My Apprentice Is Too Diligent

Chapter 58: Mr. Yang, the Gatekeeper, True Qi Fourth Layer (Two-in-One Subscription)

Using the spoils of war as a thank-you gift, the Zhang family's move was truly impressive.

Of course.

It is unknown whether all the spoils of war have been delivered.

Chen Wuji didn't investigate further.

Because just these things on the surface are enough to be considered generous gifts.

Faced with such a generous gift, Chen Yifan naturally didn't dare to make the decision himself.

He wasn't foolish enough to think that these gifts were really meant for him.

It wasn't until Chen Wuji nodded that he reluctantly accepted them and asked about Zhang Yiyi's condition, if she had been frightened.

To this, Zhang Keyan expressed his gratitude and informed them that Zhang Yiyi had not been affected, and then invited Chen Yifan, Chen Qingning, Han Ying, and others to visit the Zhang family when they had time.

Chen Wuji naturally did the same, welcoming them on behalf of the Zhang family.

After a pleasant and friendly conversation, Zhang Keyan took his leave.

Chen Wuji accompanied him to the door, watching the group of people disappear at the street corner, and then returned to the courtyard.

Upon returning, Chen Yifan immediately expressed his stance, asking Chen Wuji to decide how to distribute the thank-you gifts that were sent.

Chen Wuji didn't hesitate.

He handed over all the silver bills, silver, and jewelry to the old housekeeper, along with the medicinal herbs and soups.

He gave Chen Yifan a knife and Nan Jinyu a sword.

As for the remaining three secret manuals, any of the seven disciples could practice them. They could choose whichever manual they liked, and they could arrange the time for using the manuals themselves.

"The Dazzling Thirteen Swords," "The White Crane Dancing Sky Steps," "The Locking Arrow"

These three martial arts techniques, the source of the sword technique cannot be traced, so there are no hidden dangers.

The footwork was once the unique skill of the White Crane Martial Hall. After the hall was destroyed, it changed hands several times, and many people learned it, so there are no hidden dangers either.

The archery technique is the signature skill of Qingye's leader, Wu Zhong. It originated from a talented archer several decades ago, who created it and openly taught it to many people, but this martial art requires a certain level of talent.

Many people have learned the basics, but there are few who have mastered the archery technique.

Wu Zhong happens to have great talent and is considered the best in archery in White Water County.

Last night, when the Zhang family destroyed the Qingye gang, if Wu Zhong had discovered it in advance while holding a bow and arrow, even if he was eventually killed, many people from the Zhang family would have been buried with him.

Because of this, all three martial arts techniques can be learned.

Come to think of it, if there were hidden dangers in these martial arts, how could the Zhang family possibly treat them as thank-you gifts and send them over?

...

He stayed at home for the morning and arranged everything.

During lunch, Chen Wuji announced in front of everyone that he would be leaving for a while.

He would be away for about half a month.

During his absence, the affairs of the mansion would be handled by the old housekeeper, and the external affairs would be handled by Su Dayong, with Han Ying assisting from the side.

After lunch, he left the house in his own appearance.

It was impossible to cultivate True Qi in the city through the practice of gathering water spirit pearls.

Not to mention, there wasn't such a large water source in the city.

Just the movement of gathering the energy of heaven and earth when the water spirit pearls were activated was not insignificant.

Ordinary people and low-level Martial Masters couldn't sense it.

Martial Masters at the Body Refining Eighth Layer Nurturing Spirit stage could almost perceive every change in the flow of energy of heaven and earth.

Therefore, he had to leave the city to cultivate!

The name White Water County comes from the White Water River.

This river, which is over two hundred zhang wide at its widest point, divides into three branches and runs through the county.

Therefore, there is an abundant water source in the county.

After leaving the city, Chen Wuji walked along the river for most of the day, finding a secluded spot to cultivate.

It was a hidden cave in the middle of a mountain stream by the river.

The cave wasn't very tall or wide.

But it can block some wind and rain, enough for Chen Wuji to sit down and cultivate in peace.

...

[Your third disciple, Nan Jinyu, has practiced the "Dazzling Thirteen Swords" with a proficiency +1. Current loyalty is 68, receiving a 68x reward. Your proficiency in the "Dazzling Thirteen Swords" is +68.]

[Your fifth disciple, Duan Zhen, has practiced the "Locking Space Arrow" with a proficiency +1. Current loyalty is 77, receiving a 77x reward. Your proficiency in the "Locking Space Arrow" is +77.]

[Your eighth disciple, Nie Shuangshuang, has practiced the "White Crane Dancing Sky Steps" with a proficiency +1. Current loyalty is 62, receiving a 62x reward. Your proficiency in the "White Crane Dancing Sky Steps" is +62.]

...

"So they all learned it so quickly?"

In the cave, Chen Wuji received a prompt and instantly comprehended and understood the three martial arts techniques of the "Dazzling Thirteen Swords," "White Crane Dancing Sky Steps," and "Locking Space Arrow" in his mind.

It was expected that Nan Jinyu would quickly grasp the sword technique.

