Gao Wu: Ten years of sparring experience, one move and the world knows him.

Chapter 141 Slaying the Japanese Slug with a Palm (This contains some personal opinions and can be skipped)
"Hey kid, you want to have a go at this old monk, huh!"

The young monk's eyebrows twitched with delight. He had never been a rigid person, and now, seeing an opportunity, he was eager to fight. So, he followed Zhao Rui and engaged in a fierce battle using their auras and spiritual power.

Both of them were exceptionally skilled. Although their movements appeared calm and collected, the power and mystery behind them were far more formidable than any other move that was wide-open, unrestrained, capable of splitting rocks and mountains.

Zhao Rui has advanced to the Divine Void Realm, where his soul and true energy are intertwined, creating a state of emptiness within reality and reality within emptiness. He can manipulate the true energy throughout the body as easily as using his own arm.

At the True Essence Realm, although one can manipulate true energy, one primarily uses energy to control energy.

It's like playing with a yo-yo. To change the trajectory of a yo-yo, you have to refer to various physical laws and then use another yo-yo to touch it.

But once you reach the Divine Void Realm, your soul and true energy become one, just like installing a remote control on a yo-yo.

They can manipulate their inner energy at will, performing many incredible moves.

The ability of Elder Ge to leap dozens of feet into the air without diminishing in the grove of the Martial Arts Academy was the power generated by his divine soul force incorporating his true energy.

It is easy to imagine how great the difference is between the Divine Void Realm and the True Essence Realm in terms of the subtle differences in manipulating true energy.

Zhao Rui's rapid advancement to the Divine Void Realm was largely thanks to the Six-Charming Immortal Technique.

This is a top-tier technique that trains the soul from the Martial Artist realm onwards. Without this technique, Zhao Rui would not have been able to break through so easily.

Of course, the support of demonic techniques such as the Illusionary Sound Technique also made the process much more efficient.

The journey was long and arduous. The two of them soared into the air, their feet more than a foot off the ground, walking through the wilderness, traversing mountains and valleys, as if they were traveling in the immortal realm.

If someone who doesn't know martial arts saw this, they would only think that these two must be immortals.

However, if someone who practices martial arts were to see this, they would surely be amazed by the depth of their skills and the exquisite control they had over their inner energy.

Those eager for martial arts might immediately bow down and beg the two to accept them as disciples.

They traveled on for an unknown amount of time until they reached a large river. The roar of the water echoed along the riverbank, and occasionally fishermen would row their boats on the river, playing loud folk songs from their boats.

"Coming in haste, leaving in haste, I regret not meeting you sooner; coming in haste, leaving in haste, everything vanishes with the wind!"

As the song began, the system in Zhao Rui's mind finally issued a notification.

"Maha Boundless has been copied. Reward: One advancement point added!"

With a thought, Zhao Rui's figure flickered and soared into the air, instantly breaking free from the entanglement of true energy with the monk.

"Amitabha! Fellow Daoist, your skills are superb! This old monk hasn't felt this comfortable in a long time!"

"..."

Zhao Rui's face darkened. Why did this sound like a ticket? Tch, another wild monk.

"I must thank you again for your help earlier, Master!"

Zhao Rui thanked the young monk.

"It's a trivial matter. If it weren't for the old man, well, even if this humble monk were to intervene, it would only take you a day or two longer! It's not worth your concern."

"Which sacred mountain does the master cultivate on? His strength is so high, and he is so young. It is truly amazing."

"Compared to you, fellow Daoist, I am somewhat ashamed to be seen. You are truly exceptionally talented and possess profound martial arts skills! I was simply blind before."

"Let's stop with the flowery flattery. Monk, where are you from?"

"That suits me perfectly! Elder, uh, this humble monk is from the Emei Sect!"

"Emei?"

Zhao Rui looked slightly embarrassed; it seemed he wasn't very well-liked by the Emei Sect.

"Hey, have you ever heard of someone named Zhao Rui?"

Zhao Rui asked tentatively.

"Never heard of him? Is he famous?"

The monk paused for a moment, then shook his head and said.

"I'm not particularly famous, my name is Zhao Rui!"

"..."

The monk looked at him with a strange expression, and after a long while he couldn't say anything, he could only chant "Amitabha".

Then he said, "Hmm, there's a monk named Zhisheng, I wonder if you've heard of him?"

"Never heard of it! Is it famous?"

"I'm not particularly famous! I'm just a humble monk."

After the monk finished speaking, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Let's go find a place to eat. I haven't eaten for who knows how many days."

Zhao Rui found the monk interesting and naturally didn't care whether he was from Emei or not.

"This meal is on you, fellow Daoist; this monk can only beg for alms."

"You're welcome."

After they finished speaking, they started walking together downstream along the riverbank.

"I have heard that Bodhidharma crossed the river on a reed. Could it be that the Patriarch's strength was not up to our level?"

Looking at the rapidly flowing river, Zhao Rui couldn't help but ask curiously.

