361: Chapter 361 Seeing Xu Ruyu's complete lack of reservation, Xiao Nianyin was so shocked she couldn't speak (Part 1)

The night was deep, and Tingquan Residence was enveloped in silence.

Xu Ruyu lay on the bed covered in soft animal furs, his breathing steady as he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Although he had won the sparring match against Leng Ningshuang and the other three easily tonight, the exertion was not insignificant. He needed a good rest.

Xiao Nianyin stood by the bedside, watching him quietly for a while, then gently tucked in the corners of his blanket.

This was her duty as a "Bed-warming maid" — although Xu Ruyu never asked her to do these things, she had become accustomed to it.

After finishing this, she walked to the window and sat down on a bamboo chair.

Outside the window, the moonlight flowed like water, spilling over Qixia Valley. In the distance came the gurgling sound of the Spirit Spring Waterfall, and occasionally a few insect chirps, making the night even more tranquil.

But Xiao Nianyin's heart could not settle down.

She closed her eyes, and the scenes from tonight involuntarily surfaced in her mind —

Xu Ruyu stood in the center of the battlefield, dressed in green robes, standing with his hands behind his back.

Opposite him were the four: Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, Ning Caihe, and Qingyan.

Three Nascent Soul Cultivators and one Golden Core Peak Cultivator, their auras powerful, their pressure like a mountain.

Yet he was only at the Qi Refinement Stage.

Xiao Nianyin had originally thought this would be a one-sided battle — Nascent Soul against Qi Refinement, did the result even need to be said?

She had even prepared herself; if Xu Ruyu were in danger, she would rush up to save him. Although her cultivation was sealed, she was, after all, a former Saint Realm Expert, and her discernment remained, so she might be able to help a little.

However, the result of the battle left her completely dumbfounded.

Zhao Yan's punch, capable of collapsing mountains, was pressed down by Xu Ruyu with a mere wave of his hand, causing the flaming fist energy to explode into thin air.

Ning Caihe's sword strike, fast as lightning, was caught between Xu Ruyu's two fingers, and the sword body was flicked away.

Leng Ningshuang's overwhelming ice crystal storm was blown away by Xu Ruyu in a single breath.

Qingyan's Dao of Compassionate Love, which could stir the softest memories in a person's heart, had no effect on Xu Ruyu whatsoever.

From beginning to end, Xu Ruyu hadn't even moved his feet.

From beginning to end, he had been "teaching" — fighting while explaining, pointing out the flaws and directions for improvement in their Cultivation Technique.

Xiao Nianyin recalled the words he had said —

"Although your flames are strong, their essence is still an explosion of thermal energy. I only need to create a vacuum layer around your fist energy to isolate the air, and your flames will not be able to sustain themselves."

"No matter how fast your sword is, it still moves through the air. As long as I can perceive the fluctuations of the air, I can predict your sword path."

"Your ice crystals are essentially formed by the condensation of water vapor. I only need to make the surrounding air move violently to generate high temperatures, and I can instantly evaporate these ice crystals."

"I have experienced illusions a hundred times more real than this; your Dao of Compassionate Love cannot affect me."

These words, like a thunderclap, exploded repeatedly in Xiao Nianyin's heart.

She was once a Saint Realm Expert, having witnessed countless Geniuses and Prodigies, and had also seen countless exquisite Cultivation Techniques and Divine Abilities.

But she had never seen anyone, with the cultivation of the Qi Refinement Stage, so easily crush three Nascent Soul Cultivators and one Golden Core Peak Cultivator!

Furthermore, the method of crushing them wasn't by relying on some earth-shattering Divine Ability, but by relying on a profound understanding of the most basic and fundamental "energy" and "Law" of those Cultivators!

Leng Ningshuang's ice was formed by the condensation of water vapor. Xu Ruyu simply heated the air, making the ice melt.

Zhao Yan's fire was an explosion of thermal energy. Xu Ruyu simply withdrew the air, making the fire extinguish.

