Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 104 The Celestial Master's Instruction on the Book of Immortality (Thanks to the patron saint, Sword in Green Robe!)
As the two greeted each other, the old scholar flicked his wide sleeves and went straight into the house.

Tian Wen and Shi Long are close friends. Just now, in front of Zhou Yi, he was still concerned about Shi Long's safety.

When he saw Shi Long, he seemed to be angry and didn't give him a friendly look.

"Hey, Brother Tian!"

Shi Long apologized to Zhou Yi and asked him to enter the gate before hurrying off to catch up with the old scholar.

Zhou Yi closed the door casually, and caught a faint smell of blood.

It seems someone has finally found Shilong.

He strode forward to chase after the two people ahead.

"Brother Tian, ​​it's all my fault that you can't go home."

“I’m fine,” Tian Wen said sadly, “but some of my friends have been arrested by the Yangzhou authorities. If Chief Steward Yuchi doesn’t capture you, none of them will have any peace.”

Shi Long was filled with shame and punched his chest twice with a dull thud.

He cultivated both internal and external martial arts skills, and even with his "Mountain-Pushing Strength" from ten years ago, he could be considered a first-rate figure in the martial arts world.

In addition, he was naturally fond of Taoism, remained single and unmarried, and devoted himself to martial arts for several years without ever leaving his home. If he had focused on practicing his own methods, his skills would not be what they are today.

Seeing the regret on his face, Zhou Yi stood indifferently to the side, listening quietly to the two talking.

Tian Wen stopped putting on a cold face and patted his arm: "Have you thought of a way to break this deadlock?"

“I have a way,” Shi Long said.

Zhou Yi listened more carefully, but Tian Wen cautiously pressed, "Tell me what method you have, and I'll give you some advice."

"It's not poetry, prose, or music; saying it would only annoy your ears, and besides, it's already spilled water."

Shi Long knew his preferences all too well.

Tian Wen took a deep breath: "I just hope you can be more careful, otherwise we'll never have another chance to have tea together."

Let me introduce it to you again.

After passing through the moon gate of the mansion, Tian Wen gestured to Zhou Yi, who was looking at an ancient well in the courtyard.

"This is a friend of Brother Bai Qiming from the martial arts world. Don't let his young age fool you; his martial arts skills far surpass yours."

Shi Long's eyes swept over Zhou Yi.

"No wonder I couldn't fathom his true strength. For the past ten years, I've lived in a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, and apart from matters of the Taoist sect, I've paid no attention to any other worldly affairs."

He was somewhat curious: "I wonder who Brother Zhou is?"

Zhou Yi slowly began to speak:
"I come from Nanyang, a country hermit. I am not a talented person. I occasionally farm, occasionally fish, occasionally study the classics, and occasionally practice Taoist meditation."

When Tian Wen recounted Zhou Yi's martial arts skills, Shi Long remained largely unmoved.

But upon hearing Zhou Yi's words, his expression changed instantly.

The gaze shifted from looking at a "passerby" to looking at a "fellow Daoist".

Shi Long asked again, "Brother Zhou, which classics do you study?"

Zhou Yi smiled faintly: "The teachings of Huang-Lao, the great achievements of Huainan."

Upon hearing this, Shi Long's expression changed several times.

He was naturally inclined towards Taoism, which is why he became so engrossed in the "Longevity Manual" that he could not extricate himself from it.

What Zhou Yi said was a classic, and it struck right at the core of his Daoist heart.

The "Secret of Longevity," a Taoist classic of unfathomable mystery, is said to have been passed down orally through generations and originated from Guangchengzi, the teacher of the ancient Yellow Emperor.

There is a natural affinity between the teachings of Huang-Lao and the Daoist school.

Huainan Honglie is involved with the "Secret Book of Hongbao Garden in the Pillow," which is also a mysterious immortal classic.

Its artistic conception is probably no less wonderful than the Longevity Formula.

Shi Long was a mere warrior, but he spent a long time deducing the oracle bone script in the Longevity Formula with great Confucian scholars, poets, and ancient scholars, and thus he also acquired a literary air.

At this moment, with a flick of his sleeve, he bowed and led Zhou Yi into the main hall of the central courtyard: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, please!"

This statement was quite serious.

Tian Wen, who was standing to the side, took it as a matter of course and pulled Zhou Yi, who was about to bow, into the low couch in the hall.

Shi Long invited him to sit down, moved the cups and plates off the wooden table, and rushed into the inner room to bring out brand new tea sets.

Pour water into the cup and serve a cup of fragrant tea.

"This is the Tea Immortal of Shugang, Brother Zhou, please."

"Thank you."

As Zhou Yi expressed his gratitude, Tian Wen, who was standing to the side, tried to make light of the situation and said, "You're really generous this time."

"Young friend Zhou may not know this, but he is extremely obsessed with the ethereal concept of immortality. Shugang is a local tea."

"The Tea Fairy is the Tea Granny of Guangling, a story about an old woman who sold tea in Guangling during the Northern and Southern Dynasties who became an immortal."

Zhou Yi took a small sip, closed his eyes, and praised, "It's like sweet dew in a secluded valley, bringing peace to the mind."

