Mountain Bandits Run Rampant

"Good!"

Master Miejue let out a low cry, unable to suppress the delight in her voice any longer.

She closed in like a ghost, no longer probing, and struck Gu Shaoan's chest with her left palm using the Golden Summit Cotton Palm as well!

Gu Shaoan hurriedly gathered his breath and met her palm with his own, countering each move as it came.

One large and one small figure, their palms danced through the air at the same time.

Standing nearby, Zhou Zhiruo could no longer make out their movements.

Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi, however, grew increasingly grave as they watched, unconsciously revealing their shock.

"In just one month, he has actually cultivated the Golden Summit Cotton Palm to the Initial Glimpse stage. What kind of talent is this?"

Before the Bamboo Courtyard, after Gu Shaoan and Miejue had exchanged more than a dozen palms, Miejue suddenly formed an orchid gesture with the fingers of her right hand and swept them before Gu Shaoan's eyes. As she obstructed his vision, her left palm shot out like a venomous snake leaving its hole.

It was the sixth form of the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, Buddha Lamp Guide Across.

However, this palm was not aimed at Gu Shaoan's heart, but at his shoulder.

The strike came with incredible speed, completely locking down the space around Gu Shaoan.

There was no escape!

Gu Shaoan lowered his body and fiercely thrust out a single palm. It was swift and forceful, direct and unyielding, carrying an unstoppable momentum.

Their palms met, and Gu Shaoan used the remaining force transmitted through his hand to drift back a zhang.

Miejue followed closely behind, palm shadows accompanied by howling wind sweeping toward him.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan pulled out the Wooden Sword he had planted in the ground before their exchange.

The Wooden Sword left its sheath, and a sharp light blazed in Gu Shaoan's eyes!

In the instant before the palm wind reached him, he advanced rather than retreated! His waist and abdomen twisted with astonishing force. There was none of the Cotton Palm's softness, none of the agility of movement techniques—only the pure ferocity of the Sunset Swordplay!

The fusion of his force, coupled with the effect of Gu Shaoan's [Sword Drawn Like a Rainbow] trait, made this sword strike as swift as a startled swan.

But in the next instant, two fingers suddenly rose and directly caught the Wooden Sword descending through the air.

Though she had stopped Gu Shaoan's attack, Miejue could not suppress the stunned expression on her face.

With the Wooden Sword pinched between two fingers, Miejue stared blankly at Gu Shaoan.

This move alone was enough to reveal Gu Shaoan's attainments in the Sunset Swordplay.

He had clearly entered the Initial Glimpse stage as well.

Master Miejue slowly withdrew her arm, her wide sleeve falling back into place.

Staring at Gu Shaoan, who stood two steps away, still breathing hard and barely maintaining his footing, her gaze was deep and solemn as an abyss. Beneath her icy expression, turbulent waves plainly swept through her heart.

The youth's back, straightening once his breathing settled; the hand gripping his sword, steady as a mountain; the extraordinarily bright look in his eyes... all confirmed a fact that shook her to the core!

After a long while, Miejue took a deep breath and said with a smile in her eyes, "In one month, your Sunset Swordplay has gained the might to melt gold, your Golden Summit Cotton Palm has grasped the essence of yielding and deflecting, and your Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon now lets you advance and retreat freely. All three martial arts have reached the Initial Glimpse stage! Very good!"

Though the two had exchanged fewer than a hundred breaths, Miejue's eye was exceedingly sharp.

Moreover, all three martial arts Gu Shaoan had used were taught by Miejue herself. How could she fail to see his attainments in them?

After hearing Miejue confirm Gu Shaoan's progress, the shock in Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi's hearts deepened further.

Yet unlike Zhao Jingxuan and Bei Jinyi, who were delighted by Gu Shaoan's progress and talent even amid their astonishment,

Ding Minjun said nothing. She merely watched Gu Shaoan calmly, no one knowing what she was thinking.

Faced with Miejue's praise, Gu Shaoan smiled, while inwardly letting out a long breath.

