Chapter 35

It was solid, not hollow.

Yao Yue examined it a while longer, her brows slightly furrowed, then turned and left the cave to summon someone.

What they did not know was that the "Northern Nether Divine Art" and "Lingbo Weibu" originally here in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" actually do not exist.

Because in the original work, the Xiaoyao Sect was a top-tier Men Sect, unrestrained, but in this Comprehensive Martial Arts World, there are quite a few who are stronger than the Xiaoyao Sect.

Under such circumstances, how could Li Qiushui dare leave Our sect's martial arts here?

What if someone obtained them, researched Martial arts to counter the Xiaoyao Sect, and then opposed the Xiaoyao Sect—how terrible would that be?

So Yao Yue and her women were destined to return empty-handed.

Of course, they had not gained nothing—at the very least, they learned a very important piece of information—

That they themselves were protected, and that the defense was extremely strong!

……

After Yao Yue leaped up the cliff, she told her maids: "Go down along this rope."

The maids did not dare ask more, answered in unison, then one after another grabbed the rope and slid down.

"Heroine, then me… what about me? I can go now, right?" Gong Guangjie stepped forward with a smiling face.

Yao Yue glanced at him, and without any warning struck out with a palm. The palm force pierced straight through his skull, and Gong Guangjie was dead in an instant—utterly and completely.

Gong Guangjie had been very obedient, answering every question Yao Yue asked, and had not played any tricks—but he knew too much!

Yao Yue was by nature a ruthless and vicious person; how could she possibly let him leave?

Today, cowed by her might, he had held nothing back and poured out everything; in the future, if he met other experts, he would just as surely spill everything that happened today.

So a dead man was still the most reassuring.

However, considering that Gong Guangjie had been sensible, Yao Yue let him die without pain—he was gone before his whole body even had time to react.

The maids of the Yihua Palace nearby saw this and were not at all surprised; clearly they had long since grown used to such things.

When only Yao Yue and Hua Yuenu remained on the cliff, Yao Yue casually swept a glance at Hua Yuenu, and a sudden thought sprang up in her mind.

Zhutao was merely a maidservant, yet she had a diary copy—so what about her personal attendant Hua Yuenu?

Hua Yuenu was even prettier than Zhutao!

At this thought, Yao Yue's gaze settled on Hua Yuenu and did not move.

Hua Yuenu was stared at until her scalp tingled and her heart trembled with fright; especially in her guilty state, she grew even more flustered: "G… Great Palace Master?"

Yao Yue looked at her, imitating Zhong Ling's earlier method, and said softly: "Diary copy."

As expected!

She said it!

Yao Yue instantly confirmed that Hua Yuenu was also a diary copy possessor.

And Hua Yuenu, upon hearing these four words, was so terrified that her soul nearly fled her body. She hurriedly dropped to her knees, trembling all over like a sifter.

Yao Yue said coldly: "You indeed also have a diary copy, yet you still dared to play dumb before this Palace! Speak—why did you hide it from this Palace?"

Matters having come to this, Hua Yuenu did not dare disobey, and at once tactfully stated her own concerns.

After hearing her out, Yao Yue gave a cold snort.

But she also knew she could do nothing to Hua Yuenu; once she calmed down, she could not help but reflect.

The other's worries, it seemed, were not without reason?

However, for now, she had no intention of quarreling with Hua Yuenu.

First, Hua Yuenu was likewise protected.

Second, there were simply too many diary copy possessors—even a maidservant like Zhutao had one—so she could never monopolize it, and saw no point in bothering further.

Upon learning that Yao Yue did not intend to hold her accountable, Hua Yuenu immediately thanked her profusely.

Once master and servant descended the cliff, Yao Yue ordered all the maids of Yihua Palace to go search the stone chamber.

Hua Yuenu was among them.

Zhong Ling, seeing that Hua Yuenu was pretty, sidled up to test her, and upon discovering she too was a diary copy possessor, her big-mouthed nature kicked in again.

Only then did Hua Yuenu learn that Yao Yue already could not control her.

This let her breathe a huge sigh of relief—no need to worry about Yao Yue's caprice or settling scores afterward.

Although her life was now assured, Hua Yuenu did not for that reason grow disloyal.

Because she was an orphan, had followed Yao Yue since childhood, enjoyed Yao Yue's deep trust, and had even been taught one of the Two Great Divine Arts of Yihua Palace—Flower-Shifting Jade-Receiving!

Therefore, Yao Yue had shown her the grace of giving her a second life.

Hua Yuenu was not one to know kindness and not repay it. Though she usually feared Yao Yue, she likewise held respect and gratitude, and would never betray her without cause.

