Martial Arts Crossover: The Sweeping Monk of Wudang? That's our patriarch!

On the other side, Qingluan had already put on a pair of black boxing gloves, with a faint glow emanating from her knuckles.

"That's called the Limitless Sphere. Once your skills are up to par, you can inscribe any formation on it. With a single thought, the formation will activate."

After listening, Lin Daochen nodded silently—the things of the Spirit Realm were indeed far superior to those of the Nine Provinces Realm; his own perspective was truly shallow.

The thought had barely formed when a solid punch landed on his cheek, sending him flying backward like a kite with a broken string.

Fortunately, his body was solid, and he only wobbled upon landing, without sustaining any damage.

Qingluan let out a soft exclamation: "Oh, the old man's bones are still quite strong, that's perfect—I don't need to hold back anymore."

Before she finished speaking, her figure had already turned into a blur, and she delivered a powerful whip kick that slammed into Lin Daochen's shoulder.

The kick was as powerful as thunder, but he turned sideways, raised his arm, and blocked it steadily without moving an inch.

Both figures moved swiftly across the ground like the wind. Even though he had lost the power of his Golden Core, Lin Daochen's fighting skills had become even more refined and fierce.

The more she fought, the heavier Qingluan's heart became—she had already examined the opponent's bone age, and if he truly possessed such fighting spirit and resourcefulness, he should not have wasted so much time to break through the threshold of the Golden Core stage at this age.

Could this old Taoist priest be the legendary ruthless character who is "unbeatable among his peers"?

Despite his mediocre talent, he was born with a fighting spirit, and his moves were always methodical and aimed directly at vital points.

Such figures are indeed recorded in the annals of the spirit world, but they are extremely rare, appearing only once every ten thousand years.

After all, a battle of wits cannot be separated from a solid foundation in offensive techniques. Those who can thoroughly understand the principles of techniques and internalize them as instincts are unlikely to have mediocre physical abilities.

With a change of heart, Qingluan no longer held back. She secretly activated the talisman in her sleeve, and her personal magical artifacts lit up one after another, with spiritual light rising to her skin like scales.

Because her cultivation had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for many years, she simply took a different path and plunged into the alchemy furnace and the tempering process. She even engraved dozens of ancient formations under her skin and flesh—with tendons as veins, bones as the foundation, and flesh and blood itself as a living magic weapon.

This is the real basis for her to secure her position as an elder of the Five Elements Sect.

Even so, despite pushing her combat power to the peak of Foundation Establishment, she still felt as if she were trapped in a quagmire, struggling to move forward.

My mind was shaken – this old guy's combat power is simply unbelievable!

Every strike was delivered with utmost effort, every step perfectly timed. From the early to late stages of Foundation Establishment, until he was close to the middle stage of Golden Core, he used the gap in their cultivation levels to deliver a powerful blow that sent Lin Daochen flying.

Lin Daochen flipped over and leaped up, his gaze sweeping over the faintly glowing body opposite him, his brows immediately furrowing.

He had noticed it during the fight: there were circles of dark patterns flowing endlessly on her skin, hidden under her clothes—no doubt, this woman had actually carved the array diagram into her flesh!

"Isn't your playing style a bit cheating?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the buzzing and trembling array patterns on her body, his tone calm but with a hint of coldness.

Qingluan didn't even lift her eyelids, only gently shaking her head and dusting off non-existent dust, her voice clear and melodious:

"Within the rules, nothing is forbidden. If you can also find a law that conforms to the rules, then feel free to break it."

Lin Daochen gritted his teeth, raised his arms high, and poured all his spiritual power into his legs like a river, before exploding with a bang!

A six-pointed star array suddenly cracked open on the ground, silver light surged, and spiritual pressure soared—the suppressed Golden Core realm was instantly restored to its original position!

Qingluan's eyes sharpened, and she immediately removed her protective barrier. She lazily rested her hands behind her head and strolled forward with unhurried yet extremely steady steps.

As we walked:

"I've tried, and you're qualified. From this day forward, you are my personal disciple, Qingluan. You're not young anymore, so let's skip the formalities—now, go down the mountain immediately and report to the disciple exchange conference."

As she finished speaking, she suddenly turned her head and stared intently at Lin Daochen.

"I really admire your skills... I hope you won't let me down."

That gaze was deep and unfathomable, carrying a meaning he couldn't decipher.

After the fight, Qingluan knew in her heart that this old man was not as simple as he seemed.

His quick reflexes, accurate counterattacks, and tenacious strength all demonstrate a natural talent that far surpasses the norm.

But what did it have to do with her? She couldn't be bothered to investigate further.

Lin Daochen descended the stone steps and arrived at the foot of the Five Elements Sect. He saw that the huge martial arts arena was already crowded with people, and disciples from various peaks had set up their arenas to compete.

