radicalducati Page 629
Page 629
Is this overestimating one's abilities, or overconfidence?
It should be noted that Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang was a grandmaster-level figure, even though he lived to be over 60 years old.
However, Zhang Sanfeng's great reputation and unfathomable realm have always been admired by people in the martial arts world, making him a figure who can be called a terrestrial immortal.
If there is anyone in the martial arts world who can rival Zhang Xiaoshan, it is undoubtedly Zhang Sanfeng.
Unexpectedly, the Demonic Sect is going to take on this tough nut to crack right away.
But considering the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, it's perfectly normal.
The Demonic Sect's resurgence this time must be fueled by confidence, eager to avenge their previous defeat. If they can't even handle Zhang Sanfeng, how could they possibly dominate the Central Plains?
Therefore, in less than three days, the news of the decisive battle had spread throughout the land, and countless martial arts practitioners rushed to Wudang.
How could people not be curious about a Taoist immortal and a demonic supreme being?
Especially now, the Demonic Sect is no longer the sole dominant force.
The Demonic Emperor, the Bright King, and the Demon Lord of the Demonic Sect; Dongfang Bubai of the Sun Moon Divine Cult; and the Ghost King of the Ghost King Sect are all grandmasters who appear only once in a hundred years.
It can be said that the evil is rising while the righteous are declining, and the evil path is flourishing!
"The Miao and Jiuli tribes?"
Inside the Xianyang Palace, Emperor Ying Zheng frowned as he looked at the news in his hand.
If we're talking about the major hidden forces he fears most, besides the Zhang family, Miao territory is undoubtedly one of them.
Miao territory is not the same as Nanyue. The Baiyue region was inhabited by Miao tribes who migrated south, or by some ethnic minorities living in tropical rainforest areas.
Although the traditions have a long history, most of them are now independent and operate independently!
The Miao region is different; they inherit the ancient Jiuli bloodline and are one of the oldest clans.
This time, Miao Jiang is clearly after the God of War and Chi You's Demon Sword.
"Zhao Gao, have you found the ancient Miao village?"
"Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
The two major forces in Miao territory are Chiyou Village and the Twelve Caves.
Chiyou Village is the oldest inheritor of Chiyou's unique skills. When the Demon Sect came north to the Central Plains, they were carrying on Chiyou's unique skills.
The Twelve Caves are equally chilling, with legends of witchcraft that kills silently and is impossible to defend against.
"This servant has already dispatched over a hundred top-tier assassins to Miao territory, but apart from a few assassins who mistakenly ventured deep into Miao territory and sent back news, the others have all disappeared without a trace."
The remaining assassins couldn't find the ancient Miao people at all, only some Miao villages!
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng glanced at Zhao Gao with disappointment.
However, he did not reprimand Zhao Gao. If the mystery of the ancient Miao were so easily discovered, they would have been eliminated long ago.
Moreover, Chiyou Village and Twelve Caves are the stronghold of the Miao people.
"Find the existence of Wang Lihao of the Ancient Miao as soon as possible. Also, keep a close watch on this Miao Jiang Demon Sect and report any unusual activity immediately."
"Slave understands!"
Zhao Gao naturally knew what Emperor Ying Zheng was worried about.
After all, Gu Miao's purpose this time was either the Zhang family or the Empire, even though the Dragon Emperor was domineering and disdainful of the Southern Yue region.
But these ancient Miao people are not ordinary Miao ethnic groups.
Even though the Twelve Caves and Chiyou Village dare not oppose the empire, their witchcraft and sorcery methods are impossible to guard against.
"Also, this trip to Wudang is to ask Young Master Zhang about the purpose of the Miao region, as well as their methods and background."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Gao watched as the Dragon Emperor waved his hand and respectfully retreated.
With the emergence of the Demonic Sect, Zhao Gao knew that the empire was wary of Miao territory, and that if he were targeted by Miao, he could be caught in their trap.
After all, the methods used in Miao territory were simply too bizarre.
Chapter 738 The Three Giants of the Demonic Sect—Taoism, Buddhism, and Demonism?
The third day of the third lunar month!
