—
Three days passed in a blink.
Besides keeping vigil for Master Kong Jian, Ye Qiu spent these days mastering the Six Meridians Divine Sword and the second form of the Grass Script Sword Art.
Now, he had fully integrated both peerless sword techniques.
Comparing their strengths, Ye Qiu concluded that the Grass Script Sword Art was more powerful than the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
“Though the Six Meridians Divine Sword uses invisible sword qi, it requires advanced movement techniques to maximize its power,” Ye Qiu mused. “In *The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, Duan Yu paired it with Lingbo Weibu to become a top-tier master.”
“But the Grass Script Sword Art is stronger.”
With Master Kong Jian’s century of internal energy, Ye Qiu could wield the Six Meridians Divine Sword effortlessly.
The Grass Script Sword Art was different.
Focusing all his strength, executing the second form drained him completely, even with his innate qi regenerating endlessly, it took half an hour to recover.
This meant he couldn’t use the second form unless absolutely necessary, or he’d be vulnerable.
“Even with a century of internal energy, I can’t casually use the second form, this sword art is too domineering,” Ye Qiu thought. “The Grass Script Sword Art has nine forms, where are the other seven?”
“If I mastered all nine, what would I fear from the Forbidden City? Or Dragon One?”
Ye Qiu had a strong intuition that with the complete Grass Script Sword Art, he could slay Dragon One with a single strike.
“ Heavens, grant me some luck to find the other seven forms soon.”
He knew even if the remaining seven appeared now, he couldn’t learn them quickly, and even if he did, he couldn’t execute them.
His cultivation was too low.
With a century of internal energy, the second form took half an hour to recover from, the later forms surely demanded even greater cultivation.
“I wonder, with this century of internal energy, can I break through to the fourth rotation of the Nine-Turn Dragon Art?”
Ye Qiu sat cross-legged, circulating his internal energy.
Soon, his body lifted off the ground, hovering three feet in the air, spinning slowly.
A while later, a faint golden glow emanated from him, making him resemble a Buddha.
He began cultivating the Nine-Turn Dragon Art.
Three hours later, Ye Qiu stopped, his face full of disappointment.
No breakthrough, a result he struggled to accept.
“If Master Kong Jian hadn’t infused me with a century of internal energy, would I have needed a hundred years to reach the fourth rotation?”
He checked his strand of innate true qi.
No change, identical to before.
Strange, why no progress?
This weighed heavily on Ye Qiu, recalling Master Kong Jian’s words that Dragon One might have cultivated nine strands of acquired true qi, nearing the path of immortality.
Though his innate true qi was miraculous, with only one strand, it likely couldn’t match Dragon One.
If Dragon One crossed into immortality, Ye Qiu would stand no chance.
“I thought my martial talent was exceptional, but the Forbidden City’s people are even more monstrous,” Ye Qiu sighed.
He turned to cultivating talismans.
With his enhanced internal energy, talisman practice improved significantly, mastering five or six new ones in one night.
His Heavenly Eye also advanced, its clairvoyance range extending from tens of meters to a hundred.
At dawn, Lin Jingzhi approached, “Go say goodbye to Master Du’e, we’re leaving soon.”
“Mm,” Ye Qiu nodded, asking, “Where’s that lapdog?”
Lin Jingzhi replied, “You mean Duoduo? He listened to Master Du’e’s Buddhist scriptures all night.”
Ye Qiu laughed, “Those dry scriptures, and he sat through them?”
“Don’t underestimate him, he was engrossed and kept asking Master Du’e questions,” Lin Jingzhi said.
Ye Qiu was incredulous, “No way.”
Lin Jingzhi giggled, “If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”
Ye Qiu strode into the Enlightenment Tower.
At the entrance, he heard Qian Duoduo ask Master Du’e, “Master, what is love?”
Pfft—
Ye Qiu nearly burst out laughing, this lapdog asking such a childish question.
To his surprise, Master Du’e answered seriously, “Life is like being among thorns, if the heart doesn’t move, one doesn’t act rashly, and thus isn’t harmed, if the heart moves, one acts recklessly, hurting body and soul. Love is the same.”
Qian Duoduo pondered, then said, “Thank you, Master, I understand.”
Seeing his devout expression, Ye Qiu felt a twinge of panic.
Was this kid getting into Buddhism?
Ye Qiu marched in, smacking Qian Duoduo’s head.
Smack!
Qian Duoduo winced, “Cousin, why hit me?”
Ye Qiu scolded, “Asking the Master such a childish question, aren’t you insulting him?”
“Want to know what love is? Fine, I’ll tell you.”
“Love is like poop, when it comes, you can’t stop it.”
“Love is like poop, flushed away, never to return.”
“Love is like poop, always the same, yet slightly different.”
“Love is like poop, sometimes you strain for ages, and it’s just a fart.”
Qian Duoduo gaped, “Cousin, that’s too crude!”
“Crude? True vulgarity is true elegance,” Ye Qiu glared, then turned to Master Du’e, “Master, I’m here to bid farewell.”
He’d planned to stay half a day, but seeing Qian Duoduo’s state, lingering risked the kid sinking deeper, better to leave early.
Otherwise, if this lapdog joined a monastery, Ye Qiu couldn’t face their grandfather or second uncle.
Master Du’e escorted the trio to the foot of Wuliang Mountain, saying, “Benefactor Ye, you’re welcome back to Tianlong Temple, I won’t see you further, Amitabha.”
“Take care, Master. Farewell!”
Ye Qiu, Lin Jingzhi, and Qian Duoduo left Tianlong Temple, heading to Dali’s city center to accompany Lin Jingzhi in buying jade.
Dali had a street lined with jade shops.
As they arrived, they spotted two familiar faces.
Ma Dong, son of Suzhou-Hangzhou’s richest man.
And Gao Fei, Qian Shiyu’s ex-husband!