The rules are extremely simple: the person who wins ten consecutive victories in a row advances to the next round; the ten arenas are open for battle simultaneously, and spectators can challenge at any time, and the winner takes over the title of champion.

The first round ends at 10:00 AM, and the second round will begin at 1:15 PM.

When he arrived, the first round had already been going on for quite some time.

A quick glance reveals that these disciples are far superior to the cultivators of the Nine Provinces—their attack techniques are refined, their spiritual power is solid, they are wealthy, and even their eyes exude a sharpness honed over time.

The profound depth of the spirit realm is indeed no exaggeration.

Just as they were silently watching the fight, they suddenly saw a man in his early twenties, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, being swept off a high platform and crashing straight into the crowd—right into his arms!

Lin Daochen subconsciously reached out and lifted it, but a bone-chilling coldness, like a venomous snake, burrowed into his palm and instantly spread throughout his limbs and bones.

Looking up again, I saw that the man was covered in frost, with bluish-white scales of ice crystals growing wildly along his skin and flesh. The piercing coldness had penetrated his internal organs, and even his breath was tinged with a metallic, rusty chill.

Such injuries, even if one survives, would severely damage one's vitality and shake one's foundation—clearly, this arena is not some grand exchange event, but rather a life-or-death arena disguised in ceremonial robes.

Standing on the stage was a handsome man in his early thirties with a face like jade. He opened and closed his folding fan with a calm demeanor, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Daochen.

A glint of malice flashed in his eyes, and he immediately raised his voice, his tone clear yet concealing a sharp edge:

"Fellow Daoist, you were able to withstand my Nine Yin Profound Fiend attack head-on; your cultivation is probably unfathomable. How about we come up on stage and spar?"

Nine Yin Mystic Fiend?

An uproar erupted all around, and everyone turned to look at Lin Daochen, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

This power is unlike any ordinary Yin technique; it is the ultimate Yin essence condensed from the cold marrow of the earth's veins and the deathly energy of the moon, one in ten thousand.

Lin Daochen looked around, his mind full of questions—he was at least twenty steps away from the arena, yet this person had somehow managed to smash right at his feet.

Is it really such a coincidence?

The thought had barely formed when it felt as if an invisible giant hand had shoved the back of his neck, lifting him into the air and forcefully throwing him onto the ring.

Alright, no need to guess anymore.

The mastermind behind this is most likely that old woman, Qingluan.

However, things went smoothly—during his month-long seclusion at the Five Elements Sect, he had the opportunity to reforge his own attack techniques, eliminating three obstacles and adding two new ones.

This is the perfect opportunity to test our skills.

On the elders' platform, Qingluan crossed her legs, casually tapping the armrest with her fingertips, and called out to those around her:

"See that old man down there? He's my personally accepted disciple. Anyone who dares to gossip about me having no children will have to think twice."

Mo Taixu, the leader of the Five Elements Sect, frowned and stared at Lin Daochen on the stage. After hesitating for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:

"Isn't this... a little too much..."

Before he could finish speaking, the words got stuck in his throat.

An elder in a grey robe immediately chimed in, his voice filled with undisguised sarcasm:

"Elder Qingluan, shouldn't there be some discernment in pretending to be someone you're not?"

"Indeed, this senior is probably nearing the end of his life, his life force exhausted."

The elders discussed the matter animatedly, each offering their own opinion.

Qingluan didn't even raise her eyelids: "You set the rules. Whether I accept disciples or not, and whom I accept as disciples, is none of your business to be picky. Besides—is a Golden Core cultivator under a hundred years old considered old?"

She's not exactly old, but she's not exactly stunning either.

After all, true geniuses can unlock the Golden Core within sixty years.

Once the Golden Core is formed, one's appearance is fixed, and one's vital energy is as solid as if it were cast. Looking at Lin Daochen's current appearance, his face still carries a hint of the awkwardness of someone who has just broken through to a higher realm, clearly indicating that he has only recently crossed that threshold.

But Qingluan, sitting upright on her high chair, was the most confused.

This morning, she witnessed Lin Daochen triggering the tribulation lightning, shattering his core and condensing his nascent soul. Logically speaking, a newly promoted Golden Core cultivator should have a floating and unsettled aura, and scattered and unconcentrated spiritual power. Yet, this man's every move was as steady as a rock, and his aura was long and profound, as if he had been refining for many years.

This is strange.

She unconsciously rubbed her chin with her fingertips, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt that this old man was definitely not as simple as he seemed on the surface.

On the arena, Lin Daochen, who had been thrown up by some unknown force, had a piercing gaze that seemed to cut straight at the person opposite him.

