radicalducati Chapter 152 I slashed Kumārajīva twice, and he gave me three scrolls of secret manuals.
Chapter 152 I slashed Kumārajīva twice, and he gave me three scrolls of secret manuals.
Chapter 152 I slashed Kumārajīva twice, and he gave me three scrolls of secret manuals.
Xu Qingya's strike was too fast.
It was faster than the naked eye could perceive, so fast that all of Kumārajīva's backup plans became useless. No amount of planning or calculation could be done in time.
Only one response remained for Kumārajīva:
--attack!
Attack based on a martial artist's instincts!
The effects of the "Outer Lion Seal" had not yet dissipated, and Kumārajīva was in his most passionate and excited state. He used the Burning Wood Blade Technique in a backhand attack, engaging Xu Qingya in a fast-paced battle.
"Snap!"
A clash of swords and palms!
The serrated blade light attached to the Magpie Blade sliced through Kumārajīva's protective aura as easily as cutting tofu. Kumārajīva then used his right hand to perform the Flower-Picking Finger and his left hand to perform the Leaf-Picking Finger.
With three fingers of his right hand, he pinched the tip of the knife as if by magic, while with four fingers of his left hand, four powerful and domineering finger strikes shot towards Xu Qingya's chest and abdomen. In close combat, the advantage of finger techniques often surpasses that of weapons.
Within this distance, even if Xu Qingya's speed increased by another 30%, he would still have to temporarily avoid the enemy's sharp edge.
Why should one retreat from a blade of unparalleled skill?
Xu Qingya lifted his left foot and spun rapidly around his right foot. The magpie knife rested on his shoulder, the back of the blade perfectly positioned against his neck. The blade rotated with his body, and his hand, neck, and blade tip formed a lever. When he exerted a fraction of force in his hand, the force was transferred to the blade tip and became tenfold.
Even if Kumārajīva's fingers were made of indestructible black iron, he would have to let go. The moment he let go, a crescent-shaped blade of light swirled around and destroyed the four finger forces. Before Kumārajīva could regain his footing, the Magpie Blade struck again, still the most powerful strike of its kind.
In a flash, Xu Qingya's figure swept past Kumārajīva. Kumārajīva swayed a few times, and the hem of his clothes tore open under his right side, revealing a three-inch bloody gash.
Xu Qingya stopped and asked, "I wonder if my unparalleled sword technique meets the liking of the Ming King?"
Kumārajīva looked at Xu Qingya in horror.
With his keen eyesight, he could certainly tell that Xu Qingya's damage was greater than his own. It wasn't from being hit, but from using a near-self-harming method to unleash his full power in an instant and then convert that power into speed.
Fast is strong.
A fast knife is the strongest knife.
UI.
The abbot was both surprised and relieved.
What was astonishing was that Xu Qingya's strike was so stunning and extraordinary. If it had been used on him, his head would have been on the ground before he even saw the blade. The fact that Kumārajīva could intercept the attack was enough to demonstrate his superb martial arts skills.
Fortunately, Xu Qingya only made one strike, instead of engaging in a fierce battle with Kumārajīva. The scene of "exchanging hundreds of blows and destroying most of the Tianlong Temple" was ultimately just his fantasy, and he only managed to crush two floor tiles.
Swordsmanship is by no means static.
The sword techniques will vary greatly depending on the opponent. When dealing with a powerful centenarian like Tianqi, one should engage in a head-on clash. When dealing with a master like Kumozhi who has mastered many schools of thought, the worst thing to do is to counter each move as it comes and never get bogged down in protracted battles.
In terms of the breadth of martial arts skills, even Murong Bo might not be able to compare with Kumārajīva. He knows too many fancy martial arts techniques. The longer the battle lasts, the greater Kumārajīva's advantage becomes, and Xu Qingya is instead controlled by him.
Therefore, it is necessary to fight quickly and decide the winner within three moves. There is no counter-attack or collision of true energy. It is all about speed beyond the limits of the body and the speed of physical reaction in the blink of an eye.
