dmims Chapter 88 Identity Exposed, Zhang Zhiwei with Sharp Eyes
Chapter 88 Identity Exposed, Zhang Zhiwei with Sharp Eyes
Chapter 88 Identity Exposed, Zhang Zhiwei with Sharp Eyes
Just as Wang Ye's head was about to hit the ground, his aura suddenly reversed, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes!
The sticky force that was firmly attached to Lu Lin's "control" power, like a bone-deep ulcer, was forcibly reversed by him using the "reverse pulse" method passed down from Wudang, and detonated without hesitation!
boom!
A muffled thud, not from an impact, but from the explosive force of self-destruction from within.
Using this dangerous reverse force, Wang Ye twisted his waist like a python, forcefully completing an illogical turn in mid-air. His feet finally stumbled and landed on the ground, and he staggered back seven or eight steps. Each step left spiderweb-like cracks in the hard ground, barely managing to dissipate the terrifying force of the fall and the violent shock caused by the backlash of his own Qi.
He felt a surge of blood rushing to his chest, and a metallic taste in his throat, which he forcefully suppressed. Though he looked disheveled, his eyes remained as sharp as ever.
He raised his head and looked at Lu Lin, who stood tall and imposing not far away. The last trace of his usual laziness completely disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a solemnity as if facing an abyss, and a hint of excitement at meeting a worthy opponent.
"What a magnificent Water and Fire Immortal Robe! What a masterful command of all forces!" Wang Ye shook his numb right arm and rubbed his aching left shoulder, grinning, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Brother Lu, your skill in using the opponent's force against them and controlling their momentum is far more refined and masterful than mine, a mere Tai Chi practitioner. I admire you."
"Likewise." Lu Lin had already landed steadily, his aura as calm as an ancient well. The earth-shattering backflip that could have seriously injured an ordinary expert was as casual as brushing off the dust on his clothes.
"Brother Wang's 'all's fair in war' and his quick wit in finding a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation are even more impressive. That counter-attack just now, wasn't it quite risky?"
The moment the words fell, the tense atmosphere between the two seemed to be torn apart by an invisible blade!
There were no dazzling magical lights as a prelude, only the most primitive and dangerous close combat erupted!
Fists, palms, elbows, knees, legs—every joint of the body is transformed into the most deadly weapon, carrying a powerful and surging true force and the most refined strength, stirring up a storm in a small space!
Wang Ye moved swiftly, displaying the Wudang martial arts to their fullest extent.
Tai Chi Chuan is like a wheel, sometimes flowing like the Yangtze River, endless and continuous, using softness to overcome hardness and deflecting force; sometimes it is like a thunderclap, exploding in the sky, fierce and violent, directly striking the center.
He mastered the subtleties of movement and stillness, the interplay of strength and gentleness, and the principles of illusion and reality. His moves flowed smoothly and naturally, demonstrating that he had truly grasped the essence of Wudang Kung Fu.
However, Lu Lin's response revealed an unfathomable domineering and composure!
He seemed to be shrouded in an invisible yet incredibly resilient "celestial robe".
When Wang Ye's fists and palms, powerful enough to split stone tablets and shatter gold and jade, struck his body, they only produced dull sounds like "thud" and "bang," as if striking ancient leather. Visible shockwaves rippled across the surface of the "immortal robe." The terrifying force seemed to be twisted, differentiated, guided, and ultimately vanished into nothingness by the "immortal robe" in a mysterious way!
His counter-attacks, whether seemingly simple straight punches or seemingly effortless side kicks, were as heavy as a collapsing mountain and as sharp as a divine weapon unsheathed. The power contained within was as concentrated as a needle, with extremely strong penetrating force. Each time, Wang Ye was forced to sway his body rapidly, either using exquisite footwork to narrowly avoid the attack or using the soft power of Tai Chi to deflect the force layer by layer, never daring to take it head-on.
What chilled Wang Ye even more was that Lu Lin's perception and control of "force" had reached a level that was beyond his comprehension.
Whether it's the gentle and yielding "listening energy" and "neutralizing energy" of Tai Chi, or the more aggressive "collapsing energy" and "penetrating energy," or even the higher-level protective "gang energy," once it invades the scope of its "water and fire immortal garment," it's like a mud ox entering the sea. Not only is it difficult to shake its foundation, but it's as if it has actively exposed the "pulse" and "rhythm" of its own strength to the opponent.
Lu Lin could often use this to sense things in reverse, even accurately capturing the instantaneous flow of his power transitions, and then respond with a more concise...
He countered with even greater speed and precision, as if all his skills were under the opponent's control.
Bang bang bang! Sizzle—!
The grating sounds of collisions and tearing fabric rang out one after another.
After only a few dozen rounds of fighting, Wang Ye's loose Taoist robe was torn in several places by the sharp, scattered energy. He felt a distinct tingling and stinging sensation in his arms, shoulders, and ribs, indicating that he had suffered minor injuries.
In contrast, Lu Lin's breathing remained long and steady, her steps as solid as the roots of an old tree. Her seemingly ordinary clothes fluttered in the turbulent flow of energy, yet not a single wrinkle appeared; they were perfectly intact.
The difference between superior and inferior is gradually becoming clear.
High in the stands, Zhang Zhiwei, his hair and beard completely white, nodded slightly and said softly to his old friend beside him, "Is this the Water and Fire Immortal Robe?" With a thought, power arises spontaneously, protecting the body and defeating enemies, perfectly integrated. The senior brother who created this technique truly mastered the art of "power" to its utmost.
