A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 21 Return to the Land
News of the four major sects' defeats quickly spread throughout the martial arts world, and the news that Huashan Sect Leader Xianyu Tong was cultivating the "Golden Silkworm Gu Poison" could not be kept secret either. Huashan has recently become a pariah. However, what is most shocking is that Gu Xu, a third-generation disciple of Wudang, actually defeated Master Kongwen of Shaolin.

Some people doubted that the news was fake, but soon someone said that it came from the Eagle Sect. Although people had no good feelings towards the demonic sect, they believed that the Eagle Sect would not spread false information. Moreover, Yin Yewang had personally gone up the mountain to offer birthday greetings, which made it very credible. In the following days, more and more people began to believe that Shaolin Temple had actually closed its doors for a year.

Many minor sects originally followed Shaolin in supporting them, but now that Shaolin has closed its gates, these sects are in a very awkward situation. A year is not a long time, but if martial arts forces were to deal with them, it would be extremely easy. The martial arts world was in an uproar.

The clever sects sent someone to Wudang to apologize, hoping to be forgiven. Song Yuanqiao originally planned to let Gu Xu handle these matters, but Gu Xu went into seclusion to cultivate on the second day after the birthday banquet.

Inside the secret chamber, Gu Xu sat cross-legged, silently reciting the essential mantra of the "Pure Yang Profound Technique" in his mind. He gathered his qi and focused his mind, observing the vast emptiness within his body. The pure yang true qi within him gradually flourished and grew stronger. Previously, it resembled a river or lake, but now it had taken the form of a vast ocean, with the true qi continuously converging towards his dantian.

After a long while, Gu Xu opened his eyes, his pupils shining brightly, as if a light had suddenly appeared in the dim room.

"The Pure Yang Profound Skill is indeed extraordinary. The founder's learning is profound, combining the endurance of the Pure Yang Limitless Skill with the resilience of the Nine Yang Divine Skill. Even with my extremely high talent, I have only just begun to understand it."

That day, after Zhang Sanfeng took out the Pure Yang Profound Skill, he told Gu Xu that the requirements for cultivating this book were really too high. Comprehension, talent, perseverance and cultivation were all indispensable. At present, Gu Xu was the only one in Wudang who could cultivate this skill.

According to Zhang Sanfeng's conjecture, Song Yuanqiao and Yu Lianzhou might be able to learn some of it in the future, but their achievements would certainly be limited. However, Qing Shu and Wuji might have a chance.

“If the martial arts are too profound, there will be far fewer disciples to choose from. After you have figured it out, you might be able to create a simplified version and release it to lower the threshold,” Gu Xu thought for a moment and shook his head. He hadn’t even sorted things out yet, so he didn’t dare to make any changes.

A month later, Gu Xu emerged from the secret chamber, having achieved some success in the Pure Yang Profound Skill.

That day, after seeing his master, Gu Xu checked Wei Bi and Qing Shu's studies and was quite satisfied. He told them to continue their studies and then went to the Zixiao Palace, where Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Cuishan's family were waiting for him.

After Gu Xu took his seat, Song Yuanqiao said, "Gu Xu, your fifth uncle wants to entrust Wuji to your tutelage. Are you willing?"

Yesterday, after discussing it, Zhang Cuishan and his wife decided to let Zhang Wuji learn martial arts from Gu Xu. Their reasons were similar to those of Song Yuanqiao. Another reason was that in the future, when they were no longer around, with Gu Xu protecting him, no one would dare to threaten Zhang Wuji.

Gu Xu glanced at the three of them and said, "I also like Wuji very much. Since Uncle is willing to part with him, I will teach him well." Zhang Cuishan and his wife were overjoyed to hear Gu Xu's agreement.

"Uncle-Master, I have something to discuss with you." Gu Xu felt that Xie Xun's matter should be resolved as soon as possible to avoid any further complications in the future.

"what's up?"

"This disciple hopes that Fifth Uncle will reveal Xie Xun's whereabouts, and then we will send someone to secretly bring him back to Wudang." Gu Xu did not want to leave uncontrollable variables outside. It would be best for Xie Xun to retire in Wudang. In addition, there was the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Wumu Legacy inside, which he had already planned to deal with.

