Knife splashing

Chapter 741 The Celestial Masters Attack
As dusk settled, flags fluttered in the wind atop the city walls.

Zhang Tianshi, his purple robes hanging down, stared at the row of dark gun barrels on the city wall, his expression unchanged, and said in a hoarse voice, "Since Eunuch Zhao has come, why not show yourself?"

"I have a question for you: Is 'Eating Lakes and Ponds' better, or 'Managing Mountains and Seas'?"

Zhao Wujiu coughed as he emerged from the shadows, squinting as he looked down.

"Eating from lakes and ponds, governing mountains and seas" is a famous debate in the "Discourses on Salt and Iron".

During the reign of Emperor Zhao of the Western Han Dynasty, a debate arose at the Salt and Iron Conference between the virtuous and learned scholars and the Imperial Censor Sang Hongyang regarding whether to enrich the people or concentrate resources to make the country wealthy and the army strong.

This statement seems more like a debate between the local faction and the pro-sea faction.

However, Longhu Mountain did not take any stance during the previous factional struggles, so bringing it up again now clearly indicates something else.

He had just made some harsh remarks, saying he was "going against the will of Heaven," but after meeting him, he became secretive and evasive. It seems that this old Celestial Master is also unwilling to have too much of a falling out with the imperial court.

But this statement is also a trap.

If we only consider the human realm, the imperial court would naturally want to "govern mountains and seas," but since the old Celestial Master came, he already knew it was a decree from the Heavenly Court.

The emperor, who considered himself the Son of Heaven, naturally became the "food lake".

However, such an answer would contradict the court's policies.

So no matter how you look at it, it's wrong.

Having made up his mind, Zhao Wujiu became more composed. He rubbed the jade pendant at his waist with his fingers and said calmly, "Master Bogu, I am a eunuch. I am doing some errands for the Emperor. I do not understand what you are saying."

"But I do know one thing."

"What is it?" Zhang Tianshi asked, squinting his eyes.

Zhao Wujiu sighed and looked up at the sky. "In the past, during the decline of Shaohao, the Jiuli were in chaos, and the people and gods were mixed together, making them incomparable. Therefore, Emperor Zhuanxu severed the connection between heaven and earth."

"Although the Celestial Master seeks the Way of Heaven, how can he disregard the Way of Humanity?"

Zhang Tianshi paused for a moment, then said, "When Yu the Great controlled the floods, the 'Book of Luo' emerged, and the Nine Categories were established. If there were no Mandate of Heaven, how could the 'Hong Fan' and the Five Elements have come about?"

The "Hong Fan" is a chapter in the "Shangshu" (Book of Documents). It records that after King Wu of Zhou destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he visited Ji Zi, a former minister of the Shang Dynasty. Ji Zi explained to him the nine fundamental principles for governing the world, and the Five Elements theory is the first of the "Nine Categories".

This implies that the imperial court should act in accordance with the will of Heaven.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wujiu's eyes immediately turned cold.

Longhu Mountain and the Kong family were granted imperial titles by the court for generations because of the Confucian tradition and the authority of the Celestial Master. However, they could not allow it to grow too powerful and get out of control, so they resorted to some means.

For example, the Kong family had two generations of Dukes Yansheng who were immoral, and even the earlier generation had sought refuge with the Golden Horde. The court ignored them and watched them make a fool of themselves.

Therefore, the prestige of the Confucius family is not what it used to be. Various factions have risen in the Confucian world, and many people even use the pretext of criticizing the Confucius family. The Confucius family is also very sensible and does not make any underhanded moves.

But Longhu Mountain is a little different.

After the establishment of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the founding emperor was wary.

On the one hand, the title of "Celestial Master" of Longhu Mountain was abolished and replaced with "True Man," but hereditary privileges were retained and strictly controlled.

On the other hand, Wudang Mountain was elevated to a higher level, thus dividing the Xuanmen (Taoist sect) into different groups.

The people of Longhu Mountain were naturally unhappy. Except when the founding emperor was in power, when the Celestial Master personally went to the capital to serve as the National Preceptor, he only sent elders from the sect afterward.

This time, the Celestial Master descended the mountain, clearly intending to carry out a great undertaking with the mandate of heaven.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wujiu didn't even bother to say anything.

Seeing that he did not speak, Zhang Tianshi continued, "If His Majesty is here, this humble Taoist wishes to enter the palace tonight and meet with His Majesty."

