Chapter 16 - Unexpected Knowledge

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  Gu Xuan was dumbstruck hearing the sect leader’s sudden declaration.

  Not only him, Elder Yan who was on the side was feeling similar emotions, however, his was far more intense considering he had just heard that Gu Xuan had already reached the 3rd Layer at the age of 14.

  In Elder Yan’s thoughts, such a thing, was it even possible? Even if one spent all their time in cultivation, he somehow thought that it was impossible to reach that level within that amount of time, then he looked at Gu Xuan’s face with a thoughtful look, ‘Wait, maybe he really did spend all his time in cultivation, that’s why he was looking at foundational books when he first entered the Martial Arts Library but then… not only are his choices very mature, it’s also very practical maximizing his time efficiently.’

  Gu Xuan’s lips parted but before he could speak, a fist was before his face, but due to his recent training, he reacted instinctively and inner qi travelled to his arms crossing it in order to defend against the fist.

  Additionally, a thin layer of inner qi coursed through his veins, and an additional thick layer on his feet in order to block the strike properly according to his estimations.

  Boom!

  The fist collided with his crossed arms and he was sent a few steps backwards, his feet dragging onto the ground.

  It was Sect Leader Han who punched in his direction, trying to see Gu Xuan’s skills, but he was pleasantly surprised.

  Within a millisecond, Gu Xuan was able to block his fist.

  Even Elder Yan on the side couldn’t help but feel surprised, after all, even he would be able to barely block it at such a speed if caught off-guard.

  Sect Leader Han laughed out loud, “Brilliant! Although I originally allowed you to go down the mountain, I changed my mind in a split second and intended to spar with you for a month first to help you gain combat senses but it seems like my worries were unfounded. The strength and speed I used just now is comparable to that of a grandmaster in the mortal world with great martial attainment. Furthermore, what I did was a sneak attack, looks like you’ll survive going to the outside world just fine.”

  “This…” Gu Xuan was still slightly puzzled as he stared at Sect Leader Han. A mortal at that level? Is he messing with him?

  If he’s not, it’s possible to reach that prowess without qi?

  If that’s the case, it changes everything, Gu Xuan’s couldn’t help but feel perplexed at the same time excited of what the world outside holds.

  “What martial arts technique have you learned from the Martial Arts Library?”

  Although Gu Xuan was still processing what was happening, he still answered Sect Leader Han’s question, “I’ve only learned one martial arts technique, the Silent Step Footwork. I was able to bring it to the 2nd level.”

  “Silent Step Footwork?” Sect Leader Han tilted his head slightly, to think about it before nodding in understanding and satisfaction, “I see, although it’s admirable that you’ve reached the 2nd level, the ‘Silent Step Footwork’ is more of a concept rather than a technique.”

  After thinking about it, Gu Xuan found that the sect leader’s words were true.

  After all, the Silent Step Footwork taught a practitioner to mask the sound of his footsteps, not a sequence of actions that can be used in combat.

  In other words, if it was compared to a game, it was more of a passive-active skill instead of an active skill where there's a sequence of actions to cut down an enemy, block or avoid attacks.

  “When you come back, I’ll teach you a martial arts technique.”

  Gu Xuan was elated hearing the Sect Leader’s words, even if it was a low level world he was in currently, getting the teachings of a highly experienced practitioner was helpful to his current progress.

  He got a hold of himself and tried to ask, “Sect Leader…”

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  Before he could finish his words, Sect Leader Han snorted, “Hmp! Call me Master! Didn’t I say that I’m taking you as my disciple?”

  Realizing what Sect Leader Han meant, Gu Xuan immediately knelt on the ground and bowed his head, “Disciple Gu Xuan greets Master Han Qiao.”

  If someone asked Gu Xuan if he has any pride, after all, he knelt down immediately just for a low level cultivator, he’d probably tilt his head in confusion and ask, “Pride? What’s that? Can you eat that? Can pride help increase my cultivation realm?!”

  Furthermore, Gu Xuan likes being efficient and currently, this is one of the most efficient choices he could make since the risks no longer exist considering the sect leader already knows his cultivation level.

  Although Gu Xuan wouldn’t eat shit to increase his cultivation level, he doesn’t mind kneeling down or even dancing nake… maybe that’s going a bit too far but you get the point.

  If he acknowledges Sect Leader Han as his master, not only will he be able to have a cultivation environment that’s about 5 times richer in terms of spiritual qi than the lower district, he’d even get taught martial arts techniques.

  Why wouldn’t he kneel before a master?

  He wasn’t a reincarnated ancestor after all, he’s just a reincarnator.

  “Um!” Sect Leader Han made a sound of satisfaction hearing Gu Xuan’s greetings as well as seeing his bow.

