Assessment!

Only after his meridians had begun to feel slightly uncomfortable did Gu Shaoan open his eyes and let out a long breath.

"I finally cultivated the First Layer to Complete Mastery. That wasn't easy!"

Generally speaking, when a Martial Artist first began cultivating, their internal energy resembled mist.

Only as their cultivation gradually deepened would their internal energy become more solid, while its quality also changed.

There were two ways to achieve such a change.

One was to let time pass until one's cultivation became profound, then continuously compress one's internal energy to make it more condensed.

The other was to cultivate one's Internal Cultivation Method to an extremely high level, as Gu Shaoan had done now, thereby transforming one's internal energy.

Most Martial Artists in the martial world chose the former.

Just like Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi.

After cultivating the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer to Major Accomplishment, they began cultivating the Emei Nine Yangs Technique Second Layer.

It was not that they did not want to continue, but that they simply could not.

To cultivate an Internal Cultivation Method from Major Accomplishment to Complete Mastery required both talent and perseverance.

There was no shortage in the martial world of stubborn fools with lofty ambitions and an inflated sense of self-worth. Though lacking talent, they still wished to force their Internal Cultivation Methods to Complete Mastery and forge a solid foundation.

Yet after years of effort, they still failed to bring their Internal Cultivation Methods to Complete Mastery.

They had wasted several years for nothing.

Thus, aside from those truly gifted Heavenly Prodigies, ordinary people would decisively give up after trying it for a while and experiencing the difficulty involved. Instead, they would settle for cultivating their Internal Cultivation Methods to Major Accomplishment before moving on to the next layer.

But Gu Shaoan's circumstances were different. He had cheats.

Naturally, Gu Shaoan held himself to entirely different standards.

If he could not become one of that most exceptional handful even with cheats, then what was the point of having them?

Therefore, over the past month, aside from practicing Martial Skills, Gu Shaoan had focused mainly on cultivating the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

With a thought, Gu Shaoan summoned his attribute panel.

[Player: Gu Shaoan]

[Constitution: Excellent]

[Cultivation: Later Heaven Realm]

[Internal Cultivation Method: Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer (Complete Mastery)]

[Martial Skills: Willow Catkin Sword Technique (Mastery)—Current Proficiency: 1828, Sunset Swordplay (Initial Glimpse)—Current Proficiency: 408/500, Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon (Initial Glimpse)—Current Proficiency: 485/500, Golden Summit Cotton Palm (Initial Glimpse)—Current Proficiency: 415/500.]

[Current Traits: Abbess's Favor (Gold), Anointing (Gold), Sword Drawn Like a Rainbow (Purple)]

[Achievement Points: 987]

Over the course of a month, Gu Shaoan had brought all three martial arts that Miejue had taught him to the Initial Glimpse realm, and they were nearly at the level of "Entering the Hall."

Moreover, because the Willow Catkin Sword Technique was far less profound and complicated than the other three martial arts, he had spent roughly the same amount of time practicing it but gained the most proficiency from it instead.

His gaze swept over the system panel. Seeing the fruits of his efforts over the past month, even Gu Shaoan could not help nodding in satisfaction as a faint sense of accomplishment rose within him.

Finally, Gu Shaoan glanced at his current Achievement Points, and his eyes flickered.

A month of effort had finally brought his Achievement Points close to 1,000.

Yet Gu Shaoan did not continue cultivating to earn the remaining points. After resting briefly, he picked up the Wooden Sword on the table and rose to his feet.

For today was the date of the one-month assessment Miejue had previously set for him.

"I wonder whether passing Master's assessment will also earn me Achievement Points."

As Gu Shaoan stepped out of his room, that thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Filled with confidence, he made his way to Miejue's Bamboo Courtyard.

As though they too knew that today was the day Miejue would assess Gu Shaoan, Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, Bei Jinyi, and Zhou Zhiruo all stopped what they were doing and gathered over when they saw him heading toward Miejue's Bamboo Courtyard.

They also wished to see just how much progress Gu Shaoan had made after a month of secluded cultivation.

The courtyard gate was not closed. Miejue, who ordinarily spent her days either in her room or in the bamboo grove, was presently sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and reading.

How could Gu Shaoan not know that Miejue was waiting for him?

Although the gate was open, etiquette could not be neglected. Gu Shaoan still stood at the entrance and bowed. "This disciple greets Master."

Miejue raised her eyes and glanced at the sheathed Wooden Sword in Gu Shaoan's left hand, smiling inwardly.

After putting down her book and slowly walking out of the Bamboo Courtyard,

Zhao Jingxuan and the others followed with bows of their own.

With a casual wave of her hand, Miejue looked at Gu Shaoan and asked, "Are you ready?"

Gu Shaoan nodded. "Please instruct me, Master!"

Master Miejue's plain robes fluttered without wind. With a light leap, she landed three zhang away, anticipation in her gaze. "Give it your all. Let me see what you have learned this past month!"

"This disciple begs forgiveness for the offense."

Gu Shaoan did not waste words. He drove the Wooden Sword, sheath and all, into the soft ground. Internal energy instantly surged from his Dantian, and with the tip of his foot touching the ground, he twisted at the waist and launched himself forward like a silver dragon bursting through the clouds, charging straight at Miejue.

This sudden burst of speed made Miejue's eyes light up.

Before Miejue could think further, Gu Shaoan had already rushed before her. His palms overlapped as they pressed loosely before him, hanging empty in the air as though caressing a breeze or cradling willow catkins.

It was precisely the opening stance of the Golden Summit Cotton Palm. The strength throughout his body was heavy and contained. Though he seemed wide open, he was actually soft as a curtain of water, quietly waiting for his opponent to strike first.

He had actually used his movement technique to create distance, then assumed a defensive stance with the Cotton Palm, intending to lure Miejue into attacking.

Sensing Gu Shaoan's intentions, Miejue smiled inwardly. Yet she did not spoil his mood. Instead, following his wishes, she formed a sword with two fingers and thrust out with the Sunset Swordplay, aiming directly at Gu Shaoan's left shoulder.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan's palms fluttered. Just before Miejue's sword fingers reached him, the pair of palms he had held loosely before himself moved!

With his left foot as the pivot, he half-turned sideways. Rather than blocking head-on, his loosely held right palm twisted inward with indescribable flexibility, his wrist moving like a nimble snake. His palm hollowed slightly as it gently "slid" upward from below along the side of those fierce sword fingers!

That seemingly casual palm strike contained a special force. The instant Miejue's fingers touched Gu Shaoan's palm, they seemed to fall into a thick mire, their forward path strangely shifting downward and outward!

It was the sole force-dispersing move of the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, "Pine Waves Sending the Moon."

Gu Shaoan crossed his feet. As his internal energy circulated, he simultaneously used "Wind Dragon Without Trace" from Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon.

His waist and legs glided lightly, shedding the force contained in Miejue's finger strike before he suddenly advanced, raising his palm to continue striking toward Miejue's abdomen.

Using the Golden Summit Cotton Palm in conjunction with Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon, he neutralized the force and offensive momentum within her strike, then immediately closed in to attack again.

His advances and retreats were measured, neither hurried nor slow.

Although Miejue's finger strike had been casual and used less than one percent of her strength, Gu Shaoan's display while defusing it, and his command of Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon and Golden Summit Cotton Palm, had already far exceeded Miejue's expectations!