Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 9

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Chapter Eight: The Demonic Monk from India, Protecting the Sutra in a Cliffside Cave, Talks with Equanimity About His Journey to the Central Plains, Demons Dancing Among Themselves, Frequent Appearances in the Icy Snow Valley , A Single Thought of Greed

. At this moment, Venerable Jin Yue suddenly unleashed "Crimson Demon Magadha," a surge of heat hitting his face. Yu Yun flipped his right palm, pushing against the heat, displaying the fourteenth form of the "Maitreya Divine Skill," the "Shaking" technique. It was indeed extraordinary; with a loud "bang," both of them were simultaneously thrown back two feet. Both were startled, amazed by each other's profound skill. Venerable Jin Yue's palms separated and then quickly closed, his body shifting as another attack came in. He was fast on one side, and fast on the other. Yu Yun wrapped his arms around the attack, unleashing divine power from his palms, meeting the incoming palm head-on.

Both of them were incredibly fast and had an exceptionally accurate palm strike technique. Their figures were so elusive that it was impossible to distinguish one from the other. The sound of their palms clashing was continuous and resounding, like muffled thunder in the sky, echoing through the valleys. The snow-capped peaks were affected by the shockwaves, collapsing and falling in all directions. The echoes could be heard for miles around. This scene was like the collapse of the Tongshan Mountain and the echo of the Luoyang Bell in the west, a sight rarely seen in one's life.

Yu Yun was now in a frenzy, using all his strength, continuously employing the four-word technique of "trembling, disarming, sticking, and blowing" in a loop, yet the outcome remained uncertain. However, halfway through the fight, Venerable Jin Yue occasionally covered his left arm with his left palm, a detail Yu Yun noticed. He deduced that Venerable Jin Yue's true energy couldn't reach that area, and with a thought, he immediately stepped out of the circle, laughing, "Master, if this fight continues, it will take three days and three nights to determine a winner. Don't delay our journey to the West. Why don't the three of you join forces and try?"

Venerable Jin Yue thought, "This person's palm power is indeed exquisite, far surpassing that of the Flying Cloud Abbot of the Kongtong Sect." "The martial arts of the Snow Mountain are even more formidable than rumored, which is truly strange. Before we came, the three of us thoroughly studied the exquisite and unique skills of various schools of martial arts in the Central Plains, and we thought we could handle it. Who knew that the martial arts of the Snow Mountain Demon God would be so unexpected? However, compared to his own strength, I'm afraid he would have difficulty withstanding the combined power of the three of us." Thinking of this, his courage suddenly swelled, and he smiled and said, "The martial arts of the Snow Mountain are indeed extraordinary, and have broadened the horizons of this humble monk. Just as you said, the opportunity has passed, so please forgive our rudeness." As soon as he finished speaking, the two monks, Silver Moon and Bright Moon, rushed in, forming a line with Venerable Golden Moon like a flock of autumn geese.

You ask why Yu Yun impersonated the Snow Mountain Demon God? It was only because, on his way to Shijiazhuang, he injured the Snow Mountain disciple, the White-Clad Scholar Li Ruyuan, because of Jiang Yaohong, and also made a promise with the Black Demon Duo to go to the Snow Mountain. He knew that these eccentric figures of the martial world valued such promises most, and given his own predicament and entanglements everywhere, he feared he might not be able to fulfill his promise in the short term. Why not use this opportunity to frame someone else? If he were to actually obtain the scriptures, the Three Venerables of the Outer Heavens would surely seek out the Snow Mountain in the future, and perhaps even eliminate the Snow Mountain demons

. At this moment, the Three Venerables of the Outer Heavens unleashed their six palms, instantly creating a wall of intensely hot energy that surged forth like a stampede of horses, pushing towards Yu Yun. The combined power of these three "Crimson Demon Magadha" palms was truly astonishing. With a single expulsion of their palm energy, the snow on the ground instantly melted and boiled, revealing a large, cracked patch where withered grass and roots were suddenly ablaze with flames. Such power had never been seen before.

Upon seeing this, Yu Yun was also shocked. He swiftly struck out with both palms, but the impact of the palm strikes sent him staggering back several steps. He felt his blood rushing and his qi rising, and he hurriedly tried to regulate his qi. However, this situation did not escape the notice of the Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens. They would not allow Yu Yun a moment's respite, and they launched an attack with both wrists. In an instant, the wind and thunder roared, and countless sparks flew through the air. Yu Yun remained calm under pressure, temporarily suppressing his acupoints, and instead of using the "Maitreya Divine Skill" to directly block the attack, he dodged swiftly, instantly avoiding the power of the "Crimson Demon Magadha" palm strike. As soon as he dodged, another surge of heat arrived. The Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens were just as fast as Yu Yun, and their movements were even more skillful. They followed him like the wind chasing a leaf, giving Yu Yun no chance to regulate his qi.

At this moment, Yu Yun had completely withdrawn the true energy of the "Maitreya Divine Skill" to protect himself, and only used the swift "Mysterious Heaven Seven Star Steps" to dodge. He couldn't help but feel anxious. He wanted to use the "Dragon Control Hand" of the "Eighteen Xuanyuan Explanations" to win, but because he had no divine skill to protect him, he could not get close to them and was burdened with his ultimate skills. In his haste, his movements slowed slightly. Unexpectedly, the palm strike of Venerable Mingyue struck the corner of his robe, instantly igniting flames. Yu Yun hurriedly rolled on the ground, wiping his hands together, and suddenly flipped into the air. Just a moment later, the six palm strikes of the three Venerables from beyond the heavens struck the spot where Yu Yun had rolled, a truly perilous situation. As Yu Yun flipped in mid-air, his movements changed rapidly, and he actually used the "Eight Forms of Heavenly Dragon" that Venerable Jinyue had just used against the Flying Cloud Sect Master of Kongtong. Seizing the opportunity, he launched an attack in mid-air. His feet barely touched the ground before he was lifted up again. In terms of both movement and technique, he was far superior to Venerable Jinyue.

Venerable Jin Yue was both shocked and furious. He sneered, "You think you can enter the cave to retrieve the scriptures just because of your

extraordinary agility? You're dreaming!" At this moment, Yu Yun's palm injury was getting more and more painful. He relied on his superb internal strength to support himself, but for the time being, he could not make any significant changes. He knew that relying on the ingenious aerial movement of the "Eight Forms of Heavenly Dragon" could not last long. Once his remaining energy was exhausted, he would have to wait for death. Suddenly, he expanded his arms, staggered with his feet, and his body glided away. When he landed on the ground, he laughed loudly, "Three masters, you have misunderstood. How can 'Crimson Demon Magadha' do anything to me? I'm afraid that if we both suffer injuries, in the end, no one will be able to obtain the true scripture. Wouldn't that allow Zen Master Bao Tan to reap the benefits? I have already figured it out. Since the true scripture of the Zen sect belongs to your three sects, naturally you three should take it first. If you three cannot get it, then it should be given to me." "Saying this, he turned and walked away slowly.

The three Venerables from beyond the heavens were filled with astonishment and doubt. They remained silent for a long time, letting Yu Yun go. How could the world have such a good thing? If it were a secret scripture, others would definitely fight to the death for it. How could they let someone else take the lead for free? What was even more shocking was that the combined power of the three of them, "Crimson Fiend Moga," would cause the internal organs to rot, the true energy to dissipate, and the face to turn as pale as gold paper, with cold sweat pouring down like rain, once it hits someone. How come the Snow Mountain God and Demon did not show any of these symptoms? They were secretly amazed by the Snow Mountain God and Demon's power, which was unprecedented. Little did they know that Yu Yun was wearing a leather mask. In fact, Yu Yun's face was ashen, like a dead man, and his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

Venerable Bright Moon, being the most cunning and suspicious by nature, secretly said to the two, "Could it be a trick by the Snow Mountain Demon God?"

Venerable Golden Moon nodded and said, "I think this person is incredibly clever. Don't fall into his trap. He's feigning generosity; there must be a reason. We should join forces to get rid of him first."

Venerable Silver Moon shook his head in opposition, saying, "That's not good. This person's martial arts are truly high. Even if the three of us join forces, judging from the situation just now, we might not be able to deal with him so easily. If he really anticipates this and the old ghost escapes, we'll all be doomed." Venerable Golden Moon was still hesitant and unwilling to enter the cave immediately. He felt that Yu Yun was like a thorn in his side, and he had to remove him. He noticed that Yu Yun was very strange. His anger and laughter were completely expressionless, cold and terrifying. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

At this moment, Yu Yun, standing beside a rock, suddenly turned around and said coldly, "Why haven't the three of you made a move yet? The opportunity is fleeting, every moment is precious. Wouldn't this be a waste of my good intention to let you go first? Hmph! You still think I'm afraid of the combined power of the three of you? If you're not afraid of freeing your master, then we might as well try again."

Venerable Jin Yue immediately laughed loudly, "How dare you make such startling remarks? Your internal organs are now completely destroyed. No matter how good your martial arts are, I'm afraid you can't hold on."

Yu Yun smiled slightly, and without any visible movement, he arrived two feet in front of them. You should know that this internal martial arts "Lingxu Niebu" technique is a superior movement technique for long distances. Not only is it incredibly fast, but it can also cover fifteen or sixteen zhang in a single leap. However, it is only effective on flat ground. If you want to leap upwards, it is much less effective. Yu Yun's sudden movement caused the three monks to take a step back in surprise, realizing that things were quite different from what they had expected. His incredible speed was entirely due to his abundant inner energy, proving that he was not injured at all. The three men exchanged glances, all showing wariness.

"What are you three doing, neither fighting nor retreating? Get back to Central India now, or you'll embarrass yourselves!"

Venerable Jin Yue immediately flew into a rage, saying, "Your words are so arrogant, then we will no longer show you any mercy."

"Who asked you to hold back? If you had used your full strength, would you have been able to injure me? Otherwise, with your narrow-mindedness, how could you know the profound and subtle martial arts of the Central Plains?" As Yu Yun spoke, he suddenly thrust out his right palm with lightning speed, pushing out an incomparably strong invisible force. It was the thirteenth of the last two forms of the fourteen forms of the "Maitreya Divine Skill," which he had unintentionally obtained from Fu Liuguan: "Yin-Yang Ascendance." These two moves truly possess the secrets of heaven and earth, containing boundless power. With a single move, the entire arena is filled with swirling air currents.

The three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens had never seen such an incomparably powerful palm technique before. Their expressions changed instantly, and they met it head-on with six palms. With two loud "thumps," the three Venerable Ones were immediately forced back three steps, while Yu Yun remained unmoved. Once the difference in strength was clear, he no longer allowed the three Venerable Ones to change their moves. He unleashed the divine skills of "Yin Yang Extreme Generation" and "Six Harmonies into One" with both hands, and at the same time displayed the "Mysterious Heaven Seven Star Steps" technique. His speed in changing moves was actually slightly faster than that of the three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens. In such a battle between masters, life and death, victory and defeat, depended on a single move. Therefore, the three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens were now on the defensive. The situation had reversed from the previous battle. The three monks could no longer unleash their "Crimson Fiend Moga" palm force, which was forced back without any change. Moreover, their blood surged and their qi surged, their hands and feet became flustered, and they all seemed to be protecting their chests and ribs with their left hands.

Yu Yun pondered, "How come all three of them have the same acupoint? They've really mastered it. How strange!" Then he suddenly realized, "So all three of them have had their acupoints struck by Zen Master Bao Tan. No wonder they're so obsessed with that true scripture. Could it be that the scripture contains a healing method?" With a thought, he immediately launched the fourteenth form of "Six Harmonies into One." The force was incredibly strong, and the earth slumped, rocks flew, and rained down like snow.

The three Venerables from beyond the heavens were forced to move backward, but they still couldn't escape the palm strike. They roared in anger. Suddenly, Yu Yun swayed his body and closed in, extending a finger and displaying the Dragon-Controlling Technique from the "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan." Before anyone could even see it clearly, Venerable Mingyue's right wrist was already controlled. He felt a tingling numbness rise from his arm to his chest, and his true energy dissipated. With a pull from Yu Yun, he was thrown more than three zhang away. Lying on the ground, panting heavily, Yu Yun did not harm him, but let him stand up and walk forward, his face filled with shame and indignation.