He wasn't just making things up; he had actually heard it.

"Who would have thought that in my old age I would resign from my post and be granted a cup of tea by the emperor?" Even when Ouyang Xiu retired and returned to his hometown, he could not forget the tea from Yangzhou.

Upon realizing this, Zhou Yi added, "If we could also obtain water from the well north of the Moonlit Bridge outside the East Gate, this tea would be even more exquisite."

At this moment, both the old Taoist priest and the old Confucian scholar couldn't help but look at him.

Scholars have always been able to judge water, and eminent monks have always been skilled at tea competitions.

The location he just mentioned is the Chanzhi Temple, which was built in the second year of the Daye era.

This young friend actually knows a lot.

Tian Wen couldn't help but say, "You don't seem like a visitor from Nanyang, but rather a local from Jiangdu."

Shi Long sat down and stopped talking about tea.

He first inquired about Tian Wen's situation, and Tian Wen then told him about how the two demonic sect experts had forced him to reveal the whereabouts of the Longevity Formula.

"They were all brought here by your friend from the underworld."

Shi Long shook his head: "He meant well. Knowing that I am obsessed with martial arts, he came to tell me about another extraordinary technique."

"Is it the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique?" Zhou Yi stared intently at him.

“That’s right, it’s part of this secret technique, but Brother Qiu didn’t get the whole thing.”

"Is it Qiu Qianbo?"

"Ok?"

Shi Long asked in confusion, then realized, "That's right, Brother Zhou is also from Nanyang. No wonder it's the land of the dragon's rise."

"How could Fellow Daoist Shi know Chief Qiu? And how does he know about the Longevity Scripture?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Zhou Yi stopped beating around the bush.

He was a friend of Master Bai, saved Tian Wen, and was also a fellow Taoist.

Shi Long's face showed a look of reminiscence before he spoke:
"After reading ancient Taoist texts, Shi learned from clues left by his predecessors that there was such a rare book as the 'Longevity Manual' in the world. He was so eager to find it that he traveled all over the world to search for it. This Taoist treasure was hard to come by."

"Legend has it that Guang Chengzi observed the War God Diagram and comprehended its mysteries, then wrote the book 'The Secret of Longevity,' which was later passed on to the Yellow Emperor, who then placed it inside a precious cauldron."

"There is also the Records of the Grand Historian: The Book of Feng and Shan: The Yellow Emperor obtained the precious tripod Wanqu and asked Guiyuqu about it."

Zhou Yi listened attentively; Wanqu was Heze.

“Wanqu is in Jiyin County, where Brother Qiu’s father-in-law’s family lives. I happened to meet him when I went to Wanqu years ago, and we hit it off immediately. Knowing that I wanted to find the secret to immortality, he inquired about information for me in many ways, which is how I was able to grasp new clues.”

“When the Eastern Zhou state was destroyed by Qin, a part of the Ji royal family migrated here. I went to Jiyin but couldn’t find it. Brother Qiu consulted the local gazetteers and learned that the Ji family of Jiyin, one of the eight prefectures of Yanzhou during the Eastern Han Dynasty, went to Jiankang.”

Shi Long's eyes gleamed with excitement: "After much investigation, I have finally unearthed a bronze three-ram vessel used for sacrifices in the ancient tomb in Jiangdu. This vessel is filled with wine, and the secret to immortality lies within it!"

So that's how the Stone Dragon's secret to longevity came about.

Zhou Yi was deeply moved and admired his willpower; most people would have given up long ago.

Shi Long stopped there and casually reached into his robes.

In the blink of an eye, the Book of Immortality appeared in his hands.

This book is woven from mysterious gold thread, impervious to water and fire, and is unique; it is impossible to forge.

"It was this book that made me realize what it means to be burdened by the sins of possessing treasures."

"When I first obtained this book, I was overjoyed, but the characters on it were all oracle bone script, which was profound and difficult to understand. Among the sages who had read this book, there were many wise men who had deciphered three thousand characters, but there were still four thousand that remained unsolved."

"If you don't understand the text, you can only practice by following the seven human figures in different poses above."

“Every time I practice, my blood and qi surge like boiling water. I walk on the edge of qi deviation all year round, which makes me listless and my skills decline.”

"Therefore, I invited some friends to work on the book together. My friends in the martial arts world believe that this book is not about martial arts, but rather that the ancients are making fun of later generations."

"Even a friend as learned as Brother Tian couldn't decipher so many oracle bone characters."

Upon hearing this, Tian Wen's eyes flashed with anger: "Even if all the scholars in the world were gathered together, they probably still couldn't figure out the shape of the last four thousand characters."

"That's why I advised you to give up this pipe dream long ago, but you ignored me."

"A lifespan of a hundred years is already a blessing from heaven; there is no such thing as immortality."

"Since ancient times, emperors have taken elixirs and sought medicine. The First Emperor sent Xu Fu to sea. Which one could live for a thousand or ten thousand years? If that were true, wouldn't there be an emperor who would never fall, shining through the ages? Then there would be no rebellious kings like the ones in the present day."

Tian Wen shook his head and smiled, with a hint of sarcasm.

