Chapter 108: Speaking of a True Man Before a True Man, a Small Temple Cannot House a Great Buddha
"Master!!!"
The youngest among Wudang's six heroes, Mo Shenggu, was the first to shout out.
The others all showed signs of elation, yet when they saw the relieved expression in Zhang Sanfeng's eyes, guilt surged through their hearts like a tidal wave.
"Master, this disciple has brought shame upon you!"
Song Yuanqiao lowered his head, looking like a child who had done something wrong.
"Hahaha, as long as you're alive, that's all that matters! Don't end up like Cuishan, making this old man send a white-haired person off before a black-haired one. As for bringing shame, that doesn't matter at all."
When Zhang Sanfeng saw their rosy complexions and no signs of injury, his expression relaxed significantly. He cupped his hands toward Chu Yang and respectfully said, "Thank you, friend, for showing mercy!"
Chu Yang returned the gesture with a smile. "I have long admired the esteemed Zhang Zhenren and am honored to finally meet you today."
Zhang Sanfeng shook his head. "In the presence of a true master, how dare I claim such a title?"
These words left everyone stunned.
Even the likes of Ren Woxing, the Demon Cult leader, and Dongfang Bubai had been utterly subdued by the old man!
Yet here he was, addressing this scholar-like man across from him as a "true master"!
Did this not imply...
The scholar standing before them was even stronger than Zhang Sanfeng, who was nearly unparalleled in martial arts?
The once-arrogant Wudang disciples were now filled with terror.
Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao exchanged glances, their faces alight with excitement. From this moment, they resolved to make Chu Yang the leader of the Ming Cult.
"Zhang Zhenren is indeed extraordinary..."
Chu Yang sighed in admiration. Zhang Sanfeng was the only one who had gauged his true strength without engaging him in battle—a true cultivator.
"This Mr. Chu," Zhang Sanfeng continued, "since this old man is now here, may I request that you release my disciples?"
The title "Mr. Chu" had already spread far and wide in the Ming Dynasty, thanks to Miejue Shitai and Kong Wen. Yet few knew Chu Yang's real name.
As soon as Zhang Sanfeng finished speaking, his expression turned serious. His hands, hidden in his large Daoist robe, were prepared to act at a moment's notice.
To Zhang Sanfeng, despite Chu Yang's seemingly harmless appearance, his ties to the Demon Cult made him a formidable adversary. If Chu Yang made an unacceptable demand, Zhang Sanfeng was ready to act.
But to his astonishment, Chu Yang simply nodded, and Song Yuanqiao and the others walked over to his side without any hindrance.
The process of handing over the hostages was so smooth that Zhang Sanfeng felt utterly perplexed.
Song Yuanqiao whispered the whole story into Zhang Sanfeng's ear, and the elder's face lit up with understanding.
After hearing it all, Zhang Sanfeng sighed deeply. "So many things happened in the martial world while I was in seclusion. Mr. Chu has ties with the Ancient Tomb Sect, and He Taichong and others, driven by greed for martial arts secrets, harmed innocents and brought about their own doom. It seems Mr. Chu was merely carrying out justice!"
At this, Zhang Sanfeng bowed deeply to Li Mochou. "Young lady, the Wudang Sect should have upheld justice and rescued you from dire straits. Yet, my disciples turned a blind eye for the sake of the Six Major Sects' mission to eradicate the Ming Cult. This is my failing as a teacher!"
Tears welled up in Li Mochou's eyes. It was the first time someone had apologized for her suffering.
In truth, by the time Wudang joined the alliance against the Ming Cult, Li Mochou had already endured harsh interrogation. The damage was done and had little to do with them.
Still, Mo Shenggu felt a bit awkward and murmured, "Master, we were prioritizing the bigger picture at the time."
Zhang Sanfeng's eyes blazed with anger, his beard and hair bristling. His voice thundered, "The bigger picture? What bigger picture? Does the life of an innocent person count for nothing under the so-called bigger picture? Did you ask for her consent?"
Mo Shenggu immediately fell silent, cold sweat running down his back.
Zhang Sanfeng's roar was so powerful that even members of the Ming Cult were awed by his integrity.