Yu Yun himself used the power of Venerable Mingyue to retreat five or six feet, like a leaf falling in the wind, which was extremely beautiful. He then laughed loudly and said, "What did I say? But you didn't believe me, so it was all in vain. I know that the three of you must have had your acupoints struck by Zen Master Baotan, and you can only recover by the healing method contained in that true scripture. However, I always keep my word. Since I said that the three of you should go first, I naturally cannot take it back. Please go first. I will never take advantage of your vulnerability. You can rest assured about that."

Venerable Jinyue and the others all changed color upon hearing this, especially Venerable Mingyue, who was shocked. He was shocked by Yu Yun's extraordinary martial arts, and he also realized that the three of them had been struck by the old ghost's acupoints. Indeed, the martial arts of the Central Plains should not be underestimated. At the same time, the arrogance and ambition they had when they came vanished like smoke. Venerable Jin Yue forced a smile and said, "Since you are so courteous, please forgive us for going first." The three of them turned and hurriedly walked towards the corner of the cliff.

You might wonder why Yu Yun suddenly regained his strength at this moment. It turns out that he had been seriously injured and could hardly bear it. He came up with this strategy of retreating to advance. He slowly walked towards the rocks. His slow walk was a feigned attempt to mislead. He thought that the three Venerables from beyond the heavens would not dare to pursue him, in case of a trap. As soon as he approached the rocks, he quickly took out the "thousand-year-old He Shou Wu" given to him by the old fisherman of Dianchi Lake and ate half of it. He felt that it was extremely fragrant. It turned into a thick liquid in his mouth and flowed down his throat. In an instant, the true qi of his nine internal organs circulated, and the pain stopped immediately. He tried to circulate his qi and found that he had recovered. In fact, his strength was much stronger than before. He was overjoyed beyond measure.

Still not satisfied, he swallowed five more "Eternal Spring Pills" in one go. With his exceptionally keen senses, he overheard the conversation between the three. The Venerable Bright Moon insisted on speaking only after he himself was mentioned, which aroused his desire to punish him. So he turned around and engaged the three Venerables from beyond the heavens in a second battle. He then used the last two moves of the "Maitreya Divine Skill" to seize the initiative. They were bound to be unable to withstand his attack, and his prediction proved correct.

At this moment, the three celestial beings stood at the corner of the rock, and Yu Yun followed them. Suddenly, the chanting of scriptures from inside the cave resounded again, much louder and clearer than before. The Golden Moon Venerable, impatiently, touched the rock corner with his feet, spread his arms wide, and flew out seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters). With a push of his feet, he quickly retracted his arms, performing seven or eight somersaults in mid-air. His limbs then extended, and he flipped out another seven or eight zhang. Just as he reached the cave entrance, his left arm swiftly moved to the side, changing direction by ninety degrees. With a spring of his feet, he landed lightly at the cave entrance and quickly slipped inside. Yu Yun, witnessing the Golden Moon Venerable's miraculous movements, secretly admired him.

Silver Moon, Bright Moon, and Yu Yun stared intently at the cave entrance. Before a cup of tea could be brewed, they heard Venerable Golden Moon let out a miserable scream, which grew fainter and more pitiful. The two monks, Silver Moon and Bright Moon, cried out in alarm, "Not good!" Before they could finish speaking, a huge figure, covered in blood, flew out of the cave and plummeted into the abyss below. The scream echoed through the valley, sending chills down everyone's spines.

Chapter Nine: Falling from a Thousand-Foot Cliff, Yet Life Still Lingers - A Myriad of Reasons, a Pregnant Treasure Vanishes from Her Womb, Fleeing a Thousand Miles Amidst Bitter Struggle. The Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens, hearing the chanting of scriptures from the cave, knew that Master Baotan was about to escape. Venerable Jin Yue's expression changed drastically; he hastily used his Heavenly Dragon Body Technique, leaping into the cave. Before a moment had passed, Venerable Jin Yue's screams of agony echoed through the cave, growing ever louder. Suddenly, Venerable Jin Yue was thrown out of the cave, seemingly blasted away by a tremendous force, covered in blood. He tumbled a few times in the air before plummeting down the abyss. His screams echoed through the valleys, unbearable to hear.

Venerables Yin Yue and Ming Yue, along with Kong Bai, frantically wrung their hands and stamped their feet, helplessly watching Venerable Jin Yue fall into the chasm, unable to help. Yu Yun, witnessing this, was also horrified, but helpless to help. He knew that a severely injured person, falling into a deep, precipitous valley, unconscious and unable to shift their position or maintain balance in mid-air, would be like a stone being thrown down, accelerating ever faster. The higher the fall, the more the air resistance and friction would crush them mid-fall, shattering their bones and twisting their body until they bled from all seven orifices, dying long before reaching the ground.

Yu Yun watched as Venerable Golden Moon's figure sank smaller and smaller into the snow-covered valley, until it was just a tiny black dot. He shook his head and sighed. Suddenly, Venerables Silver Moon and Bright Moon turned to look at Yu Yun, tears welling in their eyes. They looked at each other, and then, tears streamed down their faces like a spring. Yu Yun sighed sadly, then smiled and said, "You two don't need to be too sad. It's truly regrettable that our senior brother suffered such a cruel fate. But given his unparalleled skill, it's possible that he might be saved by divine

intervention. However, there's no time to lose now, so we must rely on you two to continue our senior brother's unfinished mission." The two Venerables nodded and wiped away their tears. Venerable Silver Moon and Venerable Bright Moon said, "Brother, why don't we

go together? You place your right palm against my back and guide my qi. With the combined strength of the two of us, we shouldn't be unable to withstand the old ghost's palm strike." Venerable Bright Moon said, "That's a good idea. Let's go." With that, the two took a deep breath, their feet quickly leaping forward, one after the other, and flew diagonally into the cave using Venerable Golden Moon's Heavenly Dragon Body Technique.

Yu Yunmu stood on the cliff edge, gazing absently at the two figures flying away, thinking, "Their journey is surely fraught with peril, but they must possess extraordinary willpower. Is it possible that without that true scripture, they cannot heal and recover? For five years they have persevered, never giving up, only to find it all just a pipe dream." He then unconsciously stepped on a protruding part of the cliff edge, a subconscious action without any ulterior motive.

Suddenly, two more piercing screams echoed from within the cave, followed by two figures, just like the Golden Moon Venerable, plummeting into the ravine, falling like stars, smaller and smaller... until they disappeared completely. Yu Yun was terrified by what he saw. The biting wind howled, whipping his clothes into the wind. The sky changed again, and in the blink of an eye, dark clouds gathered, and snow began to fall again, as if mourning the tragedy that had just unfolded… This change in weather brought an unexpected and unbearable chill. Even though Yu Yun had cultivated himself to be impervious to heat and cold, the biting wind made him shiver slightly. He thought to himself, “It seems that I’m next. It’s either life or death. As for the grudges between the Three Venerables of the Outer Heaven and Zen Master Bao Tan, outsiders have no way of knowing who is right and who is wrong. Judging from the situation, they are all ruthless and wicked, and they deserve their retribution. Why should I be so compassionate?” He was just speculating; therefore, whether it was right or wrong, he was indifferent because it didn’t concern him. This would later cause a bloodbath in the martial arts world, something he never expected.

He stared at the cave entrance, secretly calculating what he would do if he encountered Zen Master Baotan's deadly attack after entering, or what he would do if he met the Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens. His gaze inadvertently shifted to the valley, and even with his courage and composure, he felt dizzy and unsteady. He couldn't help but shudder, thinking to himself, "My fate is in the hands of Heaven. I'll die however I'm supposed to. What's the use of being afraid?" He gritted his teeth, lunged downwards, and flew out horizontally. Just as he reached the cave, he suddenly stretched out his limbs, displaying the "Three Spinning of the Azure Eagle" from the Seven Birds Body Technique. He flew horizontally three times and gently landed at the cave entrance.

A quick glance revealed that, as Venerable Jin Yue had said, it was deep and dark. The cave walls were uneven on three sides, with protrusions like sharp blades. The cave was also narrow, barely allowing one person to pass through. Yu Yun felt a little apprehensive upon seeing this. Even with his unparalleled martial arts skills, he couldn't use them inside the cave. Since he was already here, he had already disregarded life and death, so he slowly walked in.

Before he had even approached two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), Bao Tan's voice rang out, loud yet hoarse. Bao Tan said, "Donor, please stop. This old monk wishes to hear your purpose." His voice echoed, carrying a sinister atmosphere.

Yu Yun felt his scalp tingle and stopped abruptly. Looking closely, he vaguely made out the figure of an old monk meditating about twenty or thirty zhang away. He was startled, thinking, "Sitting in the shadows, he's most likely to spot things in the light. Why didn't he strike me down the cliff when I landed at the cave entrance? Is his palm strike not powerful enough to reach this far? Hmm, why don't I get closer to him and gain the upper hand?"

With a thought, he moved slightly and closed the distance by one zhang, suddenly feeling a fierce resistance. Bao Tan shouted... “Why is Tan Yue so disobedient? If you go any further, this old monk will have to be ruthless.”

Yu Yun smiled and said, “How can the Zen Master be so forgetful? Three months ago, a Beggar Clan disciple surnamed Meng happened to pass by the cliff, and the Zen Master made a promise with him. Have you forgotten it?”

Bao Tan laughed loudly and said, “That’s right, that’s true, but it’s no longer necessary.”

Yu Yun said angrily, “Zen Master, you are a Buddhist, how can you make promises so easily? I came at the invitation of Beggar Clan Leader Meng. The Zen Master said that entering the cave would be considered a predestined connection…”

Before he could finish speaking, Bao Tan interrupted … Suddenly, Bao Tan let out a long, unpleasant laugh, like the cry of an owl, making one's hair stand on end. After a long while, he said, "Bodhi is forever at ease, Buddha saves those with affinity, that's very true, but those with affinity have already passed away in the valley, forever ascending to paradise."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun knew that Bao Tan was an extremely powerful demon. If he were to regain his power, countless people in the martial world would suffer. Therefore, he resolved to take this opportunity to eliminate him. Without saying another word, he suddenly pressed his right palm forward, unleashing the "Yin Yin Yang Sheng" technique from the thirteenth form of the "Maitreya Divine Skill." The resistance Bao Tan had exerted was actually broken through. Yu Yun closed in by another two zhang, but suddenly a strong resistance forced him back. Master Baotan exclaimed, "I didn't realize your palm strike was more powerful than those of my three wicked disciples. If I don't get rid of you, I won't have peace of mind in the future, haha!"

Yu Yun suddenly felt the resistance intensify, and he felt unsteady. He quickly unleashed his fourteenth divine skill, "Six Harmonies into One," with his left palm. Master Baotan let out a muffled groan, and the resistance lessened. Yu Yun was overjoyed and unleashed a series of palm strikes, relentlessly closing in. Master Baotan was caught off guard; he hadn't expected Yu Yun to possess such fierce palm strikes. Losing the initiative, he was forced to retreat to within five zhang of him. Having only eliminated the Three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens, he was somewhat negligent, believing the great threat was gone. He focused intently on channeling his qi and blood down his legs, and just as he was reaching his limit, he noticed Yu Yun had entered the cave. Confident that Yu Yun's skill was no match for the Three Venerable Ones, he believed he could easily blast him out of the cave. Therefore, he continued to channel his qi, slightly raising his left palm and unleashing thirty percent of his Bodhi Palm power to block Yu Yun's movement. He was even more convinced that Yu Yun was no match for him, and secretly smiled with raised eyebrows.

Unexpectedly, Yu Yun pushed out with his palm, causing his body to tremble. Greatly surprised, he added twenty percent of his palm power, continuing to channel his qi and blood. He felt his qi and blood had reached his shins, and with only half an hour left to complete his great work, he was overjoyed. However, his mind became distracted, and Yu Yun's "Six Harmonies into One" technique broke through his "Bodhi Palm power," and Yu Yun was already five zhang away.

