In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 101 Holding a Heavy Weapon, Beating an Old Man
Seeing Sun Baifa, who was showing signs of excitement and eager to loosen his muscles, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but chuckle.

The saying "old age doesn't diminish the childlike spirit" is absolutely true.

This veteran, who has been famous for many years, is now acting like he can't wait to beat himself up just because he was tricked once or twice.

But facing the enthusiastic Sun Baifa, Gu Shaoan also felt a strong fighting spirit rise in his heart.

A year ago, Gu Shaoan's strength had already surpassed that of Abbess Miejue, Abbess Juechen, and Abbess Juejue.

Moreover, this "surpassing" refers to the fact that even when the three of them joined forces, they were still no match for Gu Shaoan.

Even now that Miejue's internal energy cultivation has advanced to the point of condensing Qi into Yuan, Gu Shaoan still has a clear advantage in strength.

Therefore, Gu Shaoan also wanted to see how much of a gap there was between his current strength and that of a top-tier expert like Sun Baifa.

"Senior, I'm offended!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Shaoan, who had been standing still, suddenly moved.

The moment his internal energy began to circulate wildly, Gu Shaoan moved like a dragon, instantly breaking through the air in front of him and covering a distance of more than two zhang to reach Sun Baifa.

Its speed was so fast that not only Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Sun Xiaohong, but even Abbess Juechen and Abbess Miejue could only vaguely detect a faint trace.

The extreme speed startled the group.

The instant he appeared before Sun Baifa, Gu Shaoan firmly planted his right foot.
The heavy, dark iron sword in his hand seemed as light as a feather as he swung it with one arm, carrying an overbearing aura that could split mountains and crush everything, whipping up a howling gale as it slashed down at Sun Baifa!
The sword technique is simple and direct, yet it contains an immense and unstoppable force!
"what?!"

Sun Baifa, who was leisurely smoking his pipe, froze instantly when the heavy sword pressed down on him. His relaxed expression, which had been carrying a hint of amusement, suddenly froze, and his eyes, which had seen all the ups and downs of the martial world, suddenly shot out a terrifying light!

"Dang~"

A deafeningly loud, metallic clang, like a giant bell striking a mountain, suddenly exploded!

Sun Baifa's two-foot-long pipe, seemingly out of nowhere, was raised above his head and pointed precisely at the unsharpened blade of the sword.

The tobacco pipe was clearly made of extraordinary material, managing to withstand a heavy sword blow without breaking.

However, at the very moment the pipe collided with the heavy sword, Sun Baifa suddenly felt an unbelievable and terrifying force, like a torrent of water pouring down from above, rushing wildly into his arms and body through the pipe.

Even with Sun Baifa's internal energy cultivation, he was caught off guard and felt his body and meridians tremble violently involuntarily.

Centered on Sun Baifa, the ground within a three-foot radius beneath his feet sank inward by three inches.

Sun Baifa's feet sank into the not-so-hard ground and were buried in the soil.

"That force?"

Sun Baifa originally thought that Gu Shaoan's sword strike contained at most a thousand catties of force, which would be considered the maximum.

But after this attack, Sun Baifa realized that Gu Shaoan was able to concentrate the power of the heavy sword, making the sword even more powerful.

Due to carelessness, they suffered a hidden loss.

Despite failing to strike, Gu Shaoan showed no disappointment. He used the recoil to lightly spin the heavy sword, and his sword technique changed abruptly. The hundred-pound heavy sword seemed to have suddenly lost all its weight in his hands, turning into a slender willow branch that weaves through flowers and willows!

The sword tip trembled rapidly, conjuring up countless tiny, cold rays of light, and pierced Sun Baifa's vital points with unparalleled precision and cunning.

One moment it was a fierce and invincible beast, the next it had transformed into an elusive ghost.

The lightness he felt made it seem as if he were holding not a heavy sword, but an ordinary, weightless willow branch.

This instantaneous transformation from extreme heaviness to extreme lightness, from domineering to unpredictable, not only demonstrates an unbelievable level of control over physical strength, but also allows the user to wield the heavy sword with complete ease.

Sun Baifa flicked his pipe upwards instantly, then precisely tapped it onto the tip of his sword once more.

I thought that Gu Shaoan's move was a light and agile sword technique forced by his true energy using the method of a heavy sword.

