Chapter 581: The Master-Disciple Breakup, and the Di Tian Mo He

Tianshan.

Tianxia Hui.

When it comes to the current power and influence in the Edo, none can compare to the Gang Leader of Tianxia Hui, Xiongba.

Although Tianxia Hui encountered various setbacks while rising to dominance in the Edo, regardless, almost all Edo forces, with the exception of Wushuang City, have bowed their heads and submitted to Tianxia Hui.

And Tianxia Hui has enough self-awareness not to go looking for trouble with Wushuang City.

After all, the Martial Dao cultivation that Wu Wudi displayed back then was too astonishing; he single-handedly tore through Tianxia Hui. And Yu Liancheng, who is also listed on the Panic Ranking and known as the "Panic of Panic," is likely no less powerful than Wu Wudi.

"May the Gang Leader live for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, and unify the Edo."

On the Tianxia Hui drill ground, Xiongba sat on a chair carved with dragons. Though he was simply sitting there, he looked like a coiled dragon or a crouching tiger; his brows were like swords, and his gaze was like a torch. That aura of a hegemon was unparalleled.

And on the Three-Part Drill Ground, countless disciples knelt on one knee, worshipping Xiongba as if he were a God. The slogans chanted by those thousands of people resonated throughout the entire Tianshan.

Beside Xiongba stood Wen Chou Chou, who wore a fawning expression and fanned himself incessantly. Only this person, who was closest to Xiongba and had the most contact with him, knew that this Gang Leader Xiong was by no means as domineering, calm, and strategic as he appeared on the surface. Although the power of Tianxia Hui had grown and expanded over these years, the hardships endured within were unimaginable to outsiders.

Even the Tianxia Diyi Lou, which represented supreme power, had to be rebuilt after being crushed by Wu Wudi.

Furthermore, there was that major threat, Yu Liancheng.

Often, in places where ordinary people could not see, this Gang Leader Xiong would be full of exhaustion. Although he clearly possessed profound internal energy and was approaching middle age—the peak and strongest period for a martial artist—white hairs had already appeared at his temples.

"Disciple Qin Shuang, greets Master."

"Disciple Nie Feng, greets Master."

Two young men walked over; they were exactly Qin Shuang and Nie Feng, two of Xiongba's three great disciples.

"Hmm."

Xiongba nodded calmly, though a trace of coldness suddenly flashed in his eyes: "Where is Bu Jingyun?"

"This disciple does not know."

"Brother Yun, Brother Yun has gone into seclusion."

A large part of the reason Xiongba was able to build such a massive foundation was because of his three disciples. Among them, Bu Jingyun contributed the most, campaigning and conquering everywhere.

But at the same time, this Bu Jingyun was also the coldest, most aloof, and most worrisome of the three disciples.

"Hmph, Chou Chou, pass an order to Feiyun Hall later. If he does not arrive at the gang meeting, tell Jingyun to go to the Punishment Hall himself to receive his punishment." Xiongba waved his hand, his expression growing even colder.

"Yes, Gang Leader." Wen Chou Chou bowed and scraped.

"Master..."

Just as Qin Shuang and Nie Feng were about to plead for Bu Jingyun, Xiongba waved his hand and said: "The gang has its rules. Although Jingyun is my disciple, he broke the rules in public. If he is not punished, how can I command the masses? Enough, say no more. I have matters to entrust to you."

Qin Shuang and Nie Feng looked at each other and said in unison: "Please give your orders, Master."

"I believe you have heard of the physiognomist Ni Pusa, who is famous throughout the world. It is rumored that this person can glimpse the secrets of heaven, but his whereabouts are strange and unpredictable. I want you to find him."

Xiongba's tone was calm, but his eyes were like currents beneath the deep sea.

Back then, he had brought Ni Pusa in to read his fortune.

Ni Pusa only read the first half of his life, leaving behind a prophecy: The golden scale is no creature of the pond; once it meets the wind and cloud, it will transform into a dragon.

He even claimed that Xiongba was a born hegemon; as long as he had the help of the wind and cloud, he could achieve supreme hegemony, have smooth sailing, and be the master of heaven's mandate—all who blocked him would die.

But although he had achieved hegemony over these years, the process had been far too tortuous, especially the time Wu Wudi attacked Tianxia Hui; he had almost thought he would lose his life.

