In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 169 What you can't handle, let the old Taoist priest have it!
Seemingly surprised by Zhang Sanfeng's question, Gu Shaoan paused for a moment before replying, "In response to Senior's question, my birthday was the fifteenth of last month, and I am now nineteen."

"nineteen."

Zhang Sanfeng pursed his lips, and his gaze toward Gu Shaoan became even more peculiar.

That gaze, no matter how you look at it, didn't seem like the gaze one would give a normal person.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Sanfeng looked at Abbess Miejue in the distance, then at Gu Shaoan, his brows furrowed.

Although Zhang Sanfeng had not launched an attack from beginning to end, with his understanding of Emei martial arts, how could he not tell that Gu Shaoan's "Willow Catkin Sword Technique," "Three Appearances of the Divine Dragon," "Golden Summit Cotton Palm," and "Sunset Sword Technique" had all reached the level of "smooth and perfect"?

Even his strange movement techniques, which he had learned from who-knows-where, the Beggar Clan's "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," and the martial arts that ultimately drew away his true essence, were all mastered to a great degree. He could switch between them at will during the battle without the slightest sense of stagnation.

In particular, the final move, "Immortal Touching the Head" from the Golden Top Cotton Palm, has reached the level of "momentum".

Moreover, the fact that Gu Shaoan could incorporate the technique of "making light things seem heavy" into his palm strikes, imbuing them with a condensed and terrifying power, is enough to show that Gu Shaoan was by no means someone who had just touched upon the concept of "momentum".

Not only have the martial arts of the Emei Sect reached the level of "perfect and harmonious", but he also possesses several superior and exquisite martial arts skills, each of which he has achieved a high level of proficiency.

What puzzled Zhang Sanfeng the most was Gu Shaoan's skill level.

His profound knowledge was completely inconsistent with Gu Shaoan's age.

Even if one were to take several Shaolin pills, it would not be possible to attain such profound and refined skill.

A nineteen-year-old?

Most importantly, this little monster was actually trained by Extinction?
This puzzled Zhang Sanfeng.

"Could it be that Lady Guo's grave has been disturbed?"

Thinking deeply, Zhang Sanfeng, full of questions, couldn't help but raise his hand and scratch his stomach. This natural action also made Zhang Sanfeng look a bit slovenly.

Strange things happen every year.

But at this moment, Zhang Sanfeng felt that none of the strange things he had encountered in the past hundred years were as bizarre as what happened today.

Seeing Zhang Sanfeng's gaze shifting back and forth between Abbess Miejue and Gu Shaoan, his brows furrowed, the others were somewhat bewildered.

Gu Shaoan was mentally reviewing his fight with Zhang Sanfeng.

Throughout the entire process, no matter whether Gu Shaoan used fierce, gentle, or exquisite moves against Zhang Sanfeng, they were all easily neutralized by Zhang Sanfeng.

If it weren't for the fact that at the last moment, Gu Shaoan used the "Great Shift of the Universe" to temporarily remove half of the true essence that Zhang Sanfeng used to condense his internal energy, and combined with the characteristics of the Small Universe after the fourth level of the "Great Shift of the Universe" was perfected, allowing the true essence to circulate once in his body before being added to the "Immortal Touching the Head" palm strike, Gu Shaoan would have had no chance of breaking the internal energy that Zhang Sanfeng had condensed.

Even with all his scheming and utmost effort, Zhang Sanfeng still managed to easily neutralize the final blow.

Whether in the past or now, looking back, Gu Shaoan only has one feeling in his heart.

That's it.

Powerless.

Gu Shaoan was certain that if Zhang Sanfeng wanted to attack him, he would have absolutely no ability to fight back.

This made Gu Shaoan sigh that Zhang Sanfeng truly deserved to be the number one martial artist in the Great Wei Kingdom.

Such strength is simply astonishing.

It's no wonder that even a top-tier force like Shaolin wouldn't dare to confront Zhang Sanfeng head-on.

gap.

It's just too big.

After a moment, Zhang Sanfeng regained his composure.

After clearing his throat twice, he said, "Not bad. To have such strength at such a young age is truly rare. You are better than my disciples."

Upon hearing Zhang Sanfeng's words, Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Songxi remained calm.

They've obviously gotten used to it.

Gu Shaoan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart caused by the difference in strength, and said to Zhang Sanfeng, "Thank you for your praise, senior."

