Film and Television World Life Record

Seeing the hesitation on Li Mu's face, Le Hou quickly cupped his hands and said, "Nephew, please do not refuse. Otherwise, your uncle will have no way to report back and will have no choice but to follow you."

Li Mu was somewhat speechless, but he was also quite curious about Zuo Lengchan, this ruthless and ambitious figure, so meeting him wouldn't be a bad idea.

"All right!"

Le Hou was overjoyed: "Thank you, nephew! Thank you, nephew!"

Fortunately, the journey was not far, and all of them were skilled in martial arts. They arrived at the foot of Mount Song in less than two days. Le Hou went up the mountain first to report the situation, and Shi Dengda, a disciple of Zuo Lengchan, took over the reception.

Without resting, the group headed straight up the mountain. After walking for a while, they suddenly heard the sound of water like thunder. Two jade dragons hung down from the cliff, forming a double waterfall that cascaded down, twisting and turning, leaping and rushing.

Shi Dengda smiled and introduced, "Junior Brother Lin, this is the Shengguan Peak of my Songshan Mountain. What do you think of its scenery compared to that of Huashan Mountain?"

Li Mu found it somewhat amusing to look at Stendhal, who seemed to want to cause trouble but was also quite hesitant.

"Mount Hua is known for its perilous beauty, ranking first among the Five Sacred Mountains; Mount Song is majestic and imposing, both are places of exceptional scenery!"

After thinking for a moment, Shi Dengda said, "My Songshan Mountain is located in the center of the world, within the territory of the Han and Tang dynasties. Junior brother, please look at this magnificent scenery. No wonder emperors of all dynasties established their capitals at the foot of Songshan Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu replied perfunctorily, "Yes, that's true. Just look at the martial arts masters of the world. Shaolin Temple is also located on Mount Song, which shows that Mount Song is extraordinary."

Upon hearing the name Shaolin, Shi Dengda fell silent. Although the Songshan Sect was extraordinary, when people in the martial arts world mentioned Songshan, the first thing that came to mind was the Shaolin Temple. The Songshan Sect could not truly represent Songshan.

Ascending from here, the mountain path becomes increasingly treacherous, leading to the summit of Mount Song, formerly known as "Eji". Junji Temple at the summit of Mount Song was originally a large Buddhist temple, but in the last hundred years it has become part of Mount Song's property, and Zuo Lengchan lived there.

Li Mu climbed all the way to the top of the mountain and followed Shi Dengda into the Zen temple. He saw ancient cypress trees in the courtyard. Although the main hall was large, there were no Buddha statues. When he arrived at the reception room, a disciple served him fragrant tea.

Stendhal told Li Mu to wait a moment and turned to report.

Li Mu was not in a hurry upon hearing this. Since he was already there, he might as well make the best of it. He was also quite curious about Zuo Lengchan and wanted to see what this renowned, ambitious, and charismatic senior uncle was like.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Stendhal rushed back.

"Master invites you, Junior Brother, please follow me!"

Li Mu nodded: "Okay!"

Stefan led Li Mu out of Junji Temple and up the mountain path!

Li Mu was also unfamiliar with Mount Song: "I wonder where Master Zuo is?"

Upon hearing this, Stendhal looked puzzled and said, "Fengchan Terrace."

Li Mu was taken aback. In ancient times, emperors would often perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai or Mount Song to commend their merits and submit memorials to Heaven. Zuo Lengchan was treating the Fengshan platform as his own.

The mountain wind was howling, and the higher we went, the stronger the wind became. We were gradually approaching the vicinity of the Fengchan Terrace.

Braving the mountain wind, Li Mu climbed the stone steps upwards, imagining how many emperors had ascended this platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven in the past. Walking on it, he felt as if he were stepping onto the peak step by step, climbing higher and higher, and facing more and more dangers.

No wonder there is a saying, "When you reach the summit, you will see all the mountains below."

I wonder what Zuo Lengchan felt when he first ascended the Fengchan Terrace, and whether it was at that moment that he felt a surge of ambition to unify the Five Sacred Mountains.