Duan Zhen's archery skills were also learned quickly, which was somewhat surprising.

"A talent for 100% accuracy finally comes in handy."

He glanced at Duan Zhen's information panel.

Sure enough, the compatibility of the "Locking Space Arrow" was as high as 83%.

"My disciples are so diligent, I should work hard too."

Taking a deep breath and stabilizing his mind, Chen Wuji took out the Water Gathering Spirit Pearl, stimulated his Qi Sea, controlled a strand of True Qi to leave his dantian, circulated through his meridians, transitioned out of his body, and infused it into the pearl.

Swoosh~

A faint blue light instantly bloomed from inside the pearl.

The entire pearl became transparent in an instant, like crystal, and strands of special power resembling flowing water slowly coiled and rotated on its own.

Being close to the river, there was a lot of water vapor in the cave. At this moment, with the blooming light of the pearl, Chen Wuji keenly sensed that the water vapor in the air was being drawn and rapidly converging around the pearl.

At first, the water vapor was just a thread, but quickly condensed into one bundle after another.

When the air was stirred up like boiling water, large ripples appeared.

Chen Wuji decisively put the pearl into the water, and it floated without sinking.

In an instant, the energy of heaven and earth in the river water began to be stripped away, gathering in strands around the pearl.

Chen Wuji saw this and quickly activated the "Dragon Gate Primordial Origin Technique," condensing small vortices on his body's surface, absorbing the thin energy of heaven and earth surrounding the spirit pearl from a distance.

Hoo hoo~

Inside the cave, the airflow inside and outside the cave created a small whirlwind.

The energy of heaven and earth that entered the body was refined and transformed through the cultivation method, turning into strands of True Qi stored in the Qi Sea.

Although the absorption of energy from heaven and earth was scarce, it was constantly drawn from the river water.

Chen Wuji sat still, feeling strands of True Qi entering his dantian, merging into his Qi Sea, and steadily and steadily improving his cultivation.

...

White Water County.

As night fell, lanterns were hung on both sides of the long streets, illuminating the streets and creating a hazy street scene.

Rustling~

The sound of leaves rubbing against each other.

A squad of thirty soldiers, all wearing armor and carrying bows and knives, led by a strong man riding a tall horse, passed through the streets and stopped at the entrance of the Chen Family's courtyard.

"Thud!"

The strong man on the horse, wearing light armor, landed with a heavy thud, kicking up dust.

With a pair of bright and sharp eyes, he looked up at the plaque and walked up the steps.

Behind him, thirty soldiers followed with synchronized footsteps.

Two of the soldiers ran up to the front of the gate and knocked on it with clenched fists.

Bang bang~

"Open the door, quickly!"

Creak~

The door opened, and Yang Jia lazily stuck his head out and looked outside.

Seeing a group of armored soldiers, he was momentarily stunned, then slightly squinted his eyes and looked at the leading strong man.

"Captain Pang, what brings you here at night?" Yang Jia asked calmly.

"You are..."

Pang Qianding slightly furrowed his brows, carefully sizing up Yang Jia, quickly recalling.

In the next instant, he exclaimed in surprise, "You are the former head of the Clover Martial Arts Academy, Yang Lao Guan Zhu? What are you doing here?"

"Old man, I am the gatekeeper of the Chen Family. If not here, then where?" Yang Jia lazily retorted, "Captain Pang, are you here to arrest someone?"

Pang Qianding did not respond, but instead looked at Yang Jia with a strange expression on his face.

"Gatekeeper? When did Yang Lao Guan Zhu become the gatekeeper of the Chen Family?"

"When I became one is none of your business." Yang Jia yawned, "If Captain Pang has nothing else, I'll close the door."

"Wait."

Pang Qianding suppressed his surprise and said in a deep voice, "I came here to find Chen Wuji and visit the camp. Three months ago, a batch of military equipment went missing from the camp and hasn't been found. Today, I received a tip-off that Chen Wuji is involved in this matter, so he has to come with me!"

"Oh, so you're looking for the head."

Yang Jia replied lazily, "The head is not here, he's gone on a long trip. If you want to take him, wait for him to come back."

Huh?

A cold light flashed in Pang Qianding's eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Yang Jia! Have you made up your mind to protect Chen Wuji and oppose me?"

"Old man, am I opposing you?" Yang Jia looked strange, "Chen Wuji left at noon, and people nearby saw it. The guards at the city gate should have seen it too. He really went on a long trip. If you don't believe me, go ask those people and you'll know."

"You..."

A cold light flickered in Pang Qianding's eyes, but looking at Yang Jia who was close by, he didn't seem to be pretending. With a lazy posture, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

"Fine, I'll investigate and come back later."

After thinking for a moment, Pang Qianding gave up on the idea of taking action, turned around and waved his hand, quickly leaving with his subordinates.

Yang Jia stood at the door, watching the backs of the group, lost in thought.

...

"What? Chen's surname has left? Don't know where he went?"

In a house not far from the Chen Family courtyard, Zhao Kongchuang stared directly at Pang Qianding and shouted, "Are you sure? It's not that Chen received the news and left early?"

