Chapter 20: The Master's Eye Does Not See Gold Bones, I Must Refine Jade Bones

Li Xuan had no idea that Xu Yan had already refined the gold bones he had fabricated and was excitedly coming over to tell him, hoping to receive praise and recognition.

At this moment, Li Xuan was playing with the gifts Xu Yan had given him last time—a golden sword and a jade ruyi.

The golden sword was inlaid with precious gems, entirely made of gold, and was of considerable value.

The jade ruyi was carved with auspicious cloud patterns, flawless, and clearly made from top-grade jade. If one were to compare its value, it might even surpass the golden sword.

"This golden sword, though valuable, seems to me that the jade ruyi is even more precious and rare.

"Look at the quality of this jade, flawless and crystal clear, with a smooth and warm feel... Compared to the golden sword, I prefer this jade ruyi.

"If I could get a pair, it would be perfect to pass down as a family treasure.

"Since I've already deceived him, I might as well get another jade ruyi, right?"

Li Xuan played with the jade ruyi, growing more fond of it the more he looked at it.

He muttered to himself, thinking about making his foolish disciple find another jade ruyi to make a pair, to be passed down as a family treasure.

Just then, Xu Yan walked over.

"Disciple, you came at the right time."

Li Xuan pushed the golden sword aside, seemingly disapproving, and played with the jade ruyi, his eyes filled with affection for it.

"Look at this jade ruyi, flawless and nourishing. As the saying goes, a gentleman loves jade. I, your master, also love jade. If we could get a pair, it would be perfect."

He looked up at Xu Yan and said, "Do you understand, disciple?"

In his heart, he thought: Go find another jade ruyi for me.

Xu Yan had come excitedly to tell his master that he had already refined the gold bones, rivaling the ancient prodigies.

However, seeing Li Xuan push the golden sword aside with some disdain and play with the jade ruyi, he heard Li Xuan say that a gentleman loves jade and hopes to get a pair of jade ruyis.

Xu Yan thought, "Next time I go home, I'll find another jade ruyi for my master."

But suddenly, his heart skipped a beat: "No! Why would my master mention his love for jade at this moment?"

"There must be a deeper meaning in my master's words...

"I understand. My master has high hopes for me and wants me to refine jade bones. That's why he's using the jade ruyi as a metaphor. Compared to gold bones, my master prefers jade bones!

"But my master is afraid I won't be able to handle the difficulty of refining jade bones, so he's using the jade ruyi to hint at it. If I can't understand the deeper meaning in my master's words, he won't push me...

"If I can't understand the deeper meaning in my master's words, he will surely be disappointed, and his expectations for me will decrease, thinking I lack insight and can't even understand such a simple metaphor!"

Xu Yan instantly imagined that his master was ostensibly asking for a pair of jade ruyis but actually wanted him to continue refining his bones, not to give up or back down, and to strive to refine jade bones.

If Li Xuan knew about these imaginings, he would be utterly baffled: "I just want the jade ruyi!"

After his imaginings, Xu Yan believed he had understood the deeper meaning in his master's words and said with a determined look, "Master, I understand. I will not let you down!"

Li Xuan smiled contentedly: "It's good that you understand. I believe in you!"

Xu Yan was deeply moved: "My master has high hopes for me, hoping I can surpass the ancient prodigies!"

"Gold bones are nothing. I must refine jade bones!"

Xu Yan did not mention his gold bones, as his master had already seen through everything. A mere gold bone wouldn't impress his master!

When he resumed his cultivation, trying to continue refining his bones, Xu Yan found that no matter how he circulated his qi and blood or refined, it had no effect.

It seemed that gold bones were already the limit.

There seemed to be an insurmountable barrier blocking further improvement.

"Master said that jade bones cannot be refined through talent, perseverance, or determination. Those who can refine jade bones are either blessed with great fortune, favored by heaven, or have exceptional insight and can sense the great Dao..."

Xu Yan pondered: "I don't know if I have great fortune, and I certainly am not favored by heaven. So there's only one path left: insight...

"Master often emphasizes the importance of insight, thinking I have some insight and reminding me of my strengths.

"To refine jade bones, I can only rely on insight."

After understanding this, the two lines of the cultivation technique, "Cultivate the true intention, observe the self, and nourish the true essence; the qi and blood like a dragon forge the golden body," reappeared in Xu Yan's mind.

"I must not have fully understood the core of these two lines. If I could understand them, could I break through the gold bone barrier and refine jade bones?"

Xu Yan devoted himself entirely to the cultivation technique, free from distractions, discarding everything, and entering a state of oneness with the universe, trying to grasp the deeper meaning.

"Right, cultivate the true intention. I thought that circulating qi and blood within the bones and bone marrow was cultivating the true intention, but where is the 'intention'?

"Circulating qi and blood in the bone marrow is just the beginning; it doesn't cultivate the true intention."

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Xu Yan. He realized he had misunderstood the cultivation of the true intention in the technique.

He had never truly cultivated the true intention.

He didn't even understand what 'intention' meant.

"Qi and blood like a dragon forge the golden body. When I refined the gold bones, did the circulating qi and blood truly become like a dragon? It was just superficial, a mere appearance. Without cultivating the true intention, how can the qi and blood be considered a dragon?"

In a daze, Xu Yan felt as if he had touched a barrier.

Breaking through this barrier would allow him to fully understand the technique, break the gold bone barrier, and enter the jade bone stage.

However, this barrier remained unbreakable.

He became somewhat troubled.

"Should I ask my master for guidance?

"No, my master has already explained it clearly. 'Intention' can only be understood through personal insight and cannot be explicitly stated. I must have missed something..."

Over the next three days, Xu Yan continued to cultivate, trying to understand the 'true intention,' often just a little short of grasping it.

He could not break through the barrier and fully understand the essence.

Li Xuan looked at his foolish disciple with some confusion. Over the past three days, his foolish disciple seemed distracted, occasionally lost in thought.

"Has he been lost for so long without any progress, feeling he can't do it?"

"My jade ruyi isn't in my hands yet. How can he become dispirited?"

"Let me think of some mystical words to deceive him."

Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

On this day, after finishing the meal, as Xu Yan was about to clear the dishes, Li Xuan said, "In cultivation, persistence is essential. If you encounter a bottleneck and make no progress, you can relax your mind, empty your thoughts, and observe the grass and trees.

"Observe the natural world and capture the hidden spiritual opportunities around you. If you can have a sudden enlightenment, the door to martial arts will open.

"Throughout history, many cultivators have been stuck at a bottleneck, but they have broken through due to a sudden enlightenment."

Li Xuan spoke nonsense, deceiving Xu Yan to seek the so-called spiritual opportunities. If he could have a sudden enlightenment, he could enter the world of martial arts.

Since hard cultivation didn't work, he should seek enlightenment.

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