Sometimes, It Was Only Right to Be a Little Underhanded

Internal energy was the foundation of a martial artist. Once something went wrong with one's internal energy, one would suffer reduced strength at best, and have one's path of martial arts severed at worst, making it impossible to advance further in internal cultivation for the rest of one's life.

Therefore, unless one practiced a special Internal Cultivation Method, a sudden increase in internal energy caused by external forces was no different from forcing seedlings to grow by pulling them upward.

But the Power Card was different.

Even though Gu Shaoan had used the Power Card to increase his cultivation by twenty years in an instant, this power felt as if he had painstakingly cultivated it bit by bit himself. It had not affected his foundation in the slightest.

Moreover, aside from increasing Gu Shaoan's own strength, the sudden surge in power would also greatly benefit his cultivation going forward.

As long as Gu Shaoan obtained the subsequent techniques of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, his profound internal energy would allow him to cultivate the Internal Cultivation Method with divine assistance.

For a time, Gu Shaoan felt like a poor man who had become wealthy overnight, constantly savoring the sensation of his vigorous internal energy surging through his body like a river.

Only after his body had fully acclimated to the rapidly increasing internal energy did Gu Shaoan's emotions gradually settle.

After pondering for a moment, the internal energy in Gu Shaoan's body once again began circulating according to the route of the first layer of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

As his internal energy surged, it consecutively sealed two of the three meridians and three vessels that had just been opened.

Most of his internal energy also retreated into his Dantian, leaving only a trickle flowing through his Meridians.

The appearance of these twenty years of power was far too strange. It would not matter when facing outsiders, but if he encountered Miejue or other elders of the Emei Sect, Gu Shaoan would find it difficult to explain.

Furthermore, Gu Shaoan had only recently joined the Emei Sect. He usually stayed by Miejue and the other members of the Emei Sect, and even if danger arose, he would not be the first one to charge forward.

Since that was the case, rather than deceive them with lies right away, it would be better to hide it for the time being.

He would continue showing others the same level of internal energy as before in his daily life. In a crisis, he could simply lift the seal. That way, it might instead become Gu Shaoan's greatest trump card.

After all, when one was out in the martial world, it was only right to be a little underhanded sometimes!

Next, Gu Shaoan's thoughts shifted, and he remembered his Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

Not long before descending the mountain, Gu Shaoan had only just obtained the second layer of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique. It would be inappropriate to ask Miejue for the subsequent techniques again so soon.

"Looks like I can only continue cultivating with the second layer and accumulate power. After returning to the Emei Sect, I'll ask my master for the subsequent techniques."

Gu Shaoan also understood why Miejue only taught the Emei Nine Yangs Technique one layer at a time.

As the saying went, one did not lightly pass on one's techniques, let alone an Internal Cultivation Method as supreme as the Emei Nine Yangs Technique.

With other sects, there might even be a rule that the most advanced Internal Cultivation Method could only be passed on to the Sect Leader.

The fact that Miejue could directly impart this martial art to every disciple was already exceptionally generous.

After considering what to do next, Gu Shaoan gathered his thoughts and once again closed his eyes, immersing himself in cultivation.

No one understood better than Gu Shaoan how treacherous the martial world would become ten years later.

Even Miejue could only be considered second-rate when looking at the entire martial world, let alone Gu Shaoan, whose power was far inferior to hers.

The sudden increase in power was certainly cause for celebration, but Gu Shaoan would not become conceited because of it.

In Gu Shaoan's heart, his current self had merely taken another major step along the long road of martial arts. He was still far from reaching the heavens in a single bound.

He was nowhere near qualified to be complacent.

A strong person remained strong because of their heart. If one's character was so weak that one could not persevere or work diligently over the long term, how could one hope to climb higher step by step, stand atop the highest peak, and look down upon all the other mountains?

Minor Heat.

The sky was stifling, like a steaming basket clamped over the earth. Thick, sticky summer heat pressed heavily against every inch of space. The sharp cries of cicadas pierced the stagnant curtain of heat without pause, adding even more restlessness.

Thirty li outside Yunyang Prefecture, several travel-worn carriages and a group of Emei Sect disciples riding horses hurried along the official road.

"Sect Leader, Wudang is just ahead."

At that moment, Juechen's voice suddenly came from inside the carriage.

Miejue still had her eyes closed. She gave a soft, indifferent "Mm."

Zhou Zhiruo, however, lifted the carriage curtain with a hint of anticipation and looked outside.

Gu Shaoan slightly turned his head and gazed into the distance. He also saw Wudang Mountain far away.

In the sweltering heat, the continuous mountains of Wudang resembled a slumbering azure dragon, stretching its majestic yet austere limbs amid the scorching Minor Heat of the seventh month.

Layer upon layer of peaks and ridges rose among endless deep green, with secluded valleys and ravines hidden within.

The foremost main peak stood solitary and extraordinarily steep, like a giant rafter stabbing straight into the blue heavens. Wispy clouds and mist wound around it like gauze, and even beneath the blazing sunlight, it exuded an otherworldly, immortal aura.

Compared with the mountains of Emei, it was somewhat less perilous but more majestic.

It certainly deserved to be called a blessed land of Daoism.

After the Emei party continued along the official road for several more li, Gu Shaoan, whose eyesight had improved greatly, also saw a group of Wudang Sect disciples standing at the foot of Wudang Mountain.

When the carriage stopped, Miejue, who had been resting with her eyes closed, finally spoke. "Get off."

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo followed Miejue out.

After getting off the carriage, the two stayed close behind Miejue and, together with Juechen and the other elders and disciples of the Emei Sect, walked toward the Wudang Sect disciples at the foot of the mountain.

When Miejue approached, a middle-aged man standing among the group at the foot of the mountain stepped forward. He had a resolute face and upright eyes.

"Abbess."

A smile appeared on Miejue's face as she returned the greeting. "Sect Leader Song."

Gu Shaoan raised his eyebrows slightly. How could he not know the man's identity?

He was none other than Zhang Sanfeng's foremost disciple of the Wudang Sect, the foremost of the second generation of disciples, and the current acting Sect Leader of Wudang—Song Yuanqiao.

"Little Sister Zhiruo."

Just as the two finished exchanging greetings, a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old young man beside Song Yuanqiao spoke excitedly, drawing the attention of Gu Shaoan and everyone else.

However, before Zhou Zhiruo could respond, Song Yuanqiao, standing in front of Miejue, darkened his expression.

"Outrageous! How can you be rude in front of the Abbess?"

His stern voice immediately made the young man stop the foot he had been about to move forward.

Yet his gaze remained fixed on Zhou Zhiruo, unable to shift away.

After scolding the young man, Song Yuanqiao said apologetically, "My son was rude. I hope the Abbess will not take offense."

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan also guessed the young man's identity.

Song Yuanqiao's only son, the foremost of Wudang's third generation—Song Qingshu.

Song Qingshu was already eighteen and would reach adulthood in another two years, while Zhou Zhiruo was only eleven, making her a month younger than Gu Shaoan.

However, girls matured early, and their physical development naturally progressed somewhat faster than boys'.

At present, Zhou Zhiruo was still young, but her delicate features already hinted at a beautiful countenance, revealing the beginnings of a beauty capable of overwhelming a city.

Beauty lay in the skin, but even more so in the bones.

Most rare of all was the gentle beauty of Jiangnan's water towns that Zhou Zhiruo carried with her, making her presence even more distinctive.

Noticing Song Qingshu's gaze, Gu Shaoan frowned slightly. Then he shifted one step sideways and blocked Zhou Zhiruo from view.