[Wuxia] The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea (Complete) - 35

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

In Chapter 47 of Liang Yusheng's *The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea*, the special envoy rushes to Shaolin Temple for the grand gathering of good and

evil. At the last sentence, Gu Zhihua's eyes reddened. Her final words were a reproach to Jin Shiyi for being "
heartless and ungrateful." While her tone seemed to be in favor of Li Shengnan, she had unknowingly
revealed .
Jin Shiyi urgently asked, "Who said she was my wife?" Gu Zhihua replied, "She said it herself, how could it be false? I don't
believe there's a woman in the world who would disregard shame and claim someone else as her husband! She said she and you got married on a deserted island
, and the officiant was her brother. Is that true?" Jin Shiyi looked embarrassed. He could only nod and say, "Yes, that's right
!"
Gu Zhihua's expression changed drastically. She flicked her sleeve and was about to leave, but her body felt numb. She felt dizzy and
weak all over. Jin Shiyi grabbed her and sighed, "You don't know the inside story. This was just
a temporary measure . This, this is fake, fake! A fake couple! Do you understand? Oh, you still don't understand? Let me tell you the truth. Do you
know who she is? She is the descendant of Li Kangtian, Qiao Beiming's eldest disciple!"
Gu Zhihua was stunned for a moment and said, "What does this have to do with you two being husband and wife?" At this moment, although she was still heartbroken
, seeing Jin Shiyi so anxious, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him, and her tone softened slightly.
Jin Shiyi spoke for half an hour, recounting his initial acquaintance with Li Shengnan and their two-week sham marriage on the deserted island
, before finally explaining the whole story. He concluded, "I agreed to help her
take revenge and live with her and her brother because she had once been kind to me. Do you understand my feelings now?" He paused here, glancing at
Gu Zhihua, then lowered his head again, feeling embarrassed. It was clear that Li Shengnan's enemy was Meng Shentong, and Jin Shiyi's agreement
to help her take revenge meant... The thought of eliminating Gu Zhihua's father, despite Gu Zhihua's hatred for him, still felt awkward
.
Gu Zhihua stood frozen, speechless for a long, long time. In that silent moment, her heart
was in turmoil, filled with countless thoughts. From Li Shengnan's story, she understood even more how ruthless and vicious her father was; for
Qiao Beiming's martial arts manual, he had not hesitated to kill Li Shengnan's entire family. Therefore, although she was initially
embarrassed she quickly forgave him.
However, she still felt uneasy about Jin... Gu Zhihua, however, had a very incomprehensible side. A woman's heart is most sensitive; from Jin Shiyi's words
, she sensed that his feelings for Li Shengnan went beyond mere pity. If there were no love involved, given his personality,
how could have endured such humiliation and pretended to be Li Shengnan's husband? How could he have stayed by her side, carefully protecting her? Perhaps
even Jin Shiyi himself was unaware of this hidden love, but Gu Zhihua's sensitive heart easily perceived it! Imagine,
in the eyes of a lover, how could one tolerate even a grain of sand?
On the other hand, after learning about Li Shengnan's true parentage, Gu Zhihua felt guilty. Although she refused to acknowledge Meng Shentong as
her father, he was, after all, her biological father, and it was Meng Shentong who had murdered Li Shengnan's family! Thinking
of this, she felt as if she owed Li Shengnan a debt, and if she were to take away her beloved, the "debt" would be
even heavier.
Gu Zhihua pondered countless thoughts, and after a long while, she sighed and said softly, "Shiyi, I know what's on your
mind!" Jin Shiyi, seemingly eager to hear her thoughts, hurriedly asked, "Can you forgive me now?"
Gu Zhihua said softly, "It's not about forgiveness. What friends you make, how can I stop you? You've given me
so much encouragement and help, and I'm very grateful. But, but..." Jin Shiyi said, "But what?" Gu Zhihua
blushed finally said, "But this matter of love, I never want to talk about it again in this life." "Jin Shiyi cried out, "Zhihua, you
still don't believe me?" Gu Zhihua said, "No, I believe you won't go astray. My master has high hopes for you, and I
also hope you will achieve greater success in martial arts and leave a lasting name in the martial arts world!" Jin Shiyi said, "No, that's not what I meant
!" Gu Zhihua didn't answer, and continued, "I know all your good intentions, but
what I've decided is irreversible. I have nothing to repay you with, so take this half of the martial arts manual!"
Jin Shiyi was stunned. Gu Zhihua had already stuffed the booklet into his hand. Her expression was extremely resolute, as if she were issuing
a command that Jin Shiyi had no choice but to accept!