It's clear that Kumārajīva lost a move.
Xu Qingya let out a long breath.
Kumārajīva exclaimed, "What superb swordsmanship! Lord Xu's swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world. I admire it to the extreme. It is truly an honor for me to witness such a superb sword."
Xu Qingya chuckled: "Ming King, my strike has neither a set technique nor a method, and it's impossible for it to be written into a manual. What are your thoughts on this, Ming King?"
Kumārajīva was taken aback upon hearing this.
Kumārajīva studied Buddhism from a young age and was proficient in Buddhist teachings, but he could not shake off his desire for fame and fortune. Theoretically speaking, Kumārajīva was not a "martial arts fanatic" in the true sense. What he liked most was not practicing martial arts, but the praise and honor that came with his profound martial arts skills. He liked to see others amazed by his unparalleled martial arts skills and to see the angry but helpless look in others' eyes. Fame and fortune were what he pursued.
Kumārajīva's most distinctive characteristic was his fondness for understated and humble boasting. The point was not about being understated or humble; the real purpose was to "show off."
The more polite they are verbally and the more humble their expression, the more arrogant and boastful they become when they try to show off.
To satisfy his own interests, Kumārajīva collected martial arts manuals from all over the place. There are many kinds of martial arts geniuses. Some are creative geniuses who are good at creating unique skills, while others are academic geniuses who can master any martial art, no matter how difficult it is to learn, as long as they read the manual a few times.
Kumārajīva belongs to the latter category.
He could learn any martial art, whether it was Tantric, Zen, or even Taoist secrets, and master it quickly. He studied a hundred different schools and mastered them all to perfection. His internal strength was even more profound than that of Murong Bo.
Throughout his martial arts training, Kumārajīva never encountered any trouble. No matter how obscure or complex the martial arts manual was, as long as he had it in his hands, he could grasp the secrets after three to five days of seclusion and study.
The same principle applies to martial arts manuals and Buddhist scriptures.
The Great Wheel Temple held the "Unobstructed Assembly," inviting monks from all over the world to participate, including several eminent monks from India. Regardless of their sect or school, Kumārajīva could speak eloquently and persuasively, winning everyone's heartfelt admiration.
In Kumārajīva's mind, he could learn anything written in a book.
Even now, a young swordsman who defeated him with his amazing swordsmanship asked a question that Kumārajīva had never thought of before—you can learn all the martial arts in the book, but what if there are no martial arts manuals?
Not every martial arts master is a linguistic genius with profound knowledge of ancient and modern times. The manuals they write will have more or less problems, and may even contain dialects and local expressions.
Some extraordinary skills are just a flash of inspiration, and there is no way to describe them, let alone record them in a manual.
There is no contradiction between martial arts with secret manuals and those without. However, Kumārajīva was arrogant and wanted everything he saw, and wanted to learn all kinds of martial arts. When he became greedy for Xu Qingya's swordsmanship, but there was no sword manual, how could he learn the swordsmanship?
To the average person, Xu Qingya's question seemed absurd and had no value in answering.
For Kumārajīva, this question was worth three days and three nights of seclusion to rack his brains for an answer.
Of course, if Kumārajīva knew that Xu Qingya's words were just a slip of the tongue and a complete load of nonsense, I wonder if he would vomit blood.
There are "secret techniques" for using a sharp knife.
The way of exerting force, the angle of the knife strike, and the training process can all be recorded in writing. As long as they can be recorded in writing, they belong to the category of "martial arts manuals".
After a long pause, Kumārajīva sighed, "This humble monk was just caught in a demonic trance and didn't know how to answer. Lord Xu, your eloquence surpasses even your swordsmanship."
Xu Qingya asked, "Your Majesty, you are mistaken. There is a flaw in my words. I have heard that you once debated with a group of monks at the Wuzhe Assembly, reciting and explaining your arguments. Countless eminent monks and virtuous masters were convinced. If we talk about debating skills, even if I had a hundred tongues, I would not be your match."
However, Mingwang asked himself, "If I give you a hundred chances, can you counter my swift blade?"
