Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 155 The Nine Swords of the Ape King, Seeking Reinforcements from the Branch Hall

"Squeak..."

Just as he was wondering why his wine jar had disappeared, he heard a monkey's cry.

Looking up, I saw a golden monkey sitting in a tree, its legs swinging back and forth, one arm pointing at itself, laughing so hard it was almost falling over, yet it didn't fall down.

Yue Lingfeng stared at him intently.

Even if he can't understand monkey language, he can still understand expressions.

The golden-haired monkey was clearly mocking itself, because it was still holding the wine jar firmly in its other hand. It squeaked a few times, then tilted its head back and took a big gulp of wine. The wine cascaded down its face, with 30% reaching its mouth and 70% spilling out.

"My wine..."

At this moment, Yue Lingfeng didn't know whether he was heartbroken that his wine was being wasted or ashamed and angry that his abstract behavior had been seen by someone—no, by the monkey—and he couldn't hold back any longer.

With a light touch of his toes, he leaped diagonally into the air, extending his ape-like arm to grab the golden monkey's neck, his five fingers outstretched, a faint sword aura emanating from them.

I'll teach you to drink, I'll teach you to steal alcohol, and I'll beat you until you pee.

He harbored resentment towards the monkeys.

When I was a child, I was hit by countless stones; it was an unforgettable experience.

Thinking back, I can still feel a slight phantom pain at the site of the swelling on my head...

A hint of mockery flashed in the little monkey's eyes, which were full of intelligence. It curled its tongue and shot out a jet of wine. The speed was not extremely fast, but the timing was extremely precise.

It seemed as if Yue Lingfeng had brought his face close to it.

Upon seeing this wine arrow...

Yue Lingfeng seemed to see that [flowing light] again, and his heart turned slightly cold. Without thinking, he used the [shedding robe and giving way] move, using his waist and abdomen to roll over, and at the same time, the long sword on his shoulder was already pointing out.

Just as he was about to strike the monkey's arm with his sword, the monkey suddenly began to roll over, even more precisely than him, its thin tail stretched into a line, accompanied by a slight shriek, and touched his wrist.

The tail transformed into a sword, faintly stirring the sound of a storm.

At the same time, two peach branches seemed to come alive, lashing out like serpents to cover the eyebrows and eyes.

puff puff...

Two sounds rang out in quick succession.

Just as Yue Lingfeng's sword touched the monkey's hair, before he could exert any force, his wrist suddenly ached, and a sharp pain struck.

He almost dropped the longsword in his hand.

He glanced at his wrist out of the corner of his eye and was shocked to see a small purple mark. How could this little monkey be so powerful?

Their strength isn't necessarily great, nor is their speed particularly fast.

However, when the tail thrusts out, it seems that the surrounding air turns into a whirlwind, and even the peach trees obey its command.

Caught off guard, he was hit by the first attack.

As a result, the thrusting [Shadowless Sword] was unable to exert any force and was abruptly cut off.

Of course, even with insufficient force, it still made the little monkey scream and lose a few golden hairs.

The little monkey was clearly angry.

With a sharp cry, a monkey swung its arm, wielding a wooden stick and carrying a wine jar, leaping into the depths of the peach grove. The monkey was agile, and even while carrying the wine jar, it still leaped like the wind.

It's like shouting, "You wait, I'm off to get reinforcements."

"You thief! You snatched the item and ran, and you even dared to fight back and hit me! How outrageous!"

Yue Lingfeng was unwilling to let it go.

I thought to myself, if I don't help it change this bad habit, it will come and steal things from time to time while I'm in seclusion here. How can I still live here?
I've already refrained from picking and eating the peaches myself, yet they've gone too far and tried to steal my things. This is intolerable!

Immediately, he accelerated, covering three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in a single step, and hurriedly caught up.

"Boom bang bang..."

We just chased them into the woods.

Suddenly everything went dark, and from all directions, countless pebbles rained down like a downpour.

Fell into a trap.

Yue Lingfeng let out a loud shout, his long sword dancing like a curtain of light. His feet moved erratically, his body moving left and right, forward and backward, leaving behind a series of afterimages, making it almost impossible to see where he was going.

But those stones were strange too.

More than ten small pebbles seemed to be able to turn corners and follow him, chasing after the gust of wind stirred up by his body. Instead of slowing down, they became faster and faster.