Upon hearing this, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashed across Lu Jin's eyes—a light mixed with pride, regret, and deep reminiscence—ultimately transforming into a soft sigh: "Yes—but no matter how wonderful this method is, it ultimately cannot compare to the myriad supernatural powers that Senior Brother comprehended back then."
It was merely a helpless substitution.
His words still revealed his deep regret that no one could truly inherit the complete and profound legacy back then.
Even so, those present who knew the foundation of the "Three True Methods" were well aware that the "Ascension to Immortality" method remained unshakable and was recognized by the world of supernatural beings as the "Number One Method Under Heaven".
The two words "ascension to immortality" already say it all.
In the arena, Wang Ye's mind raced, and he had completely understood. In close combat and the contest of pure internal force control, there was a gap in their levels of skill. In a prolonged battle, he would undoubtedly be defeated!
"Brother Lu, your Water and Fire Immortal Robe," Wang Ye declared loudly, his tone filled with clear understanding and decisiveness. Simultaneously, he used the Bagua Step, his figure moving like a leaf in the wind, suddenly retreating more than ten feet, instantly creating distance. "In close combat, I, Wang Ye, concede defeat!"
Before he finished speaking, his hands had already formed a Dao seal in front of his chest. The surging true qi that had been erupting from his fists and feet suddenly receded and transformed into a mysterious and elusive aura.
On the ground beneath their feet, a faint blue, massive phantom of a Qimen formation, composed of countless fine runes, flashed by, emanating an inexplicable pressure that enveloped the entire area!
Whoosh—!
A sudden uproar and gasps of surprise erupted from the stands!
"A sorcerer?! Daoist Wang Ye is actually a sorcerer?!"
"Isn't the Wudang School famous for Tai Chi and Daoist alchemy? When did it produce such a highly skilled successor in Qimen Dunjia?"
No one expected that this young Taoist priest, who always seemed lazy and unenthusiastic, was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also a hidden master of magic!
Moreover, judging from his starting stance and the mysterious aura surrounding him, he is definitely not a beginner!
"The character 'Kun' (坤) - Earth River Chariot!"
Wang Ye pointed his fingers like a sword and made a sweeping motion towards the ground.
With his clear shout, the thick blue bricks on the arena floor shook violently and shattered!
Countless rocks and soil, harder than iron, seemed to be manipulated by an invisible giant hand, emitting a rumbling sound as they rapidly rose and combined.
Transformation occurred instantly, turning into three ferocious and monstrous rock pythons. With the force to crush everything, they roared and charged at Lu Lin from the front and both sides, forming a zigzag pattern! Deep furrows were plowed into the ground, and rubble flew everywhere!
Lu Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, and her figure moved like lightning, gracefully retreating to the side and back, narrowly avoiding the most violent first wave of the earth dragon's attack.
However, Wang Ye's attacks were like a relentless tide, never stopping!
"Kan Character - Water Bullet!"
A flash of blue light appeared at his fingertips, and the water vapor in the air rapidly condensed, turning into a dozen fist-sized, solid, iron-like, high-speed rotating azure water spheres. They emitted a piercing whistle and shot towards Lu Lin's evasive trajectory from an extremely tricky angle at a speed comparable to a powerful bow and crossbow, blocking her retreat!
"The character 'Gen' signifies the dragon's journey on earth!"
Almost simultaneously, the ground beneath Lu Lin's feet and within a radius of several feet around her suddenly began to undulate and writhe as if alive!
The hard bricks and soil softened and mutated instantly. Sharp, barbed rock spikes burst forth from the ground without warning, some piercing the ground directly, others crisscrossing and blocking it. Together with the water bombs from the sky and the earth dragons rushing back, they formed a three-dimensional and deadly net of death!
Wang Ye immediately unleashed three techniques simultaneously, covering the air, ground, and underground, combining a direct offensive with restricting movement, demonstrating his astonishing control over Qimen arts.
Faced with this overwhelming complex spell attack that almost blocked all escape routes, Lu Lin's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Instead of retreating further, she stopped and took a heavy step forward!
Boom!
The ground sank slightly where each footstep landed.
"Well done!"
He let out a low shout, and his originally calm and deep aura suddenly surged. The invisible "Water and Fire Immortal Robe" around him suddenly lit up with a layer of warm and jade-like light, becoming more solid and clear, as if a semi-transparent glass armor covered his entire body.
Faced with the roaring rock python, the shooting water bullets, and the earth spikes that suddenly rose from his feet, he did not dodge or evade, but chose to confront them head-on with his enhanced "celestial robes" and physical body!
Boom! Bang! Sizzle—!
The deafening sounds of collisions echoed throughout the stadium!
The first earth dragon slammed into Lu Lin's crossed arms as she blocked. The immense kinetic energy caused her to sway slightly, but the dragon's head, which was powerful enough to crush a wall, shattered and scattered into countless fragments!
Several water bullets struck his chest, abdomen, shoulders, and back almost simultaneously, but they seemed to hit the toughest elastic barrier, exploding into misty sprays without penetrating him at all!
The spikes that suddenly rose from beneath his feet pierced his calves and ankles, producing a crisp sound like metal clashing, before breaking and shattering, unable to penetrate the seemingly thin halo of light!
Within a three-foot radius around Lu Lin, there seemed to be an absolute domain that was "impervious to all laws"!
No matter how fiercely or unpredictably Wang Ye's earth, water, and stone magic bombarded him, it was impossible to shake his foundation, let alone cause any effective damage! He was like a rock in a torrent, unmoved.
"hiss--!"
"Is this...is this still a human body?!"
"To withstand magic head-on?! What kind of brute force is this?! Even a fully-fledged Vajra Body wouldn't be this powerful!!"