Li Mu stepped onto the Fengchan Platform, his gaze sharpening as he saw Zuo Lengchan standing with his hands behind his back, as proud and aloof as a pine tree, an aura of dominance over the martial world inadvertently emanating from him. He wondered what Zuo Lengchan was thinking at that moment.

Li Mu collected his thoughts, stepped forward, and said, "Greetings, Senior Uncle Zuo."

Zuo Lengchan said in a kind tone, "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. What do you think of the scenery of Mount Song?"

Standing on the Fengchan Terrace and gazing into the distance, one sees Shaoshi Mountain standing guard to the west, Jishan Mountain facing south, the Ying River flowing in front, and the Yellow River like a ribbon to the north. Leaning against the rock and looking down, one sees the peaks and valleys unfolding below, rugged and uneven, giving one a sense of grandeur and a commanding view of all the mountains below.

After admiring it for a moment, Li Mu praised it, saying, "It is majestic and imposing, truly deserving of the name 'Central Mountain.'"

Zuo Lengchan laughed heartily and said, "What my nephew said is true. You are indeed a young hero and a dragon among men."

Zuo Lengchan's voice was icy, his face was icy, and it always felt strange when he said something praising someone.

Li Mu had long heard of Zuo Lengchan's cold and aloof demeanor, which was innate and not something he deliberately cultivated, so he didn't care.

Li Mu said, "Uncle-Master, you flatter me. All the fellow disciples from Mount Song are equally heroic and capable."

Zuo Lengchan laughed again, "As expected of Brother Yue's outstanding disciple, he is as humble as his master. Brother Yue's acceptance of such a fine disciple is truly enviable."

Li Mu laughed and said, "I am quite unruly, but I am satisfied that I have been accepted into your tutelage by my master."

Zuo Lengchan laughed and said, "Oh, really? There are only a few disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect who could defeat my junior brother Ding with their swords, let alone the disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect of our generation."

Li Mu said, "It's just that Uncle Ding is being modest."

Zuo Lengchan gave Li Mu a meaningful look: "Is that so! I heard that my junior nephew practices the Zixia Divine Skill. This skill is not passed down to anyone but the head disciple of the sect leader. It is a divine skill that only the next head of Huashan can learn. Since you were able to be taught by Senior Brother Yue, it seems that you will be the next head of Huashan."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu remained unmoved and smiled, saying, "I've rarely heard of such a claim. In fact, my senior brother also knows the Purple Cloud Divine Skill."

Zuo Lengchan said regretfully, "Brother Yue is foolish! People in the martial world live on the edge every day, their lives hanging by a thread. Who knows what might happen? Even I, Zuo, cannot guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen. I have already chosen a successor."

“Junior Brother Yue is so shrewd, how could he make a mistake in this matter? With such a talented and virtuous junior brother, why not appoint him as the young sect leader? Aren’t you afraid that if something unexpected happens one day, the disciples will cause trouble in order to fight for the position of sect leader?”

Upon hearing this, Li Mu smiled and said, "Uncle Zuo, there's no need to worry. Mount Hua won't descend into chaos. Neither my senior brother nor I have any intention of vying for the seat. It doesn't matter who sits there. If that day ever comes, it would be fine to let my senior brother take the seat; there won't be any trouble."

Zuo Lengchan laughed and said, "No, no, although Linghu Chong is good, he has many faults. I heard that he not only drinks and plays around all day, but also causes a lot of trouble down the mountain. Many people have come up the mountain to complain to Brother Yue. Although my Songshan Sect has many disciples, no one has ever complained to me. Compared with my nephew, he is far inferior and is really not suitable to sit in the position of Huashan Sect Leader."

Seeing that Zuo Lengchan had thoroughly investigated the entire Huashan Mountain, Li Mu secretly thought to himself, "That traitor Lao Denuo is truly dedicated, reporting every single detail!"

Li Mu said, "Uncle-Master, you are mistaken. Although my eldest brother has made a minor mistake, it is only human nature and it is not a big deal! Your sect's disciples have actually caused more controversy in the martial arts world. Compared to that, my eldest brother is nothing."

