"This time must be successful, otherwise I don’t know how long it will take to master the Star Illusion Thousand Mechanism Technique. Mu Hanyan can wait, but I cannot afford to wait," thought Qu Shanling. Considering his life span might only last another two or three years if he failed to learn the technique, he felt an immense pressure, quietly took a deep breath to encourage himself, and summoned all his spirit.
With full concentration and no stray thoughts, his Hand Formation became increasingly proficient. When he executed the last Hand Formation halfway, he had already surpassed yesterday’s progress. A slight joy appeared on Qu Shanling’s somewhat pale face.
However, at that moment, the Hand Formation suddenly halted. Qu Shanling felt as if he had been struck by a giant stone, his body shook violently, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Why are you spitting blood again? It was just a little bit left, couldn’t you hold it back?" Mu Hanyan, holding great disappointment, saw success was close, but yet again, it concluded in failure at the crucial moment, driving her nearly mad with urgency.
"Master, what’s wrong with you, is it serious?" Seeing their master spitting blood, the two young disciples quickly went up to support him, their faces filled with anxious concern.
Like Housekeeper Sun, although these two young disciples had plenty of bad habits and bragged to high heavens, they held great respect for their master. In this regard, Qu the Godman’s Star Divination still proved useful, at least he had a good eye in judging people.
"Young Master, let’s stop here for today, let me rest for a few days," Qu Shanling said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking unsteady.
Although Mu Hanyan was not the oldest among the younger generation of the family, being the eldest son of both the Family Head and the City Lord’s family, addressing him as Young Master was indeed appropriate.
"No, didn’t I say it? Star Divination, like cultivation, deeply frowns on giving up halfway. We were about to succeed, just a little more effort needed," Mu Hanyan said.
Although she was not skilled in Star Divination, her strength was evident. As a Ninth-Rank Swordsman, it was not difficult for her to see that, although Qu Shanling had vomited blood, his body was not seriously impaired and he could still keep going.
"How can you do this, my master is already vomiting blood, yet you still won’t let him go," Qu Shanling’s young disciples said with both heartache and anger.
"Do not talk nonsense, the Young Master is doing this for my own good," Qu Shanling quickly rebuked. He was the one seeking Mu Hanyan’s help, even if she was willing to let him go, he would not agree.
Seeing their master saying that, the two young disciples naturally did not dare to say more but glared at Mu Hanyan full of resentment.
"It’s okay, I’m fine now, let go of me, let me try again," Qu Shanling pushed his disciples away and tried again.
Just like before, the initial Hand Formations were smooth, but the last move clearly became difficult.
Qu Shanling clenched his teeth, his eyes wide, using almost all his spirit. Finally, the Hand Formation that made him vomit blood before was successfully executed, and without pausing, Qu Shanling, fueled by momentum, executed the next move.
"Pu," just after executing half of it, Qu Shanling spat out another mouthful of fresh blood again.
"Master!" His two young disciples again rushed to support him.
"I can’t do it anymore, I really can’t," Qu Shanling said, shaking his hand.
"Just hold on for a little longer, we’re almost there," Mu Hanyan voiced both excitement and disappointment in her heart.
Combining the Energy Movement pathways of the Heavenly Heart Technique, it was not difficult for her to discern that the hand technique Qu Shanling executed was getting closer to completing the first ’small cycle.’ This also meant that the page of the Star Illusion Thousand Machine Technique was nearly perfected, which excited her. However, the disappointment was, despite getting over one hurdle, they had still failed to overcome the next.