Later, there was also Di Yi Xie Huang, the mysterious woman Luo Shen...

You call this smooth sailing?

You call this the master of heaven's mandate?

Vaguely, Xiongba sensed it was related to that sword that had flown in from beyond the heavens back then.

But he could not quite put his finger on the specifics.

Now, it was time to find Ni Pusa and ask clearly.

Besides that, he also wanted to know the prophecy for the second half of his life.

"Yes, we accept the order."

Qin Shuang and Nie Feng said simultaneously.

"By the way, there is one more piece of happy news I wish to announce." Speaking of this, a smile appeared at the corners of Xiongba's mouth, but this smile was somewhat cold and chilling: "I intend to marry Kong Ci to Shuang'er. Kong Ci is the most attentive of all the maids, and she grew up with you three—Feng, Yun, and Shuang—as childhood sweethearts. And Shuang'er, you are the oldest; it is time for you to take a wife and have children."

"This, this Master..." Qin Shuang was stunned.

"What, are you unwilling?" Xiongba raised an eyebrow, his dominance leaking out.

"No, no, it's not that, but..."

"There are no 'buts'. You are my eldest disciple. I raised you from a young age, taught you Tianshuang Fist, and made you the Hall Master of Tianshuang Hall. Do you intend to defy your Master's orders?" Xiongba flicked his sleeve, his tone decisive and overbearing.

"Yes, I, I understand, Master."

"Haha, that is my good disciple." Xiongba laughed loudly.

His reason for assigning Qin Shuang and Kong Ci to marry was simple: to sow discord between the brothers. Although he did not yet know the prophecy for the second half of his life, Bu Jingyun was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

When they first met, he had been severely wounded by that sword from beyond the heavens and had vaguely sensed a trace of killing intent. He hadn't paid it any mind at the time, but upon careful reflection, the source of that killing intent seemed to be his second disciple, Bu Jingyun.

Moreover, that boy was progressing rapidly in the Martial Dao. Two months ago, he had tested Bu Jingyun's skills under the guise of an examination. Although he was able to suppress the boy, the latter's attainments in Paiyun Palm had greatly astonished him.

Furthermore, although Bu Jingyun was cold and arrogant, the relationship between the three brothers was excellent.

Added to the fact that Qin Shuang and Nie Feng were both kind-hearted and often disagreed with his policies, Xiongba was deeply worried that if one day he and Bu Jingyun were to break off and become enemies, these two disciples of his would choose the latter to deal with him.

And since his father and the Tianchi Twelve Killers had all died at the hands of Yu Liancheng, would he not be left to face his enemies alone?

Therefore.

Xiongba came up with this method, intending to sow discord among the three brothers.

Just at this moment, in the originally clear sky, a wisp of dark cloud drifted over.

A wisp of deep, dark cloud.

A dark cloud as thick and heavy as the black of night.

Black clouds press down on the city, as if the city were about to crumble.

Across the entire Three-Part Drill Ground, everyone felt a startling sense of oppression.

"Jingyun, since you have arrived, why not come forward quickly to pay respects to your master?" Xiongba, sitting on the dragon-carved throne, suddenly spoke.

These words were like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the dark clouds and revealing the light.

Only then did the crowd realize there were no dark clouds at all; the sky was perfectly clear for ten thousand miles. The reason everyone felt as if they were shrouded in dark clouds was entirely due to the arrival of one person.

The arrival of a god of death.

——Bu Jingyun.

The members of the Under Heaven Society now acted as if they had encountered a natural predator; they wore expressions of fear, and then, like a receding tide, they parted to form a wide path for Bu Jingyun to pass.

Bu Jingyun strode toward the direction where Xiongba was located.

His posture was upright, his face as cold and stern as eternal ice, and he wore a black cloak behind him. It was as if wisps of black Qi were drifting out from his entire body; he looked just like a god of death walking among the living. Especially those eyes—they were colder and more deathly silent than a god of death. Anyone swept by that gaze felt their whole body turn cold, as if their life were slipping away.

"Jingyun, today is the monthly gang gathering; why are you late?" Xiongba frowned, but immediately raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Forget it, today is a joyous occasion. Your senior brother and Kong Ci are getting engaged. Come and say 'congratulations' to your senior brother, and I will make an exception this time and not pursue it."

Qin Shuang, Nie Feng, and Wen Chou Chou all felt a tightening in their hearts.

