Chapter 60

He had never even seen the original manuals of Taohuadao.

He had only relied on Huang Rong's retelling, together with his own observation and comprehension.

Yet he was able to create martial arts so earth-shatteringly brilliant, the work of a pupil surpassing the master!

This kind of insight, this kind of ability, had long since transcended the limits of the manuals themselves.

Once he thought this through, Huang Yaoshi felt his heart suddenly clear.

The obsession that had arisen from his pursuit of the Nine Yin Manual,

and the gloom brought on by his setback at Zhou Botong's hands,

all melted away at this moment like ice and snow, dissolving into thin air.

His state of mind, too, seemed to have risen to a higher level.

He let out a long breath of stale air.

That breath was long and far-reaching, as if it expelled every knot of frustration and confusion in his heart.

His whole person seemed far more at ease.

He looked at Ning Chuan, his expression complicated, and bowed solemnly to Brother Ning Chuan.

This bow bent his proud, solitary spine and set aside the airs of his "Eastern Heretic" persona.

"I have learned much!"

This bow came from the bottom of his heart, without a trace of falsehood or empty courtesy.

It was both admiration for Ning Chuan's heaven-defying insight and gratitude for his own sudden awakening.

Ning Chuan accepted it calmly.

He knew how great an impact everything he had revealed today would have on Huang Yaoshi, a top-tier Grandmaster.

He said in a voice that was slightly halting, yet carried a hint of calm indifference:

"Island Master Huang is too kind. This junior has only been fortunate enough to gain a little understanding."

Huang Yaoshi heard this, gave a wry smile, and shook his head.

Fortunate?

If this counts as fortune, then every martial artist under heaven would probably die of shame.

This kid Ning really is… hiding his light under a bushel.

After this exchange of sparring and conversation, Huang Yaoshi had already in his heart

begun to regard Ning Chuan as an existence on the same level as himself—perhaps even superior in certain respects.

No longer merely viewing him as an intelligent exotic beast.

He knew that, with Ning Chuan's heaven-defying insight and rate of growth,

standing shoulder to shoulder with him in the future, or even surpassing him, was only a matter of time—probably not a very long one at that.

Perhaps the future of Taohuadao truly would have to be entrusted to this mysterious black serpent.

Huang Yaoshi pondered for a moment, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes.

He seemed to have made some momentous decision.

He was going to enter closed-door death cultivation!

He would not emerge until he reached the Grandmaster Realm!

Though the tremendous shock Ning Chuan had dealt his mind this time was a blow to him,

it had also let him see through the fog on his martial path and shattered the obsession in his heart.

How could this not also be an opportunity to break and rebuild, to be reborn anew from the ashes?

He felt that the bottleneck that had plagued him for years—the thin veil blocking the path to the Grandmaster Realm—seemed to show the first faint signs of loosening.

He had to seize this chance and break through in one stroke!

Then, looking at Ning Chuan, he said in a solemn tone:

"Kid Ning, this old man has gained some insight today and feels suddenly enlightened."

"I have decided to enter closed-door death cultivation at once, devoting all my strength to charging at the Grandmaster Realm."

"I do not know how many years it will take to succeed—perhaps half a year to a year, perhaps a decade or more; anything is possible."

"During my seclusion, all affairs of Taohuadao will have to be entrusted to your care."

"When this old man is not on the island, you shall be the acting Island Master of Taohuadao!"

"Everyone on the island, from disciples to servants, shall obey your commands!"

"If you have the time, please also guide my few useless disciples a little, and do not let them neglect their Wu Gong."

These words were, in effect, entrusting the entire Taohuadao to Ning Chuan.

As he spoke, Huang Yaoshi took from his bosom a notebook wrapped in fine silk and handed it to Ning Chuan.

The notebook looked quite old; its edges were already a little worn, and it gave off a faint scent of ink.

"This contains the insights and wisdom of this old man's lifelong martial arts cultivation, along with some of my understanding of the Grandmaster Realm and methods for breaking through. I give it to you in the hope it will be of some help."

"It also records some of this old man's shallow views on miscellaneous studies such as formations, music, and medicine. If you are interested, you may take a look."

"In addition, this old man promises that if I am fortunate enough to break through to the Grandmaster Realm this time,"

"I will certainly write down all my insights from the breakthrough and my comprehension of the Grandmaster Realm, and give them to you for your study."

This was almost taking out everything he had kept at the very bottom of his chest.

Hearing this, Ning Chuan's heart stirred slightly as well.

The Grandmaster's notebook of Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi—this was a priceless treasure!

The martial wisdom and experience contained within held great reference value for him.

Especially the understanding of the Grandmaster Realm and the methods for breaking through—these were exactly what he most urgently needed right now.

He solemnly accepted the notebook and said:

"Master Huang, rest assured in your seclusion. With me here at Taohuadao, all will surely be well."

"This junior also wishes Master Huang a smooth breakthrough this time, achieving the Grandmaster Realm and reaching the level of creation itself!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of gratified smile appeared on Huang Yaoshi's face.

He nodded, saying no more.

He threw his head back and let out a long, clear, and stirring cry that pierced the clouds and split the stones.

It was filled with a resolute and unstoppable momentum.

As if he intended to roar out all the distractions and bonds in his heart.

Immediately, his figure swayed; like a great bird, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes.

He flew swiftly toward another, more secluded forbidden area on the other side of Taohuadao.

His speed was so fast that only a faint green afterimage remained.

Moments later, a loud "Boom" echoed from the direction of the forbidden area.

It seemed that the entrance to that forbidden place, a massive stone block, was slowly falling, completely sealing the cave mouth.

Unless one possessed the power of a Grandmaster, there was no hope of opening it from the outside.

This represented Huang Yaoshi's determination for this seclusion.

Huang Rong watched her father's resolute departing back, her eyes filled with worry and reluctance.

Her small mouth pouted slightly, and her eyes turned a bit red.

She knew that her father's seclusion this time was no small matter, and she did not know when they would meet again.

Ning Chuan gently stroked her head with the snake's head and comforted her:

"Do not worry. Your father is a genius of heaven and earth, a Grandmaster of his generation."

"Having gained insight this time, it is a perfect opportunity for a breakthrough; perhaps he will succeed and emerge from seclusion before long."

In his view, given Huang Yaoshi's talent and accumulation as the Eastern Heretic, he should have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm long ago.

It was just that before, perhaps he had been blinded by his obsession with the Nine Yin Manual and his longing for his late wife, Feng Heng.

His mind had been confused and his state of mind trapped, causing him to delay taking that final step.

Now that he has suddenly awakened, let go of his obsession, and achieved a clear state of mind, the breakthrough is naturally a matter of course.

After Huang Yaoshi's aura completely vanished,

the atmosphere on the martial arts field finally eased slightly.

Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng exchanged glances.

Then, all four stepped forward together and performed a deep, respectful bow to Brother Ning Chuan once more.

This bow was more solemn and more devout than any previous one.