thefictionvixens Page 80
Page 80
The twelve men on the perimeter simultaneously lunged at Zhu Yuchen on the camel. Zhu Yuchen didn't even look at them. When the attack was about to hit them, a wall of energy appeared around him. The twelve men were struck as if by lightning, their bodies trembled, and they were sent flying back.
Ah Niu clasped his hands together, his fingertips radiating a shimmering white aura, as fine as silk threads, as he led three figures towards the two. Each phantom seemed both real and illusory, shifting between the two in an instant, unleashing countless claw strikes around them, each wrapped in a shimmering white aura like silkworm silk.
The two men, one in front of the other, resembled monsters with two sides and four heads, waving iron plates that made a strange "whooshing" sound as they clashed with Ah Niu's fingers, producing a series of clanging metallic sounds.
At this moment, Ah Niu changed his moves again, using three feints and one real one. One hand conjured nine hand shadows, which passed through the iron plate and grabbed the wrist of the woman in it. His energy was like gold, piercing through her in an instant.
The Nine Yin Divine Claws shifted between reality and illusion, creating numerous phantoms; the Golden Goose Skill circled like a goose, splitting into four distinct forms; instantly piercing through the defenses of the two, separating them at the first touch.
When Ah Niu retreated to Zhu Yuchen's side, he was already holding six iron plates in his hand.
The two attackers who had combined their powers made two gurgling sounds in their throats, five bloody holes appeared in their necks, and their tracheas hissed as they leaked air. They collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few times, and then died.
At this moment, twelve corpses were lying around the camel surrounding Zhu Yuchen.
The twelve people died in different ways: some smashed their own Adam's apples; some slapped their own foreheads; some had their chests caved in; some had their fingers stuck between their eyebrows; but they all died from their own attacks and were beyond dead!
"Young Master." Ah Niu held up the iron plaque in his hand and handed it to Zhu Yuchen.
Seeing that Zhu Yuchen had no further instructions, he then leaped after the scattered galloping horses and collected some of their water and food.
Zhu Yuchen examined the iron plate repeatedly. It was engraved with many Persian characters that he did not recognize, but he figured it must be the Ming Cult's Sacred Flame Token.
They casually tossed the iron plate into their baggage on the side of the camel's hump, and the master and servant rode away on their camel, leaving behind only a pile of corpses and the sound of camel bells under the scorching sun...
………………
On the desolate plains under the cover of night, at the edge of a puddle in a grove of trees, Zhu Yuchen sat cross-legged by a campfire, meditating while A Niu moved about, creating a series of afterimages.
A moment later, Ah Niu swayed and was already sitting by the campfire. He seemed to be deep in thought. He curled his right hand and grabbed with his claws. Although he only had five fingers, it seemed as if he had four more. He created many claw shadows that were unpredictable and could be both real and illusory.
"Young Master, this doesn't seem to be a move from the Nine Yin Divine Claw?" Ah Niu scratched his head, puzzled.
Zhu Yuchen kept his eyes closed and didn't even lift his head as he spoke...
"I have merely made slight modifications to the Spiral Nine Shadows lightness technique from the Nine Yin Manual, and it can also be applied to claw techniques."
"Martial arts are static, but people are dynamic. Various techniques and methods can be interconnected, and they all revolve around the changes of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Your current accumulation is still shallow, so read more scriptures. When you have enough accumulation in the future, you will naturally be able to interconnect techniques."
"After we get back, I will write down the essence of the Nine Yin Manual from memory. You must study it diligently from time to time. Don't just focus on the changes in the moves; try to understand the Taoist wisdom contained within it."
"If possible, try to find some rare copies of the Daoist Canon of Longevity to read. Even if you don't have any, read more Daoist scriptures and experience the Dao of Heaven and Earth within them."
A Niu nodded, considering whether he should go to Wudang to borrow some handwritten Taoist scriptures to read. The Western Regions were mostly Tantric Buddhism, and it wouldn't be easy to find Taoist classics.
