Even though Li Lin had become slightly more serious because of Yu Canghai's resolute attitude, he still couldn't hold back after hearing the young Daoist's surname.
You're just going to change your surname, huh?
"What was your original surname?"
"The sect leader's surname is originally Li," a Qingcheng disciple who had fled to the tavern quickly replied.
"What the humanities said is true." Li Renyong's face turned red.
"Let's just assume it's true." Li Lin didn't pursue the matter further. "Kid, I told you I'd guarantee Qingcheng's survival. Forget about the [Crane Cry Nine Heavens Divine Skill]; that martial art isn't for normal people."
"You've reached the pinnacle when you've mastered the eight extraordinary meridians."
"To achieve a deeper level of mastery, one must be able to walk on grass with unparalleled skill and have unmatched Lightness Skill. Only then can one truly master this skill."
No one questioned it.
The methods Li Lin displayed were almost Immortals and Gods.
This kind of method cannot be mastered by human effort.
Therefore, it's understandable that the Qingcheng Patriarch did not pass it on to his own sect.
"Do such people really exist?" Yue Lingshan asked.
"The world is vast, and naturally it contains many rare treasures. Yun Zhonghe, one of the Four Evils of yesteryear, Wei Yixiao, the Azure Bat King of the Ming Cult, and the 'Qingcheng Patriarch' himself all possessed this kind of physique," Li Lin said.
"Yun Zhonghe?" Yue Buqun seemed to have heard of him. "I once saw his name in an ancient book. He lived during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty. The author described his Lightness Skill as swift as smoke and as soaring like a wild goose in the dark. In this respect alone, he was the best in the world."
He did not mention Wei Yixiao, whom he should have known better.
However, the Ming Cult was the predecessor of the Sun Moon Demonic Cult, and it is said that the "Ming" in "Great Ming" originated from this Ming.
"This divine skill is related to Lightness Skill?" Yue Lingshan suddenly realized, "That's right, the [Nieyun Swordplay] already shows its essence, emphasizing both the technique of lifting and leaping and the sword."
"The terrain of the Sichuan-Chongqing region is rugged and steep, which is similar to the martial arts style of people in the north, which is characterized by large, open movements, leaping and bounding, and graceful movements, while the martial arts style of people in the south is characterized by short, sharp movements, wide stances, and quick, compact movements."
"That's right." Yue Buqun nodded. "The solemnity and magnificence of the Mount Song Swordplay, the lightness and danger of the Mount Hua Swordplay, the hidden strength of the Mount Heng Swordplay, the ancient simplicity and power of the Mount Tai Swordplay, and the unpredictability of the Mount Hengshan Swordplay are all related to the terrain of the mountains we live in."
"Even if one is exceptionally talented and lives in Mount Song, one cannot grasp the essence of my Mount Hua Swordplay without visiting Mount Hua."
"It's clear that Alliance Leader Zuo's single-minded pursuit of unifying the Five Mountains has led him astray, wouldn't you say, De Nuo?"
Having already sneaked to the back door of the tavern and was about to mount his horse, Lao De Nuo figured he couldn't escape now, and with the mysterious Young Master Li present, he decided to go all out.
"Hmph! Yue Buqun, the essence of swordsmanship? Isn't that the heretical path of the Huashan Sword Sect?"
"Why are you using it to discipline me?"
"This is recorded in the daily records of the ninth generation leader of the Huashan Sect," Yue Buqun said. "At that time, there was no Sword Sect."
"You hypocrite, you came to Fuzhou, surely you're here for the [Bixie Swordplay] just like Yu Canghai, right?" Lao De Nuo then turned his attack on Yue Buqun's moral character.
"The Bixie Swordplay is inherently related to my Mount Hua." Because Li Lin was present, Yue Buqun made no attempt to conceal it, "My Mount Hua was fortunate enough to receive a precious manual from Chan Master Hongye of the Putian Shaolin Temple in Putian, Fujian."
"At that time, there was no distinction between the Sword Qi Sect."
"My ancestors, namely Yue Su, the founder of the Qi Sect, and Cai Zifeng, the master of the Sword Sect, obtained the upper and lower parts of the manual respectively."
