Chapter 597: Chapter 416: Celestial Master Xu’s Prestige, A Hundred Responses at One Call!_2
Of course.
These “martial arts competitions” were allowed because they weren’t true “martial arts,” but a form of performance competition instead.
So, when Master Chen live-streamed, many online keyboard warriors would criticize him, saying he had no real skills and that his lightness skill was just parkour… Then he performed a triple-jump from a height of over 20 meters, but the keyboard warriors still doubted him.
Some even claimed they would go to Wudang Sect to challenge Master Chen.
Master Chen also said during live-streaming that he welcomed people from all walks of life to challenge him at Wudang Sect. As for whether anyone actually went, that’s unclear.
After the country announced the existence of martial arts and Daoist skills, he was the first to come forward and release a video proving it.
At that time, he demonstrated real lightness skill by swiftly moving tens of meters, walking on tree branches, and also showcasing his swordsmanship. With one sword strike, a 40-meter sword aura could shatter rocks!
Such an expert, willing to let down his guard and chat with netizens, was a rare sight indeed.
He spoke slowly, recounting his entire breakthrough process.
Turns out, when Xu Yang created the Sword Aura Grand Canyon with one strike, forming a “Sword Dao” holy land, Master Chen immediately went to Wu City and entered the canyon.
He spent three days traversing the entire “Sword Aura Grand Canyon,” refining his sword aura and essence with Xu Yang’s residual sword aura and essence. Finally, he broke through in one fell swoop and advanced his martial arts into the realm of the Land Immortal.
The breakthrough in martial arts allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the natural world, and he subsequently broke through to the Daoist True Monarch Realm.
After all, he was a master born in the new era.
In the words of Grandmaster Chengming, he was a “lucky person,” so it was understandable that his cultivation speed was a bit faster.
However amidst the congratulations, Patriarch Bloodblade coldly snorted, appearing very unhappy.
The Bloodblade Sect and Wudang Sect had a deep grudge.
His master was once unmatched in the martial world, but ultimately lost to the patriarch of Wudang Sect. Not long after returning, his master died from his severe injuries, which had become a thorn in Patriarch Bloodblade’s heart ever since.
He had always wanted to take revenge on Wudang Sect, but among the various Daoist sects and clans in Da Xia, Wudang Sect had the shortest history but the strongest foundation.
He had sneaked into Wudang Sect at night once and found that there were at least seven masters guarding their “cave heaven.”
Patriarch Bloodblade suspected that those seven people…
Were very likely the seven disciples of the Wudang patriarch back in the day!
If it were indeed those seven, they would be far beyond his ability to deal with!
Both the Dao and martial arts of the Wudang disciples were extraordinary in the world, and he feared that he wouldn’t stand a chance against any one of them, let alone their combined formation, which they excelled at when roaming the martial world.
If the seven were still alive and combined their powers, they could probably slay immortals!
Challenging them would mean certain death!
But now there was Chen Shixing in Wudang Sect, which gave Patriarch Bloodblade a way to sever his attachment!
Challenge Chen Shixing!
Win or lose, it didn’t matter.
At least he could justify his master’s trust and gratitude!
He stood up and issued a challenge to Chen Shixing.
Chen Shixing didn’t back down and immediately laughed, “I accept Eldera Bloodblade’s challenge. However, today we need to attack the Ghost Market, so how about we fight after we take down the nine Ghost Markets?”
Patriarch Bloodblade said, “Not today, then tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow won’t work either.”
Master Chen shook his head and said, “I am the sect leader of Wudang. I need to return to Wudang to select the next sect leader. After the next sect leader of Wudang succeeds, I will fight with Eldera Bloodblade!”
Patriarch Bloodblade thought…
It would only take three to five days to select a leader for Wudang Sect, so what was the point of waiting that long?
He immediately nodded in agreement.
However, this battle…
Patriarch Bloodblade ended up waiting for a full two years!
He had climbed up Wudang Sect several times, wishing to complete his battle agreement with Chen Shixing, but Chen Shixing always used the excuse of not having a new sect leader yet to avoid it. It wasn’t until two years later that Chen’s martial arts and Daoist skills had made great progress, and his strength greatly exceeded Patriarch Bloodblade’s.
