A max-level player in Jade Dynasty: Awakening the Innate Dao at the start.

The wind swept up from below the cliff, carrying the dampness of the clouds.

Mixed with the faint sweetness and rotten smell of peach blossoms fading from the distant bamboo forest.

The wind lifted the hem of Lu Xueqi's white dress, revealing shoes embroidered with lotus blossoms underneath, with a few specks of moss clinging to the toes.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, his somewhat blurry figure reflected in her dark pupils.

"Is there any way?" she asked, her voice echoing like the icy spring water in a deep valley at the foot of a cliff.

Zhang Xiaofan tilted his head, a mischievous smile curving his lips: "I'm not telling you."

Lu Xueqi was stunned for a moment.

She stared at him for two seconds, then nodded: "Oh."

He turned around and left.

Her clothes fluttered in the wind, without the slightest hesitation.

Zhang Xiaofan: "...?"

He quickly took two steps to catch up: "Senior Sister Lu, wait!"

Lu Xueqi stopped, without turning around:

"If you don't want to talk about it, there's no need to force you."

The flaws in the exercise and the shortcomings in my body are my own problems and have nothing to do with anyone else.

It's not that I'm unwilling to talk about it.

Zhang Xiaofan walked around to her side, blocking her way. "This method... is a bit unusual."

Lu Xueqi looked up at him, her eyes calm and expressionless.

Zhang Xiaofan took a deep breath and decided to lay his cards on the table:

"I created a new martial art that can compensate for the deficiencies of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao."

At the same time, it will enhance physical fitness, meeting the requirements for cultivating the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Technique.

The air remained still for three breaths.

Then Lu Xueqi shook her head:

"I cannot accept a reward without merit. I appreciate your kindness."

But I cannot accept such a supreme technique.

She left again.

This time, Zhang Xiaofan didn't stop her. He only spoke behind her, his voice not loud, but every word was clear:

"When Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, he perceived that the five aggregates are all empty, and thus transcended all suffering and distress..."

Lu Xueqi paused in her steps.

"...Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form."

"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; so too are sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness..."

Lu Xueqi turned around.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, something vibrating deep within her pupils.

Those few words of mental cultivation, just a few dozen characters long, contain a profound truth that points directly to the origin of the Great Dao.

Although she didn't understand everything, she could sense that the level of this mental cultivation method was definitely no less than that of the "Taiji Xuanqing Dao".

Even...possibly even higher.

"This is..." Her voice was a little hoarse.

"The beginning of the practice."

Zhang Xiaofan said, "Keep reading."

"Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature; they are neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing..."

He read very slowly, pronouncing each word clearly.

The sound drifted a little in the mountain wind, but mixed with the sound of the sea of ​​clouds surging below the cliff, it had a peculiar rhythm.

Lu Xueqi stood still, without moving.

She closed her eyes and listened carefully.

Those sentences, like scriptures, entered my ears, swirling, combining, and disassembling in my consciousness, like a key.

I'm trying to open a door that's been sealed off for a long time.

At this moment, Little Grey darted over from the side, jumped to Lu Xueqi's feet, stretched out its claws, and tugged at her skirt.

"Squeak!"

It raised its head and cried out, pointing its paw at Zhang Xiaofan.

He pointed to the ground again, as if to say: Stay and listen to him finish.

Lu Xueqi looked down at it.

The little gray cat loosened its paws, jumped onto her shoulder, wrapped its tail around her neck, and rubbed its fluffy head against her cheek.

Their actions were so intimate that they didn't seem like they were meeting a spirit pet for the first time.

Lu Xueqi remained silent for a while.

Then she looked at Zhang Xiaofan, her voice still cold, but less distant: "Thank you for your trouble."

Zhang Xiaofan smiled: "It's nothing."

He stopped teasing him and sat cross-legged on the bluestone.

Begin reciting the complete first level of the "Great Brahma Prajna" mantra.

It begins with "Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva" and ends with "Bodhi Svaha," totaling 260 characters.

He read very slowly, pausing every few sentences to let Lu Xueqi digest the information.

Lu Xueqi also sat down cross-legged opposite him, listening with her eyes closed.

The mountain breeze passed between the two, ruffling their clothes and blowing their hair.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, carving out patches of light and shadow on the bluestone.

Little Grey perched on Lu Xueqi's shoulder, its eyes also closed.

The pale gold eyelids trembled slightly, as if sensing something.

Half an hour later, Zhang Xiaofan finished reciting the last sentence.

