"Sister-in-law, I’ll co again next ti."
After Lu Mingyuan finished his al, he waved goodbye.
Yang Yingchan stood at the door, her expression complicated. After a long hesitation, she finally said, "Little Brother-in-law, it’s better if we see each other less. Your older brother is still in prison. If we act like this, I’m afraid it will cause people to gossip."
Lu Mingyuan gave a faint smile and scoffed, "I am the great Prince Huai’an. Do I need to care what these servants think?"
"Those with evil in their hearts see evil in everything. If they can’t stand to see it, then gouge out their eyes and tell them to scram!"
Yang Yingchan was slightly taken aback, not expecting his thoughts to be so domineering and vicious.
Just then, Lu Mingyuan leaned a little closer and whispered, "Sister-in-law, as long as I’m here, no one in the palace can bully you."
With that, he gave a aningful smile and disappeared from her sight.
Yang Yingchan clutched the string of Buddha Beads he had given her.
’I don’t know if he was telling the truth or not.’
’But the warmth in my heart is real.’
...
After Lu Mingyuan left, he found a middle-aged man in a conical hat, leaning on a bamboo staff, already waiting for him in the courtyard.
It was Zhao Xuanwu.
"Master?" he called out in surprise.
Zhao Xuanwu pursed his lips and replied with dissatisfaction, "A Martial Artist must, above all else, avoid being brought down by a woman. That’s the first principle I have to teach you."
"I’ve seen countless brilliantly talented Martial Artists and Sword Cultivators, all of whom looked down on the world, road far and wide without a single defeat, only to fall to the word ’love.’ As the saying goes: no woman in your heart, your blade will be divine. If you wish to pursue the ultimate Martial Dao and reign supre over the Central Plains World, you must achieve this."
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan grinned. "You’re joking, Master. I don’t have such grand ambitions right now. Contending for supremacy over the world is a goal far too distant for . For now, being able to defend myself and ensure I don’t die is good enough."
Zhao Xuanwu couldn’t help but facepalm. He was truly and utterly speechless when it ca to this Registered Disciple.
"Also, I’ve taken quite a few apprentices, and none of them use such a distant address as ’Master.’"
Lu Mingyuan thought for a mont. "Then what should I call you? Old Man Zhao? Old Zhao? Or maybe Drunkard?"
Zhao Xuanwu couldn’t stand to hear any more. He waved his hand and sighed. "Forget it, don’t call anything. What kind of nas are those? ’Master’ is better than any of them. None of those are pleasant to the ear. I, for one, hate it when people ntion my age."
"How’s the Saber Technique I taught you last ti? If you haven’t mastered it, I can demonstrate it a few more tis for you."
"I’ve mastered it."
Zhao Xuanwu’s previously lazy expression imdiately sharpened when he heard this.
"Mastered it? For real?"
Although this Saber Technique of his looked simple, it contained a hidden artistic conception. Without achieving that state of mind, it was extrely difficult to learn.
If Lu Mingyuan could really learn it, he could truly be considered exceptionally gifted.
Right then and there.
To prove his point, Lu Mingyuan began his demonstration. He drew his saber and stood ready, its cold, dark gleam giving off a potent montum. It was clear his Saber Technique had improved. His body was as still as a ten-thousand-year-old pine.
The next second.
His body leaped into the air. After reaching a certain height, he brought his entire being down in a slash.
He descended like a falling teor, his montum terrifying. From top to bottom, two streams of cyan Saber Astral intertwined, kicking up a tornado of fierce wind that swept out in all directions.
Finally, he sheathed his saber and stood still. The movents were clean and efficient, with no wasted motion.
Though it lacked Zhao Xuanwu’s power, the form was indeed about the sa.
After watching, Zhao Xuanwu comnted, "You’ve learned it, all right, but you’re just a Beginner. The artistic conception is a world apart, and it lacks most of the domineering feel. If you wanted to face a Great Grandmaster, that move of yours would be like paper mache—it’d shatter in one blow. You could only use it to scare other Grandmasters."
"But there’s no rush. This move is all about artistic conception and comprehension. I never expected you to learn it in the first place. I just wanted to show you how cool the move was. I didn’t think you’d actually learn it. That was a surprise."
Lu Mingyuan was a little speechless. "So, you ca here today to teach sothing else, old man?"
"Correct."
