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

a few days later.

The Liyang Dynasty, Wudang Mountain.

Zhang Sanfeng, along with Song Yuanqiao and others, arrived at Liyang Wudang.

Both Wudang lineages share the same roots and origins, and this time they will travel together to Longhu Mountain to participate in the once-a-decade grand gathering of Taoist sects worldwide.

"Greetings, Senior Uncle Zhang!"

Upon hearing of Zhang Sanfeng's arrival, the sect leader Wang Chonglou immediately led his followers out of the mountain gate to welcome him.

"Chonglou, there's no need for such formalities. We're your own junior disciple, why be so reserved?"

Zhang Sanfeng raised his hand with a smile, his tone gentle.

"Uncle Zhang, Uncle Lin... didn't they come?"

Yu Xingrui glanced at the crowd but did not see that familiar figure, and could not help but speak.

"Your Uncle Lin is devoted to cultivating the Tao and has not emerged from seclusion this time."

Zhang Sanfeng responded calmly.

Upon hearing that Lin Daochen was indeed absent, Yu Xingrui's heart tightened immediately.

This time, they were going to formally break the trade agreement with the Northern Liang King's Mansion. Without Lin Daochen in charge, he was really afraid that Zhang Sanfeng wouldn't be able to control the ruthless Northern Liang King.

Although Zhang Sanfeng is also a powerful figure among the immortals on land, when it comes to intimidation—looking at the current martial arts world, who can surpass Lin Daochen?

He certainly didn't dare say these words out loud, but kept them silently in his heart.

Afterwards, Wang Chonglou arranged for his disciples to find accommodations for everyone.

After dinner, Zhang Sanfeng, along with Song Yuanqiao, held a private meeting with Wang Chonglou and Yu Xingrui in a quiet room.

"Chonglou, how is the situation at Liyang Wudang recently?"

The four sat down, and Zhang Sanfeng casually asked a question.

"Thanks to the illustrious reputation of Master Tolin, the incense offerings flourished, and the number of believers increased daily."

Wang Chonglou answered with a smile.

"That's good."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded, then changed the subject: "When do you plan to send a letter of severance to the Northern Liang Prince's Palace?"

"Wait until the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is over."

Wang Chonglou paused, his expression turning slightly somber. "Uncle-Master, the King of Beiliang is known for his domineering nature. If we unilaterally break the agreement, he may not let it go easily."

Zhang Sanfeng's gaze remained calm as he said indifferently, "A transaction is voluntary. No matter how domineering he is, can he really turn the world upside down? There has to be some reason involved."

"I hope so."

Wang Chonglou sighed softly.

After discussing for a while, the group went back to their respective quarters.

The next morning.

Zhang Sanfeng, along with Song Yuanqiao and his entourage, and Wang Chonglou, with Yu Xingrui and others, set off for Longhu Mountain.

……

The Grand Assembly of Taoist Sects of the World, also known as the "Luotian Grand Ritual," is the highest-level ceremony held by Taoist sects once every ten years.

Every prominent Taoist sect sent representatives. Furthermore, the delegation had to be led by its leader personally; otherwise, it would be considered a grave disrespect to all Taoist sects, and they would be immediately attacked by the masses, bringing shame upon their sect.

Such a grand event, who would dare to be negligent?

The various Taoist sects set off early, allowing ample time to reach Longhu Mountain.

In an instant, all the Daoist paths converged, and the traces of immortals appeared and disappeared.

Not only Taoist practitioners, but also countless Taoist devotees, dignitaries and celebrities came to witness this unprecedented ceremony.

However, space at Longhu Mountain is limited, and the eligibility for attending the ceremony is extremely strict—the unknown have no chance of getting in. Only those with outstanding reputation and prominent status are allowed entry.

The day before the conference, Zhang Sanfeng and Wang Chonglou led the Wudang group to the foot of Longhu Mountain.

Meanwhile, various forces arrived one after another, and the area in front of the mountain gate was teeming with people.

The moment the Wudang group appeared, countless eyes immediately focused on them.

Not surprising at all.

Wudang has been dazzling in the past six months.

To be precise, it was that Taoist priest named Lin Daochen who was too shocking and unconventional.

On Mount Wudang, three terrestrial immortals were slain; on Mount Shaoshi, another immortal and celestial being were killed; the ancient Shaolin Temple, with a history of a thousand years, was destroyed; a man rode a crane straight into the Qin Dynasty palace and suppressed the emperor; the war between two great dynasties was brought to a halt...

