Ye Wen glanced at the slim booklet in his hand, flipping through it again and again until he could only sigh helplessly, "Damn it!"

It wasn't that the martial art in his hands was terrible; in fact, this particular technique wasn't bad at all. The ultimate skill of the renowned 'Brother Four Eyebrows' shouldn't warrant such a sigh from Ye Wen.

The problem was that the theory behind this technique was extremely simple; it was all about eye sharpness and reaction speed! To put it plainly, as long as your reaction speed and eyesight were fast enough, you could master this divine skill even without this manual. Conversely, if you lacked those attributes, the manual would be useless to you.

Thinking carefully about the top masters in the current martial world, Monk Chan Yu Huixin and True Man Tianyi of the Heavenly Dao Sect both relied on hand techniques. For Ye Wen, figuring out how to clamp down on their fists with just two fingers was a genuine challenge. As for Li Xuan of the Tianshan Sect, he depended on his pure, icy energy. Unleashed with full force, it could rival the ultimate move Ice River used when she first graduated. Ye Wen didn't believe he could withstand that cold energy—especially since the cold energy would freeze him solid on contact. Then there was Dongfang Yi of the Azure Dragon Society; there was no need to elaborate on him. The only ones he seemed capable of dealing with were from the North Sword Gate. However, if Bei Cheng Yan unleashed his sword techniques with full power, the sky would rain lethal sword energy. Whether Ye Wen could even get close to him was the first question. Moreover, what good would clamping down on the opponent’s weapon do? Unless this technique secretly contained a way to immobilize the opponent's body the moment their weapon was seized. "A pity, there’s no such mechanism! This technique is purely about skill. Its offensive application mainly targets pressure points, and its lethality is far less than my Purple Heaven Dragon Qi Sword, or even the Qi Sword Finger!" After flipping through it twice more with resignation, he could only declare that this 'Spiritual Insight Finger' was of little use to him. Perhaps he should see if any of his disciples could cultivate it.

Memorizing the essential mnemonic phrases for the Spiritual Insight Finger, Ye Wen carefully put the manual away. If any of his disciples could learn this technique, it would likely be only Li Xiaoyao. He would find time to pass the phrases to him; whether he could master it, or to what extent he could use it, would depend on his own comprehension.

Standing up, Ye Wen wandered around the sect grounds again. The disciples were still diligently practicing. Ning Ruxue had been missing these past few days; perhaps his clumsy actions that other day had frightened her into hiding. Huayi, however, was lingering near him, and she wouldn't resist if he wanted to have his way with her. Still, he felt he needed to properly establish his junior sister’s status before considering Huayi—perhaps out of consideration for the junior sister who had accompanied him for so many years, even in such matters, priority should be observed. Xu Xian hadn't been seen around lately. Huang Rongrong had visited a few times, but only to fetch things for Xu Xian. That little girl now seemed almost like Madam Xu, handling all of Xu Xian's affairs, big and small. Occasionally, the two would wander off for a short honeymoon. Although they weren't officially married, Ye Wen suspected Xu Xian had already completely ‘consumed’ Huang Rongrong.

His few disciples were currently pouring all their energy into training. The impending expedition to conquer the Demonic Cult was the greatest undertaking in the current martial world. Which wandering martial artist wouldn't wish to gain some glory in such a grand event? Even though the greatest glory would surely be taken by those few leading figures, even a small display would be worthwhile. Furthermore, these disciples carried the prestige of the Shu Mountain Sect on their shoulders. Killing more villains would certainly boost their own sect’s reputation. Putting Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo aside for the moment, Xu Ping had also stopped roaming the Jianghu recently, focusing instead on staying on the mountain to receive his master’s guidance. His Yin-Yang Reversal Blade technique was now mastered, and with his growing experience, he continuously refined the technique. Ye Wen occasionally offered suggestions, such as when executing the Yin-Yang Reversal Blade, one didn't necessarily have to adhere strictly to the mnemonic phrases; shifting the sequence occasionally was permissible. Since Xu Ping’s power had grown, even using a sword to execute blade moves wouldn't significantly weaken the force. Thus, feigned moves could sometimes transform into real attacks, making him even more unpredictable. While Xu Ping trained assiduously, Nangong Zixin quietly served by his side. This eldest daughter of the Nangong family had absolutely no discipline when it came to training. If Ning Ruxue wasn’t watching her, she would wander off and slack off. However, judging by her demeanor, she probably intended to dedicate herself solely to being Xu Ping’s wife, diligently managing the household and raising children in the future? "Hmph, I won't worry about her!" In any case, he wasn't planning on taking her on the expedition, so there was no need to fret over her. Guo Jing was probably the calmest of the disciples. He lived now much as he had before. Every morning, he would greet his master and the martial uncles, then do some light exercises before eating. The rest of the day was mostly spent diligently practicing. This disciple was the most hardworking in the Shu Mountain Sect, and his reward was that his martial arts continuously improved, never encountering the barrier of bottlenecks. Li Xiaoyao was the least diligent. However, this disciple possessed incredibly high comprehension. After watching various martial arts a few times, he could grasp them completely without needing detailed explanations. With further elaboration, apart from slightly weaker internal power and polish, his execution of moves was almost identical to Ye Wen's own.

