Master Gu Chuanyun claimed to have reached the state of Unity of Heaven and Humanity, and could come and go freely in the Orcs Camp. Sun Rouxin and her two senior brothers were dejected and helpless.
Left with no other option, the three disciples of the Golden Lotus returned to the Golden Lotus's headquarters and sought advice from its leader, Master Lao Golden Lotus.
The Golden Lotus, located in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, was originally established to defeat the Mogu, and many of its masters come from the five great martial arts holy lands.
However, as the Mogu fell into silence, the Golden Lotus lost its reason for existence and its power gradually declined, remaining in a state of semi-death for many years, until Master Lao appeared and changed everything.
Master Lao was not originally surnamed Lao. He was a disciple of Niuzao Temple. After failing to become the sect leader, he was unwilling to remain in obscurity, so he betrayed Niuzao Temple and joined the declining Golden Lotus.
Coincidentally, Master Lao caught the eye of the leader of the Golden Lotus, who betrothed his daughter to him. He then changed his surname and married into the sect. After the old leader's death, he naturally became the new leader of the Golden Lotus.
In order to lure more Pandaren and provide military rations for the Orcs, Chen Stormstout needed to establish the Peace Dove in Pandaria, so he approached Master Lao, and the two hit it off immediately.
During the battle against the five great martial arts holy lands, Master Lao was almost killed. Just when the Golden Lotus was about to be destroyed, he unexpectedly received help from the August Celestials and successfully turned the tide.
With the destruction of Vermilion Bird Temple and the closure of Shado-Pan Monastery, other holy sites also fell into difficulties. The Golden Lotus seized the opportunity to grow stronger, absorbing many martial arts masters and gaining a large following of common people.
Under Master Lao's leadership, the Golden Lotus became the number one sect among the Pandaren.
Sun Rouxin and her two senior brothers returned to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. The banks of the quietly flowing river were covered with lush green wheat fields. The Pandaren people were working hard, their sweat pouring out. Now, the number of people who had joined the Golden Lotus had exceeded 100,000, which was equivalent to half of Orgrimmar.
The three entered the Shrine of Two Moons. Sun Rouxin caught a glimpse of a young Pandaren dressed in gorgeous clothes. Upon seeing the beautiful Sun Rouxin, the young man whistled and looked at her with a flirtatious gaze.
Sun Rouxin hurriedly dodged. This disciple was named Lao Ruanzu, Master Lao's only son. If nothing unexpected happened, he would be the next leader of the Golden Lotus.
Master Lao tried to arrange for Sun Rouxin to marry Lao Ruanzu more than once, but Lao Ruanzu was uneducated and a womanizer, which Sun Rouxin disliked very much, so she refused him repeatedly.
Inside the main hall of the Shrine of Two Moons, Master Lao, beaming with pride, looked at his three prized disciples, especially his most valued one Sun Rouxin, and nodded in approval.
"I bet you've brought good news. The Shado-Pan Monastery is overestimating themselves, daring to oppose the great and noble Orcs and committing heinous assassinations. They've utterly disgraced us Pandaren."
The three disciples looked quite grim. The Monk Lu Ke Shizhi said apologetically:
"Master, I'm sorry, although we have found the murderer, it is Gu Chuanyun of Shado-Pan Monastery, but he has already reached the state of oneness with Unity of Heaven and Humanity, and we are powerless to stop him."
"What, the state of Unity of Heaven and Humanity?"
Master Lao, looking surprised, stroked his white beard and said, "Tell me quickly."
Lu Ke Shizhi recounted in detail what had happened the previous night. Master Lao listened with a somber expression, Anjing for a long while before sighing and saying:
"In order to resist the Orcs, Shado-Pan Monastery has specially opened its scripture pavilion, allowing disciples to learn all martial arts. It seems that Gu Chuanyun has already mastered the Shado-Pan Fist."
The thief, He Ruanzu, asked in surprise, "Master, what is the Shado-Pan Fist?"
Master Lao calmly explained, "The Shado-Pan Fist is a closely guarded secret of the Shado-Pan Order. When mastered to its highest level, it becomes formless and intangible, like a shadow following you. Only the successive sect leaders are qualified to learn it, but none of them have mastered it. Even Taran Zhu only comprehended the third level. Only by comprehending the seventh level can one enter the Unity of Heaven and Humanity."
