Chapter 174: The world is surging

Subsequently.

Ning Chuan just said lightly to Huang Rong: "I already know about this matter."

"You should come forward in the name of the Acting Island Master of Taohuadao and respond to them, telling those bald donkeys."

"Seven days from now, on the East Sea, I will await their arrival."

"Tell them... to wash their necks clean and wait."

His voice was calm, but carried a chilling coldness and... a hint of imperceptible anticipation?

Upon hearing this, although Huang Rong still felt some worry in her heart, she knew that since Ning Chuan had already made his decision, no one could change it.

She nodded obediently and replied, "Yes, Brother Chuan, Rong'er understands."

Immediately, she went to make arrangements, conveying Ning Chuan’s response to the Songshan Shaolin monks waiting outside Taohuadao.

As for Ning Chuan, he seemed not to have taken the matter to heart at all.

He closed his pale golden dragon eyes once more, his mind immersed in the contemplation of his own demonic power and the [Nine Tribulations Dragon Transformation Method].

In his view, rather than wasting his own time and energy searching the world for those ignorant fools who dared to provoke his majesty,

it would be better to let them come to his doorstep to seek their own deaths.

This would save him a great deal of trouble.

It was also a perfect opportunity to test the fruits of his cultivation over this period.

And, to add some more... pure "nourishment" for his not-yet-perfected Jiao Dan.

……

Meanwhile.

When the news that the Jiao Long Island Master of Taohuadao had accepted the battle challenge from the Great Song Songshan Songshan Shaolin Temple spread across the Jianghu like it had grown wings,

the Wu Lin, already turbulent from the Battle of Brightness Peak, surged with even more violent waves!

The entire world was shaken by it!

"Extra! Extra! Shocking news! The Jiao Long Island Master of Taohuadao has officially accepted the challenge from the Great Song Songshan Songshan Shaolin Temple!"

"Three days from now, above the East Sea, the Jiao Long will battle the Buddha! This is truly a world-shaking battle rarely seen in a century!"

"They're mad! They're mad! Are those Songshan Shaolin monks truly insane?!"

"Don't they know that the Jiao Long Island Master is a terrifying existence who could destroy the Land Immortal Iron-Gall God Marquis Zhu Zhu Wushi and his one hundred thousand troops with a mere flip of his hand?!"

"The thousands of monks of the Great Ming Songshan Shaolin Temple, along with three divine monks of the 'Du' generation, all perished under that Jiao Long's dragon flames, leaving not even bones behind! Is this Songshan Songshan Shaolin really any stronger than the Great Ming Songshan Shaolin?!"

"You can't say it like that! I heard that this Songshan Songshan Shaolin Temple is the ancestral court of the Chan Sect, a holy land of Buddhism; its foundation is far deeper than any ordinary branch temple!"

"Moreover, it seems the Songshan Songshan Shaolin has mobilized its entire strength this time. Not only is the Abbot Abbot Xuan Ci present, but all the heads and elders of the Arhat Hall, the Discipline Hall, and other major departments are all there."

"It is said that even those high-ranking senior monks who have lived in seclusion for years, ignoring worldly affairs, and possess unfathomable cultivation, will all strike together!"

"More importantly, I also heard that all Songshan Shaolin branches within the Great Song and surrounding dynasties have received messages from the main temple and will soon dispatch experts to assist!"

"This is clearly an attempt to gather the entire power of Buddhism to fight a life-and-death battle against that Jiao Long Island Master!"

"Hiss—! Such a massive formation?! Could it be... could it be that the Songshan Shaolin Temple has some powerful, unknown trump card?!"

"I did hear a rumor, it is said... it is said that hidden within the Sutra Pavilion of the Songshan Songshan Shaolin Temple is a mysterious, unfathomable sweeping monk!"

"This person appears ordinary, but is actually a Buddhist hidden master whose cultivation has already reached the realm of a Land Immortal, or perhaps even higher!"

"It's just unclear whether he will step in to help this time."

"……"

"……"

"……"

Across the Jianghu, there was endless discussion and speculation.

All sorts of news and rumors about this impending world-shaking battle flew about like snowflakes.

Everyone’s gaze was once again focused on the East Sea coast, on that Taohuadao filled with mystery and taboos.

They all wanted to know how this peak duel, representing the highest combat power in the current Wu Lin, would end.

Would the Buddhist holy land, with its thousand-year heritage, be able to subdue the demon and restore its prestige?

Or would that Jiao Long Island Master, who appeared out of nowhere with overwhelming ferocity, be able to create another miracle and continue his undefeated myth?

……

In the distant Northern Li Dynasty, inside a restaurant in a prosperous border town.

A middle-aged scholar in green robes, with a refined face and an aloof temperament, sat by the window, listening to the vivid discussions of the Jianghu people around him.

The wine cup in his hand paused slightly, and a trace of helplessness and... a trace of worry flashed in his deep eyes.

This person was none other than the Eastern Heretic Huang Huang Yaoshi, who had quietly left Taohuadao and traveled all the way here.

He had originally thought that after leaving Taohuadao, he could completely escape the entanglements of the Jianghu and focus on contemplating the Dao of Wu Gong.