"Unheard of! Even the Golden Light Mantra of Longhu Mountain might not be able to do it so easily!"
From the stands, gasps and gasps rose and fell.
This scene, which defied common sense, left many young disciples dumbfounded and their hearts racing.
Some knowledgeable elders also had solemn expressions, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Incredible—this Water and Fire Immortal Robe," the old man murmured, "is not just incredibly defensive; it's as if the physical body has been temporarily transformed into a kind of law, repelling all external forces below its level."
Looking at Lu Lin, who was unharmed in the magical storm and was even starting to move in the opposite direction towards him, Wang Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness and bitter smile.
Sure enough, the most troublesome and least desirable opponent for these sorcerers who studied the principles of heaven and earth and used magic to defeat their enemies was a monster like Lu Lin who had taken a certain "path" to its extreme, to the point of reaching the realm of "one force overcoming ten techniques" and "one method breaking ten thousand methods".
No matter how many ingenious techniques or myriad variations you employ, if your opponent simply overwhelms you with absolute power and absolute defense, it can often leave you with a profound sense of powerlessness.
Despite the lingering aftershocks of the spell, Lu Lin strode forward with unwavering determination.
With each step he took, the ground trembled noticeably. His steady, mountain-like, and unstoppable aura, like an invisible wave, pressed down on Wang Ye as the distance closed, compressing his casting space and mental focus.
We can't let him get any closer!
Wang Ye's eyes narrowed, his hand seals changed again, and his true essence surged out of his body in an even more violent way!
"Separation - Meteor Shower!"
He pointed to the sky and gestured, causing the temperature above the arena to rise sharply!
Dozens of bright orange-red fireballs, each the size of a washbasin, materialized out of thin air, trailing long fiery tails. Like meteors falling from the sky, they bombarded Lu Lin and the surrounding area with scorching heat and an aura of destruction! The air was distorted and blurred by the heat.
"Zhen (震) - Thunder!"
Almost simultaneously, Wang Ye pressed down with his other hand!
A blinding silver-white bolt of lightning shot out from his palm, instantly transforming into several thick, winding, and blazing bolts of lightning that tore through the air, emitting deafening explosions. They intertwined with the "fire meteors" in the sky, forming a net of thunder and fire that covered the heavens and the earth, with power several times stronger than the previous attacks of earth, water, and stone!
This is a high-level composite strike that truly combines the dual attributes of high-temperature burning and violent tearing!
Faced with this suddenly escalated and ferocious offensive, Lu Lin's advance was finally temporarily halted.
His eyes shone brightly, and he raised his fists in a fighting stance, no longer relying solely on his "Celestial Robe" to withstand attacks, but instead taking the initiative to strike!
As he swung his fists, milky-white true qi light condensed at the tips of his knuckles, each punch accompanied by a muffled sonic boom.
The force of the fist is condensed and substantial, sometimes like a heavy hammer blow, smashing the incoming fire meteor in mid-air, scattering sparks everywhere; sometimes like a sharp blade slashing, shattering and tearing apart the ferocious arcs of lightning, turning them into scattered electric snakes that wander and dissipate.
"Boom! Crack! Crack!"
The explosions of thunder and fire intertwined with the sonic booms of fists, and a violent surge of energy raged, clashed, and annihilated in the arena, whipping up scorching whirlwinds that made the clothes of the spectators in the distance flutter wildly and sting their skin.
Lu Lin's figure darted and weaved through the web of destruction woven with lightning and fire, her fists dancing like wheels, deflecting the approaching attacks one by one. Although she could not advance further for the time being, she remained firmly invincible.
Between the two, the dazzling and violent magical light and the domineering and unparalleled physical force of their fists formed a brief but intense stalemate, with booming sounds incessant. The scene was earth-shattering, and the two were evenly matched!
However, Wang Ye knew in his heart that the bombardment of such high-level spells would consume far more of his true essence and spirit than the opponent's seemingly "simple" punch defense.
If the attack fails to break through, we will be the first to find ourselves unable to continue.
A resolute glint flashed deep in his eyes.
"Brother Lu, your abilities are truly remarkable; I, Wang, admire you!" Wang Ye spoke loudly, his voice piercing through the explosive energy. "However, since this is a contest, we must give it our all. I hope Brother Lu will be careful with your next move!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his entire aura underwent another transformation! His eyes, which always carried a hint of laziness, were now as sharp as a drawn sword, radiating brilliant light!
He stood with his feet slightly apart, his arms slowly outstretched to the sides, as if embracing the entire world.
An indescribable, profound energy surged outwards from him!
Beneath their feet, the pale blue Qimen formation that had previously been just a fleeting phantom suddenly became crystal clear, and began to rotate and expand rapidly in a way that defied all Qimen classics!
No longer the fixed four plates of Heaven, Earth, Man, and God, the eight trigrams, the twenty-four solar terms, and even the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, all seemed to have lost their original meaning within this huge blue light pattern that covered almost half of the site. It began to flow, change, and recombine according to Wang Ye's will and the changes in the "Central Palace" at the center of the pattern!
"What?!"
In the front row of the stands, Zhuge Qing, the genius of the Wuhou School, could no longer maintain his composure. He suddenly stood up from his seat, his eyes, which were usually narrowed to slits, were now wide open, staring intently at the illogical and mind-blowing rotating Qimen formation in the arena. His handsome face was filled with extreme shock and disbelief!
"The orientation is moving—the interactions of the elements are changing—the four plates are not... How is this possible?! The root of the Qimen Dunjia formation is the fixed plate! How did he do it?! He can manipulate the formation at will?!" Zhuge Qing's voice trembled unusually, which was a huge shock to him, who had been hailed as a Qimen Dunjia genius since childhood.