But when the pipe collided with the sword tip, a powerful yet terrifying force surged back up the pipe.

The swordplay was light and graceful, yet it still contained immense power.

This obvious conflict immediately made Sun Baifa realize the problem.

"No, this is... effortless mastery?"

Faced with Gu Shaoan's nimble sword move, Sun Baifa exclaimed in shock.

"You have excellent taste, senior."

Gu Shaoan offered a compliment, but his hands continued moving.

The sword moves were sometimes light and agile, like willow catkins carried by the wind, graceful and nimble.

At other times, it is like a long river at sunset, fast and swift.

They were using the same "Sunset Sword Technique" that Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen had used when they fought against Sun Baifa.

However, the exquisite and skillful swordsmanship, as well as the smooth and natural feel of the sword moves, are enough to show that Gu Shaoan's "Sunset Sword Technique" is far superior to that of Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen.

One disciple, barely old enough to tie his hair up, possessed a mastery of martial arts that surpassed even that of his senior disciples.

Even Sun Baifa couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "How bizarre!"

In just a dozen breaths, Gu Shaoan had already swung his heavy sword a hundred times.

Wielding a heavy weapon, he slashed at the hunched, elderly man before him with every strike, showing no mercy whatsoever.

It has a certain feel to it, like a thug wielding a heavy weapon beating a lonely elderly person.

Although Sun Baifa's expression remained unchanged, he was clearly more serious than when dealing with Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen.

He still didn't take the initiative to attack, only focusing on defense.

But the true energy within his body flowed continuously, and the pipe in his hand moved like a snake spitting its tongue, outlining an elusive trajectory within a small space.

Each seemingly casual parry or deflection always manages to strike first, neutralizing Gu Shaoan's heavy, mountain-like slashes or unpredictable thrusts.

But as Sun Baifa continued to counter his moves, the look of amazement in his eyes grew stronger.

Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Sun Xiaohong lacked sufficient skill; their five senses had only undergone preliminary cultivation through internal energy, and their eyesight was insufficient. How could they clearly see the fight between Gu Shaoan and Sun Baifa?

However, in the eyes of Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen, watching Gu Shaoan fight with Sun Baifa was a refreshing experience for them.

Especially when Gu Shaoan made his move, his use of martial arts such as "Three Appearances of the Divine Dragon," "Sunset Sword Technique," and "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" repeatedly gave the two of them a sense of surprise and delight.

I felt as if my understanding of these martial arts techniques had deepened.

This is why any duel between masters in the martial arts world always attracts a large audience.

It's not just about witnessing the prowess of masters in a duel; it's also about how observing these battles can greatly benefit the observer's own skills.

In the arena, Gu Shaoan's heavy sword slash was cleverly deflected by Sun Baifa's pipe.

The moment the two figures passed each other, Gu Shaoan's left hand shot out like lightning. In the blink of an eye, the color of his palm turned as white as jade, bringing with it a soft yet strong, continuous and resilient force. It silently and swiftly struck Sun Baifa's empty ribs, which was the Emei Sect's ultimate skill, "Golden Summit Cotton Palm"!
Sun Baifa was currently being controlled by Gu Shaoan's constantly changing heavy sword, and when he saw Gu Shaoan strike out with a palm, he casually reached out to meet it.

However, the moment their palms collided, a terrifying force erupted from the center of their hands, like a whirlwind, making Gu Shaoan and Sun Baifa's clothes rustle loudly.

The next instant, Sun Baifa felt an incredibly powerful yet strangely vibrating and resilient force surge into his palm.

Caught off guard, the palm strike and true energy he had gathered in his hand were directly shattered.

The remaining terrifying power and eerie penetrating force caused his upper body to sway involuntarily, and his feet involuntarily took half a step back.

Although it was only a barely perceptible half-step and the sound was very soft, a hint of surprise appeared in the eyes of Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen.

Sun Xiaohong, who knew her grandfather's power well, stared blankly at the scene in disbelief.

Clearly, no one expected that Gu Shaoan could force Sun Baifa to take a half step back.
Having suffered a hidden loss, Sun Baifa's eyes flashed, and he looked at Gu Shaoan with a hint of alarm.

"How can this little fox's true energy and palm strike be so powerful?" Judging from Sun Baifa's perception, Gu Shaoan's palm strike was indeed exquisite, but the strength and true energy contained in that palm strike were incredibly powerful.