Chapter 160 Yin Liuxia Arrives at the Door
Zhu Yuchen left home in the dead of winter and returned just before the Spring Festival. Although the Western Regions did not place much importance on these customs, both the Zhu and Wu families still adhered to the customs of the Central Plains.
When the master and servant returned, Zhu Wu Lianhuan Village, and even the nearby farms and towns, were preparing for the New Year.
That morning, Zhu Yuchen was in the courtyard looking through musical scores, his fingers occasionally plucking the strings. At this point, his martial arts had reached a dead end; he could only refine his Qi into spirit, a process that couldn't be rushed and had to proceed step by step. In his spare time, he would browse other classic texts, hoping to gain insights from them.
"Dong dong dong..."
Upon hearing the knock, Ah Niu, who was reading the Nine Yin Manual in the courtyard, got up and opened the gate, only to see the old steward standing awkwardly outside, holding a letter in his hand.
Seeing Ah Niu open the door, the old steward cupped his hands and smiled, handing over the letter, saying, "Ah Niu, a Taoist priest has come from Wudang Mountain, bringing a letter from Master Zhang. He is waiting in the front yard now."
Ah Niu took the letter; the envelope read "To my dear friend." He silently stepped aside, gesturing for the old steward to follow him in.
Reclining on the chair, Zhu Yuchen glanced at the seal on the letter, and casually asked as he opened it, "Who sent it?"
The old steward respectfully replied, "It is Yin Liuxia of Wudang! He said he was sent by Master Zhang to deliver a message to you, young master. Master is in the front hall with you and invites you to come and meet him."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhu Yuchen with envy, clearly understanding the significance of the matter.
Zhu Yuchen pulled out the letter, which contained only eight large characters: "Expel the Tartars and restore China." Zhu Yuchen smiled slightly, already understanding its meaning.
He sealed the letter and said, "Aniu, go and invite Sixth Hero Yin over here."
The old steward opened his mouth as if to speak, clearly wanting to take this opportunity to establish a relationship between the Zhu Family Village and the Wudang Sect. However, seeing Zhu Yuchen's cold gaze, he dared not say anything.
A moment later, A Niu led Yin Liting into the study in the courtyard. Zhu Yuchen held a pen and wrote a letter. After he finished writing, Yin Liting bowed and greeted him.
Zhu Yuchen invited him to sit down, pushed the letter and a wooden box towards him, and asked him to pass them on to Zhang Sanfeng. Only then did he ask, "How is Master Zhang? Is everything alright on Mount Wudang? Next year, when all the sects gather at Wudang, is it the right time?"
Yin Liting nodded and said...
“Master has always been well. After discussing the Dao with the senior, he went into seclusion for a period of time. He didn’t say the specifics, and we disciples don’t know either.”
“These days, with his master’s help, Wuji has made great progress in cultivating the Nine Yang Manual and has completely suppressed the cold poison in his body. He is just waiting for the Nine Yang Divine Skill to be fully mastered.”
"Moreover, this child is indeed intelligent, and he understands many martial arts principles very quickly. Whether it is my Wudang martial arts or the martial arts he learned from his adoptive father Xie Xun, he has already mastered them. His martial arts skills are already close to being on par with mine."
“A few days ago, my master went to Dadu in person. Unexpectedly, he actually found the person who injured my third brother at the Prince of Ruyang’s residence.”
"After using the Black Jade Bone-Mending Ointment, my third brother's health has greatly improved. Although he is not as good as before, he can walk slowly. Master said that with the Nine Yin Manual and the Yi Jing Bone-Forging Chapter sent by a senior, it is only a matter of time before my third brother recovers."
"Moreover, Master also made an unexpected gain by capturing Cheng Kun. He has already confessed to what happened back then and is just waiting for the Wudang Tournament to confront Shaolin."
