[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 29

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Dragon Girl Rescues Her

from Danger Jiang Tiantao, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu followed behind Leng Ping, hurrying forward. When they were still about three zhang (approximately 10 meters) from the tent, they heard a maid peeking out and shouting, "Miss is back!" At this shout, seven or eight figures immediately rushed out of the tent.

Leading the group was the lively and adorable little maid, Xiaoman. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao following Leng Ping, Xiaoman was immediately stunned. Then, her clear eyes suddenly lit up, and she turned around excitedly, shouting, "Hey, Granny Lin, come quick! Look who's here!"

Before she finished speaking, Granny Lin's impatient voice came from deep within the tent: "Oh dear, you little vixen, always making a fuss, what's all the fuss about..."

As she spoke, Jiang Tiantao and the others had already reached the tent, and Granny Lin, with white hair, a wrinkled face, and dressed in blue cloth clothes, also walked out with an unhappy expression. Granny Lin looked closely and saw it was Jiang Tiantao. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately exclaimed with a smile, "Oh dear, I wondered who it was that made that little fox so startled! It turns out to be our family's great esteemed guest..."

Jiang Tiantao knew Granny Lin's personality, so he smiled nonchalantly and asked, "Granny Lin, how are you?"

Granny Lin immediately nodded with a smile and exclaimed, "Good, good, good! Thank you for your help! Come in, come in!" As she spoke, she had already entered the tent. Granny Lin was busy greeting Jiang Tiantao when she suddenly noticed Deng Lizhu and Zhu Caidie behind her. Her old eyes lit up, and she exclaimed with delight, "Oh dear, there are two young mistresses here too! What wind has blown so many great esteemed guests here?"

Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu were delighted to hear Granny Lin openly address them as "young mistresses" and immediately smiled happily at Granny Lin. At this moment, everyone had entered the inner tent. Since they were camping outdoors, the tent contained only a table, four chairs, a soft bed, and a sword with a green silk tassel. Leng Ping respectfully invited them to sit, and Xiao Man had already moved a chair from the left to the guest seats.

Jiang Tiantao, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu sat in the guest seats, while Leng Ping sat alone in the main seat. Granny Lin had already directed Xiao Xin and the others to bring fragrant tea and snacks. Seven or eight brightly dressed maids, each with sparkling eyes, kept secretly observing Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu. Because Zhu Caidie addressed Deng Lizhu as "sister" and automatically sat in the third chair in the guest seats, she attracted even more attention from the maids. They couldn't help but glance at this "young mistress" after hearing Granny Lin's address.

Once the tea and snacks were served, Leng Ping gestured for the maids to leave. Upon seeing this, Granny Lin immediately added cheerfully, "Go, all of you, go out and lower the curtain to await instructions." Seven or eight young maids, led by Xiao Xin, lowered the inner curtain and quietly withdrew, leaving only Xiao Man and Granny Lin standing to one side to serve.

Leng Ping first addressed Jiang Tiantao and the other two, "I just arrived today. How is the situation at 'Nine Palaces Fortress'?"

Deng Lizhu smiled and said, "Let me tell you, Sister Ping." She then vividly described the situation, making Leng Ping, Granny Lin, and Xiao Man laugh.

After Deng Lizhu finished speaking, Jiang Tiantao smiled and said, "Sister Zhu, you really have a silver tongue! What you said makes it sound so real." Everyone laughed at this.

Granny Lin smiled and said, "Congratulations, Young Master, on your resounding success today!" "I hope the young master will be just as generous tomorrow as he is today..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiaoman, who always loved to antagonize Granny Lin, snorted and said sarcastically, "Granny Lin, you'd better stop trying to curry favor with the young master. No matter how much you try, he won't reward you with a single gold ingot."

Granny Lin seemed to have her sore spot exposed by Xiaoman, and her face flushed with anger. She glared at Xiaoman and shouted, "Well, you little vixen, you always like to expose my flaws in front of others! Let me tell you, if the young master is happy to reward me, I'll take it; if he doesn't, this old woman won't ask him for it!" She paused, then turned to Jiang Tiantao seriously and asked, "Young master, you're a great benefactor to our family, aren't you?"

Jiang Tiantao quickly suppressed a laugh and nodded, saying earnestly, "Yes, yes, Granny Lin, don't worry, I'll definitely reward you later." Although Leng Ping

considered Jiang Tiantao as family, she couldn't let Granny Lin and Xiaoman be too casual. So, she waved her hand and said in a deep voice, "Xiaoman, Granny Lin, you two get out too. Whoever argues first will be sent back to the peach grove." Xiaoman, her face tense, was the first to leave. Granny Lin thanked Jiang Tiantao again before leaving the tent.

As soon as Granny Lin's figure disappeared outside the tent, Leng Ping smiled and said, "Granny Lin is good in every way, except she loves money. However, she would never take ill-gotten gains."

Jiang Tiantao said in a deep voice, "This is exactly what is meant by 'a gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it in a proper way.' I will definitely reward her later." He then turned to Leng Ping and asked, "Sister Ping, what brings you to the Dragon Head Assembly?"

Upon hearing this, Leng Ping's face suddenly darkened, a look of sorrow on her face. She said sadly, "I've come to avenge my father."

"Ah!" Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu were both stunned upon hearing this. Jiang Tiantao already knew, and seeing Leng Ping's sad expression, he comforted her, "Sister, don't worry, as long as that old scoundrel shows up this time, he'll definitely be in trouble." Then he changed the subject, saying, "Sister Ping, don't be sad. I'll take you to meet our 'Nine Palaces Fortress' Steward Ma and the others."

Leng Ping nodded and said, "Alright." With that, the four of them stood up from their chairs, lifted the curtain, and walked towards the outer tent. The outer tent was brightly lit, and Xiao Xin and the others sat quietly in a corner, while Granny Lin and Xiao Man sat on either side with tense faces. As soon as Granny Lin and Xiao Man saw Jiang Tiantao and the others come out, they all stood up from their chairs.

Upon seeing Granny Lin and Xiao Man, Leng Ping immediately seemed to understand and said, "Xiao Man and Granny Lin, let them come along too."

Jiang Tiantao said to the old woman, "Granny Lin, thank you for your kind words." "Saying this, he casually handed twenty taels of silver to Granny Lin.

Granny Lin took the silver and first put it in her bosom, then chuckled and said, "Young Master is too kind."

Jiang Tiantao, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu thought Granny Lin was very eloquent, so they couldn't help but chuckle. So, the group of six left the tent, headed straight for the gap in the cliff, and then used their lightness skills to follow the path they had come from, heading straight for Little Green Valley. Upon arriving at Little Green Valley, the guards stationed by the forest had already rushed to the council tent to report to Ma Yunshan and the others. Ma Yunshan and Deng Zhengtong, who had just finished clearing the banquet, were discussing whether to go and fetch the Young Master when they heard..." Jiang Tiantao returned and hurried out to greet them. Jin Jianying and the others saw a beautiful young woman in green accompanying Jiang Tiantao, but they didn't know who she was. As soon as Jiang Tiantao approached, everyone bowed to greet him.

Jiang Tiantao returned the bow and was about to introduce her to Leng Ping when he suddenly saw Deng Zhengtong, who was already somewhat drunk, glare at Granny Lin, slap his bald head, and exclaim with sudden realization, "That's right, that's right, Granny, you still recognize my bald head?"

Granny Lin, standing next to Leng Ping, glared at him, snorted, and laughed smugly, "You old water ghost who dares not eat the big fish or touch the small fish, even if you're in your coffin, I, this old woman, will recognize your bald head."

Deng Zhengtong suddenly gave a thumbs up and said in a deep voice, "Good, you've got it. No wonder we have an old relationship. But how come you, old hag, are with the young master? Where is your old drunkard?"

Seeing her father preoccupied with old connections and hindering Jiang Tiantao's introduction of Leng Ping to everyone, Deng Lizhu felt a surge of resentment and pouted, "Father, you always talk nonsense." She then pointed to Leng Ping and continued, "This is Miss Zhang from Taolin Mountain in eastern Hubei." Upon

hearing this, Deng Zhengtong slapped his bald head again, looked at Leng Ping, and exclaimed, "Yes, yes, I remember now! You're Xiaohua, the daughter of Zhang Weihan, the 'Golden Scholar' from Taolin Mountain in Hubei! No wonder you looked so familiar!"

Hearing Deng Zhengtong address her by her childhood name, Leng Ping knew he was her late father's old friend. She quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and said respectfully in a sweet voice, "Xiaohua greets Senior Deng." She then bowed and prepared to kneel.

Deng Zhengtong laughed and said, "Alright, alright." Deng Lizhu knew her older brother's temperament; she always felt it was her duty to kowtow, so she quickly stepped forward and reached out to support Leng Ping.

Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, immediately smiled humbly and said, "Since Senior Deng has already told me about Sister Leng Ping's background, I won't introduce her further." Deng Zhengtong

immediately said cheerfully, "Young man, let me tell you, Xiao Hua's brother is a famous hero in Hubei, and he has always had a good relationship with my brother Jiang. From now on, you should call her 'elder sister,' and when you see her father, you should kowtow and call him 'uncle' or 'senior.'"

Jiang Tiantao was also very happy to hear that Leng Ping's father was a good friend of his father, so he nodded several times and looked at Leng Ping affectionately. What he saw shocked him; Leng Ping's head was slightly lowered, and her beautiful cheeks were covered with tears.

At this moment, Deng Zhengtong also noticed and asked in surprise, "Girl, why are you crying?"

Jiang Tiantao knew that Leng Ping must be thinking of her tragically deceased father, so he said heavily, "Let's go inside and talk." Hearing this, everyone nodded and walked towards the large council tent set up in the center.

