In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 337 Fallen Leaves as Witness, Qi as Blade

Sunlight filtered through the delicate crimson gauze of the window frame, turning into a soft, pale golden light that quietly bathed the disheveled quilt and the embracing bodies.

Tiny dust particles floated slowly within the beam of light, like fragments of time, tranquil and peaceful.

Gu Shaoan's eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is Zhou Zhiruo's sleeping face, which is very close to the viewer.

The morning light cast a faint golden glow on her jade-like cheeks, making her skin appear even more translucent.

She slept soundly, her long eyelashes like two dark feathers, peacefully covering her eyelids, completely devoid of her usual aloofness and self-restraint. The corners of her lips naturally turned up slightly, holding a faint smile, as serene as a newborn infant, or like a Udumbara flower fully unfolding in the night dew, pure and content.

A few strands of her dark hair clung to her smooth forehead, revealing a delicate and languid beauty. The trembling and melting sensation of the clear stream last night seemed to still linger in the tender and alluring spring feelings in her eyes and brows.

I felt a steady, warm breath coming from the crook of my left arm.

He turned his head slightly and saw Yang Yan nestled in his arms like a cat that had found a source of warmth, her cheek pressed against his chest. She was not sleeping as soundly as Zhou Zhiruo, occasionally rubbing against him gently, her thick, long hair spread out.

Her rosy lips were slightly parted, her breath sweet, and the way she relied on him so completely in her sleep was a stark contrast to the passionate and demanding girl she was yesterday; all that remained was a relaxed and charming innocence.

Gu Shaoan lay quietly, his gaze lingering on two completely different yet equally captivating faces. He felt the warmth of their bodies, an almost mellow warmth rising from their touching skin, slowly and steadily flowing through his limbs and bones, finally gathering in his heart and overflowing deeply.

There is a saying that all people are born into suffering, and this may be true. But in this life, there are always some encounters, some moments, and some warmth that are sweet and abundant enough to neutralize and offset all the bitterness of the first half of life, and even turn it into a sweet aftertaste.

He gently patted the two of them, and after they groggily opened their eyes, Zhou Zhiruo looked at Gu Shaoan and suddenly blushed, as if she had thought of something. She then covered her head with the blanket.

Yang Yan clung to Gu Shaoan and chuckled.

That radiant smile was like that of a cat that had stolen a fish.

"Alright, get up early, it's time to serve tea to your master and father-in-law."

Upon hearing Gu Shaoan's words, the two women realized that they needed to serve tea to their elders the morning after their wedding.

Seeing the sunlight streaming into the room, the two women were startled and quickly got up.

But the moment they stood up, the two women frowned slightly and began to circulate their internal energy.

After a few dozen breaths, as the discomfort from their wedding night subsided, they quickly got dressed.

The nourishing effects of the "Emei Nine Yang True Scripture" were fully realized at this moment.

When Gu Shaoan returned to the room with two basins of hot water, the two of them were already dressed.

The fine cloth used on the wedding day of the two families and placed on the bed last night were also put away by Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan.

Gu Shaoan stretched a little and couldn't help but feel grateful once again for his previous foresight in using the "Nine Yang True Scripture" to nourish his kidney meridian every day.

Good kidneys are the true measure of health.

Half an hour later.

Inside the Golden Hall, the morning sandalwood incense had not yet completely burned out. Sunlight streamed in through the tall hall doors, illuminating the polished golden brick floor and casting long, slender shadows of the people inside.

Abbess Miejue sat upright in the central seat, her gold and white robes spotless, her face devoid of its usual seriousness, only displaying a deep and lingering smile.

Yang Tie and Abbess Juechen, who were standing to the side, were the same.

After drinking the tea offered by the three, Abbess Miejue first handed a red envelope to Gu Shaoan before speaking: "You have been calm and composed since childhood. I am naturally at ease entrusting Zhiruo and Yan'er to you. I hope that the three of you will be of one mind, respect and love each other, and live up to this destiny."

Gu Shaoan replied with a smile, "This disciple will certainly keep Master's teachings in mind."

Yang Tie and Abbess Juechen, just like Abbess Miejue, gave Gu Shaoan a few words of advice and then smiled without saying anything more.

Seeing this, Yang Yan couldn't help but ask, "Master, don't you have anything to say to your disciple and senior sister?"

In response to Yang Yan's question, Abbess Juechen said irritably, "What did you say? From childhood to adulthood, Shao'an has always spoiled you and Zhiruo and thought of everything for you. You're lucky to be with Shao'an from now on."