"My second brother, fifth brother, and fifth sister-in-law will go out to sea after the New Year to welcome Xie Xun back, and then we will finally settle this grudge."
Zhu Yuchen nodded and recounted the whole story of his encounter with Wei Yixiao. He then tapped the wooden box and said…
“A while ago, Ah Niu and I went out and happened to meet the Holy Envoy of the Persian Ming Cult. We obtained a portion of the Holy Flame Tokens from them.”
"This box contains six Sacred Flame Tokens. The remaining six are still in the hands of the Persian Ming Cult. If there is an opportunity in the future, let Wuji figure out a way to obtain them himself."
"When the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength. Wuji is also blessed with great fortune. He has already met all the conditions to succeed as the sect leader. These six Sacred Flame Tokens can be considered as the heavens lending me their help."
"By now, the members of the Ming Cult should have seen Yang Dingtian's last words and will surely go to Wudang to welcome Xie Xun. At that time, as long as the Sacred Flame Token is presented, with the support of Xie Xun, Yin Tianzheng, Wei Yixiao, and others, it will be easy for Wuji to take over as the leader of the cult."
"When he returns to Bright Peak to take over as the leader, he can come here, and I will return the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to him."
"Next August, Ah Niu will lead three hundred iron cavalry through Sichuan to enter the pass and support Wudang. At that time, Wuji will have a great cause in hand and the support of a large army, so he can rightfully become the new leader of the sect."
Yin Liting nodded and said, "My master also intends to end the chaos as soon as possible and restore peace to the Central Plains. We, the people of Wudang, are deeply grateful for your actions."
Zhu Yuchen gestured for him not to stand on ceremony, as the New Year was approaching and he wouldn't keep him any longer. Yin Liting also wanted to return to Wudang as soon as possible to reunite with his fellow disciples, so he didn't stand on ceremony and set off for the Central Plains that very day.
After seeing Yin Liting off, Zhu Yuchen instructed A Niu to begin integrating the cavalry after the New Year, unearthing the wealth buried in the Kunlun Mountains, and preparing for the army to enter the pass.
The text then recounts the example of the establishment of the Doyan Three Tribes during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of Ming, concluding with…
"Most of these cavalrymen are Mongols and foreigners. You must keep them in check and prevent them from causing trouble after entering the Central Plains."
"As the ancients said, people fear authority but do not cherish virtue. You have nearly a year to reintegrate these cavalrymen and get them used to obeying orders."
"When the new dynasty is established, you will probably be granted a title of king outside your clan, stationed in the borderlands, and tasked with controlling the various tribes in the south and north of the Gobi Desert. Do a good job!"
A Niu scratched his head and chuckled foolishly. Then, at Zhu Yuchen's instruction, he went to contact the thirteen major bandit tribes of Mo Nan to prepare for military training after the New Year.
………………
After everyone else left, Zhu Yuchen's emotions were in turmoil, and he no longer had the heart to study the musical score or understand his state of mind.
He came into the courtyard and gently plucked the strings of the zither, producing a series of cold and lonely sounds.
The sound, carrying the loneliness and solitude of a stranger in a strange land, echoed throughout the courtyard. As the music began, the entire courtyard was enveloped in a desolate atmosphere.
Time passed, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became as cold and biting as the weather in the dead of winter. The plum blossoms in the corner of the wall danced with the sound of the zither, falling all over the courtyard.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Yuchen stopped, pressed down on the vibrating strings, and the tranquility of the courtyard returned, with only a trace of coolness lingering in the air.
Zhu Yuchen stood up, looked up at the sky, and his eyes gleamed...
"I've reached the limit of advancement in this realm, yet I see no sign of leaving. I wonder what the basis for this transmigration is?"
Since transmigrating to this world, Zhu Yuchen has been diligently cultivating, pursuing a higher realm.
However, he has now reached the pinnacle of this world and there is no way to go further, but he still has not found a way to leave this world.
