A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 35

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

In Chapter 10 of Volume 41,

Ren Xiaoyao knew perfectly well that his days of travel had taken him to the brink of exhaustion, leaving him neither mentally nor physically at his best. His still-developing Innate Supreme Qi was indeed inferior to the Calamity Fire of Heavenly Calamity. He only had a 40%, perhaps even 30%, chance of defeating the Ghost Netherworld God, and even if he did, he would be utterly exhausted, making victory uncertain.
Therefore, he took a gamble, unleashing only 70% of his power. He endured the combined onslaught of his Innate Supreme Qi and the Blood Curse of No Return, forcibly completing the accumulation of the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force. His timing was impeccable; just as the Ghost Netherworld God was about to finish him off with a single blow, he deflected the raging lightning back.
A flash of lightning, and the entire arena vanished, leaving only a blinding white light and
a deafening roar . When
the white light faded, what remained was a terrifying sight.
The arena, spanning over twenty zhang in radius and constructed from thousands of fine cedar logs, was instantly reduced to ruins. Not a single… no, not a single piece, not even a single fragment of wood remained.
Ghostly Lord landed outside the ruins, staggering backward seven or eight steps before regaining his footing.
Faced with the combined power of three immense forces, enveloping the entire arena, and possessing a force powerful enough to destroy the heavens and earth, he wisely chose to dodge—not dodging meant certain death.
Ren Xiaoyao, however, used his last ounce of strength to leap into the air, holding on until the platform crumbled and dissipated before crashing down heavily into the ruins with a thud.
"Three…three moves, I said…three moves and you…would lose!" Blood streamed from Ren Xiaoyao's mouth as he struggled to his feet, but the excruciating pain in his bones caused him to collapse again with a thud.
He had won! Ren Xiaoyao had won!
Despite his severe injuries, he risked his life to force the Ghostly Lord of the Underworld off the platform!
This all happened so suddenly and so shockingly that the thousands of "spectators" were completely stunned, remaining silent for a long time.
The Ghostly Lord of the Underworld had dodged in time and was almost unharmed, but his expression was extremely strange. The muscles in his face twitched slightly, making him look incredibly ferocious. His complexion changed from purplish-red to ashen, then from ashen to deathly pale. He appeared bewildered at times, then gritted his teeth, and suddenly raised his head and roared wildly, his hoarse shouts causing a sharp pain in everyone's eardrums.
Most people were unaware of the deep-seated hatred between the Ghostly Lord of the Underworld and Ren Qiaocui, and even less aware that Ren Xiaoyao was Ren Qiaocui's son. Seeing him in such a mad state, the members of the Asura Sect were terrified, while the heroes of the Central Plains gloated.
"I...I actually...I actually lost, lost to him...No, impossible...absolutely impossible..." Ghostly Lord trembled violently, his eyes bloodshot and bulging, howling fiercely, "You bastard, prepare to die!!!" With strength surging from nowhere, he suddenly split his palms apart, like two waves of energy, and, disregarding his defeat and the solemn oath he had sworn, lunged at the heavily injured, nearly unconscious, and utterly powerless Ren Xiaoyao. The sudden turn of events
caught everyone off guard.
Where Ghostly Lord passed, the stone floor tiles cracked and crumbled, the sudden, fierce force sweeping across the ground, sending splinters of wood flying to both sides—a terrifying and urgent spectacle.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a sudden lightness, almost lifted off the ground by the gale, raising his hand to block but finding it powerless.
Could it be...could it be that the savior of the Central Plains martial arts world would be so easily killed in this sudden attack?!
Of course not!
The Ghostly Lord was still two zhang away when a sudden gust of wind arose behind him.
—The sound of a hidden weapon slicing through the air!
—A sound more terrifying, sharper, and faster than any other hidden weapon!
—The sound of a hidden weapon that made the four guardians of the Tang Clan, Tang Tianying, Tang Li'ang, Tang Xiaozhong, and Tang Wanruo, all change color, and even Tang Yunhe turned pale!
The Ghostly Lord had gone mad, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, completely disregarding his own safety, only seeking to kill Ren Xiaoyao immediately.
Back then, he lost to Ren Qiaocui, losing his beloved woman and the golden opportunity to unify the martial world.
Now he could have avenged his great grudge and escaped the suffering he had endured for nearly thirty years, but unexpectedly, he lost again, lost to Ren Qiaocui's son, a defeat too gruesome to bear.
Twenty years of hard work, all for naught in one day, how could he vent his anger without killing Ren Xiaoyao!
Suddenly, a sharp shout came from outside the arena: "Get out of the way!"
The words were mumbled and the tone unclear, definitely not from a Han Chinese.
Upon hearing this voice, the Ghostly Lord, who had been furious and determined to kill Ren Xiaoyao, surprisingly abandoned thirty years of grudges and resentment, abruptly stopping in his tracks, crouching low, and rolling on the ground.
—As the leader of a sect, he had roamed the world, looking down upon all under heaven; he had never been so disheveled!
—But for the sake of life, he couldn't care less about being disheveled.
The instant the Ghostly Lord crouched, countless crystalline lights, like flying flowers and shattered jade, scattered like dew, surging from all directions, whistling past his head.
With a "whoosh," the Ghostly Lord's hair ornament was severed, and his hair instantly scattered.
The endless barrage of hidden weapons seemed never to cease, like stars in the night sky, a rain of flowers, or air surrounding him, impossible to block or avoid.
The crystalline light shimmered, swaying in the wind. It was neither gold nor iron… utterly unlike any material used in previous hidden weapons, yet its power was no less, perhaps even greater, leaving a trail of thunder and lightning in its wake.
The hidden weapon was everywhere, like a sprite fluttering among flowers, its brilliance dazzling in the slanting sunlight, leaving its opponent mesmerized and defenseless!
The hidden weapon was too fast, too fast. Even though the Ghostly Lord of the Underworld ducked in time to dodge the first attack, the second wave arrived instantly, aimed squarely at his heart.
Lightning flash!
These four words are no exaggeration to describe the speed of the hidden weapon. The Ghostly Lord of the Underworld rolled several feet away, and the hidden weapon was already a foot in front of him. He couldn't even manage a slight sidestep, let alone get up and leap.
Yes, the speed of the hidden weapon far exceeded the judgment of the naked eye, far surpassing the limits of martial arts. Aside from Ren Xiaoyao's sixth sense, absolutely no one else in the world could grasp its trajectory, not even the slightest bit. Even Ren Xiaoyao, faced with such a situation, could only close his eyes and await death!
Guiming Shenjun naturally couldn't dodge, and to block it head-on… he knew he couldn't. Just then, a black shadow whistled through the air, landing precisely between Guiming Shenjun and the hidden weapon.
It was a person, someone thrown at him.
In an instant, just an instant!
This person was torn to pieces by the hidden weapon, limbs scattered, not a single intact piece of skin left, not even bone fragments, only blood and a few tattered clothes.
The edges of the clothes faintly bore the insignia of the Asura Cult.
My man!?
Guiming Shenjun didn't have time to think; the hidden weapon was upon him again.
He retreated, but his speed was far too slow.
A dark figure, another dark figure… no, to be precise, it should be a member of the Asura Cult dressed in their robes. He was thrown in front of Ghost Lord, using his own flesh and blood to shield his leader from the hidden weapons.
In an instant, just an instant!
Only blood remained between Ghost Lord and the hidden weapons. More than twenty
members… blood… more members… blood…
The almost frenzied attack of hidden weapons finally ceased. The
arena was now empty except for blood and a few scattered pieces of torn clothing!
Ghost Lord had brought thirty-five men for this competition, all carefully selected masters of the cult, many of whom had practiced defensive techniques like the Golden Bell Shield, Iron Shirt, and the Thirteen Bodyguards. However…
Of the twenty-odd people thrown at them, not one could withstand the hidden weapon for even a moment, not one was left...
a corpse? No, bone fragments!!!
My God! Wherever the crystalline light pointed, it was utterly devastating; wherever the powerful wind went, it was all-conquering!
Nothing in the world could remain!!! What was this? Was it a hidden weapon?
The most supreme hidden weapon in the world?
No, it was a meteor!
The meteor streaked across the sky, leaving behind a moment of infinite brilliance; its light was so beautiful, so dazzling.
The wind is formless, the rain is unpredictable, and meteors fill the sky with sorrow.
Beautiful things always bring pain, always bring threats and harm.
The most beautiful meteor streaks across the sky, yet it symbolizes destruction and death.
Deng Lei, who made the move—no one knew where he pulled his hidden weapon from, they didn't even see him raise his hand, and in that instant, he reduced the bodies of more than twenty experts from the Asura Sect to ashes.
Even the Ghostly Lord, who escaped death, was disheveled and his face was a mess.
"This...this...in an instant...in an instant...a shower of flowers...is it really a shower of flowers?" Tang Li'ang, Tang Xiaozhong, and Tang Wanruo exchanged bewildered glances, speechless for a long moment.
"A shower of flowers is when you coat a hidden weapon with a corpse-dissolving powder and then unleash it all at once. It takes time for the body to dissolve after it injures someone...like this, where in an instant, the body is completely gone...no, absolutely not."
"Five years have passed, and you've finally returned. Did you go to Japan with the current leader during that time?" Tang Yunhe unexpectedly stood up slowly and asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, I've seen many foreign masters on this trip and benefited greatly." Deng Lei turned around casually and answered with a smile, "So, when is the fourth five-year agreement?"
"No need, I concede." Tang Yunhe sighed deeply, his eyes filled with unwavering emotion, and shook his head with a bitter smile, "Such a move, so terrifying that even ghosts and gods would be terrified, I, Tang Yunhe, could never surpass it in my entire life."
The King of Hidden Weapons admitted his inferiority. Just who was this person?
"Thousand-Handed Gentleman, you're not dead!?" Ghostly Lord stared wide-eyed at Deng Lei in disbelief. His long, flowing hair billowed without wind, his appearance eerie and ghostly.
"Of course! If I died, who would avenge the 278 members of Meng Family Fortress?!" Deng Lei straightened his back, his eyes flashing with light. He wiped his cheek, revealing his true face, hidden for over twenty years—the true face of Meng Lei, the Thousand-Handed Gentleman, the lord of Meng Family Fortress, brother of Meng Fei, a legendary figure in the world of hidden weapons!

Volume 41, Chapter 11: Another Shocking Change

. Standing proudly and calmly, he exuded an imposing and majestic aura, as if a mountain had been condensed within him. His features were refined and handsome, his black hair as black as lacquer. Beneath his thick eyebrows, his eyes were bright and deep, unwavering and resolute, flashing with a terrifyingly profound and serious light, sharp enough to pierce through the weaknesses of any opponent. With his well-proportioned and graceful figure and imposing physique, he truly possessed the captivating demeanor of an unparalleled top master.
Meng Lei helped the unconscious Ren Xiaoyao to his feet and carefully handed him over to Meng Fei. On the day of Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's duel, Meng Fei had vaguely guessed his identity. The next night, the two brothers recognized each other on the top of Guanchao Cliff, agreeing that one would remain in the open and the other in the shadows to jointly support Ren Xiaoyao.
"A thousand plans are no match for human calculation. This 'Meteor from Beyond the Heavens' scheme, which I created with all my life's effort, was destined to kill you, but I never expected..." Meng Lei sighed to the sky, glancing sideways at the Asura Sect, his eyes sharp and cold, yet revealing no murderous intent. "The arrogant Ghost Netherworld God Lord has actually colluded with the Tibetan Maitreya Sect—come out, Venerable Xukong... no, now he's the sect leader, he should be called Grand Master Xukong."
"Hahaha, as expected of the Thousand-Handed Scholar, you guessed it right away. I just don't know how you figured it out, Benefactor Meng." With a long howl, a sparse and desolate figure appeared in the southwest of the arena, forming a triangle with Meng Fei and Ghostly Lord. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a large lama wearing a golden robe, with a high and slightly hooked nose, a face covered with deep wrinkles, and eyes that revealed the vicissitudes of life. There was a sharp aura in his pupils, completely unlike the solemn and dignified appearance that Meng Fei had seen twenty years ago. His martial arts must have greatly improved.
"Hmph, I have dealt with your master, Kumo Kong, quite a bit. How could I not see through the 'Vinayaka' technique?" Meng Lei glared at him coldly, his teeth grinding, and said fiercely.
The reason he concealed his identity and stayed by Ren Xiaoyao's side for three years without revealing himself was to wait for an opportunity to strike suddenly when Guiming Shenjun was off guard, using his painstakingly created "Meteor from Beyond the Heavens" technique to kill him in one blow. This would not only rid the martial world of a great scourge but also avenge his deceased family, relatives, and elder brother and sister-in-law.
Guiming Shenjun, defeated by Ren Xiaoyao, was already at his limit, and in his desperate attack, he held nothing back, handing Guiming Shenjun a golden opportunity for revenge. To ensure success, he used all his remaining strength, fully expecting to avenge his great grudge. However, unexpectedly, a
Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere… Guiming Shenjun only lost his hair ornament; his twenty-six subordinates died, his revenge plan was ruined, and his twenty years of hard work had been wasted!
"Judging from Master Meng's tone, he seems quite resentful, blaming me for ruining the Ghost Nether Sect Master's life."
"You son of a bitch, you killed twenty-six of my sect members! I'm not finished with you!" Before Meng Fei could even speak, the Wind and Thunder Envoy roared and pounced on Grand Master Xu Kong, his pipe whistling as it struck, aiming fiercely at his chest. The wind howled, the force was immense, as violent as a mountain collapsing.
Grand Master Xu Kong stood still, letting the pipe strike his back.
"Crack!" His robe ripped open, but only a tear less than a foot long appeared; the skin underneath was completely unharmed, only a faint white mark.
How could this be! The leader of the Four Asura Envoys's powerful attack was utterly ineffective!?
"The Sumeru Qizi Technique!" Meng Fei exclaimed in shock.
The senior elders, including Dugu Yu, Xiao Chen, and Liu Yuxu, also paled.
The Sumeru Qizi Skill is the supreme protective divine skill of the Tubo Buddhist sect. Reaching the thirteenth level is enough to withstand any attack from internal force, weapon, or hidden weapon in the world, its effectiveness no less than the Shaolin Temple's "Indestructible Vajra Body Divine Skill." Back then, Xu Kong had only just begun to grasp its essence, far from being able to use it freely, yet he dared to lead his disciples to challenge Diancang, nearly wiping out the Dali martial arts world. Although he was later defeated by Duan Ao, he never used it.
Now, he seemed oblivious to the Wind and Thunder Envoy's attacks, clearly indicating that he had mastered the Sumeru Qizi Skill.
Grand Master Xu Kong chanted Buddhist prayers, calmly saying, "If this humble monk hadn't thrown someone to stop me, your leader would already be a corpse. If this humble monk hadn't considered your leader's feelings, you would also be a corpse by now." He clasped his hands together, slightly channeling his energy. The Wind and Thunder Envoy suddenly felt a powerful force surge towards him, its strength irresistible. Instantly, his face turned deathly pale, and he staggered backward.
Another top-tier expert! Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan were both shocked, knowing they had no chance of defeating him.
"Forced by circumstances, Ghost Nether Sect Leader, please don't blame this old man." Grand Master Xu Kong turned to Ghost Nether God Lord, his aged face expressionless, yet chilling compared to any other expression.
"Times change, you saved my life but caused the death of my men, this debt is even." Ghost Nether God Lord's face was ashen. Losing to Ren Xiaoyao was already a great humiliation, and then he almost lost his life at Meng Lei's hands, sacrificing more than twenty elite sect members to save his own. His anger and resentment were unimaginable.
Xu Kong's claim that one should act expediently in times of emergency is utter nonsense—anyone thrown at him could only block a "meteor from outer space" for a fleeting moment. Why send the Asura Cult members to their deaths? Apart from Tian Jue, Di Mie, Chen Yixi, and the four Asura envoys, Gui Ming Shen Jun's group only had about thirty people left. He killed twenty-six of them in one go, resulting in incalculable losses. Given Gui Ming Shen Jun's vengeful nature, how could he possibly let this go?
Helplessly, he had sworn a solemn oath to the revered God of Light, Mani, that if he lost the duel, he would return north and never again be an enemy of the Central Plains martial arts alliance. His grand ambition of unifying the martial arts world would thus be shattered. Now, besides taking Ren Xiaoyao's life and avenging his blood feud with Ren Qiaocui, Ghost Netherworld Lord had no other desires in this life. His previous battle with Ren Xiaoyao had exhausted him, and to avoid the "meteor from beyond the heavens," he had even used up his last bit of true energy. To overcome the obstacles of Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei and approach Ren Xiaoyao was virtually impossible. He had no choice but to abandon his new feud with Grand Master Xukong, hoping to rely on him to deal with the three and thus settle his old scores.
"Why is the Grand Master interfering in the duel between the Central Plains martial arts world and the Asura Sect?" Liu Yuxu shouted sharply, maintaining the composure and demeanor befitting a martial arts alliance leader despite his poisoning.
"Having heard that masters from all corners of the Central Plains martial arts world have gathered here, I specially brought my disciples to learn from them. Just now, seeing Master Meng's hidden weapon techniques so astonishing and terrifying, I couldn't resist the urge to fight and intervened. Please forgive me, Master Meng." As soon as Grand Master Xukong finished speaking, a group of lamas walked in from the end of the square. Among them were Xu Jie, Xu Ci, and other masters of the Maitreya Sect who had accompanied him to cause trouble at Diancang Mountain years ago. They were also accompanied by many strangely dressed foreigners.
"These are the monks of my Maitreya Sect and heroes recruited by the King. We have long admired the Central Plains martial arts world, with its many masters. We humbly request your guidance."
"If Grand Master wishes to fight, I, Meng, am happy to oblige." Meng Lei stepped forward without hesitation.
"Using your own spear to attack your own shield is unwise," Grand Master Xukong chanted, his eyes stern and profound, flashing with a sharp light. "Furthermore, Benefactor Meng has repeatedly used 'Meteor from Beyond the Heavens,' and his current situation is no better than that of the Ghost Nether Sect Master. If you wish to fight this humble monk, perhaps you should wait a while."
"You..." Meng Lei was furious, but he had to admit that what the other party said was true—Meteor from Beyond the Heavens used icy energy to turn the liquor into ice shards, which suddenly warmed up upon approaching and then ignited. The combination of cold and heat produced a huge explosive force, killing anyone who stood in its way, and even Buddhas. Correspondingly, the wear and tear on the user was also enormous. He had used Meteor from Beyond the Heavens six times, and the two bags of strong liquor at his waist were completely empty. He had originally wanted to put on a show to scare Grand Master Xukong away so as to avoid another duel, but unexpectedly, the master saw through him at a glance.
Yi Tianhan eagerly said, "Meng Lei is no good, I'll go! My hands are itching, I've been waiting for a fight, hahaha."
"Tianhan, don't be impulsive." It was Dugu Yu who spoke. Seeing that Feng Lei Shi's attack was ineffective, he figured that Yi Tianhan, whose martial arts were similar to his, was no match for Grand Master Xu Kong.
Yi Tianhan was hot-tempered and didn't submit to anyone, except for Dugu Yu, who was of the same generation as his master Xue Yilong. Besides, the power of the Sumeru Qizi Gong was undeniable. Thinking about it, he realized he didn't have much of a chance of winning, so he had to keep quiet.
Liu Yuxu stood up with the help of his disciples and cupped his hands, saying, "Grand Master, how do you want to compete?"
"The Asura Sect will have seven rounds, and our sect... five rounds will do." Grand Master Xu Kong lowered his eyelids, as if reciting Buddhist scriptures, revealing a wicked smile that was seen by the two of them.
"Xu Jie, Xu Ci, and the other two?" Meng Fei asked coldly.
Master Xukong smiled slightly, and the lamas immediately parted to the side, bringing out two ronin, one tall and one short, whose faces were covered with black scarves and who carried katanas at their waists.
"These two are ninjas invited by our lord from Fusang. One is Ogata Yoshiyori, and the other is Sakaguchi Daisuke, from the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and Kyōshin Akechi-ryu, two of the seven great ninjutsu schools of Fusang..."

