[Wuxia] The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea (Complete) - Chapter 21

In Chapter 30 of Liang Yusheng's *The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea*, the flying flower defeats the enemy, seemingly a miracle; plucking leaves to return to branches reveals extraordinary

abilities. The noon cannon had already fired, yet Meng Shentong was still nowhere to be seen. This was truly unexpected. Such a grand duel between the two sides
could not afford to be late. Even if Meng Shentong was only a moment late, he had already broken his promise to the martial arts world; there was no need for a contest, they could simply consider him a loser. Moreover,
at this moment, no one from the opposing side had even shown up; how could they possibly arrive in time?
Lei Zhenzi sneered, "What great supernatural powers? He's just causing a ruckus! Hmph, hmph, truly
a joke unprecedented in the history of the martial arts world!"
Before he finished speaking, the second noon cannon fired again, but the entrance to the cemetery remained silent; not a single shadow was to be seen. Cao Jin'er
laughed out loud with delight, bowed in a circle to the leaders of various factions, and said, "Thanks to your divine might, that old thief Meng has retreated in the face of battle!"
Cao Jin'er paused, and was about to ask Master Tongchan whether they should set off immediately, with disciples from various sects going in batches to search for
Meng Shentong, when something unexpected happened!
Suddenly, a loud laugh was heard, without any human figure, but it was clearly Meng Shentong's voice, loudly saying, "
You are indeed trustworthy people, thank you for waiting so long!" Just then, the third noon cannon shot rang out, but Meng Shentong's loud laughter
drowned out the cannon shot!
On the opposite mountain peak, two stone doors suddenly opened in the mountain wall, and Meng Shentong leaped down, in the sunlight, it was
noon , without the slightest delay! A large group of people followed Meng Shentong, leaping down from
a height . While Meng Shentong's skill was not surprising, the people he invited all moved as if on flat ground, truly resembling a divine army
descending from the sky. This left the disciples of various sects dumbfounded!
It turned out that Meng Shentong had deliberately created a charade. Half a year earlier, he had carved a cave on the mountain opposite the cemetery,
concealing it with large rocks. It had several secret exits, and his men had been hiding inside. When the time came, they suddenly opened the cave, launching a
surprise
Tang Jingtian, Yi Zhongmou, and the others recognized Master Zanmi, Venerable Alu, Jin Rihui, the Earth God of Tianlong Island, Kanli Sword
Tu Zhaoming , Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Bai Liangji, Commander of the Imperial Guard Qin Dai, Geng Chun, and more than ten others. The others were too busy
to identify them clearly.
Cao Jin'er suddenly screamed and ran out. Meng Shentong laughed, "What, you're going to start fighting before we've even discussed it?"
Cao Jin'er shouted angrily, "Today is a fair and square martial arts competition! You brought my two grandsons here to threaten me? Humph!
Humph, I'm afraid you won't be allowed to resort to such despicable means in front of the grandmasters of all the sects!" It turned out that she had spotted her two
grandsons—Zhao Yinghua and Zhao Yingmin—among the crowd. They had been kidnapped by Meng Shentong more than half a year ago. As Cao Jin'er was running towards
her two grandsons, a long-haired Taoist priest suddenly appeared from the side. With a flick of his whisk, he wrapped it around Cao Jin'er's dragon-headed cane,
rendering her unable to move an inch. Meng Shentong coldly said, "Cao Jin'er, why don't you ask what's going on? Let's hear what your
grandson has to say first."
Master Jinguang let out a soft "Eh," and said to Master Tongchan, "Isn't this Ling Xiaozhi from the Great Snow Mountain? How come he willingly
submitted to this demon?" Ling Xiaozhi was from the Quanzhen Sect, a seventh-generation disciple of Qiu Chuji, and held a very high position in the martial arts world. In his early years,
he had connections with the leaders of various sects, but later he suddenly disappeared, rumored to have gone into seclusion in the Great Snow Mountain to diligently practice the Taiqing Xuan Gong. He hadn't shown his face for
decades , but unexpectedly, he appeared here with Meng Shentong.
Seeing Cao Jin'er trapped, Lei Zhenzi angrily said, "Meng Shentong, do you not want to fight according to the rules of the martial arts world?" He drew his sword and charged
.
Just then, Zhao Yinghua suddenly cried out, "Grandma, my grandson has already become a disciple of Master Meng Shentong! Master Meng Shentong possesses unparalleled martial arts
skills; you mustn't be his enemy!"
Meng Shentong laughed heartily, "Cao Jin'er, did you hear that? Did I force him?"
It turned out that after Meng Shentong abducted Cao Jin'er's two grandsons, he displayed his extraordinary martial arts skills before them, winning
their hearts and minds. They were only fifteen or sixteen years old. Cao Jin'er usually kept them very strict, but now Meng Shentong neither
beat nor scolded them, and even taught them skills. Being young and naive, they felt much
freer . Meng Shentong had brought them here intentionally to diminish Jin'er's prestige and embarrass her; without even fighting, he had already
won the battle.
Cao Jin'er was furious, but there was nothing she could do. Lei Zhenzi was also extremely embarrassed, quietly sheathing his sword and
retreating .
Master Tongchan, in his capacity as abbot, said, "Let's leave this dispute for later. What is your opinion, Mr. Meng?" Meng
Shentong laughed heartily, "As expected of the Shaolin abbot, you are wise and discerning. Brother Lingxiao, let her go!" Lingxiaozi put away his whisk,
and the pressure on Cao Jin'er's cane suddenly disappeared, causing her to stumble back a few steps.
Cao Jin'er retreated, standing right next to Feng Lin. Her anger hadn't subsided, and she was seething with resentment. Feng Lin suddenly smiled and said, "
Sister , don't worry, we will definitely find a way to get your two grandsons back. However, I want to ask you a question: if they
escape Meng Shentong's clutches and return, how will you deal with them?" Cao Jin'er was taken aback, not understanding
the meaning of the words for a moment, and murmured, "How will I deal with them? I haven't thought of that. Why should I deal with them?"
