In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 490 Cramming Education

After casually crippling Linghu Chong, he didn't even glance at him, his attention still focused on the battle between Mei Jiangxue and Tian Boguang.

"Brother Linghu."

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Linghu Chong suddenly flying backward, his dantian destroyed and curled up like a shrimp. Tian Boguang's eyes narrowed sharply.

"This female disciple of the Emei Sect calls him senior brother and has such strength. Only Gu Shaoan, the personal disciple of the Emei Sect's Abbess Miejue, has such strength."

Having incurred the enmity of the Emei Sect a few years prior, Tian Boguang spent the next six months living on the edge to avoid being hunted down by them.

Especially after news spread that Gu Shaoan had defeated the Demon Master Pang Ban, gaining great fame and the Emei Sect rising to become a first-class power, Tian Boguang was terrified.

They didn't dare approach the territory of the Emei Sect at all.

As a result, Tian Boguang has become much more restrained in his actions in recent years.

Who would have thought that even though he tried his best to avoid the Emei Sect, he still ran into them in Nanshan Prefecture.

And the person he encountered was Gu Shaoan, who had been incredibly successful in recent years.

Judging from the strength that Mei Jiangxue just displayed, Tian Boguang never had the confidence to defeat Mei Jiangxue.

Now that he knew that Gu Shaoan was the one keeping watch on him from the sidelines, Tian Boguang no longer had the courage to continue fighting.

Seeing Mei Jiangxue's sword strike coming again, a ruthless glint flashed in Tian Boguang's eyes. He gritted his teeth and instead of retreating, he advanced, risking taking Mei Jiangxue's sword strike to his left shoulder.

The sharp blade pierced the flesh three inches deep, splattering blood. Tian Boguang used the momentum to get closer to Mei Jiangxue, raised his left hand, and pressed down hard on a hidden mechanism in the scabbard.

With a soft "click," several thin cracks suddenly appeared at the front of the scabbard, and some brown medicinal powder instantly gushed out from the scabbard, turning into a cloud of powder mist that enveloped Mei Jiangxue and Gu Shaoan.

In an instant, a rich, almost cloying, peach blossom fragrance filled Mei Jiangxue's nostrils.

In contrast, Tian Boguang didn't even look behind him before turning around and fleeing.

"No, it's poisonous!"

Mei Jiangxue felt a strong sense of alarm and immediately held her breath, drawing her sword and retreating hastily.

However, the powder was extremely potent; even a small amount inhaled was enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

When she looked at Tian Boguang, the murderous intent in her eyes beneath the veil became even more chilling. She immediately suppressed her discomfort and tried to unleash the killing move of the "Emei Sword Manual" as she circulated her true energy.

However, when the true qi circulated rapidly, Mei Jiangxue suddenly felt that the speed of the true qi circulation in her body was getting slower and slower, as if lead and mercury had been injected into her meridians, causing them to stagnate.

Even more terrifying, a strange heat began to rise from her lower abdomen, quickly spreading to her limbs and bones, making her weak all over, her cheeks burning, and even the hand holding the sword trembling slightly.

Just then, a whooshing sound suddenly rang out.

The next second, an extremely condensed finger strike came from afar, piercing Mei Jiangxue's "Zhiyang" acupoint on her back with perfect precision.

Immediately afterwards, Mei Jiangxue felt a cool, water-like sword energy surge into her acupoints, instantly flowing through her entire body's meridians.

Wherever that coolness passed, it was like rain on a scorching sun, quickly extinguishing the evil fire, and the stagnant true energy in the body began to flow freely again.

Despite this delay, Tian Boguang had already rushed to a window of the restaurant.

They were about to break through the window and escape.

next moment.

Tian Boguang then saw a crimson-gold sword aura materialize out of thin air three feet in front of him.

The sword energy was solidified, carrying the might of a magnificent setting sun.

Before he could even react, the sword energy pierced through his right shoulder in an instant.

With a "poof," blood blossomed, followed by an explosion of sword energy. A tremendous force sent him flying back, crashing heavily onto the floor in the center of the restaurant, smashing several tables and chairs to pieces.

Gu Shaoan already held the Yitian Sword in one hand, with the other hand behind his back, his voice calm and undisturbed.

"continue."

Without the slightest hesitation, Mei Jiangxue once again drew her sword and attacked Tian Boguang.

By now, Tian Boguang was perfectly aware that Gu Shaoan was clearly using him as a practice subject for Mei Jiangxue.

Even knowing Gu Shaoan's intentions, Tian Boguang had no choice but to endure his discomfort and draw his sword to deal with Mei Jiangxue's renewed attack.

Throughout the process, Tian Boguang continued to think of solutions.

After a moment, Tian Boguang's eyes darted around, and in the end, he could only turn his attention to Mei Jiangxue on the other side.

"If we take this little wench as a hostage..."

As the thought arose, Tian Boguang hardened his heart. He was no longer passively responding, but instead, he lowered his body slightly, and the short knife in his hand suddenly transformed into a silver streak, actively attacking Mei Jiangxue.