Volume 41, Chapter 12,

"The arena is destroyed, how can we compete?" Fu Longyuan and Meng Fei asked almost in unison.
"They are all experts, the winner will be known by watching."
"Who goes first?" Fu Longyuan said in a deep voice.
"My junior brother, Xu Jie."
"And the second?" Meng Fei asked.
“Xu Ci.”
“And then the two ninjas over there?”
“That’s right.”
“Hahaha, no doubt about it, I’ll take the first match!” Yi Tianhan patted his chest, rolled up his sleeves, and his face was full of excitement. He shouted, “Old man Yu Xu, let’s have this match, no objections? Brother Qin, Brother Zhang, Xiao Yao is unconscious, so you’re in charge now. Hurry up and have someone clean this place up.”
A string of words came out like a machine gun, giving Liu Yu Xu no time to object.
“Great Hero Yi, we are all poisoned. You are the strongest fighter right now, so you should…”
“Hahaha, no problem. I guarantee with my life that this old monk will have to lead the Maitreya Sect out in disgrace before nightfall.” Yi Tianhan continued to laugh, with a confident and assured expression.
Dugu Yu, Liu Yu Xu, and Xiao Chen exchanged glances, all puzzled, wondering where his confidence came from.
“Brother-in-law, you should persuade him…” Nangong Bubai began, but Meng Lei turned around and smiled, “Don’t worry, brother-in-law. In half an hour at most, we can go drinking. It’s been over twenty years since we last met.” Meng Lei’s wife, Nangong Xiulin, was Nangong Bubai’s younger sister (see the prequel to “A Thousand Years of Romance”). The two were related by marriage, so his “bullying” of Nangong Fengzi was just teasing his niece, and it was reasonable for him to force Nangong Fengzi to call him uncle (more accurately, aunt’s husband, but that would reveal his identity).
Nangong Bubai was stunned upon hearing this, and seeing that Fu Longyuan and Meng Fei also had calm expressions, he became even more puzzled.
Only Zhuge Wenjie lightly waved his feather fan and said leisurely, “Now, with your inferior horses against their superior horses, take your superior horses against their middle horses, and take your middle horses against their inferior horses.” "
He was referring to a story from the *Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi*. Tian Ji, a general of Qi, wagered a thousand gold pieces on a horse race against the King of Qi. Sun Bin taught Tian Ji a sure-win strategy: race his inferior horse against the King's superior horse, his superior horse against the King's middle-grade horse, and his middle-grade horse against the King's inferior horse. He won two and lost one, winning the thousand gold pieces.
Dugu Yu, Liu Yuxu, Xiao Chen, and the others then realized that Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei had used Sun Bin's strategy to win the first three races and thus the total..." In this best-of-five match, with Yi Tianhan ranked fifth, Fu Longyuan sixth, and Meng Fei seventh among the eight masters, why was he the first to fight?
The Tianji Sect had plenty of capable people; in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the broken wooden bricks and bloodstains in the center of the square were cleaned up completely. The ground, shattered by Ren Xiaoyao's final blow, was refilled with iron sand and lime, appearing smooth as a mirror and much harder than before.
Yi Tianhan versus Xu Jie—a shocking, earth-shattering duel of raw strength, devoid of any fancy tricks. Yi Tianhan's two palms moved swiftly and powerfully, clashing with Xu Jie's massive bronze cymbals .
Each move was incredibly forceful, the force creating a piercing, howling wind that scattered and stung outwards from the two of them. Even from several meters away, those with weaker skills felt a burning pain on their faces from the blast.
Suddenly, Xu Jie closed in, his cymbals aimed directly at Yi Tianhan's chest. In an instant, true energy surged forth, the swing like thunder, its deafening roar sealing off all of Yi Tianhan's escape routes. His robes fluttered wildly.
Amidst gasps of surprise, Yi Tianhan didn't retreat but instead charged forward, meeting the attack head-on. His palm technique was simple and unadorned, yet his movements were fluid and effortless, without a trace of weakness. Every joint transition seemed natural, the palm strike and the profound, boundless power seamlessly integrated, flawless.
The palms clashed without a sound; the two forces dissolved into each other, vanishing like smoke. Xu Jie's massive body suddenly trembled, staggering back several steps, his face contorted, his eyes bloodshot.
"Both are masters; there's no need to discuss who won or lost,"
Yi Tianhan laughed heartily.
"I didn't lose!!!" "Xu Jie roared, slamming his cymbals down from left to right, intending to crush Yi Tianhan. Yi Tianhan, abandoning his volatile temper, calmly countered, slowly pushing out a palm strike—the 'Moon Strange Star Evil,' using simplicity to overcome complexity, instantly shattering the cymbals' momentum. The purity and power of his skill surpassed even Xiong Lei's back then.
Xu Jie, his face pale, repeatedly activated the Thunderclap Cymbal Technique, unleashing a flurry of fierce attacks."
Yi Tianhan's ten fingers made a grasping motion, then tightened, and he suddenly swung forward, unleashing a strange palm strike unlike anything he had ever used before. As it reached Xu Jie, it split into two, striking his vital points on both shoulders.
This was a new move created by Hua Shijun, a fusion of Fusang ninjutsu and the Heaven-Defying Palm technique, named "Kui Dragon Force." Xu Jie was caught off guard and could only retreat to avoid it.
Yi Tianhan pressed his advantage, quickly closing in and giving his opponent no chance to breathe.
Suddenly, Xu Jie roared, leaping forward, his cymbal spinning rapidly in his hand, slashing diagonally downwards at Yi Tianhan's head with the force of a raging storm, overwhelming and unstoppable, forcing Yi Tianhan's hair to stand on end.
Yi Tianhan stopped abruptly, frozen in place, and slammed his right palm to the sky. The plaza floor trembled and cracked, the power of the strike many times greater than before.
This palm strike was earth-shattering, and although the cymbal's attack was powerful, it was actually suppressed by him.
Xu Jie was horrified and tried to retreat, but it was too late. The immense power of the Heaven-Defying Palm struck him instantly.
"Boom!" Xu Jie's massive body was thrown into the air, but only his clothes were torn. He neither coughed up blood nor changed color. Instead, he did a somersault backward and landed steadily on the ground, exhaling turbid air. After
twenty years of cultivation, Yi Tianhan's skill had improved so much. One palm strike to repel Xu Jie was enough to shock the entire audience. However, although Xu Jie was defeated by Yi Tianhan's fierce attack, he was not seriously injured, which showed that his skill was also quite remarkable.
Xu Jie glared at Yi Tianhan, his eyes fierce, and gasped, "So...so powerful."
"Hahaha, exhilarating, exhilarating!" Yi Tianhan laughed loudly. He loved fighting head-on, but there were only a handful of people in the world whose martial arts were comparable to his, and almost none dared to challenge him directly. It was rare to encounter Xu Jie; their palms clashed repeatedly, without any fancy moves, relying solely on two words—internal energy!
Xu Jie's expression was ferocious, his eyes flashing with a strange light, and he slowly said, "Senior brother, for the greater good of our sect, I'm going." His words implied he was prepared to fight to the death.
"What, so you had a trick up your sleeve? Good, very good indeed, hahaha." Yi Tianhan laughed wildly, throwing his head back. The stronger Xu Jie was, the more enjoyable it was for him to fight.
Xu Jie's shoulders trembled, and he uttered a few hesitant sounds. His tattered monk's robe suddenly billowed, and a powerful wind seemed to emanate from his body. His smile grew increasingly wild, gradually revealing a domineering and fierce expression. The skin on
his arms turned from grayish-white to scorched yellow, as if shimmering with golden light. "Our sect has a divine skill beneath the Sumeru Qizi Technique. Today, I will show you its power." "Mahayana Wheel Technique!" Xu Jie roared like a tiger, his arms swung violently, and his incomparably powerful true energy flowed around his body, flashing with golden light, as if a living Buddha had descended to earth. He had already activated the protective secret technique of the "Mahayana Wheel Technique."
The term Mahayana comes from Buddhist scriptures and means "to save others and oneself" in Buddhist texts. It is based on the theory of "all phenomena are consciousness-only," and its profound meaning, "Life and death are like a dream, enlightenment and afflictions are like empty flowers," has evolved into the martial arts meaning of sacrificing oneself for righteousness and dying together with the enemy.
The Mahayana Wheel Technique is divided into "Five Affinities, Three Poisons, Six Roots, Six Dusts, and Eighteen Realms," integrating internal energy, fist and palm techniques, weapons, and lightness skills, encompassing everything. It is the second most powerful technique in the Maitreya Sect after the Sumeru Qizi Technique. Xu Jie, having suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Meng Fei, had painstakingly studied it for over twenty years, finally mastering its essence. However, he was thick-skinned and possessed exceptional external skills, and his Thunderclap Cymbal Technique alone was rarely matched, so he had never truly used it in combat.
Xu Jie roared fiercely and launched the first attack. The two cymbals clashed, producing a piercing sound, and were then pushed forward together with overwhelming force, like the swaying of thousands of banners. This was the starting move of the Mahayana Wheel Technique, "Looking Up to the High Mountain," a move with profound true power and surging hidden energy. Yi Tianhan, however, showed no fear and used the Heaven-Defying Divine Palm to meet it head-on.
Their cymbals clashed, each jolting slightly before separating. Xu Jie retreated half a step, while Yi Tianhan retreated again and again, staggering back four steps.
Liu Yuxu, Xiaochen, and Nangong Bubai all paled, exclaiming, "Brother Yi!"
Xu Jie roared again, a rumbling thunderous sound accompanied by a blurring yellow shadow that flashed with murderous intent. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Yi Tianhan, his cymbals spinning rapidly, the shadows overlapping and densely packed, like a thousand Buddhas descending upon the world, ten thousand horses trampling the earth. Every move was a heavy blow, the second move of the Mahayana Wheel Method, "Virtuous Conduct and Restraint."
Yi Tianhan parried with all his might, retreating step by step. Although he wasn't struck by the palms, he was unable to retaliate.
Xu Jie unleashed seventeen consecutive attacks, each one sharp and deadly. He roared, "Old ghost, this cymbal will send you to your death!" The two cymbals struck together, producing a sound like the impact of a boulder, deep and heavy. The right cymbal suddenly slashed out, followed by the left cymbal. The power of the two cymbals surged one after the other, their true energy splashing, and their power increased exponentially. It was impossible to tell which palm was stronger. This move, "Huayan Yuanjue," was named after the Huayan and Yuanjue Buddhist scriptures. It brought the Mahayana Dharma to its extreme, shaking the heavens and the earth, and its power was unstoppable!
Yi Tianhan slightly turned his body, made a grasping motion with one palm, and then struck out instantly. His two palms were also one in front and one behind, one fast and one slow. He had already used the ultimate move "Water and Sky in One Color." The force of Xu Jie's two cymbals had just reached his chest when it was completely dissipated. This awe-inspiring "Huayan Yuanjue" was actually broken by him with ease.
Xu Jie's expression changed drastically. He took a step back, his face filled with disbelief, his eyes wide and his teeth clenched, his arm trembling slightly. He had originally intended to use his full strength in this move to break through Yi Tianhan's defense in one fell swoop
. As long as the second cymbal landed, he could immediately take his opponent's life. Who would have thought that Yi Tianhan would break through so easily? It was truly unbelievable. Yi Tianhan laughed loudly and shouted, "You've had enough. It's my turn to return the favor." His right palm struck out with a thunderous roar, like a bolt from the blue. Yet, he also made an incredibly skillful movement, striking Xu Jie's left chest in the blink of an eye. Xu
Jie had no time to react and was hit hard in the chest. His body flew backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Xu Jie, severely injured and enraged, unleashed the "Lotus Sutra" from the Mahayana Wheel Dharma to counterattack. Yi Tianhan had already launched his attack, letting out a long, clear whistle as he unleashed a series of palm strikes. The speed between his strikes and attacks was incredible, seemingly invisible and difficult to discern with the naked eye, yet each palm strike was heavy and powerful. Each strike contained the profound internal energy he had accumulated over decades of life-and-death struggles, making it seem vast, mysterious, and infinitely changeable.
Once Yi Tianhan unleashed his attack, it was relentless, like the movement of countless stars in the heavens. Unable to resist or stop it, Xu Jie, unable to withstand the onslaught, retreated repeatedly, his heart filled with rage, displaying an even more ferocious posture. Suddenly, he spun rapidly, his two cymbals striking out in rapid succession. His tattered robe danced wildly like a whirlwind. Though his moves were chaotic, there was order within the chaos. Every palm strike from Yi Tianhan was blocked, each move flawless. The yellow shadow protected his entire body; this was the ultimate protective technique of the Mahayana Wheel Dharma—Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
In Buddhist scriptures, Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi refers to the supreme enlightenment of Buddhism, a power possessed only by the Buddha. "Supreme" signifies its unsurpassed and unparalleled nature; "correct" means impartial and unbiased; the ten realms are one, hence "equal"; and it differs from the views of ordinary people and heretics, hence "right enlightenment."
The Supreme Perfect Enlightenment is the ultimate Buddhahood, the Bodhi of Freedom. In martial arts, it is based on controlling the practitioner's own protective inner energy.
Xu Jie appeared powerless to retaliate, desperately defending himself, but in reality, he had already circulated the Mahayana Wheel Dharma throughout his meridians for protection. His use of the cymbals to block seemed unavoidable, but under his powerful and profound protective inner energy, even if he were to take several more blows from Yi Tianhan, he wouldn't suffer internal injuries; instead, he could seize the opportunity to strike Yi Tianhan hard.
This kind of far-sighted preparation is the essence of the "Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi."
Yi Tianhan launched a series of fierce attacks, but Xu Jie was not alarmed; instead, he was delighted, thinking, "Pride comes before a fall. Let you be smug for a moment." After blocking more than ten more blows, Xu Jie slowed his cymbal technique, revealing an opening. Before he could defend against Yi Tianhan's palm strike aimed at his left shoulder, another palm struck him. The Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi inner energy circulated, instantly neutralizing eighty percent of the power.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, a murderous glint appeared in Xu Jie's eyes. He channeled the true power of the Mahayana Wheel Dharma into his cymbals and struck them down.
Yi Tianhan had already seen through Xu Jie's scheme. When his palm struck Xu Jie's body, he felt the powerful internal force in his shoulder. He quickly increased his true power and used the final move of the Heaven-Defying Divine Palm, "Heavenly Thunder Without Delusion," which shattered the protective true power of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in one fell swoop. The residual force emanated layer by layer, directly impacting Xu Jie's body.
Xu Jie screamed in agony, sent flying like a kite with a broken string. He never expected Yi Tianhan's power to be so formidable, capable of shattering his protective true energy, his plan backfiring.
Xu Jie struggled, trying to stand up, when Yi Tianhan suddenly lunged forward, his right palm flashing like lightning, striking Xu Jie's dantian.
This palm strike was still "Heavenly Thunder Without Delusion," solidly shattering Xu Jie's entire power. The majestic aura of the Mahayana Wheel Dharma vanished, unable to coalesce again. His eyes widened, and he slumped to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
With just this one palm strike, the outcome was decided.

