In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 255 Domineering leakage
March.

An unnamed river meanders north of Shannan Prefecture, its waters shimmering in the warm spring sunshine.

On the riverbank by the woods, Gu Shaoan, dressed in a blue robe, stood quietly.

His eyes were lightly closed, and his right hand held the Heaven-Slaying Sword, pointing diagonally at the ground beside him. Under the warm spring sun, the ancient sword did not feel warm at all; instead, it exuded a cold aura, incongruous with its surroundings, like a clear, cold pool, as if absorbing all the light while revealing its own solitary sharpness.

An invisible yet abundant and vast amount of vital energy suddenly erupted from his dantian, surging and flowing along his meridians like a raging river.

At the very moment the Qi Circulation began, bursts of energy suddenly filled the area within three zhang around Gu Shaoan.

The energy was like a flowing wind, difficult to see with the naked eye, yet clearly perceptible.

The tender grass beneath my feet was suddenly pressed down by an invisible force, clinging tightly to the moist soil, and was actually squeezed into a shallow depression with clear edges and a picturesque shape on the soft riverbank.

The gentle river breeze blowing around him couldn't penetrate even a three-zhang radius around Gu Shaoan.

Just as the energy filled the area around Gu Shaoan, his aura suddenly changed.

His originally composed demeanor now carried an indescribable air of transcendence.

Her long hair moved without wind, and her clothes fluttered slightly. She was as radiant as jade, with an inner charm. She exuded an otherworldly aura, as if she were untouched by the dust of the world and about to drift away. She seemed out of place with the bustling riverbank and the verdant forest, as if she might be carried away by the breeze at any moment.

"buzz"

As the aura shifted, the already cold and aloof aura of the Yitian Sword in Gu Shaoan's hand suddenly solidified and deepened, the sword body trembled slightly, and emitted a low murmur that seemed to cleanse the soul.

Just then, a slightly strong spring breeze swept across the shimmering river surface, swirling up a few early-withered pink petals and blowing them toward the edge of the woods.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.

Her eyes were as clear as an autumn pool, reflecting distant mountains, rivers, and swirling petals, yet they were calm and unfathomable.

As Gu Shaoan's toes touched the ground, it was as if a cloud had touched the ground, leaving no trace.

The next instant, Gu Shaoan's figure seemed to be lifted up by the spring breeze, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared leisurely in mid-air two zhang above the ground, heading towards the towering tree three zhang away that required two people to hug.

In the brief instant his figure swept through the air, Gu Shaoan had already raised the Heaven-Slaying Sword in his hand.

At the very moment when his figure was at its highest point in the air, and his sword intent reached its peak.

Gu Shaoan moved his right hand, which was holding the sword.

There was no build-up of power, no swift movement, and not a trace of everyday life.

He simply bent his arm slightly forward, and with his wrist, he moved it forward with the utmost gentleness and ease, as if plucking a string on a musical instrument.

The movements were so gentle, like an immortal extending a finger, as if to stroke the head of mortal beings.

Just as the sword tip tore through the air, the river breeze that had just blown in, along with the internal energy and vital energy that Gu Shaoan had condensed around him, all surged wildly into the Yitian Sword in his hand.

In an instant, the Heaven-Slaying Sword suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light, leaving a trail of brilliant sword light before lightly touching the thick trunk of the giant tree.

"buzz"

"Click."

The moment the sword tip touched the tree trunk, the extremely refined sword energy on the sword blade silently seeped into the hard bark, just like snow melting in spring.

The spot on the tree trunk that was hit first silently sank down a little.

Immediately afterwards—with that point as the center, a ring of pale white energy ripples, visible to the naked eye, suddenly spread outwards.

“Click, click, click”

Fine, spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the tree trunks within three feet of the sword point.

The cracks spread silently until the massive, mountain-like tree trunk seemed to be torn apart from the inside by an invisible force, crashing to both sides.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan's feet landed on the ground silently.

Looking at the tree in front of him that had been split in two, Gu Shaoan seemed to be dissatisfied, his brows furrowing slightly.

"It still doesn't work!"

In the month or so since leaving the capital, Gu Shaoan has spent his days practicing the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill and figuring out how to transform the "Immortal Touching the Head" into a sword move.

However, "Immortal Touching the Head" is originally a palm technique in "Golden Top Cotton Palm". Now, it is not easy to suddenly transform it into a sword technique, and to completely transform "Immortal Touching the Head" into a sword move.

More than a month has passed, and Gu Shaoan still hasn't been able to perfect this sword strike.

According to Gu Shaoan's guess, if he wanted to combine the characteristics of swordsmanship and transform the "Immortal Touching the Head" move into a sword technique, it would take at least a few more months.

