RNP Page 18
Page 18
"Hmph, well said!" Among the three experts, an arrogant man suddenly sneered, "I wonder if their skills are worthy of the title 'protecting the righteous path'! Let's hope they're not just all show and no substance!"
Qiao Tian frowned slightly, but still held back, and said in a deep voice, "You flatter me, sir. Wudang acts with integrity and uprightness, and the world will judge right and wrong."
Just as the atmosphere became slightly tense, Wu Xingyun, dressed in red, walked slowly out from the side corridor accompanied by Fu Minyi and Cheng Qingshuang, seemingly heading to the rear hall to prepare a medicinal meal for Wu Yazi. Her expression was indifferent, ignoring the imperial procession in the square, and she walked straight through.
Upon seeing this, Qiao Tian quickly bowed and greeted, "Grand Master Uncle."
Wu Xingyun seemed not to hear, and continued walking.
Seeing Qiao Tian's respectful attitude towards the girl in red, and noticing her unremarkable appearance, one of the three experts couldn't help but sneer, "Ha! The eldest grand-uncle of the Wudang Sect leader? A little girl? Then can my daughter sit in this great-grandmother's seat too?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xingyun abruptly stopped in his tracks.
She slowly turned around, her face expressionless, but the icy killing intent emanating from her instantly made the temperature of the entire square seem to drop several degrees.
No one saw how she moved; a flash of red, and she was already close to the rude man. Her jade-like hand lightly touched his chest.
"Pfft!" The expert didn't even have time to react. His eyes bulged out, and he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. He died on the spot!
"You audacious vixen!" Li Yan was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected the girl to be so ruthless and decisive, and her movements were incredibly fast. He reacted extremely quickly; almost simultaneously, he raised his right hand, and several thin, cold beams of light—silently—shot towards Wu Xingyun's vital points on the back, both to save her and to establish his authority!
However, just as the embroidery needle was about to pierce her skin—
"Clang... Clang... Clang!"
Three clear and melodious notes of the zither suddenly emanated from the depths of the Zhenwu Hall! The notes were not loud, but they carried an invisible, resonant force that struck Li Yan's mind precisely!
Li Yan shuddered violently, as if struck by a heavy blow. His blood surged, and the embroidery needle he had shot out seemed to have struck an invisible wall of energy, its momentum abruptly diminished before it clattered to the ground. He was horrified: "A sonic attack! And such a pure and profound sonic attack, one that directly shakes the soul! There is actually a grandmaster in this hall who is no less skilled than himself!"
Wu Xingyun paid no attention to the changes behind her, and didn't even turn around. The moment the zither music started, her palm struck out like a butterfly flitting among flowers. The scorching palm force of the Tianshan Six Yang Palm struck the chests of the other two masters who were trying to make a move with perfect accuracy.
"Bang! Bang!"
With two muffled thuds, the two top-notch fighters sent by Zhou Tong fell to the ground dead before they could even scream, following in their companion's footsteps.
In the blink of an eye, three top-tier experts were dead. Wu Xingyun didn't even glance at the corpses on the ground, as if he had casually swatted a few flies. His expressionless face remained unchanged as he continued walking towards the rear hall, his figure quickly disappearing behind the pillars.
There was dead silence in the square.
Li Yanqiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his expression shifting several times. He glanced deeply into the depths of the hall, then at the three corpses on the ground, finally fixing his gaze on the calm-faced Qiao Tian. Suddenly, his face returned to that familiar, enigmatic smile, and his voice softened:
"Oh dear, I never expected that your sect's... senior master would have such a fiery temper. It seems that these three are unskilled and speak recklessly, bringing trouble upon themselves." He waved his hand, as if brushing off dust. "Guards, according to the Imperial City Guard's standards for the dead, provide them with a proper burial and compensation. Report it up, and I will handle it properly."
He turned to Qiao Tian, smiling broadly: "I have witnessed firsthand today the unwavering loyalty of Sect Leader Qiao to the court, and I deeply admire him. Upon returning, I will report this to His Majesty without a single error. His Majesty will surely be overjoyed to hear of it!"
Qiao Tian sneered inwardly, but remained polite on the surface: "Thank you for your help, Eunuch Li. We hope you will forgive the slight mishap. After the ceremony, Wudang will present you with a gift to thank you for coming from afar. Please rest for a while, and I will arrange for my disciples to escort you to the best viewing seat."