Startled, Zen Master Baotan nearly fainted. Forgetting to regulate his internal energy, he hastily pulled himself up, unleashing a powerful, raging torrent of energy from both palms. Yu Yun, seeing the cave in his chest, knew he was drawing his energy upwards. He knew that once Baotan's "Bodhi Palm Power" was fully unleashed, Yu Yun would surely die. Without hesitation, he struck forward with all his might, his feet swaying rapidly. His left palm was already outstretched, unleashing its divine power, while his right palm's two fingers swiftly struck the "Jianjing" acupoint. Such a desperate move was only used in life-or-death situations.

The two attacks were incredibly fast. Yu Yun's right hand had already gripped Baotan's left shoulder, and Zen Master Baotan's "Bodhi Palm Power" was unleashed just in time. With a loud "whoosh," Yu Yun was thrown back two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). His protective divine power was shattered, and he was slammed against the cave wall, sustaining numerous wounds. Hot blood surged in his chest, and he felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground, feeling as if the world was spinning.

After Zen Master Baotan struck Yu Yun down with a single palm strike, a wicked thought suddenly arose within him. He intended to kill Yu Yun with another blow, but to his dismay, his internal energy surged wildly within him, unable to gather again. A chilling, tingling, and numb sensation coursed through his chest, and the numbness almost paralyzed his joints. He knew this was truly the end. Five years of painstaking effort, enduring unimaginable suffering, were on the verge of restoring his power, but the middle-aged scholar had seized the opportunity, causing his efforts to be in vain. He let out a silent sigh, his eyes wide open, and murmured, "Young man, where did you learn from..." " This pressure point technique you've used is something I'm very familiar with in the martial arts of the Central Plains. I've never heard of such a unique technique before. Would you be so kind as to tell me?"

He then smiled sadly and said, "I've never been one to submit to anyone in my life, but now, on my deathbed, I admit defeat to you. As for why I chose to live in seclusion in the Central Plains, that remains a mystery. Young man, you've already taken my palm strike and are beyond saving. The most regrettable thing is that the three pages of the 'Bodhi Palm Leaf Sutra' that I obtained unintentionally will also turn to ashes along with my decaying bones. But it's good that in my final resting place, I'll have you, young man, as my companion." "Having said that, he let out a long, mournful laugh.

Yu Yun, being a man of profound skill, felt a wave of dizziness and blurred vision. He tried to circulate his qi: he felt a slight improvement in his spirit, but also a painful ache in his chest and abdomen, which he knew was the effect of the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu he had just taken. Just as he was about to get up, he heard Zen Master Bao Tan speak. On a sudden inspiration, he pretended to be seriously injured, bracing his right elbow against the cave wall, making phlegm-like sounds from his throat as he secretly regulated his vital energy. His eyes, however, were fixed on Zen Master Bao Tan. Only then did he see Zen Master Bao Tan's appearance clearly, noticing a thin, withered old man." Monk Dian sat imposingly on a half-foot-high rock, his face wrinkled and worn, dressed in a tattered yellow robe. His pale blue eyes blinked in the dark, deep cave.

At this moment, Yu Yun, hearing the intention in his words—that he intended to destroy the three pages of the true scripture—was startled. Suddenly hearing Chi predict his imminent death, he found it quite amusing. He struggled and said, "Old Zen Master, you're absolutely right. This pressure point technique of mine was stolen from a foreign hermit. Do you think it's effective?"

Before death, all thoughts vanish. Zen Master Baotan had long since lost all competitive spirit. Hearing this, he laughed, "It's effective, it's effective. If it weren't, how could it have saved my life? Young man, how does this palm strike feel?" Yu Yun hurriedly replied, "

It's quite unbearable. How could I keep the old Zen master company if it weren't unbearable... Hey, old Zen master, those three pages of the true scripture, please let me see them before I die..." As he spoke, his body slumped outwards.

At this moment, the numbness of Zen Master Bao Tan had worsened. He propped his head against the cave wall for support. Hearing this, he took a deep breath and sighed, "Young man, take it and look at it." As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and with a swift movement, it flew to Yu Yun's feet. He continued, "If it weren't for these three pages of the true scripture, how could I have been harmed by the three evil spirits, and how could I have died at your hands today? In the end, it was greed that caused this. These three pages of the true scripture seem to me to be an ominous thing. It's better to destroy them as soon as possible. Young man, after you've seen them, quickly throw them in front of me. I will use my remaining true energy to destroy them, so that they don't fall into the hands of evil and cause endless harm." The voice began loudly, but grew weaker and weaker as it spoke.

Three pages of the true scripture landed less than five feet in front of Yu Yun. Yu Yun struggled to crawl forward, reaching out his right hand to grasp them. He gasped for breath, struggling greatly, and finally managed to get them. The three pages seemed to be made of sheepskin, light and flimsy, covered in dense and detailed Sanskrit script. He feigned, "Old Zen Master, the script is so small, I can't see it clearly."

Zen Master Bao Tan couldn't help but chuckle softly, saying, "The scripture is all in tiny characters, and your eyesight is already failing; how can you see it clearly?" Both spoke weakly.

Yu Yun crawled towards the cave entrance with all his might. Zen Master Bao Tan hissed, "What's wrong with you? Throw the scripture back to me!"

Yu Yun continued crawling forward, saying, "I need to go to a place with light to see clearly; otherwise, I will die with my eyes open." "As he spoke, Yu Yun had already crawled forward three zhang.

Suddenly, Zen Master Baotan's expression changed, and he forcefully shouted, "You run!" He pushed forward with both palms.

It turned out that Yu Yun had crawled two zhang, paused, and tested his true energy. Apart from feeling chest pain, he felt no other obstacles. He thought, "If I rush to the cave entrance, I'll be fine. Even if he, a dying man, spits out his palm, the force won't reach the cave entrance." With this thought, he got up and rushed forward. Just as he was about to reach the cave entrance, he suddenly felt an incredibly powerful force behind him, pushing him forward and causing him to stumble and fall. He couldn't stop himself and cried out, like a gourd with a broken string, he plunged down into the deep ravine.

Yu Yun felt himself falling rapidly, his superior skills useless. The wind howled on both sides, and he thought, "It's over. I never thought I, Xie Yunyue, would be finished like this." His right hand was still tightly clutching the three pages of the true scripture. Just as he closed his eyes and awaited death, a gust of wind suddenly rose from beneath his feet, causing him to stagger. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Overjoyed, he used the upward force of the wind to slash his feet, suddenly rising three or four zhang diagonally. In an instant, he spread his arms wide, his body like a hawk, circling and descending. He narrowed his eyes and saw that there were probably still twenty or thirty zhang left to fall to the bottom of the valley. He calmed his mind and tried to relax his emotions as much as possible. The palm wound on his chest felt like it was being pricked by needles; he gritted his teeth and endured it.

He circled several times before finally landing on the ground. His shock subsided, but he felt weak and exhausted, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and in fact, the icy snow made it impossible to see anything; the darkness was truly astounding. This was a clear sign of exhaustion. He quickly transferred the three pages of the scripture from his right hand to his left, then rummaged under his robe with his right hand and pulled out the remaining half of a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), about the length of a thumb. He swallowed it whole without chewing. A moment later, he felt a warm current rise from his dantian, circulating through his body for a full cycle. The pain immediately subsided. He thought, "Every sip and every bite is preordained. I intended to keep this thousand-year-old He Shou Wu to help others, but unexpectedly, it saved me from two serious injuries. It seems everyone has their own destiny; one cannot force things." Thinking this, he took out a jade bottle, poured three or four Longevity Pills into his mouth, closed his eyes, and began practicing meditation. Surprisingly, he entered a meditative state amidst the swirling snow.

An hour later, he opened his eyes, let out a long sigh, stood up, flicked the snow water off his robe, and looked up. He saw a sheer cliff thousands of feet high, piercing the clouds, and the cave entrance was only the size of a black bean. Recalling the terrifying scene just now, he was stunned. He looked up for a while, thinking, "That bald monk Baotan's palm strike is so powerful, surpassing even my fourteen forms of 'Maitreya Divine Skill.' I wonder if that old ghost is dead yet." He felt a nameless sense of pride. He recalled the scene just now, and his right hand used the "Severing Tendons and Meridians" move from the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan," instantly severing three of his main meridians. He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He suddenly remembered the Three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens, and immediately glanced around. He saw no trace of their corpses, and a chill ran down his spine. He thought to himself, "I was saved by the swift wind when I fell; the three of them must have encountered the same situation. Why am I worrying about others? I wonder how Miss Gu Yanwen is doing now; she's probably getting impatient." Thinking this, he quickly hid the three pages of the true scripture close to his body, determined his direction, and headed south.

The weather was freezing cold, and in the villages he passed through, most doors were tightly shut. In each village, he knocked on doors to ask for directions to Lingshi County. Many people cast astonished glances at his disheveled appearance. He didn't even want to admire his own appearance. His fur robe was torn in dozens of places, black fur seeping through, almost covering his body in animal hide. His elbows and shins were covered in wounds from being struck by sharp rocks on the swamp wall, especially his right ankle, which had three or four large holes torn in it. He shook his head and hurried on.

Upon arriving at Old Man Yang's house in Huangzhuang, it was nearly midnight. Old Man Yang and his family were already fast asleep, startled awake by the urgent knocking. Still half-asleep, Old Man Yang threw on his clothes and opened the door, guessing it must be Mr. Yu. He asked, "Is this Mr. Yu?"

Hearing this, Yu Yun felt deeply apologetic, as it was the dead of night, and he had disturbed them from their warm beds. He quickly replied, "Old Man Yang, it is indeed me. I'm so sorry to have to ask you to open the door." "

Not at all, not at all," Old Man Yang said politely as he opened the door.

Holding a red candle in one hand, Old Man Yang saw Yu Yun's disheveled state in the candlelight and exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Yu, what happened to you?"

Yu Yun's face flushed, and he said awkwardly, "I accidentally slipped and fell off the cliff. I'm incredibly lucky to have survived."

Old Man Yang exclaimed, "Ah, what a stroke of luck! Let me wake my wife and get some hot water for you to wash up."

Yu Yun hurriedly declined, "Old Man, please don't bother. I must set off immediately."

Old Man Yang said, "Mr. Yu, what are you saying? How can you travel at night in this weather? Can't you leave tomorrow morning?" He wouldn't allow Yu Yun to leave no matter what. At this time, the whole family, young and old, got up and busied themselves boiling water and cooking.

Seeing his sincerity, Yu Yun had no choice but to stay. He took out his luggage, which he had left at Old Man Yang's house, took a bath, changed his clothes, and ate some food and wine. Old Man Yang then escorted him to the guest room to rest. Yu Yun sat up late into the night by lamplight, taking out the three "Bodhi Palm Leaf Sutras" he had almost risked his life to obtain. He examined them under the lamplight and saw that they were covered with densely packed Sanskrit characters written in tiny, fly-like characters. He thought to himself, "Fortunately, I studied Sanskrit under Master Zhu Liang; otherwise, even if I had them, they would be useless."

He then calmed his mind and carefully read the three pages of the sutra. After reading them in one go, he realized that the sutra contained the Buddhist teachings on cultivating both inner and outer life, focusing on the key to "stillness." It emphasized concentrating one's true energy at a single point, which could be released outwards like thunder in the heavens, shaking mountains and rocks, while inwardly it could heal injuries and restore one's original state. No matter what kind of injury one suffered, as long as the meridians were not severed, one could recover in a short period of time. No wonder the three Venerable Ones from beyond the heavens risked their lives to obtain them. If one diligently and consistently practices according to this scripture, one's abilities can be restored to youth and even lead to longevity. However, when applied externally to the palm, its power is extraordinary, slightly inferior to the "Maitreya Divine Skill." Its drawback is that it can only be performed while sitting or standing, unlike the unpredictable and spontaneous "Maitreya Divine Skill." Everything has an immutable truth: for every benefit, there is a drawback—this saying remains unchanged throughout the ages.