"Zhang Sanfeng truly lives up to his name. He's worlds apart from those hypocrites who call themselves righteous."
"Like father, like daughter. The Eagle King's daughter falling for Zhang Wuji is clearly a perfect match."
"If that's the case, the Ming Cult and Wudang Sect are practically in-laws."
"Don't talk nonsense. The Eagle King has been gone for years!"
"What's that got to do with it? If necessary, I'll shamelessly invite the Eagle King back..."
Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers whispered amongst themselves.
After leading Wudang's members to apologize to Li Mochou, Zhang Sanfeng turned to Chu Yang with a bold smile. "Mr. Chu, you've gone to great lengths. If your intent is to discuss martial arts with this old man, I can only oblige. Shall we begin?"
Chu Yang took a step forward, his figure blurring like a mirage before appearing outside the main hall.
Zhang Sanfeng's pupils contracted, and he praised, "What remarkable movement techniques!"
With that, he leaped like a white crane, seeming to walk on clouds as he soared out of the hall.
Most of the crowd remained confused, but Yang Xiao was the first to react and dashed out.
"Two masters sparring? How could I, this old bat, miss such a spectacle?"
Wei Yixiao, the fastest among them, quickly regained his composure and followed, overtaking Yang Xiao in a flash.
The others finally understood what "discussing martial arts" entailed and rushed outside, leaving only Huang Rong, Li Mochou, and a few other women behind.
Yang Buhui asked curiously, "Aren't you going out to watch?"
Huang Rong rolled her eyes. "I've seen so much of it that I'm sick of it. Not interested in the commotion."
Li Mochou, since the destruction of the Ancient Tomb Sect, had developed a deep aversion to so-called advanced martial arts. Not only did she refuse to watch, she didn't even want to hear about it.
She quietly stayed by Xiao Longnu's side, her eyes filled with guilt.
Huang Rong shook her head. This kind of psychological trauma would take a long time to heal.
Seeing that neither of them intended to go outside, Yang Buhui called her maidservant Xiaozhao to follow her out of the hall.
Xiaozhao glanced back at Li Mochou. She felt a strong urge to stay and comfort her but dared not disobey Yang Buhui.
On Bright Peak, Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng's sparring was so fast that only a handful of people, including Yang Xiao, could follow. For the rest, the two men were mere blurs.
Realizing ordinary martial arts held no significance for Chu Yang, Zhang Sanfeng decided not to waste this rare opportunity and employed his ultimate techniques.
A powerful, indescribable aura emanated from him, and his moves became increasingly mysterious.
Yin and Yang intertwined, hardness and softness in perfect harmony.
Chu Yang focused intensely, the blood-red tomoe in his Rinnegan spinning wildly as he etched every move into his memory.
For a fleeting moment, Chu Yang thought he saw a massive Taiji diagram appear beneath Zhang Sanfeng's feet—black within white, white within black.
Each man stood on a point, one black and one white, as the diagram slowly rotated.
It felt as though the heavens and earth tilted in an instant!
"As expected!"
Chu Yang, sensing himself pulled into another dimension, confirmed that Zhang Sanfeng had transcended martial arts and reached a divine state.
Taiji Fist was no longer just a supreme martial art; it was now a mystical ability.
"A true terrestrial immortal," Chu Yang murmured in genuine admiration. Zhang Sanfeng might well be the strongest individual he had encountered in this world.
To use the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms against such a figure would be disrespectful.
Chu Yang clasped his hands, causing grass and wood to sprout and condense into two wooden swords.
Zhang Sanfeng's eyes lit up. "Spellcraft? I thought such things were mere legends, yet here it is before my eyes..."
He formed the classic Taiji stance, Heaven and Earth in Hand, with black and white qi swirling between his palms.
Suddenly, Zhang Sanfeng pushed forward, and the black-and-white sphere shot toward Chu Yang.
Chu Yang's twin swords radiated the light of the sun and moon. As he swung them, brilliant beams collided with the black-and-white sphere.
Meanwhile, the Taiji diagram beneath their feet spun wildly.
