Chapter 431: Shortcut!

"That's all for today."

The wind swept through the leaves, a rustling sound.

Inside the martial arts arena.

Yang Dongxiong loosened his palm, and the Demon-Subduing Blade dissipated like white smoke.

Liang Qu put down the Wave-Subduing Spear, drenched in sweat. He took the tea handed over by the maid, drank it in one gulp, and opened his mouth to exhale a stuffy breath.

As midsummer approached, the weather was getting hotter and hotter.

In another half month, the cicadas would also crawl out of the mud, and then it would not only be stuffy but also dry.

Liang Qu sat on a stone stool, glanced inadvertently at his master's empty right hand, and asked with a grin.

"Master, did the disciple just chip the Demon-Subduing Blade a little?"

Yang Dongxiong let out a huff.

"Your long spear is born from the golden feathers of the Great Demon Red Fire Bird, with Black Dragon Gold as its bone. Ordinary Great Martial Artists can't even beg for such a good spirit weapon. Its sharpness is shockingly fierce, plus the Wave-Subduing Spear's ability to break through true steel.

At the same realm, if you run into a freak with brute force like you, who knows, a single thrust might poke a hole in someone's true steel!"

"Heh, without the Wave-Subduing Spear, it's not satisfying to fight."

Liang Qu was quite proud.

Yang Dongxiong shook his head and beckoned from the shade.

"It's sunny outside, come in and rest."

"Done!"

Taking the towel to wipe his sweat and body, Liang Qu tidied himself up, put on his clothes, and entered the hall with Yang Dongxiong to wait for lunch.

For the next one to two months, he would come to the Yang Mansion every morning to temper his true steel, naturally solving the lunch problem along the way. In the short time he was away, he could also ease the "dish-urging" pressure from Su Guishan.

His own recipe wasn't endless; it would be hollowed out sooner or later.

While drinking tea to replenish water, Liang Qu stared at the landscape painting on the wall and had a sudden thought.

"Master, besides feeling pressure and life-and-death combat, are there any other methods for cultivating true steel?"

"Yes!"

Yang Dongxiong's words were affirmative.

Liang Qu was stunned.

He had asked casually, not expecting there to be one.

He sat up straight and listened attentively: "Please teach me, Master."

"Observe celestial phenomena, understand earthly laws, and see the patterns of birds and beasts."

"Observe celestial phenomena, understand earthly laws... see the patterns of birds and beasts?"

Liang Qu could understand the first half, but the second half was confusing.

Putting it all together, he didn't quite understand how it would promote true steel.

"Didn't you have a small epiphany before and comprehend the Ape Fist?"

Liang Qu nodded.

That small epiphany had made his blood barrier, which he had broken through not long ago, complete, and he had even comprehended a new Ape Fist that was slightly different.

Things comprehended through epiphany weren't necessarily better than the original method.

As one of the three basic fist techniques Yang Dongxiong placed in the martial arts hall, the Ape Fist was quite good for laying a foundation. As an introductory textbook, its universality couldn't be improved upon.

Taking out the new Ape Fist, for introductory apprentices, it was actually not as good as the original.

But for an individual, the new Ape Fist was definitely more suitable for Liang Qu himself.

Every morning, he would practice it once to loosen his muscles and bones, and after that, he would wield the Wave-Subduing Spear, feeling comfortable all over. Looking back at the old Ape Fist, it didn't have that effect.

"The so-called observing celestial phenomena and understanding earthly laws, in layman's terms, means observing celestial phenomena and strange scenery to achieve an effect similar to an epiphany.

Use your mind to guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to wash over your own body, achieving the goal of transforming true steel.

When I was serving in the army in the Northwest, I personally observed strange scenery twice: once a wind-and-thunder pillar, and once a long river of blood. The second time, there was even a strange treasure that appeared, a wisp of mysterious blood long energy, and half a Wu Sheng mysterious weapon.

Although I didn't obtain the opportunity and was just a bystander to the event, I still benefited a lot from it. I was washed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and my true steel grew.

Especially the long river of blood, which happened right after a bloody battle. I was filled with mixed feelings and almost transformed into a 'Form', but alas, my talent was dull, and I was a few points short."

'Form'?

Liang Qu asked humbly.

"Master, what is a 'Form'? What is a 'Form'?"

Yang Dongxiong dipped his finger in tea and wrote the character "Form" stroke by stroke.

"You have two major true steels, one is the White Ape, and the other is the Green Dragon. If you can have an epiphany during some observation of celestial phenomena or strange scenery, and successfully manifest the strange phenomenon and fuse it into your true steel, that is a 'Form'!

