A Scroll of Infinite Glory

A battle of wits and strategy to win is imperative.

The day after Master Jiuhe's burial, the large incense burner in front of the Zhenwu Temple had been moved, and thousands of logs were transported by disciples from various sects to build a three-foot-high platform.

The disciples of Huangtou Taigong were always skilled at feng shui consultations, building houses, and coordinating construction. They used mortise and tenon joints to ensure the wooden platform was stable. After the platform was built solid, a layer of wooden planks about an inch thick was laid on top of the original logs to make the platform surface flat.

The wooden platform is square, with each side measuring approximately 15 meters.

More than 300 sorcerers from various prefectures gathered at the Zhenwu Temple, representing 67 different sects. However, the smaller sects either remained neutral or had their own allies, so only 16 sects were truly involved in the competition.

Since it was a contest of magic, not a large-scale free-for-all, each family sent one person, which was just the right number.

After the two-on-one duels, the eight winners will compete again, from eight to four, from four to two, and finally the battle to determine the leader of the fifteen prefectures and sects.

After the sixteen participants drew lots to determine their opponents for the first round, Qiu Shi stood up, flicked his whisk, and said loudly, "Today's contest is merely a friendly exchange among fellow practitioners to select the new wielder of the Jade Register Grand Master's Talisman. Let's keep it brief and to the point."

"Although the magic is dangerous and some damage is inevitable, it must not be used to kill everyone, nor should despicable means be employed. Those who fall from the platform are defeated. Fellow practitioners, let us all bear witness!"

These words spread far and wide, reaching the hundreds of people around the arena and echoing into the open forest.

These sorcerer sects are extremely famous in their respective regions, and the success or failure of their battles has far-reaching consequences. If the news were to spread, not only would the wealthy clans and merchants who are on good terms with them take it very seriously, but even the government would pay close attention.

At that time, people will probably flock to the mountainside like ants, all wanting to witness the grand spectacle of the battle.

However, the Ghost Festival Dharma Assembly is just around the corner, and time needs to be set aside for its preparation. These people have been in a hurry to set up the contest. They brought it up yesterday and started the contest today. The news hasn't even had time to spread.

Only the prefect of Chengyin received the letter from the Zhenwu Temple and sent someone to come overnight as a witness. The headman sent by the commander-in-chief also stayed behind.

The first contest was between Master Gao Dian of the Xiongwang Temple in Qinghua Prefecture and Master Tong Shui of the Mountain God Temple in Jiaozhou Prefecture.

According to the myths of Jiaozhi, Emperor Ming, the third-generation descendant of Shennong, was on a southern tour when he met the fairy of Wu in the Five Ridges. She gave birth to a son named Lu Xu and was enfeoffed as the King of Jingyang.

King Jingyang had a son named Helongjun, who married Yuji and had a hundred sons, who became the ancestors of the Baiyue people. The eldest son of the hundred sons lived in the mountains with Yuji and became the Xiong King.

The Hung Wang Temple is a popular place of worship. Master Gao Dian's magic has a long history and unique features. He carries a wooden staff wrapped in hemp cloth and remains motionless after going up on the stage.

Master Tongshui learned the Lesser Five Ghosts Transporting Method, and he followed the righteous path. After collecting the little ghosts, he cleansed their resentment and fed them incense. Compared to those evil sects, he did not need to worry about backlash. Although it took a long time, he could perform it in the daytime without fear of sunlight.

He made a hand seal with his left hand and chanted a spell, while his right hand reached out to grab at Master Gaodian's feet from a distance.

This grabbing force, generated from a distance, is equivalent to two or three hundred pounds. It can easily lift and throw a living person. Moreover, because it is not a physical object, no matter how much the person tries to block or struggle, they cannot get rid of it.

The linen cloth on Master Gaodian's wooden staff moved without wind. He threw it forward, and the invisible force in the air swept past his trouser leg and chased after the staff.

Master Tongshui was horrified to feel the power of the Five Ghosts within him, which, along with the wooden staff, rushed back and crashed into him.

Clap clap clap clap!

When the wooden staff touched his chest, several small palm-shaped dents appeared on Master Tongshui's clothes, and he flew back four or five steps before falling off the stage.