He opened his eyes and saw that Lu Xueqi's eyes were still closed, but her face was covered with a faint, almost invisible golden light.

That was a sign of the Buddha's power entering the body; it was very faint, but it was definitely there.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Xueqi opened her eyes.

A faint golden light flashed briefly in the depths of those dark pupils.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan with a complex expression, like a spilled palette of colors—shock, gratitude, confusion, and a certain barely suppressed excitement.

"This cultivation technique..." she began, her voice slightly hoarse.

"It can perfectly fill in the gaps. Even..."

With my current cultivation level, if I were to cultivate my foundation using this method...

Three months later, he will be able to barely use the Divine Sword Lightning Control Technique without suffering any backlash.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded: "Yes."

Lu Xueqi remained silent for a long time.

Then she asked, "What's the name of this technique?"

"Great Brahma Prajna".

"The highest Buddhist teaching?"

Lu Xueqi's pupils contracted slightly. "Where did you get that?"

Zhang Xiaofan thought for a moment and decided to continue lying: "I created it myself."

Lu Xueqi stared at him for a full ten breaths.

She clearly didn't believe it, but didn't press for details, only nodding slightly:

"If it really was created by you... Your talent is unparalleled throughout history."

"You flatter me."

Zhang Xiaofan waved his hand, "But Senior Sister Lu, there's something I need to clarify."

"Speaking."

"You cannot pass this technique on to others."

Zhang Xiaofan's expression turned serious.

"No one is acceptable, including your master, Master Shuiyue."

Furthermore, it must not be used in front of others; not even a trace of Buddhist power can be revealed. Otherwise—”

He paused, then lowered his voice: "There's going to be big trouble."

Lu Xueqi frowned: "If it really was your own creation, what trouble could it cause?"

Zhang Xiaofan choked.

Lu Xueqi looked at him, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile flashing in her eyes: "Liar."

Zhang Xiaofan: "..."

"However," Lu Xueqi stood up, patting the dust off her clothes,

"I have memorized the technique. Xueqi will remember this kindness in her heart."

She paused, then looked at Zhang Xiaofan: "May I ask your name?"

"Zhang Xiaofan," he said, "from Dazhu Peak, a disciple of Tian Buyi."

Lu Xueqi's pupils contracted again.

She recalled that a few months ago, after her master Shuiyue returned from Dazhu Peak, he had casually mentioned something:

"Zhang Xiaofan from Dazhu Peak is honest and kind, and his talent is also quite good. We can be friends with him without worry."

Honest and kind?

She looked at the young man before her who dared to say that his master's cultivation method was flawed and who dared to casually give away the supreme Buddhist mental cultivation technique.

Suddenly I realized that my master's judgment of people... might be a little problematic.

"Junior Brother Zhang," she changed her address, her tone as natural as if they had known each other for many years, "thank you for today."

Zhang Xiaofan waved his hand: "You're too kind. But Senior Sister Lu, remember my words—keep it a secret."

Lu Xueqi nodded: "I understand."

She turned to leave, then stopped and looked back at him.

"Junior Brother Xiao Fan, if you need anything in the future, you can come to Wangyue Terrace to find me."

Zhang Xiaofan grinned: "Okay."

Lu Xueqi's lips seemed to curve slightly, so slightly that it was almost invisible.

Then she turned around, her white clothes fluttering in the wind, and disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest in a few steps.

Little Grey squeaked as it jumped off Zhang Xiaofan's shoulder and darted back to her side.

Zhang Xiaofan looked in the direction where Lu Xueqi disappeared and stroked his chin.

The Great Brahma Prajna has been spread.

What changes will occur in the future?

Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the direction of the bamboo forest!

More than one person!

Zhang Xiaofan's expression changed. Just as he stood up, he saw four figures rushing out of the bamboo forest path!

At the very front was Master Shuiyue, his moon-white Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, his face covered in frost, and his eyes like ice.

She was followed by Su Ru, Tian Ling'er, and Wen Min, whose face was pale.

Master Shuiyue spotted Zhang Xiaofan at a glance, and also noticed the faint marks left on the bluestone on the ground by Lu Xueqi during her meditation.

Her gaze swept over Zhang Xiaofan, then over the depths of the bamboo forest—the direction where Lu Xueqi had just disappeared—and then her face turned completely dark.

"Zhang Xiaofan!"

Her voice was forced out through clenched teeth, each word like an icicle, "How dare you!"

She rushed over in a few steps, raised her right hand, and her palm glowed with an icy blue light—a sign of the "Ice Heart Technique," the ultimate martial art of Xiaozhu Peak!

