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

Chapter 223 The curtain opens
The sun was high in the sky, and the waterfall emitted wisps of steam that rose gently upwards, becoming fainter as it went higher, until it finally merged with the azure sky and became inseparable.

On the peach tree atop the peak, a young man in white robes lay supine on a branch, holding a green leaf and playing a cheerful tune.

As Lang Fanyun slowly walked up the mountain, he saw this scene.

At this moment, peach blossoms fall silently, the mountain mist soaks clothes, and colorful petals flutter down.

He looked up at the sliver of warm sunlight in the distance. The sunlight shone quietly on him, and the water mist instantly evaporated and changed under the sunlight, revealing a dazzling array of colors.

Lang Fanyun paused to listen to his playing.

As this sound flows, it seems to correspond to all kinds of grand and loud sounds in the world, and it can also produce subtle sensations in the smallest details.

Upon closer listening, it seemed as if the hall was filled with gold and jade, the rhythm changing rapidly, as if all things were responding to the beat, a chorus of mountains and seas.

It was truly awe-inspiring, with waves crashing and clouds churning, leaving one breathless and deeply moved.

When the music ended, Ren Shaoyang floated down gracefully, a smile in his eyes: "Brother Lang, did you bring the wine?"

Lang Fanyun shook his head and laughed, "You lazy Ren Shaoyang, the mountains are high and the roads are long, you still insist that I bring you wine."

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said lightly, "Listening to the 'heavenly music' and feeling the fluctuations of all things, what a wonderful thing! Asking you to bring a pot of wine, is that too much?"

Before he could finish speaking, Lang Fanyun clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Not many, not many!" Upon closer inspection, Ren Shaoyang stood calmly under the peach tree, like a lone swan.

"Good lad, your progress is amazing!" Lang Fanyun exclaimed in surprise.

Ren Shaoyang glanced at him, his expression as indifferent as ever, and stretched out his hand: "Bring the wine!"

"I owe you!" Lang Fanyun said with a bitter smile. "Here you go!" With that, he smashed the wine pot into Lang Fanyun's hand.

Ren Shaoyang chuckled, and the two found a patch of grass under the peach tree, where they half-lyed down and started drinking.

"It's been two years since we last met, and you've already reached such a wondrous realm." Lang Fanyun patted his belly, both sighing and delighted. "All things are not difficult to grasp if you observe them carefully."

Ren Shaoyang looked up at the sky and said leisurely, "Brother Lang, stop flattering me. What about you?"

Lang Fanyun sighed, “Brother Ren thinks too highly of me. In this Peach Blossom Field, I feel as if I have a fishbone stuck in my throat.”

“This place certainly gives me a home-field advantage,” Ren Shaoyang said with a smile, “just like Dongting Lake is to Brother Lang.”

Lang Fanyun was silent for a moment, then said, "Brother Ren, are you aware that the Demon Master's Palace has been hunting down a young man recently?"

"Is it Feng Xinglie, the one who cuckolded Old Man Pang, that traitorous disciple of Lao Li?"

Lang Fanyun paused, staring at the peach blossoms that stretched diagonally overhead. After a moment of contemplation, he said softly, "You have a very unique perspective on this matter."

Ren Shaoyang laughed and asked, "You ran into this kid?"

“I ran into you at the mountain god temple outside Wuchang City,” Lang Fanyun said with a smile. “Han Bai and Zen Master Guangdu of Jingnian Temple were also there. After I scared away my two servants, Hei and Bai, I learned from Han Bai that you were on this mountain.” As he said this, his voice became playful. “I just didn’t expect that when I saw Brother Ren again, you would give me such a hard time.”

Ren Shaoyang frowned and said, "Feng Xinglie has already run all the way to Wuchang Prefecture, how can Lao Li not care?"

Lang Fanyun gave a wry smile: "Given his personality, he'll definitely intervene!"

Ren Shaoyang asked again, "Old Ghost Pang always says one thing and does another. Now that you're wandering around, he'll definitely send people to bully those three kids from the Angry Dragon Gang."

