Chapter 21: Dragon Shape

  Zhang Xiu stuttered: "This move, I practiced for a year before completing the foundation." He was both surprised and delighted, and hastily unfolded the remaining scrolls.

  There are seven paintings in total, but Zhang Xiang has only practiced three of them. The last four are unheard of, and the master has never mentioned them before.

  "No wonder Master said I have limited potential and can't reach the highest realm." Zhang Hua sighed, his face disheartened.

  "Why say that?" Liu Bian was puzzled: "I will give you all seven pictures, can't you just cultivate?"

  Zhang Xiu smiled bitterly and shook his head.

  "Your Majesty, it's not like that," said Wang Yue. "There are two types of Daoyin techniques. One is categorized, just like the Twelve Shapes, divided into different categories, suitable for different physical constitutions to cultivate. The other is graded, like one shape has multiple levels, each level representing a state of mind. If you haven't cultivated to that state, forcibly practicing the next level not only brings no benefit but also harm."

  After listening to Wang Yue's explanation, Liu Bian finally understood that there were two different classification methods in this seemingly complex Daoyin diagram. Classification is based on the physical characteristics of different people, choosing to practice different categories to achieve the greatest achievement. While Fenjie is a different level within the same category. You can choose different classes, and if you choose wrong, at most, your achievements will be limited, or you may not have any achievements, usually without any harm. However, Fenjie is different, if your realm is not enough, forcibly practicing it will be harmful and useless, and even destroy all your cultivation.

  So, for Wang Yue and Zhang Xiang, getting the complete oral formula and Daoyin diagram does not mean they can cultivate the highest state. What really helps them are the annotated formulas next to the levels they have already cultivated. If they can gain a deeper understanding of the truth from these formulas and improve their state, they may be able to enter the next level; otherwise, those diagrams and formulas are like the moon in the water or flowers in the mirror - visible but intangible.

  Even so, it was enough to make Wang Yue and Zhang Xiang extremely delighted. After all, with these pictures and the complete incantation, their chances of advancing to the next level greatly increased. For such masters, a difference of one level could be like the difference between heaven and earth.

  Holding the complete oral formula and diagram, Wang Yue and Zhang Liao walked away with great joy. Especially Zhang Liao, who obtained the turtle-shaped diagram, if he could gain new insights within one or two days, his chances of defeating Lü Bu would greatly increase, rather than just being content with a draw.

  "Your Majesty, which form will you practice?"

  Liu Bian blinked: "I don't know what I am either, but I think I'll try one by one. Wang Yue said that even if I practice wrong, it won't hurt, at most it will be ineffective." He paused and said: "The dragon shape is the simplest, I'll try the dragon shape first."

  The Princess of Wan did not utter a word. The dragon shape sounds the most majestic, but it is also the most confusing. All the other eleven shapes have multiple pictures, but only the dragon shape has one picture, and this picture is a person standing upright, dignified enough, but somehow does not look like cultivation.

  "Why doesn't Your Majesty practice the Xuan or Yuan forms? With Wang Yue and Zhang Liang, two top-notch experts guiding you, you can avoid taking a detour."

  Liu Bian shook his head. The suggestion of the Princess of Wan, he had also thought about it. But even if he should choose the form of a snake or an eagle, with Zhang Hua and Wang Yue's guidance, could he become as skilled in martial arts as Wang Yue and Zhang Hua? With the correct method, one still needs to go through long-term bitter practice to have any chance of making progress. The kind of thing where you glance at a secret manual and suddenly make rapid progress, becoming a master overnight, probably only happens in myths.

  Xu Jue said, his life was short. He didn't know how much time he had left, so he couldn't choose this gradual approach. He chose the dragon shape, actually wanting to take a gamble. Having two consecutive dreams of dragons, perhaps he really had a dragon's fate and was suited for practicing the dragon shape. If he gambled correctly, he could avoid taking detours and might even find a shortcut.

  ……

  A mysterious guest arrived at the Yuan manor: Xu Zhi.

  As for Xu Zhi's arrival, Yuan Wei was both surprised and uneasy. He was just about to send someone to invite Xu Zhi when Xu Zhi came uninvited - was this a case of wishful thinking or an unexpected turn of events?

  Yuan Wei, though deep in thought, showed no sign of it, until he had invited Xu Shao into the study and closed the door. Only then did he slowly say: "You have come at midnight, what urgent matter is this?"

  "The night before last, I was stargazing and saw a strange star enter the Purple Forbidden Enclosure."

  Yuan Wei's eyebrows rose, and he didn't speak for a long time. In astrology, the Purple Palace represents the imperial family, and if there is an alien star entering the Purple Palace, it means that the imperial family will have a change. For the Yuan family, this represents good or bad things, no one can say for sure. The same astrological signs, different people's interpretations, may produce completely different results.

  "The son will think it is auspicious or ominous?"

  Xu Jia did not directly answer Yuan Yi's question and continued: "The great fire in the south, the white planet moves retrograde, entering the Vermilion Bird position."

  Yuan Wei took a deep breath of cool air, his face changed color, and blurted out: "Is it auspicious or ominous?"

  Xu Jie shook his head: "At present, the star is not clear, I can't say for sure. Taibai is the western star, symbolizing the white tiger. Taibai entering Zhuque's position, there are only two possibilities. Either Zhuque gets help from the white tiger, or Zhuque is hurt by the white tiger. However, gold entering fire position, should not lead to great chaos."

  Yuan Wei stroked his mustache, his eyes gleaming. After a moment, he said in a low voice: "The planet Taibai originally lies in the western sky, but now it moves retrogradely to the east. Could it be that there is a fierce tiger appearing in the eastern region? Zi Jiang, where are you supposed to be at this time?"

  Jingzhou border.

  "Jingzhou?" Yuan Wei thought for a moment: "Could it be..."

  "Sun Jian!" This time, Xu Shu did not hesitate at all and gave a direct answer.

  Yuan Yi let out a light laugh, and his expression relaxed a lot. If the fierce tiger was on Sun Jian's body, he wouldn't have to worry. Sun Jian is currently the governor of Changsha, and it was Yuan Yi who promoted him. Although Sun Jian had outstanding military achievements in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, without Yuan Yi, he would not have been able to rise to the position of governor. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there were many people who had made contributions but were not rewarded, or were rewarded but then had their rewards taken away. What about Huangfu Song, who had the greatest achievements? What about Lu Zhi?

  Compared with the merits of the Yuan family, military achievements are hardly worth mentioning.

  Sun Jian was a martial artist, but he was also an intelligent man. He understood the situation and felt grateful to Yuan Shu, having been a supporter of the Yuan family for some time.

  Yuan Wei's expression was relaxed, and Xu Shao secretly sighed: "Mr. Yuan, do you think it's no big deal?"

  Yuan Wei's long and narrow eyes blinked: "Zi Jiang, what can you teach me?"

  Xu Jie shook his head: "I'm just a idle talker, I won't be of much help to General Yuan. But the heavenly signs are chaotic, it's best for General Yuan to prepare for changes. The will of heaven is unpredictable, don't trust it completely. Success or failure still depends on human planning."

  Yuan Wei nodded slowly: "Not bad, I was worried about this, so I had someone invite you, Zi Jiang. Zi Jiang, go into the palace and take another look at the emperor's fate."

  "What's wrong with the Emperor?" Xu Shi was shocked: "Ill? Judging from his facial features I observed last time, he won't last more than a few months."