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

After Emperor Zhengde took his seat, he immediately began to speak:

"I have been unable to personally thank you for your help in the last time you killed the Iron-Blooded Marquis, so I have come here today to express my gratitude."

He knew perfectly well that Song Yuanqiao was merely a messenger; the one who could truly vanquish the enemy was the unfathomable Dao Chen Zhenren before him.

"It's a trivial matter, nothing to worry about."

Lin Daochen smiled calmly:

"Since I have made a promise, I will keep it. Besides—"

He paused, then said meaningfully:

"Having accepted His Majesty's gifts, how can we not lend a hand?"

Emperor Zhengde was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately replied:

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I have brought a large number of treasures this time, all carefully selected according to your list, and none of them fail to meet your requirements!"

"Your Majesty is very kind."

Lin Daochen finally smiled.

This emperor is indeed sensible and worthy of being a helpful assistant.

Seeing the immortal's satisfied expression, Emperor Zhengde felt relieved and thought to himself: It's done!

A few medicinal herbs, jade, precious artifacts, and spiritual materials—just send people to search for them. What is this small price to pay if it ensures the longevity of the nation?

But the surprises weren't over yet.

Lin Daochen slowly reached into his sleeve, took out a jade talisman, and handed it over:

"His Majesty has repeatedly bestowed these gifts upon me, and I cannot accept them for nothing. This is a Mysterious Shield Talisman, which, when worn close to the body, can ward off calamities and disasters, and may even save one's life in a critical moment."

Emperor Zhengde accepted it with both hands, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment:

"Master, is this thing... truly so miraculous?"

"Once Your Majesty activates this talisman, you must carry it with you. Anyone below the Grandmaster level will not be able to harm you in the slightest."

"Even if a grandmaster were to come in person, he could block three deadly attacks for you."

This is one of the results of his recent research on talismanic arts.

Today is the perfect day to present one to Emperor Zhengde.

After all, the longer the emperor lives, the longer people will serve him.

"Thank you so much for the treasure!"

Emperor Zhengde's eyes gleamed, and his heart pounded wildly.

Having witnessed firsthand the power of the divine talisman created by Lin Daochen in the Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace, he couldn't possibly disbelieve the words of this master.

In this world where martial arts reign supreme, what do emperors fear most?

What we fear most are those top-tier masters who appear and disappear without a trace; a single sword strike pierces the heart, and even a vast army cannot stop them.

Despite the strict guards, it was ultimately impossible to completely prevent them.

If one day a peerless expert were to sneak into the palace... the consequences would be unimaginable.

Now that I have this jade talisman protecting me, it's like having three extra lives!

His sense of security was instantly boosted, how could he not be overjoyed?

"Master, how do I activate this talisman?"

Emperor Zhengde gripped the Xuan Shield Talisman tightly, his tone more respectful than that of a devout disciple than an emperor.

"Just a drop of blood will do."

Lin Daochen replied casually.

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Zhengde had already bitten his fingertip, and a drop of bright red blood rolled down and landed on the talisman.

In an instant, the blood-red light vanished, and the jade talisman trembled slightly, as if connected to his bloodline.

A strange feeling arose in my heart—this thing had recognized its owner.

"Master Dao Chen is indeed a being who has attained profound understanding and is close to immortality!"

Emperor Zhengde's conviction grew stronger.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, after I return to the palace, I will do my utmost to gather the necessary items and send them to Wudang immediately once I have collected a batch."

He had already made up his mind: from now on, he would cling to this true deity's coattails.

"That's excellent."

Lin Daochen nodded slightly.

Just then, Emperor Zhengde suddenly remembered another important matter and hurriedly spoke:

"Master Dao Chen, what about the position of Grand Preceptor of the Ming Dynasty...?"

Besides presenting treasures, there is another important promise to fulfill—

The emperor decreed that Wudang be the state religion and appointed a national preceptor.

The original promise was to bestow this position upon Zhang Sanfeng.

However, if Lin Daochen was willing, he would rather change the edict on the spot and offer him the position of Imperial Preceptor.

How can a fake deity compare to a real one?

Moreover, Lin Daochen was Zhang Sanfeng's senior brother, so his claim was perfectly legitimate.

