A Shortcut!

That's all for today.

The wind swept through the leaves, rustling softly.

Martial Arts Field.

Yang Dongxiong released his grip, and the Subduing Demon Sabre's cage dissipated into white smoke.

Liang Qu put down Fubo, his body drenched in sweat. He took the tea handed to him by the maid, drank it all in one gulp, and exhaled a breath of suffocation.

As summer approaches, the weather is getting hotter and hotter.

In another half month, the cicadas will also emerge from the soil, which will not only be stuffy but also dry.

Liang Qu sat down on the stone stool, glanced casually at his Master's empty right hand, and grinned as he asked.

"Master, did I just make a small nick in the Subduing Demon Sabre?"

Yang Dongxiong let out a shout.

"Your spear is made of golden feathers from the Great Demon Crimson Fire Bird and has bones of Ink Dragon Gold. Even ordinary Great Martial Master cannot obtain such a fine Spirit Weapon. Its sharpness is astonishing, and it is also equipped with the Taiqing Dragon, which is good at breaking through the protective energy."

"At the same level, if I encountered a brute force freak like you, I might just pierce a hole in someone's internal energy with a single spear thrust!"

"Hey, it's not as fun to fight without Fubo."

Liang Qu was quite pleased with himself.

Yang Dongxiong shook his head, stood in the shadows, and waved.

"It's sunny outside, come in and rest."

"They're here!"

After wiping his sweat and body with a towel, Liang Qu tidied himself up, put on his clothes, and went into the hall with Yang Dongxiong to wait for lunch.

For the next one to two months, he would come to the Yang Residence every morning to hone his true qi, naturally taking care of lunch as well. This brief respite would also alleviate the pressure from Su Guishan's "urging for food".

Your own recipes are not endless; you'll eventually run out of them.

While drinking tea and refilling his water bottle, Liang Qu stared at the landscape painting on the wall and suddenly had a brilliant idea.

"Master, besides experiencing pressure and life-or-death battles, are there any other Dharma Gate for cultivating true qi?"

"Have!"

Yang Dongxiong's words were affirmative.

Liang Qu was taken aback.

I asked casually, and I didn't expect it to actually exist.

He sat up straight and listened attentively. "Master, please enlighten me."

"Observe the celestial phenomena, understand the laws of the earth, and see the markings of birds and beasts."

"Observe celestial phenomena, understand the laws of the earth... and see the markings of birds and beasts?"

I could understand the first half of Liang Qu's sentence, but I didn't understand the second half.

I don't quite understand how the whole thing will contribute to the True Qi.

"Didn't you have a minor Sudden Enlightenment before, comprehending the Ape Fist?"

Liang Qu nodded.

That brief moment of Sudden Enlightenment allowed him to Blood Barrier and even comprehend a slightly different New Ape Fist.

The enlightenment gained through Sudden Enlightenment is not necessarily better than the original Dharma Gate.

As one of the three basic boxing styles that Yang Dongxiong placed in the Martial Arts School, Ape Fist is quite good for building a foundation. As an introductory teaching material, it is universally applicable and has no room for further improvement.

The New Ape Fist is actually not as good as the old one for beginners.

However, for Liang Qu personally, the New Ape Fist is definitely more suitable.

Every morning during his practice, he would do a set of exercises to loosen his muscles and bones, and then practice Fubo, feeling refreshed all over. In contrast, the old Ape Fist did not.

"The so-called observation of celestial phenomena and understanding of the earth's laws, in layman's terms, means observing unusual phenomena and wonders of heaven and earth, to the point of achieving a kind of Sudden Enlightenment."

By using one's mind and spirit to draw upon the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Opportunity, one can cleanse oneself and achieve the goal of transforming into true qi.

During my time serving in the army in the Northwest, I personally witnessed two extraordinary sights: once the Wind and Thunder Sky Pillar, and once the Long River Blood Plains. The second time, even more extraordinary treasures appeared: a Profound Blood Long Qi and half a Martial Saint Profound Weapon.

Although they did not have the fortuitous opportunity to participate and were merely bystanders in the events, they still benefited greatly from them, receiving the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Opportunity, and their true qi improved.

Especially Long River Blood Plains, who, having just emerged from a bloody battle, was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and nearly transformed into a prime minister, but unfortunately, his dull nature prevented him from achieving that.

"Xiang? "Liang Qu humbly asked for advice.

"Master, what is 'appearance'? What is 'appearance'?"

Yang Dongxiong dipped his finger into the tea and wrote the word "phase" one stroke at a time.

"You have two great true qi, one is the White Ape and the other is the Azure Dragon. If you can observe strange phenomena and wonders of heaven and earth and gain some understanding, and successfully manifest these phenomena and integrate them into your true qi, then that is the form!"

