Chapter 302: Re-entering the Cloud and Mist Mountain

"Dragon-Form Convergence," as the name implies, is a combination primarily of the Dragon and Elephant forms, intermingled with various other forms.

Using the myriad forms as threads, it pierces through the Dragon and Elephant to unleash an extreme, mighty force.

"This Dragon-Elephant Convergence requires at least twenty-six forms to be mastered just to enter its gate; the threshold is very high. No wonder none of the senior brothers have ever seen anyone achieve perfection in it."

Li Yuan flipped through the secret manual.

The threshold for Dragon-Elephant Convergence was naturally fully met by him; possessing eighty-seven forms, he could completely satisfy the entry conditions for the vast majority of supreme arts, even Zhun Shen Gong.

Of course, this excluded certain unique supreme arts and Zhun Shen Gong that required 'Forms of Heaven and Earth'.

"Beyond the Dragon and Elephant, the required forms are mostly of the Bear and Tiger variety; this is a Form-Change Combination that discards everything else to take only power."

Having read so many books and learned so much Wu Gong over the years, Li Yuan's horizons were broad, and he saw the pros and cons of Form-Change Combinations very clearly.

Hundred-Beast Thunder Dragon is all-inclusive, integrating speed, defense, power, and instant burst into one Form-Change Combination.

Therefore, upon first entering the gate, it cannot compare to a Form-Change Combination refined to a single path.

For instance, the 'Huntian Hammer Form' on the Dragon-Tiger Hun Tian Hammer and the 'Vajra Form' on the Dragon Zen Vajra Sutra focus on instant burst and defense.

Dragon-Elephant Convergence is pure power, completely discarding everything else, quite a bit like a sword taking a biased path.

"Hundred-Beast Thunder Dragon, Dragon-Elephant Convergence, Hun Tian Hammer, Vajra Form, Dou Sha Hammer."

Closing the book, Li Yuan's thoughts scattered: "Using Hundred-Beast Thunder Dragon as the spine, Dragon-Elephant Convergence as the bone, and Vajra and Hun Tian as the meridians to fill in the myriad forms."

Every Wu Gong has its form; the distinction between inferior, medium, superior secret transmissions, supreme arts, and Zhun Shen Gong lies only in the 'Form-Change Combination'.

Li Yuan closed his eyes as the Wu Gong he had learned swept past his mind and before his eyes; he felt his thinking colliding violently.

Under the blessing of a millennium-grade talent, he sorted through these myriad threads, sorted through the various Wu Gong, and finally formed a single thought:

"In the North Sea there is a fish, its name is Kun!"

Why must the Black Whale be limited to just a whale?

Descending as a giant whale, soaring as a giant bird, entering the clouds as a dragon, entering the mountains as a tiger, entering the rain as thunder!

"The benefits of mastering the Black Whale Hammer!"

Once again, Daoist Li truly felt the change; his mind worked much better than before, especially regarding cultivation.

"Begin!"

Li Yuan rubbed his fists, swallowed another Qi-Increasing Pill, picked up his hammer, and went out to the courtyard.

Whoosh~

Li Yuan stood holding the hammer, eyes slightly closed.

His movements were very slow, merely a random stance of a standing meditation, yet his bones, tendons, skin, and membranes were all pulsing and trembling, exercising him even more intensely than any Quan Fa routine.

Inside his body, internal Qi surged and blood boiled; under the spreading medicinal power of the Qi-Increasing Pill, it was like a battlefield of fierce conflict.

The surging internal Qi circulated through twenty-six meridians, stopping only at three points: the dantian and the 'acupoints' of both feet. From these centers, it spread to the four limbs, hundred bones, and even more subtle places, forging new Qi channels.

"Thirty-six Qi channels can already cover the organs and meridians, reaching every pore of the body."

This thought flashed through Li Yuan's mind.

He moved while holding the hammer, accelerating the circulation of internal Qi through standing meditation.

As he paced, his bones and great tendons vibrated; this was the Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound. With every gesture, a Wu Gong naturally changed and flowed. Dou Sha Hammer, Ancient Elephant Hammer, Tiger Form Transcending the Divine, Eight Steps Chase—every weapon strike, fist and palm technique, and lightness footwork he had cultivated to the Great Perfection level could be seen in his movements.

Whether walking, sitting, or lying down, all is practice; every movement is Zen.

Li Yuan while practicing was like a walking library of martial arts; even among the six true transmissions of the Dragon-Tiger Temple and the nine Jiudatang Hall Masters, few had learned more Wu Gong than him.

This was also the foundation.

"No more fighting, no more fighting."

In the small temple opposite, Jin Jin Shengwu waved his hand, his face full of exhaustion: "Wan Wan Zhuliu's 'Subduing Demon Dragon God Form' has truly reached an unimaginable state. Even if my 'Yellow Dragon Observation' were twice as strong, I still could not defeat him."