Lin Daochen remained calm and simply said:

"This humble Taoist is devoted to the Tao and has no interest in worldly positions."

"Let's give the title of Imperial Preceptor to Junior Brother Zhang Sanfeng."

Those who cultivate immortality value cause and effect most highly.

His relationship with the Ming Dynasty is currently merely a transactional one, with little connection to the outside world.

If one were to truly become the Imperial Advisor, one would become inextricably linked to the dynasty's fate, thus increasing the likelihood of calamities.

Upon hearing this, a hint of regret flashed in Emperor Zhengde's eyes.

He preferred Lin Daochen to take over as the Imperial Preceptor.

Unfortunately, the real person had no intention of doing so, and he could not force it.

"I understand. I will not disturb your peaceful cultivation. Farewell."

Carrying the jade token and returning laden with spoils, Emperor Zhengde's steps were lighter as he departed.

The following morning, the emperor and his entourage set off to return to the capital.

Lin Daochen then entered the Wudang Treasury to take stock of the tribute gifts.

"Hmm? Void Iron?"

His eyes lit up, and he strode over to a shelf, staring at a piece of jet-black ore on it, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.

This is the key material for crafting storage rings!

Coincidentally, he has recently gained some insight into the laws of space, which is perfect for him to try crafting artifacts.

After taking the Void Iron, Lin Daochen turned and left the treasure vault, heading straight into the weapon-refining room of the Scripture Pavilion.

Half an hour later.

He pushed open the door and stepped out, his brows showing fatigue, but he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.

Sit cross-legged on the meditation cushion, palms outstretched—

An antique and elegant black ring lay quietly in my palm, gleaming with a faint light.

Limited by his cultivation level and understanding of the Dao of Space, the space inside this storage ring is not very large, only a little over 300 square meters, comparable to a spacious courtyard.

But it's already an excellent start.

Lin Daochen nodded in satisfaction.

From then on, he could collect all the rare and precious materials in the Wudang Treasury that were useful to him.

It's portable, easy to use, and most importantly—it's foolproof.

Lin Daochen summoned Song Yuanqiao, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable air.

Using the excuse of seclusion for cultivation, he arranged for his disciples to move all the necessary items from the treasure vault to the scripture pavilion.

Song Yuanqiao naturally complied without question—the items sent by the Ming Dynasty court should rightfully belong to Lin Daochen, and he had no objections whatsoever.

Once all the items had arrived, Lin Daochen kept only the medicinal herbs needed for alchemy and stuffed the rest into his storage ring, his actions swift and efficient.

The resources that Emperor Zhengde sent this time were enough for him to refine a large number of Spirit Gathering Pills in one go.

The days of drug-fueled spiritual practice are about to begin again.

……

at the same time.

Deep within Leigu Mountain, in a secluded valley.

The crowds were immense, and the noise was deafening.

Heroes from all walks of life have gathered here for a grand event—the Precious Chess Game Tournament.

All eyes were focused on a clearing in the valley.

In the center stands a huge blue stone, its surface polished like a mirror and carved into the shape of a chessboard, exuding an ancient and solemn aura.

Two figures sat on either side, about to begin their game of chess.

One of them is Su Xinghe, the leader of the Deaf-Mute Sect, who has white hair and beard and a composed demeanor.

The other person was a foreign high monk wearing a crimson robe—Kumārajīva, the national teacher of Tibet, abbot of Dalun Temple, whose fame spread far and wide.

Mo Shenggu mingled in the crowd, observing coldly.

From the moment Kumārajīva made his first move, he already knew in his heart that this person was doomed to lose.

Not surprising.

This intricate chess puzzle is so complex and its solution is almost illogical. If it weren't for his master, Lin Daochen, sending a message via a white crane to deliver the solution, even he himself wouldn't have been able to figure it out.

As expected, after only a few dozen rounds, Kumārajīva frowned and resigned.

Several people subsequently challenged him, including the Prince of Dali, the Young Master Murong of Gusu, and others. Each of them was renowned for their talent, but all of them failed.

The onlookers were buzzing with discussion:

"Complete defeat? This game is absolutely bizarre!"