The disciples of the mountain god temple quickly helped him up.

The wooden staff had flown back into Master Gaodian's hand. He waved it twice, driving away the little devils who still wanted to come and bother him.

Below the stage, among the seats of the people from Zhenwu Temple, Qiu Di looked displeased and said to Guan Luoyang, "These two sorcerers have been famous for a long time, and their magical powers are probably not much different. However, the staff that Master Gao Dian is holding should be a treasure that has accumulated incense offerings for a hundred years. It has a very deep restraint on any kind of magic power such as exorcising ghosts and controlling insects."

"This is using its historical foundation to intimidate others. The incense offerings of the Xiongwang Temple are far superior to those of the Mountain God Temple. However, if it encounters something like the Yang Sha Fire Talisman, its treasures won't have such a significant restraining effect."

As the saying goes, experts see the details, while laymen just watch the spectacle.

But today's contest of magic left them neither the luxury of setting up an altar or offering sacrifices to spirits, nor the unfortunate third party to act as a medium for the struggle between the two sides' magic, so they couldn't come up with many interesting tricks.

A true clash of magical power and cultivation, where a single moment's difference can mean defeat, is something laymen can't even enjoy.

After Master Gaodian and his group, there were four more duels, all of which were decided in just one or two rounds.

Master Zhiyuan and Granny Yuan have both been on stage.

Granny Yuan won, but Daoist Zhiyuan encountered Grand Master Yanglian. He possessed nineteen kinds of incense sticks and incense pills, and his incense skills could communicate with ghosts and gods. However, when Grand Master Yanglian unleashed a burst of fiery energy, all of it was dispelled, and he admitted defeat after just one round.

As Guan Luoyang listened to Qiu Di's explanation, he used his eyesight and hearing to estimate the level of damage these mages could cause.

In the sixth match, the monk Xu Luo from the Yanzhou Prefecture Pharmacist Academy took the stage.

According to the results of the lottery, his opponent was someone from the Zhenwu Temple.

Everyone looked at Qiu Shi.

Behind Qiu Shi, Guan Luoyang stood up.

When Wei Dinggong saw him step onto the stage, his expression changed slightly. He said, "Wait a minute. This man has short hair and isn't wearing a Taoist robe. He doesn't seem to be from the Zhenwu Temple, does he?"

Faced with the crowd's questions, Qiu Shi calmly said, "This is my Uncle Jiuhe's disciple, Junior Brother Qiu Hong. He is righteous and chivalrous by nature, and spends his years traveling around Jiaozhi to slay ghosts and monsters, unwilling to leave his name. Therefore, he does not often wear Taoist robes, and few people know his identity. Not long ago, when he killed the villain Miaosong, his long hair was cut off, which is why he looks like this now."

"Miaosong was killed by him?!"

"Did he kill Miaosong?"

These words caused quite a stir among the more than three hundred people from various sects.

Duke Wei Ding persisted, "Then why didn't I see him wearing mourning clothes in front of the palace a few days ago?"

"He was so heartbroken that he lay unconscious in the backyard for several days."

Qiu Shi turned around and gave a few instructions. A Taoist priest went to fetch a thick booklet. "If any of you seniors still have any doubts, you may refer to the list of disciples of my Zhenwu Temple."

On the stage, Guan Luoyang's gaze was clear as he glanced back.

………………

Last night, at the Zhenwu Temple.

Guan Luoyang took the initiative to find Qiu Shi and got straight to the point.

"I heard from Qiu Di that you told the people from the Zhenwu Temple not to participate in this magical duel?"

Qiu Shi was grinding inkstone in his room, nodding slightly: "Fighting will only lead to defeat, so what's the point of going? In the end, they all feel that it's time for a change after forty years of unchanged patterns. This is the general trend, and even if Master were to return now, they would still fight for it before they would be satisfied. Zhenwu Temple is in such a weak state now, and if it goes against the trend, it will inevitably harm itself."

Guan Luoyang's teeth clashed together, and he gently ground them together before saying, "If I wanted to borrow the name of the Zhenwu Temple, would you be willing?"

