In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 95 The Frost Soul Pearl, the Scent of Showing Off

evening.

When Gu Shaoan returned to the bamboo house, the first thing he saw was Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan sitting opposite each other, playing Go.

Turning her head, Yang Yan looked at the medicine packets and bottles in Gu Shaoan's bamboo basket and asked curiously, "Senior Brother Gu, are you getting medicine prepared again?"

Walking to a small table in the corner, Gu Shaoan took out the medicine he had just retrieved from the mountain medicine storehouse from the bamboo basket and responded.

"The journey to Hengshan Sect this time is long. Even if everything goes smoothly along the way, apart from attending the Hengshan Sect's succession ceremony, there will be no other troubles. It will take half a year to go back and forth. It's always good to prepare more."

This trip was to attend the succession ceremony of the Hengshan Sect leader. Naturally, Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen could not only bring Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo. Yang Yan and the other two traveled lightly and used their light skills to travel.

The Emei Sect can't afford to lose face like this.

Therefore, when traveling, he would inevitably bring along many other disciples.

However, in ancient times, travel by carriage was very slow, and it could take months or even a year to travel.

Given Gu Shaoan's cautious nature, it would be wise to prepare extra medications for such a long period of time away from home, just in case.

For the past three years, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo have gone down the mountain with Gu Shaoan to Jiading Prefecture for free medical consultations every month on the fifteenth.

They had long been used to Gu Shaoan's cautiousness when he was out and about.

Gu Shaoan's answer was not unexpected.

In the past three years, under Gu Shaoan's influence, not only Zhou Zhiruo, but even Yang Yan has made considerable progress in her medical skills.

At Gu Shaoan's invitation, the two got up and went to his side to help process the medicine.

Before we knew it, it had gotten completely dark outside.

After placing the finished medicine on mulberry paper, Yang Yan shook her hands, which were a little sore from grinding medicine for a long time, and asked curiously, "Senior Brother Gu, Master said that the Emei Nine Yang True Scripture we cultivate has many characteristics similar to the Nine Yang True Scripture. Not only can it repair injuries, but it can also detoxify. Although it does not have the effect of being immune to all poisons after cultivating the Nine Yang True Scripture, ordinary poisons are useless to us."

"If that's the case, why be so careful, senior brother?"

When this topic was brought up, Zhou Zhiruo also became interested, and her eyes showed a clear thirst for knowledge when she looked at Gu Shaoan.

Meeting the gazes of the two women, Gu Shaoan said casually, "You said it yourself, that only means immunity to a hundred poisons, not immunity to ten thousand poisons. The so-called immunity to a hundred poisons means that poisons like arsenic and ginseng, which are highly poisonous but still relatively common, can be neutralized by the internal energy and true qi we gather through cultivating the Emei Nine Yang True Scripture. However, there are countless poisons in the world, and many of them are specifically designed to target the internal energy and true qi of martial artists."

"Even if the internal energy and true qi cultivated by the Nine Yang Manual are extremely strong and yang, when they encounter these special poisons, they can only withstand the poison for a little longer than other martial artists before it takes effect, rather than becoming immune."

"Otherwise, someone who has cultivated the Nine Yang Manual could wipe out sects like the Tang Clan or the Five Poisons Sect, which rely heavily on poisons."

Upon hearing this, the two thought about it and realized that it made sense.

If poison were truly so easy to deal with and defend against, then throughout history, so many masters wouldn't have fallen victim to it.

After sorting the medicine packets according to their different effects, Gu Shaoan, as usual, first personally instructed the two on some issues related to their martial arts training in the courtyard. Then, the three of them sat down together in the house to cultivate.

As night deepened, Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan finally returned to their room together.

After washing up, Gu Shaoan had a sudden thought and summoned the lottery wheel.

A few breaths later, as the roulette wheel came to a stop, a notification popped up in front of Gu Shaoan.

[Congratulations to the player for drawing 1 Frost Soul Pearl].

Looking at the newly extracted items, Gu Shaoan quickly examined them.

A moment later, after learning the function of the Frost Soul Pearl, Gu Shaoan's eyes lit up.

As he raised his right hand, a bead appeared out of thin air in Gu Shaoan's hand the instant the thought crossed his mind.