Unfortunately, after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out, and the narration system didn't give any hints. Zhu Yuchen had no choice but to give up and go to his study to read and calm himself down.
After that, bursts of piano music often echoed in the courtyard, sometimes as cold as winter, sometimes as vibrant as spring and summer, and sometimes as gentle as a small bridge over a flowing stream.
The music was unpredictable, moving with the heart and changing with the celestial phenomena, until the beginning of the third year, when spring came and winter went, a clap of thunder sounded, spring thunder rumbled, and all things revived.
Amidst the thunder, Zhu Yuchen calmed his mind and entered into a deep meditation retreat.
Chapter 161 Achievement of the Primordial Spirit
After Zhu Yuchen entered a deep meditative state, A Niu was initially very worried, but unfortunately he did not understand Zhu Yuchen's level of meditation.
Three days later, Zhu Yuchen still showed no signs of waking up. A Niu could only try to forcibly wake him up, but found that he could not get within two feet of him at all. He would be repelled by a wall of energy, and the more he tried to get closer, the stronger the rebound became.
Zhu Yuchen was lost in thought, as if he had entered an unknowable realm. All the past events were like fleeting smoke, and his four lifetimes and all the past events played back before his eyes.
In the darkness, the ethereal lotus flower appeared in the sea of consciousness. The accumulated resources from four lifetimes transformed into provisions, and the vital energy, true energy, and divine consciousness merged into one, rushing into the depths of the sea of consciousness, promoting the continuous growth of the lotus flower.
Until the spring thunder revived and the lotus of the heart shone brightly, a drop of water, neither here nor there, born from nothingness, dripped from the sky above the sea of consciousness. With a "thud," the illusory lotus seed was nourished, the lotus flower collapsed and turned into nutrients, continuously shrinking inward, and finally turning into a slightly solidified point. From nothingness to reality, Zhu Yuchen awoke from the unknown.
Opening his eyes, Zhu Yuchen felt a slight weakness in his body. In a flash, he realized that more than three months had passed. He couldn't help but sigh. If he hadn't achieved Foundation Establishment and possessed an indestructible body, his physical strength would have been immense. He feared that this seclusion would have meant certain death.
[Having lived through one lifetime, you received guidance from a grandmaster of the Daoist sect and achieved mastery of spiritual refinement.]
[You sensed the opportunity of spring thunder bringing life to all things, encountered a stroke of luck, and comprehended the Way of the Yin Spirit. You have cultivated a wisp of the Yin Spirit (your Yin Spirit is newly born; please do not attempt any other unnecessary endeavors)]
He rose and pushed open the door. The bright July sun bathed the courtyard. Zhu Yuchen's divine sense was vast, encompassing everything within a fifty-mile radius…
"Busy and busy, I have gained a lot of martial arts skills. But an unexpected insight led me to take a crucial step."
"Although I still adhere to the Tao and believe in myself, all the past experiences are no longer illusions. Each one is a resource for my life. Once I have accumulated enough, I can step into a higher level and continue to move forward."
Zhu Yuchen's Dao heart was clear and transparent; countless thoughts flowed through his mind in an instant, and he inexplicably gained some insights...
"If one wishes to leave this realm, one still needs to fight Zhang Sanfeng. As for the timeframe, the new dynasty will have the full support."
"Huh? Could it be that they're waiting for Zhang Wuji to ascend the throne so that Wudang can accumulate enough fortune? This world isn't a world based on fortune, is it? Or is it that Wudang? Zhenwu? Has it been turned into a mythological world again?"
"Where did the narrator go? Why is there no hint about this? But it seems that as long as I can leave this world, I will surely achieve something in the next world."
Lost in thought, Zhu Yuchen looked up and saw a servant boy push open the courtyard gate. The moment their eyes met, the boy's face lit up with surprise: "Young Master, you're awake!"
