Chapter 57

Shenma's Selection (57)

Nengsomil asked cautiously,

"By the way, is it really okay to do this during cultivation?"

As the three people's gazes focused on her, Nengsomil continued,

"Didn't you always tell me to shake off distracting thoughts? You said it would disrupt the flow of inner energy."

"Generally, that's true."

Chao Ailiang nodded and turned to look at Dan Aoxian again.

There was no way to describe Dan Aoxian's talent with words.

Why else would they, renowned experts in the martial world, have rashly taught her their internal cultivation techniques? Moreover, Dan Aoxian had perfectly mastered the cultivation techniques of three different people.

That alone was beyond the scope of ordinary talent.

However, they had prevented her from practicing because the accumulation of inner energy could lead to the collision of different qualities of inner energy, potentially causing her to lose control.

"Anyway, there's no other way for now."

At Chao Ailiang's words, the others nodded silently.

They could only wait anxiously for her cultivation to end.

After a long while, Dan Aoxian slowly opened her eyes.

Then she smiled.

"So this is how it feels."

Approaching Dan Aoxian, who let out a low exclamation, the three people asked in quick succession,

"Doctor Dan, how was it?"

"Was there anything problematic?"

"Is everything alright?"

Dan Aoxian nodded.

"Yes, it's very good."

Her body felt incredibly refreshed and light, as if she had just had a deep sleep.

Finally, the three people let out a sigh of relief.

"Then let's try the combined cultivation with the Weihua technique now."

At Chao Ailiang's words, Dan Aoxian crossed her legs again.

Fan Jiwei sat opposite her, while Han Xuehua took a position behind her.

As Dan Aoxian closed her eyes and began her cultivation, Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua exchanged glances and slowly nodded.

Fan Jiwei placed his palm over Dan Aoxian's Qihai point, where her dantian was located.

At the same time, Han Xuehua pressed her palm against Dan Aoxian's Mingmen point on her back.

It was a natural movement honed through countless practices.

Still, tension was evident on both their faces.

This was the Weihua technique being performed not on just any subject, but on Dan Aoxian herself.

There was no room for any mistakes.

The two people exchanged glances and simultaneously drew up their inner energy.

At that moment, an overwhelming heat and cold poured into Dan Aoxian's Qihai and Mingmen points through their hands.

"……!"

Dan Aoxian, who was sitting in meditation, flinched.

The amount of inner energy surging through her meridians was immense.

But soon, her face became calm again.

Two completely different and conflicting energies clashed and tangled violently inside her.

However, Dan Aoxian had firm trust in Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua.

So she did not panic and entrusted her body to their inner energies.

How much time had passed?

At some point, the conflicting energies centered around Dan Aoxian began to merge gradually.

And soon, the nature of the energy itself started to change.

Nengsomil, who had been watching blankly, unknowingly approached Dan Aoxian.

At that moment, Chao Ailiang, who was guarding the area, spoke.

"That's enough."

It was a low but firm and decisive voice.

"……!"

Nengsomil was startled and snapped back to her senses.

She had just realized that she had been approaching Dan Aoxian in a daze.

It was then that she witnessed the magnificent spectacle of the cloud of energy enveloping the space within ten feet.

The energy was infinitely warm and soothing, making one's heart feel at ease just by being near it. The waves of mist, like a fog, repeatedly dispersed and gathered, creating a wondrous sight.

Nengsomil couldn't close her mouth in amazement.

"What kind of evil technique is this?"

"It's not an evil technique."

Chao Ailiang firmly drew a line and said with a serious look,

"It's a divine technique."

Given that Chao Ailiang, a grandmaster, had declared it so confidently, Nengsomil had no choice but to believe him.

"Was it like this when I learned the divine technique?"

Chao Ailiang chuckled and shook his head.

"Only Doctor Dan can do this. Setting aside physical conditions, it's a method that can't be attempted without absolute trust in the other party."

Nengsomil nodded in agreement.

To accept the inner energies of both Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua simultaneously.

Just thinking about it made her feel scared and break out in a cold sweat.

"Still, this is… amazing."

At this moment, Nengsomil was struggling with herself.

The energy surrounding Dan Aoxian had a magnetic pull.

Thanks to Chao Ailiang, she managed to maintain her composure, but if she let her guard down for a moment, she felt she would be entranced by the energy before her.

There is a rumor that when the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, a supreme skill of the Huashan Sect, is used, a faint plum blossom fragrance fills a ten-mile radius.

She had thought it was just exaggeration by enthusiasts, but after seeing this surreal scene, she could believe it might be possible.

Chao Ailiang nodded.

"It seems you're not the only one feeling this way."

"Me?"

Chao Ailiang gestured towards Nengsomil's back.

Nengsomil turned her head and her face turned pale.

"My goodness!"

Birds had flown in from somewhere and were surrounding them at a distance.

Moreover, all kinds of birds were still flying in from all directions.

The problem was that the creatures entranced by the energy emitted by Dan Aoxian were not just birds.

Even four-legged beasts were entering the valley, intoxicated by the mysterious energy that enveloped the entire valley.

Nengsomil was dumbfounded by what she saw.

Small animals like rabbits and squirrels, which should be terrified of predators like tigers and bears, were approaching in groups, strolling leisurely.

The scene was not just amazing but also bizarre.

"You'll have to endure for a while."

"Me?"

Nengsomil was momentarily puzzled, but then she understood from Chao Ailiang's next words and smiled bitterly.

