MM Racing Page 23
Page 23
They looked at the slender, handsome young Taoist priest, their initial astonishment gradually turning into awe and gratitude.
With the woman's help, the old shopkeeper of the grain store stood up, walked shakily to Zhang Yunyuan, and was about to kneel down.
"Thank you so much, Taoist Master! Thank you so much, Taoist Master, for saving my life!"
Zhang Yunyuan stepped aside and shook his head.
"It's nothing, no need for formalities."
He didn't linger any longer, gave a distant bow to the crowd, and turned to leave.
His silhouette was stretched long in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Her flowing robes exuded an air of otherworldly elegance.
Behind him, he saw the grateful gazes and murmurs of the people.
"Immortal Master, you are truly a living deity!"
"His Daoist name is Yunyuan... We've noted it down!"
Zhang Yunyuan listened to the voice behind him, but his heart was not greatly disturbed.
Refining one's heart in the mortal world is only the first step.
His journey is still long.
Chapter 25 The Gathering of Heroes at the Golden Summit: An Old Friend Returns
Several days later, Zhang Yunyuan arrived at Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province.
Unlike the majestic and vigorous masculine energy of Longhu Mountain.
Wudang Mountain gives people the feeling of being introverted, harmonious, and a vast and all-encompassing realm.
The mountains stretch endlessly, with clouds and mist rising, as if the entire mountain is undergoing a slow and eternal cycle of breathing.
Standing in front of the mountain gate, Zhang Yunyuan looked at the ancient plaque engraved with the two characters "Wudang" and felt a surge of excitement.
He held the gourd of wine given to him by Zhang Zhiwei, took a big gulp, and immediately felt much less tired.
This is definitely not ordinary wine; it is extremely helpful in restoring one's Qi!
After submitting his calling card, he declined the Wudang disciples' offer to accompany him on the tour, saying he wanted to explore on his own.
Accompanied by disciples, it takes too much time; it's better to be alone, in peace and quiet.
He arrived at the back mountain and, relying on his keen perception of Qi, followed the purest and most concentrated spiritual energy, heading upwards.
The most spiritually potent place in Wudang Mountain is naturally the Golden Summit.
As night fell, he quietly ascended to the golden summit.
The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the glazed tiles of the golden palace, reflecting a cool, clear glow.
The sea of clouds churned beneath my feet, like a fairyland.
Just then, he noticed an unusually thick and harmonious Qi slowly circulating on a platform at the edge of the golden summit.
Curious, he approached and saw, under the moonlight, a young Taoist priest dressed in a Wudang robe, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, a constantly rotating Tai Chi diagram floating in front of him.
The Tai Chi diagram was not a reflection of light and shadow, but rather formed from the condensation of extremely pure Qi. It was clearly black and white, slowly rotating, exuding a sense of endless vitality.
This person's control over Qi has reached such a level!
Seemingly sensing Zhang Yunyuan's approach, the young Taoist priest suddenly opened his eyes.
His gaze was sharp as lightning, instantly locking onto Zhang Yunyuan.
"who?!"
He let out a low shout, and the Tai Chi diagram in front of him instantly transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into his body.
"How dare you break into the Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain at night!"
The Taoist priest had just finished his seclusion and was still in a state of high alert. He did not know that Zhang Yunyuan was a fellow Taoist from Longhu Mountain and mistakenly thought that he was a thief who came up the mountain at night with ulterior motives.
Before he finished speaking, he had already made his move.
With a light step, his figure moved like a falling leaf, seemingly slow but actually incredibly fast, instantly appearing in front of Zhang Yunyuan.
With a single palm strike, a viscous, watery force was unleashed—the very essence of Wudang's Tai Chi power.
Zhang Yunyuan felt a chill run down his spine.
What a strong strength!
With a thought, the system panel appeared instantly.
Name: Zhou Sheng
[Supernatural Ability Level: First-class (Peak)]
[Techniques: Tai Chi Power (Perfected), Tai Chi Cloud Hands (Mastered)]
[Note: A once-in-a-century genius of Wudang Mountain, possessing a profound understanding of the true meaning of 'gentleness'. With a pure heart and unwavering Daoist resolve, he has already touched the threshold of the realm of 'hero'.]
A wave of emotion surged within Zhang Yunyuan.