Inside the tent, they took their seats in order, with Jiang Tiantao still sitting in the highest position. As soon as everyone was seated, Deng Zhengtong looked at Leng Ping and asked with concern, "Girl, why are you crying? Tell us, let these elders hear it."

Upon being asked, Leng Ping covered her face and wept bitterly. Deng Zhengtong was stunned again. Jiang Tiantao immediately recounted the story of "One-Eyed Shuttle" He Laomao killing Leng Ping's father.

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong glared angrily and said, "That old thief is truly audacious and utterly depraved."

Jin Jianying comforted her, saying, "Miss Zhang must already know the agenda for the third day of the 'Dragon Head Assembly,' which is to resolve grudges and disputes among martial arts practitioners..."

Leng Ping nodded, wiping away her tears, and said, "I know, but I'm afraid that old thief won't dare to show up."

Jin Jianying said confidently, "If he comes, he will definitely appear. Even if he doesn't, the heroes standing nearby will push him out. As the saying goes, 'Even enemies cannot share the same sky.' Who doesn't have parents? How can we let that old thief get away with it?"

Deng Lizhu was still unaware of the rules of the assembly, and thus asked in confusion, "What if the people around 'One-Eyed Shuttle' don't recognize him?" Deng Zhengtong immediately looked at Deng Lizhu and said in a deep voice, "

You silly girl, you're really brainless. Your sister Hua will naturally tell you He Laomao's clothes, appearance, age, and nickname, especially 'One-Eyed Shuttle' He Laomao. One eye, rabbit mouth, are you afraid he'll fly to the sky?"

Leng Ping continued, "If the old scoundrel He appears to argue the day after tomorrow, I urge all of you seniors to step forward and uphold justice..."

Ma Yunshan and the others nodded and agreed repeatedly. Leng Ping continued gratefully, "I am deeply grateful for your permission, seniors."

The group then began to talk about other topics. Jiang Tiantao saw that it was getting late, stood up from his chair, cupped his hands, and said humbly, "Seniors, in order to prepare for tomorrow's meeting, please go back to your tents and rest."

Upon seeing this, Leng Ping immediately stood up, curtsied, and said, "In that case, I will take my leave." As she spoke, everyone stood up.

So, everyone left the tent and accompanied him to the edge of the sparse woods, until Leng Ping, Xiao Man, and Granny Lin leaped up to the cliff behind the valley.

Only then did everyone say goodnight to Jiang Tiantao and return to their tents to rest. Jiang Tiantao returned to his tent, took off his belt, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep. He didn't know how much time had passed...

Suddenly, a thunderous cheer that soared into the sky pierced the air. Jiang Tiantao was startled and leaped off the bed. Opening his eyes, he saw that the tent was brightly lit, and two maids stood quietly at the tent entrance. As soon as the two maids saw Jiang Tiantao leap off the bed,

they immediately brought him water to wash his face. Seeing the bright light in the tent, Jiang Tiantao thought he was having a nightmare, but when he saw the maids bring him a basin of water to wash his face, his expression changed, and he blurted out, "What time is it now?"

One of the maids calmly and respectfully replied, "Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM)."

Jiang Tiantao trembled upon hearing this and exclaimed in surprise. He leaped to the tent flap, flung it open, and was immediately met with a blinding ray of sunlight. Enraged, he flung the flap aside and burst out, ready to yell in protest, when he saw "Flying Dragon" Deng Zhengtong smilingly approaching. Although Jiang Tiantao was furious, he dared not vent his anger on Deng Zhengtong, and anxiously asked in a low voice, "Senior Deng, why didn't you wake me?" Flying Dragon

Deng Zhengtong shook his bald head, smiling calmly, "There's plenty of time, why bother calling you..." Before he finished speaking, another deafening shout pierced the air.

Jiang Tiantao anxiously asked, "Hasn't the competition already begun?"

Seeing Jiang Tiantao's anxious expression, Deng Zhengtong laughed and said, "Let me tell you, today is the day the old dragon leaders are advancing. The old dragon leaders will challenge the lower-ranking ones first. It's still a long way off for us."

Jiang Tiantao knew something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "What if the lower-ranking ones don't challenge us?"

Deng Zhengtong's heart skipped a beat, but he still smiled and said, "Don't worry, kid. On the second day of every tournament, there has never been a time when lower-ranking players don't challenge each other." Jiang

Tiantao asked again urgently, "What if there's no challenge between lower-ranking players this time?"

Deng Zhengtong was taken aback and couldn't answer. Seeing Deng Zhengtong's expression, Jiang Tiantao became anxious and said urgently, "Quickly, bring the horse." He turned around, rushed into the tent, quickly washed his face and rinsed his mouth, put on his sword, tightened his clothes and headband, and leaped out of the tent.

When he arrived at the camp gate, Deng Zhengtong was already on horseback, with Xiao Qing being held by a strong guard. Jiang Tiantao was taken aback when he saw that Deng Zhengtong was alone, then asked in a deep voice, "Where are Steward Ma and the others?"

Although Deng Zhengtong was a little flustered, he still smiled calmly and said, "They're already sitting in the main hall." Upon hearing this

, Jiang Tiantao's expression changed again. Without uttering a word, he leaped onto his saddle, spurred his horse out of the camp gate, and galloped straight towards the mountain pass. Deng Zhengtong, seeing this, spurred his horse to give chase, shouting, "Kid, don't rush! Calm down! Even if the 'Six Elders of Emei' challenge us, Ma Guai and the others won't care about those six old bald monks. Besides, even if the Emei Sect Leader Banting were to take the stage, it wouldn't be your turn yet." As he spoke, he looked up again, but apart from a cloud of dust at the mountain pass, Jiang Tiantao had vanished without a trace.

Jiang Tiantao sat on his galloping horse, his heart burning with anxiety. Though the wind whistled past his ears and everything around him seemed to rush by, his legs continued to urge the horse on. Especially when he heard the cheers of the surging waves, tinged with regret, he wished he could sprout wings and fly to the camp at Jiugongbao. He truly couldn't understand why Ma Yunshan and the others hadn't woken him sooner. If things had been peaceful at the lower levels, and the Emei Sect had challenged them first, who could withstand the Jade Ruyi of the Emei Sect's leader, Zen Master "Ban Ting"?

Xiao Qing, a spirit-powered steed, seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. Without a neigh, it galloped away at breakneck speed, as swift as a startled swan. It traversed ridges, crossed valleys, galloped across dry riverbeds, and headed straight for the precipice. At this point, they were not far from the meeting place, and all they could hear was a buzzing, boiling discussion. Passing through the gap in the cliff, bypassing the fourth peak, and following the arched ridge, Jiang Tiantao headed straight north.

Looking around, he saw a crowd of heroes filling the valley, all with anxious expressions, arguing amongst themselves. Some sighed, others stamped their feet in regret, as if a momentous event had occurred that would shock the martial arts world. Looking further north, the leaders and masters of various sects in the thirty-three decorated pavilions were all whispering amongst themselves, their expressions grave. Master Yuantai of the Shaolin Sect and Daoist Hongchen of the Wudang Sect stood before their chairs, watching the scene with astonishment.

Jiang Tiantao peered down into the valley and saw an old monk with frosty eyebrows and a silver beard, a ruddy complexion, wearing a wide gray robe, and holding a jade ruyi, standing proudly in the center. Upon seeing him, he was greatly surprised—wasn't this none other than Zen Master Banting, the leader of the Emei Sect?

Before he could finish his thought, a sharp shout rang out. Jiang Tiantao had already reached the northeastern ridge peak, with a clear view of the entire arena. He saw a figure in pink and green shoot straight up from in front of the Three Beauties Gang's tent, soaring into the sky. Immediately afterward, with a move called "Phoenix Perching on a Branch," she transformed headfirst, arms outstretched, and swooped down towards the center of the arena—it was none other than the renowned Rainbow Dragon Girl.

Jiang Tiantao felt a slight sense of relief; it was the Three Beauties Gang challenging the Emei Sect. However, a thought struck him again. The Three Beauties Gang was a second-class, fourth-tier sect, while the Emei Sect was a second-class, first-tier sect. Between them lay the Po Dong and Changbai sects; how could they possibly surpass them by two levels? After a few moments of contemplation, he knew something was amiss. Looking up at the colorful tent beneath "Nine Palaces Fortress," his heart pounded, and his expression changed drastically.

Jin Jianying, Ma Yunshan, and the others were all pale and drenched in sweat. Xue Danfeng, Wang Yanling, and Deng Lizhu were pale with fright, anxiously supporting the weeping Zhu Caidie. Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, felt his heart break and was greatly alarmed. He took the whip from the saddle and lashed it hard on Xiaoqing's rump.

Xiaoqing let out a fierce neigh and charged forward like lightning, its head held high and mane bristling, rushing towards the back of the "Nine Palaces Fortress" pavilion. The heroes who were discussing the appearance of the Rainbow Dragon Girl suddenly heard the fierce neigh and turned to look. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao on horseback, they immediately erupted in a thunderous, earth-shattering cheer, like spring thunder and the force of a landslide: "He's here! He's here!"

"Young Master Jiang is here!"

Upon hearing this, the leaders and experts of the other sects all looked up. Master Yuantai, Daoist Hongchen, Zhang Shitou, and the two beauties, Jin and Yin, rushed out of the pavilion with great concern. At this moment, Jiang Tiantao had reached the ridge peak behind the Jiugongbao pavilion. Before Xiaoqing could stop, he leaped off his horse and hurried towards the pavilion. Ma Yunshan, Xiao Liguang, and the others, pale-faced and drenched in sweat, were all excited and hurriedly came out to greet him with expressions of shame.

As soon as Zhu Caidie saw Jiang Tiantao, she cried out, "Brother Tao!" and rushed over, throwing herself into his arms.