Especially his true energy, which is comparable to that of martial artists who have reached the stage of Qi Condensation.

Before Sun Baifa could think any further, Gu Shaoan, who had landed a successful blow, had already rushed in front of him again.

But after the exchange just now, Sun Baifa had already put away his underestimation of Sun Baifa.

On the contrary, it was the growing curiosity in his heart that made Sun Baifa's moves more varied.

If the previous defensive maneuver was passively neutralized by the pipe, Sun Baifa at this moment was like a calm abyss instantly transforming into a raging sea.

The two-foot-long pipe in his hand was still simple and unassuming, but every swing of it carried an indescribable charm.

Every touch, flick, entanglement, and guidance, as well as the subtle shifts in and out of energy, are exquisitely precise.

Sun Baifa's moves were not based on overwhelming force, but rather on using his pipe to weave an invisible yet impenetrable net with an indescribable insight that seemed to see through all the changes in the moves and a skill so exquisite it was despair-inducing.

In an instant, Gu Shaoan felt pressure pressing down on him like a mountain!
Each of his heavy sword strikes, as powerful as thunder, was like being thrown into a swamp, with ninety-nine percent of its power instantly neutralized.

Every subtle change was blocked or deflected by that small pipe a step in advance.

Sun Baifa didn't even need to use much internal energy; his ability to turn the impossible into the possible and his unparalleled control over the rhythm of the battle alone were enough to suppress Gu Shaoan, putting him in a precarious situation. It was as if no matter how much effort Gu Shaoan exerted or how he changed his moves, everything was within Sun Baifa's calculations.

This is no longer just a difference in skill and internal strength, but an absolute difference in technique and combat experience.

Faced with this situation, Gu Shaoan felt not only no frustration, but even more excited.

Gu Shaoan continuously displayed Emei martial arts techniques such as the "Sunset Sword Technique" and the "Willow Catkin Sword Technique".

A moment later, after exchanging another palm strike with Sun Baifa, Gu Shaoan's eyes sharpened, and he used the momentum from the exchange to leap backward into the air.

As his body hovered in mid-air, Gu Shaoan spoke fluently, "Senior Sister, the Clear Mind Sword."

Zhou Zhiruo reacted incredibly quickly; almost the instant he finished speaking, she threw out the slender, beautiful sword beside her, its scabbard gleaming with a clear luster!
As the Chengxin Sword transformed into an arrow released from a bow, Gu Shaoan pressed down on his wrist, and the heavy sword in his hand suddenly plunged into the ground, the tip of the sword sinking more than a foot into the ground.

At the same time, by circulating his internal energy, Gu Shaoan forcefully gathered his energy and spun around, his left hand making an incredibly precise sweeping motion in mid-air to firmly grasp the Chengxin Sword in his palm.

The movements were fluid and seamless, executed in one go.

Before he could fully turn around, he held the Chengxin Sword, scabbard and all, in his right hand.

The moment he landed, Gu Shaoan seemed to be walking on clouds without making a sound. His toes barely touched the bluestone on the ground, and his figure soared into the clouds. The dragon reappeared in front of Sun Baifa.

"Zheng"

The next instant, the sword was drawn, its cry seemingly echoing between heaven and earth, and a stunning flash of snow light also caught everyone's attention.

"So fast!"

Even with Sun Baifa's unfathomable cultivation and reaction speed, a ripple still stirred in his heart the moment that "sword rainbow" containing extreme speed and penetrating power was imminent.

Sun Baifa never expected that Gu Shaoan had such a hidden trick up his sleeve.

The speed of the sword strike surprised even him.

As the sword light was about to pierce the air and strike him, Sun Baifa's true essence surged forth like a tidal wave, forming a visible and tangible protective aura around his body.

The next second, a rainbow-like sword light landed on the protective aura barrier.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a sharp, piercing sound, like the screeching of a drill on a diamond.

Gu Shaoan could clearly feel that the sword, faster than lightning and capable of piercing steel, seemed to have pierced into a quagmire. All the power and energy gathered on the sword were absorbed completely in an instant.

