In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 266 Uprising
Upon hearing that Gu Shaoan wanted to see Li Ruohai, Abbess Miejue said, "You've just returned, why don't you rest for the night and go tomorrow?"

Gu Shaoan shook his head and said, "I'll feel more at ease once things are resolved."

Gu Shaoan has never liked to procrastinate.

I can only feel at ease if anything is resolved as soon as possible.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan had made a decision, Abbess Miejue pondered for a moment and then said, "Although your strength is now among the top in the world, remember that my Emei Sect is a prestigious and righteous sect. Do not let your increased strength lead you to look down on others."

"It should be known that throughout history, too many talented geniuses have become arrogant and lost their sense of propriety, losing the humble and measured nature of a true martial artist."

Hearing this, Gu Shaoan knew exactly what Abbess Miejue was thinking.

He immediately smiled and said, "Master, rest assured, I will always keep the rules of the Emei Sect in mind. Not only now, but even after I reach the Celestial Realm in the future, my original intention will not change, and I will always keep in mind the tenets of the Emei Sect."

Seeing this, Abbess Miejue nodded, and a smile returned to her face.

"Master is getting old, so please don't find him nagging."

Gu Shaoan laughed and said, "Master is only in his early forties now. His hair has not turned white since his breakthrough in cultivation. How can he be old?"

"If I can reach the Celestial Realm in the future, I can live for hundreds of years longer. At that time, I can go and argue with Master Zhang more often."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Miejue raised her finger and unleashed a gust of wind that struck Gu Shaoan on the head.

"You child, you're talking nonsense. Do you really think your teacher enjoys arguing with that old Taoist priest?"

Gu Shaoan smiled, and after discussing the banquet with Abbess Miejue and the others for a few more minutes, he used his lightness skill to leap out of the courtyard.

Looking in the direction Gu Shaoan left, Abbess Miejue sighed softly.

Upon hearing this, Abbess Juechen asked, "Is Senior Sister worried that Shao'an's temperament might change now that his strength has increased?"

Abbess Miejue bluntly stated: "In the path of martial arts, it is certainly gratifying to be brave and diligent. But throughout the history of the martial arts world, countless people with extraordinary talents have become arrogant and conceited once they reach the top, treating the rules of their sect as worthless and the heroes of the world as nothing."

"Take Gu Santong for example. When he first started out, he was a free-spirited and unrestrained person. Later, as his skills deepened and he mastered the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, he became more and more reckless in his actions. Although he was not a great villain, he still made many enemies."

"Such examples are commonplace."

"Shao'an is like a peerless sword that my Emei Sect will wield in the future. The sharper the sword, the more the wielder must guard against his own heart and guard against making mistakes."

Abbess Miejue's words echoed softly in the evening breeze, the swaying bamboo shadows reflecting the complex emotions of both expectation and worry in her brows, a sentiment shared by a teacher.

Abbess Juechen nodded.

He then looked at Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Mei Jiangxue on the side.

"Shao'an, we are not worried. The three of you should remember these words: strength is the foundation of a martial artist, but temperament is equally important."

"If a person loses reverence and moderation in his heart and only has power and arrogance left, even if he has unparalleled martial arts skills, he will not be able to escape sitting alone on a lonely peak and being betrayed by everyone. He will also be unable to truly climb to the ultimate realm of martial arts."

Zhou Zhiruo nodded solemnly, her clear voice filled with determination: "This disciple will remember Master's teachings and will always take my junior brother as a mirror to improve myself. I will never forget my identity and duty as an Emei disciple."

Mei Jiangxue and Yang Yan also looked solemn and followed suit, bowing and echoing, "Disciples should also be mindful of their character and live up to the teachings of our master."

Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen and Juejue finally felt relieved and nodded in satisfaction.

The dangers of the martial world are never just the open battles of swords and treachery, but also the deep-seated human nature, which is easily blinded by suddenly acquired power.

As a teacher who imparts knowledge and teachings, it is certainly the teacher's duty to teach exquisite martial arts. However, at this crucial moment when one's cultivation is improving or one's mind is in turmoil, it is the teacher who can provide timely guidance and direction to help the disciple's character.

For a truly reputable and upright family to be truly righteous, its very foundation must be firmly established.

Once the foundation is solid and the mind is righteous, even if one grows into a martial arts giant like a towering tree, the trunk will still be straight and reach for the sky, with lush branches and leaves, and a clear and bright character. It will never be twisted into a monstrous demon that obscures the sun and wreaks havoc on the region.

After leaving the back mountain, Gu Shaoan's figure swayed, as if a dragon was rising and falling in the misty mountains, or as if a wisp of elusive smoke was drifting by.

