Chapter 331: The King of Northern Liang Goes Mad, Hair Turns White Overnight

Great Ming Dynasty, Mount Wudang.

Within the Purple Heaven Palace, shrouded in swirling mist and permeated by immortal qi, the clouds that never dispersed all year round seemed to have grown still, as if stunned by the earth-shattering news arriving from the Eastern Sea.

Zhang Sanfeng sat quietly, listening to the report from his eldest disciple, Song Yuanqiao.

"... Master, the course of events is roughly as described."

Song Yuanqiao spoke with a solemn expression; as the head of the Seven Heroes of Wu Dang, his mind had long been steady as a mountain, yet even now, while recounting everything that had happened on Taohuadao, his tone still carried a hint of barely concealed shock and palpitation.

"That Dragon Lord of the Eastern Sea, with his own power, summoned the heavenly tribulation, not only burying twenty thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry of the Northern Liang, but also beheading Chen Zhibao, the Heavenly Monk, the Earthly Nun, and Xiaoyaozi, these four existences at the level of Earthly Immortals."

"Now, the entire martial world has completely boiled over because of this matter; everyone feels endangered, and the mere mention of 'Dragon' turns faces pale."

"Master, what do you think? What should our Wu Dangpai do next...?"

He looked at his Master with some worry.

Zhang Sanfeng listened quietly to Song Yuanqiao's report; in those deep and wise eyes, an ancient well without waves, not a single ripple arose, as if nothing in the world could move him anymore.

He remained silent for a long, long time, as if pondering something, or perhaps sensing something.

Finally, he slowly raised his head, gazing toward the distant direction of the Eastern Sea, and let out a long sigh; in that sigh were endless emotions and a trace of complex feelings that were hard to put into words.

"Alas..."

"The Dragon Lord... the great momentum has already been established!"

Zhang Sanfeng's voice, though calm, seemed to contain some ultimate truth of heaven and earth, ringing clearly in the ears of every disciple, causing their spirits to tremble.

"Such an existence is beyond the reach of ordinary martial arts to fathom; the deeds he performs and the path he walks have likely surpassed the realm of Fan Chou, stepping onto a road far more ancient and powerful than we can imagine."

"His style of action, though utterly domineering and decisive in killing, is not that of a demonic outsider who slaughters the innocent and brings disaster to the people."

"Otherwise, with his strength, he would have long ago turned the entire martial world upside down, with rivers flowing with blood."

"Those he killed were all those who provoked him first, or those with hidden agendas; one could even say he is... clear about grievances and favors."

He paused, and in those eyes that seemed to see through the future, a strange light flashed as he continued:

"Moreover, this old Daoist vaguely senses that the laws of this world seem... to be undergoing some violent changes that are hard to predict."

"The appearance of that Dragon Lord of the Eastern Sea, and his act of defying heaven to undergo the heavenly tribulation, seems to be a trigger, a signal, completely stirring up the dead water that had been silent for hundreds of years."

"The Tianmen, silent for hundreds of years, will probably... open once again."

"By then, those old monsters hidden in the various grotto-heavens and blessed lands, in famous mountains and great rivers, who thought themselves above worldly affairs and had been in seclusion for hundreds, even thousands of years, will probably all be startled awake, rising from their slumber to re-enter the world."

"A season of many troubles! A true season of many troubles is about to arrive!"

Hearing this, Song Yuanqiao and the others felt a chill in their hearts, and horror showed on their faces.

Tianmen about to open? Old monsters emerging?

What... what does this mean?

Could there be existences stronger than Earthly Immortals in this world?

They felt that their understanding of this world had been completely overturned today.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at the disciples' uncertain and suspicious expressions, merely smiled slightly, and did not explain too much.

Some things, at their current cultivation realm, if known, would only shake their Dao hearts and be of no benefit to their cultivation.

The reason he had chosen to "yield" to Brother Ning Chuan back then and gifted the Tai Chi Classics was not only because he feared Brother Ning Chuan's unfathomable strength.

It was also because, from Brother Ning Chuan, he vaguely sensed a... aura of the same kind.

It was an aura belonging to a seeker of the Dao, one who had also stood at the peak of the mortal world, unwilling to accept the status quo, and longing to glimpse the scenery of higher levels.

He did not want, nor was he willing, in this coming great era filled with uncertainties and crises, to form a deadly feud with such an infinitely potential, unfathomable existence.

Preserving strength and watching the situation unfold was the wisest choice.

"Convey this old Daoist's order." Zhang Sanfeng's voice rang out again, filled with an authority that brooked no denial.

"From today on, all disciples of our Wu Dang must act low-key, must not descend the mountain lightly, and must not engage in any conflict or entanglement with that Taohuadao or the Dragon Lord of the Eastern Sea."

"Everyone, for this old Daoist... cultivate twice as hard! Comprehend the Way of Tai Chi to its utmost!"

"In this coming great era that will sweep across the world, only one's own strength is the foundation for survival!"

"If strength is insufficient, even hiding on Mount Wudang may not guarantee safety!"

"Yes! We humbly obey the Master's (Grandmaster's) decree!"

Hearing this, Song Yuanqiao and the others felt a chill in their hearts and immediately bowed deeply in agreement.

They could clearly feel that the Master (Grandmaster) this time had truly gotten serious, and his tone was filled with a solemnity never before seen.