Qiu Shi looked up in surprise, his eyes momentarily filled with a complex and dark look, turbulent and turbulent, but in the end he revealed a look of trust and peace, and said, "Brother Guan has saved our lives, but if he has a request, it is not against morality, so how could I dare not comply! However, if Brother Guan is helping us out of righteous indignation, I do not want Brother Guan to get involved in this mess."

"It's not that I just want to help you. I mean exactly what I said. I want to use your Zhenwu Temple's name to get into this scheme."

Guan Luoyang said decisively, "I have my own reasons for wanting the Jade Register Grand Master's talisman to remain at the Zhenwu Shrine. If I can succeed, it will be a win-win situation. However, I need a legitimate reason to intervene and shut them up. Are you willing or not?"

Since coming into this world, everything Guan Luoyang has experienced has actually been passive.

While it's true that sometimes standing on the fringes of events makes it less likely to be targeted and allows for a clearer understanding of the situation, this doesn't align with Guan Luoyang's own temperament and habits.

My new friend died, and things are already laid out before me. If I can't get to the heart of the matter, what's the point of my trip?

Moreover, he also carries those missions on his shoulders, and only by taking more initiative can he better complete them.

Qiu Shi remained silent for a moment, then raised the stone slab in his hand.

The ink sticking to the end of the stone strip was not black ink, but high-quality cinnabar ink, making the inkstone thick and red like blood.

"Alright, Brother Guan, if you're willing, then let's give it a try."

………………

Below the high platform, Qiu Shi retrieved the list of disciples of the Zhenwu Temple throughout the ages, turned to the Qiu generation, and pointed it out to the seniors for them to read.

His secular name is Guan Luoyang, and his Taoist name is Qiuhong.

For reputable schools, it is not uncommon for outsiders with skills to seek out a deceased elder as their nominal master, thus leveraging each other's influence.

Back then, the Ming Dynasty general Yu Dayou heard that a monk had joined the army to fight against Japanese pirates and had achieved remarkable results. On a whim, he went to the Southern Shaolin Temple to learn the essence of the martial arts of the thirty-six branches. As a result, when he struck the monks with a long staff, they were all helpless, and none of them could defeat his staff skills on the battlefield.

Later, the abbot of the Southern Shaolin Temple approached him to discuss Zen and Taoism. Led by eight hundred warrior monks, three thousand brave warriors from the surrounding area of ​​the Southern Shaolin Temple were selected to follow Yu Dayou to the coast to fight against Japanese pirates.

In name, Yu Dayou became that Zen master's junior brother, nominally affiliated with the Southern Shaolin Temple.

With the wisdom of predecessors as a guide, Qiu Shi felt completely at ease doing this.

There was nothing more for the others to say.

The ringing of the Sanqing Bell heralds the start of the battle on the stage.

As soon as the bell rang, the entire wooden platform trembled, and Guan Luoyang suddenly appeared in front of Monk Xu Luo, striking down with a palm.

This palm strike shattered half of the monk's body.

The slightly plump, short-bearded monk had a smile on half of his face, and then his entire body scattered into flying insects.

Deep in the jungles of Kochi, insects are more terrifying than wild beasts. During certain seasons, mosquitoes can even eat people. In those towns, every household fumes herbs to drive away these poisonous insects.

Master Luo of Yanzhou Prefecture was renowned precisely because of his exceptional insect-repelling techniques.

The combination of insect manipulation techniques and Buddhist illusion magic meant that even on the battlefield when they were suppressing water bandits, Monk Xu Luo could fight against a hundred men single-handedly, arousing the deepest fear in those desperate bandits.

The flying insects were like clouds, or a ball of black cotton, enveloping Guan Luoyang completely. Although these insects were not fatal, a bite would immediately cause a red dot to appear. If dozens of them bit him at the same time, his limbs would be paralyzed on the spot, causing intense pain and itching.

The insects are chirping loudly!

Immediately following was a loud bang that drowned out the sounds of all the insects.

The wooden planks on the stage shattered, and a figure closed his pores, shook his back, and exerted all his strength. He slammed outwards, his hand swinging like a large sword being drawn, his hand moving like a dragon's claw or a python's dance, striking an empty spot.

