Chapter 16 of Volume 1: Branching Out in All Directions

  "Bang bang......"

  The knocking at the door, from light to heavy, woke Gao Huan up from his meditation. Gao Huan's thoughts turned and he knew that the time had come, the people from Xuanwu Hall had arrived to urge him on.

  Gao Huan opened the door to take a look, and it was that disciple of the executive who had accepted his benefits. The man looked at Gao Huan, couldn't help but reveal a few points of surprise, and for a moment forgot what he wanted to say, standing there stupidly.

  In just one month, Gao Huan had shrunk by more than seven inches. His originally hard and robust muscles had also become soft and supple. Even his facial features had undergone a change. His originally bald eyebrows had grown out. Two sword-like eyebrows stood proudly and clearly, making Gao Huan lose his previous sleek and sly appearance, and his entire temperament changed instantly.

  It's not just a change in appearance, but the inner energy and aura have also undergone a transformation that is worlds apart from before. For a month now, Gao Huan has been diligently cultivating, almost to the point of not eating or drinking, and has nearly exhausted his body's fire and essence. Every day, he refines his primordial energy, and his physical form has become even more harmonious and supple.

  It is known that high-ranking warriors do not rely on their physical strength to dominate. A tall and majestic physique may look intimidating, but in actual combat, an excessively large body can only be a burden. The coordination of muscles, bones, internal energy, and inner power is very difficult to achieve.

  Only when condensed to the extreme, and all aspects of the body reach perfect balance, is it the right way. Of course, there are also some special techniques that require a huge body to fully exert its power.

  Gao Huan's Golden Five-Phase Wheel was originally a high-level technique for refining the body. Gao Huan's previous large physique could only be explained by his incomplete practice. The big comparison is about to begin, and Gao Huan wants to adapt to his new body as much as possible, and he doesn't have the mind to stir up his muscles to pretend anymore. How to conceal it, in battle, one must reveal their true form, sudden changes will only make the opponent more vigilant.

  According to Gao Huan's calculations, if this body shrinks another three inches, it will reach the most perfect balance. Although after refining the Qinglong Wheel, the bones and skeleton can stretch and shrink at will, forcibly shrinking them would affect the coordination of the body and be useless. Only when the body is truly condensed and solidified, without any excess muscles or skeleton, can one's cultivation be considered successful.

  Now, Gao Huan's body is streamlined and coordinated, his facial features are not handsome but can be said to be dignified. The softness of the facial muscles also adds a bit of agility to him. His eyes are bright and clear like jade, with a hint of spirituality. Compared to the stupid and awkward person he was a month ago, he is now like an iron block that has been polished into a sword embryo, although still rough, but already has a few touches of dazzling light.

  That person had a deep impression of Gao Huan, and suddenly, he couldn't recognize Gao Huan. That's why the disciples looked at him in a daze.

  Gao Huan saw that the person's expression was not right, and immediately realized that his own change was too eye-catching. His eyes turned, and the crystal light in his eyes was retracted by more than half. Although it was still bright and clear, it lacked the sharpness that could seize people's attention. Gao Huan smiled and said: "Shixiong, is it time?"

  The deacon's disciple came back to his senses from shock and said casually: "Yes, yes, let's pack up and go with our master..."

  Gao Huan came with only the black iron rod, and nothing else was needed to be collected. He nodded and followed the disciple of the executive department out. At this moment, a secret room door on the opposite side of the corridor opened, and a white-clothed girl walked out.

  The white-clothed girl was slightly stunned when she saw Gao Huan, and then immediately showed a look of anger, asking sternly: "You're just an inner disciple, how did you get into the top-secret room?" The white-clothed girl had symmetrical features, bright eyes, but her eyebrows were raised high, with a sinister expression on her face, making people feel very overbearing and difficult to deal with.

  Within the sect, the color of clothing is strictly regulated. The girl in front of him was wearing all white clothes, she must be a true disciple. Gao Huan's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, he didn't want to have an unnecessary dispute with a true disciple. Moreover, this woman was sharp-tongued and argumentative, the more you explained, the more troublesome it would become.

