Speaking of a Master Before a Master, a Small Temple Cannot Hold a Great Buddha

"Master!!!"

Mo Shenggu, the youngest of the Six Heroes of Wudang, was the first to cry out.

The others wore looks of excitement as well.

But when they saw the relief in Zhang Sanfeng’s eyes, guilt surged through their hearts like a tide.

"Master, we have disgraced you!"

Song Yuanqiao lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong.

"Hahaha, it is enough that you are alive. As long as you do not make me, an old man, bury my own disciples as I had to with Cuishan, that is all that matters. As for disgrace or no disgrace, it means nothing."

Seeing that their complexions were rosy and that they did not appear injured, Zhang Sanfeng relaxed considerably. He cupped his hands toward Chu Yang and said, "Thank you, Daoist friend, for showing mercy!"

Chu Yang returned the gesture with a smile. "I have admired Master Zhang for a long time. Today, I have finally had the chance to meet you."

Zhang Sanfeng shook his head. "How could I dare call myself a master before a true master…"

The entire hall was stunned.

Even Ren Woxing, leader of the Demon Sect, and Dongfang Bubai had been thoroughly subdued by this old man!

Yet he had called the scholar before him "Master"!

Did that not mean…

This scholar was even stronger than Zhang Sanfeng, who was practically the number one martial artist under heaven!

The Wudang disciples who had been so arrogant moments ago were now terrified.

Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao exchanged a glance, their faces filled with delight. From this moment on, they resolved to make Chu Yang the leader of the Ming Cult.

"Master Zhang truly is formidable…"

Chu Yang sighed inwardly. Zhang Sanfeng was the only person who had discerned his depth without even exchanging blows with him. He was undoubtedly a cultivator.

"Mr. Chu, this old Daoist has arrived. May I ask you to release my disciples now?"

Through Extermination and Kong Wen, the title "Mr. Chu" had become known throughout the Ming Dynasty, though no one knew Chu Yang’s real name.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Sanfeng’s gaze turned grave. His fists were hidden within his enormous Daoist robe, ready to strike at any moment.

In his eyes, although Chu Yang looked harmless enough, anyone connected to the Demon Sect was bound to be troublesome.

If the other party made demands he could not accept, then they would have to settle things with their hands.

But Zhang Sanfeng had not expected Chu Yang merely to nod, after which Song Yuanqiao and the others walked over to his side without the slightest obstruction.

The hostage handover had gone so smoothly that Zhang Sanfeng was utterly baffled.

Song Yuanqiao quietly explained the entire matter in Zhang Sanfeng’s ear, and realization dawned on the latter’s face.

After hearing it all, Zhang Sanfeng sighed deeply. "While this old Daoist was in seclusion, so much happened in the Jianghu. Mr. Chu has ties with disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect, while He Taichong and the others harmed innocents for the sake of martial arts. They deserved death. Mr. Chu could be said to have acted on Heaven’s behalf!"

At this point, Zhang Sanfeng bowed deeply to Li Mochou. "Miss, the Wudang Sect should have upheld righteousness and saved you from suffering. Yet my disciples, for the sake of ensuring the Six Great Sects could eradicate the Ming Cult, stood idly by. This old Daoist has failed in teaching his disciples!"

Tears welled up in Li Mochou’s eyes. This was the first time anyone had apologized to her for what she had suffered.

In truth, long before the Wudang Sect joined the coalition against the Ming Cult, Li Mochou had already endured brutal interrogation. All that pain was already set in stone and had little to do with them.

Still feeling guilty, Mo Shenggu also found himself unable to save face and explained softly, "Master, we were thinking of the greater good at the time!"

Zhang Sanfeng glared at him. His beard and hair bristled, and his voice boomed like rolling thunder. "The greater good? What is the greater good? The lives of all under heaven are the greater good, so does that mean one person’s life may be sacrificed for everyone else? Did you ask that person whether they agreed?"

Mo Shenggu immediately fell silent in fright.

Zhang Sanfeng’s roar was deafening. Even the Ming Cult members could not help but be secretly impressed by his bearing.

"Zhang Sanfeng truly is Zhang Sanfeng. He is worlds apart from those hypocrites who call themselves righteous."

"Like father, like son. The Eagle King’s daughter fell for Wudang’s Fifth Hero Zhang. Looking at it now, it truly was a fine match."

"By that logic, our Ming Cult is related to the Wudang Sect by marriage."

"Stop talking nonsense. How many years has it been since the Eagle King left?"

"So what? At worst, after some time, I will swallow my pride and invite the Eagle King back…"

Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers whispered among themselves in a corner.

After Zhang Sanfeng led the Wudang Sect in apologizing to Li Mochou, he looked toward Chu Yang again and smiled freely. "Mr. Chu has gone to such lengths merely to discuss the Dao with this old Daoist. Since that is the case, this old Daoist can only oblige. What do you say?"