"Condensing Yuan Qi into Gang"

The moment Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen, who were watching from afar, saw this protective aura shield, their expressions changed drastically, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

The two originally thought that although Sun Baifa was strong, his internal energy cultivation was at most the same as that of Abbess Miejue, only at the Qi Condensation stage.

The reason they are strong is because of their mastery and skill in martial arts.

Who would have thought that this seemingly ordinary old man was actually a master who had condensed his inner energy into a powerful force?

Sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows.

After the soft sound of the Chengxin Sword returning to its sheath, there was a brief silence, where even the sound of the wind rustling through the elm leaves could be clearly heard.

Sun Baifa stood with his hands behind his back, the protective aura surrounding his body had subsided as his true essence entered his body.

After smacking his lips a couple of times and exhaling a pungent cloud of smoke, Sun Baifa's gaze fell on Gu Shaoan, his expression growing increasingly strange.

"How many bolts of lightning must Mount Emei have struck over the years to produce such a disciple?"

Sun Baifa has lived for so many years, traveling all over the country, and has seen at least eighty or a hundred geniuses.

There are probably very few geniuses like Gu Shaoan who possess such skill and strength at such a young age.

But it was precisely this kind of person who would suddenly emerge from such a remote mountain village as the Emei Sect.

After a long pause, Sun Baifa spoke up: "You really surprised me by forcing this old man to use his true essence to condense his qi in response."

Gu Shaoan remained calm, bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Senior, you flatter me. I was merely using a clever trick."

Gu Shaoan was not complacent. If Gu Shaoan's strength was still the same as that of ordinary people his age, even with his cheat-like abilities and daily hard training, then there would be a problem.

Sun Baifa curled his lip and said, "In martial arts combat, being able to use tricks is also a skill, so what's there to be modest about?"

He then changed the subject, saying, "Your martial arts are quite good, and your sword is as fast as lightning. With your talent, it's not impossible for you to become a top-tier master in a few years."

Gu Shaoan asked, "May I ask, senior, what constitutes a first-rate master?"

"How to calculate?"

Sun Bai thought for a moment, then took a puff of his cigarette and said, "But in terms of internal energy cultivation, being able to condense one's inner energy into a powerful force is already considered top-tier."

Gu Shaoan glanced sideways and asked, "Judging from what you're saying, senior, are there other standards of measurement?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Baifa smiled, took a few more puffs of his pipe, and asked, "It's not that there are still some, but rather that there are too many factors to consider when judging whether someone is a top-tier expert."

Then, before Gu Shaoan could speak, Sun Baifa asked, "Kid, what do you think determines the strength of a martial artist in a battle?"

"Ok?"

Gu Shaoan was surprised that Sun Baifa would ask him such a simple question.

After a few moments of contemplation, Gu Shaoan replied, "When I first entered the martial arts school, my master taught me that there are many factors that determine the strength of a martial artist. The strength of one's own skill, the level of one's mastery of one's own martial arts, the weapon, one's mentality when facing an enemy, and one's reaction on the spot will all affect the outcome of a battle between martial artists."

Sun Baifa nodded and said, "That's right!"

Sun Baifa, with a pipe dangling from his lips, looked up at the dappled elm leaves and the sky above. He paused for a moment, seemingly pondering the most precise description.

After a moment, he lowered his head and looked at Gu Shaoan with deep eyes.

"For ordinary people, when two people fight, the measure of their strength is whose punch is heavier, faster, and has better technique."

"The great principles are simple, and what determines the strength of a martial artist is none other than these things. The only difference is that the factors that determine the strength of a martial artist are more numerous and complex."

"If your internal energy cultivation has reached the level of Condensing Yuan into Gang, you can kill a martial artist in the Acquired Realm with a single palm strike. Naturally, you are stronger."

"But if the internal strength levels are similar, then the focus is on technique. If you use a sword, and your swordsmanship has reached the level of oneness with the sword, while the opponent's swordsmanship is only at the beginner level, they will be doomed to die if they encounter you. That is, you are stronger."

"Your sword is so fast that it's invisible to the enemy; that's a testament to your strength."

"If the martial arts you practice happen to counter what others have learned, you will naturally be stronger in a battle."

　Originally, I planned to introduce the Heavenly Mystery Elder later in the story, but bringing him out now, besides setting up the plot, is more importantly to illustrate that the book measures the strength of martial artists from various aspects, not just a single realm! I think this is more reasonable!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)