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Chapter 11: The Ji Family's Secret Technique
🕑 Added 2024-12-08 08:53:26 +0000 UTCAfter exchanging a few casual words with Xiao Chuan and Lu Jiu Jia, Gu An walked toward his own courtyard, pulling out The Adventures of the Green hero from his sleeve, eager to savor the illustrations.
Just as he reached the courtyard, Ye Lan approached him.
"Senior Brother, I want to learn the Remnant Wind Kick too!" Ye Lan huffed, her face puffed up in frustration.
Gu An naturally closed the book and asked with a smile, "What happened? Did your Senior Brother Meng refuse to teach you techniques?"
Ye Lan's frustration deepened as she complained, "Yes, he was teaching me half-heartedly. I got upset and argued with him, and then he snapped at me, saying he needed to prepare for the outer sect assessment and didn’t have time to bother with me, telling me to leave."
Seeing her cheeks puffed up like a ball, Gu An found it amusing, but he held back his laughter.
"Since your Senior Brother Meng is busy, don’t bother him. How about this—tomorrow at noon, I’ll personally teach you the Remnant Wind Kick. How does that sound?" Gu An said kindly.
Ye Lan asked in surprise, "Why tomorrow?"
"Your senior brother is tired. Give me a break, I just dealt with your two senior brothers earlier. You can ask them about it," Gu An said, pointing toward Xiao Chuan and Lu Jiu Jia in the distance.
With that, he sidestepped Ye Lan and headed toward his room.
Watching him walk away with the book in hand, Ye Lan murmured to herself, "Is The Adventures of the Green hero really that good?"
Gu An returned to his room, closed the door, and lay on the bed, picking up his book once more.
The reason he liked The Adventures of the Green hero was because it was part of a series, with a new volume released every six months.
Following a serialized novel in the cultivation world gave Gu An a sense of nostalgia, almost like being back on Earth.
Before long, he became fully absorbed in the book’s content.
He strongly suspected that the author of the book was a cultivator from the Tai Xuan Sect, though the book never detailed any actual fights. It was mostly filled with tales of traveling, romance, and scenic adventures.
Half an hour later, Gu An suddenly heard noises from the neighboring room. It sounded like Meng Lang was rolling on the ground, his breathing chaotic.
Hmm?
Did he mess up his cultivation?
Gu An hesitated, wondering if he should check on Meng Lang, but the noise soon stopped. Meng Lang didn’t even cry out in pain, and as the surrounding spiritual energy started flowing toward his room, Gu An realized Meng Lang had resumed cultivating.
Tsk tsk.
Li Ya has already made a name for himself—could Meng Lang have stumbled upon some good fortune of his own?
If so, then all three of them, who entered the Medicine Valley on the same day and apprenticed under the same master, would have had their own great opportunities. That’s quite the legendary tale.
Gu An thought about it for a moment before brushing it off.
Meng Lang would be lucky to die of old age in peace.
In Gu An’s eyes, someone like Meng Lang, with his temper and inability to hold his tongue, would likely die not long after leaving the valley. He lacked the temperament of a true cultivator.
Shrugging off the thought, Gu An returned to his book.
He spent six hours a day cultivating, using sleep time for his Qi refinement. Cultivators didn’t need sleep—Qi refinement was an even better way to rest and restore energy.
The rest of his time wasn’t just spent reading The Adventures of the Green hero. He also read other books, including the Compendium of Hundred Herbs, which Cheng Xuandan had passed down to him. The compendium was compiled by the Tai Xuan Sect and documented all kinds of spiritual flowers and herbs from across the world, with Cheng Xuandan adding his own notes on various medicinal properties.
Cheng Xuandan might not have impressive cultivation, but with his century-long life, he had indeed acquired a wealth of knowledge.
People with poor aptitude had one advantage—they could spend more time filling their minds with knowledge and experience.
...
Another winter arrived, bringing heavy snow that blanketed the valley. Gu An was directing his junior brothers and sister as they cleared the snow from the garden areas.
