
Along with it, the chill in Ding Minjun's eyes as she looked at Gu Shao'an grew ever deeper.
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