Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 171 Battle at Shaolin on the Double Ninth Festival (Seeking monthly votes!)

Inside the Bashan Pavilion.

Although this place is small, it is a gathering place for many wise men.

The instant Ren Shaoyang and Ximen Chuixue locked eyes, everyone seemed to hear the clang of clashing blades, sparks flying everywhere.

Ximen Chuixue said, "I am very happy that you came." His tone was cold and icy, devoid of any emotion, and his voice was not human.

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "I didn't come here to see you."

Ximen Chuixue frowned and said, "But now that I've seen you, I certainly won't let you go."

Not letting them go?
Should I not let him go, or should I not let myself go?

Ren Shaoyang shook his head and smiled, then put his hands behind his back and said, "Kid, your sword intent can be released but not withdrawn; it's still lacking."

Ximen Chuixue's hand, which was resting on the hilt of his sword, suddenly bulged with veins. He said in a cold voice, "But if I miss this chance today, I will never have another one."

Ren Shaoyang sighed and said, "Alright, alright, I agree. You can wait over there for a moment."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Chuixue actually nodded and walked to the side to wait.

Before anyone could even react with surprise, Ren Shaoyang turned around with a smile and looked at Little Gu Daoist.

Master Gu cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Ren is an unparalleled master in the martial arts world. Master Gu from Bashan greets your esteemed sage!"

Ren Shaoyang nodded: "I came to Dazhou to visit the Bashan Taoist temple and see the 'Returning Wind and Dancing Willow Sword'."

Little Gu Daoist asked cautiously, "You didn't destroy our Bashan Daoist temple, did you?"

Ren Shaoyang shook his head: "I only wanted to see the sword, nothing else."

"That's a good feeling!"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Gu's expression softened, then he became serious: "Mr. Ren, all my life's learning is focused on these forty-nine moves of the Returning Wind and Dancing Willow Sword. If I were to fight you, I would only use forty-nine moves, without holding back at all! If I cannot achieve anything after forty-nine moves, then even if I use four hundred and ninety moves, four thousand nine hundred moves will be completely useless."

Having said that, Little Gu Daoist brandished his longsword and bowed, saying, "Mr. Ren, please forgive me for not being able to let you enjoy yourself to the fullest."

Seeing the remarkable demeanor of the young Taoist Gu, Ren Shaoyang smiled and nodded, saying, "You're quite good, but not quite enough."

He turned to look at Ximen Chuixue beside him and said, "Kid, you come along too."

Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou were taken aback. Was Ren Shaoyang going to fight two against one?

Lu Xiaofeng walked to Hongxiu's side and asked in a low voice, "Sister Hongxiu, isn't Master Ren being a bit too presumptuous by doing this?"

Hongxiu glanced at him sideways and smiled, "Why do you think that?"

“Master Gu’s swordsmanship is extremely high, while Ximen Chuixue has cultivated a killing sword technique.” Lu Xiaofeng said with a frown, “With Master Ren’s swordsmanship, killing my two friends would be easy for him. But if we hold back in our sparring, I’m afraid there might be unforeseen circumstances.”

Hongxiu smiled slightly, her eyes shining brightly: "Are you worried that Shaoyang will get hurt, and that we will kill Little Gu Daoist and Ximen Chuixue?"

Lu Xiaofeng remained unfazed and said with a smile, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you, after all, they're all my friends."

Hongxiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying calmly, "Don't worry, this is nothing."

"Oh, huh?" Lu Xiaofeng was taken aback. "You're so confident?"

"Just keep watching and you'll see."

Ximen Chuixue silently drew his longsword and said coldly, "Sword God Ren, please be careful."

Facing the combined attack of the two swordsmen, Ren Shaoyang beckoned: "Come here."

"bass"!
Ximen Chuixue unleashed a sword strike, instantly silencing the wind and rain; the entire world resounded with the sound of that single sword strike!

Even the young Taoist was shocked by the power of this sword. He did not rush to draw his sword, but instead opened his eyes wide, wanting to see clearly what kind of sword technique Ren Shaoyang would use under the pressure of this sword.

Ren Shaoyang laughed heartily, raised his right hand to the sky, and the Divine Sword Capturing Dragon suddenly appeared, slowly slashing down.

His sword strike was very slow, yet it brought forth an invisible torrent, like a dragon or snake rising from the land, seemingly moving from left to right, seemingly slow yet fast. It was a seemingly ordinary sword strike, yet it possessed the immense power to lift the sky.

"deep"!
It was as if the heavens and earth had been cleaved apart by this sword!

