41. The Returning Flow Technique Enhances the Divine Fist

“Human-grade technique?” Ding Desheng’s face darkened. “Sect Master, are you saying that Xie Wuji, an outsider who has injured our inner disciples, not only bears no guilt, but is actually being rewarded?”

“You reminded me—I almost forgot. As an inner disciple, to lose to someone who isn’t even an outer disciple, Xie Wuji, is a disgrace to our Danxia Sect. A year of confinement is far too lenient. After much deliberation, I’ve decided it will be two years,” Dongmen Yong said solemnly.

Ding Desheng’s beard quivered with rage. “Sect Master, how can your judgment convince anyone? Are you purposely punishing my disciple, Shi Zhenxiang?”

Shi Zhenxiang’s face was wet with tears. “Master, I beg your mercy. It was my impulsiveness and lack of discernment that brought shame to Danxia Sect. But two years of confinement are more painful than imprisonment. Please, master, reconsider!”

“My decision is final. There is nothing more to be said,” Dongmen Yong replied.

“Let’s go!” Ding Desheng cast a resentful glance at Dongmen Yong and strode away.

Shi Zhenxiang hurried after him. “Master, please wait! Say something for your disciple, Master!”

“As an inner disciple, you lost to a member of a declining sect whose cultivation is even lower than yours. You’ve brought shame upon me. I no longer consider you my disciple. Once your confinement is over, you’ll leave the mountain,” Ding Desheng said through clenched teeth.

Shi Zhenxiang was dumbfounded, collapsing to the ground as two inner disciples dragged him away.

Xie Wuji was surprised. He’d heard of the discord between the Sect Master and the elders, but hadn’t expected it to be this intense—a public humiliation with resounding blows! Just how deep was this enmity?

“Father!” Dongmen Qianyun saw her father and ran up to him in delight.

Dongmen Yong cherished his daughter deeply, partly out of guilt. “Are you alright, child?”

“I’m fine, thanks to Brother Xie. Father, is it true that Xie Wuji can choose a technique from the Scripture Pavilion? But only Danxia Sect disciples have ever been allowed to enter and select techniques. Aren’t you worried the elders will…” Dongmen Qianyun looked at her father.

Dongmen Yong laughed heartily. “You said it yourself—Xie Wuji’s background is clean; he’s a descendant of Elder Qin and is intent on joining Danxia Sect. With his ability, he’ll easily qualify for the outer sect, so giving him a technique isn’t an issue. Sooner or later, he’ll be one of us. But as for the inner sect… Xie Wuji still lacks experience.”

Xie Wuji understood that Dongmen Yong was referring to his cultivation—not yet at the Golden Core stage, which was the requirement for joining the inner sect. Xie Wuji’s goal was a third-grade Golden Core.

It felt like an invisible boulder pressing down on him. “Thank you for your trust, Sect Master. I intend to break through to the Golden Core stage soon.”

“And which grade of Golden Core do you aim for?” Dongmen Jianhao asked from the side.

“Third grade,” Xie Wuji replied without hesitation.

The people around him laughed, and Dongmen Yong joined in. “It’s good for young people to have goals, but you must be realistic. A third-grade Golden Core is already exceptional. Your senior brother Dongmen Jianhao spent years honing his talent and managed only a third-grade Golden Core. He began martial arts at seven, cultivation at eight, and still only reached this grade. And you…”

Xie Wuji smiled. “Everyone needs a goal. By the way, what grades are the inner disciples at now?”

“Most are between seventh and ninth grade. Only a tenth are between fourth and sixth, and apart from your senior brother, only Senior Brother Baili Qingyan has a third-grade Golden Core,” said Dongmen Yong, showing his geniality.

“Baili Qingyan?” Xie Wuji was puzzled.

“He’s the one I compete with. We’ve been dueling for five years to determine who’s the top inner disciple of Danxia Sect,” Dongmen Jianhao explained.

“How’s the score now?” Xie Wuji asked with a smile.

“It’s still tied. Baili Qingyan is a genius, Elder Ding Desheng’s most prized disciple. His strength matches my brother’s,” Dongmen Qianyun said.

Xie Wuji realized that there were always greater talents out there. The path to a third-grade Golden Core would be arduous, but he had no choice—only with a third-grade Golden Core as foundation could he cultivate the Undying True Flame, which troubled him greatly.

“Well, I have matters to attend to with your brother. Qianyun, take Xie Wuji to the Scripture Pavilion. We have plenty of human-grade techniques,” Dongmen Yong said, preparing to depart.

Dongmen Qianyun, understanding the situation, bade her father farewell.

The Scripture Pavilion stood across from the Treasure Pavilion, quite close—convenient for Xie Wuji, given its proximity to his lodging. Entering the pavilion, Xie Wuji was amazed by the collection of scriptures and martial arts manuals.

The Pavilion’s techniques were divided into three tiers: upper, middle, and lower. The top floor housed heavenly-grade techniques, of which there were few, reserved for the Sect Master’s eyes only. The middle floor held earth-grade techniques, accessible as rewards to inner disciples. The bottom contained human-grade techniques.

Xie Wuji saw many tomes on sabre and sword skills, but he used neither, so they held little appeal.

After much deliberation, he chose a technique called Recurrent Flow, a movement style inspired by fish, designed to make his movements more agile.

Agility offered two advantages: first, evading enemy attacks; second, striking from tricky angles for devastating blows—an ideal skill for Xie Wuji.

So far, Xie Wuji only knew the Undying Grip, a set of boxing techniques that enabled him to duel but offered little else.

On the grounds of his small cabin, Xie Wuji calmed his breath and began to practice the Undying Grip. Sweat poured from him, a sheen covering his skin, and as he deepened his practice, he incorporated the Recurrent Flow technique. To his surprise, the Undying Grip itself transformed—its original strength softened, blending hard and soft, reality and illusion, unpredictable.

He struck a tree with what appeared to be a slow, weak punch, yet the tree snapped cleanly in two.

Looking at his hands, Xie Wuji was elated. With this, facing opponents like Shi Zhenxiang, he might not utterly defeat them, but remaining undefeated would be simple.

He had studied many books and learned that breaking through to Golden Core required three conditions: favorable timing, location, and resources.

Favorable timing meant dense spiritual energy in the air—the denser the energy, the higher the grade of Golden Core, enabling massive absorption like an air purifier, refining the core’s purity.

Location meant more than just abundant spiritual energy—it had to be a place where energy converged, such as the true eye of a spiritual spring, where all nearby energy pooled, allowing Xie Wuji to absorb it freely.

Resources referred to divine treasures—meditation cushions, for example, came in various grades, the higher the grade, the richer the energy absorbed. Pills, incense burners, and other items also played a part.

Only when all was prepared was it the best time to advance the Golden Core.

Xie Wuji had three months left, planning to collect all these elements in that time.

But elsewhere in Danxia Sect, many were unhappy with these developments.

“Senior Brother Baili, please seek justice for me... I’ve been wronged! That wretched Xie Wuji not only insulted me verbally, but also insulted our master! I was the victim, yet only I was punished, while he got a human-grade technique!” In the dark dungeon, Shi Zhenxiang sobbed to a shadowy figure.

Arms crossed, leaning against the doorpost, the figure cast a glance at Shi Zhenxiang. “Xie Wuji wants to advance to Golden Core and join the inner sect? As long as Baili Qingyan is here, he will never succeed. Your grievances, and our master’s humiliation, I will avenge them all!”