Snapped……

He was struck in the ear, causing Yue Lingfeng to gasp in shock.

He quickly ducked and dodged.

Suddenly, two more blows landed on his forehead and cheek.

The stone wasn't particularly strong, yet it seemed to blend into the wind, changing direction extremely quickly, beyond the realm of reason.

It seemed that he could draw strength from the gust of wind generated by his own sword strike.

As Yue Lingfeng was beaten and fled in disarray, he caught a glimpse of the little monkey clutching its belly and giggling, jumping up and down with laughter.

He didn't forget to raise the jar to himself, declaring victory.

In the distance, among a grove of flowering trees, a black-furred kitten with white paws crouched low.

Seeing the large and small monkeys appearing from all directions, it couldn't help but stick out its tongue. It spotted a direction and ran off quickly.

Yue Lingfeng withdrew from the peach grove.

With several large bumps on his forehead and face, he spat several times, looking extremely annoyed. A clod of dirt had almost hit him in the mouth, but he was lucky to have it knocked away with a sword, though it still managed to splatter dust and dirt all over his nose and mouth.

At that moment, I felt my tongue was dry and my mouth was parched. I gritted my teeth, picked a big, juicy peach, took a vicious bite, and stared blankly at the peach grove.

I thought to myself that these monkeys must have become spirits.

The golden monkey's tail and the direction of the stone were extremely abnormal.

In the past, when he was beaten and had to run away in a panic, he never thought too much. He just assumed that his cultivation was not good enough and his swordsmanship was not good enough, so he could not dodge.

But now he doesn't think so anymore.

What kind of stone could prevent even a master swordsman from parrying it?

And that golden-haired little monkey's tail stab, despite its weak strength, slow speed, and lack of any sophisticated moves, actually struck first despite being a latecomer, piercing its own wrist.

By relying on strength, I have won far too many battles.

However, if one treats that tail strike as a sword technique, one will lose completely, utterly and without any chance of retaliation.

If the little monkey were replaced by an opponent of the same cultivation level, wielding the same sharp sword, the little monkey would have its wrist dislocated before it could even strike, and wouldn't even know how it lost.

"Something's not right, something's very wrong. The trajectory of that sword and the pebble was very strange, as if it was deliberately meant to be shown to me."

Yue Lingfeng began practicing swordsmanship at the age of eight and was known for his extraordinary comprehension.

Although resources on the mountain are scarce and cannot help him much in terms of internal cultivation, he has a wide range of knowledge in swordsmanship and is quite adept at applying what he has learned to other situations.

He could learn any sword technique at a glance, and after practicing for a while, he reached the level of mastery.

Having reached this level, he is practically invincible among the younger generation, both on and off the mountain...

Without rivals, one loses the motivation to move forward. Most of the time, he revels in the praise of his fellow disciples and often receives compliments from his master and mistress.

Over the years, he had never reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. He felt that the problem wasn't his lack of effort, but rather that he had lost his goal.

When he understood this principle.

After being severely defeated by Lu Wubing several more times.

His swordsmanship immediately reached a high level of mastery... every move and every stance became precise and perfect.

It was at this stage that he once again lost his way.

The only thing I can do is keep practicing and keep drawing my sword.

I just hope that one day, a flash of inspiration will come and I can break through again.

However, swordsmanship is something that you either know how to do or you don't.

It is a profound and mysterious understanding.

The experiences of others may not necessarily become stepping stones for your own progress.

Even if you see and learn something, you may not necessarily understand it.

Yue Lingfeng understood this point.

He also knew that to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship, one needed a breakthrough in the mind and a transcendence of the spirit.

This was a path that even his master and mistress hadn't been able to take, and he really couldn't think of any other way.

Moreover, Yue Lingfeng also knew that even his junior brother could only try to instill his swordsmanship into a standardized form... forcibly regulating his junior brothers and sisters with the Great Perfection Sword Style.

He didn't know how to teach others to use the Perfect Sword Technique.

Swordsmanship at this level is merely a personal matter, a matter of the mind; it cannot be taught in any way.

Yue Lingfeng now seems to see a glimmer of hope.

The golden-haired monkey's tail strike seemed to have exceeded the limits of the move, resulting in some kind of mutation.

"Power, yes, it's the application of power... When it makes its move, the winds from all directions seem to be helping it. The peach branches are all stirred up and begin to attack me."

