Chapter 779: Going Up and Down the Mountain

The light rain gradually stopped, and the sun rose higher. Xu Fengnian began his ascent, passing through True Dragon Temple, Maiden's Slope, and Yellow Monkey Ridge, then continuing past Tiger's Leap Ridge to Thunder God Stream. This marked roughly half of the mountain journey. At Thunder God Stream, Xu Fengnian saw several groups of pilgrims, most of whom were resting on rocks beside the stream, eating the snacks they had brought. The muddy mountain path was particularly draining. Among the groups, the pampered young masters and ladies seemed extremely exhausted. Several young women were gently massaging their calves, complaining endlessly to their companions that the scenery along this sacred path was a far cry from Mount Wudang's renowned reputation. They remarked that the small, shabby Daoist temples they had passed earlier were too cramped to house immortal figures, and the Daoist masters they encountered lacked any trace of ethereal grace. As for the captivating imagery they had heard about Wudang's peaks resembling lotuses and bamboo shoots, not a glimpse of it was to be seen. The scenery they had traversed so far wasn't exactly barren or dangerous, but it certainly didn't resemble the serene, picturesque landscapes of a Daoist paradise. Xu Fengnian chose a relatively quiet and sparsely populated spot by the stream. Ancient trees towering overhead cast deep shade. Although he made no unusual gestures, his two swords at his waist made him quite conspicuous, especially to discerning locals. Upon seeing the Northern Liang blade, their gazes became more complex. In Northern Liang, anyone privately carrying such a blade, regardless of their family background, was immediately arrested and imprisoned. Thus, Xu Fengnian was taken for a military operative, which was understandable. With the grand Buddhist-Daoist debate being held at Wudang's Lotus Peak, the Northern Liang military would naturally station capable personnel to monitor the situation and prevent any oversights.

Xu Fengnian suddenly looked up and saw a pair of acquaintances walking together: Han Gui, the abbot of Green Mountain Temple, with whom he had once discussed Daoist philosophy on Little Pillar Peak, and his disciple, the young Daoist Qingxin. Xu Fengnian quickly rose to greet them. He had a strong liking for this Daoist priest, Han Gui, who had been favored by both successive sect leaders, Wang Chonglou and Hong Xixiang. Xu Fengnian considered him a true "man of the mountain." Han Gui was dedicated to cultivating the Dao, a path of both self-cultivation and spiritual enlightenment. Given Xu Fengnian's status as a vassal king, the senior Daoist masters in charge of discipline, Chen You or Yu Xingrui, should have personally welcomed him at the foot of the mountain. Yet, the task was entrusted to Han Gui, who was a generation younger. This was perhaps the unique charm of Mount Wudang: it didn't feel like a slight; instead, it elicited a knowing smile. If he had climbed the mountain with the two elderly masters, while the courtesy would have been observed, what more could they have discussed beyond increasingly strained pleasantries as the path lengthened? That would have been truly dull. Upon seeing Xu Fengnian, Han Gui smiled and performed a Daoist salutation for guests. He didn't break the peaceful atmosphere by revealing Xu Fengnian's identity. Xu Fengnian lightly clasped his fists in return. The young Daoist Qingxin, despite his youth, held a high generational rank. His face was filled with disappointment at not seeing Yu Dilong, with whom he often played on the mountain. "Heaven gains purity by obtaining the One; Earth gains tranquility by obtaining the One; Spirits gain efficacy by obtaining the One; Lords and Kings gain uprightness over the world by obtaining the One." The former sect leader Wang Chonglou and his younger martial brothers held the highest rank. Following them were the current sect leader Li Yufu and Daoists of Han Gui's generation. After that, ranks were determined by the four characters "Qing," "Ning," "Ling," and "Zhen" from the quoted Daoist classic, each representing a generation. Therefore, even Zhen-generation Daoists on the mountain, though not young, still had to address the young Qingxin from Green Mountain Temple as "Grand-Grand Master-Uncle" or "Grand-Grand Martial-Uncle." If he were to travel far down the mountain, this young Daoist, who shared the same generational rank as Yu Fu, the direct disciple of the Wudang sect leader, would likely be respectfully addressed as a "little immortal."

