Treasure Before His Eyes

Following behind Miejue as they stepped onto the mountain path, Gu Shao'an walked steadily, yet in the gaps between his measured steps, his gaze carefully swept over every inch of the surrounding landscape.

On either side of the stone steps stood mountain forests that had endured wind and rain, growing ever more vigorous with age. Their thick trunks resembled coiling dragons, and the mountain wind was finally no longer as stingy as it had been at the foot of the mountain, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees as it brushed past.

Compared to Emei's precipitous terrain, Wudang Heavenly Pillar Peak was considerably gentler, yet it still exuded a sense of grandeur and majesty.

Wudang disciples occasionally descended the steps from the mountaintop. Upon seeing Song Yuanqiao and the others, they hurriedly stepped aside and bowed.

It was also far livelier.

Though the passing disciples could not be called outstanding martial artists, they were brimming with Essence, Qi, and Spirit, giving off an energetic, upward-looking vigor.

This vigor did not stem from themselves alone. More than anything, it came from the Wudang standing behind them.

This was also one reason why every force in the martial world sought to climb ever higher.

If the force behind them was powerful enough, its disciples could take pride in it as well.

Along the way, the scenery of Wudang Mountain was entirely different from what Gu Shao'an had seen at Emei.

Yet the thriving vitality within the sect was something Emei lacked.

Of course, if not for Song Qingshu's gaze sweeping over him from time to time, Gu Shao'an might have found the scenery of Wudang Mountain even more pleasant.

After entering the True Martial Grand Hall, Gu Shao'an saw that among the Wudang Seven Heroes, Yu Lianzhou, ranked second, Zhang Songxi, ranked fourth, and Mo Shenggu, ranked seventh, were already inside.

After glancing over them, Miejue's gaze involuntarily shifted toward the statue of Great Emperor Zhenwu within the hall.

On the wall behind the statue's left ear, there was a treasured sword.

Its hilt and scabbard were gold and silver in color, covered in intricate patterns, luxurious yet extraordinary.

The sword, still sheathed, had been driven into the wall to a depth of one foot and three inches.

At a glance, it was clear that someone with exceptionally profound cultivation had forcibly driven it into the wall with their internal force.

Noticing Miejue's gaze, Gu Shao'an swept his eyes over it as well, settling them on the Heavenly Sword as a glint flashed through his eyes.

When Gu Shao'an had first joined Emei, it had not been solely because of the golden tag, Nun's Favor.

Across the entirety of Great Wei, there were few martial arts masters who possessed great strength while also holding the status of Shitai, but there were still some.

The most famous was Cihang Jingzhai. Like Emei, becoming its sect leader required one to renounce the secular world.

There was also the Mount Heng Sect of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. Nearly everyone in the sect, from top to bottom, was a nun of one rank or another, making it highly suitable for Gu Shao'an as well.

Yet after considering it carefully, Gu Shao'an had still decided to go to Emei.

Aside from it being easier to enter Emei, the Emei Sect also possessed profound martial arts.

Those martial arts were hidden within the treasure map inside the Heavenly Sword.

By following the treasure map, one could find a map leading to Peach Blossom Island, as well as the complete Nine Yin Manual and Dragon Subduing Palm Technique buried there by Huang Rong and Guo Jing.

If he could obtain those two martial arts, then even without unlocking the ability to draw prizes with Achievement Points, Gu Shao'an believed that with diligent practice, he would one day earn a place in the martial world.

Now that he saw the Heavenly Sword, Gu Shao'an naturally felt as though treasure lay right before his eyes.

Yet an instant later, Gu Shao'an concealed the look in his eyes and lowered his gaze, standing quietly behind Miejue.

Before long, after both sides had exchanged greetings, Miejue took her seat among the guests, while Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo stood behind her.

Quiet and well-behaved.

Song Qingshu, on the other hand, had been unable to find a chance to speak with Zhou Zhiruo and appeared somewhat restless.

This made Song Yuanqiao sigh inwardly, ashamed that he had neglected his son's upbringing.

After Miejue had sampled the tea offered by the Wudang disciples,

Song Yuanqiao finally said, "In the letter Shitai previously sent, you proposed that disciples of Emei and Wudang exchange pointers. Will this exchange still follow the usual method?"

