Chaotic World Book

In the chief's house, there were fine wines and meat, and a warm brazier.

Gazing at the pleased Yue Hongling devouring meat, Zhao Changhe silently sighed; if only Xia Chichi had these conditions back then... She would surely be happy.

The current revenue came from a bunch of fools offering challenges for nothing, and Zhao Changhe found his actual combat growing stronger, but in comparison to before, something was missing.

There was no one to guide him; it was like a blind man feeling his way around an elephant.

Whether it was the Xia Family's Heart Method, Qinggong, the Blood Evil Skill, or the Blood Evil Saber Technique, he could now only figure things out by himself according to the secret books and charts.

Whether there were deviations remained uncertain, and there was no longer a Master Sun to scold him, "Your saber is not sharp enough," "Your waist twist is too wide."

Whether he could break through the Internal and External Second Layer Heaven, or if the timing lacked, was also up to his own feeling, no longer was there an experienced elder to tell him, "Your training is nearly there; today you might try to break through."

Many things, once lost, teach us the importance of having them; the difference was significant. After all, he was someone who had just started learning Martial Arts two months ago, and had not yet reached the level of self-correction, he always felt insecure.

But Yue Hongling showing up at his door was a blessing; she could overpower and defeat a group of Master Suns. More than the concerns of man and woman, Zhao Changhe cared that there was finally someone to guide him now, this teacher even more formidable than the Sect Hierarch.

Were there any romantic thoughts?

He didn't know; she was so beautiful that normally, any man would think about it.

However, just like when he had lived with Xia Chichi before, Zhao Changhe felt things would be more convenient and comfortable without those issues, her fall into the pit was really a pain in the neck, complicating things unnecessarily.

Was it because she avoided those embarrassing topics that everyone felt more relaxed, at least on the surface?

If Xia Chichi were here, she would probably widen her eyes and laugh, saying, "Truly the words of a brave man of Worldly Society."

It felt as if it were right before his eyes.

She seemed to be jealous of Yue Hongling... but she really didn't need to be.

After eating and drinking her fill, Yue Hongling comfortably wiped her mouth and casually stated, "I'm not your master, but as friends, there's no need for that stiff and formal demeanor."

"You might have misunderstood something... Would you believe me if I said I'm thinking about women?" Zhao Changhe expressionlessly remarked, "Ever since you fell into the pit, the awe-inspiring Yue Hongling has been gone."

Yue Hongling nearly choked, then finally replied after a long while, "I don't need you to look up to me... I don't even know what kind of strange Yue Hongling is in your mind. Was I very serious when I met you? I feel like I definitely smiled at you..."

Zhao Changhe: "...Wow, I'm touched; you actually smiled."

Yue Hongling, uninterested in continuing this conversation, moved on to the main topic, "Speaking of which, I have observed many of your battles, more than you might think."

Zhao Changhe looked up at her.

How could you boast about spying on a man like this, have you watched me while I bathed too... Never mind.

"Your foundation in basics is extremely solid, your eyes follow the saber, blending hardness and softness at will, and your mind is nimble, not stuck in rigid patterns. All you need to do is continue actual combat. With the vast experience you gather, you will naturally develop a deeper understanding and improvement in your techniques. As for skills alone, I don't have much to teach you, what you need is a stronger saber technique."

Zhao Changhe skeptically inquired, "Is it really that simple? I am not even sure how to handle each move, only relying on instinct. Don't I need someone to tell me how a previous move could have been done better so that I could learn from it and perform better next time?"

"That you think this way is enough," she said.

"Ah?"

"It's necessary at the beginning... but you've already made your debut; do you still expect a master to guide you in every battle? You can only rely on yourself now. Whether you can reflect, summarize, and learn more from each battle, that's also a part of your talent. Otherwise, what does it mean to be a 'Hidden Dragon'? That would just be a sniveling follower behind a master.

"I have only studied for two months!"

Yue Hongling calmly said, "You are Zhao Changhe. One month into Martial Arts, splitting the Second Layer with a saber, ascending as a Hidden Dragon, shaking Mount Mang. How many others in this world? Do you really think being a Hidden Dragon of 250 is trivial? That's recognition billions crave but cannot achieve."

Zhao Changhe, caught between laughter and tears, replied, "Thanks, I guess. Alright, you said I need a stronger saber technique, do you have one, can I see it?"

"I really won't stand on ceremony," Yue Hongling rolled her eyes, "No."

"Hey!"

"Over the years, I've faced many challenges and killed plenty of people. I do have a collection of Saber Technique manuals and charts, but to be honest, the Blood Evil Saber Technique is very powerful. The saber techniques I have aren't necessarily on this level. If you want, I can give them all to you for reference. Consider them steppingstones, just to better understand the strengths of various schools. For now, I still suggest you focus on the Blood Evil Saber." Yue Hongling said as she pulled a bag from under the table and tossed several books over.

"You actually brought a bag with you..."

"I told you I came to join you. Would I lie to you?"

"… It's hard to say." Zhao Changhe replied, feeling uneasy. "You've surpassed the required level for the Blood God Skill, and you say the lower-level Blood Evil Skill and its corresponding saber technique is very powerful. Somehow, it all sounds quite perfunctory."

