Arhats Subduing Demons: Starting with The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber

Chapter 35 Pure Yang Limitless Skill?
Having weathered countless storms, Yin Tianzheng was so provoked by Chang Kong that he would have acted long ago had Yin Yewang not been trampled underfoot and his life hung in the balance.

However, several of his subordinates died at Yun Changkong's hands, and his son, who had inherited his true martial arts skills, was so powerful that even a sect leader might not dare to claim victory, yet he was trampled underfoot.

With the abilities of the White-browed Eagle King, he could not afford to be careless about Yun Changkong's martial arts skills, nor could he be indifferent to his son's life.

But as Yun Changkong spoke, he raised his left foot. In that instant, the White-browed Eagle King, a veteran of countless battles, seized the opportunity and, disregarding all pride, immediately unleashed the "Sky-Splitting Palm" that he had been gathering strength for a long time!

The shout before striking out, seemingly a warning to the opponent to be careful, actually contained profound internal force. An ordinary person would faint directly, and those with weak willpower or insufficient concentration would also be distracted.

With the White-browed Eagle King's martial arts skills, he could kill him in one move if he spotted a weakness.

This tactic, whether used by generals in battle or by martial artists in combat, is often employed to intimidate the enemy and can be surprisingly effective.

However, Yun Changkong had built his foundation with Buddhist internal energy since childhood and had also practiced the "Arhat Subduing Demon Skill". His mind was calm and focused, and he didn't even flinch at the Eagle King's loud shout.

It's too late to say, then soon!
The White-Browed Eagle King's Void-Splitting Palm, honed over decades, possessed power capable of shattering mountains and monuments. Even before the palm strike arrived, Yun Changkong felt a gust of wind envelop him, causing a tightness and frustration in his chest. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "What a magnificent Void-Splitting Palm!"

He also waved his hand and struck out with his palm, wanting to test Yin Tianzheng's true strength.

Suddenly, the two palm strikes collided, swirling back and forth, creating a whirlwind that sent dust billowing up throughout the building.

The dishes and bowls in the restaurant all started to jump around, clanging and clattering, creating a noisy yet pleasant sound.

The clothes of the Sky Eagle Cult members upstairs fluttered in the wind, but those holding bows and crossbows were all aimed intently at Yun Changkong.

They were looking for an opportunity.

With a loud "boom," the two men's palms clashed head-on. Both men swayed at the same time, and their clothes billowed violently, as if they were standing in a strong wind. Their belts fluttered, and the person who wanted to shoot the arrow could not see any opportunity.

The White-Browed Eagle King felt a numbness in his arm, his blood and qi surged, a flush rose to his face, and his long beard bristled wildly. He felt the internal force contained in the opponent's palm was like a torrent, and he was shocked: "No wonder he dares to be so arrogant, he actually has such extraordinary skill!"

Yun Changkong also felt a pain in his chest and could not stand. He gripped the "Seven Star Nail" with his left hand and aimed it at Yin Yewang at his feet, then took a step back with his left foot.

"Crack!" A long, winding crack appeared in the floor slab as he stepped on it. He thought to himself, "What domineering palm force!"

The two did not use any clever tactics, but instead fought head-on. This left the two top-notch martial arts masters in awe and admiration, while the other was confused and surprised. They stared at each other, scrutinizing one another.

Wang Xiaotian immediately shouted, "The dignified leader of a sect, the White-browed Eagle King, actually launched a sneak attack! Your 'Sky Eagle Sect' should stop pretending to be a sect in the martial arts world from now on!"

As a renowned senior and the leader of the sect, Yin Tianzheng was already losing face by making the first move, and he even risked the infamy of a sneak attack. He just wanted to knock Yun Changkong back a few steps with one palm so that he could pull his son over. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and he ultimately failed.

The moment Yun Changkong received Yin Tianzheng's palm strike, he felt an overwhelming force, like a tidal wave. According to the proper path of martial arts, he should have taken three steps back to dissipate the force. He wouldn't have experienced chest pain.

But he didn't dare to do that, fearing that if he retreated, the other side would fire arrows and Yin Yewang would be taken away by someone else. If he lost the initiative, he might really be finished. So he only put some of his strength on the ground and took most of it!
Yun Changkong exhaled a breath of stale air, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said sincerely, "The White-browed Eagle King is indeed vigorous despite his old age, living up to his reputation! I admire you!"

"How dare I?" Yin Tianzheng sighed, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I am not the kind of person to launch a sneak attack. I would have wasted all my years of life!"

Although his body didn't move, he was feeling quite uncomfortable.

In that clash of palms, he felt the internal force contained in his opponent's palm was like a torrent, causing his blood and qi to surge. Fortunately, his skill was profound, and he immediately recovered.

But he was at least fifty years older than Yun Changkong, and his skill level was more than fifty years higher than Yun Changkong's. How could he be happy about this result?
"Of course!" Chang Kong nodded and said, "You were just desperate to save your son, which is understandable!"

Peng Yingyu said, "Good, good! The two of you are evenly matched, neither of you is superior. Heroes cherish heroes, it's a good opportunity to turn enemies into friends!"

Yin Yewang, already enraged after having his arm broken, was now completely enraged and roared, "Monk Peng, shut up! Now you're trying to turn enemies into friends? Are you blind?"

"I'm blind!" Peng Yingyu's previous calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a sharp glint in her eyes. She exclaimed, "How did you go blind in one eye, monk? Wasn't it because of your Sky Eagle Sect that you were blinded by Ding Minjun, a disciple of the Emei Sect?"
You ask me if I hate him?
Of course I hate them, but I never thought of seeking revenge against the Emei Sect. It's not that I, a monk, am so magnanimous; it's that I know our greatest enemy is the Mongol Tartars!

Yin Yewang looked at his one eye and softened his tone: "Master Peng, you have a good relationship with my father and once risked your life to save our sect's Master Bai Guishou. I am indebted to you. I misspoke just now!"

Peng Yingyu said, "Eagle King, in recent years, the major sects of the martial arts world have truly joined forces, instead of dealing with the Eagle Sect as before. Even our Ming Cult is doing the same."

The matter of Xie Shiwang's indiscriminate killing is still unresolved, and now Yang Zuoshi has raped the Emei heroine Ji. You must have heard about these things. The harm they cause is self-evident; any discerning person understands it.

He then said to Yun Changkong, "Young Hero Yun, you are willing to risk your life to take on the Heavenly Eagle Sect today. So what about your friend?"

Wang Xiaotian said, "When I came to watch the excitement, I knew I was courting death. Who in this world doesn't become a ghost? Where in the green hills can't people be buried? What does it matter if blood is spilled in Jiaxing Prefecture? You don't need to worry about me!"

"Good!" Monk Peng exclaimed, "What a loyal friend! What a hero! So, Young Master Yun, your friend has such loyalty and is willing to die. Are you just thinking about your own pleasure and willing to let him die?"

"Whether you killed Yin Yewang or even Yin Baimei, does that mean the Sky Eagle Sect is leaderless? Yin Baimei has a junior brother, Li Tianyuan. Where is he right now? Have you thought about that?"

Yun Changkong frowned, remaining silent, seemingly somewhat unsettled.

"Haha... Thank you for your concern, Master Peng. I will be waiting outside!" A strong voice rang out.

This is clearly Li Tianyuan, the leader of the Tianshi Hall of the Tianying Sect.

All that could be heard was Monk Peng saying, "He will surely be guarding outside the building, controlling all the key points. Once things really reach a point where there is no turning back, it will definitely be a fight to the death. Young Master Yun, Yin Baimei has lived a life of great achievements, and it is not easy for him to bow his head!"

Yun Changkong sneered, "Monk Peng, you've said so much. Now I'd like to ask you, you're a member of the Ming Cult. If someone from another sect drives out the Tartars, but then becomes an enemy of your Ming Cult, what will you do?"

Peng Yingyu said, "That's a good question!"
I can tell you, as long as he can drive out the Tartars, even if he's from another faction, even if he were a beggar, I would still consider him a true hero. Even if he were to oppose the Ming Cult, or even if he wanted to sit on the dragon throne and become emperor, I would still respect him, be willing to serve him, and bow down to him!

He spoke with righteous indignation and without hesitation, and everyone could see that he was speaking from the heart.

Peng Yingyu sighed and said, "Young hero, have you ever walked across this land of China?"

Your father was a镖头 (bodyguard/escort), so why would he do something that would lead to the execution of his entire family? It's because he had seen too much of how the Mongols treated us Han Chinese like dirt!

We Han people outnumber the barbarians ten or a hundred times, yet they still occupy our land. Ultimately, isn't it because we've been fighting amongst ourselves all along?
Today you kill me, tomorrow I kill you. It may sound like a quick revenge, but in the end it's endless hatred!

Back then, the great hero Guo Jing once said that the greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people. Peng Yingyu is unworthy, yet he wants to emulate him and unite all heroes to drive out the Tartars.

Today, regardless of who wins against the Eagle Cult, do you really think it will all end?

You, Yun Changkong, harmed Ye Wang. Do you think the Eagle King and the entire Sky Eagle Sect can just accept this? And let you and your friends leave us forever?
You may have extraordinary abilities and it may not be difficult for you to escape from the Drunken Immortal Tower, but can you withstand the relentless attacks from thousands of cult members?
I'm going to say something that's threatening and you definitely won't like to hear: you and your friends are human beings, you need to rest and eat, and you might not even be able to leave Zhejiang!

Eagle King, in the same word, could Yun Changkong, at such a young age, master all the orthodox internal martial arts on his own?

How could there not be a powerful figure supporting this?
Today, they have followed the rules of the martial arts world to the letter and are in the right in everything. You and your son have mobilized so many people. People say that your Sky Eagle Sect is relying on its large number of people and its power, and that is not an exaggeration!

Even if you kill him, will the people behind him let it go? I doubt even the Wudang Sect will stand idly by. Do you still want to see your grandson?

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, each with their own thoughts.

After a long pause, Yun Changkong said, "Eagle King, Master Peng has repeatedly advised me on this matter, which shows he thinks highly of me. If I don't give him face, it would be too inhuman."

"Amitabha!" Peng Yingyu chanted a Buddhist prayer.

Everyone frowned, thinking that this kid was all talk and no action, and there must be something strange about his actions. Then they heard Chang Kong say, "You, White-browed Eagle King, have a great reputation in the martial arts world, many friends, and thousands of followers. Today I killed your altar master and crippled your son. If you don't express your gratitude, you will have no way to explain yourself and it will be difficult to convince the masses."

Although I am a junior, alone and outnumbered, some words, once spoken, are hard to take back! There's no resolution without a fight. But if I take your son and win here, others might say I'm using someone as a hostage, a dishonest victory!
"If you win against me, people will surely say that your Sky Eagle Cult bullied the weak and used underhanded tactics, which won't be good for your reputation!"

Everyone agreed that what he said made sense.

Yin Tianzheng nodded and said, "Just say what you're thinking!"

Chang Kong said, "Yu Sanxia was injured by your Heavenly Eagle Sect's Mosquito Whisker Needle and Seven Star Nail, which caused his limbs to be broken. So I won't give your son the Seven Star Nail, but I will cripple his limbs."

This is my welcoming gift when I come to Wudang Mountain. But as I just said, if I have a way to restore someone's broken bones, then I definitely have a way!

Just as Yin Yewang was about to open his mouth, Yin Tianzheng waved his hand, so he had no choice but to purse his lips.

Yin Tianzheng said, "Continue."

Chang Kong said, "You, White-browed Eagle King, have a long-standing reputation in the martial arts world, and I, Yun Chang Kong, am no nobody either. Therefore, if you and I were to fight, there would be countless people eager to witness it, and it would be a grand event in the martial arts world. We cannot be stingy; let's start with a big bet!"

"The big one?" Yin Tianzheng raised his white eyebrows: "I'd like to hear the details!"

Yun Changkong's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said, "Let's meet at the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang a month from now. All the heroes and valiant men of the world will gather there, and we'll settle this once and for all! If you win, I will submit to you from now on. Not only will I heal your son's crippling injury, but I will also avoid your Heavenly Eagle Sect banner from now on!"

"Father!" Yin Yewang's face turned ashen, and he said in a deep voice, "Don't fall for his provocation. He's just trying to get away! If he has the ability to heal the crippled wound, why doesn't the Yun family, who owe Wudang a debt of gratitude, go and heal Yu Daiyan?"

The crowd erupted in uproar, and everyone else agreed.

