In the small courtyard.
Gu Yuanqing emerged from the Spiritual Mountain Trial Space, his brows slightly furrowed.
"It still doesn't work. Although I can now link all the acupoints before the Grand Formation within my body collapses completely, I still can't form the Grand Formation and stabilize the Profound Martial Secret Treasure again. It seems this mental cultivation method still has gaps."
Over the past several days, he had read through all the secret manuals Void Form had left behind. Combining them with his earlier ideas, he had repeatedly altered the acupoint Grand Formation, yet every time he reached the crucial moment, all his efforts came to naught.
He sat up and reached into the air. A piece of Jade Bamboo, three feet and three inches long, flew from the table into his hand.
This piece of Jade Bamboo had been left behind by Old Man Tianzhu. It had been planted in the cliff that day, and no one had dared take it, so Gu Yuanqing had happily accepted it as well.
He had no idea what variety this bamboo was. It was emerald green throughout, crystalline and translucent. When he touched it, he could feel a faint coolness seeping into his body, instantly refreshing his spirit.
Whenever Gu Yuanqing read or thought, he liked to hold it in his hand, as though it made his thoughts move a little faster.
As he idly handled the Jade Bamboo, he picked up the scroll of the Remnant Scripture again.
He vaguely felt that the key to assembling the Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Formation could be found here. Calming his mind, he studied it once more, occasionally sinking his consciousness into the underground chamber to review insights concerning acupoint Array Formations. Comparing the two, he searched for errors in the Cultivation Technique he had devised.
An idea gradually took shape in his mind.
Although this scripture contains no complete Cultivation Technique, it discusses the way of heavenly humans. Acupoints reside within the human body like celestial bodies in the universe, each with different attributes, drawing upon and influencing one another.
The Cultivation Techniques under heaven are countless, but ultimately, profound martial Grand Formations are all formed from shifting combinations of formations such as two forms, three powers, four symbols, five elements, six harmonies, seven stars, eight trigrams, and nine palaces. Perhaps I could first dismantle the Heavenly Cycle Great Formation, divide the three hundred and sixty-five acupoints into numerous smaller formations, then combine those smaller formations into a Grand Formation.
Feeling that he had found another path, Gu Yuan returned to his room and took out paper and a brush. Following the records in other texts, he listed the attributes of the human body's acupoints one by one. From time to time, he sat quietly in visualization, focusing his awareness on the acupoints and checking his findings against the records of his predecessors.
Once immersed in his work, he forgot food and sleep. His thoughts seemed to gush forth like a spring.
Three days passed, and a new cultivation method took shape beneath his brush.
He entered the Trial Space to test it again. Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and took out paper and a brush to continue revising it.
Through constant testing and revision, another seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, Gu Yuanqing was about to test his revised Cultivation Technique again when he suddenly "saw" Eunuch Xu leading a squad of soldiers up the mountain.
More than half the loads the soldiers carried on their shoulder poles consisted of books of various kinds. There were even some cultivation manuals among them.
Gu Yuanqing's eyes lit up. With these books to consult, devising his Cultivation Technique might become easier.
He waited a little while before leaving the courtyard and heading to the front of the mountain, arriving just as Eunuch Xu and his party came up.
"Eunuch Xu, I trust you've been well since we last met." Gu Yuanqing cupped his hands with a smile.
Holding his fly-whisk, Xu Lianying bowed slightly. "Young Master Gu, you seem ever more unworldly, untouched by the dust of mortal life. Please accept my greetings."
"Haha, up here on the mountain, far from the mortal world, I couldn't stay touched by its dust even if I wanted to."
After exchanging pleasantries, Gu Yuanqing asked, "You've brought quite a few things this time."
"His Majesty heard that you enjoy reading, so he instructed me to bring some extra books. There are also some famous pastries and dishes from the Capital City, a few jars of fine wine, and some clothes."
"My thanks to His Majesty, and to you as well. That was thoughtful of you."
"His Majesty also said that if you need anything, you need only ask." Xu Lianying smiled, his words warm and gentle.
Gu Yuanqing could sense how different this visit was from the previous ones.
He had met Eunuch Xu only three times. He still remembered their first meeting: though Xu Lianying had spoken calmly, there had ultimately been a hint of lofty superiority about him.
At their second meeting, his words had carried a greater measure of respect.
Now, however, he had lowered his stance.
Gu Yuanqing knew perfectly well that all these changes stemmed from his own strength. He smiled. "What else could I possibly need up here in the mountains?"
Xu Lianying's expression briefly stiffened. Thinking Gu Yuanqing was referring to his imprisonment on the mountain, he bowed slightly. "If you have any other wishes, you may share them with me. Though I cannot make the decision, I can relay your words to His Majesty."
Gu Yuanqing paused, then smiled and waved a hand. "Nothing of the sort. Please don't read too much into it."
Xu Lianying breathed a sigh of relief and straightened. "We've brought quite a few books this time, so I'll have the men carry them to your courtyard."
"Thank you! Sorry for the trouble, everyone." Gu Yuanqing cupped his hands toward the soldiers behind him.
Xu Lianying stayed on the mountain for half an hour before leaving. From beginning to end, he never asked anything about Gu Yuanqing's cultivation, mostly discussing recent events in the Capital City. Only once, seemingly in passing, did he mention, "Princess Miaoxuan left for the Lingxu Sect three months ago. Before she departed, she also asked this old servant to inquire about anything you might need."
Gu Yuanqing calculated the dates. Li Miaoxuan must have gone to the Lingxu Sect shortly after meeting him, whereas the Great Qian Dynasty's princess's wedding had taken place a little over a month ago.
After seeing Xu Lianying off, Gu Yuanqing returned to the courtyard. He was exceedingly pleased as he looked over the dazzling assortment of books.
A quick glance revealed astronomy, geography, biographies, Cultivation Techniques, and all manner of miscellaneous subjects. They nearly filled the study.
He pondered, The emperor must be trying to ease his relationship with me, yet he's still unwilling to release me. After all, the Son of Heaven's word carries the weight of nine bronze cauldrons. To issue an order in the morning and change it by evening would cost him too much face. Still, even if he let me leave the mountain, I wouldn't want to go.
Gu Yuanqing pulled a cultivation manual titled Lingying Art from the shelves. It could only take a practitioner to the profound martial middle rank, but parts of its Cultivation Technique were still worth learning from. In particular, it offered unique insights into four acupoints.
Gu Yuanqing simply pulled over a chair, sat down, and began studying it closely.
His improved comprehension and the spiritual power that continued to grow through Mountain Observation allowed him to take in ten lines at a glance, their meaning imprinting itself clearly in his mind.
Gu Yuanqing greatly enjoyed these days spent reading. Every book was a crystallization of its author's spirit and cultivation. As he read through the manuals one after another, he found several useful points in each.
Over the next dozen or so days, apart from meals and his necessary daily cultivation, he spent almost all his time in the study.
All these insights and pieces of cultivation knowledge formed waves within his consciousness, constantly colliding and blending. Through revision and testing, the new Heavenly Dao Heart Zen Art gradually took shape as well.
That day, he emerged from the Spiritual Mountain Trial with a smile on his face.
At last, he had succeeded. For the first time, he had used the new Cultivation Technique to stabilize the Profound Martial Secret Treasure just as it was about to break free of the crimson palace!
However, he was in no hurry to try it in reality. This Cultivation Technique still had room for improvement, and it needed repeated testing in the Spiritual Mountain Trial. Only when it was absolutely foolproof could he truly begin practicing it.
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