Chapter 57: Respective Decisions and the Return

Having the Wudang Seven serve as sparring partners every day is a treatment unheard of throughout the entire Jianghu.

Moreover, the Wudang Seven are all extremely rich in Jianghu experience, and their various means of responding to situations are top-tier; for them to wholeheartedly teach Zhang Xuan, this alone is a great kindness from the entire Wudang Sect toward Zhang Xuan.

Not to mention having Zhang Sanfeng, that monument of the Martial Dao, personally and meticulously guide Zhang Xuan, helping him check for gaps and make up for deficiencies bit by bit.

There may be many in the Jianghu who can see Zhang Xuan's problems, but to truly have the vision and strength to help Zhang Xuan correct them is rare in the world.

In *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, many people could see Zhang Wuji's problems, yet among the Ming Cult—from top to bottom, the Left and Right Messengers, the Four Great Guardian Kings, and the many other relevant personnel—no one was able to correct Zhang Wuji bit by bit.

Part of this was the issue of Zhang Wuji's status as Church Leader, but on the other hand, it is also very difficult for them to modify the shortcomings of a figure whose Martial Dao realm and strength are superior to their own.

However, for me, it is not a problem at all; coming out to the guidance of a monument-level figure of the Martial Dao like Zhang Sanfeng, combined with the rapid learning speed of the Nine Yang Divine Art and the Universe Shift, is truly invincible.

In *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, Zhang Wuji originally could not defeat the Ruyang Wangfu, but when many figures joined forces, Zhang Sanfeng taught him a little, and he directly thrashed the whole group.

This is due in part to Zhang Wuji's extraordinary talent after practicing the Nine Yang Divine Art and the Universe Shift, and also to Zhang Sanfeng's teaching according to aptitude and drawing on strengths to make up for weaknesses.

Zhang Xuan is quite grateful to Zhang Sanfeng.

"You are being too polite!"

Zhang Sanfeng shook his head, took the Dragon Pearl Zhang Xuan had given him from his bosom, and said, "You continue to keep the Dragon Pearl. With the help of the Dragon Pearl, I have already opened the Ancestral Aperture of the Brow, but there is still a certain amount of pressure to reach the Outer Scene level. It is a reason of Heaven and Earth, not a problem of Heaven and Earth Essence."

Zhang Sanfeng was very frank and did not have much greed for the Dragon Pearl, so Zhang Xuan had been using the Dragon Pearl to repay Zhang Sanfeng during these days.

Zhang Sanfeng could extract the Essence inside the Dragon Pearl at will to use for cultivation, but Zhang Sanfeng had great sense and did not rely entirely on the Dragon Pearl for cultivation.

"Grandmaster-Uncle, drink some tea!"

On the other side, seeing that Zhang Xuan had finished his cultivation, Zhang Wuji, with a ruddy complexion and a glowing face, cleverly offered tea.

Zhang Xuan smiled and took it casually, while in the distance, Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu both looked on with gratification.

Two days ago, while Zhang Xuan was practicing, he had casually used the Nine Yang Divine Art to clear the cold poison of the Xuanming Divine Palm from Zhang Wuji's body.

This was also because the benefits Zhang Sanfeng gave were too many, but the returns requested were too few; Zhang Xuan felt a bit embarrassed, so when he saw Zhang Wuji on the road with a pale face and cold air emitting from his body, he cleared it for him in passing.

Since then, Zhang Wuji had often been by his side serving tea and water, and as for the sparring with Zhang Cuishan, Zhang Cuishan was also extremely attentive, fully displaying everything he had learned in his life, and was very dedicated.

Not only would he use various orthodox martial arts on Zhang Xuan, but upon hearing that Zhang Xuan lacked Jianghu experience and needed some Jianghu tempering, he even specially asked his wife, Yin Susu, to come and help.

As a famous demoness and the daughter of the Heavenly Eagle Cult leader, it can be said that Yin Susu embodied the essence of the demonic path.

She was very familiar with all kinds of poison needles and hidden weapons, and she had demonstrated them all on Zhang Xuan once.

Moreover, she provided detailed guidance on all the various questions Zhang Xuan asked, such as how to inspect for poison, how to understand the opponent's situation, and so on.

For this reason, Wudang even specially established a course on Poison Pharmacy and related Trap and Hidden Weapon Study.

This was just to ensure Zhang Xuan had enough experience in facing enemies and to avoid Zhang Xuan being harmed by others due to ignorance.

Zhang Xuan could only say that he had gained a huge amount during this period.

"Go find your Senior Brother Qingshu to play!"

Zhang Sanfeng smiled and patted Zhang Wuji's head; he was also quite fond of this grand-disciple.

Now that his grand-disciple had recovered his health, his heart was also filled with joy.

Watching Zhang Wuji run into the distance with laughter, Zhang Sanfeng withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup in front of him, and took a small sip.

"Your speed of progress is truly surprising! I originally thought you would need to spend half a year to a year to make up for everything."

This sentence was not empty talk, but the truth.

Martial arts are not castles in the air, but have many prerequisites that need to be learned: the ancient texts of this era and the secret codes within ancient manuals, diagrams of the human body's meridians and acupoints, methods for dealing with various common poisons and traps...

Those were just the basics; the most critical parts were the various operations of Essence, the changes in moves when facing enemies, and these things—an ordinary person could spend ten or even twenty years and still not necessarily finish learning, understanding, and mastering them.

