These three are all exceptional individuals, one in a million.
Qiantang is a superior county, many times larger than an ordinary small county, almost the size of an ordinary prefectural city.
Although Dong Da and the other two have common names, they are now all True Immortals of the Innate Realm, with superb martial arts skills and accomplished cultivation.
After breaking through to the Innate Realm, they left Qingxu Temple and traveled the world to experience life's trials.
Only Xu Xian, who was of mediocre talent, still served by his side.
Of course, Xiao Ning had some ulterior motives in specially recruiting Xu Xian into the Taoist temple. Perhaps he wanted to wait for Bai Suzhen to return so that he could repay the so-called thousand-year debt of gratitude; or perhaps he wanted to keep an eye on him so that he wouldn't be misled by Buddhism.
It is said that a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth!
Three years have passed on Earth, but only three days have passed in Heaven. Who knows... when Bai Suzhen will be able to return...
Xiao Ning sighed inwardly, his expression somewhat desolate.
…………
However, when Xu Xian returned to his humble abode, his face immediately fell.
"Ten times... I won't be able to sleep tonight..."
With a wail, Xu Xian took out the luminous pearl and hung it in the room. Instantly, the small, twenty-square-meter room was filled with light.
Without further hesitation, he took out the Four Treasures of the Study, and began grinding ink with both hands. After grinding for a while, he took two small regular script brushes and began writing with both hands simultaneously, using both hands at the same time.
"Luckily, I've developed the ability to write with both hands, which saves me a lot of time; otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to complete the task..."
Xu Xian muttered to himself, but his hands never stopped moving as he began to write down the "Qinghui Neijing Jue" (Volume 1) from memory.
After an unknown amount of time, as the east turned red and dawn broke, Xu Xian put down his pen and rubbed his aching wrist.
"Phew, finally finished writing..."
Even with his advanced level of mastery, he found the workload somewhat overwhelming.
Of course, Xu Xian also knew that the abbot's punishment was intended to temper his character.
Xu Xian felt infinitely grateful to the abbot.
In his view, the abbot's nurturing of him was nothing short of a second life, teaching him literature and martial arts, and providing him with food and lodging.
Having mastered excellent martial arts skills and with everything at home going well, Xu Xian was very content.
After tidying up the copied manuscript, Xu Xian took off the luminous pearl and put it away. Then he went out to the back mountain and began his morning exercise.
As for submitting the manuscript to the abbot for inspection, there's no need for that. The abbot is all-powerful; as long as you sincerely copy it, the abbot will know for sure. If you slack off or try to cheat, then you'll be in big trouble.
"Clang!"
He drew his longsword, flicked his right hand to create a sword flower, and with a clear shout, the sword flower scattered. His figure swayed and moved like a willow in the wind, the sword light flowing and dancing in the wind, like swaying willow leaves, fluttering up and down.
Within a radius of three zhang and a height of about one zhang, the agile figures of the youths could be seen everywhere, like divine dragons soaring into the sky and disappearing into the clouds, looking left and right, their heads visible but their tails not.
Circles of sword shadows crisscrossed, and the sounds of swords echoed softly.
Thousands of sword lights drifted like the wind, exuding a chilling killing intent.
A simple beginner's sword technique, in Xu Xian's hands, was wielded with tremendous power and a myriad of forms.
"Excellent swordsmanship, young man! You're a fine fellow!"
Xu Xian turned his head and saw an old monk with white hair and beard, dressed in white, holding a string of shimmering Buddhist beads, running happily toward him with great excitement on his face, as if he had encountered something very happy!
"Hmm? Greetings, Master? I've never seen you before."
Xu Xian sheathed his sword and stood there, curiously examining the old monk before him.
"I am a novice monk of Lingtai Temple, and I have been practicing for over two hundred years. I have never seen swordsmanship like yours before. What kind of martial art is this?"
The old monk stroked his long beard and asked with a surprised expression.
"More than two hundred years? Master, you have a very long lifespan. What I just used was the beginner sword technique taught by our temple!"
Having lived for over two hundred years, how high must one's cultivation level be?
According to the abbot, a True Person in the Innate Realm has a lifespan of no more than two hundred years, a Grandmaster three hundred years, and a Great Grandmaster five hundred years.
Therefore, this old monk must be at least a master-level expert.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xian's expression became very respectful.
"Oh, I see!"
The old monk didn't delve into the matter further, but lingered there a while before running off into the distance: "Young man, come along! Morning exercise is very beneficial for cultivation."
"OK!"
Xu Xian paused for a moment, then followed.
The two jogged along in the mountains and in no time ran more than ten miles, arriving at a stream at the foot of the mountain.
But then they saw a young monk, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, standing above the stream. He was upright and had a radiant face. His feet were three feet above the water, but he remained floating on the surface and did not sink.
Seeing Xu Xian and the old monk running towards them, he lightly darted over and joined the morning run.
"Old Abbot, you seem to be in a good mood!"