Am I actually a genius?
Upon hearing Wuxin’s words, Gu An almost laughed.
He spoke with a smile, “In my eyes, you’ve always been a genius. Could it be that you wish to pass on your cultivation technique to me?”
Wuxin nodded and said, “When I say genius, I mean compared to the others in the valley. However, when compared to my brothers and sisters, my innate talent is quite mediocre. The cultivation technique I practice is called Daoist Expansion Skill, taught to me by a divine monk.”
“Once one cultivates this skill, their cultivation realm won’t increase, but their cultivation level continuously accumulates. I plan to release the seal on my realm before my life’s limit approaches. By then, my spirit root qualification and lifespan will transform. However, once the seal is broken, the Daoist Expansion Skill will become ineffective.”
After listening to this, Gu An couldn’t help but be interested in the Daoist Expansion Skill.
“What realm is that divine monk at?” he inquired curiously.
Upon hearing this, Wuxin shook his head, “I am not clear about his cultivation level. He calls himself an Immortal Seeking Daoist.”
“If he is a Daoist, why do you call him a divine monk?”
“He has been fully ordained and wears a kasaya. How could he be a Daoist? My appearance is modeled after him. He said I would have extraordinary destiny in the future and forcefully shaved my head. The scar on my head is his doing, making it so I can’t grow hair now.”
As he said this, Wuxin felt quite wronged. He wished to be handsome like Gu An and be liked by girls.
Gu An didn’t continue to question and asked Wuxin to describe the Daoist Expansion Skill.
He wanted to see just how mystical the Daoist Expansion Skill was.
Wuxin began to explain the Daoist Expansion Skill seriously, and the explanation took an entire hour.
The Daoist Expansion Skill truly was profound. Even the breathing techniques were incredibly complex, and to Gu An, who was of a higher cultivation realm, the Daoist Expansion Skill had even more hidden secrets.
“Senior brother, have you memorized it? Or should I write it down for you to see tomorrow?” Wuxin asked with concern.
Gu An smiled and nodded, “Alright, this skill indeed sounds formidable. Thank you for your kindness. Let’s rest for tonight.”
“What’s there to thank, what’s our relationship?” Wuxin laughed. He was pleased, feeling he had finally helped his senior brother.
After finishing, he turned around and left.
As soon as he went downstairs, Gu An began to practice the Daoist Expansion Skill.
Wuxin worried that he wouldn’t remember, so Gu An went along with Wuxin’s idea, to avoid exposing his current talent and realm.
In reality, as long as it wasn’t a particularly special Daoist Sorcery, Gu An could remember it firmly in his heart just by listening to the words.
…
Three days passed, and in the woods, Gu An was exchanging sword techniques with Su Han.
That day when Qiu Qianli caused trouble, Su Han was the one who stepped forward with a sword, which moved Gu An deeply, so he decided to teach him a few moves.
Initially, Su Han didn’t hold much hope, thinking his master was just bored, but the fighting turned out completely different from what he had expected.
Gu An, holding a wooden sword, used simple footwork and even more ordinary sword moves, yet he was able to effortlessly break down every single one of Su Han’s attacks.
Su Han was greatly shocked, and Gu An’s image grew significantly in his heart.
After dozens of moves, the sword in Su Han’s hand was flicked to the ground by Gu An.
Su Han, looking at the wooden sword hovering in front of his throat, couldn’t help but swallow nervously and turned to Gu An in astonishment.
Gu An sheathed his sword and looked at him with a smile, asking, “How was that?”
“So impressive…” Su Han replied with embarrassment.
Gu An shook his head, “I’m not asking you to evaluate me, but to ask what you felt.”
Su Han was stunned for a moment, then reflected carefully.
Wait a minute!
Something came to him, his expression changed dramatically, and he looked at Gu An with shock, cautiously asking, “Master, were you using the moves from the Hateful Heaven Divine Sword?”