"What a domineering and terrifying sword strike!" Hua Manlou couldn't help but ask as he listened to the sword's cry, "Senior Ding'an, is this the renowned 'Three Elements Sword' of Sword God Ren?"

“That’s right!” Ding’an nodded excitedly. “This sword is called ‘Heavenly Sword Collapses the Mountain,’ and it is extremely powerful.”

“It’s not just sharp, it’s terrifying! It’s like it could split the Bashan Mountains in two!” Lu Xiaofeng interjected, looking horrified.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a loud clang. They turned around and saw Ren Shaoyang standing in the middle of the field, sword in hand.

A ten-zhang-long crack, like a dragon or snake, meandered through the entire pavilion.

Ximen Chuixue retreated seven steps, a blush rising on his pale face. But far from being discouraged, he was extremely excited:

"I felt it! This... this is the sword that defeated Ye Gucheng!"

Ximen Chuixue suddenly looked up, his eyes shining brightly: "My path ahead is clear."

Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow and smiled, then slowly said, "Your talent is truly remarkable."

Ximen Chuixue took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Thank you for your help."

Ren Shaoyang shook his head and said, "You were able to comprehend it, which means you have a special affinity for the Dharma." After saying that, he turned to look at Little Gu Daoist and nodded, "You come too."

"Good!" Little Gu Daoist shouted, "Mr. Ren, please take a look at the sword!" With a flick of his elbow, the sword light rose up from the ground like mercury spilling onto the ground. It seemed gentle, but in fact, it was dense and endless.

Ren Shaoyang praised, "The Returning Phoenix Dance Willow Sword truly deserves to be called a masterpiece of a century!" As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, and the sword light was as dense as a sudden rain.

The sword light flashed like a shuttle, striking and striking at the heart of the matter. In just a dozen or so strikes, it had left Little Gu Daoist drenched in sweat, and he unconsciously leaned against the wall.

Lu Xiaofeng blurted out, "What an exquisite and intricate 'Flowing Wine Sword'! It actually suppressed the Returning Phoenix Dance Willow Sword."

Hongxiu nodded and said, "You remember it very well."

Lu Xiaofeng laughed and said, "I still remember vividly how Ren Ye's 'Flowing Wine Sword' and 'Diving Nether Sword' shone brightly in the battle of Luoyang."

Just as Little Gu Daoist's face turned pale, and he exhausted all the transformations he had learned in his life, but the sword in his hand was getting slower and slower, and he felt that his skills were running out.

Just then, another sword rang out!
Ximen Chuixue brandished his longsword, which lashed out like a raging dragon, and shot towards them with lightning speed!

Ren Shaoyang glanced sideways and smiled: "Well done!" Before he moved, the sword light had already soared into the air and attacked. Ren Shaoyang's body was like a butterfly flitting among flowers, fast yet slow, graceful and unconventional, with the momentum like a cascading waterfall. The sword light swept through the air, and the sound of the wind carried a heart-stirring tremor.

However, Ximen Chuixue's swordplay did not stop at all. It was sharp and fierce, like wind, thunder and lightning, moving in an instant and counterattacking relentlessly.

Little Gu Daoist finally caught his breath and unleashed the Phoenix Dance Willow Sword once more, leaping high and crouching low, launching a fierce attack. A hazy blue sword light seemed like a reflection of the Milky Way, creating a curtain of swords.

No matter how skilled they were with their swords, no matter how fast or heavy they were, when they encountered Ren Shaoyang's divine sword, they were instantly like boulders falling into a vast lake. Even if there were ripples, they would only sink into the lake.

The young Daoist Gu was utterly horrified. Compared to this white-robed man, everyone he had ever seen seemed like mere ants. Even more terrifying was the fact that he clearly sensed that Ren Shaoyang hadn't even used his full strength yet!

Suddenly, Ren Shaoyang, who was facing his enemy with ease, laughed loudly and said, "Little Taoist Gu, Ximen Chuixue, this place is too small after all. How about we go to the misty rain of Bashan and fight deep in the clouds?"

Ximen Chuixue said coldly, "Agreed!"

Little Master Gu nodded and said, "I will do as Mr. Ren says!"

Having said that, a great wind arose from the swords, and the three of them rushed into the wind and rain outside the gate, disappearing into the distant smoke and clouds like streaks of light. Then, a clanging sound like a dragon's roar could be heard, and the resounding golden sound shook the surrounding area.

The mist rolled and flowed over the distant mountains, and countless dazzling sword lights soared into the sky, spreading throughout the depths of the Bashan Mountains.

"Whoosh!"
A thunderbolt suddenly struck, splitting the clouds and unleashing a deafening roar that shook mountains and valleys—
"Grumpy"

There was an inn.

