In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 102 A true teaching can be contained in a single sentence, while false teachings can fill countless volumes.
Sun Baifa spoke slowly, but every word clearly penetrated into the ears of Gu Shaoan and the Abbess Miejue beside him.

What he said was not obscure or difficult to understand; it was simple and down-to-earth.

Gu Shaoan knew that things were indeed as Sun Baifa had said.

There are too many factors that determine the strength of a martial artist.

Like the future Heavenly Secret Elder.

In terms of internal strength, martial arts skills, and combat techniques, Tianji Laoren is no weaker than Shangguan Jin Hong, the leader of the Money Gang.

However, due to the difference in mindset, he lacked vigor and the will to win, which made Tianji Laoren fearful before even engaging in battle when he met Shangguan Jin Hong.

This state of mind had already determined that the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets was no match for Shangguan Jin Hong.

As for old age and physical decline, that is not the root cause.

Sun Baifa tapped his pipe against a tree to knock out the ash, then stuffed in fresh tobacco before continuing to speak.

"The martial arts path is as vast as an abyss, and there are too many things to measure the strength of a martial artist."

"The prerequisite for surpassing others in strength is to have a skill, which is the condition for you to make a living and defeat or kill your enemies."

"Skill, level of mastery of martial arts, techniques, etc., as long as you can reach the pinnacle and surpass your opponent, that is enough to win you the game."

"But if you want to maintain a winning streak and always be better than others, you need more than just one skill."

"The so-called strong are simply those who can do what others cannot, and who can do what others cannot. Skill, martial arts, lightness skills, and techniques like the 'effortless lifting' you just demonstrated are all essential for a first-class master."

"If you are superior to others in every aspect, even if you tie your own hands, with superb lightness skills, others cannot even touch the hem of your clothes. How can others possibly defeat you? Kneel down and beg you to stand still?"

At this point, Sun Baifa changed his tone, sounding somewhat smug.

"Moreover, the strength of the martial arts world is never measured by a single point, but rather by defeating and killing those who are considered strong by others in battle."

"If you can go to Wudang Sect and defeat Zhang Sanfeng today, you will be recognized as the number one martial arts expert in the Great Wei Kingdom."

"If you can survive a palm strike from Zhang Sanfeng, within a few months, even the top masters in the martial arts world will not dare to underestimate you. Why don't you give it a try?"

By the end, Sun Baifa's tone even carried a hint of sarcasm.

Gu Shaoan's eyelids twitched.

"This old man is really petty."

In response, Gu Shaoan shook his head and said, "Senior, it would be better if you didn't tease me. I have only been cultivating for a few years and I can't even beat you now, let alone Master Zhang."

"On the contrary, senior, your strength is so formidable. I am curious to see how your strength compares to that of Master Zhang."

The boomerang he had thrown had a twist of fate and landed on him instead, making Sun Baifa suddenly feel that even the pipe he was smoking didn't taste good anymore.

After taking a deep breath, Sun Baifa waved to Gu Shaoan and said, "Kid, I suddenly feel that there were some problems with your martial arts when you made your move just now. Let's have another match, and I'll teach you properly again."

Gu Shaoan laughed and said, "If senior really wants to teach this junior a lesson, this junior will simply stand here and let senior vent his anger."

Upon hearing this, Sun Baifa opened his mouth, then muttered, "Little fox, at such a young age you already know how to retreat in order to advance. If I really make a move, I'm afraid I'll be branded as someone who bullies the weak."

Finally, Sun Baifa, for some unknown reason, lifted his right foot.

He took a seemingly ordinary step forward, but in the next instant, he appeared in front of Gu Shaoan, with one hand on Gu Shaoan's abdomen.

In an instant, Gu Shaoan felt a wisp of cloud-like energy suddenly enter his body.

But the next second, the true energy in Gu Shaoan's body surged wildly.

Sun Baifa had clearly not gathered much true energy, and under the influence of Gu Shaoan's true energy, his hand was forced back an inch.

Immediately afterwards, Sun Baifa looked at Gu Shaoan with an old face as if he had seen a monster.

"You kid, how exactly did you cultivate? You're not very old, but your martial arts skills are quite advanced, and your true qi is as thick as lead and mercury. Although you haven't condensed your qi into essence, your true qi is much more abundant than the true qi in most martial artists' bodies."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "Perhaps it's a combination of talent and hard work!"