It is the birthday of the Taoist Zhenwu Emperor, and the main deity worshipped at Wudang Mountain is Zhenwu Emperor. Given Wudang Mountain's status, the third day of the third lunar month is a major Taoist event every year.
Today, the area at the foot of Wudang Mountain is packed with people, while those on the mountain stand in solemn anticipation.
Even though Zhang Sanfeng had instructed his disciples to hold the Emperor's birthday celebration as scheduled, it was still somewhat lackluster.
After all, compared to the ethereal birthday of the gods, today is a matter of life and death for Wudang. Half a month ago, the disciples on Wudang Mountain had no mood to prepare.
Even though everyone had great faith in Zhang Sanfeng.
But don't forget, Zhang Sanfeng is already over sixty years old, nearing the end of his life.
Therefore, even if Zhang Sanfeng wins this battle, he will likely be exhausted and on his deathbed.
Unless someone from the Zhang family intervenes and possesses the ability to reverse aging.
However, at the birthday celebration, Zhang Sanfeng still looked energetic and calm.
Not to mention that at his age, he had long since seen through life and death. Moreover, according to rumors in the martial arts world, the emergence of the Demonic Sect this time was itself shrouded in strangeness.
The purpose of the Demonic Sect's emergence this time is not to dominate the martial arts world, but to obtain the Chi You Demon Sword and the Demon God of Soldiers.
Although I don't know why they're making such a big fuss, their purpose is definitely not wrong.
Moreover, he has absolute confidence in his own level of expertise.
"Greetings, Master Zhang! 653"
Before the Zixiao Palace, a group of righteous martial artists looked at Zhang Sanfeng and bowed respectfully.
As one of the longest-lived people in the martial arts world, and also a true Taoist practitioner, Zhang Sanfeng's status is self-evident.
Some upstarts in the martial arts world are not even a fraction of Zhang Sanfeng's stature, yet they could easily be considered his ancestors.
After all, they have few senior members in their eighties or nineties; the difference is at least fifty years.
"Zhang Sanfeng thanks all the disciples for coming to help. If Wudang has failed in its hospitality, please forgive us!"
Zhang Sanfeng smiled calmly and bowed with his hands clasped.
The Seven Heroes of Wudang, who arrived after traveling day and night, also bowed in return.
Over the course of twenty years, the strength of the Seven Heroes of Wudang steadily increased, with the weakest reaching the pinnacle of mastery. Yu Lianzhou and Zhang Cuishan even stepped into the peerless realm one after the other, becoming the mainstay of Wudang besides Zhang Sanfeng.
However, their level of skill has basically reached its limit.
Before the age of sixty, none of them had broken through to the Grandmaster level, and they had only recently entered the Peerless Realm, so they were basically out of luck for the Grandmaster realm.
After all, they are not Zhang Sanfeng, who achieved great things late in life!
"The demonic cultivators from the foot of the mountain have arrived!"
Demonic cult?
A gasp rang out, and everyone immediately looked towards the direction coming from below the mountain, their eyes filled with apprehension.
It's not that they're too cowardly, but rather that the cult's arrogance has been too profound lately.
Besides the emergence of the Demonic Sect, the Demonic Path already had four Grandmasters in charge: the Evil Emperor, the Bright King, the Demon Lord, and Dongfang Bubai. The righteous path only had Zhang Sanfeng and Yan Nantian on the surface.
As for the Zhang family?
The Zhang family does not interfere in the affairs of the martial arts world. No matter how fiercely the righteous and evil factions fight, it is none of the Zhang family's business.
Just then, the crowd saw dozens of people dressed in black, eight of them carrying a phoenix palanquin, flying down from the foot of the mountain.
From afar to near, in just ten breaths, he had already covered over a hundred feet, far surpassing the record of the 100-meter superman of later generations.
An eight-person phoenix palanquin and two four-person sedan chairs (lotus seats) landed steadily before everyone's eyes.
Only then did everyone realize that the three leaders of the Demonic Sect had arrived together.
In addition, there are also the enchantress Wanwan, the amorous young master Hou Xibai, the shadow assassin Yang Xuyan... all of whom are feared figures in the martial arts world.