Feng Lin deliberately tightened her face and said, "Meng Shentong is a public enemy of the martial arts world. Your two grandsons have betrayed our sect and willingly surrendered to the enemy;
their crimes are not small!" From her words, it seemed that if Cao Jin'er didn't handle the matter impartially, she would step in to clean house on her behalf.
Cao Jin'er was greatly shocked and hurriedly said, "They are just two children, what do they know?
The charges against them by Senior Feng are far too heavy." Feng Lin, not one to feign seriousness, saw Cao Jin'er's anxious expression and couldn't help but
chuckle, "They're your grandchildren, and you think the charges are too heavy? Then why did you condemn Gu Zhihua while she was still in her mother's womb? Wouldn't that be even
heavier?" Cao Jin'er blushed deeply and dared not argue further. At this moment, she also realized that she had been too harsh on Gu Zhihua in the past. Master Tongchan
stepped out of the arena, greeted Meng Shentong, and asked, "The various sects of the martial arts world, I wonder what has offended you?
You killed the four elders of the Beggar Clan, seriously injured the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, and kidnapped the disciples of the Mangshan Sect. Furthermore, you sent people to provoke
the disciples of the Emei, Tianshan, and Wudang Sects. May I ask: what deep-seated hatred has led you to
be ?" Meng Shentong laughed loudly, "Old Zen Master, you are mistaken! "
The Venerable Tongchan was displeased, "Where is the error? Please
enlighten !" Meng Shentong raised his head to the sky and coldly said, "I do this precisely because I think highly of them! If they were ordinary people, I, the old..."
"Meng wouldn't even deign to make a move!" Even the most composed Master Tongchan couldn't help but get angry, saying, "So, you're intentionally provoking
the martial arts world, determined to be enemies with all the major sects?"
Meng Shentong laughed heartily, "Old Master is half right. If I hadn't used such a little trick, how could I have
invited here? However, I don't intend to be your enemy, but merely to take this opportunity to verify each other's claims.
Aren't you Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Qingcheng, Tianshan, Mangshan, and other major sects always boasting about your orthodox martial arts, believing that the essence of martial arts in the world is contained
within your sects?"
Master Tongchan said, "As for the Shaolin sect, I can assure you, they are not as arrogant and complacent as you believe."
Meng Shentong laughed, "Master, you can't represent the entire martial arts world! Actually, to be honest..." " If someone truly possesses
the strengths of all schools and comprehends the supreme principles of martial arts, then he has every reason to be proud and arrogant. If I, Old Meng, were to encounter such a person, I would certainly be
convinced and willingly become his disciple!"
Master Tongchan said calmly, "Such a person is truly unique in this world, unless you are referring to yourself!" Upon hearing
this , Meng Shentong burst into another thunderous laugh!
Seeing Meng Shentong's arrogance, the leaders of the various schools were filled with indignation. Lei Zhenzi, Master Benkong, Xin Yinnong, Wu Tianlang, and
others stepped forward, awaiting Master Tongchan's command to challenge Meng Shentong to a duel.
Master Tongchan, with his profound self-control, though also harboring anger, did not show it on his face, but simply said calmly, "Mr. Meng,
I'm afraid today's matter cannot be dismissed with a laugh. I would appreciate your guidance on how to resolve this. " "
Meng Shentong declared loudly, "Those who have come with me today are all extraordinary individuals outside the major sects. They have long been
eager to witness your martial arts prowess, and this grand gathering is a perfect opportunity for them to test their skills against each other.
"If any of you manage to defeat them, I will then take turns challenging each of the sect leaders. If any of them manages to defeat me
even by a single move , I, Meng Shentong, will immediately commit suicide without your need for punishment! If, by some stroke of luck, I, Meng Shentong, actually manages to defeat any of the grandmasters
, I will not take your lives. I only ask that each of you send your successor as sect leader to acknowledge me as your master, and that will be the end of it. This is not because I am fond of being
a teacher, but because this will allow us to unify the martial arts of various sects, which I believe will greatly benefit the development and promotion of martial arts. This is my humble wish, nothing
more!"
This tone was extremely arrogant, and only then did the attendees realize that Meng Shentong intended to use this battle to force the various sects to
submit
to him! The leaders of all the factions were furious! But they couldn't help but worry, thinking to themselves, "If Meng Shentong wasn't
confident, how dare he make such a bold claim and challenge all the grandmasters of the various factions? If he wins, all the future leaders of each faction
will have to become
his disciples—wouldn't that be a disgrace to the entire martial arts world?"
Master Tongchan, his fingers twirling his prayer beads, raised his eyes and replied, "I greatly admire Mr. Meng's grand ambition. If
Mr. Meng truly possesses such supreme skill, I dare to represent all the major factions and obey your command. Does Mr. Meng have anything else
to say?" Meng Shentong said, “
There’s another minor matter. The Mangshan Sect was originally supposed to be led by Monk Jianfa, but unfortunately he’s already dead
.
Monk Miefa is my good friend, so I have a special regard for the Mangshan Sect. If I win this battle, the Mangshan Sect doesn’t need to
send another disciple to my sect. I can directly appoint Monk Jianfa’s eldest disciple, Geng Chun, as the sect leader.”
Cao Jin’er trembled with rage. According to Meng Shentong, if she lost this battle, Cao Jin’er’s position as sect leader would be immediately over, and
the Mangshan Sect would be governed by a commander of the Imperial Guard. In that instant, Cao Jin’er’s anger soared, and she almost rushed forward
to fight Meng Shentong to the death. Seeing her expression, Yi Zhongmou quickly pulled her dragon-headed cane back.
Yi Zhongnian said in a low voice, "Today's gathering is not just a matter for the Mangshan Sect. With all the grandmasters present, this old scoundrel
is unlikely to succeed. Let him spout nonsense for now; why bother with him now?" Cao Jin'er thought to herself,
if Mangshan were to lose to Meng Shentong at this grand gathering of all sects, and all the other sects were to suffer humiliation, even if Mangshan were to suffer an additional blow, it would only be a matter of fifty steps versus
a hundred steps . Would she still have the face to remain the sect leader then? Thinking it over, she realized she was indeed no
match for Meng Shentong, so she suppressed her anger and remained silent.
