Chapter 57

(First update brought forward, it's early Monday morning, please everyone give your enthusiastic support with recommendation votes, and new readers, please add to your collection.)

In front of the Xuanwu Pavilion, the old Taoist Jing Shou could no longer contain his impatience. He opened his eyes, sat up, and the scene before him exceeded his expectations.

Su Qinnian still had his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. His posture was upright, his black hair gently fluttering, like a towering ancient green bamboo, causing Jing Shou's brows to furrow. Such a demeanor, in his imagination, should not appear on someone like Su Qinnian, who had suddenly risen to prominence and stirred up the winds and rains.

Not only that, Jing Shou felt that Su Qinnian's aura was becoming increasingly steady, and the Turtle-Snake Stance in his hands had reached a state of divine mastery.

Move!

At this moment, the four outer courtyard disciples exchanged glances, and four surges of scorching qi and blood instantly erupted.

Rumble!

The four outer courtyard disciples, the weakest of whom had reached the sixth level of the Great Perfection of the Turtle-Snake Technique, and the strongest of whom was close to the seventh level of the Great Perfection, moved with the sound of their tendons and bones resonating, their qi and blood surging. Their extended arms suddenly swelled, as if they had become the hands of a giant, pushing the air and creating continuous ripples.

Bone marrow and blood brew nectar, the Heaven-Opening Pangu Emperor!

This describes the phenomenon of the seventh level of the Great Perfection of the Foundation-Building Technique, where the bone marrow and blood are like nectar, and with a single thought, the entire body's qi and blood surge, reaching every part of the body, concentrating strength to create a massive effect, like the legendary Pangu, standing between heaven and earth, a giant spirit.

Of course, in general, ordinary seventh-level Foundation-Building Techniques cannot achieve such a grand momentum. Only techniques like the Wudang Turtle-Snake Technique, refined and distilled over generations by the Three Mad Taoists, can do so, fully manifesting the phenomena described in the prophecy.

The air distorted, and four mythical汗血宝马 (sweat-blooded horses) descended between the real and the illusory, especially one of them, which almost solidified, neighing loudly, appearing as a real being, majestic and imposing.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four dull thuds, four large hands almost simultaneously pressed down on Su Qinnian's shoulders, one of which contained a jingling sound. The four outer courtyard disciples' eyes were sharp, and they immediately guessed what was inside.

"Such a Su Qinnian, coming to our White Cloud Peak outer courtyard, actually carrying a bag of silver. What do you intend to do, buy people's hearts, or secretly bribe, to act improperly!"

One disciple coldly rebuked, "A regular eighth-rank official's monthly salary does not exceed twenty taels, and they still need to maintain their household. This bag contains at least several hundred taels. Where did you get so much silver? You are indeed not a law-abiding person. Surrender now!"

Hmm?

The four large hands pressed down, and the four people exerted their strength together, but found that Su Qinnian did not budge, and their strength seemed to vanish like mud into the sea.

"Wind and water sit, yin and yang flow, the technique of the Taiji circle!"

"Bold! What cultivation, to be so arrogant, do you think we are the half-trained ones in the逍遥谷 (Xiaoyao Valley)?"

"Wind and water sit, let's move together, and shift all his strength!"

Buzz!

Then, the four outer courtyard disciples rooted their feet, their arms drawing arcs, seeming to become soft and pliable. The four palms moved on Su Qinnian's shoulders, as if they had turned into flowing water, gradually giving a sense of endless vitality.

Not bad!

The old Taoist Jing Shou nodded. Although he did not know all four disciples, he had met them a few times. At their age and cultivation, especially the fourth form of the Turtle-Snake Fist, which embodies the principles of yin and yang, wind and water, and is the form of the seven Turtle-Snake Fists closest to the Wudang Taiji circle, the least enlightened of the four had almost reached the third realm of martial arts, while the most enlightened was nearly at the Great Perfection of the third realm. However, the final fourth realm depends on fate and opportunity, not something that can be achieved easily.

In an instant.

"What! Not a bit of strength can be shifted, it's empty and unresponsive!"

"I can't either, what the hell! Withdraw the palm!"

The four simultaneously withdrew their hands, retreating, and repositioned themselves six zhang away.

