Chapter 240: I

Duanhun Cliff, Suigu Rock, Hundred-Zhang Ravine, Jietian Bridge, Immortal Sorrow Gate.

Gu Qing and Wang Yuyan passed through this place, where Yu Po, Shi Sao, and Fu Minyi from Lingjiao Palace came forward to greet them; all residents of Lingjiao Palace were women, each having suffered greatly in the mortal world before being rescued by the Old Witch and taught martial arts, thus holding her in utmost reverence. Upon hearing the Sect Leader had arrived, they treated Gu Qing with due respect.

"The Master is cultivating in the inner palace. Please, Sect Leader, sit and wait a moment."

Four identical maids approached as Gu Qing entered Lingjiao Palace, each delicate and lively, speaking in unison to address him.

Wang Yuyan sat down, accepted tea, and watched the four identical girls gaze openly at Gu Qing, speaking without restraint; Gu Qing interacted with the quadruplets just as freely, using illusion techniques he had acquired from sweeping through Japan in the Lu Xiaofeng world, delighting the girls with their exclamations and giggles.

"The Sect Leader is handsome and charming—truly embodying the spirit of the Xiao Yao."

The Old Witch's voice came forth, smiling: "If you like them, I'll give you these four maids."

Gu Qing was about to accept when he looked at the Old Witch and felt astonished.

In this short time apart, the Old Witch had shed her childlike form, now appearing as a girl of eighteen or nineteen, slender waist, full bosom, vastly different from before.

Seeing Gu Qing's gaze, the Old Witch was greatly pleased: "After seizing Li Qiushui's cultivation, I returned immediately to Lingjiao Palace. With the complete Bùlǎo Chángchūn Gong and my restored meridians, the surplus energy allowed me to enter the Reverse-Aging Stage ahead of schedule."

"Now, I have regained seventy years of cultivation."

The most dangerous phase has passed.

"Old Witch, your methods are impressive."

Gu Qing said.

Gu Qing and Li Qiushui both possessed the complete Bùlǎo Chángchūn Gong, but their focus differed, and lacking experience in Reverse-Aging, they had not anticipated the Old Witch could achieve it early.

"But Li Qiushui understands the Beiming Shen Gong—recovering her strength will be easy."

The Old Witch said: "With the Sect Leader here to guard us, it couldn't be better."

The Beiming Shen Gong was too brutal in absorbing energy—each point lost by the enemy became one stored by the user, and any energy injected into the body naturally transformed into Beiming True Qi. The more the Old Witch studied it, the more terrifying it seemed.

Gu Qing smiled and proposed taking Wang Yuyan to view the Xiao Yao Sect's martial arts manuals.

In Lingjiao Palace's martial arts chamber lay nearly a thousand diagrams; Tian Shan Yang Yang Zhang and Tian Shan Zhe Mei Shou occupied only dozens, and even the Old Witch occasionally entered to ponder the techniques.

"The Sect Leader may view them—certainly."

The Old Witch knew Gu Qing's martial prowess was profound, and studying Xiao Yao arts would benefit him, but when she saw Wang Yuyan, she said: "This girl reached the Yin-Yang Balance state solely through the Sect Leader's cultivation support. Her internal energy is still shallow—she likely cannot comprehend the Xiao Yao secrets."

Wang Yuyan smiled faintly, composed and calm: "I cannot control techniques with internal energy only because my body is blocked. Thanks to my husband's aid, seven or eight tenths of those blockages have been broken. If any martial art here is beyond my reach, my husband will help me clear the obstructions so I may fully absorb them."

By Gu Qing's side, Wang Yuyan was always so confident.

Such marital harmony was foreign to the Old Witch; watching Wang Yuyan lean against Gu Qing with such assurance, she found it piercing.

"Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu—would you like to accompany the Sect Leader?"

The Old Witch asked.

"Are we to become his concubines?"

Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu asked with smiling eyes. Wang Yuyan's smile vanished.

Seeing this, Gu Qing halted it immediately. Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu led the way, opening the martial arts chamber. As Gu Qing and Wang Yuyan entered, the Old Witch's gaze followed them into the cave, tinged with hope.

The secret passages of Lingjiao Palace were grandly constructed, housing wondrous martial arts. Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu were seventeen; to comprehend the secrets within, they would need to wait until forty, when their internal energy matured.

Wang Yuyan reached into her sleeve, withdrew a scroll, and handed it to Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu: "Here is a manual for Lingbo Microstep—a secret for escape and survival, also part of Xiao Yao martial arts. You may study it first."

As Lingjiao Palace disciples, Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu knew the fame of Lingbo Microstep; receiving the manual, they were overjoyed, lavishing praise upon Wang Yuyan.

"No more talk of becoming concubines from now on!"

Wang Yuyan gave them a gentle reprimand, then turned with a smile.

Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu bowed in unison: "Yes, Madam."

The cave walls were covered in circles, each martial art annotated with verses. As Gu Qing and Wang Yuyan studied them, Wang Yuyan's internal energy remained shallow, yet her Mingyu Eighth Stage and Yin-Yang Balance allowed her to control qi as effortlessly as limbs. As she observed Tian Shan Zhe Mei Shou, her internal energy flowed like a stream, clear and luminous, merging all her martial knowledge; the cluttered dregs of her previous techniques naturally dissolved.

This single technique, Tian Shan Zhe Mei Shou, greatly uplifted her spirit and boosted her strength.

Gu Qing nodded slightly.

!

In truth, the finest heir to Xiao Yao martial arts was Wang Yuyan—if Wuyingshi had directly transferred his power during the Zhenlong Chessboard event, she would have instantly become a peerless master.

Moreover, Wang Yuyan possessed a peculiar trait: she disliked practicing martial arts. Under this trait's influence, her advancement came easily.

The two spent fifteen days studying in the cave when Lingjiao Palace disciples urgently reported. Gu Qing arrived at the main hall, and soon a white light surged in—Li Qiushui had arrived, her face flawless, radiating divine light, pausing briefly as she regarded Gu Qing and Wang Yuyan.

"Have you practiced Xiao Yao martial arts—Tian Shan Zhe Mei Shou, Tian Shan Yang Yang Zhang, and others?"

Gu Qing asked Li Qiushui calmly.

Li Qiushui frowned slightly and shook her head.

"Then it's simple."

Gu Qing ordered: "I now open Lingjiao Palace's chamber. You may enter to study the martial arts. I hope you will master them all."

In the Deaf-Dumb Valley, Li Qiushui had already merged Beiming Shen Gong, Xiao Wu Xiang Gong, and the complete Bùlǎo Chángchūn Gong—she now understood the essence of Xiao Yao internal arts. Hearing Gu Qing would now teach her all the techniques, she felt delight.

"The Old Witch still needs time to fully recover."

Gu Qing said: "Use this time to cultivate diligently."

Hearing this, Li Qiushui confirmed the Old Witch had indeed achieved Reverse-Aging ahead of schedule, and said: "So the Sect Leader intends for both of us to reach peak strength, then fight properly?"

"No."

Gu Qing shook his head: "I'm going to fight both of you!"

Constantly killing each other is utterly uncivilized!

(End of Chapter)