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

He looked up and around, and suddenly felt the Kunlun Mountains suddenly become cold and desolate—the sky was as dark as ink, the north wind howled and swirled snow, distant thunder rumbled, and lightning tore white streaks through the clouds.

The Immortal Kunlun's lips curled slightly, his smile revealing three parts cunning and seven parts certainty:

"Given the high stakes, adding a bit of difficulty is reasonable. Success or failure rests entirely on the mortal you've enlightened."

Lin Daochen pondered for a moment. He knew very well that the person was Yang Kai—he had casually given him a few pointers, helping him break free from the shackles of mortal life, step out of the mountain gate, and even quietly channeled a wisp of Daoist energy into his meridians.

How far Yang Kai can go in the future remains to be seen; but with this fulcrum to leverage his destiny, the path to enlightenment is no longer a mirage. The path to immortality is elusive, and many spend their entire lives without even touching the threshold, while he has already stood at the starting line.

"Alright, I agree." Lin Daochen nodded. "I'll go and invite him back—this time, perhaps we can really get our wish."

Before his words had even faded, his figure suddenly transformed into a wisp of green smoke, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye. When he reappeared, he was already standing in front of Yang Kai.

At this moment, Yang Kai was humming an off-key tune, sliding down the mountain step by step. The snow slope was as steep as if cut by a knife, and he used both his hands and feet, tensing his whole body with every half foot he moved, afraid that a stumble would send him tumbling down into the abyss of snow—the snow on Kunlun Mountain was no joke.

Suddenly, a figure flashed before his eyes, and Yang Kai tensed up, instinctively crouching low to gather his strength, adopting a clumsy fighting stance. Lin Daochen shook his head silently upon seeing this: "Having learned a little bit of technique, you're still relying on punches for self-defense?"

"Don't panic, it's me." His voice was gentle and deep, like a wisp of warm mist rising from the snow.

Yang Kai was taken aback, then grinned, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "Oh, it's you, senior! You came so quickly. I was just wondering when I'd see you again on my way down the mountain..."

He was completely taken aback. After all, Lin Daochen had clearly instructed him before he left: go back and calmly contemplate what you have learned, and when you have gained something, return to the mountain to knock on the door.

He had thought Lin Daochen would wait for the right moment to offer the second ladder, but unexpectedly the two bumped into each other so quickly—could it be that Lin Daochen had come to find him specifically for some other purpose? Yang Kai's heart tightened, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly stepped forward, lowered his waist slightly, and bowed deeply.

"Now that we have met again, senior, if you have any instructions, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Lin Daochen nodded, raised his hand and pointed to the summit of Kunlun Mountain, his sleeves fluttering gently in the wind.

"This return is indeed for the matter of Kunlun Mountain. I met a fellow practitioner on the mountain, and we made a pact: if you can reach the summit alone, he will give me a few useful magical artifacts. The 'key' to that bet is now in your hands."

His gaze was like a nail, fixed directly on Yang Kai's eyes: "Will you take this job?"

Yang Kai's throat tightened, and a flush of embarrassment rose on his face. These words sounded light, but in reality, they were tantamount to facing death—it was the Kunlun Mountains!

Previously, his journey into the mountains with Lin Daochen seemed smooth, but in reality, every step was fraught with peril: poisonous miasma bypassed them, ferocious beasts hid in the grass and retreated, and even the mountain fog seemed to be parted by an invisible hand. But this time was different. Alone, even the black bear at the foot of the mountain nearly tore his arm apart, let alone the evil spirits, ancient formations, and remnant spirits lurking deep within the mountain's interior…

"I dare not disobey the immortal's command. However, this journey is fraught with peril. If you still insist that I take this path, I will grit my teeth and step forward without taking a single step back."

Lin Daochen's expression softened slightly, his voice low but resolute: "Don't worry, this isn't sending you to your death, but testing whether you have the willpower within you. Every inch of the path of cultivation is paved with perilous steps. If you shrink back at the first sign of trouble, how will you ever seek immortality or refine the Great Dao?"

Yang Kai's ears burned, and he lowered his eyes to hide his shame, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Thank you for reminding me, Master... I was cowardly. If I can't even withstand this mountain wind, how could I dare to dream of ascending to immortality? Then this junior will set off immediately—Master, please watch!"

Before he finished speaking, he turned and sprinted towards Kunlun Mountain, his steps steady as a drumbeat, without the slightest hesitation. Lin Daochen watched silently, then finally followed. They had only covered three zhang when suddenly a howling wind ripped through the air in the distance—a gray shadow, enveloped in a biting wind, pounced on Yang Kai's nape in the blink of an eye!

Lin Daochen's brows furrowed sharply, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. How dare the mighty Kunlun Mountain release demons and wreak havoc right under his nose? Ordinary little demons should have been trembling before him, but their arrogance clearly indicated that they were being instructed and supported by someone behind the scenes.

"So this is the Kunlun Immortal, his methods are quite despicable... No wonder, if I win this bet, you'll have to hand over all your life's wisdom—which seeker of the Dao would willingly give up their lifeblood?"

Yang Kai suddenly stopped, turned around and looked back, his eyes clear, regarding the raging wind as a gentle breeze.

"Master, please allow me to overcome this challenge on my own. If I rely on your help every time, I fear I will only ever be a speck of dust in your shadow for the rest of my life."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly and faced the eye of the storm—the wind suddenly dispersed, revealing a ferocious demon with three heads and six arms. Its two swords cleaved through the air and crashed into the ground with a bang, instantly creating spiderweb-like cracks.