Jin Shiyi was about to speak, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say. Just then, he suddenly heard Li Qinmei
calling :
"Sister Gu, Sister Gu, I've missed you so much!" "It turned out that Meng Shentong, seeing that Jin Shiyi had left, had no intention of continuing the fight. He hurriedly used his Vajra
Palm to break through Feng Ying's circle of sword light and fled. Feng Ying had already learned from Yi Zhongmou's flying cuckoo messenger that they were staying at this
inn. After defeating Meng Shentong, she and Zhong and Li came looking for them. Li Qinmei, longing for her good friend, didn't care whether she would wake the other
guests . As soon as she arrived outside the inn, she used her 'Secret Sound Transmission' internal energy to send her voice inside.
Jin Shiyi's heart trembled. Li Qinmei had come with Zhong Zhan. He didn't want her to know that he was still alive. He looked
at the half of the martial arts manual in his hand, and after thinking about it, he suddenly changed his mind. He finally hid it in his bosom and whispered, 'Don't let
Qinmei know it's me, Zhihua. Can I still see you in the future?'" Gu Zhihua shook her head, but seeing Jin Shiyi standing there blankly,
she nodded unconsciously. At this moment, Feng Ying and the others had already entered.
Jin Shiyi leaped over another wall, casually flicking out a few small stones he had previously held in his palm to release
the pressure points .
Li Qinmei exclaimed, "Hey, it's that strange man again! What, what's going on? Mom, Mom, what's wrong with you
?"
Feng Lin, Yi Zhongmou, and the others were lying haphazardly on the ground. Not only was Li Qinmei shocked, but Feng Ying was also startled.
She had originally wanted to go and question the escaped "strange man," but seeing this scene, she had no choice but to stay.
Feng Lin's skill was profound; once the pressure points were released, she was the first to wake up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she hurriedly asked, "Where is that old thief Meng?" Li Qinmei
said,
"That old thief Meng was chased away by Auntie. Mom, what happened to you?" Feng Lin blushed and said in a teasing tone, "I was ambushed by that old scoundrel Meng by
accident , but luckily you arrived in time, sister." She thought it was Feng Ying who had arrived and
driven away Meng Shentong, and was about to thank her sister when Feng Ying laughed and said, "Qinmei didn't explain clearly, so you're giving me credit for this too."
"Yes. My fight with Meng Shentong was ten miles away. Someone else released your pressure points."
At this moment, Yi Zhongmu and the others woke up one after another and asked, "Who was it?" Feng Ying said, "It was a strange man wearing a human skin
mask . When I encountered Meng Shentong, he was being chased by Meng Shentong. I didn't expect him to be so fast and
had already returned here."
Yi Zhongnian exclaimed, "Oh dear!" and quickly asked, "Where is this strange man?" Feng Ying said, "As soon as he saw Qinmei and me come in, he
ran away immediately. Do you know who he is?" Feng Lin, having heard her sister's account, already knew it was Jin Shiyi. She quickly
coughed and said,
"Him? He is the third disciple of Master Jin Guang of the Emei Sect. He has the same temperament as me and likes to cause trouble. Sister, you
have seen him before, but he wore a mask, so you didn't recognize him at the time." "Master Jin Guang has two disciples, both very
dignified people. Feng Ying was taken aback, but knowing her sister's identity, she immediately guessed there must be something fishy going on. Unwilling to
reveal this person's background in public, she made up an excuse and didn't ask any further questions.
Li Qinmei then exclaimed, 'Sister Gu, why do you seem so unhappy? Don't you want to see me?' Feng Lin quietly tugged at
Gu Zhihua's sleeve. Gu Zhihua smiled and said, 'How could I not want to see you? But I'm worried about Senior Sister Headmaster's pain,
so I'm troubled.' Li Qinmei finally relaxed, nodded, and said, 'Your Senior Sister Cao used to treat you badly, but now she really
misses you. She asks us several times a day if you've arrived yet. Let's set off immediately at dawn.'" Feng
Ying surveyed the inn, rescuing all the guests and staff who had been acupunctured by Meng Shentong. Meng
Shentong had used the lightest acupuncture technique, and Feng Ying had quietly released them; they were completely
unaware , as if they had just woken from a dream.
Feng Ying left money for the room and food, and left at dawn, heading to Shaolin Temple before the New Year.
The duel between Meng Shentong and Tang Xiaolan was scheduled for noon the next day, and Shaolin Temple was in a state of high tension, with
almost already present.
Gu Zhihua had originally planned to visit the sick and then return to Mangshan to tend the graves of her grandmaster and master, but unexpectedly, Cao Jin'er's illness became
very serious. Due to Gu Zhihua's arrival, she experienced a brief moment of lucidity, regaining her strength and
speaking for a while before falling into a coma and entering a state of near death. Naturally, Gu Zhihua couldn't leave and had to remain
by her bedside to care for her senior sister, the sect leader. Fortunately, Cao Jin'er had already planned ahead, arranging for
Yi Zhongmou to temporarily act as sect leader while she was seriously ill, with Gu Zhihua succeeding him after his death. Therefore, Gu Zhihua wouldn't have to confront her father
directly .
