After fifteen years of cultivation, he finally reached the pinnacle of the first rank!

Chapter 311 Taoist Priest and Buddhist Monk

"We're in a hurry to get out of the city, let's hurry on our way."

After leaving the mansion, Song Xingwei called out to the coachman in front of the gate and then slipped into the carriage.

The coachman agreed and immediately cracked his whip to urge the carriage away quickly. Soon, they entered a wide street bustling with people.

But just then, a sudden gust of wind blew by.

Song Xingwei, inside the carriage, suddenly looked up at a burly middle-aged man sitting opposite her.

"Master Zhu, didn't you say that once you've seen the ocean, you can't be satisfied with a river, and you won't go outside the city?"

"What? Changed your mind?"

Song Xingwei frowned, looking at the suddenly arriving Zhu Wuming with a face full of doubt.

Zhu Wuming's expression shifted for a moment, but he was naturally too embarrassed to mention that he had knelt down to a tuft of cat hair.

If this matter gets out, how will he, the dignified head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, ever face anyone again? How will he hold his head high in front of his subordinates?
"Well... I suddenly realized that what I'm doing isn't that important, so I'll accompany Miss Xingwei. After all, such a duel between experts is indeed rare."

Zhu Wuming coughed lightly in reply, and a look of suspicion flashed across Song Xingwei's face:
"Is it true? Let me make it clear beforehand, I didn't force you to come with me."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuming nodded, suppressing the lingering effects of the martial arts intent left by Li Musheng, and then looked at Song Xingwei in front of him.

"Miss Xingwei, I heard you say before that the Eighth Prince of Dali seems to be the sworn brother of one of your good sisters?"

Zhu Wuming asked curiously, and upon hearing this, Song Xingwei waved her hand and said:

"Of course, my relationship with my sister is stronger than gold, and she has told me almost everything about her sworn brother."

As she spoke, Song Xingwei immediately became wary, looking at Zhu Wuming with suspicion, and said:
Why are you suddenly asking this? Do you have some ulterior motive?

Zhu Wuming shook his head repeatedly and said:
“Miss Xingwei misunderstands. I just thought that since you have such a relationship with that Eighth Prince, perhaps Miss Xingwei could act as a go-between to turn hostility between the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion of Dali and him.”

Upon hearing this, Song Xingwei's expression softened, but she said nonchalantly:

"So that's what it was. Don't worry, my good friend said that her sworn brother didn't take such a small matter to heart."

"It seems she's single-mindedly looking for some strange and unusual things. If the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion can help her sworn brother with this, this matter should be over."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuming breathed a slight sigh of relief.

This confirms that his previous idea was correct, but this matter is not actually what he cares about most right now.

His biggest question right now is what level of martial arts cultivation the Eighth Prince of Dali has reached.
Judging from the fact that the opponent single-handedly reversed the defeat of Tianjin Guard and personally destroyed Luoshen Peak, the opponent has undoubtedly stood among the top masters in the martial arts world.

Previously, there were even rumors in the martial arts world that the opponent's martial arts cultivation was comparable to that of a martial god.

Although Zhu Wuming was unsure whether there was truly a gap between Li Musheng and the God of War, based on his personal experience of facing the true essence of the other's martial arts just now...

He was certain that the Eighth Prince of Dali's martial arts cultivation had reached an extremely terrifying level, far exceeding his previous understanding of him.

This is why he disregarded his own affairs and went to the outskirts of the capital of the Great Li Dynasty in person.

Because he wanted to see the other party make a move with his own eyes.

Perhaps this is a duel no less powerful than any of the martial gods he has ever seen before.

……

About three miles outside Shangyang City, there is a hundred-foot cliff, known as Luoyang Cliff.

It is said that the cliff face of Luoyangbi is so smooth that it resembles a mirror, and it faces west, reflecting the sunset and clouds like a lake. This is how Luoyangbi got its name.

Although many scholars, literati, and travelers usually come to this cliff to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the number of people today is exceptionally large.

Almost every martial artist who heard the news of the duel between the Hidden Killing Pavilion and the Eighth Prince of Dali rushed over here.

The nobles and wealthy families in the city also drove out their magnificent carriages and stopped near Luoyangbi. Their purpose was self-evident.

"It's so lively!"

Inside the Huo family's carriage, Huo Xiaoyi and Huo Xiaoqing peered out the window, both appearing extremely excited.

Meanwhile, Huo Mu, sitting next to him, kept scanning the crowd and the summit of Luoyangbi Mountain, seemingly searching for a figure he desperately wanted to see.

