Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 123 The Cicada's Cry: A Lifetime of Battle Between Buddha and Demon
With the chaos in Shooting Sun City quelled, Wei Che ordered the axemen to disperse.

The head steward entered the courtyard and reprimanded several military leaders, who not only had assassins infiltrated the area but had also nearly managed to escape from the encirclement of the troops.

Where should the dragon's head face?
This lax military formation was clearly observed by the Grand Commander of Jianghuai, who exposed his true strength and weaknesses.

On the other hand, Wei Che's morale was severely dampened when he was publicly punished with three cups of wine.

The heroic spirit of when they first met Zhou Yi, when they lined up their troops and loudly invited him to their door, was gone.

On the contrary, this left an indelible and powerful impression on the soldiers of Yancheng.

With this thought in mind, Wei Che, who was staring at the solid ice in the pond in front of the courtyard, felt empty and was eager to find something to fill the void.

He waved his hand, dismissing the two city guides summoned by the clerk.

Step forward three times and volunteer:
"Grand Commander, let me show you around Yancheng."

Zhou Yi had refused once before, but this time he did not decline again.

Soon, more than a dozen fast horses galloped out from in front of the Wei mansion gate.

The head steward and the two clerks watched this scene with mixed feelings.

Has the major shareholder changed its mind?

"Let's ask when we get back."

The three turned back and led people to clean up the mansion, which was in a mess. They noticed that there were many large holes in the roof, all of which had been stepped on by a certain Grand Commander.

It's clear he's really angry.

"If the fighting continues, they might have to demolish the house."

"The arrow formation of these Tiele people is truly formidable. If it were a slightly weaker opponent, they would surely have succeeded this time, which would have been disastrous for us."

"No wonder Zuo Youxian was defeated."

The head butler sighed:

"Compared to skill, I think the most troublesome thing is lightness skill. We couldn't kill him even with this sudden arrow volley. Even if he suddenly attacks, our plan today will at most kill his men."

It's virtually impossible to keep him in this mansion.

The three of them inspected the damage to the mansion while conducting a military formation simulation and review.

Wei Dalongtou was the first highlight of Zhou Yi's tour of Yancheng County.

Without a doubt, it is "salt".

On the vast coastal mudflats, the scattered salt fields reflect the sky like mirrors.

The salt workers waded barefoot into the knee-deep brine pools, using wooden rakes to gather the salty mud and sand. They then dried it under the scorching sun and filtered out the crystallized white salt through bamboo sieves.

Witcher pointed out the process of salt production and transportation from the shore.

Zhou Yi glanced at it.

Around the salt field, piles of salt gleamed in the sunlight, resembling snow-covered hills from afar.

The description of the snow-white salt mountain is absolutely accurate.

The Yancheng army was relatively loosely organized, but well-equipped. Thinking of those expensive Mingguang armors, Zhou Yi could only sigh that Wei Che was lucky.

"Wei Dalong, I heard that your weapons were all purchased from the Dongming Sect."

"Exactly."

Despite suffering a significant setback, Wei Dalong finally showed some smugness: "The weapons forged by the Dongming Sect are of excellent quality and durability, and are in high demand. However, as long as I place an order, I can purchase them immediately."

"Because I am very trustworthy and never default on payments to them."

Looking at the snow-white salt mountain, Wei Che inadvertently revealed his nouveau riche temperament.

Seeing Wei Dashan's expression, Zhou Yi also became more amiable.

That night, Zhou Yi rested in Sheyang City.

He slept soundly.

However, at Wei Dalong's residence, after the two clerks and the head steward read the letter, they all fell silent.

Wei Che sat at the table, his gaze passing through the candlelight as he glanced at the three strategists.

Then his gaze settled on a particular line in the letter:
"My lord traveled the Yangtze River, passing through Gaoyou, and first arrived in Yan County, where he met the Great Dragon Head. The rivers and lakes are vast, and the people are numerous; to have such a meeting is a matter of fate. Therefore, it is often said that the first impression is the deepest, and a second meeting in the future will never be the same as this one."