Even so, Gu Zhihua was still uneasy, because Meng Shentong had promised to come to Shaolin Temple to challenge Tang Xiaoman
. "If he comes, should I see him or not?" For Gu Zhihua, this was always an embarrassing matter.
Early that morning, everyone at Shaolin Temple waited anxiously for Meng Shentong's arrival.
The two Zen masters, Dazhi and Dabei, from the "Eighteen Arhats," were on guard duty in the outer three halls when they suddenly heard a commotion outside the gate. Dabei was
startled and said,
"Has Meng Shentong arrived so early?" Just
as Dazhi was about to call for help, three strangers burst into the outer three halls, and the disciples guarding the gate
couldn't .
Dazhi and Dabei recognized one of them, Ji Xiaofeng; the other two were monks from the Western Regions with high noses and deep-set eyes, whom they hadn't
seen .
Dazhi and Dabei shouted in unison, "Halt!" Ji Xiaofeng chuckled, "I'm impatient to wait for your announcement,"
and slipped past the two Zen masters. Dazhi and Dabei angrily retorted, "Shaolin Temple doesn't tolerate outsiders causing trouble!" "The two men struck down with four palms
simultaneously , like four guillotines. The two foreign monks snorted and said, 'Where did these stinking rules come from!' With a
shove of their shoulders, a 'thud, thud!' sounded like rain striking leather. Da Zhi and Da Bei were thrown into the air, but fortunately, their skills were profound. They did
a somersault in mid-air and landed safely. They were the two with the highest internal strength among the 'Eighteen Arhats.' If it were
anyone else, they would have been embarrassed on the spot. The Shaolin disciples and guests present were all shocked and immediately called for help.
Before they could surround them, the newcomers had already passed through the outer three layers. Suddenly, a cough was heard, and two thin-looking old monks came out. They were
Master Weishi and Master Weizhen, two elders of the same generation as Master Tongchan in the Bodhidharma Hall.
Just as Ji Xiaofeng was about to step into the 'Bodhidharma Hall' in the inner three layers, Master Weishi and Master Weizhen put their palms together and said, 'May I ask what brings you
here ?'" Ji Xiaofeng felt a powerful surge of energy pushing him forward, his blood and qi churning instantly. Fortunately, his movements were incredibly fast; sensing the danger,
he immediately staggered back more than three zhang (approximately 10 meters), thus escaping the range of the Shaolin elders' palm strikes.
The two foreign monks strode forward, cupping their hands and asking, "Which of you is the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, Master Tongchan
?"
As they spoke, their internal energies clashed. The robes of the two Shaolin elders billowed,
rippling like waves on a lake, while the two Western Region monks swayed slightly.
Master Weizhen said, "So the three of you have come to see the Abbot of this temple. Please wait a moment while I send a disciple to inform him." Ji
Xiaofeng said, "Please trouble you to invite Master Tang of Tianshan Temple to come as well." Having witnessed the abilities of these two elders, he dared not
speak as lightly as before.
Master Weishi led the way, taking the guests to the "Jieyuan Retreat," the place where Shaolin Temple received guests.
Soon after they sat down, Venerable Tongchan and Tang Xiaolan arrived together.
Venerable Tongchan, as the host, seeing Buddhist disciples present, chanted a Buddhist prayer, clasped his hands, and asked, "Honorable ones, your arrival is
an honor. Please forgive my failure to greet you properly. May I ask what brings you three here?"
Ji Xiaofeng respectfully bowed and said, "On the orders of my master, we are writing to extend our greetings to the Abbot and Headmaster Tang."
The two Western Region monks, who had just secretly competed with Elders Weishi and Weizhen to a draw, now wanted to test their skills against Venerable Tongchan
and Tang Xiaolan. They simultaneously clasped their hands, gestured outwards, and said in unison, "We, the humble monks Zhu Falan and Zhu Faxiu
, have long admired your esteemed reputation. Invited by Elder Meng, we have come to witness this grand event and have been eager to pay our respects!" Master Tongchan smiled slightly and said, "
I see. I dare not accept the title of 'admiration'." He possessed an indestructible protective divine
skill, his body remaining completely still, seemingly without any sensation.
Master Tongchan, being compassionate and the host, showed mercy, receiving their hidden force but not
retaliating . Tang Xiaolan, however, was not so polite; she used half the force of her protective divine skill to counterattack, and the two Western Region monks' inner strength...
The force he unleashed was like a pebble thrown into the ocean, having no effect whatsoever. Realizing something was amiss, he suddenly felt a jolt, as if a giant
wave had crashed down on him, and he stumbled back several steps, almost falling! Tang Xiaolan smiled and said, "Hold on, you two. No need for formalities,
please sit down and let's talk."
