Like this, like this, then like this. Got it?

"Most of our Daoist martial arts, especially our internal cultivation methods, come from the scriptures.

"In the Pure Yang Daoist Sect in particular, eighty percent of our martial arts come from the Pure Yang Daoist Canon.

"And the Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method requires more than internal power in the meridians. You also need to comprehend the principles in the Pure Yang Daoist Scripture and the ideas within its pages. The more thoroughly you comprehend them, the more you can achieve twice the results with half the effort in your cultivation."

Zhang Junbao led a group of Pure Yang disciples to the training ground, first giving them a lecture on theory, then explaining quite a few rules governing circulation through the meridians.

Zhang Qingyuan did the same. This was the opening spiel most Daoist priests used when imparting their teachings.

The disciples listened attentively, some even holding paper and brushes, ready to take notes.

Once he had said enough, Zhang Junbao began explaining how he cultivated.

It was still the same explanation he had given that day. To practice internal cultivation, first read the cultivation method. Once you understood it, cultivate, and then internal power would form. After that, circulate it through one full cycle after another.

For external techniques, first break the moves down and learn them, then integrate them into a coherent whole, and then simply put them to use.

External techniques also required reacting on the spot. You had to be clear on which martial arts to use against which kinds of enemies...

After hearing all this, the disciples felt it did not seem particularly useful, but although they did not understand it, they were impressed.

Then Zhang Junbao began cultivating. First, he led them through internal cultivation. After circulating through one full cycle, they went to the scripture library to read scriptures, followed by external techniques such as sword techniques, palm techniques, and lightness skills.

Once they finished this whole routine, it was time for the disciples to ask questions.

An inner disciple stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Martial Uncle Junbao, this disciple would like to ask: when I practice the Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method, whenever my True Qi reaches the Baihui acupoint, I always feel a swelling sensation. Especially in the Chong meridian, I always feel as though something is blocking its progress. How should this disciple improve this situation?"

Holding the Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method, Zhang Junbao explained as he read, "The Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method produces Pure Yang True Qi. The method has nine realms, divided into eight stages."

Everyone listened attentively. After reading the method just once, he could accurately identify its characteristics. He truly was a heaven-sent genius.

Zhang Junbao took out a meridian diagram and pointed to its acupoints and meridians as he explained, "The Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method corresponds to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, so to master this cultivation method more proficiently, you must first understand the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.

"You just said you have problems with circulation through your Baihui acupoint and Chong meridian. This means you haven't laid a solid foundation. The central palace corresponds to earth, the foundation of everything. Earth generates metal, metal generates water, water generates wood, and wood generates fire. In your cultivation, you need to deepen your understanding of the central palace."

"May I ask, Martial Uncle, this disciple believes his understanding of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams is fairly thorough, but how should I apply it to the cultivation method?"

"You understand it?" Zhang Junbao asked.

"I do."

"Once you understand it, you just practice according to the method's mnemonic verses, circulation routes, and the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, don't you?"

"That is exactly how this disciple practices."

"Then how could you fail to lay a solid foundation?"

"This disciple does not know. That is why I wished to ask Martial Uncle to clear up my confusion."

Zhang Junbao thought for a moment, then explained his own understanding of the Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method and the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams before asking, "Is this how you understand it?"

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

"Then that shouldn't happen. If you really understand it like this, shouldn't you get it as soon as you practice?"

Do you know the formula?

Yes.

Do you have the problem?

Yes.

Can you plug it into the formula?

Yes.

Then why can't you work out the answer?

I dunno.

Zhang Junbao could not figure it out. The disciple's understanding and circulation routes were correct, so how had problems cropped up in his practice?

"I've got it!" Zhang Junbao paused. "There must be something wrong with your meridians. Come here, I'll straighten them out for you."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle."

The bewildered disciple approached. Zhang Junbao pressed a hand against his dantian, sent a wisp of True Qi into him, and guided it through his meridians.

Under every disciple's expectant gaze, Zhang Junbao lowered his hand, then said blankly, "Your meridians are perfectly normal?"

The disciple: "..."

Zhang Junbao continued, "Wait for now. I'll think of a solution for you later. Who else has a question?"

Another disciple stepped forward and bowed. "Martial Uncle, when this disciple practices the Pure Yang Two Forms Sword, some sword moves always feel poorly executed. I hope Martial Uncle can offer some guidance."

Zhang Junbao perked up, thinking, I didn't find the problem with his internal cultivation, but external techniques are my strong suit. Especially sword techniques!

"Perform it for me first."

"Yes!"

The disciple drew his sword and performed the Two Forms Sword before him.

Once he finished, Zhang Junbao said, "You've memorized all the sword moves, but the last four moves don't flow together when you execute them.

"Here, give me the sword."

The disciple held out the sword. Zhang Junbao took it, recalled the moves and key principles of the Two Forms Sword, and said, "Watch closely!"

With that, he began performing the sword technique.

His sword swept out like a roaming dragon, his steps tracing the pattern of the Two Forms giving rise to the Four Symbols. As he turned, the positions of the Eight Trigrams emerged.

Sword Qi blazed like a rainbow, filling the Eight Trigrams around him without a single gap, every move vicious.

