Chapter 264

An old Daoist Priest, clad in a simple gray robe, with white beard and hair yet a face as ruddy and lustrous as an infant's, possessing an immortal aura and bone structure, and an otherworldly temperament, slowly emerged from the clouds and mist.

He stepped upon the void as if invisible stairs lay beneath his feet, walking step by step, neither fast nor slow, toward the direction of Bright Summit.

His steps appeared slow, yet he was shrinking the earth into inches; with each step taken, his figure was already dozens of zhang away.

With each step he took, a golden lotus phantom bloomed beneath his feet; that lotus was lifelike, filled with Daoist rhyme and Zen meaning, only to quietly vanish without leaving the slightest trace.

Lotus blooming with every step!

This was clearly a divine and miraculous method that only an unparalleled expert whose cultivation base had reached the Immortal Realm on land and who possessed extremely deep realization of the Heavenly Dao could unleash!

This person was none other than the founding ancestor of the Wu Dangpai, Zhang Sanfeng, the one with the highest seniority and the most unfathomable strength in the current Wu Lin, regarded by countless Wu Lin practitioners as a god to be revered!

He arrived above Bright Summit, his gaze calm as he looked down at the black flood dragon coiled upon the mountain peak, radiating endless majesty and terrifying aura.

Even with his state of mind, long since like an ancient well without waves and unmoved by external things, after witnessing with his own eyes the supreme divine might of this flood dragon annihilating a hundred thousand troops with a flip of his hand and suppressing and killing a land-immortal with a snap of his fingers.

A hint of barely perceptible astonishment and complex expression, along with a deep wariness, inevitably flashed in his eyes.

He bowed with hands clasped, his voice gentle and mellow like a spring breeze brushing the face, yet carrying a Daoist rhyme that brought peace of mind, and slowly spoke:

"Hehe, Island Master Ning is indeed mighty in divine abilities and has eyes as sharp as a torch; my humble concealment technique has only made the Island Master laugh."

"Originally, this old Daoist saw that Iron-Ball Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi acted tyrannically, used cruel methods, killed innocents indiscriminately, and violated heavenly harmony, so I intended to intervene and stop him, offering my meager strength to remove a harm from this Jianghu."

"Who would have thought that the Island Master's divine might covers the world and his methods reach the heavens; with a flip of his hand, he turned that rebellious traitor and his hundred thousand troops under his command entirely into ash, truly... opening the old Daoist's eyes and leaving him in awe!"

In his tone, though carrying a bit of admiration, there also subtly revealed a hint of... helplessness and vigilance?

The crowd below, upon seeing the newcomer's face and hearing him introduce his sect,

were once again deeply shaken! As if struck by divine thunder from the nine heavens, their minds went blank!

Wu Dang's Zhang Sanfeng?!

Is it really Wu Dang's Zhang Sanfeng?!

This... this is a true Wu Lin legend from an era even earlier than the Central Divine Ability Wang Chongyang!

An old immortal who has lived for a full hundred and more years!

Rumor has it he has been in seclusion for many years, uninvolved in worldly affairs, and some even say he has ascended to immortality and attained sainthood!

Who would have thought that today, he would appear in the Jianghu again because of the flood dragon Island Master of Taohuadao!

Moreover, judging by the tone of his conversation with that flood dragon Island Master, it seemed... to carry a bit of courtesy and... wariness?!

Heaven! What exactly has happened to this world?!

First the flood dragon emerged, then the Divine Marquis ruled supreme, and now even the reclusive True Person Zhang has appeared!

Could it be that the Jianghu is truly about to change its skies?!

For a moment, the gaze everyone turned toward Brother Ning Chuan became even more complex and reverent.

Brother Ning Chuan's pale golden dragon eyes calmly gazed at the Zhang Sanfeng before him.

He could clearly feel that within this old Daoist with white beard and hair lay a terrifying power as unfathomable as the vast ocean, yet peaceful and upright, perfectly harmonizing with heaven and earth and nature!

That power was pure and vast, filled with the Daoist flavor of quiet non-action and endless vitality.

His cultivation realm had clearly also reached the level of the Immortal Realm on land!

Moreover, it seemed to be even superior to that of the Iron-Ball Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi he had just annihilated, with a foundation that was even more stable and profound!

Truly worthy of being a legendary figure who could found a martial arts school and shake the Jianghu for hundreds of years!

His strength was indeed unfathomable!

"It seems that True Person Zhang coming today is not merely to watch the show."

Brother Ning Chuan's voice remained calm and indifferent, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, as if stating an established fact.

"I suppose the True Person has already made a choice in your heart?"

He naturally knew that Zhang Sanfeng's coming this time was surely for his disciples and followers, such as Song Yuanqiao, who were being "detained" at Bright Summit.

Upon hearing this, a bitter smile appeared on Zhang Sanfeng's face, which was like an ancient well without waves, and he sighed lightly.

