The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

Unfortunately, this wasn't the end, but rather the end of an era. Even though Yagyu Tajima-no-kami chose a good time, he was still seriously injured himself!

"How did you launch the sneak attack? How did he retaliate?" Chu Luren asked directly.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this, but now that he was at the mercy of others, he honestly revealed the truth—it wasn't a secret, and Yagyu Tajima-no-kami immediately and skillfully judged that using this information to threaten for his life was not enough.

Since that's the case, let's just get straight to the point.

Meanwhile, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami made the other party's situation sound even worse, hoping that Chu Taisui would also give him a good kick!

Chu Lu Ren was not sure how to judge the situation of the Sweeping Monk.

According to Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, he jumped out and used the "God of Slaughter One-Slash Slash," but the sword energy disappeared completely three feet away from the opponent. Then he was injured by the opponent's palm force several feet away, and was then sent flying. He hurriedly fled down the mountain. Because his injuries were too severe, he found a secluded place and used the "Yuan Gui Qi Gong" to enter a state of suspended animation to recuperate.

No one followed after that...

Chu Luren made a mental comparison—the sneak attack on Zhang Zhenren, who was also knocking on the Heavenly Gate, was a great achievement for Gang Xiang, a master of the Tantric sect, who had inflicted even more injuries on Zhang Zhenren. However, the result was that Chu Luren himself was smashed into a rotten watermelon.

In contrast, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami did not achieve any merit, but he did manage to save his life...

Of course, the two situations are still different. Yagyu Tajima-no-kami jumped out in the middle of the day, dressed in night clothes. After his sword energy was blocked, he was knocked away by the Sweeper Monk with a single palm strike. But when he was just now, he was disguised as a Shaolin monk and only made his move when Zhang Zhenren got close.

Moreover, we must also consider that Yagyu Tajima-no-kami might exaggerate the situation, making it difficult to compare whether the Sweeper Monk or Zhang Zhenren was more seriously injured. However... Chu Luren felt that the Sweeper Monk was most likely not as badly injured as Zhang Zhenren!

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's "God of Slaughter One-Slash" was no less powerful than the full-force attack of any newly ascended master, yet it still couldn't break through the three-foot aura barrier, and didn't even penetrate within three feet.

Chu Luren knew he couldn't do that with his external protective aura.

As for why Yagyu Tajima-no-kami didn't die, it's possible that he was shown mercy or that the Sweeper Monk was indeed good at defending against high-level attacks.

"You said you came to save Guihai Yidao? Then why did you ambush the monk who helped him with the blessing... no, the exorcism?" Chu Luren naturally wouldn't let go of this contradiction.

"No, I came here only for Guihai Yidao." Yagyu Tajima-no-kami didn't say much, but he believed that Chu Shika-to had already understood.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami also understood that once people knew he was secretly colluding with the Divine Marquis, many of the Divine Marquis's conspiracies would be impossible to hide from Chu Luren. Fortunately, he had already caused a rift between Princess Yunluo and Chu Luren in advance, so that he could not send the news to the emperor.

So at this moment, he vaguely mentioned it, letting Chu Luren guess for himself—he could guess that the Marquis deliberately let Guihai Yidao cause trouble everywhere in order to lure Cao Zhengchun's faction into making a move.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren nodded, revealing a perfectly timed expression of "sudden realization."

Without the context of the original work to follow, Chu Luren currently believes that Shenhou is ruthless and doesn't want Guihai Yidao to implicate him, so he wants to kill him first to silence him or take him back to be imprisoned.

"Who will the Dragon Guard Manor send during the Slaughtering Ceremony?" Chu Luren asked casually.

"I don't know." Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's face was full of sincerity, and he did not explain things like "I am just cooperating with the God Lord" or "The God Lord does not trust me".

It sounds so real...

Chu Luren didn't mention whether he believed it or not; he could probably guess it anyway.

Lifting up Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, Chu Shika-to prepared to descend the mountain...