A steaming hot pot, and a perfectly warm bottle of Shaoxing wine.

On this gloomy, rainy autumn day, after enduring the wind and rain, I went indoors, took off my wet raincoat, and sat down.

Enjoying hot pot, singing songs, drinking wine, and listening to music with a few close friends.

This was Hongxiu's favorite thing.

Now, this is what Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou like to do most.

They are not short of money and live a carefree, even luxurious life, but they still feel that something is missing.

Lu Xiaofeng turned to look at the little beggar who was playing around with Ding An, then looked at Ren Shaoyang who was drinking and stirring things up, and sighed sincerely, "I'm so envious."

Hua Manlou smiled and said, "They are family, and you can have family too."

Lu Xiaofeng paused, then took a sip of his wine: "Does someone like me deserve it?"

Hua Manlou shook his head and changed the subject, saying, "Actually, they just look like a group of young people."

"Yes, they are young people who sincerely pursue fairness and follow their true selves."

Ren Shaoyang turned to look at the two of them and said calmly, "But the hardest thing in this martial world is to stick to your original intentions."

Lu Xiaofeng was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "You're right, it's difficult." He then clinked glasses with Ren Shaoyang.

Ren Shaoyang downed his drink in one gulp and said, "So, I also hope you won't change."

Lu Xiaofeng smiled bitterly, raised his glass and said loudly, "To my heart, to romance!"

"Come, come!" Hongxiu shouted, raising her cup. "Wine in the cup, wine in the cup, drink it all!"

"Drink Sheng!"

The group drank three cups in a row, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Lu Xiaofeng put down his wine cup and asked, "Master Ren, are Ximen Chuixue and Little Gu Daoist alright?"

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "I suffered some internal injuries, but I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest."

"That's good, that's good." Lu Xiaofeng said, still shaken. "This is the first time I've seen Ximen Chuixue vomit blood like that." He then revealed a mischievous grin, "And the first time I've seen Ximen Chuixue 'black'."

Upon hearing this, Hua Manlou couldn't help but chuckle.

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "His sword practice was too extreme, and his internal organs had been under threat for some time. He is currently recuperating and conditioning his body. Once he recovers, it will be time for him to make further progress."

Lu Xiaofeng said, "That's good, it can be considered a blessing in disguise."

He immediately felt relieved and raised a glass with everyone, surprisingly in a good mood despite the damp and rainy weather.

However, the better my mood, the more likely I am to be disturbed.

Just like how every good period is inevitably followed by something bad.

Just as everyone was enjoying their drinks, Hongxiu suddenly frowned and said, "You bald monk who's ruining the fun."

"What?" Lu Xiaofeng turned to look at the door.

Then a Buddhist chant was heard: "Amitabha."

Several large monks stood outside the door. The one in the lead was tall and imposing with a long beard. He put his hands together in a gesture of respect and said, "Iron Shoulder of the Shaolin Arhat Hall greets Mr. Ren, Miss Ren, Mr. Li, and also Benefactor Lu and Benefactor Hua."

Head of the Arhat Hall?
Lu Xiaofeng frowned, wondering why the Shaolin monk dared to appear in front of the "Three Fiends of the North".

Ren Shaoyang said calmly, "Great monks, why aren't you waiting at Shaoshi Mountain? What are you doing here in front of me?"

With iron shoulders and eyes blazing with anger, he slowly said, "This humble monk has come to deliver an invitation to you, sir."

Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Finally couldn't hold back anymore?"

"Amitabha."

Tie Jian chanted a Buddhist prayer and said coldly, "Your actions are ruthless, causing chaos in the martial world. The abbot does not wish for widespread suffering, so he sent an invitation to the three of you to gather on Chongyang Festival to end this chaos."

A gathering on the Double Ninth Festival?
End the chaos?

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Very well, you want to achieve your goal in one battle, and so do I." With that, he stretched out his hand, "Give it to me."

Tie Jian pulled a gold-embossed invitation from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Ren Shaoyang.

After Ren Shaoyang received it, he slowly opened it, and Little Beggar, Ding An, and Lu Xiaofeng all curiously craned their heads to look.

To take care of Hua Manlou, Ding'an even read it aloud.

"The three masters of the northern frontier, their martial arts are flawed, causing sorrow to the common people. Shaolin, with its compassionate heart, will hold a tea ceremony and discuss the Dao before Shaoshi Peak at the hour of Chen on the Double Ninth Festival. May we stop the fighting in the Buddhist realm and transform the hostility into enlightenment."

(End of this chapter)