A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 47 Xiugu

After Gu Xu wrote down the words on the Six Ren Divine Dice, he restored them to their original state.

After meditating on the cold jade bed all night, Gu Xu got up and went out. After breakfast, Murong Shu came over.

"Master, let's practice in the garden, it's more spacious there."

"Okay," Gu Xu nodded in agreement.

After the two arrived in the garden, Gu Xu said to Murong Shu, "Try using that golden bell rope first, and let me see it."

Murong Shu responded, took out a piece of silk ribbon, and gave a soft shout. The ribbon surged like waves, one layer after another, seemingly without end. Murong Shu lightly lifted her lotus steps and leaped into the air. The ribbon swirled around her body, sometimes like a ring around the moon, and then like a cascading silver river. A white streak shot straight down, its target a boulder, but when the white streak struck the boulder, it did not make a sound.

After reading it, Gu Xu first nodded, then shook his head.

"Master, did I do something wrong in my practice?" Murong Shu put away the white silk, looked at Gu Xu and shook her head, and asked with concern.

"You've already done a great job to reach this level in such a short time, but there are still some flaws. First of all, you've reversed the priorities of practicality and elegance. Practicality should come first in martial arts training, and elegance can only come on that basis."

Your previous move, "Celestial Maiden's Dance," focused on posture but neglected the fact that its purpose was to set up the next move. You overlooked the hidden killing intent, which caused your combo to falter. Such a small oversight can be fatal in a fight.

"Furthermore, your attack method was incorrect. White silk, as a unique weapon, is primarily used for binding. You attacked your opponent like a sword, which was using your weakness to attack the enemy's strength. Finally, no matter when or where you are fighting, you must always have a backup plan. When you struck the boulder, you completely abandoned your defense, which was an oversight. The boulder is inanimate, but people are alive. If you cannot kill with a single blow, you will be in grave danger."

As Murong Shu listened to Gu Xu's guidance, she recalled her actions just now and blushed slightly. She had only focused on looking good and had overlooked the fact that this was a set of killing techniques. If it weren't for her master's guidance, she would have put the cart before the horse. She felt genuine respect for Gu Xu.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will remember it." Now that Murong Shu knew where she had made a mistake, she would not repeat it in the future.

"Yes, as long as you practice diligently and master the moves, and combine them with your internal energy, you will surely become a master and live up to the reputation of your Murong family." Murong Shu is only ten years old now, and according to her aptitude, she can succeed in her cultivation within three years.

After patiently instructing Murong Shu for an hour, Gu Xu told her to practice more on her own, and then went to the living room.

"Brother Murong, I wonder if there are any people in the Jiangnan region who understand Sanskrit?"

“Brother, you’ve come to the right person. Maritime trade is booming in Jiangnan, and people often come from the Western Regions. Naturally, there are people who want to learn. If you trust me, I will immediately send someone to select the best learner,” Murong Wudi said, not wanting to pry into Gu Xu’s private affairs.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Murong."

"It's nothing, my dear brother, no need to be so polite."

Looking at Gu Xu, Murong Wudi said to him, "Brother, I won't hide it from you. Liu Xi of the Eastern Depot is currently swallowing up various martial arts sects. It is said that the Qingcheng, Kongtong, and Tianshan sects have already secretly submitted to him. My Murong family is also one of his targets. I am really powerless to do anything about it. I wonder if you have any advice?"

Upon receiving the news that Liu Xi had mastered the eighth level of the Absorption Technique, only one level away from perfection, Murong Wudi realized that although his Mad Dragon Palm had reached a high level, he was still not very confident in defeating Liu Xi.

“Brother Murong, there’s no need to worry too much. The most important thing right now is to maintain stability. No matter how much Liu Xi tries to cause trouble, it will all be for naught in the end,” Gu Xu said calmly, putting down his teacup.

Upon hearing this, Murong Wudi understood that his virtuous brother did not take Liu Xi seriously at all. He immediately stopped talking. With such a powerful backer, why should he be afraid of a eunuch?

"Good, with your words of advice, I am relieved."

Murong Wudi felt relieved and his mood improved considerably.

After dinner, Gu Xu came to the stone cave to answer Murong Zhong and the other man's questions. After speaking for half an hour, he asked the two men to continue meditating and practicing their qi.