Jin Jin Shengwu, who had been tough all his life, shook his head, somewhat desolate: "I cannot save you anymore."

Over forty years ago, he had experienced the same scene, but at that time he felt he still had a chance to win; at least at the Grandmaster level, exhausting all efforts, he might not be unable to defeat that Wan Wan Zhuliu.

For this, he had secluded himself for over forty years, asking himself that his martial arts had increased to the point where they could increase no more. He thought that even if he could not win, there might be a possibility of mutual destruction, but who could have expected...

"Brother, I appreciate your kindness."

Long Xi Xiang was also silent; he was still recalling the peak duel between the two within the Divine Realm. After a while, he came to his senses: "Wan Wan Zhuliu's 'Subduing Demon Dragon God Form' is no less than the direct transmission of the Ancestral Master, the 'Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven' perfected through repeated deductions by successive Ancestral Masters, the 'Dragon-Tiger Black Scripture', or even the 'Pure Yang of Life Nurturing' created by two Ancestral Masters emulating the Life-Nurturing Furnace."

"Perhaps it is even superior."

Jin Jin Shengwu forced himself to stand up; with his Wu Gong, he almost couldn't even stand steady. Not sleeping or resting for over twenty days, fighting over a thousand battles, even he could not hold on.

"I fought him for one hundred and fifty moves without a clear winner, but once his Subduing Demon Dragon God Form appeared, I was utterly defeated within at most ten moves."

Jin Jin Shengwu frowned tightly, feeling somewhat stifled.

A thousand battles, a thousand utter defeats; even with his resilient mind, he could not help but feel terrified and desperate. In a fight within the same realm, he could not possibly defeat Wan Wan Zhuliu.

If even he cannot do it now, who in the world can?

"The Subduing Demon Dragon Blade is the number one weapon for killing under heaven. Although the Life-Nurturing Furnace is also a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, it has no offensive or defensive capabilities. Perhaps there is a difference in form and aspect?"

Long Xi Xiang was also exhausted, propping himself up to stand.

"Sigh."

Jin Jin Shengwu sighed, but quickly adjusted himself, though the look in his eyes as he gazed at Long Xi Xiang was inevitably somewhat dim.

He had seen this scene more than once.

Wan Wan Zhuliu nurtures the blade with human life; in a hundred years, those who died at his hand all died unwillingly after being tormented by the blade intent for half their lives.

In fact, even now, those suffering under the torment of the 'Subduing Demon Blade Intent' and caught between life and death are far more than just Long Xi Xiang.

"I must thank you again for fighting with all your might. After observing his sword techniques, I ask myself that I might have a chance to win."

"Is that so?"

Long Xi Xiang fell into deep thought; how could he remember so many details? Being able to recognize that was his own disciple was already a sign of his good memory.

"This child's talent is even more astonishing than I predicted; with so many Wu Gong on his body, he must possess at least forty-something forms?"

Jin Jin Shengwu stroked his long beard, squinting: "At this age, with this achievement."

Jin Jin Shengwu felt somewhat shaken within his heart.

At first meeting, he had not scrutinized too closely; now, focusing his spirit to perceive, he was startled to realize this youth's talent was likely far better than he had imagined.

Then, even if this is not an unparalleled talent of the ages, it is likely not far off, is it?

Long Xi Xiang was also observing; his impression was not deep, remembering Li Li Yuanzhong purely because a portrait hung in the room and he had heard praises, so he could only speak vaguely.

"He has not yet cultivated the viscera, is that your meaning?"

Jin Jin Shengwu suddenly asked.

"It should not be?"

Long Xi Xiang was also somewhat uncertain; looking now, he could clearly perceive the internal Qi surging within Li Li Yuanzhong's body, which had long since satisfied the condition of 'Internal Qi Transforming into True'.

Moreover, the stance of this hammer technique was far too proficient; the cultivation on the Dragon-Tiger Hun Tian Hammer must be at least four or five layers deep?

"A good seedling, a good seedling, stronger than I was in my day; all arts upon the body, perfectly integrated and unified, very good, very good."

Jin Jin Shengwu pinched his long beard, his eyes bright: "Wan Wan Zhuliu nourishes the blade with the person, so his blade intent varies with the person... if he only has the Meridian-Opening cultivation, how much power could his Subduing Demon Dragon God Form still possess?"

With this thought, Jin Jin Shengwu's gaze toward Long Xi Xiang changed: "You are thinking the same?"

When he first saw Li Li Yuanzhong, he had guessed Long Xi Xiang might have such plans.

He had also heard of using a genius disciple to remove Wan Wan Zhuliu's blade intent.