Zhu Yuchen nodded, his voice slightly stiff from not speaking for a long time, and ordered, "Have someone prepare a meal!"
The servant nodded and immediately ran out the door with joy. Soon after, there was a commotion outside the courtyard, which quickly subsided.
After Zhu Yuchen finished his meal, the old steward noticed that he looked alright and couldn't help but marvel at his appearance. However, he didn't say much, only mentioning that A Niu had left a letter in the study before quietly leaving.
Zhu Yuchen read the letters. There was nothing major about them. Most of them were about the past of the cavalry. The last letter said that 25,000 cavalrymen had been united and that 500 cavalrymen had already entered Sichuan. Zhu Yuchen checked the time and it was three days ago.
………………
After that, Zhu Yuchen spent his time in the courtyard reading books, playing the zither, and occasionally flipping through the Qiankun Great Shift. Since he couldn't leave in the short term, there was no need to be in such a hurry.
More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Even though Zhu Yuchen didn't put in any effort, he had already read through the Great Shift of the Universe. With his Dao heart clear, he could find the answer to any question in countless scriptures and secret manuals in an instant.
[You read The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth]
[You have incorporated the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth into the "Great Dao Azure Lotus Chapter," making your internal energy cultivation method extremely complex and unpredictable, involving 365 acupoints throughout the body. Only a prodigy can cultivate it.]
[You have cultivated the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to the seventh level. Your potential has been further developed. You possess immense strength that is unmatched by ordinary people. Please use it with caution.]
[Your five senses are being further developed; you will see farther, hear more clearly, and be able to taste a wide variety of flavors, etc.]
With a thought, Zhu Yuchen's true energy moved at will, reaching every part of his body, and he could release and withdraw it at the slightest thought, making it slightly easier than before.
He casually picked up the paper cutter from the table, without using any force, just gripped it, and with a metallic scraping sound, the sharp knife was crushed into a lump of scrap metal in his palm, without leaving a single white mark on his hand.
"Not bad, you've already reached the level where even swords and blades can't hurt you. I wonder if you can swallow poison without getting hurt. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of hobby!" Zhu Yuchen casually tossed the scrap metal into the wastebasket.
At this point, Zhu Yuchen had reached the limit of his cultivation. His mind and body had reached the extremes of this world, while his true energy continued to increase relentlessly.
The honing of skills is based on the martial arts of the Swordsman, plus the accumulation of three lifetimes, with dozens of techniques including finger, palm, fist, claw, leg, sword, knife, hidden weapon, and lightness skill.
Thinking about it, Zhu Yuchen was speechless; he knew far too much.
………………
As August approached, the Wudang Tournament should have already begun, but Zhu Yuchen wasn't interested in it. All he had to do now was wait—wait for his battle with Zhang Sanfeng.
Seemingly aware of Zhu Yuchen's thoughts, on the fifteenth of August, the system's narration rained down like a storm...
Heroes from all over the land gathered at Wudang Mountain, but fearing that Master Zhang's sword could penetrate the capital, no one dared to draw their swords and cause trouble beneath the stone.
With Zhang Sanfeng's support, Xie Xun confronted Cheng Kun and his disciple. With Yang Dingtian's will as evidence, Cheng Kun had no way to deny his crimes and confessed to abducting his disciple's wife, plotting to murder Kong Jian, and seducing Yang Dingtian's wife, among other evil deeds.
The three Shaolin monks, unable to defend themselves and filled with rage, challenged Zhang Sanfeng to a duel at Wudang Mountain. However, Zhang Sanfeng broke their Vajra Subduing Demon Formation, crippling their martial arts.
Shaolin Temple admits it was manipulated by villains and announces its closure for a hundred years in front of all the heroes of the world.
[In the battle between Miejue and Yang Xiao at Wudang Mountain, Yang Xiao was severely injured by Miejue's Snow-Piercing Cloud Palm. At the critical moment, he was rescued by an unknown woman.]