Arhats Subduing Demons: Starting with The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber

Tang Ying'e frowned and said, "Yu Canghai got himself into trouble because of the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual, but Yue Buqun got Lin Pingzhi. Yun Changkong was clearly present, so why did he ignore it?"

Zuo Lengchan pondered for a long time before saying, "This is also something I haven't figured out. Martial arts practitioners are always eager to learn about new and unusual martial arts manuals, and the higher their martial arts skills, the more eager they are. This has nothing to do with whether they want to become famous in the world or want to live a life beyond worldly affairs."

Yet Yun Changkong has allowed Yue Buqun to bring Lin Pingzhi back to Mount Hua, and so far, he has made no move whatsoever, which is truly perplexing.

Tang Ying'e said, "Could it be that Yun Changkong initially made a move because he heard of Lin Yuantu's reputation, but then realized that the Lin family's Evil-Repelling Sword Technique was just a hollow name, so he didn't bother to make a move?"

Zuo Lengchan turned around and beckoned to his two disciples who were standing in the distance: "Practice the sword moves that Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan practiced again."

"Yes!"

The two disciples immediately began to spar with their swords. If Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan were here at that moment, they would naturally be able to tell that not only were they performing the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" and the "Nineteen Jade Maiden Swords," but even their eye contact and smiles were imitated perfectly.

The two of them finished performing all seventy-two moves of the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique".

Zuo Lengchan pondered for a long time, then said quietly, "Lin Yuantu's idea of ​​defeating the invincible underworld figure with this sword technique is simply a pipe dream. Yu Canghai and Yue Buqun have gone to great lengths; they wouldn't be making baseless accusations."

Especially since Yue Buqun not only sent his precious daughter to Fuzhou to show her face in public, but now he's even accompanying Lin Pingzhi to practice swordsmanship. Hmph, it seems he's lost both his daughter and his army.

Tang Ying'e laughed and said, "Yue Buqun also made a losing deal."

"No!" Zuo Lengchan shook his head and said, "Although Lin Zhennan and his wife were rescued by him, they were tortured all the way. Lin Zhennan's heart meridian was damaged, and Madam Lin could not bear the humiliation and died for her husband."

Before their deaths, the couple only spoke to Lin Pingzhi. Yue Buqun was extremely cunning; he wouldn't make such a losing proposition. Presumably, this Evil-Repelling Sword Technique contained an internal energy sword manual. However, even a single mistake in this internal energy sword manual could lead to qi deviation and demonic possession. Yue Buqun was cautious, which is why he went so far as to punish Linghu Chong, his childhood sweetheart and lover, by sending him to the Cliff of Repentance—using his daughter as bait to obtain this sword manual from Lin Pingzhi.

Tang Ying'e sneered, "That must be exhausting. But young people are full of vigor, and Yue Lingshan is indeed an outstanding beauty among the younger generation. How can Lin Pingzhi resist her? Should we let the Huashan Sword Sect seize the position of Huashan Sect Leader?"

Zuo Lengchan pondered for a moment and asked, "What did they say?"

Tang Ying'e said, "Cheng Buyou is grateful to the Alliance Leader for upholding justice for their Sword Sect and for helping them eliminate Yue Buqun and regain the leadership of the Huashan Sect. He will contact a few more of his junior brothers and then come to Songshan to pay his respects to the Alliance Leader."

Zuo Lengchan said, "This is a good idea. Apart from Yue Buqun, there are only a few old nuns from Hengshan who are not a threat."

Tang Ying'e laughed and said, "Senior brother, just wait to become the leader of the Five Mountains Sect!"

Zuo Lengchan said quietly, "The Five Mountains Sect is within my grasp, not far off. But this Yun Changkong is truly unpredictable. He just entered the martial world, his reputation was at its zenith, and he was just at the right time to rise to prominence. How could he suddenly disappear without a trace? It's not like what a young man should do."

He's remained hidden, which has become a source of anxiety for me. I'm constantly afraid he'll suddenly appear and catch me off guard!

"Master!" One of Zuo Lengchan's disciples clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "This disciple has a plan to kill Yun Changkong and avenge our uncles!"

"Oh? You have a plan too?" Zuo Lengchan glanced at his disciple: "Tell me about it."

“Master can send a message to invite him to Songshan for a martial arts contest.”

Zuo Lengchan frowned slightly: "What?"