Seeing how quickly Gu Shaoan adjusted his state of mind, Zhang Sanfeng's admiration deepened.

While high talent is important, if someone is highly talented but has a fragile ego, their future achievements are destined to be limited.

Seemingly genuinely intrigued, Zhang Sanfeng glanced at the Heaven-Slaying Sword that Gu Shaoan had stuck in the ground in the distance.

"Is your strongest move a weapon or that 'Immortal Touching the Head' move you just used?"

Gu Shaoan replied, "My strongest skill right now is weaponry."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng seemed to become interested and removed his hand from the large belly.

After lifting his right foot and lightly stomping it on the ground, the Yitian Sword, which Gu Shaoan had just inserted into the ground, was pushed up by a force four zhang away and flew rapidly towards Gu Shaoan.

After Gu Shaoan grasped the Heaven-Slaying Sword with his left hand, Zhang Sanfeng said, "Try using it."

If it were anyone else in the past, Gu Shaoan would never have revealed all his cards at this moment.

But just like when he faced Sun Baifa last time, this time Gu Shaoan came to seek guidance. Since he wanted guidance, he naturally needed to demonstrate his own strength first.

If you still hide your shortcomings at this point, how can you expect others to point them out?
Therefore, as Zhang Sanfeng spoke, Gu Shaoan nodded and then took half a step to the side, facing Zhang Sanfeng directly.

Gu Shaoan took a deep breath of the cold mountain wind and calmed his mind.

Three breaths later, his legs, like the roots of an old tree, bent slightly downwards at the knees, and his toes sank half an inch into the bluestone.

His shoulders slumped, and his spine arched like a great dragon, accumulating explosive power.

As the condensed and powerful true essence within his body began to surge and roar like volcanic magma.

The moment he exerted force with his foot, accompanied by a sharp crack as the air was torn apart, Gu Shaoan appeared in front of Zhang Sanfeng.

Just as the two were only five feet apart, Gu Shaoan's right hand, which was loosely gripping the hilt of the Yitian Sword, suddenly tightened its grip on the hilt.

"Qiang~"

As a melodious sword cry, louder than the biting wind in the mountains behind, rang out, a flash of sword light instantly appeared before Song Yuanqiao, Abbess Miejue, and the others in the distance.

The sword light, like a cold autumn wild goose or a fleeting, brilliant shooting star, went straight for Zhang Sanfeng's right shoulder.

Combined with the effect of the "Sword Drawing Like a Rainbow" stat and Gu Shaoan's current strength, Gu Shaoan's sword strike was extremely fast.

Whether it was the sharpness of the concentrated true essence at the tip of the sword, or the excessive speed of the sword strike, the sword tip did not create even the slightest gust of wind as it parted the air along its path.

The sword tip pierced the air, and the snowflakes that danced along the way were silently split in two the moment they touched the sword tip.

Seeing Gu Shaoan's lightning-fast sword strike, Zhang Sanfeng's eyes showed surprise for the first time.

Even though he was surprised, Zhang Sanfeng still did not dodge, and even his left hand remained behind his waist.

When the sharp sword tip was less than three feet away from him, Zhang Sanfeng had already raised his hand without anyone noticing.

With some thick fingers, the other three fingers were bent, leaving only the index and middle fingers together, and he pointed at the sword that was tearing through the wind and snow in front of him.

"boom!"

At that very moment, the terrifying power that Gu Shaoan had been gathering in his left hand, ready to be unleashed, surged into the Yitian Sword and then emerged from its tip.

This caused the lightning-fast sword strike to suddenly acquire a terrifying force, like a towering mountain pressing down.

Extreme speed, extreme sharpness, extreme weight.

The three elements are perfectly combined to form a single sword.

This was also Gu Shaoan's strongest sword strike in the past eight years.

Seemingly sensing the change in Gu Shaoan's sword strike, Zhang Sanfeng's eyes showed even greater appreciation.

But his actions remained unchanged.

It was still that same light, seemingly casual touch.

However, just as Zhang Sanfeng's finger was about a foot away from the tip of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, and they were about to collide in the next instant, the true essence did not burst forth from that finger as Gu Shaoan had expected.

Zhang Sanfeng's fingers flicked forward in the same unremarkable way as before.

"Chi~"

However, just as the two fingers reached forward again in mid-air, Gu Shaoan felt as if the sword in his hand had pierced directly into a muddy swamp.

A viscous force seemed to envelop me from all directions.

