It Was Just That They Were Not the Favored Ones

After Gu Shaoan had calmed his mind, Miejue slowly began to speak.

"Golden Summit Burning Cloud, Elephant Pool Sinking Moon; use gentleness to temper fierceness, Nine Revolutions Becoming Yang. Guide qi through the Ren Meridian, transform the Dantian's deficient fire, and let the San Jiao channel the spring."

Had it been Zhao Jingxuan and the others, Miejue might have recited it several more times.

But having witnessed Gu Shaoan's memory, Miejue recited the first level of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique only once before asking, "Have you memorized it all?"

Gu Shaoan replied, "This disciple has memorized it all."

Miejue nodded. "Your internal energy has only just condensed, so your control over it is insufficient. Try cultivating the Emei Nine Yangs Technique now. If any problems arise, your master can lend you a hand at once."

Hearing this, Gu Shaoan wasted no words. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and used his consciousness to guide the internal energy within his Dantian along the circulation route of the first level of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

The human body was profoundly mysterious. If the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Regular Meridians within it were the Yellow River, then the body also contained hundreds and thousands of Hidden Meridians, branching throughout the entire body like tributaries.

Different Internal Cultivation Methods involved different Hidden Meridians, as well as different Meridians and acupoints that needed to be opened.

That was why cultivating different Internal Cultivation Methods produced internal energy with different properties.

The Emei Nine Yangs Technique originated from the Nine Yangs True Scripture, then had been integrated by Emei Sect's founding ancestor, Guo Xiang, with her own martial arts in her later years. It was profound and intricate, so its circulation route was naturally complex.

As Gu Shaoan circulated his internal energy, he felt as if it were crawling like a snail, unbearably slow.

If it had been anyone else, discovering cultivation to be so difficult would inevitably have discouraged them. With their mind unsettled, their internal energy would be interrupted, and they would have to begin all over again.

But Gu Shaoan possessed a steady temperament and understood the profundity of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, so he naturally had the patience to endure.

Even though his internal energy moved through his body at an exceedingly slow pace, Gu Shaoan did not feel the slightest impatience.

A full half hour passed before Gu Shaoan successfully controlled his internal energy through one complete cycle according to the first level of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

After his internal energy completed a full circuit according to the Internal Cultivation Method, not only did it increase by one strand, but the energy within him also seemed to undergo some changes.

It was as though it had become two tiny flames, several degrees hotter than before.

This was precisely the change brought about by the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

[Emei Nine Yangs Technique Beginner Level. Achievement Points +10.]

Once his internal energy had completed one circuit along the cultivation route, the following cycles became much faster.

The second circuit took considerably less time, and his internal energy increased by another two strands.

By the third circuit, the time had shortened to the length of an Incense Stick, while his internal energy had gained another four strands.

By evening, after cultivating continuously for nearly two hours, dozens of strands of internal energy flowed gently within Gu Shaoan's body.

Within his Dantian, dozens of strands of origin internal energy also moved like little fish chasing one another's tails.

But at that moment, Gu Shaoan suddenly felt a faint stabbing pain from his Meridians, making him frown slightly.

At the same time, a vigorous surge of energy abruptly poured in through Gu Shaoan's shoulder.

Under the influence of that energy, the internal energy circulating within Gu Shaoan's body was forced back into his Dantian.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Miejue with one hand resting on his shoulder, a smile in her eyes.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan had opened his eyes, Miejue asked, "Did you just feel discomfort in your Meridians?"

Gu Shaoan nodded lightly.

Miejue explained, "Internal energy requires the Meridians as vessels through which to flow, but the human body's Meridians are fragile. Once they are overstrained, they will be damaged."

"You are still young, and your Meridians are even weaker. As you grow older and your internal energy tempers them, the amount of time they can bear the flow of internal energy will steadily increase. You need only proceed step by step."

Then Miejue changed the subject. "Get up now and look into the distance."