“Amitabha, riding the wind is naturally elegant, but crossing the river on a single reed is something that no ordinary person can do.”

After saying this, Monk Zhisheng found a reed stalk in the grass by the river, threw it into the river, and then jumped up.

The monk's figure floated on the river with the reeds, but after a short while, the reeds were overturned by the waves and swept into the river.

The monk emerged from the water, his shoes already soaked.

"You see, even with my current skill level, I cannot do that."

The monk smiled and said.

"It cannot be obtained by relying on external things! I see!"

Zhao Rui's eyes lit up, and he instantly understood what the monk meant.

Upon reaching the Divine Void Realm, although one can freely manipulate true energy, the true energy and the divine soul are ultimately combined, leaving behind a void.

If one day, falsehood becomes truth, and illusion becomes reality, then one has truly entered the Tao.

"How can people know that Bodhidharma's reed was really just a reed stalk?"

"Thank you for enlightening me, Master!"

"What master? Just call him a monk!"

"Yes, Great Monk!"

Half a day later, the two arrived at a town downstream. The town was not large, with only one slightly bustling street.

There are noodle shops and common snacks such as braised chicken on the street.

The two chose a noodle shop and went inside.

The customers who were having dinner were taken aback when they saw the two people enter.

Monks and Taoist priests!
Although Zhao Rui's Taoist priest persona was fake, his Taoist robe was genuine.

Such an odd combination still drew the attention of everyone in the store.

"Two bowls of noodles, with eggs, tofu, and vegetables..."

"Another chicken leg and a sausage, please! Pure meat, please."

"Is it appropriate for you to eat chicken legs in front of a monk, fellow Daoist?"

"This is really not suitable, boss, another one..."

Zhisheng still held onto his arm and sighed, "This humble monk has not yet reached the state of 'wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart'!"

"You're such a young monk, yet your martial arts skills are so high. I wonder, since you're following Master Jing, whose seniority is higher?"

"Liao Jing?"

"In terms of seniority, she is my grand-disciple. However, we are separate entities. There is no hierarchical relationship between the Sword Sect and the Emei Sect."

"Oh, I see!"

Zhao Rui nodded and chatted with him about Emei Mountain.

The monk seemed unwilling to talk much, giving only a few brief replies before changing the subject to martial arts.

The two men possessed such profound martial arts skills that even a casual chat could yield insights that ordinary people could hardly grasp.

At this time, most of the people in the restaurant were ordinary people, and they couldn't understand what they were saying, so they stopped paying attention.

They then continued eating noodles amidst the lively atmosphere.

Most people didn't understand, but some did. This person was sitting at the next table, carrying a long knife on his back, with a narrow hilt and a slender blade.

It looks quite like a samurai sword from Japan.

He had been quite relaxed, assuming that Zhao Rui and his companion were just ordinary monks and Taoists.

Even fakes.

Which Taoist priest openly eats chicken legs and asks for sausages in front of the monks?

Only when the two began exchanging martial arts techniques as if no one else was around did his expression turn serious, and his narrow eyes narrowed slightly.

A strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he stood up, carrying his bowl of noodles, and walked to Zhao Rui and his companion's table, smiling as he said:
"I have great respect for your profound insights into martial arts. Would you be willing to discuss this further?"

This person speaks bluntly, with an awkwardness emanating from them.

Zhao Rui immediately recognized the accent: Japanese.

"Excuse me, I don't have a good impression of the Japanese. Please leave!"

Zhao Rui's concise and straightforward answer was quite direct.

"It is truly regrettable. I thought that the people of such a great nation as China would have a broad mind, but I did not expect you to be so narrow-minded. Martial arts exchanges are confined to worldly concepts, which is truly disappointing."

Upon hearing this, the Japanese man's face darkened, and he couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.

"Oh? Do you also think that you Japanese are wrong?"

"No, killing on the battlefield is inevitable. I am just a samurai and I do not get involved in these things."

"Oh, then what about killing my Chinese people?"

"You...don't talk nonsense!"

The Japanese man's expression changed, and he immediately denied it.

"Yes, what you said earlier is right! I was too bound by worldly constraints. Martial artists cultivate their minds and should forge ahead bravely and act according to their conscience. Why say so much!"

Zhao Rui said with a smile.

The Japanese man felt relieved upon hearing this and was about to speak again when he saw Zhao Rui raise his right hand, and a stream of true energy shot towards his forehead.

The Japanese man's pupils contracted slightly, and he shifted his body slightly to the side to avoid the sudden finger attack.

Before he could turn around, Zhao Rui had already stood up and struck him with a palm.

The Japanese man was skilled in martial arts; he continued to dodge, then twisted his body and struck out with a palm.

The two exchanged a palm strike from a distance, their bodies swaying slightly, yet neither gained the upper hand.

"Don't you think your actions are unbecoming of a master?"

"I follow the true principles of martial arts."

