I'm Just Making Up The Exercises, My Disciple, Have You Really Mastered Them?

Chapter 20: The Golden Bones That Don't Impress the Master, I Want to Refine Jade Bones

Li Xuan had no idea that Xu Yan had already successfully refined the golden bones he had made up. Xu Yan was excitedly coming over to tell him, hoping to receive praise and recognition.

At this moment, Li Xuan was playing with the gift Xu Yan had given him last time, a golden sword and a jade ruyi.

The golden sword was adorned with gemstones and made entirely of gold, making it quite valuable.

The jade ruyi was carved with auspicious cloud patterns and was flawless throughout. It was clearly carved from Supreme Grade jade, and in terms of value, it was probably even higher than the golden sword.

"Although this golden sword is not cheap, no matter how I look at it, I feel that the jade ruyi is more valuable and rare.

"Look at the quality of this jade, flawless and translucent. It feels warm when held in the hand... Compared to the golden sword, I prefer this jade ruyi more.

"If I could find a matching pair and make it a family heirloom, that would be even better.

"Since I've already deceived him, I don't care anymore. Let's deceive him again and get another jade ruyi."

Li Xuan played with the jade ruyi and liked it more and more.

In his heart, he muttered to himself, asking his foolish disciple to find another jade ruyi to complete a pair as a family heirloom.

Coincidentally, Xu Yan walked over.

"Disciple, you came at the right time."

Li Xuan pushed the golden sword aside, seemingly a little disdainful. He played with the jade ruyi in his hand, his eyes full of affection for it.

"Look at this flawless jade ruyi, it's warm and nourishing. They say gentlemen love jade, and I am also someone who loves jade. If this jade ruyi could be matched with another, it would be even better."

He looked up at Xu Yan and said, "Do you understand, disciple?"

In his heart, he thought, "Let's find another jade ruyi for me."

Xu Yan had originally come to tell his master that he had already refined the golden bones and could rival the ancient geniuses.

But when he saw Li Xuan's slight disdain, pushing the golden sword aside and playing with the jade ruyi in his hand, he said that gentlemen love jade and hoped to find a matching pair.

Xu Yan thought, "Wait! Why would Master say this to me at this time? Does he really like jade?"

"There must be another meaning in Master's words...

"I understand now. Master has high expectations for me and hopes that I can refine jade bones. That's why he used the jade ruyi as a metaphor. Compared to golden bones, Master prefers jade bones!

"But Master is also afraid that I can't accept the difficulty of refining jade bones, so he used the metaphor of the jade ruyi to remind me. If I can't understand the deeper meaning of Master's words, he won't demand too much...

"In this way, although Master won't say it, he must be disappointed in me. If I can't understand the deeper meaning of Master's words, his expectations of me will also decrease, thinking that I lack understanding and can't even comprehend such a simple metaphor!"

Xu Yan instantly imagined all of this and felt that his Master's words were not just about finding a matching pair of jade ruyi, but rather about encouraging him to continue Bone Refining, not to give up or retreat, and to strive to refine jade bones.

If Li Xuan knew about Xu Yan's imagination, he would definitely be confused: "I just wanted a jade ruyi!"

After this imagination, Xu Yan believed that he had understood the deeper meaning of his Master's words and said firmly, "Master, I understand. I will definitely not disappoint you!"

Li Xuan showed a satisfied smile. "It's good that you understand. I believe in you!"

Xu Yan was deeply moved in his heart. "Master has high expectations of me. He hopes that I can surpass the ancient geniuses!"

"What are golden bones worth? I want to refine jade bones!"

Xu Yan no longer mentioned his golden bones. His Master had already seen through everything, and mere golden bones couldn't impress his Master.

When Xu Yan tried to continue Bone Refining, he found that no matter how he circulated his qi and refined, it had no effect.

It seems that the golden bones have reached their limit.

It feels like there is an insurmountable barrier that hinders further improvement.

"My master said that jade bones cannot be cultivated through talent, perseverance, or persistence. Those who can achieve jade bones either have great luck, are favored by heaven and earth, have extraordinary comprehension, or can sense the Great Dao..."

Xu Yan pondered, "I don't know if I have great luck, probably not; being favored by heaven and earth is even less likely. So, there is only one path left, and that is comprehension...

"My master often emphasizes the importance of intention and comprehension, which suggests that he thinks my comprehension is decent and reminds me of my strengths.

"If I want to cultivate jade bones, I can only rely on comprehension."

After understanding this, Xu Yan's mind once again recalled the two lines of the mantra: "Observe my true intention with a clear mind, and forge a golden body with the qi and blood like a dragon."

"I certainly haven't fully comprehended it. If I can comprehend the core of these two lines, would I be able to break the shackles of golden bones and cultivate jade bones?"

Xu Yan devoted himself wholeheartedly to the mantra, free from distractions, forgetting both self and others, hoping to comprehend its profound meaning.

"Right, cultivating true intention. I thought that the qi and blood nurtured within the bones and bone marrow is cultivating true intention. But where is the 'intention'?

"Nurturing the bone marrow is only the first step, it hasn't cultivated the intention."

Suddenly, a flash of insight appeared in Xu Yan's mind. He realized that he had made an error in understanding the true intention in the mantra.

He had never cultivated true intention.

He didn't even understand what 'intention' meant.

"When I forge golden bones, does the qi and blood I cultivate truly become like a dragon? It is merely empty and superficial, lacking the nurtured 'intention' within the qi and blood dragon. How can it be considered a dragon?"

In a daze, Xu Yan felt as if he had touched a barrier.

Breaking through this barrier would allow him to fully comprehend the mantra, break the shackles of golden bones, and enter the stage of jade bones.

However, this barrier remained unbreakable.

He felt a bit frustrated for a moment.

"Should I seek guidance from my master?

"No, my master has already explained it clearly. I can only comprehend the 'intention' on my own. There must be something I have overlooked..."

For the next three days, while practicing, Xu Yan constantly pondered the mantra, trying to comprehend the true intention. He was always just a little bit away from a breakthrough.

But he could never break through the barrier and fully comprehend its essence.

Li Xuan looked at his foolish disciple with some confusion. In the past three days, his disciple seemed absent-minded and occasionally lost in thought.

"It's been so long without any progress, so he's feeling lost? Does he think he's not capable?"

"I haven't obtained my jade ruyi yet, how can I feel down?"

"Let me think about how to come up with some mysterious words to deceive him."

Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

On this day, after finishing their meal, when Xu Yan was about to clean up the dishes, Li Xuan spoke, "In the path of cultivation, perseverance is essential. If you encounter a bottleneck and make no progress, you can relax your mind, empty your thoughts, and contemplate the grass and trees.

"Contemplate the natural world, capture the hidden inspiration around you. If you can have a sudden enlightenment, the door to Martial Dao will open.

"Throughout history, there have been many who made no progress in their cultivation and were stuck at a bottleneck. But with a sudden enlightenment, they broke through the shackles."

Li Xuan spoke nonsense to deceive Xu Yan, encouraging him to contemplate the so-called hidden inspiration. If he could have a sudden enlightenment, he would be able to enter the door of Martial Dao.

Since diligent cultivation didn't work, then he should seek sudden enlightenment.

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(End of this chapter)