Yu Yun was naturally intelligent; sitting cross-legged on the couch, he practiced the incantations of the "Bodhi Palm Leaf True Scripture." He could easily understand the many profound mysteries within the text, grasping their meaning instantly. After his true energy circulated through the twelve levels of the Dao, he opened his eyes and felt his power had increased considerably. At this time, dawn was breaking outside the window; knowing it was getting late, he got out of bed and opened the door. He saw that Old Man Yang and his entire family were already up, busy preparing food in the kitchen. Seeing him come out, Old Man Yang hurriedly fetched water to prepare breakfast. Yu Yun felt quite uneasy.

Just as the sun was setting, Yu Yun bid farewell to Old Man Yang, mounted his horse, and disembarked. Stepping outside, he was met with a biting wind and a world of swirling snow. Ignoring the heavy snowfall, he pressed on with all his might, feeling the howling wind on either side, the trees flashing past like snowflakes. After passing Lingshi County, Yu Yun found himself on a more desolate stretch of road, the roadside forests dense with withered branches. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "Why don't I try out the 'Bodhi Palm Power' in the forest and see what astonishing power it possesses?" "With a thought, he reined in his horse and galloped into the withered forest.

Upon arrival, he tied the horse, chose a spot where the wind and snow had barely reached, sat cross-legged, and waited until his true energy gathered in his palm. Then, he suddenly unleashed his palm strike, and a loud, thunderous crash resounded. A quarter of the withered forest before him was snapped at waist height, no less than several hundred trees. This palm strike used eighty percent of his true energy. He quickly stood up and counted the broken trees, which were exactly one hundred. With the remaining twenty percent of his true energy, he slightly raised his hand, and another section of trees immediately broke. Such a silent and subtle palm strike was extremely rare. Even his own 'Maitreya Divine Skill,' when used at its full potential, would produce a sound. Thinking of this, he decided to use the fourteen forms of the 'Maitreya Divine Skill' for a comparison."

He spun around abruptly, unleashing the "Fourteen Forms of Divine Skill" and the "Six Harmonies as One." A thunderous roar followed, and another section of the withered forest snapped. He flew over and, upon closer inspection, found forty-nine trees broken—nearly half—proving that the Bodhi Palm's power was more than half as strong as the Maitreya Divine Skill. He felt that the Maitreya Divine Skill he was using now was far more refined than usual, realizing it was a mantra from the "Bodhi Palm Leaf Sutra," which helped enhance his divine skill. He also realized that once the "Bodhi Divine Skill" was condensed in his palm, it could be unleashed in three or four strikes, perfect for dealing with a series of attacks. Overjoyed, he leaped onto his horse and headed straight for Taiyuan.

Upon entering the back garden of Jinci, he saw Gu Yanwen's graceful figure practicing the "Nine Palaces Positive and Negative Yin-Yang Steps" on the snow. Her movements were ever-changing, and she moved with incredible speed. In just two days, she had mastered many ingenious variations, much to Yu Yun's delight. The girl saw Yu Yun and rushed towards him like a bird, calling out "Brother Yun" repeatedly.

Yu Yun caught her in mid-air, hugged her tightly, kissed her cheek, and smiled, "Sister Wen, let's go back inside and talk." Yu Yun

sat on the couch and recounted his journey to Jiu'ou Peak. The girl's bright eyes held endless changes; when he spoke of the dangerous parts, she would exclaim in surprise, showing how concerned she was. After Yu Yun finished speaking, he let out a long sigh and smiled, "Sister Wen, let's go for a stroll in Taiyuan City." The girl

smiled sweetly and said, "I knew Brother Yun must have gone to find out what the Qingfeng Gang was up to, and you're eager to go out as soon as you arrive, aren't you?" Yu Yun nodded with a smile, and the two of them rode off side by side.

The walls of Taiyuan were faintly visible. Taiyuan, situated on the east bank of the Fen River, was a sturdy, square city with a circumference of twenty-four li, its imposing and majestic presence resembling a crouching tiger or a coiled dragon. The city was surrounded by mountains on its east, west, and north sides, with rolling hills, except for a narrow plain to the south. Yu and Yun were riding leisurely along the official road on the outskirts of the city near the south gate,

their horses' hooves thundering. They gazed at the snow-capped peaks and the gulls flying over the cold pond, pointing and laughing. Suddenly, they heard the urgent tinkling of bells behind them, as if a dozen or so riders were galloping up. They continued riding slowly, not turning around. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past them, and the riders, having passed within five zhang, abruptly reined in their horses. One of the young men shouted, "Alas! What an ugly woman! Ha, ha!" and burst into laughter.

It turned out that Miss Gu Yanwen was wearing a leather mask. Upon hearing this, the girl's eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to rush forward when Yu Yun stopped her, whispering, "Sister Wen, wait for me."

Yu Yun reined in his horse and stepped forward, sneering, "You dare to comment on women in such a crowded place? Aren't you afraid of the law?"

The young man laughed loudly, glancing at his companions, "Look at this poor scholar, he must have eaten the heart of a dragon and the heart of a leopard, daring to be so disrespectful to me, Xing Quan." He then glared at Yu Yun, saying, "Poor scholar, I, Master Xing, love to comment on women. The law can't touch me, so what can you do about it?" Before he could finish speaking, a "crack" rang out, and a five-inch-long, bright red welt appeared on the young man's left cheek. He swayed on his horse twice and fell to the snow.

It turned out that Yu Yun, seeing his arrogance, had become enraged and lashed out with his whip across his cheek. The remaining dozen or so riders, seeing their companion fall from his horse, cried out and tried to gang up on him. However, the young man, after landing, sprang back up with a somersault, protecting his left cheek with one hand, and shouted angrily, "You...you poor wretch, you dare to hit someone..."

Yu Yun interrupted with a smile, "How dare I? I love to beat people in public, we're all the same."

Upon hearing this, Xing Quan leaped forward, his fingers spread wide, intending to pull Yu Yun off his horse. Yu Yun smiled slightly, his right wrist flicking outwards, and the seven-foot whip quickly circled around Xing Quan's airborne figure, instantly securing it firmly. With the force of the flick, it was sent flying with a loud "thud" into a snow ditch more than ten feet away by the roadside.

Xing Quan's companions were stunned by Yu Yun's whip-flying skills. After a moment, a round-faced middle-aged man spoke up: "Although you are skilled, our Qingfeng Gang is not to be trifled with. Just now, we have already formed a

grudge. You just wait and see." Upon hearing that they were from the Qingfeng Gang, Yu Yun added fuel to the fire. With a sudden flick of his wrist, three or four more whips flew up, and more than ten Qingfeng Gang members cried out in pain as they fell from their horses. Yu Yun pressed down on his mount, leaped off, and landed in front of the round-faced man in a flash. The round-faced man, who had fallen on the snow, was about to get up when he saw Yu Yun in front of him. In a panic, he raised both palms. Yu Yun shouted, "You're courting death!" His right palm slashed down, and with a "crack," the round-faced man's wrists broke, blood gushing out like a fountain, and he immediately fainted.

Yu Yun pointed at the remaining bandits and shouted sternly, "What kind of thing is the Qingfeng Gang? Running rampant and lawless! I'll spare your lives to tell the gang leader to behave himself. Ask yourselves how you compare to the Seven Paths of Wutai

. If you're not satisfied, come find me. My surname is Yu. When you see the gang leader, please give him my regards." Upon hearing this, the bandits' faces turned ashen. They helped the round-faced man up and hurriedly mounted their horses and rode away. The story of Yu Yun driving back the Seven Paths of Wutai with a single whip had spread throughout the Guanzhong martial arts world, causing widespread fear. Underworld figures were all on edge. After receiving the news, the Qingfeng Gang ordered its men not to attack Yu Yun if they saw him in person, but to immediately report to the headquarters. Unexpectedly, today, because of Xing Quan's gossip, they had offended this ruthless star. They were all fleeing like rats. Ironically, Xing Quan, who had just crawled out of the snow ditch, upon hearing this ruthless star, abandoned his horse and slipped away as fast as he could.

Miss Gu laughed so hard on horseback that she nearly fell over. Yu Yun, mounted on his horse, couldn't help but chuckle at her laughter and whispered, "Wenmei, I think we can't go to Taiyuan City. Let's go back to Jinci and talk about it tonight." Miss Gu was content as long as Yu Yun was by her side; she didn't care about the trip and immediately agreed, turning her horse around and galloping away.

On horseback, Yu Yun kept pondering, muttering to himself, "Strange, strange..."

Seeing his puzzled expression, Miss Gu quickly asked, "Brother Yun, what's making you so surprised?"

Yu Yun said, "I was just thinking, I used the Qingfeng Gang to cause trouble and committed a crime at Minister Li's house. The local government should have swiftly arrested the Qingfeng Gang members, so how come they can still come and go freely, without any law or order? Isn't that a bit strange?"

The girl chuckled and said, "Brother Yun, you're being too naive. The Qingfeng Gang..." " Deeply entrenched and powerful, with long-standing collusion with the local government, and how can a master thief remain anonymous after committing a crime? Isn't this a huge flaw? Perhaps the Qingfeng Gang is already trying to capture you."

Yu Yun suddenly realized and laughed, "How could I not have seen that? You know, Sister Wen is very clever."

The girl smiled and said, "Don't flatter me. You must teach me that whip-flying skill."

Yu Yun said, "Okay." With a crack of the whip, he flew like an immortal and rode like a dragon, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at Jinci.

As soon as the two entered Jinci Temple, three people came out from behind them, laughing heartily. Yu Yun caught a glimpse of the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cangxi Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian and the Taoist priest guarding the temple. Overjoyed, Yu Yun rushed forward and grabbed Lei Xiaotian's wrist, saying, "Eldest brother, second brother, when did you arrive?"

Lei Xiaotian didn't answer him, but squinted at Miss Gu for a few moments before laughing, "Third brother, you have a beautiful new wife, but you've forgotten about your two brothers." Actually, Gu Yanwen was wearing a mask, so how could she be considered extremely beautiful? These words made Miss Gu blush and lower her head, but she couldn't be petty, because they were Yu Yun's sworn brothers.

Yu Yun knew it must have been the Taoist priest guarding the shrine who said it; otherwise, how could he be so clear? So he laughed and said, "Second brother, you haven't changed your old temper since we met. You're just joking around and provoking Wenmei to get angry and attack. I won't care."

Lei Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Then I'm not afraid. How could any sister-in-law in the world dare to hit your second uncle?" He turned to the girl and said, "Sister-in-law, don't you think so?" The girl didn't say anything, but looked up and glared at Lei Xiaotian.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi frowned and said, "Let's talk inside."

After they sat down inside, Nine-Fingered Beggar

Cang Xi laughed and said, "Third brother, how did Meng Huazi's request for you go?" Yu Yun replied, "It's done, but I almost lost my life." He then told everyone the details of what happened at Jiu'ou Peak, and asked, "The two young men of the Fu family..."

Cang Xi stopped him, saying, "You don't need to worry about that. The two young men of the Fu family have already returned home. Meng Zhongke is also staying in Changping temporarily on my orders. He will return to Jin after we go back. Right now, Third brother, you've gotten yourself into quite a mess..."

Yu Yun hurriedly asked in surprise, "What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?"

Lei Xiaotian immediately laughed loudly and said, "Third brother, although your martial arts are good, you lack experience in the martial world. A series of fierce..." "All these cases are your doing. These evil spirits are incredibly powerful. Although we didn't witness them firsthand, they can piece together the evidence and suspect it was you. Don't even think about it. The Five Eccentrics of Longmen lost their way, and their methods are exactly the same as those used by the Zhou Family Village against the Yin-Yang Twin Swords. The Black Dragon Society was defeated, the Free and Unfettered Taoist fled in resentment, the Flying Whip repelled the Seven Paths, the Five Platforms Sect Leader Yuan Zhenzi died from his injuries, and the Qingfeng Gang's Guoxian branch members Wei Yan and his two companions died without injury. The Eight-Handed Heavenly Venerable Ao Hua ascended to heaven atop the Pagoda. They all suspect these are your handiwork. My elder brother and I have been traveling to Shanxi, and the bandits of the five northern provinces have been frequently spotted along the way. It seems Taiyuan City is about to be embroiled in another storm. Third brother, your name, 'Strange Handed Scholar,' is now famous throughout the land." Yu Yun listened with a pounding heart, never expecting to have incurred such a deep grudge.