"But out of selfish motives, the two groups did not exchange information."
"At this time, Chan Master Hongye, came to visit Mount Hua. The two elders were unaware that he had not received the precious martial arts manual, so they questioned him separately."
"This person is knowledgeable and has a remarkable memory; he has memorized most of the contents of the treasure book."
"Upon witnessing this extraordinary skill, he was suddenly overcome with the desire to renounce his monastic life."
"After leaving Mount Hua, he never returned to Putian. Instead, he wrote a letter saying that he could not suppress his worldly desires and was determined to return to secular life. He had no face to see his master again."
"When he reappeared in the martial arts world, he had changed his name to Lin Yuantu."
"If that's all there is to it, it's nothing. Lin Yuantu is a disciple of Chan Master Hongye."
"But then, news spread that Mount Hua had obtained the secret manual."
"Then the ten elders of the Demonic Sect attacked."
"Although we won a Pyrrhic victory, the precious manual was also taken away."
Upon learning the background, Yue Lingshan, who had been somewhat displeased because of her father's unseemly eating habits, breathed a sigh of relief: That's great, now I don't have to worry about Young Master Li having a prejudice against me because of my father.
"Are you saying this news was passed down by my ancestor?" Lin Pingzhi asked incredulously.
He did not doubt the connection between the Evil- Bixie Swordplay and this unknown manual.
It is known that their ancestors were indeed renowned for their "Bixie Swordplay," but the martial arts they passed down were mainly "Heaven-Turning Palm" and "Silver Feather Arrow," and they did not mention that the "Bixie Swordplay" they passed down lacked the mental cultivation method.
If we consider what Sect Leader Yue said, it makes sense.
"It's not impossible." Yue Buqun's face was gloomy.
His grandfather Yue Su, died tragically in that battle.
"What is the name of that manual?" Lin Pingzhi asked.
"Fool, what martial art is worthy of comparison besides the Sunflower Manual practiced by Dongfang Bubai, who is currently Dongfang Bubai number one martial artist in the world?" Lao De Nuo mocked.
Then he looked at Yue Buqun.
"If we really want to talk about it, Mount Hua owes the other four sacred mountains a great deal."
"If it weren't for today, we would have no idea that everything was related to the Sunflower Manual. We have never seen its contents before. However, when the Demonic Sect attacked Mount Hua, we, the Four Mountains, provided our full support, and the number of people who died was no less than that of the people from Mount Hua."
"After that battle, your Mount Hua actually rose to prominence."
"More than twenty skilled fighters emerged."
"They must have received the legacy of the sacred text."
"If it weren't for your infighting, I'm afraid there would be no members of the Four Mountains Sect anymore."
"Now you are still not satisfied and want to peek into the [Bixie Swordplay]."
"Your Huashan's extraordinary skills are already enough to make you the best, and you have a clear promotion system just like Shaolin and Wudang."
"It's all because of your selfishness that you won't pass it on to your disciples."
"If we're really talking about the [Bixie Swordplay], then we, the Four Mountains Alliance, deserve a share!"
"Pity."
Lao De Nuo then looked at Lin Pingzhi.
"Just by looking at this good-for-nothing, you can tell that Lin Yuantu didn't pass on the true [Bixie Swordplay]."
Even a cunning undercover agent like him did not suspect anything.
After all, Lin Yuantu was a disciple of Chan Master Hongye. If Chan Master Hongye could leave the precious manual unlearned, it is understandable that his disciple, having achieved enlightenment in his later years, would not pass on the [Bixie Swordplay].
After all, Immortal Li had said that the [Heaven-Turning Palm] was comparable to the [Hun Yuan Gong].
It's just that Lin Zhennan Lin Pingzhi didn't know their value.
"My benefactor, please teach me how to protect the Lin family." Lin Pingzhi kowtowed nine times to Li Lin.
Lao De Nuo's expression froze. Damn it, it seems the [Heaven-Turning Palm] technique is out of the question.
With Immortal Li's near-immortal abilities, he would surely have countless ways to stop Lin Pingzhi kowtowing.
Yue Buqun also sighed.
