Chapter 278

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

As for Brother Ning Chuan, he seemed to take the matter completely to heart.

He closed those pale golden Long Yan eyes again, immersing his mind in the contemplation of his own demon power and the Nine Tribulations Dragon Transformation Art.

In his view, rather than spending his own time and energy searching the world for those who, not knowing life or death, dared to provoke his majesty.

It was better to let them come to him voluntarily to die.

This would also save him a great deal of trouble.

Just right, he could also use this opportunity to test the results of his cultivation over this period.

And add some... pure "nourishment" to his yet-to-be-perfected Serpent Golden Core.

At the same time.

When the news that the Taohuadao Serpent Island Lord had accepted the Great Ming Songshan Shaolin challenge spread like wings throughout the entire Wu Lin.

The Wu Lin, already turbulent due to the Bright Peak battle, once again raised even more violent waves and storms!

The entire world trembled because of it!

"Extra! Extra! Earth-shattering news! The Taohuadao Serpent Island Lord has officially accepted the challenge from the Great Ming Songshan Shaolin!"

"In three days, upon the East Sea, the Serpent fights the Buddha! This is absolutely a once-in-a-century epic battle!"

"Crazy! Crazy! Are the monks of this Shaolin Temple really crazy?!"

"Don't they know that the Serpent Island Lord is a terrifying existence capable of destroying even the Earth Immortal Iron-Ball Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi and his hundred thousand troops with a flip of his hand?!"

"The thousands of monks of the Great Ming Shaolin, along with the three Luo Han-level Gao Seng, all perished miserably under the Long Yan of that serpent, leaving not a bone behind! Is this Songshan Shaolin stronger than the Great Ming Shaolin?!"

"One cannot say that! I heard that this Songshan Shaolin is the ancestral temple of the Chan sect, a holy land of the Fomen, with a foundation far deeper than ordinary branch temples!"

"Moreover, this Songshan Shaolin seems to have sent everyone; not only the Abbot Xuan Ci, but also the heads of the Luo Han Hall, the Discipline Court, and other major departments are all present."

"It is said that even those Fomen Gao Seng who have hidden for many years, long since detached from worldly affairs, and possess cultivation bases of immeasurable depth, will also join the fight!"

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

"This is clearly intending to gather the power of the entire Zhenggefu Sect to fight a decisive battle with that Serpent Island Lord!"

"Hiss—! Such a grand array?! Could it be... could it be that the Shaolin Temple has some powerful trump card unknown to others?!"

"I actually heard a piece of gossip; it is said... it is said that hidden within the Scripture Pavilion of Songshan Shaolin is a mysterious and unfathomable old monk who sweeps the floor!"

"This person appears ordinary and unremarkable, but is actually a Fomen hidden grand master whose cultivation base has already reached the Immortal Realm, or even higher!"

"It is just unknown whether he will intervene this time."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Above the Jianghu, people discussed and speculated endlessly.

Various news and rumors about this impending epic battle flew through the sky like snowflakes.

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

They all wanted to know how this peak duel between the highest combat forces of the current Wu Lin would end.

Would the Fomen holy land, passed down for a thousand years, be able to subdue demons and monsters and restore its prestige?

Or would that Serpent Island Lord, who burst onto the scene with overwhelming ferocity, create another miracle and continue the myth of invincibility?

In the distant Great Li Dynasty, inside a bustling restaurant in a border town.

A middle-aged scholar wearing a green robe, with a thin face and a proud 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 those deep eyes?

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

He originally thought that after leaving Taohuadao, he could completely get rid of those Jianghu troubles and devote himself to comprehending the Martial Dao.

He never expected that the earth-shattering rumors about his "acting son-in-law" and his Taohuadao would reach this Great Li land even before he did.

"Sigh, this Ning kid is really... never getting a moment of peace." Huang Yaoshi put down his wine cup, sighed lightly, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"It hasn't been long since we last met, yet he has provoked a giant like the Shaolin Temple again."

"Moreover, judging by the situation, it seems the entire Fomen is going to make things difficult for him."

However, although he felt some worry in his heart, what dominated was absolute trust in Brother Ning Chuan's strength.

