Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

The next day.

Gu Shuxian carried his load toward Mingjian Residence. Zhou Ji told him it would be best to come every day or two, because the furnace was running non-stop and the herbs were being consumed very quickly.

Unlike usual, Chen Wenyan was also present this time.

They must be on leave.

Chen Wenyan sat at a stone table in the courtyard reading a book. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the pages, giving him a refined and scholarly air.

Outsiders might mistakenly think it was just an act, but Gu Shuxian knew that Zhou Ji was concocting medicine inside the house, forcing Chen Wenyan to come out to cool off.

Chen Wenyan looked up, saw it was him, and smiled:

"Junior Brother Gu, you're up early today."

Gu Shuxian thought this was perfect, and took out a book from his pocket, saying:

I found a good book yesterday, and I thought Senior Brother Chen would be interested in it.

"A good book? What good book?" Chen Wenyan asked curiously.

"The sequel to The Legend of the Halberd Slayer, The Divine Halberd Couple!"

"Wait, what did you say?!" Chen Wenyan exclaimed in shock, staring incredulously at the book cover Gu Shuxian was showing him. "A sequel? The Divine Halberd Couple? Is it a legitimate sequel?"

"Of course it's the official sequel!" Gu Shuxian smiled.

"Where did you get this?"

"It was a coincidence, I ran into him in the city." Gu Shuxian thought about the source and felt that it would be a bit troublesome to explain.

However, Chen Wenyan didn't ask further; his attention wasn't on that right now. He quickly said, "Junior Brother Gu, may I borrow this book for a look?"

"Of course!" Gu Shuxian smiled and handed over the book.

Chen Wenyan's hands trembled as he reached for the book, then he suddenly paused and said hastily, "Wait a minute! I'm going to wash my hands!"

After saying that, he ran to the water vat, scooped up a ladle of water, rinsed his hands, and dried them.

Only then did he solemnly accept the book, "The Divine Halberd and the Heroic Couple."

"I won't disturb Senior Brother Chen while he reads this book. I'll go help Senior Brother Zhou first."

"it is good."

Chen Wenyan opened the book without looking up, clearly engrossed in it.

Gu Shuxian entered the house, and Zhou Ji was indeed in front of the stove he had built.

When Zhou Ji saw him coming, he smiled broadly and said, "Junior Brother Gu, you've come at the right time. I just happen to have two more bags here."

Gu Shuxian didn't refuse, and chatted with Zhou Ji while picking out the medicine.

They talked about knowledge related to alchemy.

Zhou Ji told him that since he had the ability to identify medicinal herbs, it would be a pity if he didn't come to the Pill Hall in the future. He suggested that he start building a solid foundation now so that he could come directly to the Pill Room after entering the outer sect.

Zhou Ji will help him get in easily.

Gu Shuxian had no intention of leaving Room 9, but as the saying goes, the more you know about everything, the more exciting life becomes. With that in mind, she also diligently followed Zhou Ji to learn how to refine medicine.

Time slips away quietly.

"That's about enough. Now we should simmer it over a low flame..." Zhou Ji said.

Gu Shuxian took notes carefully.

At this moment, Chen Wenyan pushed open the door and came in, holding the book "The Divine Halberd Couple," with a complicated expression.

Gu Shuxian asked, "Senior brother, what do you think of this book?"

Chen Wenyan was silent for a moment, then said, "The writing style is more mature than the previous work, and the ability to depict emotions is indeed remarkable, but the things about falling off a cliff to obtain a halberd and breaking through a mirror overnight are simply fabrications! Martial arts cultivation is not something to be taken lightly!"

"Exactly!" Gu Shuxian's spirits lifted; he finally felt a sense of kinship. "The first work was about human strength, but the sequel is about the strength of tools; the theme is inferior from the start!"

"The opening of this book is unbearable to read; it completely overturns the ending of the previous work!"

"Senior brother is right! It's practically retconning the facts!"

Gu Shuxian clapped his hands and sighed, extremely excited. Sure enough, he was right!

Next, he and Chen Wenyan began to discuss the inconsistencies in the book.