Volume 41, Chapter 13: Subduing the Enemy Without Fighting

. Dear readers,
thank you for waiting. "Senior brother, I..." Xu Jie tried to stand up, supporting himself with one hand, but the excruciating pain throughout his body and the numbness in his arms caused him to collapse back down.
"Hmph, trash!" Grand Master Xu Kong's face was ashen. With a wave of his hand, two lamas stepped forward to help Xu Jie down.
Although Yi Tianhan won, he was also quite exhausted, and even his laughter was much weaker than before: "Haha... uh, exhilarating! Exhilarating! This was a truly exhilarating fight!"
"Hero Yi's momentum is unstoppable, and he has won a great victory with overwhelming power. His reputation as 'the Lone Warrior Against Heaven' is well-deserved." "With the eight masters on the field, they are invincible and unstoppable." "Hero Fu and Hero Meng have taken the lead in making their move. What is this mere Maitreya demon monk worth?" The disciples of the Tang Clan and the Beggar Clan took the lead in shouting, and the heroes of the Central Plains began to clamor.
The Asura Sect was defeated, and Ren Xiaoyao returned to Xunfeng City. Upon hearing the news, the 100,000 Heavenly Army soldiers were filled with excitement and flocked to the Qilin Hall, surrounding the square in hundreds of layers, making it impossible to move. At this moment, they shouted in unison, their momentum was tremendous, and finally it became a tidal wave of "The Central Plains Martial Alliance will win!"
Liu Yuxu waved his hands repeatedly, and the shouts from the crowd subsided. He said loudly, "Grand Master Xukong, shouldn't we have the second match next? Or should your sect just concede?"
"The match, of course we should have the match!" Grand Master Xukong's expression was firm, and he gave Xuci a wink to fight.
Xuci held the nine-ringed staff and strode to the center of the arena. He looked at Fu Longyuan and put his hands together, saying, "I have long admired the name of 'Xiaoxiang Sword Immortal' in Tibet. Today I am honored to have a match with you. I hope that Great Hero Fu will not hesitate to give me some pointers." His appearance was almost the same as before, with a kind face and no scheming eyes. But once he started fighting, he was more ruthless than anyone else.
At this moment, Meng Fei was pressing against Ren Xiaoyao's back, channeling his inner energy to heal him, while Fu Longyuan was the one facing him.
"Sorry, there won't be a second match." Fu Longyuan smiled, still standing in place.
"What did you say!?" Xu Ci was stunned upon hearing this.
"I said: the best-of-five match is over, there's no need to fight anymore." Fu Longyuan examined his opponent with a gleam in his eyes, speaking calmly.
"What a joke, you've only won one match, how can there be a victory or defeat?"
"No, three matches, we also won the match against the two ninjas."
"Nonsense, the match hasn't even started, what makes you make such a judgment?" Xu Ci became agitated.
"As Sun Tzu's Art of War says: 'To subdue the enemy without fighting is the way to win.' Has the master not read it?" Fu Longyuan smiled, seemingly confident.
"Hmph, what arrogance!" Ogata Yoshira was unconvinced, taking a step forward in front of Fu Longyuan, his sword half-drawn, ready to strike first without a word.
Fu Longyuan glanced back and saw Meng Fei still pressed against Ren Xiaoyao's back, the latter probably still needing some time to wake up. He solemnly said, "Ogata Yoshiyori joined the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu at the age of seven, studying under the same master as Nanka. He became a genin at eleven, a chunin at nineteen, and a special jonin at twenty-four due to his outstanding swordsmanship. He passed the final exam at thirty-five and became a jonin. Sakaguchi Daisuke, son of Sakaguchi Kengo, a senior figure of the Kyōshin Meishō-ryu, was nine years old... The two met during a Class A mission and became sworn brothers
. Ten years ago, they went to sea together, intending to emulate the master of Miyaji and explore martial arts in the Central Plains. Unexpectedly, they were misled and colluded with the Miroku cult." Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke both changed color and exclaimed in surprise, "You... how did you know..."
"We returned from Japan. Before leaving, we were entrusted by the masters of Nanka and Miyaji to ask you two to return to Japan and assist in managing the affairs of the sect."
"Is this true?!" Ogata Yoshiyori said in a deep voice, his grip on the sword involuntarily loosening.
Sakaguchi Daisuke said anxiously, "Brother Ogata, don't listen to this man's nonsense. Our two sects have many masters, why would we need to..."
"Three years ago, Fujiwara no Michitaka, together with Iga Valley and dozens of other sects, attempted to support Prince Kiriko to usurp the throne of the Emperor and control the entire ninjutsu world. The seven major sects, led by the headmaster of Shinguji, launched a full-scale counterattack." Fu Longyuan's eyes were slightly red, and his voice choked with emotion, as if he was thinking of Shinguji Ryuugen, whom he had misunderstood for thirty years. "For the stability of the ninjutsu world, for the maintenance of the country's orthodoxy, tens of thousands of disciples from the seven major sects worked together to resist the powerful enemy, and finally quelled the turmoil at the cost of blood... That day at Hueco Mundo... the setting sun was like blood, a Pyrrhic victory..."
"A Pyrrhic victory? How so?" Ogata Yoshiyori asked with concern, his voice trembling.
"Master Shinguji sacrificed himself heroically, the pillar of the ninjutsu world collapsed, three captains of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū died on the spot, and countless ninja masters perished in battle." Ren Xiaoyao, supporting himself with his sword, struggled to his feet with Meng Fei's help. His recovery ability was indeed astonishing; Meng Fei, with a little assistance from his true energy, had restored his senses. He spoke with great skill. During the suppression of the rebellion of Fujiwara no Michitaka and Prince Kiriko, the three rebellious captains, Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sōsuke, and Tōsen Kaname, did indeed die on the spot, and many of the powerful ninja masters recruited by Kubo Kōsuke also suffered casualties. However, he used vague language, making it sound as if everything was a loss for the seven major sects.
This way, he neither distorted the facts nor failed to give Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke the impression that the ninjutsu world had suffered a severe blow and that the two urgently needed to return to Japan.
"Before leaving... Sect Leader Nan Jia and Sect Leader Gong Ye repeatedly entrusted me with the task of finding two Jonin in the Central Plains. Please..." Ren Xiaoyao's lips trembled, clearly enduring excruciating pain, "Please return to Japan quickly to assist... in handling the affairs of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and Kagami Shinmei-ryu schools."
Apart from the Hokushin Ittō-ryu, the other six of the seven major schools hadn't suffered much loss in the turmoil. There was no need to rush to find Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke. However, Ren Xiaoyao had reorganized the ninjutsu world, establishing eleven factions. Nan Jia had become the Taikage, and Gong Ye Masamune the Raikage. With so many affairs to manage, he couldn't handle too many sect matters. These two highly skilled and capable junior brothers were essential for better management.
"You... do you have... evidence? If... if you're lying, I'll kill you!!!" Sakaguchi Daisuke also tensed up. He traveled across the ocean to the Central Plains precisely to hone his martial arts, hoping to one day revive the Flying Sky Sword Style and reclaim its position as the leader of the Seven Great Sects. Now, hearing of the great calamity befalling his sect, he was naturally extremely agitated.
"Sect Leader Nan Jia and Sect Leader Gong Ye have two... two handwritten letters. I rushed here in a hurry and didn't bring them with me. However, as... the leader of the Heavenly Extreme Sect and the Champion Marquis of the Great Song Dynasty, I assure you that the letters will be delivered to you intact within three days at most."
Seeing the situation was not right, Grand Master Xu Kong angrily said, "Ren Xiaoyao, what do you mean? Are you planning to persuade our people who are about to go into battle with words?"
Ogata Yoshiyori ripped off his black mask and said in a deep voice, "Grand Master, rest assured, even if we have to return to Japan, Daisuke and I will fight before we leave."
"Yes, the King has treated us well, and we must do our part no matter what."
Grand Master Xukong clasped his hands together and smiled, "Thank you both for your righteousness." Though his words were kind, he was actually seething with anger. He had spent countless sums of money and effort to win over the two masters, Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke, so that they could contend with the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance in the south and resist the Asura Sect and the Absolute Kill in the north. Yet, Ren Xiaoyao's words had made him want to leave immediately. His anger and resentment were palpable.
"I say you..." Yi Tianhan jumped up and said, "You are aiding and abetting evil, you are..."
"I'm sorry." Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke exchanged a glance and interrupted in unison, "Ninjas have their code of conduct, and we cannot disobey it."
These words caused an uproar. Someone shouted, "Let's fight! Central Plains martial arts are profound and extensive; do you think we're afraid of your Japanese ninjutsu?" "Master Fu and Master Meng are masters of their time; even if we fight, victory is assured." "I gave you a chance to step down, but you didn't. Fine, then wait to embarrass yourselves."
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm and smiled, "What, did you two receive a mission to fight this?"
"No." The answer was straightforward.
"Very well, then let me ask you, what is the most important thing for a ninja? Is it the so-called code of conduct?"
"No, it's obedience."
"Obey whom?" Ren Xiaoyao continued to press.
"Obey the sect leader."
"Absolute obedience?"
"Yes, a ninja's first duty is to obey orders. Any order given by the sect leader must not be disobeyed." Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke displayed extremely solemn expressions, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"Then what about the leaders of the seven major sects, or the Grand Master of the Martial World?" Ren Xiaoyao focused his eyes and slowly asked.
"The seven major sects formed an alliance. Although there was no explicit rule that the leaders of the sects had to issue orders for everything, the sect leaders usually wouldn't disobey the leaders of the sects. In other words, we had to listen to the leaders of the sects. As for the Grand Master..." Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke's eyes reddened at the same time, and they choked up as they said, "During the Ninja World War, we two... and even all the Jonin of the seven major sects, owed our achievements to the Grand Master. If the Grand Master were still alive, even if his words violated the principles of ninjas, we would still obey them."
"Good!" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly shouted, his voice echoing across the land and shaking the entire arena. He slowly said, word by word, "Now, as the former leader of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, the third head of the Seven Great Sects, and the new Martial Arts Grand Secretary bestowed upon me by Kishimoto-senpai, I order you—to immediately end your evil deeds of aiding and abetting the wicked and switch sides to assist the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance!"

Volume 41, Chapter 14, The Fairy in Red

"What? Former leader of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, the third head of the Seven Great Sects, and the new Martial Arts Grand Secretary?" Ogata Yoshiyori laughed instead of being surprised. "You...you? Hahaha, the Thirteen Guardians of the Palace are full of experts. Even if the head of Shinguji Temple were to fight to the death, they wouldn't let some outsider, a mere brat, lead the Void Palace."
Yi Tianhan sneered, "A brat? Hmph, you two came with Grand Master Suku, you must have seen the scene where this so-called brat defeated the so-called number one evil master of the world, the Ghostly Netherworld God, which shocked the entire arena, right?"
Ogata Yoshiyori's voice choked.
Fu Longyuan interjected, "As for taking over Hueco Mundo, it's simple. Xiaoyao is Long Xuan's son-in-law, and he made great contributions in quelling the rebellion. All the captains of the 13th Division are convinced of his merits. Besides... he and the then Prince Weiguang, now Emperor Ichijo, are sworn brothers. Who else should we entrust it to if not him?"
"Sworn brothers with the Emperor...?!" Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke's eyes widened in disbelief. In Japan, the Emperor represented supreme imperial power, and his status in the hearts of the people was far higher than that of the emperors of ancient China. Since Emperor Jimmu founded the country, it had been passed down for 125 generations and more than 2,600 years without any change, which shows that the people revered the Emperor as a god and had unparalleled respect for him.
Sworn brothers with the Emperor?! Sworn brothers with a god?!
Let alone these two mere ninjas, even nobles wouldn't dare to dream of such a thing.
Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke stepped back, seemingly about to kneel, and stammered, "You...you...you really are with..."
"I am the Marquis of Champion of the Great Song Dynasty. If I were to falsely claim to be sworn brothers with the Emperor, it would provoke a conflict between our two nations."
"Fine, even so, even if you inherit the Hueco Mundo Palace, the position of the Grand Master of the Seven Great Sects...the Grand Master of the Seven Great Sects can never be a Han Chinese!"
"Who says it's impossible? When Kishimoto-senpai founded the Seven Great Sects Alliance, he once said..." Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, bloodstains between his teeth, yet his entire being exuded unparalleled confidence and domineering aura.
"'Foreigners wishing to unify the Seven Great Sects must defeat all the masters of the Seven Great Sects and intimidate the entire arena'—this is indeed the rule set by the Taiko, but... the leaders of the Seven Great Sects are all masters of their time. Winning even one match is extremely difficult. Even if you represent the Hokushin Itto-ryu and only need to win six matches, it's impossible... absolutely impossible..." Sakaguchi Daisuke's voice trembled as he shook his head resolutely. "Even if you win the first four matches, the leader of the Nanka Sect in the fifth match will definitely use the ultimate technique of the Eight Gates. Moreover, in order to maintain the orthodoxy of the ninjutsu world, he will definitely open all eight gates. This... this power is absolutely, absolutely beyond what your mortal body can withstand!!!"
"Even if you win by trickery, there's still my senior brother. You can't possibly win with the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu technique using the Kusanagi sword. Therefore, the matter of the Seven Great Sect Leaders must be a lie!" Ogata Yoshiyori suddenly became agitated. His respect and admiration for Kato Taka made him unable to believe that Xiaoyao would win.
"Brother Ogata is right. The Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance must be afraid of the two of you, which is why they resorted to such despicable tricks to try and deceive you." Grand Master Xu Kong seized the opportunity to fan the flames.
Xu Ci also instigated, "Didn't Brother Sakaguchi mention that the Martial Arts Grand Master Miyamoto is the person you respect most in this life? What does Master Ren mean by calling himself the New Martial Arts Grand Master? Where does he place Master Kishimoto?"
"Swish!" "Swish!" As soon as the words left his mouth, Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke drew their weapons and shouted, "No need for nonsense, we'll continue with the match!"
"Is that so? Very well then. Senior Fu, Master, thank you for your trouble." Ren Xiaoyao knew that without a letter or token, it would be difficult to gain the trust of the two, so he had no choice but to accept the reality before him.
“Senior brother, how about this? Let’s slightly adjust the order of appearance. Let Brother Ogata and Brother Sakaguchi go first and meet the so-called eight masters of the Central Plains martial arts world.” Xu Ci chanted a Buddhist prayer as he stepped forward. He hadn’t seen through the scheme of “using your inferior horses against their superior horses, taking your superior horses against their middle horses, and taking your middle horses against their inferior horses,” but instead hoped that Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke would fight Fu Longyuan and Meng Fei to a draw, fueled by their anger.
Liu Yuxu flicked his sleeve and said coldly, “Outrageous! How can the agreed-upon order be changed!” As the leader of the alliance, he naturally had to consider the Central Plains martial arts alliance. Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke’s martial arts were clearly superior to Xu Ci’s, and changing the order would correspondingly reduce their chances of victory.
"No problem, let's fight like this." Fu Longyuan was full of confidence. "I've met many sword masters in Fusang, but only Sect Master Kato was too busy with affairs to personally experience the true essence of the Flying Sky Sword Style. Today, I'm fighting against Jonin Ogata, whose swordsmanship is second only to his... Hmph, I've long admired him."
"Alright, I also want to experience the strength of a Central Plains master." Ogata Yoshiyori took two steps back, and with a "whoosh," he drew his sword with his right hand, while his left hand loosely gripped it, actually assuming a hand seal posture.
A single-handed hand seal! Fu Longyuan's heart skipped a beat.
As a ninja, reciting the Nine Syllable Mantra before battle while simultaneously forming various hand seals is an essential process; in other words, hand seals are the foundation of ninjutsu.
Hand seals require time to form, and once the hands are in position, neither offense nor effective defense can be launched until the seals are completed. Therefore, the speed of hand seal formation has become the primary standard for measuring the level of ninjutsu. However, the speed of hand movements has its limits; after ten or twenty years of practice, anyone can reach the same level.
Forty years ago, during the Third Shinobi World War, Masashi Kishimoto, then the head of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu school, first used his unique one-handed hand seal method—forming a seal with one hand while simultaneously launching a continuous attack with the other, completely avoiding any gaps in the seal formation. He then single-handedly conquered Japan, establishing his reputation as the "Saint of Ninjutsu."
Since then, the one-handed hand seal method has been recognized by the ninjutsu world and has become the lifelong pursuit of countless masters. However, its almost demanding and extremely high difficulty has also brought a lifelong nightmare to many Jonin.
During Ren Xiaoyao's journey escorting Wei Guang to the Void Night Palace and his subsequent acquisition of the leadership of the Seven Great Sects, he encountered numerous masters from various sects. Very few could perform hand seals with one hand; the total number was no more than ten. The Flying Heaven Sword Style emphasized physical techniques, with ninjutsu being secondary. Although Kishimoto Masashi pioneered the one-handed hand seal tactic, aside from Kato Taka, who received his true teachings, no one else within or outside the sect possessed this skill. Ogata Yoshiyori, who came to the Central Plains ten years ago and hadn't engaged in combat or received systematic training for a long time, had still mastered one-handed hand seals, demonstrating how much essence of foreign martial arts he had absorbed.
Fu Longyuan patted Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Xiaoyao, swords have no eyes. If you are injured, you don't need to blame yourself for me, nor do you need to blame the Flying Heaven Sword Style." His implication was that he wasn't certain of victory and had to fight to the death.
Ren Xiaoyao hummed in agreement, his heart aching as if being torn apart.
While the Nine Dragon Techniques are known for their agility and speed, their ultimate killing moves, "Sacred Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens" and Fu Longyuan's self-created "Dragon Slaying the Moon," are both incomparably domineering and ruthless. The Flying Sky Sword Style's profound mysteries are even more formidable; Dragon Hammer Soaring Flash, Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash, Nine-Headed Dragon Flash—each move is a death-defying gamble. A fight between these two would either result in mutual destruction.
Fu Longyuan and Ogata Yoshiyori stood facing each other, an aura of desolation already permeating the arena even before they made a move.
These two contemporary sword masters, who should have stood side-by-side under Ren Xiaoyao's leadership, were now forced into a desperate battle.
"Draw your sword!" Ogata Yoshiyori coldly declared, assuming the starting stance for Dragon Nest Flash.
Fu Longyuan pressed down on the Dragon's Reverse Scale, slowly gathering his true energy, ready to attack at any moment.
The great battle was about to erupt when a woman's delicate cry suddenly rang out from afar: "Stop! We're all on the same side! Stop fighting!" Though the voice was high-pitched and soft, it was heard throughout the entire arena.
They were speaking in Japanese, which most people couldn't understand, but Ogata Yoshiyori and Fu Ryugen stopped fighting simultaneously.
"Hey, why did you stop?! Attack already!" Seeing the situation was turning against them, Suji completely abandoned her usual feigned friendliness and shouted urgently.
"Make way, make way, everyone make way!" Another female voice shouted, clear and cold, full of arrogance, with a hint of heroic spirit.
"Hall Master!" Qin Huaiyu was the first to react.
"That's right, it's the Hall Master, it's the Hall Master!" "Look, the Hall Master is back!" The Tianji Cult members erupted in a series of earth-shattering shouts, and those near the plaza entrance scattered to both sides like a tide.
Two riders galloped in, leaving a trail of dust in their wake.
Leading the procession was a white horse, carrying a young man who appeared to be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old (well-preserved). His lips were red, his teeth white, his eyes bright as stars, and his delicate nose as smooth as jade. His slightly upturned lips always seemed to carry a half-smile, inadvertently revealing a captivating allure. His robes fluttered in the wind, and a green sword swayed gently beneath his arm. His dashing figure and bright eyes and white teeth complemented each other perfectly, making him a truly dashing character.
Following behind was a black horse, adorned with a dazzling expanse of white—a white cloak, a white kimono, and a white face mask—belonging to a naturally beautiful young woman, exceptionally beautiful and otherworldly. Her flowing kimono accentuated her graceful curves, her slender waist seemingly bending in the wind, her figure exquisitely beautiful. From afar, she resembled a goddess from the Wushan and Luoshui rivers, just as Li Zhengfeng's poem described: "Heavenly fragrance stains her clothes at night, national beauty is intoxicated by morning wine." "Heavenly fragrance and national beauty" were truly fitting descriptions for this young woman.
The nearly 100,000 people in the audience were all stunned by the appearance of the red-clad fairy, each frozen in place.
"Mina, Feiyun, what are you doing…" Ren Xiaoyao asked in astonishment.
"Sister Yun was worried that things might change, so she specially followed me here." Shinguji Mina hurriedly dismounted, not even having time to be affectionate with Ren Xiaoyao, and went straight to Ogata Yoshiyori, cupping her hands and saying, "Are you Uncle Ogata? I am Mina, the only daughter of the Shinguji family. I was entrusted by the Nanka Sect Master to ask you to return to Japan as soon as possible—and this is Sakaguchi Jonin? The Miyako Sect Master asked me to pass on a message, hoping that you will also return as soon as possible." After saying that, she reached into her robe and took out two letters.
"Is this true? You, you are the Sect Master's daughter!?" Ogata Yoshiyori's expression changed drastically, completely forgetting the duel, and trembling as he took the letters.
Before Shinguji Mina could answer, Sakaguchi Daisuke exclaimed in surprise, "That's right, this...this signature is the sect leader's, it's the sect leader's!"
Shinguji Mina smiled slightly and said softly, "My two uncles..."
"Don't be fooled by this little girl, he's spreading rumors!" A sharp shout rang out, and a fierce gust of wind suddenly attacked from behind. It was Suji who, seeing Shinguji Mina take out the letter, Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke instantly lost all fighting spirit and could no longer fight for Miroku. Enraged, they brandished their staffs and launched a sneak attack.
Shinguji Mina had been traveling all night without rest, and her spirit, strength, and mental state were all out of sorts, even extremely weakened. Moreover, she was busy talking to Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke. By the time she came to her senses and wanted to retreat, the whistling staff, brimming with powerful energy, was less than a foot away from her forehead! !!