Meng Shentong laughed heartily, "Since no one objects to what I've said, let's begin!" With that, he slowly
raised his right hand, his eyes gleaming, staring intently at Master Tongchan.
According to the rules of the martial arts world, after both sides agree to the terms of the duel, their leaders would swear an oath by striking their palms together to signify its solemnity.
This was originally just a ceremony, but under the circumstances, everyone would think that Meng Shentong might use this opportunity to give Master Tongchan a taste of his own
medicine. Instantly, hundreds of eyes in the arena fixed on the two of them.
With a loud "thud," the two struck each other's palms. Master Tongchan remained unmoved, while Meng Shentong swayed slightly,
laughing loudly, "Old Zen Master, we'll meet again after they've finished their duel." He then retreated amidst his laughter. In
the exchange of blows, it seemed Master Tongchan had the upper hand. The leaders of the various factions breathed a sigh of relief. Lei Zhenzi even
sneered, "It seems this old monster's 'supernatural powers' are nothing more than this..." Before he could finish speaking, Master Tongchan slowly returned,
his face extremely grave. Abbot Benkong of Shaolin Temple was startled and stood up. Qiu Wushe, an elder of the Kunlun Sect skilled in medicine,
pulled him aside and said, "Master, don't panic. The old Zen Master was only slightly affected by some evil energy; it's nothing serious." Abbot Benkong
, the second-best martial artist in Shaolin, glanced at Master Tongchan and knew that although Qiu Wushe spoke lightly, and everyone hoped Master Tongchan
was alright , judging from the situation, Master Tongchan had at least suffered a loss. It wasn't as they had imagined;
Master Tongchan hadn't gained the upper hand in the exchange. However, out of respect for Master Tongchan, no one dared to question him.
It turned out that when Master Tongchan and Meng Shentong "swore an oath" with a palm strike, they had indeed secretly exchanged blows. Meng Shentong
used the ninth level of the Asura Yin Sha Gong, while Master Tongchan countered with the "Indestructible Vajra Body Technique," a unique skill of Bodhidharma.
The "Indestructible Vajra Body Technique" was originally immune to all poisons, and coupled with Master Tongchan's decades of profound internal energy, it was even more
formidable . Therefore, Meng Shentong couldn't help but sway slightly from the force of the recoil.
Even though Master Tongchan used the Indestructible Vajra Body Technique, receiving Meng Shentong's palm strike still felt a chill penetrate
to his heart , almost freezing his blood. Fortunately, he possessed unparalleled Buddhist internal energy; after circulating his qi three times, the poison was
eliminated. To outsiders, it seemed he had a slight advantage, but he knew in his heart: if he truly fought Meng Shentong, how
could he allow him any spare energy? With his skill, if Meng Shentong used the ninth level of the Asura Yin Sha Technique, he was confident he could withstand three...
The fourth strike was uncertain.
After Master Tongchan and Meng Shentong took their respective seats, the two groups faced each other. An Indian
monk spoke in broken Chinese: "I have long admired the martial arts of your country's Shaolin School, which has been passed down for
over a thousand years since the time of Bodhidharma. I imagine there must have been many variations and improvements. I have come from afar and am eager to witness
the skills of the Shaolin masters, who share the same origin as my country."
Tang Jingtian recognized the Indian monk as Venerable Ara, whom he had fought in the Ice Palace. He thought to himself, "
I'm afraid only Master Benkong can handle this man." Before he could finish his thought, Master Tongchan had already assigned
the Great Compassionate Zen Master, one of the "Eighteen Arhats," to go out and meet the challenge. It should be known that Venerable Benkong and Venerable Tongchan were of the same generation and held extremely high prestige in the martial arts world. For Venerable Benkong to casually
engage in a fight with one of Meng Shentong's subordinates would be neither honorable nor respectable, and a defeat would be laughable. Therefore, Venerable Tongchan, after careful consideration, decided
to send out Zen Master Dabei.
Zen Master Dabei was renowned among the Eighteen Arhats for his exceptional internal strength, and everyone was reassured that he was sent out to block the first wave. Only Tang
Jingtian was not optimistic, hoping that he could rely on his superior internal strength to remain undefeated.
The two greeted each other with Buddhist etiquette and then began to fight. Zen Master Dabei used the Shaolin Temple's signature Arhat Fist. Each punch
was accompanied by a whooshing sound. Venerable Alu received a few blows and laughed, "Indeed, they come from the same source!" He also countered with his long fist. To the onlookers
, their fist techniques were largely similar, each with its own subtle variations, but Zen Master Dabei's punches seemed
heavier and .
The two fighters moved with increasing speed and agility, their movements a blur of motion. The Arhat Fist, a style of boxing passed down for over a thousand years, was known to most outside the Shaolin school.
However in their execution, this seemingly ordinary style became awe-inspiring and extraordinary, each punch
imbued with boundless power! Those outside the Shaolin school were stunned, realizing that the Arhat Fist they had seen before was utterly insignificant. The Shaolin disciples
watched with rapt attention, finding much to learn from their opponent's techniques.
During the fierce battle, the Great Compassionate Zen Master used the move "Oriole Descending from its Perch," his left palm circling and lowering in a defensive stance; his right palm then thrust out from under his elbow,
striking the ribs and chest. The 33rd abbot of Shaolin, Zen Master Wuzhu, modified the "Arhat Five Elements Fist" passed down by Bodhidharma, creating
a thirty- three-move style called "Thirty-Three Divine Fists of Breaking Through Shaolin," a subtle variation of the defensive-offensive approach within the "Breaking Through Shaolin" style
.
In the blink of an eye, the roles of host and guest reversed. Venerable Aro's fist techniques had been blocked by Zen Master Dabei. It seemed that he only needed one more move to win.