It was originally just a casual remark.

But what Sun Baifa heard did not arouse his suspicion.

There's no faking it when it comes to internal energy cultivation; every bit of effort will bring a corresponding reward.

Having a high aptitude simply means that you can get more rewards for every bit of effort you put in.

The reason why one can have such a solid foundation of internal energy as Gu Shaoan is probably due to ten years of diligent and continuous cultivation.

After taking a step back, Sun Baifa picked up the gourd at his waist, opened it, and took a swig of the old wine inside.

"Alright, we've already wasted so much time, so just get to the point if you have any questions!"

Hearing Sun Baifa's question, Gu Shaoan asked, "Although I have mastered the skill of 'lifting heavy things with ease,' the threshold of 'lifting light things with ease' remains elusive, like looking at flowers through a fog, and I cannot find the way in. Senior, you have profound experience and your footprints have covered the world. Do you know how to comprehend the state of 'lifting light things with ease' after mastering 'lifting heavy things with ease'?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Baifa's smug "senior expert" demeanor froze for a moment, then turned into a long, complex sigh, tinged with helplessness. He took a few puffs of his pipe, the thick smoke almost completely obscuring his face.

After a moment, Sun Baifa sighed, his voice becoming somewhat somber, "Boy, I may not be able to answer your question."

Under Gu Shaoan's slightly astonished gaze, Sun Baifa exhaled a large puff of smoke, his eyes looking through the smoke with a hint of longing and a profound sense of powerlessness: "To be honest, I have practiced martial arts all my life, and these hands have touched countless weapons, some ingenious and some heavy."

"As for this skill of 'effortless mastery,' I wouldn't dare say it's the pinnacle, but it's certainly masterful. With a pipe, a stick, or a chopstick in hand, I can perform all sorts of tricks, handling the weight with ease."

Gu Shaoan was not surprised.

When Gu Shaoan fought with Sun Baifa just now, he could feel the heavy force coming from Sun Baifa's pipe.

Although it was far less terrifying than the force he used when wielding his sword, it was superior in its skill and concentration.

It is clear that he has reached a level of "effortless mastery" in terms of strength.

His tone suddenly turned somber, tinged with genuine bitterness: "But this level of handling things with such profound meaning, I've been pondering for over twenty years, and even now, I've only barely touched the edge of the threshold. I'm still a long way from truly mastering it."

At this moment, Miejue and her group, along with Zhou Zhiruo and her group, also came over.

Upon hearing what Sun Baifa said, Sun Xiaohong couldn't help but ask, "Is this 'taking light things as heavy' really that difficult? Even you, Grandpa, haven't been able to master it after pondering it for over twenty years?"

Sun Baifa smiled wryly and said, "Of course it's difficult."

After giving an affirmative response, Sun Bai sighed and said, "Throughout history, there have been countless people with extraordinary talents, but those who can truly reach the pinnacle of martial arts are few and far between."

"This level of 'taking lightness as if it were heavy' is a perilous path that can stop countless self-important people from reaching this precipice!"

He paused, gathered his thoughts, and decided to offer Gu Shaoan some guidance, or rather, share his insights gained from years of contemplation, which could also be seen as a way of addressing his own limitations:
The core of "effortless mastery" lies in "unloading," "transferring," and "controlling." Like Yu the Great controlling the floods, channeling water to the sea, it's about using minimal force to move a great weight. Your heavy sword, wielded with effortless grace and nimbleness, demonstrates a profound mastery of "unloading," "transferring," and "controlling," transforming the inherent weight of the weapon into exquisite control.

The core of "treating light matters as heavy" may lie in "gathering," "condensing," and "connecting."

At this point, Sun Baifa's face showed that deep understanding of the difficulties again: "The hurdles are too difficult, too difficult."

"Humans are not objects; their power is not uniform or static, but constantly arising and ceasing. With each breath and thought, the power within the body fluctuates. To forcibly condense this ever-changing, chaotic power into a single entity at the moment of attack is extremely difficult. It is no different from trying to catch a raindrop that has precisely passed through the eye of a needle in a storm with bare hands!"

