Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

Page 35

He... he's actually become this insane? And he's even hanging out with the Tibetan National Preceptor, Kumārajīva?!

The entire Shaoshi Mountain was plunged into a deathly silence of commotion and disbelief! All eyes were fixed on that disheveled, bizarrely behaving figure.

Chapter 113 Welcoming Senior Brother Back to the Temple

Inside the magnificent Tibetan palanquin, Kumārajīva suppressed his turbulent blood and qi, barely managing to regulate a trace of his true energy, when he saw Xuancheng roar and rush out of the palanquin. His heart tightened instantly, and he wanted to call out to stop him, but due to his disordered breathing, he couldn't utter a single word. He could only anxiously circulate his internal energy, hoping to regain his mobility as soon as possible.

Immediately afterward, Xuan Cheng's arrogant words, "Reason? I am the reason! You hurt my Xiao Zhi, so I'll beat you up!" pierced through the sedan curtain like a thunderclap and slammed into Kumārajīva's ears.

"puff--!"

Kumārajīva felt as if his chest had been struck by a giant hammer. The blood he had been forcibly suppressing could no longer be controlled, and he suddenly spat it out again, staining the carpet in front of him even more crimson and glaring. This time, it wasn't just internal injury at play, but also the overwhelming shame and indignation, and the complex emotions brought about by such blatant "protection." His entire face, along with his large, auspicious-looking earlobes, instantly flushed red like blood, burning intensely. He, Kumārajīva, the dignified National Preceptor of Tibet, the Great Wheel King, had actually been reduced to needing a madman to "stand up" for him, calling him "Little Zhi" with such... such self-righteousness! How could he bear this! Yet, deep in his heart, a faint warmth of being cared for and protected prevented him from truly harboring resentment towards Xuan Cheng, leaving only endless embarrassment.

The uproar in the square caused by Qiao Feng revealing Xuan Cheng's identity had not yet subsided.

When Xu Zhu heard the words "Uncle-Master Xuan Cheng", he was shocked! He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked closely at the disheveled figure. Although his appearance had changed drastically and he was now wild, the outline between his eyebrows still vaguely overlapped with that of his amazingly talented senior brother!

"Senior Brother! It really is you! Senior Brother Xuancheng!" Xu Zhu's voice changed with excitement. He could no longer care about Qiao Feng's obstruction and rushed over. Before Xuan Ci, Xuan Nan and other high monks could react, he hugged Xuancheng, who was stunned in place!

Xuan Cheng was startled by the sudden embrace and instinctively tried to push it away, but the pure, gentle inner energy emanating from Xu Zhu—a force shared with his own yet even more so—and the pure joy and worry emanating from Xu Zhu, devoid of any malice, inexplicably calmed his turbulent emotions. He tilted his head, his cloudy eyes scrutinizing Xu Zhu, seemingly trying to recall: "You…you little bald monk…what are you doing?"

"Senior brother, it's me! It's Xuzhu! The Xuzhu who always steals my steamed buns in the back mountain!" Xuzhu hugged him tightly, as if afraid he would disappear again, tears welling up in his eyes. "You're still alive, that's wonderful! That's wonderful! Come on, I'll take you back to the Sutra Pavilion, Master will definitely have a way to cure you!"

“Back to…the Scripture Pavilion?” Xuan Cheng murmured, a fleeting look of confusion and reminiscence in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by chaos and obsession. “No, no! I’m going to beat him up! He hurt Xiao Zhi!” He struggled to break free from Xu Zhu and pointed at Qiao Feng.

Just then, Abbot Xuanci, leading his two junior brothers Xuannan and Xuanku, stepped out from the crowd and arrived a few steps away from Xuancheng. The three most revered monks of Shaolin, facing their former martial arts master, now resembling a mad beggar, simultaneously clasped their hands together, bowed deeply, and said in unison, their voices filled with endless complexity and compassion:

"Amitabha."

"Welcome back to the temple, Senior Brother Xuancheng."

