Chapter 5

With the seven hundred taels of silver given by Duan Yu, Dong Fangyu no longer had to worry about money. He spent ten taels to buy a small donkey and rode it leisurely for about five or six days. Eventually, Dong Fangyu arrived at the foot of a mountain, where a stone tablet stood, inscribed with the words "Leigu Mountain."

Although he had obtained the B Amitabha Palm and the Lingbo Microstep, after nearly half a month, his martial arts skills were still at a subpar level. One reason was that he only had internal cultivation techniques and lacked combat techniques. Another reason was the lack of a master to guide him.

In movies and novels, the main character usually finds a martial arts manual and, after a year or so of secluded practice, emerges as a top expert. However, Dong Fangyu realized it wasn't that simple. Trying to master a manual alone was almost impossible. It's like giving a few middle school textbooks to someone who has only finished primary school; how many could become self-taught geniuses?

Someone like Xumozhi, who could learn from a manual, had already reached a certain level in martial arts. Learning from the manual was just a matter of applying knowledge across different areas.

After half a month of practice, Dong Fangyu was not very satisfied with his progress. He began to think about finding a master. After much consideration, he thought of the most suitable person: Wuyazi of Leigu Mountain!

Wuyazi had set up the Zhenlong Chessboard to select a talented young man as his successor. If he presented himself, Dong Fangyu believed he had a sixty to seventy percent chance of being accepted. It was worth a try.

Entering Leigu Mountain, Dong Fangyu searched around but saw no one. This left him at a loss. Although he knew Wuyazi was on Leigu Mountain, he was hidden in the mountain's interior, and it was not easy to find him even after a year or two.

"Senior Wuyazi, please grant me an audience."

Finally, with no other ideas, Dong Fangyu walked and shouted. After about two hours, he had almost walked the entire mountain, his voice hoarse from shouting. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him, an old man in his seventies.

"Boy, who are you, and how do you know my master is here?" The old man's eyes were calm, but a hint of coldness was evident.

"Is Senior not Mr. Suxinghe, the wise and eloquent scholar? My name is Dong Fangyu, and I have come to seek Wuyazi as my master," Dong Fangyu bowed respectfully.

"Seeking a master?" Suxinghe sized up Dong Fangyu, pondered for a moment, and then turned to say, "Follow me. Whether to accept you or not, let my master decide."

With that, Suxinghe quickly turned and left. Dong Fangyu followed, using the Lingbo Microstep, which he had practiced to a much higher level. His speed was quite good.

"Lingbo Microstep!?" Although Suxinghe did not know it, he had a keen eye. Seeing Dong Fangyu's steps, his eyes narrowed, and he quickened his pace. However, no matter how fast he went, Dong Fangyu kept up.

"Strange, this boy's internal cultivation is very poor, as if he has only practiced for one or two years. But where did he learn the Lingbo Microstep?" Suxinghe was inwardly surprised as he tested Dong Fangyu's limits.

In a secluded corner of the valley, there was a hidden door. Following Suxinghe inside, the light was dim. After a few turns, they arrived at a stone room. A small oil lamp did little to dispel the darkness. A figure floated in the air, suspended by a rope. It was Wuyazi.

"Junior Dong Fangyu, I pay my respects to Senior Wuyazi," Dong Fangyu bowed respectfully, as he had come to seek a master.

"Hmm, though not as handsome as Pan An, you are still quite presentable," Wuyazi's voice was magnetic. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, his voice was still pleasant. However, his words made Dong Fangyu's face turn black.

Although he knew the逍遥派 (Xiaoyao Sect) preferred handsome men and beautiful women, he didn't expect Wuyazi to comment on his appearance right away. Fortunately, he was not as plain as Xuzhu, who was directly rejected by Wuyazi as just an average-looking monk.