Outside the diagram, the onlookers strained to see but could no longer make out the two combatants, as though a barrier obscured their vision.
A singular thought arose among them all.
"Can mortals really achieve such feats?"
"Zhang Zhenren's methods have already transcended martial arts. Calling him a living deity is no exaggeration!"
The usually arrogant Yang Xiao now looked on with envy, jealousy, and a tinge of unwillingness.
For the rest, the overwhelming gap left no room for complex emotions—only pure astonishment.
"Mr. Chu won't lose, will he?"
Yang Buhui's face showed a flash of worry.
"Rubbish!" Huang Rong glared at her, annoyed. "When Xiao Chu was in Mongolia, he even killed a Buddha. That old man is nothing!"
The terrifying scene of what could be called a battle between Buddha and demon still lingered in Huang Rong's mind, an indelible memory.
In her eyes, no matter how strong Zhang Sanfeng might be, he was just flesh and blood!
But Huang Rong's casual words caused the Wudang disciples to burst into laughter.
"Killed a Buddha? Hahaha, why don't you say he killed Guanyin Bodhisattva and Tathagata Buddha too?"
"It's understandable for someone this age to daydream, but confusing imagination with reality is just ridiculous, young lady."
"Go ahead, boast some more! Why don't you say he's the reincarnation of a demon lord?!"
"Hahaha, how utterly absurd!"
The mocking laughter grew louder, and combined with the disdainful glances from the Wudang disciples, Huang Rong's face turned ashen.
Zhang Sanfeng's strength seemed to have restored their confidence, emboldening them to ridicule others without restraint.
"Enough! Shut up!"
Song Yuanqiao's stern gaze swept across the disciples mocking Huang Rong, and they trembled in fear, immediately lowering their heads and silencing themselves.
"Our Wudang Sect's atmosphere truly needs some discipline!" Yu Daiyan sneered as he looked at the group of disciples. "You mock Mr. Chu with your words, but have you forgotten how easily he captured the six of us?"
"What now? Do you think we, your elders, are mediocre as well? Or perhaps even worse than mediocre?"
The Wudang disciples were terrified and dropped to their knees, trembling as they stammered, "We dare not!"
Mo Shenggu stepped forward to mediate, soothing his senior brothers' anger and gradually improving the tense atmosphere.
"Miss Huang, the disciples were rude; I hope you won't take it to heart," Song Yuanqiao said with a bow of apology.
Huang Rong, however, was unmoved. She bypassed Song Yuanqiao and fixed her gaze on the younger Wudang disciples. "Don't blame me for not warning you—keep your eyes wide open and watch closely later!"
Some disciples were indignant and wanted to retort, but a sharp look from Song Yuanqiao stopped them in their tracks.
"Miss Huang, let's not stoop to their level. I believe Mr. Chu has indeed slain a Buddha!"
Yang Buhui spoke resolutely, aligning herself with Huang Rong.
Huang Rong subtly moved a few steps away, as if to say, "We're not that close."
Yang Buhui: "..."
As the two silently competed, the scope of the Taiji Array Diagram surrounding Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng suddenly expanded, spreading outward rapidly.
"Everyone, step back!"
Yin Liting, closest to the diagram, retreated while warning everyone to move away. Passing by Yang Buhui, he instinctively grabbed her hand to pull her to safety.
Yang Buhui: "???"
She panicked and shouted at Yang Xiao, "Father! This pervert is harassing me!"
Yang Xiao turned his head, his eyelid twitching.
Yin Liting paused momentarily, then raised his head to meet Yang Xiao's gaze with sincere eyes.
"Let me explain..."
Unfortunately, the Taiji Array Diagram didn't give him a chance. In the blink of an eye, it extended to their feet.
Seeing this, Yang Xiao immediately used the "Great Heaven and Earth Shift" technique to pull both of them to his side.
Although Yang Xiao had only mastered the basics of the technique, it was enough for this task.
The next moment, the Taiji Array Diagram abruptly stopped spinning and began to quake violently. The yin-yang fish alternated between expansion and contraction, as if something was recklessly rampaging within.
The faint aura leaking out was as heavy as a boulder pressing on everyone's hearts, leaving them breathless.