These eight simple words, spoken jointly by the abbot and two senior monks of Shaolin Temple, carried immense weight. They contained the weight of years of searching, countless regrets, and a profound sense of responsibility.

Xuan Cheng paused, staring at the three "old monks" in their ornate robes, their expressions heavy with unease. He frowned, shook his head vigorously as if trying to shake these "eyesore" images from his mind, and shouted impatiently, "What are you welcoming me for? What are you returning to? Who are you? Dressed like respectable gentlemen, blocking my way, I'm going to beat you up! Get out of the way!"

He didn't recognize these three fellow disciples who now held power in Shaolin at all, and he only had one simple thought in his mind—to stand up for Xiaozhi.

Qiao Feng witnessed all of this, and his understanding and sympathy for this legendary senior deepened. However, the pride and heroism of the Northern Qiao Feng would not waver in the slightest. He pushed aside Xie Xiaoyu, who was protecting him, and took a step forward, the ground seeming to tremble!

He laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the land, a laugh filled with an air of domineering confidence and respect for a powerful opponent.

"Hahaha! Good! What a great 'I am the ancestor and I am the truth'! Master Xuancheng, you speak your mind so frankly, Qiao Feng admires you!"

His tiger-like eyes blazed as he stared directly at Xuan Cheng. He clasped his hands in a salute, and his tone turned solemn and serious: "Master, it is out of loyalty that you want to stand up for the Ming King, and I understand! But I only seek to act with a clear conscience! The events just now were witnessed by all the heroes of the world, and the truth will be judged by the public!"

He paused, and his aura suddenly surged, like a sleeping lion awakening, a mighty and fierce fighting spirit soaring into the sky!

"Since the master insists on fighting, why should Qiao Feng hesitate to sacrifice himself?!"

"With my bare hands, I will now learn from the master's seventy-two extraordinary skills that have made him famous throughout the world! Please!"

At this moment, Qiao Feng seemed to transform into an ancient hero, fearless and undaunted in the face of any challenge for the sake of his principles!

On the square, even the fierce wind seemed to freeze.

On one side was Xuan Cheng, a former extraordinary monk with disheveled hair, a madman-like appearance, and an aura as deep as the ocean. His body was filled with surging energy, with countless different martial arts concepts intertwined in the chaos, like a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

On the other side was Qiao Feng, a hero of the era, as strong as a mountain, with boundless ambition and a fighting spirit. He stood firmly like a pine tree, his Dragon Subduing Palm power contained yet not unleashed, giving people a sense of overwhelming power that could lift up the heavens and subdue the earth.

One is chaotic and magnificent, the other is upright and vast.

Two completely different temperaments and forces formed an incredibly vivid and tense confrontation in the square of this ancient temple! Everyone's heart was in their throat, holding their breath and waiting for an earth-shattering collision!

Qiao Feng said no more, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. He knew that against a master like Xuan Cheng, seizing the initiative was crucial. He took a deep breath, his chest bulging like a bellows, and a series of low, thunderous sounds emanated from his body!

"excuse me!"

With a loud shout, Qiao Feng was the first to move!

His figure was like a sharp arrow shot from a powerful bow. He rushed forward suddenly, his right palm flipping out from under his ribs, drawing a fierce and unparalleled arc. The wind from his palm was howling, as if carrying the sound of a dragon's roar, and he went straight for Xuan Cheng's central palace!

It is the opening move of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms – The Dragon Regrets!

Before the palm strike even arrived, the overwhelming pressure swept towards Xuan Cheng like a tsunami!

Chapter 114 Foolish Child...Foolish Child...

On the mountain road, the sound of hooves thundered, and dust blotted out the sun!

Five hundred Wudang disciples, clad in black robes and carrying swords, moved forward in unison, silent and focused. Their restrained yet powerful aura was like the suppressed thunder before a storm. At the head of the procession, Qiao Tian sat atop a magnificent black horse, his black Daoist robes fluttering in the biting mountain wind. His face was calm, but his gaze, like a drawn sword, pierced through the swirling dust, pointing directly at the ancient temple atop the mountain.