Yun Changkong smiled calmly and said, "Eagle King, I'm worried that your son's martial arts skills are not up to par, that you have an undeserved reputation, and that you will lose to a young upstart like me, leaving him crippled!"

Yin Yewang was so angry he almost vomited blood. Just as he was about to speak, Yin Tianzheng raised his hand, and he shut his mouth again.

Yin Tianzheng's eyes flashed as he asked, "I am not confident that I can defeat you in terms of internal strength, nor in martial arts. What if you win?"

Yun Changkong laughed heartily and said, "If Eagle King is willing to yield, then let your son remain crippled. Yu Sanxia has been crippled for fifteen years. If he remains crippled for another fifteen years, and I am still alive by then, perhaps I will take pity on him!"
As for the name of the Sky Eagle Sect, it is no longer permitted to exist in the martial arts world; let it fade away with time!

"This is outrageous..."

"Dream big..."

The Sky Eagle Cult members all shouted insults.

Chang Kong continued, "Unless one of your descendants can defeat me, you are willing to raise the flag. Would that be fair enough?"

Everyone who heard this fell silent.

No matter how shameless they are, it's hard to say it's unfair!

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianzheng raised his eyebrows repeatedly, hesitated, and did not answer. Peng Yingyu also appeared to be pondering.

Wang Xiaotian said, "White-browed Eagle King, we are all men and women of the martial world. Winning or losing, life or death, is just about making a name for ourselves. You are a grandmaster of a sect and the founder of a sect. People in the martial world say that you are chivalrous and righteous. If you are afraid to fight and make a contract with a junior, then say something. My brother Yun has always been magnanimous and respectful of the elderly and young. I will never force you!"

No one in the martial arts world would point fingers and curse him behind his back, thus tarnishing the leader's illustrious reputation.

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Yin Tianzheng's eyes. He nodded and resolutely said, "Alright, let's do it this way!"

Yun Changkong laughed loudly and said, "The Eagle King's word is as good as gold. Then let's meet at the Yellow Crane Tower on April 22nd."

The White-browed Eagle King said, "It's a deal!"

Chang Kong glanced at Yin Yewang and said, "So, will you suffer, or will I offend him?"

Yin Tianzheng turned his head away.

Chang Kong laughed and said, "Hall Master Yin, bear the pain!"

With a light flick of his foot, Yin Yewang leaped into the air.

Chang Kong reached out with both hands and grabbed his ankles. With a tightening grip, a spiraling force surged towards Yin Yewang's legs like a tidal wave.

Then I heard a "crackling" sound, like soybeans being fried.

In the blink of an eye, both of Yin Yewang's thigh bones were shattered. Yin Yewang bit his lip until it bled, his eyes were wide open, and his teeth were chattering, but he didn't utter a sound.

Chang Kong threw the man at Yin Tianzheng, the strong wind making the lamplight flicker. He spun around, pointed a finger at Peng Yingyu, and flew out of the window like a falcon with Wang Xiaotian.

According to the rules of the martial arts world, once an agreement is made, no one can fight until the appointed day, even if they meet.

Yin Tianzheng, the leader of the sect and a hero of the martial arts world, has agreed to the agreement. If he were to go back on his word, even his subordinates would despise him.

Therefore, even though his son's bones were shattered, he said nothing more, only channeling his inner energy into Yin Yewang and feeding him spiritual medicine. His subordinates hurriedly went to prepare a stretcher.

Apart from the sounds of bustling activity, the restaurant was quiet for a moment.

At this moment, a figure floated up; it was Li Tianyuan. He said, "Senior brother, why did you make this appointment with him?"

Yin Tianzheng said in a hoarse voice: "I call myself a hero, so if I watch Ye Wang die, will people say that I, Yin Tianzheng, who roamed the martial world, dared not accept a challenge from a young man, and that I was just a name without substance?"

Or are we really going to be so unethical as to swarm him and kill him?

Li Tianyuan shuddered and said, "You mean you're not confident you can beat him?"

Yin Tianzheng shook his head and said, "It's not the same thing! Do you think he would be stupid enough to come here and compete with me when I don't care about Ye Wang?"
If he wants to leave, I can't stop him on my own. Don't I need your help?

Li Tianyuan sighed: "I just saw his lightness skill, it's definitely no less than yours. How did he train at such a young age?"

