The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Having already met the Hengshan Sect, and finding them unharmed, Yue Buqun wasn't in a hurry to return to Huashan. As he approached Huashan, he dismounted and walked at night. Fortunately, nothing happened, and Yue Buqun brought up the topic of Jiang Ning's breakthrough.

Jiang Ning's main goal in this trip down the mountain was to break through his cultivation level. If Jiang Ning had the opportunity to break through now, he wouldn't need to go down the mountain.

Yue Buqun was still worried that Jiang Ning might be in danger if he went out.

"No."

Jiang Ning shook his head.

It's not that easy.

"Hey."

Yue Buqun sighed and said nothing more.

After a moment, Yue Buqun said again, "I have reached the end of my journey in the Innate Skill. From now on, it is up to you."

Yue Buqun looked up at the moon in the sky, his tone tinged with a faint sense of melancholy.

Since Jiang Ning rediscovered the Innate Skill, Yue Buqun has never stopped cultivating it. However, after cultivating the Innate Skill to the fourth stage, he has vaguely sensed that his Innate Skill has reached its limit and he will never have the chance to reach the fifth stage in this lifetime.

Before practicing the Innate Skill, Yue Buqun practiced the Purple Cloud Divine Skill. After mastering it, Yue Buqun's internal energy turned purple, which was a manifestation of the Purple Cloud Divine Skill. After starting to practice the Innate Skill, his internal energy gradually changed from purple to white. This was the process of transforming the Purple Cloud internal energy into the Innate Skill internal energy.

Yue Buqun has now reached the fourth stage of the Innate Skill. His Purple Cloud Inner Force has been transformed into the Innate Skill's inner force. However, no matter what, his inner force is always mixed with a trace of purple. This was the case when he treated Cheng Buyou's injuries. Jiang Ning's, on the other hand, is pure white without a trace of impurity.

This was not due to the Zixia Divine Skill, but rather to Yue Buqun's own actions.

He is no longer a person of pure yang nature.

To practice the Innate Skill, a pure Yang body is best. Yue Buqun, with a non-pure Yang body, managed to cultivate the Innate Skill to the fourth stage in just a few years, mainly thanks to the Zixia Divine Skill. Without the Zixia Divine Skill, he probably wouldn't have been able to cultivate the Innate Skill to this level in such a short time, or even to master it.

"Your innate three treasures are still intact, and you have a better chance than your master to master the fifth stage of the innate skill."

Yue Buqun then spoke to Jiang Ning.

The human body has three treasures: essence, qi, and spirit. These three treasures are further divided into innate and acquired.

Innate primordial essence, innate primordial spirit, innate primordial energy, acquired consciousness, acquired essence of desire, and acquired breath.

Everyone is born with three innate treasures, but these treasures gradually disappear as we age.

If one wants to practice the Innate Skill, it is best to be someone who still possesses the Innate Three Treasures. Although someone who has lost the Innate Three Treasures can also practice, they need to diligently and continuously cultivate the Acquired Three Treasures for many years to achieve any results. Their efficiency is far less than that of someone who possesses all three Innate Treasures, and their potential is also very low, just like Yue Buqun.

Jiang Ning is still a virgin, and he has been honing his skills since childhood. Now that he has all three treasures, he is exceptionally talented and can practice the Innate Skill with ease. He will definitely have the opportunity to enter the fifth stage in the future.

"You are still young. If you don't have the opportunity to break through your current level during this trip, don't be discouraged."

Yue Buqun said, "You will definitely be more powerful than your master in the future, more powerful than everyone else, so you should not be impatient at times, otherwise it will backfire."

Taoist martial arts emphasize mental state. If one is too obsessed with breaking through realms, one may suffer from qi deviation. Yue Buqun patiently warned Jiang Ning.

Yue Buqun placed all his hopes on Jiang Ning, and he didn't want anything to happen to Jiang Ning.

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Ning nodded. He also knew that one could not rush the practice of martial arts, especially internal energy cultivation techniques.

External martial arts techniques can be accumulated over time and will eventually be mastered. However, internal martial arts techniques, although they do not require physical training, are far more dangerous than external martial arts techniques. If one is not careful, one may suffer from qi deviation or even death. Jiang Ning was well aware of the dangers involved.

"Yes, I know you've always been very sensible and know what's right."

Yue Buqun nodded as well.

This is what puts Jiang Ning at ease.

Except when killing someone.

As the two talked, they unknowingly returned to Mount Hua.