"And the word 'condense' is even more difficult. It is normal for power to gather and disperse. To condense it into an indestructible and unbreakable torrent is like trying to squeeze a ball of flowing mercury in your palm and not let it spill out at all. If you are not careful, the power will crash and backfire in your body. That feeling is like treating yourself as an iron felt and being hammered hard by yourself."

"Over the years, I have suffered a lot in order to try this step. Every time I try, I have to meditate and regulate my breathing afterward in order to calm the turbulent flow of true qi in my internal organs."

"As for the final 'penetration,' it is even more difficult. How can this unparalleled power be perfectly and without any compromise transferred to that 'light as a feather' weapon? Different weapons, their materials, patterns, and subtle structures will all affect the transfer of power. You need to be thoroughly familiar with it, and you need to make your power fluctuations resonate with it in a unique way. If you are not careful, there will be a slight obstruction. If there is an obstruction, there will be stagnation. If there is stagnation, the power will dissipate. If the power dissipates, the intention will be lost."

Just from Sun Baifa's description, everyone felt that accomplishing even one of these three points would be extremely difficult.

Not to mention that all three conditions must be met. Especially extinction.

Listening to Sun Baifa's description of "effortless mastery," and recalling when I taught Gu Shaoan, I suddenly realized that my own explanation of "effortless mastery" was too simplistic and superficial.

Hearing what Sun Baifa said, Gu Shaoan looked thoughtful.

"Gather, condense, and connect?"

This is why Gu Shaoan wanted to seek guidance from Sun Baifa.

A true word is passed on, and a thousand volumes of books are falsely passed on.

The path of martial arts requires perseverance and continuous exploration.

However, if one can receive guidance and direction, sometimes it can save years or even decades of self-study.

Gu Shaoan possesses the "enlightenment" skill, allowing him to cultivate martial arts techniques or skills at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Even if you figure it out on your own, you might one day understand what Sun Baifa meant.

But now, with Sun Baifa's guidance, Gu Shaoan has indeed been spared the trouble of figuring things out on his own.

Sun Baifa let out a long sigh, his tone somewhat helpless, and said, "After much searching, I have barely managed to 'condense' some power into this pipe and make it appear 'powerful and heavy,' but that is still far from truly making light work of heavy things. It can only be considered to have the form but not the spirit."

"But you're quite strong, kid. You've already reached the level of 'lifting heavy things with ease' at such a young age. Perhaps you'll be able to go even further and reach the level of 'lifting light things with ease' in the future."

Finally, Sun Bai glanced at the heavy sword that Gu Shaoan had previously stuck in the ground and said, "However, you have already reached the level of 'effortless mastery.' If you want to continue to improve in this skill, it would be better to switch to a lighter sword."

"Otherwise, using this heavy sword weighing a hundred pounds to cultivate would be twice as inefficient."

Gu Shaoan collected his thoughts and said to Sun Baifa, "This junior knows. This heavy sword is just something I use to carry weights and strengthen my body."

Upon hearing this, Sun Baifa suddenly remembered Gu Shaoan in front of him, who was only of marriageable age.

This is a time when strength and physical ability are increasing.

Carrying this heavy sword as a burden at all times does indeed help improve one's strength.

However, considering how effortlessly Gu Shaoan wielded the heavy sword before, it was clear how strong Gu Shaoan was now.

If we wait a few more years, until I reach the age of twenty, my strength will surely be even more terrifying than it is now.

If combined with that profound inner energy and martial arts, even Sun Baifa's eyelids would twitch at the thought of a single palm strike.

He couldn't help but mutter, "Little monster."

A moment later, Sun Baifa pointed to Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan beside him and asked, "Those two little girls, do I need to take action against them?"

Gu Shaoan glanced at the spot Sun Baifa pointed to, then shook his head and said, "Senior Sister and Junior Sister Yang's internal strength is insufficient right now, and they haven't even mastered the basics of the techniques. Even if they receive guidance from seniors, it will be difficult for them to digest the knowledge, and it might even be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow. Let's wait a few years before making any decisions."

Listening to Gu Shaoan's previous words, Sun Baifa nodded slightly, thinking that Gu Shaoan was not old, but his considerations were quite thorough, and he knew the principle of "pulling up seedlings to help them grow".