Faced with the facts, Shi Long could only smile wryly, knowing that what he said was true.

Shi Long, the mountain pusher, stared at the precious book in his hand, remained silent for a long time, and then let out a long sigh.

"Shi was deluded by his dream, which harmed both himself and others. His crime of possessing the treasure brought chaos to Jiangdu. It is time to wake up from this dream."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I'm sorry you had to see this. Was I really that confused?"

Zhou Yi would naturally not say anything hurtful at this time.

He glanced at the Longevity Formula and offered words of comfort:
"Fellow Daoist Shi, there's no need for that."

"As the saying goes, the eccentric qi of heaven, when angry, becomes wind; the qi of earth, when harmonious, becomes rain. It is also said that in the first month of spring, the celestial body Zhaoyao points to the Yin direction. At dusk, the constellation Shen is in the middle of the sky, and at dawn, it is at the end of the day."

"These images and principles remind us that everything has its own laws and conditions, and martial arts training is no exception."

Zhou Yi wanted to add, "You can't force it; you're not suited for the Longevity Formula."

Seeing the deep sorrow in this top Yangzhou expert's eyes, his brows furrowed with desolation, I softened and swallowed this blunt truth.

Who would have thought
After hearing Zhou Yi's words, the troubled Fellow Daoist Shi Long remained silent for a moment, then suddenly felt a great shock.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, what is the meaning of your statement?"

Zhou Yi's voice was slightly lower: "Huainan Honglie".

"Huainan Honglie, Huainan Honglie"

Shi Long muttered to himself for a while, his eyes growing increasingly intense, and Tian Wen glanced at him from the side.

"Shilong, what's wrong with you again?" he asked, frowning.

Shi Long didn't say anything. He poured himself some tea and drank it down in one gulp.

Pour it again, drink it again.

He poured eight cups in a row, drinking each one faster than the last.

As if he had drunk down all the celestial energy of the Tea Granny of Guangling, the depth in his eyes gradually disappeared, becoming clear and bright, and the sorrow was completely gone!

The Taoist priest and the old Confucian scholar standing to the side were both stunned.

How can a person's temperament change so quickly?

The old scholar couldn't take it anymore. He knew Shi Long well, and this guy was probably up to something again.

"Young friend Zhou was just advising you, what have you figured out?"

Shi Long breathed a sigh of relief and said to Tian Wen, "I've gained some insights."

He stood up, bowed slightly to Zhou Yi, and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, thank you."

Zhou Yi didn't know what he wanted to thank him for, but went along with it and said, "No need."

Shi Long bowed again:

"The earth contains qi, and when it is harmonious, it becomes rain. The Longevity Manual is indeed a precious book, but it is not suitable for using the Mountain Pushing Force. I practiced the Mountain Pushing Force and often used it to read the precious book. I was wrong, very wrong."

"Taoism emphasizes that one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things. The Longevity Formula is one of the origins, while the Mountain-Pushing Force is only one of the myriad things."

He paced back and forth in the hall, deeply moved:
"I, Shi, have gone astray for many years. Now, thanks to Fellow Daoist Zhou's guidance, I have drunk eight cups of wine and come to understand the whole story. What Fellow Daoist said is like a gift from heaven to me. This kindness is like that of a teacher. Fellow Daoist should be the Heavenly Master of Shilong."

His words were full of respect and were by no means a joke.

To be able to resolve his long-standing confusion with the words of Huainan Honglie, one can imagine what level of skill that requires.

Shi Long earnestly inquired, "May I ask where Fellow Daoist Zhou resides in Nanyang?"

Zhou Yi was in turmoil, but he didn't say anything.

So he stared at the stone dragon and answered in a soft voice, "Wolong Mountain and Wuzhuang Temple are the places where this humble Taoist priest dwells."

Wuzhuang Temple

Tian Wen had never heard of it before and asked, "What kind of place is that?"

Zhou Yi composed himself and said solemnly, "The immortal abode of eternal life, the Taoist home of living as long as heaven."

Shi Long stared at the "Longevity Manual" in his hand, a thunderclap resounding in his mind, shattering the stubborn rock in his heart.

The dragon emerged from the stubborn rock and soared over the magnificent wall of Jiangdu, circling at the foot of Wolong Mountain.

His devotion to the Tao was so strong that he couldn't help but say:
"If I, Shi, escape from here, I will surely pursue martial arts and roam the martial world to relieve the pent-up feelings I have had over the years."

"only"

"After leaving Jiangdu and traveling around the world, it was difficult to find a place to settle down anywhere in the country."

Zhou Yi immediately said:
"What's so difficult about this?"

"Nanyang is a tranquil place. Fellow Daoist Shi, after traveling the martial world, why not come to my Wuzhuang Temple? Today, I will taste the Tea Granny's Spring. How sweet it is! But the thought that I may never be able to drink it again fills my heart with sorrow."

"Guanzhu."

"Fellow Daoist Shi"

The two exchanged a smile, feeling as if they had met too late in life.

Tian Wen sat beside them, drinking tea alone, feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Immortality? Haha, another one's gone mad.