Ma Yunshan, Jin Jianying, and the others bowed deeply, their hands clasped in apology, and said hastily, "The crimes of Bei Ti and the others are unforgivable; even a hundred deaths cannot atone for them."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart, and anxiously asked, "Is there any hope of redemption?"

Jin Jianying wiped his sweat from his brow and hurriedly explained with a bitter smile, "Only the young master's match remains."

Jiang Tiantao felt relieved and immediately calmly said, "Everyone, please go inside the tent to talk."

Seeing that the heroes were still cheering wildly, Jin Jianying respectfully said to Jiang Tiantao, "Please, young master, first meet with the heroes who care about 'Nine Palaces Fortress'." Jiang

Tiantao nodded knowingly, strode to the front of the decorated pavilion, surveyed the entire area, clasped his hands in a smile, and then raised his hands high. Upon seeing this, the cheers from the crowd grew even louder, only calming down after a long while. Jiang Tiantao then clasped his hands again with Master Yuantai, Daoist Hongchen, the two beauties, Zhang Shitou, and others before retreating to the golden-red chair. At this moment, his greatest concern was for the Rainbow Dragon Girl, who had already entered the arena.

Looking down, he saw the Rainbow Dragon Girl, dressed in pink and green, her delicate face like frost, already standing before Zen Master "Ban Ting". Standing a foot away, Jiang Tiantao looked at Ma Yunshan and asked urgently, "Can we call Miss Xiao back?"

Ma Yunshan, Jin Tou'ao, and the others shook their heads, saying, "Once someone enters the arena, they cannot be recalled unless they have fought more than a hundred moves or a winner has been decided."

Jiang Tiantao had long heard of the Jade Ruyi of Zen Master Banting, which was said to be incredibly powerful and rarely matched. He was deeply afraid that Rainbow Dragon Girl might lose and damage her self-esteem and reputation, so he asked in a deep voice, "Who made Miss Xiao enter the arena?" As he spoke, he turned to look at Jin Jianying, who was dispatching troops.

Jin Jianying immediately frowned and said, "Presumably, Miss Xiao saw that the young master had not yet arrived, Miss Zhu was forced out of the circle after ninety-seven moves, and Miss Xue and Miss Wang both believed that they were no match for Zen Master Banting. Zen Master Banting kept asking the young master to enter the arena, so Miss Zhu resolutely entered the arena to fight, to buy some time for the young master to arrive." Jiang

Tiantao nodded slowly, knowing that what he said was true; Wang Yanling and Xue Danfeng's martial arts were indeed inferior to Zhu Caidie's after consuming the Vermilion Fruit. He glanced at Xiao Liguang, seeing his frustrated expression, knowing that he hadn't gained the upper hand even after entering the arena. He looked down at Zhu Caidie, who was still crying angrily in his arms, knowing that she was upset and aggrieved because she had been forced out of the circle by Ban Ting due to a moment of carelessness. So he reached out to help her up, wiped away her tears, and patted her shoulder to comfort her, saying, "It's alright, don't cry, you're still acting like a child." "It's all my fault. Let's see how your sister Zhen is doing..."

Zhu Caidie raised her head upon hearing this, left Jiang Tiantao's embrace, and looked towards the arena with him.

"Sai Bian Que" Xie Gan said in a low voice from the side, "Brother Ning and Brother Ma have both defeated Bai Fan and Bai Ling. Ban Ting, seeing that their Emei Sect has one win and two losses, is somewhat embarrassed and angry. Knowing that the young master of the fortress has not yet arrived, he still entered the arena to challenge the young master—..." Before he finished speaking, Jiang Tiantao in the arena suddenly made a "wait a moment" gesture, because Rainbow Dragon Girl in the arena had withdrawn the Qingfeng Sword from her back.

At this time, the heroes in the valley were still discussing among themselves, but everyone's eyes were fixed on Zen Master Ban Ting and Rainbow Dragon Girl in the arena. The stern-faced Zen Master Banting, his brows furrowed and eyes gleaming, fixed intently on Rainbow Dragon Girl's beautiful face. He asked in a deep voice, "Miss Xiao is not from Nine Palaces Fortress, so why are you representing them?"

Rainbow Dragon Girl stood gracefully with her sword drawn, a cold smile on her face. Instead of answering, she asked, "Old Zen Master, do you truly not know? Or are you asking knowingly?"

Zen Master Banting naturally understood Rainbow Dragon Girl's meaning, but being cunning, he feigned surprise and deliberately said seriously, "This old monk certainly does not know; there is no reason for me to ask."

Rainbow Dragon Girl knew that Zen Master Banting was forcing her to reveal her relationship with Jiang Tiantao in front of all the heroes of the world. Therefore, her beautiful face flushed, and she said in a deep voice, "Since..." "I don't know, you can ask your disciples later."

Master Banting hadn't expected the "Rainbow Dragon Girl's" cunning reply, and his old face flushed red. A hint of anger flashed in his eyes, and he coldly laughed, "Very well, this old monk will test your skills as the third young mistress of Jiugongbao."

Upon hearing "third young mistress," the Rainbow Dragon Girl's eyebrows furrowed, and she let out a furious shout. Her long sword flashed, and with a move called "Immortal Points the Way," she aimed directly at Master Banting's throat. The sword strike was incredibly fast, arriving in a flash. Master Banting was startled. He flicked his sleeve, took a step, and spun around. His jade ruyi scepter deftly parried the incoming sword, then, following the momentum, flashed towards the Rainbow Dragon Girl's tiger's mouth. Jiang Tiantao was shocked. The heroes of the valley immediately erupted in shouts and commotion. Master Banting's jade ruyi was incredibly fast and accurate; he truly lived up to his reputation as a sect leader.

Just as the crowd stirred, Rainbow Dragon Girl let out a sharp cry and leaped back five feet. However, her long sword, in a swift motion, struck at Ban Ting's right wrist. Upon seeing this, Gao Ting's expression changed drastically; he hastily spun around and raised his right arm. Rainbow Dragon Girl's retreating counterattack was incredibly fast and perfectly executed, no less impressive than Ban Ting's lightning strike. The crowd erupted in a roar of applause. One was the Grandmaster of the Emei Sect, the other the renowned Rainbow Dragon Girl; both displayed their unique skills, and the battle became fiercely contested, a blur of swords flashing before their eyes.

Master Ban Ting had already defeated his formidable opponent, Zhu Caidie, exhausting all his efforts to force her out of the circle. He had intended to take advantage of Jiang Tiantao's absence to fight Jin Tou'ao and Ma Yunshan, achieving a clean sweep in his advancement, but unexpectedly, he had forced Rainbow Dragon Girl to appear. He had long heard rumors of the illicit relationship between Rainbow Dragon Girl and Jiang Tiantao, and his feigned ignorance was intended to force her to back down. He knew Rainbow Dragon Girl was exceptionally intelligent, beautiful, and skilled in swordsmanship; if she couldn't even pass this test, he could forget about vying for the top spot. But after their initial encounter, he realized Rainbow Dragon Girl was indeed a formidable opponent, and her combat experience far surpassed that of the ambitious and eager Zhu Caidie.

Rainbow Dragon Girl was particularly cautious at this moment, but Jiang Tiantao's presence gave her considerable composure and excitement. She not only wanted to maintain her past honors but also to defeat Ban Ting as much as possible. However, once they clashed, she realized that Ban Ting's Jade Ruyi was indeed as formidable as its reputation suggested. Zen Master Gao Ting knew that he could not win with just the Jade Ruyi, so he occasionally unleashed a powerful gust of wind with his wide sleeves. Rainbow Dragon Girl also knew that she could not defeat Ban Ting with just her longsword, so she occasionally flicked her left palm. The two figures spun faster and faster, the Green Edge Sword and the Jade Ruyi clashing more and more rapidly. The crowd of heroes was dazzled, forgetting to cheer and applaud. Because most of them could not see who had the upper hand or who was showing weakness, they only felt the whistling wind and flashing light, making them dizzy and disoriented.

Jiang Tiantao watched with great relief, knowing that Zen Master Ban Ting and Rainbow Dragon Girl were truly evenly matched, and it would be difficult to determine a winner within a hundred or two moves. He let out a deep breath, turned to look at Ma Yunshan, Wang Yanling, Xue Danfeng, Deng Lizhu, and the others, and said with a relaxed smile, "I slept so well that I almost missed something important. I deserve to die."

Upon hearing this, Deng Lizhu immediately complained, "It's all my father's fault. He insisted that Senior Ma not call you..."

Sai Bianque immediately interjected, "You can't blame Brother Deng for that. He also wanted the young master to rest a little longer. According to the records of previous conferences, there has never been a time when the lower ranks were at peace. At least the sixth and eighth-ranked elders have to find a way to get rid of the last seat in the thirty-third shed." As soon as he finished speaking, a fierce neighing of a horse suddenly came from the ridge behind the shed

. Jiang Tiantao and the others turned around and saw Deng Zhengtong, covered in sweat and furious, dismounting and rushing towards them. Deng Zhengtong rushed down the ridge with a anxious expression. Before even entering the tent, he couldn't help but ask in a panicked voice, "What happened? How did Xiao Yatou and Bald Monk Banting end up fighting?"

Jiang Tiantao had already regained his composure and immediately greeted him with a smile, "Senior Deng, please sit down and rest."

Deng Zhengtong shook his head, his eyes fixed intently on Ma Yunshan and the others, and continued to ask, "Old Ma, what exactly happened? According to the major rules, the 'Three Hairpins Gang' is not qualified to challenge the Emei Sect."