The group thus began rummaging through the cave.

……

Suzhou—the escort caravan continued on as usual.

In less than half a day's time, Jiang Sishui had mastered "Dugu Nine Swords."

That terrifying comprehension—one hint and he understood, one understanding and a hundred things became clear—left Zhao Qiying utterly awestruck.

Truly worthy of Lang Lang Fanyun, who modeled himself on heaven and earth, self-taught, and ultimately shattered the void—after fusing with his talent template, Jiang Sishui was like an entirely reborn person.

This made Zhao Qiying envious beyond measure.

Afterwards, the two sat in the carriage, fingers pointed as swords, taking turns breaking down each other's moves.

First Zhao Qiying launched sword attacks, mostly from what she had learned before, while Jiang Sishui was responsible for breaking the moves.

Later, after Jiang Sishui had seen enough of her moves, he not only learned them but could draw inferences, devise new sword techniques, use them, and in turn let Zhao Qiying break them down.

Going back and forth like this, they found joy in it and benefited greatly.

At the same time, the feelings between the two were rapidly warming.

As for Jiang Sishui's little gestures, Zhao Qiying had stopped resisting them by now; as long as they weren't too excessive, she let him be.

This delighted Jiang Sishui immensely.

The journey was fairly peaceful along the way; under the banner of the Central Plains Escort Bureau, no one was foolish enough to come looking for trouble.

And so a day and a half passed, until the following evening, when Jiang Sishui finally began writing the sixth diary entry.

038 A Qing: Swords and such, I don't understand them at all

【High comprehension sure is comfortable—A Divine Art like "Dugu Nine Swords," I learned it in less than half a day】

【In "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," Linghu Chong was also taught by Feng Qingyang for one whole night, with Tian Boguang as his sparring partner, and only after ten-plus days did he master This sword technique】

【But at best he only reached minor completion, while I've comprehended for less than two days and have already reached at least major completion!】

【Feng Qingyang was the worst—practicing for a full three months, and his progress was probably about the same as Linghu Chong's ten-plus days】

Seeing that the diary had finally been updated, the women all breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Sishui hadn't written in the diary this morning, so they had all assumed something had happened to him and been on edge.

It wasn't entirely out of concern for Jiang Sishui's life or death, but rather worry that if he were gone, the diary would no longer give them their daily true qi rewards.

Shanzhou, Mount Huashan.

Yue Lingshan cried out in surprise: "Ah! Mother, so in the book, Martial Uncle Feng chose Senior Brother Linghu as his successor!"

"No wonder Martial Uncle Feng only had eyes for Senior Brother Linghu and couldn't be bothered with anyone else."

"Is Senior Brother Linghu's talent really that much higher than Martial Uncle Feng's? Martial Uncle Feng is a Grandmaster—could Senior Brother Linghu one day hope to reach Celestial Being?"

"Still, Brother Jiang is the most amazing—mastering A Divine Art to major completion so quickly."

Yue Lingshan kept muttering to herself, then suddenly realized Ning Zhongze hadn't responded, so she looked over in confusion.

She saw Ning Zhongze's expression was grave, her brows knitted in worry.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Yue Lingshan asked, looking at her in bewilderment.

Hearing her daughter's voice, Ning Zhongze came back to herself and didn't hide it, pointing at the contents on the diary copy: "Tian Boguang is a notorious lecher—how could he possibly serve as Chong'er's sparring partner?"

Yue Lingshan was taken aback on hearing this, looked at the diary for two breaths, and said: "Maybe the Senior Brother Linghu in the book is different from our Senior Brother Linghu?"

"Chong'er has always been easygoing and unrestrained, he… Sigh, forget it, let's hope it's as you say." Ning Zhongze sighed, not wanting to dwell on things that hadn't happened yet.

Yue Lingshan knew her mother's doubts hadn't been dispelled, but she had no way to help, so she lowered her head and went back to reading the diary.

【"Dugu Nine Swords" is still quite strong, and its functions are comprehensive—it has a Method of breaking for all manner of attacks, no wonder it dares to proclaim itself "one sword to break ten thousand techniques"】

【But all of this is relative; when facing a Celestial Being, it should start to falter】

【"Dugu Nine Swords" has very lofty aspirations, expounding many ultimate principles of the Sword Dao, but sadly most of them remain theoretical, without concrete methods of practice】

【Simply put, it only points out a direction for sword learners; the road ahead must be explored and comprehended by oneself】

【No wonder this Sword Technique places the greatest emphasis on comprehension】