Hearing Lu Chenghui's words and seeing True Person Changyue dash off at a speed that left him dumbstruck, Gou Shengtian's face darkened. Then he shook his head like a rotary electric shaver:
"Impossible. How could Qiyun Peak unleash the power of a Heaven Grade martial technique? Could someone have broken into the Shangyuan Sect?"
"No, though the Shangyuan Sect has declined over the years, its mountain-protecting array has remained intact. There's no way anyone could have broken in. Could it be... that a disciple of Qiyun Peak really has mastered a Heaven Grade martial technique?"
Lu Chenghui said with a smile, "Whether that's true or not, we'll know once we take a look!"
The two headed toward Qiyun Peak, but saw no sign of True Person Changyue along the way. Gou Shengtian sneered. "After all these years, junior sister still hasn't gotten rid of that rash, clumsy nature of hers. She's stubborn as a mule, like a little child."
Meanwhile, on Changyue Peak beside Qiyun Peak, fierce winds still swept across Changyue Platform. Liu Ruoning stood with her sword lowered as the lightning filling the sky gradually faded, lingering for a long time.
Yang Zhen, meanwhile, was astonished. In the short time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had actually broken through to the Essence Condensation Stage Third Layer.
He had upgraded the Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan into a Heaven Grade cultivation method, greatly improving its quality, but Yang Zhen had never heard of or seen a Heaven Grade cultivation method that allowed someone to cultivate so quickly.
How strange, but how exhilarating!
The true essence in the air was drawn toward him in tiny streams, as if attracted by something, and entered his body. At once, true essence surged through him like ocean waves, not only increasing his strength but also thoroughly cleansing his meridians and marrow.
This cultivation aptitude, this cultivation speed-it's practically a cheat!
"Junior brother!" A delighted cry rang out.
Liu Ruoning swept over like the wind, bringing a delicate fragrance with her.
"I did it, I did it!" Liu Ruoning giggled, her laughter as clear and pleasing as a bronze bell ringing through empty mountains. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Yang Zhen narrowed his eyes. Catching Liu Ruoning's fragrance, he felt ripples stir in his heart.
"Is this still the Wind and Thunder Sword?" Liu Ruoning asked, both shocked and delighted. "When did the Wind and Thunder Sword become so powerful? This... this is a Heaven Grade martial technique!"
Realization dawned on Liu Ruoning, and she cried out, staring at Yang Zhen in disbelief.
If what Yang Zhen had taught her had not been the Wind and Thunder Sword but some other cultivation method the Shangyuan Sect did not possess, Liu Ruoning would have been deeply worried. But the Wind and Thunder Sword was different. Almost every disciple of the Shangyuan Sect practiced this martial technique. The version Yang Zhen had taught her was simply a little strange: not only were the meridians through which its true essence flowed vastly different, but the circulation was also exceptionally intricate, surging like a great river. She had never expected the power it unleashed to be so terrifying.
Yang Zhen could tell that Liu Ruoning was genuinely happy.
Now that she had mastered a Heaven Grade martial technique, even if her cultivation was inferior to Duan Langcai's, she could put up a fight against him and even had a chance of winning.
Liu Ruoning really was happy!
So happy!
Junior brother Yang Zhen had brought about all these changes for her.
As Yang Zhen watched Liu Ruoning, his expression suddenly changed. His stomach hurt terribly!
Liu Ruoning jumped in fright and hurriedly asked, "Junior brother, what's wrong? Don't tell me this Heaven Grade martial technique isn't the Wind and Thunder Sword, and you stole it?"
Stole it?
Yang Zhen curled his lip and said, "What do you mean, stole it? I just had a flash of inspiration and thought the Wind and Thunder Sword might be practiced this way too. I was going to try it myself before teaching you, but who knew I'd find you here doing something stupid?"
"What?" Liu Ruoning's eyes widened. "How is that possible? Even the sect master..."
"That's because they're ignorant and narrow-minded..." Yang Zhen curled his lip, then his expression changed again. "Ow, no, I need to relieve myself."
With that, Yang Zhen vanished in a puff of smoke.