The same goes for those tough rocks... It's less that the rocks hit me and more that the breeze in the forest hit me.

The wind is everywhere and reaches everywhere. I am in the wind; how can I escape it?

Think about this.

A sudden realization seemed to flash through Yue Lingfeng's mind.

He resumed his swordplay with a blissful, almost intoxicated state, abandoning the hasty and simplified approach he had taken in the afternoon, and instead focused on appreciating the refreshing breeze in the mountains.

As Yue Lingfeng practiced, he was about to gain some insight, but he was just one step short and failed to grasp the method.

His swordplay was crooked and disorganized; you could tell he was trying to imitate a monkey's tail thrust, but he completely lacked the spirit of moving with the wind and adapting to the situation.

Just as anxiety resurfaced in his mind, he heard a faint chuckle.

"Who?"

This is the second time.

His wine disappeared the first time he heard the sigh.

At this point, when auditory hallucinations reappeared, Yue Lingfeng was already traumatized.

He rushed to the ancestral master's tombstone, his eyes gleaming.

Then he noticed that a small stone tablet had appeared next to the large stone tablet at some point...

The surface of the stele is as smooth as a mirror, with deep marks carved into it.

On the soil, a pile of fine white stone powder was sprinkled.

There are several finger marks on the left and right edges of the stone tablet.

[He can mold stone like clay, and use his fingers as a brush...]

This was done right under my nose.

When Yue Lingfeng saw the monument, he felt a chill in his heart.

He imagined a scenario.

As he practiced his swordsmanship alone, moving with incredible agility and skill, there was someone—whether human or ghost—who would quietly sit beside him, watching, then shake his head and sigh, making him chuckle involuntarily…

He casually picked up a large rock, chopped it into a mirror-like surface, and then drew pictures with his fingers.

As for him, he was like a deaf and blind man, discovering nothing.

"Could it be that the patriarch has manifested his power?"

Yue Lingfeng immediately knelt down and kowtowed three times, saying, "Thank you for transmitting the Dharma, Ancestor."

Regardless of whether someone is a founder or not, it's never wrong to be polite and respectful.

Only then did I calm down from the shock and look at the small stone tablet, where I saw crooked and distorted characters written on it.

The first line reads: "[Nine forces change with the wind and clouds, eight swords lower their brows.]" The second line is blank, except for a thick line drawn in the middle of the stone tablet.

Although it was just a fingerprint or engraving, Yue Lingfeng knew that this line was a sword.

He not only recognized it as a three-foot-long sword, but also saw how the sword stirred up a gale and how it merged into the wind.

How can we, in the simplest way, enter into the spiritual workings of heaven and earth and draw upon the prevailing trends?

Yue Lingfeng never imagined that someone could hide a thousand words in a single stroke of a brush.

Although nothing was said, it was as if everything had been said.

He was so engrossed in the calligraphy that he stared at it for a full quarter of an hour before snapping out of it, drenched in sweat.

I felt that the aftertaste was endless, and even if I looked at it for three days and three nights, I might not be able to grasp its essence. In the end, I still had to practice.

However, things are completely different now compared to before. The future is now clear.

All that remains is to verify them one by one.

He let out a long breath, his heart filled with joy. His gaze moved down, and he saw several crooked, childlike scribbles below.

Throughout his life, the ape was no less capable than any human.

Okay, I know who it is.

Legend has it that the founder of the Tianxing Sect, Master Tianhe, had a white ape by his side for a hundred years.

The patriarch and the white ape were both teacher and friend. They not only often drank together, but also practiced swordsmanship together.

Whenever the patriarch observed the celestial phenomena at night and had any novel ideas, he would seek out the white ape to demonstrate them.

It can be said that this white ape was both a pet and the most capable disciple under the patriarch. He was jokingly called "Senior Brother White Ape" by his contemporaries, and his fame was unparalleled at the time.

This can be seen from the fact that it can occupy such a large area of ​​mountains and forests to grow fruit and make wine, and it does not allow others to steal or eat it.

Back then, the "White Ape Senior Brother" could be said to have dominated an entire era, and the disciples of the Heavenly Star Sect grew up under his relentless beatings.

This also led to the Tianxing Sect producing many talented individuals and suppressing all sides.

No wonder. If you grow up a little slower, you'll be beaten up by a monkey and cry for your parents. Do you know how embarrassing that would be?
But there was one person who, from childhood to adulthood, was always the one beating up monkeys, never the other way around.