The Shaolin "Eighteen Arhats" were beaming with joy, each thinking, "Although we come from the same source, our Shaolin school is still a cut above
the rest." Before they could finish their thoughts, they suddenly heard three loud "thump, thump, thump!" For some reason, Venerable Aro's arm seemed to
bend , striking from an absolutely unexpected direction. Zen Master Dabei's "Three Sheep Bring Prosperity," a move with three strikes, all missed
. On the contrary, the opponent's three consecutive punches all landed.
This was quite a shock to the Shaolin disciples. Zen Master Tongchan turned his head and smiled, "Dabei has been practicing the Vajra Indestructible Body Technique diligently for the past few years,
and he has achieved some success." Before he finished speaking, Venerable Aro suddenly sprang out like a spring, looking as if
his fist had touched a red-hot iron.
It turned out that Venerable Aro was using superior yoga techniques, his muscles capable of twisting and deforming at will.
He unleashed this Zen Master Dabei's "Indestructible Vajra Body Technique" had also reached a certain level of
proficiency; although he couldn't knock his opponent down, he himself remained unharmed.
After each displaying their superior martial arts, the situation changed again. Venerable Aro knew his opponent possessed divine protection, and a fierce attack would be
futile. Therefore, he proceeded cautiously, his feet positioned according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, seemingly only able to parry but unable to retaliate. His punches grew increasingly
slow.
At this point, all the heroes believed Zen Master Dabei would surely win this battle, but
the expressions became grave. Several of the more skilled Shaolin disciples noticed that although their opponent was retreating step by step, he didn't
show signs of defeat. However, regardless, it seemed Zen Master Dabei still had the upper hand, so they couldn't understand why their master looked so worried
.
Master Dabei pressed his opponent tightly, transforming his fist into a palm strike, unleashing the Shaolin's ultimate technique, the Vajra Power Palm. His palm shadow, like a mountain,
completely enveloped his enemy. Several Shaolin disciples couldn't help but cheer. But in that instant, Venerable Alu
roared , as if struck by lightning. Master Dabei was thrown back, landing more than three zhang away. Although
he immediately leaped up, he had already lost.
This turn of events was too sudden; eight or nine out of ten disciples from various sects were bewildered as to how Master Dabei had turned the tables. They looked at each other in
astonishment Venerable One." Venerable Alu also bowed and said, "Shaolin Temple
truly lives up to its reputation. The Arhat Divine Fist, passed down from Bodhidharma to Zeyuan, has indeed been greatly developed and far surpasses that of India!" Seeing the extremely sincere expressions on the faces of these two,
the disciples were even more perplexed.
It turns out that Venerable Aro was indeed inferior to Zen Master Dabei in martial arts, but they were
evenly matched in internal strength. However, Zen Master Dabei was slightly better in terms of self-defense. Venerable Aro was able to defeat his opponent because he incorporated yoga techniques and, at the last
moment , suddenly used the "Lion's Roar" to disturb Zen Master Dabei's mind, thus breaking his "Indestructible Vajra
Body."
The Shaolin disciples felt humiliated and were about to ask their abbot, Venerable Benkong, to challenge Venerable Aro again when
Venerable , following behind Zen Master Dabei, arrived before Venerable Tongchan. He performed the Buddhist "Cao Ye" ceremony, announced his master's name,
clasped his hands in front of his chest, and bowed, saying, "When I came from the East, my master instructed me to visit Venerable Tongchan at Mount Song. I never expected
to have the ." Venerable Tongchan said, "I have long admired your master, Venerable Longye!" Venerable Longye
was the foremost monk in India. When the Ice River Fairy's father, Guihua, was born in Nepal, he had received teachings from him and was now nearly
a hundred years . Venerable Tongchan was the foremost monk in China, so both of them already knew each other's names.
Venerable Aro continued, “Bodhidharma brought the Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing to China a thousand years ago, founding your school's martial arts. These
two secret texts have long been lost in our country. I believe there must be highly skilled individuals within your school who are proficient in these two arts. Would you be so kind as to instruct me again,
so that I may broaden my horizons?” His implication seemed to be that he felt the Great Compassionate Zen Master, with whom he had just sparred, was not yet of sufficient caliber.
According to the rules of the duel, the victor, if unwilling to give up, has the right to challenge the opponent again, but the opponent has no right
to force them to fight again, only to make a request. The Shaolin disciples, fearing he might refuse to fight again, were overjoyed to see him wish to continue the duel.
Although Master Dabei was defeated, it didn't mean Shaolin Kung Fu was inferior to Indian Kung Fu. Rather, Master Dabei's "Indestructible Vajra
Body Technique" was only at a third of its full potential, which is why it was shattered by his "Lion's Roar." If Venerable Benkong were to intervene, he would
be more than capable .
Unexpectedly, Venerable Tongchan merely smiled slightly and said calmly, "The Kung Fu recorded in these two secret texts is vast and profound, and this humble monk
has yet to even glimpse its depths..."
Venerable Aro thought he was being polite, so he clasped his hands in prayer and bowed again, about to make a request, when Venerable Tongchan continued: "Different countries
share the same origin , and there are many areas for discussion. There's no need to rush today. After the gathering, please, Master, grace our humble temple with your presence
. This humble monk will do his utmost to discuss with you. Please, no need for further formalities." "With a gentle pull, Venerable Aro attempted to test Master Tongchan's skill using a weighted technique.
However, barely touching his body, yet Venerable Aro felt a powerful force and
was involuntarily 'lifted' up. He was then truly impressed by Master Tongchan's skill and withdrew.
The disciples were greatly puzzled. Master Tongchan smiled at Venerable Benzhi and said, 'This man merely wanted to see the martial arts of the Central Plains; his intentions were not
bad. Why insist on determining a winner? The disciples' very thought
violates .' Does the fact that Dabei suffered a defeat mean anyone would dare to underestimate our sect's martial arts?'" "It turns out that when Venerable Aro and Zen Master
Dabei were sparring ,
Venerable Aro used his Lion's Roar to break Dabei's Vajra Indestructible Body Technique. He could have unleashed a deadly attack, but he only used twenty percent of his strength, which is why Zen Master Dabei escaped unharmed. Venerable Tongzhan knew that his junior brother was as fiery as ginger and cinnamon, growing more shrewd with age, and his martial arts followed a fierce and forceful
path . If he were to step in to escort Venerable Aro, he feared that once Venerable Aro unleashed his divine power, he might lose control and injure his opponent. How could he be at
peace with that? Therefore, he preferred to let his sect lose the match and persuaded his disciples to leave.
