Chapter 241: Dragon Zen Diamond Sutra

The dragon's roar was fierce.

Clouds of substantial mist spread layer by layer, obscuring the light; just past noon, several nearby districts had actually grown dark.

Dozens of figures leaped from inns, wine towers, and residences, landing on nearby heights, eyeing one another before gazing toward the main gate of Longhu Temple.

After the dragon's roar, there was a moment of silence; on the vast square, only the wind's 'whoosh-whoosh' could be heard for a time.

"How is this possible..."

Wang Shan Xuan stood dazed in the wind.

Doubt, shock, astonishment, panic...

All these emotions surged in his heart, finally turning into waves of chill rising from his heart, spreading through his entire body, making him tremble uncontrollably.

The sea of clouds churned, the shadow of the azure dragon appeared; in the past two hundred years, this had happened at Longhu Temple only four times.

And those four: one ranked among the Divine List as a Land Immortal, two who had penetrated the mysteries of Yin and Yang, grandmasters sitting high on the Hero List; the most recent one was also known as the 'Sixty Years of Invincibility', the current true disciple eldest senior brother of Longhu Temple!

'I, I actually offended the eldest senior brother... a peer of the eldest senior brother?'

Wang Shan Xuan felt his vision go black.

"No wonder, no wonder the Junior Uncle Ancestor saw him only once and decided to take him as a disciple, passing on the lineage... he, he..."

Gazing at the sea of clouds and the azure dragon, a trace of unwillingness in Yu Yu Xuanfeng's heart instantly vanished, replaced by immense despondency.

He looked around; the vast square was silent. Whether elders and disciples of Longhu Temple, or experts from other sects and people of the Jianghu, all stared in horror.

Even farther away, common people frightened by the shadow of the azure dragon knelt and prostrated themselves, worshipping with bowed heads.

On the surrounding buildings, wherever there was a roof, people stood.

He saw the crowd streaming out of the temple; not only outer elders like Yan Yan Sanxing, but even sect helmsmen of the same status as his master,

and even quasi-hall masters like Chu Shan Xuan Kong.

"This dragon shadow..."

In the crowd, the wind had already swept around; although he did not know what the dragon shadow represented, seeing the Jianghu people all look as if they had seen a ghost, his heart was firmly settled.

"Good!"

He was the first to cry out.

Afterwards, the square, which seemed half-frozen, came alive, with various clamors and discussions exploding together.

Ao!

Between the four jade pillars, Li Yuan stood dazed; that dragon's roar echoed incessantly in his heart, as if touching a place of spiritual light.

He focused his spirit, yet still could not help but feel dazed.

In his daze, he felt that hundred-meter azure dragon tear through the sea of clouds; its gaze, as substantial as matter, fell upon him, examining him closely, looking him over again and again.

And farther away, that giant tiger, no one knew when, had stood up, pacing back and forth through the mist.

Transmission of technique?

This thought surged in Li Yuan's heart; then, the shadows of the azure dragon and Bai Hu before his eyes instantly dimmed. The mist did not disperse but transformed into a text.

"Dragon Zen Diamond Sutra, Introduction Chapter..."

Not the Longhu Hun Tian Hammer.

Li Yuan had barely turned this thought in his mind when the text formed from the mist leaped like a living creature, 'drilling' into his eyes, then Ta Yin upon his heart.

In the next instant, as if a strong wind blew, the mist scattered.

Li Yuan opened his eyes and saw a group of old men streaming out from within Longhu Temple; the only familiar face among them was Yan Yan Sanxing, his face full of smiles, making him look strange.

"Hahaha!"

Before the person arrived, the laughter came first; Yan Yan Sanxing rushed out of the crowd, laughing and clasping his hands:

"After months apart, Junior Brother Li's cultivation has advanced again!"

Junior Brother Li!

Not far away, Yu Yu Xuanfeng felt a heaviness in his heart.

That was called so smoothly, as if it hadn't been you who gave me those instructions before...

"You came, yet why not say a word beforehand? You made your elder brother quite hurried."

"..."