Zhao Xuanwu nodded. "Today, I plan to pass on two supre Martial Arts to you. The first is called the Black Tortoise Breathing thod. It’s a profound Breathing Technique from the Taoist Sect. Once learned, you can easily control your aura. As long as your montum holds, you can make each breath stronger than the last, and you’ll grow fiercer the longer you fight. This technique was taught to by an old friend."
"Was this old friend very powerful?" Lu Mingyuan asked.
Zhao Xuanwu shot him a glance. "Decent. Counted as one of the Upper Three Grades."
"That powerful?"
Lu Mingyuan said in astonishnt.
"So-so! What’s so great about that? Not even worth a single hair on your master’s head."
Zhao Xuanwu puffed out his chest, snorted, and raised his bamboo staff to point at the sky.
"Your master’s Saber Technique is earth-shattering, unparalleled, enough to make ghosts and gods weep! Once I grab my saber, it’s incredible—even I get scared of myself! Let alone those good-for-nothing Qi Cultivators."
His words sounded like the boasts of a child.
Lu Mingyuan didn’t know how much to believe.
He could only offer the new saber from his waist and ask curiously:
"Care to let see for myself?"
But Zhao Xuanwu shook his head. "The weather’s no good today, not suitable for a demonstration. I only draw my saber when I’m in the right mood. No good wine, no draw. No good weather, no draw. No reward, no draw."
"So many rules."
Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but retort.
He glanced at the sky. It was clear and sunny, without a single cloud.
’And this isn’t good weather?’
Hearing this, Zhao Xuanwu grew anxious and glared at him. "If an expert doesn’t have so unique quirks, is he even an expert?"
Lu Mingyuan waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, Master, let’s just get back to learning. What’s the second Cultivation Technique?"
Zhao Xuanwu’s expression turned serious. He coughed twice. "This second Cultivation Technique is called the Thunder Prison Saber Scripture."
"It originated from a fragnted saber scripture I chanced upon in a Grotto Heaven when I was young. I later perfected it, and it’s now a fully matured Cultivation Technique. It pursues ’Saber Intent Returning to the Origin’ and the ’Unity of Heart and Spirit.’ It can shatter an Arhat’s Golden Body and slice through the ethereal forms of ghosts and gods. It’s most suitable for a Beginner like you to practice."
Lu Mingyuan pointed at himself in disbelief. "I’m still a Beginner?"
Zhao Xuanwu sneered, "You haven’t even cultivated Saber Intent. How are you not a Beginner?"
"Fine, fine, fine."
Lu Mingyuan was speechless.
Seeing his expression, Zhao Xuanwu gave him a serious warning. "You are now my Registered Disciple. If you ever have the chance to leave this Cold Palace, rember the principle of my lineage: subdue others with your saber, and defeat enemies with your looks."
This was the first ti Lu Mingyuan had ever heard such a shaless principle.
...
Afterward, Zhao Xuanwu began to explain the essentials of the Black Tortoise Breathing thod.
The foundation of the Breathing Technique lies in Nourishing Acupoints, and the basis of Nourishing Acupoints lies in Body Refining. The three are interdependent and inseparable.
For a Cultivator, the thod of exchanging breath is especially crucial.
In a fight between experts, the situation changes in an instant. Even the slightest mistake can lead to an irreversible disaster.
Therefore, breath exchange has beco sothing everyone must study. The faster the exchange, the better. The longer one can hold a single breath, the better.
Often, victory and defeat are decided in a single breath.
Among the many cultivation systems, no single one can claim to be the absolute strongest.
But when it cos to exchanging and cultivating Qi, the Taoist Sect is considered to have combined the strengths of all schools.
Daoist Cultivators emphasize Qi Cultivation and excel at Refining Spirit.
Refining Essence into Qi, transforming Qi into Spirit, and condensing the Three Flowers is the necessary path for a Taoist Sect practitioner to reach the highest levels of Cultivation.
The Black Tortoise Breathing thod draws from the Taoist Sect’s Dharma Gate of Qi Cultivation. It is extrely profound, and once mastered, allows one to continuously stack the Qi in their body.
Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but think of Guan Yu, who passed through five gates and slew six generals, riding a thousand miles alone. He relied on the single breath in his heart to fight with ever-increasing valor.
As for the Thunder Prison Saber Scripture, it was much more simple and brutal. Its power was imnse, its destructiveness extre, and it was exceedingly domineering. It stimulates the body’s full potential, infusing one’s spiritual will into their Saber Intent. A single slash ravages both the user’s body and their will. If a Blade Cultivator cannot master it and has not completed Opening Acupoints, they can’t use it freely and might even harm themselves. It has been labeled as a technique that weaker Cultivators should learn with caution.