Han Gui sat beside Xu Fengnian and smiled, "The white-robed monk from Liangchan Temple has already begun his ascent via the Southern Divine Path. And Zhao Ningshen, the contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master Manor, along with Mr. Qinglian Bai Yu, are also on their way."

Xu Fengnian said with some surprise, "Zhao Ningshen is willing to honor us by traveling thousands of miles to Northern Liang? I have quite a grudge with this 'Feather-Robed Chancellor'."

Han Gui had never traveled down the mountain; he had always been devoted to his studies and uninvolved in worldly affairs. Thus, he had never heard of the earth-shattering, ghost-weeping battle of immortals at Spring God Lake. He wasn't interested in the conflict between that noble, whose surname was the same as the Emperor's, and the young vassal king. Skipping over the topic, he said softly, "Over a hundred renowned scholars from Huainan and Jiangnan provinces are also traveling together and will ascend the mountain to check in by dusk this evening."

Xu Fengnian nodded and chuckled, "The intelligence reports mentioned this. It's truly a hardship for these refined scholars, having to 'drink half a month of northwest winds' in our Northern Liang."

Xu Fengnian, of course, understood that the presence of Song Dongming—a former deputy commissioner of strategic affairs and one of Liyang's potential prime ministers—Yan Song, a veteran official who retired at 79 and later brought his whole family to Wudang to offer incense, and Han Guzi, who had previously led a group of disciples on a tour of the border regions, was instrumental in attracting these haughty scholars to Northern Liang. Without their leadership, even the vision of scholars coming to Northern Liang to save the nation would absolutely not have swayed these noble and refined intellectuals, who had grown up in the fertile, fish-and-rice rich lands of the Central Plains.

An anomaly! Xu Fengnian instantly slid backward across the surface of the stream from one bank to the other. Yet, despite such a fierce sneak attack, Xu Fengnian showed no intention of even drawing his blade. The young Daoist Qingxin, who only felt a strong gust of wind sweep past his ears, widened his eyes. He saw a tall woman with elegant, plain robes standing beside himself and his master. She was young and extremely beautiful, but her expression was too cold—far colder than the face of the old disciplinary master when he had accidentally tasted Qingxin's cooking. The young Daoist noticed that when this strange elder sister narrowed her eyes, they appeared long and slender, like bamboo leaves on the mountain.

The motley crowd of pilgrims near the stream were first stunned. Soon, a quick-witted busybody loudly cheered. In their view, the ripples on the water, disturbed by the blade-wielding young man, gradually dissipated. A man and a woman stood facing each other across the banks—a handsome man and a beautiful woman, each possessing an impressive aura of a grand master. By all appearances, there was a significant story between them. This instantly invigorated the pilgrims who had grown bored with the mountain path. They wished the two would fight until the mountains crumbled, hoping for a truly thrilling spectacle. Of course, it would be best if they first revealed their identities and sects, announced their martial arts monikers, narrated their tragic and moving tales of grievances and love, and then engaged in a life-and-death battle. Only then would this trip to Wudang truly be worthwhile.

In fact, Xu Fengnian, who had voluntarily retreated, asked with a smile, "Didn't you return to Huishan?"

The cold and stunning woman, not in her usual purple but dressed in plain white today, sneered, "With interest compounding endlessly, if I collect too late, even you might not be able to pay it back."

Perhaps thinking that the man and woman were too young and unfamiliar, and even if their martial arts cultivation was good, it couldn't be exceptionally high, an impatient bystander soon yelled, "Fight! Why aren't you fighting? Fight well, fight beautifully, and we'll immediately go out into the martial arts world and spread good words about you both to make your names famous!" Someone else, oblivious to danger, egged them on, "Hurry up, you two, don't just talk, do something..."

Daoist Han Gui sighed softly, hoping that if Xu Fengnian truly fought the strange woman, no innocent bystanders would be harmed. So at this moment, he took his disciple and walked into the crowd, ostensibly to take shelter, but in reality, to shield others from potential harm.

