Chapter 180

【Mount Huashan widely invited fellow cultivators to reinforce its ranks, forming the "Wuyuejian Sect" alliance, to wage a decisive battle against the Sun Moon Holy Cult at Mount Huashan】

【The final result was that all five sects suffered grievous losses, while the Sun Moon Holy Cult also lost ten of its Grand Elders — truly a case of both sides grievously wounded】

【From then on, the two sides forged an undying, irreconcilable blood-feud】

【But the first incomplete copy of the "Sunflower Manual" at Mount Huashan was largely seized】

【At the time, the Sun Moon Holy Cult's Cult Leader Ren Woxing flipped through it, scorned the cultivation method, and gave it to the wildly ambitious Dongfang Bubai, intending to set a trap for him】

【Dongfang Bubai truly could not resist the temptation, castrated himself to cultivate it, and thus became the "Number One Master of Smiling Proud Wanderer"】

【Of course, this "Number One" was not absolute, because at the time Mount Huashan was still hiding Feng Qingyang】

【At that time, Feng Qingyang had cultivated the "Dugu Nine Swords" for several decades, and in the book he never once struck with full force, nor ever faced Dongfang Bubai head-on, so who was stronger and who was weaker remains a question mark】

"Feng Qingyang, who cultivated the 'Dugu Nine Swords' for several decades, may not necessarily be a match for Dongfang Bubai? And the 'Sunflower Manual' Dongfang Bubai cultivated was still a second-hand incomplete version…"

At this moment, the women gained a deeper understanding of the terrifying power of this evil art.

199 — Shi Hongying, who obtained the Random Character Comprehension Replication Card and had her wish fulfilled

Yuzhou, Luoyang.

Inside the Green Bamboo Alley, Ren Yingying's delicate brows knit tightly, her face showing both shock and puzzlement.

"Dongfang Bubai castrated himself to cultivate the 'Sunflower Manual'?!"

Recalling many details from the past, there really was something eerie and off about it all.

Before Dongfang Bubai imprisoned Ren Woxing and usurped the position of Cult Leader, he had taken several wives and concubines, yet these wives and concubines later all died under strange circumstances one after another.

And Dongfang Bubai never took another wife.

In recent years, Dongfang Bubai had favored a burly, curly-bearded man named Yang Lianting, even entrusting much of the cult's great authority to him.

Ren Yingying had originally been unable to make sense of this, but now she understood completely.

But at the same time, new questions arose.

In the story, the Sun Moon Holy Cult is the Dafan Sect. The Wuyuejian Sect united together, even with the advantage of terrain, could only fight the Sun Moon Holy Cult to a mutual bloody stalemate.

Precisely because its strength was so overwhelming, the Sun Moon Holy Cult was able to seize the "Sunflower Manual."

Yet in reality, Mount Huashan alone could beat the Sun Moon Holy Cult into the ground — on what basis would it go to Mount Huashan to snatch things?

What's more, Mount Huashan most likely doesn't even have the "Sunflower Manual."

Go to Shaolin Temple's Scripture Storage Pavilion to steal manuals 360 times?

Even Heavenly Beings would not dare entertain such a wild fantasy!

If so, if Dongfang Bubai still cultivated the "Sunflower Manual," then where did he get it from?

……

Mount Huashan — Ning Zhongze was also pondering another question—

The fact that Mount Huashan possessed the "Sunflower Manual" was top secret — so who leaked it to the Sun Moon Holy Cult?

Yue Su? Cai Zifeng?

These two were originally from Mount Huashan, and judging from the current information, they had absolutely no reason or motive to destroy their own sect.

Then the suspects were narrowed down to two: one was Lin Yuantu, the other was Shaolin Temple.

Ning Zhongze was not certain which of the two it was, but she could roughly guess the other's motive.

Very simple — just work backward from the result!

The result of the Sun Moon Holy Cult and the Wuyuejian Sect's struggle was mutual bloody stalemate, and an undying, irreconcilable blood-feud was forged.

Then clearly, the leaker wanted to suppress the various sects, thereby benefiting himself.

"Shaolin Temple… the Scripture Storage Pavilion is such a vital place — how could it be one that anyone can casually enter and leave?"

If it were the real-world Shaolin Temple, Ning Zhongze of course would not think it would play such petty tricks.