He believed that with Brother Ning Chuan's immeasurable strength and heaven-piercing methods, even facing the siege of the entire Fomen, he would surely be able to deal with it calmly and turn danger into safety.

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

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

And the Fomen had vast influence and a deep foundation; no one knew what sinister methods they might use.

"Very well, my journey to the Great Li should end now."

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

"I should go back and take a look; if that kid really encounters some trouble, I... can also lend him a hand."

"I cannot just stand by and watch my Huang Yaoshi's... son-in-law be bullied."

He thought to himself, then settled the bill, stood up, and set off again towards the direction of the East Sea Taohuadao.

At the same time, in the distant Great Sui Dynasty, on the Imperial Treading Peak, at Cihang Jingzhai.

This Fomen holy land, famous throughout the Jianghu and hailed as one of the leaders of the Righteous Wu Lin, was now filled with The atmosphere was solemn.

Inside the quiet room, the current Zhai Master Fan Fan Qinghui, and Shi Shi Feixuan, hailed as the successor to the next Zhai Master with peerless elegance, sat facing a beautiful woman with a gentle and quiet temperament, yet with a faint trace of worry between her brows.

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

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

"Senior Sister Feixuan, regarding the Dragon Island Lord of Taohuadao and the matter of Songshan Shaolin in the Great Song, I believe you have already heard."

Bi Xiuxin sighed softly, her voice gentle, yet a trace of solemnity she could hardly conceal lingered in her eyes.

"Although our Cihang Jingzhai and that Songshan Shaolin belong to different sects, we are both of the Fomen lineage and should be as one, watching out for and aiding each other."

"This time Songshan Shaolin has suffered such a great calamity, even going so far as to issue a call for aid to the entire Fomen; this shows the crisis they face is no trivial matter."

A trace of solemnity flashed in Shi Feixuan's clear, water-like bright eyes; she nodded and said:

"What Senior Uncle says is most correct."

"The Dragon Island Lord of Taohuadao acts tyrannically, killing the innocent indiscriminately, and has become no different from the Demonic Path."

"We disciples of the Fomen must take it upon ourselves to eliminate demons and uphold the Dao; we cannot sit idly by while he continues to bring disaster to the Jianghu."

"Although this time Songshan Shaolin has not directly requested aid from our Cihang Jingzhai,"

"I think we should still go proactively to lend them a hand; we cannot let our Fomen's prestige fall, nor allow the world to underestimate our Cihang Jingzhai."

Her voice, though soft, carried an unyielding firmness and resolve.

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

"What Feixuan says is reasonable."

"This matter concerns not only the survival of Shaolin Temple, but also the reputation and status of our entire Fomen in the Jianghu; we indeed cannot stand by with folded arms."

"It's just... that Dragon Island Lord's strength is unfathomable; even a Land Immortal was defeated at his hands, and he is not someone ordinary experts can contend with."

"Our going there, I fear... may not be able to play too great a role."

In her heart, she too felt somewhat uncertain.

Hearing this, Bi Xiuxin merely smiled faintly, a gleam of wisdom flashing in her eyes as she said:

"Senior Sister need not worry too much."

"Although our Cihang Jingzhai is not renowned for killing, we do have a Dharma-Protecting Divine Art passed down through the generations."

"Moreover, we can go and invite a true senior master to come out of seclusion to assist us."

"With him, the venerable elder, present, even facing that legendary Dragon, we should be able to hold our own to some extent."

"Oh? Could it be that what Junior Sister refers to is..." Fan Qinghui, hearing this, her eyes brightened, as if she had thought of something.

Bi Xiuxin nodded and said, "Exactly."

"The Recluse Ning Daoqi, the venerable elder, has long-standing ties with our Cihang Jingzhai, and his cultivation base has long since reached the Immortal Realm; he is one of the handful of top existences in the world today."

"If we can persuade him, the venerable elder, to come out of seclusion and go with us to the East Sea, he will surely relieve much pressure on Shaolin Temple and ensure our Fomen is not too passive in this storm."

Hearing this, Shi Feixuan's beautiful eyes also brightened, and she nodded in agreement.

Ning Daoqi! That is a legendary figure on par with the Three Grand Masters, and even surpassing them in certain aspects!