Over the next month, in addition to teaching the three students, Gu Xu also studied with a teacher who was proficient in Sanskrit. In a short period of time, he basically mastered the usage of Sanskrit, which surprised the Sanskrit teacher.

"This divine skill is indeed unique. To use its advantage, one must first blunt its edge. Unfortunately, this martial art is not suitable for me. I can only learn from it." Gu Xu deciphered the martial art of the Six Ren Divine Dice. In addition to "Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees", there is also "Burying Flowers with Empty Wood".

The Empty Wood Burial of Flowers can counter the Shifting Flowers and Grafting Trees technique mainly because this move points out the latter's weakness. Whenever the Shifting Flowers and Grafting Trees technique is used to absorb the internal energy of others, the "Guanyuan acupoint" is the biggest weakness. As long as the "Guanyuan acupoint" is broken, the person will be seriously injured even if they do not die.

The person who left this trick behind was to prevent those with ill intentions from using it to harm the martial arts world. This predecessor's actions also correspond to the Taoist saying, "The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine, and one is hidden away."

Gu Xu silently comprehended the "Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees" technique in his mind and integrated it with the Pure Yang Profound Skill.

Murong Wudi was confident and remained unmoved by what was happening in the martial arts world, no matter how much Liu Xi stirred things up. As a result, Liu Xi was somewhat confused and worried that Murong Wudi might have some other tricks up his sleeve, so he slowed down his offensive against the martial arts world in Jiangnan.

East Factory
"Any news from Hongye Zhai?" Liu Xi asked his subordinate, sitting in his armchair and taking a sip of tea.

"Reporting to the Grand Supervisor, Mr. Hongye said that a mysterious young man came to Murong Wudi's house and taught Murong Wudi's three children martial arts. Mr. Hongye has not yet found out his specific origins," Zhou Yan replied respectfully.

“Mysterious youth, could this be Murong Wudi’s trump card? Hmph, who cares about mystery? Right now, only the Jiangnan martial arts world is still struggling. As long as we take this place, I can control the entire martial arts world. Only then can I deal with those two women from Yihua Palace. Pass down the order to send someone to test the waters,” Liu Xi instructed Zhou Yan.

"Yes," Zhou Yan accepted the order and left.

"Master, it seems that Murong Wudi is quite confident in doing this, so we still cannot let our guard down," Song Tao said in a low voice.

"Hmph, Murong Wudi claims to be invincible, it's laughable. No matter how powerful the Murong family is, can they stand against the entire martial arts world? Once I master the final level of the Absorption Technique, he will have no value."

Liu Xi looked down on Murong Wudi. Apart from the two from Yihua Palace, who else in the martial arts world could rival him? Although the martial arts alliance leader Tie Ruyun had some strength, he was not a threat.

As for the South Sea Divine Nun, he used to be somewhat afraid of her, but recently he absorbed the internal energy of more than a dozen martial arts masters, so he no longer feared her. Shaolin is declining, and the Yuan Yang Zhenren of Wudang has already submitted to him. The remaining sects are nothing but good-for-nothings and are unlikely to amount to anything.

"Any news from Wudang?"

"Reporting to the Grand Supervisor, Daoist Yuanyang has already made his move in secret. Daoist Heyang is now under the control of the Bewitching Powder, and Wudang is no longer a threat. Yuanyang sent someone to deliver a message saying that after becoming the sect leader, he will definitely repay the Grand Supervisor properly."

"That's good. Yuan Yang does have some ability. It wasn't for nothing that I helped him. He'll be of great use in seventeen years, haha."

Song Tao listened to Liu Xi's smug laughter and stood respectfully to the side.

Murong Manor
"Brother Murong, I need to refine a kind of Qi-Nourishing Pill. I can find most of the medicinal materials, but there is one rare flower called 'Moon Dew Plate' that I haven't found. I wonder if Brother Murong has seen it?" Gu Xu planned to use this Qi-Nourishing Pill to solidify the foundation of the three of them.

"Moon Dew Plate?" Murong Wudi was quite knowledgeable, but he had never heard of this name before, so he asked, "Brother, could you describe the shape and characteristics of this flower in detail?"