Miejue set down her teacup and replied evenly, "Naturally."

Hearing Miejue's answer, Song Yuanqiao harbored no doubts. He turned to Zhang Songxi and said, "Fourth Brother, select ten third-generation disciples to exchange pointers with Emei's outstanding disciples."

Without wasting words, Zhang Songxi rose, cupped his hands toward Miejue, and quickly departed.

Miejue sat calmly in her chair and waited.

Yet the corner of her eye was repeatedly drawn to the Heavenly Sword still embedded deep in the wall.

Half an hour later, Zhang Songxi returned with ten Wudang disciples.

Song Yuanqiao rose and gestured with one hand. "Shitai, please."

Led by Song Yuanqiao, they arrived at the training ground outside the True Martial Grand Hall.

As a top-tier force with several thousand disciples, Wudang's training ground, used for instruction within the sect, was naturally enormous.

Its diameter stretched a full hundred zhang.

Tables and chairs had already been arranged in rows around the training ground, while several hundred Wudang disciples who had heard the news gathered nearby to watch the sparring between the two sects' disciples.

After Miejue, Song Yuanqiao, and the others had taken their seats, Mo Shenggu, seventh among the Seven Heroes, stepped forward to preside over the matches.

As an Emei disciple and a Wudang disciple took their places in the center, the atmosphere on the training ground instantly turned solemn, and hundreds of eyes focused on the pair.

Mo Shenggu stood sternly to one side and declared, "We all belong to the righteous path of the martial world. This is an exchange of skill; stop at the proper point."

After the two disciples nodded in acknowledgment, Mo Shenggu stepped back two paces.

Once they had completed their formal salute, the tall female disciple from Emei was the first to dart forward. As she closed in, her wrist flicked, and the longsword in her hand let out a clear dragon-like cry. Her sword flowed like drifting clouds as it stabbed straight toward her opponent's wrist. It was none other than Flowing Cloud Swordplay from Emei Swordplay.

The Wudang disciple facing her remained composed. Facing the swift strike, his footwork was neither hurried nor slow. His body shifted slightly, and he evaded the sword tip like a breeze brushing willow branches, then countered with Child Worshipping Buddha from Wudang Cotton Palm.

His palm shadows flickered between solid and illusory. Though they seemed aimed at her left shoulder, they secretly carried the follow-up force of a grappling technique.

The two separated and closed in again in an instant, sword light and palm shadows intertwining. Within three or four exchanges, the Emei disciple's sword momentum was led astray, her footing became unsteady, and Zhang Songxi's fingertips lightly touched her Jianjing Acupoint.

Mo Shenggu shouted, "Stop! Wudang wins!"

Immediately afterward, Wudang sent out another sturdy disciple, whose power was heavy and forceful as he unfolded Wudang Long Fist with steady, solid strikes.

A female disciple from Emei answered with agile swordplay, using finesse to overcome strength. After thirty exchanges, she gained the upper hand with a nimble sword strike.

In the following matches, each side claimed victories.

The Emei disciples repeatedly seized the initiative through the unpredictability of their swordplay and the agility of their movement techniques, often deciding victory or defeat within only a few exchanges.

Yet the Wudang disciples possessed solid foundations and enduring internal strength, especially excelling at defense and neutralizing force. After stabilizing themselves in the later matches, they pulled back one victory after another through their deep foundations and the Taiji principle of using stillness to counter movement.

After watching several consecutive sparring matches, Gu Shao'an's heart stirred slightly.

"Sure enough, when it comes to foundations, Wudang still falls far short."

The Wudang Sect had been established for only a few short decades.

The reason it had become a top-tier force was, in truth, entirely because of Zhang Sanfeng, Great Wei's foremost martial artist.

Thus, when it came to the strength of Wudang's younger generation, they were not much different from Emei's disciples.

This was also why, after Zhang Sanfeng stopped descending the mountain so freely, Wudang had to join forces with righteous sects such as Shaolin and Emei in many of its affairs.

If it had been Shaolin, or any other top-tier force in the martial world with a heritage spanning several centuries, then even among the younger generation, it would have been exceedingly difficult for Emei to win even a single match.