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

As the night breeze blew, Yun Changkong climbed to the mountaintop that Ren Yingying had mentioned. The mountaintop resembled a platform, with a sparse bamboo forest that swayed in the wind, creating ripples that slowly rolled into the distance.

Looking out into the distance, Yun Changkong saw the mighty river flowing eastward. It turned out that they had arrived in Zhenjiang after a night of travel.

At this moment, the moonlight dyes a great river into a silvery white, shimmering like shattered silver gently swaying on the water.

Yun Changkong felt a surge of joy, took out his jade flute, and began to play "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer".

As the music ended, a fragrant breeze blew, and Ren Yingying drifted down to his side.

Yun Changkong put away his flute and asked, "Did your father agree?"

Ren Yingying's expression was indifferent, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever. She didn't speak, and suddenly turned around, her back in the moonlight cold and aloof.

A faint smile appeared on Yun Changkong's lips.

This woman is indeed unpredictable.

After a while, Yun Changkong heard a faint sound, turned his head and saw a flame rise up with a "whoosh".

Ren Yingying picked up some twigs and wood from the ground and lit a bonfire. She sat on a rock, holding a twig in her hand, poking at the fire with her head down, still not saying a word.

Yun Changkong picked up a stone and gently placed it next to Ren Yingying. He then sat down and said, "What's wrong? Judging from your expression, it seems like I've offended you again."

Ren Yingying remained silent for a moment, then shook her head, but did not speak.

Yun Changkong said, "So you sent me here just to give me attitude?"

Ren Yingying said calmly, "Who are you? Are you invincible? Even my father was defeated by you. How dare I give you attitude? If you were to strike me with one palm, my soul would be scattered!"

Yun Changkong laughed and said, "Where did your father lose to me? We were evenly matched..."

Ren Yingying interrupted, "Yun Changkong, can't you just tell me the truth?" As she spoke, she slammed the branch in her hand down hard, sending sparks flying.

Yun Changkong stared at her, noticing her expression shifting between anger and sadness, clearly indicating a complex state of mind. He solemnly said, "Miss Ren, I admit that some of my words were just casual remarks and not taken seriously."

But what I just said wasn't a lie. I fought your father, and it was truly a draw; we each had our strengths. I don't believe I won!

Ren Yingying asked in confusion, "But my dad said he lost, and I can't understand it."

Yun Changkong said, "Your father might feel he lost a move because he regarded me as a junior. If we only consider martial arts, he didn't lose!" He paused, then continued, "Your father cultivates the Star Absorbing Technique, absorbing the internal energy of more than ten masters. Even if each of them only had thirty years of cultivation, he would still have hundreds of years' worth of cultivation. The depth of his internal energy is unmatched in this world. When I exchanged a move with him, it was a head-on collision. How could I possibly win against him?"

Ren Yingying was a fool, and she knew there was something wrong with this. She said, "I understand. That's why my father struck out with his palm from mid-air. He was comparing his inner strength with yours, not his martial arts techniques."

Yun Changkong nodded and said, "That's right. What kind of person is your father? Seeing that I easily defeated Xiang Wentian, how could he possibly compete with me in terms of moves? Naturally, he would use his most prized internal strength to try and win. It's just that he didn't win, so how can you say he lost?"

A look of confusion flashed in Ren Yingying's eyes. Suddenly, she asked, "Yes, he possesses hundreds of years of internal energy, so why didn't he gain the upper hand? Could it be that you also possess hundreds of years of internal energy? Are you a reincarnated soul...?"

Yun Changkong chuckled and said, "I'm not some old ghost, you just don't understand the ins and outs of this."

Ren Yingying said, "Then tell me about it."

Yun Changkong glanced at her and slowly said, "Originally, the path of internal strength can only be mastered through one's own hard work and gradual progress. However, if there is a miraculous elixir that can transform one's body, or if there is a peerless master who spares no effort to pass on his hard-earned true energy to others, both of these can create a miracle where someone with mediocre internal strength can leap to become a master of internal martial arts."

Ren Yingying thought to herself, "Could it be that you are like that too?"

Yun Changkong seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "However, this method, though seemingly easy, actually has great drawbacks."

Just like when we cultivate internal energy, the goal is to open up the eight extraordinary meridians, allowing true energy to circulate rapidly throughout the body without any obstruction. If a master were to assist by using their own power, opening up the meridians for someone would not be difficult. However, external assistance is never as solid and reliable as circulating energy oneself. Therefore, while sects like Shaolin Temple, Wudang Sect, and even the former Quanzhen Sect all had the world's number one master, none of them ever opened up the meridians for their disciples.

