Ye Wen looked at his disciple, a young man of exceptional talent, and slowly began to explain his X-method to him.

In truth, there was nothing astonishing about it; the world he had previously inhabited had pushed these techniques to their absolute limit. While many people in this current world understood similar concepts, none possessed the depth of knowledge Ye Wen did.

After analyzing Liu Muyan’s current disadvantages, Ye Wen directly advised him to just hold on for a few more years—"Wait until the final palace examination year and then achieve the Triple Crown in one go!"

"This..." Liu Muyan had never considered this angle before, but on reflection, if he truly could achieve the Triple Crown in a single year, it would certainly draw significant attention. After all, such individuals were rare even across all dynasties.

Ye Wen, however, considered the implications more deeply. Liu Muyan’s previous lackluster examination results, followed by a sudden Triple Crown after years of secluded study—the truth behind such a transformation would inevitably pique someone's interest. From a perennial failure to a brilliant scholar achieving the highest honors consecutively—this mystery would baffle countless minds. When Liu Muyan explained his situation then, it would surely be spun into another celebrated legend, greatly benefiting his future career in officialdom.

In the bureaucracy today, one either needed fame or connections!

Although Liu Muyan’s background wasn't poor, it certainly wasn't one of immense wealth; he was merely comfortable, provided for, and worry-free. If he had ties to any powerful magnate families, he wouldn't be confined to his home, struggling for years without even passing the lowest scholarly exam.

Furthermore, the Shu Mountain Sect was a martial arts order. Liu Muyan’s tutelage under them could easily become a point of attack for certain factions. If the story of the Triple Crown and his years of arduous study were to circulate, it would grant him some capital for self-preservation.

"By then, the Emperor will surely notice Muyan. How you proceed after that will depend entirely on your own efforts, Muyan!"

Liu Muyan bowed in assent, already calculating in his mind: "I managed to secure the Xiucai title during a free period this year. The Juren provincial exams are usually scheduled for spring, the Metropolitan Exam in autumn, and the Palace Examination follows the Metropolitan. The timeline is a bit tight, but manageable. Moreover, both major exams are in the capital, so I can just arrive there early."

As for Liu Muyan already possessing the Xiucai title, Ye Wen paid it no mind. Since the Xiucai status was necessary to participate in the provincial exam, waiting until the year of the provincial exam to secure it would feel rushed. Having it sooner was fine.

He then inquired about Liu Muyan’s physical condition, taking his pulse and examining him. He found that Liu Muyan’s health had reached a standard level, and his dedication to martial arts over the past year had significantly strengthened his body, his meridians gradually widening as his internal arts deepened.

However, because his meridians had formed while he was practicing martial arts, reaching the highest echelons of cultivation would prove much more difficult later on. Fortunately, Liu Muyan wasn't pushing himself too hard, content with how far he could progress. To encourage him, Ye Wen stated, "If you master the Quanzhen Heart Method within two years, I will teach you the Purple Cloud Skill!" Inner disciples were unaware, but those within the core of the Shu Mountain Sect knew that the Purple Cloud Skill was the technique practiced by the Sect Master. Although what Ye Wen was currently cultivating was the Innate Purple Qi, he considered the Purple Cloud Skill the foundational element of the Innate Purple Qi. Mastering it would mean inheriting the lineage of the sect’s paramount divine art.

Moreover, news of the Shu Mountain Sect's exploits at the Martial Arts Assembly had already returned. The sect disciples were immensely proud upon hearing how much acclaim their leader had garnered, causing them to walk with a noticeable lightness. Simultaneously, their reverence for the Innate Purple Qi, the sect's ultimate divine art, grew even stronger.

Liu Muyan had assumed, given his own aptitude, that he would never even touch the threshold of such arts. To suddenly have the chance to learn the Purple Cloud Skill filled him with immense joy, spurring him to practice with renewed vigor.

Waving the elated Liu Muyan away, Ye Wen sat alone in his study. After some thought, he returned to his own courtyard, where Ning Ruxue was arranging quarters for Huayi.

Upon returning to the mountain, the Shu Mountain Sect members had quickly learned the full story about Huayi, realizing that this former adversary was now effectively one of their own, so their reception was warm. The outer disciples simply understood that this woman would henceforth serve as the Sect Master’s personal maid.