What's meant to come will come. What needs to be calculated will be calculated.

Just as the group reached an open area halfway up the mountain, less than three miles from the Shaolin Temple gate, Qiao Tian suddenly raised his hand.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of every disciple. The five-hundred-strong group, obeying orders without question, instantly ceased the sounds of hooves and footsteps, leaving only the howling mountain wind that swirled up a few withered leaves. All the disciples' gazes instantly focused on the center of the official road ahead.

There, an old monk in gray robes stood quietly, unnoticed.

He was thin and frail, dressed in a faded monk's robe, holding a worn bamboo broom. He was bowing his head, slowly and deliberately sweeping the already spotless path. His movements were gentle and natural, as if he belonged there, blending into the mountain path, the withered trees, and the harsh winter. He didn't release any aura, yet he made the five hundred Wudang elites, along with their murderous sect leader, all stop in their tracks.

Qiao Tian's pupils contracted slightly. He dismounted and took a few steady steps forward, stopping three zhang away from the old monk. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Junior Qiao Tian pays respects to the divine monk."

The sweeping monk did not look up, continuing to sweep the floor with focused concentration. His voice was old and peaceful, echoing through the valley: "Sect Leader Qiao, why have you brought such a large group of Wudang elites here?"

He stopped five steps in front of the sweeping monk and once again performed a Taoist salute: "This junior's journey is to keep the appointment with Shaolin, to debate the Dharma and the Tao, and also to... settle a karmic debt."

"Cause and effect..." The sweeping monk repeated these two words softly, his gaze seemingly piercing through Qiao Tian and looking at the tangled threads of fate in the darkness. "Benefactor Qiao, do you know that the operation of heaven and earth, the birth and death of all things, all have their 'number'? Rivers flow eastward into the sea, stars follow their orbits, and plants wither and flourish every year. This is the natural way of heaven, and also the 'fate' of all living beings."

His words were simple, yet each one contained Buddhist wisdom and Zen insights, striking a chord in Qiao Tian's heart.

“To force it is like rowing against the current; not only will you be in danger, but you may also stir up a monstrous wave that will harm innocent bystanders.” The sweeping monk’s gaze deepened, filled with compassion. “This old monk observes that you, benefactor, are no ordinary person; you possess extraordinary talents and a broad mind. However…”

He paused slightly, his calm gaze suddenly sharpening, as if piercing straight into the depths of Qiao Tian's soul:

“A powerful force of ‘variability’ is swirling around you. This force is attempting to pry open the predetermined wheel of fate and forcibly reverse the trajectory of the ‘Celestial Beings.’ I do not know by what means you have foreseen what future you have glimpsed, but this action is undoubtedly a confrontation with the entire trend of heaven and earth!”

Qiao Tian was shocked! This old monk was indeed unfathomable.

The sweeping monk's voice remained calm, yet it carried an immense weight, slowly pressing down on Qiao Tian:

"Benefactor Qiao, this old monk has a question for you—"

"Do you intend to use your own power to reverse the course of fate and change the destiny of the one who bears the destiny of 'Heavenly Beings'?"

"Do you know the backlash that comes from reversing fate, the overwhelming karmic consequences? Can you... bear it?"

"Have you ever considered what unpredictable catastrophe would occur if your actions caused the wheel of fate to be disrupted and the chain of cause and effect to break? At that time, war would rage and lives would be lost. Would the martial world, the world, and all the people bear the unimaginable consequences of your willful actions?!"

The three questions, like three heavy hammer blows, each one more powerful than the last, struck Qiao Tian's heart, and also struck the hearts of all the Wudang disciples present who were holding their breath! A suffocating pressure filled the air.

