A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

After listening to Duan Yu's introduction, Zhou Ping nodded in sudden understanding. He never expected that the two techniques could be combined and used together, which broadened his horizons.

If you add the elusive and stealthy nature of the Floating Shadow Step, just thinking about it makes Zhou Ping's scalp tingle, and he can't help but sigh inwardly.

As expected of the Flying Shadow Hall, which is proficient in the art of stealth and assassination, just three techniques have already amazed him.

"These two manuals aren't ordinary items. Is it alright for you to secretly take them out?"

After realizing the extraordinary nature of the Intercepting Wind Hand and the Wandering Soul Needle, Zhou Ping suddenly became somewhat worried.

Feiying Hall is no benevolent place; how could they possibly allow Duan Yu to steal secret manuals?

"Don't worry, young master! It's a perfectly legitimate source, there's nothing wrong with it."

Duan Yu took the porcelain bottles back and quickly stuffed them into his pocket, promising without looking up.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping looked suspicious. Although his big-mouthed friend was sometimes unreliable, he never spoke nonsense.

"Is this also a technique you learned?"

Zhou Ping thought of the previous Floating Shadow Step and tentatively asked a question.

"No, I don't like those two techniques. They're all too fancy and require too much brainpower!"

Duan Yu glanced at the two cultivation manuals in Zhou Ping's hand, frowned, and looked disgusted.

When Zhou Ping saw his expression, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He knew perfectly well what was going on, but he didn't expose him.

This kid must have suffered a setback with these two techniques, which is why he's acting so disdainful.

"How do you know so much about both techniques if you haven't even studied them?"

Zhou Ping voiced his doubts. Just now, based on Duan Yu's understanding of the Intercepting Wind Hand and the Wandering Soul Needle, it was something that a layman could not have done.

"My master taught me!"

Duan Yu seemed to have finally found his chance, and said with a mysterious expression.

"Master? You've become a true disciple?!"

Zhou Ping immediately realized what was happening and looked surprised.

"Look at you, looking so dazed and confused, it's quite a sight!"

Duan Yu looked at Zhou Ping's surprised expression with a smug look, feeling extremely satisfied.

Such an expression is rarely seen on the latter's face; he always appears dull, composed, and old-fashioned, not at all like a young person.

"What exactly happened? With your qualifications and cultivation level, becoming a true disciple seems a bit of a stretch, doesn't it?"

Zhou Ping shoved the young man who was reaching out to him away, pointed at him with a serious expression.

Seeing his serious expression, Duan Yu wisely dropped his nonchalant demeanor.

"It's a bit of a stretch, but I'm so attentive! I'll bring him all sorts of things like Longhu tea, Maojian tea, and Yuluoxiang tea every few days, and I don't even have a penny left of my monthly salary."

"I was moved by my sincerity, which is why they made an exception and accepted me as their true disciple!"

"Your master is... Elder Ma?"

"You guessed that?"

Duan Yu had originally planned to keep them in suspense, but seeing that the other party had immediately mentioned his master, he had no choice but to swallow back the words he had prepared.

"What's so hard to guess? Elder Ma is probably the only one in the entire Flying Shadow Hall who treats tea with such devotion."

"Tell me in detail, something just feels off..."

"Tell me, where did these two cultivation techniques come from?"

Zhou Ping looked at the two cultivation manuals in his hands and felt more and more that something was unusual about them.

Seeing that the other party was asking all sorts of questions, Duan Yu had no choice but to tell them in detail about how he became a personal disciple and obtained the two cultivation techniques.

Zhou Ping naturally didn't believe everything he said. After removing the exaggerated and narcissistic parts, Zhou Ping roughly reconstructed the true situation at the time.

It turns out that not long ago, when Duan Yu was helping Zhou Ping search for special cultivation techniques, he happened to meet Elder Ma, who was on duty at the Cultivation Technique Hall. Unexpectedly, Elder Ma took the initiative to greet him after seeing him.

Duan Yu was immediately flattered, thinking to himself that his previous act of filial piety had not been in vain.

Elder Ma asked him some questions about cultivation. After learning that he had mastered the Floating Shadow Step, he immediately showed an approving expression, praising him as a talented and rare martial arts prodigy.

Duan Yu was so flattered by the praise that he didn't even know how he left the Martial Arts Hall.

Unexpectedly, not long after he returned, he received a message from Elder Ma that he had been accepted as a personal disciple, which naturally brought him great joy and pride.

In the following days, the two sides held a not-so-grand apprenticeship ceremony, which served as an announcement to all levels of the Green Bamboo Sect.

Thus, amidst the envious gazes of his fellow disciples, Duan Yu was officially promoted from an inner disciple to a true disciple of Elder Ma Liuyun.

During this period, many other things naturally happened, mostly trivial matters such as congratulating Duan Yu and giving him gifts.

Zhou Ping had no interest in these things and decisively told him to skip them and get straight to the point, asking him to explain the origins of the two secret manuals.

With Duan Yu looking slightly embarrassed, Zhou Ping finally understood the whole story.

It turns out that Duan Yu's long-term efforts to help Zhou Ping find special cultivation techniques had already attracted the attention of the higher-ups of Feiying Hall, especially Elder Ma Liuyun.

Looking back now, their actions were indeed laughable, considering that Fei Ying Tang was a well-known entity in the martial arts world for assassination and intelligence gathering.

How could he possibly allow one of his lowly disciples to engage in such petty schemes right under his nose without him noticing?

Duan Yu's actions had already caught the attention of the high-ranking members of the Flying Shadow Hall, but he was simply unaware of it.

Ma Liuyun, who had been watching this matter closely for a long time, suppressed it and, for the first time ever, took him under his wing.

These two cultivation techniques were personally given to Duan Yu by Ma Liuyun. After explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques and the cultivation experience, Elder Ma said no more.

He simply told Duan Yu to do as he pleased, without worrying about violating the sect rules, as he would be protected.

Zhou Ping calmly analyzed Duan Yu's words. These seemingly illogical statements made him feel a sense of unease.

Elder Ma Liuyun had crossed paths with him from the moment he entered the Green Bamboo Sect. Whether intentional or not, he always felt that the other party was becoming more and more unpredictable.

Thinking back to the conversation in the side hall of Tianzhu Palace back then, it seems there are many intricate connections between them.

If the previous events were still somewhat puzzling, the appearance of these two secret manuals had already clearly told Zhou Ping the truth.

Is the other party helping him?

"Senior Brother Duan, it seems Elder Ma was already aware of our clandestine actions."

Zhou Ping rubbed his aching temples, his tone sounding somewhat dejected.

"Well, I also think that Master probably already knows."

Duan Yu scratched his head awkwardly, feeling somewhat embarrassed about how things had turned out this way.

"Senior Brother Duan, could you please pass on a message for me?"

Zhou Ping hesitated for a moment, then, as if making a decision, continued seriously,

"I would like to pay my respects to Elder Ma!"