The disciple said, "As long as Master sends word that the martial world challenges him, if he doesn't dare to come, he will surely become a laughing stock in the martial world. If he dares to come, Master can kill him with his sword!"

Zuo Lengchan remained calm and slowly said, "Get out!"

However, the syllables he uttered were incredibly chilling, making the two disciples feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

Tang Ying'e was shocked, realizing that his senior brother was truly angry, and said, "Go quickly!"

"Yes!" The two disciples hurriedly stepped aside.

Seeing his senior brother's solemn expression, Tang Ying'e couldn't help but shudder and said, "Senior brother, although that guy surnamed Yun's subordinate is very capable, could it be..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

He knew that Zuo Lengchan was resolute as iron, ruthless in killing, and cold-blooded. If someone else had killed Ding Mian and the others, that might have been a solution, but his anger was clearly...

Zuo Lengchan nodded and said, "You guessed right. After seeing the deaths of Ding Mian, Lu Bai, and Fei Bin, this man's martial arts skills, lightness skills, and inner strength are all astonishing. I really have no confidence that I can defeat him."

The entire Songshan Sect was dressed in mourning. Zuo Lengchan was not only an unparalleled grandmaster of the sect, but also a rare master in the martial arts world. Even if he was not invincible, he would not lose to any contemporary master.

Hearing Zuo Lengchan say this, Tang Ying'e frowned slightly and asked, "What did Shaolin and Wudang say when you wrote to them, Senior Brother?"

Zuo Lengchan sneered, "Master Fangzheng and Daoist Chongxu both said that this person has nothing to do with them, and their words suggest that he is a member of the Demonic Sect."

Tang Ying'e said softly, "Master Fangzheng and Daoist Chongxu are renowned, they wouldn't lie or deceive people, would they?"

Zuo Lengchan sneered, "Junior brother, don't think of these two old men as so simple. The one who least wants the Five Mountains to be merged into one is not the Five Mountains Sect, nor the Demonic Sect, but Shaolin and Wudang."

Their goal is for our Five Mountains Sword Sect to be scattered across various regions, drawing away the Demonic Sect's influence, so they can rest easy. Therefore, without complete certainty, I cannot engage Yun Changkong in a fair fight; I can only resort to covert tactics.

Tang Ying'e said with a wry smile, "Originally, we spread rumors about Yun Changkong and the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect in the martial arts world, but not only did we fail to force Yun Changkong to come out, the Holy Maiden also acted quickly. Many people in the martial arts world who spread rumors died mysteriously. Now no one dares to spread rumors anymore."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Lengchan smiled slightly: "I've always heard that this Holy Maiden doesn't take any men in the world seriously, and I didn't expect the rumors to be true. She can kill those who spread gossip, so she can also kill Yun Changkong, the one who caused all the rumors. As long as the two sides clash, given their ruthless natures, they will inevitably become enemies!"
Tempted by the promise of the "Three Corpse Brain Elixir" from the Holy Maiden, even the most skilled martial artist like Yun Changkong would find himself in a dilemma among the extraordinary individuals from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks.

Tang Ying'e laughed and said, "Yes, the Holy Maiden killed him, removing a major threat to us. With the Holy Maiden gone, those people will be searching for Yun Changkong like madmen without the antidote for the Three Corpse Brain God Pill."

"Let alone Yun Changkong, even the Shaolin Temple, the number one sect in the world, couldn't withstand an attack from such a powerful force."

Zuo Lengchan nodded: "What you say is very true." He then sighed and said: "However, Yun Changkong is ultimately a martial arts genius that is only seen once in a century. If it weren't for the fact that the unification of the Five Mountains Sects was something I had been planning for decades, I would really like to have a fair fight with him. It's such a pity..."

Just as Zuo Lengchan was sighing, Linghu Chong on the Cliff of Contemplation was also sighing in despair!
He didn't understand why his junior sister had said she liked him calling her "good sister" when he first arrived at the Cliff of Contemplation.

Why did his master pass on the "Jade Maiden Nineteen Swords" to his junior sister? He still remembered two years ago when his master said that his junior sister's skill was insufficient and she couldn't learn this sword technique. Why was it taught to her now, causing him to overhear her practicing swordsmanship with Lin Pingzhi, which triggered his jealousy, leading him to flick her sword away with a single finger. As a result, she didn't come to see him for months!