If it can't be cracked, shouldn't we announce that Kumārajīva's Flaming Blade has been defeated by the Magpie Blade?
I'm going to find my next opponent!
"Your Majesty, please proceed!"
Kumārajīva closed his eyes and pondered, then sighed, "Lord Xu's swift sword is unparalleled, but this humble monk has some skill in swordsmanship and has already devised a way to counter it."
"In that case, let's try again!"
Xu Qingya stood still, but this time Kumārajīva did not form the Outer Lion Seal. Instead, he formed the Treasure Vase Seal, merging his energy into one, making his body like a flawless treasure vase. His palms were surrounded by unpredictable palm strikes, allowing Kumārajīva to defend against any attack Xu Qingya made.
Since that's the case, then—draw your sword!
"Clang!"
This time, the weapon drawn was the Ancient Ding Blade.
The floor tiles beneath his feet shattered with a deafening crash. Power surged from the ground, and his entire skeletal structure, like dominoes, transmitted the force layer by layer, from his feet to his calves, and from his calves to his waist and abdomen. While an ordinary person draws a sword primarily using the strength of their arms, chest, and ribs, Xu Qingya's strike was based on his firmly planted calves and centered on his waist and abdomen.
The instant the blade of the ancient sword left its sheath and flashed with a blade light, Xu Qingya concentrated all his strength into a single point, and unleashed a crushing force that seemed to overwhelm everything.
Demonic Blade Technique: Breaking Army!
The sword dance of the Breaking Army begins now!
Because the strike was too fast, too strong, and too fierce, a large vacuum was created in front of him. Kumārajīva felt that the air around him was as heavy as mercury, and his hands and feet were as if they were trapped in a net. Every move he made required ten or a hundred times the strength. There was no space left for him to dodge, only the strike of Po Jun.
"boom!"
Kumārajīva was like a broken sack, blasted several feet away by Xu Qingya's sword, smashing through the gate of the Mahavira Hall. He rolled seven or eight times on the steps outside the hall. Fortunately, he had a solid foundation and used the rolling to dissipate the force. When he rolled down the last step, he stood up.
Because it is a "rolling up" posture, when getting up in this position, you must first kneel down and then stand up, and your head will subconsciously look upwards.
As soon as he looked up, instead of blue sky and white clouds, he saw the ancient sword gleaming with a chilling light. The blade was only three inches from his nose. Kumārajīva felt the coldness of the blade, and the hairs on his body stood on end. He was covered in goosebumps and almost fell to the ground.
Xu Qingya asked, "Ming King, how do you intend to counter this attack? Does Ming King have any other strategies?"
Kumārajīva smiled wryly: "Things shouldn't happen more than three times. Lord Xu is kind-hearted and has forgiven this humble monk twice. If this humble monk were to be ungrateful again, I would be asking for trouble."
Xu Qingya said, "Your Majesty, there are countless monks who practice martial arts, and there are many monks who study various schools of thought. However, there are many differences in ideology between Tantric Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. If they are forcibly integrated, it will inevitably cause trouble and ultimately bring disaster upon themselves."
When Murong Bo first encountered Kumārajīva, the two sparred and neither could defeat the other. Murong Bo noticed that Kumārajīva coveted martial arts and fame, so he deliberately gifted him more than ten of the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts. This served two purposes: first, to arouse Kumārajīva's greed, and second, because Murong Bo had some doubts about the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts and dared not practice them casually.
Murong Bo had lived in seclusion at Shaolin Temple for many years and knew that Shaolin had strict rules. Apart from the Prajna Hall, each branch had its own martial arts training, which were strictly forbidden to be passed on, learned, or watched. If someone discovered this, the punishment would be either twenty years of solitary confinement or the loss of martial arts skills and expulsion from the sect. In the last hundred years, the highest record was achieved by Master Xuancheng, who mastered thirteen unique skills.
Just when Murong Bo thought that "thirteen" was the limit of Shaolin's ultimate skills, the Thirteenth Supreme Monk Xuancheng suffered a qi deviation, his meridians were severed, and he became a cripple.