The two monks were quite surprised, their arrogance completely vanished, and they bowed to Tang Xiaolan again, saying, "We have long heard that
Master Tang's martial arts are unparalleled in the Central Plains; indeed, your reputation is well-deserved. Please forgive our rudeness." This time, the bow was polite and brief, and Tang Xiaolan genuinely
returned their greeting, no longer using her divine power to counterattack.
Although Tang Xiaolan had subdued them...? Tang Xiaolan was also a little worried. These two Western Region monks were only
slightly less skilled than Master Tongchan, and even surpassed many righteous sect leaders. It seemed Meng Shentong had recruited many capable people
to assist him . Tang Xiaolan himself wasn't afraid, but if a large-scale battle broke out, disciples from all sects would inevitably suffer casualties.
Ji Xiaofeng presented the letter. Master Tongchan read it once and then handed it to Tang Xiaolan, saying, "Mr. Meng will not be coming to Shaolin Temple. The time
of the duel remain the same, but the location is proposed to be changed to Qianzhuangping. Sect Leader Tang, what do you think?"
Tang Xiaolan took the letter and read it. The gist was that he was afraid of damaging the ancient Buddha statue if the duel were held at Shaolin Temple, which would make him uneasy.
Therefore, he proposed changing the battle to "Qianzhuangping." Tang Xiaolan had already expressed this intention, and immediately said to Ji Xiaofeng, "Your master's words
are exactly what I was thinking. Please go back and report to your master. I will arrive on time."
The two monks from the Western Regions said, "We have long admired your temple as a sacred Buddhist site in the Central Plains. The ancient temple is solemn and truly extraordinary. We are fortunate to be here
today and would very much like to visit and admire it. We wonder if the abbot would be so kind as to grant our request?"
Master Tongchan chanted "Amitabha" and said, "As fellow Buddhist disciples, you two have come from afar, and our small temple should certainly
entertain you . Weishi and Weizhen, you two and Junior Brother Mukong, you can accompany them and keep watch." Benkong was the abbot of Shaolin Temple,
and his martial arts were second only to Master Tongchan. Master Tongchan knew that Ji Xiaofeng was a master thief, so he wanted to add Benkong to accompany them, which also
implied a monitoring role. After the guests left the "Jieyuan Retreat," Master Tongchan frowned slightly and said, "Hero Tang, do you think
Meng Shentong is really so kind? Is he truly doing this out of love for Shaolin?" Does the temple have to change location? "
Xiao Xiaolan said: "Maybe he is afraid that we will occupy the advantageous location, so he does not want to come to Shaolin Temple.
Where ?
Master Tongchan said: "It's just north of Songshan Mountain, only a few miles away from this temple." Tang Xiaolan said: "That's also very convenient
." Master Pain Chan said: "But the terrain of Qian Chongping is a terrible place." Tang Xiaolan said: "What?" Master Tongchan
said : "Qianzhuangping is a ten-level land at the bottom of the valley, surrounded by mountains, so it is called Qianzhuangping." The place is quite spacious.
Tang Xiaolan smiled and said: "Even if they hide an ambush in the valley, are we also afraid?" And according to my opinion, although Meng Shentong
has done all kinds of evil, he has always been conceited and would not think of using despicable means to defeat me.
Master Tongchan said: "It's the lesser of two evils. You said it right. Even if they hide some ambush in the valley, it's better than using
force in the Shaolin Temple." "
Shaolin Temple masters gathered together, ever since they learned that Meng Shentong was coming to challenge. People patrolled the surrounding mountains day and night, and the person in charge of
dispatching the patrols was Zen Master Daxiong, the head of the "Eighteen Arhats" of Shaolin Temple. To be on the safe side, Master Tongchan summoned Zen Master Daxiong to
inquire. Zen Master Daxiong said that no suspicious figures had ever been found in the Qianzhuangping area, which reassured Master Tongchan.
Eleven hours later, Master Benkong came to report to his senior brother that the guests had been seen off. Tang Xiaolan laughed, "Did you
lose anything?" Master Benkong replied, "I knew he was a master thief, so I took precautions. I only showed them
a few main halls and some less important places; I dared not let them into the Sutra Repository. Ji Xiaofeng's thieving eyes are incredibly
sharp ; he seemed very attentive to every place we went. Oh dear, oh dear..."
Venerable Tongchan asked, "What's wrong?" Master Benkong sighed, "I never thought that even with all my precautions, I still fell for his
trick!" Venerable Tongchan asked, "What did you lose? Is it important?" Master Benkong said, "It's an ancient jade
ring . Although it's not important, it's something I cherish. I wear it on the middle finger of my right hand. When he was leaving, he turned back and bowed deeply to me
. To return the gesture, I helped him up, but I never imagined he would steal it. I only realized it now." He looked sullen. It turned out that
Master Benkong had become a monk after the death of his wife, and this ancient jade ring was a keepsake from her.
