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

Lin Daochen looked down at the golden-armored guards below, who were glaring angrily at him, and his fingertips twitched slightly.

Each time he swung his Qingfeng sword, a sharp sword aura condensed in mid-air, slashing down to the ground like raindrops.

At first, the effect was minimal—these golden-armored guards were thick-skinned and had astonishing defenses; but they couldn't withstand his relentless bombardment. After three full hours, finally one of the golden-armored guards had his armor shattered and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Twenty armored warriors—a first. The tension in Lin Daochen's heart finally eased a little.

When one of them died, and the remaining nineteen rushed at him, he was no longer as vigilant as before.

He snorted lightly, his gaze sweeping over the golden armored figures charging at the forefront—their strength as heavy as mountains and their ferocity as fierce as tigers. Though lacking profound cultivation, they relied on their sturdy physiques and steel armor to overwhelm ordinary experts, making it difficult for them to breathe.

An ordinary person would have been crushed to dust long ago. Unfortunately, he was not an ordinary person.

As they approached, Lin Daochen smiled and calmly drew his Qingfeng Sword.

This sword, having been tempered and refined by him over many years with immortal energy, has undergone a complete transformation, its entire body shimmering with a pale blue glow and containing immense power.

The golden-armored guards thought they could shake him? It was like an ant trying to move a tree. If they attacked relentlessly and failed to retreat, the backlash would surely shatter their armor and break their bones, bringing disaster upon themselves.

"You really have guts—with your meager abilities, you dare to be my enemy?"

He shook his head and sighed softly, "It's such a pity that so many more masters have been trapped here. And all of this, is it just because the Tianshan Star People want to use me as a touchstone?"

If one were to seek a elixir for breaking through a cultivation level, one could simply order him to fetch it. His life or death would be in his own hands; what business was it of anyone else? But the immortal of Tianshan was stubborn and insisted on setting up checkpoints, testing his character, and assessing his combat strength before letting him pass.

This is utterly absurd. Forget it, this kind of thing has absolutely nothing to do with learning from the boss.

He flicked his sleeves and turned around, taking a step forward. Suddenly, a whirlwind of energy surged around him, like knives and blades, scattering in all directions. In the blink of an eye, all the golden-armored guards who had surrounded him had their armor broken and limbs severed, collapsing in defeat.

They were indeed among the top mortal martial artists, but there was an insurmountable chasm between the path of martial arts and the path of immortality. If Lin Daochen was a true immortal who could tread on clouds and pluck stars, then they were nothing more than ants thrashing about in the mud, easily wiped away with a single step.

But what can we do? Things have come to this point, so we have no choice but to accept the consequences.

He glanced to the side and saw another group of golden-armored guards rushing towards him. A slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a hint of coldness.

hum-

The sword rang out, and a golden light shot out from the tip of the sword, as blazing as the sun and unstoppable.

Even a tiny bit of it will cause your armor to crack and your soul to perish.

Unexpectedly, a strange change occurred—the golden-armored guards did not rush forward recklessly. Instead, they twisted their waists and took turns to the side, easily deflecting the fierce sword energy!

Lin Daochen's eyes narrowed, slightly surprised. He had originally thought these guys were just controlled puppets, completely devoid of intelligence, and that dealing with them would be a piece of cake.

Unexpectedly, they not only understood the rhythm and sensed the danger, but also adapted to the situation and worked together to counter the attacks. If this continued for a few more rounds, he feared he would be worn down.

That attack just now had already depleted thirty percent of his true energy. If it happens a few more times, his dantian will be depleted and his breathing will become stagnant.

Just then, a sound surged from afar—

It didn't enter through the ears, but exploded directly in the depths of the mind, like thunder from the heavens, echoing in all directions, causing the soul to tremble slightly.

"You've got some skills, young man, to come up with such a way to break this deadlock—but alas, you probably won't last much longer. See these golden-armored guards? They're all battle puppets that I've personally forged over many years. They're not living people at all, much less those crudely made clay and wooden dolls on the market."

"Their bones and muscles are forged from black iron, and their souls are formed from frost. In terms of combat power alone, they are comparable to mid-stage Golden Core cultivators. If you still consider them as mere decorations, you'll probably be cut in the waist with the next sword strike."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daochen's lips curled into a cold smile—who are you trying to scare? Haven't you been through enough trouble lately? His expression was as composed as if he were listening to music in a teahouse, his eyes were cold, but his tone carried a hint of mockery:

"There's no need for you to worry about this, senior. You just woke people up, so why don't you think about what you'll use to make up for the formula for that potion once I get through this? If you try to make up an excuse, it will tarnish the reputation of your name, 'Immortal of Tianshan'... If word gets out, even the crows on the snowy peaks will laugh at you."