Gu Xu thought that perhaps the worlds were different, so the names should also be different, so he replied: "This flower is pure white, with nine petals, shaped like a trumpet, and the stamens have a touch of golden red. It prefers shade, and when it blooms, it has a delicate fragrance..."

Upon hearing this, Murong Wudi pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Brother, you must be referring to the Moonflower. This plant grows in secluded valleys and beautiful waters, and it is rare for ordinary people to find one. Currently, there is only one place with a specific location."

"where?"

"Yihua Palace," Murong Wudi said in a deep voice, "Brother, Yihua Palace is not a place to be trifled with. Are you confident in your abilities?"

Murong Wudi understood Gu Xu's purpose in refining the Peiyuan Pill, but he would rather not have it than let Gu Xu risk his life.

"As for the Yihua Palace, Brother Murong, there's no need to worry. We'll have to face it sooner or later, so why care about the timing? I'm only going there to gather herbs, and I won't easily clash with them. Rest assured, brother," Gu Xu said, having already encountered Yaoyue and her companion, he naturally wanted to set the tone.

"Then be careful, my good brother. I will have someone send you the map to Xiuyu Valley." Seeing that Gu Xu was well-informed, Murong Wudi stopped trying to persuade him.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and Murong Manor was quiet. Suddenly, several figures nimbly jumped over the wall and rushed straight to the main house. Gu Xu, who was meditating inside, twitched his ears and then transmitted his voice, "Brother Murong, we have guests."

Murong Wudi, who was reading in his room, was startled by the sound in his ear. After hearing that it was Gu Xu's voice, he suppressed his shock, got up immediately, and rushed out when he saw the figure flashing past the window.

At this moment, the three people in the courtyard looked at Murong Wudi as he came out. They exchanged glances, and one of them, a white-haired masked man holding a tiger-head saber, took the initiative to strike. He slashed at Murong Wudi with a sharp blade. Murong Wudi scoffed and flipped his hand, striking the blade. The huge impact made the white-haired masked man stagger and almost fall.

A hint of surprise flashed in the tall, thin old man's eyes. Then, sword in hand, he leaped three steps and thrust his sword diagonally downwards in mid-air. Before the sword reached him, Murong Wudi already felt threatened.

Abandoning his attempt to kill the white-haired man, Murong Wudi turned his palm to protect himself, unleashing a fierce Mad Dragon Palm that collided with the incoming sword energy, creating a loud bang. Hearing the noise, the guards inside the manor rushed to help.

The two men alone were enough to entangle Murong Wudi, while the last masked man arrived outside Gu Xu's room.

Gu Xu heard the noise outside and went out, where he saw a short, fat, masked man.

Upon seeing the main figure emerge, the short, stout masked man immediately lunged forward, his chain knife aimed directly at the attacker. Gu Xu glanced at the man, then easily caught the incoming chain knife between his two fingers. To the incredulous eyes of the short, stout masked man, the blade shattered into several pieces, and the chain broke into several sections as a gentle force invaded his body.

The short, stout masked man was drenched in cold sweat, his eyes glazed over, terrified. He wanted to beg for mercy, but his body wouldn't move. Then he felt a sudden lightness in his body; a leaf had pierced his heart, and he collapsed, lifeless. Gu Xu grabbed the corpse and leaped towards the main room. At this moment, Murong Wudi was fighting two opponents, and although he had a slight advantage, his opponents were incredibly resilient and not easily defeated.

With another palm strike, he sent the tall, thin old man flying back. Murong Wudi now understood who his opponent was. "I never imagined that Feng Qian, one of the famous Diancang Twin Swords, would be such a petty thief."

Upon hearing that Murong Wudi had seen through his identity, Feng Qian was secretly annoyed. To prevent himself from losing heart, Feng Qian's swordplay became even more ferocious, while the white-haired old man beside him assisted him.

"Hmph, White Head, how dare you provoke my Murong family? It seems you don't want your White Immortal Sect anymore." Murong Wudi swept his palm with all his might, increasing the pressure on the two of them even more.

"What's wrong with the old dwarf? Why isn't he back yet?" Feng Qian and Bai Tou were anxious. Their purpose in coming here was only to keep Murong Wudi occupied. Their main concern was the old dwarf. Once they could find out the mysterious man's background, they would have completed their mission as the supervisor and would leave immediately.