Zhao Wujiu said coldly, "Your Majesty, please rest. The Old Celestial Master, let's discuss this tomorrow. I have already prepared a guesthouse for you..."

"No need for further trouble!"

Zhang Tianshi's expression also turned ugly, and he turned around abruptly.

Call ~
A fierce wind and dust storm arose, and the person had vanished.

Zhao Wujiu looked in the direction where the other person had disappeared, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lord Supervisor."

The commander standing nearby, Tian, ​​said in a deep voice, "It looks like he went to the academy..."

"It doesn't matter."

Zhao Wujiu said calmly, "Huo Yin is at the academy. There are ways to stop him. If the old Taoist doesn't want to lose face, he won't fight him."

Everyone who heard this agreed wholeheartedly.

Grandmaster Huo Yin was considered one of the imperial court's trump cards, a figure who suppressed destiny.

Although the Old Celestial Master is powerful, once he and his disciples set up the altar, even gods and ghosts would have to stay away. But when it comes to one-on-one combat, he is really no match for Huo Yin...

…………

Dusk fell as dark as ink on the mountain road outside the capital.

Zhang Tianshi, his purple robe drooping, stood beneath an old pine tree.

His withered fingers formed the Zi-Wu Mudra, and he silently chanted, "Zi-Wu Kun-Gen, Qi turns to Tian Gang." Instantly, a faint blue smoke rose from his body, mingling with the scent of night dew among the pine needles.

Three miles away, on the watchtower of the Shenji Battalion, the musketeer suddenly felt his eyelids grow heavy.

They didn't notice the purple shadow flitting through the pine forest, nor did they notice the wisp of dust drifting in the soil beneath their feet.

But just after passing a few hidden sentries, firelight appeared in the air.

Zhang Tianshi stopped and looked up at the sky.

Several enormous flame lanterns were seen floating in the air.

This was specially made by the experts of the Mo Sect of the Ministry of Works after they obtained Lu Ban's wooden magpie. It is similar to a Kongming lantern, but it uses an array and talismans at the bottom. It shines brightly at night and is specially used to destroy the enemy's escape methods in the wild.

"Ding and Jia are on the left, Bing and Ren are on the right."

Zhang Tianshi watched coldly, then three copper coins slid out of his sleeve and landed in a Three Talents Formation.

The coins trembled slightly, and everyone instinctively turned their gaze away.

This is the "Hidden Light Curtain" secretly transmitted in the "Shangqing Tianshu Yuan Huiche Bidao Zhengfa", which uses the remaining power of the Six Ding and Six Jia Gods to distort everyone's senses.

Even the malevolent energy can be affected.

For example, the auspicious bronze bells on the academy's walls remained completely still.

Zhang Tianshi walked to the base of the wall with the steps of Yu, his ears twitching slightly.

He heard the rhythmic clanging of a hammer coming from inside the wall. Lost in thought, he made a hand seal and drew a "well" shape on the blue brick with his fingertip.

Water suddenly seeped into the cracks between the bricks and instantly froze into ice.

Ice crystals spread along the cracks in the bricks, freezing the wall and creating spiderweb-like cracks.

The old Taoist's figure seeped in like water, causing ripples to spread across the brick and stone surface.

If anyone is present, they will exclaim in surprise.

This is actually the "wall-penetrating technique" that can be considered a celestial art in the Xuanmen (Taoist) sect.

In this day and age, very few people can use this method, which shows how highly the old master has mastered magic.

The moment he passed through the high wall, Zhang Tianshi suddenly closed his eyes and shut his ears.

After the seven orifices were sealed, the Taoist robe fluttered slightly, and the divine sense spread like a tide.

Various sounds and smells filled the air: the southeast corner library smelled of ink, the west workshop reeked of iron, and the pine trees rustled in the breeze halfway up the mountain.
It concealed an aura as sharp as a knife!
The old Taoist priest suddenly opened his eyes, his purple robe fluttering even without wind.

Thirty paces away, a figure stood with arms crossed atop an old pine branch.

The coarse linen clothes were gilded silver by the moonlight; it was none other than Huo Yin, the master of Divine Fist.

"The Celestial Master is visiting at night, why not deliver a formal invitation?"

Huo Yin's voice was like the clang of metal. As he spoke, all the pores on his body closed, and not even a trace of his breath could be seen—this was a sign of the innate realm, the "locking of essence and closure of orifices".

Zhang Tianshi remained unfazed: "Master Huo's 'Eight Steps to Catch the Cicada' is even more refined than it was twenty years ago."