The other party was dressed in a plain white robe, with gentle manners and refined speech, looking exactly like a well-read young master from a prestigious family.

Unfortunately, his complexion was ashen, his eyes were slightly sunken, and his steps were unsteady, like a sickly person who had stayed up for seven nights without sleep.

"This humble Taoist priest is Lin Daochen. May I ask your esteemed name?"

The man in white robes closed his fan and bowed, his voice deep yet weighty:

"I am Young Master Kongxu, greetings."

The Empty Prince?

Lin Daochen's throat tightened, and he almost couldn't help but laugh.

Coupled with his listless complexion and unsteady gait, it truly evokes a lot of speculation.

"please!"

"please!"

Before the words were even finished, the two had already moved three feet apart. The Empty Young Master flicked his wrist, his folding fan opening wide, and he gently shook it—

In an instant, sand and stones flew, a cold wind howled, and frost particles fell like sharp blades.

The temperature plummeted, and fine white fog condensed in the air, freezing even our breath.

Lin Daochen's pupils contracted, and a chill ran through him like needles piercing his bones, making his back shudder and his shoulders tremble slightly.

But in the next instant, a burst of blazing golden light erupted from his body!

Beneath his clothes, glowing runes rose from his bronze skin, winding upwards and slowly climbing to his brow bone.

Those around who witnessed this scene gasped in astonishment, and even the seasoned elders on the elders' platform all fixed their gazes on Qingluan.

"Elder Qingluan's methods are truly extravagant, even bringing out her most treasured secret techniques to teach—but this kind of forced learning is rather ill-considered..."

"This young disciple is truly unfortunate. He's so young and already struggling with such a profound technique. I'm afraid he'll be stuck at the early Golden Core stage and won't be able to make any further progress..."

Even Mo Taixu, the sect leader who always sat on the high platform with an unchanging expression, sighed silently. When he turned his head to look at his junior sister, a hint of reproach appeared between his brows.

Qingluan's throat tightened, and her lips parted slightly, but it was as if an invisible hand was choking her, and she couldn't make a sound for a long time.

Her mind was in turmoil: when had she ever taught him even a single move? Yet Lin Daochen had actually replicated that unique set of runes perfectly!

Could it be... that during that brief exchange this morning, the opponent had already seen through the secret?

But at that time, her clothes were neat and tidy, and the array patterns etched beneath her skin were not something that could be seen with the naked eye, let alone copied on the spot!

Just as they were racking their brains trying to figure it out, the battle on the arena suddenly erupted.

Lin Daochen's body was surrounded by flowing runes, his attack speed was like lightning and his strength was like thunder. Although he was a small realm lower than his opponent, he managed to create a situation where the two sides were evenly matched.

The other party was in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm, while he was in the early stage—don't be fooled by the small difference; in reality, it was like an insurmountable chasm.

But this only applies to the fact that he hasn't used his true trump card yet; he couldn't see the hidden array patterns inside Qingluan's body; and the talisman marks wrapped around his bones at this moment were created by him through a night of deduction and reverse carving according to the principles of arrays—Qingluan's battle was just opening a door for him, and the world behind that door is entirely up to him to explore.

The Empty Prince's fingers flew across the paper, rapidly forming hand seals, yet his heart grew heavier and heavier.

No matter how hard he tried to channel his spiritual power, he couldn't suppress his opponent in the slightest. How could this be? He was clearly a whole level higher!

"Senior, you are indeed quite skilled—unfortunately, that's where it ends."

"Even if it's Elder Qingluan's closely guarded secret, it depends on who gets their hands on it! You think you can defeat me with such superficial knowledge? You're dreaming!"

Before he finished speaking, he clasped his hands together and uttered a string of obscure incantations. The porcelain puppet in his arms rose into the air, swelled in the wind, and instantly transformed into a five-zhang-tall ice puppet, its entire body a deep blue, exuding a chilling aura, and its oppressive power was like a mountain crashing down—roughly estimated, its combat strength was close to the late stage of the Golden Core realm!

The audience erupted in uproar.

"The Frost Puppet! It really is that Frost Puppet that annihilated a late-stage Golden Core expert!"

"It's just an exchange conference, yet Young Master Empty has brought out all his prized possessions?"

"Strange things happen every year, but this year is especially bizarre—Elder Qingluan just accepted a disciple, and Young Master Kongxu has already revealed his puppet!"

"That's nothing! Last month, the top disciple from the neighboring sect came to propose marriage, and he caused three arenas to collapse in the ensuing fight. That was a real spectacle!"

"What do you know? Young Master Empty is serious now!"

"Most likely."

On the arena, Lin Daochen stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm as if watching the clouds drift by.

"Use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve. If you drag this out any longer, you might not even get a chance to make a move."