There was a certain pleasant feeling of kindred spirits sharing the same stench.

Finally, Chen Wenyan sighed: "However, the sequel's writing on love and revenge is in no way inferior to the original. The scene where the Divine Halberd Hero reunites with his lover is layered with misunderstandings, entanglements, and reconciliation. Although it is a bit cheesy, it is indeed touching."

Gu Shuxian shared the same sentiment, but added, "While that is true, it is still slightly inferior to the first book. When he wrote the first book, the author only had gratitude and hatred in his heart, so it was written purely. In the second book, he gained fame and fortune, and thus lost his original intention."

"Junior Brother Gu's words are very good." Chen Wenyan nodded.

After chatting about the plot of the book for a while, Gu Shuxian suddenly asked:

"Senior Brother Chen, in your opinion, what kind of book in this world can be called a masterpiece?"

"A peerless masterpiece?"

Chen Wenyan was taken aback, and after a moment of contemplation, he said:

"These words are too heavy. How many people truly deserve such a title?"

"Do martial arts classics that pioneered a new school of thought count? Do ancient texts that record lost secret techniques count? Do military strategies that can influence the course of history count? But how can ordinary people possibly see these things?"

He sighed and continued, "Besides, it's uncertain whether these closely guarded secrets even deserve this title."

"Look at our sect's Suishan Nine Yang Skill, it is the sect's supreme skill, a secret that is not passed down. We outer disciples can only learn the inferior version. It is said that inner disciples can only learn it layer by layer. Only those who are personally taught can get a glimpse of the general principles. But if you say it is a peerless masterpiece, it seems to be a little lacking."

After saying that, Chen Wenyan shook his head: "I really can't think of any book that deserves this title."

Gu Shuxian seemed to be deep in thought. He had asked people to recommend so-called masterpieces before, but they had only received the evaluation of being read in one day.

But if the standards are raised too high, others won't be able to explain why.

It's quite difficult to find books like this.

At this moment, Zhou Ji, who was standing by the stove, walked over curiously and sneered at Chen Wenyan:

"Old Chen, you're always reading books, and you never thought of this? If we're talking about what can be called a masterpiece, then there's definitely only one!"

"Which one?" Chen Wenyan frowned.

Gu Shuxian also looked over curiously.

"The Testament of Ouyang Xiu!" Zhou Ji said.

"Ouyang Xiu's last testament?" Gu Shuxian asked, puzzled.

Chen Wenyan's eyes lit up: "That's right! That's it! Ouyang Xiu's last will and testament! I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it!"

"Could you two senior brothers please enlighten me?" Gu Shuxian asked.

Zhou Ji pulled up a stool and sat down, clearing his throat. "Junior Brother Gu, you must know about the Jinghong Sword in our sect leader's hands, right?"

"Of course I know."

What disciple of the Suishan Sword Sect wouldn't know even a little bit of gossip about their sect leader?

This sword is a hotbed of gossip; it's hard not to have heard of it.

There are even rumors that the sect leader's ability to overpower all others is at least 30% attributable to this famous sword.

Of course, the disciples of the Suishan Sword Sect did not agree with this statement. They believed that even without the Jinghong Sword, their sect leader would still be invincible in the world.

Zhou Ji continued:

"The Jinghong Sword was made by the master craftsman Ouyang Ye. Ouyang Ye forged countless divine weapons in his life, six of which can be called the highest level of divine weapons in the world. Everyone in the martial arts world admires them. The Jinghong Sword is just one of them."

"Speaking of which, Ouyang Ye was a figure from hundreds of years ago. There have been many famous swordsmiths throughout history, but no one has ever dared to say that they have surpassed Ouyang Ye," Chen Wenyan interjected.

"Including those six swords, they are still the most powerful divine weapons in the world."

"And the Book of Ouyang Zu is the culmination of Ouyang Ye's life's work. It records all his insights on material selection, forging secrets, and divine weapon diagrams. It is no exaggeration to call it the most extraordinary book in the world!"

Gu Shuxian pondered for a moment, and the book did seem to qualify, so he asked:

"So, where can we see it?"