Chapter 472: Chapter 245: Profound Lady Swordsmanship, Five Elements Escape Technique (2)
"Why do you think they can’t learn the celestial abilities within the White Cloud Cave?"
"Because the heavens do not permit!" Master Yuan’s eyes sparkled like lightning as he looked at Xu Qing.
"Your monk senior brother did indeed copy all the celestial scriptures from the two stone walls in White Cloud Cave, but only the twenty-four pages of Earthly Fiend Celestial Scripture on the right wall held text, while the thirteen pages of Heavenly Gang Transformation on the left did not contain a single character."
Master Yuan laughed and said, "This is the void of heaven, the reality of earth. Even though the Earthly Fiend techniques can manipulate all sentient and tangible things, they are limited to worldly transformations and ultimately confined by the numbers of heaven."
"However, the Heavenly Gang techniques are different; these methods either match or surpass the heavenly way. The Heavenly Gang techniques I have known are either about destroying the heavens or re-creating the heavens, truly allowing one to divine travel in the celestial palace and achieve a prestigious status in the immortal ranks!"
Xu Qing suddenly remembered his own Heavenly Gang axe techniques, perfectly corresponding to the thirty-six transformations of Heavenly Gang, with the critical final technique named ’Opening Heaven’.
"I want to learn this!"
Xu Qing did not conceal his thoughts.
Normally, Master Yuan would never teach the Heavenly Gang techniques; even when his monk disciple sought the celestial scriptures, he did not impart the Heavenly Gang techniques.
The reason is simple—the monk disciple came seeking knowledge and was without accomplishments; one could not judge what kind of person he was, only knowing that his heart was not malicious and his quest for enlightenment was sincere.
Besides, there was nothing else as a reference; whether he would remain true to his heart, no one could guarantee.
But Xu Qing was different; this person was extraordinary. The Dharma Realm at the Blood Lake gathered the fortunes of humanity, and Master Yuan saw infinite merits hidden within. Gaining such pure wishing power amid the influences of the Five Filthy Evil Worlds, having a flower blossom in such a contaminated world without a method to safeguard its path would be too lamentable.
Master Yuan cherished talent and, as he was about to return to the higher realm, without someone to confront the Fox Demon proficient in Earthly Fiend celestial abilities in White Cloud Cave, who knows how many more would suffer.
This was the sin he committed in the past; he had to find a way to make amends, and the appearance of Xu Qing gave Master Yuan a glimmer of hope.
’Why, in the deep ravine where I was trapped for seven years without being discovered by anyone, could he find my location and save me from my disaster?’
Mysteriously, it seemed a gear had begun to turn; Master Yuan felt that if he did not seize this opportunity, he would surely regret it later.
Only by taking action would the thoughts become clear.
Whether it was right or wrong was not important.
Just like the celestial scriptures he stole back then, if he hadn’t stolen them, he would regret it day and night.
Within the Water Curtain space, the Heavenly Gang divine techniques revealed their true form.
Xu Qing was shocked beyond words as he viewed the tadpole characters emerging from the Water Curtain.
The characters seemed alive, each stretching and transforming, changing formation; without a bit of insight, even seeing them would not lead to comprehension of the profound truth.
After imprinting a page of celestial scripture on the Water Curtain, Master Yuan looked somewhat fatigued and said: "This is the Heavenly Gang’s technique of traversing heaven and earth, known as ’Divine Travel Celestial Scripture’. If this technique is perfected, wherever the mind extends becomes the celestial palace!"
"A thought traverses the five directions of heaven and earth?"
Xu Qing’s eyes began to blur as he looked at those symbols.
"The Heavenly Gang techniques are not easy to cultivate. If your destiny does not afford you the opportunity, I may pass to you the method of ’Heaven in a Jug’, which compresses distance into an inch."
As the characters on the Water Curtain began to scramble and fade, Xu Qing immediately opened his Yin Pupil eyes, and at the next moment, the celestial scripture emitted a dazzling light, countless symbols rearranging to eventually constitute a Heavenly Gang area’s travel divine technique.
King meets king, general meets general, heaven matches Heavenly Gang, Xu Qing had finally grasped it!
Watching Xu Qing enter a state of stillness, Xuan Yu became anxious.
Master Yuan remarked with amazement, "No need to worry, he has already parsed the celestial scripture’s mysteries."
After a pause, Master Yuan continued, "You have a keen eye; the host you’ve chosen is a worthy talent."