The moonlight illuminated the thunder patterns embroidered on his cuffs, the restrictions of the "Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Orthodox Method" of Longhu Mountain, which were now faintly burning.

Click!

The pine branch suddenly broke.

Huo Yin strode forward like a meteorite crashing to the ground, causing cracks to spread across the blue bricks of the mountain path. His voice was cold and stern as he asked, "Does the Celestial Master know that the academy is currently under the dual protection of the Great Xuan Law and the Xuanmen Prohibitions?"

As he spoke, he pressed his thumb against the jade belt at his waist. The jade belt contained thirty-six "demon-sealing nails," which were obtained from suppressing the White Lotus Sect demons and were specifically used to nail the spiritual apertures of Xuanmen sorcerers.

He is already the head of the Grandmasters. According to the rules of the martial arts world, he can fight without any scruples. As long as he doesn't use firearms to surround and attack, as long as he defeats Zhang Tianshi, it will be Longhu Mountain that loses face.

"Let's go somewhere else..."

Zhang Tianshi looked around and shook his head slightly.

No sooner had he finished speaking than he leaped backward into the air and vaulted over the courtyard wall.

A number of soldiers from the Commandery had already surrounded them.

Huo Yin also took a step forward, and when his foot landed, he had already disappeared. Only his cold voice could be heard in the night sky, "Be on guard, in case we lure them away from the mountain."

Upon hearing this, the officers and men of the Commandery immediately took up their muskets and set them up.

Huo Yin and Zhang Tianshi arrived at the foot of the mountain quickly, one after the other.

The night wind howled across the wilderness, and only the two men faced each other.

Zhang Tianshi stared in the direction of the academy and sighed, “This old Taoist has come with the decree of the Three Pure Ones. Brother Huo, do you really intend to defy this destiny?”

Before the words were even finished, three bronze lightning seals slid out from his sleeve. "Hahaha, destiny?!"

Huo Yin suddenly burst into laughter, the sound of which caused pine needles to fall in a rustling sound.

He said in a deep voice, "Last year, when Cheng Jianxian of Qingcheng voluntarily gave up the opportunity to become a god, I knew that the Great Luo Dharma Realm was definitely not a suitable place to go."

Zhang Tianshi calmly asked, "How do you determine this?"

Huo Yin snorted, "I believe Cheng Jianxin!"

Having said that, he slowly raised his right fist, and the air distorted and steamed three inches from the tip of his fist.

This is the "Burning Sky" phenomenon produced when the internal energy is condensed to its extreme.

"In my life, I only believe in destiny determined by my fists!"

Swish!
The moment the words were spoken, the person had vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already behind Zhang Tianshi, and he threw a punch.

This punch was silent and appeared weak and powerless.

However, Zhang Tianshi suddenly stepped out with a powerful movement, causing white mist to surge as if he were riding the clouds on flat ground, and instantly retreated more than ten meters away.

boom!
Then a loud crash came from the opposite side, and several old trees snapped with a crack.

At the same time, Zhang Tianshi had already stood up, three bronze thunder seals in his hands, and he made a hand seal before striking out with a palm towards Huo Yin who was rushing towards him.

zizi~
Bolts of lightning burst forth from his hands.

Faced with this powerful lightning technique, Huo Yin dared not be careless and quickly dodged.

The two moved with lightning speed, and in an instant, yellow sand billowed and lightning and fist energy flew everywhere, making it impossible to see their figures.

Zhang Tianshi's magic was naturally superior, but Huo Yin gave him no chance to breathe, constantly closing in and forcing Zhang Tianshi further and further away.

In the distance, the torches of the Shenji Camp suddenly appeared in a continuous line.

Zhang Tianshi's ears twitched slightly as he heard the "click" of a crossbow being cocked three hundred paces away.

The old Taoist suddenly turned around, his purple robe unfurling under the moonlight like a cloud hanging from the sky: "At three-quarters past midnight, when the True Lord performs the consecration ceremony, we will see the outcome..."

Huo Yin watched his departing figure, his pupils shrinking slightly.

"Go back and make sure we hold out tonight!"

……

The night was as dark as ink, and the pine forest halfway up the mountain by the academy swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound.

Zhang Tianshi's sudden intrusion attracted many people.

Li Yan was among them.

He stood on the stone steps outside the workshop, his brow furrowed, gazing down the mountain.

A blinding flash of lightning occasionally streaked across the dark wilderness, illuminating the mountains and fields in shifting light and shadow.

The oppressive force contained within the lightning was enough to make one's mind tremble even from several miles away.