Yang Yan chuckled and said, "We shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders!"

As she spoke, Yang Yan put her arm around Gu Shaoan's arm.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

The tea ceremony is complete.

The sunlight rose higher, making the main hall even brighter.

But above this golden-roofed hall flows the harmony of ordinary families.

A moment later, Abbess Miejue asked, "You just got married yesterday. Shouldn't we postpone the sparring session with Sect Leader Li for a couple of days?"

After asking around, Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan learned about what happened yesterday.

His expression immediately became more tense.

Upon learning that Gu Shaoan had actually agreed to fight Li Ruohai today, the two women couldn't help but look worried.

After all, the two women knew that Gu Shaoan had been working hard all night and didn't fall asleep until almost the end of the Chou hour.

My energy level is definitely not comparable to what I have on a normal day.

It's clear that he's at a disadvantage to fight Li Ruohai now.

Gu Shaoan chuckled and said, "It's alright! It's just a friendly spar with Sect Leader Li, not a life-or-death battle, so it won't have much of an impact."

Gu Shaoan's "Emei Sword Manual" currently only has ten moves. To create more sword moves, in addition to continuous research, he needs a lot of martial arts knowledge and combat experience.

However, given Gu Shaoan's current strength, his ability to fight ordinary martial artists is only slightly better than nothing.

Only by fighting against other top-tier opponents can one achieve greater improvement and assistance.

Li Ruohai is nicknamed "Evil Spirit," which refers not only to his style of doing things but also to his marksmanship, which is both strange and difficult to guard against.

He can be considered the number one spearman in the Great Wei.

Gu Shaoan was naturally quite interested in Li Ruohai's strength and marksmanship.

Everyone knew Gu Shaoan's personality; he never acted rashly.

Therefore, upon hearing Gu Shaoan's words, the others remained silent. After lunch, at the invitation of the Emei disciples, Li Ruohai and Feng Xinglie, who were staying at a secluded courtyard on Mount Si'e, also arrived at the Golden Summit of Mount Emei.

Accompanying them were Song Yuanqiao, Master Kongzhi, Shangguan Jin Hong from the Money Gang, and some guests who had attended the wedding the day before.

They had obviously come after hearing about Gu Shaoan's upcoming sparring match with Li Ruohai.

After the wedding, the weapons of the group were returned to them by the Emei Sect.

Li Ruohai's twelve-foot red spear was also held behind his back.

After exchanging greetings with the group, Abbess Miejue, Song Yuanqiao, Shangguan Jin Hong, and others retreated to the side.

He left the space to Gu Shaoan and Li Ruohai, who were standing three zhang apart.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan did not draw the Yitian Sword, Jing Wuming frowned and said, "Facing Li Ruohai, he didn't even draw his sword immediately. This young sect leader Gu is really arrogant."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Shangguan Jin Hong's voice rang out.

"With his strength, he has the right to be arrogant."

"After all, I didn't force him to draw his sword back then."

However, Shangguan Jin Hong did not utter the last sentence.

Even so, Jing Wuming could sense Shangguan Jin Hong's admiration and apprehension towards Gu Shaoan in her tone.

This made Jing Wuming extremely curious about just how strong Gu Shaoan really was.

However, after Shangguan Jin Hong and Abbess Miejue stepped aside, Gu Shaoan and Li Ruohai, who were in the arena, had their internal energy flowing slowly around them, but neither of them made a move immediately.

The plaza in front of the Golden Summit Hall is paved with bluestone, open and flat. When the mountain wind blows, a few fallen leaves are swirled up, making it seem even more desolate.

The sunlight shone directly down, making the shadows of the two people standing opposite each other appear extremely short, as if the weight of the world had been concentrated in them.

Taking in the situation, a young girl, barely out of her teens, turned to her elder and asked, "Grandpa, why haven't Young Master Gu and Sect Master Li made a move yet?"

The elder standing next to the girl looked embarrassed when asked the question.

Just then, Feng Xinglie whispered, "They are having a battle of wits."

Faced with what Feng Xinglie said, the girl and some other guests who were also confused looked at Feng Xinglie with doubt.

In response, Feng Xinglie explained: "When masters clash, especially when they reach the 'Condensing Yuan Qi into Gang' realm like Master and Young Master Gu, every move contains immense power and is also more dangerous. If it is a life-or-death struggle, they will naturally use every means to seize the initiative and strive for a decisive victory."