Ma Yunshan smiled bitterly and said, "This year's conference is different from previous years; everyone is content with their own level..."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong knew that Jiang Tiantao had guessed correctly, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, momentarily stunned. To ease Deng Zhengtong's shock and anger, Sai Bianque immediately said humorously, "Baldy Deng, your boastful ambition of 'fighting three consecutive battles' last night will probably have to wait until the next conference five years from now to be fulfilled." Although Deng

Zhengtong had always been a jovial and carefree person, he couldn't help but lose his composure when faced with such a momentous matter. The thought of nearly making a grave mistake filled him with unease. Hearing Sai Bianque's words, he rolled his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

Sai Bianque shrugged and smiled helplessly, saying, "Now only the young master's match remains."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong immediately said resentfully, "Hmph, even during the afternoon's individual skill performance, I, the bald-headed one, will challenge those six old bald monks alone!" He then glared hatefully at the fiercely fighting Ban Ting Zen Master and "Rainbow Dragon Girl," and continued to ask in confusion, "Why did Xiao girl enter the arena?"

Jin Jianying said with a sigh, "If it weren't for Miss Xiao continuing the match, brother, we would all be sitting in the Emei Sect's pavilion by now." Deng Zhengtong's eyes widened in shock, his expression changing drastically.

Jin Jianying continued, "The assembly announced the start of the old dragon head's advancement, but no one stepped forward for a long time. Master Yuantai had to ask questions step by step from the sixth level. When he reached the second level, Zen Master Banting of the Emei Sect stood up..." Upon hearing this, Deng Zhengtong sighed in frustration and stomped his foot in anger.

Jin Jianying continued, "As soon as Zen Master Banting stood up, Brother Ma hurriedly waved a gesture to Brother Zhenduo on the opposite ridge, 'urging the young fortress master to come'..."

Jiang Tiantao and Deng Zhengtong were both taken aback and asked in unison, "Why didn't we encounter Councilor Chen?"

Ma Yunshan immediately explained, "Brother Chen, in order to be quick, used his lightness skill to take a shortcut. That may be the reason we didn't encounter him." Jiang Tiantao and "Flying Dragon" Deng Zhengtong nodded at the same time, and looking up at the entrance to the opposite ridge, they saw that Chen Zhenduo had already returned.

Jin Jianying continued, "The first match was against Bai Kong. Since Bai Kong used a monk's knife, I sent Brother Zhong to compete. This way, Brother Zhong has the advantage in terms of weaponry..." At this point, Xiao Li Guang, sitting in a corner, immediately lowered his head in shame. Deng Zhengtong was a seasoned veteran, and even without Jin Jianying mentioning the result, he knew that Xiao Li Guang had not won his first match.

Jin Jianying continued, "The second match was against Brother Ning, and the third match was against Brother Ma. Both matches were won. Only Brother Ning's left forearm was lightly struck by Bai Fan's iron staff, causing slight redness and swelling."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao looked at Ning Daotong with concern and noticed a four-inch tear in the sleeve of his left forearm. He asked with concern, "How are you feeling, Senior Ning?"

Ning Daotong immediately bowed and smiled, "Just a slight soreness. Brother Xie has already applied 'Blood-Activating and Swelling-Reducing Powder'." Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately nodded in relief.

Jin Jianying looked at Deng Zhengtong and continued, "When Zen Master Banting saw that one had defeated two others, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and angry. He immediately got up and asked our young master..."

Deng Zhengtong snorted angrily and said in a contemptuous voice, "This old bald monk is the most cunning. He's not embarrassed and angry at all; he's clearly trying to take advantage of the situation."

Jin Jianying nodded in agreement and continued, "At that time, I immediately sent Miss Zhu to fight Ban Ting. As long as they exchanged more than a hundred moves in the first battle, Ban Ting's arrogance would be completely crushed..." Deng Zhengtong had already noticed that Zhu Caidie's almond-shaped eyes were red, knowing that she had not gained the upper hand either. Jin

Jianying said regretfully, "Miss Jia suffered because she was too eager for quick success, so she was forced out of the circle by Bai Gu's feigned attack at the ninety-seventh move. Therefore, all the heroes present felt sorry for Miss Zhu. However, Ban Ting also knew that his victory was indeed hard-won." He paused here, glancing at Zhu Caidie, whose delicate face was still ashen, and continued, "Ban Ting..." Seeing that the young master of the fortress had not yet arrived, the Zen master's old face immediately showed a smile. At this time, only Brother Ma and Brother Ning could contend with Ban Ting, but Brother Ma had just returned to the shed after fighting Bai Ling and had not yet finished recuperating, while Brother Ning had injured his left forearm. Although I, your humble brother, could step into the arena, I felt that I could not last more than fifty moves against Zen Master Ban Ting's jade ruyi. As for Miss Xue and Miss Wang, they also believed that they could not defeat the bald monk Ban Ting, because this match required them to fight Ban Ting with all their might, exhausting his true energy and forcing him to leave the arena to recuperate, so that the young master of the fortress could catch up with the third match to face Ban Ting. At this point, Jiang Tiantao and Deng Zhengtong nodded repeatedly, sincerely admiring him.

Deng Zhengtong couldn't help but say in a deep voice, "No wonder my 'Nine Palaces Fortress' brother Jiang assigned the responsibility of dispatching troops to you when he came. Today, I, the bald man, must also praise you for being remarkable."

Jin Jianying smiled bitterly and continued, "Just at this critical moment, the intelligent and quick-witted Miss Xiao resolutely stepped into the arena." "

The words had barely left his lips when a deafening bell suddenly rang out from the mountain peak behind the pavilion. Immediately afterward, the entire valley erupted in cheers and applause, a frenzy of excitement. The portly monk standing before the Shaolin pavilion waved the large red flag, now bearing the marks of a hundred moves. Meanwhile, the Banting Zen Master and the Rainbow Dragon Girl had already leaped out of the circle.

A slight blush graced the Rainbow Dragon Girl's delicate face, clearly indicating she had given it her all, while the Banting Zen Master, clutching his jade ruyi, had nostrils flaring slightly; he and the Rainbow Dragon Girl had fought for a hundred moves." It was clearly very difficult. However, the heroes of the world, filling the mountains and valleys, praised Zen Master Banting and Rainbow Dragon Girl as evenly matched, with no clear winner.

Chapter Thirty-Six: Dragon

and Tiger Clash. Rainbow Dragon Girl, determined to catch her breath, Zen Master Banting coldly smiled and said, "I advise you, old Zen Master, to give up the idea of fighting Young Master Jiang. Let me tell you bluntly, this Inspector has never lasted more than ten moves under Young Master Jiang's Starry Sword."

Master Banting felt a surge of anger; this was clearly a mockery of his jade ruyi, suggesting it would be unable to withstand ten moves from Jiang Tiantao's sword. Then, recalling the "Lixing Sword Technique" Jiang Tiantao had used to defeat Luoying Swordsman and Bai Liangbian yesterday, he realized that Rainbow Dragon Girl hadn't exaggerated. Therefore, a thought struck him, and he nodded forcefully, saying in a deep voice, "This old monk has already experienced the 'Lixing Sword Technique' in the past. Later, this old monk will also like to ask Young Master Jiang to teach him a few moves of the 'Paiyun Palm,' a secret technique of the Nine Palaces Fortress." Upon hearing the name "

Dispelling Clouds Palm," Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, his expression instantly changing as he froze. Just then, a flash of green, a whistling wind, and the Rainbow Dragon Girl, clad in pink and green, as beautiful as a flower, a sweet smile blooming on her cherry-red lips, pounced on Jiang Tiantao.

Jiang Tiantao regained his composure, quickly rising with a smile. In the next flash, Xue Danfeng, Wang Yanling, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu simultaneously leaped forward, embracing the Rainbow Dragon Girl.

Zhu Caidie, tears welling in her eyes, smiled with delight, saying, "Sister Zhen, you're amazing!"

Xue Danfeng and Wang Yanling smiled simultaneously, saying, "We really owe Sister Zhen today."

Deng Lizhu also excitedly exclaimed, "Sister Zhen, you've shattered the arrogance of the Emei Sect!" Deng Zhengtong was deeply grateful to "

Rainbow Dragon Girl" for stepping forward and saving the day, so he hurried over, gave her a thumbs up, and said in a deep voice, "Miss Xiao, you've got it! You truly deserve the title of 'Rainbow Dragon Girl ,' renowned throughout the land for her exceptional intelligence, unparalleled lightness skills, and astonishing swordsmanship."

Jin Jianying, Ma Yunshan, Jin Tou'ao, "Sai Bian Que," and Xiao Li Guang, among others, also surrounded Rainbow Dragon Girl to congratulate and praise her. Once Rainbow Dragon Girl represented Jiugongbao in the battle, according to the tournament rules, she could no longer return to the Three Hairpins Gang's tent so that her opponent could continue to challenge her. Seeing so many people surrounding her to congratulate and praise her, her delicate face flushed red, and she nodded and smiled, unsure of who to answer first. But her excited and gratified, clear phoenix eyes, shimmering with a soft glow, occasionally glanced affectionately at Brother Tao standing in front of the golden-red chair.

Jin Jianying, Ma Yunshan, Jin Tou'ao, and others were equally grateful to Rainbow Dragon Girl for rescuing them; otherwise, they would have been too ashamed to face the old fortress lord. At this moment, they cheered and invited Rainbow Dragon Girl to take a seat. Zhu Caidie, warm and lively, especially offered her own golden-red round stool, closest to Brother Tao, to Rainbow Dragon Girl. The cheers of the heroes had ceased, replaced by a buzzing murmur of conversation. All eyes turned towards the colorful pavilion of Jiugong Fortress.

Jiang Tiantao, handsome and refined, dressed in blue robes and carrying a sword, remained seated on his golden-red chair, not rushing in, to allow Zen Master Banting ample time to meditate. Xiao Xiangzhen, Wang Yanling, and Xue Danfeng sat to his left, while Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu sat to his right. Each was as beautiful as a flower, as lovely as a celestial being. Countless young masters among the heroes were filled with envy and admiration.

