Capítulo 29: Chapter 29 Demon Shadow Divine Skill, Jiang Qiong's Appreciation
"What secret technique?" Gu An asked eagerly. He had already learned many spells from Jiang Qiong, but when it comes to spells, the more the merrier.
After Jiang Qiong left, it would be difficult for him to find such a dedicated mentor again.
Jiang Qiong took a bite of a large chicken leg and said proudly with a laugh, "One of the nine great secret techniques of the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion, the Demon Shadow Divine Skill!"
The Demon Shadow Divine Skill?
That sounds...
Gu An frowned and asked, "Is this a cultivation technique?"
He didn't lack cultivation techniques. Changing techniques and re-cultivating his spiritual power would mean wasting his lifespan, something he did not wish to do.
"It's a secret technique, like I said. The Demon Shadow Divine Skill will help you become a better spy. You'll know soon enough," Jiang Qiong said vaguely, his mouth full of chicken meat, almost too full to speak.
Gu An's face twitched.
I don't want to be an agent of the Demon Dao!
Well, let's get through Jiang Qiong leaving. Afterwards, I'll talk to people like a person and to ghosts like a ghost, and in the martial world, identity is what you make it.
...
The next day at noon, Gu An was reading under a tree, seven steps away, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin were practicing swordsmanship, moving elegantly. Unfortunately, they couldn't attract Gu An's attention.
"Big senior brother, Elder Li Ya is here!"
Xiaochuan ran over and said, with someone following behind him, indeed it was Li Ya.
Gu An immediately stood up, stuffed the Green Hero Travelogue into his chest, and walked towards Li Ya.
"Let's talk upstairs," Li Ya said first.
Gu An nodded and then led him upstairs.
Zhen Qin stopped swinging her sword and turned to Ye Lan, nervously asking, "Master Ye, could it be that Elder Li Ya is here because of those two demon cultivators yesterday?"
"Perhaps," Ye Lan replied softly, glancing back.
Inside the room.
Gu An and Li Ya sat opposite each other. While pouring tea for Li Ya, Gu An asked, "What's the matter?"
Li Ya began, "I plan to stay in Profound Valley for half a year, is that okay?"
"Of course, you can stay as long as you like. Did you encounter some issues?" Gu An replied without hesitation, showing his concern.
Li Ya hesitated for a moment but decided to speak about the previous day's encounter. It might motivate Junior Brother Gu to practice diligently due to the pressure.
After hearing the story, Gu An widened his eyes in astonishment and exclaimed, "They're dead? Won't the Wanyin Sect cause trouble?"
Li Ya snorted, "He attacked me and Li Xuanyu; if anyone is seeking trouble, it will be the Supreme Sect going after the Wanyin Sect. Besides the Supreme Sect, the royal court will also pressure the Wanyin Sect. Li Xuanyu is my father's most beloved daughter."
Gu An asked in surprise, "Then they dared to attack Elder Li?"
"Xu Ruye and Chen Ji have committed many evils and act without scruples. Chen Ji had a falling out with Li Xuanyu in Ye City, and upon finding Li Xuanyu alone, they naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. And..."
Li Ya spoke disdainfully, but he eventually held back.
"And what?"
"Nothing."
Gu An felt like punching someone. Then you might as well not say 'and' at all!
Li Ya looked at Gu An and asked, "Since yesterday, have you seen anyone pass by Medicine Valley?"
Gu An shook his head.
"You didn't see. If it weren't for that Nascent Soul realm elder who helped yesterday, Li Xuanyu and I would likely have been in grave danger. His sword dao was truly frightening, killing enemies with falling leaves, cultivators at the 9th Floor of the Foundation Establishment Realm are just like vegetables before him, one leaf can be deadly..."
Li Ya became excited as he recounted the battle of the previous day, vividly describing the scene.
Gu An's eyes widened, gasping in awe from time to time as if he was listening to a myth.
The Nascent Soul realm elder had merely thrown two leaves, but Li Ya used all the words he knew to describe it, full of excitement.
"Sword cultivators should indeed be like that, no sword surpasses having a sword. Whatever is in hand is a sword, even me... In short, big brother, I've found my direction. From now on, I will focus on practicing swordsmanship and delve into the sword dao..."
Li Ya revealed a look of longing, and Gu An nodded, secretly thrilled.
Brother, the amazing senior you're speaking so highly of is right in front of you. It's just a pity that you have shallow practice and cannot see through it!
Gu An interrupted Li Ya's daydreaming and asked, "Why doesn't the sect send disciples to patrol or protect us servant disciples during such a grand event as the Outer Sect Conference?"
Around Profound Valley, within a fifty-mile radius, there were at least six cave mansions belonging to outer disciples. Although most were not inside, the sect would certainly have people available if they gave the order.
Li Ya's smile vanished, and he said somberly, "Think about why someone in the sect dares to raise Demon of Greed and Wrath outside the outer sect. Isn't it because the sect doesn't care about servant disciples? But don't worry, I will stay until the Outer Sect Conference ends."
Gu An fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Aren't you participating?"
"I'm not skilled enough. Rashly participating would only result in injury. Such a grand event is sure to be the arena of those at the 9th Floor of the Foundation Establishment Realm," Li Ya shook his head.
This made Gu An see him in a new light; he was quite self-aware.
Of course, it could also be the shock Xu Ruye had given him.
After a good long talk, they went downstairs. Gu An asked Xiaochuan and Tang Yu to help clear out a yard for Li Ya to live in alone.
Everyone in the valley was delighted to learn that Li Ya would be staying for half a year. Firstly, someone would protect them, and secondly, they could practice swordsmanship with Li Ya.
In their eyes, Gu An was good at everything, except he lacked spells and couldn't guide them. Li Ya was different; he was a genuine Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!