However, thinking back to his sword strike just now, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but mutter, "Why does this move of mine feel a bit like 'Flying Immortal from Heaven'?"

After all, the idea behind the "Immortal Touching the Head" pose is to descend from above, like an immortal coming down to earth.

In addition, the "immortal touching the head" posture itself gives Gu Shaoan's sword moves an ethereal and otherworldly air, as if an immortal has descended to earth.

"I wonder if, once this move is fully mastered and combined with the second realm of swordsmanship, it will qualify for inclusion in the 'Emei Sword Manual'?"

Amidst these swirling thoughts, Gu Shaoan sheathed his sword and then used his lightness skill to head towards the other side of the forest.

A moment later, under a tree, Gu Shaoan saw Huang Xuemei sitting cross-legged, recovering her true energy.

However, as he approached and sensed the fluctuations of true energy within Huang Xuemei's body, Gu Shaoan unconsciously raised his chin slightly.

"The aura of true essence has changed again."

Previously, when they were in the capital, Gu Shaoan had already sensed a significant change in the true essence aura within Huang Xuemei's body.

After asking, my doubts were temporarily dispelled.

However, after leaving the capital, Gu Shaoan could sense that Huang Xuemei's true energy aura would become more intense every now and then.

By now, the sheer power and ferocity emanating from her true essence was so great that Gu Shaoan could clearly sense it without even actively probing Huang Xuemei's internal condition.

His gaze shifted slightly to Huang Xuemei's face.

Noticing Huang Xuemei's slightly furrowed brows while she was cultivating, Gu Shaoan knew without guessing what was going on.

Whether it's a martial artist's true qi, true essence, or even qi energy, they are all essentially forms of energy.

However, Huang Xuemei's internal energy was too vigorous, which inevitably caused discomfort when her meridians carried the energy.

In more serious cases, it can even cause problems with one's own meridians.

"What kind of internal energy cultivation method could be so strange?"

Half an hour later, after Huang Xuemei exhaled a breath of stale air, her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

Upon opening her eyes, Huang Xuemei was greeted by Gu Shaoan standing before her.

Looking at Gu Shaoan, who held a sword in one hand and had the other behind his back, Huang Xuemei's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and for some reason, she was momentarily lost in thought.

But before she could get into that dazed state, Gu Shaoan took a few steps forward and squatted down.

"Please extend your hand, Miss Huang."

Upon hearing the voice, Huang Xuemei, though puzzled, still extended her hand to Gu Shaoan.

Gu Shaoan placed his fingers on Huang Xuemei's wrist, took her pulse for ten breaths, and then his expression became more serious.

Immediately, the vital energy flowed through Gu Shaoan's fingers and entered Huang Xuemei's body.

A few breaths later, Gu Shaoan withdrew his Qi and released his hand, his tone becoming more serious as he asked, "When you cultivate now, do you feel a slight stinging pain when your true essence circulates?" Huang Xuemei nodded gently in response to Gu Shaoan's question.

Seemingly guessing what Gu Shaoan was thinking, Huang Xuemei said, "The Heavenly Dragon Heart Method of my Heavenly Dragon Sect is special. When you cultivate to the sixth level, the true essence in your body will increase by one point for every cycle of the Heart Method."

"When you reach the seventh level, the situation will worsen. At this time, you will need to use special pills and a special method with someone who also cultivates the Heavenly Dragon Heart Method to make the true essence converge, thereby washing away its fierceness."

As Huang Xuemei recounted the story, a thought suddenly flashed through Gu Shaoan's mind, and he remembered a martial art.

Martial arts Zen, the wedding dress divine skill.

Like the Nine Yang Divine Skill, the Wedding Dress Divine Skill is also an extremely yang and powerful internal energy cultivation method.

However, unlike the Nine Yang Divine Skill, the Wedding Dress Divine Skill is more extreme.

Furthermore, the True Essence of the Wedding Dress that she cultivated was even more powerful and domineering.

Compared to the "Wedding Dress Divine Skill", the "Nine Yang Divine Skill" is as gentle as a mellow Taoist internal skill.

Its situation is similar to that of the "Heavenly Dragon Heart Method" cultivated within Huang Xuemei's body.

But after thinking about it, Gu Shaoan felt that the "Heavenly Dragon Heart Method" in Huang Xuemei's body could not possibly be the "Wedding Dress Divine Skill".

Those who cultivate the "Wedding Dress Divine Skill" will feel as if they are being pierced by sharp needles wherever their true essence passes.

The greater one's skill level, the stronger the pain will be.

Huang Xuemei is three years older than Gu Shaoan and has been cultivating for more than ten years.

In addition, the "Tianlong Pill" that Huang Xuemei had taken previously increased her power by ten years.

