Chapter 77

Xu Yan was truly at a loss whether to laugh or cry — at the beginning, when the fatso spoke so solemnly, Xu Yan really thought that Gong Xueting had told him something earth-shattering. But it turned out that it was just some ordinary words, not much different from a casual greeting.

"Fatso, you really have grown up! You're as slippery as an old pig! Next time you go out, don't tell anyone you know me!"

The fatso, knowing he was in the wrong, said seriously to Xu Yan, "Yanzi, don't look at it that way! These words may seem simple, but in my eyes, they carry deep meaning!"

Think about it, Gong Xueting is from the International Trade Department, and we are from the Business Management Department. Our departments rarely intersect. How did she know that you haven't been to class for several days? Even I, your good friend, didn't know, but she did. Think about it, what does this mean? This is quite thought-provoking! Our little Gong has clearly been paying attention to you! She was worried about you when she saw you weren't in class.

This shows that although she temporarily rejected you, in her heart, she's not without you! Yanzi, as long as you make up your mind and continue to pursue her, you still have a great chance! Pursuing a girl is all about persistence. If you give up just because she said one thing, how can that be?"

Xu Yan's heart pounded: "Hehe, Fatso, you're just making things up. Gong Xueting has my phone number. If she was really worried about me, she could have called. It's not that hard. My counselor, Mr. Li, even called to ask about the situation — from my perspective, she just happened to meet someone and asked about me. You're overthinking it, Fatso."

"No, no, no, Yanzi, this time you're wrong! You know how big the computer lab in the third teaching building is, with four or five hundred computers. I deliberately found a corner with fewer people to sleep, but Gong Xueting still found me. This means that it wasn't a coincidence that she met me; she deliberately came to find me.

Why didn't she call you? Oh, you idiot, Yanzi. Why don't you use your head? Little Gong just rejected you, and if she turned around and immediately came to find you, wouldn't that be embarrassing? But actually, she still cares about you."

Hearing Liu Yang say this, Xu Yan was momentarily moved: although Fatso usually acts recklessly, this time, what he said made some sense! If Gong Xueting wasn't paying attention to him, how would she know he hadn't been to class for several days? She even went to find Liu Yang to get information about him, which shows she cares about him — could it be that she has feelings for him too?

For a moment, Xu Yan was in a state of confusion. He chatted with Fatso for a bit, agreed on a time to play a match in a few days, and then hung up.

For the entire night, Xu Yan sat in front of his computer, playing online games, but for some reason, the games that usually captivated him now seemed boring. All night, the image of Gong Xueting's beautiful face and her lovely eyes lingered in his mind.

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In the following days, as Zhu Youxiang had said, Xu Yan's physical condition gradually improved. After four days, the strange sweating and diarrhea gradually disappeared, and Xu Yan could eat and rest like a normal person.

On the fifth day after the bone-washing and marrow-cleansing, Zhu Youxiang checked Xu Yan's pulse again — the last time she checked his pulse, it left a painful memory for Xu Yan. Hearing that she was going to check his pulse again, Xu Yan was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat, wishing he could kneel and beg her to let him off.

Fortunately, this time, Zhu Youxiang's "pulse-checking" was just that — it sounded strange, but Xu Yan's joy at escaping death was indescribable. Zhu Youxiang carefully felt his pulse and nodded, saying, "Very good. Your meridians are in better condition than I estimated, and you are ready to start practicing."

She flipped her wrist, and a small yellow book appeared in her white hand.

Xu Yan took it with surprise: "Xuan Yun, is this your sect's cultivation method?"

Xu Yan thought that since Zhu Youxiang was so powerful at a young age, her sect's cultivation method must be very powerful. If he could learn the same method, even if he only mastered a third of her skills, it would be enough for him to be proud.

Zhu Youxiang smiled and said clearly, "Xu Yan, your heart is inclined towards our sect's teachings, and as a disciple of the Sword Saint Sect, I am deeply honored. However, without my master's permission, I cannot disclose the sect's cultivation methods. I hope you understand."

Xu Yan was greatly disappointed. He thought for a moment and came up with a workaround: "Xuan Yun, we can do it like last time. You can take me into the Sword Saint Sect, and then it won't be considered leaking the method!"

"I'm sorry, sir. I haven't completed my apprenticeship and don't have the authority to take on disciples for the sect. Moreover, there's another reason: our sect's cultivation method is a unique path, and there are several dangerous stages during the cultivation process. When passing through these stages, it's necessary to have senior sect members with deep cultivation to protect and guide. My cultivation is still shallow, and if you insist on cultivating, I fear I won't be able to ensure your safety."