In the following days, cultivators often flew over Profound Valley on their swords, and Gu An saw many flying artifacts and demon beast mounts, making him marvel in his heart.
This is the world of immortal cultivation!
...
A month later, in the deep of the night.
Jiang Qiong leaned against the Cang Teng Tree, her right leg swinging, and her dress revealing her fair and delicate calves, shimmering in the light. She held a book in her hands, her gaze occasionally flitting to Gu An in the distance as he picked medicinal herbs.
Suddenly, she flipped to her feet, the book flying into the pendant around her neck. She stretched lazily, extending her limbs.
"Good disciple, stop working and practice the Demon Shadow Divine Skill," Jiang Qiong called out. She leapt gracefully, landing in front of the pill furnace, which was simmering with elixirs, sending up plumes of white smoke from the lid.
Gu An, without turning around, replied, "It's alright, I'll be done soon."
Jiang Qiong shook her head with a chuckle, thinking to herself, "This kid is really hardworking and commendable. I need to make some elixirs for him."
Half an incense stick's time later.
Gu An arrived beside Jiang Qiong with the herbs he had collected, placing them on the ground meticulously by category, which made Jiang Qiong even more pleased with him.
This child really is flawless!
Gu An harvested over a thousand and three hundred years of life span in one go, putting him in quite a good mood. Such opportunities for yield weren't easy to come by.
"Continue your practice and ask me if you have any questions," Jiang Qiong instructed softly as she watched the pill furnace.
Gu An nodded, then began to practice the Demon Shadow Divine Skill. He had been practicing this skill for a month, and it still hadn't appeared on his attribute panel, which was quite irritating.
He was determined to succeed.
The Eight Scenic Cave Heaven fell into silence, with Gu An and Jiang Qiong meditating near the pill furnace, the smoke from the elixirs obscuring their figures.
Four days later, the Demon Shadow Divine Skill finally appeared on Gu An's attribute panel.
He looked at his attribute panel with a satisfied smile.
[Name: Gu An]
[Life Span: 27/12268]
[Spirit Root: First-Class Five Elements Spirit Root (Wood, Earth attributes more prominent)]
[Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul Realm 8th Floor]
[Cultivation Techniques: Fire Control Technique (Unmastered), Divine Wood Pure Yang Skill (Refined to Perfection), Dragon Strength Divine Primordial Skill (Refined to Perfection), Alchemy (Initial Understanding), Myriad Poison Profound Skill (Unmastered), Yin Yang Technique (Unmastered)]
[Secret Skills: Gale Shadowless Leg (Fully Integrated), Tai Cang Divine-Shocking Sword (Fully Integrated), Eight Directions Step (Unmastered), Demon Shadow Divine Skill (Unmastered)]
[Spells: Soul Capturing Technique (Unmastered), Sword Control Technique (Fully Integrated), Enchanting Eyes (Unmastered), Poison Wood Array (Initial Understanding), Wind Control Skill (Unmastered), Corpse Control Technique (Unmastered)]
Making it onto the attribute panel means it's all real!
Over the past five years, Jiang Qiong taught him eight cultivation techniques and spells.
Quite commendable!
This also changed Gu An's impression of her—although she was a demon cultivator, her teaching attitude was superior to that of the Righteous Dao.
Gu An stood up and bowed to Jiang Qiong, saying, "Ancestor, let's call it a night. I'd like to go back and rest."
Jiang Qiong continued to sit in meditation in front of the pill furnace, surrounded by a swirl of demonic Qi. Without opening her eyes, she said, "After going back, practice well. I will leave in at most two more years."
Gu An didn't make a sound and left.
Jiang Qiong opened one eye, glancing at his retreating figure, and thought to herself, "This kid seems a bit sad. After all, where can he find such a good mentor as me? Seeing him so alone, when I go back, I'll find someone to replace me, and let him practice in the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion. Later, I'll ask Father to find that person to teach him the Sword Dao."
Gu An walked towards the cave entrance with his back to her, stifling the joy in his heart without laughing.
Finally, she's leaving!
Although Jiang Qiong treated him well, he preferred to enjoy the Eight Scenic Cave Heaven alone.
Back in the woods, Gu An didn't immediately return to his building. Instead, he headed far away, planning to find a place where he could invest a year's life span into his cultivation.
He felt he was nearing the 9th Floor of the Nascent Soul Realm, perhaps within a few days.
Even though it felt close, he was restrained, only investing one year of life span each day.
After traveling twenty li, Gu An sat in meditation under a tree, concealing his presence to be practically indistinguishable from the flora.
He immediately invested a year's life span into his cultivation, and spiritual energy surged towards him.
The surrounding flowers and plants seemed to ripple with excitement, as if cheering him on for an early breakthrough.
Soon, the flow of nature's spiritual energy calmed, indicating that he had completed a year's worth of Qi Absorption practice.
Gu An stood up, ready to leave, but as he was about to step forward, he sensed something and immediately hid behind a tree.
After about four breaths, two whooshing sounds approached, passing over where Gu An had been.
Gu An's eyes were keener than ordinary people, and he caught a glimpse of the two figures, swiftly using Life Span Detection.
[Zuo Yijian (Core Formation Realm 9th Floor): 142/490/980]
[Zuo Lin (Foundation Establishment Realm 2nd Floor): 27/280/1400]
Core Formation Realm 9th Floor!
Gu An was inwardly curious about which Sect or group these two came from.
After they had gone far, Gu An quietly returned to Profound Valley.
The next morning, he trained with his disciples as usual, while Li Ya greeted him, saying he was going to visit the Outer Sect.
It wasn't until midday that Li Ya returned on his sword, bringing someone with him.
It was Zuo Lin, the one Gu An had detected the night before.
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder