Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 541 Zuo Lengchan's Scheme
On the Cliff of Contemplation, the night wind howled, and the chill was biting.

Laudenau leaned against the cold mountain wall, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his heart was in turmoil.

Everything that happened outside Jingyuezhai during the day, especially Master Ning Zhongze's earth-shattering words.

"Your master's Zixia Divine Skill has reached its peak! Looking across the world, he is confident that he can even fight Dongfang Bubai!"

Like a red-hot iron, it burned fiercely into his heart.

"The Purple Cloud Divine Skill has been mastered!"

"Yue Buqun actually mastered it?"

This news filled Laudenuo with an even more suffocating fear than learning that Mount Hua had taken on another genius disciple, Li Zhongren.

Geniuses need time to grow, but a Yue Buqun who has mastered the Zixia Divine Skill is already an insurmountable peak on the road to the Songshan Sect's dominance of the Five Sacred Mountains and even its ambition to pursue greater things!
"No! We must report to Master immediately!"

Laudenau suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them.

He knew that his master Zuo Lengchan's series of meticulous plans, from dividing and disintegrating the Huashan sect to secretly supporting the remnants of the Sword Sect, and then taking advantage of Linghu Chong's carelessness, all of Huashan's plans had become laughable sandcastles in the face of absolute power. They would collapse completely with just a light kick from Yue Buqun.

The opportunity will come soon.

The next day, while supervising Linghu Chong and the others' training, Lao Denuo deliberately looked worried as he inventoried the scarce supplies on the Cliff of Contemplation.

"Big brother."

Laudenuo said to Linghu Chong, who had a pained look on his face but was diligently practicing basic swordsmanship.

"We've almost run out of ink, paper, and inkstones on this Cliff of Repentance, especially the notebooks recording our junior brothers' studies. They're nearly full. Without these, how can we report our progress in detail to our sect leader and mistress? I'm afraid..."

He deliberately dragged out his words.

"That's it"

Linghu Chong stopped practicing his sword.

He took a few breaths before speaking.

“Junior brother, you may go. We have already reformed. Although this training is painful, it is nothing compared to being expelled from the sect.”

"Yes, yes, yes! Second Brother is right! How can we manage without brushes and ink? This is a big deal! We must buy plenty to save us from having to make multiple trips! Hurry back!"

The other disciples echoed this sentiment. Clearly, although they were also afraid of being expelled from the sect, they did not have the same desire to change themselves from the root as Linghu Chong. They were eager for Laodenuo to come down the mountain so they could get some fresh air.

Laudenau sneered inwardly, but on the surface he showed a troubled expression.

"Senior Brother, the Sect Leader has ordered that we be confined to the Cliff of Repentance."

"It's alright, I'll keep an eye on things here. If they don't work hard, I'll be the first to punish them."

Linghu Chong waved his hand.

"I grant your permission! Just go and come back quickly, and don't delay important matters! If Master and Mistress ask about it, I'll take responsibility!"

"OK then."

Laudenau reluctantly agreed and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd.

"Fellow disciples, please focus on your practice. I'll be right back."

He turned and descended the mountain, his steps seemingly steady, but his heart had already flown to Mount Song.
-
Dividing line

Deep within Junji Zen Temple on Mount Song.

Zuo Lengchan was meditating in the secret room, surrounded by a chilling aura that caused a thin layer of frost to form on the stone walls.

He had mastered the "Frosty True Qi" to perfection and believed himself to be virtually invincible.

The grand plan of unifying the Five Sacred Mountains sects had already been clearly outlined in his mind, and he was just waiting for the right time.

Yue Buqun of Mount Hua was the biggest obstacle in his plan, but Zuo Lengchan was confident that with his martial arts skills, wisdom and the growing strength of the Songshan Sect, he would crush this stubborn rock sooner or later.

"Report! Sect Leader!"

Ding Mian, one of the Thirteen Protectors and a trusted junior brother, spoke from outside the secret chamber, his voice carrying a barely perceptible urgency.

"Lauderne has an urgent, confidential report to submit!"

"Lauderno?"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Lengchan slowly withdrew his cultivation, and the chill in the secret room instantly subsided.

He frowned slightly. Was Laudenau sending a message now? Could something have happened at Mount Hua?

After a moment of contemplation, he said in a deep voice.

"Come in."

Ding Mian strode in and presented a small, sealed bamboo tube with both hands.

Zuo Lengchan glanced at it. The sealed bamboo tube was specially made by the secret agents of the Songshan Sect. It had a code on it and the seal was intact, proving that no one had opened the letter.

He then took it, a cold glint flashing at his fingertips, the wax seal shattered silently, and he pulled out the tightly rolled strip of paper inside, unfolding it.

The handwriting on the note was Laudenau's, but it was extremely messy, clearly indicating that he was extremely agitated when he wrote it.

The content is concise yet powerful, each word like a thunderclap:
"Yue Buqun has mastered the Zixia Divine Skill! He personally stated that he can fight Dongfang! The Ning family's testimony is not false!"

"Huashan has a disciple named Li Zhongren, who is exceptionally gifted."

"call!!!!"

Zuo Lengchan's true energy suddenly veered off course. If it weren't for his mastery of the icy true energy, this single blow would have severely injured him. It wasn't that he was startled; the news was simply too shocking.

To be more precise, the first piece of news was simply too shocking!

Slowly exhaling, Zuo Lengchan calmed his inner energy. His knuckles turned white from gripping the note too tightly, and he trembled slightly.

The temperature inside the sealed room suddenly dropped to freezing point, ten times worse than when they were practicing!
With a "crack," the hard stone table surface was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and then with a "crash," it shattered into a pile of ice shards!
A delicate celadon teacup next to it was silently reduced to dust!
Ding Mian was forced to retreat several steps by the sudden, terrifying chill and pressure, his face turning pale as he stared at the sect leader in horror.

He had never seen the sect leader so distraught! What exactly was written on that note?
"Zixia...at its peak...can she fight against the East?"

Zuo Lengchan's voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, icy cold and twisted with disbelief. Every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing into his heart and shattering his carefully constructed grand plan!
Yue Buqun's Zixia skill has reached its peak!
what does this mean?
This means that Yue Buqun has leaped to become a top master on the same level as Zuo Lengchan and even Dongfang Bubai!
Zuo Lengchan's greatest reliance—his absolute advantage in personal martial arts—has vanished!
More importantly, the Zixia Divine Skill is one of the most famous martial arts techniques in the world, but it is not comparable to the incomplete scroll of the Frost True Qi that he obtained by chance. To be honest, even he could only guarantee his own survival when facing Dongfang Bubai.

After all, there are differences even among so-called top masters!
As for that genius disciple, forming a duo of genius disciples with Linghu Chong, he wasn't so concerned. After all, geniuses need time to grow; a genius who can't grow is no different from a weed. "Damn it, damn it all!!!"

Zuo Lengchan clenched his fist tightly, and the note containing the terrible news instantly turned to ashes in his hand.

His chest heaved violently, and the muscles on his handsome and dignified face twitched uncontrollably. His eyes were filled with shock, rage, jealousy, and a hint of... fear that even he himself was unwilling to admit!
He had painstakingly planned and schemed for decades, exhausting all his efforts and scheming. It seemed that the unification of the Five Sacred Mountains was just one step away, and the unification of Mount Song as the supreme peak was just around the corner!

But at this crucial moment, Mount Hua! Yue Buqun! Like a dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring into the sky!
All his efforts and calculations seem like child's play in comparison!

"Yue Buqun!!"

Zuo Lengchan let out a low roar, his voice like that of a wounded beast, filled with resentment and bitterness.

A violent burst of icy true energy erupted uncontrollably once again, instantly covering the entire secret chamber with a thick layer of solid ice. Even Ding Mian had to exert all his strength to resist, trembling with fear.

A long time, a long time.

The violent atmosphere in the sealed room gradually subsided.

Zuo Lengchan stood still, motionless, like a statue frozen in ice.

The rage in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an extreme coldness and profundity, like an ancient, bottomless pool.

"Ding Mian".

His voice returned to calm, but it was more unsettling than his previous rage.

"Pass down the order: all plans targeting Mount Hua... are suspended."

"It's... the sect leader!"

Ding Mian felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly bowed as he left the secret room, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

The door to the secret room slowly closed, leaving Zuo Lengchan alone in that mess and bone-chilling cold.

He didn't look at the ice shards scattered on the ground, nor did he try to repair the broken stone table. He slowly walked to an inconspicuous futon in the corner of the quiet room and sat down cross-legged.

There was no breath regulation, no practice.

He simply sat quietly, like a withered stone Buddha.

Time passes little by little.

The oil lamp in the sealed room went from bright to dim, and finally plunged the room into complete darkness.

Zuo Lengchan's figure was blurry in the darkness, only his eyes occasionally flashing with a cold and sharp light.

He was thinking, thinking frantically.

A direct confrontation?

Yue Buqun had mastered the Purple Cloud Technique, that was one point. Even if he wanted to fight, he couldn't win, after all.

In a direct confrontation, the Huashan Sect indeed only has a handful of members, which cannot compare with the Songshan Sect, which has been developing for more than 30 years. Putting aside everything else, the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan alone would be enough to wipe out the Huashan Sect without Yue Buqun.

