Chapter 9: Sunflower Scripture

Li Xian said, "I will not hide it from Your Highness; the Wu Gong this old minister practices is a set that is not famous, unknown in the Jianghu, called the Sunflower Scripture."

The Sunflower Scripture, indeed it is the Sunflower Scripture!

Even though Zhao Ti had remained unmoved by events these years, always calm and collected, his expression nevertheless changed slightly.

"The Sunflower Scripture?"

"Indeed..." A trace of memory appeared in Li Xian's eyes: "This is the general name for a complete set of martial arts, containing six Cultivation Techniques."

Six Cultivation Techniques? Zhao Ti was stunned in his heart; could it be that besides those strange flying needles, the Sunflower Scripture possessed other means?

"I wish to hear the details."

"It seems the Prince of Yan truly loves martial arts; then this old minister will be verbose. This old minister has not spoken of the Dao of Martial Arts to anyone in a long time." Li Xian's voice was somewhat desolate.

"The main focus within the Scripture is naturally the Sunflower True Qi, used to drive several Wu Gong moves; apart from this, there is an internal skill named Purple Cloud Strength, which can be cultivated alongside the Sunflower True Qi."

"Purple Cloud Strength?" Zhao Ti frowned; this name was strangely familiar.

"This old minister has not practiced Purple Cloud Strength; when this old minister inherited the Scripture, this Cultivation Technique was missing from it; perhaps... the Chen family of Huashan possesses it now."

Zhao Ti glanced at Zhou Dong: "How could the Chen family of Huashan have this Purple Cloud Strength?"

Li Xian smiled: "That is a long story; we must mention the creator of the Sunflower Scripture, the ancestor of our lineage."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti said, "Li Xianggong, who was the creator of this Scripture?"

Li Xian said, "Speaking of it, Your Highness may have heard; it was the Li Dahuan Dou Shenbao during the reign of Emperor Taizong."

So it was Dou Shenbao; Zhao Ti felt relieved in his heart. If the Sunflower Scripture were created by Li Xian, he would have doubts, but if it was created by Dou Shenbao, there were no questions.

Dou Shenbao was the greatest Li Dahuan of the early Song, born into a family of eunuchs; his adoptive father, Dou Siyan, was a world-famous eunuch during the Five Dynasties period, and possessed high martial arts, capable of fighting both on horseback and on foot.

Dou Shenbao joined the Prince of Jin's residence from childhood; he was Emperor Taizong's direct confidant. In those years, he not only followed Taizong on the southern campaign, destroying the Northern Han, but also protected him on the left and right during the Yongxi Northern Expedition. He once ensured Emperor Taizong escaped from the Battle of Gaoliang River. Later, he led troops to guard the northwest border, defeating the Western Xia founding emperor Li Jiqian multiple times, causing him to flee in disarray.

His life was extremely legendary; when he reached old age, he resigned from all positions, returned to the inner court, and retired in the position of Director of the Imperial City Bureau until his death.

What Zhao Ti focused on was the fact that Dou Shenbao once followed Taizong on the southern campaign. During the southern campaign, Taizong swept away Jianghu sects and green forest families; the martial arts secret manuals searched for must have been managed by someone, and that person was most likely Dou Shenbao.

Dou Shenbao was already highly skilled in martial arts; if he further read through these martial arts secret manuals, comprehending and integrating them, creating the Sunflower Scripture, this extraordinary book, would be no question!

However, what was Purple Cloud Strength? What did it have to do with the Chen family of Huashan?

"In those years, after Ancestor Dou created the Sunflower Scripture and his Divine Art was fully realized, he once sparred with Ancestor Chen Tuan. The outcome of victory or defeat is unknown, but after their spar, the two jointly created the Purple Cloud Strength, a single Art. As an internal skill, this Art does not conflict with the Sunflower True Qi, so Ancestor Dou placed it within the Scripture."

"I see!" Zhao Ti nodded: "So the Chen family's Purple Cloud Strength was passed down by Ancestor Chen Tuan?"

"What Your Highness says is correct," Li Xian said. "However, when Dou's lineage reached Emperor Renzong, some trouble arose. At that time, the one inheriting the Scripture was Guo Huai..."

"Guo Huai, the Guo Huai from the folk legend of the civet cat swapping the Crown Prince?"

"Exactly. Your Highness knows this is a folk error; in truth, this did not happen. But the person spoken of is indeed this Guo Huai. Emperor Renzong, having been raised under the name of Empress Dowager Zhangxian Mingsu since childhood, hated Empress Dowager Zhangxian for concealing his origins. She then deliberately sent his biological mother, Empress Dowager Zhangyi, to guard the spirit of Emperor Zhenzong, severing the mother-son connection. It was not until Empress Dowager Zhangxian Mingsu died that Renzong learned the truth. Thus, he vented his anger on Guo Huai and beheaded him. At that time, the Scripture had not yet been fully transmitted to disciples; one Art, Purple Cloud Strength, was missing."

