Chen Ganliu's first reaction was—I'm doomed.
Not long ago, he had just been proven to be "a remnant of the Demonic Sect," and had even received the Mind-Wandering Zen Blade's recognition. Especially that recognition from the Mind-Wandering Zen Blade—it was ironclad, utterly indisputable.
This Immortal Flying Blade had been refined by Yao Hanshan for several hundred years. Other than a "direct disciple," who could possibly earn its recognition?
Even an ordinary direct disciple wouldn't do. Neither Jiang Ningxue nor Xie Zhanrou could control the Mind-Wandering Zen Blade. One had to be a disciple who had inherited the master's mantle.
In an instant, Chen Ganliu came up with seven or eight plans, but not one of them was useful. He was utterly helpless and didn't dare go out to "welcome" his master's old close friend. All he wanted was to find somewhere to hide.
Nan Shiheng and Yun Susu had an exceptionally close relationship. She called out several times, but when no one came out, a faint trace of surprise arose in her heart. Could it be that Susu isn't in Dragon Cloud Cave?
Or is she still in secluded cultivation and unable to hear me?
But why isn't Qinghong here either?
Although Dragon Cloud Cave was located within Green Leaf Mountain, cultivators took every precaution. Yun Susu had still set up restrictions in the cave abode, allowing only her two disciples to enter and leave freely.
Nan Shiheng came from a prestigious orthodox sect. Even if her friend's cave abode had no restrictions, she would not barge in uninvited. After waiting a little longer and calling out several more times without receiving a reply, she had no choice but to place the Spirit Medicine she had brought at the entrance to Dragon Cloud Cave. She then wrote a short note, raised her hand, and released a cluster of Golden Radiance that enveloped the Spirit Medicine and note. It transformed into a streak of Golden Radiance and shot through the air.
Even though Chen Ganliu knew that this senior fellow disciple had already left, he still didn't dare go out.
As it happened, only half a day after Nan Shiheng left, Yu Qinghong returned to Dragon Cloud Cave with a Flower Basket slung over her arm. Seeing a cluster of Golden Radiance in front of the cave abode, she recognized it as a spell from the Immortal Encounter Sect.
Nan Shiheng and Yun Susu were extremely close friends, and had therefore taught each other some minor spells that their sects permitted to be passed on.
Yu Qinghong happened to know this one as well. She reached out, broke Nan Shiheng's spell, took the Spirit Medicine and note, and entered the cave.
When she saw Chen Ganliu, she asked, "When did Fairy Nan come? Why didn't you bring her inside?"
Chen Ganliu didn't dare tell the truth. He replied, "I just returned from Myriad Talisman Tower. I didn't see any Fairy Nan."
"I didn't know what this cluster of Golden Radiance was, so I didn't dare touch it."
"Did Senior Sister go gather medicine for Master again?"
Yu Qinghong let out an "oh" and said, "I can only crudely process ordinary Spirit Medicine. Recently, I gathered enough medicine for a batch of Nine Spirit Jade Profound Pills, but I knew I didn't have the ability to refine them, so I went to Uncle-Master Shen and asked him to help refine a batch of spirit pills. I haven't been in the cave abode for more than ten days."
"I just returned today, and I saw that Fairy Nan had sent over another batch of Nine Spirit Jade Profound Pills."
"I'll take them to Master..."
After Yu Qinghong exchanged a few words with Chen Ganliu, she suddenly revealed a faint look of surprise and said, "Little Junior Brother, how did your cultivation rise so much?"
Chen Ganliu hurriedly said, "I have to thank Little Senior Sister for the insights you gave me. I had very little to do at Myriad Talisman Tower, so I spent some time cultivating and made a little progress."
Yu Qinghong was somewhat unconvinced. She asked, "Which Spirit Talismans have you mastered?"
Chen Ganliu replied, "I've learned all thirty-six introductory Spirit Talismans."
Yu Qinghong was even less willing to believe him. Wanting to test this little junior brother, she said, "You've learned them all? Then demonstrate them for me."