The letter described the situation in Jiangnan and Jiangbei, and mentioned that General Gongsun Shangzhe was preparing to march south.

The various situations are dazzling.

However, after scanning the area, Wechsler's eyes remained fixed on that line of text.

"When we meet again in the future, it will never be the same as today."

He read it aloud, then looked away slightly: "My three brothers, what is the choice?"

The salt-producing region became wealthy because of salt. They occupied a region with the intention of playing both sides and observing until the world was settled.

If there hadn't been today's chaos, reading this letter would have given us some options.

Looking at it now, this seemingly ordinary letter has made them hesitate.

The head butler harbored some concerns:

"It is not surprising that Xu Xingzhi, who regards Grand Commander Zhou as his lord, praises him as a dragon hidden in the abyss. However, I have observed that his conduct and style are indeed exemplary."

However, the current situation is unpredictable and uncertain; determining the fate of the world requires more than just talent and martial arts skills.

Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, was powerful, but ultimately he was defeated by Liu Bang. If we suddenly make a gamble and miscalculate, how will we recover?

The taller clerk asked, "May I express my goodwill?"

Another clerk shook his head: "Look at his attitude towards the Tiele king. However, he certainly has the right to say such things."

"This time, because of the Tiele Four Arrow Guards incident, we have completely offended him, but we haven't shown it yet."

"If he really manages to win the deer, he will probably settle old scores, and this bit of goodwill will likely not end well."

The head steward slapped his thigh and cursed the Tiele people's ancestors for eighteen generations.

He sighed deeply and looked at Wei Che:
"Big Boss, you should make the decision."

The two clerks also said, "Yes, let the big boss decide. We have no complaints."

Wei Che nodded.

He couldn't sleep that night.
The next day.

A troop of elite soldiers emerged from Sheyang City, led by the chief steward and two clerks, and escorted Jiang Huai and his party to the Hangou ferry crossing.

The sun shines warmly, and the spring breeze gently caresses the clear water.

At this moment
Zhou Yi was about to set sail when he suddenly heard singing and dancing on the shore.
The horses' hooves pounded in, their sounds crisp and melodious.

"Great Commander, wait!"

A figure, riding on horseback, leaped across two zhang of water amidst the neighing of warhorses and boarded a wooden boat.

The newcomer was none other than Wei Dalongtou.

He carried an object in each hand and approached Zhou Yi.

"Is there anything else, Big Boss?"

Wei Che's eyes were slightly dark, and he handed over two items: "I have two things to give to the Grand Commander."

"Oh?"

Zhou Yi declined, saying with a smile, "I have already received a grand welcome from the head of the company, how can I accept any more gifts?"

Wei Che pretended not to hear this and first presented a sword that felt icy cold to the touch.

"This sword is a divine weapon forged by the Dongming Sect, named the Cold Iron Treasure Blade, which is extremely rare."

"I recently managed to get my hands on it by chance, so I'm giving it to the Grand Commander as an ornament."

After saying that, he handed over a small burlap sack, which trembled like sand.

He said somewhat reluctantly, "This is fine salt from my Salt County, please accept it."

He shoved the salt bag into Zhou Yi's hand.

Without another word, Wei Che leaped off the boat again.

Zhou Yi looked at the two items, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wei Che and said:

"Big Boss, let's talk about seafood preparation methods next time."

Wei Che said, "I shall treat him."

"Farewell, Grand Commander!"

Goodbye~

As Weicher and his party watched the sailboat sail away, the head butler and two clerks stood beside him.

"How did the big boss come to this conclusion?"

Wei Che was about to give a serious answer when he suddenly said, "Because when I visited the salt fields with him yesterday, I discovered that he is a person who knows a lot about salt."

"Know more about salt than we do?"

"He used the essence of salt to mention salt-baked delicacies to me, which coincided with my principles for preparing seafood. I suppose we are kindred spirits."

The three stewards were immediately speechless.

Wei Che forced a smile through his distress: "I was just kidding because you guys seemed nervous."

"My three brothers, I hope I made the right choice."

The head butler shrugged:
"Since things have come to this, let's go back to the city and have a drink."

