If he could have had another twenty years of life, he might have been able to unblock all the meridians in his body before his Qi blood declined, thereby gaining the opportunity to advance to the Primordial Sea Realm.
Unfortunately, life is uncontrollable, and he could only pass away with regret in the end.
Only Zhao Ya, who has a long lifespan, is most suitable for this cultivation technique.
"Have you ever thought about combining this cultivation technique with our Azure Dragon Temple’s Azure Dragon True Power?" Zhao Ya asked.
Guo Luming shook his head, "It’s difficult because these are fundamentally two entirely different techniques of True Power cultivation."
"At least it’s worth a try. If we succeed in integrating them, not only could your injuries possibly be healed, but our Azure Dragon Temple could also reach new heights," Zhao Ya said.
It wasn’t that Zhao Ya was intentionally painting a rosy picture for Guo Luming.
It’s just that he knew Guo Luming too well.
After decades of concentrated cultivation and accumulation, Elder Guo acquired extremely high insight and knowledge in martial cultivation.
This was something Zhao Ya couldn’t match even if he tried.
Thus, Zhao Ya wanted him to integrate the Star-devouring True Power with the Azure Dragon True Power.
This would not only solve his own problem but also be greatly beneficial to Guo Luming himself and the entire Azure Dragon Temple.
Hearing Zhao Ya’s words, Guo Luming couldn’t help but sigh.
"How could I not know this? But I’ve tried various methods and still can’t perfectly unify them."
"First and foremost, there is a vast difference between the techniques’ methods of cultivation."
"Azure Dragon True Power involves the Visualization of the Azure Dragon Root Map to cultivate the True Power Seed."
"While the Star-devouring True Power involves visualizing the stars to accumulate True Power. The two are as different as can be. How can they be unified?"
Guo Luming laid out his difficulties, and Zhao Ya furrowed his brow upon hearing them, pondering for a long time without finding a better solution.
"Alright, this matter is also not urgent at the moment. Have you finished reading those books I gave you before?" Guo Luming changed the subject.
Guo Luming had previously mentioned that although Zhao Ya possessed commendable strength and realm, his understanding and foundation were lacking, not matching his capability.
Initially, this might not be a big issue, but over time, this weakness would become more and more apparent.
So during this period, Guo Luming was constantly supplementing Zhao Ya’s knowledge and experience in martial arts.
Zhao Ya nodded, "I’ve read them all."
"Are there parts you didn’t understand?"
"Not many, but there are a few areas that I feel are somewhat off."
"Oh? Tell me about them."
Subsequently, Zhao Ya laid out the issues he encountered.
Upon listening, Guo Luming couldn’t help but furrow his brows and fall into deep thought because the questions Zhao Ya asked were indeed profound.
After pondering for a long time, Guo Luming methodically provided explanations one by one.
After listening, Zhao Ya suddenly felt enlightened and became increasingly respectful of Guo Luming.
Not to mention anything else, this elder could truly be described as an encyclopedia of martial cultivation.
No matter how obscure the question, he could always provide an answer.
The more this was the case, the more Zhao Ya felt an urgent desire to save Guo Luming’s life.
After all, should such a moving trove of martial arts knowledge just die, it would be a tremendous loss for himself, the Azure Dragon Temple, and the entire Beyond the World.
"Did you understand everything?" Guo Luming asked in a somewhat hoarse voice, his expression showing signs of fatigue.
For him now, providing such exhaustive answers was truly draining.
"I understood it all!"
Zhao Ya said very respectfully, then reached out to help Guo Luming sit down, feeling his pulse through his meridian carefully.
After a moment, a trace of worry flashed in the depths of Zhao Ya’s eyes.
But on the surface, Zhao Ya appeared calm and composed.
"It’s nothing serious, just some deficiency in Qi blood."
As he said this, Zhao Ya took out a bottle.
"This is a pill I concocted yesterday. Elder, please take one and see how it works."
Medical skills and the Poison Dao are two sides of the same coin, connected in principle.
Thus, Zhao Ya’s high achievement in the Poison Dao translated to comparable success in medical skills.