Just then, Master Yuantai stood up from his chair, his gaze fixed on Zen Master Banting, who was still standing in the pavilion, secretly adjusting his breathing. He clasped his hands together and asked in a clear and impartial tone, "Fellow Daoist Banting, you have fought two renowned heroines. You must have exhausted your strength. According to past conventions, I have the right to allow you to enter the pavilion to adjust your breathing. Do you think this is necessary?"

Zen Master Banting, standing in the pavilion, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, looked up at Master Yuantai, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Yuantai. I do need to adjust my breathing." With that, he waved his sleeves, rose into the air, and flew towards the pavilion of the Emei Sect like a giant gray crane.

Upon seeing this, Deng Zhengtong abruptly stood up from the round stool, his tiger-like eyes glaring, and roared, "Wait!" This roar, born of Deng Zhengtong's pent-up anger, was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing the chattering crowd of heroes. Jiang Tiantao, Ma Yunshan, and the others, confused about what was happening, stared blankly at Deng Zhengtong.

The "Spotted Thunder" Zen Master, who had gracefully landed before the central pavilion of the second level, glared angrily at "Flying Dragon" Deng Zhengtong, and after a long silence, asked in a deep voice, "Deng Zhengtong, what is it?"

Deng Zhengtong, his anger finding no outlet, snorted angrily and said resentfully, "Your meditation will take at least an hour or two. Do you really have the nerve to make all the heroes who have come from all over the world wait for you alone?" Hearing this, Bai Ling, Bai Tong, Bai Fan, Bai Kong, and the others standing on the Emei pavilion all felt a surge of anger, their faces turning red.

Zen Master Banting glared and suddenly asked sharply, "What do you intend to do?"

Deng Zhengtong snorted angrily and said contemptuously, "I, Baldy, want to have a go at you old Buddhist chanters, to pass the time while you spend your boring hours meditating." As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd of heroes burst into cheers and applause. Upon hearing this

, the Six Elders of Emei were immediately enraged. Bai Hui, with his square head, large ears, thick eyebrows, and piercing eyes, was the first to shout. He leaped out of the pavilion, wielding his crescent-shaped shovel, and glared angrily at Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, saying sharply, "You've provoked me for no reason, you've gone too far! I'd like to see what amazing skills you, Deng Zhengtong, possess!"

Deng Zhengtong laughed heartily and said mockingly, "Old Bai Hui, in terms of size, you're much more robust than me, Baldy. As for skills, you're still far behind." Bai Hui, broad-shouldered and stout, with a fiery temper, always considered himself invincible with his shovel. Hearing Deng Zhengtong's words, he could no longer contain himself and erupted in fury, yelling and screaming.

Seeing Bai Hui's outburst, Deng Lizhu looked at Deng Zhengtong with concern and whispered, "Father."

Deng Zhengtong, seeing Bai Hui's lively and shouting antics, laughed even harder. He waved his hand, acting like an elder, and said, "Stop jumping and yelling, go down and wait. I, Baldy, will be there soon." Bai Hui glared, shouted "Okay!" and with a flick of his sleeve, picked up his thick, crescent-shaped shovel and dashed towards the valley floor.

Jin Jianying frowned and interjected, "Brother Deng, why bother arguing with the 'Six Old Men'?"

Deng Zhengtong lifted his hundred-pound iron shovel, snorted coldly, and said resentfully, "If I don't teach these six old bald donkeys a lesson, they'll always think 'Jiugongbao' is easy to bully." "Saying this, he picked up his oar and walked out of the tent, waving to Bai Hui who was already waiting there. He then said loudly, "Old Bai Hui, don't be impatient. I, Baldy, have always been slow in everything I do." After saying this, he walked up the stone steps towards the arena.

Monks are most averse to being called bald. Although Deng Zhengtong did not openly curse him, he kept referring to himself as bald. The Six Elders of Emei were very angry, and even Master Yuantai felt quite uncomfortable. The crowd of heroes saw that Deng Zhengtong had a bald head and silver beard, and found his appearance amusing. Coupled with his joking and cursing words, they all cheered for him.

Bai Hui finally waited until Deng Zhengtong reached the arena. He could no longer contain his anger. He shouted and leaped forward, his shovel in hand. With a move called "Sweeping the Five Sacred Mountains," he swept towards Deng Zhengtong with a whistling wind. The momentum was astonishing, and the speed was like thunder. Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong outwardly smiled, but his inner rage was no less than Bai Hui's. Seeing Bai Hui silently swing her shovel

, he became even more enraged. With a cold snort, he spun around… In that instant, Bai Hui howled through gritted teeth, her wrists snapping, and the sweeping shovel transformed into a swift, sharp crescent-shaped blade, its cold light flashing, aimed directly at Deng Zhengtong's ribs with lightning speed.

Deng Lizhu's face paled, and she screamed. Jiang Tiantao, Rainbow Dragon Girl, and the others also jumped up from their chairs. The entire valley of heroes erupted in shock and commotion.

As the heroes gasped in shock, they fell to the ground with lightning speed. Bai Hui's shovel grazed Deng Zhengtong's shoulder, a narrow miss, a truly terrifying moment that left many sweating profusely. Immediately afterward, Deng Zhengtong placed both hands on the ground, spun around, and unleashed a sweeping leg kick as fast as a windmill, aimed at Bai Hui's feet.

Bai Hui, desperate for an attack, missed with her shovel, realizing she was in trouble. She could only shout, bracing herself with her shovel, and leap into the air, barely dodging Deng Zhengtong's swift kick. Seeing Bai Hui in mid-air, Deng Zhengtong leaped up, shouted, and charged forward, wielding a hundred-pound iron mace, striking fiercely at the crescent-shaped shovel head that Bai Hui had braced herself with. Bai Hui, still in mid-air, was startled and hastily plummeted to the ground.

However, just as his body was still descending, a clang of metal clashed, sparks flew everywhere, and with a whoosh, Bai Hui's convenient shovel flew out of his hand and shot straight into the air. Gang Hui's arms went numb and his tiger's mouth split open. Fortunately, he was skilled and, with a muffled groan, quickly performed "Tumbling in the Clouds," flipping two buckets in a row, flying more than 15 feet away, and landing gracefully on the ground, his face pale and covered in cold sweat.

The assembled heroes were initially stunned, then erupted in enthusiastic cheers. No one had expected that Bai Hui, one of the Six Elders of Emei, would be defeated by Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong in just a few exchanges.

Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong, his tiger-like eyes gleaming with cold sweat, and Bai Hui, his face filled with resentment, gave a cold laugh and said humorously, "Old Bai Hui, you were defeated because you were too eager for quick success. I, Baldy, won because I put myself in a life-or-death situation. If you want my life, how can I not fight to the death and win by risking my life?" "The words had barely left his lips when a deafening shout rang out from the north pavilion, and a broad gray figure leaped towards the arena.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong looked up and saw a man with a tiger-like head, swallow-like forehead, lion-like nose, square mouth, and thick, black eyebrows. He carried an iron staff and was none other than Bai Fan, one of the Six Elders of Emei, renowned for his astonishing strength. Upon arriving in the arena, Bai Fan immediately leaped seven steps in front of Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, his iron staff held horizontally. With a loud shout, an old monk with frosty eyebrows and a silver beard, his face contorted with rage, dressed in a gray robe, carrying a demon-subduing pestle, charged towards the arena.

Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, felt a sudden urge and shouted deafeningly, "Wait!" With that shout, his figure soared through the air, as fast as a wisp of smoke, a blue shadow flashing as he reached the arena, while Bai Fan, carrying the demon-subduing pestle, continued his descent down the passage." The assembled heroes were initially taken aback, then erupted in thunderous applause.

Jiang Tiantao, upon arriving at the scene, immediately bowed respectfully to Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, saying humbly, "Please, Senior Deng, return to your quarters to rest. Let this junior meet Master Baitong."

Although Deng Zhengtong's arms ached and his blood was surging, he still glared fiercely, swaying his bald head, and said in a deep voice, "Let this old man defeat Baitong before I rest."

Jiang Tiantao knew Deng Zhengtong was feigning authority, so he could only say in a deep voice, "If Senior Deng insists, won't the heroes of the world laugh at you, saying you disobey the young master's orders?"

Deng Zhengtong was naturally pleased that Jiang Tiantao had specially come to give him a way out, but upon hearing the "order," he could only feign a helpless expression. He bowed and said, "Very well, this old man obeys."

Before he finished speaking, Bai Tong, already standing a foot away, raised his eyebrows and glared, shouting angrily, "Deng Zhengtong, do you think you can leave without taking three blows from this old man's pestle?"

Jiang Tiantao was furious upon hearing this and was about to speak when Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong angrily replied, "This old man is ordered to leave. Do you think I, Bald Head, am afraid of you, Bai Tong?"

Bai Tong's eyes widened, and he roared, "Then you'd better take one blow from this old man's pestle first!" With a shout, he leaped forward, his hundred-pound demon-subduing pestle wielding a "Heavenly Thunder Strike," accompanied by a whistling wind, smashing it down on Deng Zhengtong with terrifying force and unstoppable power.

Jiang Tiantao knew Deng Zhengtong couldn't withstand this powerful attack, so he raised his eyebrows and shouted, "I'm here, who dares disobey me?"

As he spoke, his mind raced, and he quickly activated his "One-Finger Flicking Divine Skill," deliberately flicking his sleeve in the air to forcefully flick his middle and index fingers, gathering all his power, towards Bai Tong's demon-subduing pestle aimed at Deng Zhengtong. With a clang, a powerful gust of wind struck the pestle, and Bai Tong cried out in alarm, his right arm aching as the pestle flew from his grasp.

The crowd erupted in a clamor of shock and shouts, many exclaiming that it was the "Iron Sleeve Divine Skill." Gang Tong, gripping his right wrist with his left hand, stared in disbelief at the furious Jiang Tiantao, completely stunned. Deng Zhengtong, who had been preparing to counterattack, also froze. Master Yuantai of the Shaolin School paled, and Master Hongchen of the Wudang School stood up in shock.