Every single one of these events shook the world.

Nowadays, from kings and generals to ordinary people, who doesn't know—Master Chen of Wudang Dao?

Regardless of what the Taoist community in the world says, countless people in the mortal world alone have already revered Dao Chen Zhenren as the number one true immortal in Taoism.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the Wudang group, all eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary, all-powerful figure.

However, all that followed was a cold, hard reality—

"Master Dao Chen did not come."

"He didn't even show up for the grand Taoist event, the Luotian Grand Ceremony, which is a once-in-a-millennium occasion?"

"..."

Whispers arose among the crowd, and disappointment spread like a tide.

The Wudang people remained calm, as if the surrounding commotion had nothing to do with them, and simply observed the Longhu Mountain in front of them.

"This mountain has an extraordinary atmosphere; it truly is a place blessed with spiritual energy and beauty, worthy of being called the ancestral home of Taoism," Zhang Sanfeng praised softly.

Mo Shenggu smiled upon hearing this: "Master, our Wudang Mountain is now a gathering place of spiritual energy and a place where all sects come to pay homage. In terms of status, it may not be inferior in the slightest."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded slightly, without refuting.

Although Wudang was established relatively late and is considered a rising star in the Taoist lineage, it has made rapid progress in the past six months, its reputation rivaling that of ancient sects with a history spanning millennia. Who dares to disagree that it is the holy land of today?

"It's all thanks to my senior brother... He's truly no ordinary person," Zhang Sanfeng thought to himself.

For the past six months, he has almost been in seclusion, ignoring all external affairs. And it was during this time that Wudang flourished like a raging fire, rising step by step – all because of Lin Daochen's casual guidance, which brought about earth-shattering changes.

On the other side, some Taoists from the Zhengyi and Quanzhen sects heard the conversation between the master and disciple and their expressions darkened slightly, but none of them dared to lash out in front of him.

Dao Chen Zhenren is not here, but Zhang Sanfeng is a true immortal on land. Who would dare to provoke him easily?

Each person in the crowd had their own thoughts, but they kept walking and made their way up the mountain along the stone steps.

At the entrance of Longhu Mountain, a Taoist priest was already waiting to greet guests.

After some polite greetings, the other party led the Wudang group to their resting place.

After the Taoist priest left, Mo Shenggu immediately frowned and said, "Longhu Mountain is extremely rude! Master is a terrestrial immortal; even if the Celestial Master doesn't appear, shouldn't one of the Four Celestial Masters personally greet him?"

Not only was he dissatisfied, but Song Yuanqiao, Wang Chonglou and others also felt slighted.

The Taoist priest who greeted us was respectful in words, but in reality he was just going through the motions. Anyone with eyes could see that Longhu Mountain had indeed neglected Wudang.

"Senior Uncle Zhang, this Daoist gathering is unlikely to be peaceful," Wang Chonglou warned in a low voice. "Our Wudang sect has been too prominent lately, attracting attention. Especially the Zhengyi sect, which has always considered itself the leader of Daoism. Now that they've been overshadowed, how can they accept it?"

He was born in Liyang Wudang, and he knew the temperament of Longhu Mountain and Zhengyi Dao all too well.

Zhang Sanfeng nodded, his expression remaining calm.

He is now in the realm of a terrestrial immortal, and all his disciples are grandmasters, with Wang Chonglou being a top expert—with such a lineup, what is there to fear from any storm?

……

The next morning.

The rising sun breaks through the clouds, casting golden light upon the mountain peaks.

On the mountainside of Longhu Mountain, a vast plaza stretches out before us, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people. This is the main venue for the upcoming World Taoist Assembly.

The area was divided into seating areas with tables and chairs for the various gates and guests attending the ceremony.

A large area in the center of the square is set aside specifically for ceremonies and discussions.

The Taoist assembly was divided into two parts.

One of them is the Heaven Worship Ceremony, in which the leaders of various sects jointly perform ancient rituals to pray for peace and prosperity of the world and abundant harvests.

Secondly, there is the debate on the Dao. This is further divided into literary and martial debates: literary debates use the interpretation of scriptures to discuss the "Dao," showcasing the sect's knowledge and foundation; martial debates, on the other hand, compare cultivation skills and techniques to reveal the sect's true combat strength.