"Now we don't have to worry about the Jianghuai army suddenly attacking our salt fields, and we won't have to worry about having no one to help us when the Sui army comes."

"The Grand Commander defeated Zuo Youxian with a single sword strike, an undeniable fact. This time, our backer is very powerful."

"..."

The group changed their story, feeling relieved, and suddenly realized they could accept it.

Their main force returned to Sheyang, while another elite force was dispatched to cross the Han Canal and head towards Liuhe.
Zhou Yi stood on the boat, while Di Fangsi and Feng Si were discussing Wei Che.

It's hard to imagine that he would suddenly make such a decision.

When Zhou Yi saw that Wei Che hadn't come this morning, he thought that the matter in Yancheng would have to be delayed, but little did he know that Wei Che had saved the surprise for last.

Wei Che wanted to wait and see, but those arrows forced him to take sides.

The King of Tiele helped him by chance, but Zhou Yi remembered this debt clearly.

The deaths of the five archers are far from enough.

He considered the layout of the grasslands and then took the cold iron blade that Wei Che had given him.

As the sword was drawn, a chill suddenly arose, and the blade's gleam solidified and did not dissipate.

It truly is a divine weapon.

The sword-making skills of the Dongming School are extraordinary. I wonder which master swordsmith forged this sword.

They sailed north, entering Shanyang via the Hangou Canal and then the Huai River.

Go upstream, straight to Tongbai Ferry.

The current is quite rapid in this section, and as dusk falls, the boats will be moored at the ferry.

Looking out, Zhou Yi saw the long embankment like a python lying in the vast expanse, with golden willows hanging down and newly sprouting buds.

This location is near Xuyi.

Since Meng Rang fled north to Wagang, there has been no fighting at the ferry crossings in Xuyi, and the number of boats has increased several times over compared to usual.

With the arrival of early spring, the Huai River, carrying ice and snow, flows eastward, while the canal, swallowing the cold tide, arches northward.

It is precisely where the Tongji Canal and the Huai River meet.

The ferry crossing is brightly lit at night, and the sounds of vendors calling out their wares create a lively atmosphere.

Zhou Yi stood on the boat, watching the swirling patterns in the water reflect the firelight, resembling dragon scales.

Only when two rivers meet can such a sight be seen.

As I was enjoying the night view, I suddenly felt a gaze flying towards me from not far away.

He had excellent eyesight, and when he turned his head, he saw several figures standing on a boat about 30 feet away.

As soon as Zhou Yi turned his head, the people over there noticed him too.

Suddenly a clear male voice called out:
"My friend, would you mind coming aboard for a chat?"

Zhou Yi was waiting for Feng Si and the others to return from the dock with hot food. He didn't recognize the person who called out to him, but he figured he had nothing better to do.

Instantly, the white-clad figure flashed, leaping three zhang (approximately 10 meters) to the boat of the person who had shouted.

The people on the boat were slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting this.

The person Qi Xing called over turned out to be a master.

However, they recovered in an instant.

As soon as Zhou Yi stepped onto the large ship, he immediately attracted the attention of the experts on board.

The young man in the lead raised his hand and dismissed them.

Zhou Yi saw that there were three people leading the group.

There was a beautiful young girl wearing a beige hat, a gorgeous dress, and a jade pendant around her waist.

Beside her was a young man, handsome and imposing, dressed in elegant clothes and with his hair neatly styled.

The two men stood close together, suggesting they both came from prominent families.

Two steps away from the two men was a handsome young man. He was not wearing swords or shoes, and appeared gentle and refined, with a smile on his face.

The person who just spoke up was this very person.

Zhou Yi and the young man were sizing each other up.

The young man and woman standing to the side were puzzled, not understanding why this person was suddenly called onto the boat.

"I saw that my friend's rudder was facing west, could it be that he came from the Han Canal?"

"That's right, I came all the way from Yangzi Ferry."

Zhou Yi asked, "What do you want to find out?"

The young man said, "I've heard that there's been a lot of fighting here. Although I've received some information, I'd like to find someone who's going the same way to ask about the situation."