The beads are about the size of a longan, and their entire body presents a dreamlike color that is a blend of deep ice blue and pure frost white, as if the cold air of the ancient glacier and the brilliance of stardust are sealed inside.

The bead is not perfectly smooth; instead, one can faintly see natural, mysterious patterns resembling swirling clouds. Wisps of white, almost tangible, cold air, visible to the naked eye, emanate from the bead, yet they are not piercing; instead, they give one a refreshing, cool feeling, making the air seem clearer.

It was the Frost Soul Pearl that Gu Shaoan had just extracted.

Based on the description he had just read, Gu Shaoan understood the effects of the Cold Soul Pearl.

Firstly, it warms and nourishes the meridians.

This bead contains the extremely cold essence gathered from the ten-thousand-year-old cold jade of Tianshan Mountain. Its power is extremely yin and pure. When held in the palm of the hand or worn close to the body, the cold breath it emits can soothe the effects of internal energy or true qi on the meridians after a martial artist's internal cultivation.

It can greatly reduce the time that martial artists spend nourishing their meridians with their own internal energy or true qi.

Secondly, it has the effects of calming the mind and relieving poisoning.

This is the truly magical aspect of the Cold Soul Pearl.

The core of the pearl contains an incomparably pure and potent icy essence, powerful enough to suppress all poisons.

Its power is not simply to neutralize toxins, but to lock in the activity of toxins with an absolute zero-degree coldness! When this bead is placed in the mouth, its original cold energy can spread to the blood vessels and acupoints throughout the body, forming an inner mysterious ice barrier.

Even if one is poisoned by strange and cunning poisons in the martial arts world, such as "Red Beauty's Intoxication" and "Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs," which are specifically designed to destroy internal energy, the Cold Soul Pearl can help freeze and slow down the poison, preventing it from spreading or damaging the heart and internal organs in the short term.

To say it is "immune to all poisons" is an exaggeration, but "immune to poisoning and a life-saving treasure" is truly well-deserved!
To put it bluntly, this Frost Soul Pearl is practically a talisman for venturing into the martial world and venturing into the lion's den.

In Gu Shaoan's eyes, the Cold Soul Pearl was no less useful than acquiring a profound martial arts technique.

Although the medicinal powders that Gu Shaoan concocted were special, they were only effective against most poisons.

However, they still cannot detect those infamous poisons that are notorious in the martial arts world.

Unless Gu Shaoan's medical skills are upgraded to the grandmaster level and he can concoct a more effective medicine powder.

Otherwise, when traveling, I always feel a little uneasy whenever I eat or drink.

With this Cold Soul Pearl, Gu Shaoan could feel a little more at ease.

The next day.

As dawn broke and the chill of daybreak had not yet completely dissipated, wisps of mist clung like gauze between the verdant peaks of Mount Emei.

At the foot of Mount Da'e, dozens of horses, like stars surrounding the moon, escorted two carriages along the wide official road.

Occasionally, the soft murmur of a young girl would appear.

In front of the crowd, Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen rode side by side, their lips occasionally moving slightly, but no one knew what they were saying.

Turning her gaze away from the car window, Yang Yan lowered her voice and said, "Why do I feel that my senior uncle seems to have become more gentle in the past three years?"

Even now, Yang Yan can clearly remember how she felt when she first saw Abbess Miejue three years ago when she returned to Miejue Mountain.

Stern and solemn, he exudes an aura of authority even when he is just standing there.

The moment Yang Yan saw Abbess Miejue, she was reminded of a nanny she had seen before who taught women manners and etiquette.

Even just standing there makes one feel a little uneasy.

But over the past three years, Yang Yan felt that the intimidating aura emanating from Miejue was gradually fading.

The changes were particularly noticeable after Abbess Miejue's cultivation broke through yesterday.

Zhou Zhiruo nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan raised his gaze from the medical book and looked through the crack in the carriage window at the figure in a blue robe sitting upright on horseback at the front of the procession.

If Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo could sense it, how could Gu Shaoan, who was always observant, not notice the changes in Miejue?
Gu Shaoan even knew perfectly well why Abbess Miejue had become like this.

It's simply a change in mindset.

There is an idiom called "outwardly fierce but inwardly weak".

The more insecure a person is, the tougher they will appear on the outside. But a truly strong and confident person doesn't need to show their emotions when dealing with people or situations.