Not only Zhuge Qing, but all the elders and elite disciples of various schools who had studied and achieved something in the study of Qimen Dunjia were shocked and stood up, some staring intently at the scene, and others exclaiming in surprise.
The fixed four plates of Heaven, Earth, Man, and God are the absolute foundation for the application of Qimen Dunjia techniques and serve as a "coordinate system" for communicating with the power of Heaven and Earth.
What Wang Ye did at this moment was simply to overturn this coordinate system with his own hands, making himself the "creator" and "rule maker" within the system!
This is completely beyond their understanding of the word "warlock"!
"Feng Hou Qi Men—" On the platform, the old master Zhang Zhiwei's snow-white eyebrows twitched slightly, and for the first time, a clear look of surprise and deep solemnity appeared in his deep eyes.
"Young Master, why have you gone to such lengths..."
"The character '巽' (Xun) symbolizes the merits of sandalwood!"
In the arena, Wang Ye pointed his fingers like a sword, pointing towards the direction where Lu Lin was.
This time, his target was not Lu Lin herself, but the space within a ten-zhang radius around Lu Lin!
With his clear and sharp shout, a sudden change occurred!
A soothing sandalwood fragrance filled the air, but along with the scent came a chilling sight: countless dark brown, dense, metallic-lustered pieces of strange sandalwood, like living monsters, growing, spreading, and intertwining wildly from the void and from beneath the ground!
They grew at an astonishing rate, and in the blink of an eye, they formed a huge, extremely sturdy and dense wooden cage that was several meters high and more than five meters in diameter, completely trapping Lu Lin inside!
The wood grain subtly reveals shimmering runes, and its hardness far surpasses that of refined steel!
"The character 'Kun'—Quicksand!"
Wang Ye pressed down with his finger.
The floor inside the sturdy wooden cage instantly softened and collapsed, transforming into a deep, swirling vortex of quicksand with a powerful suction force, attempting to drag Lu Lin underground and completely restrict her movements!
"The character '离' (li)—like fireflies in the light!"
The third command was issued. Countless tiny, dust-like, yet intensely hot, white specks of light, like living fireflies, appeared out of nowhere in every corner of the cage, densely packed and indiscriminately scorching everything within!
The air was instantly heated to the point of distortion and boiling, producing a sizzling sound.
This is not over yet!
Wang Ye clasped his hands together, his chest bulging, and blue Qimen runes swirled wildly in his eyes as he shouted, "Eight Gates Transfer—Gate of View, open!"
The "Eight Gates" in Qimen Dunjia each have their own symbolism.
The Jing Gate belongs to the Fire element and symbolizes light, speed, heat, and boasting.
At this moment, Wang Ye actually used his supreme technique to forcibly "transfer" and "infuse" the "extreme heat" and "high speed" attributes of the laws of heaven and earth represented by the "Jing Gate" into the inner space of this small cage!
Om-!
The space inside the cage seemed to emit a mournful cry of unbearable pressure, and the scene suddenly distorted!
The light became blindingly white, and the temperature skyrocketed exponentially, as if we had been thrown into the core of the sun in an instant!
Even the flow of air becomes abnormally viscous, scorching, and possesses an illogical "high-speed" property; any slight movement will trigger a violent heat flow and pressure difference!
This is no longer just a physical prison, but a "kill zone" where the local rules of heaven and earth have been forcibly altered!
"My God—what kind of divine power is this?!"
"Change spatial properties?! Unheard of!"
"Master Wang Ye—he hadn't been using his full strength all along?!"
"How...how can we defend against this?! Young Master Lu is in danger!"
Exclamations and gasps of horror rose and fell from the stands, everyone was stunned by Wang Ye's earth-shattering, almost godlike methods.
Many young disciples turned pale and instinctively retreated, as if the aftershocks of that terrifying aura would affect them.
Even some experienced and knowledgeable seniors were dazzled and mesmerized, their hearts filled with turbulent waves.
Inside the cage, the pressure Lu Lin was under instantly surged to an unbelievable level!
The sandalwood barrier, harder than gold and iron, firmly blocked all escape routes; beneath his feet lay all-consuming quicksand, frantically pulling at his legs; the omnipresent "firefly light" carried terrifyingly high temperatures, continuously scorching his "water and fire immortal robes," emitting dense "sizzling" sounds, causing the protective aura to fluctuate violently and flicker erratically.
Even more terrifying was that the entire space was forcibly endowed with the attribute of "extreme heat and high speed". The air was as hot as lava, and every breath burned his lungs. The invisible spatial pressure and chaotic heat flow frantically tore at his body and protective field, trying to disintegrate him!
The quicksand beneath Lu Lin's feet had already submerged him up to his calves, and its devouring power continued to intensify. The aura of the "Water and Fire Immortal Robe" was compressed to the extreme, clinging tightly to his body, its radiance flashing rapidly, as if it might shatter at any moment. The milky-white true vapor emanating from his body accelerated, clearly indicating that he was enduring an immense burden.
Impressive—no wonder he is a descendant of the thousand-year-old Wudang lineage.
Despite being in dire straits, Lu Lin remained clear-headed, even feeling a surge of excitement and admiration at meeting a worthy opponent.
However, relying solely on these techniques to trap and kill me, who has cultivated the "Water and Fire Immortal Robe" to the first perfect stage, seems to be lacking.
With this in mind, Lu Lin no longer held back in the slightest.
The milky-white essence, which was more solid, purer, and radiated a faint warm jade-like luster, no longer rose slowly from the acupoints, but rather seeped out like a fountain from every pore and every inch of his skin!
