White-Robed Chief

A smile crept onto Chu Li’s face. “So this means that I can enter the dojo?”

Shen Xu replied, “You are an official disciple of Nature Manifestation Peak, why can’t you enter it? As long as your Manifestation of Nature Restoration’s cultivation level is sufficient, you can enter the dojo and progress into an Obvious Clan disciple as well as achieve immortality.”

Chu Li looked at Mo Qingyu.

Mo Qingyu took out a jade pendant from her inner pocket and showed it to them. “I have this too, it’s an identity jade tag of Amethyst Mountain’s official disciples. Once you drip blood into it, there’s a secret technique that binds you to it by flesh and blood and spiritually. With ample cultivation, you can enter the Amethyst Mountain’s dojo with it and become an Obvious Clan disciple who will not pass into his demise even after being killed—as long as the dojo doesn’t perish, you won’t either.”

Chu Li slowly nodded and did a fist salute. “Thank you, Master.”

Shen Xu shook his head. “This is what you deserve, you don’t have to thank me, I should be the one thanking you instead.”

Although he was in a comatose state, his spiritual force could sense the outside world. He knew that Mo Qingyu was helpless in handling his injuries and that it was Chu Li who saved him.

This disciple of his knew some thaumaturgy and did not fear the Asura Power Technique’s inner energy.

Chu Li then said, “Get well soon, Master.”

Mo Qingyu smiled. “You should stay here longer to heal your wounds completely, Master’s Junior. Thanks to Junior Brother, I’m now free to serve my customers as I wish, there’s nobody to force me now.”

Shen Xu looked at Chu Li.

Mo Qingyu clarified, “Junior Brother is well-acquainted with Verdant Cloud Brothel’s brothel-keeper.”

Chu Li reassured. “I merely helped out slightly, so you don’t have to be in a hurry to leave.”

Shen Xu shook his head. “I have to return as soon as possible, another Junior Brother has fallen. The reason for it has been found so I need to hurry back to figure out some countermeasures and get the Obvious Clan disciples to be alert for Asura when they head out.”

He turned to Chu Li and said, “Chu Li, I’ll teach you the secret skill now.”

“Yes.” Chu Li obeyed.

Shen Xu beckoned Mo Qingyu over with a wave.

Mo Qingyu carried a low tea-table over and placed it horizontally on the bed, on it were a writing brush, ink sticks, paper, and an inkstone.

Shen Xu picked up the brush and with swift calligraphy strokes, he quickly filled up a blank piece of paper. After putting down his brush, he took up the paper and lightly blew the ink dry and passed it over to Chu Li.

Chu Li reached out and scanned the writings over with a thoughtful look.

Shen Xu asked, “Have you memorized it?”

“Yes,” Chu Li answered.

“Then destroy it.” Shen Xu brushed off.

Chu Li put his hands together and in seconds, the paper turned into dust that fell onto a small plate on the tea-table.

Shen Xu explained, “There’s nothing special about the heart technique, but without the right method, there’s no way one can figure it out on their own.”

Chu Li laughed. “I can’t figure out which founder could have created this.”

Shen Xu shook his head. “These are all secret skills passed down from the Outland and were created by Devas, it’s difficult for us mortals to comprehend such profound wisdom.”

Chu Li came to a sudden realization.

He understood that many secret skills he learned could have been created by those who were not of the world—the people from Outland.

“Your Manifestation of Nature Restoration is still not well-cultivated enough, you must be prepared to put in a great deal of effort to practice and improve.” Shen Xu looked at Chu Li and advised warmly. “With your aptitude, getting into the dojo would not be hard. Other things can wait until after you enter the dojo.”

Chu Li replied, “I feel like I’ve cultivated Manifestation of Nature Restoration to its peak, my advancements are so minute.”

“The Manifestation of Nature Restoration cannot be cultivated while just sitting around, it should be practiced in action, best during battles and especially in moments of life and death where you can experience extreme changes in others’ inner state—it’s only then your Manifestation of Nature Restoration’s advancement will speed up.” Shen Xu revealed.

Chu Li frowned. “So I have to kill?”

Shen Xu hesitated before he nodded in confirmation. “That’s right.”

“I understand now. Thank you, Master,” Chu Li said.

Shen Xu responded, “Don’t mention it, I’m your Master. Plus, your aptitude far surpasses mine so I’ll be counting on you to develop and spread the Manifestation of Nature Restoration. However, when it comes down to it, since the Manifestation of Nature Restoration is a unique martial art study, you’d still have to practice the Heaven’s Thunder Peak’s martial arts.”

“So the Amethyst Mountain fundamentally isn’t martial arts of the Phantom Yin Peak?” Chu Li inquired.