Yue Hongling laughed dryly. "The skills I've learned aren't necessarily superior to the Blood God Skill."

Getting the hint, Zhao Changhe understood.

It all depended on who practiced the skill. The Vice Leader Huang was defeated by him, Zhao Changhe, in just three moves with the same Blood Evil Skill and Saber.

So, it wasn't that the Blood God Skill was worthless, but rather that Sect Hierarch Xue wasn't up to par...

Yue Hongling continued, "Moreover, the Blood Evil Skill isn't just a lower-level transitional technique compared to the Blood God Skill. It's actually a shortcut branched from the Blood God Skill. The Blood God Skill cultivates both internal and external aspects, whereas the Blood Evil Skill focuses solely on Qi and blood. Although it's one-sided, it also makes it more convenient and is one of the top skills in external cultivation of blood and Qi. The drawback, however, is clear; it lacks internal-external coordination which is why very few people can master it deeply. But, you know this better than I do."

Zhao Changhe nodded slightly, "Indeed, I myself feel the power of the Blood Evil Skill strongly and thought it was due to my limited exposure to high-end External Skills. Since you say so, it appears it really is powerful."

"But..." Yue Hongling hesitated, "The drawbacks of this skill aren't limited to just the potential to impair rationality and the agony during cultivation."

Zhao Changhe's eyes widened, "Usually, if a cultivation technique has one side effect, that's already quite troublesome. You're telling me there are two, and that's still not vexing enough? There's more?"

"Yes," Yue Hongling said, "Haven't you noticed? The more people you kill, the more powerful the feedback from the technique becomes?"

Zhao Changhe paused, this was indeed true, and it was even candidly recorded in the Secret Manual. It also stated that this aspect was the same even for those practicing the Blood God Technique; the Blood God Sect's notorious reputation for mass murder stemmed from this.

Blood Evil, Blood Evil; it's not just about Qi and blood, but also about Evil Qi. The more people killed, the more the Evil Qi is nurtured. A frail scholar practicing this would definitely not perform as well as a murderous bandit.

Stacking up a killer's record or becoming an unstoppable warrior… Zhao Changhe felt speechless, unable to determine whether this was an advantage or a disadvantage. It seemed all too easy to turn into a killing demon wreaking havoc far and wide.

Moreover, with increasing Evil Qi, wouldn't it be easier to lose one's rationality? So far, there hadn't been any incidents of berserk behavior, likely because his cultivation was still low. But what about when his cultivation reached a higher level?

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and cautiously asked, "Can cultivating Inner Strength resolve these issues?"

"Inner Strength isn't of just one type. I haven't quite understood your Inner Strength; it appears to lack any special characteristics, and I'm not sure if it could help you..." Yue Hongling smiled slightly, "Does it feel like, after all this, I'm still unable to teach you anything?"

Zhao Changhe was somewhat speechless. "You realize that, huh? But at least it's good to clarify the situation and know where things stand."

"I can at least teach you in three areas. First, your Inner Strength definitely comes from an improper source. It lacks guidance on meditative breathing and the Heart Method Mantra, crucial keys. These might not pose a problem at the beginner level, but as you aim higher, you'll definitely feel something missing, like lacking a key."

Zhao Changhe suddenly saw the light; his intuition was right. No wonder he always felt like breaking through the Second Layer was just out of reach. He had been missing something vital! If not for Yue Hongling's arrival, who knew how long he would have been stuck at this Second Layer Heaven!

"Can I use your Heart Method?"

"Heart methods are fundamentally similar across different schools, mainly enhancing and guiding, focusing the mind and reflecting inwardly. You can totally use my Heart Method to operate your meridians. The True Qi you cultivate will still be yours. There's no problem there."

Just like using the Nine Profound Technique taught by Fu Junnao to cultivate the Longevity Technique, it ultimately remains the Longevity Technique. Zhao Changhe suddenly felt that many in the Great Tang who practiced Longevity Technique without proper guidance might have missed something… This fleeting thought passed, and he soon happily requested, "Please, teach me sister."

"Before that, let me teach you the breathing techniques. Sit firmly... no need to sit cross-legged, just sitting normally is fine."

Zhao Changhe obediently sat down properly.

Yue Hongling stood up, walked over to him, and hesitated slightly before bending down and placing her hand on his abdomen, "First, draw in your stomach... right, deep breath. Feel the expansion of breath entering your body, then combine it with your Inner Breath..."

With his female master so close, her delicate hand gently caressing, her fragrance at the tip of his nose, and her hair brushing over his cheek, his face and heart felt ticklish. Zhao Changhe suddenly realized why Yue Hongling had been reluctant to accept disciples. It wasn't just about freedom; having an encumbrance made wandering the Worldly Society difficult. More importantly, she must have considered this intimate aspect of martial arts teaching.

When Sun taught him the Saber Technique, grabbing his hand had been the norm, along with twisting arms and pushing down on the waist, even slapping his backside. Now with a female master and a male disciple of similar ages, he couldn't help but feel this teaching method didn't quite sit right.

"You're supposed to be taking deep breaths, so why has your breathing become scattered and hurried?" Yue Hongling spoke expressionlessly, her voice seeming squeezed out between clenched teeth, "Could it be because Yue Hongling is in your room, you're considering how to play?"