"Not a host!" Xuan Yu outright denied, then earnestly said, "I’m a cat hired by the Xu Immortal Family, partners in this intertwined journey of cultivation..."
"Partners?"
This word wasn’t very polite.
Master Yuan assumed the cat before him was inexperienced in the world, with naturally unrefined speech and manners, not paying much heed.
But little did he know, Xuan Yu had always understood what "partners" meant.
It had done deeds of killing, arson, grave robbing with the Xu Immortal Family, and skillfully stealing grains and robbing the rich to aid the poor; this time, though, only it and the Xu Immortal Family were on this journey.
In other times, it wouldn’t be partners, but the Cat Immortal Hall’s team of perpetrators.
At the side, while Xu Qing was comprehending the Heavenly Gang’s wondrous methods, Xuan Yu also approached to observe the celestial scripture symbols on the Water Curtain.
However, the cat viewing these symbols was truly like reading celestial scriptures, utterly unable to understand even a bit; it couldn’t grasp anything.
Xuan Yu yawned hugely, tearing on the verge of flowing.
The celestial scriptures were even better than its urge to nap, making one wonder how the Xu Immortal Family managed to see through them...
Master Yuan chuckled inwardly; if Heavenly Gang techniques were so easily learned, the Celestial Emperor would have long given up the responsibilities!
Not to mention mastering Heavenly Gang techniques—even perfecting Earthly Fiend divine techniques would be enough to trouble the Celestial Emperor.
Master Yuan lamented greatly; he was grateful he was taught by the Profound Lady of Nine Heavens, otherwise he surely could not have met a favorable end.
"You truly are a greedy cat; that Heavenly Gang travel technique is passed to him. How can you learn it?"
"Calm your mind and spirit; no need to worry. I will impart to you divine techniques not inferior to celestial scriptures."
Upon hearing these words, Xuan Yu instantly became invigorated.
The girl held a sword nearly matching her own size, sitting cross-legged before a statue, then placing the sword horizontally upon her legs.
Master Yuan lowered his gaze, observing the sword inseparable from the girl, and asked, "Do you excel in using swords?"
Xuan Yu nodded enthusiastically, embracing the sword on her legs, and said, "This sword was given to me by the Xu Immortal Family, and the sword techniques I learned were also taught by them..."
"Good. Then tell me, do you practice swordsmanship due to talent, genuine affection, or is there another reason?"
Xuan Yu widened her eyes, striving to think.
"Follow your heart." Master Yuan sternly instructed.
Xuan Yu suddenly realized; she looked at Master Yuan with clear eyes and said, "All the sword skills taught by the Xu Immortal Family, I love."
"..."
I’m asking about swordsmanship, and you keep mentioning Xu Immortal Family—what’s the meaning? Is he your sword?
It seems teaching a monster differs from teaching a human; Master Yuan just thought of this when he suddenly recalled he himself was once a demon.
It appears that monsters who have lived among humans for a long time are difficult to teach; once a demon acquires humanity, some benefits arise but some essence is lost.
Master Yuan was helpless and had to think of other methods.
"Focus your mind and do not be distracted."
Xuan Yu stared at Master Yuan’s statue, sleep coming over her. When she suddenly awoke, the statue was gone, and neither Water Curtain celestial scriptures nor Water Curtain were visible. Before her was the lush peaks of Cloud Dream Mountain Cave Heaven, mist and clouds flowing around, presenting a scene of a paradise blessed by immortals.
"This is an illusion constructed by the spiritual platform; practice all your sword techniques here."
Following Master Yuan’s instructions, Xuan Yu was about to practice sword techniques but realized her sword had not accompanied her into the illusion.
Master Yuan seemed prepared; he broke a slender bamboo stick and threw it over: "Use this bamboo to practice."
Xuan Yu caught the three-foot-long slender bamboo, maneuvered gracefully, and demonstrated the sword skills infused with martial arts legacy from the martial masters that Xu Qing had transited.
"..."
Master Yuan remained silent for a long time.
Aside from divine techniques and spells, the swordsmanship had already reached its pinnacle.
Although Xuan Yu’s sword techniques were exquisite, they couldn’t be considered divine techniques; to advance further, one must enter the path.
"My esteemed teacher, the Profound Lady of Nine Heavens, once taught me a sword technique. You wouldn’t want to learn it then, would you?"
As he spoke, Master Yuan retrieved from his sleeve two perfectly round pellets, crafted as one complete entity.