The Fastest Man of Mount Shu

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Relying on his extensive knowledge, Chu Liang finally managed to handle Zhang Xiaohan’s questions. Although this time he didn’t uncover any scandal about Xue Lingxue from Nanyinfang, he did obtain explosive news about the dragon’s emergence in Shushan and some shocking past events related to the Marquis of Dingshan’s mansion, which left him quite satisfied.
After seeing her off, Chu Liang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Reading more books really does come in handy.
Returning to Silver Sword Peak, he first went to the hillside behind the mountain to practice the Flying Leaf Quick Blade technique for a while.
After multiple training sessions, Chu Liang found that there were indeed certain patterns to it. However, fully mastering it was incredibly difficult. It required extensive practice to summarize and grasp its underlying principles.
During these sessions, he also observed the characteristics of Wen Yulong’s method for forging magical weapons: focusing on a single desired effect and maximizing it without considering possible negative side effects. The resulting weapons were undoubtedly powerful but extremely unbalanced, making them very challenging to control.
Staring at a tree in front of him, he released the Flying Leaf Quick Blade about dozens of times, chopping the hillside forest into a scattered mess, with only the targeted tree remaining intact.
Well then.
Could this be called “protective targeting”?
Glancing at the surrounding broken branches, Chu Liang thought it might be wise to go down the mountain next time to find a more secluded place to practice. The woods around the peaks of Shushan were all part of the scenery; it wasn’t very aesthetic to leave them so battered. Although he could go to the Alchemy Hall and get some growth-accelerating powder to instantly replant the forest…
But that would cost money, wouldn’t it?
After practicing for a while longer, he spared the rest of the trees and returned to his room. Checking the time, it had been almost an hour since Zhang Xiaohan and Jiang Yuebai’s conversation had likely ended.
He grabbed a sheet of paper and began to write a message.
“Senior Sister Jiang, you didn’t look well today, as if something was troubling you. Is everything alright?”
After finishing, he folded the paper into a crane, infused it with a bit of true qi, and sent it fluttering towards Azurefall Peak.
After quite some time, a paper crane returned.
Chu Liang opened it and saw only two words: “Nothing’s wrong.”
Heh.
“Nothing’s wrong” — that was suspicious.
If she really wasn’t upset, her reply would probably have said something like, “No, why would you think so? How could that be? The weather is lovely today, I’m really happy for you, as expected from my student…” and so on.
But he didn’t press further, instead writing again: “Good to hear nothing’s wrong, I was a bit worried. I happen to have gotten some new flavors of fruit tea and wanted to bring some to you. Let’s meet at the usual place later.”
This time the reply came quickly and, unsurprisingly, it was a refusal. Jiang Yuebai only wrote three words: “Maybe next time.”
Chu Liang replied again: “If you’re free, how about today? It’s been so many days since we last met; Xiaobaize keeps telling me it misses you.”
Normally, if Jiang Yuebai refused, he wouldn’t say more. But since she was upset now, if she calmed down too much, it might really become cold between them.
Better to try a little harder.
After a long moment, the paper crane flew back: “I didn’t know it could talk... Fine, see you later at the usual place.”
Seeing this, Chu Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

