Martial Arts Crossover: The Sweeping Monk of Wudang? That's our patriarch!

A purple nascent soul, the size of a thumb and translucent throughout, burst forth from the core and leaped into the air!

In an instant, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowed into her body like rivers flowing into the sea.

The golden elixir shatters, and the nascent soul is born; the mist disperses and the clouds clear, and the thunderous breath appears and disappears.

The arena returned to normal, and everyone was astonished to see Zhuge Xue standing in the center, her aura vast and her brows radiant, clearly a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Lin Daochen sheathed his sword, stepped forward, and loudly congratulated:

"Congratulations, young lady, you have achieved the Nascent Soul stage!"

But there was no joy on her face. The person before her was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

Being forced into a desperate situation by someone with such cultivation is hardly a good thing; it only shows that one's foundation is not yet stable and one's skills are not yet up to par.

Even if one reaches the Nascent Soul stage, so what?

A gentle ripple spread across the lake of my heart, and a thin crack quietly appeared.

On the elders' platform, a man from Divine Sword Manor's eyes flashed, and he swooped down, leaning close to her ear, his voice extremely soft:

"This person cultivates the Azure Phoenix Body Tempering Technique, and will hardly make any further progress in this life, so you don't need to worry about him."

It will be difficult to make any further progress in this life.

These words seemed to carry the power of thunder, suddenly cleaving through Zhuge Xue's consciousness.

Such unparalleled talent has had his path to the top cut off!

Her heart skipped a beat, and she no longer cared about etiquette. She reached out and grabbed Lin Daochen's collar, and with a "rip," she tore open the front of his shirt.

Although he is old, his muscles and bones are strong and firm, and his skin is well-defined, showing no signs of decline.

Sunlight streamed down his bare upper body, blinding everyone—the crowd erupted in uproar: How dare the female cultivators of Divine Sword Manor tear the clothes off an old man in public? Even after breaking through, she shouldn't be so disrespectful! Lin Daochen himself was caught off guard, his brows furrowing slightly, his astonishment barely concealed.

"Young lady, what does this mean?"

Under the light, dense, dark gold patterns appeared on his skin, shimmering with an eerie glow and pulsating slightly as if alive. Anyone with even a basic understanding of array formations would recognize it at a glance—it was Qingluan's unique body-tempering method!

Using his body as a furnace, he carved the array into his bones, forging his flesh and blood into the sharpest natal magic weapon.

This is precisely the foundation upon which the Azure Phoenix overwhelms its peers.

But the price was also severe: his physical body became solidified, and his cultivation level could no longer advance even an inch.

Everyone suddenly understood and nodded in agreement. Only Qingluan's pupils shrank sharply—the patterns on Lin Daochen's body were not a copy of her old method, but a completely new structure that followed a different path. She had not yet had time to examine it closely, nor did she know the secrets of its operation.

But one thing is undeniable: this person has extraordinary comprehension. With just a few glances, he deduced the entire structure, and incredibly quickly.

Zhuge Xue's almond-shaped eyes widened, her voice trembling: "Why did you practice this? Do you know that once this technique enters your meridians, you'll never have a chance to break through to the next level! Who gave you the audacity to use your talent to fill this dry well?!"

Her heart tightened, filled with both sorrow and indignation—what was the Five Elements Sect thinking? How could they send such a promising talent down a dead end?

"Young lady, what makes you say that?"

Lin Daochen looked down at the hand that was still clutching his clothes, his tone calm but with a hint of bewilderment.

"You really don't know? Those array patterns branded under the skin are Elder Qingluan's secret body-tempering technique! Once mastered, killing enemies of higher levels is as easy as taking candy from a baby, but it will lock the dantian, stagnate the spiritual platform, and leave no room for further advancement!"

How dare you break your own wings?!

Before he could finish speaking, a low cough made the air tremble slightly.

Qingluan stood with her hands behind her back, stepped onto the stage, her skirts billowing like fire.

"My body-forging method has crushed countless geniuses. Who gives you the right to criticize me!"

"...The old witch?" She suddenly narrowed her eyes, her tone turning icy.

Zhuge Xue felt a chill run down her spine and hurriedly curtsied, bowing her head. "Elder Qingluan, please forgive me, I misspoke! But... with such extraordinary talent, why do you insist that he inherit this forbidden path?"

"I have no intention of offending you, but I am truly puzzled."

Qingluan stepped aside to shield Lin Daochen behind her, her gaze intense, and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Today I will show you with your own eyes—my laws are without error; my disciples are destined to soar above the nine heavens!"

Her voice was as clear as metal and as powerful as stone.

"My cultivation has stagnated because of old injuries that have eroded my bones; but he is different—he possesses innate Daoist talent, a once-in-a-millennium find! He will surely be able to push all my life's learning to an unprecedented peak!"

