In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Was Chapter 172 deliberately designed to provoke the old Taoist priest?

The moment the "Martial Arts Enlightenment Card" was used, it was as if a ladle of sweet dew was poured down through his skull, filling Gu Shaoan's entire brain with an indescribable sense of clarity.

All the martial arts techniques he had previously learned, such as the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, Willow Catkin Sword Technique, and Sunset Sword Technique, as well as his insights into martial arts, flashed through Gu Shaoan's mind like a fleeting dream.

At this moment, my thoughts seemed to burst forth in a state of clarity.

Some aspects of martial arts that were previously only vaguely understood now seem as easy to grasp as one plus one, thanks to the shift in my thinking.

Gu Shaoan now even has a feeling.

If he wanted to, he could easily elevate all the martial arts he possessed to the level of "momentum".

Even when his thoughts drifted to the "Immortal Touching the Head" technique in the "Golden Top Cotton Palm" manual, combined with what Zhang Sanfeng had told him a few days ago, Gu Shaoan felt that with a little study, he could elevate the "Immortal Touching the Head" technique to the level of "Domain".

Under the onslaught of this violent mental storm, Gu Shaoan's thoughts only lingered briefly on the "immortal touching the head" in "Golden Top Cotton Palm".

Having reached the threshold of the "domain", Gu Shaoan's thoughts shifted, and he gently raised his eyes to look at the distant, continuous mountain range through the cliff.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan's consciousness seemed to be suddenly split in two.

One portion is still inside the body.

One portion had already reached the outside of the body.

Within his body, the martial arts techniques and philosophies of "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" and "Sunset Sword Technique," as well as the principles of internal energy cultivation, were constantly spinning, colliding, decomposing, and recombining rapidly in his mind.

Sparks of inspiration keep colliding.

Even Gu Shaoan could clearly feel the cold wind brushing against his cheeks and the icy touch of snowflakes on his face.

The consciousness outside the body hovered a zhang away from Gu Shaoan, looking at Gu Shaoan and this world from another angle.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan seemed to have become a spectator.

Looking at the snow falling all over the world, and the mountain wind that has become tangible because of the snow.

Behold the majestic mountains and rivers, the vast expanse of white snow, and the abyss-like cold wind.

Look at the power of heaven and earth, swimming slowly like a fish in this back mountain.

This feeling is especially wonderful.

Deeply immersed in it, using one's own body as a sensory organ, one perceives the power of heaven and earth.

Yet, one transcends it all, observing this world from the perspective of an outsider, striving to understand the principles of this world.

It evokes a sense of "being both worldly and otherworldly, both immersed and transcendent."

In this strange "dual state," insights flow, converge, and expand wildly in the sea of ​​consciousness like a clear spring.

The lightness and agility of the "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" and the twilight and fading light of the "Sunset Sword Technique" seem to have been disrupted.

In the end, of the two martial arts with vastly different intentions, only basic sword moves remained in his mind.

A moment later, Gu Shaoan slightly raised his eyes, his gaze also rising and stretching out to look at the distant, continuous mountain range.

Snowflakes kept falling on his head, shoulders, and the folds of his clothes.

Before we knew it, a layer of snow had already accumulated.

Other courtyard.

Zhang Sanfeng walked out the door and looked at Gu Shaoan, who was standing motionless on the snow like a puppet. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"This kid has been standing there for two hours already, and he's still frozen?"

Zhang Sanfeng could understand Gu Shaoan's thoughts.

It is in a martial artist's nature to admire strength.

In fact, let alone Gu Shaoan, even if Zhang Sanfeng were Gu Shaoan's age and knew the power and influence of heaven and earth, he would not be able to remain unmoved.

However, the power and momentum of heaven and earth are ultimately associated with the words "heaven and earth".

Such power is something that even martial artists who have just entered the Celestial Realm need to be careful of. How could a martial artist who has condensed Qi into Yuan possibly reach it?

Furthermore, the internal energy cultivation practiced by Gu Shaoan was merely a fusion of the Wudang and Emei versions of the "Nine Yang Skill," not a special martial art like the "Compassionate Journey Sword Manual."