Volume 41, Chapter 15: God of the Martial World, God of the Nation!

With all his might, Suji aimed to kill his opponent in one strike. Just as the blow was about to land, a red shadow flashed before him, instantly conjuring six Shinguji Mina!
What?! Suji was startled, his attack immediately slowing, and his murderous aura vanished without a trace.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Ogata Yoshiyori had barely uttered the words when Shinguji Mina's figure flashed, escaping the staff's shadow. With a surge of true energy, she rose lightly like a cloud, and countless dazzling flames suddenly burst forth in the air, layer upon layer, countless, complemented by the unique movement technique of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school—truly dazzling and infinitely wondrous.
The flames scattered like a solar corona, blinding everyone present, giving them the illusion that "the sun exploded before their eyes."
With great difficulty, Suji opened his blurry, tear-filled eyes and stumbled backward. As the fiery light swept past, five smooth blade strikes cleaved the spot where he had just stood, crackling and bursting into flames.
The Ryujin Jakka's momentum didn't stop, sweeping towards Suji with a rapidly increasing, dazzling brilliance.
Suji's steps slowed slightly; a foot-long gash appeared on his right arm from the blade's energy. The splattered blood splashed onto the blade, hissing and rising in wisps of red mist, like rouge in water—an indescribably eerie beauty.
Shinguji Mina sheathed her sword and retreated, not pursuing. Her slender waist swayed, her long legs gracefully moving; her posture was undeniably beautiful, like Chang'e, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns, yet the smooth, long curves of her chest, waist, and legs possessed an undeniable allure.
"Ryujin Jakka, Ninja Shadow Clone Slash! You…you really are the sect leader's daughter!" Sakaguchi Daisuke exclaimed in stunned disbelief.
Xu Ci's sneak attack failed, and he was instead stabbed, losing face in front of tens of thousands of people, and he was filled with resentment. He was the second-best fighter in the Maitreya Sect, and his martial arts were superior to those of Shinguji Mina. Therefore, he was bleeding out after just one move. Firstly, he launched a sudden sneak attack and was not prepared enough. Secondly, he underestimated his opponent, thinking that Shinguji Mina, a mere girl, could not be very skilled. Thirdly, the Beichen Ittō-ryū Ninja Shadow Clone Technique was too strange. Even Ren Xiaoyao, whose lightness skill was unparalleled, was shocked when he first saw it, let alone Xu Ci. He raised his staff to attack again, when suddenly a white shadow flashed before his eyes. It was Long Feiyun, disguised as a man, blocking his way.
"If Master wants to fight, this humble woman is willing to accompany you." With a delicate voice, the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword was drawn with a "clang," bringing a dazzling light.
Xu Ci raised his staff, ready to charge, when Master Xu Kong suddenly shouted, "Stop! Come back here!" With Mina Shinguji's arrival, and Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke's defection a foregone conclusion, the Maitreya Sect would undoubtedly suffer losses in any fight, whether it was a group brawl or a one-on-one duel. It was better for their junior brother to endure this moment of humiliation than to invite further disgrace.
"Uncles, please hear what your niece has to say." Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ren Xiaoyao briefly explained the situation to Mina Shinguji, who would then explain it to Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke.
To win over the enemy, Mina Shinguji switched to Chinese, briefly recounting everything that had happened since Ren Xiaoyao's arrival in Japan.
At first, she spoke of protecting Prince Yuuki back to Hueco Mundo, during which she single-handedly fought against numerous masters from Fusang, defeating heroes from various factions, eliciting frequent bursts of cheers from the audience.
Next, she recounted how Shinguji Ryuuki celebrated his birthday and thwarted the conspiracy of Prince Kiriko and Aizen Sousuke, leaving everyone breathless and filled with admiration.
"The Seven Great Sects Alliance convened at Hueco Mundo..." At this point, the entire hall fell silent. Thousands of eyes were fixed on the center of the plaza, except for Mina Shinguji, whose soft, heavenly voice, with its melodious, almost musical tone, recited the passage with unparalleled captivating power: "Xiaoyao, as the leader of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, fought and won six battles in a row, defeating Hoshi Souichirou, the leader of the Oniwaban school; Sugita Tomokazu, the leader of the Shinto Munen-ryu school; Ishida Akira, the leader of the Jikishin-kage-ryu school; Minami Yoshiya, the leader of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school; and Kato Taka, the leader of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu school. He then even cracked the 'Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu Forbidden Secret Technique? Awakening Musou Ranbu Final Forbidden Technique—Swallow Return Secret Sword,' created by the martial arts master Kishimoto through a lifetime of effort… The Seven Great Sects… no, the entire ninja world, were all convinced..." "With the full support of Kishimoto-senpai, the ninja world was reorganized, and more than two hundred sects were divided into eleven elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, ice, wind, lightning, mist, body, and illusion. This completely cut off the source of any potential turmoil. Kishimoto-senpai personally bestowed upon them the title of 'New Martial Arts Grand Secretary'!"
Shinguji Mina unwrapped the package, took out three golden scrolls, and said in a deep voice, "These are edicts issued by His Majesty the Emperor. One scroll recognizes the title of Martial Arts Grand Secretary from the perspective of the Imperial Court; another scroll grants the highest official position of Kanpaku (regent) and Royal Military Strategist; the last scroll is the letter of appointment and dismissal of the Kanpaku, entrusting the Kingdom of Fusang with full authority to handle trade matters with the Song Dynasty. All of them bear the royal seal. Please read them."
Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke trembled as they reached out to take the scrolls, bowed three times to the east, and then slowly opened them.
As they meticulously examined the lines of flowing, serpentine Japanese characters (that's how Japanese writing is), their expressions shifted from surprise to astonishment, from astonishment to awe. Finally, they knelt down with a thud, their hands clenched into fists, palms touching the ground, bowing deeply—the highest form of etiquette in Japan.
"Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke pay their respects to the Taiko-sama." The moment these words were uttered, the entire hall erupted in cheers, exclamations of admiration, and shouts that lingered for a long time.
What an achievement! In just six months, one man and one sword subdued the Japanese ninja world, adding a powerful ally to the Central Plains martial arts world. In a mere three years, he stabilizing the Japanese government, providing the Song Dynasty with another strong ally, and eliminating the threat from Goryeo! Could this be done by
humankind? No, it couldn't be. Only a god could do it—a god of martial arts, a god of the nation!
Once upon a time, everyone present hoped that the heroes of the martial arts world would praise the Four Heroes of the Martial World as the future pillars of the Central Plains martial arts world. Xiong Xiaotian did it; he governed the vast Beggars' Sect with great success and order. Xiao Xingchen did it; he created the ultimate move, the Sun Wheel Breaking the Archer, and defeated the Cloud and Rain Envoy, winning hope for the Central Plains martial arts world to turn defeat into victory. Ye Zhiqiu did it; the Green Forest Alliance of the Thirteen Provinces under his command gradually reformed and became a powerful force to be reckoned with in maintaining the stability of the martial arts world. And today, Ren Xiaoyao is not only a pillar of the martial arts world, but also a pillar of the nation, the hope of the country, and the guardian of the country and the nation!
The whole place was in an uproar. The shouts that were like a tsunami came from the Qilin Hall to the various halls of the main altar, and then from the various halls of the main altar to the entire Xunfeng City.
After a long, long time, everyone finally remembered that there were still members of the Asura Cult and the Maitreya Cult in the square. Yi Tianhan chuckled strangely, "What's wrong, Ghost Netherworld God Lord, Grand Master Xu Kong? Are you just standing there waiting to be humiliated?"
Ghost Netherworld God Lord's face was ashen. He snorted and led Tian Jue Di Mie, the Four Asura Envoys, Chen Yixi (whose face was a hundred times worse than his own and who had been delusional in trying to eliminate Ren Xiaoyao and retrieve Xuan Qingqiu, only to realize now that it was wishful thinking), and the remaining less than ten cult members dejectedly towards the edge of the square. Although everyone was unwilling, they were helpless.
Liu Ningtao, seriously injured, struggled to his feet with the help of his daughter and Xiao Xingchen. He said urgently, "Master, this is unacceptable! Letting a tiger return to the mountain will cause endless harm. It would be better to intercept and kill them all today to eliminate future troubles."
"No, breaking our word is not the behavior of chivalrous people like us," Liu Yuxu objected first.
"The Alliance Leader is right. Let's show mercy and let them go." The highly respected Xiaoming, hands clasped together and chanting Buddhist prayers, surprisingly agreed.
"We can't let them go!" "Kill them! Blood for blood!" "Avenge our Sect Leader!" Led by the Tang Clan disciples and Liu Ningtao's Azure Dragon Hall members, many insisted on killing them.
Although Liu Yuxu was the Alliance Leader, he couldn't risk offending everyone, so the decision fell to Ren Xiaoyao.
"Everyone... move aside, let them... go!" Despite his severe injuries, Ren Xiaoyao spoke haltingly, but every word was still powerful and carried an unyielding authority.
"Master..."
"Let them pass! The greatest heroes prioritize honor and righteousness. If we go back on our word and harass our opponent here, how are we any different from demons and treacherous villains!" Ren Xiaoyao let out a long roar that echoed throughout the arena. Though his clothes were completely destroyed in the fight, leaving only his Cangmang Taxue armor, it appeared even more solemn than fine clothes, exuding an undeniable aura of dominance!
The Tang Clan members all fell silent, and the Tianji Sect members surrounding the arena obediently dispersed to the sides.
Ren Xiaoyao's words were actually more powerful than those of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Shaolin Abbot.
Ghostly Lord slowly turned around, his evil eyes flashing with a chilling killing intent, glaring fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao, and said, "I will keep my promise and will no longer be an enemy of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. But the blood debt between us is not yet settled. One day I will take it back from you tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold, ten thousandfold." With a flick of his sleeve, he led his men away.
"Grand Master Xukong, shouldn't you be leaving too?" Liu Yuxu said coldly.
"Leave? The competition isn't over yet, why should this humble monk leave?" Grand Master Xukong smiled slightly, raising his right palm to his chest, seemingly casually.
"What, Grand Master, are you not satisfied and want to choose someone else to fight four more rounds?" Yi Tianhan laughed heartily.
"My junior brother Xuci is injured, and the two ninjas have turned against me. Obsessing over victory is meaningless." Grand Master Xukong's expression was serious, but there was a hint of smugness in his eyes. "It's just that this humble monk has come from afar to learn about the martial arts of the Central Plains. If I go back without even having a chance to spar, wouldn't that be a wasted trip?"
"What does Grand Master intend to do?"
"I'll leave after I've learned about the martial arts of the Central Plains."
"Master, do you want to finish this match?"
"Yes, it's said to be best of five, but no one said it would end after one win!" Grand Master Xukong said coldly.
"Hmph! Hahaha." Liu Yuxu laughed loudly, "Grand Master, you've chosen a good time. Knowing that we are poisoned and unable to fight, you still challenge us here alone. Want to learn the martial arts of the Central Plains? Very well, I'll fight you in three days, the location is up to you!"
Grand Master Xukong made a gesture of plucking flowers and smiled, "This humble monk is not taking advantage of our vulnerability, but simply wants to take advantage of the opportunity of the heroes of the Central Plains gathering in Xunfeng City to test my martial arts against the Shaolin monks in front of the heroes of the world."
"Both Central Plains Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism originated from India, sharing the same source and lineage. Buddhist martial arts both derive from Buddhist teachings. The Maitreya sect, in its preaching and expounding, knows it cannot compare to Shaolin. As for martial arts..." Grand Master Xukong focused his eyes, speaking slowly, "Shaolin Temple has enjoyed a renowned reputation for hundreds of years, holding the reins of Central Plains martial arts. The names of the Four Great Monks are renowned even in Tibet. They yearn to spar with us, to determine the superiority of Shaolin's Seventy-Two Arts and my Maitreya sect's Three Great Divine Skills. Although Abbot Xiaoming and Master Xiaochen are poisoned, the 'Dragon-Subduing Arhat' among the Four Great Monks..." "Master Xiaoxuan and Master Xiaokong, the 'Tiger-Taming Arhat,' are still well. Why not have a duel with this humble monk to see which Buddhist martial arts are superior?"
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxuan and Xiaokong both showed reluctance. If it were a pure contest of martial arts skills, the two monks would not hesitate to suffer a crushing defeat or even die. However, Master Xukong kept talking about Buddhist martial arts and who was superior. If they were defeated, wouldn't they admit that Shaolin martial arts were inferior? In that case, not only would Shaolin Temple suffer a crushing defeat, but it would also cause Central Plains martial arts to lose face in front of the barbarians.
"The gathering of eminent monks from India and China at the Tianji Sect to discuss martial arts is truly a grand event in the martial arts world..." Master Xukong, anticipating that Xiaoxuan and Xiaokong were no match for him, and knowing they wouldn't dare fight under such weight, pressed on, "If you two are stingy with your instruction, it means you believe your sect's seventy-two unique skills are no match for the three great divine arts of my Maitreya Sect. That word 'unique' needs to be changed."
His words were sharp and eloquent, skillfully manipulating the situation to put Xiaoxuan and Xiaokong in a difficult position, unable to choose between fighting or not, thus greatly saving face for the Maitreya Sect.
Xiaoxuan and Xiaokong remained silent, feeling as if their hearts were being ripped out, while the other monks also felt utterly humiliated.
Xiaoming said sternly, "Grand Master, your divine skills are extraordinary. My two junior brothers admit they are no match for you. Your sect should simply leave. Why are you still so aggressive, leaving no room for maneuver?"
Grand Master Xukong clasped his hands together and smiled, "This humble monk merely wishes to ask the abbot to grant a promise so that all martial arts practitioners in the world may know. In this humble monk's opinion, since Shaolin Temple is inferior in skill, it might as well disband
. All the eminent monks can go their separate ways, or perhaps join my Maitreya Sect. Wouldn't that be better than living a life of comfort in the Shaolin Temple, which has only a hollow reputation?" These words, not to mention the heroes of the Central Plains, even the usually composed Shaolin monks could not hold back and shouted loudly in rebuke. Only then did Xiaoming realize that Grand Master Xukong actually intended to take this opportunity to destroy Shaolin Temple by himself. Not only would he be remembered for eternity and the Maitreya Sect's prestige rise, but the Central Plains martial arts world would also lose a major stronghold, which would greatly benefit his Tubo Kingdom.
But then the Venerable Master Xukong said loudly, "This humble monk came to the Central Plains alone, intending to witness the grandeur of Shaolin Temple and see just how powerful the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts of this solemn temple, hailed as the pinnacle of martial arts in the Central Plains and the place where 'all martial arts under heaven originate from Shaolin,' truly are. Now it seems… alas, this greatly disappoints this poor monk."
"Venerable Master wishes to learn Shaolin martial arts? This old monk is obliged!" A Buddhist chant suddenly rang out from the end of the square. Hundreds of eyes turned towards the sound, seeing a white-browed old monk wearing a robe stained with mud and almost gray. His eyes, though piercingly bright, possessed a face as smooth as a baby's, fair and rosy, radiating youthful vitality. His bald head shone with a transcendent, divine light, revealing the compassionate face of a highly enlightened monk.
"Master!" the four holy monks exclaimed in unison.