"Don't worry, there won't be a fight for now."

Zhou Yi looked east of the Huai River: "Even if you go straight down to the Yangtze River, you won't encounter any major battles within two months. But if you go to sea, that's hard to say."

His tone was quite confident, as if he had a thorough understanding of the situation in Jiangnan.

Having witnessed his skills and observed his extraordinary demeanor, the three realized he must be someone of great importance.

The young man looked Zhou Yi closely for a moment, then clasped his hands in greeting and introduced him:
"I am Li Shimin, this is my younger sister Xiuning, and this is Chai Shao."

"May I ask your esteemed name, friend?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly and did not hide anything: "My name is Zhou Yi."

Upon hearing the name, the three reacted only for a moment before their eyes suddenly lit up.

Li Xiuning's gaze shifted downwards, and she noticed the sword at his waist, a cold iron blade bearing the mark of the Dongming Sect.

They were very familiar with the Dongming Sect.

Such weapons cannot be bought simply with money.

Based on his martial arts skills, demeanor, and tone of voice, I was pretty sure who he was.

At that moment, an indescribable feeling welled up inside me.

The Li family was one of the four great clans of the time, wielding immense power and influence.

He was a well-known figure in both the imperial court and the martial arts world, and maintained close ties with many powerful forces across the land.

However, there are some people in the martial arts world who are qualified to disregard their powerful clan status.

The young man in front of me is one of them.

Li Xiuning and Chai Shaozheng hesitated, wondering whether to reveal each other's identities.

Li Shimin smiled nonchalantly:
"So it is the Grand Commander here. My apologies for my disrespect. I saw you standing at the bow of the ship just now and found you quite extraordinary, but I couldn't figure it out, so I couldn't help but speak up."

Zhou Yi smiled gently:

"I've often heard people say that the second son of the Li family is a man of unparalleled talent. He rode his horse through Yanmen Pass and was the most talented man in Guanzhong. Seeing him today, I can confirm that his demeanor did not disappoint."

Once they started talking, Li Xiuning and Chai Shao, who were standing to the side, couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Li Shimin ignored his praise and instead asked, "Has the Grand Commander eaten?"

"No."

Li Shimin gladly invited, "There is some wine in the cabin, why don't we have a drink?"

Li Xiuning and Chai Shao looked at him, expecting him to refuse, but to their surprise, this most influential figure in the martial arts world nodded directly.

They were still thinking.

Zhou Yi and Li Shimin walked into the cabin while talking.

Zhou Yi was certain that this meal was definitely better than the one Feng Sicai had bought.

The table was covered with exquisite fish and shrimp, of various kinds and prepared in different ways.

Judging from their appearance, they were all freshly caught from the Huai River.

During their meal and drinks, Zhou Yi and Li Shimin discussed the situation in Jiangnan, and from there, they talked about the chaos in the world and the major rebel forces.

Then came the unrest among the various tribes of the steppe and the ambitions of the Turks.

Even the news that Yang Guang was about to lead the Xiaoguo Army south was included.

Li Xiuning and Chai Shao, who were standing to the side, were quite surprised. As the saying goes, one should not speak too deeply with someone you don't know well. They couldn't understand why the two had talked to such a extent on their first meeting.

For a moment, it became even more difficult to interrupt.

They listened quietly, and suddenly realized...
This Grand Commander was not only concerned with the Jianghuai region, but also had an extraordinary understanding of the overall situation in the country.

At least verbally, he had no difficulty communicating with Li Shimin.

Before we knew it, the food and drinks were running out.

Li Shimin invited more food for the third time, and Zhou Yi finally declined.

The two poured the last glass of wine, and then...
Li Shimin asked:

"Brother Zhou, if you are to reorganize Jianghuai, what are your next steps?"

Li Xiuning and Chai Shao looked at it together.

Zhou Yi looked at him and slowly said, "The deer lost by the Sui dynasty should be pursued by us."

Li Shimin nodded and listened to him speak.

"You might not believe it, but I had absolutely no interest in imperial ambitions."

Li Shimin frowned: "Why?"