He had not expected that the shocking rumors about his "son-in-law" and his Taohuadao would reach this Northern Li land even before he did.

"Sigh, this Ning lad is truly... unable to stay quiet for even a moment." Huang Huang Yaoshi put down his wine cup, sighed softly, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"It hasn't been long since we last met, and he has already provoked such a behemoth as the Songshan Shaolin Temple."

"And, judging by the posture, it seems the entire Buddhist faith is going to make things difficult for him."

However, although he felt some worry in his heart, he had even more absolute trust in Ning Chuan's strength.

He believed that with Ning Chuan's unfathomable strength and heaven-defying methods, even if faced with a siege by the entire Buddhist faith, he would certainly be able to handle it calmly and turn danger into safety.

It was just... he was still a bit uneasy.

After all, although Ning Chuan was powerful, he was ultimately alone.

And the Buddhist forces were vast and deep-rooted; no one knew what insidious methods they might employ.

"Very well, this old man's trip to Northern Li should come to an end."

A look of determination flashed in Huang Huang Yaoshi's eyes.

"I should go back and see. If that lad really encounters any trouble, this old man... can at least lend him a hand."

"I cannot just watch as my... son-in-law is bullied by others."

He thought to himself, then paid for the wine and stood up, setting off once again in the direction of the East Sea's Taohuadao.

……

Meanwhile, in the distant Great Sui Dynasty, on Di Ta Peak, at the Cihang Cihang Jingzhai.

This Buddhist holy land, which enjoyed great fame in the Jianghu and was hailed as one of the leaders of the righteous Wu Lin, was also in a heavy atmosphere at this moment.

Inside the quiet room, the current Abbess Fan Fan Qinghui, along with the peerlessly beautiful Shi Shi Feixuan, who was hailed as the next successor, sat opposite a beautiful woman with a gentle and quiet temperament, though her brows carried a trace of faint sorrow.

That beautiful woman was none other than the former Saintess of Cihang Cihang Jingzhai, Bi Bi Xiuxin.

Although she had long since retired from the Jianghu, her status and influence within Cihang Cihang Jingzhai remained not to be underestimated.

"Senior Sister, Shi Feixuan, you must have heard about the Jiao Long Island Master of Taohuadao and the Great Song Songshan Shaolin Temple."

Bi Bi Xiuxin sighed softly, speaking in a gentle voice, though her eyes carried a trace of undisguisable worry.

"Although our Cihang Cihang Jingzhai belongs to a different sect than the Songshan Songshan Shaolin, we are both of the same Buddhist lineage and should naturally stand together and help each other."

"The fact that Songshan Songshan Shaolin has suffered such a great disaster and did not hesitate to issue a plea for help to the Buddhist world shows that the crisis they face is no small matter."

A look of gravity flashed in Shi Shi Feixuan's clear, water-like eyes, and she nodded, saying:

"What Aunt says is absolutely correct."

"That Jiao Long Island Master of Taohuadao acts tyrannically and slaughters the innocent; he is no different from the demonic path."

"We Buddhist disciples should naturally take the elimination of demons and the defense of the Dao as our duty and cannot sit idly by while he continues to wreak havoc in the Jianghu."

"Although Songshan Songshan Shaolin did not directly ask Cihang Cihang Jingzhai for help this time,"

"I think we should still take the initiative to go and lend them a hand, so as not to diminish the prestige of our Buddhist faith or let the world look down upon our Cihang Cihang Jingzhai."

Her voice, though soft, carried an unquestionable firmness and determination.

Upon hearing this, Fan Fan Qinghui pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Shi Feixuan's words make sense."

"This matter concerns not only the survival of the Songshan Shaolin Temple but also the reputation and status of our entire Buddhist faith in the Jianghu; we truly cannot stand by and watch."

"However... that Jiao Long Island Master's strength is unfathomable; even Land Immortals have been defeated by him, and he is not someone ordinary experts can contend with."

"If we go, I fear... we may not be able to play much of a role."

She felt a bit uncertain in her heart.

Upon hearing this, Bi Bi Xiuxin smiled slightly, a flash of wisdom in her eyes, and said:

"Senior Sister need not worry too much."

"Although our Cihang Cihang Jingzhai is not known for killing, we do have protective divine arts passed down through the ages."

"Moreover, we can also go and invite a true senior expert to come out of seclusion to help."

"With him there, even when facing that legendary Jiao Long, I believe we can at least maneuver."

"Oh? Does Junior Sister mean..." Fan Fan Qinghui's eyes lit up upon hearing this, as if she had thought of something.

Bi Bi Xiuxin nodded and said: "Exactly."

"The senior 'Sanren' Ning Ning Daoqi has always had ties with our Cihang Cihang Jingzhai, and his cultivation has long since reached the realm of a Land Immortal; he is one of the few top existences in the world today."

"If we can persuade him to come out of seclusion and accompany us to the East Sea, it will certainly relieve much pressure on the Songshan Shaolin Temple and prevent our Buddhist faith from being too passive in this storm."

Upon hearing this, Shi Shi Feixuan's beautiful eyes also lit up, and she nodded in agreement.

Ning Ning Daoqi was a legendary figure whose name was mentioned alongside the three great masters, and in some aspects, he was even superior!