The verdant pines and cypresses, craggy rocks, and cascading waterfalls on both sides all rushed backward and blurred rapidly as he moved at an astonishing speed, forming fleeting outlines of light and shadow.

Even though the mountain roads of Mount Si'e are rugged and crisscrossed with ravines, they seem like smooth roads under Gu Shaoan's feet.

His figure moved swiftly and gracefully through the mountains and forests, each rise and fall appearing effortless and elegant to the extreme.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had already arrived at the mountainside platform of Mount Si'e.

The terrain here is relatively open and flat, with a group of villas made of blue tiles and white walls, which are laid out in layers along the mountainside.

Built by the Emei Sect to accommodate guests, these houses are not as magnificent as the main hall on the mountaintop, and their design is more simple and practical. However, they are characterized by the misty atmosphere of the mountains and the quiet elegance of the place, forming a world of their own.

Several winding, clear mountain streams were cleverly introduced, flowing through the courtyard and making a gurgling sound. Huge rocks of various shapes were scattered around, some standing like guardian stone figures, while others were half-submerged in the stream and covered with moss.

Furthermore, groves of bamboo dot the landscape, and as a gentle breeze blows, the bamboo shadows sway and rustle softly, adding to the serene and otherworldly atmosphere.

After asking the disciples stationed there about the courtyard where Li Ruohai was, Gu Shaoan did not continue to use his lightness skill as before, but instead slowly walked down the bluestone steps.

Gu Shaoan walked unhurriedly on the bluestone steps, his steps steady, his clothes fluttering in the wind, exuding a calm and composed demeanor.

Having deliberately concealed his formidable sharpness, Gu Shaoan at this moment was like a renowned sword returning to its sheath, its brilliance hidden, revealing only his profound and unassuming strength.

Before long, a relatively independent courtyard with blue tiles appeared before his eyes.

The courtyard gate was ajar, revealing several clumps of carefully trimmed green bamboo.

However, Gu Shaoan paused slightly at the end of the stone steps in front of the courtyard gate. His deep gaze did not immediately fall on the gate, but instead looked over a corner of the courtyard wall and precisely locked onto a mountain stream flowing down the side of the courtyard.

The stream is clear and swift, with white waves leaping and colliding among the rugged rocks like shattered jade, making a gurgling sound.

But right there on this ever-flowing stream, a figure stood silently.

It was none other than Li Ruohai, the leader of the Evil Sect, who was known as the "Evil Spirit." At this moment, Li Ruohai was dressed in a black robe that looked as dark as ink, clinging to his tall and upright body, which made his still well-defined face appear even more profound.

Although he is over fifty years old, his temples are already streaked with gray, and the corners of his eyes are etched with the fine lines of time. His handsome face has been polished by the marks of time, making him even more resolute and reserved.

His figure was as still as a deep pool and as steadfast as a mountain, standing quietly above the rushing stream.

What is most eye-catching is the twelve-foot-long red spear that he holds diagonally in his right hand.

The gun body is dark red all over, as if it has drunk its fill of blood and been tempered by time. The shaft is straight and hard, and it is unknown what kind of strange material it is made of. It has a faint sense of cold and heavy texture.

The spearhead, as thick as a bowl, gleamed with a dark, sharp luster. At this moment, the spear tip was slightly lowered, only three inches away from the roaring stream, yet it seemed to possess immense power, invisibly suppressing the surging water below.

Even in this quiet and elegant corner of Emei Villa, its majestic and domineering spirit cannot be concealed.

At this moment, Li Ruohai had his left hand behind his back, and the hem of his black clothes only fluttered slightly in the rushing water vapor, revealing his absolute control over the airflow around him.

That calm aura was like a deep, boundless ocean, yet it contained a sharp edge that was restrained to the extreme, ready to strike like thunder at any moment.

Standing there, he resembled a volcano about to erupt, with a terrifying power hidden beneath his calm surface, enough to melt gold and shatter rocks.

Gu Shaoan's gaze fell on Li Ruohai's feet. Although the stream was flowing gently beneath his feet, his feet, which were standing on the water, remained perfectly still.

This is enough to show Li Ruohai's mastery of lightness skills and movement techniques. I'm afraid he's no less skilled than Yang Yan, who just created the "Meteor Eighteen Lotus Steps" through enlightenment and has already reached the level of "momentum" in lightness skills.

Just as Gu Shaoan's gaze fell upon Li Ruohai, Li Ruohai, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

His eyes flashed like lightning, instantly scanning Gu Shaoan.