"The cicada's song lasts a lifetime, but autumn is fleeting; even the longest-reigning monarch reigns for only a hundred years. How can one reach the pinnacle of martial arts, shatter the Dao, and seek immortality and freedom?"

Zhou Yi smelled the aroma of the wine in his glass: "However, sometimes you can't just think about yourself; there are always people and things you care about."

Li Shimin, recalling his other identity, replied, "Understood."

The two clinked glasses and each drank it all.

"Brother Shimin, let's drink again next time."

"Alright, Brother Zhou, we'll save that for next time."

Zhou Yi put down his wine cup, Li Shimin stood up, and the two of them stood together at the bow of the boat. With a flick of his white robes, Zhou Yi returned to his own boat.

Li Shimin returned to the cabin and ordered more wine to be brought. He then drank and chatted with Chai Shao and Xiu Ning.

Chai Shao asked, "Is he telling the truth?"

Li Xiuning nodded: "He is the person we heard about in Yanggu back then. I didn't expect him to have changed so much in such a short time."

"Given his background in the Way of Peace, it is understandable that he would have such concerns."

"I just didn't expect him to say so much to my second brother."

She said with a relieved tone, "It seems that my second brother is still the most eye-catching."

Li Shimin smiled, lost in thought, and didn't answer his younger sister's question. Chai Shao, standing nearby, then spoke up:
"Many people probably know his identity, but they are unwilling to mention it."

As Li Xiuning poured wine for her second brother, she said:

"That's for sure. He's already so powerful in Jianghuai, and he's already defeated the Demonic Sect Master. Who would want to further his influence and make him the Great Teacher of Virtue?"

"He might become the target of public criticism."

"But this person has already shown his talent. What if he seizes the opportunity and rises to power, truly causing a change in the world?"

She sighed softly, feeling quite troubled as she thought of the Jianghuai forces, and she could understand her second brother's feelings very well.

Chai Shao couldn't help but complain:

"It's all because of that Du Fuwei. I don't know what possessed him, but he actually agreed to give up the throne in Jianghuai."

Li Xiuning said:

"This person may be a major enemy in the future, but judging from the current situation in Jianghuai, Du Fuwei's choice is not wrong."

Seeing that Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, she couldn't help but ask:

"Second brother, what are you thinking about?"

"Think about two things."

"Which two?"

"First, we must speed up our actions. If we wait any longer, we may lose the initiative."

Li Xiuning nodded emphatically: "Yang Guang is about to march south, we must get Father to make a plan immediately!"

"Second brother, is there anything else?"

Li Shimin stood up, holding his wine cup, and gazed in the direction the man had disappeared, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He slowly recited, "The cicada's song lasts a lifetime, but autumn never comes."

……

At night, Zhou Yi returned to his cabin, recalling with a slight smile some of the things Erfeng had said earlier.

Erfeng's talent and insight are indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If we only consider commanding troops in battle, Zhou Yi felt he had neither the talent nor much interest in it, and was incomparable to this person.

However, the world is very different now.

Although we live in a chaotic world, the struggle for the orthodox tradition is even more intense now.

If Buddhism, Taoism, and the Demonic School all support one person, the world will probably be at peace in no time.

Such immense power means that anyone who tries to resist it will die.

Zhou Yi shook his head, trying to stop thinking about it.

I found the evening meal quite memorable.

It's mostly about the peculiar humor of "Li Shimin invited me to drink" or "I told Li Shimin that I wanted to conquer the world."

Early the next morning.

Li Shimin's ship sailed east, while Zhou Yi's ship sailed west, heading in different directions.
Upon arriving at the dock near Bagong Mountain in Huainan, Zhou Yi received news from Nanyang.

It's impossible for Buddhism, Taoism, and demons to support the same person.

This group of people did something big in Nanyang.

Also, the people of the Great Ming Zunjiao sect.

Yang Zhen is under a lot of pressure.

Zhou Yi crushed the message in his hand.

Throughout his journey from Huainan, he meditated to bring his energy and spirit to their optimal state.