As for Meng Lang, he had become obsessed with his cultivation, hiding in his room all day. Gu An no longer had any authority over him, and Cheng Xuandan said to just let him be.
At the edge of each garden, special talisman papers generated warmth, but these talismans had a time limit. Once they expired, the snow would cover the entire garden area within an hour.
As Gu An watched Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiu Jia, and Ye Lan working busily, his thoughts drifted.
He was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Medicine Valley’s current production—he needed to expand!
Once the winter passed, Gu An planned to have them chop down trees on the mountain and clear new land for cultivation.
Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the air came from the distance. Gu An turned his head to see a man in plain robes riding a flying sword through the snow-covered sky, resembling an immortal swordsman.
It was Du Ye!
Gu An instinctively used his lifespan detection on him, discovering that Du Ye’s cultivation had already reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Realm.
That’s a fast breakthrough!
Du Ye’s arrival caught the attention of Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiu Jia, and Ye Lan.
Du Ye flew through the snow and landed near Gu An. He leaped gracefully from the sword, sheathing it with a flash of light that glimmered against the snowy backdrop. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, effortlessly elegant.
Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiu Jia, and Ye Lan watched in awe. They hadn’t joined the Tai Xuan Sect to do menial labor—they all longed for the path of cultivation. However, their mediocre spiritual roots had left them in this situation.
Joining the Medicine Valley was just a waiting game for them, hoping for an opportunity.
Du Ye looked Gu An over and patted him on the shoulder with both hands, smiling. "Not bad, you’ve really grown up. No longer the little brat who used to follow me around."
Gu An smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Du Ye, though inwardly he was cursing.
We’re both servants, so what’s with the act?
After a bit of small talk, Du Ye finally got to the point. In a low voice, he asked, "How’s the medicine stock coming along?"
"Come with me to collect it," Gu An said with a nod and smile.
He had indeed saved up some medicinal herbs—the rightful share of the Medicine Valley’s senior disciple—and was planning to hand them all over to Du Ye.
Even though he could use these herbs to extend his lifespan, that took time.
Until he was completely invincible, he had to maintain good relations with the Ji family. He might need them in the future.
No matter how powerful the Chu family was, their influence was limited to the Tai Xuan Sect. The Ji family, however, was different. They were one of the top noble families in the entire Tai Cang Dynasty. Even the branch of the Ji family where Gu An once served was just a small part of their widespread presence. Members of the Ji family could be found in nearly every major cultivation sect across the dynasty.
As they walked, Du Ye started talking about the outer sect.
"That Li Ya, wasn’t he from your Medicine Valley? He’s been making waves lately. He’s a member of the Tai Cang royal family and is currently in a fierce competition with one of his royal brothers. The two have even agreed to a life-and-death duel, and it’s causing quite a stir."
"I heard that a few years ago, Li Ya was just a wastrel. But ever since he encountered some unknown fortune, his cultivation has skyrocketed. Now, he’s already at the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Hearing Li Ya’s name piqued Gu An’s interest.
Isn’t this guy just like a tragic protagonist in a fantasy novel?
Curious, Gu An asked, "Do you have to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm to become an outer sect disciple?"
Du Ye nodded. "Of course. Someone like me, whose cultivation isn’t high enough, is still considered a servant even though I’m in the outer sect. I just stay in the outer sect city and hear about these things."
"Once you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, you can immediately be promoted to an outer sect disciple. If you reach the Core Formation Realm, you can become an inner sect disciple. Beyond the inner sect, there are also personal disciples and true disciples. These are the official ranks, but if you’re extraordinarily talented, you can bypass the rules."
"Our third young miss, Ji Xiaoyu, is just such a person. She entered the sect as a personal disciple and now has ambitions to become a true disciple. To achieve that, cultivation alone isn’t enough—she’ll also need to command respect and build her reputation. That’s why we’re working hard to pave the way for her."
When Du Ye mentioned Ji Xiaoyu, he became very animated.
