Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 545 Awakening from the Great Dream
That night, following Yelü Jun's instructions, Xiao Feng found the prefect's hidden account book, easily stole it, and handed it over to Yelü Jun.

Yelü Jun was overjoyed and returned to the capital of the Liao Dynasty that very night, personally handing the document over to his father, Yelü Hongji. Although Yelü Hongji was muddle-headed, he still knew right from wrong. After reading it, he was furious and ordered severe punishment.

Yelü Jun originally intended to take this opportunity to uproot the treacherous minister Yelü Yixin, who had brought disaster to the country. However, Yelü Hongji was deceived by the sweet words of this treacherous minister Yelü Yixin, and the matter was raised high but then easily dismissed.

Xiao Feng and Yelü Jun became acquainted because of this incident. Afterwards, Yelü Jun tried his best to persuade Xiao Feng to stay and recruit him, but Xiao Feng was unwilling to stay. Instead, he took his child and headed north to settle in a Jurchen tribe and raised the child.

Later, by chance, the child grew up and joined Yelü Jun's Crown Prince Guard, serving under him. However, this good fortune did not last long. As the Crown Prince's power grew, the incompetent ruler Yelü Hongji gradually became wary. Finally, under the instigation of the treacherous minister Yelü Yixin, he suspected that Empress Xiao Guanyin was having an affair and ordered her execution.

Yelü Jun, in an attempt to rescue his mother, vehemently pleaded with his father, the Emperor, but was imprisoned. News of the mutiny leaked, shocking the court and the public. A group of Imperial Guards officers and palace guards supporting the Crown Prince launched a rebellion, attempting to rescue him and force Yelü Hongji to abdicate. However, the news was also leaked, and a large army converged on the capital. The rebels and the troops sent to quell the rebellion fought for three days and three nights, resulting in rivers of blood. Xiao Feng, protecting the child, also perished in the chaos.

I slept for three thousand years, unaware of my own dream within the dream.

A cold wind blew by, and Xiao Feng slowly awoke. On the edge of the cliff, Tong Lao's red dress fluttered in the wind, faint and indistinct, like a distant song.

Xiao Feng suddenly stood up, astonished, and asked, "Am I awake, or am I still dreaming?"

The old woman didn't turn around, and said calmly, "What is a dream, and what is waking up?"

Xiao Feng remained silent for a long time, then finally asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

The old woman said, "Half a day has passed. In all these years, you are the first person to wake up so quickly."

Xiao Feng had roughly guessed what was going on and exclaimed in surprise, "I experienced two whole lifetimes of joy and sorrow in my dream, but only half a day has passed in reality?"

The old woman smiled faintly, "Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, but did he dream he became a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream it was Zhuangzi? Your internal energy comes from Shaolin, so you've certainly heard the saying 'One flower, one world; one leaf, one Bodhi.' Even a mustard seed contains thirty-three layers of Sumeru worlds. Some people live a lifetime, seemingly spanning several decades, but in reality, they merely repeat the same things every day. What difference is there between them and plants? Some people live a short life, yet experience ups and downs that others cannot witness in several lifetimes. As the saying goes, life's span is subject to change, and everything eventually comes to an end. What essential difference is there between the length of time?"

"Senior, why did I have such a dream?"

"What you think about during the day, you dream about at night; even ordinary people are like this, let alone someone with such deep thoughts. Naturally, under the guidance of this Taoist dream-inducing technique, you will enter your deepest dream realm. As for what you see in your dream, that depends on what your deepest thoughts are." "Although Shaolin martial arts originated from the Chan (Zen) school, after being introduced to China at the end of the Han Dynasty, they have long since merged with Confucianism and Taoism in the Central Plains, becoming intertwined. Since you were able to awaken from the Taoist dream-inducing technique so quickly, it means that the inner demons in your heart have been broken. Now it depends on your own destiny. Follow me!"

Xiao Feng used his lightness skill to follow Tong Lao over many mountains, finally arriving at a mountain peak that pierced the clouds.

The old woman reached out and patted a rock twice, and a stone gate embedded in the mountain slowly opened. She strode in, and Xiao Feng followed.

The stone chamber was quite spacious, with the surrounding rock walls polished smooth. The walls were covered with countless circles, each about a foot in diameter, each containing various figures: some human figures, some animal shapes, some incomplete characters, and some just marks and lines. Various numbers were marked next to the circles. The total number of circles was nearly a thousand, making it dazzling and impossible to see them all at a glance.
Xiao Feng glanced over, his shock growing stronger: "This, this, how can there be so many profound martial arts techniques?"

Xiao Feng stared in shock at the two martial arts techniques, "A1" and "A2." He was immediately awestruck – the outermost two moves alone were already as profound and exquisite as the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. It should be noted that the Beggar Clan's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were refined and perfected by generations of leaders, and were renowned as the number one palm technique in the world. Yet, the outermost moves of this stone wall martial art were already comparable to the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

The old woman seemed to sense something and, without turning around, said, "Those are the two starting stances of the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand. Although the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand can incorporate all the martial arts in the world, it is useless to you now and is not suitable for you. Don't waste your time."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng sighed inwardly, "I originally thought that Shaolin and the Beggars' Sect were the pinnacle of the martial arts world, holding the reins of power. But now it seems they were like frogs in a well, making a fool of themselves. The exquisite nature of the Stone Wall martial arts is simply unbelievable. The monk Xuanci's belief that the Liao warriors who marched south to seize Shaolin's martial arts is truly a case of needless worry. Any single technique from the Stone Wall martial arts far surpasses the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin. Even with such profound martial arts, Lingjiu Palace hasn't unified the world, nor has it been detrimental to the Song or Liao dynasties."

Tong Lao deliberately led Xiao Feng through the long corridor. As they walked along, she saw that Xiao Feng's expression was normal and he showed no discomfort. She couldn't help but secretly admire him: "This young man is so young, but he has a pretty good foundation in martial arts."

The old woman said, "You can look at the martial arts techniques on these stone walls yourself. You can practice them as you please within three days. But let me remind you first, don't try to do too much at once. Only what suits you is the best."

"Grandma is ninety-nine years old this year. Since she stepped into this stone chamber at the age of twenty-six, she has spent a month in the stone chamber every year studying the martial arts here. Now, seventy years have passed, and she has only thoroughly studied thirty percent of the martial arts in this stone chamber. Don't mislead yourself."

The old woman reminded her.

The shock in Xiao Feng's eyes was beyond measure: "This stone wall martial art was not created by you, senior?"

The old woman smiled helplessly: "This stone wall martial arts technique can probably only be created by the gods in heaven. Back then, the founder of our sect discovered this ruin and built Lingjiu Palace on this basis. As for the origin of this stone wall, even our sect's founder had no way of knowing."