Chapter Four: First Ascent to Wudang

Everyone laughed heartily upon seeing this. However, after laughing, they no longer dared to peek at the two sisters. After all, the scene of Zhao Liya's punch wind sweeping past, causing even the fallen leaves on the ground to rise with the wind, was still vivid in their minds. Who would dare to invite trouble upon themselves again? Naturally, they all kept a slight distance from the two sisters, whether they wanted to or not.

"Sister Lin, that Daoist priest just now was so powerful! My punch felt like it hit nothing but air. I don't know if he used some kind of magic. After my punch, I couldn't move at all!" Zhao Liya said with some dejection after regaining her freedom.

"It seems Uncle's words were right. Wudang Mountain truly hides crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Even Daoists of such a young age possess such profound martial skills. But I've never heard Uncle Song mention any young Daoists as powerful as this on Wudang Mountain. We know most of the young disciples of the Wudang Sect, and their martial skills are comparable to ours. I've never seen a young master who could defeat you without even lifting a finger!" Lin Ling shook her head in disbelief, then rejoined the group. However, Zhang Hupan's indescribable martial skills had deeply instilled fear in her, making her no longer consider herself a prodigy among the younger generation.

After getting far away from the tour group, Zhang Hupan confirmed that there was no one around. Although he really wanted to fly, he knew that doing so would easily attract attention. Thus, he activated the Earth Evasion Technique and instantly arrived at a secluded spot near Yuzhen Palace, then emerged from the ground.

Yuzhen Palace is located four kilometers east of Wudang Town, backed by Phoenix Mountain and surrounded by mountains and rivers. It was formerly known as Huangtu City. In its prime, Yuzhen Palace had four hundred halls and residences, covering an area of over 56,000 square meters. Its main hall, a brick-and-wood structure with a hipped roof, is one of the best-preserved buildings on Wudang Mountain with a distinct Early Ming Dynasty style. What's most remarkable is that Yuzhen Palace was built by the Emperor specifically for a Wudang Daoist named Zhang Sanfeng.

Historical records state that Zhang Sanfeng's given name was Zhang Quanyi, and his courtesy name was Xuanxuan. He was imposing and tall, with large ears and round eyes. Regardless of the season, he only wore a straw cloak. Whether in remote mountains or bustling cities, people regarded him as an immortal.

In the early years of the Ming Hongwu era, Zhang Sanfeng came to Wudang Mountain and built a hermitage here to cultivate. The Wudang Fist he created became renowned throughout the land. After continuous evolution and development by generations of grandmasters, it eventually became one of the most influential schools of Chinese martial arts. As Zhang Sanfeng is revered as the ancestor of Wudang martial arts, Yuzhen Palace has also been revered by generations of Wudang Fist disciples, who practice their techniques here.

While at Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng once said that this mountain would prosper greatly in the future. Decades later, Emperor Chengzu of Ming indeed undertook a grand renovation of Wudang. In the twenty-third year of Ming Hongwu, Zhang Sanfeng left Wudang and disappeared without a trace. Both Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Emperor Chengzu of Ming, Zhu Di, had issued decrees to send envoys to seek out Zhang Sanfeng. In his letter to Zhang Sanfeng, Emperor Chengzu wrote: "...Your immortal virtue is noble and lofty, transcending all existence, and your divine powers are unfathomable. Though my talent is dull and ordinary, my sincere desire to meet you is never forgotten day or night..." However, fate was contrary, and no one was able to find Zhang Sanfeng, who possessed the "art of eternal life and the merit of transcending the mundane." This Wudang master became a mysterious figure admired by later generations. To express his sincerity, Emperor Chengzu personally ordered the construction of "Yuzhen Palace" and decreed that a set of Zhang Sanfeng's statues be placed in the center of the main hall for people to worship. From then on, Yuzhen Palace also became the main altar of the Wudang Sect.

