Using the Emei Nine Yang Skill to Bait

Nine sparring matches concluded. Including draws, Wudang won five matches and drew one, while Emei won three.

Suppressed cheers erupted from the Wudang disciples on the training grounds, their faces unable to hide their excitement.

The Emei disciples, on the other hand, looked somewhat tense, clearly not satisfied with the outcome. Their gazes instinctively shifted to Abbess Miejue, who sat at the head seat.

Abbess Miejue's expression remained as placid as a still pond, as if the victories and losses before her hadn't stirred her in the slightest.

Once the disciples who had just sparred retreated from the arena, Miejue suddenly spoke.

"Shao'an, for the final match, you shall go!"

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shao'an felt a slight suspicion.

Miejue was unaware of Gu Shao'an's significant increase in power.

Therefore, in Miejue's mind at this moment, Gu Shao'an should have only gained two years of cultivation.

However, Gu Shao'an's innate talent had reached an excellent level.

Two years of cultivation were not inferior to ordinary martial artists who had trained for four or five years.

The Wudang and Emei disciples who had sparred earlier were young, the youngest barely ten years old, and the oldest just reaching adulthood. They were all juniors who had recently been promoted to Inner Sect Disciples of the Wudang and Emei Sects, with shallow cultivation and unrefined martial arts.

Their own cultivation and mastery of martial arts were inferior to Gu Shao'an's.

All in all, the combat strength of these disciples was at most comparable to those three bandit leaders on Blackwood Mountain.

Why would Gu Shao'an need to personally participate in such sparring?

Despite his doubts, Gu Shao'an immediately responded to Miejue's command, "This disciple accepts the order."

After speaking, he slowly walked out from behind Miejue, under Zhou Zhiruo's encouraging gaze.

Watching Gu Shao'an emerge slowly from behind Miejue, a flicker of understanding crossed Song Yuanqiao's eyes.

It was common for disciples of friendly martial arts sects to spar with each other.

Moreover, the Wudang Sect and the Emei Sect had maintained a good relationship since their founding.

It was not uncommon for disciples from both sects to spar and exchange knowledge.

However, in recent years, Miejue had been busy dealing with the Ming Cult's disturbances within their sphere of influence, and Wudang also had its own matters to attend to, leaving both sects with no time for sparring.

But today, Miejue had suddenly brought the Emei disciples to spar with the Wudang disciples. In Zhang Songxi's opinion, it was likely to broaden the horizons of her newly accepted disciple.

Furthermore, on the way up the mountain, whenever Miejue mentioned this new disciple of hers, her eyes were filled with a look of satisfaction.

This also made Song Yuanqiao curious: what was so extraordinary about Gu Shao'an that Miejue cared so much about him?

However, looking at Gu Shao'an, who was at most ten years old, and considering that he had only been Miejue's disciple for just over two months.

Song Yuanqiao could only give a few instructions and find the youngest Inner Sect Disciple of Wudang Mountain.

He was twelve years old, not much different in age from Gu Shao'an.

As the two small figures stood thirty feet apart in the arena, all eyes turned to them.

"Wait."

Just then, Miejue's voice suddenly rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

Song Yuanqiao asked, "Abbess, is there a problem?"

Facing Song Yuanqiao's question, Miejue smiled calmly and said slowly, "To be honest, a year ago, Zhang Zhenren sent a letter, wanting to exchange Wudang's 'Wudang Nine Yang Skill' for our Emei Sect's 'Emei Nine Yang Skill'."

"However, at that time, this nun was resentful due to the matter of the Heavenly Sword, so I refused Zhang Zhenren's request."

"But considering the friendship between our two sects, it would not be right for me to sever this good relationship over a moment of resentment."

"Therefore, in the upcoming matches, if my disciple loses to Wudang, I will exchange the 'Emei Nine Yang Skill' for Wudang's 'Wudang Nine Yang Skill', thus maintaining the relationship between Emei and Wudang."

Song Yuanqiao and the others' eyes lit up.

Zhang Songxi, the fourth among the Seven Wudang Heroes, couldn't help but praise, "Abbess, your righteousness is commendable."

Song Yuanqiao and the others knew that Zhang Sanfeng had originally written to exchange for the 'Emei Nine Yang Skill' because he wanted to merge Wudang's 'Wudang Nine Yang Skill' with Emei's 'Emei Nine Yang Skill', extract their essence, and resolve the cold poison left in Zhang Wuji's body by the 'Xuanming Palm'.

Now, although Zhang Wuji was missing and no one knew his whereabouts.

However, the cold poison in Zhang Wuji's body from the 'Xuanming Palm' was special, and it was difficult to remove without something extremely strong and yang.

If they could obtain the 'Emei Nine Yang Skill', when they found Zhang Wuji in the future, they could resolve his cold poison and save his life.

In the arena, hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shao'an's brow unconsciously furrowed, and the inner force circulating within him paused, as if he were listening intently.

Miejue bringing him to Wudang this time was already somewhat strange.

Gu Shao'an did not understand Miejue's intentions.

Now that Miejue had proactively mentioned the 'Emei Nine Yang Skill', in Gu Shao'an's view, it felt like she was setting a trap.

As Gu Shao'an was contemplating, Miejue's voice sounded again.

"However, as I just said, last year, Zhang Zhenren's actions were a bit excessive. If your sect's people win against my disciple in the sparring, the 'Emei Nine Yang Skill' will be exchanged for the 'Wudang Nine Yang Skill'."

"But if my disciple proves superior and wins, the matter of exchanging cultivation techniques will be dropped! Wudang must also return our Emei's treasure, the Heavenly Sword."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shao'an finally understood Miejue's plan.

She actually wanted to use the opportunity of the two sects' sparring to get the Heavenly Sword back from the Wudang Sect through him.

Once he understood Miejue's objective, Gu Shao'an also understood why Miejue had specifically mentioned the timing of him joining the sect when introducing him to Song Yuanqiao at the foot of the mountain.

It was clearly to dispel Song Yuanqiao's wariness.

Facing Miejue's words, Song Yuanqiao showed hesitation.

But thinking of the effects of the Emei Nine Yang Skill, and of the deceased Zhang Cuishan and the ill-fated young Wuji, Song Yuanqiao sighed inwardly.

After glancing at Gu Shao'an, Song Yuanqiao took a deep breath and nodded.

"The Heavenly Sword was originally an item of Emei, only left at Wudang last year due to unforeseen circumstances. Since you, Abbess, are so righteous and willing to exchange the Emei Nine Yang Skill with our Wudang, how can I refuse?"

Seeing Song Yuanqiao agree, Miejue was inwardly pleased, but her expression remained unchanged as she softly hummed in acknowledgment.

However, Song Yuanqiao was a man of integrity.

Knowing Gu Shao'an's age when he joined, he didn't want to bully him too much, so he had Zhang Songxi select an Inner Sect Disciple from Wudang of a similar age to Gu Shao'an.

A moment later, on the training ground, a twelve-year-old boy in a blue martial arts uniform stood three Zhang away from Gu Shao'an.

The two boys were similar in build, both possessing the youthful, unformed contours characteristic of their age.

The Wudang boy, watched by many senior disciples and even Shishus, couldn't help but feel nervous on his still-childish face. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath, striving to imitate the composure of his elders, drew his sword, and crisply declared, "Wudang, Zhang Yuting, I await your guidance!"

"Emei, Gu Shao'an."