At this moment, Chu Luren also temporarily abandoned his plans to sneak into Shaolin Temple at night—since noon is when the Sweeper Monk is at his weakest, he would come back at noon!

Even a thousand or a hundred awake monks are easier to deal with than a single, well-behaved sweeping monk.

"Chu Sang, your injuries have healed..."

"not yet."

Chu Luren ignored Liu Sheng Tajima-no-kami's minor objections and carried him back to the inn without anyone noticing.

"If Chu Sang were in Japan, he would definitely become the best ninja."

This is the most heartfelt sentence that Yagyu Tajima-no-kami said after meeting Chu Shika-to.

On the way down the mountain, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, who was being carried, sensed Chu Shiren's lightness skills, agility, and stealth abilities!

When they returned to the inn, Huang Rong was indeed still awake. When she saw Chu Luren carrying people back, she was overjoyed, thinking that the Lion King had been successfully rescued. However, she immediately noticed something was wrong—the color of the fur was off!

"This is..." Huang Rong asked, somewhat puzzled.

This person was clearly not Xie Xun, and judging by his age, he shouldn't be Gui Haiyi Dao either.

“Piaoxu’s father,” Chu Luren said.

Upon hearing this, Huang Rong's expression revealed understanding: "Is Guihai Yidao really at the Southern Shaolin Temple?"

At the same time, without Chu Luren's reminder, Huang Rong had already thought through everything she should and shouldn't say in front of Yagyu Tajima-no-kami. Regardless of whether Yagyu Tajima-no-kami would be released alive or not, she would never reveal anything to him!

"Your Majesty, I've heard so much about you." Although Yagyu Tajima-no-kami had never met Huang Rong because of his faked death, he had heard of her. She was a wise general who, together with Princess Yunluo, had repeatedly caused countless civil and military officials, eunuchs and powerful ministers to suffer setbacks in the capital.

However, after Murong Fu sowed discord, Huang Rong lost the protection of Yunluo's noble status and could not do much in the capital, so she did not stay long. Similarly, without Huang Rong, Yunluo became no threat at all—just a spoiled little girl!

With this thought in mind, Yagyu Tajima no Kami pondered again—was it really true that Chu Tai Sui had turned against Yun Luo and Murong Fu?

It seems quite real at the moment, but after the internal information about that rebellious woman became questionable, it became less reliable.

Murong Fu's demeanor was beyond suspicion; his ambition was genuine. It would be strange if such a person confided in Chu Luren, and even complained to the Marquis about how, although the princess's affection for him was steadily increasing, they had never actually consummated their marriage, and she seemed quite anxious about it behind his back...

Chapter 758 Southern Shaolin

In broad daylight, at noon, Chu Luren arrived at Shaolin Temple without anyone noticing—this was Chu Luren's first time stepping into the Southern Shaolin Temple.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was left at the inn. With Gou-chan also there, there was no fear of him causing any trouble. It was just that Chu Lu-ren had sealed his acupoints, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he wouldn't be able to break free.

At the entrance of the Southern Shaolin Temple is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and beyond the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the main Mahavira Hall, which is like a string of candied hawthorns, one hall after another, until the last hall, the Hall of Thousand Buddhas, in front of the back gate.

There are other courtyards on both sides, such as the Bodhi Courtyard, the Dharma Courtyard, and the Arhat Hall, which are on the left side of the entrance to the mountain gate. The monks' rest rooms and dining hall are on the right side. In the center of the "candied hawthorn" structure, apart from the place for offering incense to Buddha, there is only the abbot's courtyard. The Vinaya Courtyard and the Path to Enlightenment Courtyard are located on the back mountain.

The former is the place to punish disciples who break the precepts—family scandals should not be aired in public, so it is naturally done in the back mountain;

The latter is a place for eminent monks to meditate in seclusion—it needs to be quiet and detached from worldly affairs.

