Chapter 23

"The Nine Provinces continent hides dragons and crouching tigers; moreover, on the path of martial arts, the higher one's cultivation, the longer one's lifespan."

"No one knows just how many reclusive, world-shaking beings still exist in the world today."

"Therefore, this old minister also dare not make a rash assertion."

"What's more, judging from the intelligence obtained a few days ago."

"The Qinglong Society alone likely harbors quite a few beings comparable to, or even surpassing, Zhang Zhenren."

"Therefore, being able to have this ranking is both unexpected and, at the same time, entirely reasonable."

Wei Jinzhong fell silent for a moment.

Organizing his words in his mind, he offered some consolation.

Compared with Zhu Houzhao's thoughts, which carried a strong personal emotional tint.

He had once been a being of the Earthly Immortal Realm as well.

He, on the other hand, viewed things more objectively.

Zhu Houzhao nodded, his face expressionless.

Mount Wudang, Zixiao Palace.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Setting aside first place, how could Master fail to even make the top ten!"

"This Heavenly Dao Gold List must be ranked at random — yes, that's it, absolutely right!"

The Wu Dangqixia, who had always worshipped Zhang Sanfeng as a god in their hearts.

Looking at the contents of the Heavenly Dao Gold List.

Exchanged glances with one another.

Their expressions looked exceptionally ugly.

They simply could not accept this cruel ranking!

"Enough!"

"Calm your minds! Focus your spirits!"

Gazing at the six disciples' expressions of doubting their entire existence.

Sensing the disorder in their auras.

Zhang Sanfeng's brow furrowed slightly.

With a stern old face, he gave a soft rebuke.

Immediately.

The six of them shuddered all over.

One after another, they came back to their senses.

Looking at their own Master's displeased expression of "wishing you were made of better stuff."

A few shades of shame rose on their faces, and they all lowered their heads in unison.

"You lot~"

"Have this old Daoist's past teachings of 'not elated by things, not saddened by self' been forgotten entirely?"

"It's merely a trivial bit of empty fame — why care about it so!"

Taking in their reactions.

Zhang Sanfeng sighed deeply.

He scolded them a couple of times, then turned and left with a measure of disappointment.

Seeing this.

The six felt even more ashamed.

They wanted to call out to their Master.

But their lips twitched twice.

Yet simply could not bring themselves to speak.

In the end, they could only watch helplessly as his figure gradually disappeared.

Great Ming, Yunzhou Shaolin Temple.

Drawing his gaze back from the void.

Abbot Kongwen snorted heavily.

In his eyes there seemed to be disdain, contempt, envy, jealousy, and also a thick wariness.

What he disdained and despised was that.

No matter how famous or how formidable Zhang Sanfeng was.

He would always carry the label of a Shaolin renegade on his back!

What he envied and was jealous of was that.

Anyone who could make the Heavenly Dao Gold List — which of them was not one in a million, a dragon among men, a phoenix among women?

He, Kongwen, naturally also wished to make the list!

Unfortunately.

The requirements to make the list were simply too high.

Setting aside him, even the entire Great Ming Shaolin did not have a single one who qualified.

Yet, the very Zhang Sanfeng whom he had always looked down on — whom Shaolin itself disliked — had made the list.

If his heart felt comfortable about this, then ghosts would believe it!

At this moment.

GLOSSARY:

【Zhang Sanfeng, Zhu Houzhao, Wu Dangqixia, Zhang Zhenren, Long Feng, Wu Dang, Yunzhou Shaolin, Abbot Kongwen, Yagyu Muji, Master, Mount Wudang, Great Ming, Qinglong Society, Earthly Immortal Realm, Heavenly Dao Gold List, Zixiao Palace, Wei Jinzhong】

Sitting beside him, Kongjian chanted a Buddhist invocation and spoke up at just the right moment.

"Senior Brother Abbot, word has come from below that they've spotted traces of Zhang Wuxia of Wu Dang."

"And besides him, there's also the Mo Sect witch Yin Susu, as well as a child the two of them conceived together."

"Should we...."

The rest of the sentence went unsaid.

But Kongwen, who had spent many years with him, naturally understood his meaning at once.

Others might not know.

But as a top-tier power of the Great Ming, they understood perfectly well.

Back then, what vanished along with Zhang Cuishan was not merely the Mo Sect witch Yin Susu.

There was also the Golden-haired Lion King, one of the Four Fawang of the Ming Cult who had stirred up bloody storms across the Great Ming jianghu!

Thinking of the so-called supreme treasure of Wu Lin, the Heaven-Slaying Saber.

A glint of sharpness flashed involuntarily in Kongwen's eyes.

He deliberated in silence for a while.

Only then did he shake his head under Kongjian's expectant gaze.

"There's no need to rush."

"If this old monk remembers correctly, in a few days it will be the birthday celebration of that old Daoist Zhang Sanfeng."

"If we're going to make trouble, then let's make the whole affair even bigger!"

"Our Yunzhou Shaolin is the Taishan of the Great Ming jianghu — how could we possibly be ranked alongside a mere Wu Dang!"

At this point.

A trace of killing intent flashed across Kongwen's face and vanished in an instant.

"Pass down the order — secretly have someone spread the news of Zhang Cuishan and the Heaven-Slaying Saber to the Geda Sect."

"If possible, it's best to have them come to Yunzhou Shaolin!"

018-Lord Donghuang Taiyi Shocked and Fearful, Tie Muzhen Disdainful! (Begging for flowers, begging for tips)

Hearing these words.

Kongjian was slightly taken aback.

Then he nodded to show he understood.

Yet in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a faint chill of dread.