In order to heal Guo Luming’s internal injuries, Zhao Ya had been singularly focused on researching medical skills apart from his cultivation, continuously adjusting the prescription. While it might not be possible to completely cure him, it could at least make Guo Luming feel better.
Indeed.
After swallowing one pill, the fatigue on Guo Luming’s face gradually faded, and there was a glint of vitality in his eyes again.
He then smiled at Zhao Ya, whose face was full of concern, "I feel much better."
Zhao Ya sighed in relief, then carefully considered his tone before advising.
"Elder Guo, during this period, don’t worry about anything else, just focus on cultivating the Eight Vajra Longevity Skill I’ve taught you in the pavilion."
"No, I can’t." Guo Luming decisively refused.
"You’ve made great progress recently, but it’s still not enough, especially to manage such a vast Azure Dragon Temple, you’re far from it."
"And I don’t know when I’ll close my eyes for good, so time is precious and cannot be wasted."
As he spoke, Guo Luming took out two booklets from his embrace and handed them to Zhao Ya.
"I’ve been sorting these out these past few days. These are important events and cause analyses in Beyond the World over the years, and they should be helpful to you."
Zhao Ya accepted the booklets, still warm to the touch, and opened them, seeing neat script filling the pages.
Without considering anything else, just writing these two thick volumes would consume immense effort.
Plus, researching the materials and organizing the clues involved unimaginable toil.
Zhao Ya’s nose tingled, nearly bringing him to tears.
To speak of Zhao Ya’s good fortune, it began right when he joined the Escort Agency, where every mentor he met treated him well.
From Meng Lei at the beginning to Lu Dingtai and now Guo Luming.
None of them were unkind to him.
When Meng Lei died in Zhao Ya’s arms, it was a significant shock to Zhao Ya.
Afterward, he trained almost like an aesthetic monk, relentlessly day after day, without allowing himself any slack, largely stemming from that event.
Now, with Guo Luming, it’s different again.
Because he is gradually approaching death day by day.
The more so, the more despairing it feels.
After all, this sense of irretrievability and powerlessness that cannot be salvaged is enough to cause one to collapse.
As if sensing Zhao Ya’s oddness, Guo Luming said nothing, only gently patted Zhao Ya’s shoulder, softly comforting him,
"Alright, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Life and death are fated, and I’ve already witnessed the traitor’s death and Azure Dragon Temple’s rebirth through fire in my lifetime. I’m very content with that; I seek nothing else."
Zhao Ya remained silent, taking a deep breath to suppress his emotional turmoil.
Tears cannot solve any problems.
Especially in martial cultivation, tears have no place.
He only resolved in his heart to do everything he could to heal Guo Luming’s injuries.
Guo Luming left.
Zhao Ya did not see him off but instead devoted himself to reading the two booklets.
Given the enormous effort Guo Luming had put in, Zhao Ya certainly couldn’t let him down.
Seeing the clearly outlined causes and consequences of events in Beyond the World, systematically recording major and minor events over the years, Zhao Ya unwittingly immersed himself, reading deep into the night before closing the first booklet, still with interest unsated.
Having finished one, Zhao Ya already understood the intricate relationships among the sects in Beyond the World.
Then Zhao Ya opened the second booklet, containing matters Guo Luming deemed significant.
As Zhao Ya read attentively, he paused on a specific page, his eyes lighting up with an unusual glint.
For on that page was a clearly written account.
Azure Dragon Temple’s Grand Elder Guan Xuejiang, during his travels in Beyond the World, once went to Wuyang Beach, probing into the mystery of the mist in the Wuyang Sea.
He heard strange sounds in the fog, resembling flute music! Upon asking a fisherman, they said this situation was not uncommon, only becoming more frequent in recent years, calling it the Sea Dragon King’s procession.
At the end, Guo Luming added a note.
This was personally told to me by Junior Brother Guan Xuejiang, with a high degree of reliability, but I do not know what the sound actually is.
The Wuyang Sea is extremely mysterious, and for a thousand years, countless brilliant talents have sought to explore it, ultimately failing, with some even losing their lives, so one must not act recklessly.