Chapter 336: Xu Longxiang

Boom!!

A loud noise rang in Yu Liancheng's ears, and his entire consciousness seemed to arrive in a hazy, unknown world.

This was a giant palace.

An incomparably massive palace, filled with a vigorous and imposing spirit.

When Yu Liancheng's consciousness arrived within this palace, he felt like a tiny person from a land of little people who, through some mistake, had arrived in a hall built by giants.

The front of the giant hall and the walls on the left and right were at least forty zhang away from him. At this moment, even Yu Liancheng could not help but feel as insignificant as an ant.

On the giant wall facing the entrance, a line of large seal script was chiseled from top to bottom, running straight down from the ceiling, reading: Heaven and Earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs.

Every stroke possessed a magical power that shook the soul, as if all the most profound and mysterious principles of this world were condensed within them. Beneath the ancient seal characters, a person sat cross-legged facing the wall.

This figure was burly and tall, dressed in ancient attire, unlike anything modern. Just a view of his back gave one the feeling of someone holding up the heavens and earth.

Yu Liancheng focused his mind, and his line of sight approached and turned accordingly.

He saw that this person had a solemn expression, with a faint, serene smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth. Although his hair and clothes had mostly disintegrated, the skin and expression on his face were no different from a living person, and he gave Yu Liancheng a feeling of being extremely rigid, extremely strong, and indestructible.

This person's left hand hung toward the ground, and on the floor was a line of small characters: "Guang Chengzi attained the Shattered Vajra here."

Yu Liancheng turned his head again and immediately saw forty-nine reliefs, which were the legendary God of War Record. But after only a single glance, the scene before his eyes suddenly collapsed, and everything returned to chaos.

"Sure enough, one must enter the Zhanshen Dian to fully browse the God of War Record."

Yu Liancheng let out a long sigh, but he was not disappointed.

Because he had already sensed the specific location of the Zhanshen Dian, and what followed was merely waiting quietly for the time of its opening.

Yu Liancheng pondered for a moment, then took out the silk scroll on which he had deciphered the Longevity Formula, his expression grave as he focused on the "Method of Rebirth and Source Cultivation."

……

The news of the Imperial Tutor challenging the Three Great Grandmasters spread throughout the world within a month.

At first, it was only known to high-ranking martial artists and powerful clans.

But as time progressed, let alone the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World, even those in the grasslands, Liaodong, and other regions—as long as they were slightly well-informed in the Edo—all learned of this matter.

For a time, the world was shaken.

Yu Liancheng's strength was naturally beyond doubt; otherwise, he would not have been able to sit firmly in the position of Imperial Tutor.

But to challenge the Three Great Grandmasters with his own strength was, after all, a bit of a pipe dream.

Regardless of how the outside world argued and clamored, Yu Liancheng remained steadily in the Capital, looking down upon the common people, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Awakening of Insects period.

On this day, Yu Liancheng sat cross-legged, his entire body seemingly surrounded by a layer of glistening jade light.

In front of him lay the silk scroll inscribed with the "Method of Rebirth and Source Cultivation."

Boom!!

Suddenly, a primitive and heavy Stone Gate appeared within the palace without the slightest warning.

As Yu Liancheng's intent surged, the Stone Gate was slowly pushed open. Inside the gate, light and shadow flowed; it was as if a Sword Immortal were Opening Heaven, or as if a Human Butcher were destroying six kingdoms.

At the same time, a profound and mysterious ball of light flew out from between Yu Liancheng's eyebrows and shot into the Stone Gate.

And the moment that divine and mysterious ball of light left Yu Liancheng's body, his mountain-like, black, and majestic Qi seemed to drop by a few degrees out of thin air.

……

The Beiliang Prince Mansion was entrenched on Qingliang Mountain, with thousands of gates and households, representing the pinnacle of architecture.