Fortunately, Lu Mingyuan had already broken through to the Fifth Realm Furnace Building and had opened most of his Acupoints, making this Cultivation Technique just right for him to learn.
...
In the Imperial Capital’s Wenchang Pavilion, a place usually bustling with literary fortune, very few people were present today.
This was because most people had gone to worship at the City God Temple. The Daoists and Immortal Masters of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy were all working tirelessly, rushing to various places to provide flood relief.
In the eyes of the common folk, since the City God Temple could grant prayers for rain and Daoists could summon wind and rain, stopping the rain should not be a problem. Thus, they were very enthusiastic about worshiping at the Daoist Temple.
Chen Ke knelt on a prayer mat and burned three sticks of incense. Above his head were the towering stone statues of five Confucian Saints, representing the five most influential Saints from ancient tis to the present, and also the five highest-ranked in the Confucian Temple.
"The humble scholar, Chen Ke, beseeches the Saints for their blessing, that I may find a peaceful place to study."
After praying, he placed the incense sticks into the Incense Burner.
Leaving Wenchang Pavilion, he walked toward the Wang Family’s estate.
"I am here to see Lord Wang. I wish to pledge my allegiance to the Sixth Prince. I..."
But when he reached the gate of the Wang Family residence, before he could even introduce himself, a servant at the door drove him away with a broom.
"Where did this scholar co from? Go on, get out! The Patriarch will not see you!"
He was chased to the end of the alley. He looked wretchedly at the opulent Wang Family residence in the distance and sighed deeply.
’Is it still not going to work?’
"Why are you looking for the Sixth Prince?"
Just then, a woman’s voice sounded by his ear.
Chen Ke looked up and saw a beautiful woman in a cyan ruqun appear before him. His expression was dazed, but he then rembered his manners and quickly bowed:
"The scholar Chen Ke greets Master Qi!"
Qi Muxue shook her head, sidestepping to avoid the bow. "I am no longer a teacher at Shengjing Academy. There’s no need for such formality."
Chen Ke corrected himself. "In that case, Chen Ke greets Miss Qi."
He revealed his true thoughts: "My real purpose in seeking out the Sixth Prince isn’t to serve him, but to find an opportunity to study. I heard that the Sixth Prince has not yet established his own residence, so I could only co to the Wang Family."
Qi Muxue sized him up, puzzled. "So many Princes have established their residences. Why did you specifically seek out the Sixth Prince?"
Chen Ke gave a bitter smile. "All the other Princes have rejected ."
Qi Muxue didn’t consider herself soone who would stand by and do nothing. Seeing how diligent and eager to learn he was, she couldn’t help but ask:
"How many books have you read?"
"Ten thousand volus."
"On bamboo slips, or paper?"
Chen Ke said seriously, "Paper prints, of course. Most books on bamboo slips are originals and worth a fortune. Only those from established scholarly families could possibly own them."
"Then why are you only at the Third Realm?"
Hearing this, Qi Muxue was even more confused.
’Over ten thousand volus is a lot, and not even on bamboo slips.’
Her own family had about that many.
"I was delayed for a few years for certain reasons. Later, I followed Elder Mr. Qi and stayed at Shengjing Academy for half a month, but unfortunately, my own knowledge was too shallow, and my talent didn’t match the position."
When Qi Muxue heard this, she instantly recalled the student her father had taken in. "You’re that scholar from the Chen Clan that my father was talking about."
"Why do you study? Why do you want to continue studying? A normal student would probably be trying to take the imperial examinations."
A determined look appeared in Chen Ke’s eyes. "I study to resolve my doubts, of course. There is much wisdom in books, but the more I read, the more questions I have, and the more I feel how shallow my knowledge is. That’s why I can only seek out more books to read."
Qi Muxue used her literary eye to observe him and found that although the Literary Qi on his body was dim and lackluster, its strength lay in being thick and solid. He could be considered promising talent.
At the sa ti, this man also possessed the pure heart of a child.
’His original intention remains unchanged.’
How many scholars studied only for fa and fortune? After becoming officials, how many of them could still rember the pure heart with which they first began their studies?
Qi Muxue pondered for a mont before saying, "If you truly wish to join the Sixth Prince, perhaps I can help you."
...
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