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanqiao glanced at Zhang Cuishan, who pondered for a moment before saying, "Nephew, your consideration is indeed thorough. It is ultimately inappropriate for my sworn brother to remain outside. Well then, my sworn brother is currently on Icefire Island, and I cannot move him lightly. Nephew, you can take my token to fetch him. Whether my sworn brother is willing to return or not, I cannot say for sure." Zhang Cuishan was worried that Xie Xun might not be willing to return, which would make things difficult.

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master, I have a way to bring the Lion King back." Gu Xu knew Xie Xun's weakness. Once he knew that Cheng Kun was in Shaolin, he would be eager to return to the Central Plains. The hatred of the massacre of his family was not so easy to let go of.

Seeing Gu Xu's confident demeanor, Zhang Cuishan was surprised and then said, "Since my nephew is confident, then I am at ease. Keep this bone needle safe. My sworn brother will understand once he touches it." Zhang Cuishan handed over a needle made of fish bone.

Gu Xu carefully put it away and said to Song Yuanqiao, "Uncle-Master, Wudang has become the focus of attention now. I think it's better to go openly and honestly to accept it than to do it secretly." Gu Xu wanted to use Wudang's power to suppress the disobedient. Once the dust settles, it will be impossible to overturn the case in the future.

A glint flashed in Song Yuanqiao's eyes, and he couldn't help but praise Gu Xu, "Just do it with confidence. Wudang's reputation is at its peak now, so when is a better time to use it?"

Zhang Cuishan was also shocked by Gu Xu's move, but he had to admit that it was a brilliant move.

After Song Yuanqiao gave him a few more instructions, Gu Xu left to prepare.

Three days later, Gu Xu arrived at the headquarters of the Sky Eagle Sect with more than a dozen people. After explaining his purpose, Yin Tianzheng immediately dispatched three large ships to accompany him north.

Gu Xu had no intention of concealing his whereabouts; the news was delivered to the heads of various sects in no time.

After receiving the news, Shaolin Temple remained unmoved, while the Kunlun, Huashan, and Kongtong sects also held their positions.

Meanwhile, the Emei Sect in Sichuan made a move. Abbess Miejue personally came to Wudang to see Zhang Sanfeng. After being a guest for half a month, she left. Some people speculated that it was about the marriage between Yin Liuxia of Wudang and Ji Xiaofu of Emei, but the reason was unknown to outsiders.

Under the deep starlight of the night, on the vast sea, Gu Xu stood at the bow of the ship. The boundless ocean made him feel his own insignificance, while the ever-shining stars and moon made him feel the passage of time.

"If I cannot transcend this, I will be nothing more than a handful of dust a hundred years from now. Will the pinnacle of martial arts break down the barriers of this world and allow me to leave?"

Gu Xu sat cross-legged, enjoying the sea breeze, the bright moonlight, and the sound of the waves. His mind was completely at peace, and the Pure Yang Profound Skill circulated continuously within his body. The dark scene around him suddenly turned into a dazzling white, and the strange phenomenon disappeared after a long time.

Following Zhang Cuishan's directions, after sailing for more than ten days, they were astonished to see a snow-covered volcanic island that was spewing lava, with black ash falling from the sky, weaving a black and white scroll.

Ice and Fire Island, we've arrived!

Gu Xu ordered his men to find a safe place to dock, and then led them into the island. After walking for about half an hour, a cave came into view. Xie Xun, who was inside the cave, heard that there were people outside. He immediately picked up the Dragon Slayer Saber and went out of the cave. Although he was blind, he was still as imposing as ever.

Seeing Xie Xun appear, Gu Xu felt reassured and immediately announced loudly, "Gu Xu of Wudang Sect, entrusted by my Fifth Uncle, has come to bring back Senior Xie. The token is here." Gu Xu then threw out the bone needle. Upon hearing this, Xie Xun reached out and caught it, touching it to confirm that what the visitor said was true; it was indeed a bone needle he had made himself. However, he said, "Young hero of Wudang, please tell my sworn brother that I am not going back. I plan to live out my days here and take good care of my son, Wuji. That is enough."