Although he had seen many such changes over the years, Li Yuan still felt some admiration for Yan Yan Sanxing's rapid shift in attitude; he admitted he could not be so smooth himself.

Turning this thought in his mind, he naturally would not say anything that would spoil the mood; immediately clasping his hands, he accepted the title of 'Junior Brother' before everyone:

"This junior also just arrived not long ago and was preparing to seek out Senior Brother, but did not expect to be delayed here..."

Li Yuan then turned back, glancing at Wang Shan Xuan, whose face was deathly pale; the latter instinctively stepped back, perhaps due to poor blood flow, and nearly fell to the ground.

But not a single person around laughed; the looks they gave him were quite sympathetic and pitiful.

"Junior Brother Li, I..."

Wang Shan Xuan sweated like a river, swallowing repeatedly.

"Hmm?"

Yan Yan Sanxing's expression darkened.

"J-Junior Uncle Li."

"Get out!"

Casting a cold glance over Wang Shan Xuan, who had lost his composure, Chu Shan Xuan Kong approached slowly, clasping his hands with a smile:

"Li Yuan? This Daoist is Chu Shan Xuan Kong..."

Deputy Hall Master of the Dragon Roar Hall, a quasi-grandmaster who had perfected Blood Replacement.

"So it is Hall Master Chu; Li Yuan was rude."

Li Yuan's heart gave a thump; he solemnly clasped his hands in greeting while firmly committing the gleam of the weapons on the other's person to memory.

A set of famous artifacts, a supreme-grade famous sword, its rank nearly matching that of the Fire Dragon Sword...

Chu Shan Xuan Kong spoke only a few words before turning to leave; only then did those elders step forward, exchange greetings with Li Yuan, their attitudes gentle, their praise unceasing.

"This is no place for conversation. If Brother Li does not mind, how about a few cups at my place?"

Yan Yan Sanxing forced a smile.

Li Yuan glanced at Yu Yu Xuanfeng.

"Nephew Yu, come along."

"... Yes."

Yu Yu Xuanfeng opened his mouth, then hurriedly agreed.

Though he hailed from the Yu family and had taken Gong Gong Jiuchuan as his master, he was after all an outer sect disciple; in the past, he had no friendship whatsoever with these elders.

"Elder Feng!"

Li Yuan turned back, meeting his gaze; the surrounding crowd scattered with a 'whoosh,' and all the martial artists wore smiles on their faces, exceedingly warm and cordial.

"Shall we go together?"

"Ah?"

A uniform sweep of gazes came over; even Feng Feng Zhongyi, whose temperament was already steady as the wind, could not help but lose his composure.

But he quickly adjusted, walking over with a ruddy face, his steps light as if born of wind, far more brisk than usual.

"This is Elder Feng Feng Zhongyi of our Divine Weapon Valley."

Li Yuan had long known that Feng Feng Zhongyi's purpose in coming here was to use this opportunity to connect with the Dragon Tiger Temple; naturally, he would not miss such a chance.

"Oh, long heard of you, long heard of you."

Yan Yan Sanxing perfunctorily clasped his hands; the other elders also smiled and clasped their hands in greeting.

Feng Feng Zhongyi's face grew even redder, yet he could not help feeling somewhat uneasy; he knew well that an elder of the Dragon Tiger Temple must at least possess a cultivation of perfected Organ Refining, with many even having achieved successful Marrow Refining.

Such experts, in ordinary times, he would not only be unable to connect with; even seeing them would make him retreat three steps.

"Please!"

Yan Yan Sanxing smiled and led the way.

Li Yuan was long accustomed to the drastic changes in others' attitudes; he accepted it naturally, glanced at the little tiger cub that had leaped onto his shoulder, and followed along.

Yu Yu Xuanfeng looked dejected, trailing behind the ruddy-faced Feng Feng Zhongyi; in the middle were the five elders of the Dragon Tiger Temple, and farther away, many more elders were coming to welcome them.

"The sea of clouds churns, the azure dragon appears; this is a matter that would stir the Dao Master. Were it not that the old one is absent, I fear he would have arrived immediately."

Yu Yu Xuanfeng muttered to himself.