In an instant, the flashes of swords and the shadows of blades intertwined into a ball of silver light.

Tian Boguang's swordsmanship was shrewd and skillful; every strike was aimed directly at vital points, and he no longer bothered to defend against Mei Jiangxue's sword moves.

They played with all their might.

Although Mei Jiangxue's swordsmanship was exquisite and her internal strength was profound, she was ultimately inferior in terms of experience in life-and-death combat.

At this moment, facing Tian Boguang's ruthless and desperate fighting style, Mei Jiangxue subconsciously raised her sword to defend.

The Golden Summit Sword Technique, with its sweeping and powerful movements, was meant to overwhelm opponents with its momentum, but Tian Boguang disrupted its rhythm, causing Mei Jiangxue to gradually fall into his trap.

Taking advantage of Mei Jiangxue's change of tactics to defend, Tian Boguang's blade flashed, each strike aimed at Mei Jiangxue's vital points. His moves were continuous, and he actually laid out a dense net of blades around her.

Amidst the flashing blades, a subtle, lingering rhythm was hidden within the lightning-fast slashes.

Gu Shaoan, who was standing to the side, suddenly had a glint in his eyes.

"That's quite interesting."

With Gu Shaoan's discerning eye, how could he not see that Tian Boguang's swordplay, though seemingly as swift as a whirlwind, actually carried subtle pauses with each strike, like the ebb and flow of the tide, alternating between fast and slow?

This was precisely what Tian Boguang relied on to dominate the martial arts world for so many years. Although he had not yet reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, where form transforms into meaning, he had already achieved a balance of speed and slowness, and the control of his swordplay was entirely at his command.

If given another ten or even several decades, he might truly grasp the principle of controlling speed at will, thus reaching the first realm of the swordsmanship.

With his superb lightness skill, coupled with his skillful use of both fast and slow, deceptive and real swordsmanship, it's no wonder that Tian Boguang was able to escape safely from the elders of the Emei Sect.

Inside the hotel, Tian Boguang and Mei Jiangxue clashed with their swords, sparks flying everywhere. Mei Jiangxue was even forced to take a half-step back by the impact.

With this retreat, her momentum weakened further. Tian Boguang pressed his advantage, unleashing a series of rapid, swift strikes with his short sword, each faster than the last, yet each containing hidden variations, making it increasingly difficult for Mei Jiangxue to cope. At this moment, a hint of anxiety appeared on Mei Jiangxue's pretty face beneath her veil.

This anxiety did not stem from concern for his own safety, but rather from Gu Shaoan, who was observing quietly from the sidelines.

During his years on Mount Emei, he learned from Abbess Juequan and Zhou Zhiruo that when Gu Shaoan was still in the Later Return to the Innate Realm, he was already able to compete with experts who had condensed their essence into qi.

Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and others are also among the most powerful fighters in their respective realms.

At that time, the Emei Sect did not yet possess peerless martial arts such as the "Emei Sword Manual" and "Cloud Dragon Void Tour". Now, however, he possesses several divine skills such as the "Nine Yin Manual", "Emei Sword Manual" and "Cloud Dragon Void Tour", and has also been tempered by the elixirs made by Gu Shaoan. His foundation is far more profound than that of ordinary people.

If she couldn't even handle a lecherous rogue like Tian Boguang on her own, how could she possibly face Gu Shaoan's tutelage?

She wasn't afraid of failure, but of disappointing Gu Shaoan.

Thinking of this, she became increasingly anxious, and unconsciously quickened the pace of her sword strike, wanting to finish the battle quickly with a fast sword.

However, haste makes one impulsive.

Mei Jiangxue's sword moves were swift, and her weaknesses became apparent.

A glint flashed in Tian Boguang's eyes, and with a swift movement of his short knife, he deflected her sword strike by three points.

Immediately afterward, Tian Boguang spun around, the back of his blade slamming heavily against the spine of the sword. This strike, using the force of Mei Jiangxue's own forward momentum, caused the recoil to numb her hands and her swordplay to become chaotic.

In an instant, the bamboo hat on Mei Jiangxue's head was blown off by the aftershocks of their fight, and drifted to the side in an arc.

Her jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, revealing Mei Jiangxue's pretty face with her brows furrowed.

However, at that moment, Gu Shaoan seemed to sense something, and a smile appeared on his lips.

A moment later, as the two exchanged blows, a "pop" sound suddenly emanated from Mei Jiangxue's body, like bubbles bursting.

Upon noticing this, several wisps of sword energy rose like an autumn wind and instantly drifted to Tian Boguang's front.

Faced with these wisps of sword energy, Tian Boguang didn't even have a chance to react before they pierced his body. His body stiffened and then collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan moved in front of Mei Jiangxue as if he were teleporting, and touched Mei Jiangxue's brow with two fingers.

The gentle voice traveled along with the spiritual energy into Mei Jiangxue's mind.

"Calm your mind and focus on practicing the 'Emei Nine Yang True Scripture'."