However, facing the unparalleled master Yue Buqun, the Songshan Sect will encounter a major problem.

A Yue Buqun who has lost the Huashan Sect as a source of support is truly terrifying.
When that time comes, they'll drop all pretense and start slaughtering your Songshan disciples. Who can withstand even a single move?

This is the intimidating power of a top-tier master.

Moreover, there is another person, Feng Qingyang.

During the sword qi dispute, this person did not die, but disappeared. This is why he was unwilling to directly attack the Huashan Sect and obtain its inheritance.

If this old man were to emerge from some corner, the Songshan Sect would also have to face a formidable figure.

Divide? Sow discord?
Indeed, he had remnants of the Sword Sect hidden somewhere, and these people had already taken on many disciples, which could have been used to restrain Yue Buqun.

However, it was equally useless against Yue Buqun at his peak. Apart from Feng Qingyang, those useless members of the Sword Sect probably couldn't even withstand a single blow from Yue Buqun now.
Just sit back and do nothing?

Should we allow Mount Hua to rise unchecked?

The decades of hard work of the Songshan Sect and Zuo Lengchan's lifelong ambitions will all vanish into nothingness!
He will never give up!
You must understand that this world is vast, and there is more than just Mingzhou. In Mingzhou, the Five Mountains Sword Sect confronts the Demonic Sect and is the leader of the righteous and evil factions. But once they leave Mingzhou, they are no longer the same. That is why he wants to unify the righteous path in Mingzhou and become the true leader of Mingzhou!
One plan after another flashed through my mind, only to be rejected one by one.

Despair, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around his heart.

"Shaolin."

In the darkness, Zuo Lengchan's lips moved silently, uttering two words.

A thought, like a lightning bolt in the darkness, cleaved through the fog in his mind.

Yes, Shaolin! The Shaolin Temple, which holds the reins of the martial arts world!
Fang Zheng, that old monk, appears to be compassionate and indifferent to worldly affairs, but in reality, he is most wary of the rise of the Demonic Sect and even more wary of the emergence of a behemoth among the Five Mountains Sword Sects that could truly threaten Shaolin's position!
In the past, Mount Hua was in decline, while Mount Song was the most powerful among the Five Sacred Mountains. Shaolin was happy to see the Five Sacred Mountains inflicting internal strife.

But now, Yue Buqun and Zixia of Mount Hua have reached the pinnacle of their talents, making them two outstanding figures in the world!

This is no longer a matter of strength or weakness within the Five Mountains, but a colossal change that could shake the entire martial arts world!
Can Shaolin still sit still?

"Using one tiger to devour another..."

Zuo Lengchan sat alone on the cold meditation cushion in the quiet hall, his thoughts piercing through the mists of time spanning decades, returning to the night before his master's death, when his breath was faint.

Back then, the Songshan Sect was far less influential than it is today, barely ranking in the middle among the Five Sacred Mountains. The Huashan Sect was the undisputed leader, with its qi and sword merging, producing a wealth of talent, and its prowess was so great that it seemed to be surpassing Shaolin and Wudang.

His master, the equally ambitious but constrained by the times, dismissed everyone on his deathbed, leaving only him, Zuo Lengchan, who was then regarded as the successor.

Then, I told him something.

The gist of it is that one of their moles, planted in Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, had heard a rumor that Shaolin Temple was involved in the sword-qi conflict on Mount Hua, and that it even involved the legendary book, the Sunflower Manual.

At the time, the message sent back by the inside man was incomplete and extremely fragmented, and there was no further evidence, so the matter was dropped.

But looking at it now...
In this cold and despairing quiet hall, under the immense pressure of Yue Buqun's mastery of Zixia, Feng Qingyang's reappearance, and the coexistence of two heroes, this long-sealed fragment of memory was ignited like a spark thrown into boiling oil!
"That's it...that's it!"

A terrifying glint flashed in Zuo Lengchan's desolate eyes.

The battle of Huashan sword qi, the internal strife that plunged the once-prosperous Huashan into the abyss, killed countless elites, and completely destroyed its leading position, may actually have had the shadow of Shaolin behind it.
At least, before the conflict broke out, the Shaolin leadership had already keenly perceived the ideological differences within the Huashan sect and regarded them as a "rift" that could be exploited, and may even have... been secretly fanning the flames.

Although the master's information was extremely fragmented, lacked direct evidence, and might even have been just a coincidence.

But for Zuo Lengchan, that was enough!

This is no longer just old news based on rumors, but a dagger coated with deadly poison, pointing at Mount Hua, and even more so at Shaolin!
It provides a perfect "explanation" that is enough to shake the entire righteous martial arts world!
(End of this chapter)