The last time he had faced Miejue, his internal energy had only just taken shape. Even when using martial arts, he could at most unleash a few moves.

Strictly speaking, this was Gu Shaoan's first true battle using martial arts against an opponent.

It would have been impossible for him not to feel nervous.

Fortunately, the result was good.

Then Gu Shaoan replied, "Thank you for your praise, Master."

[Congratulations, player, for passing the master-disciple assessment. Achievement Points +200.]

Glancing at the system message that appeared before him, Gu Shaoan's expression shifted slightly.

As expected, simply completing an assessment gives even more Achievement Points than a breakthrough in martial arts cultivation.

Miejue smiled and said, "Though your progress is gratifying, remember not to grow complacent."

"This disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master."

Seeing Miejue's smiling eyes and her gentle, kindly manner, Zhou Zhiruo recovered from her shock and could not help imagining the day when she, too, might receive Miejue's recognition and praise like this.

"Oh, right. Two days ago, the disciples stationed in Jiading Prefecture sent a letter back to the mountain. It said that Mountain Bandits have been causing trouble in Yushan City of Jiading Prefecture these past few months. I have heard that several of their leaders know Martial Arts as well."

"Since you have mastered all three martial arts I taught you to the Initial Glimpse stage, you can come along this time. Gain some practical combat experience, build your courage, and broaden your horizons."

Gu Shaoan had not expected that, just over a month after joining the Emei Sect, he would be able to leave the mountain again so soon.

"Everything shall be decided by Master."

Miejue nodded. "Then we will depart two days from now. Remember to pack your things. If you do not know what to bring, ask your other senior sisters."

Seeing that Miejue was about to return to the Bamboo Courtyard, Gu Shaoan hurriedly said, "Master, this disciple has successfully cultivated the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer. I ask that Master teach this disciple the subsequent Internal Cultivation Method."

Hearing Gu Shaoan's words, Miejue was initially stunned. But when she recalled his near-secluded, bitter cultivation over the past month, she quickly accepted it.

"Then follow me inside!"

After saying this, Miejue swept her gaze over Zhao Jingxuan and the others before saying, "Minjun, Zhiruo, you come as well! If I encounter trouble while outside, I will need you, Minjun, to look after Zhiruo and Shaoan."

Ding Minjun promptly replied, "This disciple accepts the order."

After Zhou Zhiruo answered, a delighted expression appeared on her face.

Miejue waved her hand in dismissal, and the others tactfully dispersed.

However, after they had scattered, Miejue's gaze lingered imperceptibly on Ding Minjun's back.

A trace of resolve unexpectedly flashed through her eyes.

The shifting thoughts in her mind made Miejue's expression inexplicably gloomy. But when her gaze returned to Gu Shaoan, it was as if her eyes had been immersed in a clear spring, and she immediately felt much better.

Even the gloom in her heart seemed to have dispersed by more than half in that instant.

After bringing Gu Shaoan into the Bamboo Courtyard, Miejue casually asked, "To what stage have you cultivated the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer?"

Facing Miejue, Gu Shaoan replied, "Before coming here, this disciple had just cultivated the Emei Nine Yangs Technique to the Major Accomplishment stage."

It was not that Gu Shaoan did not trust Miejue.

But comprehension was impossible to measure. No matter how quickly Gu Shaoan improved in Martial Skills, others would only assume that his comprehension was extraordinary and would not suspect anything else.

Yet one's innate constitution could be measured.

Gu Shaoan's innate constitution was merely of superior quality. If he had cultivated the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer to Complete Mastery in one month, such progress would probably rival even those Heavenly Prodigies blessed with peerless constitutions.

How could Miejue not become suspicious?

At that point, complications would inevitably arise.

Anything taken too far would ultimately bring more harm than benefit.

Rather than tell the full truth, it was better to conceal part of it. That would save him much trouble while ensuring that no one would ever know Gu Shaoan's true strength.