Volume 41, Chapter 16: A Battle to Decide the Fate of the World

. Master? The master of the Four Great Monks!
Isn't that the same Zhi Zhang, the head of the Shaolin Temple's Arhat Hall,
who ranked first among the Ten Great Masters of the Central Plains martial arts world sixty years ago—one monk, two companions, three swordsmen, and four saints, even surpassing Dugu Yu! The younger generation may not be familiar with the martial arts anecdotes of that time, but anyone over forty has heard their elders mention the renown of the Ten Great Masters.
Just think, back then, Dugu Yu, merely one of the Three Swordsmen, after the deaths of Murong Shaozong, Xue Yilong, and Gu Qiu Yiqiu in the battle of Bianliang, and the serious injuries to Zhi Zhang and Situ Ning, held the position of the world's number one master for nearly sixty years, repeatedly saving the Central Plains martial arts world from disaster and rescuing the fallen martial arts world. Now, the Zhi Zhang Zen Master, whose reputation surpasses even his own and who is said to have long since passed away, has actually appeared outside the square and readily accepted the challenge from the Great Master Xu Kong!
Cheers, shouts of encouragement, and applause erupted once more. Despite their throats already parched from the repeated bursts of jubilation, the assembled heroes couldn't help but shout until their voices were hoarse.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Meng Lei, and the newly arrived Long Feiyun and Zhen Gongji Mina exchanged uneasy glances. They had traveled at breakneck speed through the night, barely managing to reach Xunfeng City. The mentally challenged individual had only left a short time earlier, and spent half the day in a daze, yet he had still managed to arrive on time. This speed was simply… no, it should be said that the Shaolin Temple's "Crossing the River on a Reed" technique was simply too fast.
It was already astonishing that the four of them, working together, hadn't harmed the mentally challenged individual even a scratch; now this had happened. The Shaolin martial arts were indeed formidable.
Whether it was the severely injured Ren Xiaoyao, the exhausted Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan, or Meng Fei and Meng Lei, who thought they couldn't handle the Sumeru Qizi Gong, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Facing the unparalleled Heaven-Defying Palm, the Nine Dragon Control Techniques, and Meng-style hidden weapons, they were completely unharmed. His moves were so fast that even the Silver Wing Iron Palm couldn't dodge them. Now that he had appeared, there was no room for the arrogant shouts of the Grand Master Xu Kong. The
mentally challenged man strode forward, his expression solemn and serious. His tattered and dirty robes fluttered in the wind, showing no sign of dishevelment or slovenliness, but rather an air of dignified grandeur.
At this moment, the sun had set, and a bright moon rose from the horizon. The bright moonlight and the thousands of torches held by the Heavenly Extreme Sect masters illuminated the entire square as if it were daytime.
Grand Master Xukong was also astonished. He was extremely ambitious. After succeeding as the leader of the Maitreya Sect, he not only wanted to annex the Dali martial arts world that his master, Kumokong, had coveted for many years, but also set his sights on the Asura Sect and the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. That is why he took the opportunity of "saving" the Ghost Underworld God to kill a total of twenty-six masters of the Asura Sect.
As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." He had also conducted a thorough investigation of his most powerful enemy, the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Besides the eight once-renowned masters and the newly risen Four Heroes of the Martial Arts World, he knew the situation of all the various sects and factions in the Central Plains Martial Arts World. In particular, he had thoroughly investigated the appearances and ages of the Four Great Monks and other masters in Shaolin Temple, aiming to bring them down in one fell swoop. He had also figured out their temperaments, habits, and martial arts skills to a great extent. How could he not know that the mentally challenged monk was the master of the Four Great Monks, a once-renowned master who had mastered the Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Skill sixty years ago, his cultivation undoubtedly surpassing his own?
Before even reaching the center of the square, the Four Great Monks, supported by their disciples, had already come to greet him. There were over a hundred Shaolin monks present, and the entire square was filled with shouts of "Master," "Grandmaster," and "Great-Grandmaster."
Xiaoming eagerly said, "News just came that the temple..."
"Yes, there was an inside agent among the disciples left to guard Shaolin Temple. Juesha and the Asura Cult launched a surprise attack under cover of night. Fortunately, Zhijing, Zhixing, Zhixu, and you retired fellow disciples were all in the Sutra Repository, so we managed to protect Shaolin Temple." Zhizhang chanted Buddhist prayers, speaking briefly. His reply was delivered in a chanting style, neither chanting nor singing, with an indescribable flavor, yet exceptionally melodious, unforgettable upon first listen. As the lingering sound faded, he flashed and appeared before Grand Master Xukong.
"All phenomena are like dreams, originally without cause. Dreams are inherently still, not now empty. Dreams are created and experienced, what harm or benefit? Delusion is extinguished when emotions are forgotten." The mentally challenged monk clasped his hands together, his aged eyes flashing with a sharp light as he fixed his gaze on his opponent. "Master, you are the Dharma King who protects the nation of Tibet, possessing great wisdom and being well-versed in Buddhism. Every five years, you hold a sermon in Lhasa, where eminent monks from all over the Western Regions and India gather to listen to the Buddha's teachings, ask questions, and discuss the scriptures. After hearing the Dharma, everyone is filled with joy and praise. Why are you so fixated on this for a year, insisting on competing with Shaolin in martial arts? Are you not worthy of the title 'eminent monk'?"
Master Xukong smiled and clasped his hands together, saying, "Martial arts and Buddhism are originally one. Of your temple's seventy-two unique skills, more than ten were brought from India by Bodhidharma, and the rest were derived from Buddhism by Bodhidharma or eminent monks throughout history. Today, heroes from all over the world have gathered in Xunfeng City, which is a perfect reflection of..." "Let's settle this with a martial arts contest, a comparison of the strengths of Shaolin Temple and my Maitreya Sect. As for Buddhism... hahaha, if there's an opportunity in the future, this humble monk will certainly go to Shaoshi Mountain to seek your guidance."
Zhi Zhang said calmly, "I have long admired the Great Master's wisdom and profound understanding, but I did not expect that you would be so attached to the thought of victory and defeat.
Isn't this a sign of being unable to see through things, unable to let go, and falling into the 'anger' of the five poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt?" The Great Master Xu Kong was originally quite wary of Zhi Zhang, but seeing him only pleading and seemingly unwilling to fight, he guessed that the other party was old and, although his internal strength was superb, he could not last long. His slight fear immediately disappeared, and he said loudly, "Master, you possess great wisdom and great supernatural powers, which are beyond the reach of this humble monk.
Let's settle this with martial arts." Zhi Zhang said in a deep voice, "Great Master, do you really want to fight? Most of the heroes of the Central Plains have gathered here. If I am defeated, my lifelong reputation will be completely destroyed."
“A monk does not lie. If I say I want to experience the Shaolin martial arts, then I must give it a try.”
“Since the Grand Master is so resolute, it seems you won’t give up until I show you my skills.” Zhi Zhang, with a solemn expression, clasped his hands together and proclaimed, “The three realms are only mind, all phenomena are only consciousness; do not seek anything else, everything is created by the mind; there is no Dharma outside the mind, everything is complete within the vastness of the universe. Shaolin Temple and the Maitreya Sect belong to the same lineage of Buddhism, why fight to the death?”
Seeing Zhi Zhang’s continued retreat, Grand Master Xu Kong became even more convinced that he was too old for a fight, and laughed loudly, “The Buddha cut off his own flesh to feed the eagle, and Mahasattva fed his body to the tiger—both are examples of…” "To uphold the Dharma, today this humble monk and the master will use Buddhist teachings to practice martial arts, to test our strengths and weaknesses, and to display the profound essence of Buddhist martial arts before all the heroes of the world. What does it matter if we sacrifice our lives?"
The mentally challenged man lowered his eyes and slowly said, "Since the Grand Master is willing to die to uphold the Dharma, he must also experience the Shaolin martial arts..." His tone suddenly rose, and his aged eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light, as cold as a knife. "Very well, this old monk will let you witness the power of the Seventy-Two Arts from beginning to end!" After speaking, he stepped forward, and his tattered monk's robe instantly bulged.
At this moment, the aged mentally challenged man seemed to suddenly merge into the star-studded night sky, vast and boundless, with infinite magical power, every place a potential weakness, yet none of them a weakness to exploit.
"I possess the true Dharma eye, the Nirvana Dharma gate, the true formless form, the subtle Dharma gate, not established in words, a special transmission outside the teachings. I entrust it to Mahakasyapa." As the chanting continued, the mentally challenged man gently placed his right thumb and forefinger together, as if holding a flower, a smile on his face. His eyes, brimming with wisdom beyond worldly understanding, seemed to see through every intention of the Great Master Xukong, leaving nothing unseen or overlooked. The Great Master Xukong was already startled when he heard him say he would display all seventy-two Shaolin skills. Some of the seventy-two Shaolin skills specialized in lower body techniques, some in lightness skills, some in fists and palms, some in hidden weapons, whether sword or staff, each with its own strengths. A swordsman cannot wield a staff, and a master of mighty fists cannot control hidden weapons. Even if someone is proficient in five or six skills, it is limited to the point that they do not conflict with each other.
As far as he knew, Abbot Xiaoming was proficient in five unique skills: Dorothea Finger, Formless Finger, One-Finger Zen, Canhe Finger, and Great Wisdom Finger, all of which were finger techniques. Xiaoxuan, the head of the Bodhidharma Hall, was skilled in Tiger-Taming Fist, Arhat Fist, Tiger-Taming Arhat Fist, Sleeve Universe, and Great Vajra Fist, all of which were fist techniques. Xiaochen, who had learned the most unique skills besides Bodhidharma, was only proficient in thirteen other unique skills: Great Vajra Palm, Dragon Claw Hand, Flower-Picking Finger, Crossing the River on a Reed, Great Compassion Thousand-Leaf Hand, Nirvana Claw, Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill, Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Skill, Vajra Lion's Roar, Yi Jin Jing, Shadow-Following Leg, Nirvana Claw, and Indra Claw. Moreover, these were internal energy, lightness skills, and non-contradictory martial arts such as palm, fist, finger, and foot techniques. To say that the mentally challenged man was proficient in all seventy-two unique skills, including knives, sticks, palms, fists, whips, swords, fingers, formations, and internal energy, was simply self-deception.
Putting aside the conflict, among the seventy-two Shaolin arts, thirteen or fourteen are exceptionally difficult to master. Even with extraordinary talent and profound Buddhist knowledge, a lifetime of arduous practice in just one style might not be enough to master it. As far as he knew, Shaolin Temple currently had over two thousand monks and over ten thousand lay disciples; even combining them, the seventy-two arts wouldn't be complete. Although Zhi Zhang was over a hundred years old, it was impossible for him to have mastered all seventy-two profound and complex skills.
In his moment of astonishment, a change occurred. In the brief moment of Zhi
Zhang's distraction, he suddenly raised the Yi Jin Jing to its peak! Realizing that the initiative had been lost, a fear that he couldn't explain welled up in Master Xu Kong's heart. This was an emotion he had never felt before facing an opponent, like a mountaineer suddenly facing a precipitous peak, or a boatman struggling in a dark, raging sea far from the shore.
He suddenly realized that the mentally challenged man wasn't old or physically weak, but rather acting deliberately. He had used words to make him underestimate his opponent, tricking him into saying, "What harm is there in sacrificing my life?" Then... he would use his nearly 100-year-old, frail body to fight him to the death! As the saying goes, "One man fighting to the death is worth ten thousand men." The mentally challenged man had already prepared to fight to the death before the battle even began. How could he,
who only wanted to humiliate Shaolin and still had unfulfilled ambitions, possibly resist him?
Grand Master Xukong felt a tightness in his chest, almost vomiting blood, overwhelmed by an insurmountable sense of powerlessness. However, things had come to this point, and he had no choice but to fight head-on. Grand Master Xukong took a step back, activating the secret mental technique of the Maitreya Sect. The ground beneath his feet extended in all directions, reaching the ends of the earth, merging heaven and earth into one, and he himself became the core of the universe. Heaven, earth, and man became indistinguishable. The mentally challenged person before them immediately reverted to a "real object," still without any gaps to be found, but no longer ungraspable or intangible. The Buddhism practiced by the Maitreya sect is Tantric Buddhism. Their own interpretation of doctrine is considered the most esoteric, while they despise other Mahayana schools as superficial. They believe that the Vajradhatu and Garbhadhatu teachings spoken by the Dharmakaya Buddha Vairocana represent the Buddha's inner realization, profound and mysterious, hence the name "Tantric." Furthermore, they cannot reveal their teachings to those who have not received initiation, hence the name "Tantric." Tantric Buddhism has a so-called "One Deity Offering Method," which is a ritual of reciting and offering. Secondly, based on the customs of treating distinguished guests in India, it is divided into three parts: the initial offering (eighteen mudras), yoga, and the final offering. The eighteen paths refer to the practice established by the eighteen mudras, which is the initial offering. "Path" means mandala; eighteen refers to the number of the nine assemblies of the Vajradhatu and the nine deities of the Garbhadhatu. If combined, they form one great mandala; if listed separately, they form eighteen great mandalas, hence the name "Eighteen Paths." The secret mental method of the Maitreya sect, along with the Sumeru Qizi Gong and the Mahayana Wheel Dharma, is known as one of the three great esoteric arts. It is also called the "Eighteen Mudras," which, as the name suggests, consists of eighteen levels, corresponding to the eighteen emptinesses of Prajna. Master Xukong dared not be negligent and immediately used the seventeenth level. He joined his palms together, crossed his two middle fingers, and interlaced his two index fingers like a jewel. He chanted the mantra "Namo Samanta Buddhanam O O Naso Mang Mang Mang Sa Fuha (I take refuge in all Buddhas, the vast emptiness, and the incomparable accomplishments)." His mind was highly concentrated, and the true qi in his body, which was extremely active and then still, and extremely still and then active, condensed at the tips of his palms and attacked Zhizhang directly. Faced with the Zen sect's unconventional method of attacking movement with stillness, he had no choice but to use his trump card. Even with his intellectual disability, he couldn't help but be slightly startled. He flicked his middle finger three times with utmost gentleness, as if to flick away the dewdrops from the flower on his right hand, yet afraid of shaking off the petals. His face remained kind and smiling throughout. His timing possessed a mysterious quality that was as long-lasting as heaven and earth, and as spiritually responsive as that of a saint. He chanted, "The eighteen realms of Tantric Buddhism wish to show the virtues of the Tathagata, but in this old monk's eyes, they are the five Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas of the Vajradhatu Mandala and the nine deities of the eight-petaled central platform of the Garbhadhatu Mandala." The true energy of the Yi Jing Jin suddenly erupted, and Master Xukong could see nothing else but the two fingers of the intellectual disability that seemed to be holding the flower expanded infinitely before his eyes. "Snap!" "Snap!" Two sounds rang out as his shoulder was struck by the force of the fingers. He remained unharmed despite being protected by the Sumeru Qizi Skill, but after a brief exchange, the opponent easily struck his toes, revealing the essence of the mentally challenged martial arts. Startled, he realized he had no choice but to attack; otherwise, he would lose in less than three moves. His arrogance and underestimation of his opponent had caused him to lose the initiative, and his mind had been subdued by the opponent's Zen power. Master Xukong changed his move mid-air, chanting "Om Amogha Pramani Padna Maha Bhuri Tathagata Viru Jiti Samanta Prasala Hum (Homage to the Amoghasiddhi, Offering Jewel Lotus Vajra Tathagata, Supreme Vision, Universal Expansion, and Completion)," his hands joined in Vajra mudras, pushing his momentum to its peak. His index fingers touched like jewels, thumbs together, and he streaked across the space facing the mentally challenged opponent like a meteor, swiftly striking the center of his chest. The eighteenth mudra—it was actually the eighteenth mudra! Any other ordinary person would have been injured by the fierce palm wind unleashed by Master Xukong before the palm even touched their body. However, the mentally challenged man remained completely still. His tattered monk's robe, which had been fluttering with the true qi of the Yi Jing Jin, became still, without even the hem fluttering. Suddenly, his lowered eyelids lifted, revealing a pair of deep and unfathomable eyes filled with the wisdom and light of a philosopher and sage. Then, his monk's robe sank down and clung tightly to his body. His withered hands grasped at the air, and a fierce wind arose, emitting two powerful, swirling energies that instantly neutralized the opponent's vicious and ruthless palm wind. When his palm was pushed to its limit, his thumb suddenly bent outward, while the other fingers straightened and pressed together. His body swayed back and forth and side to side like a wooden pillar, and his thumb pressed precisely on the tip of Master Xukong's attacking palm. "Dragon Claw Hand!" "Buddha's Finger!" "Wei Tuo's Pestle!" "Great Compassion Thousand-Leaf Palm!" The four holy monks exclaimed in unison, each calling out a different technique, as if each had recognized a unique skill used by the idiot. In other words, he had combined four... no, five of the seventy-two Shaolin arts in a single move!

Besides the "Embracing the Remnants" from the Dragon Claw Hand, the "Abundant Rain" from the Indian Buddha Finger, the "Heavenly Horse Galloping Across the Sky" from the Weituo Pestle, and the "Worshiping Buddha at Mount Ling" from the Great Compassion Thousand-Leaf Palm, Ren Xiaoyao also discerned something else: A Universe
Within a Sleeve!
The little-known "Universe Within a Sleeve" among the Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills!
A single move, yet it incorporated martial arts masterpieces; Zhizhang's cultivation was truly unprecedented, unparalleled throughout history.
Ren Xiaoyao was astonished, feeling that every movement of Zhizhang was slow and deliberate, clearly visible, the exact opposite of the lightning-fast speed of the Great Master Xukong. Yet this "slowness" precisely countered the opponent's "speed," indicating that his slow movements were merely an illusion of speed.
Even with his sixth sense, he couldn't see through this illusion.
Buddhist profound skills, indeed astonishing. The Venerable Master Xukong, standing in the center, was even more horrified. The Eighteenth Seal he wielded was the supreme divine skill of the Maitreya Sect, complementing the Sumeru Qizi Skill in both offense and defense. At first glance, it appeared to be a powerful, aggressive move, its strength lying in its sheer force—a highly concentrated and rapid palm strike, using strength against strength. Its true mystery lay in its unpredictable and wondrous nature, impossible to fathom. However, the Venerable Master Xukong's ingenious move, a fusion of the five great Shaolin skills, had reached a level of unfathomable mystery and effortless mastery. The palm strike landed squarely on him, leaving him completely helpless.
The Eighteenth Seal, the Universal Offering Seal, which should have been invincible, was like striking a wall of fine steel, barely trembling, like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Venerable Master Xukong let out a muffled groan; his all-out attack, delivered with all his might, vanished by the setting sun.
Almost simultaneously, the incomparably powerful Yi
Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) flashed through his fingertips and invaded his meridians. Master Xukong was alarmed and hastily used the Sumeru Qizi Gong (Sumeru Qizi Skill) to resist. Unexpectedly, the mentally challenged man launched a full-scale counterattack. His right hand moved horizontally from left to right, and his left hand moved vertically from bottom to top, slashing and drawing a swastika in the air. His true energy surged and was incomparably fierce. He slashed from the right, chopped downwards, blocked from the left, and flicked upwards. The four moves were drawn in a square. It seemed simple, but in fact, it connected the "Subduing Tiger and Dragon" from the Arhat Subduing Tiger Fist, the "Embracing the Moon" from the Vajra Prajna Palm, the "Heavenly King's Original Life" from the One-Finger Zen, and the "Boundless Path" from the Burning Wood Knife Technique with the swastika from the Pure World Tathagata Mantra. It sealed the opponent's central palace. If it hit the center, no matter how powerful his Sumeru Qizi Gong was, it would be broken by the five consecutive impacts of the Yi Jin Jing.
Master Xukong sensed something was wrong and hurriedly activated the Sixteenth Eka Mudra. He joined his hands together, bending his index and ring fingers and inserting them into his palms, the backs of his fingers touching. He stepped forward, then spun around, the resulting burst of energy perfectly counteracting the pressure of the Yi Jin Jing. The Mudra's tip struck precisely the center of the swastika drawn on Xukong's chest. The energy clashed, yet there was not a sound.
Everyone's heart leaped into their throats. The mentally challenged man's body trembled, a look of confusion suddenly appearing in his eyes. Ren Xiaoyao cried out in alarm, thinking he was about to have another episode, but the man abruptly closed his eyes, his back trembling violently, his lips twitching taut. When he opened them again
, a sharp light flashed within him as he murmured, "Dry as a well, full as a vast ocean; the Three Realms and Six Paths, all arise from the mind." In that instant, in the blink of an eye, the Grand Master Xukong pierced his void swastika, like pouring spring water into a well that had been dry for countless years. But as the man murmured, the dry well suddenly transformed into a raging, turbulent ocean, surging towards him like a collapsing dam.
"Boom!
" The Sumeru Qizi was instantly shattered. The Grand Master Xukong cried out in agony, the broken kite staggering backward, flying straight back more than ten feet. Upon landing, it didn't stop, but instead stumbled back more than ten steps.
"Shaolin's ultimate skills, I admire... I admire them! This humble monk takes his leave." Grand Master Xukong, his face flushed, spat out a mouthful of blood, and without wiping it away, turned and left.
The dozens of members of the Maitreya Sect vanished in an instant, and only then did the heroes of the Central Plains come to their senses, cheering with joy.
They had won! Shaolin had won! The prestige of this ancient temple, the holy land of Buddhist martial arts, had not been taken away by the Maitreya Sect!
"Master—" The four great monks were overjoyed and rushed forward together.
Before they could even approach, Zhizhang suddenly swayed, moving like a withered bamboo in the wind. His eyes, which had been shining brightly just moments before, suddenly turned gray, and blood gushed from the corner of his mouth, dripping all over his body before he collapsed to the ground.