Xie Xun was deeply moved by Zhang Cuishan's actions, but he couldn't put him in a difficult position. He had killed countless people from the six major sects, and if he really returned to Wudang, he didn't know how much trouble he would cause. He could only disappoint Zhang Cuishan's good intentions.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xu told the others to keep their distance, while he slowly stepped forward. Seeing that Xie Xun had already raised the Dragon-Slaying Saber, Gu Xu stood a zhang away from him and said, "Senior Xie, your enemy Cheng Kun is currently at Shaolin. Don't you want to take revenge?"

As soon as the name Cheng Kun was uttered, Xie Xun's expression changed drastically. He then sighed and said, "What does it matter if Cheng Kun is in Shaolin? Now that I am blind and owe Master Kongjian my life, what can I do?"

Xie Xun hated Cheng Kun to the core, wishing he could devour his flesh alive. But life is unpredictable, and his blind revenge led to the bitter consequences he suffered today. This can be described as cause and effect, and the justice of Heaven is clear.

"Senior, why be discouraged? It's not difficult for you to take revenge, but I need your cooperation. Would you be willing to listen?"

"You're quite interesting, young man. Tell me about it," Xie Xun said. He didn't care what Gu Xu was plotting. As long as he could get revenge, he was willing to pay any price. He knew that killing Cheng Kun was impossible on his own, a fact Xie Xun only realized after killing Master Kongjian.

"Senior must return to Wudang Mountain with me. Then Wudang will send out invitations to all sects to resolve the murderous crimes you committed and decide the ownership of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Cheng Kun also wants to kill you, so he will definitely appear. You should seize the opportunity to take revenge. If he doesn't appear, I will capture him myself and hand him over to you. What do you think, Senior?" Gu Xu explained the plan in general terms, believing that Xie Xun should understand.

"The Wudang disciples are indeed extraordinary. No wonder they have such a big mouth. Boy, you've really persuaded me. I'll go with you on this trip." Xie Xun used his hearing to judge Gu Xu's skill. Gu Xu spoke through sound transmission, his energy was long and his internal energy was stable, revealing his extraordinary skill. This boy sounded like he was only twenty years old, yet he was more powerful than Xie Xun. Xie Xun couldn't help but sigh. The martial world is truly a place where new people replace the old, and the new waves push the old ones forward.

"Senior is very generous. I am just following the trend. In fact, what Wudang needs most is the Dragon-Slaying Saber in your hands, Senior." Gu Xu knew that Xie Xun had seen through his scheme, but he did not say it out loud.

"The Dragon-Slaying Saber is just a weapon. Does Wudang lack such a thing?" Xie Xun had some goodwill towards Wudang. Among the six major sects, only Wudang could catch his eye.

"Senior, have you ever heard the saying, 'The supreme weapon of the martial world is the Dragon-Slaying Saber, which commands the world and none dare disobey. Without the Heaven-Reliant Sword, who can contend with it?' If the Dragon-Slaying Saber is merely a weapon, how can it command the world? There is a reason behind this," Gu Xu said, not wanting to deceive Xie Xun, revealing the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xun asked in confusion, "What's the reason?" He had never parted with the treasured sword since he acquired it, and he was very familiar with it. He never expected that there were secrets about it that he didn't know.

"Senior, you may not know this, but the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword were forged by the great hero Guo Jing and the heroine Huang Rong at the end of the Song Dynasty. The Dragon-Slaying Saber contains the 'Martial Arts Manual of Yue Fei,' while the Heaven-Reliant Sword contains the 'Nine Yin Manual.' Before the fall of Xiangyang, Guo Jing and his wife entrusted these two weapons to their son Guo Polu and daughter Guo Xiang, hoping that their descendants could obtain these two treasures, drive out the Tartars, and restore the Han people's land. After the fall of Xiangyang, Guo Jing sacrificed himself for his country. Guo Polu also died on the battlefield. The Dragon-Slaying Saber changed hands several times before finally falling into your hands, senior. The heroine Guo Xiang founded the Emei Sect, and the Heaven-Reliant Sword became the sect's treasure."