"That's right! Which of these people wasn't a genius? Yet they all failed to survive more than three steps into the world."

"Who else could break this? It would probably require a god descending to earth!"

Mo Shenggu had heard enough. He smiled slightly, and with a flash, he rushed to the chessboard.

"Sect Leader Su, let me give it a try."

"Mo Qixia, please." Su Xinghe waved his wide sleeves, restoring the chessboard to its original state, his expression calm.

Mo Shenggu picked up a white piece and flicked it lightly with his fingertips.

Snapped!

The white piece was placed, and the entire arena erupted in uproar.

Good heavens, he cut off his own lifeline right from the start—he actually sealed off a large area of ​​his own white stones!

"Who is this? Playing randomly?"

"Mo Shenggu, the seventh disciple of Master Zhang of the Wudang Sect, is a young talent of the Ming Dynasty. But this move... is truly outrageous."

"Are they here to cause trouble?"

Even Su Xinghe couldn't help but speak up: "Seventh Hero Mo, isn't this a bit too frivolous?"

Mo Shenggu smiled, his eyes clear and bright: "Sect Leader Su, have you ever heard of 'putting yourself in a life-or-death situation'?"

"Please continue."

Su Xinghe narrowed his eyes, said no more, and made his move with the black pieces.

Black and white intertwine, and murderous intent lurks beneath the surface.

The two players moved their pieces with lightning speed, the pace quickening rapidly.

The last piece was placed.

Mo Shenggu raised his eyes and said calmly:

"Sect Leader Su, you've lost."

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

It exploded immediately!

"It's broken! It's really broken!"

"A complex chess puzzle that had remained unsolved for decades was completely dismantled by him in a single move!"

"Mo Qixia...a divine being!"

On the field, Su Xinghe was not angry at all; instead, he clapped his hands and laughed.

"Mo Qixia's chess skills are truly profound; I am completely convinced! As I promised, whoever breaks this puzzle today will receive a great opportunity!"

Please come with me.

To everyone's surprise, Mo Shenggu shook his head and politely declined.

"Sect Leader Su, I cannot accept this opportunity."

He paused, then said seriously:

"The one who truly solved this problem is not me, but my senior master—Master Dao Chen."

"I was simply playing the game according to the method he taught me."

Although Lin Daochen ordered him to break the deadlock and obtain the opportunity, Mo Shenggu was unwilling to take credit.

He wouldn't take a single bit of the glory that belonged to his senior.

It's already a pleasant surprise to see them here today.

"Where is your esteemed senior master now?"

A hint of curiosity flashed in Su Xinghe's eyes, and he asked.

Mo Shenggu smiled calmly: "This method of solving the game was personally taught to me by my senior master at Wudang Mountain."

Su Xinghe paused slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:

"Your senior master's chess skills are truly unfathomable."

He paused, then his tone became serious: "But the one who broke the deadlock today is you, Mo Qixia, and this opportunity should rightfully belong to you."

Before the words were finished, a deafening cacophony of bells, drums, and stringed instruments suddenly erupted in the distance, accompanied by a unified, fervent shout:

"The Starry Sky Immortal possesses boundless magical power, is invincible in battle, and is unstoppable in attack!"

"The Immortal Star Constellation has arrived in the Central Plains, his might shaking the martial world; who can rival him!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding heroes changed, and many of them frowned.

Here he comes—that infamous old devil, Ding Chunqiu, has finally arrived.

This man was infamous, and everyone in the martial arts world gritted their teeth at the mention of his name. This was because he practiced an extremely vicious and evil art—the Dissolving Power Technique—which specifically absorbed the internal energy of others, crippling their cultivation. What was even more hateful was that when he fought, he would either use poison or resort to underhanded tactics, employing despicable methods and showing absolutely no martial arts integrity.

Su Xinghe's expression darkened, and he pointed sharply to a solitary wooden house behind the valley, letting out a low shout:

"Mo Qixia, go inside quickly! The opportunity lies in that room!"

Mo Shenggu never refused the benefits he deserved, nor did he waste words. With a flash, he entered the wooden house like a streak of light.

Almost at the same instant, a magnificent golden sedan chair was carried to the center of the field by eight people and landed steadily.