Though Gu Shaoan did not quite understand why, he still followed Miejue's instructions, stood up, and gazed into the distance.

"Hmm?"

Very quickly, Gu Shaoan sensed that something was off.

As his gaze traveled farther, Gu Shaoan discovered that his eyesight had improved somewhat.

Fixing his gaze on a patch of grass one zhang away, Gu Shaoan could even see the veins on the blades of grass.

Though Gu Shaoan had always had good eyesight, he absolutely could not have achieved this before.

Not only that, but with every breath, Gu Shaoan found the air fresher, while the sound of flowing water beside his ears had become clearer as well.

At this point, Miejue spoke again. "In martial combat, the Five Senses come first. When facing an enemy, the ears and eyes are paramount. If you cannot even see your opponent's moves clearly, how can you speak of responding to them?"

"Therefore, every Martial Artist must temper the Five Senses. There are methods of external cultivation and internal cultivation for doing so."

"There are many forms of external cultivation. For example, to temper one's visual sense, one may secure incense sticks to both sides of the temples to steady the head, then sway candle flames before the eyes and follow the flames with one's gaze."

"Internal cultivation, on the other hand, requires no such trouble."

"Ancient texts say: 'The liver's Foot Jueyin Channel connects to the eye system. The Foot Shaoyang Sinew has a branch that knots at the outer corner of the eye, forming the outer support and rising to the forehead. The eyes are the servants of the heart, while the heart is the dwelling of the spirit. The heart governs the blood vessels; when the eyes receive blood, they are able to see.' Thus, as a Martial Artist's internal energy continuously nourishes the corresponding Meridians, our Five Senses can be strengthened."

"The Emei Nine Yangs Technique is vast and profound, involving numerous Meridians and Hidden Meridians. As one's cultivation rises and the corresponding Meridians and acupoints are opened, the Five Senses will be greatly enhanced."

"When facing an enemy, no matter how swift their moves may be, we will be able to detect them at once."

"Of course, in the future, this must still be supplemented with appropriate training methods so that you can further master the Five Senses."

Understanding dawned on Gu Shaoan's face, and he finally understood why Martial Artists' reactions so greatly surpassed those of ordinary people.

At times like this, the value of a good master became apparent.

What Miejue taught Gu Shaoan was not particularly profound, but it was the foundation and common knowledge of cultivation.

If one followed a wild, unorthodox path and did not know these things, one might not even understand where one's own improvements had come from.

Seeing Miejue carefully explain the basic knowledge of cultivation to Gu Shaoan, Zhao Jingxuan and the others tactfully slipped away on light feet.

They looked toward Miejue, who still wore a gentle expression before Gu Shaoan in the distance.

Sitting far away to rest, Zhou Zhiruo rested her chin on her knees and said enviously, "Master is truly gentle with Junior Brother Gu."

Thinking back to after she had become Miejue's disciple, every time Zhou Zhiruo saw Miejue, the woman had worn an unsmiling expression that inspired fear at a glance.

In her usual cultivation, it was almost always the three senior sisters who instructed her.

Yet before Gu Shaoan, Miejue now seemed like a gentle elder at home. Her face bore a pleased, appreciative smile, and her manner and tone were thoroughly gentle. She had taught him continuously for an hour without showing even the slightest impatience.

Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's words, Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi could not help turning to look at Miejue, feeling a little envious as well.

Not to mention Zhou Zhiruo—even the three of them had not been treated so gently by Miejue these past few years.

Even when their cultivation had improved or they had completed sect assignments, receiving an "Mm" from Miejue, or a nod and a simple "Not bad," was already an exceptionally rare occurrence.

Over time, they had all assumed that Miejue treated everyone with that same frosty, unapproachable, and unsympathetic demeanor.

Only today did they discover that Miejue was not like this with everyone. It was simply that they were not the ones she favored.

For a moment, Zhao Jingxuan, Zhou Zhiruo, and the others looked at the master and disciple outside the distant bamboo courtyard with more than a little jealousy.