Before he finished speaking, he had already sidestepped and taken a step. Nineteen golden-armored guards pounced like arrows released from a bow, their blades tearing through the air, their bowstrings vibrating like thunder, each strike aimed straight for vital points, ruthless, accurate, and decisive.

Anyone else would have been pinned to the spot. But Lin Daochen merely flicked his sleeves, and a wisp of bluish-gray mist instantly rose around him—seemingly as thin as smoke, but actually harder than Xuanjing, and even his sword energy at this moment could not shake it in the slightest.

Even more astonishingly, the mist began to backfire—every time the guards swung their blades, their wrists tingled; every step they took felt like walking on quicksand. If the stalemate continued, they would be the ones to lose.

After three moves, the situation suddenly reversed. Lin Daochen suddenly spun around and slashed, his sword light cascading like a waterfall. Five suits of golden armor shattered in response, shards of armor scattering like sparks. Only fourteen suits remained on the field, their armor incomplete, their movements sluggish, yet they still stubbornly refused to retreat.

In the distance, snow-covered palaces soared into the clouds. Inside the golden hall, the Heavenly Immortal stood with his hands behind his back before an ice mirror, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

The mirror reflected the actual battlefield scene—not an illusionary projection, but a realistic mirror image he had condensed with his natal ice soul, showing every detail. He stared at the moment Lin Daochen cleaved through the golden armor with a single sword strike, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but he ultimately didn't utter a single word.

I didn't want this kid to succeed. But since he really broke through the defenses, if I tried to stop him, I would be a fraud.

He was annoyed by Lin Daochen, annoyed by his arrogant disdain for others, annoyed by the undisguised sharpness in his words. Yet he had to admit—this boy was like a piece of ancient, cold iron, growing tougher and brighter with each forging and tempering.

Where is there a pure land in the world of cultivation? When a genius suddenly appears, some look up to him, while many more secretly sharpen their swords. What everyone hopes for is not his ascent to the top, but to see him fall from the clouds into the mud.

The immortal of Tianshan knew perfectly well that he did not want to offer genuine congratulations, but only hoped that an "accident" would happen quietly—such as a certain restriction suddenly becoming unbalanced, or a certain array core inexplicably collapsing.

That bottle of realm-enhancing potion is indeed real. As an immortal, how could he speak carelessly? It was the foundation of his existence and the only dignity he had left.

As he was pondering, a shadow flickered from the corner of the hall, and a gaunt man emerged. His face was pale, his eyes were sunken, and an unsettling smile played on his lips.

"What's there to worry about, immortal?" the man asked in a hoarse voice. "He's just a minor cultivator. Your golden-armored guards can't defeat him, but this trial... making him stumble is as easy as crushing a snow ant!"

The Heavenly Mountain Immortal's brow twitched, his gaze sharpening: "Oh? What kind of dirty trick are you plotting now? Last time, 'Borrowing the Poisonous Spider' almost killed three candidates, and the time before that, 'Summoning Lightning to Devour Souls' destroyed the entire trial platform—is your brain designed to crawl into the gutter?"

He shook his head and sighed, his fingertips unconsciously twirling the ice patterns on his cuffs—this man's ideas were always ruthless, and he never tried to hide them.

According to the old sayings in the cultivation world, engaging in such despicable activities will shorten one's lifespan and weaken one's foundation for cultivation.

Although the Celestial Immortal of Tianshan has transcended life and death and is not afraid of shortening his lifespan, his reputation is more precious than his lifeblood. If this matter gets out, how will he ever hold his head high in the immortal sect again? How will he greet his fellow cultivators? Even his own servants will probably be secretly laughing.

In the world of cultivation, reputation is more important than cultivation level. These old guys who have lived for thousands of years have accumulated a deep sense of dignity in their bones—cultivation can be slowly improved, but once a reputation is shattered, it can never be fully repaired.

Cultivating the Tao is about cultivating one's state of mind, but not everyone can nurture such a state of mind. Even immortals who have lived through ten lifetimes and eight tribulations still harbor selfish desires and harbor resentment, no different from the old man selling tofu at the foot of the mountain.

