Listen Well, Learn Well, Work Hard

After all, the mountain bandits involved this time were not merely ordinary people; there were martial artists among them as well.

Naturally, aside from Gu Shao'an, Zhou Zhiruo, and Ding Minjun, Miejue would also bring along some ordinary disciples and elders.

By the time Miejue and the others reached the foot of Mount Emei, over a hundred Emei Inner Sect Disciples were already waiting there.

Leading them were none other than Abbot Juechen, whom Gu Shao'an recognized, and two other elders.

The previously bustling foot of the mountain quickly fell silent when Miejue appeared.

After briefly glancing at Miejue with reverence, pairs of eyes shifted one after another to Gu Shao'an at her side.

Seeing Gu Shao'an, who was young yet handsome and carried himself with grace, the disciples' eyes brightened.

Earlier, everyone had heard that a little boy had suddenly come to the Emei Sect's den of women to take the outer sect examination, and had even become Miejue's personal disciple.

Quite a few disciples had been curious about this little junior brother who had made Miejue make an exception and accept him into her sect.

Unfortunately, over the past month, Gu Shao'an had immersed himself almost entirely in cultivation and had never left the rear mountain, leaving the other disciples with only his name and no sight of the person himself.

Now that they saw him in person, the disciples could not help but admire Gu Shao'an's appearance and bearing.

Yet after taking a closer look, quite a few disciples covered their mouths and chuckled.

Gu Shao'an was only eleven years old and barely over four feet tall, yet he held a treasured sword nearly three feet long as his weapon.

It looked less like he was holding a longsword and more like he was carrying a stick.

The sight was rather amusing.

Feeling the gazes nearly bore into him, then sweeping his eyes over the disciples at the foot of the mountain who were covering their mouths and laughing, how could Gu Shao'an not guess why these shijie were amused?

But after glancing at the sword in his hand, Gu Shao'an could only feel helpless.

Even though Gu Shao'an had developed well and was considered tall among those his age, his age was what it was. He could only be so tall—what could he do about it?

As Miejue and the others approached, Abbot Juechen and the other Emei Sect elders stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

After Miejue gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo both stepped forward to bow.

Once he straightened, Gu Shao'an solemnly bowed once more to Juechen.

Gu Shao'an was not an unfeeling person. When he had encountered mountain bandits and his life had hung by a thread, it had been Juechen who saved him and even brought him back to Emei.

The grace of saving one's life outweighed Mount Tai.

Naturally, Gu Shao'an held Juechen in great respect.

Juechen's gaze fell upon Gu Shao'an. Seeing that he was full of vitality and no longer bore the weariness he had shown before coming to Emei,

it was clear that Gu Shao'an had been doing well over the past month.

At this, Juechen smiled and nodded. The weight in her heart finally lifted.

Miejue had long since learned of Gu Shao'an's circumstances from Juechen. Seeing his actions now, she smiled in satisfaction as well.

In this world, there were many cases of masters and disciples turning against one another, even disciples repaying their masters' kindness with betrayal.

As a master, who would not wish for their disciple to be someone who knew gratitude and valued kindness?

Withdrawing her gaze, Juechen bowed and said, "Sect Leader, the carriages are ready. Shall we depart now?"

After Miejue gave a soft "Mm" in response and stepped forward, Juechen and the others immediately moved aside to clear the way.

Gu Shao'an and the others quickly followed.

"Shao'an, Zhiruo, you two are young and lack the stamina for walking. Ride in the carriage with me. Minjun, you drive the carriage."

When they reached one of the carriages, Miejue spoke slowly.

"Yes, Master."

Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo obediently replied and climbed into the carriage behind Miejue.

A sinister glint flashed through Ding Minjun's eyes before she sat outside the carriage, cracked the whip, and drove the horses onward.

The remaining disciples mounted their horses one after another, escorting the several carriages as they proceeded.

The carriage Miejue rode in had clearly been specially made. It looked ordinary from the outside, but it was remarkably steady within. Even traveling down the main road, it lacked the intense jolting of an ordinary carriage.

After boarding the carriage, Gu Shao'an immediately closed his eyes and circulated the internal energy within his body according to the second layer of the Emei Nine Yang Skill.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiruo likewise closed her eyes and began cultivating her internal energy.

"With Shao'an's influence, Zhiruo has become a little more diligent as well."

Taking in their reactions, Miejue nodded in satisfaction before closing her own eyes.

Congratulations to the player for cultivating an internal energy method for half an hour. Achievement Points +5.

Two hours later, another notification appeared before Gu Shao'an, but the internal energy flowing through his body did not return to his dantian.

Instead, under Gu Shao'an's control, it continued circulating through his body at a slower pace along the route of the second layer of the Emei Nine Yang Skill.

As the internal energy slowly circulated, Gu Shao'an could clearly feel threads of warmth flowing through his body.

He was using his internal energy to nourish his meridians.

Only after the nourishment of his meridians was complete did Gu Shao'an guide his internal energy back into his dantian.

When he opened his eyes, Gu Shao'an's gaze immediately met Miejue's gentle eyes.

"In just one month, you are already able to cultivate an internal energy method for two consecutive hours. It seems that you truly followed my instructions and nourished your meridians every day."

Gu Shao'an replied with a smile, "A master imparts the Dao and teaches skills. This disciple's martial arts were taught by Master; every word of yours is born of experience. Naturally, this disciple remembers them well and dares not be negligent."

"Listen well, learn well, work hard. If you can uphold these few things alone, your future accomplishments will surely be limitless."

Gu Shao'an asked, "Is there some reason behind this?"

Hearing this, Miejue chuckled. "Of course."

When Zhou Zhiruo looked over as well, Miejue slowly continued, "I have seen quite a few people who displayed exceptional talent from a young age. I, too, was once young—how could I not understand the temperament of the young?"

"Many people possess a certain drive in their youth. Their minds find it difficult to settle, and they are full of thoughts, often indulging in wild fantasies and setting their sights too high."

"As a result, when faced with cultivation requirements set by their sect elders, they often submit outwardly but remain unconvinced within. They merely believe that these century-old rules and advice are the stubborn conservatism of their elders."

"They do not realize that every restriction and rule set down by the sect elders is the bitter fruit borne from the trials of those who came before."

"For instance, when cultivating an internal energy method, one should conclude every session by using internal energy to nourish the meridians. Only through persistence can one keep the meridians unharmed and make them more resilient through nourishment."

"But most martial artists, in their youth, always think themselves exceptional. At first, they may persist in nourishing their meridians with internal energy every day, but after some time, they begin trying to do so every other day."

"Once they taste the benefits, they extend the interval between nourishing their meridians from one day to two, until eventually they wait several days."

"And thus, laziness takes root."