Volume 41, Chapter 17: One Wave After Another

"Master!" Although Ren Xiaoyao was seriously injured, he somehow found the strength to rush forward and catch Zhizhang before he fell.
"Cough cough... Ren..." The mentally challenged man coughed repeatedly, the blood flowing uncontrollably, instantly staining his robes red.
"Master, what's wrong!?" The four great monks rushed over, and Xiaoxuan and Xiaokong frantically tried to stop the bleeding with acupressure, but after a long time, not a drop came out. Xiaochen
turned his head and said urgently, "Hero Yi, Hero Meng, please trouble you two..."
"No need... cough cough." The mentally challenged man's breathing was heavy, his chest heaving rapidly, "I foresee... a great calamity in the martial world... I rushed here from Jiangling overnight, without food or drink, without... cough cough, without sleep... I'm almost exhausted, and the battle with Xukong just now exhausted... cough cough, exhausted all my strength..." He ran on his own two legs, only a few hours slower than Ren Xiaoyao, Yi Tianhan, and others riding their fine steeds. The loss of his spirit, internal energy, and physical strength was unimaginable. Let alone him, who was over a hundred years old and nearing death, even Ren Xiaoyao, who was in his prime, couldn't have lasted this long.
“Master, hold on!”
“Your internal strength is profound, you’ll be alright.”
“Huihai, bring the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, quick!” Xiaochen shouted.
“No…no need!” It was Dugu Yu who spoke. He pressed his hand against the mentally challenged man’s wrist, his eyes lowered in a miserable way, “Master’s internal organs are all damaged. Just now, he was only able to fight against Master Xukong with the help of a final burst of energy…even if Hua Tuo were reincarnated or Bian Que were reborn…” He choked up and couldn’t finish his sentence.
The mentally challenged man’s eyelids trembled, and he finally opened his eyes. When he saw it was him, his body trembled slightly, and a smile escaped from the corner of his mouth. He said in a hoarse voice, “Dugu…cough cough…more than sixty years have passed since we parted in Bianliang. You and I…cough cough, we can actually meet again…this old monk is…cough cough…I can’t go on. I entrust the Central Plains martial arts world to you and…” He turned his head with difficulty and looked at Ren Xiaoyao, “and this kid…Wah!” He opened his mouth and spat out a large pool of blood.
"Rest assured, Master, I will not fail you!" Ren Xiaoyao sobbed, tears welling in his eyes.
Others might not know, but he saw it clearly: in the final battle between Zhizhang and Xukong, when Zhizhang broke Xukong's sixteenth Ega seal with the swastika knot, a look of confusion flashed in his eyes—a sign of his illness. Even when ill, Zhizhang's cultivation wouldn't weaken; he could still win. The slightest chance of a change was for Grand Master Xukong to seize the moment when Zhizhang's mind briefly paused during his illness and launch a full-scale counterattack, deciding the outcome in one move. But such a possibility was extremely slim. Even if Grand Master Xukong knew about Zhizhang's condition, it would be impossible to accurately seize the opportunity without a sixth sense. The chance of success by rashly launching an attack was less than ten percent.
To eliminate even the slightest possibility of death, the mentally challenged man severed his own meridians, using excruciating pain to maintain his sanity and shatter the Sumeru Qizi Gong, frightening away the Grand Master Xukong.
In doing so, the mentally challenged man suffered internal burns and severed meridians, bringing his century of cultivation to an end. With his mastery of the Yi Jin Jing, as long as his meridians remained intact, he could still circulate his energy and survive; moreover, with Dugu Yu, Ren Xiaoyao, and Xiaochen present, each providing powerful internal energy and supplemented with medicine, a full recovery was not impossible. However, for the greater good of the martial world, for the peace of the Jianghu, he resolutely chose death!
His noble sacrifice and unwavering resolve were even greater than Long Yinxiao's or Zhen Gongsi Long Xuan's.
Because the mentally challenged man sacrificed not only himself, but also the entire Shaolin Temple.
Of the seventy-two Shaolin arts, only he had mastered them throughout history. If Xiaochen and Xiaoming were to reveal even a few secrets, the entire Shaolin Temple would benefit immensely. Yet, he had no selfish motives, only for the sake of the martial world, sacrificing his life to repel a formidable enemy, upholding Shaolin's century-old reputation, and preserving the prestige of the Central Plains martial arts world.
The mentally challenged man reached out and grasped Ren Xiaoyao's wrist, speaking haltingly, "Good...good, with you inheriting the Central Plains martial arts world, this old monk has no regrets in life...I die without regret. Feng Renqiu...Zhao Kuangyin...Ren Qiaocui...Ren Xiaoyao...New talents emerge in every generation, a new generation replaces...replaces...old people...Life in this world is full of troubles and suffering, liberation is...is..." A peaceful smile appeared on his face, and as he uttered the word "joy," he slowly closed his eyes.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Ren Xiaoyao sniffled and burst into tears. The four great monks and Shaolin disciples, needless to say, were deeply moved, and the assembled masters, including Dugu Yu, Yi Tianhan, and Fu Longyuan, all bowed in reverence for his character.
Inside
the Taiji Hall, Ren Xiaoyao sat cross-legged, his palms joined vertically, slightly hollow, like lotus blossoms in front of his abdomen. His innate supreme qi activated, causing his clothes to billow, his true energy to circulate, his skin to glow red, and wisps of white steam to constantly rise from the top of his head, like a steamer.
Beside him stood Dugu Yu, Liu Yuxu, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Meng Lei, Nangong Bubai, Xiong Lei, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhi Qiu, their faces solemn and deeply moved.
Ren Xiaoyao, severely injured, was immediately sent back here, and Long Feiyun handled the affairs at the venue.
Meng Lei and Nangong Bubai, one concerned for his nephew and the other worried about his son-in-law, naturally followed. On the way, Ren Xiaoyao overheard them calling him "brother-in-law" and "brother-in-law."
Ren Xiaoyao was well-versed in the affairs of the martial world. Although he couldn't know everything as meticulously as Long Feiyun, he certainly knew the important fact that Nangong Bubai's brother-in-law was Meng Lei, the lord of Meng Family Fortress. Considering that Meng Lei had been hiding his identity and staying by his side for the past three years, offering help several times without revealing his true identity, he couldn't help but suspect the hidden motives.
At first, Meng Lei tried to deny it, saying he was acting on Nangong Bubai's behalf. Ren Xiaoyao, being as clever as he was, immediately saw through the deception and pressed him for answers. Meng Lei and Nangong Bubai remained silent, as did Meng Fei, who stood by.
Yi Tianhan, with his impatient nature, couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "What are you all afraid of? You kept it a secret before because you were afraid Xiaoyao wouldn't be able to take revenge, but now... Hmph, not only are the 100,000 troops of the Tianji Sect completely obedient, but Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, and the Tang Clan of Sichuan all deeply admire Xiaoyao. Destroying the Shura Sect is not only for personal revenge but also to rid the martial world of a great scourge; who wouldn't wholeheartedly support him? Besides, there's the Japanese ninja world too. Kato Taka, Minami Yoshiya, Ishida Akira, and the other eleven Kage, along with the captains of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions—aren't they all top-tier experts? There's nothing good about it." "We can keep it a secret forever. Tell Xiaoyao everything about his past. The Asura Cult? The Absolute Killer? Heh, they might have been difficult to deal with before, but now... not to mention them, even if we add the Tibetan Maitreya Cult, the Western Xia Falun Society, and the Goryeo Ghost Sorrow Palace, we'll wipe out all these evil forces!"
Once these words were spoken, Meng Fei and Meng Lei had no choice but to speak. Thus, after being kept in the dark for over twenty years, Ren Xiaoyao finally learned about his past, discovering that Ren Qiaocui, who had carved the Lingxiao Sword Manual on the stone wall at the bottom of Yunwu Valley and whose dying words still longed for his wife, was actually his biological father!
Father and son, blood of the same blood, shared the same lineage. That's why he was able to initially master the Lingxiao technique in such a short time, and then gradually comprehend each move until he was almost at its peak. That's why Yi Tianhan and Dugu Yu were so flustered when they first met him, almost mistaking him for someone else. That's why Long Yinxiao didn't hesitate to pass on the position of sect leader before his death…
His current status, from a naive and inexperienced young man to the leader of the Tianji Sect, the Grand Master of the Martial World, the Master of the Beichen Yidao-ryu School, and the Regent of Fusang… wielding the power of life and death over a sect, a region, and even a country, and receiving countless honors throughout his life, was all thanks to his father in the afterlife!
Ren Xiaoyao sighed with endless sorrow, but he didn't cry! Not even a little!
Why? A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken. Why didn't he cry?
Because he has grown up and matured. He is no longer the frivolous, impatient, and easily angered youth he once was, but a dragon among men, possessing wisdom, strategy, courage, and boldness!
There was no gritted teeth, no outburst of rage, not even a glare or a furrowed brow.
Ren Xiaoyao's expression was as still as water, as if nothing had happened.
Nangong Bubai was stunned, Meng Lei was stunned, and Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan, who had come with him, were also stunned. Only Meng Fei, who had raised Ren Xiaoyao and watched him grow, knew…
Ren Xiaoyao had deeply etched his hatred and resentment into his heart.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't say much, but went straight to the foot of the steps, sat cross-legged, and began to heal his injuries.
The calmer he was, the more panicked everyone became. Soon, Dugu Yu, Liu Yuxu, Xiong Lei, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhi Qiu arrived, and upon hearing Fu Longyuan's explanation, immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, instead eagerly channeling his inner energy to heal his injuries. What did this mean?!
He needed to regain his strength; he needed revenge!
Soon after, Tang Yunhe arrived, Lin Feifan arrived, and all the leaders of the four great families and five major sword sects arrived together.
Fortunately, the Taiji Hall was designed to resemble an imperial palace—it was enormous, and dozens of people standing there didn't feel crowded at all.
Dugu Yu remained silent, Liu Yuxu remained silent, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Meng Lei remained silent—who else dared to speak?
Although everyone had countless questions in their hearts, no one dared to utter a word.
The hatred for killing his father and mother was irreconcilable; did Ren Xiaoyao have time to care about anything else now?
In less than half an hour, Ren Xiaoyao stood up. All the wounds covering his body had healed completely. He felt no fatigue or weakness, his entire body radiating a state of blissful innocence, as if in the primordial chaos of creation, a state he found incredibly pleasurable. While his power hadn't fully recovered, it was at least 70-80% of his normal level.
He glanced around and saw a dense crowd of sect leaders, guild leaders, and clan heads standing nearby. Apart from the Shaolin Temple members, almost all the major figures of the Central Plains martial arts world were present.
"Everyone..." Ren Xiaoyao said calmly, still without anger, "It's getting late. Please go back and rest. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."
Everyone was taken aback by his calm tone.
"Xiaoyao, you...you don't want to seek revenge against the Asura Sect anymore?" Meng Fei exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yes, of course I want to! Ghost Netherworld Lord, Hentian... these culprits who drove my parents to their deaths, I wish I could devour their flesh, drink their blood, skin them alive, tear them apart, and slice them to pieces." Ren Xiaoyao's eyelids were lowered, his teeth grinding together, clearly suppressing his anger. "If I weren't the leader of a sect, I would have already gone to fight Ghost Netherworld Lord to the death. But my father-in-law entrusted the Heavenly Extreme Sect to me before his death, asking me to maintain the sect's great cause and preserve its current prosperity. The Emperor bestowed upon me..." "The Champion Marquis, overseeing military affairs in the six prefectures of Guandong, is tasked with guarding the borders and ensuring the stability of the nation. My journey to Fusang lasted three years. Xiaoyao crossed the ocean, neglecting his duties and nearly committing a grave error. How can I again recklessly wage war for personal gain… A gentleman's revenge is never too late. One day, when the world is at peace and the martial world is tranquil, Xiaoyao will relinquish his golden seal, resign from his position as leader, and travel beyond the borders to seek revenge against the Ghostly Underworld Lord."
These words were reasonable and moving, and everyone present was deeply touched.
"Then…then why are you in such a hurry to heal your wounds…"
"Although this battle has thwarted the Asura Sect and the Maitreya Sect, some deadly enemies remain. The grand plan to pacify the martial world is a long and arduous task, and we cannot afford to slacken our efforts for even a moment." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining brightly. "Tomorrow, I will go to the Qilin Hall Square in full armor to inspect the Dragon Soaring and Tiger Wing armies and personally lead my followers in practicing battle formations. In this way, I will declare to the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty, the Western Xia Dynasty, the Tubo Dynasty... and to the entire world: Ren Xiaoyao has returned! The Heavenly Mystery Sect's 100,000-strong army is ready for battle. Whether you want to invade the Song Dynasty or overthrow the martial world, you must first get past me!"
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
The next morning, Ren Xiaoyao got up very early.
The restorative power of his innate supreme qi was indeed astonishing. After a night of rest, his fatigue was gone, and he was full of energy.
Long Feiyun and Zhen Gongji Mina helped him dress, fully adorned, during which time a rather erotic scene unfolded.
—With the powerful enemy retreated and grudges temporarily set aside, how could one call oneself a romantic thief if not to take the opportunity for some tenderness?
Ren Xiaoyao embraced each of the two women, giving them long, passionate kisses. Just as he was about to leave, a loud "bang" was heard as the door was kicked open.
Qin Huaiyu rushed in, her face filled with panic, shouting, "Master, it's terrible! Hentian has come to the headquarters! Last night, Tang Clan's Grand Protector Tang Tianying was… he killed him!!!"

Volume 41, Chapter 19: The Eye of Insight

, Qinglong Hall, Hanzhang Palace.
In the fifth room from the right, lay a cold corpse.
He was described as a corpse, but he looked more like a sleeping person, because there were no wounds or bloodstains on his body, and even his clothes were perfectly intact, showing no signs of a struggle. If it weren't for the eight large characters carved on a wooden pillar, "Those who betray us will be killed, they deserve to die," and the faint red mark on his body—yes, just one mark, only one mark, and that one mark took his life—no one would believe that Tang Tianying, the chief protector of the Tang Clan, who had been so imposing and fiercely rebuked the Shura Cult for its despicable and shameless methods, was now dead.
"So fast, so fast a sword." Dugu Yu, Liu Yuxu, Fu Longyuan, and Ren Xiaoyao, the four greatest sword masters of the era, exclaimed in unison.
"They say that blood is fatal, but this sword only pierced the skin, and before a drop of blood could be spurted, the protector was already dead. It's really... really..." Fu Longyuan didn't finish his sentence, only shaking his head, but the meaning was clear: if he were to wield this sword, he would never have been able to make that thrust.
Ren Xiaoyao sighed softly and said in a deep voice, "Who was the first to discover the body?"
"It was me..." A choked sob escaped her lips as a red figure emerged. It was none other than Yin Shuangshuang, wife of Tang Yunhe, and niece of Yin Chongke, the Prefect of Shaozhou and Marquis of Zhennan.
"Uncle Tian is quite old, and yesterday he was poisoned by the Su Tu Bone-Dissolving Powder. I was worried that his body couldn't handle it, so I personally brewed some ginseng and chicken soup and brought it over. I called him for a long time but didn't hear a reply. When I pushed open the door, I saw... I saw Uncle Tian... Uncle Tian... Waaah!" Yin Shuangshuang burst into tears as she spoke, completely lacking the composure expected of a sect leader's wife. Tang Tianying had arranged her marriage with Tang Yunhe, and as his elder and matchmaker, she had always treated him with the respect due to an uncle. She never imagined that today would be their final farewell.
Tang Yunhe supported his beloved wife, wanting to say a few words of comfort but unable to utter a single sentence. He was able to quell the rebellion of the Four Protectors in a matter of months, wipe out all the branches established by Juesha in the southwest, and complete the reorganization of the clan system, the redefinition of the rules and regulations, and the comprehensive training of successors in just a few years. This enabled the Tang Clan of Sichuan, which was in turmoil and fraught with danger, to dominate the region and regain its former glory before the Battle of Broken Soul Cliff (in which Tang Jue lost to Meng Lei, relinquishing his title as the world's number one hidden weapon master, and the Tang Clan's power declined from then on). Tang Tianying contributed the most, and it can even be said that without Tang Tianying's help, he would not have the prestige and momentum he has today, which is comparable to that of martial arts masters such as Nangong Bubai, Xiong Xiaotian, and Ye Zhi Qiu . With Tang Tianying's death, he lost a great ally, which could never be made up for.
"My poor nephew Dingnan has already died tragically at the hands of Juesha, and now Brother Tian has..." Tang Li'ang, Tang Xiaozhong, Tang Wanruo, and others had tears in their eyes and gritted their teeth.
Yi Tianhan pondered, "The inscription on the pillar has no signature. How can we be sure that Hentian killed Protector Tang?"
Fu Longyuan chimed in, "Indeed, the Protector was poisoned by the Bone-Dissolving Powder, losing all his martial arts. Hentian didn't even need to come in person; any one of the five assassins could kill him." With Ghostly Lord leading his men back to the Western Regions, the Absolute Assassins were now their only enemy. Although the four of them and Ren Xiaoyao's return to the Central Plains Martial Alliance greatly increased their influence, and they no longer needed to fear this mysterious assassin organization, Hentian's intimidating power over the Central Plains heroes was indescribable. If the heroes heard that he had infiltrated Xunfeng City to commit murder, anyone could become a target, and chaos would be inevitable.
Tang Yunhe choked out, "Every member of the Tang Clan, from the Six Pavilions Elders upwards, is equipped with the Rain of Pear Blossom Nails..."
"Rain of Pear Blossom Nails!?" Yi Tianhan was startled, then exclaimed in surprise, "But those Rain of Pear Blossom Nails, with their rapid and powerful strikes, arguably the best in the world, guaranteed to draw blood with every shot?"
"Yes, the box of the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Nails is engraved with sixteen large characters: 'Where it goes, blood will be shed; where it returns empty-handed, misfortune will follow; the most urgent of all; the king of hidden weapons.' Its exquisite craftsmanship, powerful momentum, and swift speed are unparalleled in the world." Deng Lei spoke. "Compared to this, several famous hidden weapons in the martial arts world are at least 20% slower. To use an insider's saying, 'A hidden weapon can decide victory or injure someone, taking their life in an instant.' The Rainstorm Pear Blossom Nails embody these sixteen characters perfectly." "Besides my Heavenly Immortal Sword Rain, Meteor from Beyond the Heavens, and Brother Yunhe's personally executed Rain of Flowers and Silver Blade Shooting the Moon, there is no hidden weapon in the world more powerful than it. And in this small space, once the mechanism is activated, I'm afraid even Second Brother and Master Xiaochen, except for Xiaoyao, won't be able to escape."
Liu Yuxu was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, and asked in surprise, "Does the Fortress Master mean that Protector Tang didn't even have time to remove the Rain of Pear Blossom Nails before..." Looking at Yin Shuangshuang, seeing her nod with tears in her eyes, he knew there was no need to ask any further questions.
"Hero Yi and Hero Fu may not know," Tang Yunhe said in a hoarse voice, his eyes red, "Uncle Tian was once one of the five great assassins under Hentian
, Zhui Ming. Later, he reformed and returned to the Tang Clan in Sichuan. In terms of counter-reconnaissance and counter-assassination skills, I believe no one in the Central Plains martial arts alliance is more powerful than him." Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison, "So it really was Hentian who did it!"
"That's right!" Ren Xiaoyao nodded, asserting, "Leaving aside the ferocity of his swordsmanship, achieving a title before even seeing blood, and the fact that he assassinated the highly skilled Protector Tang with a flick of his finger, the choice of timing, the control of the location, and the absence of any traceable clues left in the room are enough to determine that the murderer is Hentian." Assassination is a "profession" that any ninja must be well-versed in. As the Grand Master of the Martial World, having led the Beichen Ittō-ryū for over two years, he immediately recognized the assassin's exceptional skill; no flaws were revealed, and even a professional like himself couldn't find a single clue—the Five Great Assassins lacked such strength, therefore it was undoubtedly Hentian."
He then squatted down, examined Tang Tianying's eyelids briefly, and carefully examined the wounds and the condition of the body, slowly uttering two words: "Chou Shi (1-3 AM)!"
"Chou Shi? Is that the time the Protector was murdered?" Yin Shuangshuang asked, sobbing.
"Yes."
"What time is Chou Shi?" “Right time, at the latest a quarter of an hour. ”
Ren Xiaoyao answered affirmatively.
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Tang Yunhe shook his head repeatedly, his eyes bloodshot. “I had just returned from the Taiji Hall at that time, and I clearly saw Uncle Tian pacing in his room. Because it was too late, I didn’t disturb him. My bedroom is right next door, and I’ve practiced the art of listening to the wind and discerning objects since I was a child. If the murderer really killed someone at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), how could I not know?”
Ren Xiaoyao stood up with his sword-
like eyebrows furrowed, and gave a seductive look to Zhen Gongji Mina in the crowd. Zhen Gongji Mina nodded slightly, stepped out from the crowd to his side, and held her slender hands flat in front of her chest, her palms facing upwards with her index fingers interlocked, and her thumb slid down her index finger to form a mudra.
In a short while, a bright red flush rose on Mina Shinguji's cheeks. Beneath her slender, arched eyebrows, three small black dots appeared in her star-like, captivating eyes. Upon closer inspection, they were three tadpole-like dots, each occupying a corner of a bright black pupil. Gradually, the black dots began to turn red, but not a blood-red, chilling crimson; rather, they were bright, lustrous, and shimmering with a watery sheen.
"Xiaoyao is right. The time of Tang Dahufa's murder was indeed around 1-3 AM," Mina Shinguji said softly, giving her conclusion. After speaking, she closed her beautiful eyes. When she opened them again, the redness had faded, and her eyes regained their usual sparkle. Her breathing became rapid, indicating that the exertion she had just endured had taken a heavy toll.
"This...this is impossible! We who practice hidden weapons have always valued hearing the most. Our sect leader's hearing is exceptional, unmatched by anyone within or outside the Tang Clan. He should be able to detect even the slightest sound." "
It is the truth, and no matter how confident you are, you must believe this fact." A long sigh suddenly rang out from the crowd. Upon closer inspection, it was Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke.
"Miss Shinguji used the forbidden technique of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, the strongest of the detection-type ninjutsu, the Eye of Insight."
"This technique is extremely taxing on the mind, but it is infallible, so..."
Tang Yunhe was startled and exclaimed, "So the shadow I saw outside the door last night wasn't Uncle Tian, but...but Hentian!"
"Protector Tang once served Juesha, so it shouldn't be difficult for Hentian to impersonate his back." "Meng Fei pondered for a moment, then said, "Besides, it was dark at night and there was a door between us, so it's understandable that Brother Yunhe didn't notice. It's just that Hentian's scheming is too cunning; he actually thought of impersonating Protector Tang..."
At this point, Ren Xiaoyao's eyes suddenly lit up, and a barely perceptible cold smile appeared on his lips.