Ma Yunshan, Jin Jianying, Zhu Caidie, Deng Lizhu, and the two beauties of the "Three Beauties Gang"—Gold and Silver—along with their five hall masters, were all stunned. They couldn't fathom what other astonishing skills Jiang Tiantao possessed. Only Wang Yanling, Xue Danfeng, and Rainbow Dragon Girl understood that Jiang Tiantao was secretly using the "One-Finger Flicking Skill."

Jiang Tiantao dismissed Deng Zhengtong and immediately looked up at the Emei Sect's pavilion, cupping his hands and asking loudly, "May I ask, Zen Master Banting, have you finished your meditation?" As

soon as he finished speaking, Zen Master Banting, his face slightly pale, leaped out from the pavilion, angrily shouting, "I've finished long ago!" With that word, he soared into the air, arms outstretched, sleeves fluttering, and pounced into the arena.

At this moment, all the heroes in the valley and the leaders and masters of the thirty-three pavilions were filled with alarm and silence. All eyes were fixed on Ban Ting, who was flying towards the arena. Based on the fact that Ban Ting was carrying a jade ruyi in his bare hands, they concluded that the final decisive battle would be a contest of fists, palms, and internal strength.

Zen Master Banting arrived at the center of the arena, standing fifteen feet in front of Jiang Tiantao. He first clasped his hands together and loudly proclaimed a Buddhist chant. Then, he said in a deep voice, "This old monk has long heard of your fortress's ancestral 'Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique,' which is unparalleled in the martial arts world, exquisite and profound, and rarely used in battle..."

Jiang Tiantao had already prepared a countermeasure, so before Banting could finish speaking, he immediately nodded slightly without any politeness and replied arrogantly, "Indeed, I will never use it unless facing a formidable opponent."

Banting's expression changed upon hearing this, and he became even more annoyed. He glared hatefully at Jiang Tiantao and continued, "It is said that your fortress's Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique, once used, is invincible." "Invincible..."

Jiang Tiantao nodded calmly, still composed, and said, "Indeed, in the records of this fortress's generations of practitioners of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique, very few have lasted more than three moves, and even fewer have remained undefeated."

Master Banting's words were merely polite flattery typical of the martial arts world, but Jiang Tiantao had unceremoniously admitted it, and even exaggerated it far more than he had. Enraged, Master Banting glared and shouted, "This is the reason I seek your guidance!"

With that, he leaped forward, unleashing a powerful "Splitting Mount Hua" with his right palm while his left sleeve secretly attacked Jiang Tiantao's abdomen. Two moves in one, incredibly swift—the skill of a sect leader was truly extraordinary. Jiang Tiantao was confident and fully utilized the "defense" aspect of the "Dragon Tiger Fight" palm technique. With a skillful twist, he evaded Gao Ting's attack. Seeing Jiang Tiantao turn to the left, Gao Ting shouted and swiftly unleashed "Heavenly King Pushes the Mountain," his sleeves and hands flashing as he pushed towards Jiang Tiantao's ribs and shoulders, simultaneously launching five consecutive attacks. Instantly, the wind howled, sleeves fluttered, and only the figures swirling and flying could be seen, obscuring their faces. However, Jiang Tiantao miraculously and exquisitely dodged them all.

Seeing that five consecutive attacks had failed to land a single blow, not even touching Jiang Tiantao's robe or sleeves, Zen Master Banting was enraged, his face turning ashen. He retreated rapidly, then demanded sharply, "Why are you so stingy with your moves, avoiding my attacks?"

Jiang Tiantao stood gracefully, calm and composed, and smiled lightly, saying, "I once told you, old Zen Master, that very few masters can withstand three moves from the Cloud-Dispelling Palm."

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Banting's mind went blank with rage, his eyes flashed with rage, and with a fierce roar, his expression turned mad. He brandished his palms, fingers spread wide, like a tiger released from its cage, and pounced on Jiang Tiantao. Seeing Zen Master Banting's furious expression and fierce attack on Jiang Tiantao, the assembled heroes knew that this nearly seventy-year-old monk was indeed enraged. Therefore, many who had connections with the Emei Sect believed that Jiang Tiantao's words were an exaggeration. Just as the assembled heroes were about to speak, a change occurred.

Jiang Tiantao, standing tall and elegant, raised his sword-like eyebrows and loudly proclaimed, "Old Zen Master, pay attention!" The word "pay attention" was barely out of his mouth before his figure flashed like lightning, appearing to the right rear of Zen Master Banting, his speed many times greater than before.

Zen Master Banting, a seasoned veteran, knew Jiang Tiantao was behind him. He roared, unleashing a left palm strike, "Reverse Strike the Golden Bell," while simultaneously sweeping his right sleeve behind him. Jiang Tiantao's movements were swift; at the same moment Zen Master Banting unleashed both attacks, he was already on Banting's left side, narrowly avoiding Banting's left palm and right sleeve. Immediately afterward, his attack was lightning fast, his right palm swiftly pressing down on Zen Master Banting's left shoulder. As a sect leader, Gao Ting's skills were naturally extraordinary. Realizing his attack had missed, he quickly executed "Removing Robe to Yield Position," leaping forward diagonally. However, Jiang Tiantao followed closely, leaping diagonally, his right palm still lightly resting on Zen Master Banting's left shoulder.

Zen Master Banting was startled to feel the touch on his left shoulder, his heart filled with alarm. He was unaware that Jiang Tiantao, mindful of his status as a sect leader, was trying to save face and hoped he would back down. Even if he thought Jiang Tiantao hadn't acted in time and had only lightly touched him with the edge of his palm, he would still break out in a cold sweat. So, with a loud shout, he swiftly performed "Lingxi Wangyue" (a martial arts technique), his body suddenly turning around, unleashing a move called "Kaitian Pidi" (another martial arts technique), his left palm slashing horizontally across Jiang Tiantao's chest, while his right palm thrust fiercely towards Jiang Tiantao's lower abdomen.

Seeing that Zen Master Banting remained oblivious, Jiang Tiantao grew angry. With a snort, he moved with unsteady momentum, executing a "Tiger Crouching Side Step," instantly appearing to Zen Master Banting's right. Simultaneously, he swiftly performed a "Divine Dragon Probing Claw," subtly using twenty percent of his true strength to lightly strike Banting's Quchi acupoint. Gao Ting's body went numb, and he staggered. The crowd of heroes, who had been watching in silence, immediately erupted in commotion and shock. Zen Master Gaoting's old face flushed red, his ferocity flaring. He quickly regained his footing, let out a fierce shout, and executed a "Raging Dragon Turns Over," swiftly performing a "Five Thunderbolts Piercing the Top," gathering all his power to strike Jiang Tiantao beside him. However, just as he turned and raised his fist, Jiang Tiantao was already behind his shoulder.

Seeing that Zen Master Banting continued his shameless attack, Jiang Tiantao was furious. If he didn't defeat him in the third move, he would be accused of exaggeration. He could only shout, "Please forgive my rudeness, Zen Master!" As he spoke, a palm strike as swift as lightning struck Zen Master Banting's shoulder.

Banting let out a soft groan and staggered forward several steps. Because Jiang Tiantao used the skillful technique of "borrowing force to counter force," and only used forty percent of his true strength, Zen Master Banting stopped abruptly after only a few steps. This time, the assembled heroes saw it clearly and immediately erupted in a tremendous cheer.

Master Banting abruptly turned, glaring angrily at Jiang Tiantao. His old face flushed red and then turned pale with rage. After a long

while, he finally gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Young Master Jiang, what palm technique did you use?" Jiang Tiantao, already burning with anger at Banting's repeated shameless attacks, could only reply in a deep voice, "The Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique."

Master Banting's brows furrowed, and he immediately said sternly, "For the past fifteen years, I have privately invited your father, Old Master Jiang, to spar with me three times to observe his movements." " Each time it's been over a hundred moves, and I've never seen your father use these three palm techniques before..."

Jiang Tiantao was secretly startled upon hearing this. Before Ban Ting could finish speaking, he feigned amusement and laughed, pretending to be calm, and said, "I just told the old Zen master that I would never use the Dispelling Clouds Palm Technique unless I encountered a formidable opponent..."

Zen Master Ban Ting trembled slightly upon hearing this and asked sharply, "Are you saying that I am not worthy to spar with your father on the Dispelling Clouds Palm Technique, and am not even qualified to be called a master?"

Jiang Tiantao smiled calmly and said, "I absolutely did not mean that. Rather, I meant that although the old Zen master is a formidable opponent, we have no grudge against each other, so I do not use the Dispelling Clouds Palm Technique."

Zen Master Ban Ting snorted angrily and retorted, "If that's the case, why did you use the Dispelling Clouds Palm Technique today?" Jiang Tiantao laughed loudly, "

Today, in front of heroes from all over the world, and with the old Zen master specifically requesting a duel on the Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique, how could I possibly perform it recklessly, confusing the world and deceiving all the heroes and chivalrous warriors who have come to witness this grand gathering?"

Zen Master Banting was speechless. Recalling his three encounters with "Land Dragon" Jiang, the old fortress master, he had always believed that the other party was using the Cloud-Dispelling Palm Technique, only to find out it was a fake. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Although he knew he had already lost, he still wanted to try to salvage some of his lost face, so he said in a deep voice, "I have long heard that the young fortress master is renowned for his powerful palm strikes, having once injured 'Mountain-Uplifting Force' with a single palm strike. This old man wishes to witness it firsthand. I wonder if you would be willing to exchange three palm strikes with this old man?"