"You all better behave yourselves today and don't run around, or I'll throw you all back into the manor right now."

Huo Qifeng, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the carriage, opened them and gave his grandchildren a fright.

Upon hearing this, Huo Xiaoyi and Huo Xiaoqing immediately composed themselves, stopped talking, and sat up straight in their seats properly.

"That's more like it."

Huo Qifeng nodded, then turned to Huo Shan, who was driving the carriage outside:

"Be extra careful, watch out for the Dugu family."

Huo Shan immediately nodded and drove the carriage to stop at a place a little away from Luoyang Wall.

"There are already people here."

However, at this moment, a childish voice suddenly rang in Huo Shan's ears.

Huo Shan immediately looked over upon hearing the voice and saw a young Taoist boy dressed in an indigo robe standing at the feet of a tall horse, looking up at Huo Shan, who was sitting in the coachman's seat, and speaking.

Huo Shan's expression faltered slightly, then he looked around and frowned, saying:
"There are people around here..."

However, he suddenly stopped before he could finish speaking.

Suddenly, a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk appeared out of nowhere, standing less than three feet in front of the carriage.

Between the two, there was even a blue stone chessboard, and the two seemed to be playing a game of chess.

Upon seeing this, Huo Shan's expression changed.

He was certainly not a reckless person; the strange appearance of the Taoist priest and the monk before him had completely failed to alert him.

He knew in his heart that these two people were not to be underestimated, so he didn't say anything more and drove the carriage to the side and stopped it temporarily.

"Uncle Three."

Huo Shan called out to the carriage, and Huo Qifeng lifted the curtain. Seeing Huo Shan's signal, his gaze fell on the Taoist priest and the monk not far away.

The Taoist priest had his hair tied up with a jade hairpin, wore a simple blue Taoist robe, and had a goatee on his chin. He was sitting on the ground, stroking his beard and staring at the black and white chessboard in front of him, lost in thought, as if he was seriously considering the situation of the game.

Opposite the Taoist priest was a bald monk wearing a yellow robe, his clothes covered in dust, with a string of black prayer beads the size of a baby's fist hanging around his neck.

"Fellow Daoist, stop thinking about it. You've been pondering this move for half a day. When will it be my turn to make the next move?" The bald monk had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his face was full of bitterness.

He kept glancing at the chessboard in front of him and then at the Taoist priest opposite him, appearing somewhat anxious and impatient.

"Don't talk, it'll be done soon."

The Taoist priest in the green robe waved his hand, picked up a chess piece from the side of the chessboard as if to place it, but stopped abruptly halfway, clearly still not having thought it through.

At this moment, the blue-robed Taoist boy quickly took out a teapot from his robes and handed it to the pensive green-robed Taoist, saying:

"Master, just one more sip of Enlightenment Tea, and I'll be able to defeat this bald monk immediately."

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest in the green robe casually waved his hand, and the teapot in the boy's hand instantly reached his lips.

After taking a few big sips, he felt refreshed, glanced at the chessboard in front of him, but didn't make a move. Instead, he looked at the monk opposite him and said:
"We have already arrived at the capital of Dali. You must have been passing through to visit the Second Prince, but as far as I know, he is already dead."

Upon hearing this, the bald monk uttered a Buddhist chant and nodded slightly.
"What you say is true, fellow Daoist. This humble monk naturally knows that Benefactor Li Que has already gone to the Pure Land."

“But since Benefactor Li Que treated this humble monk with courtesy, it is only right that this humble monk should pay respects here on his way back to the temple.”

The Taoist priest in the green robe narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand still hesitant, and said:

"Is it really just a memorial service? I thought you had come back to avenge that prince or to reclaim the key you gave him."

However, the bald monk shook his head and said:

"The birth and death of all things are due to the cycle of cause and effect. It was destined that Benefactor Li Que would suffer this calamity. This is not something that this humble monk can interfere with or mess with the cause and effect."

"As for that key, like you, I am still considering whether or not to return it to its rightful owner."

As he spoke, the bald monk glanced towards the direction of the setting sun wall. Seeing that nothing had happened there, he continued to urge them on:

"If you don't dare to play, fellow Daoist, why don't you admit defeat to this humble monk?"

Upon hearing this, the blue-robed young Taoist priest beside him immediately changed his expression and hurriedly said:

"I don't want to be a monk!"

As he spoke, he tugged at the hem of the green-robed Taoist's robe and said:
"Master, you must hold on! Don't let me really lose to this bald monk!"