The terrifying kinetic energy, true essence, and mountain-like force carried by the Yitian Sword in Gu Shaoan's hand were instantly disintegrated, dispersed, and annihilated without a trace.

The sword came to a complete stop when the tip of the sword was still three inches away from Zhang Sanfeng's outstretched fingertip.

It's like piercing a soft yet incredibly tough membrane.

Although there was only a three-inch distance, it felt like an indestructible chasm. Even though Gu Shaoan continuously poured his true essence into the sword, it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea; he could not move the tip of the Yitian Sword in his hand even an inch further.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan withdrew the Yitian Sword from his hand and sheathed it, bowing slightly to Zhang Sanfeng.

"This sword strike is, in my opinion, the strongest move I have made so far."

Zhang Sanfeng withdrew his pointing finger and turned his gaze to Gu Shaoan in front of him.

But his gaze was even stranger than before.

After a long while, Zhang Sanfeng finally couldn't help but turn his head to look at Abbess Miejue in the distance.

Are you sure this disciple is someone you can really train?

Abbess Miejue: "??????"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Abbess Miejue frowned and asked, "What do you mean, Master Zhang?"

Zhang Sanfeng showed none of the air of a martial arts master. Instead, he spoke bluntly like an ordinary roughneck: "What else could it mean? Literally, this little monster's control over martial arts, his own skills, and his strength—in which aspect isn't he better than you? How could you possibly teach him?"

"You dare to accept such a disciple? What a waste! You're misleading a promising young man. If you can't handle him, give him to this old Taoist!"

Upon hearing this, Abbess Miejue was taken aback.

I immediately realized what was happening.

Without saying a word, he drew his sword with a "whoosh" and glared at Zhang Sanfeng, shouting, "Zhang Sanfeng, do you have the guts to say that again?"

Zhang Sanfeng snorted and said, "Say it again, say it ten times, what can you do to me? Do you think I'm afraid of being chopped down by you?"

But upon hearing Zhang Sanfeng's words, Abbess Miejue calmed down.

Then, with a half-smile, he looked at Zhang Sanfeng and said, "What? Is Master Zhang jealous?"

Seeing Abbess Miejue's reaction, Zhang Sanfeng's expression froze.

Envious? This is more than just envy; they practically want to knock the person unconscious and kidnap them.

In Zhang Sanfeng's view, that sword strike was still at the level of "form sword".

But the fact that he could deliver such a lightning-fast sword strike is enough to show that Gu Shaoan is definitely a natural talent for swordsmanship.

He possesses exceptional talent in swordsmanship.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for a simple "Sword Drawing Technique" to achieve such a level.

If that's all there is to it, then so be it.

The key was that Gu Shaoan's sword strike just now was incredibly skillful, with his refined true essence and the "light as heavy" technique that exploded at the last moment.

Sword speed, true essence, and power are combined into one.

Even an ordinary martial artist who has condensed their inner energy into a powerful aura would be severely injured, if they managed to withstand Gu Shaoan's sword strike, even if they didn't die.

To have such martial arts skills and strength at the age of nineteen is not just outstanding, it's terrifying.

If a disciple like Gu Shaoan were placed in the Wudang Sect...

Zhang Sanfeng was certain that Gu Shaoan's future achievements would be no less than his own.

Even if Zhang Sanfeng is no longer around, as long as Gu Shaoan's strength grows, he will surely be able to protect the Wudang Sect for another hundred years.

This is no longer a matter of being envious or not.

At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng even had the urge to knock someone unconscious and abduct them.

Seeing Abbess Miejue's smug expression, Zhang Sanfeng's eyelids twitched.

"This is fucking weird."

However, Zhang Sanfeng also knew that such an outstanding disciple, anyone with a bit of foresight, would know what he represented to a sect.

Even the life of the sect leader is not as important as the life of this disciple.

Abbess Miejue would be even less likely to give up such a prodigy disciple to someone else.

Seeing that Zhang Sanfeng remained silent, Abbess Miejue's smile deepened even further, and she even laughed out loud.

The laughter reached Zhang Sanfeng's ears, causing him to be speechless with exasperation.

Suddenly I realized that I still prefer the prickly, unsmiling Abbess Miejue to her.

Although their words were harsh and their attitude was fiery, at least they weren't this infuriating.

"Laugh, laugh, laugh! Go back and check if you've been poisoned at your Emei Sect's grave before you laugh!"