"Of course, of course." Li Yan nodded with a smile and walked towards the viewing platform under the guidance of the Lingjiu Palace disciples. However, when he turned around, the corner of his eye once again swept over the depths of the Zhenwu Hall, and the fleeting fear he felt could not be concealed.
Chapter 59 Master's Order
As the sun rose high in the sky, the square in front of the Zhenwu Hall on Wudang Mountain was already packed with people. Colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and the cacophony of voices merged into a booming roar that soared into the heavens. Looking out, a dense, dark mass of people stretched as far as the eye could see—a rough count suggested no fewer than three thousand! People from all walks of life, from various sects and factions, a mixed bag—there were well-dressed members of reputable sects, strangely dressed members of unorthodox schools, and many fierce-looking, clearly not benevolent figures from the martial world.
Qiao Tian stood alone before the towering threshold of the Zhenwu Hall, his black Taoist robe fluttering slightly in the wind. His gaze calmly swept over the bustling crowd below, yet a chill ran through him. The dense throng, the countless eyes—some curious, some greedy, some hostile, some gloating—converged into an invisible, suffocating pressure. He could almost imagine his younger brother, Qiao Feng, in the original story, facing the overwhelming power and despair of the heroes of the world at Juxian Manor and before Shaolin Temple.
Just then, a powerful voice announced the names of the deceased from the mountain gate:
"—The Beggars' Sect, led by Chief Wang Jiantong, along with Elder Lü Zhang (Transmission of Skills), Elder Bai Shijing (Enforcement), and the four elders Song Xi Chen Wu, have arrived—!"
The roar subsided the clamor. A group of beggars, led by their leader Wang Jiantong, strode forward, their clothes patched and hempen, yet their bearing imposing. Each step was steady and powerful, their eyes sharp, their every glance exuding a rugged, untamed spirit. No one dared to underestimate them because of their attire. The power and influence of the world's number one gang was unmistakable.
Just as the Beggars' Sect members stood still on one side of the square, another, even more magnificent and solemn voice announced their names:
"—The Shaolin Temple has received the following arrivals: Abbot Xuannan of the Bodhidharma Hall, Abbot Xuanku of the Arhat Hall, Abbot Xuanji of the Discipline Hall, and Abbot Xuancheng!"
The entire hall fell silent! Xuan Cheng, with his dignified bearing and composed demeanor, was followed by a group of eminent monks, including Xuan Nan, Xuan Ku, and Xuan Ji, each exuding profound aura and possessing piercing gazes. Wherever the Shaolin procession passed, the crowd automatically parted to make way, bowing with their palms pressed together in reverence, displaying the supreme prestige of this martial arts master.
Xuan Cheng's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Qiao Tian in front of the hall. He clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, his voice soft yet clear enough to reach everyone's ears: "Amitabha. Nephew Qiao, it has been many days since we parted, and I never imagined we would meet again in this situation. Truly, fate is cruel and cruel, and this old monk... is deeply saddened. Alas—!" With that, he shook his head, sighed, and retreated back into the Shaolin formation, saying nothing more.
However, this solemn atmosphere did not last long before it was completely shattered by an extremely exaggerated and ear-piercing commotion!
The sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas blared loudly, accompanied by a series of sickeningly sweet shouts, coming from afar and growing louder:
"The Starry Sky Immortal possesses boundless magical power! His supernatural abilities are vast, and he reigns supreme over the Central Plains!"
"The Immortal Star Constellation, whose virtue matches Heaven and Earth! His might shakes the universe, unparalleled throughout history!"
"With the appearance of the Immortal, who can rival him! May he enjoy immortal blessings forever and live as long as the heavens!"
The crowd stared in astonishment as a procession of people, accompanied by music and flower petals, escorted an eight-bearer palanquin, which swaggered into the square like a procession through the city. The palanquin curtain was lifted, and an old man with a sinister face, dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with poisonous insects and holding a goose feather fan, stepped arrogantly out of the palanquin. It was none other than Ding Chunqiu, the Old Monster of the Star Constellation Sect! His disciples behind him shouted themselves hoarse, their obsequious expressions nauseating.
This pomp and circumstance, this manner, is truly... unprecedented and unparalleled! Thousands of heroes from the martial arts world in the square have never seen such a shameless person before. In an instant, voices of astonishment, disdain, and disgust rose up everywhere.