I've just started learning, so it's not too bad yet; I'm just quietly working hard.

By the time he became famous with his sword and the monkey realized that this person was extraordinary, he could no longer suppress his rage.

Later, when the [Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon] were unleashed, the monkey was so ashamed that he could no longer face anyone. Knowing that ordinary sword techniques could no longer defeat this disciple, he was disheartened and went into seclusion in Peach Valley...

And this person was none other than Master Hanhai.

The Grand Preceptor of the Great Li Kingdom, who once established a nation with a single sword.

The legend of "Master White Ape" has gradually faded into oblivion, leaving only a few short stories to accompany meals...

More than two hundred years have passed, and no one has found any trace of it.

Only a few monkeys and their offspring, along with the mountain full of fruit, remain as witnesses to his past presence.

Of course, there might be another reason why they have been staying in Peach Valley and not leaving.

After the Heavenly River Patriarch's physical body was destroyed, his remains were buried in Peach Valley. Legend has it that the monkey, heartbroken by its master's passing, has stayed there to keep him company.

"Nine Postures of the Ape King..."

Yue Lingfeng understood the cause and effect and was overjoyed.

Although the exact level of this sword technique is unknown, a certain "White Ape Senior Brother" dared to boast that it could surpass the "Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon".

He even had one more sword strike than his opponent, so he was ahead in every aspect.

If he didn't have a high degree of certainty, this unorthodox patriarch wouldn't have done something so embarrassing.

Thinking of this, Yue Lingfeng's heart pounded wildly, and he exclaimed, "I'm rich!"

He didn't think that this "Grandmaster Ape" was bragging.

It's obvious that we couldn't win in the past; we simply couldn't win.

However, how many years has it been since True Immortal Han Hai shattered the void? Two hundred years.

[Senior Brother White Ape] still remembers the victory and defeat of that year, and has been honing his sword for two hundred years... How strong will he become, and what height will he reach?
It is entirely possible that he could comprehend another earth-shattering sword technique.

Not to mention anything else.

This sword technique, called "Wind Sword Stance," is so powerful that it shakes heaven and earth. Its lofty conception is like looking down from the very top.

Those monkeys, having only learned a little bit, were able to make him so difficult to defend against.

One can imagine the profound and mysterious nature of sword techniques.

So, what was the purpose of Ape Ancestor teaching him this sword technique?

Yue Lingfeng was never stupid.

It became clear after a moment's thought.

Having been defeated by the [Flowing Light Sword Style], he lost confidence in the [Shadowless Sword Style] and instead sought speed, wanting to comprehend his own [Flowing Light Sword Style].

Therefore, some monkeys came over and gave it a good lesson.

"That's right, wasn't this [Shadowless Sword Style] created by that [White Ape Senior Brother]?"

It is said that he used this swordsmanship to trick countless disciples, making it a nightmare for many...

I was thinking of modifying Master Hanhai's self-created sword technique, which would be a direct slap in the face to the old man, a slap in the face.

This pettiness has actually lasted for two hundred years…

This somewhat disrespectful thought crossed my mind.

Yue Lingfeng decided that after mastering this sword technique, he would go find the monkey to challenge him and pick some fruit to eat.

I wonder if the Ape Ancestor will continue to pass down the complete sword technique.

Most likely yes.

Monkeys roam the mountains and valleys.

This one knows one move, that one knows another... I guess they all want a suitable opponent to motivate them.

Humanity will leave a way out, pass on its heritage, and maintain the bond of ancestral ties.

Monkeys can do that too.

I wonder what level the [Grandmaster Ape] has reached in his cultivation, and whether he is about to die of old age.
Thinking of this, Yue Lingfeng felt a little sad again.

Instead, he abandoned distracting thoughts and devoted himself to practicing the [Wind Sword Stance] he had just comprehended.

But a figure and some thoughts flashed through my mind.

"This time, let's see how you break my swordsmanship!"

……

Lu Wubing has just returned to the mountain.

Ouyang Lan intercepted him...

Just as she was about to tell Senior Sister Xiaolan about some of the interesting things about little Liuli, Xiao Sumei rushed over.

"Eighth Senior Sister, Eighth Senior Sister..."

After calling out twice, Su Mei looked up and saw Lu Wubing. Her face lit up with joy, and she quickly bowed, saying, "Young Master is here too. He just returned to the mountain."