Volume 41, Chapter 20: The Strange Change of

the Investigator "Master, what do we do now?" After leaving Hanzhang Hall, Qin Huaiyu approached and asked anxiously.
"Inform all the heroes to stay in Xunfeng City for the time being and not leave. In addition, the main altar should be placed on the highest level of wartime alert. All palaces, houses, pavilions, and towers should be heavily guarded by the sect members. Also..." Ren Xiaoyao's expression was solemn, and after a long pause, he added, "Do not control the entry and exit of the main altar, and cancel all checks."
"Do not control!?" Qin Huaiyu exclaimed in surprise, "If we don't control it, what if the assassins of Juesha infiltrate..."
"Let's seal off the four gates; that way, it will be easier to investigate the murderer." "
Blockade? Can it really hold? Are the Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the thousands of heroes of the Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces, and our own followers all stuck in the main altar and not going out? Besides, it was Hentian who killed Tang Da Protector. Even if the four gates are sealed off, can they stop him?" Ren Xiaoyao's tone was tinged with anger. He had always greatly admired this senior who had abandoned the darkness for the light and helped Tang Yunhe single-handedly support the Tang Clan of Sichuan. Last night, after hearing Meng Fei talk about his life, he learned that Tang Tianying had helped him during his escape (providing intelligence and helping Tang Yunhe wipe out twenty-four large and small branches of the Juesha Sect, which to some extent stopped the pursuit of him). In a sense, Tang Tianying was half his savior. Now, before he could even say thank you, Tang Tianying had become a cold corpse...
"But... such a tight internal defense and loose external defense, wouldn't that give the enemy an even greater opportunity?" "Zhang Jinghong interjected.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled but did not answer. Suddenly, he activated his sixth sense to confirm that no one within a ten-foot radius was eavesdropping or spying. Then he turned to Liu Yuxu and Dugu Yu and said in a deep voice, "Alliance Leader Liu, Senior Dugu, what do you think?"
Liu Yuxu stroked his white beard and said with a half-smile, "I'm afraid Sect Leader Ren is deliberately giving Juesha an opportunity."
Dugu Yu nodded in approval and added, "Xunfeng City is full of experts. With Tang Tianying being assassinated, everyone will be on edge and on high alert. Guiming Shenjun has agreed to retreat. Juesha's only chance to turn the tide is to kill all the leaders of various sects and take advantage of the fact that the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance is leaderless. They can then join forces with the Maitreya Sect and the Dangxiang Society to defeat them in one fell swoop. No matter how high Hentian's martial arts are, he is still just one person. To achieve his plan, he will inevitably send Fenri, Jueyue, Zhuihun, Duoming, Shepo, and even more assassins to try to infiltrate the area." "
Given last night's experience, the leaders of various gangs and sects will surely be more vigilant. The headquarters will be on high alert, with guards every three steps and sentries every five. Even someone as skilled as Hentian won't be able to commit crimes with impunity..." Ren Xiaoyao chuckled coldly, his tiger-like eyes flashing with chilling killing intent. He spoke calmly, almost ruthlessly, "Next, whoever the target of our assassination attempt is, as long as even the slightest mistake during the operation exposes their identity, our followers will arrive at any location within the headquarters within ten days and capture them in one fell swoop."
"Then I have a hundred, a thousand ways to make them talk, to obediently reveal where Hentian and the other assassins are hiding." His voice wasn't loud, but it was powerful, each word carrying immense weight, filled with unparalleled confidence, and possessing a strange charm that convinced everyone of his success. Deep into the night, all was quiet.
Xunfeng City was shrouded in darkness; except for the night watchman, all the people were fast asleep. However, in the southwest corner of the city, the headquarters of the Tianji Sect was brightly lit, as if it were daytime. Eight thousand followers, torches in hand and swords at their waists, were under the unified command of the Golden-Armored Heavenly King Jing Si, tightly guarding all the passageways within the headquarters. They were all elites drawn from various branches, each tall and imposing, with agile steps. While their martial arts skills might not be top-notch, and some might even be considered second or third-rate, they were highly skilled... The military-style drills and training fostered a high level of organization, discipline, and a fighting spirit that prioritizes obedience, courage, and fearlessness—making them the most terrifying and troublesome natural enemies for any assassin. The outer altars—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—served as temporary residences for various factions, and were heavily guarded, with almost all the commanders of the Heavenly Pole Sect's armies leading their respective teams. The inner halls, being highly important within the sect, were off-limits to ordinary members, and were guarded by Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong personally leading the inner guards. All the heroes had been informed beforehand: after 7 PM, except for a few grandmasters assisting in apprehending assassins, no one was allowed to leave their residences; violators would be executed without mercy! The only exception was the Taiji Hall. The candlelight flickered softly, and no additional guards were added, as if they were completely unafraid of an assassination attempt. This was understandable; the Taiji Hall was Ren Xiaoyao's bedroom. Even if Hentian wanted to kill him, he would have to consider whether he was worthy—not to mention Ren Xiaoyao's unparalleled sixth sense; he could detect any movement within a radius of several dozen feet. Even if Hentian and the five assassins wiped out the remaining guards and stormed in, could they kill…no, injure Ren Xiaoyao, whose lightness skill was unmatched in the world, before the large number of imperial guards arrived? Inside the bedroom, the dim candlelight shone through the thin lampshade, casting a faint, alluring glow in the dim room. An unusual atmosphere permeated the air, somewhat scorching, somewhat ambiguous. The brocade curtains were still warm, and the scent of animal incense lingered . Niao Niao, Ren Xiaoyao, dressed in a nightgown, leaned against the exquisitely carved pear wood bed. Nangong Fengyi, in her magnificent palace attire, sat gracefully at the table, her breasts partially exposed, her skin like jade, her face radiant. Her hair was styled in a high, side-swept bun, complementing her slender, graceful figure, her delicate waist, her beautiful neck, and her fair skin. The contrast made her even more alluring and captivating. Her deep, dark eyes shone with a bright, sparkling light, exuding a strong sense of spring. A gentle breeze drifted in through the window, and the thin gauze clung to her delicate body, revealing glimpses of spring's beauty, which was incredibly alluring. Her bright white teeth and radiant inner beauty blended together to create a picture of beauty that made one feel as if they had entered a fairyland, oblivious to the world around them.

A few sharp notes drifted on the wind, carrying the melodies of a zither. At first, it was not a tune, just a few scattered notes, one on the left and one on the right, crisp and clear, like flowing water and falling petals, harmonizing with the cool breeze coming in through the window without any jarring effect. Gradually, the plucking became more frequent, but the melody remained simple and easy to listen to, like a clear spring flowing gently through the pines, the pale moonlight casting its soft glow from the sky, and a stream carrying fallen petals meandering down, tinkling and splashing over the stones, creating countless crystal droplets, evoking the imagery of "the bright moon shining among the pines, the clear spring flowing over the stones."
Ren Xiaoyao looked up and saw Nangong Fengyi with her dark, thick eyelashes lowered and curled upwards. Her fair, plump hands were even more exquisite than the jade tuning pegs of the Yangxue Ningshuang zither. Her slender wrists moved gently with the music, and the folds of her robes revealed the beautiful curves of her breasts. He was stunned. After
Nangong Fengyi finished playing, she looked up and saw Ren Xiaoyao staring at her. Her jade-like cheeks flushed slightly, and her clear, bright eyes held a half-smile: "It was just an impromptu piece. The melody isn't even fully composed yet. Did you really need to..."
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback and snapped out of his daze. His leader's airs vanished, and he said with a playful grin, "Of course! When I first entered the martial world and traveled everywhere, I listened to countless masters, but none of them could match your skill. Even the timeless 'High Mountains and Flowing Water' is probably not as good as that 'Lingering Melody' you just played." "Elegant tune, by the way, what's the name of this piece?"
Nangong Fengyi, flattered by her lover's praise, blushed and couldn't resist her girlish shyness. She lowered her head to avoid his burning gaze, and with a sly smile, said, "I just played a few notes casually to soothe my mood. It's hardly a proper tune, let alone comparable to Bo Ya's 'High Mountains and Flowing Water.' You just can't shake your tendency to flatter girls. There's no need to go to such lengths to please someone." Her words were like a sudden burst of heavenly fragrance, instantly brightening the room.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, then suddenly exerted his strength and pulled her into his arms with a powerful tug.
Nangong Fengyi let out a soft moan as he pulled her into his embrace.
"Xiaoyao, what...what are you going to do?"
"What do you think, hahaha." Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, pulling the bed curtains as he spoke, "Husband, I'm not doing anything, I just want to..."
"Bang!" The door was suddenly pushed open, and a beautiful figure with a graceful bearing rushed in.
Ren Xiaoyao and Nangong Fengyi stopped in their tracks and turned to look.
What came into view was the elegant and refined, bright and beautiful face of Mina Shinguji. Her thick, black hair was held back by a single white jade hairpin, making her complexion appear radiant and her skin as white as snow. Beneath her arched eyebrows, her bright eyes gleamed with a sharp and cold light. Her tight-fitting black night clothes, reflected in the dim light, initially made her look like a delicate and frail peony, with an elegant and untouched purity. Upon closer inspection, however, she possessed a sharp and icy beauty, with a slender and graceful figure and a tiny waist that could be grasped in one hand, constantly testing Ren Xiaoyao's resolve.
Mina Shinguji glanced at the two disheveled figures and stamped her foot in exasperation, "Oh dear, what time is it? You still have time... The defenses outside are weak. What if Hentian rushes in..."
"Hmph, I'm more afraid he won't come." Ren Xiaoyao laughed, then grabbed Nangong Fengyi's wrist and gently pulled her into his arms. His mischievous hand slid restlessly inside her clothes, the slippery sensation accompanied by the trembling of Nangong Fengyi's delicate body—it was indescribably blissful.
"You, how can you be like this?" Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's relaxed and nonchalant expression, Mina Shinguji became anxious and quickly walked to the bedside, advising as she went, "Mother often says there's an old saying in the Central Plains: 'Don't be arrogant in victory, don't be discouraged in defeat.' Even if you defeat the Ghostly Underworld God, you shouldn't be arrogant and self-righteous, not taking Hentian, who is on par with him, seriously. This kind of mentality makes you the easiest target for assassins, and the easiest to capsize in a ditch..."
"Alright, alright," Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand impatiently, grinning, "Don't forget, when it comes to ambushes, sneak attacks, and assassinations, you Japanese ninjas are truly the best in the world. Hentian must be bored to even think about targeting me, the Grand Master of the Martial World, the one who rules the ninja realm! Heh heh, if he's really that stupid, I'll just have to give him an old saying…heh heh, and I'll also teach you: 'An old man hanging himself—he's tired of living,' hahaha."
Seeing his dismissive expression, Shinguji Mina stamped her foot, her beautiful eyes flashing with anxiety. With an anxious expression, she said nervously, "Oh dear, my lord, I wouldn't mind if you sent more guards outside the hall, but there are only so many people here. If... oh dear, Sister Long said that not only is Hentian's martial arts superb, but her five assassins are also as skilled as the captains of the various squads. If all six of them were here... oh dear, they might already be lurking outside!" She became increasingly anxious as she spoke, hurriedly turning around and walking to the bedside. Her hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, and she used her Insight skill to carefully examine the situation outside the hall.
Ren Xiaoyao still smiled, intuitively sensing that her slender waist swayed gracefully, her steps were light and elegant, and her swaying figure was indescribably beautiful, showing no sign of wariness whatsoever. “
No…nothing here…nothing there either…” Mina Shinguji muttered to herself as she looked around, then suddenly her face tightened. “Ah, who is it? Why are they walking so fast? Xiaoyao, there’s something wrong with this person. Quickly get dressed, let’s go together…Ah, you you you…” The moment she turned to call out to Ren Xiaoyao, her delicate body suddenly trembled, her eyes flashing with horror, fear, and disbelief. She exclaimed, “You’re not Xiaoyao!!!”
“Ah, what!?” Nangong Fengyi was startled upon hearing this. She tried to get up, but her slender, jade-like wrist was already held down by “Ren Xiaoyao,” rendering her unable to move.

Volume 41, Chapter 21: The True Body of Hentian!?