At this point, some self-proclaimed martial arts practitioners were already discussing and explaining the intricacies to the uninitiated. They said that martial arts realms in the world were divided into nine ranks, and fundamentally, all cultivation revolved around the seven aspects: skin, flesh, sinews, bones, body, qi, and spirit, progressing layer by layer. Only upon reaching the second-rank Minor Grandmaster realm could one grasp the threshold of qi. For instance, a swordsman needed to reach the second rank to barely be able to control qi to wield a sword without holding it. Observing that the handsome young man with two swords at his waist had been repelled, sliding over the stream to the opposite bank without his calves getting wet, clearly indicated he possessed the genuine fourth-rank or even third-rank martial prowess. Given his age, he was surely a deserving rising star and leader in any province or prefecture.

Xu Fengnian suddenly chuckled, "We can fight, but let's first make a small deal. If you help me find someone, you can choose the time and place, and you'll decide the outcome."

She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, "You want that title so much?"

Xu Fengnian was perfectly aware that no matter how many fortunate encounters the woman before him had, due to her innate talent and constitution, achieving the Grand Celestial Phenomenon realm was already the pinnacle of her martial arts journey. The martial arts journey of this mistress of Huishan's Great Snow Mound had been thrilling. She first used a "blasphemous" and sinister secret art to forcibly absorb others' qi for her own use, barely reaching the first rank. If Xu Fengnian had not used the imperial seals from several kingdoms, hidden in the Tide-Listening Pavilion, to help suppress her chaotic qi, she would very likely have suffered qi deviation, or even perished. Afterwards, she rapidly transcended the "Finger Profound" realm to enter the Celestial Phenomenon realm. When Wang Xianzhi severely injured her body but ultimately spared her life, it was effectively saving her. Otherwise, even with separate gifts from Zhao Huangchao and Liu Songtao, she would have struggled to escape the profound Celestial Phenomenon calamity. It could be said that Xuanyuan Qingfeng's martial arts path was full of twists and turns, repeatedly pulling chestnuts from the fire. She was truly the foremost person after Xu Fengnian in this regard. Precisely because of this, Xu Fengnian had always been very accommodating to this intensely obsessive woman—in Northern Liang, in the capital, and even more so when they reunited in Huishan. Today, on Mount Wudang, he proactively avoided confronting her. It was important to note that Deng Mao and Yelü Dongchuang had not received such treatment previously. To be precise, there was no romantic love between Xu Fengnian and Xuanyuan Qingfeng. Xu Fengnian's actions might stem from a certain empathy for her plight, while she was likely driven by the resentment festering in her heart. This was perhaps why these two individuals, who ascended the martial arts peak fastest in Liyang, appeared to be constantly entangled.

Although Xu Fengnian had long known that Xuanyuan Qingfeng was highly competitive, the fact that she was already the first female martial arts alliance leader in centuries, yet still sought the elusive title of "foremost under heaven," continued to baffle him.

This "much ado about nothing" farce left many spectators feeling bored. Such is the way of the world: it's fine not to give hope, but giving hope only to disappoint is truly detestable. Many short-tempered martial artists couldn't help but openly mock and covertly curse them. For reasons unknown, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, who hadn't appeared in her purple attire for a long time, cast a sideways glance at the chattering spectators. Just one look silenced everyone as if they had been struck by an icy chill. Xu Fengnian couldn't help but smile, watching those who secretly recoiled. He thought that when he used to wander the martial arts world, observing those high-and-mighty young heroes and heroines, it was probably a similar scene. Afterward, Xu Fengnian and Xuanyuan Qingfeng continued their ascent, led by master Han Gui and his disciple Qingxin. They passed through Eyebrow Ridge Peak and Serpent Path Slope, and next was Lotus Peak, Wudang's main mountain. Xuanyuan Qingfeng remained silent throughout the journey. At the foot of Lotus Peak, she finally spoke: "Li Chungang's 'Twin Sleeves Green Snakes,' Deng Tai'a's 'Inverted Tai'a,' Gu Jiantang's 'Inch Thunder,' Song Nianqing's final 'Walking Sword' before his death, Huang Zhentu's 'Ninth Sword, Six Thousand Li,' Huang Qing's 'Sixteen Views of Living Buddhas' from 'Sword Qi Proximity,' and Liu Haoshi's 'Thunder Pool.' Tell me about each of them before we reach the summit."

Seeing Xu Fengnian frown, Xuanyuan Qingfeng said indifferently, "If there's a move you don't want to explain, you can substitute it with a similar one, or... even a move you've created yourself would do."