The immortal from Tianshan turned his head and looked at the man beside him. His brows furrowed slightly, as if he had made a decision. Finally, he sighed softly and waved his hand, saying, "So be it. There's no turning back now. Tell me your idea. If it works, we'll do as you say."

The man smirked, chuckled softly, and bowed slightly: "It's actually very simple—all you want is for Lin Daochen to lose, not necessarily for him to be defeated by the golden-armored guards. In that case, just send another opponent who can overpower him and crush him on the spot, and the outcome will be a foregone conclusion, won't it?"

The immortal of Tianshan was taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head and smiled wryly: "Your mouth is more cunning than the flames in an alchemy furnace. Alright, that makes sense. I'll trust you this time. I'll leave the people and matters to you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man nodded, turned around, and strode briskly out the door. The boy waiting outside smiled, his eyes narrowing, and approached to tease, "Lord Xunyi, your clever mind is still as sharp as ever! But… there's a word of advice—the Heavenly Mountain Immortal is eager to win, so you absolutely cannot offend him. If you really smear his face… hehe, you'll have to consider the consequences yourself."

The boy shut his mouth after speaking, uttering not another word. Xun Yi's expression changed slightly, his feet tightened, and he turned to leave. He knew very well that the Heavenly Mountain Immortal could crush his old bones with a flick of his palm; let alone resist, he would have to choose the right time to even breathe.

As for whether Lin Daochen can survive this ordeal, that's between the Heavenly Mountain Immortal and him, and has absolutely nothing to do with Xunyi.

He strode through the ice corridor, stepped out of the ice palace, and immediately made a hand seal to soar into the air, landing in an instant on a martial arts arena with dazzling golden tiles and swirling clouds. The disciples in the arena were concentrating on their internal energy, with various spiritual weapons laid out before them, their cold light faintly visible.

Suddenly, a figure swept across the sky, and everyone looked up in unison, nearly dropping their magical artifacts in surprise: "Oh dear! Lord Xunyi? What brings you here? Shouldn't the Heavenly Mountain Immortal have already finished dealing with this at this critical juncture? What brings you here...?"

Xunyi didn't reply, but instead raised his hand and pressed down, his voice deepening: "Don't ask why. I'll only ask one question—have you ever heard of the name Lin Daochen?"

A moment of silence fell over the room. Someone hesitated and nodded, "I've heard of him... I heard he's a newly emerged cultivator who caused quite a stir outside recently. But he doesn't seem that powerful. Lord Xunyi, why are you mentioning him?"

Xunyi slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the young faces, his voice low and cold: "You are wrong. This person is no ordinary being. He has now stormed into the Heavenly Mountain Immortal's cave, insisting on obtaining a quick-fix cultivation method. The Heavenly Mountain Immortal has lost face completely. If he continues to cause trouble... we might all be buried with him."

After saying this, he sighed with feigned distress, his brow furrowed, as if he were truly tormented by the matter. Those around him were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, and for a moment, no one dared to speak.

"What exactly happened? How could such a thing have come to this? Lord Xunyi, please explain the whole story clearly. We will not stand idly by and will do everything in our power to help you capture this person!"

Upon hearing this, Xunyi slowly shook his head, but the corners of his mouth had already subtly tightened – the goal had been achieved, and there was no need to act anymore.

He chuckled twice, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone suddenly turning cold: "The rest of the arrangements have already been made. You only need to do one thing now: search for Lin Daochen immediately and kill him without mercy."

"If we allow him to continue running rampant, the disaster will be like an avalanche that cannot be contained. At that time, the sky will collapse and the earth will cave in, and no one will be able to bear the responsibility."

The room fell silent, everyone's face darkening, and their breath caught in their throats for a moment. After a brief pause, everyone nodded in unison, offering no further objections.

In an instant, figures on the square soared into the air, their robes fluttering, like eagles leaving their nests, and sped off toward the direction Xunyi had indicated.

Xun Yi stood on the high platform, a slight smile playing on his lips, a cold, icy smirk.

"Lin Daochen, Lin Daochen... It's all your fault for bumping into the wrong person. If you continue to act recklessly, how will we have the face to stand before the immortals of Tianshan in the future? This time, you are doomed to die."

Before he finished speaking, he flashed away, disappearing into the air and heading straight back to the Ice and Snow Palace.