Chapter 45: As If Beholding A Treasure
Following behind Miejue onto the steps up the mountain, Gu Shaoan walked with steady strides, while his gaze, in the quiet rhythm of his steps, carefully swept over every inch of the surrounding mountain scenery.
On both sides of the stone steps stretched forests that had endured wind and rain yet grown ever more rugged. The thick trunks coiled like writhing dragons, and the mountain wind was finally no longer as stingy as at the foot of the mountain, carrying with it the fragrance of grass and trees as it blew past.
Compared with the steepness of Emei, Tianzhu Peak of Wudang was much gentler, yet it revealed a grandeur and majesty.
From time to time, Wudang disciples would descend from the mountain top steps, and upon seeing Song Yuanqiao and the others, they hastily stepped aside to salute.
The place also felt more lively.
Though the disciples coming and going could not all be called outstanding in martial arts, they were full of essence, qi, and spirit, giving an impression of vigorous, upward-striving energy.
This vitality did not come solely from themselves, but more from the Wudang standing behind them.
This was also one of the reasons why all powers in the martial world wished to climb ever higher step by step.
If the power one belonged to was strong enough, its disciples could also share in the honor.
All along the way, the scenery on Wudang Mountain was entirely different from what he had seen at Emei.
But the sense of thriving prosperity within the sect was something Emei lacked.
Of course, if not for Song Qingshu’s gaze sweeping over from time to time, Gu Shaoan might have felt that the scenery on Wudang Mountain was even better.
After entering the True Martial Hall, among the Wudang Seven Heroes, Yu Lianzhou, ranked second, Zhang Songxi, ranked fourth, and Mo Shenggu, ranked seventh, were all already inside.
Miejue swept her gaze over them, then unconsciously looked toward the position of the statue of the Great True Martial Emperor within the main hall.
There, behind the statue’s left ear on the wall, there was a Precious Sword.
Its sword hilt and Sword Scabbard were both in silver and gold, densely covered with patterns, noble and extraordinary.
The Precious Sword, together with its scabbard, was thrust into the wall, sunk in one foot and three inches.
At a glance it was clear that only someone with extremely deep merit had forcefully driven the Precious Sword into the wall.
Noticing Miejue’s gaze, Gu Shaoan’s eyes followed and fell upon the Heavenly Sword as well, a glint flashing through his eyes.
At first, the reason Gu Shaoan had joined Emei was not only because of the gold Term of his abbess’s favor.【】
Across all of Great Wei, there were not many masters who possessed great strength and also bore the status of abbess, yet there were still some.
The most famous was Ci Hang Jing Zhai, which, like Emei, required one to enter the Buddhist order as a prerequisite for becoming the sect leader.
There was also the Hengshan Sect of the Five Peaks Sword Sect, where almost the entire sect from top to bottom consisted of nuns of all ranks, which was also very suitable for Gu Shaoan.
But after much consideration, Gu Shaoan still decided to go to Emei.
As for the reason, apart from it being easier to enter Emei, there were also profound martial arts within the Emei Sect.
And those martial arts were hidden on the Treasure map inside the Heavenly Sword.
As long as one followed the Treasure map to search, one could find the Map leading to Peach Blossom Island, as well as the complete Nine Yin Manual《》 and the Essence of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms《》 buried there by Huang Rong and Guo Jing.
If he could obtain these two arts, then even without unlocking the ability to draw prizes with Achievement Points, Gu Shaoan believed that as long as he trained diligently, once he achieved Success in the future, he could still secure a place in the martial world.
Now, seeing the Heavenly Sword, Gu Shaoan naturally felt as if he saw the treasure before him.
But an instant later, Gu Shaoan withdrew his gaze again and stood quietly behind Miejue with lowered eyes.
After a short while, when both sides had finished exchanging greetings, and Miejue took the guest seat, Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo stood together behind Miejue.
Quiet and well-behaved.
In contrast, Song Qingshu, who had never found a chance to speak with Zhou Zhiruo, appeared somewhat impatient.
This made Song Yuanqiao secretly sigh in his heart, ashamed of his negligence in teaching him.
Once Miejue had tasted the Tea offered by the Wudang disciples,
Song Yuanqiao then spoke. “Abbess, in the letter you previously sent, you mentioned wanting Emei and our Wudang disciples to have a sparring exchange. I wonder if this exchange will still follow the previous method?”
