In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 334 An unexpected surprise
Their gazes fell on the fragments of green bamboo on the ground. With the martial arts knowledge of the people present, they could immediately tell that the fragments of green bamboo could not withstand the martial arts used by Gu Shaoan and had shattered.

After a brief pause on the bamboo fragments, Gu Santong asked, "How much of your strength did you use in that sword strike just now?"

Gu Shaoan said softly, "Fifty percent!"

If it were an ordinary move, how could it have taken Gu Shaoan so long to create it?

The move "Dawn" was created by Gu Shaoan by combining "Sword Nine: One Sword Separates the World" and "Sword Drawing Technique". Its cultivation path is 70% similar to "Sword Nine". It can naturally attract not only the power of heaven and earth, but also the power of heaven and earth.

Once the power of heaven and earth is mobilized, its power will increase several times.

This is why Gu Shaoan chose to use a bamboo sword instead of using his fingers to perform this move.

The power is too great. Even with Gu Shaoan's current physique, if he uses the "Sword Ten: Dawn" move with his fingers instead of a sword, the meridians and bones in his arm will be damaged.

"Sigh~"

Gu San had already shown restraint by informing Gu Shaoan that he was abandoning his sword and using the green bamboo instead. However, he did not expect that Gu Shaoan's sword strike just now only used 50% of his strength.

In other words, if it were a head-on confrontation, even with the twelfth level of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, if he forcibly took Gu Shaoan's sword strike...
"They're probably going to freeze to death on the spot."

Thinking of this, Gu Santong looked at Gu Shaoan and felt depressed.

Mei Jiangxue couldn't help but ask, "Senior Gu and Senior Brother are both martial artists who have reached the Qi Condensation stage, yet Senior Brother's strength is so much higher than Senior Gu's?"

Hearing Mei Jiangxue's words, Gu Santong's eyelids twitched involuntarily, and he felt as if he had been stabbed in the chest, with a sharp pain.

He immediately retorted irritably, "Do you think anyone can compare to this little monster? With this little monster's strength, I dare say that in the current martial arts world, below the Celestial Realm, if he dares to claim second place, who dares to claim first?"

As he spoke, Gu Santong was also feeling extremely frustrated.

In the past few years at the Emei Sect, Gu Santong's strength has made remarkable progress without having to worry about anything else.

Gu Santong was even confident that if things continued at the current pace, in twenty years, with the completion of the twelfth level of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, he would at least be able to enter the Celestial Realm through the Lesser Three Harmonies.

However, compared to him, Gu Shaoan's strength has improved even more terrifyingly. Almost every now and then, his strength will jump up a level.

Now, their strengths are on completely different levels.

Who can he go to for justice?

Does being talented give you the right to bully others like this?
Gu Shaoan chuckled inwardly as he observed Gu Santong's reaction.

The Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill is extremely powerful and yang, and it is indeed unparalleled in the world when it comes to defense.

However, the "Invincible Vajra Divine Skill" is a skill that requires constant effort to overcome obstacles; the more golden energy a cultivator accumulates within their body, the stronger its power becomes.

If Gu Santong hadn't been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison and was delayed for over twenty years, the amount of gold in his body would have increased several times over by now. In that case, Gu Santong's defensive power would have risen sharply.

Even if Gu Shaoan used the Heaven-Slaying Sword to unleash "Sword Ten: Dawn", he might only be able to injure Gu Santong.

After exchanging a few words with the group, Gu Shaoan returned to his room.

The moment he returned to the house, Gu Shaoan sat cross-legged.

In his introspective state, Gu Shaoan could clearly feel that a purple seed the size of a mung bean had appeared at his Shen Ting acupoint.

Around the seed, wisps of ethereal, pale purple spiritual energy, like a thin veil, flowed continuously, pulsating like breath.

It flows quietly along some extremely mysterious and complex paths, within specific meridians and hidden channels around his Shen Ting acupoint.

Each time the cycle is completed, this purple spiritual energy will flow back into the core seed, like rivers flowing into the sea.

It was exactly the same situation that Gu Shaoan had observed in Feng Xinglie's mind.

Immediately afterward, Gu Shaoan had a sudden thought.

The next instant, the spiritual energy that Gu Shaoan could only mobilize through the "Soul Transfer Technique" began to flow down from his Shen Ting acupoint and into his body.

A moment later, as Gu Shaoan slightly raised his right index finger, a wisp of purple energy with a touch of bewitching allure condensed on his fingertip.

A moment later, Gu Shaoan manipulated his mental energy to slowly return to his brain, transforming it into a protective shield to protect the Shen Ting acupoint and other important acupoints in the brain.

Gu Shaoan's lips curled into a smile.

"Unexpectedly, after entering the second realm of swordsmanship, it can greatly enhance a martial artist's spiritual energy, and even catalyze the condensation of spiritual energy into a seed."

Spiritual energy is the most special. Even if Gu Shaoan greatly enhances his spiritual energy through drugs, according to his estimate, it will take at least one or even two years for his spiritual energy to condense into a seed.

Unexpectedly, this advancement in swordsmanship to the second realm brought with it such a pleasant surprise.

With his spiritual energy condensed into a seed, Gu Shaoan successfully entered the second realm of swordsmanship. The "Emei Sword Manual" added a new sword move, and Gu Shaoan's strength increased once again.

As Gu Santong said.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan's strength is already at the top among those below the Celestial Realm.

Even with over two hundred years of internal energy and the "Absorption Technique," Zhu Wushi would be no match for Gu Shaoan without any other special abilities.

This also put Gu Shaoan in a great mood.

After sensing his undeveloped middle dantian and his uncultivated upper dantian, which was like a wasteland, Gu Shaoan calmed himself down.

"At the current pace, the middle dantian should be fully developed in another month. Hopefully, before the Azure Dragon Gathering goes to Wudang next year, we can condense the essence, qi, and spirit!"

After the Emei Sect held a banquet for all sides, the next thing to do was naturally to purge the forces of the eight newly incorporated prefectures in order to uphold righteousness.

Many notorious martial arts forces in the eight prefectures of Jinzhou, Jinchuan, Jianping, Yuzhou, Tiannan, Beishan, and Baoshan, knowing the reputation and power of the Emei Sect, had long ago chosen new locations for their sects and wisely moved away from the Emei Sect's sphere of influence.

However, some forces were unwilling to give up and secretly tested the waters.

It wasn't until the Emei Sect investigated and swiftly annihilated several forces that those forces that had been secretly monitoring the situation realized their place and became obedient.

But what followed was the problem of insufficient manpower.

Within the Great Wei Kingdom, each prefecture has several towns under its jurisdiction.

Around Jiading Prefecture, there were seven towns, including Nanguo, Chongzhou, Jianzhou, and Renshou, each with a population of over ten thousand.

Each town has dozens of disciples stationed there, and a prefecture alone requires hundreds of Emei disciples.

Previously, the three prefectures were barely enough for the Emei Sect's manpower. But this time, eight more prefectures have been added, making the area much larger.

With the current number of disciples and elders of the Emei Sect, how can they possibly cover all eight prefectures?

After Abbess Juechen recounted the problems Emei Sect had encountered recently, Gu Shaoan pondered for a moment before speaking: "The only solution to the manpower shortage is to continue recruiting new disciples. After all, Emei Sect now covers ten prefectures, and we can't just send a few disciples to each prefecture."

Abbess Miejue nodded and said, "Your master and your two uncles share the same idea. If it were any other day, I could even give orders to the elders to keep an eye out for talented orphans when they are out and about and bring them back to Emei."

"It's just that you mentioned that the Azure Dragon Society will be making some big moves after the New Year, so I thought I'd ask for your opinion."

In response, Gu Shaoan said, "With disciples here, the affairs of the Azure Dragon Society should not involve Emei. Master and the two senior uncles can rest assured about these matters."

Abbess Miejue's expression softened slightly, and she immediately asked, "There's another question, about the 'Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian' (a traditional Chinese medicine text). What are your thoughts on that?"

The "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" (Muscle/Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Chapter) can enhance a martial artist's physical constitution, making it arguably the most important secret of the Emei Sect today.

If not handled properly, the Emei Sect could easily become the target of public criticism.

Because it was so important, Abbess Miejue was extremely careful when passing it on.

Even now, apart from those people in the back mountain, only a handful of the elders of the Emei Sect have been able to learn it.

After a moment's thought, Gu Shaoan replied, "The *Yi Jin Jing* and *Xi Sui Jing* are indeed of extraordinary significance. For hundreds of years, Shaolin Temple has seen numerous martial artists infiltrate each year, attempting to steal the *Yi Jin Jing* and *Xi Sui Jing*. Once the news leaks out, the same situation is inevitable."

"No matter how good the material is, if it can't be used, it's no different from a roadside stone. I think the 'Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian' still needs to be kept secret. My character and loyalty come first."