In Zhang Sanfeng's view, Gu Shaoan's current attempt is destined to be a futile effort.

"Fine! Some things, if you don't try them, you'll never feel at ease."

Just as Zhang Sanfeng finished thinking about it, he seemed to sense something and turned his head to look into the distance.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, Song Yuanqiao, accompanied by Abbess Miejue, Yang Yan, and Zhou Zhiruo, emerged from the entrance to the back mountain.

After glancing at Gu Shaoan, who was standing still, and then at Song Yuanqiao and the others who had approached, Zhang Sanfeng thought for a moment, took a step, and instantly crossed ten zhang away, appearing in front of them.

Upon seeing Zhang Sanfeng appear before him as if by teleportation, Song Yuanqiao immediately bowed.

“Master, the nun noticed that Junior Nephew Gu has been gone for several hours, so she wanted to come and see if anything was wrong.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng looked at Abbess Miejue and said, "What? Are you afraid that this old Taoist will forcibly detain your disciple?"

Abbess Miejue smiled and replied, "Master Zhang is renowned throughout the world and is the number one martial artist in the Great Wei. How could he possibly do something like forcibly taking someone else's disciple? Even if my disciple is indeed outstanding, I doubt he would catch Master Zhang's eye. I'm just worried that Shao'an might disturb Master Zhang's cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng suddenly laughed and said, "It's just that I'm bored being alone in the back mountain. It's rare to find such an excellent junior. If his master can't teach him, I can take over."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Miejue pursed her lips, and the smile on her face froze for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Sanfeng let out a cold laugh.

When he spoke in a sarcastic and unsettling way, Abbess Miejue's parents hadn't even been born yet.
Having gained no advantage, Abbess Miejue ignored Zhang Sanfeng and, like Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo, looked into the distance.

Looking at Gu Shaoan, who stood motionless in the snow like a wooden sculpture, Abbess Miejue's expression became more solemn.

"Master Zhang, what's going on, Shao'an?"

Zhang Sanfeng turned his head and looked at Abbess Miejue with a surprised expression.

"What? You're asking about the old Taoist? Isn't this your disciple?"

Abbess Miejue: "."

Seeing Zhang Sanfeng's surprised expression, Abbess Miejue clenched her fists inside her sleeves.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Sanfeng let out a cold laugh.

"Hmph, when I was being sarcastic and sarcastic to others, your parents weren't even born yet! Trying to out-talk me is really making me angry."

If someone else said that, it would be considered an insult.

But if Zhang Sanfeng said it, it was the truth.

After taking a deep breath, Abbess Miejue spoke, "This junior knows her mistake. May I ask Master Zhang, could you tell me about Shao'an's situation?"

Seeing that Miejue had backed down, Zhang Sanfeng said casually, "What else could it be? Your precious disciple is researching how to use his Qi Condensation to manipulate the power and momentum of heaven and earth."

Upon learning of Gu Shaoan's current actions, the group was all taken aback.

A few breaths later, Abbess Miejue asked, "May I ask Master Zhang, is it true that the power and momentum of heaven and earth can only be activated after reaching the Celestial Realm?"

After a moment's thought, he shook his head and said, "It's not absolute, but the power and momentum of heaven and earth are special. Even a martial artist who has just entered the Celestial Realm needs to spend a very long time relying on the three flowers of essence, qi and spirit to perceive the power and momentum of heaven and earth."

"Before reaching the Celestial Realm, the three flowers of essence, energy, and spirit have not yet been condensed. Without the three flowers of essence, energy, and spirit as a medium, one naturally cannot touch the power of heaven and earth that is wandering between heaven and earth, as well as the power of heaven and earth around one's surroundings. So how can one talk about stimulating it?"

"Just like the 'Great Demon Seed Technique of the Dao Heart' in the Demon Master's Palace, which is a miraculous skill that transforms matter with spiritual power, if one can materialize spiritual power into essence, and then let the essence and true essence merge, it is like covering one's body with a blanket, and one cannot feel the power and momentum of heaven and earth."