But one must realize, the "Number One Master of Smiling Proud Wanderer" is either Dongfang Bubai or Feng Qingyang — it can never be a Gao Seng of Shaolin Temple.

From this, it can be seen that the Shaolin within the story is far less imposing than in reality.

Without absolute strength, playing petty tricks to maintain a balance of power is not impossible.

……

It wasn't only Ning Zhongze — quite a few others thought of the same point.

However, after the incidents of Wuhua, Xuanci, and others, Shaolin Temple held no "glorious, great, and righteous" image in their eyes at all.

Without expectations, there can be no disappointment.

Hence they could all face it calmly.

【In the Smiling Proud Wanderer story, Shaolin once possessed the complete "Sunflower Manual" — so what about in reality?】

【If Shaolin Temple… or rather, some ambitious schemer within Shaolin Temple, secretly hid the "Sunflower Manual," and then quietly cultivated a batch of experts to do his bidding, that is also not impossible】

【Regardless of whether it is or not, there must certainly exist an organization in this world, within which a large number of assassins castrate themselves to practice martial arts】

【Truly interesting — looking forward to the day the secret is unveiled】

"An organization where everyone cultivates the 'Sunflower Manual'…"

Many people could not help but feel a chill run down their spines.

But then, they thought of the "Kunji Seal," and their hearts instantly settled.

【Detected that Jiang Sishui has completed today's diary entry — congratulations on obtaining one month's worth of true Qi】

【Now drawing today's lucky recipient…】

【Congratulations to Shi Hongying on obtaining the "Random Character Comprehension Replication Card"】

"It's finally my turn!"

In her room, Shi Hongying's face lit up with joy, her heart surging with excitement.

She had been at the Shanzhuang for some time now, yet the diary seemed to be playing a joke on her — even though Jiang Sishui mentioned her from time to time, the daily rewards could always precisely avoid her.

Watching the winners change one after another, Shi Hongying felt a sour ache in her heart, along with an indescribable sense of grievance.

As for the composure she had at the start, it had long been tossed by her beyond the nine heavens!

Fortunately, though the reward came late, it did arrive—after all, she still had some sense of existence.

"Random Character Comprehension Replication Card?"

Toying with the white card in her hand, Shi Hongying silently began to pray.

Just hearing the name, one knew what this reward was, and its value depended entirely on which random person it landed on.

"Heaven bless me! Heaven bless me!"

Shi Hongying muttered twice, then followed the method the system gave and used the card.

The next moment, a noble young master's portrait appeared on the front of the card.

"This is…" Shi Hongying's eyes went wide.

Though she had never seen the person, based on the information transmitted by the card, this person was clearly one of the protagonists of the Dragon-tale Jiang Sishui had mentioned—Duan Yu of Dali!

That martial prodigy with photographic memory who mastered anything at a single glance!

"It's actually him!"

Beyond surprise, a surge of intense excitement welled up in her heart.

One had to know, this was a super cheater who sat at "Heavenly Man" while gazing toward "Demigod"!

The next moment, the card began to disintegrate, transforming into a white light that sank into Shi Hongying's brow.

In an instant, Shi Hongying felt only her mind clear, an indescribable sense of comfort.

If one had to put it into words, it was simply feeling that she had become smarter.

"Wonderful! From now on, I'm a martial prodigy too!"

Shi Hongying could not contain her excitement, all trace of sleep gone, and went straight to the small courtyard to cultivate several Wu Gong that had not yet reached perfection.

……

Jiang Sishui wasn't idle either.

After making his usual round, he headed straight for Li Qingluo's room.

Yesterday, the generosity of that "Yourong-jie" had left him lingering in his thoughts, savoring it endlessly.

An hour later, seeing the sky gradually brightening, Jiang Sishui deliberately ran to Wang Yuyan's boudoir, embraced the young girl, and fell asleep fully content.

……

Over the next few days, Jiang Sishui, as usual, traveled by day, while at night he tenderly soothed the empty hearts of the women.

Until that one time, when he brought A'zhu and A'bi to Li Qingluo's room.

Seeing Li Qingluo and You Cao, the stunned expressions on the two women's faces at that moment were simply beyond words.

Li Qingluo had not expected either that the two little maids she had always looked down on would one day actually become her "same-trench" comrades.