But as Gu Shaoan continued speaking, Sun Baifa's eyes widened in surprise.

"What? You really think I'm a free laborer? You're going to bring people back to me for pointers in a few years?"

"After today's parting, you'll never find me again, you brat."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "The world is ever-changing, and who can predict the future? Perhaps in a few years, without me having to come looking for you, you will come to me on your own, won't you?"

Others may not know, but Gu Shaoan knows that Sun Baifa is still living a carefree life.

However, after a few years, when the Money Gang becomes powerful, Shangguan Jin Hong, who is also on the Weapon Ranking, will start searching everywhere for the Heavenly Mystery Elder who is above him, in order to defeat the Heavenly Mystery Elder and ascend to the top of the Weapon Ranking.

Back then, life wasn't so easy for Sun Baifa, who was with Sun Xiaohong.

Although Sun Baifa was unaware of the future, he did not refute Gu Shaoan's words.

Instead, he couldn't help but say, "The words may be rough, but the principle is sound. Who can predict what will happen in the future?"

After thinking for a moment, Sun Baifa suddenly looked up at Gu Shaoan.

"Young man, if your internal energy cultivation reaches the level of Condensing Qi into Qi in the future, listen to my advice: don't reveal your weapon skills, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Gu Shaoan's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Senior, are you referring to the Weapon Ranking?"

Sun Baifa seemed surprised by Gu Shaoan's quick reaction. He glanced at Gu Shaoan with astonishment and then nodded, saying, "That's right! This weapon ranking list is not a good thing. It's best to be careful."

After a brief silence, Gu Shaoan nodded in response, "I will certainly keep your words in mind, senior."

After a pause, Gu Shaoan changed the subject and said, "If you need anything in the future, you may visit the Emei Sect. I will do my best to help you in any way that is within my power, in order to repay your kindness in guiding me today."

Sun Baifa smiled with satisfaction: "Good! This old man has been waiting for you to say that."

After speaking, Gu Shaoan bowed to Sun Baifa, then turned and walked to Sun Xiaohong's side, smiled at her, drew his heavy sword, and called out to Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen.

After the two men bowed to Sun Baifa, the group turned and headed towards Datong Prefecture.

Turning her head to look at Sun Baifa and Sun Xiaohong, who were still standing there, Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Junior brother, are we just leaving like this?"

"The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water; it is better to be shallow than deep."

A seasoned veteran like Sun Baifa wouldn't easily trust others.

Furthermore, Sun Baifa himself is now caught in an impending vortex, destined to live in anonymity with Sun Xiaohong like duckweed.

There may be plenty of time in the future, but for now, stopping short of what is appropriate is the best course of action.

Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen exchanged a glance, both catching a smile in each other's eyes.

Especially Abbess Miejue, when her gaze swept over Gu Shaoan, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

Suddenly, Gu Shaoan remembered the "Weapon Ranking" he had mentioned to Bai Xiaosheng before.

Gu Shaoan glanced again at the Heaven-Slaying Sword in Abbess Miejue's hand, his eyes narrowed slightly, his mind seemingly lost in thought.

Inside the elm grove, Sun Xiaohong had returned to Sun Baifa's side.

Looking at Gu Shaoan and his companions as they walked away, Sun Baifa's gaze remained fixed on Gu Shaoan, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"I never imagined that the Emei Sect would produce such a true dragon!"

Hearing this, Sun Xiaohong laughed and said, "In all these years, apart from that Little Li Flying Dagger, I have never seen Grandpa praise anyone like this."

Sun Baifa smacked his lips and said, "That's because this kid deserves that praise."

Then, turning his head to look at the reluctance on Sun Xiaohong's face, Sun Baifa sighed and patted Sun Xiaohong's head.

"Over the years, because of the weapons rankings, it's been hard on you to travel around with this old man like me."

Sun Xiaohong wore a bright, sunny smile.

“I think this is great. Traveling around with Grandpa, I see a lot of things and meet a lot of interesting people.”

Beneath her seemingly sunny smile lies a maturity beyond her years.

At this moment, Sun Baifa thought of the two little girls beside Gu Shaoan. Suddenly, Sun Baifa said with emotion, "The scenery of the Emei Sect is quite nice. Perhaps, in a few years, the Emei Sect will be a good place to settle down."

(End of this chapter)