At this moment, the four outer courtyard disciples could no longer maintain their composure. When they withdrew their palms, they encountered no resistance, and the fifteen-year-old youth in front of them remained motionless, not opening his eyes or moving his hands, which was quite profound and mysterious. For a moment, the four exchanged glances, finding it difficult to decide and understand.

"How can this be, four of us can't take down a fifteen-year-old youth!"

"Strange, truly strange, could the rumors be false?"

Now, the four were filled with myriad thoughts. Although they looked down on Su Qinnian, they had self-awareness. Such an attack already tarnished the reputation of outer courtyard disciples. If they couldn't immediately take him down, it showed the gap. But precisely because of this, the four were unwilling to accept it. They had trained for many years, even descended the mountain under the guidance of their outer courtyard uncles and aunts, facing the ferocity of beasts, and had experiences on the brink of life and death. Now, losing to Su Qinnian, they felt a deep sense of defeat.

"We also read the classics, and the gentleman bears all with virtue. Now it seems that past impressions may not be true. Seeing is believing, and hearing is deceiving. One person's words may deceive many, but one's demeanor is hard to deceive."

The disciple who had previously criticized Jing Shou took a deep breath and said, "The name Qinnian has preconceived notions, but we cannot be misled by illusions. Let's step back for now."

The other three were startled, looking at Su Qinnian with complex expressions, still somewhat reluctant, but ultimately their cultivated demeanor prevailed.

At this moment, Su Qinnian finally opened his eyes. He was very calm, showing no signs of joy from his victory. Looking at the old Taoist Jing Shou, he said, "Is the senior satisfied?"

The old Taoist Jing Shou raised an eyebrow. Having lived for over sixty years, he had seen many changes in the world, the storms and warmth in the outer courtyard, the cold and warmth of human relationships, the poor and the rich, and even the rebirth of fallen officials. Despite Su Qinnian's current demeanor and martial prowess, he was not easily convinced. He had seen too many people over the years.

"What is your status, to speak to your senior like this!"

Before the old Taoist could respond, a figure leaped several times, covering over ten zhang in an instant, and appeared before them.

"Senior Brother Qing Luo!" the four outer courtyard disciples respectfully said.

This was a young man in his early twenties, with long, slender eyebrows and eyes like swords, very stern. He wore a dark blue silk robe and held a four-foot white iron sword, the blade gleaming with a cold aura.

"Senior Brother..."

One wanted to speak but was stopped by a raised hand. Then, those eyes, sharper than swords, fell on Su Qinnian.

Foundation-Building Disciple!

A unique aura of internal true qi formed an intangible field, enveloping Su Qinnian as his gaze fell. This field pressed on the body, and the body, in turn, pressed on the spirit.

Su Qinnian's mind was clear, the spiritual energy in his ancestral acupoint flowing, sensing every change in his body and spirit, and insights flooded his mind.

Hmm?

Qing Luo's gaze became even sharper. Although he had only recently completed his foundation-building, not even fully opening the first of the twelve main meridians, his cultivation of internal true qi was already solid. The pressure of the true qi field was something that ordinary disciples who had not yet completed their foundation-building could not withstand, their fighting spirit retreating, leading to defeat before the battle even began.

However, it seemed that this pressure could not intimidate Su Qinnian, indicating that he had some means.

"Senior Jing Shou, if you are still unsatisfied, please watch this strike."

Su Qinnian spoke, his tone serious for the first time in the true qi field. His voice was calm, but his words carried a sense of firmness and dignity.

The old Taoist Jing Shou was taken aback, the four outer courtyard disciples were stunned, and Qing Luo's eyes flashed with intense light. His dark blue silk robe fluttered without wind, his aura as sharp as a sword.

Buzz!

A knife hummed, and Su Qinnian raised his hand to grip the hilt. The green iron long knife was slowly drawn from his back, and an indescribable aura spread.

This strike is not the first strike of the Life-Ending Blade. (First update brought forward, it's early Monday morning, please everyone give your enthusiastic support with recommendation votes, and new readers, please add to your collection. If you have time, you can vote for the Three Rivers every day. In the Three Rivers channel, there is a click to receive, and you must receive the Three Rivers ticket to vote.)