Venerable Aro remained standing in the center of the arena and said loudly, 'This humble monk is visiting your esteemed country and is fortunate to witness this grand event. I am very willing to admire the martial arts of your esteemed nation
. May I ask who would like to step forward and offer their guidance?'" "
Although the assembled heroes knew that his purpose was merely to observe martial arts, he was, after all, someone invited by Meng Shentong, and they couldn't afford
to lose to . However, having defeated even a master of such skill as the Great Compassion Zen Master, the various sect masters, for the sake of their status, naturally refused to accept the challenge. For a moment, they racked
their brains
, unable to think of a suitable candidate.
Tang Jingtian whispered, 'Bing'e, you can defeat him.' The Ice Maiden laughed, 'My
martial arts are not native to China either.' Originally, Tang Jingtian was also confident of victory, but he had already fought against Venerable Aro in the Ice Palace. If he went out to fight him again,
even if he defeated him, he would probably be secretly laughed at by the monk for lacking martial arts prowess.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke the silence, and Yi Zhongmou walked out, dragging his iron crutch, and laughed loudly, 'I, this old beggar, am fortunate to still be
alive, and have come to learn from the high monk's unparalleled skills.'" The laughter was directed at Meng Shentong. Although Meng Shentong hadn't intended to
kill him that day, only using the seventh level of the Asura Hidden Fiend Technique, he hadn't expected Meng Shentong to recover within half a year and even dare to
challenge him. Meng Shentong couldn't help but feel a chill, thinking, "The Lesser Yang Profound Technique is indeed quite useful. If Lü Siniang were alive,
I'm afraid ."
Venerable A Luo was unaware of the feud between Yi Zhongmu and Meng Shentong. He thought Yi Zhongnian was
the old beggar who had watched the battle at the Ice Palace last time. When he fought Tang Jingtian and lost a move, he had heard Yi Zhongnian's laughter as he fled. Hearing Yi Zhongnian's words
now , which seemed mocking, he assumed Yi Zhongnian was underestimating him and felt a surge of anger. He coldly asked, "
Does Chief Yi want to compete with weapons?" Yi Zhongnian replied, "Indeed, Master has already had a fight. How about a change of pace?" "
Venerable drew his Xuan Tie sword, indicating his agreement. Yi Zhongmou said, 'Master, you have traveled thousands of miles to come. You cannot bring guests with you. Please make your move!'
Venerable Aro swung his sword and said, 'Swords are merciless. Please be careful!' With a flash of light, he immediately slashed horizontally, thinking to himself,
'Even if I don't hurt him, I will at least cut his cane in half. Let's see if he can still laugh then.'" "
The Venerable Aro's black iron sword weighs forty-eight jin (approximately 31 kg), both heavy and sharp. It is a famous treasured sword in India. Coupled with
his superior internal energy cultivation of 'Subduing Dragons and Elephants,' his internal strength is profound. This strike has the power to split mountains and shatter rocks. It is incomparably powerful
!
Yi Zhongmu also swung his crutch horizontally. As soon as the crutches clashed, sparks flew and a very loud bell-like sound was produced,
making the eardrums ring. Neither of their weapons was damaged, but both were shaken by the opposing internal force, swaying like small boats in the wind
!
It turns out that Yi Zhongmu's iron crutch was the Zen crutch that the monk Liaoyin used to wield." The staff was reforged from the one
used by
Liao Yin after his defeat at Mangshan against Lü Siniang. On his deathbed, he embedded the staff into a stone wall. Later, Gan Fengchi removed it and transformed it into an iron crutch, which was passed down to "Iron Crutch Immortal" Lü Qing. After Lü Qing's death, the iron crutch passed to Yi Zhongmou, and it has now become the Beggars' Sect's most prized possession. It is impervious to even the finest swords and sabers
. Moreover, Yi Zhongmou has received Gan Fengchi's true teachings, and in terms of internal strength, he surpasses even his senior sister Cao Jin'er. In this battle against Venerable Alu,
their weapon skills were evenly matched; they were truly evenly matched.
Venerable Alu felt a chill run down his spine, thinking, "I didn't realize this old beggar was even more powerful than that Shaolin monk from before!" "
Daring not to underestimate his opponent, he wielded his precious sword, unleashing a set of 'Dragon Subduing Sword Technique,' incorporating the Buddhist Dragon Subduing and Elephant Taming Skill. His inner force penetrated directly into
the blade , instantly silencing the myriad sword shadows. One precious sword seemed to transform into dozens or even hundreds of swords. Within a radius of ten feet, only the light of swords could be seen, not the figures of men
!
The disciples of Gaibu and Mangshan Pei were worried about their chieftain and senior brother, fearing that they would be unable to withstand
the opponent's fierce attack after recovering from a serious illness. Suddenly, Yi Zhonglao let out a long roar, and his staff technique also suddenly changed. His cane swung in a circle, creating a forest of staffs that
instead contained the opponent's sword light. This immediately made the disciples of Gaibu both happy and surprised, and they all shouted: 'Oh my, the chieftain
has used the Demon Subduing Staff Technique!'" "
It turns out that this Demon-Subduing Staff Technique was created by the Nun with Touched Arms. After being refined by the monk Yin, it evolved into 108
moves and was passed on to Gan Fengchi. Gan Fengchi then added to and modified it before passing it on to Lü Qing and Yi Zhongmou, making it the most powerful staff technique.
Each strike carries the force of a thousand pounds, and both the head and the end of the staff can be used to strike acupoints. It also incorporates sword and saber techniques, making it
extremely powerful . However, it is the most taxing on one's internal energy. If one has to practice all 108 moves of the staff technique, one must rest in bed to recover." Three days passed, and recovery was impossible.