The Zen Master Weishi said, "Monks are detached from worldly desires;
once they lose material possessions, they are done with them. But regarding today's matter, since Meng Shentong has chosen a different location for the duel, I would like to ask my two senior brothers to put in extra effort and make some alternative arrangements."
You should know that although Meng Shentong is only challenging Tang Xiaolan alone this time, there are many people connected to both sides, as well as
experts from various righteous and evil factions who have come upon hearing the news. It is hard to guarantee that no unexpected things will happen, so careful
arrangements .
After pondering for a while, Master Tongchan said, "Junior Brother Benkong, you, along with the four elders of the Dharma Hall and
the will remain in this temple. Half of the monks from the three inner halls will also remain to guard the temple, while the rest will come with me to Qianzhangping. As for
the disciples of the various sects, their respective leaders will assign them accordingly."
With the plan settled, he immediately transmitted the Abbot's discourse. Within half an hour, everything was arranged. Shaolin Temple had
nearly a thousand ; even with half going to Qianzhangping, it was still sufficient to defend the temple. As for the disciples of the various sects, almost everyone was thinking about this once-in
-a-century martial arts competition. Only the four female warriors of the Qingcheng Sect, the four disciples of Mangshan Pei—Cheng, Lin, Lu, and Bai—and
Li Qinmei were willing to stay to accompany Cao Jin'er and Gu Zhihua. Feng Lin originally wanted to stay with her daughter, but couldn't bear to miss
the excitement, so she finally went. Zhong Zhan, being Tang Xiaolan's disciple, couldn't refuse and had to part ways with Li Qinmei temporarily. Cao
Jin'er was on her deathbed and could die at any moment. The disciples of the Mangshan Sect were reluctant to leave her, but Meng Shentong was
their common enemy. Therefore, after much discussion, they decided to leave only Gu Zhihua and the four disciples behind, while the rest would
be led by Yi Zhongmou to Qianzhangping to support Tang Xiaolan.
The group arrived at Qianzhangping in a grand procession. It was noon. Meng Shentong's men were already waiting there.
Besides Yang Chifu, Ji Xiaofeng, Fu Lijian, Ling Xiaozhi, and the two foreign monks who had just visited Shaolin Temple, there were
several unfamiliar people around him. None of the sect leaders knew their origins. Master Tongchan asked
the Shaolin and learned that Meng Shentong's group had only arrived a short while ago and had not made any special arrangements. They then divided into two groups,
facing each other. Meng Shentong, Tang Xiaolan, and Master Tongchan slowly walked out to the center of the arena.
Master Tongchan, as the host, greeted Meng Shentong first and said, "Both of you are martial arts masters of our time.
Your presence at Mount Song today is an honor for our temple, as your host. However, I also have some concerns, and there are a few things I must say." Meng Shentong
replied, "Speak freely." Master Tongchan continued, "With your talents, today's gathering will undoubtedly illuminate the art of martial arts
. However, I hope you will confine yourselves to a friendly exchange of martial arts, lest you suffer a calamity on this renowned mountain, and bring misfortune to your fellow practitioners." Master Tongchan's meaning was clear:
he hoped this competition would be solely between the two of them, avoiding a large-scale melee; he also hoped they
would settle their differences in martial arts without risking their lives.
Tang Xiaolan said, "Mr. Meng is a guest, and I am willing to follow your wishes."
Meng Shentong said, "I greatly admire the Abbot's compassion. However, I'm afraid it cannot all be as the Abbot wishes. Firstly, there are many friends
here , and these people are not my subordinates, so I cannot control them. Secondly, I am asking Headmaster Tang for guidance today,
hoping that he will be completely open-minded and allow me to witness the extraordinary skills of Tianshan and broaden my horizons; and of course, I dare not hold back either. Even if
the difference is vast , I will certainly do my best. In this way, it is difficult to 'stop at the point of contact.' In the end, we can only leave it to fate. If I am to
die under Headmaster Tang's sword, I will have no regrets. If I win even a move or two... " "I accidentally injured Sect Leader Tang, and I must ask the old Zen master for forgiveness. However, my
original intention was the same as the old Zen master's: today I only wish to learn from Sect Leader Tang, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. If I lose but do not
die, I will definitely withdraw from the martial arts world forever and never seek revenge afterward. Even if others seek revenge against me, I will only deal
with the seeker and will not interfere."
Although Meng Shentong could not follow the instructions of Master Tongchan, he had already vowed to admit defeat if he lost. In other words, this duel was only
between him and Tang Xiaolan. Even if it turned into a melee, he would only deal with Tang Xiaolan and would not fight
recklessly and injure others. Master Tongchan expected that Tang Xiaolan had a high chance of winning, and as long as Meng Shentong did not fight recklessly, he
could rest assured. He then said, "Since that is your wish, I will not say any more. Please decide how to fight."
