Chapter 6

Oriental Jade's choice was indeed not wrong. Practicing the Northern Mystic Art alone was like a primary school student holding a junior high school math book; the results were minimal. On the other hand, Wuyazi, who had immersed himself in the Northern Mystic Art for decades, had thoroughly mastered it. With his guidance, it was like having a university professor provide one-on-one tutoring. Oriental Jade's cultivation of the Northern Mystic Art progressed rapidly.

However, although his cultivation had sped up in recent days, Oriental Jade could still sense Wuyazi's dissatisfaction from his tone.

As the saying goes, if there's a problem, solve it. Oriental Jade would not pretend to understand something he didn't. Therefore, he sincerely asked Wuyazi, and the two discussed the matter in detail.

"Jade, you have already grasped the basics of the Northern Mystic Art. It's time for you to go down the mountain and walk around. This art is easy at first but becomes difficult later. There's no need for you to sit in the cave and meditate in a dull manner," Wuyazi said after a few days.

"Master, are you telling me to go down the mountain to absorb others' internal energy?" Oriental Jade pondered for a moment and understood Wuyazi's meaning. What was the greatest feature of the Northern Mystic Art? It could absorb others' internal energy for one's own use. However, Oriental Jade had never used this ability.

"Exactly, Jade. The Northern Mystic Art is like a vast ocean that can absorb the internal energy of others for its own use. Don't you think this technique is too vicious, which is why you have always insisted on cultivating your own internal energy?" Wuyazi, of course, could see that Oriental Jade had never absorbed others' internal energy.

"That's not it," Oriental Jade was not as pedantic as Duan Yu. He had his own concerns: "I believe that the path of martial arts should not rely too much on external factors. I fear that obtaining internal energy too easily might hinder my progress in martial arts, making it counterproductive."

"Ha ha ha," Wuyazi laughed with relief at Oriental Jade's words: "You indeed have ambition, and I am very pleased. However, you are being too clever for your own good. What are external factors? If you obtain a treasure that can increase your internal energy, should you not eat it? If you obtain a supreme martial art, should you not practice it? If you find a supreme weapon, should you not use it? This is not relying on external factors."

"Ah..." Oriental Jade was speechless.

Wuyazi's expression turned serious: "The Northern Mystic Art can absorb others' internal energy, but the human body's meridians can only gradually expand. If you absorb more internal energy than your meridians can handle, it will cause your tendons and meridians to rupture. Moreover, the absorbed internal energy needs time to be refined and assimilated; it cannot be used immediately."

"The cultivation of internal energy is like rolling a snowball. The smaller the snowball, the harder it is to roll. The first strand of internal energy is said to take a hundred days to build a foundation. Absorbing others' internal energy is only convenient in the early stages. Once your internal energy becomes deep and pure, and its growth rate increases, you might not even care about the impure internal energy of others. Therefore, your concerns are completely unnecessary."

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance." Oriental Jade felt a knot in his heart untie, and he sincerely bowed.

Having a master to guide him was indeed beneficial, especially with Wuyazi's understanding of the Northern Mystic Art. This conversation enlightened him. In the original story, Duan Yu had absorbed too much internal energy, causing him to go mad, and he had to seek treatment at the Shaolin Temple...

"Master, I have another question," Oriental Jade asked after bowing.

"Go ahead. A teacher's role is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts," Wuyazi smiled, hoping that Oriental Jade would inherit his legacy and thus taught him everything he knew.

"What is my aptitude?" Oriental Jade asked frankly, not fearing a blow to his confidence.

"Average, but your cultivation time is too late, and your meridians have solidified, making you only average," Wuyazi, after spending some time with his disciple, spoke frankly.

"Indeed," although Oriental Jade had suspected as much, hearing it from his master still made him feel disappointed. He thought for a moment and asked, "Master, is there any way to remedy this?"

"You, my disciple, don't try to trick me. Aren't you known for your knowledge of the world? Do you have any ideas?" Wuyazi smiled knowingly and countered.

"The Muscle Changing Classic," Oriental Jade said after a moment of silence.

"Hmm, that is indeed a solution. The Shaolin Muscle Changing Classic can transform the mundane into the miraculous, but even when I collected martial arts from all over the world, I could not obtain it," Wuyazi's tone carried a hint of regret.