Wasn't cleansing the meridians and marrow supposed to make lots of black impurities seep out through the skin?
Why hadn't he expelled any impurities, and why did his stomach hurt so much?
Hearing the first part of what Yang Zhen had said, Liu Ruoning's eyes widened in shock. What did he mean, he thought the Wind and Thunder Sword could be practiced that way too?
The Wind and Thunder Sword had existed in the Shangyuan Sect for so long that not even the sect's founding patriarch had ever altered it, let alone anyone else. She had never heard of anyone daring to casually modify a cultivation method. One mistake could cost someone their life.
Yet Yang Zhen had not only actually modified it, but had even accidentally turned it into a Heaven Grade cultivation method?
Could it be... that junior brother is the heaven-blessed genius who appears only once in a thousand years?
Watching Yang Zhen's retreating figure as he fled as though for his life, Liu Ruoning burst out laughing.
Not long after Yang Zhen left, True Person Changyue arrived on Changyue Peak. She saw Liu Ruoning standing in a daze and called out to her for quite a while without getting a response. Alarmed, she was just reaching out to pat her shoulder when Liu Ruoning suddenly came to her senses and cried, "Master?"
True Person Changyue looked at Liu Ruoning with a strange expression and asked, "There was a fluctuation of power from a Heaven Grade martial technique here just now. Do you know what happened?"
"It... it was this disciple practicing a martial technique!" Liu Ruoning answered truthfully.
Lu Chenghui and Gou Shengtian, who were approaching, both jolted. Gou Shengtian in particular stumbled, tripping over a rock that would never have caught his foot under normal circumstances.
After reaching Liu Ruoning, Gou Shengtian said gravely, "Do you know what crime it is to practice another sect's cultivation methods and martial techniques without permission?"
Liu Ruoning's heart trembled. Practicing another sect's cultivation methods and martial techniques without permission was a grave offense. At best, one would be expelled from the sect; at worst, the sect would purge the offender.
Lu Chenghui and True Person Changyue's expressions darkened as well. It was not that they were too dull-witted and quick to jump to the wrong conclusion; the Shangyuan Sect truly had no other Heaven Grade cultivation method to offer besides the one no one could comprehend.
Now that Liu Ruoning had practiced a Heaven Grade martial technique, what else could it be but another sect's cultivation method or martial technique?
True Person Changyue glanced at Gou Shengtian, then walked over to Liu Ruoning and sighed. "Ruoning, tell your master what martial technique you practiced. As long as it isn't some crooked Evil Dao technique, I'll stand up for you!"
A flicker of emotion passed through Liu Ruoning's eyes at those words. She lowered her head and said, "Master, this disciple practiced the Wind and Thunder Sword!"
"Absurd!" Gou Shengtian glared in anger. Fixing his eyes on Liu Ruoning, he said, "You and I both know the Wind and Thunder Sword. How could it possibly be a Heaven Grade martial technique?"
Even True Person Changyue's expression had darkened. She knew the Wind and Thunder Sword all too well, down to every subtle movement of its true essence. Liu Ruoning was plainly lying, but she was puzzled. There seemed to be something strange about this lie, and Liu Ruoning did not look as if she were lying.
"That's because you're ignorant and narrow-minded..." Feeling somewhat wronged, Liu Ruoning instinctively repeated what Yang Zhen had said.
"You..." Gou Shengtian faltered, then pointed at Liu Ruoning in a fury.
"Enough. Ruoning, perform the Wind and Thunder Sword again!" Sect Master Lu Chenghui said gravely.
Gou Shengtian's eyes lit up. That was right. If she performed it again, the water would recede and the rocks would emerge. Could Liu Ruoning be trying to use this method to avoid the marriage proposal?
Gou Shengtian had practiced the Wind and Thunder Sword for decades and had never managed to unleash the power of a Heaven Grade martial technique with it. I really am ignorant and narrow-minded, hehe!
Liu Ruoning nodded, her expression turning solemn. The long sword in her hand roared like a dragon and howled like a tiger, with rumbling thunder rolling forth.
Gou Shengtian and the other two stared, their eyes and mouths opening wider and wider.
(End of chapter)