Cang Xi frowned and smiled, "Second brother, there's something you haven't mentioned yet. Let me add it to you, especially since the third brother's actions at Minister Li's house were really not very clever. The next day, the Qingfeng Gang leader, Old Man Pu, personally escorted Feng Long to surrender, declaring that it was not the Qingfeng Gang's doing, and gave him a month to capture you no matter what. This matter is known far and wide in the capital, and the emperor is furious. He immediately dispatched nineteen top-ranking imperial guards. Therefore, this matter has caused a great dispute in the martial arts world."

Yu Yun pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "If they do this openly, I'm not afraid. If they say they didn't witness it and only guessed, how can they accuse someone? Let's just deny it. If they try to force us, I'll just leave another bloodbath."

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi laughed loudly and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Third Brother, you're truly heroic! Denying it outright is a good idea, but we can't avoid a fight. A thousand Red Flag Gang members have also come to Jinzhong. I'll take this opportunity to settle old scores, but I'm afraid it will bring trouble to Brother Qi, and things will escalate again in twenty years."

The Taoist priest guarding the shrine chuckled and said, "Teacher Cang, you underestimate me, Qi Hong of Kunlun. Is the Qi family afraid of trouble?"

Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian laughed and said, "None of you here are afraid of trouble, don't you think?" Lei Xiaotian was actually teasing the girl.

The young woman, unaccustomed to wearing a mask for the first time, casually removed it. Hearing Lei Xiaotian speak, she smiled, revealing her teeth. Her appearance immediately caught everyone's attention. Lei Xiaotian thought to himself, "She's truly beautiful. No wonder my third brother… he's having such good luck with women." The young woman then quickly put the mask back on.

At that moment, several soft thuds sounded outside the window. Although the wind was howling, it couldn't escape the notice of these martial arts masters. Qi Hong of Kunlun, the skillful one, changed his expression. With a flick of his wrist, three bright silver nails shot out through the window—a move as swift as lightning. A loud laugh suddenly rang out from outside the window, saying, "Old Qi, this isn't proper etiquette for receiving a good friend. How can you send three shiny silver nails before even meeting me? How stingy!"

Qi Hong, the skilled Kunlun, listened intently. The voice was very familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was. With a wave of his hand, he immediately created a gust of wind that shattered the window frame, and he was the first to rush out, shouting, "Who goes there?" Yu Yun and the others followed suit.

Seven or eight people stood unevenly on the snow outside the window, including Xing Quan, who had just been punished by Yu Yun. Among them was a tall, burly old man with a red face, a lion's nose, and a silver beard. He held three bright silver nails in his hand, glanced at Yu Yun for a moment, and then burst into laughter, saying, "Old Daoist Qi, after twenty years, you don't even recognize an old friend?"

Qi Hong of Kunlun, the skillful one, knew who the newcomer was as soon as he saw him, and said coldly, "So it's Cai Fu, the master of Wild Man Mountain.

Master Cai, are you here to settle old scores from twenty years ago?" Master Cai Fu sneered and said, "Old Daoist Qi, is the Cai family so petty? Back then, you were struck by my palm, and that debt is settled. This time, the problem lies with this Yu family member." As he spoke, he pointed at Yu Yun.

While the skilled Kunlun Qi Hong was talking to the Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu, Qiankun Shou Lei Xiaotian whispered to Yu Yun, "Third brother, the four people inside with black and white headscarves are the Four Demons of Miao Jiang. Their martial arts skills are superb, which is another matter. They are skilled in using the Shadowless Flower-Scattering Needles, which contain poison. If they get poisoned, it will be troublesome. You have to pay special attention to them when you fight them. Also, they are extremely lewd and vicious. No Miao woman with even a little bit of beauty can escape them. It's best to get rid of them as soon as possible."

Yu Yun secretly sized up the Four Demons of Miao Jiang. He saw that they were all tall and thin, with purplish-red eyes, bare feet, and long robes that only covered their knees. Their eyes were slightly green. They stood there stiffly, extremely sinister. There were two women in this group. Their appearance was above average. Their eyebrows and eyes had a hint of lust. The two women seemed to see Gu Yanwen as extremely ugly and kept whispering and giggling.

Miss Gu was secretly furious, wishing she could rush forward and slap them twice. She instinctively grabbed Yu Yun's hand tightly. Yu Yun suddenly felt a soft, smooth hand rest in his palm, and his heart fluttered. He returned the gesture, gripping the girl's hand tightly.

The Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi suddenly said to Yu Yun, "Standing beside Cai Fu is Guo Fengchun, the master of the Guo Family Fortress in Shangdang, the Double-Hook Divine Shotman. This man has always been upright and honest, and I've met him once before. How could he collude with them? It's utterly perplexing." Yu Yun glanced at Guo Fengchun, feeling that the man possessed a very upright demeanor, yet his expression seemed to harbor a deep-seated worry.

At this moment, Cai Fu, the master of Savage Mountain, explained that he had come for Yu Yun. Before Qi Hong of Kunlun could reply, Yu Yun stepped forward. Yu Yun sneered and said, "I, Yu Yun, have no grudge against you, Cai. What do you want with me?"

Cai Fu smiled and said, "You know what you've done. Do I need to waste my breath?"

Yu Yun laughed loudly, "Your words are quite strange. What I've done is none of your business, Cai. Since you've come for me, you should explain your purpose." Cai Fu's feet moved slightly. He was surprised by this man, who didn't seem to have any outstanding qualities. He thought, "Rumors in the martial arts world say this man has extraordinary martial arts skills, but his eyes are no different from ordinary people

. For someone under forty to be able to conceal his gaze is impossible. Perhaps some of the rumors are inaccurate."

He smiled and said, "Why are you so angry? The affairs of the world are for the people of the world to manage. I, Cai, am here because I have been entrusted by someone in the martial arts world. I will not interfere in other matters. First, the death of Yuan Zhenzi, the head of Wutai Sect, was not directly caused by you, but you indirectly hindered everything, which led to the loss of the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu. You cannot shirk your responsibility. Also, the death of Ao Hua, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable, in the tower was very clever of you. You did it without leaving a trace. I was unaware of it at first, but unfortunately, things did not go as you wished. The two people in the wind cave are still alive and have described your appearance and skills clearly. As for the Tai'a sword... hehe, I stole it back. Now, to make a long story short, Yuan Zhenzi and Ao Hua, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable, are my sworn brothers. Is it unnecessary for me to interfere in this matter?" After saying that, he laughed loudly.

When Yu Yun heard that the two people in the wind cave had not died, he knew that Fu Qing's attack was inaccurate, which was understandable. However, when he heard that the Tai'a Sword had been stolen back by Cai Fu, the Lord of the Savage Mountain, he was shocked. He glanced at Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, and Xiao Tian, the Thunder God of the Universe. Cang Xi and Xiao Tian were also stunned, somewhat bewildered. Yu Yun had already figured out most of it. It must have been Cai Fu who secretly switched the sword and stole it. Otherwise, how could two martial arts masters like Cang Xi and Xiao Tian not know? It was clear that this person's skills were not to be underestimated. He saw that the long sword was wrapped in blue cloth on Cai Fu's back, snorted slightly, and took advantage of Cai Fu's laughter to quickly move.

Before Cai Fu's laughter had even faded, he suddenly saw that Yu Yun had vanished. Still puzzled, he blinked, as if sensing something, and with a roar, swung his palm sharply. Turning around, not only was Yu Yun still gone, but he also felt a light touch on his shoulder. Knowing something was wrong, he quickly reached out and touched his shoulder; the Tai'a sword was gone. He only heard a chilling laugh behind him.

The Wild Man Mountain Lord spun again, seeing that Yu Yun now held a long sword. His smile vanished, and he said coldly, "Yu Yun was returning a favor; I hope the Mountain Lord won't take offense."

Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu roared fiercely, attacking without a word. His hand unleashed more than a dozen palm shadows, dazzling the eye and accompanied by whistling sounds of wind breaking, demonstrating his extremely powerful internal energy. This palm technique, taught by a strange person, was called "Flying Flower Palm." Once it struck a certain part of the body, the bones would shatter—truly terrifying.

Yu Yun didn't let him hit her. She dodged three steps with a swift movement. With a "clang," the Tai'a Sword was already drawn. A bright and dazzling silver light arrived with astonishing force. The originally dim sky seemed to brighten again. Everyone felt a sinister cold aura approaching from outside, which was no less powerful than the freezing weather. It was a divine artifact from ancient times, with such great power. It was something that everyone in the martial arts world dreamed of obtaining.

Seeing him draw the Tai'a Sword, the Savage Mountain Lord's expression changed drastically, and he retreated hastily. Knowing that even his unparalleled palm power was no match for an ancient divine weapon, he let out a sharp, cold laugh and said, "You use the Tai'a Sword against someone who is unarmed; it's truly chilling."

Yu Yun's face was ashen. He sheathed his "Kada" sword, tucked it behind his back, and said in a deep voice, "Then what will you do, Lord Cai?"

Seeing the Tai'a Sword sheathed, Cai Fu's courage suddenly swelled, and he pointed his palms out again, unleashing the "Flying Flower Palm" once more. Yu Yun was about to raise his palm to meet the attack... At this moment, the skillful Kunlun Qi Hong rushed out like lightning, shouting loudly, "Please stop for now, both of you are guests from afar. Let's not hurt our harmony and talk things out."

Cai Fu immediately let go, his face full of anger, and said, "Old Qi, I won't make things difficult for you." He then pointed at Yu Yun and said, "Yu, I will personally retrieve the Tai'a Sword within ten days. Even if I let you go for now, you will not escape the grasp of the nineteen Iron Guards of the Imperial Palace and the skilled hands of the Qingfeng Gang. I will collect your corpse for the sake of our painting today."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun flew into a rage, leaping in front of Cai Fu and shouting, "Cai, you should be more direct! What do the Imperial Guards and the Qingfeng Gang have to do with me? No need to say more, it's probably another of your schemes to frame me!"

Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu sneered, "I, Cai, never use my power to interfere in matters concerning the Imperial Guards and the Qingfeng Gang related to Minister Li. You know that perfectly well; do I need to explain?"

Yu Yun's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "As expected, my elder brother was right." He smiled slightly and said, "What a joke! I wouldn't stoop to such things, and even if I did, I wouldn't implicate the Qingfeng Gang. If they insist on pinning it on me, fine, then please pass on the message, Lord Mountain Lord, and I'll take it."

Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu nodded. "Alright, that's settled then. If you are fortunate enough to survive, we'll meet again on the battlefield of Banquan in Wangxingping on the evening of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year."

Yu Yun laughed and said, "If Lord Cai is so dedicated to his friends, I, Yu Yun, will certainly give you justice in Banquan on the evening of the seventh day."

Cai Fu said nothing more, cupped his hands in farewell, and at this moment a strange scream suddenly rang out. It turned out that Miss Gu was not as good as Xing Quan, and knew that he was the one who brought these people here. Seeing that the flames of war were started by Xing Quan, she could not tolerate his life. She stamped her foot, flew out, and with a "Five-String Hand" pipa palm strike, she slammed it into Xing Quan's chest. Instantly, all his ribs were broken, he spat out blood, and was sent flying more than two zhang away, where thousands of red plum blossoms appeared on the white snow.

Lord Cai Gun of Savage Mountain was furious, but he quickly suppressed it, sneered twice, and said, "I don't need to get involved in your feud with the Qingfeng Gang. You'll see what happens later." With that, he had already swayed over the wall, and his companions followed him, leaving only Guo Fengchun, the Double Hook Divine Shotman, standing there in a daze.

At this moment, Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Fortress Master Guo, it's been a long time . Seeing the heavy worry on your face, is there anything you wish to ask?"

Guo Fengchun, the Double-Hook Divine Slinger, suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Cang, I do indeed have something to say, but I didn't expect you to see through me with your divine eyes. I'm quite old, yet I could n't keep my composure, and you've made me laugh."

Qi Hong, the Skillful Kunlun, then smiled and said, "Fortress Master Guo, it's windy outside. Please come inside and talk."

Everyone went inside and sat down. The young Taoist had already prepared a very lavish feast. After several rounds of drinks, Guo Fengchun, the Double-Hook Divine Slinger, sighed and said, "This is something I shouldn't ask, but I must say it. Hero Yu, please don't misunderstand that I have any ulterior motives with the Qingfeng Gang."

