Chapter 65: Xu Yan Returns

Xu Yan has returned.

He returned with a large bundle on his back.

"Master, I'm back!"

Xu Yan put down the bundle and bowed respectfully.

"Good, good, it's good that you're back!"

Li Xuan nodded.

"Come, this is your junior brother Meng Chong, and this is your senior brother Xu Yan!"

Li Xuan called Meng Chong over.

"Meng Chong pays respects to Senior Brother!"

Meng Chong bowed respectfully.

"Junior brother, you're too polite!"

Xu Yan returned the bow, feeling somewhat surprised that his master had taken on a new disciple!

"Junior brother, this is a gift from your senior brother!"

Since he now had a junior brother, he, as the senior brother, should show some consideration.

Xu Yan took out a large saber from the bundle.

"This... thank you, Senior Brother!"

Meng Chong, with his bald head, took the saber with a simple and honest demeanor.

The moment he held it, he felt its weight. He slightly drew the blade out of the scabbard and was immediately delighted.

This saber seemed extraordinary!

Li Xuan's expression changed slightly; the saber didn't seem like an ordinary steel blade.

"Disciple, where did you get this saber?"

"Master, I obtained it from the imperial treasure house. These are all things I brought back from the imperial treasure house."

Xu Yan smiled excitedly, opened the bundle, and revealed precious medicines, paintings, jade, and other rare treasures.

"Master, these are the gifts I brought for you!"

"You have a thoughtful heart!"

Li Xuan was pleased by his disciple's filial piety.

However, he didn't find these things particularly impressive anymore.

After all, becoming a martial artist had changed his mindset and perspective.

Meng Chong looked on with envy, thinking to himself, "Senior Brother brought gifts from the imperial palace for Master, but I haven't given Master any gifts since I became his disciple."

"When I achieve success in martial arts, I'll return to the Wu Kingdom, take the ten thousand taels of gold from the Wu Emperor, and check his treasure house for any treasures!"

Li Xuan sat in his chair and asked Xu Yan about the details of his journey. Xu Yan recounted everything in detail.

"I didn't expect the old Emperor of Qi to be quite a decent person."

At the end, Xu Yan chuckled.

Li Xuan sighed inwardly. The Emperor of Qi was a decisive man, using reputation to trap Guo Rongshan. For the sake of the great virtue and sainthood, Guo Rongshan would not rebel unless absolutely necessary.

"Disciple, remember, your strength now surpasses the imperial authority and the entire Kingdom of Qi. There's no need to be overly cautious when dealing with matters..."

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan nodded and then mentioned the Heavenly Mother Sect: "That Kou Ruozhi actually wanted to make me the Heavenly Public Saint and bind me to the Heavenly Mother Sect. What a delusion!"

Li Xuan was taken aback. Heavenly Public Saint?

What a coincidence. That night, the old man in the hemp robe and the magistrate of Yunshan County wanted to make him the Heavenly Public Saint.

And now, Kou Ruozhi from the county town also wanted to make Xu Yan the Heavenly Public Saint. It seemed the Heavenly Mother Sect had been looking for a suitable person to be the Heavenly Public Saint all along.

Xu Yan's return meant both disciples were present. Li Xuan focused more on the martial arts, especially on how to further cultivate and improve Meng Chong's physical body cultivation.

"Master, the cultivation method Junior Brother is practicing seems different."

Meng Chong practiced diligently, spending more than half of his day on cultivation.

Xu Yan watched for a while and looked puzzled.

"Meng Chong's talent lies in his physical body. I have taught him the physical body martial arts, which focus on cultivating the physical body..."

Li Xuan called Meng Chong over.

It was time to explain the martial arts system to his disciples. In the future, new disciples might develop their own branches of martial arts.

"Xu Yan, you practice orthodox martial arts, with flawless jade bones and pure martial arts. You have already achieved this. There's no need for me to say more about orthodox martial arts; you should understand."

Li Xuan was enveloped in a mysterious aura, and his clear and calm mind made him seem even more profound.

Xu Yan and Meng Chong were both deeply moved by their master's mysterious and unfathomable nature.

"Meng Chong practices physical body martial arts, which focus on cultivating the physical body. His strength is embodied in his physical body, but he is not a brute..."

"The Great Sun Golden Bell Shield is the foundation of physical body martial arts. The blood and qi are like a golden bell, condensed within the body, providing unparalleled defense..."

Li Xuan briefly explained the physical body martial arts.

"The ultimate foundation of orthodox martial arts is the refinement of jade bones. Flawless jade bones and pure martial arts form the supreme foundation of martial arts..."

"The ultimate foundation of physical body martial arts is the Vajra Crystal Bone. Only by refining the Vajra Crystal Bone can one achieve the supreme foundation of physical body martial arts."

"Do you understand, Meng Chong?"

Li Xuan looked at Meng Chong seriously at the end.

Meng Chong was solemn and respectfully replied, "Disciple understands. I will not disappoint Master. I will definitely refine the Vajra Crystal Bone!"

"I am pleased by your firm resolve."

Li Xuan nodded.

"Master, which is stronger, orthodox martial arts or physical body martial arts?"

Xu Yan couldn't help but ask.

Physical body martial arts didn't sound simple. Successfully cultivating the Great Sun Golden Bell Shield would make one's body like a golden bell, with unparalleled defense and formidable physical strength.

Li Xuan smiled calmly and said, "Orthodox martial arts and physical body martial arts are not inherently stronger or weaker. The strength lies in the person."

"Those who practice orthodox martial arts start with golden bones, while those who practice physical body martial arts start with copper bones. Who is stronger?"

"Even if both start with golden bones, who is stronger? The one who has a deeper understanding and more combat experience will naturally be stronger."

Xu Yan nodded silently, his face showing excitement as he looked at Meng Chong. "Junior brother, once you start, we can spar. The martial artists in the outside world are too weak; it's no fun at all."

"Sure! I'll start soon, Senior Brother!"

Meng Chong also looked excited.

"Master, can ordinary people practice martial arts? I want to pass on martial arts to my family and let them try it out!"

Xu Yan lowered his head and glanced at Li Xuan.

Whether the cultivation methods could be passed on needed his master's permission.

"You can pass it on if you want. However, whether they can start and how long it will take is unknown. Everyone's martial arts talent is different, and some may never be able to start even if they try their whole lives."

Li Xuan thought for a moment and then nodded, allowing Xu Yan to pass on the cultivation methods.

The feedback from passing on already perfected cultivation methods to others was low, but what if more people practiced?

Accumulating small gains could lead to different results.

Since Xu Yan wanted to pass it on, it was a good opportunity to try.

The greatest feedback from the golden finger was undoubtedly from personal disciples who successfully cultivated the methods he created, especially if they were unique methods. If the methods were already perfected and passed on to other disciples, the feedback would be low.

However, this didn't mean there was no feedback, just that it was very low.

What if the methods were widely spread?

With more people practicing, the accumulated small gains might lead to unexpected results.

Li Xuan thought about this and decided to let Xu Yan pass on the methods, as the number of people who could successfully cultivate them was still unknown.

Martial arts ultimately depended on talent.

"Thank you, Master!"

Xu Yan was extremely excited.

"Practice diligently. Strengthening yourself is the foundation. The path of martial arts is endless!"

Li Xuan encouraged him.