These are no longer dissipated gases, but rather exhibit an almost liquid texture, viscous, heavy, and containing an indescribable vitality and power.
As this strange true energy surged forth, Lu Lin's body began to undergo astonishing changes visible to the naked eye!
His exposed skin, which was originally healthy and fair, quickly transformed into a warm, flawless, and luminous milky white, as if it were carved from the finest mutton fat jade, yet still possessing the fresh texture of flesh and blood.
His thick, black short hair, starting from the roots, gradually turned frosty, transforming in the blink of an eye into pure, immaculate snow-white silver strands, flowing with a faint luster under the scorching, distorted air and his own reflection.
His entire demeanor changed completely.
The previous calm and profound stillness has now transformed into a more restrained, more vast, seemingly all-encompassing yet transcendent state.
Those eyes, once opened, seemed to have milky-white swirling stars slowly flowing deep within their pupils, calm and undisturbed, yet penetrating to the deepest depths.
The true power of the first realm of "Ascension to Immortality," the "Water and Fire Immortal Robe," is fully revealed here!
In this form, the sandalwood cage, which was normally indestructible and made it difficult for him to escape, had its structure and weaknesses as clear to him as the lines on his palm.
The suction of the quicksand, the high temperature of the fireflies, and the distorted spatial properties, though still powerful, no longer seemed to pose a fatal threat to him.
He raised his right hand, which had turned jade white, with his five fingers slightly bent. He did not use any fancy moves, but simply swung his arm casually towards the incomparably thick sandalwood barrier in front of him!
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the sandalwood barrier, which was as strong as steel, was blasted open with a large hole, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere!
Countless hard pieces of wood and wood chips exploded inward like cannonball fragments, but were easily deflected and annihilated by the jade-white true energy flowing around Lu Lin.
Blazing white light and surging heat waves rushed in and out of the breach.
Under the almost frozen gazes of everyone, Lu Lin remained calm and composed as she slowly stepped out from the breach in that hellish, inescapable prison.
His body was enveloped in a jade-white aura, flowing slowly like smoke and mist, easily isolating him from the intense heat that could melt gold and iron, as well as the chaotic spatial turbulence.
With his silver hair and white robes, his clothes seemed to glow faintly in the reflection of the light. Standing amidst the violent aftershocks of energy, he was completely unharmed, like a celestial being descended to earth.
The stands were deathly silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes wide, as if trying to imprint this unimaginable scene deep into their minds. Many people's mouths opened unconsciously, but no sound came out. Extreme shock often brings a brief moment of speechlessness.
"This—this is simply—" After a long while, Zhang Chulan finally found his voice, but he didn't know how to describe it. He could only mutter, "This is too unfair. It's like playing a video game. The BOSS even has a second stage transformation? And this transformation—is too exaggerated!"
Xu Si, standing beside him, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, the smoke trembling slightly, revealing the turmoil in his heart.
He glanced at Zhang Chulan, his voice low and firm: "Otherwise what? Kid, do you think the title of 'The Three Truths Sect,' the 'Number One Mystic Sect Under Heaven,' is just something you boast about?"
"The truth is actually very simple—" Xu Si's gaze returned to the jade-like figure in the arena, his tone complex, "No matter what kind of ancient sect you are, what kind of peerless skill you possess, or what kind of profound magic you have, if you encounter them, if you cannot completely defeat them and annihilate them in the first encounter—then you will almost never be able to win again."
"That seemingly inexhaustible Qi, and that bottomless—physical strength, can exhaust you to the point of questioning your existence."
In the arena, Wang Ye stood still, his chest rising and falling slightly, his breathing a little disordered.
Continuously using the advanced transformations of "Feng Hou Qi Men" and especially the forbidden technique of "Eight Gates Movement" which disrupts local laws, puts a great burden on his mind and spirit.
At this moment, looking at Lu Lin, whose aura had not weakened but instead appeared even more unfathomable and who was completely unharmed, he couldn't help but twitch his lips violently, and the helplessness in his heart instantly expanded into a desolate wasteland.
How can we fight like this?!
Lu Lin didn't give him much time to breathe or think.
He moved.
There was no afterimage, no sonic boom, and not even a noticeable starting motion.
In everyone's eyes, it seemed as if their vision had only blurred for a moment, and the jade-white figure had already "appeared" from dozens of meters away to within a foot of Wang Ye!
This speed is more than twice as fast as before! It's practically teleportation!
Wang Ye's pupils constricted sharply, and the hairs on his body stood on end!
Driven by a sense of life-or-death crisis, he almost instinctively activated the strongest control technique he could muster at the moment, aiming it directly at the jade-white "deity" before him!
The clapper sounds in disarray!
The rules of time and space are forcibly altered and disrupted.
An invisible yet incredibly heavy force of stagnation descended, attempting to forcibly "displace" and significantly slow down the flow of time for Lu Lin and a small area around her from the outside world.
however--
Lu Lin's figure, rushing forward, paused only slightly, as if a frame or two had been removed from a high-speed video.
The jade-white true qi that enveloped him rippled slightly, creating several concentric circles.
Then, the feeling of stagnation shattered.
Like a thin layer of ice being struck by a hammer, it silently turns into dust.
Wang Ye felt a sharp pain in his heart, let out a muffled groan, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Before he could even catch his breath from the backlash, Lu Lin's hand, which appeared gentle and smooth but actually contained the power to shatter mountains and split the earth, had already pierced through the last distance between them and pressed against his face!
The fierce palm wind blew Wang Ye's messy hair wildly backward, and his face stung so badly that he could barely open his eyes.
The palm strike abruptly stopped three inches in front of his nose.