He knew his purpose had long been seen through by this flood dragon with wisdom reaching the heavens.

To speak honestly, if he truly let loose and fought a great battle with this black flood dragon before him.

Although he might not have absolute certainty of victory, he would by no means fear even a fraction.

He was confident that with his hundred years of hard cultivation in the Taiji Divine Art and his profound understanding of the Heavenly Dao.

Even facing such a terrifying existence nearly akin to gods and demons, he possessed the strength to fight!

Even, he might not lose!

But, alas, his unworthy disciples and followers were now trapped in prison, their lives in danger.

He could not, for his own momentary pride or the so-called face of the Wu Dangpai, disregard their lives and deaths.

They were children he had raised with his own hands!

Moreover.

After witnessing with his own eyes Brother Ning Chuan's earlier terrifying power that could destroy heaven and earth, and the supreme divine might that could annihilate a hundred thousand troops with a flip of his hand and suppress and kill a land-immortal with a snap of his fingers.

He also knew clearly in his heart that the potential of this black flood dragon before him was simply unfathomable and impossible to estimate!

Its speed of growth was even more unheard of and unseen!

With such terrifying growth speed, surpassing himself in the future, or even reaching a realm he could not imagine, was only a matter of time.

Forming a deadly grudge with such an existence would be far from a wise move for the Wu Dangpai, and might even invite a disaster of total destruction!

Thinking of this, the little bit of competitive spirit in Zhang Sanfeng's heart, along with the pride and reserve belonging to a land-immortal, gradually subsided.

He knew that at certain times, appropriate retreat and compromise were true wisdom.

Under the gaze of the crowd below, which was shocked, incredulous, and could even be said to have overturned their worldviews.

He bowed again to Brother Ning Chuan with hands clasped, his tone sincere yet carrying a hint of helplessness as he spoke:

"Hehe, Island Master Ning is joking; how would this Daoist's meager cultivation dare to show off his skills before the Island Master?"

"This old Daoist has heard that the Island Lord takes a keen interest in the humble Taiji Dao I created and wishes to exchange a few words with the Island Lord on the matter."

"This is an honor for this old Daoist, and also a blessing for Wu Dang."

"I only hope the Island Lord will, in consideration of this old Daoist's slight face and the Taiji Fist Classic, spare Yuanqiao and those unworthy disciples of mine."

"If they have committed any offense and clashed with the Island Lord's tiger-like majesty, this old Daoist stands here to apologize to the Island Lord on their behalf."

"I beg the Island Lord to raise your hand high and forgive their unintentional mistake this one time."

As he spoke.

Zhang Sanfeng merely turned his wrist, and an ancient scripture, carefully bound with fine golden silk, its cover archaic and emitting a faint Daoist rhyme and the scent of years of vicissitudes, slowly flew out from his sleeve.

Upon that scripture, written boldly in cinnabar, were four archaic and heavy yet slightly ethereal and agile seal-script characters: "Taiji Fist Classic"!

This was precisely the essence of Zhang Sanfeng's lifelong martial arts cultivation base! It was the foundation upon which he founded the Taiji lineage and achieved the Immortal Realm of the Land!

Its value is beyond estimation!

Shock!

An indescribable shock!

When they saw that Zhang Sanfeng had truly taken out the "Taiji Fist Classic" and that his words were filled with concession and compromise.

Everyone was completely stunned by this sudden move!

Their brains once again fell into a state of shutdown!

Wu Dang's Zhang Sanfeng!

This figure who had long become a myth and legend on the Jianghu, hailed as a living immortal, a True Person of the Land!

Actually... actually would, to protect his descendants and disciples, choose to yield to a flood dragon... submit?!

Even going so far as to offer the essence of his lifelong martial arts—the "Taiji Fist Classic"?!

This... this is simply too incredible, isn't it?!

This is simply more shocking and unbelievable than Brother Ning Chuan's earlier slaughter of Zhu Wushi and the destruction of the hundred thousand-strong army!

After all, although Zhu Wushi was also a True Person of the Land, his reputation and prestige, compared to Zhang Sanfeng's, still fell short by more than a notch!

Li Xunhuan stared with his mouth agape, forgetting to bring the wine gourd in his hand to his mouth.

He murmured to himself, "Zhang Zhenren... actually... actually has a moment of bowing his head?"

He felt his understanding of this world had been refreshed once again.

Brother Ning Chuan looked at the "Taiji Fist Classic" floating before him, radiating profound Daoist rhymes.

He then looked down at Zhang Sanfeng, whose expression was calm and whose gaze was clear, as if he had done something trivial and insignificant.

A hint of unnoticeable praise flashed within those pale golden dragon eyes.

This Zhang Zhenren is indeed a heroic figure capable of bending and stretching, who considers the big picture and possesses great wisdom.

His choice was very correct and very wise.