Seeing that the outcome was already decided, Jiang Tiantao, unwilling to further embarrass Ban Ting, laughed and humbly said, "Old Zen Master's skill is profound; his palm can shatter a monument. He is renowned in this era, with few rivals. My shallow skills are far inferior to yours." Ban

Ting, confident in his own strength, determined to fight Jiang Tiantao with his inner power, was invigorated by Jiang Tiantao's self-deprecating remark. Fearing he would miss this golden opportunity, he immediately used a provocation, saying contemptuously, "Young Master Jiang, do you know you are no match for me and dare not exchange palm strikes with me?" This question silenced the entire valley of heroes, who all stared wide-eyed, awaiting Jiang Tiantao's reply.

To their surprise, Jiang Tiantao smiled faintly, nodded without hesitation, and said, "Indeed, I know my inner power is inferior to yours. If you had chosen the Three-Splitting Palm technique instead of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique when you challenged me, your sect would have already advanced." Upon hearing this

, a heated debate and commotion immediately erupted among the crowd. Those with ties to Emei were filled with regret and remorse, secretly blaming Zen Master Banting for abandoning his profound inner strength cultivated over decades. However, those who had witnessed Jiang Tiantao injuring "Li Ba Shan" at the matchmaking arena outside Jiugongbao Valley, and those who had participated in the martial arts tournament of "Golden-Faced Nezha" at Dahong Mountain, recalling Jiang Tiantao's feat of lifting the jade lion, all affirmed that Jiang Tiantao was being modest. Since Jiugongbao had already maintained its existing ranking, why create unnecessary trouble and waste its true strength? Of course, some of the heroes only knew one side of the story and speculated that Jiang Tiantao's actions naturally had another purpose.

Seeing Jiang Tiantao's unhesitating and frank admission, Zen Master Banting was stunned. After a long while, he let out a soft hum and said in a deep voice, "At the next tournament today, this old monk will definitely test my inner strength with you." Having said this, he turned and walked directly towards the high steps of Banting.

Jiang Tiantao smiled faintly and said, "Five years from now, my internal strength may have progressed differently than it has today." Master Banting glared at Jiang Tiantao, then with a flick of his sleeve, flew straight into the Emei Sect's pavilion. The other five elders were all filled with regret and remorse, remaining silent, seemingly blaming Banting for not utilizing the power of his decades-long, painstakingly cultivated palm strike.

Jiang Tiantao remained standing in the center. As soon as Master Banting returned to his seat, he bowed to Master Yuantai of the Shaolin Sect, saying, "I suggest that the assembly cherish the time and continue with the following procedures." Although his voice was not loud, it was clearly heard by all the heroes in the valley, immediately eliciting cheers of approval.

Master Yuantai's expression changed upon seeing Jiang Tiantao's profound internal strength. Master Hongchen, who had always feared Jiang Tiantao would challenge the Wudang Sect, broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing Jiang Tiantao bowing and speaking in the center of the hall. Upon hearing Jiang Tiantao's request to continue with the next stage of the "special skills performance," Master Yuantai was overjoyed. He quickly rose, bowed to Master Yuantai, and loudly proclaimed, "I agree."

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao had not challenged the Wudang Sect, Master Yuantai felt much more at ease. He then rose, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and loudly proclaimed, "I fully agree with Young Master Jiang's proposal. This will not only allow the Dragon Head Assembly to end earlier but also spare all the heroes and knights from the hardship of sleeping in the open on the mountainside." Having said this, he immediately announced that each sect would perform their special skills. The entire valley erupted in thunderous cheers that lasted for a long time. To ensure the Shaolin Sect's leading position in the martial arts world, Master Yuantai, under the pressure of Jiang Tiantao's astonishing martial arts, also stepped out of the decorated pavilion and walked down the colorful path. Upon seeing this, the cheers from the crowd grew even louder.

Following closely behind were Master Hongchen, and over a dozen leaders from various sects including Kongtong, Changbai, Xueshan, and Kunlun. According to the convention's rules, the highest-ranking sect would begin the performance of their ultimate techniques. Since the Dragon Head Assembly began, the Shaolin sect had never performed before, clearly influenced by Jiang Tiantao. The sect leaders intending to perform arrived at the center and stood in order. Jiang Tiantao was on the left, Master Hongchen on the right, and Master Yuantai remained in the center, with the other sects positioned on either side.

Master Yuantai first clasped his hands in a respectful bow and proclaimed, "Before I perform my humble skills, the three generations of my sect, young and old, wish to begin with a small formation for all of you to observe." The crowd fell silent, wondering what formation the Shaolin sect intended to demonstrate.

Master Yuantai then turned towards the ridge behind the Shaolin pavilion, and with a wave of his wide sleeves, a thunderous shout immediately echoed from the ridge. The assembled heroes were startled, their confusion deepening. With a sudden shout, three groups of Shaolin monks, varying in stature and age, rushed out. Although all wore grey robes, they wore kasayas of different colors. These monks were all bald, hatless, wearing white shoes and socks. Some wore gold-embroidered crimson kasayas, some bright red, and some apricot-yellow. At a glance, there were over a hundred of them.

Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, knew that the Shaolin sect had been prepared. He could now discern that those in gold-embroidered crimson kasayas were mostly older monks, those in red kasayas were middle-aged, and those in yellow kasayas were mostly young monks. Clearly, this represented the three generations of disciples and members of the Shaolin sect. As Jiang Tiantao surveyed the scene, nearly a hundred Shaolin monks, young and old, had arrived and immediately formed three overlapping concentric circles with practiced ease. The central circle was the smallest, with about twenty people, the middle circle about thirty, and the outer circle about fifty. Each monk stood with their hands clasped to their chests, eyes lowered in solemn silence. Jiang Tiantao had long heard of Shaolin's mountain-guarding formation, known as the "Arhat Formation." While it appeared simple on the outside, it contained profound and complex variations. Judging from the situation, this must be the "Arhat Formation"...

Before he could finish his thought, Master Yuantai solemnly announced, "Esteemed benefactors, please look. These three circles in the arena are our sect's somewhat renowned mountain-guarding formation, the 'One Hundred and Eight Golden Arhats.'" This announcement caused a stir among the crowd. Of the thirty thousand heroes in the valley, very few had ever witnessed the Shaolin Arhat Formation firsthand. Now, the Shaolin sect was openly performing its closely guarded secret, the "One Hundred and Eight Golden Arhats," in front of all the heroes of the world—clearly an act of boasting and awe. None of the thirty thousand heroes who had come to observe were interested in the Shaolin sect's intentions; they were simply happy to broaden their horizons and witness the spectacle. However, the astute Jiang Tiantao had already discerned Master Yuantai's intentions and motives, and thus smiled faintly.

Seeing that he had astonished the assembled heroes of the valley, Master Yuantai couldn't help but show a hint of pride on his ruddy old face. Once the commotion subsided, he continued in a meaningful voice, "This formation, if no one attacks from the center, cannot discern its intricate patterns. Among the esteemed guests present, there are many with profound knowledge of Qimen Dunjia and Yijing. Would you be so kind as to invite three or five of you to enter the formation and give it a try?" Upon hearing this announcement, the heroes fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances, each hoping someone would enter the formation to test it. The leaders and experts of the other sects remained silent, trembling with fear, lest someone ask them for permission; their expressions were tinged with apprehension.

Jiang Tiantao had already seen through Master Yuantai's true purpose in this display—it was entirely for his own benefit—and thus carefully examined the formation. He saw that in the small circle at the center were six groups of three people: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young man, totaling eighteen people. In the middle circle, every two young monks in yellow robes are placed a middle-aged monk in red robes. At the junction of two groups of five, an elderly monk in a crimson and gold-embroidered robe is placed, totaling twenty-six people. In the outer circle, groups of eight people are arranged with a monk in a red robe at each end of the center, totaling eight groups of sixty-four people. The three rings together comprise one hundred and eight people.

Jiang Tiantao, observing this arrangement, understood that the core of the "Arhat Formation" was "One Yuan." The three monks in the small circle—one old, one middle-aged, and one young—represented "Two Forms" (yin and yang) and connected horizontally to form "Three Powers" (heaven, earth, and man). The four monks in yellow robes in the middle circle represented "Four Symbols," and the monk in a red robe represented "Five Elements." The addition of the elderly monk in a crimson and gold-embroidered robe completed the "Six Lines" (a hexagram representing the hexagrams in Chinese astrology). The seven monks in yellow robes on the outer circle form the "Seven Stars," and the monk in red robes forms the "Eight Trigrams," which, together with the monk in red robes at the other end, subtly embodies the principle of the "Nine Palaces." There are eight groups in total, comprising the "Sixty-Four Trigrams."

Jiang Tiantao, after examining it, felt that this "Arhat Formation," though seemingly simple, was actually a comprehensive compilation of various formations. No wonder the Shaolin School often used this formation to dominate the world. However, the Arhat Formation also has its irreparable weakness: if one link fails, the entire formation falls apart. If it encounters a master well-versed in the principles of the I Ching and possessing exceptional skill, it can still be broken.

Master Yuantai paid special attention to Jiang Tiantao. Looking around, he noticed that the leaders of the various sects standing to his left and right all had solemn expressions and worried faces, while Jiang Tiantao alone remained calm, a slight smile playing on his lips. The old monk was both surprised and angry, but forced a smile and asked, "Young Master Jiang, you are a fine young man with superb skills. What do you think of this small formation of our sect?"

Jiang Tiantao fully understood Master Yuantai's meaning, wanting to trick him into entering the formation to test his skills and thus enhance Shaolin's prestige. So he smiled faintly and said, "The Arhat Formation is Shaolin's most treasured martial art. It is based on the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, implicitly containing the Big Dipper, and further incorporating the Three Powers and Two Elements, with the Four Symbols and Nine Palaces as its external support. Such a profound and ever-changing comprehensive formation cannot be accomplished without extraordinary talent." "Who can break it?"

