Using Emei Nine Yangs Technique to Bait

The nine sparring matches concluded. Including draws, the Wudang Sect won five matches, drew one, and Emei won three.

Suppressed cheers erupted from the Wudang disciples on the training grounds, their faces unable to hide their excitement.

The disciples on the Emei side, however, looked somewhat tense, clearly not satisfied with the outcome. Their gazes instinctively turned to Abbess Miejue, who sat at the head seat.

Abbess Miejue's expression remained as calm as a still pond, as if the victory or defeat before her hadn't stirred her emotions in the slightest.

When the disciples who had just finished sparring retreated, Miejue suddenly spoke.

"Shaoan, for the last match, you will go."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan felt a slight doubt.

Miejue was unaware of Gu Shaoan's significant increase in cultivation power.

Therefore, in Miejue's mind at the moment, Gu Shaoan should have only gained two years of cultivation power.

But Gu Shaoan's innate talent had reached an excellent level.

Two years of cultivation power was no less than four to five years of cultivation for ordinary martial artists.

The Wudang and Emei disciples who had sparred before were, at the youngest, only children, and at the oldest, just reaching adulthood. They were all juniors who had recently become inner disciples of the Wudang and Emei Sects, with shallow cultivation power and unrefined martial arts.

Their own cultivation power and mastery of martial arts were inferior to Gu Shaoan's.

Considering it, the strength of these disciples was at most comparable to the three bandit leaders on Heimu Mountain.

Why would Gu Shaoan personally need to participate in such a sparring match?

Despite his doubts, Gu Shaoan immediately replied to Miejue's command, "This disciple obeys."

After speaking, under Zhou Zhiruo's encouraging gaze, he slowly walked out from behind Miejue.

Seeing Gu Shaoan slowly emerge from behind Miejue, a knowing glint flashed in Song Yuanqiao's eyes.

It was common for disciples of friendly martial arts sects to spar with each other.

Moreover, the Wudang Sect and the Emei Sect had always had a good relationship since their founding.

Occasionally, disciples from both sects would spar and exchange techniques.

However, in recent years, Miejue had been busy dealing with the Ming Cult's various disturbances within their sphere of influence, and Wudang also had its own affairs to attend to, which left both sects with no time for sparring.

But today, Miejue had suddenly brought the Emei disciples to have their disciples spar. In Zhang Songxi's opinion, it was likely to broaden the horizons of her newly accepted disciple.

Furthermore, on the way up the mountain, whenever she mentioned her new disciple, Miejue's eyes were filled with a look of satisfaction.

This also made Song Yuanqiao curious: what was so extraordinary about Gu Shaoan that made Miejue so concerned?

However, looking at Gu Shaoan, who was at most a child, and remembering that Gu Shaoan had only been Miejue's disciple for a little over two months.

Song Yuanqiao could only give a few instructions and found the youngest inner disciple of the Wudang Sect.

He was twelve years old, not much different from Gu Shaoan.

As the two small figures stood three zhang apart in the arena, all eyes turned to them.

"Wait."

Just then, Miejue's voice suddenly rang out, drawing all attention.

Song Yuanqiao asked, "Abbess, is there a problem?"

Facing Song Yuanqiao's question, Miejue smiled calmly and slowly said, "To be honest, a year ago, True Master Zhang sent a letter, wanting to exchange Wudang's Wudang Nine Yangs Technique for our Emei Sect's Emei Nine Yangs Technique."

"However, at that time, I was harboring resentment due to the matter of the Heavenly Sword, so I refused True Master Zhang's request."

"But considering the friendship between our sects, it wasn't appropriate for me to sever this goodwill over a momentary grievance."

"Therefore, for the upcoming match, if my disciple loses to the Wudang Sect, I will exchange the Emei Nine Yangs Technique for Wudang's Wudang Nine Yangs Technique, thus maintaining the relationship between Emei and Wudang."

Song Yuanqiao and the others' eyes lit up.

Zhang Songxi, the fourth-ranked among the Seven Wudang Heroes, couldn't help but praise, "Abbess, your righteousness is commendable."

Song Yuanqiao and the others knew that Zhang Sanfeng had written the letter to obtain the Emei Nine Yangs Technique because he wanted to merge the Wudang Nine Yangs Technique with the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, extract their essence, and resolve the cold poison left in Zhang Wuji's body by the Mysterious Nether Palm.

Now, although Zhang Wuji was missing and no one knew his whereabouts, the cold poison in Zhang Wuji's body from the Mysterious Nether Palm was peculiar and difficult to remove without something extremely yang and powerful.

If they could obtain the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, they could resolve his cold poison and save his life when they found Zhang Wuji in the future.

In the arena, hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan's brows unconsciously rose, and the internal energy circulating within him paused, as if he were listening intently.

Miejue bringing him to Wudang this time was already somewhat strange.

Gu Shaoan did not understand Miejue's intentions.

Now, Miejue was proactively mentioning the Emei Nine Yangs Technique. In Gu Shaoan's view, it felt like a deliberate lure.

As Gu Shaoan pondered, Miejue's voice sounded again.

"However, as I just said, last year, True Master Zhang's actions were a bit excessive. If your sect's people win in the sparring match against my disciple, the Emei Nine Yangs Technique will be exchanged for the Wudang Nine Yangs Technique."

"But if my disciple proves superior and wins, the exchange of techniques will be called off! Wudang will also need to return our Emei's treasure, the Heavenly Sword."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan now understood Miejue's plan.

She actually wanted to use the opportunity of the two sects' sparring match to take back the Heavenly Sword from the Wudang Sect through him.

After understanding Miejue's objective, Gu Shaoan also understood why Miejue had specifically mentioned the time she took him in when introducing him to Gu Shaoan at the foot of the mountain.

It was clearly to dispel Song Yuanqiao's wariness.

Facing Miejue's words, Song Yuanqiao showed hesitation.

But thinking of the effects of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique, and of the deceased Zhang Cuishan and the ill-fated child Wuji, Song Yuanqiao sighed inwardly again.

After glancing at Gu Shaoan, Song Yuanqiao took a deep breath and nodded.

"The Heavenly Sword was originally Emei's property, only remaining with Wudang last year due to unforeseen circumstances. Since the Abbess is so righteous and willing to offer the Emei Nine Yangs Technique in exchange for my Wudang Sect, how can I refuse?"

Seeing Song Yuanqiao agree, Miejue was inwardly pleased, but her expression remained calm as she softly hummed in acknowledgment.

However, Song Yuanqiao was a man of integrity.

Knowing Gu Shaoan's age when he joined the sect, he did not wish to bully him excessively and finally had Zhang Songxi select an inner disciple from Wudang of a similar age to Gu Shaoan.

A moment later, on the training ground, a twelve-year-old boy in a blue martial arts uniform stood thirty feet apart from Gu Shaoan.

The two boys were similar in build, both possessing the youthful, unpolished contours unique to their age.

The Wudang boy, watched by numerous senior disciples and even uncles and elders, couldn't help but feel nervous on his face, still showing traces of childishness. Yet, he still took a deep breath, striving to imitate the composure of his elders, drew his sword, and said crisply, "Wudang, Zhang Yuting, I request your guidance!"

"Emei, Gu Shaoan."