Chu Yang took a step forward. His figure was like a dream or phantom, and in the next instant, he appeared outside the hall.

Zhang Sanfeng’s pupils contracted as he praised, "What exquisite movement technique."

With that, he spread himself like a white crane taking flight. With a single lift and leap, as though stepping upon drifting clouds, he flew outside.

Most people were still confused, but Yang Xiao was the first to react and rushed out.

"Such a grand spectacle, a duel between two great masters—how can this old bat possibly miss it?"

Wei Yixiao, whose lightness skill was unmatched, came to his senses and flew after him, overtaking Yang Xiao in the blink of an eye.

Only then did everyone understand what "discussing the Dao" meant. They scrambled outside, leaving only Huang Rong, Li Mochou, and several other girls behind.

Yang Buhui asked curiously, "You are not going out to take a look?"

Huang Rong rolled her eyes. "I see it every day. I am sick of it already. I have no interest in joining the crowd."

Ever since the Ancient Tomb Sect had been destroyed, Li Mochou had developed an aversion to so-called supreme martial arts. Forget watching them—she did not even want to hear about them.

She silently watched over Little Dragon Girl, her eyes filled with guilt.

Huang Rong shook her head. Such psychological wounds would take a long time to heal.

Seeing that they truly did not intend to go out, Yang Buhui called for her maid Xiao Zhao and ran toward the hall entrance.

Xiao Zhao looked back at Li Mochou. It was only because Li Mochou had pleaded for her that her shackles had been removed. She wanted badly to stay and comfort her, but she could not defy Yang Buhui.

On Guangming Peak, Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng exchanged moves at blinding speed. Apart from a small number of people such as Yang Xiao, everyone else could see only their afterimages.

Zhang Sanfeng knew full well that ordinary martial arts meant little to Chu Yang, and he did not wish to waste this opportunity to discuss the Dao. Thus, he immediately brought out his greatest skill.

An indescribable aura emanated from Zhang Sanfeng, and his movements became incomparably strange.

Yin and yang intertwined, hardness and softness complemented each other.

Chu Yang focused his mind and held his breath. The blood-red tomoe in his Rinnegan spun wildly, firmly engraving Zhang Sanfeng’s every move into his mind.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Chu Yang vaguely saw an enormous Tai Chi formation appear beneath Zhang Sanfeng’s feet.

White within black, black within white.

He and Zhang Sanfeng each stood upon one of the black and white points.

Slowly rotating…

Heaven and earth seemed to overturn in an instant!

So that is how it is!

Feeling himself being dragged into another space, Chu Yang was certain that Zhang Sanfeng had entered the Dao through martial arts and reached a realm where martial arts had become divine.

Tai Chi Fist was no longer merely a supreme martial art, but a divine martial ability.

"A true earthly immortal."

Chu Yang praised him sincerely. Zhang Sanfeng might be the strongest person he had encountered in this world.

Using the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms against him now would seem somewhat disrespectful to a grandmaster like Zhang Sanfeng.

Chu Yang clenched both hands. Grass and wood sprouted from his palms, gradually condensing into two wooden swords.

Zhang Sanfeng, who was in the midst of performing Tai Chi Fist, brightened. "Spellcraft? This old Daoist thought such things were merely legends. I never imagined I would witness them with my own eyes…"

As he spoke, black and white currents flowed over Zhang Sanfeng’s palms. He brought both arms before his chest and rotated his wrists, forming the posture of "holding a ball."

This was the classic Tai Chi Fist stance—the Qiankun Disk Ball.

Except there truly was a black-and-white sphere formed from qi in Zhang Sanfeng’s arms. He suddenly thrust it forward, and the sphere smashed toward Chu Yang.

Sun and moon radiance spilled from Chu Yang’s twin swords. As he swung them, vast brilliant light bloomed and collided with the black-and-white sphere.

At the same time, the Tai Chi formation beneath their feet spun madly.

The spectators outside the formation craned their necks anxiously. Ever since the Tai Chi formation had appeared, they could no longer see the two within it, as though some illusion had blocked their vision.

The same thought rose in everyone’s heart.

Was this… truly something a mortal could accomplish?

"Master Zhang’s methods have long surpassed the realm of martial arts. Calling him a living immortal would not be an exaggeration!"

The unruly Yang Xiao’s eyes held envy, jealousy, and a faint trace of unwillingness.

He too was one of Heaven’s favored, yet he could not even hope to catch up.

As for everyone besides Yang Xiao, they had no such complicated thoughts. There was only shock, because the gap was so vast that no other emotion could arise.

"Mr. Chu will not lose, will he?"

A worried look flashed across Yang Buhui’s face.