Only after calming down did he realize he had still underestimated the influence of the 'Azure Dragon Shadow Appearing.'

No face-reading or bone-touching could compare to 'the Patriarch's recognition.' For over two thousand years, of those who received the Patriarch's will and transmission of skill, did even half become Earth Immortals!

Once this news spreads, it will shake not only the Dragon Tiger Temple and the Hengshan Dao City, but even the other Dao domains and the imperial court will be stirred.

An Earth Immortal...

With that thought, he quickly accepted the change in Yan Yan Sanxing's attitude, while also becoming alert, realizing his own attitude seemed problematic.

What's wrong with calling him Junior Uncle?

"Regarding Junior Uncle's entry into the sect?"

After passing through the mountain gate and the disciples watching the spectacle were scolded away, Yu Yu Xuanfeng finally spoke to ask.

"A trifling matter; why would Brother Li need to go personally?"

Yan Yan Sanxing pushed open the courtyard gate, invited everyone inside, and casually pointed to a disciple by the roadside, ordering him to fetch Elder Zheng of the External Affairs Hall for the banquet.

"Brother Li has traveled far and labored; today, let us make do for now. Come tomorrow, this old man will invite you to sit at the 'Fang Fang Xianke Residence'."

The group did not walk quickly, mainly because they were constantly introducing Li Yuan to matters within the sect along the way; now, the wine banquet was already set up in the courtyard, requiring no waiting.

"Brother Yan is too polite."

Li Yuan felt only a slight heaviness on his shoulder; the little tiger cub jumped down, quickly found a sunny spot to lie down and bask in the sun; this little fellow had been staring at him the entire journey.

"Come, drink!"

"The sea of clouds surges, the azure dragon appears! Junior Uncle Long still has the wisdom to recognize talent; with such talent as Brother Li, he was nearly delayed by a small local sect."

"Brother Feng, do not blame me; Lin Mou speaks without thinking."

One moment, he was being harassed, seemingly plotted against; the next, he was drinking and conversing happily with the sect's elders.

Li Yuan accepted it very quickly.

Watching the crowd with clinking cups and crossed chopsticks, it was Yu Yu Xuanfeng who felt out of place; coming to his senses, he even felt some admiration.

"I wonder which supreme art Brother Li has obtained?"

Lin Tianhe spoke; he was an elder of the Punishment Hall, his complexion slightly dark, his voice hoarse.

The moment he spoke, everyone turned to look at Li Yuan.

"Dragon Zen Vajra Sutra."

Li Yuan did not conceal it.

The supreme arts and divine Wu Gong of the Dragon Tiger Temple have never been lost; the Patriarch's transmission carries more symbolic meaning than practical value, containing only the introductory chapter; even if outsiders obtained it, they could not cultivate it.

Its benefit lies within the sect; as Yu Yu Xuanfeng had explained via sound transmission on the road, for any Gong Fa transmitted by the Patriarch, the Dao Master will subsequently transmit the complete version.

Moreover, it does not occupy the quota for originally cultivated supreme arts.

"Dragon Zen Vajra Sutra?"

Lin Tianhe and others exchanged glances, all somewhat surprised: "This Wu Gong is indeed rare..."

"How so?"

Li Yuan knew only that Longhu Temple possessed nine complete Wu Gong, but he did not know their specific names, let alone their merits or flaws.

"This is a Chan art."

Lin Tianhe replied: "The Sect Master once studied this Wu Gong in the past, but this Wu Gong is said to require sitting in bitter Chan, hmm, a green lamp and an ancient house..."

"Bitter Chan?"

Li Yuan frowned slightly, then Yu Yu Xuanji raised his cup, and the banquet continued.

This banquet began with only eight people, but as news spread, it gradually expanded, and eventually, they moved to a restaurant outside the temple.

On Li Li Daoye's first day at Longhu Temple, he was drunk by the elders and disciples and sent back to the inn.

"Huff!"

As soon as the people who came to deliver him left, Li Yuan immediately opened his eyes, glanced at the little tiger cub, then pushed open the window; from here, one could see the main gate of Longhu Temple.

"Hmm... if I switch to a different palm control combination, can I do it one more time?"