The closer we get to Nanyang, the greater the pressure we feel.

The whirlpool within the whirlpool of the martial arts world, the quagmire within the quagmire, is vastly different from the fresh and free martial arts atmosphere of the Jianghuai region.

No matter where you're from, once you arrive in Nanyang, you have to coil up.

The boat arrived at Yiyang.

They were stopped as soon as they arrived at the ferry crossing; Lu Zushang was already waiting there.

"Uncle Master!"

As soon as Lu Zushang saw the ship, he began to call out to it from afar, and he became more and more fluent in calling it "uncle-master".

Others can only envy this.

Is your master at home?

"exist!"

Lu Zushang quickly replied, "He already knows that my master will be returning in the next few days, so he left a few Taoist friends in Guangshan. If my master has time, he will meet with them."

"That's perfect."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "I was just about to see Fellow Daoist Song."

As soon as he stepped off the boat, more than twenty burly men greeted him at the dock, calling out in unison, "Master!"

Lu Zushang's welcoming team caused quite a stir.

After nodding to the faces that were either unfamiliar or vaguely familiar, Zhou Yi headed towards Guangshan with his junior apprentice, Lu.

He said as he walked:

"My martial uncle's great victory over the Demonic Sect's grandmaster has made him famous throughout the martial arts world. Even my fellow martial artists in Yiyang know about this."

Zuo Youxian was the first person to receive the true teachings of the Dao Ancestor. When the master learned of this, he was extremely happy for his uncle and wrote letters to all his Daoist friends.

These people from Guangshan all arrived a month ago, right at the beginning of the year.

"Oh? How many people are here?"

"Three people."

"Where did you come from, friend?"

"I know one of them, and he is also related to my Louguan School. His surname is Chen, and he comes from Yingchuan."

The other two, I heard, were from Mount Song; it was the first time I'd ever met them either.

We chatted along the way and soon entered Guangshan.

It was getting late when they arrived at the Lu residence.

Songyinzi's Qingsong Temple is relatively small, and with a large number of people, there is not enough room to stay. It would be more convenient to stay at Lu's residence.

Lu Zushang originally intended to announce the arrival of the guests and instruct the people inside to greet them according to proper etiquette.

Zhou Yi, however, was unpretentious and entered the mansion with him, arriving at the quietest courtyard.

In the courtyard, Song Yinzi, dressed in a Taoist robe, didn't pay attention to the footsteps, but when he suddenly caught sight of a white-clad figure at the moon gate, he immediately smiled and stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Yi!"

There were three other people in the courtyard who also turned their heads to look in Zhou Yi's direction.

At a glance, the three nodded to each other.

My first impression was not disappointing.

"Fellow Daoist Song, there are a few other friends as well."

"Fellow Daoist Yi." The three men were older, but they did not dare to be presumptuous in terms of seniority, and they all cupped their hands in greeting.

"Come, come, don't be shy."

Song Yinzi pulled Zhou Yi aside: "These three are already very familiar with Fellow Daoist Yi. Let me introduce their backgrounds."

He gestured to an elderly Taoist priest with a ruddy complexion who looked very energetic, but whose eyebrows were already gray:

"This is Fellow Daoist Chen Changgong. In terms of martial arts, Fellow Daoist Chen has no equal in Yingchuan."

The white-browed old Taoist gently waved his hand, his face gleaming with a precious light and carrying a kind smile:

"You"

"Why bother discussing my meager talents with Fellow Daoist Yi?"

Zhou Yi greeted the white-browed Taoist priest with a smile.

The other two were around sixty years old and looked about 70-80% alike.

"These two fellow practitioners are named Ji Xun and Ji Shou, and they are cultivating in Mount Song."

Zhou Yi and the two Ji exchanged greetings.

The white-browed old Taoist looked at Zhou Yi, and suddenly remembered Song Yinzi's words. He took a step forward and said in an aged voice:
"I've heard that Fellow Daoist Yi is well-versed in the classics of various schools. I wonder if you could trace your lineage back to the True Man Zhengyi of our sect?"

He was somewhat testing the teacher.