Hearing this reason, Xu Yan had nothing to say: cultivation is valuable, but life is more precious. Xu Yan wanted to cultivate, but he wasn't so fanatical that he would risk his life for it.

Seeing Xu Yan's disappointed expression, Zhu Youxiang smiled and said, "Don't be discouraged, sir. Although you can't be listed as a disciple of our sect, you are a prospective student of the White Deer Academy. In fact, within the White Deer Academy, we also have many cultivation methods to teach.

After much consideration, I still believe that the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' method is very suitable for you."

"Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue?" Xu Yan repeated the name, feeling that the name of this cultivation method was incredibly grand. He humbly asked, "Xuan Yun, what are the special features of the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue'?"

"Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue has the following advantages," Zhu Youxiang said, ticking off the points on her fingers: "First, Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue originates from Buddhist cultivation methods. This method is balanced and harmonious, and it helps to calm the mind and cultivate the spirit, eliminating the risk of going astray. In the future, after I leave, you may have to cultivate alone. If you cultivate this method, even without the protection of senior sect members, you won't encounter any dangerous accidents;

Second, you are already twenty years old, which is a bit late to start cultivating. I considered your situation and chose this method because the cultivation of Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue is much faster than other conventional methods.

The White Deer Academy has records showing that students with similar qualities take three years to reach the Qi Cultivation stage when cultivating Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue, while students cultivating other methods often take fifteen or even twenty years to reach the Qi Cultivation stage."

Xu Yan was overjoyed. The 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' is both safe and fast to cultivate. What more could he ask for?

But he had a small doubt: there's probably no such good thing in the world, right? As the saying goes, cheap things are not good. If the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' is both fast and safe to cultivate, its power must not be very strong, right?

"Xuan Yun, how does the power of the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' after cultivation compare to your sect's methods? Which one is stronger?"

Zhu Youxiang frowned and shook her head, saying gently, "Your question is inappropriate, sir. The White Deer Academy is where I teach, and the Sword Saint Sect is my sect. As a disciple, it's not appropriate for me to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the two. However, one thing is certain: when the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' reaches its peak, its power will not be inferior to any other method.

In the past, the founder of the White Deer Academy, Mr. White Deer, used the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' to dominate the world, defeating all demons and remaining undefeated for forty years, thus founding the White Deer Academy. Therefore, when the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' reaches its peak, its power will definitely not be inferior to the methods of the Sword Saint Sect."

Hearing that the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' was a powerful method left by the founder of the White Deer Academy, Xu Yan was immediately reassured — this method is excellent, fast to cultivate, and safe, and when mastered, it can be incredibly powerful and invincible. How could there be such a good thing in the world? Especially since Zhu Youxiang emphasized that the method's cultivation progress is incredibly fast, which made Xu Yan even happier — young people aspire to be righteous heroes, carrying swords and embracing beauties while watching the sunset, but if they have to cultivate for decades, they will become old heroes, and there will be no point in being righteous heroes. It would be better to go home and drink tea while watching the sunset.

Thinking about how Zhu Youxiang had specially chosen this cultivation method for him and how much effort she had quietly put in for him over the past few days, Xu Yan was deeply moved. He thanked Zhu Youxiang repeatedly, and she modestly smiled — Xu Yan didn't notice the fleeting hint of guilt in her eyes.

Seeing Xu Yan's joyful and excited expression, Zhu Youxiang slightly turned her face to hide her inner unease: she knew the truth about the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue'. It is indeed a cultivation method left by the founder of the White Deer Academy, but within the academy, it is marked as a "waste method" and no one cultivates it.

Actually, Zhu Youxiang didn't deceive Xu Yan. The advantages of the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' are real. This method can quickly bring cultivators to the Qi Cultivation stage and is very safe, with no risk of going astray. However, it has a fatal flaw: after reaching the Qi Cultivation stage, the cultivation progress becomes extremely slow. Before the Qi Cultivation stage, a cultivator of the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' can achieve in three years what others take twenty years to achieve, but after reaching the Qi Cultivation stage, further breakthroughs are almost impossible, often taking fifty to a hundred years without success.

The founder of the White Deer Academy, Mr. White Deer, used the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' to dominate the world, but after him, several exceptionally talented disciples of the academy also cultivated this method. However, even until their natural deaths, they never broke through the Qi Cultivation stage — these disciples, who were originally seen as the future stars of the academy, were stuck at the Qi Cultivation stage and wasted their lives.

The founder of the White Deer Academy created the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' and dominated the world, but his disciples, who cultivated this method, were all stuck at the Qi Cultivation stage and could not advance. This has become an unsolved mystery within the White Deer Academy, and many scholars have conducted research on this issue, but the conclusions have been varied, and no one has reached a universally accepted answer.