Miejue set down the Teacup and said calmly, “Naturally.”
Hearing Miejue’s reply, Song Yuanqiao did not doubt her, and said to Zhang Songxi, “Fourth junior brother, go select ten third-generation disciples to come and spar with Emei’s outstanding disciples.”
Zhang Songxi did not waste words. He rose, cupped his hands to Miejue in salute, and then quickly left.
Miejue remained unhurried and calm, sitting on the chair and waiting quietly.
Only, her peripheral vision was from time to time drawn again to the Heavenly Sword still deeply embedded in the wall.
After half an hour, ten Wudang disciples were brought over by Zhang Songxi.
Song Yuanqiao rose and gestured with his hand. “Abbess, please.”
Led by Song Yuanqiao, they arrived at the Training Ground outside the True Martial Hall.
As a top-tier Faction, Wudang had thousands of disciples. For internal instruction, the size of this Training Ground could well be imagined.
Its diameter was a full hundred zhang.
Within the Training Ground, tables and chairs had already been arranged in rows, and all around, several hundred Wudang disciples who had heard the news had gathered, wishing to watch the sparring between the two sects’ disciples.
Once Miejue, Song Yuanqiao, and the others had taken their seats, Mo Shenggu, ranked seventh among the Seven Heroes, stepped forward a few paces to preside.
As an Emei disciple and a Wudang disciple stood facing each other at the center, the atmosphere on the Training Ground instantly grew solemn, hundreds of gazes focusing on the two in the arena.
Mo Shenggu stood sternly to the side and said loudly, “Both belong to the righteous path of the martial world. This is an exchange of skills. Stop before causing harm.”
When the two disciples each nodded in acknowledgment, Mo Shenggu then stepped back two paces.
With the formal salute complete, the tall Emei female disciple darted out first. As she closed in, her wrist flicked, the Long Sword in her hand giving a clear dragon’s cry. The sword was like flowing clouds, thrusting straight at her opponent’s wrist. It was precisely the Flowing Clouds Swordplay《》 within Emei Swordplay.
The Wudang disciple opposite her remained calm. Facing this swift strike, his footwork was neither hurried nor slow. With a slight shift of his body, he seemed to avoid the Sword Tip like a light breeze brushing a willow, and countered with a move from Wudang’s Cotton Palm, “Child Worships Buddha.”
The palm shadows were both real and feigned, seeming to strike at her left shoulder yet secretly containing a grappling force aimed at the back of her neck.
The two separated and closed again; Sword Light and palm shadows intertwined. Within three or four moves, the Emei female disciple’s sword momentum was led astray, her footing unstable, and Zhang Songyan’s fingertips had already lightly touched her shoulder well acupoint.
Mo Shenggu shouted sternly, “Stop! Wudang wins!”
Immediately after, another sturdy disciple stepped out from Wudang’s side, his strength heavy and forceful. Displaying Wudang’s long fist, he fought steadily.
On Emei’s side, a female disciple with agile swordplay used skill to overcome strength, and after thirty moves, seized the advantage with a nimble thrust.
In the bouts that followed, victory went back and forth.
Emei disciples, with their elusive swordplay and nimble movement techniques, often seized the initiative, frequently deciding the outcome within a few moves.
But the Wudang disciples had a solid Foundation and long-lasting Internal Energy, especially adept at defense and dissolving Force. After stabilizing in the later matches, they relied on their profound heritage and the principle of using stillness to control motion from tai chi to turn the tide in succession.
After watching several rounds of sparring, Gu Shaoan’s heart stirred slightly.
“As expected, in terms of heritage, Wudang is still lacking quite a bit.”
Since its founding, the Wudang Sect had existed for only a few decades.
The reason it could become a top-tier Faction was entirely because of Zhang Sanfeng, the Number One Martial Artist in Great Wei’s Martial Way.
Therefore, when it came to the younger generation of Wudang Sect disciples, their Strength was actually not much different from that of Emei’s disciples.
This was also why, after Zhang Sanfeng no longer casually descended the mountain, Wudang Sect, in many Matters, instead had to join with Shaolin, Emei, and other orthodox allies.
If it were Shaolin, or some other top-tier Faction in the martial world with Inheritance spanning several hundred years, then even if it was also the younger generation of disciples, it would be extremely difficult for Emei’s side to win even a single match.