More than ten years ago, "Iron-Crutch Immortal" Lü Qing fought a fierce battle against the Nepalese National Preceptor in the Ice Palace. He used all 108 moves of the Subduing Demon Staff Technique,
killing his opponent but also dying from exhaustion. The Beggars' Sect disciples knew of this, and thus, seeing their leader use this Subduing Demon Staff Technique, they
couldn't help but worry, fearing that Yi Zhongmou would suffer the same fate as "Iron-Crutch Immortal."
The Subduing Demon Staff Technique unfolded, and indeed, it was extraordinary. A few moves in a single cycle were like a raging storm, pressing in relentlessly. Venerable Aro had fully mustered his strength...
The Buddhist "Dragon Subduing and Elephant Taming Skill," while shrinking in the circle of sword light, had greatly increased its counterattack potential. The two forces
clashed , producing a deafening clang of metal against metal. The Demon-Subduing Staff Technique was divided into three sections. The first section, approximately thirty-six moves, was
a swift and powerful attack, ending in a close contest. The second section, also about thirty-six moves, followed immediately. These
moves utilized internal strength, using intention to wield the staff, striking east when it aimed west, south when it aimed north. The force was heavy, yet silent. Venerable Aro's
forehead veins bulged, and the circle of sword light shrank further.
The Beggar Clan disciples counted the moves on the sidelines. In the blink of an eye, the second section of thirty-six moves had passed. Yi Zhongmou seemed to have gained a slight advantage, but still
couldn't break through Venerable Aro's protective sword light. This final thirty-six moves were the most exhausting of internal strength, leaving the Beggar Clan disciples
breathless with fear .
Seeing that both sides' moves had slowed down, Tang Jingtian walked to Master Tongchan's side and whispered, "Both sides originally
intended to test their martial arts skills, why risk their lives in a wrestling match? Please, Master, decide to settle this as a draw." Master Tongchan pondered for a moment,
but did not make a decision. Just then, Venerable Alu roared, and their staffs clashed, becoming locked in combat. However, this was only a brief
moment. Immediately after Venerable Alu roared, a loud "clang" was heard. Venerable Alu's treasured sword flew into
the air , and Yi Zhongmou's treasured staff fell to the ground. It turned out that Venerable Alu knew he could not win, so he resorted to his old trick, using the Lion's Roar technique.
However, the Subduing Demon Staff technique was extremely powerful, and his defensive strength was correspondingly weakened by using the Lion's Roar technique. Therefore, his treasured sword was knocked away first,
and then Yi Zhongmou was shaken by his roar, his treasured staff falling to the ground after only eighty-one moves.
Neither side was injured. Given the weapons being in their hands, Yi Zhongnian should have been declared the winner. However, Venerable Aro had already
fought Dabei, and Meng Shentong pointed this out, arguing that Yi Zhongnian had gained an initial advantage. Ultimately, Master Tongchan agreed,
and the match was declared a draw.
The Beggars' Sect disciples were somewhat dissatisfied, but seeing their leader unharmed, they let it go. It should be noted that Yi Zhongnian had already used his Demon-Subduing Staff Technique to
its eighty-first move; continuing the fight, even if he defeated his opponent, would deplete his own strength, inevitably leading to mutual injury.
Zanmi, a monk from Meng Shentong's side, stepped forward. Feng Lin laughed, "You've come to challenge me!" Without waiting for him to name
a challenger , she instantly appeared in the center of the arena, her speed truly indescribable! Feng Lin was a renowned senior female warrior;
her display of this exquisite lightness skill upon entering the arena greatly boosted the spirits of the disciples from all sects.
Zanmi clasped his hands in front of his chest. He bowed and said, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Lady Hero. I have come as promised. How shall
we compete and smiled, "Thank you for your kindness in letting me set the challenge, but I don't want to take
advantage of you. Let's choose one of your best skills to compete in. Master, you are a Buddhist disciple and are accustomed to sitting on a meditation cushion. I will ask you to teach me the art of
meditation ." Everyone was surprised: "How can meditation determine the level of martial arts?" Feng Lin paused and pointed to two
large trees, saying, "Sitting on a meditation cushion won't show your skill. Let's sit on the trees. Whoever falls down first loses. As for
how to force the other to fall, you can use whatever you want."
Upon hearing this, everyone realized that Feng Lin was using the guise of a meditation contest to actually test superior martial arts skills, and attacking the other was not prohibited
. However, it was clear that the two large trees were more than ten zhang apart. No matter how strong the palm strike was, it couldn't reach that far unless
a hidden weapon . But everyone knew that Master Zanmi and Feng Lin's internal strength had reached the first-class level, and they never used hidden weapons.
Master Zanmi said calmly, "I dare not disobey your instruction, heroine!" Feng Lin didn't stand on ceremony. With a light touch of her toes, she immediately
flew up to the large tree on the east side. Intentionally showing off her skills
, she picked a branch that stretched out horizontally, only as thick as an ordinary candle, and landed on it. She sat cross-legged on the tree, and the branch only trembled slightly before remaining still, as if it were not
a but merely a dragonfly. This kind of marvelous lightness skill made even Meng Shentong's group cheer,
not to mention the disciples of other sects.
Amid cheers, Master Zanmi rose into the air. Unlike Feng Lin, who twirled and spun in mid-air, he
descended straight up as if tossed a stick, landing cross-legged on a branch as thick as an old tree. The branch dipped down and then bounced back up, making Master Zanmi
seem unsteady, but he eventually managed to sit firmly. His posture wasn't as graceful as Feng Lin's, and his agility seemed slightly inferior
, but the grandmasters of various schools understood that such a straight ascent and descent placed far more pressure on the branch. While one couldn't
say his lightness skill surpassed Feng Lin's, it was certainly no less than Feng Lin's.
Feng Lin was sitting on a tea tree. Seeing Master Zanmi seated, he smiled and said, "Master, I offer this flower as a gift to the Buddha; please
accept it!"
A large red tea flower flew towards Master Zanmi. Master Zanmi lowered his head and clasped his hands in prayer. Suddenly, he looked up and said, "Thank you."