She leaned closer affectionately, her eyes full of admiration, forgetting all about the important matter, and proudly said, "We younger ones know that our senior brother loves good food, so we've learned quite a few new dishes this time."

There are mandarin ducks flying wing to wing, eight-fragrant bear paws, wild deer roaming freely, and even red lotus and golden chicken soup with aconite—it's all so delicious…”

"Xiao Su, you've secretly prepared so many dishes, and I haven't tasted a single bite. Are you not taking your senior sister seriously?"

"Ah, no, it's mainly because Eighth Senior Sister prefers light flavors and doesn't like heavy, meaty dishes. We actually prepared some of her favorite foods too, there are..."

Su Mei was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead. She couldn't take the blame for this. Usually, her senior sister Xiao Lan treated the younger ones the best.

Especially for her, before Lu Wubing went up the mountain, he always kept her by his side, teaching her skills and taking care of her life.

They get along like sisters.

The disciples on the mountain were generally older and couldn't play together with the younger ones, but Ouyang Lan was different.

She didn't seem to care about her status as the daughter of the sect leader.

On the contrary, they have a childlike heart.

They also had a great time playing with eleven- or twelve-year-olds, catching butterflies, picking wildflowers, playing hopscotch, and kicking shuttlecocks – they did it all.

Therefore, her junior disciples had an excellent relationship with her.

"Forget it, stop teasing her."

When Lu Wubing saw Xiao Lan's expression, he couldn't help but laugh. "Are you even jealous of a child?"

Do you still want to argue about who is the best in the world?
"Senior Sister Su, what brought you here so urgently?"

"Oh, look at me, I forgot. Didn't an injured senior sister from Mingxin Hall come earlier? I heard she came to ask for help."

My master and mistress are questioning me in the main hall of the Heavenly Star Hall... My mistress even secretly winked at me from behind a pillar, probably wanting me to find my eighth senior sister and bring her back; I guess a fight is about to break out.

Su Mei chattered away and quickly explained what had happened.

There's a lot of information here.

Lu Wubing sorted it out in his mind before he understood what she was saying.
"Mingxin Hall, is that the one in Donghai County?"

I just heard Shen Xinzhu mention it not long ago.

That place originally occupied a strategically important port, a location of great importance...

The Purple Flame Shell comes from Mingxintang. Every merchant who passes through it makes a fortune.

Back then, when the branch was still under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Star Sect, there were quite a few Purple Flame Shells offered as tribute... The sect had no shortage of Purple Heart Pills.

Ordinary disciples can enjoy it.

Combined with snow lotus from the northwest, they refined Qi-Nourishing Pills to supply their disciples.

Back then, the cultivation speed of the disciples under the Heavenly Star Sect was worlds apart from that of today's disciples.

Purple Heart Pill...

Lu Wubing's eyes flashed slightly. After clearing away the chaos around Mingyang, as the young sect leader, his next move would actually be to consider the issue of resource supply.

First, we must firmly defend our sect; then, we must expand in all directions...

We can't just stay at home and live off our savings forever.

However, it was too much of a coincidence that the other party had already sent people to their door before they had even released any information.

Lu Wubing pondered for a moment and said, "Didn't they say that the East Sea branch has been half separated from our Tianxing Sect for quite some time now, and has no more offerings?"

"It was that Mingxin Hall, along with its northwest branch Mingjian Hall and the southwest branch Mingfa Hall, all of which were once renowned for their prestige."

The Mingjian Hall was destroyed by the Demonic Sect. My father went there once, but not only did he fail to get justice, he almost perished there himself.

From then on, Mingxintang was essentially officially separated from the group.

As for the senior disciples of the Mingfa Hall in the Weijing direction, they are entangled with the Prince Yi's Mansion and secretly oppose the imperial court.

On the surface, they have a pretty good relationship with us.

In reality, they obeyed orders but not proclamations; their relationship was merely nominal.

Ouyang Lan waved her hand, explaining as she hurried toward the Tianxing Palace.

"I've disliked that woman for a long time... They left the sect when their family was doing well; now that they're in trouble, they still have the nerve to come and help them?"
You ask for help, but you have to act like you're doing it for our benefit.

It doesn't look like she's begging us; it's more like we're begging her.

"Is there such a thing?"

Curious, Lu Wubing quickly followed.

……

【Ask for monthly ticket】

(End of this chapter)