The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 453 Exquisite Yuan Qi Gong

"Outer Gods..." Yang Dian's face showed a complicated expression as he slowly said, "Outer Gods are not gods that have existed since the birth of the continent. They have no connection with the continent and have never had any entanglement with it."

"The Outer Gods are powerful, and according to legend, they are no less than the Dao Ancestor and the gods of the Heavenly Court, but whether there is any connection between the two is unknown."

"Outer Gods are not interested in human affairs, nor are they interested in other creatures on the continent. They wander through the stars and the universe without a clear purpose or consciousness. But when they become aware of and interested in a certain kind of life, it may bring good fortune, but it is more likely to bring destruction."

Zhao Ti looked puzzled: "If it's more likely to bring destruction, then why do people still worship external gods?"

Yang Dian said, "Since ancient times, there have always been some fools who only think of good things and not bad things. In the past, because the Jingjue Temple did not interfere with the change of dynasties and was not considered evil in the Jianghu and among the people, the successive dynasties did not control it too much and let it live and die on its own. However, when the founding emperor of this dynasty intended to overthrow the tyrannical and corrupt Great Jin, the Jingjue Temple made a rare move. Therefore, the founding emperor ordered its destruction after establishing the country. Regardless of whether the legend that the external gods would bring destruction is true or false, it can be considered as eliminating a future threat."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti pondered for a few moments: "Where did this outer god come from? And what about Jingjue... the name Heavenly Maiden..."

"It is said that the Outer God came from the Outer Heavens. As for the origin of the name of the Heavenly Maiden Jingjue, it is unknown. It is said that the Outer God did not have a specific divine form or appearance, but was a primordial being that could transform into countless forms. Perhaps when she passed through the continent, she appeared in the form of a goddess, so the ignorant people worshipped her with this name and built temples to worship her," Yang Dian said.

"The Outer Heavens...where is that?" Zhao Ti asked in surprise. It was the first time he had heard this term. It was never recorded in the book, and no one had ever mentioned it.

"The outer heavens..." Yang Dian pondered, "Ancient texts record that beyond the endless universe and the vast starry sky lies a boundless expanse, and deep within that expanse is a cold chaos. Legend has it that the Outer Gods came from that boundless chaos, which is unknown and unattainable."

"So that's how it is. There's such a saying." Zhao Ti said in shock. He had thought that the universe and starry sky were boundless, infinitely large, and without limit, but he never expected that chaos and vastness still existed there.

"But these are too far away from us, beyond our comprehension and even aspiration. As long as the Outer Gods don't come again, and even if they do, they have no interest in the creatures of the continent, it will be irrelevant to us. The next time we talk about it might be tens or even hundreds of millions of years from now," Yang Dian said, shaking his head.

“That’s true.” Zhao Ti said with a wry smile, “It’s really too far away. There’s no use thinking about these things. But Uncle, is the martial arts of the Jingjue Temple related to the Outer Gods?”

"The martial arts of the Jingjue Temple have nothing to do with the Outer Gods. After all, in ancient times, the Outer Gods just passed through the continent. They didn't even glance at the living beings, let alone communicate with them. However..." Yang Dian frowned as he said this.

"But what?" Zhao Ti asked.

"However, there is a theory that some of the martial arts of the Jingjue Temple were created by the ancient people who built the temple after observing the figures of the Outer Gods passing over the void above the continent. Whether it is true or not is unknown, but even if it is true, it is not really related to the Outer Gods, since it was not given to them by the Outer Gods."

"Then which martial art was created by the creator of the Jingjue Temple after observing the figure of the Outer God?" Zhao Ti asked curiously.

Yang Dian frowned and said, "This... let's not even talk about whether this statement is true or false. Even if the Jingjue Temple itself has experienced a period of decline and discontinuity in its own lineage over the past tens of thousands of years, no one would know if the rumors were true. Even the people of the Jingjue Temple themselves wouldn't know, let alone outsiders."

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "There must be some difference, Uncle. Is the martial arts of the Jingjue Temple very powerful?"

Yang Dian said, "But I don't see any significant differences between them. There are over a hundred martial arts in the Jingjue Temple, of which about a dozen can be called ultimate skills. They are all very powerful. Among them are three internal skills. What I want to give you is one of them."

"I wonder what name Uncle will give to my internal energy cultivation technique?" Zhao Ti blinked.

Yang Dian laughed and said, "This internal skill is called the Exquisite Yuan Qi Skill!"

"The Essence of Qi?" Zhao Ti scratched his head. The name didn't seem very auspicious. Essence of Qi... was there some kind of saying about it?

"In terms of power, the Jingjue Yuanqi Gong may not be inferior to the Si Zhao Divine Gong. After all, it is one of the three major internal skills of the Jingjue Divine Temple. Moreover, it is simpler to learn and easier to master than the Si Zhao Divine Gong. However, there is one difficulty..." Yang Jian said.

