"Zhang Wuji learned divine arts and still knew to leave behind a 'Zhang Wuji buried the scripture here.' Duan Yu's manners at the table are a bit too ugly, aren't they?" Song Qingshu grumbled inwardly. Thinking of Zhang Wuji only worsened his mood.
"I seem to remember that the Fairy Sister in that painting was completely naked, demonstrating the paths of every acupoint with her own body." At this thought, Song Qingshu revealed a knowing smile. They were both men, after all. If it were him, he would surely treasure it too, unwilling to leave it for others to see.
Since Duan Yu had already learned the North Darkness Divine Skill and Lingbo Weibu, Song Qingshu wondered whether he had learned the Six Meridian Divine Sword as well. Unwilling to make such a long journey for nothing, Song Qingshu decided to visit Tianlong Temple.
The Bone-Forging Chapter of the Nine Yin Manual could greatly accelerate one's cultivation of Internal Energy. Now that Song Qingshu possessed both the Nine Yin Manual and the Divine Light Scripture, he believed his inner strength should be sufficient to perform the Six Meridian Divine Sword.
The people of Dali revered Buddhism. Upon hearing that he intended to visit Tianlong Temple, every passerby enthusiastically gave him directions. However, by the time Song Qingshu arrived outside the temple, night had already fallen.
"The various sects of the martial world guard their secrets as fiercely as treasured brooms. They do not even pass the Six Meridian Divine Sword down to lay disciples of the Duan clan, so there is no way they would let me borrow it to read." After pondering for a while, Song Qingshu realized his talent for learning techniques at a glance would be useless here. He would have to play the thief on the roof after all. He felt no psychological burden about it; he was not going to steal it, merely look at it once. Could a scholar's reading really be called theft?
He circled Tianlong Temple's walls, found a secluded spot, and leaped lightly over them. Song Qingshu landed inside without a sound. Concealing his tracks as he searched, he passed Qingdu Yaotai, Wutian Realm, Sanyuan Palace, Doushuai Bodhisattva Courtyard, Yuhua Courtyard, and Prajna Terrace before reaching several pinewood houses. They stood in stark contrast to the resplendent splendor he had seen along the way. Song Qingshu's heart stirred. This was likely where Kurong meditated facing the wall in the book.
He carefully leaped onto the roof and gently removed a tile. Song Qingshu immediately frowned.
Six monks sat cross-legged on cushions around the room, their expressions serene and their breathing long and steady. At a glance, they were clearly masters of profound cultivation.
"This is going to be difficult." Song Qingshu unconsciously let out a breath. "All six monks of Tianlong are here. Even Jiumozhi could not take it by force. I have even less hope."
"Since Your Excellency has honored us with your presence, why not show yourself?" As soon as the monk facing the wall finished speaking, he raised his thumb. A searing sword force shot toward him. Song Qingshu's face changed in alarm. Channeling his power into his feet, he broke through the roof. After several spins in midair, he landed safely inside.
"I have offended your temple by visiting so late at night. I hope the elders will forgive me." As soon as Song Qingshu landed, he calmly offered a salute.
The monks had already opened their eyes and watched him in full readiness. Zen Master Kurong remained facing the wall and sneered. "Your words may be respectful, but your actions are rather furtive. Why have you come to visit us in the dead of night?"
Song Qingshu hesitated slightly. It seemed there was no longer any hope of secretly obtaining the scripture, so he could only imitate Jiumozhi. He began to fabricate an explanation. "Though I am of little talent, I have heard that your temple's Six Meridian Divine Sword is the Number One Sword Under Heaven. Yet I happened to see Senior Feng Qingyang's Nine Swords of Dugu at Mount Hua before. Its brilliance truly seized the marvels of heaven and earth. I simply cannot imagine a sword art more formidable than the Nine Swords of Dugu. I came to your temple this time because I wished to see the Six Meridian Divine Sword manual with my own eyes and compare it to the Nine Swords of Dugu in my memory, to see which truly deserves to be called the Number One Sword Under Heaven."