"Nonsense!" Huang Rong glared at her irritably. "Little Chu even killed a Buddha in Mongolia. What is that old man compared to him!"

The horrifying scene of that battle between Buddha and demon still lingered in Huang Rong’s mind.

In her eyes, no matter how strong Zhang Sanfeng was, he was still merely flesh and blood!

Yet Huang Rong’s careless words made the Wudang disciples burst into laughter.

"He killed a Buddha? Hahaha! Why not say he killed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and Buddha Tathagata too?"

"It is understandable to enjoy daydreaming at your age, but treating fantasies as reality is laughable, little girl."

"Brag even more! Why not say he is the rebirth of the Demon Lord?!"

"Hahahaha, he is nothing but an ordinary man. How ridiculous!"

The laughter grew louder and louder. Coupled with the Wudang disciples’ Byakugan, Huang Rong’s face turned livid.

Zhang Sanfeng’s strength seemed to have restored their confidence, allowing them to mock others without restraint!

"Shut up, all of you!"

Song Yuanqiao glared furiously. His sharp gaze swept over the Wudang disciples mocking Huang Rong. They shuddered in alarm, immediately lowering their heads and trembling into silence.

"The atmosphere in our Wudang Sect truly needs to be set straight!" Yu Daiyan sneered at the disciples. "You mock Mr. Chu with your words, but have you considered that he imprisoned the six of us without lifting a finger?"

"What? In your eyes, are the six of us ordinary men as well? Or are we not even as good as ordinary men?"

The Wudang disciples panicked and fell to their knees. "We would not dare!"

Mo Shenggu stepped in to smooth things over and calm his brothers’ anger, and the atmosphere eased somewhat.

"Miss Huang, the disciples were rash. I hope you will not take it to heart." Song Yuanqiao cupped his hands in apology.

But Huang Rong did not accept it. Her gaze bypassed Song Yuanqiao and fixed on the Wudang Sect’s young disciples. "Do not blame me for failing to warn you. Open your damn eyes and watch carefully later!"

Some disciples were unconvinced and were about to retort, but Song Yuanqiao silenced them with a stern glare.

"Miss Huang, we should not lower ourselves to their level. I believe Mr. Chu has killed a Buddha!"

Yang Buhui declared firmly that she stood on Huang Rong’s side.

Without a word, Huang Rong shifted several steps away, as though saying they were not that close.

Yang Buhui: "…"

While the two were silently competing, the Tai Chi formation surrounding Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng suddenly expanded, spreading rapidly outward.

"Everyone, retreat!"

Yin Liting, who was closest to the formation, backed away while warning everyone to leave. As he passed Yang Buhui, he instinctively grabbed her hand, intending to pull her away from danger.

Yang Buhui: "???"

She immediately panicked and shouted at Yang Xiao, "Father! This filthy hooligan is taking advantage of me!"

Yang Xiao turned back, and his eyelid twitched.

Yin Liting fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Yang Xiao with utter sincerity. "Listen to my explanation…"

Unfortunately, the Tai Chi formation gave him no chance. In the blink of an eye, it extended to their feet.

Seeing this, Yang Xiao immediately used the Great Shift of the Universe to draw them both to his side.

He had only learned the basics, but that was enough for something like this.

The next moment.

The Tai Chi formation abruptly stopped rotating and began to shake violently. The yin-yang fish expanded and contracted, as though something inside was crashing about wildly.

A faint trace of qi leaked out, yet it weighed on everyone’s hearts like a massive boulder, making it hard to breathe.

Even the sunlight above Guangming Peak had somehow become obscured by dark clouds.

The air was heavy with the sense of an approaching storm.

The Wudang disciples stared into the blurred interior of the Tai Chi formation, suddenly gripped by a premonition that a demon god was about to emerge!

Rumble!

Lightning flashed, and Guangming Peak was suddenly drenched in torrential rain.

The Tai Chi formation seemed to have reached its limit. Something unknown forcibly burst through it, and after a violent tremor, it suddenly vanished.

What appeared before everyone was a demonic figure dozens of zhang tall, with wings on its back, three heads, and six arms!

"A demon! He truly is a demon!"

"A monster!!!!"

"Taishang Laojun, True Martial Great Emperor, all you immortals, please show yourselves and save us!"

Quite a few Wudang disciples fainted on the spot from the shock.

Others wet themselves. Only a very few managed to remain rational.

The Six Heroes of Wudang stared at Huang Rong in utter horror. They had thought she was boasting before, but now this demonic figure dozens of zhang tall stood right before them. Slaying gods and immortals truly seemed effortless for him!

"If he can even kill a Buddha, then Master might…?!"

Mo Shenggu was so frightened that he lost his composure, muttering to himself without end.