Putting himself in Lin Yuantu's shoes, he didn't believe that Lin Yuantu was truly willing to let such a divine skill as the [Bixie Swordplay] be lost.
"To save the Lin family?" Li Lin began to wander.
The practice of printing millions of copies of the "Bixie Swordplay" and distributing them throughout the martial arts world is so common that it's become commonplace. So what makes it unique?
Forget it, what does this have to do with me?
Just point out a few clear paths.
"It's very simple."
"Mount Hua and Mount Song".
"There are wise teachers in Songshan, although their private conduct is not good and they are very protective of their own."
"There is Feng Qingyang on Mount Hua, so there is no need to worry about safety."
"Whichever option you choose, you will have time to slowly master the [Heaven-Turning Palm] and then return to Fuzhou to support the escort agency."
"Choose Mount Song," Lao De Nuo said immediately. "You don't need to worry about Yue Buqun using underhanded tactics. This is what Immortal Li said. If we don't consider Senior Feng, Mount Song is a hundred times better than his husband and wife business. It is now the head of the Five Sacred Mountains! He wouldn't dare to make a move."
"Don't hesitate any longer, do you really want to become an apprentice of this mediocre teacher?"
"To be honest, he also has a grudge against your Lin family!"
"Young Master Lin, our Huashan sect is a reputable and righteous sect. We would not hold a grudge against such a baseless grudge," Yue Buqun quickly said. "Moreover, as Young Master Li also said, the Songshan sect has a bad reputation in private. The Songshan sect is not satisfied with its position as the leader of the alliance and wants to unify the Five Mountains. It is ambitious and will surely stir up a bloody storm in the martial arts world. It is really not a good place to go."
"Moreover, Mount Hua has a long history and has inherited part of the Daoist tradition of Quanzhen, the former number one sect in the world."
"There are three or four martial arts similar to your [Heaven-Turning Palm]."
"Enough to give you the ability to apply your knowledge to other situations."
"Songshan lacks sufficient cultural heritage and relies entirely on Leader Zuo."
"He is obsessed with fame and fortune, how could he wholeheartedly immerse himself in the creation of martial arts?"
Both Lao De Nuo and Yue Buqun had their own reasons for their arguments.
But Yue Buqun had a long, willow-like beard under his chin, a face as Positive Qi as jade, and an upright demeanor, making him appear to be a virtuous gentleman.
Lao De Nuo was covered in cold sweat, which washed away some of the traces of his disguise. In addition, he was worried that Yue Buqun would make a move, so he looked around for an escape route, which made him look disheveled and shifty-eyed.
Furthermore, Mount Hua also possesses the [Hun Yuan Gong].
This caused Lin Pingzhi's mind to tip instantly. "I'm sorry," he said, looking at Lao De Nuo, "I've decided to become a disciple of the Huashan Sect."
"Father, does that mean I finally have a junior brother?" Yue Lingshan was excited; she no longer wanted to be a junior sister.
"Even though Lao De Nuo is an undercover agent with skills who has already become an apprentice, I still ranked him second. Young Master Lin comes from a respectable family and is also majoring in his own family's skills, so..." Yue Buqun hesitated.
"I don't care about the order. I was the last to join Huashan, so it's only right that I be the junior brother." Lin Pingzhi's impression of Yue Buqun had undergone a qualitative leap, and he had almost let go of his resentment towards Yue Buqun's disdain for his own [Bixie Sword Manual].
"Very good, very good." Yue Buqun stroked his beard and sighed, and the atmosphere between the two became harmonious and pleasant for a moment.
Because they knew too many secrets, the escort chiefs and escorts who wanted to quit the Fuwei Escort Agency immediately put down their worries and were happy that they could establish a relationship with a sect like Huashan.
"Immortal Li, Immortal Li. Are you—" Just as Lao De Nuo was about to kneel down, he saw Li Lin lift him up, and a dense force came from below his knees. He was so frightened that he couldn't speak, and his legs trembled.
"Stop shaking," Li Lin said, annoyed. "Yue Buqun won't kill you."
"He must keep a mouth to relay everything that happened here today to Zuo Lengchan, and he must also earn Zuo Lengchan's complete trust."