If I comprehend the Wind and Thunder Sky Pillar, then the Great Smiting Demon Subduing Saber will bring forth wind and thunder phenomena, becoming three times more fierce and deadly.

Conversely, if one comprehends the Long River Blood Plains, then when one strikes, the setting sun over the long river appears, and the sword's power is amplified.

This method requires perfect timing, location, and human factors; very few people possess it, but its benefits are immense.

"If one is gifted enough, is it possible to comprehend it all?"

"Yes! There are many people in the world who are exceptionally talented. I once saw a person who possessed three extraordinary phenomena."

The long river roars on, its momentum inexhaustible; the setting sun hangs low, its power stirring up clouds; the full moon shines brightly, its killing intent palpable.

However, gaining too much insight is not entirely a good thing; on the contrary, it can lead to confusion and disorder, and the power of one's actions may decrease rather than increase, making one inferior to those at the second or even first stage.

However, sudden Sudden Enlightenment can be unexpected, causing one to fall into a hazy inner state, often beyond one's control.

That's weird.

Having too much talent can also be a problem; it can lead to randomly carving things that enter one's true energy.

Liang Qu clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Master, are there few unusual phenomena in the world?"

Yang Dongxiong shook his head.

"There are quite a few, happening South Sea, but they are very brief, mostly lasting only a quarter of an hour or a quarter of an hour. They are fleeting and difficult to reach in time. By the time you hear about them, it is already over."

During my half-life in the military, I witnessed countless strange phenomena throughout Northwest China, sometimes occurring almost every one or two years.

However, the world is vast, and even Martial Saint cannot travel from the northwest south to the northwest east in an instant, so I have only encountered him twice.

Not only in the Northwest, but also in sparsely populated areas, there are many strange phenomena. For example, in the Jiang Huai Great Marsh Sea Moon Tide Rising, fairy Immortal Island Above the Clouds, Azure Ripple Glaze, Wind Whisper Echo...

I once witnessed the Sea Moon Tide Rising, but I gained nothing from it.

Having spent half my life struggling in the Northwest, most of what I've gained, achieved, struggled with, and felt has been there; things related to water haven't particularly resonated with me.

Liang Qu understood.

Master Yang served in the army for half his life. He was unknown at first, but after hard work and perseverance, he achieved some success. He also saved Xu Wenzhu by chance, and his career rose rapidly. He married Xu Shi and experienced the pain of losing his son.

The bitterness, sorrow, pride, and joy in my heart are not something I Human Dao.

The most profound memories left behind are all from the Northwest, making it easier to be moved by the wonders of the Northwest, to feel the world, and to be inspired.

on the contrary...

You can tell from the names of the scenic wonders.

The Northwest is a place of extraordinary scenery, full of iron will and unrestrained spirit.

The ones from Huainan are mostly ethereal and otherworldly.

The so-called fusion is perhaps to add a touch of ethereal beauty to a touch of ruthless brutality.

It doesn't match.

"What about the inscriptions on birds and beasts? Master, what does this mean? How should it be interpreted?"

"Flood Dragon roaming the water, you grew up in Huainan, so you're familiar with that, aren't you?"

"Very familiar."

"This can be considered 'the writing of birds and beasts'."

Liang Qu suddenly realized.

The world is truly amazing.

Yang Dongxiong continued, "The formation of celestial phenomena and terrestrial wonders adds to their power and majesty, while the markings of birds and beasts add to their spirit and nature."

Moreover...the world is filled with spirituality. Sometimes, even observing ordinary scenes—a snow-covered Heaven Mountain, a long river at sunset—can give those with keen perception insight. However, those with such abilities and talents must be especially careful to avoid mixing things up."

Liang Qu nodded, which meant he was too intelligent and could stuff anything into it, creating a hodgepodge.

Seeing Liang Qu nod, Yang Dongxiong thought for a moment and then added hesitantly.

"Actually, that's not entirely true. In this vast world, there are always oddballs and freaks. There was a man named Xu Wenxia who traveled to famous mountains and rivers and created twelve great landscapes and thirty-six small landscapes. His Mountains and Rivers Aspect are renowned as the most magnificent landscapes in the world."

?

Liang Qu felt that the story looked familiar for some reason.

Telling you about this person's deeds is not to encourage you to aim too high or pursue some grand vision.

Xu Wenxia's achievement of becoming the first Mountains and Rivers Aspect was indeed astonishing, but he also wasted too many years of his life, failing to reach the Grandmaster before dying of old age.

As your teacher, I only want you to know that sometimes a dead end is a way out, and a way out is a dead end; in everything, there are countless possibilities.