However, among the many research conclusions, the fourth-generation head of the academy, Mr. Lin Chaoyun, received the most agreement.

Mr. Lin Chaoyun believed that for normal cultivators, the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' is a waste method because it focuses too much on quick results before the Qi Cultivation stage, leading to poor foundation building and deviating from the correct path. This makes further cultivation very difficult and impossible to advance.

Mr. White Deer's achievements, however, were related to his special constitution and extraordinary experiences. According to historical records, Mr. White Deer was exceptionally talented from a young age, excelling in both literature and martial arts. He had an extraordinary understanding, and whether reading or practicing martial arts, he never needed a second lesson. Before his cultivation, he had read the Four Books and Five Classics and even passed the imperial examinations, becoming the top scholar.

Mr. White Deer not only had high cultivation but also had a wide range of interests. He was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and he could master any weapon as soon as he picked it up — such a person was a once-in-a-thousand-years genius. Moreover, he had a rare pure crystal constitution, which was the most suitable for cultivating Buddhist martial arts. He also had many extraordinary experiences, taking multiple precious elixirs that greatly enhanced his cultivation — these elixirs are no longer available today.

It was because of these favorable conditions that Mr. White Deer was able to bring the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' to its peak. Such talent and opportunities are no longer possible for the current disciples of the White Deer Academy. Even Mr. Lin Chaoyun regretfully believed that with Mr. White Deer's extraordinary talent, he was held back by the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue'. If Mr. White Deer had not cultivated this waste method, with his conditions and experiences, he could have transcended the mortal realm and become a deity.

It has been several hundred years since Mr. White Deer's time. During these years, a few disciples who didn't believe in the curse also insisted on cultivating this method, but the results were the same: they quickly reached the Qi Cultivation stage and then made no further progress, wasting their lives. Although the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' is still archived in the White Deer Academy's library as a legacy of the founder, it has been a long time since anyone has cultivated it — with so many precedents of failure, no disciple would risk their entire cultivation future on it. Even the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' has become a taboo within the White Deer Academy, a symbol of misfortune and bad luck. Students often swear, "If I lie, may I be forced to cultivate the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue'!"

As a senior disciple of the White Deer Academy, Zhu Youxiang was very clear about the advantages and disadvantages of the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue'. After much consideration, she made this decision, but the true reason was not something she could openly discuss.

True cultivation methods should not be easily passed on!

Zhu Youxiang thought clearly: Xu Yan has a good character and treats her well, but he is not a citizen of the Great Ming Dynasty. If she were to pass on the effective true cultivation methods of the White Deer Academy to Xu Yan, there would be a risk of them leaking into this world. The technological civilization of Earth is already highly advanced, and if the local humans were to master the secrets of cultivation, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, making them even more formidable.

For the safety of the Great Ming world, the true cultivation methods that can bring mortals to the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stages and generate powerful combat abilities must not be leaked. If they were to leak, the consequences would be disastrous.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiang did not plan to pass on the effective true cultivation methods of the White Deer Academy to Xu Yan. Instead, she decided to pass on the long-abandoned 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue' — even if this method were to leak, the Earth people would only be able to cultivate to the Qi Cultivation stage, which would not pose much of a threat to the cultivators of the Great Ming world.

Zhu Youxiang didn't clearly explain the advantages and disadvantages of the method to Xu Yan and intentionally misled him, which made her feel a bit guilty. She consoled herself: passing on this method to Xu Yan, although she had some selfish motives, was indeed for his own good.

Because Xu Yan is already twenty years old, he has missed the best age for cultivation. At this age, if he were to learn other methods, it would take at least eight to ten years to achieve even a small success. However, the threat of natural disasters on Earth is imminent. If Xu Yan were to follow the usual path and learn other methods, it would be too late.

By cultivating the 'Xuantian Zumo Zhenjue', Xu Yan can quickly reach the Qi Cultivation stage. With the strength of the Qi Cultivation stage, Xu Yan would have a certain ability to protect himself during the natural disasters, which is a matter of life and death!

Well, even if Xu Yan can only stay at the Qi Cultivation stage for the rest of his life, so what?

After all, the Earth world is different from the Great Ming world. They don't have the concept of cultivation, and there are no other cultivators, so there is no such thing as "ruining Xu Yan's cultivation future" — for an ordinary person like Xu Yan, reaching the Qi Cultivation stage would be an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Without her, Xu Yan would never have had the chance to step into the world of cultivation, let alone talk about being ruined. (To be continued)