For Abbess Miejue now, the Emei Sect can be said to have a complete inheritance of its unique skills, and her own cultivation has entered a new realm. In addition, with an outstanding disciple like Gu Shaoan, Abbess Miejue has swept away the shadows of the past and felt an unprecedented sense of confidence and composure.

Why bother raising sharp barbs to warn those prying eyes around us, as before?

A change in mindset will naturally lead to a change in temperament.

As his thoughts wandered, Gu Shaoan chuckled softly and said, "Isn't this good enough?"

Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo, who were standing to the side, did not know the deeper meaning behind Gu Shaoan's words, and nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan didn't explain further, but smiled and then lowered his head to continue reading the medical book.

An hour later.

In the suburbs, as the carriage came to a stop, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo got out, and Gu Shaoan followed suit.

Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo keenly noticed that when Gu Shaoan stepped down from the carriage, he was still carrying that heavy sword in his hand.

After scanning his surroundings, Gu Shaoan lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the momentum from his feet to rise into the air, and in just a few breaths he was already heading into the distance.

Upon seeing this, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo quickly followed.

Not far away, an elder watched the three people leap away and asked in astonishment, "Sect Leader, what happened to Shao'an and the others?"

Abbess Miejue remained calm and said slowly, "It's alright, Shao'an is just going to cultivate."

Upon hearing this, an elder nearby exclaimed, "I had heard that the sect leader's youngest disciple's heart for cultivation was as firm as a rock, and seeing it today, I can confirm it's true. He doesn't even let go of this little bit of rest time."

Hearing the elders praising Gu Shaoan, Abbess Miejue's smile deepened.

“From the time he started learning martial arts until now, he has never caused me any worry about his cultivation. His passion for martial arts is truly rare.”

Upon hearing this, the elder standing nearby immediately adopted a strange expression.

She could clearly detect a hint of smugness in Miejue's words.

But thinking of Gu Shaoan's reputation and performance on Mount Emei, this elder of the Emei Sect suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Meanwhile, on the grass a hundred feet away from where the Emei Sect disciples were resting, as Gu Shaoan landed, not a speck of dust was stirred up the moment his feet touched the ground.

After scanning his surroundings, Gu Shaoan first calmed his mind and, after adjusting his breathing slightly, began to slowly circulate his internal energy.

At the very moment his true energy flowed from his body, an aura as condensed as a mountain instantly spread out from him, silencing even the cicadas that were about to sing in the nearby trees.

The next moment, he casually lifted the giant sword, which was as big as a door panel, with one arm.

The feeling of ease and freedom was as if what was held in one's hand was not a heavy sword weighing ninety-nine pounds, but a light wooden sword.

As the sword tip sliced ​​through the air, a muffled sound, like thunder rolling across a valley, suddenly erupted.

The sound carried a substantial, heavy pressure, as if even the air itself was being torn apart and squeezed by this brute force.

Gu Shaoan's gaze was focused and concentrated. As he swung his arm, the wind generated by the massive sword grew increasingly rapid and heavy.

Each sword strike, seemingly powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, never actually touches the ground; the sword tip always lifts up just inches above the ground, as if skimming across the water.

With steady steps, he moved about, wielding the enormous weapon as if it were an arm or finger, powerful yet controlled with ease.

The hundred-pound sword was wielded with ease by Gu Shaoan, as nimble and swift as an ordinary blade. With each swing and flick, he precisely controlled the power so that it did not spill out.

If someone with considerable martial arts knowledge were here, they would surely be able to see that Gu Shaoan's control over this matter had clearly reached the level of "effortless mastery."

This is precisely the level of mastery Gu Shaoan has achieved with the heavy sword over the past three years.

However, if someone could experience it face-to-face, they would surely feel the immense weight of Gu Shaoan's heavy sword strike.

When Gu Shaoan first learned the sword, when he wielded the heavy sword inlaid with eight iron blocks, the force generated by the combination of the sword's own power, inertia, and speed was only two or three hundred jin.

It's not that when he wields his heavy sword, he can only exert a weight of two or three hundred pounds.

It was because at that time, the limit that Gu Shaoan could control was this weight.

Once this level of power is exceeded, Gu Shaoan will lose control of the heavy sword in his hand and may even drop it.