Several hot-tempered men couldn't help but mutter curses under their breath: "Pah! What rubbish! It's an insult to my ears!"
"Who is this wicked person who dares to run wild in this place!"
Ding Chunqiu had exceptional hearing. Upon hearing the sound, his gaze turned cold. Without making any visible movement, he simply flicked his feather fan towards the group of men. The rude men were instantly struck as if by a heavy blow; their faces turned ashen, and they screamed as they collapsed to the ground, convulsing, and fell silent in an instant! The method was so bizarre and ruthless that it sent chills down one's spine!
The entire arena fell silent instantly! Though enraged, the crowd dared not utter a sound, lest they suffer the same fate as Ding Chunqiu, whose unpredictable and deadly use of poison left no trace. This old monster truly held no respect for any of the heroes under heaven!
Ding Chunqiu then shook his fan with satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on the dark figure at the entrance of the Zhenwu Hall. He chuckled sinisterly, "You are the new junior brother that old ghost Wuyazi has taken in? Tsk tsk, where is Master? Why is he hiding and afraid to show his face? I, his senior brother, miss him terribly!"
Qiao Tian remained standing still, silent and composed, like a deep pool or ancient well, undisturbed. His tall and upright figure stood before the main hall, exuding the unwavering aura of a sect leader.
"Bah! You treacherous, ungrateful bastard!" Just then, Su Xinghe appeared beside Qiao Tian, pushing Wu Yazi's wheelchair. Su Xinghe's hair and beard bristled, and he pointed at Ding Chunqiu, cursing furiously, "Ding Chunqiu! Have you forgotten who rescued you from hunger and cold, who had fainted by the roadside, and brought you back to the mountains? It was our master! He stayed up for three days and three nights without sleep, pulling you back from the brink of death! He taught you martial arts, imparted knowledge to you, and treated you like his own child! How could you be so heartless and do such a vile thing! Are you even human?"
Ding Chunqiu was stunned when he saw Wuyazi in the wheelchair, then burst into maniacal laughter: "Haha...hahaha!" At first, it seemed arrogant, but as he laughed, his laughter turned into a sob, and his eyes became eerily red. He pointed at Wuyazi and hissed, "Treat me like a son? Hahaha! What a fine way to treat me like a son! I've tried so hard, tried so hard to please you, from childhood to adulthood, no matter what I do, it's always been bad in your eyes! When have you ever given me a word of affirmation? When have you ever truly recognized me?! You will never pass on your mantle to me! You will never! I so desperately want your approval, Master!"
His voice turned shrill: "But how did you treat me? You even wanted to cripple me! Fine, if you won't give it to me, I'll take it myself! You don't approve of me, so I've become like this, how about that? My dear master, are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied now?"
Sitting in his wheelchair, Wu Yazi listened to Ding Chunqiu's words, a mixture of resentment, grievance, and madness, his withered fingers trembling slightly. He seemed to see again the boy who used to pester him for stories every day, his eyes filled with childlike affection... After a long while, he said nothing, but slowly closed his eyes.
A calm, unwavering statement, yet one that conveyed an undeniable resolve, uttered from Wu Yazi's lips:
Just two words, nothing more. It was as if the final verdict had already been pronounced. From beginning to end, he didn't look at Ding Chunqiu once, nor did he say a single word to him.
Su Xinghe understood, glared fiercely at Ding Chunqiu, pushed his wheelchair, and turned to return to the depths of the main hall. He left behind only a desolate, lonely, yet resolute figure.
Qiao Tian faced the direction where Wu Yazi had disappeared, clasped his hands, and bowed slightly. There was no doubt, no hesitation.
Once the figure had completely disappeared into the shadows within the hall, Qiao Tian made his move.
He slowly descended the steps, heading towards the Starry Sky Sect. His steps were steady, neither fast nor slow, yet they carried an invisible pressure, plunging the once bustling square into an eerie silence once more. All eyes were fixed on him.
Reaching the center of the square, Qiao Tian stopped, his gaze sharp as lightning as he stared directly at Ding Chunqiu. His voice, clear yet carrying a chilling killing intent, echoed throughout the entire square:
"Second senior brother."
"My master has given the order—"
Before he could finish speaking, the bluestone slab beneath his feet shattered with a deafening crash! His figure moved like a black lightning bolt, tearing through the air as he lunged straight at Ding Chunqiu!