"When I was at the level of Condensing Yuan Qi into Gang Qi, I could barely sense it. Even if I pushed my power to the limit, I could only draw upon a little bit of the power of heaven and earth. The power of heaven and earth didn't even bother with me, let alone this kid who has only just condensed Qi into Yuan Qi."

"If you can really draw upon the power and influence of heaven and earth at the Qi Condensation stage, you'll probably have to hurry back to Emei and see if your Emei sect's mountain has been cleaved in two."

"Instead of this, you should think about how to counsel him later! Don't focus too much on the power of heaven and earth at this time. If such a good seedling is ruined, how will you face the founders of the Emei Sect?"

Seeing this, Abbess Miejue said, "Shao'an has been steady and reliable since childhood. He does everything in a down-to-earth manner. This time, he may have only been drawn to the wonders of the Celestial Realm because he had just heard about it. After trying it, he should know the difficulties and will no longer focus his mind on it."

After saying that, the group stood at a distance, quietly watching the solitary figure in the distance.

And this wait lasted for a full hour.

Just then, Gu Shaoan, who had been standing still, suddenly moved.

As the snow slid off his shoulders, Gu Shaoan slowly raised the hand that had been gripping the Heaven-Slaying Sword, in the eyes of the group.

When his right hand, which had been hanging by his side, slowly rose, his five fingers steadily gripped the cool, ancient hilt of the Heaven-Slaying Sword at his waist.

"Qiang!"

A soft, yet piercing sound of metal scraping against metal rang out as the Heaven-Slaying Sword was slowly drawn from Gu Shaoan's hand.

As the sword was drawn from its sheath, Gu Shaoan, who had been standing still, moved.

The sword blade pierced the air as Gu Shaoan continuously unleashed the "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" and the "Sunset Sword Technique."

The sword strikes were as graceful and agile as a willow swaying in the wind, drawing several untimely arcs in the heavy snow curtain.

At times, the sword's momentum resembled the setting sun, with the tip of the sword trailing a somber trajectory imbued with the air of twilight.

Gu Shaoan's figure moved back and forth on the snow, the sword light flashing around him, and the sword energy cutting through the air with a fine hiss.

However, as time went on, Gu Shaoan's sword techniques became simpler and simpler.

Later, his moves were reduced to the simplest basic sword techniques. His figure darted and weaved across the snow at incredible speed. The eight basic moves combined and varied at an unbelievable frequency, without any fancy tricks, only extreme efficiency and ferocious speed, as if a humanoid storm of sword blades was raging, clearing away the snowflakes and creating a rotating vacuum.

But strangely, after this swift sword dance lasted for a while, its violent momentum began to slow down.

It was like a surging river suddenly flowing into a gentle valley.

Gu Shaoan slowed his pace, and the sword in his hand seemed to grow heavier and heavier.

Each thrust felt like it was piercing through space; each sweep felt like it was stirring up viscous mountains.

His swordplay grew slower and slower, more and more sluggish, almost like an old man on his deathbed wielding a heavy iron bar. His movements were stiff and slow to the extreme, and the tip of his sword struggled to pass through the air, leaving only a faint, almost invisible trace.

Even the snowflakes brushing his face seemed to penetrate the slow sword shadows and land again on his hair and shoulders.

However, this state lasted for less than a quarter of an hour before Gu Shaoan began to swing his sword at an even faster pace.

This time, however, Gu Shaoan used neither the "Willow Catkins Sword Technique" nor the "Sunset Sword Technique" he had used before.

It was a sword move that even Abbess Miejue, Yang Yan, and Zhou Zhiruo had never seen before.

The sword techniques were magnificent and brilliant, yet they also possessed a touch of agility and ethereal beauty.

Abbess Miejue and the others actually discovered the essence of "Immortal Touching the Head" in Gu Shaoan's sword moves.

As the true essence surged, it filled the area within a three-zhang radius around Gu Shaoan with drenched sword energy. Any flying snow that approached was silently divided and shredded.

This caused the area within three zhang around Gu Shaoan to be completely devoid of any snowflakes, as if it had become a forbidden zone.

Having taken in all eight sword techniques used by Gu Shaoan, Zhang Sanfeng couldn't help but exclaim, "This kid's comprehension is truly astonishing."