As for why a woman who was formerly an opposing elder had become a maid of their sect... most attributed it to Sect Master Ye’s inscrutable and extraordinary methods.

Logically, a personal attendant should reside in the room adjacent to the master’s bedroom, ready for any summons. However, for a young, beautiful woman like Huayi to live in the same residence as Ye Wen made Ning Ruxue uneasy. She had long sensed that Ye Wen harbored some interest in Huayi, and if she allowed them to live together, if the two were to become entangled and something happened, no one could blame anyone else, as that was, after all, a personal maid's duty.

Therefore, to prevent Ye Wen from "stealing a taste," Ning Ruxue arranged for Huayi to share a room with her. Fortunately, their quarters had more than one bedroom; the only difference was that the ancillary room was slightly smaller, though fully equipped with all necessities.

"We can go down the mountain tomorrow to buy some clothes and other sundries!" Ning Ruxue showed Huayi her room, gesturing toward the bed. "We have plenty of bedding ready, so no need to buy that. The storeroom has ample toiletries as well."

"This servant understands, thank you, Madam!"

Hearing this, Ning Ruxue felt a bit awkward. "Um... this... I haven't married my Senior Brother yet, so please don't call me that!"

Seeing Ning Ruxue’s hesitation, Huayi asked tentatively, "Then how should I address you?"

"This..." Ning Ruxue pondered for a while, realizing she wasn't sure what was appropriate. Finally, her straightforward nature took over. "You can call me 'sister' or just use my name!"

"How can that be? There must be a clear hierarchy! Since I am the Sect Master's maid, I cannot address you by your given name directly!"

Ning Ruxue saw that persuasion was futile and muttered inwardly, "If you insist on being a maid, then do as you wish!" She added, "If you don't want to buy clothes down the mountain, we have plenty of fabric here; you can ask Aunt Zhao to help you sew a few outfits. Of course, you could also sew them yourself..."

Huayi considered this and realized she knew none of these needlework skills. Still, as a maid, she ought to learn basic sewing. It seemed she needed to seek out Aunt Zhao for proper instruction.

While they were in the room, Ye Wen returned but did not see them. Fortunately, he heard voices coming from Ning Ruxue's quarters, confirming they were inside. He didn't disturb them, returning directly to his own room, retrieving a booklet from the shelf, and weighing it in his hand. "I never expected this manual would actually come in handy!"

The book in his hand bore the title Sword Arts (Jian Qi), and the calligraphy style clearly indicated it was penned by Ye Wen himself.

This manual was one he had summoned during the preceding six months. After reviewing its contents, he discovered that no one in the entire Shu Mountain Sect was suitable to practice it.

This Sword Arts manual originated from a certain ancient novel, detailing a technique belonging to the Gongsun family. Though called a martial art, it was essentially a form of dance that was later modified by some genius into a marvelous discipline combining both aesthetic appeal and practical utility.

Furthermore, there was one prerequisite for practicing this technique: the practitioner must be female...

The Shu Mountain Sect had many members, but the number of women was pitifully small—only two or three. Neither Ning Ruxue nor Zhou Zhiruo were suited to practice this art, which also required a foundation in dance. This left Ye Wen completely stumped.

Although the Sword Arts manual was meticulously detailed, Ye Wen had never obtained any manuals on basic dance forms; he was utterly clueless about what those fundamentals entailed. He couldn't even teach his junior sister, let alone Ning Ruxue, who was already practicing the Innate Body-Breaking Formless Sword Qi, rendering her unable to learn this new art.

Yet, when practiced to its zenith, the two long swords, connected by ribbons to their hilts, became an extension of the user, dancing and twisting at will. Wherever the ribbons reached, the blades pointed. Upon reading this, Ye Wen felt the technique was perfectly suited for Huayi, especially her memorable, sweeping movements with fluttering ribbons.

Unfortunately, at that time, Huayi was arrayed against him and the Shu Mountain Sect. He couldn't exactly gift an opponent a martial arts manual! Thus, this technique called Sword Arts was shelved. Ye Wen had copied it down during his leisure time, reasoning that it was a highly distinctive swordplay style, perhaps one someone in the Shu Mountain Sect could practice in the future.