"What difficulties?" Zhao Ti asked.

"It's just that as the cultivation level of this technique increases, the bottleneck will become stronger and stronger. Unlike the Four Illuminations Divine Art, which requires high talent and strong comprehension, even if you don't live to that age, as long as you accumulate enough, you will eventually achieve great success," Yang Dian said.

"But the bottleneck of the Exquisite Yuan Qi Gong cannot be broken through so easily. It is simple and easy to learn at the beginning, but the bottleneck is extremely thick in the middle and later stages. It is not simply a matter of accumulating enough knowledge to break through. It also depends on luck and enlightenment. If you are lucky enough to have an enlightenment, you may be able to break through with the accumulation. If you are unlucky and never have an enlightenment, then you will be stuck at the current level for life."

"Is that so?" Zhao Ti raised an eyebrow. It seemed this technique was quite interesting. Was enlightenment so easy to achieve? Definitely not. That's why it depended on luck. With good luck, it might suddenly appear; with bad luck, it might never come.

“Nephew, you can start by practicing this technique. It’s not difficult in the early stages, and you’ve never practiced internal energy before. If you can’t advance to the next stage, your uncle will find you some other techniques,” Yang Dian said.

"This technique is quite good. Maybe I can keep breaking through to the Great Perfection realm..." Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said.

“That would be great. If that happens, my nephew will become famous in the martial arts world. As far as I know, it seems that no one has achieved the Great Perfection for many years before the Jingjue Temple was destroyed. However, even the Middle Perfection is enough to become a top master. As for the destruction of the Jingjue Temple, after this technique was spread, even the Middle Perfection is rarely achieved.” Yang Dian smiled and said.

"By the way, Uncle, you said that the eight great families and the royal family shared the martial arts and wealth of the Jingjue Temple. Did the Yang family obtain the Jingjue Yuanqi Gong?" Zhao Ti asked Yang Dian.

"Yes and no." Yang Dian shook his head: "Actually, this martial art was obtained by the royal family, but the royal family is also considered part of the Yang family. However, after the royal family obtained it, they did not bestow it upon the Yang family of Huazhou."

"Where did my uncle come from?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled.

"Haha, don't ask about that. It wasn't stolen from the royal family." Yang Dian laughed. "Although the royal family didn't bestow it upon the Yang family, they did reward a few close relatives without imposing any special restrictions. Moreover, after sixty years of hunting down the remnants of the Jingjue Temple, they no longer restricted these martial arts. After all, the aristocratic families have obtained quite a few, and they also teach their children to practice and travel the world. It wouldn't be appropriate to make any rules requiring proof of identity."

Seeing that Yang Dian was unwilling to talk about his background, Zhao Ti didn't mind. After all, the other party said that the royal court would no longer restrict it, and this was not the core martial art of any family, so he could practice it with peace of mind.

“I have a copy of this skill with me. I originally intended to study it when I had time, but I’ve already memorized it perfectly. Nephew, you can take it and practice.” Yang Dian said, taking out a sheepskin book from his pocket and handing it over.

Zhao Ti reached out and took it. He noticed that the leather book was well-made and definitely not something that was simply sewn together to copy a martial arts manual. It seemed to have a special purpose and a standardized appearance.

There was no writing on the outside of the sheepskin book, but it was covered with some dark gold patterns. The craftsmanship was somewhat complicated, both exquisite and elegant. Its origin was unknown, and it was something that ordinary craftsmen in the market could never have made.

“Alright, nephew, take these two techniques and practice them well. Once things are settled in Yuzhou, I will return to Huazhou. I will come to see you again next spring when you go to Qianjing to participate in the imperial examination, and then I will test your martial arts skills,” Yang Dian said.

“Uncle, the autumn provincial examination hasn’t even started yet, and I don’t know if I can pass. It seems a bit early to say that I’ll go to Qianjing next year to participate in the metropolitan examination…” Zhao Ti shook his head. “Nephew, you don’t need to be modest. I’ve read all your poems. What’s there to fail in a mere provincial examination? It’s settled then!” Yang Dian waved his hand and was about to turn around.

Zhao Ti hurriedly bowed and said, "Then I thank you, Uncle."

"Practicing your skills well is the best way to thank me..." The curtains seemed to flutter in the breeze, and in the blink of an eye, Yang Dian had disappeared from the room.

Zhao Ti stood there for a while, then went over and closed the window. By then, the sky was no longer deep in darkness and dawn was approaching. He looked at the jade tube and the parchment scroll and thought for a moment. He did not open them, but carefully walked to the wooden box and put them inside. Then he went to bed to rest.

The next day, Yang Jian and Yang Dian both left early, saying they had something to do and needed to go back to meet with their families, without even having a meal.

After tidying up, Zhao Ti carried his book bag to the state school after breakfast. The day passed quickly. When school ended, he walked with Mo Xun and parted ways at the Jade Belt Bridge.