How could they not understand Bu Jingyun's special feelings for Kong Ci? Given Bu Jingyun's temperament, it was already a blessing that he didn't cause a huge scene, let alone ask him to say "congratulations."

"Xiongba!"

Bu Jingyun finally spoke.

His tone was as cold, heavy, and deathly silent as ever.

Xiongba frowned. Bu Jingyun had actually addressed him by his full name. He was just about to reprimand him, but his expression changed because of Bu Jingyun's next sentence.

"The golden carp is no creature of the pond; once it encounters wind and cloud, it turns into a dragon."

This was the first half of the prophecy from Ni Pusa.

And this prophecy was known to no one except Xiongba and Ni Pusa.

"This is the first half of the prophecy for your life, meaning that as long as you encounter wind and cloud, your grand ambitions and hegemony will be unimpeded." Bu Jingyun spoke slowly. He rarely spoke, and his speaking speed was very slow, but every word he said seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties: "And you sought out Ni Pusa for the second half of your life's prophecy."

Xiongba was silent for a moment, then smiled without mirth: "I have told no one of this matter. How does Jingyun know? Could it be that Ni Pusa told you?"

"That is correct. Five years ago, during the great flood at Leshan, I met Ni Pusa. He not only told me the first half of your prophecy but also told me the second half of your life's prophecy."

Although Xiongba had a smile on his lips, his expression had become grave. "Oh? Let's hear it."

Only hearing Bu Jingyun say slowly: "The dragon's roar in the nine heavens startles the heavens into change; when wind and cloud meet, they swim in shallow waters."

"The dragon's roar in the nine heavens startles the heavens into change; when wind and cloud meet, they swim in shallow waters." Xiongba whispered, carefully pondering the meaning of this prophecy.

"This sentence is actually very simple," Bu Jingyun said calmly. "Success comes from wind and cloud, and failure also comes from wind and cloud. More than half of your foundation was built by Nie Feng and me, and you will ultimately be defeated and perish at our hands."

"Junior Brother Yun, don't talk nonsense," Nie Feng said hurriedly.

"Junior Brother Yun, you seem a bit abnormal today. Are you sick? I will take you to see a doctor." Qin Shuang stepped forward, intending to forcibly take Bu Jingyun away.

However, Bu Jingyun exhaled a burst of internal energy, shaking Qin Shuang away, and looked coldly at Xiongba: "Today is the time to prove this prophecy."

Xiongba did not show surprise or anger; instead, he laughed aloud, heroic and extremely overbearing: "A fine Bu Jingyun! I took you as my disciple and taught you the Paiyun Palm, and this is how you repay me? You are truly a heartless and ungrateful wretch."

"Hehehe."

Bu Jingyun sneered repeatedly.

So even a god of death can sneer.

"Besides Bu Jingyun, I once had another name."

"Oh?"

"Huo! Jing! Jue. The Huo of Huo Butian, the Huo of Huo Family Manor." A light of hatred shot from Bu Jingyun's eyes—hatred that had been suppressed for who knows how many years. Facing his enemy, he could finally vent it today: "As for your so-called kindness, it was nothing more than training us to be tools for you to unify the martial arts world. I have already repaid your so-called kindness by conquering various factions for you. And now, it is time for revenge."

Boom!

Bu Jingyun's astonishing aura exploded, actually affecting the clouds in the sky, which poured down and swirled around his entire body. But in the blink of an eye, the white clouds transformed into black, carrying ominous signs.

"Good, good, good!"

Xiongba rose to his full height. In an instant, he transformed from a coiled dragon and crouching tiger into a dangerous, towering mountain that could pierce the clouds. No matter who stood before him, they were affected by his domineering aura and felt as insignificant as an ant.

His face still wore a smile.

——A cold sneer, a cold sneer filled with killing intent.

"Since you, this rebellious disciple, want to die, your master does not mind granting your wish."

Xiongba was very confident in dealing with Bu Jingyun, not only because his internal energy was deeper than his opponent's, but also because the Tianshuang Fist, Paiyun Palm, and Fengshen Leg mutually restrained one another.

And among them, the Tianshuang Fist happened to restrain the Paiyun Palm, and furthermore, the Paiyun Palm he taught Bu Jingyun had been kept incomplete...