One of the Thirty-Six Thieves of the Future, a Wudang disciple who has mastered the most mysterious of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, "Feng Hou Qi Men"!
I never expected to meet you here, in this way.
Moreover, his cultivation level at this moment has already reached the peak of the first-class level!
Zhang Yunyuan's fighting spirit was instantly aroused.
He wanted to test his current strength without relying on lightning magic.
Faced with Zhou Sheng's seemingly gentle but actually deadly palm strike, Zhang Yunyuan advanced instead of retreating.
Instead of taking the blow head-on, he met it with a palm strike of his own.
However, the golden light flowing in his palm was not a direct confrontation. Instead, at the moment of contact, he flicked his wrist and used the techniques of "concealing force" and "neutralizing force" from the Great Ruyi Force.
The palms clasped together, producing a soft sound.
Zhou Sheng felt as if his Tai Chi energy had struck a slippery ball of cotton, and all his force was instantly neutralized by his opponent in an extremely subtle way.
Immediately afterwards, a similarly rounded, domineering force rebounded from the opponent's palm.
Zhou Sheng's expression changed slightly. He quickly took half a step back and drew a circle with his feet to neutralize the force of the backlash.
"Good work!"
He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, but his hands didn't stop working at all.
With a flick of his wrists, like a white crane spreading its wings, his arms moved, bringing forth two invisible streams of Qi, like two soft whips, which coiled towards Zhang Yunyuan.
Zhang Yunyuan lowered his body and activated the Golden Light Spell instantly.
However, instead of releasing the golden light to form a protective shield, he contained it all and attached it to his body surface, transforming it into an incomparably tough "golden robe".
At the same time, he moved with strange steps, strolling leisurely through Zhou Sheng's seemingly impenetrable attacks.
Sometimes he would lightly tap the opponent's weakest point with his fingertip to disrupt the flow of their energy; other times he would gently nudge the opponent's attack aside with his elbow at an unexpected angle.
The two fought fiercely atop the golden summit, moving swiftly and nimbly for dozens of rounds.
A Tai Chi symbol rotates in a circle, endlessly generating new life.
A golden light that is understated yet powerful, combining strength and gentleness.
Zhou Sheng became increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.
The other person looked younger than me, but their understanding and application of force was as sophisticated as that of a master who had been immersed in this art for decades.
The Tai Chi strength that I was so proud of actually felt like it was being restricted everywhere, and I couldn't use my strength.
"Who is your Excellency?"
Zhou Sheng forced Zhang Yunyuan back with a single palm strike and asked in a deep voice.
"This skill is definitely not that of an unknown person."
Seeing that the time was right, Zhang Yunyuan stopped, dispersed the golden light, and bowed to Zhou Sheng.
"Longhu Mountain, Yunyuan".
He slowly announced his Taoist name.
“I was sent down the mountain by my master to gain experience. I happened to pass by this precious place and took the liberty of visiting you. I wanted to see the scenery of the Golden Summit, but I did not mean to disturb your peaceful cultivation. Please forgive me.”
"Longhu Mountain?"
Zhou Sheng was taken aback upon hearing this, then his face showed realization and apology.
"So you're a esteemed disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion! My apologies for not recognizing you!"
He quickly returned the greeting.
"It was my recklessness that led me to misunderstand you, fellow Daoist. Please forgive me, Brother Yunyuan."
Zhang Yunyuan smiled faintly.
"Brother Zhou's Tai Chi strength is so harmonious and boundless that it has truly broadened Yun Yuan's horizons."
Zhou Sheng gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Brother Dao, you flatter me. Compared to your miraculous method of deflecting force, my meager skills are not worth mentioning."
He looked at Zhang Yunyuan with genuine admiration and curiosity in his eyes.
"Brother Yunyuan, if you don't mind, would you mind moving to the front of the Zixiao Palace so that the two of us can sit down and discuss the Dao?"
"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask for my ear."
Zhang Yunyuan readily agreed.
Under the moonlight, two young Taoists from different sects, yet equally brilliant, smiled at each other. Their earlier conflict had transformed into mutual appreciation.
An exchange about "Tao" is about to quietly unfold atop Wudang Mountain.
Chapter 26 A Ladder to the Clouds Appears, Unpredictable and Mysterious