Strangely enough, the tea flower, which had been flying extremely fast, seemed to pause for a moment in mid-air above his head before
slowly falling. About two more flowers followed the same pattern, and the three tea flowers were neatly arranged on his flattened tea tree. The
younger disciples from various schools were still unaware of the mystery, but the older martial arts experts were already deeply moved. Feng Lin was using
the superior martial art of "plucking leaves and sending flowers flying, causing instant death," while Master Zanmi, with a breath of true energy, neutralized
the internal force , slowing their approach and causing them to fall gently, thus preventing any harm. Tang Jingtian was secretly worried and whispered to
Feng Bingchuan Tiannv , "The martial arts of the Red Sect are indeed as renowned as they say. They are incredibly unpredictable. Even if Aunt doesn't lose, it will
be extremely difficult for her to defeat him!"
Feng Lin laughed, "A beautiful flower needs green leaves to complement it." She picked a handful of leaves and scattered them with the wind. The leaves danced in the air,
blowing towards Master Zanmi from all directions. She was using the "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers" hidden weapon technique, but with decades of internal
energy from Feng Lin, each leaf was far more powerful than an ordinary hidden weapon. If it were flat ground, one might be able to dodge, but
Master was sitting on a tree branch, with no room to maneuver. Even if his internal energy was strong, he couldn't scatter
the leaves flying from all directions in one breath. Everyone stared wide-eyed, watching how he would deal with it.
Zanmi's body trembled, and the branch dipped downwards. He remained with his head bowed and hands clasped, rising and falling with the branch,
offering . In the blink of an eye, his frame was covered with leaves, his once vibrant red attire suddenly appearing
green.
Master Tongchan said, "My late master once said that the martial arts of the Red Sect's Tantric school also originated in India. At its highest level,
it has many points of exchange with our school. Indeed, that is true." It turned out that Zanmi's technique was called "Sumeru Mustard Seed Skill,"
similar to the Shaolin School's "Indestructible Vajra Body Technique." "Sumeru Mustard Seed" meant that if this skill was practiced to its highest level, it would...
"Even if Mount Sumeru, the mountain where the Buddha was born, were to fall on his head, it would be as small as a mustard seed.
" Master Benkong said, "It's a pity that you haven't reached perfection yet, but being able to withstand Feng Youxia's flying flower and leaf plucking skills is still
quite remarkable." Master Benkong's "Indestructible Vajra Body Technique" had reached seven-tenths of its potential, and he considered himself to be on par with Master Zanmi.
If it were Master Tongchan resisting Feng Lin, the leaves Feng Lin scattered would have turned to dust upon touching his body. Although the leaves
Feng Lin scattered had not harmed Master Zanmi, they had still put him under slight pressure. The branches kept sinking, and his body swayed
unsteadily, so it could only be said that they were evenly matched, and no winner had been decided.
Leaving aside the secret discussions among the various masters, let's talk about Feng Lin. Seeing that the flying flowers had failed and the leaf-picking had been ineffective, Feng Lin frowned, a plan forming in his mind. He chuckled and said, "Master's Zen skills are profound, truly worthy of being an enlightened monk. I just wonder if you can reach the point of
'seeing without seeing, hearing without hearing, smelling without feeling'."
The idiom only contains the phrases "seeing without seeing, hearing without hearing," while "smelling without feeling" was something Feng Lin made up
on the spot . However, it wasn't entirely unfounded; she genuinely wanted to test Master Zanmi's skill.
Amidst laughter, she picked a handful of leaves with her right hand and two red flowers with her left. She crushed the petals into powder, spread it flat in her palm, removed
the leaves , and then blew on the pollen. The pollen swirled into small cylinders in the wind, directly reaching Master Zanmi.
The leaves fell, but the pollen resisted, and she couldn't blow it all away in one breath. A few even got
into , making them sticky. The nasal membrane is the most sensitive part of the body. Pollen, of course, doesn't cause any harm, but when it gets stuck to the nasal membrane, it can
cause an itchy sensation. Of all physiological reactions, itching is the most unbearable. Even with his high level of martial arts, Master Zanmi
couldn't help but sneeze twice in succession.
Master Zanmi, with his brows lowered and hands clasped in prayer, was sitting cross-legged in meditation. His "solemn appearance" was immediately replaced by a comical sneez
. Jiangnan was the first to burst out laughing, followed by the younger disciples who also chuckled. The masters of various schools, however, kept
their faces tense, barely suppressing their laughter. Master Jinguang shook his head and said, "Miss Feng is too fond of playing pranks."
Master Zanmi's face darkened, and he said, "It's only fair to return the favor!" "With her left hand, she plucked a handful of leaves, while with her right she broke off a bunch of branches
tied together
like chopsticks. She first scattered a handful of leaves, her 'flying flower and leaf plucking' skill surpassing that of Master Zanmi, though her defensive skills were somewhat inferior. Seeing the leaves coming, she also scattered a handful, the leaves flying everywhere, all falling to the ground. It was like
masters competing in a contest of concealed weapons, using two concealed weapons to deflect another.
Suddenly, a whistling sound pierced the air amidst the flying leaves. It turned out that Master Zanmi had shot the bunch
of branches with a rapid-fire arrow technique, but not at Feng Lin, but at the branch she had grown. That branch was as thin as a candle, extending horizontally, about
two zhang long. Feng Lin was sitting on the outward-facing end, while Master Zanmi shot at the end connected to the trunk.
With Feng Lin's skill, these branches wouldn't harm her, but Master Zanmi's shooting method was something she couldn't
defend against . Her arms weren't that long; if she wanted to fly..." She leaped up, flicked her sleeve to clear the way, but this violated the rules of the "meditation" competition, so she could
only watch helplessly as the tree branches pierced the branch she was sitting on.
Master Zanmi's strategy of "shooting the horse before the spear" was something anyone could think of, but not everyone could execute
. Master Zanmi's skill was astonishing; the two large trees were more than ten zhang apart, yet a small branch,
propelled , was more powerful than a strong bow and crossbow!