Qiao Tian remained silent, the mountain wind whipping his dark robes. His mind flashed with the image of his younger brother Qiao Feng's hearty smile, the earnest eyes of his adoptive parents, Qiao Sanhuai and his wife, and his poor yet warm home at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head, all hesitation and struggle in his eyes disappeared, leaving only a rock-solid determination and a fiery resolve! A vast and boundless aura, fearless of heaven and earth, and with the spirit of "my will is my destiny," suddenly erupted from his body, faintly rivaling the invisible pressure of the Sweeper Monk!

"The words of the divine monk are pearls of wisdom, concerning the Way of Heaven and the law of cause and effect. Qiao Tian... has learned much." His voice was deep, yet carried a resolute strength. "However, the divine monk asks this junior whether you can bear the consequences? Have you considered the repercussions?"

He took a sudden step forward, his gaze burning like a blazing star:

"My answer is—"

"I have no idea!"

"I don't know how great the backlash from reversing fate will be! I don't know how heavy the karmic burden is! I don't know what kind of catastrophe it will cause in the future!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a soaring passion and domineering aura, echoing throughout the entire mountain path:

But all I know is—

"That's my brother! He's the family that Qiao Tian vowed to protect!"

"What Heavenly Way and destiny? What cause and effect and reincarnation? If Heavenly Way has ordained that my brother will be disgraced, his family destroyed, and suffer endless hardships and humiliation until his death, then so be it! What if I defy fate?!"

"If I, Qiao Tian, ​​am destined to bear this karma, even if I am condemned by thousands and consumed by karmic fire, I, Qiao Tian, ​​will shoulder it all!"

"If this calamity is destined to begin with me, even if it means shattering the heavens and overturning the underworld, I will still carve out a path to survival for my brother! As for the consequences..."

At this point, Qiao Tian's tone carried an almost frantic calm and resolve as he spoke, enunciating each word clearly:

“Divine Monk, tell me, to watch your loved ones fall into the abyss and stand idly by out of fear of so-called karmic calamity, what difference is there between this and aiding and abetting evil?! Such a ‘peaceful’ world, such a ‘stable’ martial world, is better left unfulfilled!”

His words, resounding like thunder, echoed in everyone's ears! There were no flowery words, only the purest, most fervent, and unquestionable heart of protection! For a brother with whom he had no blood relation, he dared to defy the heavens, dared to bear the calamity, and dared to be an enemy of the world!

These unconventional yet deeply loyal remarks stirred the blood of Huang Shang and his two companions, as well as the Wudang disciples behind them, filling their eyes with fervent worship for their sect leader and a determination to follow him to the death!

The sweeping monk listened quietly, and for the first time, a clear emotion appeared on his usually calm face. He looked into Qiao Tian's eyes, which burned with a resolute flame. There was no greed for power, no desire for fame, only the most primal protection of family ties, and a determination to do anything for it.

He saw "persistence," but he also saw "truth."

He saw "adversity," but he also saw "emotion."

After a long while, the all-knowing sharp light in the sweeping monk's eyes gradually faded, returning to its unfathomable turbidity. He sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to carry a thousand years of time and endless compassion, yet also carried an indescribable complexity.

"Foolish child... Foolish child..."

"Since you have made up your mind and decided on your course, this old monk... will say no more."

He slowly moved aside, clearing the path to the mountain, and with a broom in hand, began to slowly sweep away the dust that hadn't actually existed, as if the conversation about the fate of heaven and earth had never happened.

"The road ahead is long and fraught with peril. I hope you will take good care of yourself."

Qiao Tian watched as the sweeping monk cleared the way, and his back, which had hunched over again as if he were detached from the world. He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, holy monk... for granting my request."

Immediately, he turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as he swept over the five hundred disciples behind him, his voice resolute:

The dark torrent started up again, treading on the path "sweeped" by the sweeping monk, and resolutely rushed towards the top of Shaoshi Mountain, where the world's winds and clouds gather!