Under Song Yinzi's expectant gaze, Zhou Yi casually replied:
"Why is there joy in coming, and sorrow in going? Life and death are one, and dreams and awakenings are equally true."

Old Chen's expression turned serious: "Brilliant!"

This single sentence, a profound statement on life and death by True Man Zhengyi, hits the nail on the head.

"The True Man Zhengyi studied under Wang Daoyi and learned the Louguan Classics. Later, he traveled to Huayin, where he met Lu Jing and received his secret teachings, which taught him that he could accumulate spiritual energy and communicate with the divine, knowing things before they even appeared."

Chen Changgong nodded repeatedly, his smile growing wider.

His lineage wasn't exactly unorthodox, but the fact that someone could readily articulate it was quite remarkable.

Ji Xun asked, "Since Fellow Daoist Yi knows the True Man Zhengyi, do you know Hou Kai?"

The four of them looked at Zhou Yi together. This lineage was quite different from that of the True Immortal Zheng Yi.

"Hou Kai's teacher was none other than the True Man Zhengyi, but the old man was particularly well-versed in the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and had lofty aspirations, remaining unmarried and unserving in officialdom."

After receiving the profound secrets from the True Man Zhengyi, he lived in seclusion in a cold valley. Later, he practiced Taoism on Mount Song, and in his later years, he recited the Great Cave Scripture and the method of summoning and impeaching from the "Inner Text of the Three Sovereigns."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "So it turns out that you two fellow Daoists Ji are not only from the Louguan lineage, but also very close to me."

"Oh?!" Erji's face lit up with pleasure.

Zhou Yi joined two fingers together, first transforming them into罡气 (罡气 is a type of internal energy), then into天霜 (天霜 is a type of frost).

As soon as these two secret techniques were revealed, Ji Xun and Ji Shou immediately exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise.

They studied both classics in a biased way.

But the one before us has inherited the true lineage of both the Louguan and Zhuangzi schools!

This is incredible.

Given the difference in their backgrounds, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for them to call each other "Dao Master".

At this point, they addressed each other as fellow Daoists, feeling that they had benefited from Song Yinzi's influence.

The two bowed with their hands clasped together, and Zhou Yi quickly returned the greeting.

All four were associated with the Louguan School, and a burst of laughter echoed through the courtyard.

Lu Zushang, the head of Yiyang, stood at the door, but he was the only one without a seat.

However, I am already very fortunate to be able to listen to the Taoist sect's small meeting from the sidelines.

The meeting discussed Taoist scriptures and the longevity formula that appeared in Jiangdu.

Uncle Zhou then brought out two ancient Louguan books, "Faxian" and "Xuanyi," which broadened everyone's horizons.

It also mentions Sun Simiao, a Taoist master known as the Medicine King. Ji Xun said that the Medicine King is currently living in seclusion on Mount Taibai.

Then they talked about the two demonic sects, the True Transmission of the Dao Ancestor and the Laozi Temple.

It also mentions Ning Sanren.

Lu Zushang felt that the martial arts world had really changed. The Taoist sects, who used to operate independently, were now forming groups.

The white-browed Taoist priest Chen Changgong spoke slowly, but with considerable confidence:
“Fellow Daoist Yi, we’ve heard about the Nanyang incident from Fellow Daoist Song. This time, we’ve stayed in Guangshan for so long not only to see you, but also to lend you a helping hand.”

"Not bad!"

Ji Xun rebuked him harshly: "We not only study scriptures, but also possess profound martial arts and sword techniques. How can we allow the Buddhist and demonic sects to insult the true teachings of our Daoist school?"

Ji Shou rarely spoke, but upon hearing his brother's voice, he immediately drew his sword.

The sword shadows swirled in his hand as he unleashed a section of the "Great Cave Sword Technique".

Song Yinzi held his breath and did not unleash his power, while the white-browed old Taoist exuded a peculiar aura.

Zhou Yi, a master of the Demonic Sect, could easily name more than ten.

Finally, I've seen another Taoist master.

Zhou Yi saw that the four people were extremely sincere and not just putting on an act.