Linghu Chong couldn't understand the origin of the turmoil in his love life!

...There are also things I don't understand.

Deep in the East China Sea, thousands of miles away, the mournful sound of a flute drifted through the air, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng, who were listening quietly, used their superior internal energy to calm their minds, while Qu Feiyan pressed her hands to her ears, both of them feeling annoyed.

Yun Changkong pressed the long flute with his bare hands, and the sound grew louder and louder. Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang felt their hearts beat faster and their breathing become more rapid.

Qu Feiyan was in even greater pain. She had already covered her ears with her hands, but strangely, she could still hear a faint sound, and her heart was pounding rapidly.

When Yun Changkong saw Qu Feiyan's distorted face, he also felt a little awkward, as if he had a breath stuck in his throat that he had to exhale. He suddenly exhaled, and with a snap, the bamboo flute actually split open from the tube.

Qu Feiyan gasped for breath and exclaimed, "Big brother, what are you playing? It sounds awful!"

Yun Changkong said, "What do you two think?"

Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang exchanged a glance and slowly said, "Your internal strength is profound, we admire you."

Yun Changkong smiled slightly: "You only talked about internal strength and not music, which is considerate of me!" He didn't understand why it was so difficult for him to play a flute piece. It was much harder than practicing martial arts.

Qu Yang said, "This piece, 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,' is inherently difficult to play. No matter how skilled you are, if there is no one to play with you and respond to your music, you will not be able to understand the meaning of the piece."

Liu Zhengfeng said, "If you want to play the 'Laughing at the World' melody, whether it's the flute or the zither, you need someone to play with you. If the two of you inspire each other, it will be much easier than if you try to figure it out on your own."

Qu Feiyan clapped her hands and said, "That's right. This piece is a duet played by Grandpa and Grandpa Liu on the qin and xiao. They understand each other perfectly. So, if Big Brother wants to learn this piece, he needs someone to cooperate with him."

"Big brother, don't you also have someone you like? Bring her over and let her keep you company. I believe that a woman you like must be a remarkable woman with superb martial arts skills, beautiful appearance, and mastery of all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. My grandfather and Grandpa Liu can definitely teach her." A complex feeling welled up in Yun Changkong's heart, a mixture of helplessness and regret, which finally turned into a soft sigh: "She is indeed omnipotent. If she were here, she could definitely learn it, but unfortunately..."

Seeing that he was very melancholy, Qu Yang said, "Even if you have this woman, it would be difficult for you, Master Yun, to play this tune."

Yun Changkong clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Please enlighten me!"

Qu Yang said, "The so-called harmonious sound of zither and lute refers to strings with the same pitch range responding to each other. This principle is not limited to zither and lute. Any musical instrument, as long as its pitch range matches, will produce a 'response'."

"When Liu Xian and I created the theme for 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,' it was solely for musical considerations, using two notes in unison for harmony. It wasn't, as you might imagine, about using sound to captivate and kill."

Liu Zhengfeng nodded and said, "That's right. As the saying goes, 'A thousand days on the erhu, a hundred days on the xiao.' The sound of the xiao is deep, gentle, and melodious. First, you need precise breath control to express lyrical or mournful sentiments after you've mastered it. We who cultivate internal strength are training that very breath. If you only focus on the music, you can easily get started."

However, to manipulate an opponent's mind and take their life with sound, one might rely on brute force to defeat someone of lower skill. But against someone weaker or of equal strength, it's not enough to simply play a piece of music; one must also employ unique breathing techniques. Furthermore, one must deeply understand which breath to use at which points in the music—whether to inhale deeply and exhale slowly using the dantian (lower abdomen), or to exhale gently and continuously—in order to unleash the full power of the music!

We two are unfamiliar with your internal energy breathing techniques, so it's truly difficult for us to instruct you. You'll need to integrate them with your own internal energy methods and comprehend them on your own; this is not something that can be achieved in a short time.”

Yun Changkong seemed to wake from a dream and laughed, "So that's how it is. No wonder I felt so awkward when I played this part earlier. I had to exhale a breath that I couldn't stop, and when I exhaled it with force, the flute was actually shattered."

Liu Zhengfeng said, "It's nothing serious that the flute was shattered; it's just that the bamboo flute couldn't withstand your profound internal strength."