Lu Lin quietly looked at Wang Ye, whose face was slightly pale, whose mouth was bloody, and whose eyes still held shock and a trace of confusion. Her silver eyes returned to their calm and undisturbed state.
"You flatter me, Brother Wang." He slowly withdrew his palm, his voice calm, revealing no trace of pride in defeating a powerful enemy.
The jade-white true qi around her body surged back into her body like a tide, and her radiant skin and snow-white hair quickly returned to their original state. Only her clothes, slightly disheveled from the battle, proved that the thrilling duel just now was not a dream.
Wang Ye stood there, stunned for a moment, feeling the suffocating oppression recede like the tide, and a feeling of exhaustion as if he had survived a disaster, along with a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration, surged into his heart.
He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Lu Lin, whose breathing had returned to normal as if he had just taken a walk. In the end, he could only let out a bitter laugh that contained countless emotions: "I admit defeat, Brother Lu, I am completely convinced of my defeat."
On the sidelines, the referee was stunned for a while, until he confirmed that Wang Ye was indeed no longer able to fight and had personally conceded defeat, before he announced loudly in a somewhat hoarse voice: "Second match, Lu Lin wins!"
After the announcement, an eerie silence remained in the stands; you could hear a pin drop.
The power of "Ascension to Immortality" displayed by Lu Lin—its defense that transcends common sense, its unbelievable transformations, and its absolute power that ruthlessly shattered the "Chaotic Gold"—has been deeply imprinted on the hearts of everyone present, like a red-hot branding iron.
Many young disciples, and even some key figures in the sects, subconsciously simulated and deduced in their minds what they would do if they faced Lu Lin. How would they deal with the impeccable "Water and Fire Immortal Robe"? How would they break through the absolute power beneath that jade-white true body?
Thoughts raced, and solutions came up one after another, only to be quickly rejected by myself.
Fighting at an even faster speed? Lu Lin's near-instantaneous movement technique, in her true form, was simply hopeless.
Use even more unpredictable techniques to wear them down? The opponent can stand there and let you bombard them without breaking their defenses, not to mention the terrifying "Dominion of All Forces" which uses their own strength against them.
Poison? Illusion? Seal? — Thoughts arose and then vanished in an instant.
Faced with that level of absolute power and the sublimation of the essence of life, many unorthodox methods and strange tricks seem pale and powerless.
I thought about it for a long time, and my head started to ache.
Ultimately, almost simultaneously, countless people uttered the same crude yet perfectly apt sentiment:
What a load of rubbish!
This pervasive sense of powerlessness and frustration was particularly evident and acutely felt by Zhang Chulan in a certain spot in the stands.
"I'm doomed—" Zhang Chulan's smile vanished without a trace. He ran his hands through his hair, looking utterly dejected, as if the world was about to end. "Brother Lin, this—this is too much! How am I supposed to play this? Is Grandpa Lu deliberately messing with me?"
He must achieve final victory at the Luotian Grand Ceremony, a crucial step for him and Feng Baobao to delve into Longhu Mountain, investigate the Jia Shen Rebellion, and uncover the truth about his grandfather.
Before setting off, I thought the biggest obstacles would be Zhang Lingyu and Zhuge Qing.
Now, Lu Lin has suddenly appeared, and the strength she displays seems to come from another dimension.
"Chu Lan, calm down." Xu San pushed up his glasses, attempting to analyze the situation. "Lu Lin's strength is indeed beyond expectations, but she's not invincible. Daoist Wang Ye almost forced her to reveal her trump card, which at least proves that maintaining the 'Water and Fire Immortal Robe' and that true form must involve enormous energy expenditure and cannot be sustained for long."
"That's true, Third Brother," Zhang Chulan said with a mournful face, "but the problem is, how can I force him to such a state of extreme exhaustion? I might not even be able to tear through his normal 'Celestial Robes'! Even if I use 'that'?"
Feng Baobao, who hadn't said much until now, suddenly interjected in her characteristically flat tone, "Or, I could find a chance to bury him?"
"—Sister Bao'er, shall we bury him?"
Zhang Chulan's lips twitched a few times as he looked at the imposing figure in the arena, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"I'm afraid that before you even start digging the hole, he'll have already buried you."
Given the almost unreasonable absolute strength and unbelievable defense that Lu Lin just displayed, even if he stood still, Feng Baobao's fighting style, which purely pursued efficiency but had somewhat simple moves, would probably be difficult to truly achieve.
To put it bluntly, she might not even be able to break down.
"Then, what do we do?" Feng Xingtong was also dumbfounded, scratching his head as he asked. Faced with a "monster" of this level, ordinary tactics seemed to have lost their meaning.
"What's the rush?" Xu Si, a cigarette dangling from his lips, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze sweeping over his team members before finally settling on a certain spot. "Don't we still have a 'general' sitting here?"
Everyone was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized who he was referring to, and their eyes all turned to Lu Linglong, who had been sitting quietly to the side.
Zhang Chulan took a deep breath, his face instantly switching to his signature harmless yet extremely ingratiating smile. He cautiously moved closer to Lu Linglong, rubbing his hands together, and whispered, "Linglong—Sister Linglong?"
"Well, I'm just curious, just asking around—absolutely no other meaning!" He blinked. "If, I mean if, by some chance, you and Lin-ge happen to run into each other on the field tomorrow—how confident do you think you'd be—um, um—to win?"
Lu Linglong seemed still immersed in the amazing strength her cousin had just displayed. Upon hearing this, she scratched her head, a rare hint of hesitation and contemplation appearing on her fair face.