Yang Xiao’s heart pounded, and even his legs felt weak. At his side came Wei Yixiao’s bitter laugh.

"Left Envoy Yang, our Ming Cult’s temple is too small. It seems it cannot hold a great Buddha like Mr. Chu!"

In truth, the moment the Tai Chi formation had broken, Zhang Sanfeng had already lost. Yet as he looked upon Chu Yang, who resembled a god or demon, a surge of heroic spirit suddenly rose in his heart.

He wished to test himself against Heaven itself!

The fierce wind carried the torrential rain like whips across Zhang Sanfeng’s body, but he seemed not to feel it at all. Standing in the curtain of rain, he laughed heartily.

He once more assumed the opening stance of Tai Chi. His left hand grasped the wind, his right hand grasped the rain, and wind and rain transformed into a Tai Chi yin-yang fish in his hands.

Chu Yang looked down at Zhang Sanfeng on the ground, admiration in his eyes.

As expected of Zhang Sanfeng. His bearing was peerless. He had actually broken through in the midst of battle, raising the intent of Tai Chi Fist to another level.

The towering demon god likewise reached out and seized the wind and rain, transforming them into a long spear before hurling it forward.

The spear collided with the Tai Chi yin-yang fish. A terrifying shockwave swept through the surroundings, and the wind, rain, and dark clouds vanished completely in an instant.

Zhang Sanfeng was not spared either and was sent flying by the shockwave.

Thus,

the exchange of martial arts and Dao ended with Zhang Sanfeng’s defeat.

The demonic god scattered.

Chu Yang slowly descended to the mortal world.

Everyone stared blankly at the scholar. Not the slightest trace of irreverence remained in their hearts. The Wudang disciples in particular looked at Chu Yang with the reverence they would give a god.

After a long while,

Zhang Sanfeng prepared to leave Guangming Peak with the Wudang disciples.

"To be able to discuss the Dao with you today is this old Daoist’s good fortune. I never expected that, at my age, I could still climb to greater heights."

Zhang Sanfeng chuckled, his eyes shining brightly.

"I, too, have gained much insight."

Chu Yang was equally pleased. He had firmly grasped the essence of the portions of Tai Chi Fist concerning the "Dao." All that remained was for him to calmly contemplate it.

"I hope fate allows us to meet again someday, Mr. Chu."

Zhang Sanfeng cupped his hands in salute, then descended the mountain with Song Yuanqiao and the Wudang disciples.

"This matter is settled. We should be going as well."

Chu Yang had Huang Rong and Li Mochou bring out the carriage, then bid farewell to the Ming Cult members.

"I know well that the position of Ming Cult Leader is beneath a celestial figure like yourself, Mr. Chu. We would not dare entertain such hopes. But as the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. You have, after all, saved the lives of so many people in the Ming Cult…"

Yang Xiao looked hesitant. "Should you have any orders, the Ming Cult will brave boiling water and blazing fire without hesitation. I only hope you will not disdain us."

Chu Yang pondered for a moment before nodding, accepting this bond of gratitude.

Wei Yixiao and the others were overjoyed.

"After this incident, the Ming Cult’s reputation in the Jianghu will soar. There will surely be many people of unknown origins seeking to join. I hope you keep yourselves clean and do not blindly admit scum who would commit evil deeds!"

"From now on, always take the fate of He Taichong and the others as a warning."

Before departing, Chu Yang left them with several words of warning, chilling Yang Xiao and the others to the bone. The meaning was clear: whether the Ming Cult would be saved or destroyed depended entirely on a single thought from him.

After leaving Guangming Peak, Chu Yang did not rush back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Instead, he made a circuit through the Ming Dynasty and executed on the spot the stragglers who had taken part in the siege of the Ancient Tomb Sect.

Among them were quite a few men hailed as great heroes by the righteous sects.

While the Jianghu of the Ming Dynasty recoiled from the bloodshed, Zhang Sanfeng returned to Mount Wudang, and a shocking piece of news instantly swept through taverns and other gathering places for rumors across the land.

"Mahito Zhang personally admitted that he lost to that mysterious ‘Mr. Chu’!"

"Even the old immortal Zhang lost?"

"What are we supposed to do now? Who in the world can stand against that demon?"

"Mahito Zhang also said that Mr. Chu is an accomplished cultivator of the Dao with old ties to the Ancient Tomb Sect, not a member of the Demon Sect. His actions this time were directed only against those who participated in the siege of the Ancient Tomb Sect."

"So that’s how it is. I was wondering why, when the six major sects went to Guangming Peak, the other three sects were left alone. Shaolin Sect, Emei Sect, and Wudang Sect are all religious sects and did not participate in the fight for the Nine Yin Manual."

"But… how were the arms of Extermination Master and Master Kong Wen severed?"