"I need to stay here in case of any unforeseen circumstances, so someone has to block these creatures, right?"

Nengsomil sighed and stepped forward to block the approaching beasts.

Facing countless beasts, the burden was greater than she had expected.

It might not compare to the Wanshou Dazhen, a secret technique of the Wanshou Mountain Villa in Yunnan, but the intimidation was no less.

Chao Ailiang's voice came from behind her, tense.

"It won't be a long ordeal. Doctor Dan will quickly get used to handling the inner energy. When that happens, such troublesome tasks will decrease."

Though the words were not immediately comforting, Nengsomil had no other choice.

Chao Ailiang's words were as good as an imperial decree, given his status as a senior and absolute expert.

Nengsomil clenched her teeth and threw herself into the massive wave of beasts.

A short while later.

"Huff huff…"

Nengsomil, who had driven the beasts out of the Shenma Valley with all her might, was guarding the entrance, panting heavily.

Fortunately, the beasts, once thoroughly defeated, did not dare to enter the valley again.

Only the tiger, the ruler of the mountain, growled from a distance.

But even that did not last long.

Suddenly, the beasts seemed to snap out of their trance and hurriedly left.

Turning her head towards the valley, Nengsomil could guess the reason.

The mist of inner energy emitted from Dan Aoxian's pores surged once, and then, in an instant, it began to be absorbed through her nose and the top of her head.

Soon, Dan Aoxian opened her eyes.

Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua also slowly got up from their seats.

Chao Ailiang smiled and said,

"Good job."

The success of the divine technique cultivation with the Weihua technique was evident without needing to ask.

Dan Aoxian's self-examination and the satisfied smiles on the faces of the two people, despite their fatigue, spoke volumes.

* * *

It had been ten days since Dan Aoxian started cultivating her inner energy.

"Amazing."

Chao Ailiang, who had been checking Dan Aoxian's condition, sincerely marveled.

He had already heard the explanation from Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua, but he still wanted to confirm it himself, just in case.

The inner energy she had cultivated was truly astonishing.

The pure and powerful inner energy, after just ten days of cultivation, was comparable to that of disciples from renowned Daoist sects who had trained for several years.

'No, that's not it.'

Rather, the purity of her refined inner energy was incomparable.

While he had expected some level of talent from Dan Aoxian, the results far exceeded his expectations, leaving Chao Ailiang speechless.

"That's what I said, right?"

Fan Jiwei shrugged, looking proud as he gazed at Dan Aoxian.

"Everyone goes to great lengths to find a disciple like this."

Chao Ailiang chuckled.

On the contrary, it was often the case that masters' clothes would tear from the frustration of their disciples' slow progress.

In that sense, they had encountered a rare and extraordinary opportunity.

At this moment, Dan Aoxian stood up and smiled.

"Then I'll go tidy up a bit."

"Do you plan to keep writing a journal?"

At Chao Ailiang's question, Dan Aoxian nodded.

"There might not be any issues, but we should still be prepared for any problems that might arise. Recording the cultivation process and my thoughts daily will definitely be helpful."

As Dan Aoxian headed towards the hall, Chao Ailiang said to Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua,

"We'll be busy from now on."

"What do we have to be busy with? Doctor Dan is doing well on her own."

"Does having inner energy alone make one a martial artist?"

Chao Ailiang's reprimand made Fan Jiwei finally understand the meaning.

The Weihua divine technique was, after all, an internal cultivation method.

To properly execute it, she needed external techniques that could fully harness its power.

"Then we need to brainstorm and study external techniques again?"

At Fan Jiwei's concerned words, Chao Ailiang shook his head.

"There's no need to do that."

Chao Ailiang continued to explain to the puzzled Fan Jiwei.

"Even if we create new techniques now, they won't surpass the understanding and proficiency of the existing martial arts. The martial arts we have mastered are already considered supreme techniques. So, each of us can teach Doctor Dan the martial art we are most confident in."

"What will you teach, Brother Chao?"

"I only excel in the Golden Needle Technique."

Fan Jiwei nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll teach her how to use weapons."

On the side, Han Xuehua, who had been listening quietly, frowned.

Thinking of Dan Aoxian wielding a hideous iron hammer made her feel uneasy.

Noticing this, Fan Jiwei glared at Han Xuehua.

"It's not like that."

Fan Jiwei lifted the Daichaozige.

He grabbed the chain part connected to the body and forcefully turned it.

Clank.

The spiky head part separated from the chain.

The weapon was designed to be easily combined and separated.

"This way, it's the perfect length for a Zhimei Staff."

"……"

"The staff is the beginning of all weapons in the world."

Especially for a doctor like Dan Aoxian, there was no better weapon than a staff.

The Shaolin monks' obsession with staffs was not without reason.

Compared to other weapons like swords and spears, a staff has significantly less killing intent.

"I didn't say anything, did I?"

At Han Xuehua's words, Fan Jiwei's eyebrows twitched.

"You were saying it with your eyes!"

"Can you read my thoughts from that?"

Han Xuehua looked at Fan Jiwei, finding it absurd.

"Who's the fool here!"

Han Xuehua flinched.

Her expression clearly showed that she had been caught off guard. Chao Ailiang smiled wryly and asked Han Xuehua,

"What will you teach, Sister Han?"

Han Xuehua silently raised her hand.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and a transparent ice spear appeared in the air.

Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiwei nodded.

Who could match her in the martial art of controlling spear qi using the technique of drawing objects with inner energy?

Thus, the three people decided on the martial arts Dan Aoxian would learn.