"Master, rest assured. According to my knowledge, someone will soon steal the Muscle Changing Classic from the Shaolin Temple. I am confident I can obtain it. Moreover, Master, your legs have been paralyzed for many years. I wonder if the Muscle Changing Classic can cure you?" Oriental Jade spoke with confidence.

"My leg condition?" Wuyazi's expression changed, and he sighed, "My dear disciple, I appreciate your filial piety. If I had obtained the Muscle Changing Classic earlier, there might have been hope. Now, after so many years, even a great sage would find it difficult."

"Master, with your extensive knowledge, obtaining the Muscle Changing Classic might still offer some hope. Please wait for me, and I will return with it," Oriental Jade, knowing he had to leave the mountain anyway, began to pack and prepare to depart.

"Whether or not you obtain the Muscle Changing Classic, you must return within half a year. My body can only last for about half a year more," Wuyazi suddenly said, making Oriental Jade's nose tingle and almost bringing tears to his eyes.

Over the past few days, Wuyazi had taught him everything he knew. To Oriental Jade, Wuyazi was both a father and a teacher. Although he knew Wuyazi wouldn't last long, hearing it from his own mouth still made his heart heavy. Wuyazi's intention in asking him to return was clearly to entrust him with his final wishes.

Oriental Jade nodded to his master and walked out of the cave, descending Mount Leigu. He found a market, had a good meal, and gathered some information. He discovered that the events at the apricot forest had already taken place, and the news of Qiao Feng's Khitan identity had been exposed. The once-renowned hero was now disgraced and hunted as a Khitan.

The plot had reached this point, and Oriental Jade knew that the next step would be the Shaolin Temple, where A Zhu would steal the Muscle Changing Classic. Then, A Zhu would be injured, and Qiao Feng would bravely enter the Jixian Hall to seek treatment from Xue Muhua. Xue Muhua was now his junior, making the task easier.

With a letter of introduction from Su Xinghe, Oriental Jade did not intend to wait at Shaolin Temple. Instead, he directly sought out Xue Muhua. The Xuan Yuan Sect was known for its expertise in astrology, geography, and the arts, while Xue Muhua had dedicated himself to medicine and earned the title of "Divine Doctor" in the martial world.

After a month of practice and personal instruction from Wuyazi, Oriental Jade's skills were already respectable, though only considered third-rate in the martial world. However, with the exquisite Lingbo Weibu, he could protect himself as long as he did not encounter any of the famous experts from the Tianlong Eight.

On his journey, Oriental Jade punished many bandits, villains, and scoundrels, absorbing their internal energy. In just half a month, his internal energy had multiplied several times, and he could leap over six to seven meters in a single bound.

"Junior Xue Muhua, I greet you, Uncle," Xue Muhua, after confirming the handwriting of Su Xinghe, bowed deeply to Oriental Jade without any awkwardness.

"Please rise, please rise..." Xue Muhua was in his fifties, and being bowed to by a senior made Oriental Jade feel uncomfortable, so he quickly helped him up.

"Uncle, what brings you here?" Xue Muhua asked in a low voice, inviting Oriental Jade to the main seat.

"I have a task for you," Oriental Jade, being a senior, did not need to be overly modest and got straight to the point: "Have you received an invitation from the Jixian Hall's You brothers to attend a heroes' gathering to discuss how to deal with the Khitan Qiao Feng?"

"Ah? I haven't received such an invitation..." Xue Muhua was taken aback and shook his head.

"Oh? Has the plot not progressed that far yet?" Oriental Jade was slightly surprised.

"Sir, the Jixian Hall's You brothers have sent a letter," at that moment, a servant from Xue's residence walked in.

"Oh? Have him wait in the side room," Xue Muhua nodded in response.

"I don't need to be entertained. Go and see him. If my guess is correct, the You brothers have invited you to send out hero letters to deal with Qiao Feng," Oriental Jade waved his hand, allowing Xue Muhua to attend to the Jixian Hall's messenger.

"Uncle, please wait a moment. I'll be right back," Xue Muhua, with a puzzled look, left to meet the messenger. After reading the letter from the You brothers, he was amazed. His uncle was truly a divine person. His master had said that his uncle could predict the future, and he had been skeptical, but now he realized how incredible it was...