Yang Kai was thrown several feet away by the shock, crashing heavily onto the hard ground, choking on a mouthful of blood. But in less than a breath, he shakily got up, supporting himself on his arms. His ten fingers dug into the mud and rocks, his nails cracked, and blood seeped out mixed with the gravel. His body swayed violently, but his spine remained straight.

In the distance, Lin Daochen's clenched fist tightened and loosened. His heart burned, but he forcefully suppressed the urge to strike—the trial was not yet complete, and showing mercy would only harm him. If he softened his heart today, he would never be able to cross that threshold tomorrow.

Besides, the bet between Lin Daochen and Immortal Kunlun is currently hanging by a thread—winning would mean a transformative opportunity; losing would mean the end of his future. How could he stand idly by at such a once-in-a-lifetime juncture?

He twirled a faintly shimmering silver hair between his fingers, his knuckles tightening, his mind made up. He then stood tall, his voice like iron nails driven into stone, each word striking the ground:

"Hold on! Even if the sky falls and the earth collapses, you must grit your teeth and straighten your spine! I will never let you fall—but before that, you must exhaust yourself, risk your life, and crush all the obstacles in your path!"

The man's pupils contracted sharply, the chaos dissipated, and a cold flame suddenly ignited in the depths of his eyes, as if a mountain that had slumbered for millennia had suddenly crumbled. He let out a roar, braced himself on his knees, and sprang up from the mud and blood!

"If I can't even withstand this little calamity... do I deserve to be called a human being?" Before he finished speaking, his ten fingers dug fiercely into the ground, his nails splitting open, blood mingling with gravel and splattering everywhere—he actually stood up straight!

In the distance, the little demon's lips curled into a cold smile. He swung his twin blades in a wide arc, the air crackling as the blades sliced ​​through the air. Seemingly fierce, he suddenly stopped three inches from Yang Kai's neck, the blades grazing his flesh and leaving only two scorching marks.

But Yang Kai was ultimately just a mortal, how could he withstand such a shock of demonic energy? Even before the blade fell, that vicious and pungent wind had already pierced his chest like an iron hammer—his internal organs shifted, his blood surged, and a sweet, metallic taste rose straight up in his throat.

"Ha... So, in the eyes of immortals, we mortals are nothing more than a handful of ashes to be discarded at any time?" He coughed up a mouthful of black blood, his voice hoarse like sandpaper grinding iron. "Immortal, with your guidance on this journey, I have no regrets even in death. If there is an afterlife... I am willing to be your slave, to lead your horse and hold your whip, to repay you life after life!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already smashed through the afterimage and was rushing towards the little demon, his footsteps shaking the earth. The little demon laughed wildly, its voice like the wailing of an owl:

"An ant dares to fly into a fire? If you're tired of living, I'll send you on your way quickly!"

Before he finished speaking, the two swords suddenly came together, his waist and hips twisted violently, and black and purple demonic energy exploded, condensing into a ferocious sword aura more than ten feet long. With a shrill whistle that ripped through the eardrums, it slashed down!

The demonic energy surged like poisonous miasma, causing Yang Kai's meridians to burst instantly. His soul felt as if it were being pierced by thousands of red-hot steel needles—the excruciating pain exploded, his vision went black, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud. His consciousness rapidly receded like the tide...

Lin Daochen lunged forward, his boot barely off the ground before he abruptly stopped. He couldn't move! To reach out now would be to betray Yang Kai's desperate efforts! He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood seeping out—he had to endure, he had to endure!

The image of Yang Kai's resolute leap towards the blade flashed through Lin Daochen's mind, and his throat tightened: This man risked his life for a sliver of hope, yet he still doubted and distrusted him? Could it be that this trial truly requires his intervention to be considered complete?

"Yang Kai—stand up!" he roared hoarsely, his voice shattering the deathly silence. "Believe in yourself, just as I believe in you!"

Yang Kai's eyelids twitched, his unfocused pupils suddenly focused, and a surge of scalding heat exploded from his dantian. He actually sprang up from the pool of blood, his spine straight as a spear piercing the sky!

"Oh? You've got some tough bones?" The little demon sneered, her eyes narrowed. "I was going to leave you breathing, but since you're courting death... then I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"

He roared like thunder, his right arm muscles bulging, the cleaver carrying a foul stench, aimed straight for Yang Kai's throat—an ordinary person would have their head burst open like a watermelon after taking this blow!

But when the blade struck, it only produced a clang of metal against metal! No blood splattered, no skin was broken, and not even a white mark was left on Yang Kai's neck. Instead, the blade of the gleaming cleaver was chipped open!

The little demon's pupils shrank, and he froze in horror—this mortal was harder than steel?! A chill ran down his spine, and he turned and fled, not daring to even flick his clothes, for fear that if he lingered even a moment longer, he would die on the spot!

But after taking only three steps, a chill suddenly pierced the back of his neck—the murderous intent was like an ice spike piercing his brain!

Before the little demon could even turn around, his entire right arm was severed at the shoulder, and blood gushed out like a fountain!

Blood gushed out, and he turned his head sharply. He saw Yang Kai standing firmly behind him, like a demon descending to earth, his face full of ferocity. The severed arm was still clutched in his blood-stained hand.

The little demon's arm was still twitching and spasming, its five fingers opening and closing as if it still had a lingering will to live. This scene terrified him so much that he turned tail and ran away.

But this time it wasn't his arms that were broken, it was both his legs.

With a muffled thud, his leg bone shattered and his muscles tore apart. Before he could even scream, he crashed heavily into the snow, kicking up a cloud of crimson snow.

He was completely unaware that his death was imminent.