Ding Songyan asked Xu Chang'an with a broad smile:
"How has your martial training been going lately?"
Standing at the courtyard gate, Xu Chang'an said uneasily:
"The Blameless Profound Art is far better than what my master originally taught me. I've been using it to redo my body tempering and qi training lately. My body is stronger, my qi is more abundant, and I can already begin aperture refinement."
As he spoke, Xu Chang'an relaxed and remarked with heartfelt feeling:
"The difference between a good cultivation art and an ordinary one is no mere speck! Second Brother Ding, the Xiaoming Sect's arts must be even better. Which one do you primarily cultivate?"
"The Illuminating the Long Night Scripture." Ding Songyan watched Xu Chang'an with a kindly smile.
"Why didn't you choose the Celestial Stars Scripture?" Xu Chang'an asked, somewhat surprised. "It focuses on slaughter and defeating enemies, and it can even manifest a starry sky outside your body. How could anyone not yearn for that?"
Ding Songyan finally managed to rein in his smile and said seriously:
"Hasn't Demoness Ji frightened me enough already? I wanted to learn something that could counter the Sage-Slaying Path's arts."
Xu Chang'an glanced up at Ding Songyan, not daring to speak.
Ding Songyan could have guessed what the fellow was thinking even with his toes:
With Demoness Ji's strength and standing, Second Brother Ding, unless you encounter some other extraordinary opportunity, you'll never be able to counter her in this lifetime...
"Where's my copy of Legend of the White Snake?" Ding Songyan saw through him without exposing him and changed the subject.
Xu Chang'an led Second Brother Ding inside and retrieved the copy of Legend of the White Snake handwritten by Ji Hanyi from a hidden compartment.
As he returned it to its owner,