Gu An nodded, “Yes, I don’t have a deep understanding of the Hateful Heaven Divine Sword, but do you know why I could decipher your sword moves?”
“Why?” Su Han pressed.
“I’m faster than you.”
“But…”
“You feel that I am slower than you? Yet I always manage to easily dismantle your sword moves?”
“Yes, master, it really feels like you are very slow, but just…”
“Think about it carefully. I seem slow because you are watching me as a person. My eyes, however, are on your sword. Before you strike, I’ve already judged your sword’s trajectory. As you strike, I do too, but as a defender, my sword swing is nowhere near as extensive as yours. Hence, when our swords clash, my speed is less than yours, yet I can catch up.”
Gu An patiently explained, and Su Han listened with a frown, beginning to carefully recall the sword exchange they had just had.
Su Han quickly understood.
Indeed, from the moment the two of them drew their swords, the outcome had already been decided.
Su Han raised his eyes to Gu An, a look of admiration on his face, “Master, you are truly amazing. You were able to practice the Hateful Heaven Divine Sword better than me after only watching the sword manual once.”
Gu An stepped forward, smiling, “In fact, I have also practiced sword techniques, so I understand them better than you. But only you know this. You mustn’t tell others. I also carry some grudges and cannot let people know that I understand swordsmanship.”
Upon hearing this, Su Han was deeply moved, immediately kneeling on one knee, raising his hand to swear.
“I will never reveal that master is skilled in swordsmanship. If I do, may thunder strike me down, and may I live a bitter and solitary life!”
Gu An quickly pulled him up, saying irritably, “There’s no need for such an oath. If you promise, I will believe you.”
Although he said so, he was still very pleased with Su Han’s attitude.
Given his way of doing things, taking the risk to instruct Su Han in swordsmanship was already a gamble.
Su Han scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
Gu An continued to instruct Su Han in swordsmanship. Although he had not practiced the Hateful Heaven Divine Sword diligently, his achievement in the Taicang Divine-Shocking Sword made it easy for him to impart some pointers.
An hour later, Gu An left the forest, leaving Su Han to practice swordsmanship alone.
He arrived at the entrance of the valley, his gaze fixing on the wooden railing of a courtyard ahead, where a figure stood accompanied by the servant disciple Yang Min.
Jiang Qiong!
Under the bright sunlight, how dare this scoundrel directly enter Mystic Valley?
Gu An internally lamented. He became aware of Jiang Qiong approaching Mystic Valley, which was why he had ended his private instruction of Su Han ahead of time.
He chose not to intervene earlier because Jiang Qiong flew here on a sword without attempting to conceal his figure or aura.
Gu An walked briskly towards them, and upon reaching Jiang Qiong’s side, he said to Yang Min, “You can go busy yourself with other matters, I’ll attend to her.”
Relieved, Yang Min hurriedly left.
Jiang Qiong turned to look at Gu An and smiled, “Your disciple really is timid.”
Gu An said, “Let’s go upstairs to talk.”
Jiang Qiong had no objections and followed him to the attic.
Once inside, Gu An closed the door and asked in a low voice, “Martial Master, why have you come, and in broad daylight at that…”
Jiang Qiong casually sat down, first flicked her sleeve and threw out four talisman papers, sticking them on the doors and windows, then poured herself some tea from the teapot on the table. She spoke nonchalantly, “What’s there to fear? I’m still an Inner Sect Disciple of Supreme Sect. Before my serious injury, I didn’t expose my identity.
The reason I went into hiding was because I had enemies at that time. Over the years, I have investigated, and that enemy has already died.”
Gu An sat down opposite her, curious, he asked, “Was that enemy from Supreme Sect?”
“To be precise, like me, that person was a spy from the Demon Path,” said Jiang Qiong, with a smile that was not quite a smile, deliberately emphasizing the words “spy from the Demon Path.”
Gu An wanted to press for more details, but Jiang Qiong waved her hand and said, “Don’t ask anymore. I plan to stay in your Medicine Valley for a while. Once the heat dies down, I’ll leave. What do you say?”