"I heard Mr. Chu had clearly already let them leave, but they still attacked him and angered him. Each of them lost an arm."

"Weren’t they just asking for trouble? Still, this Mr. Chu has quite the temper."

"Hehe, if I had martial arts as powerful as his, my temper would be even worse!"

"Come to think of it, fewer and fewer people have died lately. It’s been a long time since we heard rumors of another expert being killed by Mr. Chu."

"Ha! Not everyone went after that Nine Yin Manual. The people qualified to join in the excitement were all experts. When would it ever be our turn?"

"Latest news! Latest news!"

"Senior Feng Qingyang of the Mount Hua Sect, who had lived in seclusion for many years, emerged from the mountains and fought that Mr. Chu at a ferry crossing somewhere!"

"The two of them flattened all the mountains on both banks of the river!"

"After Feng Qingyang was defeated, he left behind a line of poetry and drifted away."

"Like a demon lord descended from heaven, truly a Tai Sui god upon the mortal world!"

The noisy tavern abruptly fell silent, before erupting into a furious uproar!

At the same time, Zhang Sanfeng, who was lecturing his disciples on the Dao at Mount Wudang, also heard this news.

After being speechless for a long while,

he chuckled.

"Demon lord?"

"Tai Sui?"

"Entirely fitting?"

Huang Rong drove the carriage, and they soon returned to Northern Song Dynasty territory.

After the drastic changes in the Ancient Tomb Sect, Li Mochou had become much more sensible. Though she could not drive a carriage, she often stayed beside Huang Rong to learn, trying to master the skill.

Chu Yang vaguely felt that she was afraid he would abandon her.

This was an inner demon. Chu Yang could not resolve it with a few words and could only leave it to time.

Little Dragon Girl often hid in Chu Yang’s arms to sleep, as if that was the only way she could feel safe enough. Looking at the exquisitely adorable little infant, Chu Yang could not refuse her.

After being away for over a month, the Northern Song Dynasty Jianghu had changed as well. Qiao Feng had vanished without a trace, and few people mentioned him anymore.

Kang Min, the wife of Ma Dayuan, the former deputy leader of the Beggars’ Sect, had died suddenly of illness at home.

The Zhenlong Chess Game, which had drawn the attention of heroes across the land, had just ended. Huang Rong, who always loved joining the excitement, regretted missing it terribly.

"Keep going. An even bigger spectacle awaits you."

"Where are we going?!"

"Tianshan, Piaomiao Peak, Lingjiu Palace."

Huang Rong turned and secretly glanced at Li Mochou, seeming to recall something.

The master of Lingjiu Palace—Tianshan Child Granny—had also joined that struggle for the Nine Yin Manual. However, for certain reasons, she had not personally appeared.

The thirty-six cave masters and seventy-two island masters under her command had served her tirelessly.

Tianshan Child Granny’s reason for seizing the Nine Yin Manual was simple: she wanted to consult this martial art hailed as the ultimate compendium of all martial arts in the world to resolve the flaws in her Eternal Youth Unaging Art.

Tianshan Child Granny had trained in this art from the age of six. At thirty-six, she reverted to childhood and needed thirty days to recover. At sixty-six, she reverted to childhood again and needed sixty days. At ninety-six, when she reverted to childhood once more, she needed ninety days.

The drawback was that each time she reverted to childhood, all her cultivation vanished. One day of training restored the strength she had at age seven, and every day afterward restored another year’s worth. Furthermore, she had to drink fresh blood at noon each day in order to practice.

If an enemy came seeking revenge during that period, she would essentially be waiting to die, with no power to fight back.

Moreover, Li Qiushui had once sabotaged her, causing an error while she practiced. Her body had been permanently frozen at the appearance of an eight- or nine-year-old girl, and this had always been a thorn in her heart.

But to Chu Yang and Li Mochou, regardless of Tianshan Child Granny’s motives or how she had participated, the punishment she deserved would eventually fall upon her head.

The moon was dark and the wind was high.

At the foot of Tianshan,

Lingjiu Palace had dispatched a large number of palace maids, all standing ready in strict formation.

The thirty-six cave masters and seventy-two island masters had also led their disciples here.

Any force in the world would have a headache upon encountering such a grand formation.

Yet the reason these people were so jumpy was merely because a carriage had entered Lingjiu Palace’s sphere of influence.

It was an utterly ordinary carriage. Aside from the remarkable fine horse drawing it, there was nothing else notable about it.

What everyone feared was the man sitting on the carriage shaft.

Recently, some had called him the Demon Lord, while others called him Tai Sui.

But the name most often used was still the three words "Mr. Chu."

Over the past few months, throughout the Jianghu spanning several nations, the person in the limelight more than anyone else was undoubtedly this "Mr. Chu."

He had swept through the six major sects alone.