"Since it has no conflict or connection with the Sunflower True Qi, is it not a problem if it is missing?" Zhao Ti pondered.

"This old minister has cultivated for many years and feels that the original five supreme arts of the Sunflower Scripture form a complete set, with Sunflower True Qi as the main, Turning Sun Needles and Phantom Steps as the moves, and Water Cold Palm and Soft Injury Method as two auxiliaries. Purple Cloud Strength seems somewhat superfluous; I do not know why Ancestor Dou placed it within." Li Xian showed a confused expression.

Zhao Ti blinked, then suddenly said, "This Scripture sounds miraculous; I wonder if Li Xianggong could show it to this Prince?"

Li Xian was stunned, then bitterly smiled: "If Your Highness wants this Scripture, consider it offered by this old minister. It is truly, truly..."

"Truly what?" Zhao Ti asked.

"If Your Highness does not practice martial arts, it is fine; just treat it as something novel. But Your Highness loves martial arts; showing it to Your Highness might harm Your Highness!" Li Xian shook his head repeatedly.

"Why does Li Xianggong say this?"

"Your Highness, this Scripture cannot be cultivated by anyone who is not castrated. Because it is so powerful and mysterious, a Wu Zhiren who sees it might lose control, take a knife and castrate himself. If Your Highness... then what face would this old minister have to see the late Emperor? Even if my bones were ground to dust, it would be hard to atone for my sins."

Zhao Ti touched his nose: "Apart from this Scripture, does Li Xianggong have any other Cultivation Techniques for this Prince to examine?"

He did not necessarily have to see the Sunflower Scripture; after all, to practice the Divine Art, one must take a knife and castrate oneself. The price was too high; he could not do it. His purpose in meeting Li Xian was to find another profound internal skill to cultivate, then go to Wuliang Mountain to seek Lingbo Weibu and Beiming Divine Art.

"Your Highness, although this old minister has fought countless opponents in his life, he has only cultivated this Scripture and knows no other martial arts," Li Xian said gloomily.

Zhao Ti's heart sank slightly; there were no other martial arts. Li Xian would not lie; he had not flatly refused the Sunflower Scripture; if there were other Cultivation Techniques, he would have brought them out. Thus, it must be that there truly were none.

He sighed, unable to think of where else to find powerful martial arts, and said casually, "Li Xianggong, please let me see the Scripture. I will only look at it and will not take it away."

Li Xian hesitated for a few breaths, then looked at Zhou Dong and the others. Zhao Ti waved his hand behind him: "Everyone, go out and wait."

Zhou Dong and the others, hearing the Scripture was dangerous, all changed color: "Your Highness, this..."

Zhao Ti snorted: "Are you afraid that after this Prince takes a look, I will take a knife and castrate myself? If one lacks even this much composure, it is truly better to just cut it off!"

The few looked at each other helplessly and had to retreat outside. Tong Guan also made as if to walk out, but Li Xian called him back: "Daofu, do not leave. Go light the lamps, then support me."

Hearing this, Tong Guan was overjoyed: "Yes, Godfather!"

Li Xian took out a stack of yellow silk from his chest; opening it revealed a bound booklet: "Your Highness, after Guo Huai died in those years, the original Scripture was lost. This copy is a supplement. Except for the missing Purple Cloud Strength, everything else is identical to the original. Daofu, take it for Your Highness to view."

Tong Guan reached out to take the booklet, took three steps in two, and arrived before Zhao Ti. Zhao Ti took it, glanced at the four characters 'Sunflower Scripture' on the cover, then reached out to open it.

"To practice the Divine Art, take a knife and castrate yourself." Eight large characters stood out prominently.

He ignored it directly, turned to the next page. After about two quarters of an hour, he finished reading the entire booklet, and his expression became somewhat solemn.

Although he had never personally practiced internal skills, he had seen a few. Precisely because what he saw was crude, he had not practiced. Now, with a comparison in mind, the profundity of the Sunflower Scripture immediately stood out.

Sunflower True Qi is a method for internal force.

Turning Sun Needles is the practice method for flying needle moves; it can also be transformed into sword techniques, but its power is slightly inferior to flying needles.

Phantom Steps is a movement technique.

Water Cold Palm is a fist and palm move.

Soft Injury Method is a method for healing injuries.

This Scripture covers almost all skills a martial artist needs; one basically does not need to learn other Wu Gong; perfecting this single Art is sufficient. This is also the reason Li Xian possessed no other martial arts.

Zhao Ti took a deep breath, closed the booklet, looked at Li Xian, and said, "Li Xianggong, is there truly no way to cultivate the Scripture without castrating oneself?"