Listening to that long list of names, the young Daoist Qingxin felt as if thunder was rolling through the sky—it was terrifying. He just thought this elder sister had a truly enormous appetite.

Xu Fengnian asked in a low voice, "Are you trying to gather the strengths of a hundred schools and fuse them into one? Are you truly still set on becoming a Land Immortal? Didn't Zhao Huangchao warn you back then that your situation is somewhat similar to my brother Huang Man'er's? Lightning doesn't strike thrice: you've luckily dodged the perils of both the Finger Profound and Celestial Phenomenon realms. If you still insist on becoming a Land Immortal, aren't you afraid it will be a fleeting moment?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng said indifferently, "That's my business."

From start to finish, she wasn't a very likable woman.

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Alright, I can't teach you the old man in sheepskin's 'Twin Sleeves Green Snakes'; in fact, I couldn't teach you even if I tried for a while. Nor can I presumptuously pass on the Peach Blossom Sword God's 'Inverted Sword' to you. As for Old Huang's 'Sword Nine,' don't even think about it. However, Gu Jiantang's 'Inch Thunder,' Song Nianqing's 'Walking Sword,' and Liu Haoshi's 'Thunder Pool' are no problem. Huang Qing's 'Sixteen Views of the Sword Tip Sitting Buddha' is also not difficult. Besides those, I can also tell you about Tuoba Bodhisattva's unique qi circulation method, as well as two trump card moves from Fifth He of Tibing Mountain and Murong Baoding. If you learn fast enough, I have many more good things for you to take."

This time, it was Xuanyuan Qingfeng who found it incredible. She turned to stare at this somewhat unusual man, her eyes seeming to say, "It's one thing for me to demand an exorbitant price, but you're not even bothering to bargain!"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "I will teach you each of them, but you must also promise me one condition: in the future, when you find one or more disciples, you must also teach them everything you know, to ensure that this martial arts legacy doesn't die out."

The four then continued up the mountain. Han Gui intentionally led the young Daoist Qingxin ahead, creating a significant distance. Xu Fengnian indeed held nothing back, explaining the essence of those top martial arts techniques in the world to Xuanyuan Qingfeng. Xuanyuan Qingfeng noted each detail. Whenever she didn't understand something, she would not hesitate to question it thoroughly, and at subtle points, she would directly interrupt Xu Fengnian, only letting him continue after careful consideration. Along this stretch of the mountain path, Xu Fengnian was like a knowledgeable and well-read teacher, and Xuanyuan Qingfeng was a diligent and qualified student, meticulously memorizing everything.

At White Dragon's Back, on the back of Great Lotus Peak, just over a li from the summit, Han Gui, standing some distance away, turned and noticed that the two had stopped. The next scene left the young Daoist, who was very likely the next Wudang sect leader, speechless. As Xu Fengnian parted ways with the woman, he gave her a light kick on her backside. The woman was clearly enraged, and the entire White Dragon's Back instantly filled with a murderous aura. But then, for reasons unknown, the young vassal king said something, and the woman paused, then simply gave up and descended the mountain.

The young Daoist Qingxin was immediately filled with boundless admiration. He thought to himself that if he ever roamed the martial arts world in the future, he must possess at least half the charisma of the King of Northern Liang.

As the three resumed their ascent, even Han Gui couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is Your Highness an old acquaintance of that woman?"

Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile and said softly, "We've been enemies for quite a few years. As for kicking her, it was a personal... dream, you could say."

The young Qing-generation Daoist pondered seriously, recalling the immortal sister's cold and arrogant demeanor. He didn't find that dream childish at all. He chuckled, "Your Highness, that kick was truly impressive! I like it!"

Han Gui rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.

From a great distance, a cold snort echoed.

The young Daoist was so startled he got goosebumps.

Xu Fengnian rubbed the boy's head and said mischievously, "You're in trouble now. For the next twenty years, definitely don't go down the mountain into the martial arts world."

The young Daoist timidly asked, "Is that elder sister very powerful?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "A woman who aims to be the next Wang Xianzhi—what do you think?"

The young Daoist made a wry face and said, "No wonder Little Grand-Martial-Uncle always says women down the mountain are tigers!"

Just then, a white-robed monk, with wide sleeves fluttering, strode down from the mountaintop, looking as if he intended to fight Xu Fengnian to the death.