Zhang Sanfeng believed that Zhang Xuan needed half a year to a year to learn all this; this was not a disparaging remark, but rather a great compliment.

"It is still thanks to the good arrangements of the True Person. If not for the books carefully selected by the True Person and the detailed comparative training arranged every day, I fear that even after ten years of struggling, I would not necessarily have such gains."

Zhang Xuan wore a simple blue Daoist robe; compared to half a month ago, his temperament was no longer so sharp and exposed, and all the Qi in his body was restrained within his frame. Apart from his appearance still being quite handsome and his skin fair, one could not see much that was different from an ordinary person.

The only thing different from an ordinary person was his pair of bright, sparkling eyes.

The entire eye was clearly defined in black and white, limpid and bright, and very attractive.

"Oh my, you, I don't know why you have to work so hard. With your cultivation and strength, if you were to truly let go completely, even this old Daoist might not be your match now. Why must you still demand so much of yourself?"

Zhang Sanfeng did not quite understand.

And after hearing Zhang Sanfeng's question, Zhang Xuan's eyes had a moment of distraction.

Before, he had been practicing diligently every day and did not feel it, but now that he had stopped, he only felt lazy all over.

There were many reasons why he worked so hard and demanded so much of himself.

Now that he had arrived in the world of *Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, he had not forgotten that he was still in the Zhetian Universe and had to go back.

Once he returned, he would still have to face the most terrifying Dark Turmoil in history two hundred years later; once that time came, he would be reduced to dust and ashes.

Another reason was that he had originally had a Martial Arts dream in his heart, and now that he could be taught and guided hand-in-hand by a generation of Martial Dao Grandmaster on Wudang Mountain, while also having many top figures teaching him daily, he naturally cherished this opportunity very much.

The overall atmosphere of Wudang Mountain also made him very fascinated and fond of it.

Every day, with the morning bell and evening drum, he would wake up accompanied by the melodious bell, then practice martial arts and read books. As the sun set, everything was too quiet, without any disturbances or worldly affairs.

Such a state seemed to have purified his soul, giving him a feeling of baptism.

It was precisely while in this special state, after half a month, that he had naturally opened all Nine Apertures without the aid of any special external force.

No matter when, the skills and techniques one has learned will not deceive oneself and will be useful in any danger or difficulty.

Zhang Xuan felt greatly benefited and was pleasantly surprised from the bottom of his heart by all these changes.

Through the changes of these short fifteen days, he not only felt that he had gained further control over his physical strength, but even his soul power had grown in a stable and firm manner.

For Zhang Xuan, this was the most special thing.

On the other hand, what urged Zhang Xuan to keep moving forward were the various figures in the Chat Group.

The various figures in the Chat Group were all supreme geniuses who would rise in the shortest possible time in the future. If Zhang Xuan, the Chat Group Owner, kept hovering in place, he would naturally fall behind the whole group by then.

"The Chat Group is full of people who are 'rolling' (working hard); I also want to lie flat, but they are too competitive, forcing me to have to 'roll' as well."

Zhang Xuan sighed in his heart.

Of course, Zhang Xuan does not feel exhausted or unable to bear such intensity.

Obtaining the Chat Group, then triggering extraordinary power, feeling his own strength growing every moment, that vast power is mastered bit by bit.

Feeling himself becoming extraordinary bit by bit, Zhang Xuan does not feel exhausted by this sensation; on the contrary, he feels a heartfelt joy, with both mind and body progressing simultaneously, a feeling that makes one indulge in it, even wishing to spend twenty-four hours a day in cultivation.

"Isn't the True Person the same? Cultivating every day, working hard without ceasing, never letting go; does the True Person feel such days are bitter?"

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and laughed loudly.

To him, martial arts cultivation is a very joyful thing.

It is like climbing a peak of martial arts, like solving a difficult problem that no one has ever solved before; the process is certainly bitter, but once successfully solved, from mind to body, there is a feeling of great joy, a taste that makes one intoxicated.

"If the True Person knows that going to a higher-level world entails various risks and various crises, would the True Person give up?"

Zhang Sanfeng shook his head and asked in turn: "Are you preparing to leave?"

Zhang Xuan nodded: "I would like to stay for a while longer, but I do not have many points on me, so I can only return early."

"However, with the help of the True Person, this trip can be considered very smooth, and can be considered complete."

"Although there are still many shortcomings and deficiencies in the polishing of martial arts, the True Person has already taught me the corresponding foundations and standards; in the future, I only need to study and practice diligently to further perfect the relevant flaws, and I will naturally be able to climb the peak."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded, also approving of Zhang Xuan's current achievements.

The two stood side by side, gazing at the setting sun gradually sinking in the distance.

Zhang Sanfeng's beard and hair were all white, while Zhang Xuan had red lips and white teeth; one old and one young, yet both possessed vibrant vitality.

Both of their gazes were bright and spirited, carrying anticipation for the future.

"I am also preparing to go to the world where I will be The Hero; staying for a long time might not be enough, but going to that world for a short time to break through my martial arts cultivation is enough, and I am not lacking in points!"

"Does the Daoist priest need my Dragon Pearl?"

"I am not lacking in Essence; what I need is a broader world."

"Then, have a safe journey!"

"Have a safe journey!"

As the voices fell, both turned into a stream of light and disappeared from the top of Wudang Mountain.

(End of this chapter)