Looking at the ancient and elegant Taoist temple before him, Zhang Hupan seemed to see his master cultivating and teaching disciples in his hermitage back then. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, while also secretly resolving to bring Wudang to greater glory. After passing through the main gate, the first thing that met his eyes was Zhang Sanfeng's statue. Seeing the familiar portrait again, tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes. Zhang Hupan bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng and then walked towards a small path behind the side hall. The winding path was lined with lush green jade bamboo on both sides and paved with smooth river stones. After walking nearly a hundred meters along the winding path, an ancient wall blocked his way. However, Zhang Hupan showed no intention of stopping and simply passed through the ancient wall, disappearing down the path. If any tourists saw this now, they would surely be astonished, thinking it was a ghost passing through a wall.

In reality, it was merely a seal set by a Daoist. The ancient wall was just a visual illusion set up to prevent tourists from being startled. Although the Daoist who set up the formation must have possessed considerable cultivation, for Zhang Hupan, who was already in the Nascent Soul Stage, it was merely child's play. Zhang Hupan had sensed dozens of energies of varying strengths at the foot of Yuzhen Palace. Those energies were very familiar and intimate, energies that could only be emitted by those who practiced the Wudang Celestial Arts. Upon arriving at Yuzhen Palace, Zhang Hupan clearly felt those familiar energies emanating from the right rear of the main hall. Therefore, after paying his respects to Zhang Sanfeng's statue, Zhang Hupan walked directly towards the right rear of the main hall.

After passing through the ancient wall, Zhang Hupan found himself in a vast garden filled with various rare herbs and precious medicinal materials. In the center of the garden, a small path led to a simple Taoist temple in the distance. Two Daoists, about fifteen or sixteen years old, were standing in front of the temple, gently sweeping fallen leaves with their brooms. When they looked up and saw Zhang Hupan, they were instantly dumbfounded, and their brooms fell to the ground unconsciously.

"Junior Brother Lin, am I seeing things? Why is there a young Daoist walking towards us?" The slightly plumper Daoist on the left rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then stared blankly at the approaching Zhang Hupan.

The two young Daoists had grown up here since childhood. For over a decade, apart from the current Wudang Sect leader, Daoist Master Qingmu, who occasionally came here to consult with and pay respects to the predecessors of the Wudang Sect, no one had entered this place. As Wudang disciples who had cultivated here for over ten years, they knew that their predecessors had set up restrictions here. Not only ordinary people but even those whose cultivation had not reached a certain level could not enter. Yet, here was a young Daoist, who looked no older than twenty, walking towards them, making it impossible for them not to be immensely astonished.

"Greetings to you both! Could you please call for Kuye and tell him that someone has come to visit from Ascension Cliff!" Seeing the two Daoists standing there in a daze with no intention of coming to greet him, Zhang Hupan had to state his purpose in a soft voice.

The Wudang Sect, starting from Zhang Sanfeng, followed a generational order based on characters such as Xuan, Yun, Kong, Wu, Ku, Zhen, Xu, Zi, Qing, Ming, Hao, and Yuan. As Zhang Hupan was Zhang Sanfeng's last disciple, although he was only a hundred years old, he belonged to the Yun generation. This made him seven generations senior to the current sect leader, Daoist Master Qingmu. Even Daoist Master Kuye, who was currently the highest-ranking disciple in the Wudang Sect besides Zhang Hupan, had to address Zhang Hupan as Grandmaster Uncle-Ancestor. Although Zhang Sanfeng had not taught Zhang Hupan the corresponding worldly life skills, he had never stopped instilling in him the traditional etiquette of civilized ancient countries, such as respect for elders and veneration of teachers. Although Daoist Master Kuye was currently the oldest and most powerful surviving disciple of the Ku generation in the Wudang Sect, to Zhang Hupan, he was merely a junior. Therefore, Zhang Hupan naturally addressed him directly as Kuye without reservation. (To be continued)