"It is the Five Thunder Orthodox Method of Longhu Mountain."

Wang Daoxuan stood beside him, his whisk trembling slightly, and couldn't help but praise, "Master Zhang truly lives up to his reputation."

A considerable number of people had already gathered in the academy square.

The craftsmen, students, and soldiers of the military command all craned their necks to look at the flashing lightning below the mountain, whispering among themselves.

Some people looked worried, while others pointed excitedly.

"Can Senior Huo stop him?" Shalifei asked in a low voice.

His face was still a little pale, but fortunately he had recovered and there were no lingering problems.

"I don't know..."

Li Yan also squinted, trying to see the battle in the distance.

But apart from the occasional bursts of lightning and the ensuing roar, nothing could be seen.

The duel between two of the world's top masters has exceeded the comprehension of ordinary people.

"It should be able to stop it."

Wang Daoxuan said thoughtfully, "Master Huo is the number one martial artist in this world. Even if Zhang Tianshi comes in person, without the help of the altar, he will not be able to gain any advantage by casting spells remotely."

Li Yan nodded, but a vague unease lingered in his heart.

He always felt that something was wrong.

Just then, a bone-chilling cold suddenly shot up my spine.

Li Yan suddenly turned around and looked in the direction of the workshop.

"What's wrong?" Wang Daoxuan noticed his unusual behavior.

Just as Li Yan was about to speak, another deafening bolt of lightning exploded in the distance, illuminating the entire academy as bright as day, drawing everyone's attention once again.

"nothing."

Li Yan frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

The unease I felt just moments ago vanished in an instant.

Could it be that I sensed the aura of a grandmaster?
No, I should go take a look...

……

Inside the workshop, Lu Chengye's hands were trembling slightly.

The thunder outside drowned out the noise he was deliberately making. He hunched over, like an old mouse, as he moved among the mountains of timber.

No one noticed him. Everyone's attention was drawn to the battle between the grandmasters outside, and even the strictest overseer was peering out the window.

Lu Chengye came to a secluded corner and took out a carving knife from his pocket.

The blade gleamed coldly under the oil lamp.

The hand holding the knife trembled slightly.

"Grandpa, save me!"

The sound of my granddaughter crying echoed in my mind again.

A flicker of pain flashed in the old craftsman's cloudy eyes, but his movements became even more resolute. Trembling, he lightly made a cut on the spirit wood belt buckle that Zhao Qingxu was possessing, then placed it on another piece of spirit wood.

Instantly, a wisp of black energy seeped out from the cracks in the spirit wood, and like a living thing, it burrowed into the textures of other spirit wood components.

The originally smooth wood surface immediately revealed black patterns, which then quickly disappeared.

"Faster. Faster!"

Lu Chengye swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces.
He moved like a tireless worker ant among the wooden frames.

"Master Lu? What are you doing here?"

A young craftsman's voice suddenly came from behind.

Lu Chengye froze, slowly turned around, and forced a wooden smile: "Check the mortise and tenon joints. We need to assemble it tomorrow."

The young craftsman looked suspiciously at the carving knife in his hand, then gazed out the window: "Aren't you going to take a look? I heard that Master Zhang and Master Huo are fighting!"

"My eyesight isn't good as I get older."

Lu Chengye lowered his head and said, "You go ahead, I'll check a little more."

The young craftsman hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist his curiosity and hurriedly ran to the window.

Lu Chengye let out a long sigh of relief; cold sweat had soaked his back…

……

On the path of the academy, Li Yan's right hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of the Duanchen sword.

Since becoming a living grim reaper, his intuition has never been wrong.

The workshop doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit. The craftsmen returned in twos and threes, discussing the battle between the grandmasters they had just witnessed. Everything seemed normal.

But Li Yan's gaze immediately locked onto Lu Chengye in the corner.

The old craftsman sat alone beside a pile of wood, his face as pale as paper and his eyes unfocused.

"Master Lu?" Li Yan approached and called softly.

Lu Chengye suddenly looked up, a flash of panic in his eyes, then quickly lowered his head again: "Young Master Li..."

"Are you alright? You look terrible."

"No, it's nothing. I'm just a little tired. I'll go back and rest first."

Lu Chengye muttered something to himself, then turned and left.

Li Yan stared at the old craftsman's trembling hands, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Stop, don't run!"

A sudden cold snort startled Lu Chengye so much that his hair stood on end, and he gritted his teeth and rushed outside...

(End of this chapter)