Now, Ye Wen seized an opportunity and taught Li Xiaoyao the mnemonic phrases for the Spiritual Insight Finger. This sixth disciple remembered everything perfectly after hearing it just once. Ye Wen then found a few dry twigs, shattered them into inch-long pieces three zhang away, and began tossing them one by one toward Li Xiaoyao. Under Li Xiaoyao’s flying fingers, every stick was caught precisely between two digits. The last few were neutralized using the offensive application of the Spiritual Insight Finger, dropping them one by one. His execution of the Spiritual Insight Finger was incredibly smooth, as if he had practiced the technique for many years. Ye Wen was also astonished by Li Xiaoyao’s comprehension. In earlier years, this disciple lacked a foundation and needed multiple viewings. Now that his internal power was deepening, his learning speed was fast enough to incite jealousy. Ye Wen had merely recited the phrases and roughly described the technique, without even demonstrating it, yet Li Xiaoyao had already performed it. This level of insight was indeed identical to the Li Xiaoyao Ye Wen knew. "However... Xiaoyao, why hasn't your weight gone down? In fact, you seem to have gained a bit more?" Normally, executing the Spiritual Insight Finger was quite dashing—especially the ability to break any weapon attack with a simple two-finger clamp, making it the perfect choice for those wanting to appear suave and cool. Unfortunately, with Li Xiaoyao’s round figure, using the technique made him look like a constantly spinning meatball, completely devoid of any sense of grace. "Heh heh, Master! Didn't we just celebrate the New Year?" Upon hearing this, Ye Wen realized the cause was the recently passed New Year festivities. Once the New Year arrived, there were plenty of chickens, ducks, fish, and meat. Li Xiaoyao, the big glutton, naturally wouldn't be polite, and as a result, his weight had rebounded considerably after the massive binge. Ye Wen felt helpless about this. He couldn't interfere with his disciple's hobbies; liking to eat wasn't a serious flaw. More importantly, during the New Year banquet, most of the dishes were made by this former 'Great Chef,' and Ye Wen himself had eaten quite a bit. It was inappropriate to lecture the disciple over this now. "Never mind. Just try to restrain yourself in the future! This physique is hardly a good thing!" "Yes, Master!" Li Xiaoyao cheerfully agreed, clearly not taking it to heart. Then he added, "Oh, right, Senior Brother Nangong said he’s descending the mountain tomorrow. Apparently, a band of bandits has appeared nearby, and Constable Li has requested help from our sect. I want to go with Senior Brother Nangong!" Ye Wen nodded. He generally didn't refuse such requests, simply saying: "Be careful in your dealings. Also, when facing enemies, never treat it as child’s play or act carelessly; if you play around and they seize an opportunity to kill you, regret will be too late!" Hearing this instruction, Li Xiaoyao finally replied with a respectful expression.