Yu Yun laughed heartily and said, "Fortress Master Guo, please speak. As long as it's within my power, I will do it without hesitation."

Guo Fengchun opened his mouth as if he was hesitant, but finally spoke up, saying: "Was the theft at Minister Li's house committed by Master Yu?"

Yu Yun was taken aback and exclaimed in surprise, "It was indeed my doing. Could this matter be of great importance to the Lord of the Fortress? If the Lord of the Fortress is implicated for no reason, I will immediately turn myself in."

Guo Fengchun laughed loudly and shook his head, saying, "No, Master Yu will surely guess that I am working for the government. In fact, I would never stoop to colluding with such lackeys. However, Master Yu's boldness is truly admirable. May I ask, Master Yu, did you take a bronze Maitreya Buddha statue from the Li residence that night?"

Yu Yun smiled faintly and said, "Yes, I did. I was pleased to keep this Buddha statue for my enjoyment, but it has nothing particularly remarkable about it. Why is the Lord of the Fortress so concerned about it? Is there some hidden meaning behind it?" At this moment, everyone at the table stopped drinking and listened quietly. Miss Gu's beautiful eyes had never left Yu Yun's face from beginning to end.

Upon hearing that the Buddha statue had been found, Shuang Gou Shen Dan (Double Hook Divine Shot) was filled with pride. He stood up, picked up his wine pot, and laughed loudly, "Since this item is in the hands of Hero Yu, I, Guo, need not worry any longer . Let me offer you all a cup of wine before explaining the origin of the bronze Buddha.

" Lei Xiaotian said, "We are currently in a besieged city, yet we still drink and laugh. This composure

will surely become a legend in the martial arts world. Perhaps outside Jinci Temple, there are already eagles and tigers lurking." Guo Fengchun replied solemnly, "When we arrived, Jinci Temple was already surrounded by powerful enemies. You are all outstanding figures in the martial arts world. How could you be afraid of these lone rabbits? Although Old Cai is a ruthless person, he will never be on the same side as them. He is extremely arrogant, but I trust him. If Hero Yu had admitted to the Li family's affair, then that would be a different story. Right now, it is highly likely that Old Cai is still trying to dissuade them. Before we are certain..." "We mustn't act recklessly. The Qingfeng Gang has had a string of misfortunes in recent years, and their former arrogance has waned considerably. Right now, they're hesitant and indecisive. Otherwise, we wouldn't be so relaxed right now."

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cangxi frowned and suddenly said, "Where are the nineteen Iron Guards sent from the capital? I heard that Iron Arm Vajra He Shenfu and Yin Wind Fiend Palm Zhan Wanxiong are among them. These two are lay disciples of Shaolin, of very high seniority. By all accounts, they should be the current Shaolin abbot's uncles. Their skills are not to be underestimated. I estimate that either of them is much stronger than me. Third brother, do you think you can handle them?"

Yu Yun laughed and said, "Brother, why do you keep saying such discouraging things? I'm not being arrogant. No matter how they come, I can still send them back." He paused, then turned to Guo Fengchun and smiled, "Fortress Master Guo, please briefly tell me about the bronze Buddha." Seeing Yu Yun's composure, Guo Fengchun, the "

Double Hook Divine Shot," was truly impressed and felt he absolutely had to befriend him. He chuckled and said, "This bronze Buddha was presented to Prince Jia by the Henan Provincial Governor. It's a Zhou Dynasty artifact, priceless, and inside the Buddha's belly is a cold-repelling bead..."

Yu Yun suddenly realized, "No wonder it was so warm when I hugged the bronze Buddha!"

Guo Fengchun continued, "My son, Guo Lianxiang, founded the Luoshao Escort Agency in Kaifeng. Over the years, thanks to the support of friends in the trade, while our business isn't booming, our escort routes are extensive and we rarely encounter problems. Therefore, the Henan Provincial Governor entrusted me with escorting a batch of rare antiques to the capital using clandestine methods. Feeling a great responsibility, I temporarily closed the agency, reassigned all the escorts, and gathered the best of the best. I was confident there wouldn't be any issues, and there were no accidents along the way." "It happened! We were supposed to arrive in the capital the next day, but after spending the night in Laiyuan, we discovered at dawn that while many other things were missing, this ancient purple steel Buddha statue was gone. The thief was incredibly thorough, leaving no trace before or after the theft. As a result, my son is currently imprisoned in the Nine Gates Commander's Office, ordered to retrieve it within six months..."

He sighed deeply, took a swig of wine, and continued, "For this, I, Han, have been traveling the martial world for months, investigating openly and secretly, and finally discovered that this Buddha statue had fallen into the hands of Minister Li. The details are too numerous to explain in a few words. I even searched the Li family's treasure vault, but could not find it. Fortunately, it was obtained by Hero Yu. If Hero Yu were to bestow this item upon me, I, Han, would be eternally grateful."

Yu Yun laughed heartily and said, "It's nothing, nothing to mention. I'll go get it right away." With that, he walked out the door.

A moment later, Yu Yun entered. He had changed into a clean white shirt and trousers, and his socks and shoes were also white. The mask on his face was also different from the one he had worn in Zhoujiazhuang; it was grayish-white to keep out the cold, and quite frightening. In his hands, he held a bronze Maitreya Buddha statue about a foot tall, with a lively expression, bare chest and belly, and a wide smile. It was extremely lifelike and clearly a rare treasure.

As Yu Yun walked in, he laughed and said, "If it weren't for Master Guo mentioning that there was a cold-avoiding pearl hidden inside the Buddha statue, I would still be completely baffled. However, when I got my hands on it, I felt a warmth to my touch. I knew there was something fishy about it, but I didn't expect there to be such a mysterious element inside." As he spoke, he extended his palm and handed it to Guo Fengchun, the Double Hook Divine Slinger.

Guo Fengchun accepted the mask without a word of thanks, only staring intently at Yu Yun. Yu Yun merely smiled, his expression blank. Guo Fengchun noticed this and asked in surprise, "Master Yu, was that your true face just now?" Yu Yun smiled, lifted the mask, revealing a handsome face with bright eyes and clear eyebrows. Guo Fengchun was stunned, speechless for a long time.

Yu Yun said, "I'm going out for a walk. If anyone comes, don't tell them I'm going out." With that, he moved.

Miss Gu called out urgently, "Brother Yun!" Before she finished speaking, Yu Yun had already disappeared out the window, leaving only gusts of cold wind rushing in.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi raised his cup and drank deeply, then suddenly laughed and said, "Fortress Master Guo, my third brother is exceptional in intelligence, courage, and martial arts. Just in martial arts, I am far inferior to him, let alone in other areas. However, he is a bit too willful. I predict that once he leaves, Taiyuan City will be in turmoil again." As he said this, he noticed that Gu Yanwen was pouting and angry, so he laughed again and said, "Miss Gu, your Brother Yun will definitely be back in no time. Don't worry, it's nothing."

Qiankun Shou also chimed in with a laugh, "If anything goes wrong, Lei Xiaotian will definitely compensate you with a young and handsome Brother Yun. To be honest, if I were to lose him, not only would you be heartbroken, but I, Lei Xiaotian, would also be heartbroken." Upon hearing this, the skillful Kunlun Qi Hong and the Double Hook Divine Shot Guo Fengchun immediately burst into laughter, and Miss Gu also laughed out loud, feeling shy and embarrassed.

Inside the room, the five men drank their wine in one gulp. Miss Gu, too, had a good capacity for alcohol. They chatted and laughed, discussing only martial arts anecdotes and trivial matters, without mentioning what was about to happen. Before long, an hour had passed. Suddenly, several soft footsteps echoed in the snow outside the window. Qi Hong of Kunlun, the skillful one, paled and was about to stand up when he was stopped by a look from the Nine-Fingered Beggar. Cang Xi, holding his staff, laughed loudly, "Lord Guo, since you won't forgive me, I, your humble servant, will definitely come to your esteemed residence next Dragon Boat Festival!" "I'll learn from you, Fortress."

Guo Fengchun, the Double Hook Divine Shotman, was taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly understood and sneered, "Since Teacher Cang has given the word, I, Guo, will be waiting for you on time." Before he finished speaking, three people rushed in from outside the door. One of them was Cai Fu, the Wild Man Mountain Lord, who had just come. The other two were both tall and strong, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes. One had thick eyebrows and angry eyes, an aquiline nose and a wide mouth, and a short, white mustache like a hedgehog, each hair showing flesh. He had a sinister smile on his face, and two strangely shaped wolf-tooth weapons were stuck in his back.

The other was an old man with a purple face and white beard, whose eyes were as sharp as lightning. He was imposing without being angry, and a golden curved sword was stuck diagonally behind him. As soon as the three entered, Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu asked Guo Fengchun, "Lord Guo, where did that Yu fellow go?"

Double Hook Divine Bullet was inwardly surprised, but maintained his composure, smiling slightly as he prepared to answer. Suddenly, Yu Yun's voice rang out from outside the door: "Who is looking for me, the one surnamed Yu?" Before he finished speaking, Yu Yun had already swaggered in. Upon seeing Cai Fu, he angrily said, "Mountain Lord Cai, are you so impatient for our appointment on the seventh day of next year that you've found help and want to settle things now?"

Wild Man Mountain Lord Cai Fu was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yu Yun; he exchanged a surprised and suspicious glance with the two men who had come with him. At this moment, Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi stood up and laughed, "Mountain Lord Cai, are these two friends who came with you Lord He and Lord Zhan from the Imperial Palace?" His laughter carried a hint of disdain.

Cai Fu frowned and smiled, "It is indeed the two esteemed gentlemen, He Shenfu and Zhan Wanxiong. You all should get to know them better."

Cang Xi gestured and said, "Please sit, please sit." He Shenfu and Zhan Wanxiong's faces were ashen, and they let out a loud snort, but they remained standing still.

Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian raised his eyebrows, about to lash out, but Cai Fu quickly turned to Yu Yun and said, "Friend Yu, a wise man does not lie. May I ask if you went out just now?"

Yu Yun feigned surprise and said, "That's right. I had to relieve myself just now, and went out to relieve myself. It was less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. What's wrong with that?" At this moment, Yu Yun changed back into the mask of a middle-aged scholar, wearing a black robe and black shoes.

At this moment, Zhan Wanxiong, the Yin Feng Sha Zhang, stroked his hooded beard and sneered, "Master Cai, don't be fooled by this poor scholar. In our opinion, let's take him back to the governor's office first."

Yu Yun sneered, and Master Cai Fu of the Wild Man Mountain laughed, "Wait a minute, let's clarify things. Can any of you here prove that our friend Yu didn't go out?"

Qiankun Shou Lei Xiaotian laughed loudly, "We martial artists should be straightforward. What exactly happened? You suddenly appeared, acting all aggressive, and immediately questioned this Yu fellow. Is it a crime for him to drink here and then go out to relieve himself?"

Cai Fu laughed. "It's all my fault for being too hasty. I didn't explain myself properly, and instead, I've made this blunder. Half an hour ago, another incident occurred at the governor's office. Of the nineteen imperial guards, except for He Zhan and his brother, the other seventeen were secretly harmed. Their mute acupoints were sealed, and their martial arts were completely crippled. Two of them were fatally wounded on the back of their chests. The intruder also wrote on the wall, listing the names of the Qingfeng Gang's leader, Pu, and four of its top fighters. Killing officials and defaming the emperor is tantamount to treason. Think about it, what crime should they be charged with?"

Yu Yun laughed loudly, "Regardless of our thoughts, the three of you came here to arrest..." "You've given Yu some leverage, haven't you? How can you accuse someone of something you didn't do? Master Cai has a long-standing reputation in the martial arts world, why should he become a lackey and associate with the people of the Six Doors?"

Cai Fu was rendered speechless, his face flushed red. Iron Arm Golden Sword He Shenfu immediately roared, "Just for that one sentence, you should be sent to the authorities for punishment!"

Yu Yun rolled his eyes and chuckled, "So you're the so-called Iron Arm Golden Sword He Shenfu? Don't be so arrogant, Yu Yun doesn't even consider you a threat."

Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian also chimed in with a loud laugh, "Hero Yu, I feel the same way about dealing with such a treacherous and ungrateful person."

He Shenfu, with his iron arm and golden sword, and Zhan Wanxiong, with his sinister wind and fierce palm, were both from Shaolin. Their martial arts skills were passed down from Shaolin. Their skills surpassed those of the rest of the martial arts world because Shaolin's seventy-two unique skills were rare and extraordinary, but few could master them all. A hundred years of life is but a fleeting moment. Even if one learns the skills from childhood, one cannot master them all by the time one reaches old age. Even if one does master them, one will be old and frail, so what use are they? Therefore, Shaolin teaches skills according to the individual's aptitude. After Emperor Yongzheng burned down Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, all the secret manuals of the unique skills were fortunately rescued in time and stored in the Futian Branch Temple.

After this battle, Shaolin, learning from past mistakes and fearing that the knowledge would be passed on to the wrong people, added another rule: ten of the seventy-two unique arts must not be passed on to lay disciples. Even if they are disciples of the sect, they must be examined for ten days before any two mental techniques of the ten unique arts can be taught to them. They cannot be taught all of them. He Zhan and his companion were exceptionally talented after joining Shaolin, but unfortunately, they were limited to lay life and could not presume to learn the secret arts.

The two men, narrow-minded and malicious, secretly learned the secret techniques of the three sects of the Arhat Hall. When the abbot discovered this, they were imprisoned in the Bitter Zen Hall. Imprisoned for years, they finally broke free of their chains with the "Bodhidharma Zen Palm," defecting to Shaolin and injuring as many as thirty-six of their fellow disciples. They wandered the martial world for six or seven years, earning the reputation of Iron Arm Golden Sword and Yin Phoenix Killing Palm. But Shaolin never let them go, relentlessly searching for them. Knowing they couldn't survive in the martial world, they joined the imperial court. In recent years, everyone knows the "Two Heroes of the Palace Gate." Their greatest fear is mentioning their past. Now, with Yu Yunlei Xiaotian reopening their wounds, their faces turned bloodshot, their beards bristling with rage. Zhan Wanxiong, the most violent of the two, shifted his body, his palm suddenly flipping upwards, grabbing Yu Yunlei's wrist like a gust of wind.

This technique is a unique Shaolin acupoint-grabbing secret, but without twenty years of internal energy cultivation, it cannot be mastered, making it extremely rare in the martial world. Yu Yun was slightly surprised to see that Zhan Wanxiong's attack was as swift as the wind. He felt that Zhan Wanxiong's fingertips were penetrating and cold to the bone. He wanted to test what Zhan Wanxiong's skill was. So he neither dodged nor avoided. When Zhan Wanxiong's iron claw touched his wrist, he quickly slammed his right arm down and laughed loudly. He then stabbed Zhan Wanxiong's palm with his middle finger.

Zhan Wanxiong was caught off guard by Yu Yun's swift change of move. He suddenly felt a numbness in his palm and hastily withdrew his attack, his expression turning sour. Yu Yun then laughed loudly, "Lord Zhan, this is not a place for you to run wild. Take my advice and hurry back to the capital. You can still maintain your reputation there. If you two insist on relying on the power of the government to falsely accuse innocent people of theft, I will not stand for it. This Jinci Temple will be the place where you will disgrace yourselves and ruin your reputations."

He and Zhan were extremely shocked. The reason was that Zhan Wanxiong had just revealed a move that was the unique "Chasing Wind and Capturing Acupoints" technique of Shaolin. It was a move that took advantage of the opponent's unpreparedness and attack their defenses without fail. Yu Yun was not only able to dodge it in time but also counterattack, which proved that Yu Yun was indeed a person with extraordinary skills.

Upon seeing this, Cai Fu, the master of Savage Mountain, paled slightly. An expert can tell a lot just by looking at someone's hand, and an onlooker has a clearer perspective. Seeing the "Tai'a Sword" stuck in Yu Yun's back, Cai Fu felt a surge of worry. His prize, which he had almost obtained, had been snatched away by Yu Yun in public. As a renowned figure in the martial arts world, he couldn't bear the loss of face. He still maintained the agreement for the seventh day. Judging from Yu Yun's move just now, it was something he absolutely couldn't afford to attack. He frowned deeply and let out a short sigh. Yu Yun was also shocked by the unparalleled skill of Wan Xiong. Although his five steel claws had only lightly touched his wrist, they still throbbed with pain.

Hearing Yu Yun's arrogant words, Zhan Wanxiong, the Yin Feng Sha Zhang, tensed up and burst into wild laughter, saying, "Your skills are indeed superb, but you're too arrogant. In over a decade, I haven't seen anyone dare to be so disrespectful to me. The snow outside is beautiful. If we don't capture you, you don't need to say a word; not only will we, the Twin Heroes, be stripped of our titles, but we'll also willingly hide in the desolate mountains." Without waiting for Yu Yun's reply, he turned and walked away. He Shenfu, the Iron-Armed Golden Sword, smiled at Yu Yun and followed him out.

The Savage Mountain Master, Cai Fu, remained silent. Suddenly, he looked up at the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi, opened his mouth to speak, but then held back and sighed deeply. Seeing Cai Fu's shrewd expression, Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, knew that he was outwardly tough but inwardly warm-hearted. Although he didn't discriminate between good and bad friends,

he was still a man of principle. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Brother Cai, don't worry, you're guaranteed to win." Cai Fu smiled slightly and said, "I know you have a sure chance of winning, but this mess has gone too far. Whether you win or lose, you will never have a place in the martial arts world again."

Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian laughed and said, "Mountain Master Cai, you have such a kind heart, so I know that the Mountain Master is not a bad person. Don't worry, everyone can perform magic tricks. Not only can we still associate with each other in the martial arts world, but the Gongmen Twins will also lose their virginity."

Cai Fu thought that Lei Xiaotian was the most intelligent person, and his words must be reliable. So he nodded and said, "Very well, everyone, please." He turned around and walked out.

Yu Yun and the others walked out of the snow one after another. They saw that the Gongmen Twins were already glaring and snarling, and they were getting impatient waiting. When they saw Yu Yun come out, Zhan Wanxiong immediately smiled sinisterly. At this moment, dusk was falling, a fierce wind howled, and snowflakes swirled wildly in the air. All that could be seen was a gray-white expanse, and everyone's face was solemn. Everything was so dark and somber...

Yu Yun stepped forward, lowered his hands, and smiled, saying, "Master Zhan, please give me your move. It is customary for someone of my caliber like myself not to strike first."

Zhan Wanxiong, the Yin Feng Sha Zhang, was furious at the sarcasm in Yu Yun's words and roared, "Fine!" As soon as he finished speaking, his wrist sank, then suddenly rose, and five steel claws flashed as they reached for Yu Yun's left arm. Yu Yun laughed, his feet not moving, but his shoulders swayed rapidly, and he leaned to the right. Zhan Wanxiong thought that Yu Yun's right hand was about to strike, so he quickly spread his five fingers together and immediately changed his move to "Black Bird Slicing Sand," spinning rapidly from left to right with tremendous force and a sharp whistling sound. If this move were to strike, the opponent would undoubtedly suffer a broken wrist or arm.

Little did he know that Yu Yun's move was a feint. He shifted slightly to the side, then straightened up again, his feet firmly planted as if nailed to the ground before falling back down. His arms swayed, but it was all a feint; he didn't actually raise them. Zhan Wanxiong had put all his strength into this move. Missing was no big deal, but his body was thrown a step to the left. For someone as prominent as him to be defeated like this, he was immediately ashamed and his face turned bright red. Yu Yun laughed loudly again, "Master Zhan, what's wrong with you?" He remained standing with his hands behind his back, looking perfectly calm.

Zhan Wanxiong's attack missed, and he knew Yu Yun was extremely ruthless. He knew that carelessness today would lead to his utter disgrace. Without a word, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and he swiftly struck with both palms in a "Three Rings Encircling the Moon" attack, accompanied by a hissing wind, aiming to strike Yu Yun's flanks. This move was incredibly unpredictable, its wonder lying in the simultaneous strike of both palms, creating six palm shadows—four feints and two real strikes. The opponent couldn't distinguish between them. If the opponent dodged carelessly and only one palm struck, their internal organs would be instantly damaged, resulting in death, while the surface skin and bones would remain unscathed. It was truly formidable.

Yu Yun let out a cold laugh, his palms swiftly extending, then suddenly deflecting to the left and right. Zhan Wanxiong was secretly alarmed. He sensed that Yu Yun's movements were not only swift as the wind, faster than his own, but also precise, attacking where the opponent had to defend. He quickly retreated three feet. Yu Yun didn't press him further. After he regained his footing, he said, "You are no match for me. Now, I, Yu Yun, will give you one last chance: immediately return to the capital, resign and go into seclusion, never again aiding the wicked. I can even take you to Mount Song to explain things to you." As he spoke, a flash of lightning suddenly shot from his eyes, exuding a chilling aura. Cang Xi and the others secretly admired him, feeling that this young man was incredibly charismatic. In particular, Miss Gu felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

Zhan Wanxiong gasped, exchanging a glance with He Shenfu, the Iron-Armed Golden Sword. As expected, Yu Yun's words revealed his true strength, exceeding their expectations. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "While your martial arts are exceptional, you shouldn't underestimate me. Do you think you can defeat the two of us?"

This remark surprised everyone present. Zhan Wanxiong's words were deliberate, a tacit admission of weakness. Lei Xiaotian was even more excited; these two arrogant members of the Gongmen Sect were bowing before this younger brother. His joy was indescribable. Suddenly, several sharp whistles rang out from outside the Jinci Temple wall. In the blink of an eye, several figures leaped over the wall and landed in front of the Gongmen Shuangjie

. The first one, a thin, long-bearded old man, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the two and said with a smile, "My lords, so this fellow surnamed Yu really did end up here." Before the two could reply, Cai Fu, the leader of the Wild Man Mountain, immediately stepped forward and laughed loudly, "Chief Pu, let me introduce you; this is Hero Yu." He pointed at Yu Yun. Pu Hong turned around, looked Yu Yun over carefully, and grinned maliciously, "You've done a good job."

Yu Yun feigned surprise and said, "Chief Pu, I have never met you before, why are you so aggressive? What have I done that makes you so surprised? Please tell me the details."

Pu Hong angrily said, "You committed two crimes in Taiyuan, framing my men. Don't you know that?"

Yu Yun slightly... He chuckled, "Indeed, I've heard of this matter, but what does it have to do with me?"

Pu Hong was taken aback by the question, thinking, "Yes, and someone has testified that it was him."

He was speechless for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and roared, "Just your self-admission as a lone bandit in front of the Seven Paths of Wutai is proof enough!"

Yu Yun laughed loudly, then his face darkened, and he angrily said, "Chief Pu, how dare you say that? You're just a bandit organization, nothing special. You did this and then falsely accused me. You have no shame! I'll make sure you lose your arms and legs, or you won't know the consequences." Why did he say this? Because he recognized the five men who accompanied Pu Hong and knew they were the ones who had ambushed his father years ago. He had learned their appearances clearly before arriving in Taiyuan, so he was certain and a boundless murderous intent arose within him.

Pu Hong roared in anger and charged forward, unleashing the "Heaven and Earth Splitting" palm technique to strike four vital acupoints on Yu Yun's body. Yu Yun's eyes were sinister. He extended his right hand diagonally to meet the attacking wrists, slightly shifting his body and forcefully intercepting with his left palm. Suddenly, he changed his move midway, and as his left palm reached Pu Hong's chest, he spat out a "smack," sending Pu Hong flying back three or four steps.

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Pu Hong, it's not that I underestimate you, but I'm afraid you alone are no match for me. Knowing the Qingfeng Gang's reputation for overwhelming numbers, it's best if we all come at you."

Pu Hong, knocked back by Yu Yun's palm strike, felt his heart pounding. Hearing Yu Yun's arrogant words, his expression changed drastically. He grabbed Yu Yun, and five men rushed in, surrounding him. Pu Hong grinned maliciously, "I never refuse requests from others; surely this will fulfill your wish, sir?"