With a "bang," the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground made the three of them turn their heads at the same time. Murong Wudi's face lit up with joy, while Feng Qian and Bai Tou's expressions changed drastically. Looking at the young man who was floating down from the sky, they exchanged a glance, abandoned their attack, and hurriedly ran away, scattering and fleeing.

Seeing the two retreat, Murong Wudi shouted, "Where do you think you're going?" A palm strike with a splitting sound came towards Feng Qian, while Gu Xu casually picked up two leaves and sent them flying at Feng Qian and Bai Tou.

The white-headed creature moved a little slower, and silently its heart was pierced by a leaf. It fell onto the roof, tumbled down, and died.

Feng Qian was already terrified by the death of the old dwarf, and then he saw the white-haired man die and the Mad Dragon Palm attack him. He swung his longsword repeatedly, and the force of the blows almost caused Feng Qian to drop his sword. His blood was churning and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he managed to catch it. As long as he could escape, then...

Before he could react, there was a snap, the sword broke in two by the leaves, piercing his throat. Feng Qian's eyes went blank, and he fell from mid-air, smashing into a pile of flesh.

Murong Wudi knew that Gu Xu was highly skilled in martial arts, but he was still so shocked that he could not speak.

"Brother Murong, it seems Liu Xi can't hold back any longer. These three are just a test. You must be careful in dealing with them." Gu Xu wasn't interested in the identities of the three. Since Liu Xi had already made the first move, he had a legitimate reason to attack.

“Brother is right. It seems the manor needs a thorough cleanup,” Murong Wudi said sternly. How could outsiders know that Gu Xu was living in Qiulan Courtyard? Also, the number of guards in the manor should be doubled.

Gu Xu nodded, said nothing more, and returned to his courtyard.

Removing the mask from the short, stout masked man, Murong Wudi sneered, "Liu Xi really has a grand scheme; even that old ghost, Dwarf Pine, has come."

"Throw these three corpses into the mass grave, and double the number of men on night patrol," Murong Wudi ordered before returning to his room to rest.

Fang Ren responded and immediately sent someone to handle the matter.

The next morning, the bloodshed of the previous night had dissipated, and the manor remained as usual.

Murong Wudi said, "The journey to Yihua Palace is long, my dear brother, please take care." He then handed the reins to Gu Xu.
Gu Xu accepted it and said, "Brother, please don't worry. It's the manor's situation that's the real concern..."

"Brother, don't worry about it. You don't need to get involved in these matters."

"Alright, brother, no need to see me off. I'll take my leave now," Gu Xu said, clasping his hands in a salute before mounting his horse and heading south.

Watching Gu Xu's figure disappear, Murong Wudi said to Fang Ren, "From now on, thoroughly check everyone in the manor. Anyone who is suspicious should be executed."

Hearing the manor lord's murderous tone, Fang Ren immediately agreed.

Following the map, Gu Xu rode south and arrived at Xiushan Town three days later. Ten miles outside the town was Xiuyu Valley, a forbidden area in the martial arts world.

Seeing that it was getting late, Gu Xu found an inn to rest and planned to go again the next day.

"This is Xiuyu Valley, and the scenery is indeed unique," Gu Xu said, looking at the view before him with a sense of exhilaration.

In the hazy mist, the green mountains appeared and disappeared, the grass and trees were lush, the flowers were fragrant, and the birds sang and the beasts roared. In the distance, a white ribbon of water rushed down from the high cliff, and the rumbling sound of the water echoed in the valley.

Gu Xu's purpose in coming here was only for the "Moon Dew Plate". After admiring the scenery for a while, he leaped and headed straight for the back cliff.

On the steep cliff, there was a patch of "moon dew plates". Gu Xu was delighted, thinking that the trip had gone smoothly. He then gathered his inner strength, climbed up the cliff, picked a few flowers, and put them in the jade box he had prepared.

Just as Gu Xu was about to return, he suddenly heard footsteps at the foot of the mountain. It sounded like there were quite a few people, including two experts.

Gu Xu looked down and saw two beautiful women in the lead, one like a cold moon and the other like a cold star, followed by more than ten women in white.