He walked forward alone, and before he had gone far, he saw a painted boat sailing down the river, and he heard calls coming from the deck of the boat.

He looked closely and stopped in his tracks. This was the Yang family's pleasure boat. He had boarded it a few days ago, and the person who called him from the boat was Yang Yao'er.

Zhao Ti was puzzled. Logically speaking, he should be the prime suspect in the murder of the old servant surnamed Zhu, since he had been on the ship and had some conflicts with him. But for some reason, he had not been found by the Yang family's investigators.

Actually, it would be easy to find him. It doesn't matter if he knows where he lives or not. He could be found by going to the state school. But he didn't do that.

"Brother Zhao..." The painted boat approached, and Yang Yao'er smiled brightly, her voice sweet and clear, "It's been a few days, how have you been, Brother Zhao?"

Zhao Ti nodded and said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Yang. I am well. Are you perhaps enjoying a river cruise since you have nothing better to do?"

Yang Yao'er glanced at him and said coquettishly, "What do you mean by 'traveling the river'? Actually, we're just waiting for Brother Zhao."

"Waiting for me?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled. "Is there something you need while waiting for me, Miss?"

Yang Yao'er's bright eyes sparkled as she said, "Of course I have something to say, Brother Zhao, come aboard."

Should we get on the ship again? Zhao Ti thought to himself that if he hadn't gotten on the ship before, he wouldn't have killed someone and caused trouble. It would be better not to get on this ship.

"Brother Zhao, what are you standing there for? Come up here quickly, I have something to say to you." Seeing that he didn't move, Yang Yao'er said with a slightly anxious look on her face, "Do I have to pull Brother Zhao up here?"

"Well... there's no need for Miss Yang to pull me." Zhao Ti sighed inwardly, glancing at the passersby along the riverbank. He thought to himself, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other. What kind of manners would it be if you pulled me like that? What would others think if they saw us?"

By this time, the pleasure boat had reached the shore. He took a few steps forward, jumped aboard, and said, "I wonder what business Miss Yang has with me?"

Yang Yao'er reached out and tugged at his sleeve: "Brother Zhao, let's talk inside the boat."

Zhao Ti exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Yang, I can walk by myself! What kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging like this?"

Yang Yao'er turned to look at him and said shyly, "I was too hasty. Brother Zhao, please don't take it to heart. I am a woman of the martial world and I don't pay much attention to etiquette. Please forgive me, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Ti thought to himself, "You're not some chivalrous girl. Women from noble families are strictly educated from a young age. How could you not know etiquette? Just say you're lively and carefree, and even a bit impulsive."

"What are you thinking about, Brother Zhao?" Yang Yao'er asked, noticing his thoughtful expression.

"It's nothing." Zhao Ti shook his head and followed Yang Yao'er into the boat.

Inside, incense was burning, and fruits and snacks were laid out on the table, with two maids standing beside it.

"Brother Zhao, I was worried you might be hungry, so I prepared some food for you. Let's eat something first before we talk," Yang Yao'er said with a smile.

Zhao Ti's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "You've completely blocked my escape route, haven't you?"
"I am not hungry today. Miss Yang, please speak your mind."

"Brother Zhao, please sit down and let's talk," Yang Yao'er said. "There are no outsiders on the boat today. Qinghua and Hongyu are my personal maids, and the people steering the boat are also from my household. Brother Zhao, you don't need to worry about the unpleasantness from last time happening again."

Zhao Ti glanced at the two maids and thought to himself that the names were indeed well chosen: "Shui Mu Qing Hua" and "Hong Yu Yao Guang," which were elegant and fitting.

The two maids smiled at him, then blushed and lowered their heads.

Seeing that Zhao Ti had settled down behind the table, Yang Yao'er continued, "There is something I must tell you, Brother Zhao. After you left last time, that old servant surnamed Zhu had some unexpected trouble. When my family asked about it, I did not mention that you had boarded the ship. Please remember, Brother Zhao, do not tell anyone about boarding the ship that day."

Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows. So that's how it is. It turns out that Yang Yao'er didn't tell her family about her situation. No wonder the Yang family didn't come to the state school to look for her.

Seeing his strange expression, Yang Yao'er quickly added, "Actually, it's nothing serious, but I'm afraid it might cause Brother Zhao some unnecessary trouble. I know that Brother Zhao is a scholar who values ​​proper conduct and speech and doesn't like to lie, but Brother Zhao should listen to me on this matter."

"I understand," Zhao Ti said. "Scholars also know how to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and how to assess the situation. They are not just bookworms who never speak nonsense."

"That's good..." Yang Yao'er said, "I'm relieved. After I went back last time, I practiced the xiao and qin, and there were a few things I didn't understand. I'd like to ask Brother Zhao for his guidance."

Zhao Ti said, "Miss Yang, please speak."

Yang Yao'er nodded and then began to recount her story.

(End of this chapter)