Seeing the envious expressions on his three disciples' faces, Master Lao shook his head and said, "There's no need to be envious. Although the Shado-Pan Fist is mysterious and unpredictable, it is still inferior to the Golden Lotus Divine Skill that I taught."
The three disciples looked at each other, having never heard of such a unique skill in their sect.
Master Lao put on a stern face and said in a serious tone:
"The name of our sect, Golden Lotus, signifies the endless blooming of the golden lotus, representing the ceaseless flow of its Chi. The Golden Lotus Divine Skill is Pandaria's most supreme martial art, even more powerful than Shado-Pan Fist. However, this skill requires dual cultivation by a man and a woman. Sun Rouxin, if you are willing to marry my son, Lao Ruanzu, I will pass on this skill to you."
Sun Rouxin blushed. She was against marrying Lao Ruanzu, but if she could learn the sect's unique skills, it wouldn't be out of the question.
The thief He Ruanzu long harbored a secret crush on Sun Rouxin. Filled with resentment, he asked suspiciously, "Master, why have I never heard of this unique skill, nor have I heard of any previous masters ever using it?"
Master Lao said mysteriously, "The Golden Lotus Divine Skill is a Chi method. If one does not cultivate it to the highest level, outsiders will hardly be able to detect it. Do you know who the founder of this school is?"
The Golden Lotus has a long history, much of which has been lost in the flames of war. Who founded the Golden Lotus has become a historical mystery, and the three disciples all shook their heads.
Master Lao said loudly:
"Only the past leaders are qualified to know the entire history of the Golden Lotus. Now that the world has changed and there are no more taboos, I might as well tell you about it."
"The ancient Mogu invaded, causing immense suffering to the Pandaren people. In a short time, heroes rose up to drive out the Mogu. A woman named Jinlian, living on the Pan Shui River, accidentally received instruction from a hermit in the mountains, learned excellent martial arts, and established the Golden Lotus."
"Unfortunately, her strength wasn't top-tier enough, and she was defeated by the Mogu multiple times. Once, at the Halfhill Market, the Patriarch Jinlian encountered a short, stout Pandaren named Wu Da, who made a living selling pancakes. Wu Da only made one pancake a day, but he could sell it all day long, and his business was exceptionally good."
Lu Ke Shizhi asked innocently, "Master, how can one pancake sell for a whole day, unless it's as big as a millstone?"
Master Lao smiled and shook his head, explaining:
"That Wu Da was originally a martial arts prodigy. He accidentally comprehended the realm of endless life. He could turn a single pancake into a basketful by using his internal energy. Unfortunately, he only knew how to sell pancakes and did not know how to use this method to resist the Mogu."
"In order to learn this mental technique, the Patriarch Jinlian had no choice but to marry a man and spend ten years secretly learning this secret art, which she named the Golden Lotus Divine Skill. Afterwards, she united heroes from various sects and successfully drove out the Mogu."
Master Lao, with his long sleeves flowing freely, said naturally and unrestrainedly:
"When the Golden Lotus Divine Skill is cultivated to its highest level, the Chi is inexhaustible and can cover the entire Pandaria. All martial arts moves can be integrated and used with ease. Unfortunately, among all the Golden Lotus, only the ancestor Golden Lotus came closest to the highest level. Sun Rouxin, your talent is exceptional, and you have the demeanor of the ancestor. Would you be willing to cultivate the Golden Lotus Divine Skill?"
Sun Rouxin almost agreed, but thinking of Lao Ruanzu and irresponsible manner, she instinctively resisted and hesitated again.
The thief, He Ruanzu said:
"Master, Gu Chuanyun of the Shado-Pan Monastery has already attained the Unity of Heaven and Humanity and Orcs, and has stopped the orc army. Azeroth is in imminent danger. Junior Sister Sun is cultivating the Golden Lotus Divine Skill, but it will take many years for her to achieve anything. I'm afraid it will be too late. The important thing now is how to explain this to General Nazgrim."
Master Lao stroked his beard, pondered for a long time, and said:
"Every martial art has its weaknesses, Shado-Pan Fist is no exception. Among my Pandaren, there are two who can break the Shado-Pan Fist: one is Lorewalker Cho who has integrated multiple martial arts styles, and the other is Chen Stormstout, who has traveled through Azeroth and comprehended the heart of martial arts."