Shi Long sat down again: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, drinking tea will not prevent you from reading this Longevity Book."

When he received the Xuanjin Thread Book from Shilong, he saw the three ancient characters "The Longevity Formula".

Zhou Yi's heart calmed down instantly.

Although there were some twists and turns, this trip to Jiangdu will not leave too many regrets.

A quick glance
Oracle bone script, oracle bone script, and more oracle bone script.
He couldn't recognize these characters, and even after reading some commentaries by ancient scholars, he felt they were incomprehensible.

The only thing to look at were the seven human figures, with red arrows pointing to them, seemingly describing some kind of cultivation method.

Guang Chengzi left behind the Longevity Manual and returned to the War God Temple to shatter the Vajra. This precious book was passed down, but no one could master it before the Twin Dragons.

Therefore, there is a rumor that the "Longevity Manual" among the Four Great Classical Novels cannot be cultivated.

Each of the two dragons practiced a different technique, which was also combined with the Nine Profound Techniques of Master Yi Jian.

Zhou Yi silently studied the picture, while Shi Long made further arrangements for Tian Wen:
"There will be a major battle here soon, and there will probably be many experts. I won't be able to take care of you. Lao Tian, ​​you should go to the small house across the street for the time being. I have prepared food there."

"In just a few days, you can go home with peace of mind, and the forces of all the major powers will no longer cause you any trouble."

Tian Wendao: "Are you still alive?"

"Originally, the risk was very high, but now that Fellow Daoist Zhou is by my side, perhaps we can have the best of both worlds."

Tian Wen nodded: "I hope so."

"I'll go hide for a while, so I don't become a burden to you."

He gave Shi Long a deep look, his tone softening: "If you escape and everything calms down, don't forget to come back and visit us old friends."

Shi Long sighed and replied, "Yes."

Tian Wen took out a book of poetry from his pocket, turned to a page, and placed a willow twig tucked inside into Shi Long's hand.

And on that page of poetry was written: "Mounting the horse, he doesn't grasp the whip, but instead breaks off a willow branch. He sits on his seat, playing a long flute, causing sorrow to the traveler."
"Take care of yourself."

Mr. Tian patted Shi Long on the shoulder, then bid farewell to Zhou Yi, and left with a lantern.

Shi Long gazed intently, then looked up at the night sky.

His feelings were incredibly complex.

Zhou Yi chased after him and watched as Mr. Tian safely entered a small house.

When they sneaked back to Shilong's mansion, Shilong was standing by the well outside the main hall, looking into the well.

If the moonlight weren't so dim tonight, Zhou Yi would probably have thought that Shi Long was also looking at the "moon in the well".

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is the way to escape."

"Could this well lead to the outside of the city?"

Shi Long nodded without hesitation:
"This well connects to an underground river, which is well-connected in all directions. This place is located in the northern suburbs. If you go with the current and find the right path, you can escape from the whirlpool in the river. Then, you can break free and escape from Jiangdu."

He handed a roll of oil paper to Zhou Yi:

"This is a map of the underground waterway. I have followed this route many times before leaving the city, so I can't go wrong. As long as you remember the left and right forks and avoid the dead ends, you will be safe and sound."

Zhou Yi used the lamplight to examine the waterway in the well, which was marked very clearly.

But
"Doesn't this mean that Fellow Daoist Shi can leave at any time?"

"Yes."

Shi Long held the willow branch in his hand: "But if I leave, none of my friends who helped me decipher oracle bone script and who were close to me will survive."

“Although I am not of great virtue, how could I do such an ungrateful thing just to survive in this world?”

Zhou Yi suddenly realized: "You're planning to lure everyone here and let them watch you escape."

"Exactly."

Shi Long felt somewhat guilty: "Brother Qiu came to see me with no ill intentions. He felt that he had brought me a lot of trouble, so he left first, leading away several experts from the Demonic Sect."

“You killed two people before, but there are seven who came to Jiangdu.”

"The crisis is even greater on his end."

"That Sect Master Zhou already knows I have the secret to immortality. He wants both my precious book and me to be a guest in his coffin. Brother Qiu, I feel horrified when you tell me about this."

Zhou Yi roughly understood: "Chief Qiu will lead people here."

"Ah."

"He carried the bamboo slips I prepared, which were engraved with the diagrams of the Longevity Manual. Brother Qiu is using this to his advantage, and the martial arts world of Jiangdu is about to descend into chaos."

Zhou Yi pressed further, asking, "Are the images on the bamboo slips fake or real?"

"It can be considered true."

Shi Long said, "I did not change the carving, but carving it separately, without the precious book, it is impossible for anyone to master it."

Zhou Yi nodded. "When will Chief Qiu make his move?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it will be tomorrow evening. When the enemy arrives, it will be night. We can then follow the well and, when we reach the Yangtze River, use the cover of night to avoid the Yangzhou navy."

He has already made the arrangements, so we can only proceed according to his plan.

Zhou Yi flipped over and jumped into the well. He braced himself with his hands and listened carefully to the direction of the water flow in the well without even entering the water.

It clearly matches the waterway map we just saw.

When he returned to the well, Shi Long solemnly instructed him to remember the waterway junctions.