Zuo Lengchan chuckled coldly, put his hands behind his back and said arrogantly, "How my Songshan disciples conduct themselves is none of your business. It is good that your master is humble and cautious, but he should not be too humble and teach his disciples to be obsequious and follow a lot of rules. My Five Mountains Sword Sect has such a prestigious reputation. Even if we do something wrong, how can we allow some vulgar people from the martial world to interfere?"

Li Mu was somewhat speechless, yet he also felt that these words were indeed domineering. Comparing Zuo Lengchan and Yue Buqun, in terms of their styles of doing things, they were completely different kinds of people.

Yue Buqun is known as the "Gentleman Sword," and he lives up to his name. He deeply understands the true meaning of Confucianism in nurturing oneself. In his words and deeds, he always leaves room for maneuver, which is not only for his opponents but also for himself.

Zuo Lengchan, as the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, is a ruthless and domineering man who acts with absolute ruthlessness, never hesitating to kill. When necessary, he disregards his own reputation, aiming for a fatal blow and never making a second move. He is a ruthless and ambitious figure; success is desirable, but failure inevitably leads to a tragic end.

Zuo Lengchan took a few steps forward, his face suddenly becoming solemn, and then said, "Nephew, do you know why Mount Song is so renowned?"

Li Mu asked curiously, "Why?"

Zuo Lengchan sighed, "Seventeen years ago, the Demonic Sect was rampant and constantly clashed with various sects in the martial world. My last senior uncle from Songshan was also killed by them. I was so angry that I rose up and led more than thirty junior brothers from Songshan, gathered the best people from the Five Mountains, and stormed up Blackwood Cliff. That battle was extremely fierce. My Five Mountains Sword Sect was greatly weakened, but the Demonic Sect also suffered heavy losses. The direct descendants of the former leader Ren Woxing were all wiped out, and a few years later, he was even usurped."

At this point, Zuo Lengchan's voice was somewhat low. He sighed and said, "Although this battle enhanced the reputation of my Five Mountains Sword Sect, my Songshan Sect suffered the heaviest casualties. A total of thirteen people survived and walked down Blackwood Cliff. Therefore, they were respectfully called the 'Thirteen Protectors of Songshan' by the heroes of the martial arts world. Only then did Songshan Sect become famous."

Li Mu felt a pang of emotion, realizing that the evil dragon of today was once a young man who slew dragons.

"Uncle Zuo truly lives up to his reputation as the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance. With such courage, if I had been born fifteen years earlier, I might have also made a trip to Blackwood Cliff."

Zuo Lengchan, with his hands behind his back, gazed into the distance and said, “I like what you said, nephew. As the saying goes, ‘One general’s success is built on the bones of ten thousand.’ The prestige of Mount Song is not only due to our superior martial arts skills, but also because all of us brothers fought together to achieve it. It’s just a pity that only Brother Yue from Mount Hua participated in that grand event. It’s a real shame.”

Li Mu said, "Back then, only my master and mistress were left to struggle on Mount Hua. It's understandable that they couldn't compare to the large number of people in the Songshan Sect."

Chapter 569 Hero

Then, there was a moment of silence.

Zuo Lengchan pondered for a moment and said, "Speaking of which, more than twenty years ago, when people in the martial arts world mentioned the Five Mountains Sword Sects, the first one that came to mind was the Huashan Sect. At that time, I was like my junior nephew..."

At this point, Zuo Lengchan seemed to fall into deep thought. When he was young, he had just entered the Songshan Sect and immediately displayed extraordinary talent, which led to his being accepted as a disciple by the previous sect leader. At that time, his internal strength and swordsmanship progressed rapidly, and he was also mature beyond his years, which earned him the unanimous favor of the elders in the sect. Even the dozens of disciples who had entered his inner circle admired his martial arts and character and followed his lead without question.

At that time, everyone in the sect knew that they had produced a disciple with exceptional talent who would inherit the position of leader of the Songshan Sect in the future. There were even rumors that he might surpass the Huashan Sect, which they looked up to, and had a chance to win the position of leader of the Five Mountains Alliance in the future.

With the support of his elders and the concerted efforts of his fellow disciples, Zuo Lengchan was in high spirits and extremely arrogant.