Murong Bo was filled with apprehension and dared not recklessly practice Shaolin's unique skills, much less pass them on to his son.
Kumārajīva was chosen by Murong Bo as his experimental subject.
Kumārajīva initially had the same doubts, thinking to himself, "We are not related, and you are giving away more than a dozen of these precious secret manuals so casually. It seems a bit too generous of you."
However, as he diligently practiced day and night, he discovered that these manuals were all genuine and without any flaws. As a result, Kumārajīva's affection for Murong Bo grew stronger. In the original story, Kumārajīva captured Murong Fu but did not kill him directly, which was out of gratitude for Murong Bo's great kindness in giving him the ultimate techniques.
Kumārajīva knew the principle of "not biting off more than you can chew" when he was five years old, but his talent in "learning" was too high. In addition, he had a solid foundation and had not encountered any backlash so far. His vigilance was getting smaller and smaller, but his greed for martial arts manuals was growing day by day.
Even if the Heavenly King himself advised him, Kumārajīva would never give up before suffering the backlash from the mental cultivation method.
However, after being slashed twice by Xu Qingya, Kumārajīva's momentum dropped to its lowest point, making it impossible for him to defeat the Six Meridians Divine Sword Formation. He apologized and turned to leave.
They came in a hurry, and they left in a hurry.
Apart from a few crushed floor tiles, nothing was left behind—wait a minute! Kumārajīva exchanged the three scrolls of the Six Meridians Divine Sword technique for the Great Hero Hall.
When Xu Qingya returned to the Great Buddha Hall, Abbot Benyin was looking at the three volumes of secret manuals with a worried expression.
Keeping it is not an option, nor is returning it.
This is a martial arts manual copied by Murong Bo. It has no encryption system and can be copied thousands of times at will.
Even if we return it, what then?
How would they know if you've seen it or not?
If I secretly copy it down, who would know?
Most importantly, the foundation of the Dali Duan family lies in finger techniques, but not everyone is suited to the One-Finger Divine Skill. If there were three other schools of finger techniques to choose from, it would be an excellent thing for the Duan family. The unique skills of the Buddhist temples could be adopted by Tianlong Temple, which would be a perfect match for their expertise.
The advantages are obvious, but the disadvantages are even more obvious.
Stealing martial arts skills is a major taboo in the martial arts world. If this gets out, will the Duan family of Dali still have any shame?
Duan Yanqing advised, "Abbot, you may not know this, but there is a very powerful merchant in the black market of the Central Plains who sells secret manuals from various schools and sects. As long as you are willing to spend the money, he may not be able to collect all seventy-two Shaolin skills, but he could easily collect thirty or forty of them. Shaolin doesn't care, so why should we?"
After a pause, Duan Yanqing continued, "Even if Shaolin wants to investigate, they should investigate Kumārajīva, not Tianlong Temple. What does this have to do with us? We've been in seclusion for months, and based on the principles of One-Finger Divine Skill, we've modified three unique techniques and called them Duan Family Finger Techniques. Who would recognize them then?"
Master Kurong rebuked him, saying, "There is no such thing! How can a monk be greedy for martial arts? How is this any different from what Kumārajīva did?"
"Isn't One-Finger Divine Skill enough for you to practice? Even if you had a hundred years, could you reach the first rank?"
Just then, Ku Rong heard Xu Qingya's footsteps entering the hall and immediately said, "Lord Xu, we haven't touched the three volumes of the manual. Please send someone to return the three volumes of the manual to Shaolin. Tianlong Temple will never accept them."
Xu Qingya picked up the brocade box and said with a smile, "Master Kurong is indeed a great monk. To be honest, even I am tempted by these three volumes of secret manuals, but Master Kurong is unmoved by them. With your indifference, you will be able to have an epiphany of Zen in three years at most and break through Kurong Zen skill."
"Thank you so much for your kind words!"
"Kumārajīva is gone, and I won't keep him either! May all the masters find peace, and I, Xu, take my leave!"