  Gao Huan slowly said: "I rented a private room, the senior brother of Xuanwu Hall arranged it this way." Then he turned to his junior fellow disciple and said: "Senior brother, I'll leave first."

  A woman in white robes glared at the disciple who was in charge, and said angrily: "I want to rent a top-secret room. You said it's available, but now you're letting another inner disciple use it. What are you trying to do?"

  The attendant hastily smiled and said, "Sheng Shijie, don't be angry, that matter wasn't arranged by me either. Next time I'll definitely arrange a first-class one for you."

  The woman in white refused to give up, "You use your power for personal gain, and arbitrarily allow low-ranking disciples to use the top-grade secret room. Just wait for Zhuque Hall to clean you up." "And you, stop right there. Do you think you're not involved?" The woman in white shouted loudly, not allowing Gao Huan to leave.

  Gao Huan seemed to not hear, and walked straight downstairs. As a true disciple of the sect, her status was high, but she had no official duties, nor any power to dispose of others. Gao Huan didn't need to pay attention to her at all. Even if she reported it to the Zhuque Hall, only that duty disciple would be unlucky, and it couldn't implicate him in any way.

  The junior brother was frightened and hastily caught up with Gao Huan, grabbing his sleeve and saying: "Junior brother, let's apologize to senior sister, I'm begging you." The junior brother was already sweating profusely, looking extremely tense. "She is Yao Ying Fang, said to be a fourth-grade upper-level cultivator, a notorious figure among the true disciples, we can't afford to offend her."

  Yao Ying Yan Fang is a ruthless and cunning person, doing things in secret. He has a notorious reputation within the sect, and Gao Huan had also heard of him before. Gao Huan thought for a moment: "Alright, Master Brother is also having trouble because of me."

  The young apprentice was overjoyed, "Younger brother, older brother accepts your feelings. From now on, if you have any matters, just look for me."

  Gao Huan smiled but didn't speak. Such a promise might not be reliable after all. However, saying a few nice words could help others out, and Gao Huan was still willing to do so.

  Seeing the deacon's disciple bringing Gao Huan back, Yan Fang revealed a hint of a triumphant smile, "You weren't very stubborn, how did you come back?"

  Yan Fang's mouth was so sharp, the disciples of the executive hated that they couldn't slap her flying. At this time, they could only look at Gao Huan with pleading eyes, afraid that Gao Huan would not be able to hold back his temper.

  Gao Huan was already immune to such verbal provocations, and upon hearing this, he cupped his hands and said: "I don't know if it's Shifu Jie, forgive me for being rude." Although Gao's tone was low and hoarse, his expression was quite sincere.

  "Disciple Zhang also said: 'Sister Yan, you are a magnanimous person who doesn't recall the faults of others. This time it was our mistake.'"

  Yan Fang's lips curled up, and she said disdainfully: "You're arrogant at first but then become humble. I despise people like you the most." After a pause, she continued: "Do you think a casual apology will do? You need to kneel down and kowtow to show sincerity."

  The face of the deacon's son suddenly sank, and Yan Fang's request was too excessive. On the contrary, Gao Huan's expression remained unchanged, and he said warmly: "Sister Yan, we are also unintentionally offending you, why must you treat us as ordinary people? This brother is willing to offer three top-grade Congyuan Dan as an apology, please forgive us this time."

  Yan Fang is so overbearing, she must be trying to squeeze something out. Gao Huan replaced the disciple of the executive with three top-grade Concentrated Yuan Dan, which can also be considered as spending money to avoid disaster. However, this money Gao Huan cannot afford to spend. The executive's disciples have done many such deals and still made a profit from Gao Huan's money. Gao Huan can be a good person but cannot be taken advantage of.

  The disciple of the executive, although secretly resentful, still cleverly interjected: "Yes, I am willing to offer three top-grade Concentrated Yuan Dan as compensation, and please spare us, elder sister."

  Yan Fang coldly smiled and said: "Three top-grade Yuan Condensation Pills, are you guys kidding me? This matter, how can it be easily settled!"

  "This woman is really greedy." Gao Huan suppressed the urge to turn around and leave, remaining silent to see how the disciple of the executive would respond.

