Chapter 55: A Hundred-Year-Old True Person, Here to Deceive, Here to Ambush!

Dang, dang, dang!

When the deep and resonant bell tolls sounded, Zhang Sanfeng was already standing at the mountain peak, regulating his breath and circulating his energy.

Between the mountainsides were clusters of clouds and mist that constantly shifted with the wind; for a moment, enveloped in the swirling fog, Zhang Sanfeng, standing atop the peak, slowly performed a set of Taiji Fist.

His wide robes fluttered with the mountain breeze, his beard and hair flying, and in the ethereal nature of his movements, he appeared like an Immortal.

Below Zhang Sanfeng's field of vision, Song Yuanqiao, one of the Wudang Seven, led the patrol, and the Wudang disciples were arranged in a square formation, punching and kicking in unison, each one full of vigor and spirit.

As their Daoist robes danced, a magnificent scene was revealed.

Zhang Sanfeng gazed into the void before him, unmoved by this grand spectacle; he had seen it for decades and was long accustomed to it.

Nowadays, all his focus was instead concentrated on the pineal gland at the center of his brow, or rather, the region of the Ancestral Aperture of the Brow.

Having sat and discussed the Dao with Zhang Xuan yesterday, he had also gained a great deal.

Perhaps because Zhang Xuan was born in a high-level world, Zhang Xuan did not have much understanding of basic Internal Energy martial arts, and his foundation was quite poor.

But he had a great deal of insight into top-tier martial arts like the Eight-Nine Profound Art.

The words he spoke in just a few sentences were of great help to Zhang Sanfeng, often provoking deep thought.

That was only natural; they were annotations from Taishang Laojun, one of the strongest in the Other Shore Realm, and the experience personally explained by the Basis of the Existing World, who was three-in-one—it could hardly be anything less than excellent.

To avoid being too shocking to the world, Zhang Xuan had even deliberately abbreviated some things, not speaking the words Taishang Laojun had said directly, but describing them with his own words.

Stated this way, the relevant level of subtlety had decreased, but for Zhang Sanfeng, it was still extremely profound.

After only one night of enlightenment, Zhang Sanfeng had gained much, and the Ancestral Aperture at his brow was faintly on the verge of opening.

He could touch this world more deeply, feeling the flow of the mountain breeze, the stimulation of the fine morning dew on his skin, and the wind stirred up by the disciples' punching and kicking as they practiced in unison...

All the forces between heaven and earth, whether natural or man-made, seemed clearly visible before his eyes.

He even had the feeling that if he continued to manipulate this sensation, he could merge himself into heaven and earth, then become the master of a small world himself, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to face his enemies.

That was the Outer Scene Realm!

However, whenever he wanted to go a step further, he could faintly feel the suppression of heaven and earth upon himself.

It was as if a giant were huddled in a narrow space; the giant's body wanted to grow further, but there was no room left in the space to continue growing.

"Sigh!"

Zhang Sanfeng let out a soft sigh.

He inexplicably thought of the saying from ancient books about a dragon in shallow water being teased by shrimp.

"A pond cannot raise a dragon; at most, it can only raise some turtles. Today, I suppose I am a carp about to undergo a Dragon Transformation!"

Amidst the sigh, Zhang Sanfeng thought of the 3,000 points of spirit needed, and inexplicably felt a bit invigorated again.

Through his communication with Zhang Xuan yesterday, Zhang Sanfeng already had a certain understanding of higher-level worlds; high-level worlds indeed had no small amount of danger relatively speaking.

After all, the Jianghu is treacherous, and if one wanders about recklessly, it is very likely one will encounter disaster.

But Zhang Sanfeng was not particularly afraid.

Having cultivated for a hundred years, his temperament had long since become somewhat indifferent to the world, no longer like a young man wanting to roam the Jianghu and become famous throughout the world.

He had already experienced all those things, and today he was still the number one in the world.

If one pays enough points, the Chat Group will hide a person's relevant fate and karma, provided one does not actively and forcibly interfere with the world or reverse the great trends of heaven and earth.

Heaven and earth would not care about him, and he could cultivate in silence.

If one follows the way of heaven, one will not have much presence in the world, and overall, it will not be too dangerous.

"Hmm, going to a high-level world still carries a certain danger, so although I have made up my mind to pay everything, I must still be well-prepared before attempting to go to a higher world."

Zhang Sanfeng, having lived a hundred years, was no longer so anxious, not as impulsive as a young man.

"I can first further polish the Eight-Nine Profound Art, increase my understanding of it, and strive to reach the level of the Outer Scene immediately upon arriving in a brand-new world, or at the very least, ensure I possess more self-preservation power."

Looking at the many disciples practicing martial arts on the plaza, and Song Yuanqiao, who was patrolling among the disciples with a serious face, Zhang Sanfeng paused slightly.

"If possible, I must also arrange for these disciples of mine."

Zhang Sanfeng had never married in his life; the seven disciples under his name were like his seven children, each of whom he had cultivated with all his heart and strength—though not his sons, they were closer than sons.

And the Wudang Seven truly treated him as they would a father, being very respectful to their teacher.

"If stories recorded in fiction about Martial Arts Shattering the Void and Ascension can truly appear, then is it possible for an entire clan to ascend?"

Zhang Sanfeng had his own techniques in his heart, and he felt he was being a bit too greedy.

But the human heart is often never satisfied.

Zhang Sanfeng could face this squarely and was not ashamed because such a thought had arisen in his heart.