Yu Yun smiled slightly, then suddenly bent his right wrist, bowed slightly, and flicked his wrist upwards. A clanging sound rang out, and a cold light flashed across the sky. Everyone felt a chill. The moment the "Tai'a Sword" was drawn, everyone felt an indescribable sensation—the atmosphere was thick with impending killing intent, making their hearts tighten and feeling as if they couldn't breathe. The Qingfeng Gang members tensed immediately, drawing their weapons. Their leader, Pu Hong, also drew a pair of cacti made of pure steel, gleaming white.

Seeing the injured man reveal himself, Yu Yun resolved to eliminate them, disregarding the consequences. He remained motionless, his sword drawn, while the Qingfeng Gang members' palms sweated. Suddenly, Yu Yun swung his sword, unleashing dozens of sword beams aimed directly at the vital points on the shoulders and chests of Pu Hong and his six companions. The wind howled fiercely; this move, "Tai Chi Transforms into Six Strike," was truly wondrous and unpredictable, its wonder lying in its ability to simultaneously attack all six enemies scattered in four directions.

Pu Hong and his six companions were all renowned figures in the martial arts world, their skills seasoned. Seeing Yu Yun's move, they immediately launched a counterattack, their six weapons surging forth in perfect harmony, their power astounding as lightning and shooting stars. But as soon as they made their move, they made contact with Yu Yun's sword force. Each of them felt an immense force, heavier than a mountain, pressing down on them. Not only were their weapons almost forced out of their hands, but their bodies were also forced to lose their balance and veer off to the side. Each of them was greatly shocked.

Yu Yun's single move caused a dramatic change in the expressions of everyone present. Of course, their expressions varied. The two heroes of the palace gate showed fear and were quite uneasy. Although the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi and Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian had sworn brotherhood with Yu Yun, they had never witnessed Yu Yun's true skills. Now, they had realized that their sworn brother possessed unparalleled skills. Not to mention Miss Gu.

As the six members of the Qingfeng Gang were forced to retreat, Yu Yun unleashed another swift sword strike. With a flurry of silver blossoms, a series of soft clanging sounds rang out as the "Tai'a" sword severed all six men's weapons, sending them tumbling into the snow. Pu Hong, holding only a pair of bare cactus-shaped handles, stood there dumbfounded. The other five threw their broken blades as if using them as throwing weapons, turning to flee. Yu Yun let out a long, mournful laugh, and the sword flashed again. A streak of light swept past, and five heads shot up like a spray of red rain, adding a breathtaking and dazzling spectacle to the fading twilight.

The five men remained standing until the blood from their heads had completely drained, then they slowly collapsed. Pu Hong, the leader of the Qingfeng Gang and known as the Thousand-Handed Laughing Buddha, was a ruthless killer. Seeing Yu Yun kill all five of the Qingfeng Gang's most formidable members with just three sword strikes, he was chilled to the bone by the sight. Suddenly, his face contorted with rage, he shouted, "Yu Yun, you wield your sharp sword to hunt down those without weapons! I, Pu Hong, the Thousand-Handed Laughing Buddha, will fight you to the death!"

Yu Yun smiled, slowly sheathing his sword, and said, "Pu Hong, I will spare you because you are the leader of the gang." "I've shown leniency and spared your life. If you think I, Yu, only won because of the sharpness of my sword, you're mistaken. I'll let you borrow a weapon and we'll spar bare-handed. I won't let you use your weapon within three moves, and I'll never set foot in Shanxi again. How about that?"

Thousand-Handed Laughing Buddha Pu Hong knew Yu Yun wasn't just making a show of force, but he wasn't about to back down. He sneered, "I also don't want to fight bare-handed with a weapon. How about we spar bare-handed?" Pu Hong was clearly intimidated by Yu Yun's imposing manner, his tone incredibly weak.

Yu Yun laughed, "Alright, Chief, please make your move."

Pu Hong was the leader of a gang, and his martial arts were clearly extraordinary. Otherwise, how could he command his gang members? His palm strike was incredibly powerful, both ruthless and fast. When unleashed, it was as if hundreds of hand shadows were attacking simultaneously. He killed with a smile first, hence his nickname, Thousand-Handed Laughing Buddha. Pu Hong felt that although Yu Yun was skilled, he couldn't see anything particularly extraordinary about him. However, Yu Yun's sword added to his power, and if they fought hand-to-hand, Yu Yun might not be able to defeat him. Thinking of this, Pu Hong's courage grew, and without answering, he unleashed two powerful palm strikes to the left and right, using the move "Bells and Drums Ringing Together" to target Yu Yun's temples.

Yu Yun was determined to avenge Jiang Yaohong and also to show off to the two heroes of the palace, hoping to make them back down. So he didn't dodge or evade, remaining calm and composed. Just as Pu Hong's palms were about to strike, Yu Yun suddenly dropped to the ground, flashing behind Pu Hong. Then, he quickly flipped his left hand, grabbing Pu Hong's robe, and his right leg swiftly kicked out with "Moon Shooting Star." By the time Pu Hong realized his mistake and tried to turn around, he had already taken a heavy kick to the spine. With a muffled groan, he was sent flying into the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

Yu Yun's movements—sinking his waist, dodging, grabbing his clothes, and kicking out—were almost simultaneous, with no discernible sequence. This left the onlookers utterly impressed. Nine-Finger Beggar Cang Xi and Qiankun Hand Thunder Pu Tian whispered, "Third Brother truly achieves a state of stillness like a virgin and swiftness like a rabbit. Even I, the old man, am humbled."

The Palace Duo watched in stunned silence. Thousand-Handed Laughing Buddha Pu Hong, fortunately unharmed after his fall, stood up with a bitter smile and said, "Friend, you are indeed extraordinary. I, Pu, am unskilled and admit defeat. Three years from now, I will seek revenge for the blood debt I owe you for slaying five people." Having said this, he looked at the five corpses lying in the snow, couldn't help but shed two streams of tears, and turned to flee like the wind.

Yu Yun looked at the two heroes at the palace gate and smiled, "My lords, it's getting late. Would you still like me to teach you something?"

Iron-Armed Vajra He Shenfu laughed loudly, "Friend Yu, you do have some skills, but you can't scare us. We'll let it go for now because there's no evidence. But if we find out that it was indeed your doing, you won't be able to escape our grasp." With that, he watched Zhan Wanxiong turn around and jump over the wall.

At this moment, the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cangxi swiftly stepped in front of the Savage Mountain Master Cai Fu, clasped his hands in a slight bow, and said with a smile, "Master Cai, in my opinion, the agreement to meet at the Wangxingping Banquan battlefield on the seventh day of next year should be called off. Why bother to stand up for others' affairs?"

Cai Fu smiled and said, "Master Cangxi, how can matters between sworn brothers be resolved so easily? Besides, I, Cai, cannot make the decision alone. Master Cangxi's words suggest that time is short and there are matters that make it inconvenient to fulfill the agreement. I, Cai, will humbly make the decision to change it to the ninth day of next year. However, on the way to Shaanxi, one must be wary of attacks from the Wutai Gate and the bandits on the upper reaches of the Yellow River." As he spoke, he cupped his hands and said, "Until we meet again, please excuse me." With a sudden stomp of his foot, before the sound had even faded, he had already leaped two zhang high. When the sound subsided, he had disappeared outside the wall, like a black crane soaring through the sky.

Qi Hong, the skillful Kunlun, laughed, "Old Cai showed off his lightness skill to prove he wasn't weak, but anyone with eyes can see he doesn't think he can beat Master Yu by the date of the seventh day of next year, so he had to reschedule. Actually, he just wants to gather a few more skilled fighters to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. What a brilliant plan!"

Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, said, "It's so hard to be a person. He made those boastful claims first; if he doesn't say a few polite words and just walks away, he'll lose face."

Lei Xiaotian grabbed Yu Yun with one hand and Miss Gu with the other, laughing loudly, "What 'Two Heroes of the Palace Gate'? The wine's cold! Come on, let's go back inside!" "Go." He walked in and sat down, saying to Yu Yun, "Third Brother, although the martial arts world still doesn't know who you really are, you've already caused a sensation throughout the entire Jianghu over the past year. From now on, every step you take will be fraught with thorns, so you must be even more careful." He paused, then fell silent. At this moment, the others also entered the room. Lei Xiaotian turned to Guo Fengchun, the Double Hook Divine Shot expert, and smiled, "Master Guo, will you present the bronze Buddha statue to Prince Jia in the capital after the New Year, or will you leave now?"

Guo Fengchun said with a serious face, "Of course I'll leave now. Brother Lei, is there anything you need to tell me?"

Lei Xiaotian said, "The Two Heroes of the Palace Gate must be resentful about their retreat this time. They might even try to make a comeback and bother you, Master, to present it to Prince Jia. " "Let's say that the bronze Buddha statue was stolen at the behest of Vice Minister Li; this would cause a major disaster for the two heroes of the palace. Now, Prince Jia's words carry much more weight than those of the treacherous Prime Minister He Kun, so perhaps this matter can be resolved peacefully."

Guo Fengchun, the Double Hook Divine Shotman, laughed loudly, "Brother Lei, you are truly resourceful; if you have the power to turn the tide, you don't need to ask for this favor; I will certainly help. Let's not delay, I'll be leaving now."

The others did not try to stop him, seeing him off to the outside of the shrine, then turned back into the house. Lei Xiaotian suddenly said to Yu Yun seriously, "Third brother, what are your plans after this afternoon?"

Yu Yun laughed loudly, "I'm just a traveler, I'll take things as they come, I don't have any plans yet."

Lei Xiaotian shook his head ... The first brother said, "That's not how it works. I know you're eager to avenge your family and friends, but you can't be too hasty. Your reputation as the 'Strange Hand Scholar' is too big now, so why not take a break for now? The day after tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year. You can accompany Miss Gu to the Fu family in Changping for ten days or half a month, and then go to the Yue family in Cangzhou to stay for a while. As for the outside affairs, my elder brother and I will handle them. We

'll meet again in Quanzhou on the Double Ninth Festival next year, how about that?" Yu Yun smiled and said, "Second brother, I understand what you mean even if you don't say it. Anyway, we should have gone to Changping and Cangzhou long ago. But right now, I still need to accompany Miss Gu to Longmen." Then he told her about how Miss Gu's mother had fallen into the hands of Aunt Ren.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi finally spoke, saying to Yu Yun, "Ren Qigu's martial arts are only slightly better than the two heroes of the Gongmen Sect, so I believe you can handle her, Third Brother. However, we can't be of much help, because we're all under the watchful eyes of the Jianghu gangs. We can't hide our every move from them. Furthermore, Miss Gu's mother is trapped in a bandit's den, and Ren Qigu has many followers. If we let even a whisper out that we're here to rescue Miss Gu's mother, her life will be in danger. Therefore, it's best if you and Miss Gu go together. You must use your wits, not force her." "The Five Ghosts Iron Hands are probably of little use, but it's good to have them with you. While I'm not as clever and resourceful as Brother Lei, and my martial arts are far inferior to yours, I do have more experience. You should reveal your true colors and rescue them secretly when they're not paying attention. Old Man Lao and Lei Lao Er are waiting for you at Hua Tuo's place in Changping."

Yu Yun laughed loudly, "Only you two would do something like this! Watching us go to our deaths without helping us, you're truly heartless people!" The group chatted and laughed until late at night before finally going to bed.

The next day was Lunar New Year's Eve. Qi Hong, the skilled Kunlun warrior, hosted a lavish feast to show his hospitality. While martial artists, unless they had families and livelihoods, didn't place much importance on the New Year, treating it merely as a formality, the common people were different. Bo Haiteng was filled with joy, as firecrackers ushered in the old year and peachwood charms were renewed in every home.

Early on the second day, Yu Yun gave Lei Xiaotian a fine horse given to him by Wu Feng to ride back to Changping. Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, rode on Gu's horse. After Cang Xi and Lei Xiaotian left, Yu Yun discussed the journey with Gu. At noon, he reverted to his original appearance, bid farewell to Qi Hong, the skilled Kunlun warrior, and stepped out of the ancestral hall, heading into the untouched snowfield.

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