Gu Shaoan's voice rang in her mind. Mei Jiangxue was stunned for a moment, but years of trust made her body react faster than her mind. She subconsciously followed Gu Shaoan's instructions and made the internal energy circulate according to the "Emei Nine Yang True Scripture".

As the "Emei Nine Yang True Scripture" was activated, Mei Jiangxue's originally slightly restless true energy gradually calmed down, flowing slowly along specific meridian routes like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea.

A moment later, Mei Jiangxue's body suddenly trembled, and the invisible barrier in her dantian shattered completely.

The internal energy surged and roared through the meridians like water bursting its banks, and began to circulate according to the introductory route of the fourth level of the "Emei Nine Yang True Scripture".

A quarter of an hour later, as the true energy circulated continuously within her body, the true energy in Mei Jiangxue's dantian began to undergo a qualitative change.

The gaseous energy, which was originally like smoke and mist, gradually liquefied during high-speed rotation, and drop by drop of crystal-clear true essence condensed in the dantian.

This true essence is more condensed and heavier than true qi, with each drop containing several times the power of the previous one.

With the appearance of the first drop of true essence, the true energy in Mei Jiangxue's body seemed to find an outlet, and all of it gathered towards her dantian, where it was transformed into liquid true essence under the refinement of the "Emei Nine Yang True Scripture".

This process is like a stream flowing into a lake, or morning dew condensing into pearls; though slow, it is unwavering.

A moment later, the true essence within Mei Jiangxue's dantian had gathered into a small vortex, which slowly rotated and emitted a powerful suction force.

Her aura rose steadily, and her beautiful face glowed with a radiant sheen. The anxiety between her brows had vanished.

Sensing the fluctuations of true energy within Mei Jiangxue's body, Gu Shaoan withdrew his finger from Mei Jiangxue's brow and stood with his hands behind his back.

Looking at Mei Jiangxue, who had successfully entered the Qi Condensation stage, Gu Shaoan sighed inwardly.

It's not that Mei Jiangxue wasn't hardworking enough; on the contrary, she spent just as much time as Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan immersed in cultivation on Mount Emei. However, the path of martial arts isn't something that can be achieved simply through hard work; mental fortitude and real combat experience are equally essential.

Mei Jiangxue's strength surpasses that of Tian Boguang.

However, the problem is that the Emei Sect has been facing some difficulties in recent years.

First came the Demon Master's Palace, then the problems with Zhu Houzhao and Xiang Yutian, forcing Gu Shaoan to focus on improving his own strength and constantly planning and strategizing, leaving him no time to attend to Mei Jiangxue's cultivation.

Meanwhile, the Emei Sect rose to become a first-class power, expanding its sphere of influence. Abbess Miejue, Juechen, and Juejue were all extremely busy.

In addition, Abbess Wujue was indeed mediocre in teaching her disciples.

When Abbess Wujue taught Mei Jiangxue martial arts, it was like when the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan taught Guo Jing martial arts a hundred years ago—it was a cramming-style education, teaching Mei Jiangxue everything at once. As a result, Mei Jiangxue's martial arts skills never reached the level of being well-rounded, comprehensive, and adaptable to changing circumstances.

He only managed to unleash about 50% of his full potential.

Whether in terms of martial arts mastery, reaction to enemies, experience, or even mental state, she is far inferior to Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan when they were seventeen or eighteen years old.

With Mei Jiangxue's natural talent and comprehension, if she were by Gu Shaoan's side, Gu Shaoan believed he could help her reach the level of Condensing Yuan Qi two years earlier, and he himself would have at least one martial art that could reach the Domain level.

How could things have turned out like they are now, where even dealing with Tian Boguang is so troublesome?

Gu Shaoan brought Mei Jiangxue along this time because he wanted to use the enemies they encountered along the way to turn around Mei Jiangxue's problems.

Immediately afterward, Gu Shaoan had a sudden thought and remembered Feng Qingyang, the Qi Sect member of Mount Hua who had been living in seclusion for decades.

Hundreds of years ago, the reputation of the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai was renowned.

With his swordsmanship mastery of the third realm of swordsmanship, the unity of man and sword, and his cultivation at the Celestial Realm, Dugu Qiubai could be said to have dominated the martial arts world of the Great Wei Kingdom for over a century.

Naturally, Gu Shaoan also harbored some curiosity about the sword manual "Dugu Nine Swords" created by this sword demon.

Previously, Gu Shaoan had been busy with matters concerning the Demon Master's Palace, Zhu Houzhao, and Xiang Yutian, leaving him no time to spare.

This time, with ample time, my old thoughts naturally resurfaced.

Then, Gu Shaoan shifted his gaze slightly to Linghu Chong standing to the side.

Judging from what Tian Boguang just said, Linghu Chong has already released Ren Woxing.

"The ability to release Ren Woxing means that Linghu Chong's swordsmanship has reached a level that Xiang Wentian has recognized."

Thinking of this, Gu Shaoan suddenly became quite interested.

(End of this chapter)