With Zhang Sanfeng's keen eyesight, how could he not see that the sword moves Gu Shaoan was using at this moment were clearly a new sword technique created by refining the "Sunset Sword Technique" and "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" and combining them with the momentum of flying snow and cold wind, as well as the meaning of "immortal touching the head"?

Sword techniques may seem simple, but they are in fact formless and ever-changing.

Judging solely from the exquisiteness of this sword technique, Zhang Sanfeng was certain that the new sword technique created by Gu Shaoan far surpassed the "Sunset Sword Technique" in both its sophistication and power.

It is even comparable to the Tai Chi Swordplay he created.

How old was Zhang Sanfeng when he created the Tai Chi Swordplay? How old is Gu Shaoan now?
At such a young age, to be able to create such a sword technique is something even Zhang Sanfeng would have to marvel at.

"The Emei Sect will soon have another unique skill!"

Hearing what Zhang Sanfeng said, Abbess Miejue's face was already covered with surprise and joy.

Abbess Miejue never expected that during her visit to Wudang Sect, Gu Shaoan would be inspired by Zhang Sanfeng's guidance and create a new martial art.

The fact that even Zhang Sanfeng praised it so highly speaks volumes about the power of the sword technique created by Gu Shaoan.

However, at that moment, Gu Shaoan, who was in the distance, suddenly stopped.

Seeing Gu Shaoan suddenly stop in the distance again, Song Yuanqiao, Abbess Miejue, and the others all looked doubtful, but they were afraid of disturbing the figure in the snow, so they could only continue to observe.

Zhang Sanfeng remained calm, stroking his long beard with one hand and casually patting his round belly with the other.

Just as another layer of snow accumulated on Gu Shaoan's body, Gu Shaoan, who had been stiff and motionless once again, moved again.

With his left foot, he took a step forward very naturally. The step was small and landed silently, without even leaving a clear mark on the thick snow.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan twisted his right wrist, which was gripping the sword hilt, and the blade, propelled by his own strength and the subtle twist of his waist, slashed horizontally past his side.

The dark blade finally hovered steadily and precisely above the empty scabbard.

It was as if the two formed a peerless, deadly bow about to be released, and the sword tip hanging at the top of the sheath was the deadly arrowhead.

With his legs slightly bent, like a powerful bowstring held at full strength, his entire body formed a perfectly balanced starting posture containing immense power, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Just as Gu Shaoan closed his eyes, a chillingly still aura suddenly awakened within him. It wasn't an explosion, but rather like a dark abyss that devoured everything, silently opening its massive maw.

The true essence that had been slowly circulating within his body was suddenly ignited like a dormant volcano, its speed increasing exponentially.

As the true energy continued to circulate, more than a dozen hidden meridians in Gu Shaoan's body, which had never been touched before and whose functions were unclear even to Gu Shaoan's medical skills, were also violently opened up under the flushing of the true energy.

At times, gusts of strong wind would burst forth from Gu Shaoan's body.

Moreover, during the circulation of true energy, it followed a completely new path within Gu Shaoan's body.

It wasn't deliberate research, but rather an instinct, as if the true essence was meant to operate in this way at this moment.

In Gu Shaoan's perception, the howling mountain wind and the falling snow became particularly clear.

Also becoming particularly clear is the power of heaven and earth that is now swirling chaotically in the void within the back mountain.

Just like breathing and blinking, these seem to be innate instincts.

As Gu Shaoan's thoughts surfaced and his true essence began to circulate, several strands of the power of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn down by an invisible energy, entering Gu Shaoan's body and then the Yitian Sword in his hand.

"Ok?"

At the very moment these strands of heaven and earth power entered the Heaven-Slaying Sword, Zhang Sanfeng, who had been looking lazy and even yawning several times in the distance, suddenly changed his expression.

It was as if the lazy old dragon had suddenly witnessed a dramatic change in the weather, and an unbelievable premonition exploded in his heart.

On Zhang Sanfeng's left hand, there was even a small tuft of white beard that he had just plucked off himself.