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...
When he arrived at Pagoda Peak, Jiang Yuebai was already in the Water Curtain Cave, where the cheerful calls of white ze calves echoed.
“Huo luo luo—”
Chu Liang entered carrying several jars of different flavored fruit tea, smiling: “See? I told you it missed you.”
As soon as Chu Liang appeared, the white ze calves hopped excitedly over to him, circling around and rubbing against him affectionately.
“Hmph.” Jiang Yuebai gave a light hum and shot him a sideways glance. “I think it misses you more.”
Chu Liang placed the fruit tea on the stone table. “One jar of each flavor, Senior Sister Jiang, please have a taste.”
“Did you give any to Miss Xue who plays the zither for you first?” Jiang Yuebai asked casually.
“Of course not…” Chu Liang answered without hesitation.
“Hm?” Jiang Yuebai raised an eyebrow.
“Of course not,” Chu Liang smiled, “You were the first person I thought of.”
Jiang Yuebai then withdrew her unfriendly look.
Then Chu Liang continued, “I plan for Senior Sister Jiang to taste each flavor and pick the best one to send to Miss Xue.”
“You…”
Jiang Yuebai’s face tightened in a way that was quite attractive.
“Hehe, just kidding,” Chu Liang said as he sat down. “I don’t know why she keeps asking about Xue Lingxue. Maybe she’s just looking for some juicy gossip. I’m not really close with Miss Xue. What I said is true — I helped her a little, and she saved me once. No matter what, she can’t compare to the place you hold in my heart.”
“Tch, like I care.” Jiang Yuebai turned her face away.
But this exchange eased the tension somewhat.
They chatted for a while longer. Chu Liang shared his recent experiences, and Jiang Yuebai briefly recounted what she had been up to.
It turned out that a group in the Eastern Domain was impersonating the Shenxu Sect, engaging in fraud, and she had gone to deal with them.
Chu Liang was familiar with the name Shenxu.
Those who reach the ninth realm of Divine Understanding are called Sacred. Throughout history, there have been only a few. It is said that when each ninth realm cultivator nears the end of their lifespan, they enter the Divine Ruins and never reappear.
Legends vary about this place. Some say it is the tomb where gods are buried, others say it is the sole path to ascension...
In any case, it is a place shrouded in mystery and legend.
Jiang Yuebai did not elaborate on what the Shenxu Sect was.
From her demeanor, it seemed she was reluctant to speak of it. Chu Liang read the situation and refrained from asking further. If he was curious, he could inquire of others later.
After a few words, Jiang Yuebai changed the subject: “How far have you progressed with your Talisman Sword Technique? Show me.”

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Caught off guard by Senior Sister Jiang’s sudden test, Chu Liang immediately stood up and straightened himself.
“I can now proficiently wield the Twin Talisman Swords, mastering ice, fire, and wind runes.”
He then demonstrated the Ice-Fire Twin Talisman Sword and the Wind-Fire Twin Talisman Sword, both showing significant improvements in power.
Jiang Yuebai was no longer surprised by Chu Liang’s rapid progress. After all, it wasn’t the first time he had amazed her since they met.
She had grown numb to it.
However, she keenly sensed something unusual about the power of these twin talisman swords.
“The power of this sword technique has increased a lot. What realm is your cultivation at now?” she asked.
“Late Divine Understanding Realm,” Chu Liang released his aura.
Jiang Yuebai sensed his energy and fell silent for a moment.
She recalled when she first met Chu Liang; he had just reached the mid Divine Understanding Realm, and his cultivation was quite weak. In such a short time, he had jumped from mid to late stage... and judging by his aura, it was clearly late late stage, nearly at the peak of Divine Understanding.
Reaching the peak of Divine Understanding meant completing the third realm, preparing to break into the fourth.
The breakthrough required forging the Golden Core, also called Core Formation.
Once the core was successfully formed, it meant passing the first gate of the Three Passes and Nine Realms, moving from the Human Gate to the Earth Gate, entering the Golden Core Realm.
Though Core Formation is a major hurdle for many, given Chu Liang’s comprehension, this barrier wouldn’t hold him long. It was believed he would soon become a Golden Core cultivator.
For someone his age, reaching this level in the Nine Heavens and Ten Worlds was considered excellent. Of course, even if he reached the Golden Core Realm, there would still be a long way to go before matching Jiang Yuebai’s cultivation.
But...
Wasn’t this progress a bit too fast?
Jiang Yuebai thought to herself. Just the leap from mid to peak Divine Understanding had taken her much longer.
She looked at Chu Liang, knowing he was always quick,
But she was still frequently astonished at how fast he could advance.
In terms of cultivation speed in this period, he was undoubtedly the fastest man in Shushan.
The reason she specified “man” was because there was once a woman who might have rivaled his speed—her own master, Master Yan...
“Senior Sister Jiang?” Chu Liang noticed her staring blankly and quietly asked, “Is my progress alright?”
“It’s good…” Jiang Yuebai nodded, then suddenly asked, “Chu Liang, you haven’t been secretly practicing any demonic techniques, have you?”