In the past few years as a master, Ye Wen enjoyed telling his disciples stories, in addition to teaching martial arts. The content usually involved young heroes encountering masters of the Demonic Path, who would invariably deal with the youngsters playfully. Each time, the demonic master would either escape thanks to the young hero catching an opening or generously let the hero go with a wave of the hand. Finally, after the young hero mastered divine skills, he would return to finish the job. Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian assumed Ye Wen told these stories to teach them the principle that evil cannot triumph over righteousness, and that even when weak, one should never give up hope; persistence would lead to defeating the wicked. Unexpectedly, after finishing a story, Ye Wen would state plainly: "If that demonic master had struck with full force from the beginning, would he have lost his life over it? Therefore, when fighting others, never harbor a playful attitude. If you do, you might just become the unfortunate loser in this scenario!" At this statement, Xu Xian found it amusing, and Huayi covered her mouth with a light chuckle. Only Ning Ruxue’s face darkened as she muttered under her breath, "Senior Brother, what nonsense are you spouting!" However, no matter how much she protested, Ye Wen stressed this point in every story, so the disciples of the Shu Mountain Sect attacked without mercy in combat. "Remember, either don't fight, or if you do, never hold back! Especially in a fight to the death—if you don't kill them, they will kill you!" Through these years of guidance, the Shu Mountain Sect disciples strictly adhered to Ye Wen's teachings. Zhou Zhiruo, who had learned this lesson previously, was an exception. Even Yue Ning, who was usually mild-mannered and honest in speech, would deliver killing blows once she attacked—unless it was explicitly stated beforehand that it was a spar, in which case Yue Ning would graciously use only ordinary moves when engaging an opponent (Zhou Zhiruo, however, remained the same). Under Ye Wen’s tutelage, the greatest victim was the Demonic Cult. Very few of the cult members who sought trouble with the Shu Mountain Sect ever escaped with their lives. The only one to repeatedly flee was Shen Yuqing, whose lightness skill was peerless. "Shen the Runner, when we reach your Demonic Cult headquarters, there’s an ocean in front of you. Let's see how you run then?" Muttering to himself, he turned away and arrived at a courtyard within the Shu Mountain Sect grounds, where he saw Dongfang Sheng practicing moves against a large tree. After watching for a moment, Ye Wen saw Dongfang Sheng flick her palm, sending a stream of reddish, fine as ox hair, qi energy striking the tree trunk. This qi energy resembled embroidery needles, and the launch was almost silent; if one wasn't paying close attention, it would be impossible to detect. Dongfang Sheng’s silken robes billowed as her slender palms moved, scattering wave after wave of needle-like qi strikes. In a short time, the tree trunk bore countless minute pinpricks. Fortunately, Dongfang Sheng was only practicing; the qi energy was not fierce. When it struck the tree, it dissipated. If it carried the same intensity as the attack she used to ambush Shen Yuqing that day, this tree would likely have been destroyed long ago. Even so, Ye Wen felt a prickling numbness all over. If these flying needles were directed at him, he might unintentionally turn into a giant pincushion.