But at this moment, Zhang Sanfeng was completely unaware, his eyes fixed on the figure holding a sword and crouching ten feet away as if he had seen a ghost, his heart filled with turbulent waves.

"Are you kidding me? You really stirred up the power and momentum of heaven and earth?"

After carefully sensing it, Zhang Sanfeng discovered that Gu Shaoan's aura was now blending seamlessly with the surrounding world.

"No, this is a special aura. Has this kid entered a state of enlightenment?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanqiao trembled.

"A sudden realization, Master, you weren't mistaken?"

Zhang Sanfeng said irritably, "Nonsense, it's not like I haven't entered a state of enlightenment before, how could I be wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanqiao's lips curled into a smile.

Zhang Sanfeng was so angry he almost laughed, and couldn't help but look at Abbess Miejue.

"Did this master and disciple come to the Wudang Sect on purpose to provoke this old Taoist priest?"

Three days ago, Abbess Miejue entered a state of enlightenment on the mountain steps of Wudang Mountain.

Three days later, Gu Shaoan entered a state of enlightenment in the back mountain of the Wudang Sect.

Why would someone want to achieve enlightenment without doing so on their own Mount Emei, instead of making a special trip to Mount Wudang?

After glancing at Song Yuanqiao, who looked on with envy, Zhang Sanfeng sighed and continued to look into the distance.

Inside the arena, Gu Shaoan's true energy was circulating wildly within his body like the Yellow River bursting its banks.

At the same time as the true essence was circulating, the flying snow in the back mountain seemed to suddenly break away from its original trajectory and was no longer moving randomly.

Instead, it seemed as if it was being drawn to Gu Shaoan by an invisible force and began to fly around Gu Shaoan.

Whether it was a misperception or not, the people in the distance felt that the snowflakes around Gu Shaoan seemed to have become heavier.

It's a unique feeling that comes from seeing it with the naked eye.

"buzz"

The next instant, an indescribable aura began to spread from Gu Shaoan's body. In everyone's eyes, a golden light began to condense on the tip of the Yitian Sword, which was suspended at the top of the scabbard in Gu Shaoan's hand.

The golden light that condensed at the tip of the Heaven-Slaying Sword seemed to ignite the final fuse! Gu Shaoan's sudden burst of speed was no longer simply "fast," but more like a spatial shift and folding.

Only a fleeting afterimage of air was left behind, as if the air had been instantly sucked away. The real body, like a ghostly streak of light, smashed through the heavy snow and wind, heading towards a rock on the edge of the cliff that was more than ten feet thick, five feet long and three feet wide.

When he was only two zhang away from the mountain rock, Gu Shaoan paused, and the Yitian Sword in his hand moved the instant he stopped.

It wasn't a devastating slash, nor a powerful thrust; it was simply a light, graceful forward swing of the right wrist with an almost elegant curve.

Like chasing away falling willow catkins, or like plucking invisible strings of a musical instrument.

Immediately afterwards, a sword aura, three zhang long, pale gold in color, and as thin as a silk thread, emerged from the blade in Gu Shaoan's hand.

Wherever the sword energy went, the falling snowflakes melted silently the moment they came into contact with the pale golden sword energy.

The sword light, as condensed as a golden thread, swept past and instantly landed on the mountain rock in front of it.

There was no deafening roar of rocks collapsing, nor the rumble of an earthquake.

That pale golden sword energy was like light cutting through water, or like a freshly sharpened blade slicing through the tenderest tofu.

Without any obstruction or stagnation, it cut into the mountain rock from the left and then emerged from the right.

It actually split this huge rock, which was more than 10 feet thick and 50 feet long and 30 feet wide, in two.

However, at the very moment the sword light sliced ​​through the mountain wall, the cleaved rock did not collapse and crumble like a normally cleaved rock.

Instead, a moment later, like a sandcastle encountering a gale, or like snow exposed to the scorching sun, it began to decompose and scatter from the cut, from top to bottom and from the outside in.

In the biting mountain wind, the massive rock mass was constantly blown away, and in less than a breath, it was completely annihilated into dust as if it had never existed.

　This chapter took me all day to write, it's six thousand words long, so I won't break it up! The next chapter will probably be around ten o'clock!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)