This was also a way to evade enemy pursuit.

Others, not being as familiar with the route as they are, will waste a lot of time underwater, and those with less skill might even drown.

Zhou Yi spent another half an hour firmly imprinting the seven diagrams of the Longevity Manual in his mind.

After repeated comparisons, it was confirmed that there were no errors.

He returned the precious book to Shi Long, who smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, please keep it for me for one night."

"I have never been without this book for years. I will try to see if I can sleep peacefully without it."

They chose a house next to the main hall for Zhou Yi to stay in, and brought him some dry food and snacks to eat with tea.

After chatting for a while, Shi Long went back to the next room to rest.

There may be a major battle tomorrow, so we must conserve our energy and strength.

Zhou Yi looked at the lamplight and flipped through "The Secret of Longevity".

I just can't understand those oracle bone characters and annotations no matter how I look at them.

No wonder Shi Long studied it every day without any results.

Close your eyes and recall the seven diagrams of the Longevity Manual in your mind, while simultaneously communicating with the mysterious relief.

Unfortunately, the relief sculpture ignored him.

That probably means it's hopeless.

Zhou Yi shook his head inwardly and closed the Longevity Mantra.

Shi Long treasured this thing, while Zhou Yi simply placed it on the table.

I sat back down on the bed, feeling that I couldn't cultivate, but I still wanted to experience what Shi Long meant by inner demons.

then
He randomly picked a longevity chart and struck a strange pose as depicted in the chart.

After practicing for a while,
hiss.
Zhou Yi suddenly stopped.

These postures, combined with the red dots and arrows on the diagrams, always give one a somewhat unsatisfying feeling. They differ considerably from the practice postures I derived from the reliefs.

He then thought,
The Xuanzhen Temple also houses Taoist mystical techniques, which is no different from the Longevity Formula.

So he practiced the exercises according to the seven human figures, but the more he practiced, the more frustrated he became, always feeling that something was wrong.

Zhou Yi's thoughts raced
The awkward movements on the Longevity Manual diagram were slightly adjusted, mimicking the postures previously obtained from the relief sculpture.

Then practice according to the red arrows and dots on the Longevity Manual.

If the stone dragon next door saw this scene, he would definitely break through the wall and shout for it to stop.

He had never been this bold in all his years of training.

Zhou Yi's martial arts foundation is the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, with true qi surging out from the Yongquan acupoint.

Following a slightly modified diagram of the Longevity Formula, the true qi in the Foot Shaoyin meridian actually started to move!

Startled, he made no attempt to restrain himself, letting his inner energy flow freely.

The vital energy slowly gathers at the Zhongzhu acupoint.

After several attempts, the needle kept hovering around the Zhongzhu acupoint.

Zhou Yi was no longer a novice in martial arts training; he immediately focused his mind on sensing his energy points.

really!

The wind gaps on the Zhongzhu acupoint are becoming clearer and clearer, which is a kind of guidance for him to open up the ordinary acupoints into the Zhongzhu acupoint.

This acupoint contains the transformative power of the spleen and earth element, and has the ability to regulate the upper and lower body; it is a peaceful and harmonious acupoint.

After trying it several times, I came to a conclusion.

The Longevity Formula can be practiced, but Guang Chengzi may not be correct.

Lao Tzu's prediction must be correct, because Lao Tzu has no inner demons.

It takes a short period of time to open the acupoints of Zhongzhu. Although he was curious about what changes would occur later, Zhou Yi stopped.

In this respect, he has a better mindset than Shi Long.

I closed my eyes as soon as I lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
……

At dawn, the east was just beginning to lighten.

A large group of people surrounded Mr. Tian Wen’s former residence.

Seven skilled individuals were transferred to the hospital and inspected the surrounding area.

Several corpses of the Baling Gang, and two people lying together in the corridor.

After carefully examining the two, all seven men's expressions changed.

A man in gray pointed at the female swordsman on the ground.

"That's right, it's this guy. He killed more than twenty of our best fighters before. Tianshui Mingdie, she's actually dead!"

"Judging from this injury, he died from sword energy."

"This old man is the real troublemaker."

Another expert, dressed in black robes, said:
"This man is Qian Zhengrong, the number one external martial arts master in Shangluo. He has mastered the Dragon-Severing Strength, and his bones and muscles are as strong as copper and iron. Look at these floor tiles, they are broken in circles, which shows that he is standing in the center, using all his strength to the limit."

One of them squatted down and touched his injuries: "Such hard bones! This external martial arts skill is already superb. Hmm? He died from a blow to the Tanzhong acupoint!"

This discovery is remarkable.

In other words, a martial arts expert had his fists and feet broken.

"Who is the martial arts master from where you are to be able to break through the fists and feet of the number one external martial arts master in Shangluo?"

"Damn it, this news spread way too fast."

"Those who use swords die from swordsmanship, and those who use fists and palms die from fists and palms. There are at least two top experts, one of whom is even a martial arts grandmaster. We are afraid we don't have enough manpower."

"Call for help! Call for help again!"