"Please go and die!"
Chapter 60 Who else is there? Let's all step forward.
The moment Qiao Tian uttered the words "Please go to your death," his previously still figure suddenly blurred!
Everyone only saw a blur before their eyes. The dark figure seemed to transform into a wisp of smoke, leaning forward, its toes barely touching the ground, and it had already ghost-like passed through the loose human wall formed by the Xingxiu Sect disciples, appearing silently in front of Ding Chunqiu! The two were only a few feet apart! Qiao Tian's icy gaze stared directly into Ding Chunqiu's terrified eyes, and he clearly uttered those four words again:
Please—go—to—die!
Ding Chunqiu felt a chill run from his tailbone straight to the top of his head! He had roamed the martial world for decades, but had he ever seen such a bizarre and terrifying movement technique? This was simply not martial arts of the human world! In shock, he instinctively stomped his toes on the ground and retreated rapidly, trying to create distance. At the same time, his internal poison technique was rapidly activated to protect his vital points.
However, Qiao Tian was relentlessly pursuing him! He didn't rush to attack; instead, he casually placed his hands behind his back, his body transforming into several afterimages, ghostly and elusive, circling the retreating Ding Chunqiu and subtly sealing off all his escape routes. His posture suggested not a life-or-death struggle, but rather a leisurely stroll, enjoying the prey's final struggle. A powerful, cat-and-mouse-like pressure made Ding Chunqiu almost suffocate!
Kill this arrogant brat!
The Starry Sky Immortal possesses boundless magical power.
The disciples of the Xingxiu Sect finally reacted. Seeing their master in danger, they disregarded all the rules of the martial world. With a shout, more than twenty of them unleashed their poisonous palms and evil skills, rushing towards Qiao Tian in the center of the arena from all directions! The palm winds were foul-smelling, the finger force pierced through the air, and all kinds of poisoned hidden weapons rained down like flowers, instantly covering the space of about ten feet around Qiao Tian!
Seeing this, Ding Chunqiu's eyes flashed with ferocity. He also took the opportunity to stabilize his body, gathered the evil power of the Huagong Dafa he had cultivated for decades, and with all his might, he struck Qiao Tian's chest with a palm strike carrying a deadly poisonous gale, in coordination with the attack of his disciples!
In an instant, Qiao Tian seemed to be caught in a net, with deadly attacks coming from all directions!
This scene deeply moved the top masters on the viewing platform! Li Yan, inside the imperial sedan chair, paused, his embroidery needle halting in mid-air; in the Shaolin camp, Xuan Cheng, who had been half-closing his eyes, suddenly opened them, his gaze sharpening; even the Beggar Clan leader, Wang Jiantong, instinctively rose to his feet. They all recognized the danger of this combined attack; even they themselves would find it extremely difficult to withstand!
However, facing this siege that could kill any expert on the spot, Qiao Tian still put his hands behind his back, and even curled up a faint, slightly wicked smile at the corner of his mouth.
Just as all the attacks were about to hit me—
A strange, soft sound rang out. Centered on Qiao Tian, a visible, slowly rotating Tai Chi Yin-Yang fish-shaped energy barrier appeared out of thin air! This energy barrier was not indestructible; on the contrary, it appeared gentle and flowing. However, the sharp palm strikes, finger strikes, and poisoned darts, upon contact with this rotating energy barrier, were like mud oxen entering the sea—their force was silently deflected, neutralized, and vanished without a trace! No matter how much the Xingxiu Sect members channeled their inner strength, they could not break through it even slightly, as if all their attacks had struck a slippery yet incredibly resilient wall of cotton!
What... what kind of sorcery is this?
Why can't I muster my internal energy?
The disciples of the Starry Constellation Sect were terrified. They felt their strength being swayed and scattered by the rotating aura, making it difficult to exert force. They all wanted to withdraw their palms and retreat.
Just when their old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet arisen, and their minds were most relaxed—
Qiao Tian's wicked smile suddenly widened!
An invisible and intangible yet overwhelmingly powerful suction force suddenly erupted from him!
Ding Chunqiu, who was directly in the line of fire, felt his internal energy, cultivated over many years using the Dissolving Power Technique, uncontrollably surging out of his body like a burst dam, rushing towards Qiao Tian! He was terrified, his eyes wide with horror, and he screamed in disbelief and terror:
North... North Sea?! How could you...?