For example, if I comprehend the wind-and-thunder pillar, then my Demon-Subduing Blade will carry the strange phenomenon of wind and thunder, and the killing will be three parts sharper.

Conversely, if I comprehend the long river of blood, then when I strike, a long river setting sun will appear, and the blade's momentum will be three parts more powerful.

This method requires the right time, place, and people. Very few people obtain it, but the benefits are huge."

"If the talent is high enough, can one comprehend them all?"

"Yes! There are many brilliant people in the world. I once saw a person who carried three strange phenomena.

The long river surging, the momentum endless; the setting sun hanging low, the power creating clouds; the clear light of the full moon, the killing intent chilling.

It's just that comprehending too much is not necessarily a good thing. Instead, there is a sense of confusion and defeat. When striking, the momentum doesn't increase but decreases, not as good as those with two or even one 'Form'.

But epiphanies come suddenly, and people will fall into a hazy inner scene, mostly involuntarily."

Strange.

Having too much talent is also a problem, carving messy things into true steel.

Liang Qu clicked his tongue.

"Master, are there few strange phenomena between heaven and earth?"

Yang Dongxiong shook his head.

"Not few. They happen from time to time across the country, but they are very short, mostly half a quarter of an hour or a quarter of an hour, fleeting, and hard to reach. By the time you hear about it, it's already over.

Like when I was in the army for half my life, strange phenomena happened in the entire Northwest no less than two hands' worth of times. When frequent, it happened almost every year or two.

But heaven and earth are wide, and even a Wu Sheng can't reach from the Northwest South to the Northwest East in an instant, so I only encountered it twice.

Not just the Northwest, there are many strange phenomena in uninhabited places, such as the Huaijiang Great Marsh, where there are several strange phenomena worth counting: Sea Moon Tide, Immortal Island Above the Clouds, Glazed Green Waves, Wind Echoes...

I once saw the Sea Moon Tide, but I gained nothing at the time.

I struggled in the Northwest for half my life, and most of the gains, achievements, struggles, and feelings were there. For things on the water, I, as a master, have no feelings."

Liang Qu understood.

Master Yang served in the army for half his life. At first, he was unknown, then he struggled and made progress, accidentally saved Xu Wenzhu, rose to prominence, married into the Xu family, and experienced the pain of losing a son in the middle.

The bitterness, pain, pride, and joy in it were not enough to be told to outsiders.

The deep memories left behind were all in the Northwest outside the Great Wall, so it was naturally easier to be touched by the strange scenery of the Northwest, feel heaven and earth, and be washed by spiritual energy.

Conversely...

You can tell from the names of the strange scenery.

The strange scenery of the Northwest is full of iron-blooded and bold customs.

Those in Huainan are mostly ethereal and immortal.

83 Chinese Website latest address

The so-called confusion might be adding a bit of ethereal water waves to a bit of iron-blooded killing intent.

They don't match.

"Then what about observing the patterns of birds and beasts? Master, what does this mean? How to interpret it?"

"Dragon walking in water, you grew up in Huainan, you're not unfamiliar with it, right?"

"Very familiar."

"This counts as 'patterns of birds and beasts'."

Liang Qu suddenly understood.

The world is truly wonderful.

Yang Dongxiong continued: "Celestial phenomena and earthly laws form 'Forms', mostly increasing momentum and power; patterns of birds and beasts form 'Forms', adding spirit and nature.

And... heaven and earth are full of spirituality. Sometimes observing ordinary scenery, snowy Tianshan Mountains, long river setting sun, those with keen nature can also comprehend something, but those with such ability and talent must be especially careful about confusion."

Liang Qu nodded, which is equivalent to having too high spirituality, stuffing everything in, and stuffing it into something that looks like nothing.

Seeing Liang Qu nod, Yang Dongxiong thought for a moment and added hesitantly.

"Actually, it's not entirely true. The world is big, and there are always freaks. There is a person named Xu Wenxia who visited famous mountains and rivers and achieved twelve great 'Forms' and thirty-six small 'Forms', known as the Mountain and River 'Form', praised as the most magnificent 'Form' in the world."?

Liang Qu inexplicably felt the deeds were familiar.

"Telling you this person's deeds is by no means to let you be ambitious and pursue some magnificent 'Form'.

Xu Wenxia achieved the first Mountain and River 'Form', which shocked the world, but also wasted too many years and died of old age without entering the Grandmaster realm.