For the first time, Gu An didn’t find his rambling annoying. He listened attentively.
As they entered the house, Gu An listened while taking out the bundle of herbs he had prepared.
Du Ye talked for quite a while before finally stopping. He lifted the bundle, then frowned slightly. "Is this all?"
Gu An smiled. "It’s a long-term game, after all. Cultivation isn’t something that happens overnight. If I get too greedy and step out of line, I might get kicked out of the valley. It’s better for me to play it safe and steadily provide herbs. I’ll hand over every single one, not keeping any for myself."
Hearing this, Du Ye’s expression softened, and he asked again, "Really?"
"Of course. With my talent, what would I need herbs for? My goal is simply to live out my life in peace," Gu An replied with a nod.
Du Ye opened his mouth, then sighed. Reaching into his storage pouch, he pulled out a manual and handed it to Gu An.
Gu An glanced at it. The cover read Eight Directions Step.
He was surprised.
This guy actually has a conscience?
Du Ye explained, "This is a Ji family footwork technique. Although it’s only the basic version of the Ji family’s famed Kirin Step, if you master it, it will make you quicker on your feet. In the future, it might just save your life. This technique doesn’t rely on spiritual root aptitude—anyone can learn it as long as they put in the time."
Gu An looked at Du Ye with newfound respect. Just as he was about to say something, Du Ye hefted the bundle over his shoulder, patted Gu An on the shoulder once more, and began walking away.
Gu An turned to follow him, escorting him to the courtyard.
As they reached the yard, Du Ye turned back to look at him. "We grew up together, after all. Even if we drift apart in the future due to the paths we choose, the bond will always remain. If things ever get rough for you, come find me."
With that, Du Ye tapped the sheath of his sword, and with a metallic ring, the blade shot out. Leaping onto it, he soared away.
What a cool sword technique!
Gu An looked down at the manual in his hand, a smile spreading across his face.
He began flipping through Eight Directions Step and immediately started practicing it in the courtyard.
A Ji family secret technique?
I wonder if using my lifespan to evolve it would allow me to unlock the Ji family’s famed Kirin Step.
Once Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiu Jia, and Ye Lan finished clearing the snow from all the gardens, they hurried over to Gu An’s courtyard, watching him practice the footwork with curiosity.
"Senior Brother, what technique are you practicing?" Ye Lan asked curiously.
As he continued moving through the steps, Gu An smiled and asked, "Do you want to learn?"
"Yes!"
The three of them responded in unison.
Gu An replied, "Once I master it, I’ll teach you."
BANG!
The door to the nearby house suddenly burst open, and Meng Lang, his eyes bloodshot, stepped out. Veins pulsed visibly on his forehead, giving him a terrifying appearance.
Xiao Chuan, Lu Jiu Jia, and Ye Lan were all startled.
Meng Lang charged toward the nearest person, Ye Lan, like a crazed beast, his aura menacing and violent.
Ye Lan was frozen in fear, unable to react.
In less than a second, Meng Lang was about to collide with her.
Gu An quickly grabbed Ye Lan by the shoulder, pulling her back as his right foot struck Meng Lang squarely in the chest.
BOOM!
Meng Lang’s aura surged, his body wrapped in a forceful energy, and his feet dug deep into the ground, leaving long grooves.
Gu An’s right leg extended slowly, pressing Meng Lang backward with each step.
Xiao Chuan and the others watched wide-eyed, deeply shocked by Gu An’s composed posture and strength.
Senior Brother is so powerful!
While Gu An usually bested them in sparring, he never used spiritual energy during those matches. Both Xiao Chuan and Lu Jiu Jia had believed they would eventually surpass him.
Meng Lang suddenly grabbed Gu An’s right foot with both hands, exerting brute strength in an attempt to snap his leg.
Gu An leapt up and then stomped down forcefully, slamming Meng Lang to the ground with a heavy thud.
Meng Lang’s knees sank into the dirt, and his entire body trembled as he struggled to push Gu An’s foot away but to no avail. He was utterly defeated.
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