“Whoosh—” The Flowing Blade Like Fire was suddenly drawn, its hilt, gleaming with a blood-like light, tightly gripped Mina Shinguji’s slender, jade-like wrist.
“Let go of Sister Fengyi, or you’ll regret it!” "
Alas, time was of the essence, and I didn't have time to properly disguise myself. My disguise was seen through by the Eye of Insight. A miscalculation, a real miscalculation." Ren Xiaoyao surprisingly ignored her, instead letting out a soft sigh, his voice suddenly becoming more feminine.
"Long... Sister Long..." Shinguji Mina trembled slightly, unable to hide her surprise, and looked at him in astonishment.
The same cold tone, the same languid voice—who else could it be but Long Feiyun?
"Shh—" Long Feiyun made a shushing gesture, beckoning her closer.
"Sister Long, what are you doing? Where's Xiaoyao?" "
Yes, that explains why Xiaoyao was acting so strangely today, it turns out..." Nangong Fengyi's pretty face flushed red, feeling embarrassed by her earlier infatuation.
Long Feiyun pulled the two sisters onto the large bed, lowered the light gauze curtains at the head of the bed, and then said, "It was Xiaoyao's idea. He discussed it for a long time with Senior Dugu, Alliance Leader Liu, and Mr. Zhuge, and roughly estimated some of the targets that Juesha might assassinate. They secretly lurked among the patrolling cult members nearby, waiting to make their move and capture them."
"Then Sister Long, you..."
"Feiyun disguised herself as Xiaoyao and stayed in the Taiji Hall to confuse Juesha's spies, right?" "Nangong Fengyi is incredibly intelligent; after a little thought, she figured out the hidden scheme."
"Yes, deliberately reducing the number of guards outside the door and putting on an indifferent act wasn't because I was being arrogant. Rather, it's because Hentian is cunning and treacherous; seeing this situation, he would surely know there's a plan and wouldn't dare come himself, so he'd have to target someone else. Of course, given his shrewdness, it's impossible that he wouldn't have sent his men to spy on him..."
"Is it the person I just saw with my Eye of Insight?"
"Yes." Long Feiyun nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips, and said coldly, "I want to use him to spread the news that 'Xiaoyao' is here listening to music and appreciating beauty, so that the members of Juesha will be caught off guard and act recklessly—you two should know Xiaoyao's methods. I won't say more, but if he sees even a trace of the Juesha members or hears even the slightest sound while they're on the move, even Hentian won't be able to escape."
"I see, that puts my mind at ease." Mina Shinguji gently stroked her breasts, let out a long sigh, and a sweet smile bloomed on her pretty face.
"Anyway, the bed is big enough, sisters, get a good night's sleep and wait for Xiaoyao to bring good news tomorrow."
"Hmm."
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Good news? No.
All that was there was a face with deeply furrowed brows... no, a face filled with murderous intent, cold as iron.
When Ren Xiaoyao stormed into the Taiji Hall, Long Feiyun, Nangong Fengyi, and Zhen Gongji Mina were all dumbfounded—blood-red eyes, a sharp gaze, and arms with bulging veins and trembling; slightly trembling, teeth grinding together, his whole body exuding an boundless killing intent that would make anyone shudder...
"Xiaoyao, what's wrong?" Nangong Fengyi stepped forward and asked cautiously.
"I miscalculated. There were no assassins at my hiding place, and neither were the seniors." Looking at his gentle and virtuous wife, Ren Xiaoyao's agitated emotions calmed down slightly, but his words still revealed his full anger.
Seeing this, Long Feiyun's heart skipped a beat. If it were just a wasted trip, Ren Xiaoyao would at most complain a bit, but judging from his current state, it was clear...
"Has...has someone else been murdered?" Long Feiyun had already guessed most of it, but she still asked.
"Yes, two hours ago, Master Yukong of the Taishan Sect was found dead in his room." Ren Xiaoyao lowered his eyelids and said sadly, "His condition was the same as Protector Tang's—a fatal sword wound to the throat.
" "What, Yukong!?" "Nangong Fengyi was startled.
"The Taishan Sect is led by Alliance Leader Liu, and the recognized successor is Second Brother. Although Master Yukong is ranked first among the four elders and has a distinguished reputation in the martial arts world, he is old and nearing retirement. Even if he dies, it would not shake the foundation of the Taishan Sect. Why would Hentian kill him?" Long Feiyun frowned, astonished. Hengshan Sect, Taishan Sect, and Shaolin Temple were the most heavily guarded places last night, with the most experts. Who else but Hentian could have gone in to kill and escape successfully, with the victim's body not being discovered until dawn?
"I don't know either..." Ren Xiaoyao smiled bitterly and sighed, "It's not just me. Even the seasoned veterans of the martial arts world, such as Senior Dugu, Alliance Leader Liu, and the cunning and resourceful Mr. Zhuge, didn't expect Hentian to target Master Yukong."
"Then... what's the situation now?" “Mina Shinguji asked softly,
“It’s chaotic, completely chaotic. Everyone in every sect is in danger, afraid of becoming the target of a fatal attack. The entire Taishan Sect is even more… in tears, especially Second Brother, he’s practically unrecognizable… Alas, Master Yukong raised him single-handedly, and he was entrusted with the care of Sect Leader Liu back then…” Ren Xiaoyao’s voice choked, his tone suddenly turned cold, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, shooting out deep hatred, and he said through gritted teeth, “You have insulted my reputation, disrupted my brothers, and murdered my benefactor. I, Ren Xiaoyao, swear I will not be a man if I do not cut you into a thousand pieces and tear you apart by five horses!!!”
Long Feiyun felt that there was an unparalleled confidence in his words and exclaimed in surprise, “Xiaoyao, do you have a plan?”
“Yes.” "
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Half an hour ago.
Qinglong Hall, Tianlu Pavilion, the temporary residence of the Taishan Sect.
"Who was the last person to see Junior Brother Yu Kong last night?" Liu Yuxu asked with a dark face and a sour tone. He, Dugu Yu, Ren Xiaoyao, and Zhuge Wenjie had discussed for a long time and concluded that Tang Yunhe, Nangong Bubai, and Xiaoming were the most likely targets for the assassination attempt. Therefore, he and Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Deng Lei, and other grandmaster-level experts secretly lay in ambush, intending to capture them in one fell swoop. However, instead of capturing them, their own backyard caught fire, and Yu Kong was killed for nothing.
All the disciples lowered their heads, and for a long time no one answered, except for Xiao Xingchen. Qin Weiliang, Feng Jianxiong, and Ge Hongzhou, the four disciples, remained silent, suppressing their grief, while the other disciples were already sobbing uncontrollably.
Yu Kong was a kind and gentle person. Although he was the head of the four elders, he never put on airs. He treated even disciples who had only been in the sect for a few days with kindness and patience, tirelessly guiding and teaching them. He never made any distance from them because of his high status,
so he was extremely loved by the sect. With his departure, the disciples of the Taishan Sect were all as if they had lost their parents, and were in unbearable pain.
"It's me..." After a long while, Yu Ling finally managed to choke out a sentence.
"Although there are brothers from the Heavenly Extreme Sect stationed outside the pavilion, Senior Brother Yu Kong is still... a little worried, afraid that the weaker junior disciples in the sect might be killed by assassins if they are not careful..." Yu Ling said sadly, tears streaming down her face. "The four of us agreed to take turns patrolling the corridor to prevent assassins from sneaking in. My senior brother and I patrolled the first half of the night, and Yu Feng and Yu Xuan patrolled the second half..."
Yu Xuan said sadly, "Around 1:00 AM last night, Yu Feng and I got up to change shifts. After that, I guarded the southeast, while Yu Feng patrolled the northwest. Yu Ling accompanied Senior Brother Yu Kong back to his room to sleep." "
We were originally staying on the second floor, in guest rooms that Vice Leader Qin had specially ordered to be tidied up. They were much more spacious and cleaner than the disciples' quarters on the first floor. But Senior Brother Yu Kong said... he said..." Yu Lingwu was seven years old, long past the age of being indifferent to honor and disgrace, yet as he spoke of last night's events, tears still streamed uncontrollably down his aged face. "He said he wanted to stay close to protect the disciples and insisted on staying on the first floor, so when we got to the stairwell..."
"You separated?" Liu Yuxu's pupils dilated, and he asked sharply.
"Yes... yes." "Yu Ling was overcome with grief, choking back sobs, "I think Hentian and the five assassins targeted someone else. Even if an assassin came to Tianlu Pavilion, it wouldn't be someone too powerful. With the Tianji Sect members stationed outside, and with Junior Brothers Yu Feng and Yu Xuan guarding the gate, it was impossible for anything to go wrong, so..."
Liu Yuxu put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky outside the window, his eyes filled with indescribable sorrow, and asked coldly, "After that, Yu Ling went back to her room to rest. Yu Feng, Yu Xuan, did you two notice anything unusual?"
Yu Feng and Yu Xuan looked on with recollection, then shook their heads in unison.
"Outrageous!" Liu Yuxu roared to the sky, as if to vent his anger, "There were five layers of defense outside the pavilion, and you two inside didn't make any unusual moves. How did Hentian sneak in, kill Junior Brothers Yu Kong, and then successfully retreat! Is it some kind of ghost?!" "
Yu Feng and Yu Xuan, their eyes brimming with tears, said sorrowfully, 'Sect Leader, it's our fault...it's our fault for being useless...'
Ren Xiaoyao, who had been watching from the side without saying a word, quietly tugged at Zhuge Wenjie's sleeve, giving him a wink to go outside to talk.
'What, young master, have you figured out the problem?' The two arrived at a secluded spot, and Zhuge Wenjie blurted out the question. Ren Xiaoyao's bold words, 'With barbarians all over the land, how can I have a home?' had already spread throughout the world along with the news of his succession as the leader of the Tianji Sect and his conferment of the title of Champion Marquis. His deep affection for the Nangong sisters was also well-known and considered a beautiful story. Therefore, although he and Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi were not formally married, they were still referred to as 'young master' inside and outside Tingyu Pavilion.
'Mr. Zhuge is full of wisdom and should know better than I do.' '
I have guessed some things, but I dare not think further. '" "Zhuge Wenjie lightly waved his feather fan, his expression solemn.
"One of the Three Elders of Mount Tai is actually Hentian. Let alone you, Mr. Zhuge, even I dare not continue to think about such a thing." (

Volume 41, Chapter 22: A Day Apart Feels Like Three Autumns)

"Young Master, you flatter me." Zhuge Wenjie smiled faintly.
"Last night..." Ren Xiaoyao's expression turned unusually grave as he slowly said, "I secretly entrusted Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke to guard outside Tianlu Pavilion. They are extremely experienced ninjas, especially skilled in stealth and assassination. They cannot tolerate the slightest imperfection. Furthermore, I secretly replaced the guards outside the pavilion with the Longxiang and Huyi armies led by Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng. Hentian could not possibly have infiltrated from the outside without being detected."
"Why did you secretly send experts to lie in ambush outside Tianlu Pavilion, Young Master?"
"Mr. Zhuge, you're asking a question you already know the answer to." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said in a deep voice, "Yesterday, Sect Leader Tang Yunhe made it very clear that on the night of Tang Dahuifa's murder, Hentian impersonated Tang Dahuifa and paced around the room, deceiving him—obviously, he knew that Sect Leader Tang Yunhe would be returning soon. Otherwise, he could have simply left after killing him; why would he risk being exposed by impersonating Tang Dahuifa?"
"As far as I know, after leaving the Taiji Hall last night, Alliance Leader Liu personally led the leaders of various gangs and sects to pay respects to Master Zhizhang. He is the leader of the martial arts alliance; when he returns is up to him. The only people outside who might know this are Young Hero Xiao and the Four Elders of Mount Tai. Considering the circumstances surrounding Master Yukong's murder, it's not hard to guess…
"It's not hard to guess…" Ren Xiaoyao's tone suddenly became more serious, and he slowly said, enunciating each word clearly, "Hentian's true identity must be within the Mount Tai Sect!"
Zhuge Wenjie nodded, his expression solemn. "The security last night was indeed tight, but only outside Tianlu Pavilion. Only Yu Feng and Yu Xuan actually entered the pavilion. Yu Xuan was in the southeast, and Yu Feng guarded the northwest. Tianlu Pavilion is quite large, and considering the time difference in movement, it's possible they met every two quarters of an hour or even half an hour. Yu Kong lived in the third room on the west side. It's possible that Yu Feng 'stole from his own room' and killed him unexpectedly, or that Yu Xuan sneaked over and did it. Of course, it's also possible that Yu Ling secretly came down from the second floor and stabbed him to death."
"Hmm, when Daoist Yu Kong was killed, his expression was very strange. He clearly saw something unbelievable. It's reasonable to interpret this as disbelief that Hentian could enter Tianlu Pavilion under such tight security and kill him second. But seeing his fellow disciple of several decades, who turned out to be Hentian, would also elicit the same expression."
"But why did Hentian want to kill Yu Kong?"
"First, the main altar was under martial law last night. Grandmasters like Senior Dugu, Alliance Leader Liu, and Senior Yi were all hiding in secret, as were Sect Leader Tang Yunhe, my father-in-law, and Abbot Xiaoming. Killing them is impossible. As for Daoist Yukong, his reputation in the martial arts world is outstanding, second only to us in influence. Assassinating him would create sufficient deterrence and have a high probability of success. Second, without Sect Leader Tang's words, we wouldn't have suspected that Hentian was among the Three Elders of Mount Tai. Therefore, his actions wouldn't expose his identity, and..."
"Furthermore, it could pave the way for his next assassination attempt!"
"Mr. Zhuge, you've thought of that too?"
“Since the goal is to overthrow the Central Plains martial arts world, Alliance Leader Liu must die.” Zhuge Wenjie leaned forward slightly, his voice extremely low. “Killing Yu Kong will unite the entire Taishan Sect in hatred, and skilled assassins will no longer bother them. The defenses near Tianlu Pavilion, and even Alliance Leader Liu’s vigilance, will naturally weaken. Hentian Pian can seize the opportunity to do the opposite, assassinating Alliance Leader Liu when everyone thinks the kill is about to change targets.”
“What a vicious scheme! No wonder it’s Hentian.” Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and said fiercely, “But since Mr. Zhuge and I have discovered it, he’s walked right into our trap!”
“What are your plans, son-in-law?”
“Wait for the right moment, and capture him in one fell swoop!” The three great cities of the Song Dynasty were
Hangzhou
, renowned for its wealth; Bianliang, famous for its prosperity; and Xunfeng City, nestled in the Guanzhong Plain, was renowned throughout the world for its unparalleled fortifications. Three years ago, Ren Xiaoyao, the newly appointed leader of the Tianji Sect, used this formidable city to hold off Yelü Xiezhen's 500,000-strong army, forcing this invincible Khitan war god to commit suicide, thus reviving the crumbling Tianji Sect.
Thanks to its "good relationship" with Tingyuxuan, the richest man in the land, Xunfeng City is now far more prosperous and wealthy than it once was. Yunlong Avenue, a forty-zhang-wide street known as the "Number One Street Under Heaven," now boasts over a hundred shops and merchants. Not only do merchants from all over the Song Dynasty flock here, but caravans from the Liao, Dali, Western Xia, Tibet, Goryeo, and even further afield, such as Putian and the Abbasid Caliphate, have shops here.
You can find almost any product you can imagine in Xunfeng City, including funeral supplies
—not just ordinary coffins and paper money, but special items for the Taoist deceased.
What? Never heard of it? Let me explain.
The imperial bell, water-carrying vessel, measuring ruler, ingot, white whisk, and so on are too numerous to mention. The clothing worn as funerary items alone includes five categories: long gown, Taoist robe, precept robe, ceremonial robe, and official robe. There are even more Taoist hats (called turbans). The Quanyi sect, to which the Taishan sect belongs, has nine types: Chunyang turban, Nanhua turban, Zhuangzi turban, lotus leaf turban, Hunyuan turban, Jiuliang turban, Zhuge turban, Taiyang turban, and wrapping turban. Even the headdresses are divided into yellow crowns, Five Sacred Mountains crowns, lotus crowns, star crowns, and Five Elders crowns.
Yu Kong was the only Master of the Taiyi Dao besides Liu Yuxu (Taoist priests are divided into nine ranks, called the nine "grades," with the first grade being the highest, called "Master," who must be well-versed in classics such as the *Da Dong Zhen Jing*, *Huang Ting Jing*, *San Dong Wu Lei Jing Lu*, *Meng Wei Jing Lu*, and *San Wu Du Gong Lu*). After his passing, he naturally deserved to be buried with the highest Taoist rites. Therefore, when Yu Ling, Yu Xuan, and Yu Feng proposed to purchase funeral supplies for Yu Kong outside the main altar, Ren Xiaoyao could not refuse.
To prevent Hentian, hidden among the three elders, from secretly contacting his subordinates while away from the main altar, and hoping to use this opportunity to expose Hentian's true identity, Ren Xiaoyao personally led a group of three Grandmaster-level experts—Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei—to secretly follow and monitor their every move. If anyone slipped up, they would immediately swarm them, regardless of whether they were outnumbered or not; only the wicked ringleader was the true righteous path!
However…
two hours passed in the blink of an eye. As the sun began to set, neither Ren Xiaoyao, with his sixth sense and extraordinary insight, nor the three grandmasters, seasoned by years of experience in the martial world and with countless encounters, could discern the slightest clue.
Yu Ling, Yu Xuan, and Yu Feng wore expressions of profound grief, an indescribable sorrow and indignation that could be faintly sensed even from a distance.
Throughout, they spoke only to a few craftsmen, refusing to utter a single word to anyone else, not even a superfluous glance or gesture. These craftsmen were carefully selected by Ren Xiaoyao from the Heavenly Pole Sect's in-house artisans, completely unrelated to the assassination attempt.
If it weren't for the equally astounding judgment of Zhuge Wenjie, whom Ren Xiaoyao had always admired, he would have surely doubted his own abilities. How could Hentian possibly be hidden among these three sorrowful old men?
"Hey, hey, hey, Xiaoyao, are you mistaken? How do Yu Ling, Yu Xuan, and Yu Feng resemble Hentian at all?" In a shop some distance away, Yi Tianhan slapped Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder hard, questioning him with suspicion. This secluded spot, directly opposite the funeral parlor, was the perfect location for covert surveillance.
"Even if I'm wrong, Mr. Zhuge's judgment should be..." Ren Xiaoyao frowned and pondered.
"And speaking of which, last night you were convinced that Juesha was targeting Tang Yunhe, Nangong Bubai, and Xiaoming. What happened? Brother Yu Kong was the one who was killed." Fu Longyuan and Yu Kong were close friends. Having returned to the Central Plains, he hadn't even exchanged a few words with his old friend before being separated from him forever. His resentment was palpable.
“My determination to find the murderer is no less than that of the two seniors, so…” Ren Xiaoyao sighed, his eyes turning cold, and slowly said, word by word, “So as long as there is even the slightest chance, we cannot let it go.”
“Ah, right.” Yi Tianhan slapped his thigh and asked, “When will Furong and the others arrive? Feiyun and my niece rushed here overnight to help you, and Fengyi also found a fast horse to hurry on her way to see her father as soon as possible. They arrived in the city yesterday. There are only the four of them left there. To be honest, I’m a little worried.”
"Furong acts impulsively, and Xiuxiu is inexperienced, but they have improved greatly over the years in Fusang, especially in their palm techniques and swordsmanship. They can even fight against the five great assassins. Hanbi is a skilled doctor and has been taught insect manipulation by Captain Maozhihua. Anyone who tries to harm her will only get poisoned. Anyone who wants to try can try. Fengzi's traps and hidden weapons have been carefully taught by her third uncle, and she is more than capable of protecting herself." Ren Xiaoyao's worried expression disappeared, and a faint smile appeared. Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan stroked their beards and smiled, nodding in deep agreement. Only the observant Meng Fei noticed the deep concern and worry in his disciple's eyes.
“Qingqiu, I’m worried about you. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness and don’t know martial arts. What if you encounter assassins? Furong and Xiuxiu won’t be able to protect you…” Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes and prayed silently, but didn’t say the words aloud.
Just then, a series of all-too-familiar female shouts suddenly came from afar: “Make way, make way, make way! You dare to block my carriage, you bastard! You’re asking for trouble!”
“Don’t be so rude. This is the main altar.”
“Precisely because we are in the main altar, everyone here is a subject of the fool, and we can’t stop us from going to find the fool.”
“Furong!?” This time even Meng Fei recognized who it was.
“Master, Senior Yi, Senior Fu, I’ll leave this to you. I… I’ll go first. There are still members of the Juesha gang lurking in the city. I have to protect… protect them.” Before he finished speaking, Ren Xiaoyao’s figure flashed and disappeared.
Yi Tianhan laughed and scolded, "You brat, you just said you weren't careful, and you've already run away again."
"That's what you call a dashing thief."
"Keep a close eye on him, don't let anything go wrong."
Fu Longyuan and Meng Fei exchanged knowing smiles.
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"Ahhh, you...you idiot!?" Shui Furong was driving fast when she suddenly felt a gentle breeze brush past her ear, and a pair of warm hands touched her waist. Looking closely, she saw it was Ren Xiaoyao.
"What, surprised to see me?" Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily. If it weren't for the many pedestrians on the street, and the unsightly spectacle of his "mischief" in public, he would have already embraced his wife and given her a passionate kiss.
"Weren't you injured? How come you're so lively and playful, even having the leisure to cause trouble for others?" Shui Furong glared at his mischievous hand, but leaned closer to him, her pretty face involuntarily flushing red.
"Hahaha, who am I, my husband? I'm the Grand Master of the Martial World, the dashing and chivalrous thief! A mere minor injury will naturally heal in the blink of an eye." Only when facing his beautiful wives could Ren Xiaoyao temporarily put aside his melancholy.
"Big brother—"
"Brother Xiaoyao—"
Nangong Fengzi and Lin Yuxiu came out upon hearing the voice. Ren Xiaoyao put his arm around one of them, whispering sweet nothings in their ears, making their hearts flutter. When their eyes were filled with intoxication, he smiled and said, "By the way, how is Qingqiu? Has she fallen ill again?"
"Yes, she has." Nangong Fengzi and Lin Yuxiu answered in unison.
"Ah, what?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart tightened, and his expression instantly became serious.
"She's lovesick." Lin Yuxiu covered her mouth and giggled.
“That’s right. They say ‘a day apart feels like three autumns,’ and it seems that’s absolutely true.” Nangong Fengzi said, raising her slender hand and gently pulling open the carriage curtain.

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