I am grateful, but I will not refuse.

"Thank you all fellow Taoists!"

Borrowing external forces is secondary; the real key is to leverage the power of this sect.
……

Spring thunder rumbled and boomed over Nanyang County.

It's that time of year again – the Awakening of Insects.

Recently, even the slightest news leaked out of the Nanyang martial arts world has caused a stir.

The Champion's Coffin Palace has become a place that people in the martial arts world both yearn for and fear.

It is said
When a martial artist is obsessed with martial arts but feels hopeless about his current situation, a short, stout, mysterious figure carrying a coffin will appear.

He will tell you about the "Coffin Palace" and the ultimate secrets of martial arts.

When you nod, you will embark on a perilous journey.

He was put into the coffin alive and comprehended the supreme power of the Heavenly Demon.

Afterwards, if one succumbs to the will, one will be transformed into the true demon of the coffin palace in endless contemplation.

Each true demon will bring some insights to the master of the coffin palace.

The latest news from Champion City has been received throughout the Central Plains.

More than a month ago.

The martial arts holy lands, led by Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple, failed in their attack on the Coffin Palace!

In this battle, three of the four great monks participated, along with hundreds of eminent monks from the Tiantai and Sanlun schools, all joining the fight.

The battle was terrifying, with fierce fighting that shook the heavens and the earth. It is said that even the Garuda Palace was destroyed.

The powerful cannibal king Zhu Can was seriously injured and managed to survive by hiding under a bench in the palace hall.

The Coffin Palace suffered heavy casualties, with all of the sect leaders of the Evil Extreme Sect injured.

However, the sacred land of martial arts not only had to face the masters of the Coffin Palace, but also Zhu Can's tens of thousands of troops.

They made a mistake at the first moment and failed to capture the experts from the Coffin Palace, thus getting caught up in a fierce battle.

In the end, the experts from the Holy Land had no choice but to retreat.

Master Bu Tan, one of the four Vajra Masters of Jingnian Temple, was captured by Zhou Laotan in the chaos and put into a vermilion coffin, his fate unknown.

More than twenty eminent monks were captured alive.

The news of this battle between Buddha and demon immediately stirred up the martial arts world!

People in the martial arts world have all set their sights on Nanyang County.

recently
News has spread from Nanyang County.

The eminent monks of the Tiantai and Sanlun schools all maintained their original minds and were not corrupted.

But what's hard to believe is that Master Bu Tan of Jingnian Temple, for some unknown reason, lost his Buddhist heart, broke the precept against greed, and began practicing demonic arts, becoming half-Buddha and half-demon.
As night deepened, a light drizzle began to fall.

A white shadow silently traversed the night, crossed the moat, and scaled the city walls.

The man in white arrived at the Yangxing Society's headquarters first, hid in the shadows, and observed carefully for a while.

He was like a ghost, and the people in the Yangxing Society were watching him without noticing.

Seeing that Yang Xinghui made no unusual move, he headed straight for the small courtyard on the east side of the Nanyang Gang.

He walked on the roof tiles, and not a sound could be heard.

But
Even as he fell into the courtyard, some perceptive people were awakened in the night.

The barely audible sound of a sword being drawn, gathering true energy, concealed a deadly intent.

Then, he peered out through a small gap.

In the small courtyard, a lone lantern was lit, and through its light, a slightly thin figure in white could be seen.

Zhou Yi smiled faintly as he saw the girl holding a sword in her hand when she pushed open the door.

In the dim light, I met those deep blue eyes.

"It's only been a few months, and you're already drawing your sword against me?"

The girl didn't drop her sword and walked up in a few steps.

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly: "Cousin, I thought I would never see you again."

Before Zhou Yi could even reach out, Aruiyina stepped back.

At that moment, there were two more sounds of doors opening and rapid footsteps.

"Brother!"

"Senior brother~"

Two voices came from one after the other, and Xia Shu and Yan Qiu ran over one after the other, Yan Qiu hadn't even put her shoes on properly.

Zhou Yi reached out and gave the three of them a gentle hug.

"I'm back."

……

(End of this chapter)