The internal energy he has cultivated for over twenty years has now reached a level comparable to that of a person.

In addition, Gu Shaoan had examined Huang Xuemei's physical attributes and found them to be at an "excellent" level.

If Huang Xuemei were to cultivate the "Wedding Dress Divine Skill," with her current skill level, once she circulates her true energy, she would feel as if she were being pricked by a thousand needles.

Let alone using one's internal energy to fight enemies, even daily cultivation would be extremely painful.

It won't be as easy as it is now.

"The Heavenly Dragon Sect's 'Heavenly Dragon Heart Method' is quite peculiar."

But recalling what Huang Xuemei had just said, Gu Shaoan asked, "So, Miss Huang is in such a hurry to go back this time because she also wants Mr. Six Fingers to help cleanse the true essence from your body?"

Huang Xuemei shook her head and said, "My master has already taught me the method of cleansing true essence. If I wanted, I could just find any child to take as my disciple and teach them the 'Heavenly Dragon Heart Method' to cleanse my body and solve the problem in my body."

After a pause, Huang Xuemei said, "My parents were not around before. I fled all the way to Jiading Prefecture. After you helped me heal, my master also came and brought me back to Shannan Prefecture. He taught me literature and martial arts, and also taught me how to conduct myself in the world."

"To me, this kindness is like a second life."

Huang Xuemei didn't continue speaking at this point, but Gu Shaoan already understood what she meant.

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "Although she has suffered misfortune, it is fortunate that Miss Huang has an elder like Mr. Six Fingers."

Huang Xuemei said with a touch of wistfulness, "Yes!"

After glancing at the sky, Huang Xuemei said, "We're almost there. At our speed, we'll reach the south of Shannan Prefecture soon."

Noticing Huang Xuemei's anxiety, Gu Shaoan didn't delay any longer. After nodding in acknowledgment, the two set off again towards the south of Shannan Prefecture.

An hour later.

Guided by Huang Xuemei, the two arrived at a steep mountain ridge.

From a distance, the mountains are rugged and the vegetation is lush and secluded.

The mountain road almost ends here, leaving only a rugged path that disappears into the dense forest ahead.

However, when they were still a hundred feet from the foot of the mountain, Gu Shaoan seemed to sense something and his gaze swept across the dark woods on both sides of the foot of the mountain.

And his voice also penetrated into Huang Xuemei's ears through the transmission of spiritual energy.

There are people in the woods on both sides.

Huang Xuemei responded, "No need to worry, they should be from my Tianlong Sect."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan did not speak again, but more internal energy surged from his dantian and circulated within his body.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

Soon, when the two were less than three zhang from the foot of the mountain, four figures flashed out from the dense forest almost simultaneously.

The movements were swift and decisive.

The four men were all dressed in matching dark gray outfits, wearing black ghost masks to conceal their faces, and holding blades.

The moment they appeared, they had already formed a subtle encirclement, exuding a strong aura of killing intent, their cold gazes locked onto Gu Shaoan and Huang Xuemei.

However, when the masked man facing Gu Shaoan and Huang Xuemei caught a glimpse of Huang Xuemei beside Gu Shaoan out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly paused.

He then knelt on one knee.

"Meet the Young Master."

Upon hearing this, the three people standing nearby also noticed the pattern on Huang Xuemei's zither case and knelt down one after another.

"Get up!"

Huang Xuemei waved her sleeve lightly and spoke casually.

As the four of them stood up, they also took off their masks.

After her gaze swept over the four people's faces, Huang Xuemei's expression finally softened.

"Where is Master?"

One of the men, who was in his early fifties and had some gray hair at his temples, replied, "Reporting to the young sect leader, the sect leader is still in the villa behind the mountain. Moreover, the sect leader instructed that as soon as the young sect leader returns to the mountain, the young sect leader should go to see him immediately."

Huang Xuemei pressed on, "How is Master's injury?"

"The sect leader..."

The middle-aged man opened his mouth, then sighed.

Seeing this reaction, Huang Xuemei frowned, then turned to Gu Shaoan and said, "I'll lead the way."

After speaking, Huang Xuemei's internal energy began to circulate again.

Seeing Gu Shaoan behind Huang Xuemei, the other four people's expressions tightened slightly, and they subconsciously stepped forward, as if they wanted to stop him.

"Ok?"

However, before the four could step forward, a burst of energy suddenly erupted from Huang Xuemei's body, forcing the four who approached back.

"This person is a friend I specially invited back to treat my master. The matter is urgent, and I don't want to waste time talking nonsense with you."

His voice was deep and solemn, yet it carried an air of domineering arrogance.

Looking at Huang Xuemei in front of him, a description suddenly flashed through Gu Shaoan's mind.

"Overbearingly domineering."

(End of this chapter)