  Gu Xuan then as he stood up, he cupped his fist, “However, this disciple would like to apologize for being unfilial. If the master's intention is to make a sect leader in the future, that will be impossible.”

  Gu Xuan raised his head, looking at Sect Leader Han’s eyes and said, “Master, I would like to become an immortal.”

  At Gu Xuan’s declaration, Elder Yan on the side was awed.

  As a cultivator, he simply wants to become stronger and stronger, meanwhile Gu Xuan had an end goal, and it was akin to witnessing a dragon flying in the skies.

  Meaning something most likely impossible.

  Sect Leader Han, on the other hand, frowned but sighed in the next moment, “A small pond can’t host a fledgling dragon huh? However, can I ask why you seek immortality?”

  Everyone was seeking immortality, even he, Han Qiao, was the same, however, people have their own reasons, he would simply like to know why Gu Xuan wanted to live for eternity.

  Gu Xuan looked down at the wooden floor he was standing on for a moment before raising his head and answering with a smile, “I don’t know. But I’d like to know.”

  Gu Xuan had no definitive answer after all, and this is the best answer he could give at the moment. He really didn’t know, he just wanted to raise his cultivation level up and be able to make it possible to live for at least a thousand years or even more. As for anything else, he’d like to figure it out when the time comes.

  Not only Elder Yan, even Sect Leader Han was surprised.

  Hearing Gu Xuan’s answer that was vague yet sincere, Sect Leader Han couldn’t help but chuckle, “Cheeky brat. Go off the island to gain combat experience first then go into seclusion when you come back in a year to increase your cultivation to the next level, but I’ll have to warn you, don’t underestimate martial arts grandmasters in the lower realm even if they can’t control their inner qi at the level of a normal Qi Gathering Realm cultivator. They’ve honed their skills to be skilled without them, and they can even use martial arts techniques momentarily, but unlike us who have inner qi to shoulder a part of the burden, they rely on their physical bodies so they can’t use them as much.”

  “Yes, Master Han. Thank you for your warnings, but I do have some questions.”

  “Hm? Go on, ask.”

  “How high is your cultivation realm? And can I learn the martial arts technique you used before with your eyes?”

  Gu Xuan knew, no, he guessed, that technique must be why Han Qiao was able to detect his cultivation.

  That faint blue glow in his eyes, his eyes were most likely enhanced with inner qi.

  But Gu Xuan couldn’t tell how.

  The eyes were very sensitive. Just by the fact that his arm muscles almost broke down when he first tried to channel his full strength with inner qi in his hands was a very telling knowledge.

  The body isn’t suitable to host inner qi, or at least, withstand its abilities without any training.

  He didn’t dare input inner qi in a very sensitive organ such as the eyes.

  “Hoh? You were able to notice that? Good disciple. But that’s something you can only do when you reach the 4th layer.”

  Hearing the sect leader’s statement, Gu Xuan couldn’t help but frown, “There’s a difference between 3rd and 4th… don’t tell me, when one breaks through from the 3rd to 4th is similar to when one breaks through the 1st layer?! If that’s the case, my calculations are probably wrong, it won’t take me 8 years but even more to break through…”

  “You can even tell that? Looks like I’ve taken quite an exceptional disciple.” Sect Leader Han praised in awe.

  He could tell that Gu Xuan was simply curious, and that curiosity can be a good thing as well as a bad thing but for the most part, it was a good thing, just like now.

  With his ability to analyze things, it will only be helpful to him in the long term.

  “But, you shouldn’t ask any more questions, right now, is the best time for you to develop your combat senses on a real battlefield but there aren’t any wars right now, so you can only do so in the mortal world where countless skilled martial artists roam the lands. Go but don’t let yourself get killed.”

  Gu Xuan also realized that he had been thinking too much and nodded, “Yes, Master. I’ll go to the Mission Hall first to get a new set of robes before I get off the island.”

  Sect Leader Han just nodded as he watched Gu Xuan excuse himself and walk away.

  As Gu Xuan’s silhouette went further and further, Elder Yan argued, “Sect Leader, although we didn’t know beforehand, but now that we know, how could you send him out? That child is a genius, are you really alright sending him out like that without anyone watching him?!”

  Sect Leader Han turned to Elder Yan and stared into his eyes, “Do you think that child can easily be killed?”

  “N-No… but still…”

  “He’ll be alright, furthermore, if a baby bird doesn’t learn to flap its wings to fly when it’s fully formed, when will he?”

  Meanwhile, Gu Xuan, who was walking away, remembered something, so he thought in annoyance, ‘Ah, that old man didn’t answer my question of how high his realm is. How cunning. Whatever.’

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