"If it can be achieved, then I will strive to achieve it; if it is truly impossible, then do not force it."

With these thoughts turning in his heart, Zhang Sanfeng saw Zhang Xuan walking out from a nearby guest room with a slightly dazed look in his eyes, and a smile could not help but appear on Zhang Sanfeng's face.

Zhang Xuan also saw the many Wudang disciples practicing martial arts on the mountainside and saw Zhang Sanfeng not far away; his heart stirred, and with a tap of his foot, he utilized the method of Wudang's Cloud-Ladder Step, reaching Zhang Sanfeng's side in a few leaps.

Song Yuanqiao, who was looking up from below the mountainside, and Yu Daiyan and Yu Lianzhou, who were secretly paying attention, felt their hearts jump at the same time.

Much of the conversation between Zhang Sanfeng and Zhang Xuan yesterday was secret; they had not heard it all, but hearing even a part, hearing just a few words, had already left them extremely shocked.

That person was a peerless figure who could discuss matters on equal footing with Zhang Sanfeng and possessed shocking martial power.

Seeing the other party suddenly use a move of Wudang's Cloud-Ladder Step today, waves rose in their hearts again.

"Is he really not a descendant the Master left outside all those years ago?"

The Cloud-Ladder Step the other party used was more proficient than their own, and he jumped even further.

"Did the little friend rest well yesterday?"

"Thanks to the care of the True Person's disciples and many sect members, I rested very well yesterday."

With the Nine Yang Divine Art circulating in his body, Zhang Xuan's eyes naturally became bright, and his mind was clear.

Looking at the many disciples practicing martial arts down the mountain, watching their uniform movements, and matching them with the wisps of cooking smoke rising in the distance.

In the distance, there were also Wudang disciples chatting and laughing as they went down the mountain to fetch water and chop wood; a surge of heroism burst forth in his heart, and he wished he could jump down and practice martial arts with them.

"When can I truly spar with you?"

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his long beard; Zhang Xuan's vibrant youthful energy also somewhat infected him, and he couldn't help but smile: "Many disciples still have to complete their morning lessons. If you are feeling eager, why don't you and I have a practice bout!"

"Great!"

Zhang Xuan was eager to try; he wanted to learn from this martial arts legend. Yesterday, the other party had lightly placed that Dragon Inner Core into his arms, and during that time, he had not even had the power to resist.

Clearly, on paper, his and Zhang Sanfeng's current strength were not much different.

He tidied his attire slightly, stood with his feet in a balanced stance, and spread his hands as if embracing a great circle.

Zhang Sanfeng looked on and raised an eyebrow slightly. He saw at a glance that this person was assuming the opening stance of Taiji Fist, and he chuckled inwardly, likewise assuming the posture of Taiji Fist.

"True Person, be careful!"

Zhang Xuan called out proactively, then lunged forward, striking directly with the most fierce and rigid Taiji Cannon Punch, though he still held back thirty percent of his strength.

Zhang Sanfeng was, after all, a centenarian Daoist with aged bones, while he was young and vigorous, and his Internal Energy cultivation was extremely high, so he was also a bit afraid of hurting Zhang Sanfeng.

Then, the next moment, the old Daoist's hand reached up, tapped, and dragged; the Cannon Punch, which had gathered most of Zhang Xuan's strength, disappeared without a trace like a clay ox entering the sea.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already lying on the ground.

A fierce and overbearing force suddenly smashed into his body, and the protective Qi naturally generated by the Nine Yang Divine Art was directly scattered.

The corresponding counter-force was dissolved and disintegrated before it could even bloom.

Zhang Xuan only felt a pain in his body; the Internal Energy throughout his body was scattered in an instant, and his whole mind was dazed.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

A moment later, he came to his senses.

The old Daoist before him pulled him up with a smile and said: "Little friend's talent and aptitude are rare in the world. The depth of your Internal Energy is such that you could look across the entire Jianghu and find no opponent, but your combat experience and relevant foundations are too lacking; you truly need to supplement them..."

He helped Zhang Xuan up, but Zhang Xuan did not recover for a long time.

Regarding the white-bearded old Daoist with white hair and beard before him, he no longer held the slightest bit of contempt or negligence in his heart.

Clearly, the two people's stats on paper were the same, but this old Daoist had neutralized his attack with just a single understated move and even scattered his protective Qi.

If the old Daoist had harbored any other intentions just now, he would have been killed by the old Daoist in a single move.

Moreover, after Zhang Xuan had practiced the Nine Yang Divine Art and the Universe Shift, he possessed the ability to never forget what he had seen.

He climbed up from the ground and pondered for a while, having completely recalled what had just happened.

Zhang Sanfeng had not used any overly profound or mysterious techniques; he had likewise used Taiji Fist.

When Zhang Xuan threw his punch, he was slightly hesitant and left a flaw, which was keenly seized by Zhang Sanfeng, who then followed up with a "four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds" and then "borrowing strength to strike with strength."

Zhang Xuan's thick, unbelievable protective Qi was completely pierced through by his own powerful strength, while Zhang Sanfeng had not used much force during the entire process.

"True Person truly has extraordinary talent!"

Zhang Xuan sighed in sincere admiration. He could understand the moment Zhang Sanfeng made his move and the entire process, but that instant was a huge test of technique, eyesight, and reaction ability.

Even if he understood the whole process, it would be quite difficult to replicate it.

(End of this chapter)