I possess a jade flute made of the finest jadeite, as hard as iron. However, if you truly wish to master a murderous melody and achieve significant progress in a short time, you should consult a master who can take lives with music.

He paused for a moment and then said, "Master Yun, if you can't master the flute, it's better not to play it. This is for your own safety."

Liu Zhengfeng knew that if both sides were skilled in using sound to take lives, and they played two sounds at the same time when they met, it would be a battle of internal strength. The intensity and danger of the fight would be no less than hand-to-hand combat or fistfights. If either side made the slightest mistake or was not skilled enough, they would either lose their mind or die on the spot.

Although Yun Changkong possesses profound internal strength, it is beyond his current ability to fully utilize the sound of the flute. If he were to force a contest using the sound of the flute, he might end up humiliating himself instead of seeking glory.

Yun Changkong understood that this was a warning to himself: never try to make a name for yourself with only a superficial understanding. He appeared arrogant but was actually cautious. He nodded and said, "I understand this part. It seems I really need to consult a master who can kill with music."

Qu Feiyan said happily, "Big brother, I know someone who can definitely help you."

Qu Yang shouted, "Feifei, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Qu Feiyan stuck out her tongue and said, "Grandpa, didn't you always say that the Holy Maiden's zither skills will surpass yours in the future? Brother Yun asked her to play a duet with him..."

Qu Yang's face was ashen. He shouted, "Shut up!"

Looking at Yun Changkong, she said, "Master Yun, I know you are also someone who hates trouble. The Holy Maiden is indeed a rare woman in the world. Not only is her skill in playing the zither and flute unparalleled, but she is also exceptionally beautiful."

However, she already had a bad temper and looked down on men even more. She was secretive and strange in her dealings with people. Moreover, she was the daughter of the former leader of the sect, which destined her to be in the vortex of the martial arts world.

You must understand that while Dongfang Bubai may seem to be praising her highly, it's all for show. When the time comes, she might not survive. If you want to live freely, you must never have anything to do with her.

Yun Changkong smiled and said, "Thank you for telling me."

Qu Yang nodded and said, "If you really want to study this field, I can recommend someone to you who might be able to help you."

"Who is it?" Yun Changkong's eyes flashed.

Qu Yang said, "There is a solitary mountain called Plum Manor near West Lake. The four masters of the manor were originally members of my Divine Sect. After a change occurred within the sect, they retired from the martial world and went into hiding."

The head of the manor calls himself "Huang Zhonggong." He possesses a seven-stringed, invisible sword technique, which involves infusing superior internal energy into the sound of a zither to disrupt the mind of his enemies. When the opponent's internal energy resonates with the zither's sound, they are unknowingly controlled by it. This man is also obsessed with the zither; if you take the Guangling San I obtained to him, he will surely speak freely.”

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "I just wonder if this Guangling San is a unique copy?" He was implying something, wanting to see if Qu Yang wanted to use him.

Qu Yang was taken aback and said, "I once taught a copy of Guangling San to the Right Envoy, Xiang Wentian."

Yun Changkong said, "What would a rough man like him need this for?"

Qu Yang shook his head: "I didn't ask. Anyway, I've wanted to live a carefree life for a long time. He and I have been teaching and working together for many years and are friends. When he learned that I had obtained Guangling San, he asked for a copy. I don't care what I do with it and I won't ask any more questions."

Yun Changkong nodded slowly: "Then thank you very much."

Yun Changkong turned and drifted away. When he returned to the quiet room, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and the sandalwood incense was wafting in the air. Liu Jing was making his bed when she couldn't help but sigh. Liu Jing stepped forward and took off his cloak.

The weather had turned cold, but Yun Changkong remained unaffected by the heat or cold. Whenever he went out, Liu Jing would drape a cloak over his shoulders.

Yun Changkong copied the scriptures, and I watched quietly from the side. After he finished writing, I would use a medicine pack to apply heat to his shoulders and neck and massage his back.

If he is thirsty, he will smile and offer you warm tea.

Yun Changkong knew perfectly well why all of this was happening.

But Liu Jing didn't confess her feelings, making it even harder for Yun Changkong to refuse.

Because she was a young lady doing the work of a maid, he felt that if he didn't accept her care, it would hurt her feelings. So Yun Changkong accepted the care without saying anything flirtatious. It was as if the two of them were master and maid.