The mountain wind grew stronger, whipping up withered leaves and dust, sweeping past the old monk who was still slowly sweeping the ground. He raised his head, glanced at the dust cloud trailing behind the Wudang group, then looked at the faint commotion coming from the top of Shaoshi Mountain, and finally let out a barely audible sigh, which dissipated in the wind.

Chapter 115 Eighteen Forms Combined

On the Shaoshi Mountain square, Qiao Feng roared and made the first move!

"excuse me!"

The sound rang out as the palm struck! The opening stance of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms—Regretful Dragon! The palm force was like a raging torrent, its fierce and unparalleled power tearing through the air, emitting a deep dragon's roar, and striking straight at Xuan Cheng's central palace! This palm strike was enough to shatter stone tablets and split rocks; ordinary masters would crumble upon its touch!

However, facing this earth-shattering palm strike, Xuan Cheng neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, he opened his arms, looked up at the sky, and laughed wildly: "Well done!"

Amidst his laughter, a layer of dark, heavy golden luster instantly enveloped his skin, like an ancient temple bronze bell! A powerful aura, supremely strong and yang, impervious to all evil, emanated from his body, forming a tangible Buddhist light shield in front of him!

"boom--!!!"

Qiao Feng's palm strike, powerful enough to shake mountains, slammed solidly into the qi shield, producing a deafening roar like a great bell! The shockwave exploded outwards in a ring, kicking up dust everywhere!

The protective aura fluctuated violently, golden light swirling around it, yet it remained unmoved!

On the other hand, Qiao Feng was so shaken by the force of the impact that he staggered back three steps before regaining his footing. The bluestone slab beneath his feet had already shattered!

Murong Fu's eyes twitched violently, his heart filled with horror: "This...this is the Shaolin Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill?! It can actually withstand Qiao Feng's full-force palm strike without a scratch?! Although my Murong family's 'Shifting Stars' technique can borrow force to strike back, we would never dare to confront it head-on like this! This old monk's cultivation is simply unfathomable!"

Abbot Xuanci raised his white eyebrows slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and chanted in a low voice, "Amitabha. Senior Brother Xuancheng has cultivated the Vajra Indestructible Body to the 'Immaculate Realm,' his body is like Vajra, and his will is like a rock. Although Chief Qiao's palm strike is fierce, it is difficult to break through his defense."

Qiao Feng steadied his breathing, showing no sign of discouragement; instead, his fighting spirit burned even brighter. He suddenly swung his arm, threw his head back, and laughed loudly, his voice like thunder, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens:

"Hahaha! Excellent! What a magnificent Invincible Vajra Divine Skill! It truly lives up to its reputation!"

His eyes widened, he pointed at Xuan Cheng, his voice filled with the excitement of growing stronger with each challenge:

"You turtle shell might be useful to others, but to me, Qiao Feng—it's useless!"

Before he finished speaking, Qiao Feng's aura surged once again! He drew profound trajectories with his palms in front of his chest, and the vast Nine Yang True Qi and Dragon Subduing Palm Intent within his body frantically condensed!

“Ouch——!!!”

A dragon's roar shook the heavens! In an instant, six incredibly refined and lifelike golden dragon-shaped energy energies roared out from his palms! They bared their fangs and claws, carrying an aura of annihilation, and spiraled towards Xuan Cheng from different angles, attempting to kill him!

The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms – Riding the Six Dragons!

A hint of surprise finally flashed in Xuan Cheng's turbid eyes, and his madness subsided slightly: "Good lad! You actually have such palm power!" His feet moved like smoke, and his palms and fingers struck out one after another: "Formless Calamity Finger, break!" "Indra's Claw, disperse!" He actually crushed the six golden dragons one by one!!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sounds of exploding energy were deafening! He had used his divine footwork and exquisite techniques to deflect and disperse the six golden dragons one by one!

A chorus of exclamations immediately arose from the Shaolin monks:

"It is the Maha Boundless Step! The supreme footwork that Bodhidharma comprehended when he crossed the Yangtze River on a reed!"