He then slowly withdrew.
Tang Xiaolan said, "Mr. Meng, you are a guest. Please make the decision, and I will accompany you."
Meng Shentong, already confident, pretended to think for a moment before saying, "I think the way of martial arts is profound and mysterious, with many
aspects , not limited to just 'martial arts'. Moreover, with our cultivation levels, how can we immediately start throwing punches and kicks, discussing
swords and blades, acting like a reckless fool?"
Tang Xiaolan said, "Mr. Meng is right. So, do you mean a literary contest?" She was secretly puzzled: Meng Shentong
just said he wanted to fight to the death with her, each leaving their fate to fate. Why did he suddenly change his tune?
Meng Shentong said calmly, "It's not just a literary contest, nor is it just a martial arts contest. Today, we have a rare opportunity. If we're going to compete, we should compare all
our lifelong skills and determine who is superior!"
Tang Xiaolan said, "The way of martial arts is like a vast ocean, boundless and limitless. If we want a comprehensive contest, I don't know how to conduct it. Please
instruct me, Mr. Meng." Meng Shentong said, “
Although the path of martial arts encompasses a wide range, in my humble opinion, it boils down to these three aspects: first, one’s understanding of martial arts
; second, the courage and boldness of the practitioner; and third, one’s own martial arts skills. I would like to
propose . I wonder if Grand Master Tang would agree?”
Tang Xiaolan thought to herself, “Understanding and martial arts skills are equally important, he is right about that. But
he is a bit vague about courage and boldness. The highest level of martial arts is not the bravery of a brute, nor is it the kind of
courage , but rather a powerful and unstoppable righteous spirit. But this is not enough to describe Meng Shentong.”
However, although Tang Xiaolan did not entirely agree with Meng Shentong’s views, he had already made his point, and most of what he said
was reasonable , so he could only nod and say, “Then please, Mr. Meng, propose the topics.” Meng Shentong said, “
Master Tang is a man of profound learning. Originally, I shouldn’t have set the questions for you, but since you have
declined, I must accept your offer. I’ll have to accept it, even if it’s laughable.” He paused, then continued, “The three competitions will be decided by whoever wins two. I
know Master Cao is broad-minded and may not care about winning or losing, but it’s important to make this clear beforehand to avoid gossip.” Tang Xiaolan
stroked his beard and smiled, “Mr. Meng is right. We don’t need to worry about who wins or loses. If I lose the first two, then of course there’s no need for the third
competition .” Tang Xiaolan
agreed to his three tests, which shocked the leaders of all the righteous sects. They secretly wondered
what kind of tricky questions Meng Shentong would ask, since they all thought Tang Xiaolan had a better chance of winning if it was a test of martial arts skills. However, if it was a test
of "insight" and courage, they didn't know. The outcome was hard to predict.
Meng Shentong said, "Alright, then I will ask the first question now. Please send out one of your most outstanding disciples to compete with my disciple
in martial arts!"
Tang Xiaolan asked in surprise, "Isn't the first test supposed to be a test of insight into martial arts?" Meng
Shentong said, martial arts are vast and boundless. If it were just the two of us, debating the essence of martial arts with each other, we might not
finish in three days and three nights. Others might not appreciate our lofty discussions. " "Why don't we have our disciples each compete in one of our sect's martial arts? Then
we can point out the strengths and weaknesses of their performances. You point out one, and I'll follow with another. This way, it's like you
're commenting on my sect's martial arts, and I'm commenting on yours. Whoever makes the most accurate assessment and points out more strengths and weaknesses
wins. Isn't this more practical than just talking about profound principles?"
Tang Xiaolan nodded and said, "This method imitates the ancient sword-fighting competition, but it's not entirely the same; it's quite novel."
Meng Shentong said,
"Since Sect Leader Tang agrees, please send out one of your top disciples. This is my youngest disciple, Ji Xiaofeng. Sect Leader Tang and Abbot Tongchan have
both met him."
Tang Xiaolan frowned when she saw that Meng Shentong had sent out Ji Xiaofeng, thinking to herself, "This person's lightness skill is superb; I'm afraid Zhong Zhan
won't be able to handle him. " "This is truly a 'double contest.' Although the outcome depends on Tang Xiaolan and Meng Shentong's
understanding of each other's martial arts, it would be disgraceful for their sect's disciple to lose.
Tang Xiaolan's eldest disciple is Zhong Zhan, whose swordsmanship, while mastered, still lacks refinement. Tang Xiaolan was praying when Tang Jingtian
approached and said, 'Father, let me learn from Master Meng's esteemed disciple.'