"Isn't this Yaoyue and Lianxing? Why did they suddenly leave the valley?"

Since becoming famous, Yaoyue and Lianxing have not left the valley for more than ten years. Their grand appearance today must mean they have something important to do.

A thought flashed through Gu Xu's mind, "That's right, judging from the timing, it should be that Jiang Feng and his wife's affair has been exposed, and they're going to settle accounts."

Gu Xu wasn't interested in Jiang Feng and Yao Yue's affairs, but he was somewhat interested in the Yi Hua Palace's treasure, the "Ink Jade Plum Blossom."

Gu Xu followed closely behind them, watching the direction they went. Yao Yue and Lian Xing did not notice that they were being followed.

Five days later, Yaoyue and her group arrived at Panlong Town and, as instructed in the letter, found a simple house where Jiang Feng and that shameless traitor were hiding.

With a loud bang, the door shattered into pieces. The two people inside saw Yaoyue enter and their expressions changed drastically. Yaoyue looked at the child in their arms and sneered.

"They really are a pair of lovebirds, living such a carefree life, I've been looking for them for ages."

Hua Yuenü was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground, her body trembling uncontrollably, and the child in her arms began to cry loudly.

"Grand Palace Master, I'm so sorry. Just spare my husband and my child, and I'll do whatever you want with me."

"Palace Mistress Yaoyue, I admit I have wronged you. I only hope you can spare us. From now on, I will serve you like a slave to repay you," Jiang Feng, a dashing young man, knelt down and begged.

The two men disgusted Yaoyue so much that she didn't even want to say another word.

"Yue'er!" Jiang Feng shouted. Yao Yue was momentarily dazed, then came to her senses and saw Jiang Feng holding Hua Yue Nu and crying bitterly. She saw a dagger stuck in her chest and that she was already dead.

Seeing his beloved wife commit suicide, Jiang Feng felt a deep sorrow. He then slashed with his sword, splattering blood on the spot, leaving behind only two infants still in swaddling clothes.

Yaoyue remained silent, but Lianxing felt a pang of pity and thought to herself, "Young Master Jiang, why are you doing this?"

Jiang Feng wanted to use suicide to persuade Yao Yue to spare the two children, but unfortunately, he miscalculated.

"Do you think I'll let you go just because you're dead?" Yaoyue had never suffered such humiliation since birth. The person she truly loved was with a lowly palace maid. How could she, who had always been proud and arrogant, tolerate this?

As she raised her hand to kill the two infants, Lianxing hurriedly stepped in to stop her. Seeing the furious look in Yaoyue's eyes, Lianxing whispered, "Sister, killing them like this is too easy for Jiang Feng and Hua Yuenü. I have a plan that can help you vent your anger. Do you want to hear it?"

"What method?" Yaoyue regained her calm demeanor.

“Jiang Feng is Yan Nantian’s sworn brother. We can give one of our children to Yan Nantian to learn martial arts, and keep the other one to raise ourselves. When they come of age, we can have a life-or-death battle. No matter which one dies, the one who survives will be devastated. What do you think of this method, sister?”

Yaoyue grew more and more excited as she listened. She glanced at Lianxing and smiled, "I didn't expect my sister to have such thoughts. Let's do it this way. Send someone to find out Yan Nantian's whereabouts. I want to deliver it to him personally."

"The two palace masters are truly thoughtful," a voice suddenly reached Yaoyue and Lianxing's ears.

"Who goes there?" Yaoyue was shocked. Someone had broken in without her noticing. She went outside and saw a handsome man standing in the courtyard.

"Who exactly is this person? Why can't I sense the depth of his skill at all? When did such a person appear in the martial arts world?" Yaoyue glanced at Gu Xu, then looked at Lianxing questioningly, but the latter shook her head.

"What brings you here?" Yaoyue asked in a deep voice, knowing that it was best to remain still if she wasn't confident.

"I would like to make a bet with the two palace masters. I wonder if you would be interested in hearing about it?"

"Oh, what kind of bet?"

Thank you to the following readers for their generous donations: Wasteland Law, If♂Homebody, The Rest of My Life, and A Thousand Charms Never Look Back. Thank you for your support.

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(End of this chapter)