[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn":3,"chapter-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-27":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Thirteen Years as King of the Great Song, I Learned I Was the Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271722,4437,"Chapter 27","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>Zhao Ti nodded: “Exactly so, which is why I’m puzzled—I know internal cultivation is hard, how could progress be this easy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong showed a look of shock: “Young Master, though the logic holds, exceptions do exist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of exception?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally, extraordinary talent and exceptional aptitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti rubbed his chin: “Aptitude is meant to determine whether one can even enter the path and tailor training accordingly—but this isn’t just fast or slow; it’s as if it’s all natural and effortless…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong shook his head: “Though I’ve never seen it myself, my master once told me there are those with transcendent talent who cultivate as easily as drinking water or eating rice—beyond mere speed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti asked: “What did Old Master Jin Tai say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong reflected: “When I first mastered martial arts, I was arrogant, convinced my talent was extraordinary. My master said my aptitude was merely above average. I resented it—he saw through me and laughed, saying true talent faces no barriers in learning any technique or internal art: techniques are grasped instantly, and once internal energy accumulates sufficiently, everything else follows naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti fell silent. He recalled that before learning internal energy, when he trained only external methods, it had been exactly like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others needed three to five repetitions, or seven to eight, or even dozens to master a move—he learned it in one. Every subtle shift, every refined variation, he executed flawlessly. Was this because of supreme martial talent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, with internal cultivation, was it the same due to that same extraordinary talent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered how Duan Yu learned the Boddhisattva’s Step and the Northern Dark Divine Art with astonishing speed, and how Zhang Wuji mastered the Qi-Nian Da Nuo Yi in little time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Wuji reached the fifth level of Qi-Nian Da Nuo Yi in half a day—if so, with sufficient internal energy, wouldn’t one face no obstacles learning any advanced martial art?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides his perfect memory, he hadn’t realized he possessed such martial aptitude!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti nodded, setting the matter aside: “Perhaps so. After lunch, rest—we’ll aim to reach Wuliang Mountain early tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong and Su Da agreed. After eating, they retired to their rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before dawn the next day, the three mounted up and rode straight for Wuliang Mountain, galloping without pause until they finally reached its foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them rose a majestic mountain, broad peaks and sloping ridges, imposing and vast, layered with scenery, lush with trees, exhaling clouds, absorbing mist, perilous ravines and cliffs yet strikingly beautiful, with tiger roars and monkey cries adding grandeur to the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mountain’s base lay a path upward, flanked by a few thatched huts, horse stakes buried nearby, guards stationed, and a stone tablet inscribed with the words “Wuliang Sword Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti said: “This mountain is so grand—even if Wuliang Sword Sect guards this spot, they can’t stop others from climbing. What’s the point of the stone tablet? Do they think this mountain belongs to them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong replied: “That’s how the martial world usually operates—just for show. Young Master needn’t mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti nodded. Judging by the scene, the Jianhu Palace hadn’t yet been attacked by the Shennong Gang—if it had, and later absorbed by the Lingjiao Palace, this place would have been renamed Wuliang Cave, not still bearing the Wuliang Sword Sect’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, they couldn’t take the main path—they’d have to sneak into the mountain and locate the Langhuan Fudi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to tell Zhou Dong and Su Da to leave, when riders approached from the opposite road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four men on four horses halted nearby. The leader was an elderly man around fifty, stout in build, dignified in bearing, gentle in demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong shaded his eyes and exclaimed: “Young Master, that leader looks just like Ma Wude, the Pu’er tea merchant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hm? Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows. Could it be such a coincidence—did they just happen to meet him in person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong cupped his hands and called out: “Is that Brother Ma Wude on the other side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man turned toward the voice, squinted, stared again, couldn’t recognize him, then bowed: “It’s this old man. Might I ask who’s addressing me? My eyesight’s poor—I can’t make you out.” He spurred his horse forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong said: “Young Master, it’s been over a decade. I’ll go greet him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti nodded. As they drew near, Ma Wude cried out: “It’s my dear younger brother Guangzu! I’ve missed you so much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong replied: “Brother, it’s been over a decade—you look even more splendid than before!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged pleasantries, asked after each other’s lives. Zhou Dong said he’d joined a noble household as a personal attendant to the young master, who waited behind on horseback. Ma Wude was overjoyed and immediately asked for an introduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dismounted and exchanged greetings. Ma Wude introduced the young man in blue behind him, who looked curious: “This is Duan Yu, a brother who came to my home drawn by my humble reputation. Hearing I was coming to Wuliang Mountain for the gathering, he insisted on joining, saying the scenery here is serene and he wishes to admire it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti couldn’t help smiling as he looked at Duan Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan—true romantic fool, second-generation scoundrel, ancestor of the lickspittle, founder of the “All Lovers Are Siblings” school, upright—Yü\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Yu bowed with scholarly grace: “Esteemed Brother Zhao hails from Great Song? I’m truly delighted! I’ve long wished to visit Song and admire its mountains and rivers. To meet you today is a great fortune—I may trouble you for a visit someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ti returned the bow: “No need for formality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong and Ma Wude had claimed they were touring Dali and heard of Wuliang Mountain’s fame, hence their visit. Ma Wude recounted the rivalry between the Eastern and Western branches of the Wuliang Sect, inviting them to climb and watch the contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Dong glanced at Zhao Ti. Zhao Ti pondered: Since Duan Yu hadn’t yet taken the Boddhisattva’s Step or the Northern Dark Divine Art, he had two choices: one, follow Ma Wude to Jianhu Palace and sneak away later to find the Wuliang Jade Tablet and Langhuan Fudi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other, politely decline and find their own path up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first choice would get them to Langhuan Fudi fastest—since memory placed its landmark as extending from Jianhu Palace—but risked trapping them there for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second choice, declining Ma Wude and sneaking up alone, would avoid entanglement with the Wuliang Sword Sect and Shennong Gang—but Wuliang Mountain was vast. From another route, finding Langhuan Fudi was impossible; even finding Jianhu Palace might fail. If Duan Yu got there first and took the manuals, all would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to follow Ma Wude up the mountain, then act with caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, two men approached from the thatched huts, bowing: “Gentlemen, you’ve lingered here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wude smiled and produced an invitation. One man took it, glanced, and hurriedly said: “It’s Master Ma himself! Please ascend quickly—our Eastern Branch’s Master Xin has been waiting long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wude said: “I’ve brought several friends along…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled: “We know Master Ma has wide connections. Your presence here is a great honor to our branch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wude bowed with a smile: “Then we’re in your care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They began climbing. After about half an hour, they saw ahead a rugged complex—the Jianhu Palace!\u003C\u002Fp>",1240,"2026-06-19T22:30:31.989Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","085398b8ea4be3ea1bde6737c10ae2595f47f264d0a6af3948e51d6cb7897e25","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-28","thirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-chapter-26",270,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthirteen-years-as-king-of-the-great-song-i-learn-cover.jpg"]