Lang Fanyun shook his head and said, "Sigh, I can't even go out for a stroll."

Ren Shaoyang smiled slightly: "Three years ago, you stepped in to help in a time of crisis and reconciled with Shangguan Ying and the others. Now that you are doing this again, it is to save people from dire straits."

"Now that the rear is at peace, you can focus on preparing for the final battle against Old Ghost Pang."

Lang Fanyun asked strangely, "You felt it too?"

“He only has eyes for you,” Ren Shaoyang said. “I noticed that two years ago.”

“No, all he sees is brokenness.” Lang Fanyun paused. “And what about me?”

Ren Shaoyang said, "I have a grudge against Pang Laogui, and I also admire Feng Xinglie for cuckolding him, so I will definitely get back at Pang Laogui."

Lang Fanyun shook his head and chuckled: "He knows."

“That’s right!” Ren Shaoyang said, “Even if he knows I’m watching him from the sidelines, he will still come. He will still use the opportunity of chasing Feng Xinglie to kill Li Ruohai.”

"Brother Ren, what do you intend to do?"

Ren Shaoyang downed the wine in the flask in one gulp, then stood up and handed the green leaf in his hand to Lang Fanyun: "When you respond to Old Ghost Pang's challenge, give him this leaf as well."

Lang Fanyun took the green leaf, looked at the lush, jade-like leaf, and laughed, "Is this your challenge to him?"

"It's not a declaration of war," Ren Shaoyang laughed, "it's about destroying someone's spirit!"

"To kill, one must first destroy the spirit?"

Ren Shaoyang nodded, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the ugly man: "Either he stays in the Demon Master's Palace, or if he dares to come to Wuchang Prefecture, I will definitely leave him with an indelible memory!"

Lang Fanyun was somewhat surprised: "Brother Ren, are you threatening the Demon Master?"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Whoever has the bigger fist is right. I'll intimidate him the same way he intimidated others back then."

“But I think the Demon Master will definitely come to kill Li Ruohai,” Lang Fanyun said. “This is a build-up of strength before his great battle with me; he can’t possibly back down.”

"Is that so?" Ren Shaoyang said calmly. "If that's the case, don't blame me for resorting to underhanded tactics."

Lang Fanyun laughed, "That's right, the White-Clad Sword God is ruthless and audacious, so that's how it is." After he finished speaking, he added, "By the way, the eighteen seed masters of the White Path have also come here, which may cause some trouble." Ren Shaoyang looked ahead indifferently and said, "Someone wants to be a troublemaker."

Lang Fanyun was stunned for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Are they shit or sticks?"

Ren Shaoyang was amused and annoyed, and cursed, "I've never seen someone like you who asks for trouble."

"Haha!" Lang Fanyun laughed heartily, then said loudly, "Brother Ren, the wine is finished, and the words are finished, why not let me see the Dao you have comprehended?"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "That's how it should be."

"Alright!" Lang Fanyun didn't waste any words and slapped his sword sheath.

Canglang!

The Rain-Covering Sword flew out of its sheath and stabbed straight at Ren Shaoyang's face.

The ugly man moved like lightning, leaping into the air and catching the longsword with one hand, unleashing a burst of sword flowers that shattered the falling peach blossoms.

bass!
The Dragon Capture Sword landed in my hand; its blade was exquisite, gleaming with blue light.

Ren Shaoyang sighed, "Peach blossoms fall, shadows fly, divine sword flies; when will I be young again in this life? Brother Lang, you've spoiled the mood!"

Ren Jianshen stood gracefully under the tree, like a gentleman. With a slight tremor of his wrist, he suddenly shot out several streaks of sword light, some long and slow, some short and fast, some straight and upright, and some curved and round.

Sword blossoms and streaks of sword light clashed and intertwined, the sounds sometimes rapid and sometimes melodious, far exceeding the power of a raging storm.

A gray shadow and a white shadow flickered in and out of sight, weaving through the rain of peach blossoms.

In an instant, it seemed as if countless waves were surging across the field, and sword light covered the sky and the earth.