Meng Shentong laughed heartily, 'For the young sect leader to personally intervene is far too much of an honor for my disciple. You should carefully seek
guidance from the young sect leader!' Tang Jingtian was the young sect leader of the Tianshan Sect, and had long been renowned, his prestige surpassing that of many sect leaders."
It would be unfair for Tang Jingtian to win against Ji Xiaofeng, and a defeat would be laughable. Tang Xiaolan hadn't thought to step in earlier because of this,
but now that things had come to this, he had no choice but to let him fight.
Ji Xiaofeng said with a grin, "Please, Young Master Tang, draw your sword!" Tang Jingtian's face darkened, and he said, "If you use your palm, I'll use
my palm too!" Meng Shentong laughed, "Young Master Tang, you've misunderstood. This match is a contest between your father and me to test our understanding of martial arts. We're using
this method to witness the essence of each other's martial arts before we can comment on it. Our sect has been renowned in the martial arts world
for hundreds of years
If you, Young Master, don't use your sword, what will I say next?" Tang Xiaolan said, "Jing'er, just use your sword!" Tang Jingtian had no choice but to draw his Youlong Sword.
Ji laughed, "This sword is so bright and dazzling, it's quite fun!" He reached out and grabbed Tang Jingtian's wrist.
Enraged, Tang Jingtian countered with a move called "Horizontal Clouds Breaking Peaks." His swordsmanship had reached a level of effortless control; in a swift motion, his
sword struck like lightning. Ji Xiaofeng cried out, "Ouch! Not good!" She dodged and turned, laughing, "
Luckily , I didn't get hit!" Using the Heavenly Net Steps combined with her superb lightness skill, she had already circled behind Tang Jingtian,
reaching out to snatch his sword.
Ji Xiaofeng knew her true skill was inferior to Tang Jingtian's, so she deliberately provoked him to seize the opportunity. Tang Jingtian fell
for . In the first few moves, due to his agitation, Ji Xiaofeng's finger touched the hilt of his sword. Fortunately, Tang Jingtian's foundation
was excellent; sensing the danger, he immediately unleashed his internal energy, causing Ji Xiaofeng's finger to feel as if it had been electrocuted, forcing her to stagger back three steps.
Tang Jingtian steadied himself, suppressing his restlessness. With a long
roar, he unleashed the "Eighteen Forms of Chasing the Wind" from the Tianshan Swordplay. Each move followed the next, changing in an instant, like the ebb and flow of the ocean tides, one wave after another!
Ji Xiaofeng's movements were also incredibly fast. Using the Heavenly Net Steps combined with his superb lightness skill, he
weaved through the gaps in Tang Jingtian's swordplay. The sword light and figures overlapped, leaving the spectators dizzy and disoriented
, as if they were about to be spun around by Ji Xiaofeng.
With a shout, Tang Jingtian's swordplay grew faster and faster, the circle of sword light expanding to resemble a net of light, enveloping
Ji Xiaofeng Although Ji Xiaofeng could barely manage to defend himself, this "Eighteen Forms of Chasing the Wind" was incredibly fantastical; a slight
misstep would result in bloodshed. Moreover, his internal energy was not as sustained as Tang Jingtian's. Continuing like this, he could only endure the beating.
Ji Xiaofeng , quick-witted as ever, sensed the danger and suddenly launched a risky attack, closing in on Tang Jingtian. With a flick of his two fingers, a wisp of cold wind, like an
invisible arrow, shot directly into Tang Jingtian's eyes.
Ji Xiaofeng was using the "Mysterious Yin Finger" technique. This technique was evolved by Qiao Beiming from the Asura Yin Sha Gong, but
the Asura Yin Sha Gong used palm force, making it far more powerful than a finger strike. However, the Asura Yin Sha Gong was difficult to master. The Xuan Yin Finger technique is easy to master.
To expedite its development, Meng Shentong, after obtaining the manual and returning to the Central Plains, immediately instructed Ji Xiaofeng to practice this skill first.
Ji Xiaofeng's current Xuan Yin Finger power is roughly equivalent to the third level of the Shura Yin Sha Palm. It would have been impossible for him to injure Tang Jingtian
, but now, relying on his agile movements, he used a risky move to attack Tang Jingtian's eyes. Although Tang Jingtian possessed profound internal strength, his
eyes were not a place where internal strength could be cultivated. Fortunately, he was also alert and sensed danger. He quickly closed his eyes,
performed a coiling dragon step, and turned around. Even so, Ji Xiaofeng flicked his forehead, and when he opened his eyes again, they were red and swollen, with tears streaming down his face.
Ji Xiaofeng laughed, "Young Master, I only lightly struck you; it shouldn't hurt much, so there's no need to
cry !" Tang Jingtian was furious and unleashed his killer move, "Desert Sandstorm." A sword light swept across, instantly transforming one sword into
dozens or even hundreds of blades, attacking Ji Xiaofeng from all directions. A series of hissing sounds filled the
air in five or six places, but his body remained unharmed.
