In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 518 A Sword Cuts Through the River

Mei Jiangxue, Shang Xiufang, and Zhou Shuxian were all skilled in martial arts. As their gazes fell upon Gu Shaoan, the three of them quickly noticed his unusual behavior.

As the person who knew Gu Shaoan best among those present, Mei Jiangxue immediately thought of what Abbess Wujue, Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and others had told her when she saw Gu Shaoan's current state.

His expression immediately tightened, and he raised his left hand to draw the longsword placed to the side into his hand. Then he leaped down from the air and stood on the deck, placing his right hand on the hilt of the sword as if to protect Gu Shaoan.

At first, Shang Xiufang and Zhou Shuxian had no intention of intervening, but when they saw Mei Jiangxue's actions, they realized that Gu Shaoan had gained new insights into martial arts.

The thought arose, and Shang Xiufang and Zhou Shuxian looked at Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue again, wisely remaining in the pavilion without approaching.

As time went on, a somber atmosphere filled the entire ship.

It felt as if you were in a drizzly, rainy season, with a noticeable sense of stagnation in your breathing.

Just then, Gu Shaoan suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes.

In those deep eyes, it seemed as if a thousand rivers were rushing by.

With a slight thought, he took a step forward with ease, as if riding the wind, his toes lightly touching the empty air ten feet in front of the bow of the ship.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Shaoan walked lightly, as if strolling on an invisible broad road. With each step, a sword aura gathered from the soles of his feet to provide leverage.

In the blink of an eye, they were already forty feet away from the flower boat, standing proudly alone in the sky above the middle of the river.

The golden glow of the sunset bathed him without reservation, gilding him with a sacred and transcendent aura.

A river breeze blows, robes flutter, a lone figure stands in the void, overlooking the flowing river.

Meanwhile, on the Shangxiu Pavilion boat in the distance, Zhou Shuxian, Shang Xiufang, and Mei Jiangxue could almost sense that Gu Shaoan's aura was in harmony with the world and the river before them.

Then, in the sight of the others, Gu Shaoan casually raised his right hand, then pointed his fingers like a sword, and gently drew a line across the vast river in front of him.

"laugh"

A faint, yet ear-piercing, sword-like cry suddenly resounded across the area around the river.

During the process, a pale golden sword aura about three feet long suddenly appeared as Gu Shaoan made his slash, and then headed towards the gently flowing river in front of him.

Almost the instant Gu Shaoan's finger swept across the surface, the pale golden, water-like sword energy landed lightly on the river below.

Where the sword light fell, the calm river below surged in as if cutting through a giant block of tofu.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the river water was forcibly pushed aside by an invisible force, exposing the deep blue, turbid riverbed to the afterglow of the setting sun.

Water plants swayed, mud and sand churned, and on both sides were huge water walls that were compressed into straight, smooth, crystal-like walls, reaching several meters high.

Within the sword energy surging into the river, the sword energy sometimes flowed like the calm, murmuring water of a river, and sometimes surged and roared into the river.

Under the sword energy imbued with special sword intent, even though the river water, which was unleashed by this sword energy, surged and churned, it did not immediately close inward.

It should be noted that although this river channel was not at its narrowest point, it was still nearly twenty zhang wide.

But Gu Shaoan's sword strike at this moment actually cut the river surface in two.

The terrifying "cutting" and "destructive" power contained in the sword energy forcefully split the vast river in two.

Witnessing this scene, even the profound Zhou Shuxian and the knowledgeable Shang Xiufang were shocked and their minds went blank.

Just a breath later, accompanied by a torrent of water pouring down, the river that had just been forcibly separated suddenly closed up again, and the remaining force caused ripples and waves to spread across the newly closed river beneath Gu Shaoan's feet.

It was only after that sword strike that the clarity brought about by the "enlightenment" in Gu Shaoan's mind gradually faded.

Looking at the still churning river below, Gu Shaoan did indeed frown slightly.

"After a long time, the Emei Sword Manual has finally gained another move."

Then, Gu Shaoan moved slightly and returned to the deck of the flower boat with light steps.

Seeing Gu Shaoan return, Mei Jiangxue stepped forward with a smile: "Congratulations on your improvement in martial arts, Senior Brother. Was that move just now a new sword move from the Emei Sword Manual?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan shook his head: "This move is merely a result of my understanding and inspiration. It is still within the 'Emei Sword Manual,' but the sword stance and techniques are incompatible with the 'Emei Sword Manual.' It can only be considered a new sword move."

As Gu Shaoan's cultivation level reached the Heavenly Sword Realm, his improved swordsmanship and knowledge led him to set increasingly higher standards for the subsequent sword techniques in the "Emei Sword Manual".

As for that sword strike just now, although it could cleave the river in two, it was ultimately just the result of the sword's momentum and Gu Shaoan's own nearly two hundred years of internal energy.

Let alone Gu Shaoan, even if it were any other martial artist at the Celestial Realm, it wouldn't be difficult to temporarily cut off the river if they used all their unique skills.

Such martial arts naturally could not meet Gu Shaoan's requirements and expectations for the new moves of the "Emei Sword Manual".