Shen Xu answered, “The rudiments of Phantom Yin Peak’s martial arts are the easiest and quite strong in terms of formidable power so it could be suitable for others. But for you, who are equipped with such tough aptitude, it would be a great injustice to cultivate this so I figured that it would be best for you to practice the Heaven’s Thunder Peak’s martial arts.”

Mo Qingyu interrupted. “Master Junior, the Heaven’s Thunder Peak’s martial arts are too hard and too dangerous.”

Chu Li shifted his gaze to Mo Qingyu.

Mo Qingyu continued. “Heaven’s Thunder Peak has odd astronomical phenomena where Heaven’s thunder strikes all year round and while the formidable power of harvesting thunder energy to cultivate Heaven’s Thunder Technique was strong, it was dangerous, you could get wiped out anytime.”

Shen Xu disagreed. “Chu Li is suited to Heaven’s Thunder Technique. His body is tougher than that of normal humans’.”

Chu Li said with a smile, “With such words from you, Master, I’m getting eager to try this out.”

Shen Xu added, “Phantom Yin Peak disciples also cultivate Heaven’s Thunder Palm but their Heaven’s Thunder was not the same as this Heaven’s Thunder and had a huge difference with the true Heaven’s Thunder Palm. Once you manage to cultivate the true Heaven’s Thunder Palm, you’ll be peerless.”

Mo Qingyu shook her head. “Its formidable power is strong but it’s still too dangerous so it’s best if you don’t cultivate it.”

Shen Xu spoke, “If you want to be an Enlightened Master, then Heaven’s Thunder Palm is a shortcut. The Great Revolving Nirvana Palm of the Tempest Temple which was almost unrivaled could only be challenged by Heaven’s Thunder Palm, so if you don’t cultivate Heaven’s Thunder Palm, you’d be left only with defeat in the face of the Great Revolving Nirvana Palm.”

Mo Qingyu objected again. “I’m still advising you to not cultivate this, Junior Brother.”

Shen Xu concluded the debate. “Just cultivate your Manifestation of Nature Restoration thoroughly first, we’ll talk after you enter the dojo.”

Chu Li did a fist salute and nodded.

He knew that Mo Qingyu and Shen Xu were both speaking with good intentions but how could he decide now? He would need to figure the details before making a decision, plus, he could not even enter Amethyst Mountain yet so he was still far from reaching Heaven’s Thunder Palm.

…

In the next few days, Chu Li remained within the walls of Verdant Cloud Brothel to ask for advice on the challenges he faced in learning martial arts.

Although Shen Xu’s cultivation level was below him, the knowledge and insight on martial arts that Chu Li’s Master had was beyond comparison. Shen Xu provided solutions to many of his questions and doubts with simple words, increased his understanding of martial arts and had brought his martial arts to another level.

Under the lighting of decorated lanterns, Chu Li, Shen Xu, and Mo Qingyu were sat around a stone table in the courtyard as they shared a few drinks and chatted.

Shen Xu was shaking his head as he said, “Once you enter the dojo, all these will just be a piece of cake. You will attain knowledge far more than you can imagine, as long as you have the ability to learn.”

Chu Li was intrigued. “Does the dojo have books in it?”

“The existence of dojos is truly mysterious, it’s almost the same as the real world, but with a lot of wonder.” Shen Xu sighed and uttered, “Almost all the founders from the previous generations are around and are still teaching there.”

Mo Qingyu let out a breath of disappointment. “Too bad my cultivation level is still insufficient and still can’t enter the dojo.”

Shen Xu murmured, “It’s really not easy to enter the dojo. It’s lucky to have even one among ten disciples within a single batch to enter the dojo.”

Mo Qingyu expressed her amazement. “I get so excited when I imagine myself being able to meet so many founders and listen to their teachings.”

“Once you enter the dojo, you can advance at a tremendous pace. If you have a good aptitude, you will surpass disciples from the same generation by miles.” Shen Xu added, “There’s a reason why Obvious Clan disciples outclassed Hidden Clan disciples.”

Chu Li nodded in understanding. “They weren’t lacking rare and mystical techniques, but those who could cultivate them.”

He finally realized the gap between him and Fa Yuan, if he did not get into the Four Main Sects, he would be quickly surpassed by Fa Yuan, just as how third-tier colleges differed from the Ivy League universities in his past life.

Shen Xu agreed. “That’s correct. It’s the same for all Four Main Sects, it is not a lack of techniques to cultivate that is concerning, rather the issue is an inaptitude to properly cultivate instead. Because no matter how much you know, there’s no point if your advancement is slow during your cultivation.”

Chu Li assured, “I’ll get in as fast as possible.”

Shen Xu added, “It’d be best you could get a round of training in the military, but it’s also dangerous in the military and the sects don’t advocate for their disciples to join the military.”

Chu Li slowly nodded.