While she was practicing, Dongfang Sheng suddenly noticed Ye Wen’s arrival and stopped, smiling slightly to greet him, "Sect Leader Ye!" "Ah, Miss Dongfang is practicing. I shall not disturb you!" Sneaking a look at someone practicing martial arts is a major taboo in the Jianghu. If Ye Wen hadn't run into her here within his own sect, he would have already fled to avoid being discovered and pursued. "It’s nothing, just some minor tricks. Sect Leader Ye, could you offer some pointers?" "Pointers?" Ye Wen was slightly surprised, unable to figure out why Dongfang Sheng sought his guidance on martial arts. "I see that although Sect Leader Ye has few disciples, each possesses unique strengths, and their martial arts are all impressive! I assume Sect Leader Ye has unique insights into teaching disciples. I was hoping you could observe my skills and see if there is anything that needs correction?" During her stay at Shu Mountain, Dongfang Sheng had gradually come to understand the people of the sect. She observed that although the Shu Mountain disciples were few, almost every one had a distinct specialty, and their martial arts possessed individual styles. This suggested that the Shu Mountain Sect believed in teaching according to aptitude, not relying on a fixed method to select the most outstanding—or most suitable for sect inheritance—individuals. Instead, they proactively nurtured their disciples into capable talents. After cultivating the Phoenix Nirvana Rebirth technique, Dongfang Sheng had been teaching herself. This technique only provided methods for cultivating internal energy, along with a minor outline on how to use that energy. It offered no detailed information on how to apply it in combat. Dongfang Sheng had no idea if the external forms of this technique were lost or if they never existed in the first place. Now, seeing Ye Wen's proficiency in teaching disciples, she sought his help to examine her cultivation for any necessary improvements. "This is..." Ye Wen scratched his head. Seeing Dongfang Sheng's hopeful expression, he didn't refuse, merely saying, "In that case, Miss Dongfang, please execute a few moves so I may observe!" "Very well!" Dongfang Sheng bowed and then displayed all the techniques she was most familiar and skilled with—palm shadows danced, leg force swept across, and fists blurred. Dongfang Sheng knew a surprisingly wide array of martial arts, employing palms, feet, and swordsmanship, all with considerable proficiency. Ye Wen watched for a while and realized he truly had little to point out. When Dongfang Sheng had told him earlier that she possessed excellent natural talent and learned things quickly, he hadn't taken it seriously. Now, seeing her in action, he realized she was indeed a prodigy. All these skills, clearly learned before she began cultivating the Phoenix Nirvana Rebirth technique—although varied, none were profoundly high-level—yet she executed them all at a considerably impressive level, testament to her innate talent. "Well... Miss Dongfang, your learning is quite diverse, and I really have nothing specific to advise! However, Miss Dongfang's leg techniques seem more potent than your hand strikes. If you engage enemies primarily with leg techniques, supplemented by those needle-like qi strikes, I imagine few could withstand them!" Ye Wen stroked his chin, then added, "Since those flying needles are so minute, their force probably isn't overwhelmingly strong. Miss Dongfang might achieve better results by aiming them precisely at pressure points!" Dongfang Sheng listened to this advice, tilted her head in thought, and finally said, "Sect Leader Ye, do you prefer me to use leg techniques?" "Ah?" Ye Wen inwardly grumbled, What does my preference have to do with anything? Your leg force is clearly much stronger than your hand strikes. Before Ye Wen could reply, Dongfang Sheng suddenly broke into a radiant smile, as bright and moving as spring arriving and a hundred flowers blooming, and said directly, "Then from now on, I shall use leg techniques!" "Leg techniques..." Ye Wen glanced at Dongfang Sheng. Because she had been about to use her leg skills, the pink long dress she wore had been violently torn open along the side, revealing a glimpse of her tight-fitting undergarments covering a pair of shapely, straight legs. A gust of cold wind blew, carrying a few snowflakes that landed on Ye Wen’s face, the icy chill snapping him back to attention. He inwardly exclaimed, Oh my heavens, this is deadly! He immediately averted his gaze, looking elsewhere, while verbally saying, "This is merely one opinion from me, Miss Dongfang must carefully consider it!" Then, glancing at the sun, he added, "We are departing early tomorrow, and Miss Dongfang will be traveling south with me and the others. Do not practice too late today!" With that, he took his leave, only stopping when he reached his own quarters, where he sat down and drank a large gulp of cold tea. "Huayi, bring some more cold tea!" Coincidentally, Huayi entered carrying a water pitcher. Seeing Ye Wen like this, she asked curiously, "Master wants cold tea?" After a moment’s thought, a smile crossed her face: "Perhaps Master's inner fire is burning too intensely?" Ye Wen glared at her, then said, "All of you! You are also the main culprit!" As he spoke, he gave her rounded rear a pat, his large hand sweeping lightly over her long leg: "Mmm, the feel is truly excellent!" Startled by Ye Wen's sudden move, Huayi glanced at him, her eyes hazy and her cheeks flushed—a captivating sight. Ye Wen pulled Huayi close from behind, having her sit on his lap, but his expression remained serious: "You have served me for several years now, yet I have never given you any proper title..." "This servant is content just being able to serve Master..." Before she could finish, Ye Wen interrupted: "What kind of talk is that? Am I that kind of person? Since you hold feelings for me, I cannot treat you unfairly! In a while, I will give you a proper status so you won't have to remain merely a maidservant!" Huayi leaned closer to Ye Wen and whispered softly, "Being a maidservant is enough..." "A maidservant is meant to warm the Master's bed..." As he spoke, Ye Wen began to stray off track. With warmth and fragrance in his embrace, it was impossible to remain entirely calm. Hearing Ye Wen's words, Huayi looked up at him: "Shall this servant warm the Master's bed tonight?" Having been together for so many years, she naturally understood the meaning behind his talk of warming the bed. In the past, she had often teased him about it, but back then she worried about interfering with Ye Wen's martial cultivation, so she had always avoided it. Now, that concern was gone. But Ye Wen had his own reservations: "Your Heavenly Demon Skill hasn't reached full mastery yet. If your virginity is broken now..." "It doesn't matter, as long as Master is happy!" Huayi finished, burying her entire body in Ye Wen's arms, finally murmuring in a tiny voice, "Hoping Master will be gentle..." At these words, Werewolf, Transform!