"Sure."

Pang Qianding lowered his head and respectfully said, "After multiple confirmations, Chen Wuji left the county town in the afternoon, and I don't know where he went. At that time, I had not yet received the instructions from General Shao..."

He didn't say the rest.

But everyone in the room could hear the implied meaning.

When Chen Wuji left, Pang Qianding didn't receive any orders, so where did the leak come from?

If there really was a leak, it wouldn't have come from Pang Qianding's side.

Zhao Kongchuang sorted out the relationship and couldn't help but be speechless. He opened his mouth to say something, but swallowed it back, angrily slamming the table.

"Fine, then we'll wait for him to come back!"

"By the way, you just said that the gatekeeper of the Chen Family is an old guy at the peak of the Eighth Layer of Body Refining, but can reach the Ninth Layer at any time?" Zhao Kongchuang asked.

"Yes, this Yang Jia is the former head of the local Clover Martial Arts Academy, a veteran Body Refining Martial Master at the Nurturing Spirit stage, and his Qi Sea can stabilize at any time."

"This kind of peak-level Blood and Qi, but can turn from prosperity to decline at any time, is not an opponent for me."

Pang Qianding said honestly, calmly, "But if General Shao needs it, I can forcefully enter the Chen Family and capture all seven of Chen Wuji's disciples!"

"...Not necessary for now."

Zhao Kongchuang's mouth twitched, gritting his teeth, "It's easy to capture someone, but if we startle him and he runs away, it will be more trouble than it's worth."

Pang Qianding fell silent.

He didn't ask why, nor did he offer any more advice.

"You may leave."

Zhao Kongchuang also didn't explain, waved his hand with a lack of interest.

"I take my leave!"

Pang Qianding clasped his fists and backed out of the room.

When the people were far away.

Zhao Kongchuang struggled and sat back in his chair, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Stability, that's all he wanted now!

Suspecting Chen Wuji, Pang Qianding was ordered to take action, while Lao Yan secretly followed.

Their goal was to ensure a decisive hit.

Now that Chen Wuji has left the city and his whereabouts are unknown, capturing his disciples would certainly force him to reveal himself.

But what if Chen Wuji abandons a few disciples?

Compared to the benefits hidden on the map, what are a few disciples worth?

Not to mention disciples, even his own son could be lost.

Disciples can be recruited again, and sons can be born again.

If the benefits on the map are lost, then he will have no hope for the rest of his life!

...

By the White Water riverbank.

Inside a cave.

Chen Wuji slowly emerged from his state of cultivation, looking puzzled at the Water Gathering Spirit Pearl soaking in the water, furrowing his brow in confusion.

"The pearl has lost its effectiveness? The amount of energy absorbed from heaven and earth is decreasing."

"Or perhaps the pearl hasn't lost its effectiveness, but the energy from heaven and earth in the water has been completely absorbed?"

"But White Water river is such a large water area, a branch of the Tianmen River. How could the energy from heaven and earth in the water be...?"

"Hmm, wait!"

Suddenly, Chen Wuji thought of something and blinked.

He seemed to have guessed why the Water Gathering Spirit Pearl was absorbing less and less energy from heaven and earth.

It wasn't that the pearl had lost its effectiveness, nor that the energy from heaven and earth in the water had been completely absorbed.

It was that the range of the pearl's absorption was limited!

Sitting in the cave, within a range of one to two hundred zhang, the energy from heaven and earth in the water could be gathered and separated by the pearl.

Beyond this range, the pearl obviously couldn't do it.

There wasn't enough ability to gather the energy from heaven and earth in the water hundreds of zhang away!

Thinking of this...

Chen Wuji came out of the cave, put away the Water Spirit Pearl, and moved to the riverbank three hundred zhang away, placing the pearl in the water.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh~

Sure enough, with the flickering light of the pearl, strands of energy from heaven and earth were separated and absorbed from the water by the pearl.

Guessed it!

Chen Wuji chuckled to himself, relieved.

Immediately, he put away the pearl and searched for a hidden location again.

The range of the pearl's absorption was limited.

He could only change his cultivation location every day.

Although it was a bit troublesome, it was the most effective.

The Primordial Origin True Qi in his Qi Sea was increasing every day, driving his cultivation to continuously grow.

After seven days, his cultivation reached the Third Layer of the True Qi Realm.

Ten days later, the Dragon Gate Primordial Origin Technique advanced to the fifth level, and his cultivation broke through to the Fourth Layer of the True Qi Realm.

At this point, the amount of True Qi needed to break through the First Layer below increased several times.

The Fourth Layer of the True Qi Realm was already the mid-stage of True Qi.

At this stage, each breakthrough of the First Layer was several times more troublesome than the initial stage.

Chen Wuji estimated.

Based on his current cultivation efficiency, it would take at least two months to break through to the Fifth Layer of the True Qi Realm.

Too long...

"Whoosh~!"

The sound of the river water surging suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Chen Wuji instinctively looked up and saw a huge black shadow rapidly approaching his location under the evening sky's reflection on the water...

(End of this chapter)