The man in black robes said, "The Taiping Hongbao in the Central Plains is extremely wondrous, but we have no chance to obtain it. This precious book in Jiangdu is no less than the Taiping Hongbao, and we must not miss it."

"Vice Leader!"

Someone shouted, "Chief Steward Yuchi has led his men to Baohua Street. Famous figures from Jiangdu, experts from the Demonic Sect, and numerous forces including the Bamboo Flower Gang, the Iron Cavalry Society, and the Yangtze River Alliance have all gone to seize the Longevity Manual!"

"What!?"

"go!"

"..."

Under the bright sun, warships sailed into the Jiangdu dock, and sects and gangs from Danyang, Hailing, Jiangyin and other places arrived one after another, some early and some late.

Some lesser-known gangs also have top-notch figures in charge.

Therefore, it became a gathering place for experts, and if you threw a stone randomly at the Yangtze River ferry, it might hit a famous person in the area.

News about the Four Great Books and the Fifth Great Book spread rapidly.

This extraordinary book doesn't necessarily require you to practice it; it can attract a large number of martial arts practitioners to come and join you.

As a result, the surrounding anti-king forces could no longer sit still.

Yuchi Sheng, the governor of Yangzhou, began mobilizing troops early in the morning, and tens of thousands of soldiers gathered.

The ferry crossing in Jiangdu was bustling with people, and hundreds of boats shuttled back and forth.

Two boys of considerable height arrived at the dock early this morning and were loading rice onto the cargo ships, hoping to earn some money.

The eldest son, who is the kind of person who acknowledges his grandfather, knows the rules best.

After being reprimanded yesterday, they became much more polite. From now on, they won't have to hand over their earnings to anyone.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling stared at the suddenly transformed dock, astonished by the exaggerated scene.

They didn't know what had happened in Jiangdu either.

At the dock, Boss Yan blocked someone's way and got into an argument.

When she announced the name of the Bamboo Flower Gang Master, she raised her voice a little too loudly and was kicked into the water by a wicked monk.

The once terrifying boss, who had more than twenty subordinates, suddenly became someone everyone could bully.

"Boss Yan, are you alright?"

The two men rowed the small boat of the Bamboo Flower Gang and pulled Boss Yan out of the water.

Yan Kuan watched the evil monk leave, not daring to utter a single word.

"You stay here and guard the boat, I'll go into the city to look for people."

After saying that, he slipped away immediately, not daring to linger at the ferry crossing.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling did as instructed, and didn't even bother moving the rice.

However, after several large five-toothed ships rushed in, they created huge waves that carried their small boat directly out of the ferry.

Then they made way for a large number of online trolls.

Several groups of enemies suddenly started fighting at the ferry crossing. The two men hurriedly rowed their small boat to escape, but got lost on the river.

This day was anything but peaceful.

"Xiao Ling, look! Who's that?"

Xu Ziling looked around and saw a very strange group of people.

Ahead stood a short, stout man dressed in a monk's robe.

Beside him was a woman in palace attire, followed by more than a dozen men in black. Five of the men in black carried a large vermilion coffin.

When the sunlight shone on it, the vermilion coffin turned blood red.

A strange funeral procession that appeared out of nowhere.

suddenly,

The short, stout man in the monk's robe turned his head, and the will-o'-the-wisp in his eyes flickered.

After glancing at them, he turned his head away again.

"How scary! This person is much more terrifying than Boss Yan. That coffin is so eerie. Is there a zombie inside?"

"Stop talking, let's not go back to the city yet."

The two discussed it and decided to row the boat downstream. With the small boat from the Bamboo Flower Gang, they could make money at the next ferry crossing.

However, because he didn't know how to control the boat.

As they paddled into the river, they screamed in terror, becoming increasingly chaotic.
……

North of Jiangdu City.

Around noon, a group of footsteps sounded outside the mansion.

The stone dragon sitting in the central hall opened its eyes.

Zhou Yi, hidden in the shadows, immediately held his breath. He could tell from the footsteps that there were nine people.

This is probably not the large force that Shi Long wanted, nor is it the time he wanted.

But plans cannot keep up with changes.

It seems that Chief Qiu's side is about to collapse.

Shi Long heard the footsteps of eight people. When they approached the gate of the mansion, he felt a sense of unease and then heard the ninth footstep.

This person was quite skilled, concealing his footsteps perfectly among the footsteps of the other eight people.

His current location is less than six zhang (approximately 33 meters) from the gate of the house, which shows...
This ninth person must be a first-rate individual.

"Honorable guest, please come in and have a chat."

The bolt on the main gate snapped open with a crack, and the two doors slammed against the earthen walls on either side with two loud bangs.

A tall man with sinister eyes walked in.

He was accompanied by a young man, while the breathing of the remaining seven people was soft, shallow, and long, clearly indicating that they were all masters of internal martial arts.

"It is extremely impolite of you to break in like this."

The man said, "The fact that I didn't take immediate action is already the greatest courtesy I can show."

"Shi Long, hand over the Longevity Manual to me, and together we will present it to His Majesty. I, Yuwen Wudi, can not only ensure your survival, but also allow you to enjoy wealth and honor."

Shi Long shook his head: "That is not what I seek, and I cannot comply."