Ning Caihe's sword relied on air for acceleration. Xu Ruyu simply perceived the fluctuations of the air to predict the sword path.

Qingyan's illusion stirred human emotions. Xu Ruyu simply used memories of more realistic illusions to counter her Dao of Compassionate Love.

This was not breaking power with power, but breaking power with reason!

He seemed able to see through the essence of all Cultivation Techniques and then find the most direct and effective method to break them!

And the root of all this came from that Cultivation Technique he had created himself — Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art.

No, it should be called True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy.

Xiao Nianyin clearly remembered that when Xu Ruyu had first arrived through Transmigration, he was just a Mortal who couldn't even guide Qi into his body.

At that time, she was high and mighty, viewing him as an ant, treating him only as a "Cauldron" that could be manipulated at will.

But what about now? He was the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect, the Saint Master of the Taihu Clan, and a Prodigy personally protected by the Clan Chief.

And she herself had become the "Bed-warming maid" by his side.

This contrast was so great that every time she thought about it, it felt like a dream.

But tonight, what truly shocked her to the point of being speechless was not Xu Ruyu's strength, but another matter — the teaching of his Cultivation Technique.

After the battle ended, in front of all the Hehuan Sect Disciples, Xu Ruyu announced that he would teach the Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art.

Moreover, he explained the core tenets of the Cultivation Technique on the spot, without holding anything back.

Xiao Nianyin remembered clearly that at that time, those Disciples were sitting around the bonfire, and Xu Ruyu was standing in the center, starting from the most basic "sensing the flow of air," and speaking all the way to "how to convert the thermal energy in the air for one's own use," "how to perceive the water vapor in the air," and "how to utilize the kinetic energy of air to accelerate"...

He explained it in meticulous detail, making the profound simple. For every main point, he gave examples; for every difficult point, he repeatedly emphasized it. Some Disciples listened in a half-understanding manner, so he would stop, let them ask questions, and patiently answer them.

He spoke for a full hour or more.

During this time, a Disciple asked: "Sect Master, if you teach all of this to us, are you not afraid that once we learn it, we will surpass you?"

Xu Ruyu smiled and said: "If you surpass me, I would be too happy to be upset. The stronger the Hehuan Sect is, the better our lives will be. Besides —"

He paused, a glimmer of confidence flashing in his eyes: "Only when you surpass me can I have new goals and continue to progress. Stagnation is the greatest tragedy."

At that time, Xiao Nianyin was standing on the periphery of the crowd, and upon hearing these words, she was completely stunned.

As a former Saint Realm Sect Master, she knew the rules of the Cultivation World all too well. When a Master teaches a Disciple, they must hold something back. When a Sect teaches Disciples, there must be reservations.

This was an unbreakable truth in the Cultivation World!

Because no one is willing to see their Disciples surpass themselves, and no one is willing to lose their advantageous position.

Therefore, when passing on cultivation, there will always be a few secret techniques kept in reserve as their trump cards.

When she, Xiao Nianyin, was in charge of the Hehuan Sect and taught Cultivation Techniques to Leng Nianyin and the others, she also had reservations.

Those core insights and the most critical tricks, she had never truly taught to anyone.

This was the survival Law of the Cultivation World!

But what about Xu Ruyu? He treated his own Cultivation Technique like cabbage, teaching it to everyone without any reservations!

Was he not afraid of teaching the Disciple and starving the Master?

Was he not afraid that someone might learn it and turn around to deal with him?

Was he not afraid...

Xiao Nianyin could not understand.

She sat by the window, gazing at the moonlight outside, her brows tightly knitted.

Just at this moment, she suddenly remembered one thing — the words of Lady Qingli.

That was when they were still at the ancestral grounds of the Hehuan Sect.

One day, Lady Qingli came to find her, urging her to be better to Xu Ruyu. At that time, she was dismissive, thinking Lady Qingli was making a fuss over nothing.

But the words Lady Qingli had said were now clearly surfacing in her mind...