The former is merely a hollow reputation, the latter reveals true skill.

Whether they were attendees or just spectators, everyone arrived early to secure a spot and observe.

Wudang was no exception.

As soon as the group appeared, all eyes were instantly drawn to them, and countless gazes searched through the crowd—for the figure whose name resounded throughout the world.

However, it ultimately failed.

Dao Chen Zhenren has not yet shown himself.

On the viewing platform, Xu Fengnian, the heir apparent of the Northern Liang Kingdom, sighed and turned to the old Taoist priest Wei Shuyang beside him, whispering, "Grandpa Wei, he didn't come."

"Yes, they definitely didn't come."

Wei Shuyang gave a casual reply, but his heart had already sunk to the bottom.

The Nine Pecks of Rice Sect, once one of the three most prestigious Daoist sects in the Li Yang Dynasty, is now... It doesn't even have the qualifications to stand at the World Daoist Assembly. Standing in the crowd, he felt as if his ancestors were coldly watching him from heaven, and he was too ashamed to lift his head.

Beside Xu Fengnian, Li Chungang glanced around but didn't see Lin Daochen. He then closed his eyes and dozed off, acting as if it were none of his business.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the leaders of the various Taoist sects rose and, led by Zhao Danxia, ​​the current leader of Longhu Mountain, stepped into the center of the square to burn incense and offer sacrifices to the heavens, performing the proper rituals.

The ceremony was grand, filled with the aroma of incense and the resounding of bells and drums. After everyone was seated again, Zhao Danxia delivered an opening speech, and the conference officially entered its second act—the discussion on philosophy.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a frenzy again.

This is the main event!

All the Taoist sects and all the spectators were wide-eyed with excitement. The discussion was not merely about reciting scriptures and expounding doctrines; it was also a subtle power struggle between different sects.

As expected, the Zhengyi and Quanzhen sects joined forces to launch an attack right from the start. Their subordinate sects seemed to have a tacit understanding, jumping out one after another to challenge Wudang to a debate.

Wudang was caught off guard, but showed no panic. Zhang Sanfeng didn't even frown, and directly pointed at Zhang Songxi: "You go."

Zhang Songxi stepped forward in response.

This man was naturally meticulous and loved to immerse himself in the Buddhist scriptures in the library. With the occasional guidance from Lin Daochen, his understanding of Taoist doctrines far surpassed that of his peers. Those so-called "profound questions" were nothing more than child's play to him.

His opponent quoted extensively from classical texts, but he immediately refuted them; while others nitpicked over word choices, he went straight to the heart of the matter. He effortlessly drew upon classical passages, providing thorough analysis and unique insights. His words were sharp and incisive, relentlessly pushing forward, leaving challengers red-faced and speechless.

In the end, even Longhu Mountain couldn't sit still any longer. They sent Bai Yu, the top debater in their sect, to take the stage, but he still suffered a crushing defeat and returned in disgrace.

The field was completely silent.

No one dared to stand up anymore.

Zhang Songxi swept the entire audience, perfectly interpreting Wudang's concept of "Tao," displaying remarkable elegance and commanding presence.

The entire audience was stunned, and gasps of amazement filled the air.

"Fourth junior brother/fourth senior brother, awesome!"

Song Yuanqiao and the others stepped forward, their faces full of excitement.

"Junior Brother Zhang/Senior Brother Zhang is truly a role model for us all!"

Wang Chonglou and the others cheered loudly, almost shouting themselves hoarse.

In this battle, Wudang finally triumphed.

Zhang Songxi returned to his seat and respectfully bowed to Zhang Sanfeng: "Master, I have not failed you."

Zhang Sanfeng patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "Fourth brother, well done! Your senior uncle taught you for nothing."

He knew in his heart that without Lin Daochen's secret guidance, Zhang Songxi, despite his intelligence, would not have achieved what he had today.

"Master, things aren't that simple," Zhang Songxi said in a low voice. "The thesis is just an appetizer; the real storm is about to begin with the martial arts competition."

"I understand." Zhang Sanfeng's eyes flickered slightly, his tone indifferent. "If you want to attack my Wudang sect, then bring it on."

"Among those of the same rank, what has Wudang to fear?"

He didn't say much, but he carried an undeniable air of arrogance.

After many days of seclusion, his mastery of Tai Chi has nearly reached its peak. Within the same realm, no one can rival him.

Want war? Then let's fight to the bitter end!