Ren Shaoyang observed it with his eyes, heard it with his ears, and sensed it with his spirit. His physical body seemed to transform into a shimmering feather, drifting freely between heaven and earth.

The two divine swords intertwined, raining down sword strikes with a sound like thunder.

During their sword duel, Ren Shaoyang once again used his "keen ears" to treat the sound of the sword as a "celestial symphony," while Xinhu used the "Emperor's Qi Observation Technique" to observe and suddenly discovered that Lang Fanyun's sword strike was out of harmony.

Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow, his swordsmanship becoming even more ethereal. He leaped forward and thrust three times in quick succession.

At this moment, Lang Fanyun felt as if the opponent's longsword had come to life. The three sword lights each had their own unique characteristics: one sword was majestic and powerful, one sword was unpredictable and elusive, and one sword was dangerous and ingenious.

As the three swords were drawn, a golden "clang" was heard, and they actually struck the tip of the Rain-Covering Sword.

The sword strike, which had been surging like waves, suddenly stopped!
He was taken aback, and retreated gracefully, silently holding the blade of the Overturning Rain Sword.

Ren Shaoyang stood motionless, sword on his back, his aura surging, yet inexplicably desolate, as if he were an ethereal phantom.

Suddenly, Lang Fanyun seemed to no longer be able to sense his presence. Although he could clearly see the white robe, his heart kept telling him that he had disappeared, and his spirit had already subsided into the spring scenery of the mountains and rivers.

"Good!" Lang Fanyun laughed. "Use momentum to control the sword, be proud and unconventional."

Ren Shaoyang chuckled softly: "Brother Lang, are you not going to show your true skills?"

Lang Fanyun laughed heartily: "Come!" The Fuyu Sword in his hand rose and fell like the ebb and flow of the tide, and a burst of strong light burst out from his arms, turning into a rainbow that struck straight out.

Ren Shaoyang laughed, "Beautiful!" With a flick of his wrist, he captured the dragon, and a sharp, resounding sword rang out, its blade spreading out like a pool of cold water.

Several sword strikes followed in quick succession, their momentum resonating like leaping waves or a torrential downpour, sudden and relentless. This move was elegant and beautiful, refreshingly simple; it could be summed up in four words.

Just right!

In an instant, the two swords, carrying peach blossoms, grew from small to large, from few to many, and then transformed into two crimson torrential rains that poured out.

The two swords clashed once more, accompanied by an unparalleled whistling sound, instantly sending up a rain of flowers more than ten feet high.

"brush!"

The faint light flashed and disappeared.

The entire mountain peak seemed to be illuminated by lightning once again.

But the sky did not flash, and all things suddenly fell silent.

The petals scattered all around vanished suddenly, as if in a dream.

"Qiang!"

Lang Fanyun sheathed his sword, slowly descended the mountain, a smile playing on his lips.

Ren Shaoyang, hands on his hips, shook his head and sighed: "I once thought that the ultimate principle of swordsmanship was contained within this. Now that I have seen the full picture of Brother Lang's swordsmanship, I still know that it is as ethereal as a wild goose, and its beauty is beyond compare."

Lang Fanyun's bold voice echoed from halfway up the mountain: "Likewise!"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "This ugly man, you're out of words, aren't you?" As he spoke, he swayed and suddenly disappeared from the spot.

After a while, a mountain breeze blew across the sky.

Wow!
There used to be a small peak jutting out horizontally at the top of the mountain, but now it is diagonally broken into two neat sections.

It slowly crashed down into the valley.
-
P.S.: I'm designing a small dungeon as a prefix for synthesizing the "Heartbeat" super accelerator, with the aim of giving Xiao Ren the power to "believe it's true".

One is Giddens Ko's *Kung Fu Hustle*, about going to Taipei to deal with Hydra, that vampire. (Thanks to reader 151016212445655, who is just a weak and incompetent reader, for the reminder.)
One is Yuan Shisanxian, the warrior of Sweet Mountain, who saved Tianyi Jushi. (Thanks to fellow reader "Rabbit Princess" for the reminder.)
Which of these godfathers do you prefer to watch?

(End of this chapter)