"The Demonic Emperor (Zhu Yuyan and Shi Zhixuan) greets Master Zhang!"
Even Zhang Sanfeng, one of the three grandmasters of the demonic sects, couldn't help but look solemn and bowed respectfully, saying:
"This old Daoist greets Fellow Daoist Evil Emperor, Fellow Daoist Ming King, and Your Excellency Demon Lord!"
A fellow Daoist is not just a simple title.
When you reach a certain level, what you see is far more complex than what ordinary people see.
Among the three great masters of the Demonic Sect, Zhu Yuyan, who is known as the Demon Lord, is actually the one with the lowest cultivation level and the weakest strength.
Shi Zhixuan, who had attained enlightenment at the Arhat level, belonged to the Demonic Sect, but his realm had reached the advanced stage of Arhat. However, he posed little threat to Shi Zhixuan. Nevertheless, addressing him as a fellow Daoist was only appropriate.
Only the Demon Emperor of the Demonic Sect, whom Zhang Sanfeng first encountered, possessed a true Taoist realm of heaven and man that was in no way inferior to his own.
The demonic sect's heart is filled with demonic tendencies, and its swordsmanship goes to extremes.
However, all paths lead to the same destination, and in the end, one still enters the path from the demonic path. Perhaps this is the meaning of the "demonic" and "path".
As for enlightenment and such, he didn't know.
However, in terms of cultivation level, this Evil Emperor undoubtedly posed a challenge even to Zhang Sanfeng.
What's more, the other party is younger than him!
"Master Zhang, you are too kind. We are just juniors and dare not accept the title of fellow Daoist!"
His androgynous tone carried a hint of divine confusion, and the crowd couldn't help but marvel at the fact that this evil emperor still had some self-awareness.
However, Zhang Sanfeng bowed and chuckled:
"The Way has no order of precedence; those who attain it come first!"
"The Bright King has reached the Arhat realm in Buddhism, a rare true Buddha in this world; Fellow Daoist Evil Emperor has even transcended the demonic path and entered the realm of celestial beings. How could you not be worthy of the title 'fellow Daoist'?"
Hiss...
Upon hearing Zhang Sanfeng's explanation, the group of martial arts practitioners looked at the three leaders of the Demonic Sect in disbelief.
Tao, Buddha, and Demon!
All three leaders of the Demonic Sect have arrived.
Demon Lord Zhu Yuyan is absolutely ruthless and deserves the title of 'Demon' Lord.
The Evil Emperor has actually transcended demonic cultivation and entered the realm of celestial beings. And Shi Zhixuan has actually attained enlightenment and achieved the Arhat realm.
If Zhang Sanfeng hadn't spoken up, they would never have believed that the Demonic Sect could produce an existence at the Celestial Realm, a being a Buddhist Arhat. Was this a case of 'laying down the butcher's knife and instantly becoming a Buddha'?
"Master Zhang, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
How could the Evil Emperor possibly be a member of the Taoist sect? And how could the Evil King Shi Zhixuan possibly have attained the body of an Arhat?
A junior member directly questioned the matter, which resonated with most people in the martial arts world.
However, Zhang Sanfeng remained completely calm and even smiled as he addressed the questions raised below:
"Hehehe, everyone, don't be impatient. Since this old Taoist has spoken, he is not just talking nonsense!"
"You can't discuss ice with a summer insect!"
"Ignorant fools, why should Master Zhang explain these things? Even peerless grandmasters are not ants; how dare they presume to fathom the mysteries of great grandmasters?"
Suddenly, a disdainful voice interrupted Zhang Sanfeng's explanation.
A streak of rainbow, like a rainbow piercing the sun, moved with ghostly speed, arriving before everyone's eyes in the blink of an eye.
"The East is undefeated!"
The crowd, who were initially furious, felt a bucket of cold water poured over them the moment they saw Hong Ying's aloof demeanor.
Moreover, although Dongfang Bubai's tone was disdainful, it was actually more direct than Zhang Sanfeng's explanation, which made many people's eyes gleam.
The secrets of the Grandmaster realm?
Chapter 739 The Demonic Sect Arrives, Their Wish Fulfilled?