Their eyes met, and Li Ruohai's gaze flashed as he looked at Gu Shaoan, who exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura not far away.

After carefully sensing the situation, Li Ruohai was surprised to find that he could not detect Gu Shaoan's presence.

Just then, Gu Shaoan took a step forward and instantly appeared three zhang away from Li Ruohai, saying, "Gu Shaoan of the Emei Sect greets Sect Leader Li."

His voice was soft and gentle, neither humble nor arrogant.

Instead, it gives people a gentle feeling, like a spring breeze.

Looking at Gu Shaoan in front of him, Li Ruohai seemed to see his younger self in a daze.

He then turned slightly and walked to the shore to return the greeting, saying, "Li Ruohai of the Evil Sect greets Young Master Gu."

After returning the greeting, Li Ruohai said softly, "I have long heard that Young Master Gu of the Emei Sect has an excellent appearance and temperament, and unparalleled talent. Meeting you today, I can confirm that he lives up to his reputation."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "Sect Leader Li is too kind."

Li Ruohai shook his head: "At such close range, I could not detect your aura when I observed you, which is enough to show that you have been able to hide your aura in the world. I was able to do the same as you three years ago."

"On this point alone, you surpass me in your grasp of the power of heaven and earth."

Finally, Li Ruohai said, "In all these years, you are the first junior who has been able to ignite my fighting spirit."

Gu Shaoan said calmly, "Sect Leader Li wishes to spar with me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ruohai first nodded, then shook his head.

Under Gu Shaoan's gaze, Li Ruohai spoke up: "If I had met Young Master Gu elsewhere half a year ago, I would have considered sparring with him. But I have come here to apologize, so there is no reason for me to fight."

As he spoke, Li Ruohai suddenly turned his gaze to the depths of the secluded courtyard and shouted in a deep voice, "Xing Lie, come out!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it possessed an undeniable penetrating power, clearly reaching into the courtyard.

Almost the instant the words were spoken, a figure darted out from the half-closed courtyard gate like a startled hawk.

The figure stumbled slightly on the stone steps in front of the courtyard gate, appearing somewhat flustered. Then, with a few quick leaps and bounds, stepping on the gravel and grass in the courtyard, he swiftly reached Li Ruohai's side and stood on a smooth blue stone by the stream.

Who else could it be but Feng Xinglie?
However, he at this moment was completely different from the Feng Xinglie he had seen on the Golden Summit of Emei Mountain half a year ago.

Six months ago, Feng Xinglie gave people the impression of being calm, energetic and confident.

But now Feng Xinglie's once neat and black hair is now disheveled, with a few strands hanging messily on his forehead and temples, sticking haphazardly to his sweaty or dusty temples.

His face also showed a kind of haggardness due to lack of grooming. A layer of fine, unshaven short beard covered his jaw and cheeks like dusty wheat stubble, making his once handsome face look ashen and dejected.

What is most striking are his eyes. Those eyes, which were once fiery, full of confidence and arrogance, now appear somewhat unfocused and empty, as if they have lost all their luster, with only a faint flame of deep guilt remaining in their depths.

When she met Gu Shaoan's gaze, she quickly lowered her head as if she had been burned.

He exuded an indescribable sense of dejection and heaviness, which contrasted sharply with his master Li Ruohai, who stood beside him with an imposing and majestic presence.

Looking at his emaciated disciple beside him, Li Ruohai's deep, ocean-like eyes flashed with a barely perceptible pity.

Then, Li Ruohai cupped his hands to Gu Shaoan and said, "I have failed in my duty to teach my disciples, which has allowed my disciples and the Evil Sect to be used by others. I thank you, Young Master Gu, and your esteemed sect for your leniency in not punishing my disciple."

After speaking, Li Ruohai looked at Feng Xinglie.

Meeting Li Ruohai's gaze, Feng Xinglie stepped forward and cupped his hands to Gu Shaoan, saying, "Feng Xinglie thanks Young Master Gu for showing mercy."

In response, Gu Shaoan twisted his right wrist and pressed down, using the flow of Yin and Yang energies to lift Feng Xinglie's body up.

"Young Master Feng was merely deceived and is, in a sense, a victim. The troublemakers of that day have already been dealt with by Gu. It's good that Master Li doesn't hold a grudge."

Li Ruohai sighed and said, "This time the mistake was made by my Evil Sect. How can I, Li, have the face to hold a grudge against Young Master Gu?"

At this point, Li Ruohai activated his internal energy, and his figure flashed like a cold light as he rushed towards Gu Shaoan.

(End of this chapter)