"But today is a time for sparring and verification, aimed at encouraging each other and exploring the path of martial arts, not for life and death, so the method is different."

"The so-called 'first strike' in a duel between top masters does not necessarily refer to sound, but rather to the martial artist's 'momentum,' which is the special aura formed by combining the form with the intent of martial arts."

Feng Xinglie paused, organizing his thoughts, "Sometimes this clash of forces is more dangerous than a real battle, and it can also better test the opponent's strength and weaknesses."

"Master and Young Master Gu appear to be still, but in reality, their respective auras, true essence, and even their understanding and perception of martial arts have formed a 'force' that is like two invisible mountains, probing, squeezing, and merging with each other."

"At this moment, their bodies were filled with special energy. If an ordinary martial artist who had condensed his Qi got close, he would be seriously injured by the energy gathered around them."

Feng Xinglie's explanation was simple, and even Mei Jiangxue could understand it.

However, Mei Jiangxue was in Emei Mountain and spent many years with Gu Shaoan, Zhou Zhiruo, Abbess Juejue, and others. She even received guidance from Gu Santong on several occasions.

Although his internal energy cultivation level has not yet reached the stage of condensing qi into primordial essence, he has some understanding of "momentum" and even "using intention to transform domains".

Many of the guests present did not even know what "momentum" meant.

Naturally, he couldn't understand what Feng Xinglie was saying, and for a moment he was completely confused.

As if to confirm his words, a slightly stronger mountain wind swirled up from the valley, stirring up more withered yellow leaves from the edge of the square, which then drifted into the center. These leaves were light and disorderly, moving with the wind without any pattern.

However, a strange scene occurred.

When the fallen leaves drifted to within about three zhang of Gu Shaoan and Li Ruohai, they seemed to crash into an invisible barrier filled with an intangible force field. Some leaves silently split open, the cuts as smooth as if they had been sliced ​​by the sharpest blade.

Some instantly turned black and curled up, as if scorched by invisible flames, while many more silently turned into dust indistinguishable to the naked eye and dissipated in the wind.

Fallen leaves serve as evidence, and the flow of energy as a weapon.

This silent clash has already outlined the vastly different martial arts territories of the two masters.

The entire process was silent, save for the mountain wind, but the invisible chill and oppressive atmosphere sent a shiver down the spines of all the spectators. The space, spanning three zhang in diameter, seemed to have become the absolute domain of the two men's will and power, repelling all external influences.

Those who had been unaware of what was happening before were secretly shocked by what they saw.

Only Shangguan Jin Hong and Abbess Miejue remained calm.

Inside the arena, Gu Shaoan and Li Ruohai maintained their initial postures, their clothes seemingly unmoved. However, a keen observer would notice that their breathing had become unusually long and shallow, as if they had merged with the surrounding mountain breeze and light.

The sun was still blazing, but the square was so quiet that you could hear the distant rustling of the pines.

All the spectators held their breath, their eyes darting back and forth between Gu Shaoan, Li Ruohai, and the fallen leaves being torn apart by an invisible force, afraid of missing any of the next scenes.

Inside the arena, Gu Shaoan could clearly feel the invisible energy emanating from Li Ruohai.

Just like its name, "Prairie Fire Spear Technique," this energy is not real flame, but it is full of frenzied vitality, like lava surging beneath a dry grassland.

With the support of the "wildfire momentum," the energy around Li Ruohai surged like a raging fire, its power layering upon layer, seemingly without end.

What surprised Gu Shaoan the most was that Li Ruohai's aura actually carried a sense of "impermanence and formlessness".

The energy does not burn in a fixed manner, but sometimes condenses into a point like the tip of a spear, which is unstoppable.

At other times, it spreads like desert sandstorms, penetrating everywhere.

One moment it's as violent and soaring as a volcanic eruption, the next it might turn into smoldering underground fire, unpredictable and treacherous.

He wasn't simply accumulating power; rather, he was weaving a scorching and dangerous net of energy in an aggressive and deceptive manner, attempting to envelop and penetrate the powerful energy gathered around Gu Shaoan.

Judging from Li Ruohai's current control over the situation, Gu Shaoan is certain that if Li Ruohai were given another five years, he might be able to reach the level of transforming a domain with his will.

After determining the level of Li Ruohai's own power, Gu Shaoan's vast internal energy suddenly accelerated its circulation.

At the very moment Gu Shaoan circulated his internal energy and solidified his aura,
Li Ruohai's "momentum," which leaped, spread, and tried to devour everything like a flame, suddenly froze!
(End of this chapter)