Xu Qingya, carrying two swords and a brocade box, strode away from Tianlong Temple, much to Duan Yanqing's dismay.
Duan Yanqing didn't covet the martial arts manuals; instead, he wanted to give the Three Finger Techniques to Duan Yu, hoping it might spark Duan Yu's interest in martial arts. Even if it didn't, he could return them to Shaolin and take the opportunity to make friends.
Master Kurong thought further ahead.
Being in a suspicious situation like a melon patch or under suspicious circumstances would arouse suspicion.
Rather than being greedy for small gains, it's better to be decisive.
The responsibility for handing over the three volumes of the manual to Xu Qingya rests with him, whether he studies them himself, copies them, or returns them directly to Shaolin.
Just focus on chanting sutras at Tenryu-ji Temple!
This was also a way of expressing goodwill to the "Han envoy".
Dali only wants to quietly chant sutras in southern Xinjiang and has no intention of expansion, so you don't need to be wary of us.
Even if they wanted to expand, they would expand southward.
That's right. In recent years, Dali has actually expanded outwards, occupying part of the territory of the Bagan Kingdom.
The Gao family contributed greatly to the war and enjoyed high prestige in the army. Duan Zhengchun was nominally a general, but in reality, he had little power and was just a figurehead. Gao Shengtai firmly controlled all military power in and around Dali.
Duan Zhengming felt quite helpless about this.
This is not Gao Shengtai's fault.
Gao Shengtai: You think I'm to blame for winning the battle?
If this were in the Central Plains, the two sides would have already engaged in countless fierce battles. One side wanted to advance further, while the other wanted to eliminate powerful ministers. They would never have stopped fighting until blood flowed like rivers and minds were turned upside down.
In Dali, everyone's just making do!
The Duan family was helpless, and so was the Gao family.
The only one who dared to break the rules and launch a rebellion was Yang Yizhen, who was subsequently attacked and annihilated by various forces, a rebellion that lasted only four months.
The Duan and Gao families are like "white clouds and black soil," having made do for decades. How could they possibly "divorce"?
Xu Qingya couldn't be said to be completely oblivious to Master Kurong's hints; he could only say, "Next time, just say what you mean directly. I don't understand these roundabout ways!"
The Prince of Zhennan's Mansion.
Xu Qingya laid out the three volumes of the secret manual in order.
"Come and see, this is my spoils of war. The Great Wheel King is too kind; I slashed him twice, and he gave me three scrolls of secret techniques—"
"My ladies, come and take a look. If you find it suitable, I will guide you in your cultivation."
Xu Qingya didn't have many concerns and directly distributed the secret manuals to the ladies. In the Central Plains martial arts world, this was Shaolin's "unspoken rule" regarding its own unique skills. As long as you could obtain Shaolin's unique skills, whether by buying them or stealing them from the temple, as long as you weren't caught on the spot, it would be considered your skill, and Shaolin would be willing to befriend you.
Whether good or bad, treacherous or loyal, as long as one practices Shaolin's unique skills and learns Shaolin martial arts, there is a high probability that one will develop a favorable impression of Shaolin. For Shaolin disciples traveling the world, making more friends opens up more paths for them.
Most importantly, Shaolin's unique skills all evolved from Zen Buddhism. If one focuses solely on the lethality of martial arts, one is bound to develop resentment and go astray. If one practices multiple unique skills, the skills will conflict with each other, and even a powerful monk like the Thirteen Great Monks will inevitably suffer severed meridians.
Learning some external martial arts techniques, or even just one or two unique skills, is enough for Yin Susu and the others. Learning too many martial arts techniques would only dilute their energy.
Hua Baifeng had no interest in finger techniques and was focused on figuring out how to help "Xu Kai" reincarnate as soon as possible. Qin Nanqin was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside and learned the Duoluoye Finger Technique. Yin Susu was studying the combination of strength and gentleness and learned the Pianhua Finger Technique. Cheng Lingsu disliked martial arts and was studying Miao Gu techniques.
The Formless Finger Technique ultimately went unnoticed!