A muffled groan filled the air, and Master Xu Luo was blasted out, his monk's robes billowing as he slid ten steps, retreating directly to the farthest point on the opposite corner of the arena.

The force of thousands of insects taking flight lifted his robes and body, allowing him to leap and move at speeds far exceeding those of ordinary people.

But as soon as he moved to a corner of the ring, he saw a hand press down on his chest with even greater speed.

despair!

Master Xu Luo fell from the three-foot platform, staggered a couple of steps to steady himself, and looked up to see the young man's shadow looming over him.

"Such fast movement!"

Master Xu Luo was stunned for a moment before sighing, "It is this humble monk who has lost."

He opened his sleeves and collected the flying insects on the platform. His bloated robes deflated, and it was unclear where the insects had hidden.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that there are actually quite a few dead flying insects scattered on the stage.

The tiny insects, flying in mid-air and seemingly powerless, which even a sword might not be able to kill, were actually wiped out in large numbers by Guan Luoyang's collision and slap just now.

"Hahaha, what a magnificent Water and Fire Immortal Robe! This Taoist Qiu Hong looks to be only in his early twenties, yet he has already mastered one of the four great achievements in martial arts. He is truly a prodigy and a genius."

Surprisingly, the first person to smile and applaud was Wei Dinggong.

Just as the people around him were about to offer their praise, Wei Dinggong suddenly changed the subject.

"However, our contest is to select the host of the Ghost Festival ritual. No matter how skilled a boxer is, it doesn't seem like they can be considered part of our competition for the talisman, right?"

The first person to agree said, "That's right. No matter how well you practice your martial arts, if you can't sense the magical power and rituals, how can you take on the role of the presiding officer?"

Someone else in the crowd said, "We know that Wudang practices both magic and martial arts, but you actually let a martial artist fool us in this kind of matter. Isn't that a bit against the rules?"

"I don't think this match counts. Master Xu Luo might not necessarily have lost."

The voices of the crowd rose and fell.

Wei Dinggong smiled slightly and turned to look at Qiu Shi.

"Who told you I have no magical powers?"

The gentle voice drowned out all the noise.

Guan Luoyang bent down and pried off a piece of wood, rolled up his right sleeve to his elbow, and asked, "If it doesn't have magical power, what is this?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the luster of bronze condensed on the skin, and intricate patterns spread from the elbows to the fingertips.

A surge of heat gathered at Guan Luoyang's fingertips, and a few wisps of smoke rose.

puff!!!!

The fire engulfed the wood and burned between Guan Luoyang's five fingers.

Wei Dinggong watched this scene with a slightly stiff expression.

It usually takes seven or eight years for an ordinary person to diligently study scriptures and classics before they can develop their first magical power. They often need to rely on certain tools and incantations to achieve the desired effect.

To perform magic like Guan Luoyang, without chanting incantations or using any instruments, and to ignite a thick, damp piece of wood with his bare hands, requires at least ten years of dedicated practice.

You absolutely cannot do this with hand-to-hand combat.

But how old is this person? If he spent over a decade studying scriptures, where did he find the time and energy to hone his skills and achieve such mastery in martial arts?!

Among the hundreds of people surrounding the high platform, quite a few shared similar thoughts. But given the reality, they could only feel a bit of apprehension, envy, and resentment, and sigh, "As expected of Wudang's profound heritage, they actually have such a great talent hidden in Jiaozhi."

"I have never been famous among the Dharma Masters before. I have hastily participated in the magical contest. I'm afraid that my fellow practitioners, even if they don't say it, will have some complaints in their hearts, just like this Dharma Master Wei Dinggong."

Guan Luoyang, holding the ball of flame, scanned his surroundings, fixed his gaze on Wei Dinggong, and suddenly smiled.

"Then let's do it this way. I'll compromise and change the rules."

"From now on, I will sit on the arena to compete for the Jade Register Grand Master's Talisman. There are five winners in front and four others who haven't come up yet. They can all come up."

"I'm the only one left at the Zhenwu Shrine. How about I fight from the first to the last?"

Under the blazing sun, it was visible to everyone.

Guan Luoyang flicked his hand, and flames crashed to the ground, scattering sparks everywhere.