"I didn't expect my cousin Lu Lin to be so strong—" she muttered softly, then looked at Zhang Chulan and admitted, "Actually, I'm not very confident either."
"So that means you still have ways to deal with him, at least you're not afraid of him?" Xu Si accurately grasped the subtext in her words, exhaling smoke as he slowly added.
"That's not entirely true," Lu Linglong shook her head, her eyes clear and earnest. "On the path of cultivation, a slight deviation can lead to a world of difference. The true outcome can only be known after the battle. What I'm more worried about now is something else—"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Chulan: "If tomorrow's matchups don't pit me against my cousin first, but instead you, Chulan, face him first—"
She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear. Given Zhang Chulan's current strength, the outcome against Lu Lin would likely be unfavorable.
"Don't worry." Xu Si stubbed out his cigarette, his tone carrying a confident air of having seen through the situation. "Want to make a bet? Tomorrow, your opponent will be Lu Lin, one hundred percent."
And it turned out just as he had predicted.
On the high platform, Old Master Lu Jin's eyes gleamed.
Lu Linglong's performance today, especially her unpredictable movements against Yin Wulei and her final sword strike that broke the deadlock, greatly piqued his interest.
The head of the Lu family had now made up his mind to take advantage of this conference to thoroughly investigate his great-granddaughter. He had even given Lu Lin instructions beforehand.
Lu Lin neither confirmed nor denied this.
His primary task in this competition was to eliminate Zhang Lingyu, and now that Zhang Lingyu has been defeated by Lu Linglong, his task can be considered indirectly accomplished.
He felt a strong curiosity about his cousin, who had always been gentle and low-key but had suddenly become a sensation.
Just how many skills does she still possess? That uncanny movement technique, that peculiar treasure umbrella—he really wanted to experience them for himself.
The third match was between Feng Baobao and Zhuge Qing.
This was another duel that everyone thought would be a foregone conclusion: a genius Qimen Dunjia master from the Wuhou School versus a "naturally naive" girl with a Sichuan accent who was carrying a kitchen knife.
However, the process and the result once again shocked everyone.
Zhuge Qing, unexpectedly yet predictably, suffered a setback.
Feng Baobao's seemingly chaotic yet precise and deadly swordsmanship, imbued with a pure, wild fighting instinct, combined with her ghostly figure and seemingly inexhaustible stamina, left him dizzy and disoriented. His magical techniques were repeatedly thwarted, and he ultimately suffered a humiliating defeat.
The usually elegant and talented genius of the Zhuge family left the arena with a look of utter disbelief, which shocked many.
As for the final match, Feng Shayan will face Jia Zhengliang.
It was a head-on, fiercely intense battle.
Ultimately, because Jia Zhengliang hesitated at the crucial moment, Feng Shayan narrowly won a move, but she was also seriously injured and almost lost the ability to fight again.
With that, the second day of the competition came to a close.
Just as Lu Linglong was about to return to her residence with Zhang Chulan and the others, Zhang Lingyu's cold voice came from behind her: "Miss Lu, please wait."
She turned around and saw Zhang Lingyu standing not far away, his expression still calm under the moonlight.
"Master Lingyu? What is it?"
"Master wants to see you," Zhang Lingyu stated his purpose directly.
"The Celestial Master wants to see me?" Lu Linglong was slightly taken aback, her mind racing. She blurted out instinctively, "Did the Celestial Master say what it was about? It couldn't be because—"
She glanced at Zhang Lingyu, but didn't dare to say the rest of her sentence—"Could it be because I beat you in the game during the day?"
Zhang Lingyu immediately understood her unspoken meaning. A barely perceptible hint of helplessness appeared on her usually serious face. She said solemnly, "My master did not say it explicitly, but it certainly wouldn't be the reason Miss Lu is thinking. My master is broad-minded and never cares about winning or losing in sparring."
"That's good—" Lu Linglong breathed a sigh of relief, then became curious again, "Alright then, I'll go with you."
She briefly explained the situation to Zhang Chulan and the others, and then, under the varied gazes of the group, she followed Zhang Lingyu's figure into the secluded path of Longhu Mountain at night.
Behind him, Zhang Chulan stroked his chin, looking inquisitive: "Old Master, you wanted to see Linglong alone? What could it be about?"
Xu San and Xu Si exchanged a glance. Xu Si slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, which drifted away in the night. His tone carried a subtle, unspoken meaning: "A private audience—could it be that the Old Celestial Master has noticed something?"
Zhang Chulan's ears twitched, immediately catching the information in the words. He leaned closer and asked, "What did you see? Fourth Brother, Third Brother, is there something Linglong is hiding?"
Xu Si glanced at him, not answering directly, but simply stubbed out his cigarette, turned around and stretched: "Going back, I've been standing all day, my bones are stiff. Some things, knowing too much makes it hard to sleep soundly."
Zhang Chulan's face immediately fell.
Xu San patted him on the shoulder and said in a low, earnest voice, "Chu Lan, listen to your fourth brother, don't ask too many questions. You already have enough to worry about."
Looking at the backs of the two people who were clearly hiding something, Zhang Chulan could only swallow his many questions for the time being.
As night deepened, the brightly lit reception hall in a secluded spot on the back of Longhu Mountain dispelled the chill and gloom of the mountain.
Xiao Yuzi pushed the wheelchair and slowly escorted Tian Jinzhong into the hall.
Looking at the old Celestial Master, who sat upright in the main seat with two cups of steaming tea in front of him, Tian Jinzhong couldn't help but ask curiously, "Senior Brother, it's so late, why are you receiving guests? Which distinguished guest is worthy of your solemn waiting?"