The cracking sounds of the wood grew louder and louder, and several tree branches pierced through the
branch . This was even more difficult to deal with than "shooting the horse before the spear." On horseback, one could dodge or spur the horse to gallop, but sitting
on a branch, there was no way to escape.
Feng Lin frowned, thinking, "This old bald thief is truly despicable, coming up with such a vicious method. I will now
repay him in kind, and I have already retreated." "Actually, even if Feng Lin and Master Zanmi simultaneously used tree knots to shoot each other's
branches, Feng Lin would still be at a disadvantage. Firstly, Master Zanmi's branches are thicker, and secondly, Feng Lin's internal strength is slightly inferior to the Master's
. Even if they fired at the same time, Feng Lin's branch would definitely break first.
" Jiangnan Chen Tianyu and his group stood behind Tang Jingtian and his wife. Jiangnan stuck out his tongue and exclaimed, "Oh no,
oh no , we're going to lose this round! Wait, wa, ha, we won! We won!" "
The instant Jiang Nan spoke, the branch on which Feng Lin sat snapped cleanly from the trunk at the root.
In that split second, Feng Lin leaped up, unleashing her final move, the 'Flying Flower and Leaf Plucking'
technique . Two red flowers shot out amidst the swirling leaves. The branch on which Master Zanmi stood, without wind, spun in
a half-arc shape. Feng Lin's two red flowers, slightly curved, struck Master Zanmi near his tailbone, near the coccyx.
Master Zanmi fell headfirst. Although Feng Lin's branch broke first, her leap made her three feet taller than him.
But unexpectedly... " Another change occurred. Before Jiang Nan's laughter had even subsided, Master Zanmi performed a somersault in mid-air
, returning to his original position. Using the same posture he had used to climb the tree branch, he fell straight down like a stick, but his descent
was extremely slow. Feng Lin, on the other hand, was much faster, and in the blink of an eye, she was below him. Jiang Nan was
stunned , unable to comprehend the mystery. The grandmasters of various sects, however, could see it clearly: Master Zanmi was using his profound internal energy to employ a weight-bearing
technique to stabilize his body and slow his descent! In the blink of an eye, Feng Lin landed, less than three feet off the ground. Jiang Nan
sighed , "Alas, I've lost again!" The moment he uttered the word "loser," Feng Lin suddenly stepped his right foot on the instep of his left,
and in an instant, his body soared three zhang into the air. He rose and fell three times in this manner, finally landing on Zanmi's feet first, followed by Feng Lin's tiptoe
. Immediately, thunderous applause erupted.
During their competition, it had been agreed that whoever fell to the ground first would lose. Therefore, although the
tree spirit that Feng Lin had grown broke first, Zanmi's landing first meant Feng Lin was still the winner. But strangely enough, for
someone as fond of jokes as Feng Lin, winning this round showed no joy whatsoever.
It turned out that at this moment, Feng Lin was... Uncertainty lingered. Indeed, as the branch snapped and she rose into the air, she had unleashed a silent, air-splitting palm strike at
Master , followed by a flying red flower. By then, she had moved two or three zhang closer to Master Zanmi,
yet the distance between them was still seven or eight zhang. She estimated her skill at most to make Master Zanmi's branch
tremble a few times, but the result was that the branch bent into a half-arc shape. The power of the palm strike far exceeded her expectations!
However, Master Zanmi's fall was indeed caused by Feng Lin's two red flowers. It turned out that Feng Lin, in her youth, had...
She lived in the residence of Prince Yunzhen (later the Yongzheng Emperor) for several years. The Fourth Prince's residence was full of extraordinary people, and she learned many
unique martial arts, one of which was the acupoint striking technique of the Red Sect. This technique could break through the protective qi of Tantric Buddhism, but it only worked if the
"Kan Fire" and "Li Water" acupoints on the tailbone were struck. When the two were meditating on trees more than ten zhang apart, even if Feng Lin's
skill was insufficient, she couldn't strike the acupoints on the back of her opponent, let alone if she wasn't skilled enough. Therefore, only
when the branch of the tree growing from Master Zanmi was bent into a half-arc shape, with her back and side facing it, could she seize this fleeting opportunity and use the "
Flying Flower and Leaf Plucking" skill, employing the Red Sect's acupoint striking technique, to strike Master Zanmi's tailbone acupoints. As for the fact that she was ultimately
inferior to Master Zanmi, it was indeed due to her superb lightness skill, the "Cat's Shadow Leaping Technique," that she defeated her opponent. Therefore, considering the entire match,
Feng Lin 's lightness skill, the "Flying Flower and Leaf Picking" technique, and the "Flying Flower Strike Hidden Acupoints" skill were indeed superior to his opponent's; while Master Zanmi's internal strength and
the protective Buddhist divine skill, the "Sumeru Mustard Seed Skill," were superior to Feng Lin's. Both had their strengths, but if Master Zanmi's
branch hadn't struck at the most crucial moment, no matter how good Feng Lin's martial arts were, he wouldn't have been able to hit his opponent's Kan and Li
acupoints, and at that time, it would have been Feng Lin who fell to the ground.
Feng Lin harbored her own doubts, but Master Zanmi believed that the sprouting tree branch was indeed shaken by Feng Lin's palm strike. Although
it was launched as she rose, which was somewhat of a trick, Master Zanmi admired her skill and willingly
conceded defeat, saying with his palms together, "Miss Feng's martial arts are vast. This humble monk only has a superficial understanding of our sect's acupoint striking technique, yet
you know it . This truly impresses me." This statement was partly an admission of defeat, but also an indication that Feng Lin had
defeated him using the power of his Red Sect, thus preserving his dignity despite the loss.
Feng Lin replied solemnly, "Master's skill is profound. I am truly defeated. I am ashamed of my undeserved praise. I offended you in
the Ice Palace my inappropriate words and manners; I hope you will not take offense." She genuinely
admired Master Zanmi's Buddhist skills, and thus changed her dismissive attitude to apologize to him.
Indeed: Victory comes with a tinge of danger; there are hidden motives within.
To find out what happens next, please turn to the next chapter.

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