A heavy sword is a weapon, and should be controlled by people.

If you can't even control the weapon in your hand, how can you defend yourself against the enemy?
Three years of relentless sword practice and countless moments of exhaustion have finally led to his current state of effortless mastery.

While Gu Shaoan was cultivating, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo stood at a distance and watched.

They were not protecting the Dharma, but observing.

Observe Gu Shaoan's use of the "Sunset Sword Technique" and "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" with this heavy sword.

This is something the two women do every day.

It was because they were able to observe Gu Shaoan's cultivation every day that the two of them were able to make such remarkable progress in their martial arts within just three years.

After a stick of incense had burned, a figure once again leaped from a distance, landing steadily beside Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan.

It was Abbess Juechen who came to inform Gu Shaoan and the others to prepare to continue their journey after the rest period ended on the other side.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan's cultivation was not yet finished, Abbess Juechen did not disturb him. Instead, she took two steps forward and walked to Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo's side.

After a short while, Yang Yan turned her gaze away from Gu Shaoan, who was practicing his sword, and looked at Juechen with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“Master, Senior Brother Gu’s ‘Emei Nine Yang True Scripture’ has reached the fifth level of perfection. You also said that Senior Brother Gu’s internal energy is so pure that it has reached the pinnacle of martial arts.”

"If that's the case, why didn't Senior Brother Gu directly condense his Qi into Yuan and transform it into True Yuan when he returned to the Innate Realm?"

When Yang Yan asked her question, Abbess Juechen found it amusing.

He shook his head and said, "Condensing Qi into Yuan, turning True Qi into True Yuan, is not such a simple matter."

After organizing her thoughts, Abbess Juechen explained, "For martial artists, condensing Qi into Yuan and transforming True Qi into True Yuan is a qualitative change from acquired to innate. It cannot be achieved simply by accumulating deep internal strength. Its core lies in 'unity'."

Her gaze fell on Gu Shaoan's steady sword-wielding figure, and she continued, "This 'unity' refers to the perfect harmony and seamless integration of essence, qi, and spirit."

"Essence is the fundamental blood and qi of the physical body, the foundation upon which it is built. Qi is the source of internal energy and the power that governs its operation. Spirit is the guiding force of consciousness and mind, the source of its power."

Abbess Juechen's voice was unhurried yet clear, containing profound truths about martial arts.

"For an ordinary martial artist to transform true qi into essence, the first step is to cultivate these three elements—essence, qi, and spirit—to a state of perfect harmony, so that they no longer operate in isolation, but rather, wherever the mind goes, the spirit follows the qi, the qi nourishes the essence, the essence generates the spirit, and the spirit flourishes, forming an endless cycle. This is called the unity of the three elements. Only by achieving this first step can one begin to trigger the 'heart fire' that will bring about a qualitative change."

"Secondly, the purity of the true qi itself is crucial; it is not simply a matter of quantity."

"The dantian and the sea of ​​qi are like a cauldron. If you want to refine mortal qi into true essence, the 'material' in the cauldron is the true qi itself, which must be pure, condensed, and as pure as one."

"Countless brilliant talents have been stuck at this 'purification' stage for decades, unable to get started."

"Their true energy may be abundant, but it is impure and mixed, like smoke and dust or turbid water. It is difficult to withstand the refinement of great medicine. If they forcefully break through the Yuan Gate, at best their foundation will be damaged, and at worst they will suffer from qi deviation."

At this point, Abbess Juechen's tone became complicated, "But Shao'an is the complete opposite of ordinary people."

"His foundation is so solid, it's been built up to an incredibly deep level."

"After three years of arduous cultivation, he has perfected the fifth level of the Emei Nine Yang True Scripture. The refinement, purity, and flawlessness of his true energy have reached a level that is beyond our imagination. Even though he has not yet condensed his true essence, the quality of his true energy is probably no worse than that of the sect leader."

It would not be an exaggeration to call it "shocking".

Master Juechen sighed softly, her eyes filled with admiration for her junior disciple's extraordinary talent: "With Shao'an's comprehension, the threshold of the Three Elements Unity is nothing, not even as difficult as cultivating martial arts such as the Sunset Sword Technique to perfection. For your senior brother, the real threshold lies in the extremely high 'quality' of his true qi!"

(End of this chapter)