After listening to Gu Xu's words, Xie Xun remained silent for a long time. He had never expected that these two weapons contained such a secret. If it were to spread, not only would the martial arts world be uneasy, but even the imperial court would definitely be restless and would try to seize them.

"Boy, you really dare to talk to me like that. Aren't you afraid I won't hand over the Dragon-Slaying Saber to you?" Xie Xun had already decided to hand over the Dragon-Slaying Saber, not for any other reason than for the "Wumu's Legacy." With it, the Ming Cult would be more confident in overthrowing the rule of the Tartars.

“Senior is not the kind of person who would abandon righteousness for profit. After all, you are the Dharma King of the Ming Cult. You would agree for the sake of the Ming Cult. Wudang does not have the ability to overthrow the imperial court. This difficult task should be left to the Ming Cult.”

Gu Xu also planned to strengthen Wudang. He couldn't afford to charge head-on and deplete their strength. The Ming Cult would take over the main battlefield, with Wudang only providing assistance from the sidelines. Giving the Wumu Legacy to the Ming Cult would be most appropriate. What was truly valuable to the martial arts world was the "Nine Yin Manual".

Upon hearing this, Xie Xun couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "You rascal... Let's go. The sooner we resolve this, the better. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Time really flies."

Gu Xu found a tree branch and placed it in Xie Xun's hand. He called to the others and led them to the shore. After quickly boarding the ship, they immediately headed south. Before long, the outline of Icefire Island became smaller and smaller in everyone's eyes and finally disappeared.

The ship was traveling against the wind to the north, but now it was sailing with the wind. It had been a few days less than when it came, and the dock was already in sight in the distance.

Gu Xu, who was cultivating in his cabin, heard a knock on the door and a voice said, "Senior brother, we'll be at the dock in a quarter of an hour."

"Understood. Inform your junior brothers to prepare to disembark," Gu Xu said, getting up and pushing open the cabin door. He gave Guo Yang a few instructions, and the latter left to give further orders.

Gu Xu arrived at the nearby cabin, knocked on the door, and said inside, "Senior, we're almost there. Are you alright?" Xie Xun suddenly went mad a few days after boarding the ship, which really frightened many people. Fortunately, Gu Xu intervened and managed to suppress him. He also fed him a few Nourishing Spirit Pills, and his condition improved.

Xie Xun opened the hatch and replied, "I'm much better now, and I have to thank you for the pills."

"It's good that you're alright, senior." Gu Xu led him to the deck. Although Xie Xun couldn't see, he could feel a sense of familiarity. It was the place he had left ten years ago.

After the boat docked, there were people waiting on the shore. After having a meal, Gu Xu asked Xie Xun if he wanted to see Yin Tianzheng. Xie Xun hesitated for a while, but shook his head.

Gu Xu said no more and personally bid farewell to Yin Tianzheng. The latter remained silent about Xie Xun's reluctance to see him, but simply had some daily necessities prepared before leaving with his hands behind his back.

After resting, Gu Xu and his group drove or rode horses back to Wudang. Gu Xu did not intend to conceal Xie Xun's whereabouts, and some people quickly found out the accurate information: Xie Xun had been taken back to the mountain by Gu Xu of Wudang.

This time, some people in Shaolin could no longer sit still. Cheng Kun persuaded the three senior uncles of the Du generation to avenge their master, Master Kongjian, and to rid the martial arts world of this scourge. In addition, they wanted to restore Shaolin's prestige. Master Kongwen initially disagreed, but everyone in the temple was very disappointed by his defeat to Wudang. Overnight, he lost power and elected Kongru to take charge of the situation.

Meanwhile, the various sects of Kunlun, Huashan, and Kongtong were also undecided. Just then, an invitation from Wudang arrived on the mountain, inviting all sects to come to Wudang to discuss how to resolve the matter of Xie Xun.

Suddenly, the martial arts world turned its attention to Wudang Mountain, which was already fully prepared.

(End of this chapter)