Upon hearing this, Master Yuantai, despite being a highly accomplished monk, couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and laughed heartily. He then waved his sleeves and loudly proclaimed, "Begin the formation!"

The 108 monks, young and old, standing solemnly with their palms together and eyes lowered, chanted a mantra and immediately began to rotate and move. Sometimes they lunged forward in succession, sometimes they expanded their range, sometimes three people formed a small circle, sometimes six people formed a large circle, each circle intertwined and connected, sometimes separating and sometimes joining, their movements ever-changing. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but in reality, its power was immense. The crowd of heroes in the valley was bewildered, unable to understand what trick the hundred-plus monks were playing.

Just then, an old monk in the center of the Arhat Formation shouted first, and the other monks responded simultaneously. Then, with a hundred sleeves waving in unison, a surge of powerful, swirling energy erupted from the formation. Upon seeing this, the assembled heroes all paled. Such a powerful and fierce strike—wouldn't anyone trapped in the center be shattered, their bones broken, their flesh torn to shreds? The leaders of the various sects standing to the left and right of Master Yuantai were also terrified, exchanging bewildered glances. Only Jiang Tiantao remained calm, his handsome face still smiling.

Master Yuantai glanced around the entire scene, feeling quite pleased with himself. But when he saw Jiang Tiantao, a flicker of anger rose within him. He forced a smile and asked, "Young Master Jiang, have you noticed any flaws in this formation?"

Jiang Tiantao had originally been reluctant to point out the weaknesses of the Arhat Formation, lest he embarrass Master Yuantai. However, considering the purpose of Shaolin's demonstration of the Arhat Formation, he nodded and said, "Indeed."

Master Yuantai was taken aback and asked in a deep voice, "Please enlighten me."

Jiang Tiantao smiled faintly and said, "I wouldn't dare ." "This is merely my humble opinion." As he spoke, he glanced around and noticed that Master Hongchen and the leaders of the Kongtong and Changbai sects were all intently watching the evolution of the Han formation in the arena. Therefore, he lowered his voice and continued, "Suppose that the trapped person adopts the 'feint attack' strategy, luring the 'Three Powers' to attack the 'Two Elements' that have been lured out, and takes the opportunity to enter the middle circle. With lightning speed, he breaks through the 'Four Symbols' and 'Five Elements,' and then unleashes a double palm strike to repel the monks on the outer circle. There should be no problem in getting out of the formation."

As he spoke, Master Yuantai's expression had already changed drastically, and he couldn't help but lower his voice in surprise, saying, "Young Master, you've made it too simple." Jiang Tiantao smiled faintly and said, "

The Arhat Formation lies in the interconnectedness of the rings, the alternating advances and retreats. The movements of the 108 people are perfectly synchronized. If one ring breaks, the entire formation falls apart..."

Before he finished speaking, a bead of sweat appeared on Master Yuantai's forehead, and he lowered his voice even further, saying, "Young Master should know that the sixteen people in the outer palaces can all simultaneously unleash their palms to meet the enemy. The power of sixteen people pushing out with both palms is unimaginable."

Jiang Tiantao did not want to embarrass the old monk too much, so he could only smile humbly and say, "That is why I dare not enter the formation to try."

Master Yuantai believed him, and his tense mood immediately calmed down. Although he knew the key to breaking the formation, without the skill, it would be in vain. Just then, the heroes in the valley suddenly burst forth with an astonishing burst of light that shook the mountains and peaks. Jiang Tiantao turned his head and saw that the "Arhat Formation" had been performed. The 108 Shaolin monks in the arena all faced outwards, and all bowed with their hands clasped together to thank the heroes for their cheers.

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao felt his skills were insufficient and dared not rashly enter the formation, Master Yuantai felt a surge of satisfaction. His complexion immediately regained its rosy hue and softened. As soon as the cheers of the heroes subsided, he immediately clasped his hands together and said loudly, "This Arhat Formation, since there is no one inside, cannot reveal its power and variations. Of course, any sophisticated formation has its unchanging laws and weaknesses. Therefore, I humbly request that experts in the I Ching and Qimen Dunjia offer their guidance at any time. I will be waiting for your presence at my humble temple on Mount Song to receive your instruction." Upon hearing this, the heroes erupted in another round of heated discussion.

Jiang Tiantao, being so intelligent, could easily understand that Master Yuantai's words about "weaknesses" were directly aimed at the questions he had raised earlier about breaking the formation. Therefore, he simply smiled and ignored them.

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao had first dared not exchange blows with Zen Master Banting and now dared not rashly enter the formation, Master Yuantai decided to display a few techniques based on internal force to quell the commotion. So, after the heroes' discussions subsided slightly, he continued loudly, "Now, this old man will perform two more splendid acts, and I humbly request the experts' corrections." Upon hearing that Master Yuantai was going to personally demonstrate his special skills, the entire valley fell silent.

This was because the Shaolin School, which considered itself the leader and overlord of the martial arts world, had always disdained to display its best skills at each grand gathering. This time, however, not only had they performed the "One Hundred and Eight Golden Arhats," but Master Yuantai was also going to personally demonstrate his astonishing skills—a truly rare occasion. Therefore, all the heroes who had come to witness the "Dragon Head Assembly" were overjoyed that

their trip had been worthwhile. Seeing the delighted expressions on the faces of all the heroes present, Master Yuantai couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, believing that Shaolin's martial arts were indeed renowned throughout the martial arts world. With this thought in mind, he decided to put on a show to a great effect, and thus, he loudly proclaimed again, "This old man will first perform three strikes of 'Long Fist'!" Upon hearing this, the heroes immediately erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Master Yuantai humbly nodded to Daoist Hongchen and Jiang Tiantao, then strode confidently and steadily toward the stunt performance arena. The arena, located in the very center of the valley, was at least several dozen feet from the edge of the ridge where the crowd stood on three sides, thus avoiding injury from the powerful flying rocks and sand. The arena contained boulders, cauldrons, sandbags, cloud-shaped shovels, hammers, weapons, and more—everything imaginable. At this moment, Master Yuantai stood motionless, five feet in front of the three sandbags, his posture immovable, seemingly concentrating his inner strength. Upon seeing this, the cheers of the crowd ceased instantly, and the entire arena fell silent.

Jiang Tiantao knew that Master Yuantai was about to perform the Shaolin secret technique "Hundred-Step Divine Fist," but because his skill had not yet reached a hundred steps, he called it "Long Fist." Judging from Master Yuantai's position, he was at least twenty steps away from the sandbag platform, possessing such skill. This was truly astonishing. Before the thought was even finished, Master Yuantai's eyebrows twitched slightly, his eyes shining like the morning stars. He slowly raised his right fist and struck the sandbag in the center from afar. Just as "Master Yuantai" threw his right fist, the sandbag suspended on the sandbag rack five zhang away trembled with a thud. Upon seeing this, the faces of all the heroes in the valley changed drastically. Judging from the shape of the sandbag, it contained at least a hundred jin of sand. A punch thrown from afar had caused it to tremble. What would happen if it hit a person?

"Master Yuantai" in the arena remained solemn, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He slightly squatted down, and with a "hey," his right fist struck again with a thud. The sandbag swayed violently, and the wooden rack creaked. Upon seeing this, the faces of the heroes changed again, and a commotion and exclamations erupted. Immediately afterward, Master Yuantai roared, his eyebrows and beard bristling, and with a sudden, sweeping step, he channeled all his power into his right fist, unleashing a thunderous thud that sent sand and dust flying. The sandbag ripped open with a powerful, surging sound. The crowd of heroes erupted in a deafening roar of applause.

Jiang Tiantao watched with a faint smile, knowing that while Master Yuantai possessed profound skill, he had likely used a trick. His first two punches had already cracked the sandbag, allowing some sand to seep out; the third punch, delivered with full force, naturally caused it to explode. Jiang Tiantao felt that even so, it was remarkable, and therefore, he didn't point it out.

At this moment, Master Yuantai walked towards a large, smooth, unmarked stele, three feet wide, eight feet high, and about four inches thick. Upon seeing this, the cheers subsided again, but the murmurs of discussion continued unabated. Master Yuantai walked to a spot fifteen feet in front of the stele, once again placing his hands on the platform, and addressed the assembled heroes in a loud voice: "This old monk will once again offer his humble skill, the 'Prajna Vajra Finger,' to elicit a smile from you all." Having said this, he strode towards the stele.

Upon reaching it, he secretly concentrated his power, let out a deep shout, and swiftly wrote on the stele's surface with his fingers. A clanging sound rang out, followed by a burst of blue smoke and stone dust; countless stone fragments fell as Master Yuantai's middle and index fingers pierced the air. The entire valley erupted in thunderous cheers that lasted for a long time. Master Yuantai, full of vigor, continued writing with lightning speed amidst the cheers of the heroes.

All the heroes and masters from the thirty-three pavilions shook their heads in admiration, secretly giving a thumbs-up, except for the simple-minded Zhang Shitou, who remained unconvinced. This kind of stone carving performance was Zhang Shitou's forte, but unfortunately, he hadn't intended to enter the arena to perform his special skill. Master Yuantai gestured with his finger and immediately retreated to a spot fifteen feet in front of the stele. The assembled heroes stared intently, and there, boldly, were six characters engraved on the massive stele: "Namo Amitabha Buddha," written with vigorous, flowing strokes, like dragons

and snakes dancing. Master Yuantai withdrew, and as soon as the cheers subsided, he clasped his hands together and humbly said in a loud voice, "This is a humble skill from Shaolin, a laughingstock to the experts. I have made a fool of myself." With that, he walked directly towards Master Hongchen and Jiang Tiantao, among others.

The crowd erupted in another round of enthusiastic applause and cheers.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/9944.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=9944&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 30

Next Page : [Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 31

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 29

comment Open a new window to view comments