Then, Gu Shaoan said, "That sword strike just now was created by me by combining some characteristics of the 'Nine Swords of Dugu.' You can think of it as a general formula. After I refine it later, it will transform into a new sword technique, just like the 'Nine Swords of Dugu.' When cultivated to a high level, it can help the practitioner enter the second realm of swordsmanship." "Not the 'Emei Sword Manual'?"

Upon hearing what Gu Shaoan said, Mei Jiangxue's eyes lit up.

Having observed Mei Jiangxue's reaction, Gu Shaoan knew exactly what she was thinking.

When Gu Shaoan created the "Emei Sword Manual", he himself was not skilled enough in swordsmanship and martial arts, and relied entirely on "martial arts enlightenment cards".

Therefore, the "Emei Sword Manual" was almost tailor-made for Gu Shaoan.

Not everyone can be as overpowered as Gu Shaoan, which makes the cultivation requirements and difficulty of the "Emei Sword Manual" too great.

Even Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Mei Jiangxue in front of them have only been able to barely cultivate one of the sword moves to the level of transforming form into meaning over the years.

Furthermore, it would be difficult to have the spare energy to focus on other sword techniques in a short period of time.

Gu Shaoan originally planned to return this time and, after breaking through to the Celestial Realm, revisit the *Emei Sword Manual* based on his current level of understanding and insights. This would both serve to refresh his knowledge and solidify his swordsmanship, and also to break it down into more techniques, progressing from simple to complex, making it easier for you and future Emei disciples to cultivate.”

A short while later, as the sun set and the moon rose, inside the pavilion, before a table of delicacies, Gu Shaoan raised his wine cup to Shang Xiufang and Zhou Shuxian and said, "My junior sister and I have troubled Miss Shang these past few days."

The very first sentence made Shang Xiufang's expression stiffen slightly.

Then, Shang Xiufang said, "I am grateful to Young Master Gu for treating Granny Zhou and dealing with Yuwen Bo and others. He has been kind to me and the entire Xiufang Pavilion. Along the way, thanks to Young Master Gu on this ship, I can feel more at ease. If anyone should thank someone, it should be me who thanks Young Master Gu."

Finally, after a moment's hesitation, Shang Xiufang spoke.
"Is Young Master Gu preparing to depart?"

Gu Shaoan nodded slightly.

"This time, Gu and his junior sister came to the Great Sui Kingdom with a purpose. Jiang Xue has already mastered the basics of music theory and is ready to practice the music skills and martial arts of the sect. It is time for her to leave."

Although she had long known that Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue would leave one day, Shang Xiufang was still caught off guard when that day came so quickly.

After calming herself down, Shang Xiufang said, "To be honest, Young Master Gu, my maternal grandfather, Yue Shan, suffered a hidden injury many years ago after a battle with Song Que, the head of the Song family. He has been troubled by this injury ever since. Young Master Gu's medical skills are extraordinary, and I implore you to treat him."

After speaking, Shang Xiufang stood up and bowed respectfully to Gu Shaoan.

Before Gu Shaoan could speak in response to Shang Xiufang's request, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from outside.

Immediately afterwards, there was a knock on the door.

"Master, something terrible has happened."

Hearing the voice outside the door, Shang Xiufang could only put aside her conversation with Gu Shaoan, straighten up and say, "Come in."

Then, a middle-aged woman, also around forty years old, quickly entered the room.

However, when she reached Shang Xiufang's side, the woman's gaze first swept over Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue, and she hesitated.

Taking in the middle-aged woman's expression, before Gu Shaoan could speak, Shang Xiufang said first, "No need to hold back, speak freely."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman replied, "I just received news that Yang Su, the treasure trove left by Yang Gong, is located in Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xiufang and Zhou Shuxian's expressions changed drastically.

Even Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue's gazes fell on the middle-aged woman.

After regaining her senses, Shang Xiufang immediately looked at Gu Shaoan. Seeing that Gu Shaoan was not looking at her, she felt a little relieved and then asked, "Do you know who spread the news?"

The middle-aged woman hurriedly replied, "I don't know. I only know that it is said throughout the Great Sui Kingdom that Lu Miaozi appeared in Lin'an Prefecture a month ago and said that the Yang Gong Treasure Vault he built was located in Chang'an Prefecture."

Zhou Shuxian said in a deep voice, "A month ago, it was exactly when we were still in Tongzhou Prefecture."

Gu Shaoan's mind was racing.

The location of Yang Gong's treasure vault was a secret; otherwise, other forces in the Sui Dynasty would not have searched for it in vain for so many years after Yang Su's death.

The news of Yang Gong's treasure trove appeared neither earlier nor later, but precisely after Yang Guang's death, when the four major clans in the Sui Dynasty were barely maintaining stability.

In Gu Shaoan's view, this move was clearly malicious, an attempt to stir up trouble in the Sui Dynasty with the Yang Gong Treasure Trove.

Almost instantly, Gu Shaoan thought of the Bad Commander and the Bad People.

"So you finally couldn't hold back anymore?"

Gu Shaoan's eyes flashed, and he sneered inwardly.

(End of this chapter)