"Alright, you should go back and rest now."

Yue Buqun said to Jiang Ning.

By this time, it was already getting light.

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Ning nodded, then led Maodou away.

Yue Buqun glanced at Jiang Ning's departing figure, then went straight back to his room.

By this time, many Huashan disciples had already gotten up for their morning exercises, and they all bowed to Yue Buqun upon his return.

Yue Buqun nodded all the way back to his room, where Ning Zhongze had also gotten up.

"Why are you back so soon?"

Ning Zhongze was somewhat surprised that Yue Buqun had left yesterday and returned today.

Yue Buqun sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "I have already met Abbess Dingyi and the others."

"how's it going?"

Ning Zhongze asked.

Yue Buqun then recounted what had happened.

Ning Zhongze had been worried that the Hengshan Sect would suffer heavy losses like the Taishan Sect, but she finally breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that the other party was unharmed.

"Alright, they already know about Zuo Lengchan's assassins."

Yue Buqun said coldly, "We'll settle the score with Zuo Lengchan in June."

Mount Tai, Mount Heng, and Mount Hengshan want to settle accounts with Zuo Lengchan for being ambushed, while the Mount Hua Sect also wants to settle accounts with Zuo Lengchan for sending spies before, as well as for instigating Feng Buping and Cheng Buyou to attack them.

"Ok!"

Ning Zhong nodded vigorously.

……

February.

South Peak.

Yangtianchi (Looking Up at the Sky Pool).

Jiang Ning stood on the summit, looking at the distant, undulating mountain peaks, all covered in snow and exuding a pristine white.

This is the highest point of Mount Hua, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire mountain.

With only a few days left until his descent, Jiang Ning planned to visit the South Peak to enjoy the scenery of Mount Hua before heading down.

After a while, Jiang Ning came down the mountain and returned to his residence. There he saw Maodou playing in the snow in the yard and was in a good mood.

Jiang Ning had already fulfilled his promise to it last time. After showing off the few ginseng and other tonics in the kitchen, Jiang Ning took it into the deep Qinling Mountains to find rare and exotic herbs and let it eat its fill.

"Ang ang ang".

Upon seeing Jiang Ning return, Maodou called out a few times to greet him.

"I'm going down the mountain in a couple of days and won't be back for a while."

Jiang Ning patted its donkey's head.

This time, he doesn't plan to bring Maodou down the mountain.

"When I'm not at Mount Hua, don't run around. And don't go to Grand Uncle's place anymore, understand? If Grand Uncle gets so angry that he stews you, I can't help you."

Jiang Ning then gave Maodou some more instructions.

Maodou nodded up and down at the donkey's head, indicating that it understood.

After giving his instructions, Jiang Ning headed towards Chaoyang Peak.

He planned to go find Lin Pingzhi.

Lin Pingzhi has not yet given Jiang Ning the list of those who are hunting him and Cheng Buyou.

Jiang Ning traveled all the way to Chaoyang Peak, to Cheng Buyou's recuperation courtyard, where he saw Lin Pingzhi sweeping snow.

"Senior brother."

Seeing Jiang Ning approaching, Lin Pingzhi quickly put down his broom and came over.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded.

"I'm planning to go down the mountain in a couple of days. How's your list coming along?"

Chapter 278: Choose One for Yourself (5,000 words)

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Ning.

"Senior brother, it's finished."

Jiang Ning took the paper, opened it, and saw that more than ten names were written on it.

"that's it?"

"Um"

Lin Pingzhi nodded.

He didn't know most of the martial arts figures who were chasing him, but the list on this page consisted of Lin Zhennan's friends from his lifetime, and Lin Pingzhi knew these people.

"Luoyang, Plum Sword Manor, Zhao Tianlai?"

Jiang Ning softly read out one of the names.

This name is more intense than the others, suggesting that Lin Pingzhi harbored a deeper hatred for the name's owner when he wrote it.

"Ah."

Upon hearing this name, Lin Pingzhi's expression turned cold.

Zhao Tianlai was his father's closest friend, and also the one who hurt him the most.

Meijian Manor is a powerful force in Luoyang, and it is located in Luoyang along with the Golden Saber Sect, the maternal family of Lin Pingzhi's mother, Madam Wang.

"Zhao Tianlai is the owner of Meijian Manor, and he and my father are sworn brothers."

Lin Pingzhi recounted the past relationship between his Fuwei Escort Agency and Meijian Manor.