He had first defeated Mahito Zhang of Wudang, then Feng Qingyang, the peak master of the sword path.

No one knew how many famous sects he had personally crushed. Countless renowned heroes and extraordinary figures had died at his hands.

Such illustrious achievements sounded like a fantasy and made people pale at the mention of them.

Wherever he went, blood flowed like rivers.

Anyone with even the slightest connection to the destruction of the Ancient Tomb Sect could not atone even through a hundred deaths.

Unfortunately, Lingjiu Palace was one such unlucky party.

Not only had they failed to seize the Nine Yin Manual, they had also provoked a monstrous calamity.

"Whether we stick our heads out or pull them back, we’ll get cut down all the same. When will days like this ever end?"

"What the hell are you afraid of? There are so many of us and only one of him. If each of us spat once, we could drown him."

"If numbers were any use, we wouldn’t have let Tianshan Child Granny enslave us for so many years…"

"Shut up! If the maids of Lingjiu Palace hear you, we’re all dead! Have you forgotten the taste of the Life and Death Talisman?"

At those words, the cave masters and island masters instantly fell silent.

The pain when the Life and Death Talisman acted up cut straight into one’s bones.

Compared to that, perhaps dying at Mr. Chu’s hands would actually be a release?

As everyone sank into wild thoughts, the clopping of hooves pierced the night and echoed in their ears.

Under the moonlight, an exceedingly ordinary carriage appeared and disappeared from view.

The carriage traveled over the wilderness as though it were flat ground. Perhaps because the darkness obscured their sight, they failed to notice that the carriage was actually floating above the road.

Everyone held their breaths and looked back at Lingjiu Palace’s representatives, Tianshan Child Granny’s personal maids.

The Four Swords of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum.

Mei Jian, dressed in red, stepped forward from the crowd. Looking at the scholar seated on the carriage, she called out clearly, "My Grandma learned that you would be passing through Tianshan, sir, and specially sent us to see you off. We have prepared a modest gift as a token of respect. We hope you will accept it."

The meaning was simple. Since they had not obtained the Nine Yin Manual anyway, they would offer him a gift as an apology, and the matter would be settled between them.

Mei Jian glanced at Wu Laoda in the crowd, signaling him to deliver the prepared gifts before the "Demon Lord."

Wu Laoda’s face immediately twisted in misery. He cursed inwardly, but promptly forced a smile onto his face and respectfully carried a pile of glittering treasures toward the carriage.

Once he approached, Wu Laoda carefully used the moonlight to secretly examine the scholar before him.

He had originally thought the man would look menacing, but the face that entered his view had sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuding a gentle, jade-like elegance.

He clearly looked like a kind Confucian scholar, utterly unrelated to words like "Demon Lord" or "Tai Sui."

Wu Laoda stared blankly until he felt the other man watching him with an amused gaze. He suddenly came back to himself, breaking out in a cold sweat!

"M-Mr. Chu, it is only a small gift. I hope you will not dislike it." Wu Laoda’s limbs had gone cold, and his tongue seemed tied as he spoke in halting fragments.

Among the treasures were four or five fist-sized luminous pearls alone. Calling them priceless would not be an exaggeration.

Yet Chu Yang did not spare them another glance. He reached out and knocked on the carriage compartment, saying softly, "Little girl."

Li Mochou poked out half her head, glanced at the treasures, said, "I don’t want them," and pulled her head back inside.

Chu Yang shrugged helplessly and smiled. "She says she doesn’t want them. What should we do?"

Cold sweat poured down Wu Laoda’s face as he forced out an awkward smile. "You should simply accept them, sir. A child’s words cannot be taken seriously!"

"The problem is, I don’t want them either…" Chu Yang said faintly. "How about offering something more valuable instead?"

Wu Laoda swallowed. "What would be more valuable?"

Chu Yang did not answer. He merely looked at him with a kindly smile.

Wu Laoda’s face abruptly turned deathly pale. He seemed to have guessed what could be more valuable than treasure…

Trembling, he backed away step by step. He did not dare turn around and show Chu Yang his back, afraid that in the next moment, his head and body would part ways.

When Mei Jian saw Wu Laoda carrying the treasures back, she frowned. "Wu Laoda, what are you doing?!"

"Miss Mei… that Mr. Chu wants something more valuable!"

Wu Laoda replied with a mournful face.

Mei Jian was utterly baffled.

Wu Laoda could only make it explicit. "The Demon Lord wants our lives!"

Mei Jian’s face turned livid!

The others did not look much better.

"How arrogant! Grandma has no desire to make an enemy of him, yet he actually pushes his luck. Does he really think Lingjiu Palace fears him?"

"All divisions of Lingjiu Palace, heed my command! Form up and surround that carriage! I want to see what this Mr. Chu is really made of!"