"Old scoundrel, take this!" Bu Jingyun unleashed the "Cloud Trace Phantom Shadow," the footwork that accompanied the Paiyun Palm. Like a ghost, like a phantom, he appeared before Xiongba in an instant.

He struck with both hands, raising them in the move "Flowing Water, Moving Clouds." The palm technique was rounded and continuous, flowing as smoothly as water without obstruction. Xiongba sneered, his body condensing with frost-cold Qi, and he clenched his fists, immediately using the move "Fengshuang Pumen" to meet Bu Jingyun's palms.

Bang!

Fist and palm collided. The ethereal, unpredictable cloud Qi and the bone-chilling frost Qi clashed, resulting in a dull thud.

After this strike, Bu Jingyun retreated three steps, but Xiongba also retreated one step.

"How is this possible!?"

Xiongba frowned slightly.

Although it appeared he had only retreated one step, he had used the Tianshuang Fist, which restrained the Paiyun Palm. And his internal energy was decades stronger than Bu Jingyun's.

Xiongba did not know that Bu Jingyun's Paiyun Palm had been enhanced by the "Peerless Martial Art of Nothingness."

Although Bu Jingyun's heart was filled with killing intent and he had not fully grasped the mysteries of "Nothingness," after years of settling, he had managed to deduce some techniques from it, making the power of his Paiyun Palm even more formidable.

And what followed was what truly shocked Xiongba.

Bu Jingyun struck out with another palm, but as this palm was unleashed, the black cloud Qi around his body actually transformed into a Heilong. Amidst the sound of a dragon's roar, it lunged toward Xiongba with astonishing momentum.

Past experience told Xiongba that the power of this palm could not be underestimated.

He could have dodged.

But in front of the disciples of the World Association, he absolutely could not lose face. Otherwise, if all the disciples saw that he, Gang Leader Xiongba, did not even dare to receive a single move from a disciple, where would his dignity be?

Thus, Xiongba used the Paiyun Palm to unleash the equally domineering move, "Mountain-Toppling and Sea-Overturning."

However, he had not expected this. Bu Jingyun's palm was not only rigid, fierce, and domineering, and incomparably powerful, but it also contained several layers of palm force, coming in waves, one after another.

This time, it was Xiongba who was forced back.

"This, what palm technique is this!?" Xiongba's face revealed a look of astonishment.

"Nine Heavens Dragon Roar Shakes the Sky; the Bodhisattva compared you to a dragon, and as it happens, this set of palm techniques is called..." Bu Jingyun said unhurriedly: "Xianglong Shiba Zhang!

"

On the Three-Part Drill Ground, the crowd of World Association disciples was incomparably terrified.

The changes before their eyes had happened too quickly.

Hall Master Bu of Feiyun Hall actually had an irreconcilable hatred for Gang Leader Xiongba.

And in the exchange between the two, Gang Leader Xiongba had actually been forced back by Bu Jingyun!?

"What kind of bullshit Xianglong Shiba Zhang is that? How could this Gang Leader be subdued by you!?" Xiongba was furious, his black hair flying, and he merged the three Qi of Wind, Cloud, and Frost, slamming them violently toward Bu Jingyun.

This master and disciple once again engaged in a life-and-death struggle.

Xiongba was, after all, a peerless hegemon who dominated the Edo; although he had suffered a loss from the Xianglong Shiba Zhang earlier, it was only because he had been caught off guard.

In the ensuing battle, Three Qi Returning to One, with its infinite power, was still able to suppress Bu Jingyun and maintain the advantage.

"What are you still standing there for!? Kill Bu Jingyun, eliminate this traitor."

On the Three-Part Drill Ground, it was unclear who had shouted. Suddenly, the martial artists of the World Association were filled with righteous indignation.

Some showed excitement; if they killed the traitor Bu Jingyun, wouldn't they be able to become the new Hall Master of Feiyun Hall?

Although this man surnamed Bu was formidable, he was ultimately no match for Gang Leader Xiongba.

Furthermore, at this moment, the World Association's experts were gathered; could this man surnamed Bu really pierce through the World Association just like the Ten Strong Martial Artists of the past?

Bu Jingyun was usually too cold and too arrogant, offending too many people; even in Feiyun Hall, many harbored hatred toward him. Now that a heaven-sent opportunity had arrived, how could they miss it?

Qin Shuang and Nie Feng showed anxious expressions, at a loss, not knowing whether to help Senior Brother Yun or their master.