He personally went to the Western Frontier, defeated Patriarch Bloodblade with one sword strike, and said, “Eldera Bloodblade, I have fulfilled our battle agreement from back then. If you still want to fight again, I will definitely accompany you.”
Of course.
This is the later story.
After deciding on a “martial contest” in front of the many experts in the funeral shop, Master Chen said, “Celestial Master Xu, in our Da Xia, besides the two ghost markets of Xi Xia and Fengdu that you manage, there are seven more. I once visited the Miaoling Ghost Market, and it is said that the master of the ghost market has already returned and gathered many powerful fighters. With just the people we have here, it is nearly impossible to capture all seven ghost markets overnight.”
After a pause, Master Chen said: “How about this…my Wudang Sect will take responsibility for one ghost market. After we conquer it, Wudang and Celestial Master Xu will jointly manage it. What do you think?”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes brightened up!
That’s right!
Conquering a ghost market comes with many benefits!
However, the Underworld Palace has its own rules, and so does the ghost market. Even if they conquer a ghost market, they will not be able to manage it… But Xu Yang is different. Xu Yang jointly manages the two ghost markets of Xi Xia and Fengdu. If they can attach the conquered ghost market to Xu Yang’s name, it will be a huge gain for any clan!
Since they’re putting in the effort, why not get some benefits for themselves?
Master Yimei immediately stated that his Maoshan Sect would also take responsibility for a ghost market without Xu Yang’s assistance. After conquering it, they would jointly manage it with Xu Yang!
The patriarchs of the Cui Clan and others also wanted to follow suit.
However, they’ve lost quite a few experts now, and they need to cooperate to have a chance of conquering a ghost market.
Damn!
These people have great schemes!
Xu Yang cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he smiled, “It’s just seven ghost markets. Why should I bother the venerable patriarchs? It’s been 600 years since you’ve secluded into your own world, and you’ve just come out. You should be focusing on recuperating.”
The hidden meaning was that the nine ghost markets of Da Xia are mine. You can contribute, but you want a share of the profits?
No way!
His words made Patriarch Bloodblade and others mutter in discontent!
Damn!
Who isn’t a venerable patriarch?
We also haven’t been out of our seclusion for long, but are you not making good use of us?
“But…”
Master Chen still wanted to insist, saying, “With just the thirteen of us, how can we take down seven ghost markets?”
Xu Yang laughed, “Who said we only have thirteen people?”
He called out to the outside, “General, Deputy General, General San… Have you all arrived?”
Whoosh!
Nine Yin winds flew into the funeral shop, transforming into nine ghost immortals dressed in armor, kneeling on one knee, and simultaneously saying, “Greetings, Master.”
The faces of the audience underwent a slight change as they looked at the nine ghost immortals in astonishment…
Xu Yang actually managed to subdue nine ghost immortals?
“Hahaha!”
Again, laughter rang out. Xu Zhiyuan strode in, saying, “Did I arrive too late, Young Master?”
Everyone’s pupils shrank!
Supreme Sage Qingxu, Xu Zhiyuan…
It’s said he’s now the Earthly City-God, but who knew he’d also accomplished being Ghost Immortal?
With this count, Xu Yang’s side had ten Ghost Immortals… Adding Xu Yang himself, this power would be unparalleled in the martial world of contemporary Da Xia, even by Wudang or Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Master Chen said, “Celestial Master Xu… Indeed, our forces are strong, but to attack all seven ghost markets simultaneously might still be a bit far-fetched.”
Xu Yang smiled, “Master Chen, why are you in a hurry? Our people haven’t even arrived yet!”
As soon as his words fell, Yue Niang, Long Xiaoxue, and Tu Xiaoyu walked into the funeral shop together from outside.
As soon as the three women arrived, golden Buddha lights shone outside the entrance.
“Amitabha!”
A Buddha’s name resounded as Venerable Kongji led the way into the funeral shop.
Unlike their last encounter,
Venerable Kongji wore a kasaya and held a Zen staff today, resembling a high-ranking monk. Behind him were nine monks of various heights, fat and thin, big and small, each emitting Buddha’s light, solemn and serene. They said, “Celestial Master Xu, have we arrived too late?”