But no one had succeeded, because the young Wan Wan Zhuliu was already famous throughout the world, having once been the Great Yun Champion Marquis.

At the age of twenty, he made his name known to a thousand armies, once standing above his contemporaries, vying for the crown of the Dao Martial Arts; and in that generation, those defeated by his hand included many supreme grandmasters who are now famous.

In the current world, who dares claim they could defeat the young Wan Wan Zhuliu? He had previously dismissed it, but after fighting a thousand battles, he felt it might not be impossible; without the Subduing Demon Dragon God Form, there might still be a chance to win?

"Hmm?"

?? co

Long Xi Xiang frowned slightly, sinking into deep thought. Was I planning this? He felt somewhat shaken in his heart; if Jin Jin Shengwu were not nearby, he would have wanted to return and check his own records.

"Such talent, so young."

Watching Li Li Yuanzhong practicing the Xu Tui stance in the fenced courtyard, Jin Jin Shengwu's thoughts wandered as he paced back and forth.

The more he thought, the more he felt that while a Grandmaster or High Grandmaster of the same realm could not be defeated, perhaps one without blood replacement, with only Meridian-Opening cultivation, could still win.

After all, limited by cultivation, the Subduing Demon Dragon God Form mostly only has a rudimentary shape, and without True Qi, it is absolutely impossible to activate the complete Dragon God Form.

It is just...

"Time is likely insufficient."

With this thought, Jin Jin Shengwu could not help but sigh with regret, even wanting to pound his chest and stamp his feet.

"Hmm..."

Long Xi Xiang did not think as much as he did; he was still pondering whether he truly had similar thoughts.

"How many more years can you last?"

Jin Jin Shengwu suddenly asked.

Long Xi Xiang was stunned, replying:

"It should be two years."

"Two years is too short."

Jin Jin Shengwu immediately shook his head.

If there were ten or twenty years, with the Dragon-Tiger Temple devoting all its efforts to training, he felt this youth might not lack the possibility of challenging Wan Wan Zhuliu at the Meridian-Opening level.

But two years...

"Even if he were an immortal or god reborn, there is likely no possibility."

Jin Jin Shengwu sighed with regret repeatedly; he turned and left, the more he looked the more he felt discomfort in his heart; it would have been better not to have seen him.

"Subduing Demon Dragon God Form."

Long Xi Xiang's expression did not change; he had already made the plan that without breaking there can be no establishment, did not intend to rely on his own disciple, so naturally there was no question of disappointment.

However, he still stopped outside the temple gate, observing Li Li Yuanzhong who was practicing.

"Hoo!"

The wind in the small courtyard was swift; until the medicinal power of a Qi-Boosting Pill was exhausted, Li Li Yuanzhong slowly settled his stance; opening his eyes, he saw Long Xi Xiang approaching slowly under the moonlight.

"Master."

Li Li Yuanzhong bowed respectfully.

"Have you entered the Dragon-Elephant Convergence?"

Long Xi Xiang arrived in the fenced courtyard, observing his own disciple; although he had no deep memory, he was after all his disciple without distinction.

"I have entered."

Li Li Yuanzhong nodded, stepping back one pace.

Internal Qi like a tide surged from around his body, like mist and smoke, slowly forming a vague dragon and elephant, circling and chasing each other.

"Not bad."

Long Xi Xiang nodded, saying no more, simply explaining the secrets of 'Dragon-Elephant Convergence' and the insights gained when creating this quasi-divine art form combination.

Li Li Yuanzhong moved a chair for him to sit, himself focusing his spirit to listen quietly; this would be of great benefit to his comprehension of the Mystic Whale Diagram.

"Combine various forms to create one spirit; the form combination determines the potential after entering the Dao; take it slowly, be cautious, there will be no error."

Late at night, Long Xi Xiang finally rose.

Li Li Yuanzhong escorted him outside the small temple; watching his slightly thin back, thoughts arose in his heart.

"Who left the wounds on Old Dragon Head? If he too has damage to the God Realm..."

Closing the temple gate, Li Li Yuanzhong pondered.

This thought had occurred to him long ago; last time he even asked about the damage to Old Dragon Head's Ru Shen Jing, but he was driven out before he could ask more than a few questions.

Yet it still lingered in his heart.

"With Old Dragon Head's Wu Gong back then, could it be that only a Land Immortal could have injured him to this extent?"

Back in his room, Li Yuan washed himself, sat cross-legged, and continued practicing his Wu Gong.

In the second half of the night, the familiar fluctuation arrived.

"Mist Cloud Mountain Lord?"

In a state between sleep and wakefulness, Li Yuan felt a stir in his heart and followed the familiar fluctuation into the Ru Shen Jing.

The moment he opened his eyes, he heard human voices coming from the mist-shrouded mountain ranges:

"Eh?!"