Chapter 5

After holding the Daoist book in his hands for about a moment, Zhang Yan shook his head and put it down.

Bian Qiao sneered and said in a mocking tone, "What, is there something difficult for Junior Brother?"

Zhang Yan sighed and said, "It's just a patchwork breathing technique, likely a playful work by a senior, deliberately written in eroded script for amusement. Those who don't know the truth are easily deceived. If Manager Bian wants to cultivate the Dao, I believe the *Yiqi Qingjing* is more suitable for beginners."

Bian Qiao was taken aback, then his face turned somewhat dark. This Daoist book was indeed a fake, written in eroded script, and was very low-quality. Only those who had studied eroded script for a long time could easily see through it. When he first got it, he had intended to sell it for a good price. Today, he had just happened to use it against Zhang Yan. He had thought that even if Zhang Yan could interpret it, if he didn't see through its true nature, he could use it to mock Zhang Yan and embarrass him. But he hadn't expected Zhang Yan to turn the tables and mock him instead. He couldn't explain himself, and his heart felt stifled.

At this moment, someone in the crowd exclaimed, "Zhang Yan interpreted the eroded script without using bamboo rods!"

When these words were spoken, most people in the crowd also noticed this detail and were puzzled. Indeed, where were Zhang Yan's bamboo rods?

It wasn't their fault for not knowing. After all, only a few could afford to seek instruction from a master with money. Even the Daoist books they could get were already interpreted and copied. No one had ever seen anyone interpret eroded script without bamboo rods. A few people who understood the reason looked at Zhang Yan with surprise and admiration.

Zhang Yan was calm and smiled, "Manager Bian, do you need me to write it out again?"

"No need!"

Bian Qiao snorted, swept his hand forcefully, and slapped the Daoist book on the table to the ground. He then took out another Daoist book, raised it slowly, and let it fall with a "thud" on the stone table. He forced a smile and said, "Please take a look, Junior Brother."

Bian Qiao sneered inwardly. Eroded script had its complexities. The first time Hu Shengyu saw this book, he had to set up bamboo rods and interpret it carefully. Even if Zhang Yan was proficient in eroded script, could he surpass Hu Shengyu?

Even if Zhang Yan could interpret it, with the correct version interpreted by Hu Shengyu in hand, it would be full of errors and omissions. A comparison would expose him!

From the brief interaction, he had seen that Zhang Yan was sharp. If he caught him on a weak point, he might be helpless. He just had to wait for Zhang Yan to make a mistake, then immediately attack, not giving him a chance to speak, and establish the fact first!

Seeing Bian Qiao's demeanor, Zhang Yan knew this Daoist book was no ordinary one. However, he was not afraid or hesitant; instead, he became more interested. After reading it carefully, he found it was indeed challenging, but he could handle it. He was actually a bit disappointed.

Just then, he realized that as his cultivation improved, his mind became clearer when interpreting eroded script, like a clear spring reflecting the moon, free of any dust. His speed was also faster than usual. It seemed he didn't need to use his trump card yet.

After flipping through a few more pages, he found it was an excellent Daoist technique. A thought suddenly came to him. He had come here to gain fame, and this was a rare good opportunity.

With his mind made up, he sped up his reading. After finishing, he closed the book and sat down with his eyes closed.

Seeing his actions, everyone was stunned, wondering if the book had stumped Zhang Yan.

Bian Qiao's eyelids twitched. His eyes were much sharper than those present, and he had a bad feeling.

After a while, Zhang Yan opened his eyes and said, "This book is called *Diqiao Tu*. The technique is 'Opening the Spirit Gate, Purifying the Spirit Pill'..."

Zhang Yan didn't need to look at the book. He recited it from memory, word by word. The crowd was immediately stunned, clearly shocked by his actions. But soon, as Zhang Yan's clear voice continued, the murmuring gradually ceased, and they were drawn into the content of the book.

Bian Qiao was dumbfounded. He shakily took out a copy from his sleeve and compared it with what Zhang Yan was reciting. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and the more he read, the more sweat he had.

The copy and Zhang Yan's words were slightly different, but the meaning was the same. Zhang Yan's words were even more accessible and easier to understand due to his deliberate simplification. If this book hadn't been recently read by Hu Shengyu, it would have been impossible for it to leak out. Bian Qiao almost thought Zhang Yan had read it before.