On the contrary, Qu Feiyan was able to let loose and occasionally made some joking remarks.

That night, Yun Changkong was tossing and turning, unable to sleep, as he pondered how to combine internal energy with music, infusing the transitions and climaxes with internal power to achieve a beautiful effect. He immediately got up, opened the window, and gazed into the distance.

Looking at the deep night, I turned my gaze to the stars in the sky, finally settling on the Big Dipper.

Suddenly, the profound mystery of the "Big Dipper Formation" appeared in my mind with unparalleled clarity: "The positions from Tian Shu to Tian Quan form the handle of the Big Dipper, and the positions from Yu Heng to Yao Guang form the top handle. Among them, the position of Tian Quan is the most important, so the North Star always resides due north, and the seven stars of the Big Dipper revolve around it. It uses stillness to control movement. When facing an enemy, the one who is directly in front does not need to exert any effort to defend, but will be attacked from the side by his Daoist companion. It is as if one person has the power of several people. If you strike the head, the tail will respond; if you strike the tail, the head will respond; if you strike the waist, both the head and the tail will respond!"

"Yes, how was Wang Chongyang able to create the Big Dipper Formation?"

Yun Changkong murmured, his gaze shifting back and forth across the vast star map, gradually becoming clear and profound: "He took the celestial phenomena as his teacher, expounded their 'Dao,' analyzed their 'principles,' and drew upon their 'meanings' to inspire his thinking, thus creating an invincible array!"

Once he understood this principle, he couldn't help but think: "The power of the shifting stars is indeed profound, boundless, and endless, but isn't the interaction of the five elements, the changes of the eight trigrams, the twelve regular meridians, and the eight extraordinary meridians also the same? Then isn't the circulation of Qi in the human body also a microcosm?"

What would happen if the Way of Heaven could be bestowed upon a person, and internal energy used as its driving force?

The moment this thought arises, it is like the spring thunder awakening the insects, and the sky and clouds shine brightly with a dazzling light.

The true essence of all the vast martial arts in his heart emerged.

"Pure Yang refers to a nature that is purely Yang, vast and boundless, fierce and refined. It is the essence of martial arts and is certainly good. However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined; the greater the power, the more severe the harm. We should guard our original intentions and prioritize cultivating our minds and character, and helping others to save the world..."

"The Taoist saying 'Three Flowers Gather at the Top, Five Qi Converge at the Origin' is the method of true immortals achieving great success. It silently conceals the unpredictable mechanisms of heaven and earth, truly the hidden affairs of the Three Pure Ones, the essence of forgetting words and forms, without question or response. Those with wisdom should know that the law is natural and will eventually come to an end. The 'Three Flowers Gather at the Top Palm' is vast and boundless, without end. This is the true essence of martial arts, and the Great Way endures forever."

"The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are extremely yang and powerful, but their true essence lies in 'having more than enough.' Only in this way can one contain boundless power within their fierceness, allowing for effortless changes and an invincible position. This is the principle of 'from extreme strength comes softness.'"

"The Dog-Beating Stick Technique uses softness to overcome hardness, employing ingenious techniques such as 'entanglement,' 'tripping,' 'chopping,' 'poke,' 'lifting,' 'leading,' 'sealing,' and 'turning.' It employs feints and deceptions, targeting areas difficult for the enemy to defend against, making it impossible to guard against. So, if this concept were integrated into body movements, wouldn't it be very effective? No matter how fast Dongfang Bubai is, if he can't find me, what can he do?"

"Shaolin martial arts are subtle and profound, imbued with Zen principles. They emphasize subduing the enemy without killing them, and thus their application is guided by the mind. As a result, their internal strength is refined, making their internal power the best in the world."

"The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth is capable of 'using the opponent's force against them,' 'deflecting and neutralizing,' and 'using great force to deflect small force.' It is all-powerful. He originally aimed to attack, but I am not lacking in attack. Why can't I take its essence and focus on defense? If I can turn great force into small force, and small force into no force at all, what martial art in the world can harm me?"

Yun Changkong was already well-versed in martial arts and had extensive knowledge of Buddhist and Taoist scriptures. Spending many days with talented women such as Zhao Min, the Purple-Robed Dragon King, Xiao Zhao, and Zhou Zhiruo also made him very learned.

At this moment, a sudden realization dawned on him, and inspiration flowed like a spring. (End of Chapter)