Chapter Fifty-Four: Xiao You, is this wine going to pour itself into my bowl, bro? (cont.)

The night breeze was cool, but the atmosphere in the small courtyard had grown somewhat tense.

All right, explaining this was actually a little difficult.

"Cough..."

Thoughts raced through Gu Chengming's mind, but he forced himself to remain calm. He cupped his hands and said:

"Elders, you've misunderstood. What this disciple was practicing just now was Hundred Bones Cry."

Ren Wencai and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance.

Though this Body Refining Technique was somewhat unorthodox, it was no secret within the sect.

It called for using the body as a furnace and making a hundred bones ring in unison. The process might be difficult, but they'd never seen anyone practice it in such a bizarre way.

Seeing that the two elders still hadn't said anything, Gu Chengming braced himself and began to make things up:

"These past few days, as this disciple practiced the technique, I suddenly sensed the true meaning contained within it. That meaning was so fierce and unyielding, as though it would shatter the bonds of heaven and earth and sweep across the eight directions and six corners."

[Hundred Bones Cry was delighted and thought, Heavenly Emperor Gu truly understands me! This is indeed the invincible emperor's true meaning of this honored one!]

Ignoring the sycophant in his mind, Gu Chengming continued with a straight face:

"However, this disciple is dull-witted. Though I can sense its meaning, I've been unable to resonate with it, and my cultivation has therefore progressed slowly. After much contemplation, I came up with an unorthodox method."

Zhao Wuji furrowed his brow. "What method?"

Gu Chengming told the two elders to wait a moment, then hurried back into the study.

Candlelight flickered inside. A messy pile of papers covered the desk.

He pretended to rummage through them, but in truth, he