"Thirty-six cave masters, seventy-two island masters, Grandma orders you to take the lead! Whoever captures him will be freed from the Life and Death Talisman!"

Tianshan Child Granny seemed to have anticipated the worst outcome and had made arrangements long ago, leaving the Four Swords of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum to issue commands on her behalf.

Wu Laoda and the others had initially been despairing after receiving a death order, but when they heard that the Life and Death Talisman could be removed, a flush rose on every face and their eyes turned frenzied.

Compared to death, the torment of the Life and Death Talisman was even more terrifying.

Their cries of battle immediately became deafening as a group of martial artists charged desperately at the carriage. Behind them, the palace maids of Lingjiu Palace advanced in formation.

Chu Yang had no interest in fighting this pack of trash, so he directly unleashed Conqueror’s Haki.

An invisible tide of force surged forth. Jianghu experts dropped to the ground one after another, and moments later, only the four sisters of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum remained at the foot of the mountain.

Mei Jian, who had been barking orders only moments ago, stood rooted in place and trembled.

She had never seen anything like this. She had merely heard that the Demon Lord was strange and terrifying, but had never known exactly how.

Now she had witnessed it with her own eyes.

"How do you intend to deal with these people?"

"They did not directly harm me. I do not wish to take their lives."

"Fine. Then we’ll follow the usual rule and cripple their martial arts."

Upon hearing that they were going to cripple people’s martial arts, Huang Rong eagerly crawled out of the carriage compartment and, with practiced ease, began destroying the meridians and dantians of Wu Laoda and the others.

Her proficiency was frightening.

Chu Yang had always believed in clearly distinguishing gratitude from grievances.

Tianshan Child Granny was the mastermind, while Wu Laoda and the others were accomplices. As for these palace maids of Lingjiu Palace, aside from their master-servant relationship with Tianshan Child Granny, they had nothing to do with this affair.

On Guangming Peak that day, Chu Yang had only killed the sect leaders of the Kongtong Sect, Mount Hua Sect, and Kunlun Sect. He had not troubled their disciples.

Therefore, he intended to spare these maids.

The carriage slowly approached the mountain path leading into Piaomiao Peak. Chu Yang turned his head toward the dumbstruck Four Swords of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum and said, "Excuse me. Please move aside."

The four women looked panicked and trembled all over, yet they did not obediently move aside.

They knew that if they did, Tianshan Child Granny, who was currently in seclusion cultivating, would certainly be no match for the man before them.

The four of them had been raised by Tianshan Child Granny. That debt of gratitude alone was enough for them to sacrifice their lives.

"Your loyalty is commendable."

Chu Yang nodded.

Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju gritted their teeth and drew their swords, ready to fight to the death. Yet before they could take a single step, they all toppled stiffly to the ground.

After all, they did not even count as first-rate fighters. How could they withstand the impact of Conqueror’s Haki?

Tianshan was steep and rugged, and Lingjiu Palace stood atop a perilous peak. Little Red Horse could not climb it, so Chu Yang could only leave them at the foot of the mountain.

Huang Rong had originally wanted to go with him, but she worried about Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl’s safety, so she abandoned the idea.

Thus, Chu Yang climbed the peak alone.

Tianshan was magnificent and vast, its silent night lending it an added air of mystery.

Most of Lingjiu Palace’s maidens had been stationed at the foot of the mountain by Tianshan Child Granny. Only a small remaining portion guarded the summit, practically negligible.

Whether on the mountain or below it, Tianshan Child Granny did not care whether those people lived or died. As long as they could stop Chu Yang, their deaths would be worthwhile.

In Tianshan Child Granny’s understanding, no master in the world could truly fight a thousand men alone. Even her master, Xiaoyao Zi, would have been incapable of it.

Perhaps she believed that even Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang combined would not have been her master’s match. Mr. Chu, who had defeated those two, was nothing special.

Lingjiu Palace had nearly a thousand disciples, and with Wu Laoda’s group added in, there was no reason they could not hold back Mr. Chu. Even a battle of attrition could wear him to death.

"Demon Lord? Scourge?"

"Once my divine art is complete, I’ll deal with you properly. For now, enjoy your arrogance while it lasts!"

After cultivating for a while, Tianshan Child Granny felt increasingly unsettled. Her harsh words sounded more like an attempt to bolster her own courage.

After regulating her breath for a quarter of an hour, Tianshan Child Granny resumed her cultivation.

The palace where she was in seclusion suddenly began to tremble.

Tianshan Child Granny’s eyes snapped open.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Something terrifying outside seemed to be battering the entire palace!

No!

It was battering all of Piaomiao Peak!

Tianshan Child Granny’s face drained of color. Ignoring the danger of Qi Deviation, she interrupted her cultivation once more and hurried out of the palace.

