'If the spring breeze pities the flowers, can it allow me to be young again?'
Well, actually, strictly speaking, in front of Gu Chengming, Jiang Lu was the "youngster."
But alas, Jiang Lu had previously held misconceptions about this Senior Brother Gu, leading to such sentimental thoughts.
Honestly, after withstanding the brilliant momentum of Gu Chengming's sword, Jiang Lu actually had the illusion that his life was flashing before his eyes.
He sat paralyzed on the ground for a long time, the thrilling sword moves from just now replaying constantly in his mind.
At this moment, Jiang Lu didn't know how to express his complex feelings.
If he had simply lost passively after being drained of stamina by the opponent's "Clingy" mantra, it wouldn't have caused such a strong impact. But for that strike just now, he had already brought out all his skills, integrating everything he had learned in his life, seeking that one glimpse of a sure kill.
Yet he still lost.
Lost so thoroughly, so... logically.
This made him feel both a sense of loss and bewilderment. He even began to harbor some doubts about the Huiyuan Sword Art he cultivated.
'Could it be that my understanding of this sword art was wrong from the very beginning?'
He carefully digested the impact that strike brought him, as well as the "Momentum" contained in Gu Chengming's "lovesick" sword path.
After a long time, he slowly stood up and bowed to Gu Chengming again, his voice carrying a trace of hoarseness:
"Thank you... Senior Brother, for the lesson."
Undoubtedly, Gu Chengming's strike just now had opened a brand-new door for him.
It thoroughly shattered the complacent and shallow cognition he had long immersed himself in within his own little world.
Saying "Thank you for the lesson" was indeed a heartfelt statement from Jiang Lu.
Gu Chengming stepped forward and helped him up, offering polite words:
"Junior Brother Jiang is too serious. Sparring with you just now, I also benefited greatly. Your sword path is full of variations; I have gained some insights from its exquisite points."
Hearing this, Jiang Lu was momentarily speechless. He had initially come with the attitude of "correcting," wanting to point out Gu Chengming's "astray" sword art.
But the result was that he was "schooled" by the opponent, and it was a total crushing defeat.
This huge contrast made him feel ashamed.
But at the same time, he also realized that this Senior Brother Gu seemed far from as simple as he had thought before.
His mind couldn't help but start to wander.
'The sword intent and realm displayed by Gu Chengming's strike just now were obviously not something a disciple at merely the Third Layer of the First Realm could unleash.'
'Especially in a sect like the Wenjian Sect, where sword arts and cultivation realms are closely related, the gap in realms is often an insurmountable chasm.'
'Could it be... Senior Brother has been hiding his clumsiness all along?'
Tropes from storytelling scripts like "A hidden dragon in the abyss" or "Great wisdom appears foolish" immediately surfaced in his mind.
The figure of Senior Brother Gu before him instantly took on a few shades of mystery and unfathomable depth in his eyes.
Daring not to think too much, Jiang Lu thanked him earnestly again, then cupped his hands and took his leave.
After all, Gu Chengming's strike just now had indeed benefited him greatly; he needed to find a place to calm down and properly digest these insights.
On the other side, watching Jiang Lu's thoughtful back disappear outside the courtyard gate, Gu Chengming also felt he had benefited greatly.
Of course, his "benefit" didn't come from any inspiration Jiang Lu's sword art gave him.
It was because...
The information on the panel refreshed.
[Huiyuan Sword Art saw you use your own true meaning of the sword art to defeat Jiang Lu in a way completely beyond its expectations. It feels somewhat conflicted for a moment.]
[With so many disciples in the Huiyuan Gate, they either have superb talent and look down on it as a basic sword art completely, or they have terrible talent and practice it randomly without any method.]
[Huiyuan Sword Art feels an inexplicable comfort, but at the same time, a trace of faint inferiority surges up.]
[It feels that it is ultimately just a basic technique, unable to directly endow the user with powerful strength like those high-level sword arts.]
[Huiyuan Sword Art Affection +15]
[Current Affection: Friendly (45/100)]
Gu Chengming looked at the rising Affection, and a stone in his heart fell to the ground.
'Sure enough, what a resentful housewife eats up the most is being recognized and needed.'
Gu Chengming rubbed his chin, thinking secretly.
Meanwhile, at the Daoning Gate.
On a cloud-shrouded peak, an exquisite cave dwelling stood quietly.
In front of the cave, several stalks of verdant spirit bamboo swayed in the wind, making a gentle rustling sound. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of vegetation.
Inside the cave, a young girl sat cross-legged with her eyes slightly closed. She wore a plain white long dress, the hem spreading out on the smooth stone floor like flowing clouds.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains containing dai pigment, her eyes like autumn waters rippling. Her nose was elegant, her lips light in color, her skin like snow, possessing a texture that was almost transparent.