Xu Xiao, the Human Butcher, as the last remaining king of a different surname, had a reputation that was half-praised and half-slandered in both the Imperial Court and the Edo. But in terms of the peak of power, there was almost no second choice in the entire Liyang Dynasty. Especially in the three Northwest provinces, he was the undisputed ruler, able to summon clouds and rain with a flip of his hand.

Today, the Wang Mansion was very lively. The high-ranking and powerful Beiliang King personally opened the middle gate and set up a magnificent honor guard to welcome an old man with a rather immortal air.

This Daoist was quite extraordinary; it was said he was a God from the Daoist holy land, Longhu Mountain.

One must know that Longhu Mountain was the current leader of the Daoist Canon in the world, with a transcendent status, and it had countless ties with the Imperial Court, having produced many Purple and Yellow Nobles. Even the long-historied Wudang Mountain could only lag behind.

This "Celestial Zhao Tianshi" before them was said to have a very high seniority on Longhu Mountain, being a Purple and Yellow Noble and one of the Four Great Heavenly Masters, with a large group of disciples and grand-disciples.

He was able to obtain a series of honors not only because of his surname Zhao, but also because his cultivation was extraordinary; even if he could not enter the top ten in the world, he would at least be in the top thirty... or top fifty. Moreover, as a Celestial Master, he was not known for killing, but possessed Daoist arts that were nearly divine.

This time, Celestial Zhao Tianshi had come for the child about to be born to the Beiliang Princess, Wu Su.

This Celestial Zhao Tianshi had once observed the Heavenly Phenomenon at night and learned that the second son of the Beiliang King was no ordinary creature, but a star deity reincarnated, destined to be taken as his disciple, so he had traveled thousands of miles to get here.

However, before he could even enter the mansion, this Purple and Yellow Noble was set upon by vicious dogs released by the seven or eight-year-old eldest legitimate son of the Beiliang King, Xu Fengnian.

Who told this Daoist to be unkempt and covered in lice? Although he had a bit of an immortal air, no matter how one looked at him, he seemed like a Edo swindler.

Beiliang Princess Wu Su believed in Buddha, and Xu Fengnian was somewhat respectful toward Buddhist monks, but if he saw any fortune-telling sorcerers or old Daoists, he would inevitably smash their stalls or set vicious dogs on them.

Fortunately, this Celestial Zhao Tianshi did have some skills; walking leisurely and lightly waving his horsetail whisk, he kept the vicious dogs from getting close.

"Alright, Fengnian, stop making trouble. This is no Edo swindler, but Celestial Zhao Tianshi from Longhu Mountain, who has come specifically for your unborn younger brother."

The dignified Great Pillar Kingdom, the Human Butcher Xu Xiao who had spent half his life in the military killing without blinking, was squatting in front of his beloved son Xu Fengnian, stroking his head with his hand. Although he was teaching him, his voice was light and soft, filled with doting, as if he were afraid of speaking too harshly.

After much persuasion, he finally got Xu Fengnian to stop setting dogs on Celestial Zhao Tianshi, which allowed Celestial Zhao Tianshi to enter the Beiliang Prince Mansion.

However, it was not peaceful that night either; Xu Fengnian sent two delicate and beautiful maidens to knock on Celestial Zhao Tianshi's door, saying it was cold and they needed to warm the bed, leaving this Celestial Zhao Tianshi in a wretched state.

A few days later, the Beiliang Princess gave birth to a son, born in the Vajra Realm, naturally possessing the physique of a Buddhist Arhat Golden Body. Once he grew up, he would surely become an unparalleled fierce general capable of fighting ten battles and winning ten times.

Furthermore, when this child was born, a strange Heavenly Phenomenon appeared, and he was actually holding a yellow crystal in his hand. The crystal had no supernatural power, but it was used as a protective pendant, often hung around his chest.

The old God of Longhu Mountain personally named the child—Xu Longxiang.

In the water, the dragon has the greatest strength; on land, the elephant has the greatest strength; fierce as a Vajra, hence "Longxiang."

This naturally Vajra-realm, extraordinary-born Xu Longxiang was destined to stir up huge waves in this world, but that is a story for another time.

……