  The disciple of the executive looked at Gao Huan with pleading eyes, but saw that he was not in a good mood and it was clear that he would not be able to help him out with money. But Yan Fang was about to make a big scene, and if things got out of hand, he would be in trouble. The disciple of the executive thought of kneeling down and kowtowing at this point, but Gao Huan would definitely not agree. In desperation, the disciple of the executive steeled himself and said, "I am willing to offer ten top-grade Concentrated Yuan Dan, please don't refuse, elder sister."

  Yan Fang's expression slightly eased as she said: "You're so sincere, I won't make things difficult for you again. Next time, be more careful."

  The deacon's disciple had a bleeding heart, but still forced a smile on his face and handed over a porcelain bottle to Yan Fang. Yan Fang swept her sleeve and took the porcelain bottle away.

  It should have ended like this, but Gao Huan saw Yan Fang's strange expression and felt that this woman was going to make more trouble. Sure enough, when the disciple of the executive department pulled Gao Huan away, Yan Fang suddenly said: "You can go, but this inner disciple cannot go."

  The disciples were shocked and asked, "Didn't our master already forgive us?"

  Yan Fang coldly smiled and glanced at Gao Huan, saying: "I forgive you, but he won't."

  The deacon's disciple gave Gao Huan a helpless glance and turned to leave first, which was very unbrotherly. Gao Huan didn't get angry either, as this was within his expectations. The deacon's disciple took out ten top-grade Concentrated Yuan Dan alone, probably still resenting him in his heart, how could he possibly stay behind to accompany him? This is human nature.

  However, Gao Huan did not regret helping. He helped to make friends and was not forced by anyone. A small matter, understanding the nature of this person, Gao Huan thought it was not bad either. Moreover, at that time, it was just a walk away, according to the woman's temperament, it didn't count as finished yet.

  Gao Huan subtly sensed Yan Fang's aura, and felt that Yan Fang's aura was eerie and gloomy, like the faint wind of a dark night. Although she stood in front of him, he always had an elusive feeling. Gao Huan could be certain that Yan Fang was a practitioner. Her strange fluctuations with the origin energy were very difficult to conceal.

  The four-stage boundary of magic: Departure. Simply put, the fourth-stage magicians and practitioners can all depart from their souls. The departed soul cannot cause substantial harm to people, but it can directly control the yuanqi with the soul, and the speed of releasing magic and curses will be faster and stronger.

  The law enforcement disciple who was killed by Gao Huan was also a fourth-level practitioner. Unfortunately, in close combat, there was no room for his soul to escape. Even if the soul escaped, a martial artist could still use powerful yuanqi to crush the soul within a certain distance. So, it can be said that although magic is strong, close combat cannot be compared with martial arts at all.

  At this distance, Gao Huan was confident that he could kill Yan Fang within three moves. However, in the Xuanwu Hall, Gao Huan would not have made a move unless he had gone mad. Similarly, Yan Fang, as a true disciple, did not have the qualifications to attack others at will.

  Gao Huan said calmly: "Shi Jie left me behind, what does she want to do?"

  Yan Fang disliked Hai Huan's calm and composed demeanor the most, as if what was happening in front of her wasn't worth mentioning, as if she herself wasn't worth mentioning. "I'll give you two options: either kowtow and admit your mistake, or hand over twenty top-grade Concentrated Yuan Dan. Otherwise, I'll make it difficult for you to live or die - stop right there!"

  Before Yan Fang finished speaking, Gao Huan turned around and left. Yan Fang's stern shout couldn't stop Gao Huan either. Gao Huan didn't like arguing with women. Since Yan Fang was like this, there was nothing more to say! When the opportunity arises, everyone will see the truth in action.

  Gao Huan walked away with a carefree expression, while Yan Fang's face turned pale with rage behind him. Her hands were clenched into fists, and the talisman for her Wind Blade Technique was ready to be activated. The surrounding aura was abnormally condensing, creating an ominous atmosphere. However, Gao Huan seemed completely unaware of all this and simply walked away. Yan Fang's mouth twitched with anger as she stared at Gao Huan's back, but she eventually suppressed her emotions, gritting her teeth and muttering: "You just wait..."