His foresight proved remarkably accurate; who would have guessed that a trip to the Martial Arts Assembly would lead to so many events, resulting in Huayi becoming his maid?

"Since she has become my maid, I shouldn't treat her poorly! I should pass this art on to her!" However, remembering Huayi’s obviously unbalanced martial foundation, Ye Wen hesitated and put the manual down again. He decided not to teach it immediately, preferring that Huayi first make up for her deficiencies in the basics.

"Lest she becomes helpless if someone closes in on her, allowing someone to take advantage for free!" Thinking this, he wasn't entirely sure what 'advantage' he meant, but he felt this outcome was absolutely unacceptable. Thus, he decisively set Huayi’s training schedule: "Start with basic footwork and punches!"

With the decision made, there was no need to rush. Ye Wen began calculating the days and realized it had been over a month since he had last summoned a manual. Lately, he had been traveling constantly, surrounded by prying eyes, so he hadn't dared. Now that he was home, he could summon things without restraint.

"Hope for something good!"

After regulating his breath to ensure his optimal state, and completing his habitual routine, Ye Wen looked down at the result and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Heavens, I got this thing! Who is supposed to practice this?" The manual in Ye Wen's hands was titled Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring (Tian Xin Lian Huan). Ye Wen recognized its origin the moment he saw the name.

"A martial art from the Heavenly Demon Canon—not bad, all things considered!"

This manual contained An Long's signature ultimate technique, which primarily focused on the heart meridian. Its internal energy was intensely fiery, faintly manifesting in the shape of a lotus flower. When the energy was released, it emerged in successive waves, hence the name Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring.

Its destructive power and presentation were both superior. However, everyone in the Shu Mountain Sect already had primary cultivation methods. Introducing this technique now—who knew if it would be beneficial or detrimental?

"For Huayi?"

Ye Wen imagined: Huayi flips her hand, and a lotus flower spirals above it, or perhaps she lifts a slender, beautiful leg, and a revolving lotus flashes from her toe...

"Hmm? That actually seems quite fitting!"

Stroking his chin and letting his imagination wander, Ye Wen thought this arrangement might work well. At the very least, the technique had superb visual appeal. Moreover, the lotus flower held a respectable status in both Buddhism and Taoism, so no one would immediately recognize it as a demonic art—especially since the techniques collected in the Heavenly Demon Canon were not considered orthodox demonic arts in the traditional sense.

However, Huayi's cultivation was currently severely depleted. Even if she were to practice this art, it would have to wait until her strength recovered somewhat. This gave Ye Wen time to copy this manual.

Upon opening it, Ye Wen made an unexpected discovery: Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring seemed different from what he had anticipated.

After reviewing it repeatedly, he realized that while Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring was indeed a profound technique, much like the Purple Qi Celestial Net, it focused more on the application of internal energy.

Simply put, Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring didn't necessarily have to be practiced as a primary technique. Even Ye Wen could utilize it, as the manual contained detailed methods for its channeling.

This meant Ye Wen could channel his Innate Purple Qi to power the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring. The resulting effect, however, might not be as pure as if the practitioner had cultivated this technique as their main art. There could be unpredictable changes—perhaps weakening the power or losing its distinct character, resulting in nothing more than an ordinary lotus-shaped burst of energy, impressive to look at but otherwise useless.

Yet, Ye Wen wasn't worried. He believed that unless the user's native energy fundamentally conflicted with this technique, such a tragic outcome was unlikely.

For instance, channeling this intensely fiery and domineering technique with purely cold and yin energy would surely lead to disaster! At best, its effects would plummet; at worst, qi deviation and even death were possible.

But upon consideration, the arts cultivated by everyone in the Shu Mountain Sect were either overtly yang or centered on balance and harmony; none cultivated purely yin, soft, and cold internal energy.

Even Huang Rongrong's Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Sole Supremacy Art, though its qi leaned toward yin, was neither cold nor soft, but fiercely powerful and aggressive. Moreover, since it stemmed from the Pure Yang Supreme Art, she could simply reverse the flow of her technique if needed.

"Wait, so everyone in the Shu Mountain Sect can learn this technique?"