"Young man, how did you know I am on Leigu Mountain? Where did you hear of my name? And where did you obtain the B Amitabha Palm?" Wuyazi finally got to the point, but his first concern was still Dong Fangyu's appearance, showing the high standards of the Xiaoyao Sect.

"The B Amitabha Palm and the Lingbo Microstep, I obtained them from Senior's former residence. As for how I knew of your whereabouts, to be honest, I have some knowledge of divination," Dong Fangyu decided to play the role of a fortune-teller.

"Former residence?" Wuyazi was slightly taken aback, clearly not understanding what "former residence" referred to.

"Wuliang Mountain, the Luanhuan Fudì."

"You, you actually managed to enter the Luanhuan Fudì. Was it Qiusui who sent you?" Wuyazi's voice carried complex emotions—sighs, anger, and regret...

"Senior, the Luanhuan Fudì is now deserted, with only a jade statue remaining. I did not have the chance to meet Senior Qiusui," Dong Fangyu clarified, thinking it best not to mention that Qiusui had run off to become a princess in Xixia, which might upset Wuyazi.

"Oh? She left too? That makes sense, given her impatient nature. She couldn't stay there alone," Wuyazi sighed, then looked at Dong Fangyu with interest and asked, "Divination? Our Xiaoyao Sect has a wide range of knowledge, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, astrology, divination, medicine, agriculture, and botany. However, divination cannot predict everything. At your young age, can you really see through the mysteries of the world?"

"Senior, my divination skills may not reveal everything, but I do know many secrets of the martial arts world that are beyond the reach of ordinary people," Dong Fangyu knew his appearance wouldn't impress Wuyazi, so he tried to showcase his talents and value in other ways.

"Oh? What secrets of the martial arts world do you know? And how much do you know about our Xiaoyao Sect? Tell me," Wuyazi asked curiously, and Suxinghe also looked on with interest.

"From what I know, besides Senior Qiusui, Senior has a senior sister named Wu Xingyun, who is the master of the Lingjiu Palace on Tianshan Piaomiao Peak. Senior's master is known as Xiaoyaozi, whose whereabouts are unknown. Senior Qiusui specializes in the Xiaowuxiang Palm, which can simulate most martial arts. Senior Wu Xingyun specializes in the Bahuang Liuhe Weiwoduzun Palm, which is very powerful but requires rejuvenation every thirty years. Senior's expertise is the B Amitabha Palm, which is the reason I seek to become your disciple."

Wuyazi was inwardly shocked. Few people in the martial arts world had even heard of the Xiaoyao Sect, yet this young man knew so much about it. Could there really be such a powerful method of divination in the world?

After some thought, Wuyazi's expression turned serious, and he continued, "Since you know so much, do you know why I am hanging here?"

"Senior is hanging here because..." the reason? Dong Fangyu knew it, but hesitated. He couldn't reveal that Wuyazi was discovered in an affair with Dinchunqiu. After a moment, he shook his head and said, "Junior does not know."

"Hmph, a fortune-teller who boasts of knowing many secrets of the martial arts world but doesn't even know that the traitor Dinchunqiu injured my master and threw him off a cliff. What a boast!" Suxinghe sneered, thinking Dong Fangyu was a fraud.

Suxinghe only knew that Dinchunqiu had injured Wuyazi and thrown him off a cliff, but not why.

Wuyazi waved his hand, signaling Suxinghe to be quiet. He sized up Dong Fangyu and then laughed, "Ha ha ha, very well. Such a fine young man, rare is the lack of youthful impatience. You know when to advance and when to retreat, and you can show your sharpness when needed. Today, I will accept you as my last disciple."

"Master!?" Suxinghe was stunned, not understanding why Wuyazi would accept Dong Fangyu despite his inability to answer.

"Pay respects to your master. I will certainly learn martial arts well and kill the traitor Dinchunqiu to avenge my master," Dong Fangyu was overjoyed, knelt down, and solemnly kowtowed nine times to Wuyazi.

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**End of Chapter**