In late October, autumn was in full swing in Beijing, with frost forming from the dew. The Forbidden City exuded a solemn majesty in the twilight, its eaves piercing the leaden sky. The evening breeze swept through the palaces, bringing the dry cold and desolation characteristic of the north.

Inside the imperial study, however, there was a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Several gilded bronze animal-shaped charcoal braziers silently emitted a steady heat, completely keeping out the chill of late autumn. The lamps and candles were brightly lit, especially around the imperial desk, where several exquisite palace lanterns and rows of thick candles illuminated the massive sandalwood desk in every detail, and also lit up the face of the young emperor behind it.

Emperor Zhengde of the Great Wei Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao.

He was dressed in casual clothes, not the imperial robes he wore when attending court, but a simple yet elegant black silk brocade robe with a dragon design.

He was around twenty years old, with a handsome face inherited from the Zhu family's royal lineage, and a fair complexion due to his long residence in the palace and lack of exposure to the scorching sun.

However, this fair complexion was not weak; on the contrary, it exuded a jade-like luster and a restrained strength.

His eyebrows were exceptionally well-formed, neither too thick nor too thin, slanting upwards towards his temples, exuding a natural and refined air of heroism.

His nose was high and straight, his lips were well-defined, but what was most striking about him were his eyes. His eyes were not large, but they were extremely bright and piercing. His pupils were dark and bright, and in the candlelight, they shone with a strange light that was somewhere between sharp and languid.

On the imperial desk in front of him, memorials were piled up like a small mountain, categorized by type.

The already reviewed imperial edicts are stacked on the left, the ink still fresh; those awaiting review are piled on the right and in front.

The air was filled with the faint scent of fine pine soot ink, the unique aroma of imperial paper, and a subtle, serene fragrance emanating from the emperor's robes and prayer beads.

Zhu Houzhao's brows furrowed slightly at times and relaxed at others.

Upon seeing a certain passage, he would pause his rosary-beading motion and lightly tap a word or phrase with his fingertips; when he read other innocuous greetings or platitudes, a barely perceptible hint of impatience would flash across his handsome face, and he would quicken his pace in writing his comments.

The entire imperial study was extremely quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the candle wick, the rustling of the paper turning, and the slight friction of the pen tip against the paper as the emperor wrote.

About three steps to the right of the imperial desk, Cao Zhengchun and another eunuch waited quietly.

The other eunuch looked to be over sixty years old, thin and frail, but his eyes were quite bright.

After a long while, Zhu Houzhao finally finished reviewing the last memorial.

After Zhu Houzhao casually tossed the last memorial onto the table, the thin old eunuch immediately brought forward a cup of ginseng tea.

Zhu Houzhao took the ginseng tea, and then subconsciously stretched out his other free hand.

However, after a few breaths, there was nothing unusual at the point of contact, which made Zhu Houzhao frown subconsciously.

Just then, the old eunuch's gentle voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"Your Majesty, you no longer need to take medicine."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, saying, "How many times have I forgotten now?"

The old eunuch said softly, "The twelfth time."

"Twelve times? Habits are truly terrifying! Even I have repeated them so many times without realizing it."

The old eunuch replied, "After all, it has been more than 20 years since His Majesty began to remember things, and it is indeed not easy to change things in a short period of time."

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "It is not easy! But that's also why I am satisfied with my current physical condition. At the same time, it allows me to always distinguish who is more important to me."

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao felt his body, which showed no signs of fatigue or heaviness, and his face showed genuine satisfaction.

Upon hearing this, both Cao Zhengchun and the old eunuch understood that the person Zhu Houzhao was referring to was Gu Shaoan, who could cure his premature aging.

Then, Zhu Houzhao changed the subject and asked, "I heard that the Emei Sect has sent out quite a few invitations these days?"

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Gu Shaoan will marry Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan, both disciples of the Emei Sect, on the 23rd of next month."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao said calmly, "Perfect, send over the gifts I have prepared."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao waved his hand gently.

After the two respectfully left the imperial study, Zhu Houzhao reached under the desk and pressed a button on a mechanism.

The next second, a hidden compartment popped out from under the desk.

A book was revealed inside.

On the book cover, several large characters written in small seal script are prominently displayed.

"The Secret to Longevity"

　The previous chapter mistakenly wrote Sword Nine as Sword Ten, but that has already been corrected! The move "Dawn" is Sword Ten, not Sword Eleven!

　
(End of this chapter)