I just want you to know that sometimes a dead end is also a way out, and a way out is also a dead end. Everything has all kinds of possibilities."

Liang Qu bowed respectfully.

"You have taught me earnestly, and I have received your instruction."

By apprenticing to Yang Dongxiong, Liang Qu had learned a lot, far more than just help from all sides.

"By the way, Master, I have one more thing."

"Speak!"

Liang Qu looked to the side.

The servant who had been waiting for a long time understood and handed over a tray, which contained a thick stack of invitations.

"Master, I didn't think of it when I came yesterday. Many forces from the original Huaiyin Prefecture have moved here and sent invitations to my residence, inviting me to a banquet. There are more than a dozen of them, and I don't know much about them.

I don't know which ones to go to, which ones not to go to, which ones are worth going to, and it's troublesome to ask around. I don't know any of the big clans that came to Pingyang Prefecture, and asking Wenbin and the others is the same. Can Master give me some advice?"

Yang Dongxiong glanced at the invitations.

"Go ask your mistress, I never worry about these things.

If she tells me to go, I go. If she says I don't need to go, I'm too lazy to go."

Aba aba.

Hearing this, Liang Qu had to put away the invitations.

After the meal.

Liang Qu found his mistress, spread out the invitations, and stated his request.

The Xu family took the invitations, opened them one by one to browse, read one and put it down, separating them like dealing cards.

They were divided into four categories, staggered in order, and concise.

"The first stack, not overdue, worth going; the second stack, not overdue, not worth going.

The third stack, already overdue, you should try your best to send someone to explain; the fourth stack, already overdue, you just need to reply roughly, write a polite refusal, and return the invitation."

"Should I send a gift when I visit? If I send one, what is more appropriate?"

The Xu family reached out.

"Paper and pen."

Liang Qu found ink treasures from the desk nearby, ground the ink, and offered it respectfully.

The Xu family licked the ink, writing while thinking, wrote down the names of several items, tore them off one by one, and tucked them into the corresponding invitations.

"If you don't want to worry, just buy according to what I wrote. I've also marked the price of the gift for you. You follow it. It's just polite and not losing etiquette. If you want to build a relationship, you can worry about it yourself."

"Just go through the motions, so people don't complain."

"It's already much better than the others." The Xu family complained, "Zishuai never asked. Whenever he wants to eat something good, he flips through it and finds one that isn't overdue to go."

Liang Qu laughed: "Fourth Senior Brother acts according to his nature, which is naturally carefree. Everyone has different weights in their hearts."

"You're the only one who knows how to talk!"

Liang Qu grinned.

A person cannot always be smooth sailing, nor can they always be bumpy.

How to walk, you can choose.

Liang Qu chose the most effortless way to walk.

"Inner Canon" says: Treat the un-ill and not the ill, treat the un-chaotic and not the chaotic.

Worry more in peacetime, and don't worry when things happen, and he has the ability to do so.

The root cause of most conflicts is a conflict of interest.

Unless you have the ability to make a bigger cake and have the power to distribute the bigger part yourself, otherwise there are so many resources, and if you want to go up, you can only compete in stock.

But Liang Qu's basic market for making a fortune is in the water.

He never competes with others for cake!

He picks his own vegetables, cooks his own food, eats his own, and occasionally shares a bite with others.

This is one.

The second is how to behave in peacetime.

Going out to dig up a Jiaoren relic, naturally someone is jealous, but after digging the relic, everyone gets a piece of Jiaoren silk, and everyone is a brother.

They only hope you dig more.

Leaving the Yang Mansion.

Liang Qu rode on the Red Mountain, shuttling slowly under the trees, his spiritual link circling.

Round Head was safe and sound, Fist was spirited, Cannot Move was drowsy, probably still sleeping, Otter was excited, don't know if it was fighting with someone.

Fat Catfish...

"Why hasn't Afei recovered yet."

Last night and this morning, Liang Qu had probed the Fat Catfish's location twice through the link.

The first time it was wandering blindly in the deep water area, looking like several hundred miles away, quite far, it should have just evolved and was playing happily.

The second time it was near the toad, mostly obeying orders, looking for the old toad to explore the bottom.

As a result, from early morning to afternoon, half a day passed, and there was no reply.

Was it beaten by the old toad?

The old toad's strength was unknown, but it could speak, at least it was a demon, it was just easy for people to ignore its strength.

Liang Qu was curious, followed the link, and took the initiative to ask about the Fat Catfish's situation, and immediately received a response.

"Planning a big event?"

83 Chinese Website latest address ===== CHAPTER 432 =====