Ji Xiaofeng was truly audacious; amidst the barrage of sword shadows, he once again closed in on Tang Jingtian, repeating his old trick of unleashing the Profound Yin
Finger Force. This time, Tang Jingtian was prepared, blowing out a breath of internal energy, like a spring breeze thawing the ice, completely
dissipating the Profound Yin Finger Force.
However, this also affected the speed of Tang Jingtian's swordplay, allowing
Ji Xiaofeng to gradually regain his footing.
Both had just been through a close call; one had swollen, red eyes, the other's clothes were torn, and they were practically lying on their own. But Tang Jingtian, given his
status , felt deeply ashamed. He thought to himself, "If I allow him to escape beyond a hundred moves, how can I face the many
seniors present?" His martial arts skills far surpassed Ji Xiaofeng's. After a moment's thought, he immediately came up with an idea.
Tang Jingtian's martial arts prowess was exceptional; he knew that to defeat his enemy, he must use his strengths to attack their weaknesses. His swordsmanship instantly changed,
from extremely fast to extremely slow, as if a thousand pounds weighed down the tip of his sword, as he slowly thrust east and west. Ji Xiaofeng's heart
trembled. He felt immense pressure closing in on him from all sides. Despite his agile footwork and nimble movements, he could no longer get close
to Tang Jingtian.
Within eight feet of Tang Jingtian, an iron wall seemed to have been erected, and this wall continued
to expand outwards, eventually encircling Ji Xiaofeng as well.
It turned out that Tang Jingtian had used the most profound "Great Sumeru Sword Style" of the Tianshan Sword Technique, concentrating all his internal energy into the tip of his sword. On the surface
, it didn't appear as sharp as the "Chasing Wind Sword Style"! Yes, but its power was deeply hidden, like an undercurrent surging. Ji Xiaofeng's lightness skill was
superior to Tang Jingtian's, but his internal energy cultivation was far inferior. Trapped by the "Great Sumeru Sword Style," he was like someone
struggling in a raging torrent; even a skilled swimmer would find it difficult to escape, and a slight misstep could lead to annihilation!
Ji Xiaofeng inwardly cried out in alarm, thinking, "It doesn't matter if I lose, but surrendering without a fight would be a disgrace to my master. If I lose, I
'll lose with some dignity."
Tang Jingtian was pressing closer when Ji Xiaofeng suddenly charged at him with his sword, seemingly risking his life. Tang Jingtian was taken aback
. He knew that they had agreed beforehand that this match was merely a demonstration of their martial arts skills, each representing their own sect. Although weapons
are merciless and life and death are in the hands of fate, Ji Xiaofeng's crime didn't warrant death. If he accidentally killed him, it would be somewhat unacceptable.
Tang Jingtian's swordsmanship had reached a level of complete control. With a thought, the tip of his sword immediately slid to the side. Little did he know that Ji Xiaofeng
wanted him to do just that. Taking advantage of the moment when the pressure eased slightly, he immediately used the supreme lightness skill "One Chicken Soars to the Sky," leaping into the air
while simultaneously employing the "Yin Yang Claw" technique.
This "Yin-Yang Claw" technique, with its alternating hard and soft power emanating from both palms, creates a
vortex that effectively counteracts the potential of the Great Sumeru Sword Style. If Ji Xiaofeng's skill could reach about fifty percent of his master's, then...
However, this could relieve the pressure and allow him to use the enemy's strength to his own advantage, putting Tang Jingtian in a deadly situation.
Tang Jingtian immediately realized he had been tricked. He pressed down with his left palm, pulling it downwards with seven-tenths of his true strength. Ji Xiaofeng, on the other hand, displayed
his superb lightness skill as he rushed upwards. At the same time, in that instant, he launched three attacks against Tang Jingtian. These three attacks were all
evil martial arts from Qiao Beiming's secret manual: Yin-Yang Finger, Heart-Shattering Palm, and Mysterious Yin Finger. Tang Jingtian protected himself with his sword, and his own strength far surpassed
Ji Xiaofeng's, so he was not ambushed, but he was still somewhat overwhelmed. In the blink of an eye, Ji Xiaofeng had escaped.
Ji Xiaofeng was feeling relieved and was about to turn around and say a few sarcastic words when, before he even landed, he suddenly heard the extremely powerful
sound of a hidden weapon cutting through the air. Ji Xiaofeng suddenly flipped in mid-air, and even though he dodged quickly, he was hit by one of Tang Jingtian's
Heavenly Mountain Divine Lights and immediately fell to the ground. It is said:
Not to ruthlessly vanquish demons, but for the honor and disgrace of the sect.
To find out what happens next, please listen to the next installment.

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