Peng Yingyu's face was pale from having her acupoints sealed for so long. She slowly said, "There must be someone with unfathomable skill and mastery behind him, and it's very likely that he's connected to Zhang Sanfeng!"

Everyone was surprised.

Yin Tianzheng nodded and said, "I also find it strange. His internal energy is surging and powerful, it must be Shaolin martial arts, that's for sure!"
But his palm technique is smooth and delicate, a Taoist approach. In this world, it's rare to find someone who is proficient in both Buddhism and Taoism and can cultivate such a person, except perhaps Zhang Sanfeng!

Peng Yingyu said, "Eagle King, you have really offended Master Zhang. He tolerated this grudge out of respect for Zhang Wuxia, but he wants to use this child to embarrass your Heavenly Eagle Sect!"

Everyone was surprised again.

Yin Tianzheng asked, "Why do you say that?"

Peng Yingyu said, "I recently met a disciple of our sect named Chang Yuchun. He told me that three years ago, when he was protecting the orphan of my junior brother Zhou Ziwang, he was saved by Master Zhang in the Han River!"

The old man greatly valued Chang Yuchun's loyalty, but upon learning his true identity, his expression darkened considerably. He immediately forced Chang to leave the Ming Cult and insisted that the sect leader's eldest disciple, Song Yuanqiao, take him as his apprentice!

"He joined?" Yin Tianzheng asked.

Everyone knows that Song Yuanqiao is the leader of the Seven Heroes, and his fame is known throughout the world. It is not easy for ordinary people in the martial arts world to even see him.

The Wudang heroes only began accepting disciples in recent years, but the selection process was very strict. Only those with excellent physical attributes, character, and temperament could be accepted into the Wudang sect.

Chang Yuchun, who came from the Demonic Sect, was favored by Zhang Sanfeng and asked to become a disciple of Song Yuanqiao. For someone who wants to learn martial arts, this was an extremely rare and great fortune.

"No!" Monk Peng shook his head and said, "Fortunately, Brother Chang is loyal enough to our sect and did not agree. However, to repay Master Zhang for saving his life, Brother Chang agreed to give you his grandson Zhang Wuji..."

"What?" Yin Tianzheng asked anxiously, "My grandson, what happened to him?"

Since Yin Susu's death, Yin Tianzheng has sent people to Wudang Mountain several times to see his grandson, but they were all driven back by the enemy, so he didn't even know anything about Zhang Wuji.

Monk Peng said, "I came here today to talk to you and tell you about my grandson's whereabouts. He was injured by the Xuanming Divine Palm in his early years. Zhang Sanfeng tried to treat him, but he was helpless and had no choice but to go to Shaolin Temple to beg for help."

"Ah..." Everyone was surprised.

Because of Zhang Sanfeng's esteemed status, high reputation, and superb martial arts skills, he was already the number one person in the world. However, due to his background, many Shaolin monks believed that Zhang Sanfeng had learned Shaolin martial arts but founded his own sect, leading many people to believe that his martial arts were superior to those of Shaolin Temple, and thus they were extremely dissatisfied with him.

In the eyes of Shaolin Temple, the title of "Number One in the World" should never belong to Zhang Sanfeng, as evidenced by the challenge by the three great monks of Shaolin Temple on Wudang Mountain.

Peng Yingyu said, "But why would the Shaolin monks agree? Zhang Sanfeng had no choice but to meet Chang Yuchun, who was a member of our sect and was willing to take Zhang Wuji to find Hu Qingniu."

Yin Tianzheng nodded and said, "That's a good idea. Hu Qingniu has never tolerated outsiders when it comes to my grandson..."

Monk Peng said, "But Zhang Sanfeng's requirement is that your grandson cannot join our sect. Do you understand what that means?"

Yin Tianzheng sighed.

Monk Peng asked, "Why does Zhang Sanfeng, a man who has been detached from worldly affairs for many years, harbor such deep hatred for my Ming Cult?"
"Isn't it because Yu Sanxia was crippled and Zhang Wuxia committed suicide that your Eagle Cult is taking its anger out on my Ming Cult?"

Yin Tianzheng thought for a moment and said, "Could Yun Changkong's internal energy be the legendary Pure Yang Limitless Skill?"

Peng Yingyu said, "Very likely!"

(End of this chapter)