Gu An frowned and asked, “What happened?”
He could sense that Jiang Qiong had suffered serious internal injuries but was just putting on a calm front.
At his question, Jiang Qiong’s eyes became complex, and she said softly, “That Ji Xiaoyu really is not simple. She just stepped into the Elixir Formation Realm and was able to avoid my attack. At the moment when I was distracted, she was gravely injured by a Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Ji Family.”
“You engaged her?” Gu An suddenly became tense.
Jiang Qiong gave him a white look and said irritably, “Have you forgotten the Demon Shadow Divine Skill I taught you? I did not reveal my true self, so you don’t need to worry.”
Gu An heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
He pressed on, “Was Ji Xiaoyu’s Primordial Daoist Talisman taken by someone?”
Jiang Qiong shook her head and said, “No one succeeded. With her Qilin Step, it’s very difficult for Nascent Soul Realm cultivators to get close to her. Cultivators of Divinity Transformation and even stronger from the Demon Path were blocked by members of the Ji Family and Supreme Sect Cultivators. The elders of Supreme Sect are indeed formidable…”
She seemed to recall something and showed a look of after-fright.
Knowing that Ji Xiaoyu was unharmed, Gu An breathed a sigh of relief.
Neither of them dying was, in his view, the best outcome.
Gu An observed Jiang Qiong, contemplating how to comfort her.
Jiang Qiong lifted her eyes to look at him and asked with a cheery smile, “You didn’t tip off the Ji Family, did you?”
Gu An quickly shook his head and said, “How could I do that! I’m not that kind of person!”
“Really?”
“Truly! Do you want me to swear an oath, Martial Master?”
Gu An said earnestly; he had just taken an oath with Su Han, and now he was supposed to swear again to Jiang Qiong?
Jiang Qiong evaluated him and said with a tsk-tsk of amazement, “No need, actually I was thinking of using you to notify the Ji Family, to have them prepare for a battle so that when Ji Xiaoyu forms her elixir, there would be a fierce fight.”
“What a pity, I didn’t expect you to be that kind of person; I really misjudged you,” Jiang Qiong feigned a sorrowful expression and even sighed.
Gu An remained silent.
Jiang Qiong shifted her tone and smiled, “But this also shows that you are more biased towards me; you haven’t let my affection go to waste. In the future, Martial Master will treat you well. Congratulations, you have completely captured Martial Master’s heart.”
“Martial Master, don’t talk nonsense!”
“Ha-ha, you, oh you, it seems you have been bound by the constraints of the Righteous Path and cannot take a joke.”
Jiang Qiong covered her mouth with a coy laugh, causing Gu An to feel quite helpless.
At that moment, Jiang Qiong suddenly reached into her Storage Bag and placed a bronze token on the table.
The bronze token was square, with missing edges and densely inscribed with tiny letters.
Jiang Qiong’s eyes burned with eagerness as she said, “This is the true reason I went to the Ji Mansion. This is the Divine Power Collection of the Ji Family, which records one of the ten Great Divine Powers of the Ji Family. It was a congratulatory gift from the Clan Leader of Ji Family to Ji Xiaoyu.
This item requires the essence blood of the Ji Family’s direct lineage to open, but of course, if one’s cultivation surpasses the Divinity Transformation Realm, the restrictions inside can be forcibly broken.”
“The Ji Family passed down the Qilin Step to Ji Xiaoyu and also the Divine Power Collection. It seems they want to help her enter the Holy Land in the future.”
The Divine Power Collection?
Gu An’s gaze involuntarily shifted towards the bronze token, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Jiang Qiong pushed the bronze token towards Gu An and said, “Keep this item with you for now. Hide it within the Eight Scenic Caves. When I obtain the essence blood of the Ji Family’s direct lineage, I will come to find you. In the meantime, to have it with me would invite disaster.”
Gu An looked at the bronze token on the table and blinked.