Having learned from his previous experience, Chen Ganliu didn't dare complete them in one breath. He drew all thirty-six Spirit Talismans and used the Heart Talisman Technique, slowly outlining them one talisman at a time. Even so, he nearly made Yu Qinghong's eyes pop out of her head. She cried out inwardly, Is this little junior brother's talent really that formidable?
It's only been three months, and he's already mastered all thirty-six Green Leaf Spirit Talismans?
She tested Chen Ganliu on several key points of the Green Leaf Sect's talisman techniques. Chen Ganliu understood some and not others, answering each question while taking the opportunity to ask about several points himself.
Yu Qinghong nodded and thought, As expected, his talent for cultivation is astonishing. He truly is a superb immortal seed sent by Little Martial-Uncle.
She said, "I'll take the medicine to Master first. Later, come to the quiet room where I cultivate, and I'll give you detailed guidance."
Chen Ganliu breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately grew worried again. He thought darkly, Who would have imagined that Senior Sister had a friend like this?
The two of them are so close that they'll certainly visit each other often in the future. I managed to hide this time, but how can I keep hiding every time?
What method can I find to solve this problem once and for all?
After delivering the refined Spirit Medicine to her master, Yu Qinghong called Chen Ganliu to the quiet room where she cultivated and began carefully instructing him in the Green Leaf Spirit Talisman Technique.
Although Chen Ganliu had achieved something in his studies, he had learned without a teacher, and remained hazy and unclear about many of the finer points.
Under Yu Qinghong's guidance, many of the difficult points that had troubled him were smoothly resolved one after another. He couldn't help saying gratefully, "It's all thanks to Senior Sister's guidance. Otherwise, I'm afraid I could never have understood the wondrous applications of these spells in my entire life."
Yu Qinghong smiled. "You're my junior brother, and we share the same teacher. How could I not guide you?"
"Now that you've learned the thirty-six introductory Spirit Talismans, you should also begin learning proper Dao arts."
Chen Ganliu was overjoyed. He asked, "With Master in seclusion, won't you be scolded for teaching me Dao arts without permission?"
Yu Qinghong smiled. "Our Green Leaf Sect doesn't have so many filthy rules. Since Master accepted you as a disciple, there's no reason for him to hold anything back. What difference is there between Master teaching you and Senior Sister teaching you?"
Chen Ganliu was beside himself with joy and put on an attentive posture.
Yu Qinghong said, "Although our sect has many spells, the fundamental Dao art is the one hundred and eight Green Leaf Spirit Talismans jointly created by the Patriarch and the two Grand Elders—in other words, our Grandmaster and Ancestor Qi, the Heavenly Moon Fairy."
"This is a method of entering the Dao through talismans. As long as you cultivate step by step, you'll have hope of reaching the True Sun Realm."
"However, at present, only the Ancestor has advanced to the True Sun Realm. Our Grandmaster and Ancestor Qi, the Heavenly Moon Fairy, stopped at the peak of the Spirit Embryo Realm, always remaining one step short."
"In terms of the level of its Dao arts, within the Great Gan Dynasty, only the Immortal Encounter Sect's Azure Emperor Jia Yi Art is a shade more profound than our Green Leaf Spirit Talismans."
"The thirty-six Green Leaf Spirit Talismans you've learned are merely what is taught to beginners. In truth, every Spirit Talisman is incomplete, and its wondrous applications are somewhat lacking."
"Once you become a true disciple of the Green Leaf Sect by formally taking a master, you can learn the complete versions from your elders. They are also the fundamental secret arts of the Qi Refining stage."
"Once you reach the Golden Core Realm, you can receive instruction in another thirty-six Spirit Talismans. If you can advance to the Spirit Embryo Realm, you'll learn all one thousand and eight Green Leaf Spirit Talismans."
Chen Ganliu listened with his blood surging, but soon afterward, his spirits sank slightly. He thought darkly, I'm afraid I'll never get to learn the thirty-six Spirit Talismans of the Golden Core Realm.
Still, mastering the true inheritance of the thirty-six introductory Spirit Talismans is already a great stroke of fortune. In my previous life, how could I ever have dared hope for something like this?
Please give me the last few monthly votes for July.
Before you continue