Zhang Xiaofan felt a chill run down his spine. Without thinking, he turned and ran towards the edge of the cliff!

"Master's wife! Help!"

He ran and shouted, his voice as shrill as a pig about to be slaughtered.

Su Ru quickly stepped forward and pulled Shuiyue Zhenren back:

"Senior sister! Calm down! Xiao Fan is still a child!"

"child?!"

Shuiyue Zhenren laughed in anger.

"How dare the child trespass on the Moon-Viewing Terrace? How dare the child secretly meet with Xueqi?!"

Su Ru! Look! Look at the marks on the ground!

They were just sitting here! Shoulder to shoulder! So close!

She grew angrier as she spoke, pointing at Zhang Xiaofan's retreating figure:

"How did Tian Buyi manage to kidnap you back then?!"

Huh?! It's just that you took advantage of my absence, sneaking around and using sweet talk!

Now his apprentice is here again! The exact same trick! Is shamelessness a family tradition of your Dazhu Peak?!

Su Ru blushed: "Senior sister! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Tian Ling'er stamped her feet anxiously to the side:

"Senior Sister Shuiyue! Xiaofan really only came to exchange cultivation tips with Senior Sister Lu! I can vouch for him!"

"You'll testify?!" Master Shuiyue turned and glared at her.

"Ling'er! You're too young to understand! Men are all the same!"

Especially the men of Dazhufeng! They're shameless, cunning, and specialize in deceiving young girls!

At this moment, Lu Xueqi heard the noise and came back from the bamboo forest.

Her hair was tied back up, and her face was expressionless.

Seeing this, she was stunned for a moment, then walked up to Master Shuiyue and bowed: "Master."

Shuiyue Zhenren grabbed her wrist:

"Xueqi! Tell me! Was it this kid who was bothering you just now?"

Did he use sweet talk to trick you into staying here? Don't be afraid! Master will stand up for you!

Lu Xueqi looked at her master's furious face.

He glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, who had already run to the edge of the cliff and was frantically trying to find a fire poker, and remained silent for two seconds.

Then she spoke, her voice calm:

"Master, Junior Brother Xiao Fan isn't bothering me."

He... is a very good person, helpful, and has a good temperament. He was just exchanging insights on spiritual practice with me.

"..."

The air freezes.

Shuiyue Zhenren's mouth was agape, as if someone had grabbed her by the neck.

She glanced at Lu Xueqi, then at Zhang Xiaofan in the distance.

Looking at Lu Xueqi's calm, almost defensive expression, my mind went blank.

It’s over.

Only those two words remained in her mind.

This is what Su Ru told her before she was abducted by Tian Buyi—

"Senior sister, Brother Buyi is a very good person, please don't always target him."

History has repeated itself.

Master Shuiyue released his grip, took two steps back, and his face was as white as paper.

She pointed at Lu Xueqi, her finger trembling, her lips quivering, and it took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence:

"What...what did you call him?"

Lu Xueqi tilted her head: "Junior Brother Xiaofan."

Shuiyue Zhenren's vision went black.

At the edge of the cliff, Zhang Xiaofan finally pulled out a fire poker.

A flash of cyan-gold light appeared on the staff, and he leaped onto it, soaring into the sky without looking back!

It moved so fast that it left a distorted afterimage in the air!

"You little brat! Stop right there!"

Master Shuiyue roared from behind, drew his sword Moxue, and was about to give chase.

Su Ru held her tightly, saying, "Senior sister! Calm down! The child is still young! He doesn't understand!"

"Young?! He dared to abduct my apprentice and he's still young?!"

Shuiyue Zhenren struggled, "Let me go! I'm going to break his legs today!"

Tian Ling'er chimed in, "Senior Sister Shuiyue! Xiao Fan really just came to exchange cultivation insights with Senior Sister Lu! I can vouch for that!"

"You're going to testify?!" Master Shuiyue glared at her. "You're his senior sister! You're siding with him!"

"I don't!"

"You have it!"

In the distance, Zhang Xiaofan had already flown to the top of the sea of ​​clouds.

He glanced back and saw that Shuiyue Zhenren was being held on either side by Su Ru and Tian Ling'er, still struggling and cursing.

He shrank his neck and quickened his pace.

The fire stick turned into a streak of gray light and disappeared into the depths of the clouds.

Behind them, the faint, desperate wails of Master Shuiyue could be heard:

"Su Ru—you people from Dazhu Peak—there's not a single good person among you—"

Zhang Xiaofan picked at his ear.

The wind is really strong.