At the age of twenty-five, he had achieved some success in martial arts. Within the Songshan Sect, he had no rivals except for his master. He then descended the mountain to travel, enjoying great success and feeling that no one in the world could be considered his match.

Finally, one day, he arrived near Xi'an Prefecture and encountered a man in his thirties who was just as unruly as him. After a fierce battle, he was no match for him and was seriously injured, only then did he realize his mistake.

His arrogance vanished in an instant, but unfortunately, he was about to lose his life at the hands of his enemy.

Suddenly, a flash of sword light appeared, as bright as the rising sun, radiating light so dazzlingly that it captivated him, and he immediately fainted. When he awoke, he had already been sent back to the Songshan Sect.

Only later did he learn that the man he had fought with was Ren Woxing, a rising star of the Demonic Sect.

After that battle, Ren Woxing gained another nickname: "Fleeing at the mere sight of the enemy".

After this setback, Zuo Lengchan's temperament changed drastically, and he no longer had any pride or complacency.

His master, the former head of the Songshan Sect, was greatly pleased to see his disciple in this state, knowing that this disciple had been tempered through this ordeal and that the Songshan Sect had a successor.

After that, he taught Zuo Lengchan all the martial arts of the Songshan School. A year later, he retired to Junji Temple and Zuo Lengchan officially took the position of head of the Songshan School.

Seventeen years ago, he led his men to attack Blackwood Cliff, not only to avenge his tragically killed uncle, but also because he had mastered martial arts and wanted to wipe away the shame of that year. In that battle, he fought alone with his sword against Ren Woxing, the leader of the Demonic Sect.

Little did anyone know that Ren Woxing had already mastered the Star Absorbing Technique. Caught off guard, he suffered a great loss. After returning, he created the Frost True Qi, a technique specifically designed to counter the Star Absorbing Technique. However, Ren Woxing had already been replaced by Dongfang Bubai.

Nevertheless, his battle with Ren Woxing that year greatly enhanced his reputation, making him known throughout the land, and from then on, the prestige of the Songshan Sect resounded even brighter in the martial arts world.

After that, his ambition grew, and he strictly urged the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan to practice martial arts. He taught them martial arts as both a teacher and an elder brother, while secretly planting his own spies, subduing those who practiced unorthodox methods, and even sending his third disciple under the alias Lao Denuo to infiltrate Mount Hua.

Of course, it wasn't for Yue Buqun and his wife. Although Yue Buqun was known as the Gentleman Sword, he didn't take him seriously. However, there was someone in Mount Hua whom he feared the most.

Whenever he recalls that flash of sword light, he cannot sleep at night. That sword not only saved his life, but it is also firmly etched in his heart, becoming an obstacle in his soul. Even now, with his martial arts skills greatly enhanced and his reputation surpassing all others, he still feels that that sword is so invincible.

He didn't know if that person was still alive. He wanted to go and see, but he didn't dare to. He knew he couldn't withstand that sword strike, no matter how weak or strong, or how exquisite it was.

Because the unparalleled power of that sword strike was already etched into his heart, irresistible.

Therefore, all his plans over the years have been carried out in secret, gradually expanding the strength of Songshan. Fortunately, everything has progressed smoothly. His junior brothers, after more than ten years of bloodshed and trials in the martial world, have all become independent martial arts masters, and they are deeply loyal to him.

Now that the Songshan Sect has gained momentum and all preparations have been completed, although some unexpected events have occurred, such as the emergence of two outstanding disciples from the Huashan Sect, especially the one before him.

But he didn't think that anyone from the Five Mountains Sword Sect could be an obstacle to him, including the person in front of him.

Thinking of this, Zuo Lengchan carefully examined Li Mu, recalling his own youth when he was just as proud and aloof, just as gifted, and just as proud of himself as a child.

He thought to himself, "If I can recruit this person and train him carefully, he will be a great help to me after the Five Mountains are united. At that time, when the Five Mountains Sword Sect soars to the sky, who can stop it?"

"To massacre Blackwood Cliff, suppress Shaolin, trample Wudang, and unify the martial world is not a pipe dream. If he truly has the ability to dominate the Five Sacred Mountains, what's wrong with passing the throne to him after my death?"