A young scholar was raising a fist the size of a sandbag and pounding on Lingjiu Palace’s main gate.

Since he was avenging the destruction of a sect, there was no reason not to tear down this shabby gate.

It was not just Lingjiu Palace. Every sect Chu Yang had crushed along the way received the same treatment.

First demolish the gate, then kill the Sect Leader.

At the sight, Tianshan Child Granny’s scalp went numb!

She could guess who that scholar was with her toes…

None of those people had managed to stop him?

Just as Tianshan Child Granny was overwhelmed with horror, Chu Yang suddenly raised his head and looked in her direction.

Their gazes met.

Chu Yang grinned.

Tianshan Child Granny’s heart suddenly clenched, as though someone had fiercely squeezed it in their hand.

She activated her lightness skill and turned to flee, but an immense suction force seized her body in midair. The scenery around her spun backward at high speed.

The next moment, her neck tightened, as if caught in a vicious vise.

"You’re a pitiful person too. For the sake of an illusory love, you ended up like this. Before you die, let me tell you the truth: your senior brother Wu Yazi never loved you most in his life. Nor did he love Li Qiushui. The one he loved was your little junior sister."

Tianshan Child Granny’s body froze upon hearing those words. Then she suddenly turned her head, but Chu Yang was gripping her neck. The moment she twisted around, she snapped her own neck.

Even so, Tianshan Child Granny continued to stare fixedly at Chu Yang.

"What you said… is it true?"

Her eyes bulged with fury as she clung to her final breath, desperate for a definite answer.

"It’s true."

Chu Yang nodded.

"Hehehe~~~ Hahaha~~~"

A strange laugh escaped Tianshan Child Granny’s mouth, while her eyes gradually dimmed.

Chu Yang placed her corpse beneath the main gate, then shattered the gate with one palm strike, burying it together with her body before Lingjiu Palace.

After finishing this, Chu Yang entered the grand Lingjiu Palace and wandered about.

When he reached the garden, Chu Yang swept the area with Observation Haki and found the mechanism. Once triggered, the artificial hill in the garden slowly shifted aside, revealing an opening.

Chu Yang entered the tunnel through the opening. It twisted and wound downward, making it obvious that a vast hollow lay within Piaomiao Peak.

After an unknown amount of time, the view before him suddenly opened up.

A broad stone cavern came into view.

The stone walls on both sides had been polished smooth as mirrors, engraved with countless images and words. The intricate lines marked routes for circulating inner power, though many portions had already been lost.

Nearly a thousand diagrams dazzled the eye.

Some contained the supreme arts of the Xiaoyao Sect left behind by Tianshan Child Granny, but even more had originated from this place’s former masters.

Lingjiu Palace on Tianshan had originally been an ancient ruin discovered by accident by Xiaoyao Zi, the Xiaoyao Sect’s patriarch. It had belonged to a mysterious sect from several centuries ago; the Xiaoyao Sect was merely a later usurper occupying the magpie’s nest.

The mysterious martial arts carved upon the stone walls were far more profound than the Nine Yin Manual. In Chu Yang’s eyes, they could even be regarded as secret divine techniques.

If ordinary people stared at them for even a little too long, they would lose their minds and suffer splitting headaches. It was a sign of mental overload.

Chu Yang had no such concerns. After studying them for only a moment, he had committed every diagram to memory.

He sat cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes to deduce their principles. After a long while, Chu Yang revealed a surprised expression.

The martial arts and cultivation methods left behind by the mysterious sect held tremendous reference value, no less than the intent behind Zhang Sanfeng’s Tai Chi Fist. They possessed an innate "Dao resonance."

"Xiaoyao Zi must have drawn upon the cultivation methods here in his youth to create so many wondrous martial arts for the Xiaoyao Sect."

Looking at the murals that had been corroded by time, Chu Yang could not help feeling regret.

If they had been complete, he would have possessed an entire cultivation method now.

After leaving the stone cavern, Chu Yang did not destroy the entrance and chose to depart directly.

Those before planted trees so those after could enjoy the shade. Chu Yang had no interest in planting trees, much less uprooting them and leaving no shade for those who came after.

Flying from Piaomiao Peak to the foot of the mountain took no more than the blink of an eye. Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju, Wu Laoda, and the others had yet to regain consciousness.

Little Red Horse snorted and pulled the carriage away into the night.

Before long, news of Lingjiu Palace’s destruction spread through the Jianghu. The major sects immediately fell into a state of panic, as though every gust of wind and blade of grass concealed an enemy, while their disciples lived in constant dread.

Under immense pressure, the Jianghu factions of the Northern and Southern Song decided to unite and convene a martial arts assembly, inviting the legendary "Mr. Chu" to negotiate from a position of peace.