"From this day forward, Lin Daochen is my Qingluan's closed-door disciple! Anyone who lays a finger on him will face my wrath!"

Mo Taixu slowly stepped forward and stood quietly beside her, silent yet commanding, his silence speaking volumes.

The presiding elder cleared his throat, about to announce: "The champion of this competition is Zhuge from Divine Sword Manor..."

"Let's fight one more time!"

Zhuge Xue looked directly at Lin Daochen, her voice clear and bright: "I want to see your true self."

What it really looks like?

The entire audience gasped.

Could it be that he didn't really put in his full effort in that battle just now?

The Empty Prince, watching from below the stage, felt his Adam's apple bob and a bead of cold sweat appear on his forehead—it turned out that the old man he was fighting had been like a dragon hidden in a deep pool, only revealing half of his scales.

The elders exchanged glances, nodded, and retreated to the edge of the platform. They also wanted to see for themselves just how many secrets this body, covered in array patterns, truly held.

Lin Daochen slowly exhaled, his expression gradually darkening, his gaze sharp as a blade, piercing straight at the person opposite him.

"Girl, there's no need to argue for me. These markings on my body are completely different from what my master taught me—I can remove them whenever I want."

A clear, melodious voice, like a spring, quietly flowed into Zhuge Xue's sea of ​​consciousness.

Transmitting sound secretly.

However, since you are willing to spar, I will gladly teach you with all my might. This next move is my most treasured secret technique; please concentrate fully before it comes!

Heavenly Origin God-Slaying Sword - Final Form!

The audience below the stage only felt Lin Daochen's figure move slightly, and his long sword swept past without light or shadow, without sound or trace, without even the slightest trace of spiritual energy. It was as if he had just casually swung an empty blade.

The elders on the elders' seat were all startled, their gazes meeting with a mixture of surprise and awe.

"Divine Sense Slash!"

"A Golden Core cultivator has actually mastered the art of spiritual attack? How is that possible?"

"Such methods are usually only the beginning of a Nascent Soul cultivator's journey after they have just condensed their Divine Infant!"

"How could an old cultivator who has just reached the Golden Core stage possess such a forbidden technique?"

Outsiders naturally couldn't understand the reason, but Zhuge Xue in the arena felt as if she had fallen into an ancient abyss—her soul sea churned, and a white skeletal warrior charged wildly with a blade. Wherever the blade went, divine thoughts were shattered and the sea of ​​consciousness collapsed!

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator, whose soul is still unstable at the beginning of its formation, is like a child holding a shield against lightning when suddenly attacked. In an instant, they are at a loss and lose their composure.

She slammed her knees to the ground, her fingers gripping her crown, a heart-wrenching scream erupting from her throat. Veins bulged on her forehead, and cold sweat soaked through her white clothes, as if her soul was being torn from her body inch by inch.

As the aftershocks subsided, Lin Daochen walked slowly off the stage with his hands behind his back, his voice calm and clear:

"I have done my utmost, but I have been unable to move you in the slightest. You have indeed won this contest, and I am completely convinced of your victory."

The audience looked around blankly, feeling that something strange had happened in the blink of an eye, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what had occurred; while those who had seen it clearly remained silent.

Lin Daochen returned to the Refining Peak and buried himself in the library once more. He knew that only by reading through countless volumes of secret manuals could he fill in the gaps in his own attack techniques and solidify his unique path of cultivation.

With a soft click of the hinges, the wooden door to the library was suddenly pushed open. Qingluan stepped in barefoot, her skirt not even fluttering before she stood within three feet of him.

Her voice was warm and gentle, yet it carried an undeniable sharpness.

"Could you tell me how you learned your body-strengthening methods?"

Lin Daochen was slightly taken aback, looked up at her, and a hint of confusion appeared between his brows.

"Your method has enlightened me. To use an array to enter the body and use talismans to forge bones—such courage is rare indeed. Not to mention, the pain endured during this process is something most people wouldn't be able to withstand for more than three days."

"A lot of ideas?"

Her gaze sharpened slightly, as if a cloud of doubt was floating within her.

Lin Daochen immediately nodded: "To inscribe the array patterns into one's flesh and blood, one must not only endure the excruciating pain, but also maintain one's mental stability. Not everyone can grit their teeth and endure that kind of ruthlessness."

Qingluan fell silent for a moment, her fingertips subtly clenching, but her gaze remained fixed on his face like a nail. After a long while, she finally spoke:

"Who...are you?"

She had been holding these words in for too long—her talent was so extraordinary, yet she kept a low profile; she was as old as rotten wood, yet she had just completed her Golden Core; if she were truly ordinary, how could she so easily master the art of the soul?

"I only wish to cultivate the Tao quietly and seek the path to immortality. I do not wish to be involved in right and wrong, nor do I wish to cause trouble."