A head of jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, unbound, making her appear even more cold and otherworldly, like the Fairy of the Moon Palace who did not partake in the food of mortals.
She was the "Dao Seed" of the Daoning Gate, Su Qingmeng.
A sound of light footsteps came from outside the cave. A girl dressed in Daoning Gate disciple attire stopped at the entrance and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple of the Still Water Pavilion, You Yuyao, here on patrol orders. Sorry to disturb Junior Sister Su's cultivation."
The Still Water Pavilion was an internal organization of the Wenjian Sect responsible for maintaining sect rules and patrolling the safety of disciples' cave dwellings. Its members were mostly careful disciples with acceptable cultivation bases.
Su Qingmeng slowly opened her eyes. In those clear pupils, there were no ripples at all.
She looked at You Yuyao at the entrance, her voice as cool as jade striking stone:
"Senior Sister You, please come in."
receiving permission, You Yuyao then walked carefully into the cave dwelling.
Looking at this legendary "Dao Seed" Junior Sister before her, her words unconsciously took on a bit of restraint and nervousness.
"Su... Junior Sister Su, I... I'm just doing a routine check on whether the cave's restrictions are intact. It won't take up too much of your time."
You Yuyao's voice was a bit tight, her face wearing an expression of mixed admiration and uneasiness.
Su Qingmeng nodded slightly and didn't say much, just watching her quietly.
You Yuyao forced herself to stay calm, took out a small compass, and walked around the cave, carefully checking the flow of spiritual power in the restrictions everywhere. Her movements were very light, afraid of making any unnecessary noise to disturb this Junior Sister's cultivation.
After the check was complete, You Yuyao put away the compass and bowed again: "Junior Sister Su, the restrictions are all normal. I... I will take my leave now."
"Senior Sister You." Su Qingmeng suddenly spoke.
"Ah? Yes!" You Yuyao stiffened and responded quickly.
"Your Water Condensation Art seems to have encountered a bottleneck." Su Qingmeng's gaze landed on You Yuyao's wrist, where there was a faint fluctuation of spiritual power that seemed slightly sluggish. "Impatience is a great taboo in cultivation. Calm your mind, and dripping water can penetrate stone."
Hearing this, a wave of ecstasy instantly surged onto You Yuyao's face. She hadn't expected that her trivial cultivation problem would be seen through by Junior Sister Su at a glance, and that she would receive such valuable guidance. She was so excited that she was somewhat incoherent: "Thank... Thank you, Junior Sister Su, for the guidance! I... I understand! I will definitely calm down and cultivate properly!"
Su Qingmeng just nodded lightly and closed her eyes again, as if everything just now had never happened.
You Yuyao dared not disturb her any longer and retreated from the cave cautiously.
After leaving Su Qingmeng's cave dwelling, You Yuyao's mood couldn't calm down for a long time.
As she walked towards her own cave, savoring Su Qingmeng's words just now, she felt suddenly enlightened. The bottleneck that had troubled her for a long time seemed to show signs of loosening.
Just as she was immersed in excitement, a burst of whispering from not far ahead attracted her attention.
She looked towards the sound and saw several female disciples of the Daoning Gate gathering under an ancient pine tree, whispering to each other, their faces wearing somewhat gloating expressions.
"Have you heard? About that Gu Chengming from the Huiyuan Gate..."
"The one who ran to Junior Sister Su a while ago wanting to become Dao Companions?"
"What? There was such a thing?"
"It is indeed somewhat... unbelievable."
These words fell into You Yuyao's ears word for word, causing the excitement on her face to fade instantly, replaced by a somewhat ugly expression.
In her opinion, Junior Sister Su Qingmeng was such a pure and talented figure, the pride of the Daoning Gate and even the entire Wenjian Sect.
And that guy named Gu Chengming... You Yuyao had specifically asked around about him.
Having entered the sect for many years, his cultivation had remained at the Third Layer of the First Realm.
You Yuyao felt that connecting such a person with Junior Sister Su Qingmeng's name was in itself a huge insult!
She couldn't listen any longer. She walked over quickly and interrupted their chat coldly:
"Are you all so idle? No need to cultivate?"
The female disciples turned around. Seeing it was You Yuyao from the "Still Water Pavilion," their faces instantly looked somewhat embarrassed.
Though they gossiped behind others' backs, they didn't want to offend anyone from the Still Water Pavilion.
"Senior Sister You..."
The group mumbled a greeting, then tactfully dispersed.
You Yuyao scoffed coldly, watching their retreating figures, but the anger in her heart didn't subside in the slightest.
She returned to her cave dwelling and closed the stone door, yet those piercing discussions continued to echo in her mind.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
The Wenjian Sect was still too lenient with its disciples! To think they would let such a black sheep freeload in the sect, muddling along for so long!