"The emperor is incompetent. If he were to actually master the book and gain immortality, wouldn't that be my fault?"

Yuwen Wudi gave a mocking smile, then his expression turned fierce: "I'll give you one last chance. Will you die, or hand over the 'Longevity Manual'?"

Shi Long remained calm: "The Yuwen family's Ice Profound Strength is renowned throughout the martial arts world. It is a pity that I, a martial arts enthusiast, have never had the chance to witness it."

"Uncle, he's trying to kill himself." Yuwen Qinghui viciously drew his long sword.

"kill!"

As soon as Yuwen Wudi uttered the word "Kill," nine experts attacked simultaneously.

News of Shi Long's location had already spread, and Yu Chisheng used the Jiangdu army to hold them off, buying them time.

Those experts arrived in the blink of an eye; they were just trying to get ahead of everyone else, so they didn't dare to delay.

The renowned master of Yangzhou was known far and wide, and everyone who made a move did so with all their might.

The only way for Shi Long to survive was to escape into the well.

But only the Yuwen clan knew this news, and it couldn't be spread, so his old friends were still going to suffer.

This is a dead end.

But with Zhou Yi there, a dead end was turned into a winning one.

The moment Yuwen Wudi shouted "Kill!", Shi Long knew he had already owed a life.

Yuwen Wudi unleashed a punch from afar, causing the air in the entire hall to become extremely cold. Those with less refined skills would immediately have their teeth chattering.

Zhou Yi carefully sensed the Ice Profound Energy from the shadows.

This was a swirling force; the air spun around with this cold energy, creating a truly wondrous effect.

Shi Long was in a difficult position, as he was facing nine people.

With a single strike of the Pushing Mountain Palm, two forces collided, and centered on the stone dragon, nearby tea tables and furniture tumbled and shattered like fallen leaves in the wind, falling to the sides.

The stone dragon at the center was pressed down by the force of the nine people, so it had no choice but to go with the flow, crushing the screen, and then leaping through the roof tiles, creating a large hole.

The nine people below thought he was going to run away, so they gave chase.

The stone dragon moved to the roof of Zhou Yi's house. The tiles under Yuwen Wudi's feet cracked layer by layer. He rushed out like a cannonball and blasted towards the stone dragon.

Above his right fist, the icy energy formed a whirlwind, and wherever it passed, roof tiles spun and flew like falling leaves.

at this time,

Shi Long, who was pretending to run away, suddenly turned around and planted his feet firmly on the roof.

Pull both palms behind you and bring them together, then twist your body and push out the true energy from your palms with all your might!

This force, like pushing a mountain, caused the entire house to shake.

But Yuwen Wudi showed no fear and directly collided with the force of the stone dragon.

A large hole was blasted in the roof, and both men were shaken by the force of the attack and felt unwell.

Broken tiles and wood chips flew together, and then a white figure suddenly appeared from below, moving upwards without the sound of a sword being drawn, pointing as if it were a sword.

The frosty air pushed the falling broken tiles and wood chips back up!
Yuwen Wudi's face was filled with horror.

He had already given a warning, but after fighting Shi Long, he couldn't muster the next breath of true energy.

At the critical moment, he reached back and grabbed.

Yuwen Qinghui, who had been fighting alongside him in the salt warehouses of Nanyang, was caught off guard and pulled in front of him.

"what!"

With a scream, the person below pierced through Yuwen Qinghui with a finger strike.

The force of the energy, mixed with blood, spurted from Yuwen Qinghui's back and struck Yuwen Wudi's right chest.

A huge wave surged within him. This domineering and fierce true energy caused his protective true energy to collapse instantly. In just this one moment, his blood and qi surged, and he suffered internal injuries.

I was utterly horrified.

Shi Long feigned sleep to lure the enemy. His fatal attack came later.

If it weren't for someone to take the fall, how could I have survived?
"Qinghui~!"

Yuwen Wudi shouted, "Quick, kill this guy!"

As he shouted, he retreated rapidly.

Then I heard an extremely noisy commotion all around, and a large number of people arrived.

Yuchi Sheng was ultimately unable to stop him.

The sound of wind being cut rose and fell, all the masters had arrived!
Hundreds of gazes came from all directions.

Zhou Yi felt a great sense of crisis and dared not pursue Yuwen Wudi.

This was a good opportunity to kill him, but we had to give it up.

Friends!

Shi Long roared, his voice echoing in all directions: "I have already given you the Longevity Secret on bamboo slips. This is a foolish dream, difficult to describe. Friends, please do not be misled."

"I, Shi, will take my leave now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped toward the well.

"Trying to leave? Stay here, Sect Master!"

The speaker was dressed in a monk's robe. His already thick hands suddenly swelled up to nearly half their original size, turning crimson and radiating demonic energy. He then struck the well opening with a palm strike from a distance.

The surrounding air seemed to be pulled away by his crimson giant hand, mixing with the demonic aura, just like a man-eating skull!
The surging waves surged forth, overwhelming everything in their path!

It was Zhou Laotan's secret Red Hand Palm technique, which has now become the Crimson Evil Palm.