Liang Qu bowed respectfully.

"I have been taught with great care and respect, and I have learned from your teachings."

Liang Qu learned a great deal from Yang Dongxiong, which was not just due to the help from various parties.

"Oh, right, Master, there's one more thing."

"Explain!"

Liang Qu looked to the side.

The servants, who had been waiting patiently, understood and handed over a tray containing a thick stack of invitations.

"Master, I didn't think of it when I came yesterday. Many forces from the former Huaiyin Prefecture have moved here and sent invitations to my residence, inviting me to a banquet. There are more than a dozen of them. I don't know much about them."

I have no idea which places to go, which to avoid, or which are worth visiting. Asking around is too much trouble, and I don't know any of the prominent families in Pingyang Prefecture. Wen Bin and the others don't know either. Master, could you give me some advice?

Yang Dongxiong glanced at the invitation.

"Go ask your Master's Wife, I never worry about these things."

I'll go if she tells me to, and I'm too lazy to go if she says I don't need to.

Aba aba.

Upon hearing this, Liang Qu had no choice but to put away the invitation.

After the meal.

Liang Qu found his Master's Wife, spread out the invitation, and explained his request.

Xu Shi took the invitations, flipped through them one by one, and put them down as if dealing cards.

It is divided into four categories, arranged in a staggered order, and is concise and to the point.

"The first batch is still valid and worth visiting; the second batch is still valid but not worth visiting."

The third invitation is overdue; please send someone to inform them and offer an explanation. The fourth invitation is also overdue; simply reply politely, write a letter of refusal, and return the invitation.

"Should I bring a gift when I visit? If so, what would be appropriate?"

Xu Shi reached out her hand.

"Paper and pen."

Liang Qu retrieved his Ink Treasure from the desk beside him, ground the ink, and respectfully presented it.

Xu Shi licked the ink, thinking and writing as he went. He wrote down the names of several items, tore them off one by one, and tucked them into the corresponding invitations.

"If you don't want to put in the effort, just buy what I wrote down. I've also listed the price range for you. Just follow the list. If it's just for politeness, that won't be impolite. If you want to build a relationship, you'll have to put in some effort and figure it out yourself."

"Just go through the motions to avoid people complaining."

"It's already much better than the others," Xu Shi complained. "Zi Shuai has never asked me when I want to have a good meal. He just flips through the list and finds one that hasn't expired."

Liang Qu said, "Fourth Senior Brother acts as he pleases, which is naturally carefree. Everyone has different priorities."

"You're so good with words!"

Liang Qu chuckled.

No one can always have a smooth journey, nor can they always face setbacks.

You can choose which path to take.

Liang Qu chose the least strenuous route.

The Inner Canon states: Treat diseases before they occur, rather than treating diseases that have already occurred; govern disorder before it occurs, rather than governing disorder that has already occurred.

He puts in a lot of effort in ordinary times, but doesn't need to put in much effort when things happen, and he has the ability to do so.

Most conflicts are essentially rooted in a clash of interests.

Unless you have the ability to grow the pie bigger and the power to allocate your share, with so many resources available, the only way to move up is through competition for existing market share.

However, Liang Qu's foundation for his fortune was in the water.

I never fight with anyone for cake!

They pick their own vegetables, cook their own food, eat their own food, and occasionally share a bite with others.

This is one example.

Secondly, it's about how you conduct yourself in daily life.

If you go out and dig up some Mermaid Ruins, some people will naturally be jealous, but once you dig up the relics, everyone gets a batch of Mermaid Silk, and then we're all brothers.

I just hope you dig up more.

Leaving the Yang Residence.

Liang Qu rode up Red Mountain, slowly weaving through the woods, his Mental Link the mountain for a moment.

Round Head was unharmed, Fist was full of energy, but he was drowsy Cannot Move, so he was probably still sleeping. Ta Ta Kai energetic, so it was unclear whether he was fighting with someone.

Fat Catfish...

"Why isn't A Fei ready yet?"

Last night and this morning, Liang Qu used the link to locate the Fat Catfish twice.

It was the first time it had wandered around in the Deep Water Area, several hundred miles away, quite a distance. It must have just evolved and was having a blast.

The second time they were near the Toad, they mostly followed orders and went to find the Old Toad to investigate.

As a result, from early morning to afternoon, most of the day passed without a single reply.

Did the Old Toad beat you up? The Old Toad's strength is unknown, but he can talk, so he's at least a demon. It's just that his strength is easily overlooked.

Liang Qu, out of curiosity, followed the link and asked about the Fat Catfish, receiving an immediate response.

"Planning something big?"