The old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei smiled slightly, his gentle gaze sweeping over Xiao Yuzi who was standing to the side. He waved his hand and said, "Xiao Yuzi, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. I will personally escort Jinzhong back later."
"Yes, Celestial Master. Elder Tian, then this disciple will take his leave." Xiao Yuzi, or rather, Gong Qing, the acting leader of Quanxing disguised as a Daoist boy, respectfully replied, bowed his head, and left the main hall, gently closing the door behind him.
Just as the door was about to close, a flicker of inquiry flashed across his eyes. Who could it be that the old master would be waiting here so late at night? He slowed his pace, almost shuffling along the edge of the courtyard.
His wait was not in vain. Before long, Zhang Lingyu led a figure into the moonlight, which was none other than Lu Linglong, who had shone brightly during the day.
"Senior Brother Lingyu." Xiaoyuzi immediately greeted him with a well-behaved expression.
"Hmm." Zhang Lingyu nodded slightly, without saying anything more, and led Lu Linglong straight into the palace.
Xiao Yuzi's gaze lingered on Lu Linglong's retreating figure for a moment before she truly turned and left, her doubts growing stronger.
Inside the hall.
"Master, Miss Lu has arrived," Zhang Lingyu said, bowing.
"Alright, Lingyu, you should go back and rest first. Linglong and I have some things to discuss." The old Celestial Master said kindly, then warmly invited the still somewhat hesitant Lu Linglong, "Linglong, come, sit down, no need for formalities."
Zhang Lingyu withdrew as instructed.
Lu Linglong walked to the guest seat, sat down carefully, her body ramrod straight, only daring to sit a little closer to the edge of the chair.
The old master smiled and pointed to Tian Jinzhong in the wheelchair beside him, his tone as natural as if he were introducing an elder: "Linglong, let me introduce you. This is my junior brother, Tian Jinzhong. Given my relationship with my senior brother, you should call him Master Tian."
Although Lu Linglong didn't understand why, she still obediently greeted him as instructed: "Master Tian."
Tian Jinzhong was even more confused. He looked at the old Celestial Master with a puzzled expression: "Senior Brother, who is this 'Senior Brother' you're talking about?"
At that moment, Lu Linglong suddenly realized something from the old master's meaningful smile and words!
Her muscles tensed instantly, her hands, which had been hanging naturally, clenched slightly, and she looked up at the old man in the main seat who seemed to know everything. Her heart began to beat faster involuntarily.
The smile on Zhang Zhiwei's face gradually faded, his gaze, calm yet penetrating, fell upon Lu Linglong. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but each word clear as thunder: "Linglong, now that we've arrived, are you still going to pretend to be confused?"
He paused briefly, giving Lu Linglong no time to react, before directly pointing out: "Your so-called master, 'Penglai Hermit'—isn't that just an alias for my senior brother?"
The old Celestial Master's gaze deepened, as if traversing countless years, and he uttered the name that weighed heavily in Lu Linglong's heart: "The Three True Methods, the Book of Changes—"
"Senior Brother Zhou."
"ah?!!"
Tian Jinzhong jolted violently in his wheelchair, letting out a startled cry. His weathered eyes widened in shock as he stared intently at the girl who had frozen in place. His thin fingers gripped the wheelchair armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
His chest heaved violently, his face a mixture of utter shock, disbelief, and a long-buried, almost untouchable expectation.
Senior Brother? The successor of Senior Brother Zhou Yi of the Three Truths Dharma School?! This child—is actually Senior Brother Zhou's disciple?!
"Senior brother!" Tian Jinzhong suddenly turned to Zhang Zhiwei, his voice trembling with excitement, "You...you're not joking, are you?! This is no small matter!"
As is widely known, Zhou Yi, the exceptionally talented senior brother of the Three Truths School, who was revered for his mastery of all methods, had not formally accepted any disciples before the "ascension" that shook the world of supernatural beings. He had no direct disciples under his name.
There are even rumors that the current Three Truths Dharma Gate has not received the most authentic inheritance from Brother Zhou.
The current Ascension Dao Bone is merely a modified version of Senior Brother Zhou's Reverse Rebirth Triple Stage.
This claim was quite popular among the older generation who had personally witnessed Senior Brother Zhou's extraordinary abilities, and some even believed it wholeheartedly.
After all, that senior brother was known as "proficient in all methods and capable of creating all techniques from one path." His demeanor and methods had long surpassed the scope of mere skills and could be described as supernatural powers.
In contrast, the Three True Methods of today, while displaying the mysteries of "feathered ascension to the Dao" and so on, are indeed unparalleled and unmatched in the world. However, in the eyes of some who have witnessed the true splendor of "all methods," although they are far more profound and vast than the original Three Reversal of Life, there is still no essential difference in terms of the level of "Dao".
His style is completely different from that of Senior Brother Wanfa; anyone with eyes can see that at a glance.
Inside the hall, the air seemed to have been completely sucked out by these earth-shattering words, freezing solid like iron.
Only a few old oil lamps flickered uneasily, casting swaying shadows on the wall, illuminating Lu Linglong's suddenly pale face and Tian Jinzhong's almost out-of-control excited expression in a dim and intermittent way.
Zhang Zhiwei seemed oblivious to his junior's loss of composure, and also seemed completely ignoring the suffocating tension in the air.
He slowly picked up the warm teacup beside him, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip. The rising steam blurred his lowered eyelids.
When he put down his teacup, he raised his gaze again. His gaze was still calm, but it seemed to carry a great weight as it slowly landed on Lu Linglong, whose body was tense.
"Is it true or not?" The old master's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the silent hall, each word striking a chord in Lu Linglong's heart.
"exquisite.."
"You tell me."
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