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest in the green robe patted the young Taoist's hand and said confidently:

"Don't worry, my disciple. My chess skills are superb, and dealing with this old monk will be a piece of cake."

The bald monk opposite him clasped his hands together, looked at the blue-robed Taoist boy with a kind gaze, and said in a gentle voice:

“Young friend, you are destined to enter the Buddhist order and practice the supreme esoteric Buddhist teachings. In the future, you may attain the status of Vajra Arhat Bodhisattva.”

The blue-robed Taoist boy shuddered at the monk's gaze and immediately hid behind the green-robed Taoist.

At this moment, the Taoist priest in the green robe hesitated, fiddling with the chess piece in his hand. Seeing that the bald monk opposite him seemed about to urge him again, he waved his hand and said:

"Don't rush, I will definitely make my move before this duel ends."

Upon hearing this, the bald monk uttered a Buddhist chant, then could only squat on the ground and shake his head helplessly.

At the same time, Huo Shan and Huo Qifeng, who were not far away, exchanged a glance and used their martial arts true energy to transmit their voices, asking:
"Does Third Uncle know the origins of these two men?"

Huo Qifeng's gaze swept back and forth between the Taoist priest and the Buddhist monk, then he frowned and said:

"If I'm not mistaken, that monk seems to be from Hanguang Temple, the number one Buddhist temple in the Great Chu. Judging from his appearance, he should be the wandering monk Shenshu from Hanguang Temple, who is extremely famous in the martial arts world."

"As for that Taoist priest, I seem to have some impression of him, but I can't recall his name for the moment."

Huo Shan glanced at the two men and asked:

"How strong are these two in the martial arts world? I can't see through them at all."

Upon hearing this, Huo Qifeng chuckled and said:
"How could you possibly see through them? Even I can't see through them."

As he spoke, Huo Qifeng looked at the bald monk and said:
"Take Shen Shu for example. It is said that when he was at Han Guang Temple, he was the monk who was most likely to become the abbot of the temple. He was not only extraordinary in martial arts but also profound in Buddhist teachings. However, he ruined his reputation because of a woman."

"Even so, Han Guang Temple did not expel him from the temple. Instead, it allowed him to roam freely inside and outside the temple, which is unique in the entire Han Guang Temple. This shows that his cultivation level is amazing, and that even the number one national temple of the Great Chu made an exception for him."

Huo Shan was immediately alarmed and dared not underestimate the bald monk and the Taoist priest opposite him.

But soon, he frowned again.

When the monk Shenshu and the Taoist in green robes were talking, they weren't hiding from anyone, so he naturally heard them. Therefore, he asked Huo Qifeng:

“The monk Shenshu of Hanguang Temple seems to have a connection with the Second Prince Li Que. I wonder if he will make a move against His Highness? Should we go and warn him?”

Upon hearing this, Huo Qifeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"Don't worry, His Highness is much more powerful than you think. Besides, this is the capital of the Great Li Dynasty. That monk Shenshu shouldn't act recklessly."

"Of course, we can also stay here and keep an eye on things, and act accordingly if anything unusual happens."

As he spoke, Huo Qifeng shifted his gaze to the Taoist priest and the monk who were still playing chess not far away.

……

Meanwhile, a carriage, amidst a throng of vehicles traveling from the city outwards, finally stopped at a hilltop near Luoyangbi.

"It seems we're too late. The road ahead is completely blocked, and carriages can't get through at all."

Disguised, Li Yuanling looked ahead at the carriage and saw a bustling scene of horses and people, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Sister, I have to say, you're being way too low-key. You even dressed up like this specifically to go out."

Li Musheng glanced at Li Yuanling. When they left, she told him that he was now a big shot in the city, with spies and informants everywhere, and that they should try to disguise themselves as much as possible.

But when he arrived outside the city, he saw that the entire capital city seemed to have crowded here, clearly indicating that the news of his fight with the Hidden Killing Pavilion had spread like wildfire.

Who can stay low-key now?

"Alright, you guys stay here for a bit, I'll be right back."

Li Musheng waved his hand, saying that it was something that could be resolved in a minute, so why bother with all this trouble?

At this moment, the big black cat in the carriage saw that Li Musheng was about to leave, and immediately meowed, asking him to take it with him to show off.

In its view, if Li Musheng were to show his face with it this time, wouldn't it become famous throughout the martial arts world in such a grand scene?
At that time, people in the Divine Church will surely hear of its great name and worship it with great reverence, making it even more glorious than that other religion.

(End of this chapter)