And just as the crowd of gang members drew their blades and weapons, their expressions all changed. First shock, then suspicion, and finally, a look of horror. It was as if they had seen something inconceivable!?

It turned out that no matter what weapon the gang members present were holding, they were now trembling for no reason, then broke free from their owners' hands, falling together to the ground, where they continued to vibrate incessantly, swaying without stop. It looked just like ordinary commoners seeing the Emperor arrive, having no choice but to prostrate themselves and kowtow endlessly.

Everyone was stunned.

But there were also those who were knowledgeable whose eyes lit up.

A divine weapon!

A peerless divine weapon had come into the world!?

And this divine weapon could actually make ten thousand weapons bow in submission; it was truly terrifying.

The direction in which these countless weapons were bowing was clearly Baijian Villa.

Could the legends be true?

Was Baijian Villa truly forging a divine weapon capable of slaughtering all living things in the world?

"Old scoundrel, take another palm from me."

Regardless of whether the legend of Baijian Villa was true, no one could stop this scene of master and disciple slaughtering each other.

Ice Cellar!

Xukong Tianjie!

Xukong Tianjie was the dwelling place of God.

Only the high and mighty "God" could reside there.

Even God's most favored Divine Mother, Shenmu Luoxian, could not trespass without receiving an order; otherwise, there was only one simple outcome—death!

Behind an ice wall sat a mysterious and profound figure.

It was precisely God.

—Di Shitian.

Suddenly, a force capable of changing the color of heaven and earth surged toward Xukong Tianjie; more accurately, it surged into Di Shitian's body. This force was supreme, rigid, and fierce; it was so vast and majestic, so without beginning or end. If Yu Liancheng were here, he would certainly be able to recognize this force.

—Heaven-level Maha.

"This seat has finally mastered the Heaven-level Maha. With this seat's cultivation of over a thousand, or even nearly two thousand years, added to the Heaven-level Maha, in heaven and on earth, I alone am invincible!

"

Di Shitian laughed heartily, his laughter causing stormy waves in Xukong Tianjie, shattering countless solid ice into powder.

"And all of this is thanks to you, Yu Liancheng. Haha, this seat will grant you an eternal death."

It turned out that back then, when he fought Mo Baisuzhen, upon sensing that Yu Liancheng had surpassed God, he feared the two would attack him together and decisively fled.

But he did not flee very far; after Yu Liancheng and the others left, he returned to the battlefield and found God, who had been thrown off the cliff with a Broken dantian and was on the verge of death.

That fellow had actually not died.

Di Shitian saved the other party, then used a Mental Secret Technique to torment God to obtain the secret of the Immeasurable Maha, and then used the "Nahai Shengxin Mantra" to absorb the remaining Immeasurable Maha from God's body.

And now, his Immeasurable Maha had finally reached completion.

With his peerless cultivation, added to the Immeasurable Maha, Di Shitian had infinite confidence; the so-called Ten Strong Martial Artists and Yu Liancheng were nothing but ants.

Hum hum hum!

Just at this moment, strands of sharp Qi emanated from Budong Renjie and Zizai Dijie.

Di Shitian looked down, his gaze piercing through the ice layers, seeing the weapons swaying and bowing in submission. Following the mysterious Qi, he looked, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"A fine Yu Liancheng, you really are my lucky star. Not only did you deliver a peerless divine art to me, but just as I came out of seclusion, you delivered such an earth-shattering divine weapon to me as well. Haha, good, very good."

And the scene before them now was not limited to the World Association alone.

It had spread across the entire Central Plains Divine Prefecture, with countless weapons breaking free on their own to bow in the direction of Baijian Villa.

For a time, the martial arts world was in a state of great upheaval.

Everyone knew that a divine weapon was about to emerge at Baijian Villa.

……

And Yu Liancheng, who had triggered this turmoil in the pugilistic world, was currently engaged in a world-shaking duel with Wuming using "Heaven's Weep".

One could see "Heaven's Weep" emitting boundless radiance, which condensed into a long river and surged toward Wuming, instantly enveloping him.

Then.

Wuming saw a person.

A person he absolutely should not have seen.

……

PS: Although the update is late, the word count is high. I've filled in the plot hole regarding God and strengthened Di Shitian. Please, please, please, please give me monthly votes.