Chapter 282

They were all waiting—for the impending epic battle that would be recorded in history and determine the future landscape of the Jianghu!

Among the crowd were no shortage of familiar figures.

Shi Shi Feixuan of Cihang Jingzhai stood quietly in an unremarkable corner, accompanied by her aunt Bi Bi Xiuxin and the ethereal, aura-laden "Scattered Man" Ning Chuan, widely regarded as the number one martial artist in the Central Plains, observing silently.

Zhu Yuyan, the "Yin Hou" of the Yinkui Sect, and the enchantress Wan Wan, likewise lurked within the crowd, wearing sly smiles as they prepared to watch a spectacular show.

Xu Feng, the heir of Beiliang, and his old servant Jian Jiu Huang also blended into the crowd, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Amid the gaze of countless eyes.

Finally!

On the distant horizon, a dense fleet of ships emerged—so vast they obscured the sky!

Banners fluttered atop the ships, and Buddhist light shimmered!

It was the Fomen army, arriving from Songshan Shaolin in distant Da Song!

At their head stood Abbot Xuan Ci of Shaolin, along with the chief Elders of the Arhat Hall, the Precepts Court, the Prajna Hall, and other major departments.

Behind them marched thousands of Shaolin Wu Seng, gripping staffs, their expressions solemn, their qi deep and still.

The scale and grandeur of their array were unprecedented!

As if they meant to fill the entire East Sea!

At the very front of the thousands of monks, upon an ancient, simple Chan boat:

A humble old monk, clad in plain gray robes, his face ordinary and unremarkable, as if he could vanish into the crowd at any moment, stood with closed eyes, palms together, silently chanting Buddha's name.

He looked like an ordinary, dying old man.

Yet when Abbot Xuan Ci and the other Shaolin Gao Seng looked at this gray-robed elder, their eyes brimmed with indescribable reverence and awe.

Clearly, this unassuming old monk was the true core and secret weapon of this Fomen army!

"Is… is that Shaolin's true strength? So… so powerful! Though he seems ordinary, he gives me an unfathomable feeling!"

"That sweeping old monk—why do I feel… he's even more terrifying than Abbot Xuan Ci? Who is he?"

"Could it be… could he be the legendary master who resides in Shaolin's Scripture Library, whose cultivation has long reached the Immortal Realm?!"

The Jianghu cultivators around him murmured and speculated endlessly.

Time passed slowly.

The sun rose high, its light blazing.

The sea surface was calm, yet the atmosphere had grown suffocatingly oppressive.

The Shaolin fleet had anchored a hundred li from Taohuadao, facing it across the sea, locked in a standoff.

Yet the legendary Dragon Lord of Taohuadao had yet to appear.

The onlookers among the Jianghu cultivators began to grow puzzled and impatient.

"What's going on? Why hasn't the Dragon Lord emerged yet? It's already this late!"

"Could it be… could he be so terrified by Shaolin's full mobilization and overwhelming force that he's too scared to show his face, hiding like a coward?"

"Hah, that's likely! After all, this is the entire Fomen's power! No matter how mighty the Dragon Lord, no matter how great his divine abilities, he probably can't stand against it!"

A thought quietly arose in many minds—and spread rapidly.

Yet the instant this thought surfaced—

"Aaaahhh!!!!!"

A thunderous Long Yin, filled with boundless majesty and tyranny, as if it could shatter the heavens and pierce the nine hells, erupted from deep within the mist-shrouded Taohuadao!

Immediately!

The entire East Sea's surface churned violently in response to that dragon cry!

Waves reversed, surging into colossal walls a hundred zhang high, sweeping in all directions!

That terrifying pressure, capable of annihilating heaven and earth, descended once more!

Instantly engulfing the entire battlefield!

Causing every soul to feel heart-pounding dread and suffocation!

As if an ancient primordial beast were awakening from slumber, ready to rule the world!