For a moment, only Zhang Yan's not particularly loud but deep voice echoed on the Thousand-Zhang Rock.

This book, *Diqiao Tu*, detailed how to refine one's acupoints and meridians according to the time of day. Such a high-level technique was unheard of by many present. Now, hearing it for the first time, they knew it was rare and valuable, and they listened with rapt attention.

Bian Qiao's face was pale. He hadn't expected Zhang Yan to be so capable. If this technique leaked, he would be in deep trouble with Hu Shengyu. Seeing Zhang Yan's determination to recite the entire book word for word, he couldn't bear it and, without hesitation, threw the purple clay teapot to the ground.

With a "crash," Zhang Yan's voice paused. He looked at the trembling Bian Qiao and smiled.

The crowd finally came to their senses, their faces filled with regret and admiration. Most looked at Zhang Yan with respect, while their gazes at Bian Qiao were filled with anger. Suddenly, a series of "thuds" were heard as people in the front row fell to the ground, groaning. They had leaned forward while listening to Zhang Yan, one pressing against the other. When they relaxed, they lost their balance.

Some of the more eager ones sat down on the spot to meditate and ponder the technique, and the others didn't disturb them, forming a circle around them.

Zhao Ying had also been deeply engrossed, comparing the technique with the inner energy in her body. She felt as if she had entered a profound realm, warm and comfortable. Now, coming to her senses, she thought, "This little thief seems to have real skills, but why did my elder brother spit blood? Could it be as he said, that he was too hasty? Did I wrong a good person?" Her gaze at Zhang Yan was filled with complexity.

Bian Qiao wiped the sweat from his temples with a handkerchief and sighed in relief. He had thought this book would stump Zhang Yan, but he hadn't expected him to be so capable.

He had brought three Daoist books, each more advanced than the last. He hadn't planned to use the last one, which was actually a technique Hu Shengyu used for other purposes. If Hu Shengyu found out, it would be trouble.

But with a hundred people watching, he was being forced into a corner. If he backed down now, he would lose face, and those people would trample him. It was now or never!

His face twitched, and he gritted his teeth, taking out a yellowed, thin paper. "This technique has only sixteen eroded characters. Since the first two books didn't stump Junior Brother Zhang, this one should be easy for you!"

This technique, *Manqu Jingshi*, had only sixteen characters but contained sixty-four different Daoist songs and techniques. Missing even one would mean failure.

More importantly, interpreting it was time-consuming and mentally draining, not something that could be done in a day.

Bian Qiao stared at Zhang Yan, not believing he could pass this time!

Taking the thin paper, Zhang Yan's brow furrowed slightly. He could see that despite the few characters, the technique was difficult and obscure, using rare eroded script with many hidden variations, not as simple as Bian Qiao made it seem.

He shook the paper and said solemnly, "Manager Bian, this technique is deceptively simple but extremely difficult to interpret. It will take a lot of time. You may have to wait."

Bian Qiao was confident in this technique. He looked at the sky; it was already mid-morning. He thought, "Even if Zhang Yan interprets it by tomorrow, the result will be the same." He pretended to be generous and waved his hand, "No problem, let's set the deadline for tonight. I'm sure Junior Brother Zhang won't fail to interpret these sixteen characters."

But don't be fooled by Bian Qiao's words. Zhang Yan roughly calculated that even if he worked without rest, it would take at least three days to complete.

He couldn't help but sneer. If it were anyone else, they would be stumped, but for him...

He reached into his sleeve and grasped the broken jade. His mind sank into it.

Soon, his consciousness entered a strange space.

This was the greatest secret of the broken jade. Inside the jade, there was a "double" of him, identical in appearance and senses, like a mirror image of his true self.

As soon as his mind entered the jade, this "self" came to life, his features becoming lively and animated.

This double could sit, stand, and move without affecting his true self. They were both independent and one.

The most amazing thing was that time inside the jade was different from the outside.

He had used the method of reciting scriptures to measure time and concluded that "one day in the jade equals ten days outside."

With this broken jade, he had ten times more time to think and learn, making him unparalleled in interpreting eroded script.

Zhang Yan checked the time. It was around mid-morning, around ten o'clock. By nightfall, it would be about twelve hours. If he used the tenfold time, that would be 120 hours, or five days for him!

He smiled and sat down in the jade, using his fingers as rods to begin interpreting the sixteen-character technique.

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