Master Chongxu’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, looking as if he’d seen a ghost.
Shangling and Shangzhen were equally dumbfounded.
Ye Qiu had mastered the Cloud Ladder?
Ignoring their expressions, Ye Qiu smiled, “The air on Mount Wudang is so fresh, one breath makes me feel refreshed and at ease.”
Chongxu snapped out of it, asking, “Sect Leader Ye, you’ve learned the Cloud Ladder?”
Ye Qiu nodded, “Yes.”
Chongxu couldn’t believe it, “How is that possible? To master the Cloud Ladder, you first need to grasp Pure Yang Limitless, but you haven’t practiced it…”
He stopped mid-sentence, realizing in his shock he’d let slip too much.
Damn, this old schemer really set me up, Ye Qiu cursed inwardly.
When he first tried practicing the Cloud Ladder, he couldn’t get the hang of it. Calming down and thinking it over, after several attempts, he realized the issue was insufficient internal energy.
So, he activated the Nine-Turn Dragon Art.
To his surprise, it worked instantly, the Cloud Ladder made a huge leap forward.
In no time, he’d fully mastered Wudang’s supreme lightness skill.
Chongxu asked, “Sect Leader Ye, how did you learn the Cloud Ladder?”
“Want to know, Senior?” Ye Qiu countered.
Chongxu nodded slightly, “I’ve practiced for years and only grasped the basics, so I’d like to consult you.”
Ye Qiu said, “The Cloud Ladder is simple, you just need one condition to master it.”
Chongxu eagerly asked, “What condition?”
Shangling and Shangzhen also stared at Ye Qiu, full of anticipation.
Years ago, they’d studied the Cloud Ladder manual too, but still hadn’t mastered it.
They desperately wanted to know how to learn it.
“The condition is…” Ye Qiu paused deliberately, glancing at the master and disciples, “Never mind, I won’t say.”
Chongxu and his disciples, their curiosity fully piqued, were so frustrated they nearly spat blood.
Come on, don’t leave us hanging!
Chongxu urged, “Sect Leader Ye, you must tell us.”
“I’m sincerely asking for your guidance.”
“Whether I can learn it or not, I want to know the condition, please share it.”
Ye Qiu looked reluctant.
Seeing his expression, Shangling said, “Sect Leader Ye, please, you have to tell us.”
Shangzhen added, “Sect Leader Ye, that’s not fair, why hold back now? Spit it out, or I’ll feel suffocated.”
Don’t worry, you’ll feel even worse soon.
“Alright, since all three of you want to know, I’ll tell you.”
“The reason I mastered the Cloud Ladder is because I’m…”
“Good-looking!”
What?
The three were stunned.
Ye Qiu said, “Confucius said, ‘Good looks bring good luck.’ Maybe that’s me!”
“I’m off to find Yiren, bye!”
As he left, Ye Qiu deliberately used the Cloud Ladder, covering ten zhang in a step, vanishing from their sight.
Already frustrated, Chongxu and his disciples nearly coughed up blood watching him show off.
After a while, Shangling said, “Master, my fears came true, Sect Leader Ye’s martial talent is terrifying.”
Shangzhen said, “I’m puzzled, how did he learn the Cloud Ladder without practicing Pure Yang Limitless?”
Shangling replied, “Junior Brother, can’t you see the simple truth?”
“Sect Leader Ye must have found a special way to learn it, he just won’t tell us.”
Shangling glanced at the expressionless Chongxu, asking, “Master, what do you think his special method is?”
Chongxu rolled his eyes, “If I knew, would I need to ask him?”
“I don’t know how Ye Qiu mastered it, but I know he’s lying.”
“If good looks were enough, I’d have learned it long ago.”
Shangling and Shangzhen were speechless.
Master, at a time like this, can you not be so narcissistic?
“Sigh!” Chongxu sighed, “Sect Leader Ye won’t tell us because he’s upset with me.”
“I set traps for him, and he figured it out.”
“I never expected he’d actually master the Cloud Ladder.”
Chongxu grew angry, “I spent sixty years and barely scratched the surface, but he learned it in moments, why?”
“Is my martial talent lacking?”
“If it was, could I be the second-ranked master on the Dragon List?”
“Am I not diligent? I’ve practiced through all seasons, I’ve worked hard.”
“Shangling, Shangzhen, why’s the gap between people so huge?”
“How did he learn it so fast?”
“Why him?”
“Why!”
Shangling and Shangzhen knew their master’s mentality had cracked.
As Wudang’s sect leader, Chongxu had spent most of his life studying the Cloud Ladder, yet only grasped the basics. Ye Qiu learned it instantly, it was crushing.
Shangling comforted, “Master, it’s not that your talent’s lacking or you’re not diligent. From what I’ve seen, Sect Leader Ye is full of secrets. Honestly, I’m not surprised he learned it.”
Shangzhen added, “Master, in centuries, how many have mastered innate true qi?”
“For Sect Leader Ye to achieve it at his age shows he’s favored by the heavens.”
“He’s a man of great fortune.”
“Master, don’t compare yourself to him.”
Chongxu, a transcendent figure, took a deep breath, “I lost my composure just now.”
“Everything in the world is preordained.”
“That Ye mastered the Cloud Ladder is his destiny.”
“But in a century, no one in Wudang has mastered it, so we must get him to share his method.”
Shangling said, “Master, I’m afraid he won’t easily reveal it.”
“I know,” Chongxu replied, “So, to make him talk, I’ll offer him a deal he can’t refuse.”
A deal he can’t refuse?
Shangling frowned.
What could Ye Qiu not refuse?
After thinking, Shangling suddenly realized something, looking at Chongxu in shock, “Master, are you planning to…”