Because they do not want their disciples to gain without effort, they do not seek quick success, but only hope that each person will progress step by step and gradually become a great master in the way of martial arts.

Your father's Star Absorbing Technique originated from the Northern Darkness Divine Skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect. It may seem like a method that only harms others to benefit oneself, but in reality, it is short-sighted and has great hidden dangers.

Because ordinary masters cultivate their internal strength step by step. When refining essence into qi, they can also condense their mind and spirit. Over time, the three treasures of essence, qi and spirit become one and naturally integrated!
Therefore, those who practiced the Northern Darkness Divine Art in the past would not absorb the power of others to increase their own power, because they understood that you can absorb true energy, but you cannot obtain a state of mind that matches it.

If one's mental cultivation is insufficient, inner demons will arise, and calamities will follow. No matter how abundant one's true energy is, one will either suffer from qi deviation or be unable to freely utilize one's vast true energy, thus limiting one's personal performance.

Once upon a time, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect absorbed the internal energy of three top masters over two hundred years. Any one of these three was an invincible master in the martial arts world, and they all came from the same source.

However, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, having absorbed over two hundred years of their internal energy, was still unable to suppress someone who had only cultivated Shaolin's divine skills for a year and a half.

"Huh?" Ren Yingying was taken aback.

Yun Changkong was referring to Xu Zhu. He seemed to possess over two hundred years of internal energy, but You Tanzhi had only been practicing Shaolin internal energy for a year. Even when he focused his mind and fought back, he couldn't gain the upper hand.

Yun Changkong said, "The reason is that this radical way of increasing internal strength has too many drawbacks."

Like your father, his internal energy is abundant but lacks purity, so in terms of skill, he is far superior to me. However, his internal energy is mixed and impure, so he cannot defeat me. That's only one reason. Secondly, they skipped the process of accumulating true energy from weak to strong, which means they cannot effectively utilize the true energy accumulated within their bodies.

So, even if your father seems to have hundreds of years of internal energy, or has accumulated thousands of years of internal energy through this method, it's like building a tower on sand—a pavilion suspended in mid-air, without any foundation, always in danger of collapsing. It simply cannot compare to the internal energy that comes from solid, self-cultivated internal strength. Therefore, your father might not be able to defeat even one of the likes of Zuo Lengchan, Chongxu, or Fang Zheng!

Ren Yingying's face paled slightly as she said, "But why didn't my father mention it..." She frowned and added, "Yes, he wouldn't tell anyone about this defect. He was imprisoned by Dongfang Bubai probably because of the flaw in the Great Law."

Yun Changkong said, "You guessed right. Back then, he was unaware of the unexpected attack from within his own body because he was focused on resolving and integrating the chaotic true energy within his body. He had no other thoughts on anything else."

Ren Yingying remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "How did you learn all this? Including the fact that my father was imprisoned at the bottom of West Lake, can you tell me?"

Yun Changkong paused slightly and said, "This is a secret; I can only tell my lover."

These words were exactly what Ren Yingying had expected, but hearing them still broke her heart. Tears welled up and swirled in her eyes. Suddenly, she said, "My father is afraid that you will go to Blackwood Cliff for other reasons."

Yun Changkong asked, "And what about you?"

Ren Yingying said in a trembling voice, "I...I don't know your feelings either. I...I've figured it out now. If you don't tell me the truth, I, Ren, will never ask for help." In her excitement, she became incoherent.

Yun Changkong nodded slightly: "I understand, that makes sense. Your father was imprisoned in Xihu for twelve years, betrayed by his own right-hand men. How could he easily trust others?"
But I didn't expect you to doubt my intentions too. Heh, there's no point in explaining. I'm no match for Dongfang Bubai, so what? Let's not see each other again." With that, he turned and left.

Ren Yingying felt a sudden pang of sadness and called out, "Where are you going?"

Yun Changkong said, "I will roam the world and make the four seas my home!"

Ren Yingying shouted, "You're not allowed to leave!" She swayed and grabbed Yun Changkong's arm.

Ren Yingying bit her lip tightly, and murmured as if talking to herself, "Why do you have to force me?"

Yun Changkong sighed and said, "I have met with you several times, though we haven't had a truly heartfelt conversation. But why is there this 'force'?"

Ren Yingying said softly, "I know that people like us in the Divine Sect are looked down upon by reputable sects..."

Yun Changkong shook his head and said, "I never judge a person by their faction, otherwise..."

Ren Yingying pressed further, "Otherwise what?" (End of Chapter)