Such ferocious demonic arts aroused the secret fear of many experts.

I suppose he is a master of the Demonic Sect, perhaps one of the eight great masters.

Shilong, there's no way out!
Just then, a burst of sword energy swept out like a curtain, heading towards the stone dragon!

"Shilong, where are you going!"

This sword energy was also heading towards the stone dragon.

Unfortunately, the sword energy collided with Zhou Laotan's Crimson Evil Palm, and the stone dragon narrowly fell into the well through the gap.

Old Zhou's skeletal demon hand was shattered to pieces by this sword energy.

The experts from Jiangdu were greatly alarmed!
This person's skill level is actually above that of a Grandmaster of the Demonic Sect; he is a Grandmaster of Swordsmanship!
A white shadow drifted through the air, as if it were walking on the wind, its speed unparalleled.

Before anyone could see his face clearly, he had already chased after the stone dragon into the well.

However, a sound came from down the well.

"Brother Yuwen, first memorize the Longevity Manual you saw. I'll go after Shi Long. I'll come find you again once your injuries have healed."

Everyone heard those words.

Many people recognized Yuwen Wudi and looked at him.

A dozen or so people chased after the well, but hesitated.

But seven or eight people still jumped.

With a splash, five more people jumped in, but two of them returned from underwater, not daring to pursue them further.

Old Zhou sighed, his brows furrowed, and he stared at his palm for a moment, slightly taken aback.

This person's sword aura is truly formidable.

He didn't recognize Yuwen Wudi, but by noticing the gazes of those around him, he immediately located Yuwen Wudi.

Old Zhou sighed, and those around him made a slight step aside.

I don't want to provoke them.

He was accompanied by more than a dozen demonic cultivators, carrying a strange vermilion coffin, and a woman in palace attire whose imposing presence was no less than his.

If I get my hands on some bamboo slips of the Longevity Manual, I'll lose Qiu Qianbo!
Old Demon Zhou was already furious, and now that his palm strike had been cleaved away by sword energy in front of everyone, his anger intensified.

"Hand over the Longevity Manual to this sect master, and I'll spare your life."

Old Zhou's words stunned everyone around him. To dare to mess with the Yuwen Clan in Jiangdu was an act of extraordinary audacity.

Yuwen Wudi clutched his chest wound and snorted coldly.

Even if the opponent is a grandmaster of the demonic sect, he is not afraid:
“That man is lying to you. He’s in cahoots with Shi Long. He’s never even seen the Longevity Manual.”

If it were an ordinary force, Yuwen Wudi might not have bothered with it.

But these were experts from the Demonic Sect, so he didn't hesitate to say a few more words.

He pointed to the hole in the roof:
"This person suddenly attacked me from the shadows; otherwise, I wouldn't have been injured."

Old Zhou had originally planned to turn around and chase after them, but upon hearing this, he and Jin Huanzhen stopped in their tracks.

Yuwen Wudi told a complete lie.

"Bring out the secret to immortality," Old Zhou sighed again.

Yuwen Wudi frowned: "I have already said that I have never seen the Longevity Formula. Please don't go too far."

"General Yuchi's army of tens of thousands arrived in the blink of an eye."

Old Zhou sighed and sneered, "He attacked you before you were even two zhang away, and you actually survived?"

"You mean, even if I, the sect leader, secretly attack you, you can still survive?"

Jin Huanzhen giggled a few times, and the illusory sound from the Bewitching Heart Record suddenly rang out!

Yuwen Wudi was injured and then attracted by Zhou Laotan, so he was caught off guard and instantly fell victim to the attack.

When he finally broke free from the illusion with his powerful skills, a short, stout figure had already moved behind him.

He reacted extremely quickly, reaching out to block behind him.

The two exchanged blows, and after only two collisions, Yuwen Wudi's hand was separated by immense force, and a thick finger was already pressing on his vital point.

Old Zhou sighed and delivered a merciless verdict: "It's clear you lied. With your abilities, how could you have avoided that person's sneak attack?"

"How dare you deceive this sect leader with such a childish lie! This is an insult to my extraordinary wisdom."

"You deserve to be put in your coffin."

Yuwen Wudi was at a loss for words, and he couldn't very well admit in public that he had used his nephew's body as a human shield.

In the instant he was thinking, his Ren and Du meridians were sealed by demonic energy.

This was an incomparably pure innate demonic energy, which he was unable to break free from for the time being.

At this moment, a master of the Demonic Sect lifted the coffin lid, and Old Man Zhou threw him inside.

The vermilion coffin lid was closed again.

Yuwen Wudi's vision went black for a moment before he realized what "entering the coffin" meant.

Five black-clad demonic masters lifted him onto their shoulders, swaying him slightly with the ritual of the Great Ming Venerable Sect's "Sabhrogan," while whispering some demonic scripture.

The experts from all the major sects around them twitched at the corners of their mouths; this Demonic Sect Grandmaster was far too arrogant.

Isn't that one of the four top masters of the Yuwen Clan?
……

……

……

PS: ('-'*ゞ It's burned out, I need Old Zhou to infuse me with some profound and mysterious true energy.)

(End of this chapter)