Qingluan opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed her words. Before turning to leave, she placed a thin booklet on the table:

"These are my cultivation notes, condensed over many years. I hope you will use them wisely. If your intentions are not pure... you will have to consider the consequences yourself."

Since returning from that disciple exchange conference, Zhuge Xue has secluded herself in seclusion, never venturing out of the Divine Sword Manor again. The scene from that day on the arena lingers day and night in the depths of her consciousness.

He was just an old man who had just advanced to the Golden Core stage, yet he managed to carve a deep, unhealable crack into her Dao heart.

Especially that last blow, which was swift and decisive, shattering all the confidence she had built up over the past twenty years.

From childhood to adulthood, her teachers praised her for her extraordinary wisdom, her peers regarded her as a star illuminating the world, and even she herself always believed that she was born to overcome obstacles.

But on that day at the Five Elements Sect, everything changed.

Although the goal was achieved and the nascent soul was formed, the image of that withered old man remained branded deep within the soul, impossible to erase.

Even though her master repeatedly warned her that the man was far beyond her reach—simply because she had cultivated the Azure Phoenix's body-forging secret technique, her cultivation level was already as solid as iron, making further progress nearly impossible—the image of that old man was like a towering mountain pressing down on her, suffocating her every day, disturbing her peace of mind, and even disrupting her breathing rhythm.

Boom! The closed-door stone gate shattered into dust. Zhuge Xue stepped out, her eyes blazing with crimson flames, and blood and fire seemed to flow from the depths of her pupils.

"Master! I must become stronger—even if it means breaking my bones and burning my soul!"

The old man in white robes stood silently behind her, a heavy stack of yellowed documents hanging from his sleeve.

"I have verified that person's background. Your loss... is entirely justified."

Before she could finish speaking, the file was tossed through the air. Zhuge Xue caught it with a swift motion, her fingertips trembling slightly, and turned to the first page—the name Lin Daochen immediately came into view.

Born in the Kyushu region.

He could cross borders and kill enemies as easily as taking something out of a bag; among those of the same rank, he had never encountered an enemy who could even exchange a single blow.

He even personally killed Wuma Hongfei, the pride of the Wuma clan. The battle record includes several real images: sword light splitting the sky, blood raining down, and mountains collapsing where corpses lay.

Unrivaled among those of the same level!

What is meant by "gifted by heaven"?

This is the true Son of Heaven—even though he was born in the barren land of Kyushu, where spiritual energy was depleted and spiritual veins were withered, he still broke through the soil and supported the sky, his brilliance dazzling and unbearable to behold.

"My disciple, I know you have lofty ambitions. But facing someone like him, do you truly have a chance of victory?"

"Cultivation is like a bowstring; if it's stretched too tight, it's easy for it to break suddenly. You should understand this principle better than anyone else: that extreme rigidity easily leads to breakage."

Zhuge Xue choked up, then silently lowered her head.

These days, while stabilizing her newly advanced realm, she repeatedly questioned herself: Was that defeat truly due to carelessness? Or... was she fundamentally lacking in skill?

After a long while, she suddenly looked up, her eyes shining brightly like blades: "Master, this disciple is willing to go to the ancient secret realm for the trial in six months."

"This journey is fraught with peril; the slightest misstep could result in the annihilation of both body and soul."

"This disciple... has already thought it through."

Time flies like a stream, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Daochen spent his days deep within the library, his fingertips turning the brittle bamboo slips, a calm focus on his brow.

Over the past six months, he has gradually come to realize that his master, Qingluan, is not entirely devoid of warmth beneath her cold exterior.

The two were neither close nor distant; they maintained the proper teacher-student relationship and were always polite.

Meanwhile, in the spirit world, undercurrents are surging.

New talents emerged from all walks of life like spring thunder rolling across frozen soil—especially from the Taixu Sect, which recruited a new disciple named Zhang Sanfeng, who swept aside his peers and became invincible. In just a few months, he broke through the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage, and his fame resounded throughout the land.

Everyone was then astonished to realize that these extraordinary talents who had suddenly appeared all came from the same land—the Nine Provinces!

But now the Nine Provinces Realm has long since disappeared, and its spatial coordinates have all been annihilated, leaving cultivators of the Spirit Realm unable to find their way there.

Even when the returning people of Kyushu were brought to the torture chamber and interrogated in every way, they still received blank shakes of their heads and no knowledge whatsoever.

People from all over the Nine Provinces can come to the Spirit Realm, but people from the Spirit Realm cannot return.

The trail wasn't completely dead. After extensive investigation, everyone tacitly agreed: the one who sealed the Nine Provinces Realm was none other than the leader of the Nine Provinces Alliance. And this person was currently in the Spirit Realm.

Finding him might unlock that vanished gate.

If we were to name the most anxious group in the past six months, it would undoubtedly be the Taishu clan—their revenge remains unavenged, and the man has vanished without a trace.