Flipping further, Ye Wen discovered it wasn't that simple. According to the manual, channeling this technique with other forms of internal energy required the user to possess a considerable depth of cultivation; otherwise, they risked severely injuring their heart meridian, tantamount to self-mutilation.

"This... this technique is somewhat like the Seven Injuries Fist?" Thinking of the Seven Injuries Fist, Ye Wen suddenly realized that the so-called Seven Injuries Fist used the practitioner's internal organs as the five elemental energies, supplemented by yin and yang, to form the seven striking forces.

A single punch unleashed seven distinctly different currents of energy, making it difficult for the opponent to defend against. Now that he had obtained the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring, perhaps he could use its principle—channeling fiery, rigid energy through the heart meridian—to deduce the principles behind the other six energy streams?

The logic was simple enough: for example, the heart meridian corresponds to Fire (Shu Huo), so channeling through the heart meridian releases fiery energy; then, if channeling through the liver meridian... Ye Wen scratched his head. "Which element corresponds to the liver meridian again...?" As he considered formulating the grand concept of the "Seven Injuries Lotus Force," he abruptly realized his theoretical knowledge was insufficient, forcing the concept to be postponed indefinitely. For now, it was more practical to focus on mastering the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring.

In truth, Ye Wen was misremembering. As soon as he received the introduction to the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring, he subconsciously assumed the seven forces of the Seven Injuries Fist were as straightforward as this technique's single burst. In reality, the Seven Injuries Fist forces were not simply differentiated by meridian; a single punch also incorporated effects like direct emission, inward contraction, softness within hardness, and hardness within softness. There were merely similarities in the cultivation process with the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring.

As for the requirement for internal energy reserves, Ye Wen was unconcerned. Given his current cultivation level, he would be a formidable figure even in the original stories—if not top-tier, certainly close to the pinnacle. A mere application method for the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring would not pose much of a challenge.

After a general overview and understanding of the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring, Ye Wen flipped back to the beginning and began circulating his energy according to the manual’s instructions. First, wisps of purple qi rose from his palm, then coalesced into a purple cloud.

Before long, these purple clouds began to twist and turn, eventually merging and revolving until they distinctly formed the shape of a purple lotus flower.

Ye Wen found this stage relatively easy. However, the more the lotus in his hand took shape, the greater the internal energy drain. By the time it was fully formed—the moment he mastered the technique—he was drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked. Purple qi continuously steamed from his body, mixing with the white mist created by evaporating sweat, rising into the air.

Ye Wen had no idea how long he had been practicing. He only felt the Innate Purple Qi surging relentlessly, circulating nonstop. Only by pushing it to its extreme could he sustain the practice of this technique.

It wasn't that he couldn't stop while practicing, but Ye Wen’s stubborn nature demanded he complete the technique in one continuous effort. He failed to realize that in the original narratives, those who mastered this art took considerable time and effort. Ye Wen’s attempt at instant success naturally made the process agonizingly difficult.

By dusk, Ye Wen noticed the lotus flower in his hand becoming more refined. He was agonizingly close to completing the technique, after which he could deploy it freely in combat.

By this time, the sweat on his clothes had dried up; he was no longer perspiring, as all moisture had been expended. Fortunately, Ye Wen’s Divine Innate Purple Qi was miraculous, preventing him from suffering fatal dehydration. To force the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring this way, attempting instant mastery, an ordinary person without the protection of the Innate Purple Qi would have certainly died.

But as Ye Wen's Innate Purple Qi cycled endlessly, providing him with inexhaustible internal energy, and as the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring slowly materialized, he felt the pressure easing. Finally, a tremor ran through all his meridians, and the palm-sized purple lotus in his hand finally solidified. It was vividly colored and so lifelike that at a glance, it was indistinguishable from a real lotus flower.

The lotus hovered and slowly rotated in his hand, captivating the eye. Ye Wen gazed at it for a few moments, deeply appreciating its beauty. He muttered, "The technique is mastered. Though I don't know its power, its presentation is truly superb!"

Just as he smiled, he suddenly noticed that the circulation of the Innate Purple Qi within his body seemed faster than before. Upon careful inspection, he realized that the bottleneck blocking his breakthrough into the next realm had been violently shattered by this reckless bout of cultivation.

"Whoa? A free bonus gift?"