He thought Qiao Tian was going to use the Northern Darkness Divine Skill to drain his internal energy!
However, Qiao Tian did not absorb the surging, strange internal energy into his dantian. A flash of golden-purple light appeared in his eyes, and the supreme method of the *Yi Jin Jing* within his body was already operating at its limit! He instantly transformed the violent energy, drawn by the Northern Darkness True Meaning and gathering the essence of Ding Chunqiu and more than twenty Xingxiu Sect disciples' internal energy, into a pure shockwave, guided by the supreme mental power honed by the *Xi Sui Jing*, and launched it fiercely towards Ding Chunqiu.
Ding Chunqiu was fighting against the strange suction force with all his might when, caught off guard, he was hit head-on by the backlash that combined the power of everyone!
"Ugh—!"
His entire body trembled violently, his full head of white hair whipping backward as if blown by a gale! His eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, bulging out in fury, filled with extreme pain and resentment! A mouthful of bright red blood gushed out.
He pointed at Qiao Tian, making strange gurgling sounds in his throat, but couldn't utter a single word. Then, his body stiffened and swayed, before he fell straight backward with a thud, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. He was lifeless!
The twenty-odd Xingxiu Sect disciples around them collapsed to the ground as if their bones had been removed. Although they were not dead, their internal energy had dissipated, and they were no longer able to fight for a short period of time.
Deathly silence!
The entire Zhenwu Hall square, filled with thousands of martial arts heroes, from respected elders to unruly thugs, was frozen in place, staring dumbfounded at the young figure in the center of the square, still with his hands behind his back and his black robes fluttering.
From the moment Qiao Tian launched his attack to the moment Ding Chunqiu died, only a few breaths had passed!
He... he really didn't even extend his hand once from beginning to end!
With just his bizarre movement technique, invisible aura barrier, and an unprecedented method that caused the infamous Starry Sky Immortal to vomit blood and die in the blink of an eye!
What outrageous martial arts skills are these? What terrifying cultivation level is this?
Killing a master of innate level is as easy as slaughtering pigs and dogs?
Inside the imperial sedan chair, Li Yan stared intently through the gap in the curtain at the nineteen-year-old sect leader, his eyes filled with astonishment and apprehension.
Qiao Tian slowly withdrew his cultivation, and the invisible force field around him dissipated. He didn't even glance at Ding Chunqiu's corpse on the ground or the paralyzed Xingxiu Sect members, as if he had only done a trivial matter.
He slowly turned around, took a step, and walked unhurriedly up the steps in front of the Zhenwu Hall. His steps were light, but each step seemed to land on the hearts of all the heroes of the martial arts world present, making their heartbeats beat involuntarily in rhythm with his, so suffocating that they could hardly breathe.
With each footstep, his clear and calm voice rang out, yet carried an air of domineering arrogance, echoing through the silent valley:
The flowing clouds gather the sky and gather a thousand forces, overturning rivers and seas and breaking through the long wind.
With a single palm strike, he pushes open the path through the clouds, sweeping away the hurricane and scattering the heavens!
He stopped, turned around, and faced the dense crowd in the square. His gaze swept over the Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, the imperial court, and various other sects with a cold, electric intensity. His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority:
I know perfectly well why you've come today! You simply think I, Qiao Tian, am young and easily bullied, and that my Wudang sect has a weak foundation.
In the world of martial arts, the strong are respected!
Do you think I, Qiao Tian, am unworthy to establish Wudang? Do you think my Wudang is an eyesore to someone? Do you think I, Qiao Tian, am a sect that should be 'cleaned up'?
Stand up together!
The sound waves rolled on, containing pure internal energy, making many people's ears ring and their minds tremble!
Just then, a deep Buddhist chant rang out from within the Shaolin camp:
Master Xuannan, the abbot of the Bodhidharma Academy, stepped forward from the crowd, his face solemn and stern, his voice booming like a bell, quelling the commotion in the room:
Qiao Tian! Your martial arts skills are the true essence of Shaolin! Yet you have betrayed Shaolin, established your own sect, and even committed ruthless acts, killing people! Do you know your crime? Do you really intend to remain obstinate, making one mistake after another, forcing Shaolin to take the step of purging its own sect?
All eyes instantly focused on the dark figure on the steps and the solemn Shaolin monk in the center of the square.
The mountain wind howled, stirring up the lingering smell of gunpowder.
War is imminent.