Zhao Rui sneered; he knew all too well the hypocrisy of the Japanese.

That's just their national character. They talk about this and that about trivial matters, but when it comes to killing people or doing bad things, they don't talk about anything at all.

Zhao Rui didn't waste any words with him and directly unleashed the Profound Yin Sword Finger, attacking his vital points with ruthless and demonic intent.

The Japanese man was furious. He drew his long sword from behind him, and a blade of energy slashed through the air.

At that moment, he didn't care whether there were people in the store or not.

The so-called righteousness they spoke of vanished at that moment.

Zhao Rui grabbed the dining table next to him and used it to block the attack, stopping the blade's attack.

At the same time, she closed in on him, not giving him a chance to unleash his sword energy.

The two then fought their way out of the noodle shop, leaped onto the rooftop, and fought their way into the desolate countryside.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding residents scattered and fled, and soon the sound of sirens blared.

Dozens of miles away from the town, in the wilderness, Zhao Rui and the Japanese were locked in a fierce battle.

This Japanese man possesses a strange and unusual martial arts skill; he is truly extraordinary.

"The copy progress of the Thousand Crane Slash of the Ninja Sword Technique is 20%!"

"Young fellow Daoist, shall this humble monk lend a hand? I see you're having some trouble!"

The monk Zhisheng put his palms together and said with a smile.

"What's the rush? It won't delay your noodles!"

"This man's demonic skills are extraordinary; this humble monk would also like to give them a try!"

It turned out that Zhao Rui and his companion had sensed the aura of demonic blood from the moment they entered the noodle shop.

This aura was a remnant of the demonic art's bloodlust, extremely well concealed. If it weren't for the unique techniques of the two individuals, even martial arts masters of equal cultivation would likely find it difficult to detect.

Therefore, the two of them discussed profound martial arts in public in order to attract each other's attention.

"No need, I can manage on my own!"

Zhao Rui wanted to replicate the martial arts technique, so naturally he didn't want the monk to interfere.

"Fellow Daoist seems to have some reservations about the Japanese, but what evil deeds have they committed?"

Seeing that Zhao Rui wouldn't let him interfere, the monk casually asked out of curiosity.

"You do not know?"

"This humble monk has never left the mountain, so I am unaware of this."

Zhao Rui was taken aback, and then recounted how the Japanese had wreaked havoc on China, causing widespread suffering and turmoil.

"Damn it, even Buddha has a temper today!"

Zhisheng shouted and joined the battle before Zhao Rui could finish speaking.

"Monk, you have no martial ethics!"

Zhao Rui felt helpless. Since things had already come to this, there was no need to hold back anymore, lest things get complicated.

Given their combined cultivation levels, even with the Japanese man's formidable swordsmanship, he was no match for them, let alone when the two attacked simultaneously.

In just over ten moves, Zhao Rui struck him in the back with a palm strike, causing him to bleed from all seven orifices.

"Damn it! You bastard!"

Seeing that the two men were extremely vicious and determined to kill him, the Japanese man was filled with resentment.

So what if I killed a few Chinese people and practiced some demonic arts?

Which martial artist doesn't kill?
"I'll fight you to the death! Demon Ninja Asura Slash!"

The Japanese man wiped the blood from his face, then smeared it on the knife, causing a red glow to emanate from the blade.

Then the Japanese man's body suddenly twisted like a zombie.

"If you have a powerful move, why didn't you use it sooner? It's too late!"

Zhao Rui wasn't about to give him a chance to unleash his ultimate move. He simply stepped forward and appeared in front of him in an instant.

The Seven Star Palm was suddenly activated, and the swift power of the seven stars, enhanced by the true energy of the Divine Void Realm, slammed into the Japanese man.

It directly shattered the opponent's body into pieces.

Just then, a beam of red light shot out from the Japanese man's mind and struck Zhao Rui.

"As expected of a prodigy from the Demonic Sect!"

Zhisheng reached out and threw the string of beads, scattering the red light directly.

The red light tried to contaminate the prayer beads, but it only clung to them for a moment before being burned away by the Buddha's light.

"Amitabha! This monk is so old, yet he still can't change his temper. What a sin!"

Zhisheng bowed his head and chanted Buddhist mantras, as if he were repenting.

"Stop pretending! You're not a kind monk at all."

Zhao Rui shook his head and smiled, then reached out and picked up the other man's longsword.

Then, using his inner energy, he drew a mark on the ground to one side and wrote: "Japanese spy, slaughtering Chinese people, deserves to die!"

After he finished writing, he threw the long sword to the ground, and the entire blade instantly disappeared into the ground without leaving a trace.

"Let's go, monk!"

"I'm getting along better and better with you, fellow Daoist. Why don't you join Emei and become my junior brother? Even if you say you're quiet, I can't control you."

"The monk's tail is showing!"

"Haha, a monk may not have a tail, but he has eyes of wisdom!"

(End of this chapter)