"This person is only you."
"The death penalty can be avoided, but physical suffering is unavoidable."
Lao De Nuo was extremely perceptive. He immediately changed direction and kowtowed to Yue Buqun several times, saying as he kowtowed, "Master, please forgive me for my hard work even though I haven't made any great contributions."
After pondering for a moment, Yue Buqun said, "Today, in front of everyone, I should have severely punished you to let outsiders know the strictness of the Huashan rules. However, to prevent Alliance Leader Zuo from losing his mind and attacking Huashan, the Lin family, or even Qingcheng."
"Today I will not cripple your martial arts, but I will take your life."
"Since you wield the sword with your right hand, you should cut off your left arm to preserve our master-disciple relationship."
Lao De Nuo could find no fewer than ten loopholes in Yue Buqun's words that he could use to refute them verbally, but he said nothing.
He simply drew his sword and slashed at his left arm.
Sizzle—!
His left arm snapped off instantly, and before the blood could even spurt out, he swiftly applied pressure points to the severed area to stop the bleeding.
"Here, the best golden sore medicine." Yijitou took out the medicine from his arms.
As a dart walker who is always out and licking blood from his knife edge, he always carries medicine for injuries and illnesses.
"Thank you, I, Lao De Nuo, will repay you handsomely." Lao De Nuo quickly applied the medicine, tore off a piece of his clothes to bandage the wound, and sat down where Yu Renyan and the others had been before, and began to eat heartily.
The best medicine is food, enough nutrition.
He knows these things very well.
Yue Buqun ignored Lao De Nuo's actions; it would be terrible if he died halfway due to his injuries.
Songshan might not believe that Grandmaster Feng is still alive. Even if he does, he will bring people from the Sword Sect up the mountain, at which point Songshan might lose his life.
"The last trouble is you." Li Lin withdrew his gaze from the spectacle and looked at Li Renyong.
"You are just an average person, like Yue Buqun. If you want to master the martial arts of Yu Canghai, even if you practice diligently, it will take at least ten or eight years."
"My master's martial arts skills have surpassed those of my Chang Qingzi. It would be a great fortune if he could catch up in ten or eight years," Li Renyong said.
Li Lin scoffed, "I certainly don't have the patience to wait for you for ten or eight years. Yu Canghai, give me what you're holding."
"Yes, Grandmaster." Li Renyong handed it over without the slightest hesitation.
It was a book, so well-worn that the edges were frayed and creased.
The sign above reads two large characters: [Qingcheng].
Li Lin took the book and flipped through it. "Indeed, Yu Canghai was farsighted. Knowing that he was leaving the sect, he carried the essence of Qingcheng martial arts with him."
The content here is not a specific martial arts technique.
Instead, it uses the "Pine Wind Swordplay" and "Qingcheng Heart Method" as a foundation to explain the differences in the way "Nieyun Swordplay" and "Heart-Shattering Palm" circulate energy.
It also records the secrets of how to practice swordsmanship using two swords and the palm.
Only those from Qingcheng who possess it can use the [Pine Wind Swordplay] and [Qingcheng Heart Method] as references to understand and learn martial arts such as the [Nieyun Swordplay] and [Heart-Shattering Palm].
"Indeed, so the Heart-Shattering Palm was the internal skill of the Qingcheng Sect Leader. The ancestors of Qingcheng were truly talented, actually transforming it into a martial art that cultivates both internal and external skills. Rather than a palm technique, it is more like a qigong, and it even has a bit of the charm of the Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian, although not much."
Li Lin struck a tree dozens of feet away with his palm, and the tree, which was as thick as three large bowls, cracked into nine long pieces with a crack.
"Alright, next, I'll teach you how to do it in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
Yue Buqun's pupils contracted in shock. This violated the common sense of martial arts. Internal martial arts could not be mastered quickly; it took at least the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Even the Star Absorbing Demonic Skill required far more than the time it takes to refine another person's internal energy.
"How could I possibly..." Li Renyong was about to shake his head when he saw countless clear sword lights appear before his eyes.
Then came the clear sound of a sword, followed by the cry of a crane.
Then
A sharp pain came from the surrounding acupoints.