Listening to Zhang Sanfeng's rambling words, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo pursed their lips, barely managing to suppress their laughter.

Neither of them expected that the renowned Master Zhang of Wudang would be such a chatterbox.

Song Yuanqiao and the others noticed Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan's reactions, and their faces turned red.

Outsiders who haven't seen him all assume that Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang must be a sage with an air of otherworldly grace and the demeanor of a grandmaster.

But only they knew the true character of their master.

Even at over a hundred years old, he still had a fiery temper and would occasionally utter vulgar and crude language.

Once outside of Wudang, probably no one would guess that this seemingly quick-witted and stout man is Zhang Sanfeng of the Wudang School.

In response, Song Yuanqiao couldn't help but say, "Master, there are juniors from the Emei Sect here! Be serious."

Zhang Sanfeng glared at him: "This is how the old Taoist is, do you have a problem with that?"

After being glared at by Zhang Sanfeng, Song Yuanqiao could only manage a wry smile.

"Disciples don't dare."

Seeing the serious expressions on Song Yuanqiao's and the others' faces, Zhang Sanfeng curled his lips and withdrew his gaze, turning instead to look at Gu Shaoan in front of him.

After a brief pause, Zhang Sanfeng shook his head and said, "Your martial arts skills have reached an extremely high level in all aspects. If it were just a matter of giving pointers on martial arts, this old Taoist priest wouldn't be able to offer much guidance. If you have any questions, just ask them!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan did not hide anything and asked directly, "May I ask, senior, what level would my current strength be considered in the martial arts world today?"

In response to Gu Shaoan's question, Zhang Sanfeng said, "Judging from your 'Immortal Supporting the Head' technique in the Golden Top Cotton Palm and that sword strike just now, your strength can barely be considered to be among the top in the world."

Gu Shaoan frowned slightly and muttered, "Just barely making it into the top tier?"

Since he barely made it into the top tier, it means that Gu Shaoan's current strength, when placed among top-tier masters, can only be considered at the bottom.

Not to mention compared to Pang Ban, even compared to Sun Baifa, the gap is still quite large.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng laughed.

“Little guy, do you think it’s so easy to become a top-tier person? Looking around the world, anyone who can become a top-tier person is at least over thirty years old.”

"Even Lang Fanyun from the Angry Dragon Gang only managed to enter the ranks of top-tier masters three years ago when he brought the 'Overturning Rain Sword Technique' to the 'Domain' level."

"And Lang Fanyun is now thirty-two years old, and his internal energy cultivation has reached the level of Condensing Yuan into Gang."

"You're not even twenty yet, and your internal energy cultivation is only at the Qi Condensation stage. You've already reached the first-rate level, what more do you want?"

Gu Shaoan was well aware of the names of the Angry Dragon Gang's Overturning Rain Sword and the Waves Overturning Clouds.

Gu Shaoan also knew that three years later, Lang Fanyun would take the swordsmanship to a higher level by using the concept of "extreme emotion and extreme sword".

His strength was already comparable to that of Pang Ban, who had mastered the "Great Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique" but had not yet entered the Celestial Realm.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Shaoan asked, "May I ask, senior, is the 'domain' you just mentioned a higher realm than 'power'?"

In response to Gu Shaoan's question, Zhang Sanfeng walked toward a pavilion on the side.

Gu Shaoan, along with Abbess Miejue and others, followed one after another.

After Zhang Sanfeng sat down by the pavilion, he finally spoke, saying, "You're right. Above power lies domain."

"The so-called momentum is the ability to transform form into meaning after a martial art has reached the level of 'perfect and smooth'."

"At this stage, the power of martial arts is beyond smoothness and ease, and can reach the level of unity between technique and martial arts. The moves are no longer limited, and even a casual slap or a caress can contain the true meaning of martial arts."

"And the domain"

At this point, Zhang Sanfeng's gaze fell on the bluestone on the ground outside the pavilion, which was a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) away from him.

He casually raised his right hand.

There was no wind, no powerful energy stirring.

But the fist-sized bluestone seemed to be steadily lifted by an invisible hand, floating smoothly and steadily to his side like duckweed on water, defying common sense.

　There will be three updates today, and the next chapter will be around 8 PM! Also, the Zhang Sanfeng I'm writing is the Hong version from the movie, mainly because I feel this version of Zhang Sanfeng is more in line with the book's characterization, rather than just a stereotypical immortal!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)