The monks in the room began discussing it among themselves. Feng Qingyang, the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, was renowned throughout the martial world and hailed as the greatest swordsman under heaven. The monks had long admired his Nine Swords of Dugu. Hearing Song Qingshu mention it today, quite a few of them felt the urge to compare the two.
Kurong, however, remained completely still. His voice was hoarse and cold. "If you wish to witness the Six Meridian Divine Sword, why need you see the manual? Though we monks possess only meager martial skills, we have still learned a little of the Six Meridian Divine Sword. We ask for your instruction."
It seemed Jiumozhi had already visited Tianlong Temple. Song Qingshu sighed inwardly. He had still fallen behind the plot. He saw the monks quietly take their positions around the room, surrounding him in the center, and hurriedly said with a bitter smile, "It seems the Great Wheel Ming King has already visited your temple. So the rumor that the Six Meridian Divine Sword manual was burned is indeed true. Though my visit has caused much disturbance, I have committed no evil deed. You eminent monks are compassionate men; I hope you will kindly allow this junior to leave."
Everyone in the room looked at one another, their hearts filled with uncertainty. How did he know of something so secret? Ben Chen, formerly Emperor Baoding, worried for the safety of his nephew Duan Yu and said anxiously, "Since you know such a secret matter so clearly, you must be connected to Jiumozhi. Please stay behind." With that, he pointed with his ring finger, and a Guan Chong Sword shot forth.
Song Qingshu wished he could slap himself across the face. If he was going to leave, then leave. Why did he have to show off by sighing over the plot? Now he had gotten himself struck by lightning, hadn't he?
Though annoyed, he was not slow to react. With a flash, he evaded Ben Chen's sword. Seeing Ben Chen make a move, the other monks attacked as well. For a time, sword force crisscrossed the room, and the sound of tearing air resembled wind and thunder.
Song Qingshu was forced into a miserable state. Though the Six Meridian Divine Sword was formless and invisible, he could fortunately glean something from the fingers the monks used to wield their swords.
Since the sword force traveled in straight lines, Song Qingshu watched the angle of each monk's fingers as he attacked and could roughly deduce where the Six Meridian Divine Sword would shoot from. Thus, although he rolled about the floor in a sorry state, he escaped danger after all. Thanks, middle school physics teacher.
"Excellent footwork!" Zen Master Kurong, who had yet to make a move, praised him. Raising both thumbs, he unleashed the Shao Shang Sword.
Zen Master Kurong's cultivation was indeed far superior to that of the other five monks. Although their sword force filled the room, they could not truly harm Song Qingshu under the Serpentine Feline Roll footwork of the Nine Yin Manual. Kurong did not turn around, yet his two sword strikes precisely targeted the gaps in Song Qingshu's movements, when his old force had faded and new force had yet to arise.
Because he still had to evade the sword force of the other five monks, Kurong's two strikes sealed off the angles through which Song Qingshu could move across the floor. Left with no choice, he could only risk leaping into the air.
Kurong smiled faintly. As though he had expected this, he sent out two more swift sword strikes. Song Qingshu was now in midair with nowhere to borrow force from. If either sword struck him, he would surely be severely wounded and captured.
Song Qingshu's expression turned grave, but he remained calm amid the panic. He stepped with the tip of his left foot on the instep of his right foot and rose several more feet through the air, just evading Kurong's two strikes. He knew that if he allowed them to keep firing at him, being hit was only a matter of time. He hurriedly launched a counterattack.
His left hand traced a semicircle, and his right palm thrust forward. It was the "Dragon Ascending to Heaven" of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Kurong felt a vast, mighty wave of force surge toward him. Having just released sword force, his inner breath had not yet fully recovered, and he did not dare receive it head-on. He hastily rose and dodged aside. The cushion where he had been sitting was blasted apart by the palm wind, scattering fluff in every direction. His face changed drastically. "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?"
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