In his hands, the sword technique appeared exceptionally fluid, its power greatly increased. Unlike the health exercises the disciple had performed earlier, his execution was extremely lethal.

All the disciples present practiced martial arts, so naturally, they knew just how proficient and accomplished Zhang Junbao was with the Two Forms Sword.

Finishing the sword technique, he stood with the sword in hand.

The disciple gaped, swallowed, and asked in astonishment, "May I ask, Martial Uncle, have you ever seen this sword technique before?"

Zhang Junbao returned the sword to him. "No."

"Then how are you so proficient at it?"

"Didn't you just demonstrate it once?"

He said it as though it were only natural!

"This disciple is in awe!" The Daoist put away his sword and bowed in admiration.

Zhang Junbao asked, "We can talk about your admiration later. After watching my demonstration just now, could you see clearly how I used the last four moves?"

"Did you see clearly?"

"I did."

"Did you remember them?"

"I did."

"Perform them once."

The disciple performed them again, still stumbling through them.

Puzzled, Zhang Junbao asked, "Didn't you say you understood what you saw?"

The disciple looked just as innocent. "Martial Uncle, my brain tells me I really did understand the key principles, but my body and hands tell me they haven't learned them."

"You're still not familiar enough. Keep practicing!" Zhang Junbao sighed helplessly.

He had never thought teaching disciples was this difficult before. He felt so angry.

I've demonstrated it so clearly. Can't you just copy it?

He looked at the other disciples. "Who else has a question?"

Meanwhile, after going through the same routine, Zhang Qingyuan had also reached the stage of explaining things to the disciples.

Addressing the same Two Forms Sword Technique, Zhang Qingyuan told the disciple, "The Two Forms Sword Technique isn't confined to the Two Forms. The Two Forms give rise to the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols give rise to the Eight Trigrams. So first, you need to locate the Eight Trigrams' positions and use the first three moves to seal off the Eight Trigrams around you. Can you understand it when I explain it like this?"

"This disciple understands."

"Good. Follow along. I'll break it down and explain it move by move. If there's anything you don't understand, stop me right away."

"Yes!" Everyone watched him intently.

Zhang Qingyuan broke down the moves that disciple had failed to learn, then said, "Look, the purpose of this strike isn't to combine an upward flick with a thrust. What the Sword Qi does is secondary. The main purpose is to seal off the Xun position. Xun represents wind, so this move must be fast.

"Your turn is stiff. Go back and practice that movement a thousand times. You need to swing this strike out at the same time as you turn.

"Also, sword moves are rigid, but people are flexible. Your opponent won't cooperate with your moves when fighting you, so you must learn to apply them flexibly.

"Who was it that just asked me how to link A Phoenix Comes with Grace to Dragon Soars and Phoenix Dances?"

"It was me, Martial Uncle."

"Those two moves are difficult for you to link, but I see you execute Sword Emerges from the Nine Palaces well, so you can absolutely replace A Phoenix Comes with Grace with that move.

"They're all offensive sword techniques, with no blocking involved. Using these two moves means you're attacking your opponent, so you can absolutely strike this way."

"Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle."

"Back to you. Start with the Eight Trigrams' positions. You're a Daoist too, so naturally you understand the function of each position. Then combine that with the sword moves. Whatever each position corresponds to determines how you should execute your sword moves.

"Some are fast, some slow, some strong, some weak. You shouldn't blindly pursue speed. Understand?"

"This disciple understands!"

Zhang Qingyuan led them through the sword technique together. Whenever someone did not understand, he broke it down and explained every last detail.

If they understood everything and were merely unfamiliar with it, he guided their sword practice.

Zhang Qingyuan was very patient. In his previous life, he had been a poor science student himself, so naturally, he understood how struggling students thought.

Besides, these Pure Yang disciples were not even poor students. There were simply a few problems they could not work out. After Zhang Qingyuan's detailed explanations, they naturally understood.

The day passed, and evening came.

The disciples gathered in the dining hall. Jiang Qinyue found Fang Ming and asked a question she already knew the answer to. "Senior Brother, how was Martial Uncle Junbao's teaching?"

The little fatty sighed, unable to put his suffering into words.

"Ah, it's a long story."

Then he recounted his troubles.

Basically, he had asked Zhang Junbao about several difficult points in the Dongting Skill. Zhang Junbao had answered, "First do this, then this, then this. Understand?"

Fang Ming had shaken his head.

Zhang Junbao had explained it again, deliberately slowing his speech this time, but Fang Ming still did not understand. This, this, then this-what, what, and what was that supposed to mean?

He was puzzled, and Zhang Junbao was even more puzzled.

Whenever I finish creating a cultivation method, I explain it to Brother Yuan even more carelessly than this. How does he get it as soon as he hears it? Later on, I didn't even need to give him any special reminders. He could do it without hearing it.

He felt like a math teacher explaining a problem to someone utterly clueless about science. No matter how he taught him, he just would not learn. He wanted to strangle him!

Meanwhile, Zhang Junbao carried his tray over to Zhang Qingyuan, his head lowered.

"Oh, if it isn't my Brother Bao. How did it go?"

Zhang Junbao sighed. "Fine, you're the better one. Happy now?"