Observe Its Way, Apply Its Art

Prince Qing summoned Chen Chuanshan over. He had originally intended to ask about Gu Yuanqing, but upon seeing this, he knew Chen Chuanshan likely did not know much. If he wanted to learn more, he could only return to the Imperial Palace and ask the Emperor.

Chen Chuanshan noticed Prince Qing's amusement, but with a Grandmaster making a move, what could a mere Profound Martial Seventh Layer like him do? He could not even catch a glimpse of the man's shadow. He could only swallow his frustration and cup his hands. "Prince, did you summon this subordinate because you have orders?"

Prince Qing pondered for a moment. "Six sects will be arriving at North Spring Mountain this time. Have their accommodations been properly arranged?"

Chen Chuanshan replied, "Within North Spring Mountain, there are twenty-one separate courtyards that were once used by elders, deacons, and true disciples, ninety-six row houses for Inner Sect Disciples, and several dozen more rooms for Outer Sect Disciples and servants. All of them have been cleaned up. Even if several hundred people arrive, there will be enough room. This subordinate has already had people take care of all these matters—"

Prince Qing nodded. "In that case, leave Young Master Gu's courtyard vacant for him."

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

"Also, the closest sect to this place is Green Luan Gate. They should arrive tomorrow. Most of Green Luan Gate's members are women, and their conduct is rather peculiar. Have the soldiers keep a closer watch. Sect members are unlike those in the army; do not provoke any unnecessary conflicts. After all, the Imperial Court still needs to make use of them."

"This subordinate understands."

Back Mountain, Repentance Cliff.

Gu Yuanqing stood atop the sheer cliff face, a longsword in hand.

The mountain winds raged through the gorge, yet his body stood as steady as a pillar holding up the heavens.

Then he unfolded a sword technique, his footwork employing the Great Yi Illusionary Sky Steps. His sword appeared and vanished like a ghost, every thrust emerging from somewhere unimaginable.

This was the first time in months that the gaunt old man had seen Gu Yuanqing wield a sword again. He looked as though he had seen a ghost.

"What sword technique is this? How can it be so bizarre?!"

He imagined himself in the midst of it, and his expression immediately turned incomparably grim. If he faced such a sword technique, he feared he would not even withstand three moves. The Big Dipper Sword Technique, which he had always taken pride in, seemed riddled with flaws before this sword technique. In an instant, the old man's heart turned to ashes.

Seeing Gu Yuanqing's swordsmanship, he even wondered what difference it would make if he recovered the North Spring Sword Sect's secret treasury.

It was not surprising, really. With another sword technique, things might not have been so extreme. But Gu Yuanqing's technique had been deduced through countless battles against the North Spring Sword Sect's sword arts, relying on his peerless talent in the sword.

It would not be an exaggeration to say these sword moves had been created specifically to break the North Spring Sword Sect's sword techniques!

Gu Yuanqing had naturally noticed the old man watching him practice, but he no longer cared.

The True Martial expert hidden here, once difficult for him to contend against, now amounted to nothing in his eyes.

After finishing his sword practice, Gu Yuanqing sat cross-legged atop the peak of the wind, sensing the unusual feeling carried by the raging gale.

He discovered that although he was observing the same North Spring Mountain from the Front Mountain and the Back Mountain, the feelings they gave him were entirely different.

At the Front Mountain, what he had "seen" was the nourishment of heaven and earth, life's vigorous vitality overflowing everywhere.

But now, what he "saw" was the struggle for life beneath heaven and earth. Birds spread their wings to shelter their chicks beneath them; insects desperately clung to rocks with their legs so they would not be blown away by the mountain winds.

All manner of weeds and trees clung to the sheer cliffs, striving to seize every chance to survive!

It was not that he had been unable to "see" these things before. Rather, though he saw them, they had never entered his eyes. People always unconsciously focused on what they wished to see, while overlooking things they considered unimportant.

Just like today, when he had finally realized that the so-called Grandmaster had actually been himself.

A single leaf before one's eyes could hide Mount Tai. What he had comprehended from today's experience was like removing the leaf that had always covered his eyes, allowing him to truly begin seeing North Spring Mountain clearly—and seeing himself clearly.

Gu Yuanqing sat there motionless throughout the night. Only when the morning sunlight fell upon his cheeks the next day did he open his eyes.

There was a natural liveliness in his gaze, as though all worldly dust had been washed away.

He rose to his feet and looked around. A joy like being deeply moved appeared on his face. "So this is the true North Spring Mountain—and this is the true North Spring Mountain Master."

"Aunt Feng, just leave the hot water there," Gu Yuanqing said softly without turning around.

The middle-aged woman smiled and nodded, placing the basin of hot water on a rock before turning to leave. But after taking two steps, she stopped.

"Just now... just now, did I hear someone talking?" She suddenly turned to look at Gu Yuanqing, only to find him still standing there.

"It must have been my imagination. How could I possibly hear someone talking?" Feng Tao left with a puzzled expression.

Only after a while did Gu Yuanqing walk over to the basin and wash his face with the hot water. His hair, face, and clothes were covered in dust swept up by the raging winds.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. He froze, then closed his eyes. With a light snap of his fingers, the dust and grime clinging to his entire body flew away one after another, gathering into a ball before flying beyond the cliff and falling below.

Gu Yuanqing was left spotless!

His gaze fell upon a blade of grass that had only just sprouted. With a shift of thought, that tender shoot slowly unfurled.

Gu Yuanqing smiled faintly. "So this is also Object Control! A person's understanding will always be constrained by their original knowledge. This must be the so-called Knowledge Barrier."

He returned to the room and lightly waved his hand. Countless specks of dust flew out of the room in orderly streams.

"I once always thought of Object Control as using my will to command an object, but that was merely a lesser path. Mountain Observation and Object Control are seeing and using. In Mountain Observation, one sees the changes of all things within North Spring Mountain and the mysteries of heaven and earth. And control is not simply command—it is observing those mysteries and applying them. In other words, observe its Way, apply its art."

Gu Yuanqing's mind was utterly clear. His peerless Comprehension gradually revealed its sharp edge, as though he remained at every moment in a state bordering on enlightenment.

At this time, North Spring Mountain welcomed new arrivals once more.

In the morning, a large group of well-trained servants arrived first. A steward under Prince Qing addressed them and assigned their duties.

At around the third quarter of the hour of the Rooster in the afternoon, a group of women entered North Spring Mountain.

These women were dressed in all manner of styles. Some were flamboyantly adorned, their words and conduct wanton. Some carried themselves with elegant grace, like talented beauties. Others wore indifferent expressions, keeping everyone a thousand miles away.

"Soldier, why do you not dare look at me? Do you think this humble woman is too ugly to bear looking at?" A barefoot woman in white swayed with every step, her delicate voice sounding as though she might burst into tears.

The soldier's face flushed crimson. He did not dare say much. Before receiving these women, the general had given clear orders: anyone who truly mistook these women for wanton ladies and tried to take advantage of them would be sorely mistaken. Sometimes, if one carelessly stretched out a claw, one would not even know how one died.

"Elder Guo, we soldiers are not like the people of the martial world. Could you perhaps instruct your disciples not to overstep their bounds?" A Lieutenant receiving the guests frowned as he spoke.

Elder Guo, who led the group, wore a crimson robe. She turned back and snorted coldly. "All of you, quiet down."

The group fell silent for a moment, but before half a quarter-hour had passed, they returned to their usual chatter, chattering away as lively as ever.

Elder Guo grew angry. Turning back, she shouted, "Whoever speaks again will pay for all their rouge and cosmetics themselves during this trip!"

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