Normally, the only places that pilgrims can enter are the Buddhist halls along the central axis. Ordinary pilgrims can only go up to the abbot's courtyard. Only pilgrims who are "sincere" enough, or itinerant monks who come to worship Buddha, can pass through the abbot's courtyard and go to the Thousand Buddha Hall behind it.

If one has the "sincerity" to offer several hundred taels of silver, then even the side rooms in the courtyard can be opened for temporary stays.

Matters in the martial arts world are generally resolved in the various halls and courtyards on the left. If there are too many people, they will be resolved in the square between the Mahavira Hall and the Heavenly King Hall.

The so-called ban on female guests does not include the Buddhist halls in front of the abbot's courtyard and all the way to the mountain gate. Normally, male and female pilgrims can come to offer incense without any problem. However, they are naturally not allowed to enter the monks' living quarters, the halls and courtyards, the Buddhist halls behind the abbot's courtyard, or the side rooms of the other courtyards.

Of course, if one's sincerity can move a master to grant permission, that's another matter entirely.

In addition, the Sutra Repository of the Southern Shaolin Temple is also located on the back mountain.

Chu Luren walked from the Heavenly King Hall to the Thousand Buddha Hall, passing by the Abbot's Courtyard along the way. He even made a detour to visit the Bodhidharma Courtyard and went to see what dishes were being prepared in the dining hall without disturbing any of the monks. He even refrained from adding some lard to the dishes...

At this time, Shaolin Temple has temporarily closed its gates and will not receive pilgrims until the Lion-Slaying Assembly and the Knife-Slaying Assembly are completed.

Anyway, they're big shots. The land and property under the temple's name are comparable to those of three or five corrupt officials. Losing two months' worth of incense money is nothing to them.

Therefore, the temple was very quiet, with the faint shouts of the martial monks practicing their skills. Overall, the Lion-Slaying Assembly a month later did not bring much panic to the Southern Shaolin Temple.

During this time, Chu Luren even went to the abbot's courtyard to look at Xuan Ci, who was meditating, and to see if there were any handwritings left by him in his early years...

Unfortunately, Xuanci is now a "virtuous and eminent monk," and his once unrestrained calligraphy has all been put away. The calligraphy and paintings hanging outside are now all peaceful and compassionate.

I also visited my old friend Xuanku at the Bodhidharma Academy...

At this time, most of the experts in the Bodhidharma Academy were diligently cultivating their internal strength. After taking this round, Chu Luren had a basic understanding of the strength of Shaolin.

There are many experts!

Although we haven't seen the Sweeper Monk or any other peerless masters, there are only three or four top-tier masters. Apart from Xuan Ci, one of them is from the Zhengdao Academy and must have comprehended profound martial arts from Buddhist principles. If we were to actually fight, he probably wouldn't be as strong as he seems.

The other two are from the Bodhidharma Academy... not the head monk Xuan Nan, but seemingly old monks who have been diligently practicing martial arts and are not well-known.

Xuan Ci was known as the Tiger-Taming Arhat, but his nickname was overshadowed by Shen Shan of Qingliang Temple. However, Chu Luren could see clearly that this old fellow was hiding his true strength. His internal strength was actually superior to Shen Shan's, and as for his external skills... with the resources of the Southern Shaolin Temple, it was impossible for him to be inferior to Qingliang Temple!

If we only consider top-tier experts, this lineup is strong, but it's hard to say it can compare to Blackwood Cliff—not counting the Eastern Cult Leader himself, the ten elders, four hall masters, left and right protectors of Blackwood Cliff are also quite formidable.

However, Shaolin's advantage lies in its second-rate masters—ranging from Yue Buqun before his "sudden fame" to the Five Wanderers of the Ming Cult and the weaker members of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

Chu Luren met thirty or forty monks of this level, most of whom were only vaguely known.

To say they were completely unknown wouldn't be accurate. Most of them had ventured out into the world ten, twenty, or even longer ago. However, their Buddhist names sound quite unfamiliar because they hadn't been out in public for so long.

This is also a characteristic of Shaolin monks. After their training period, they seem to retire from the martial arts world, hiding in temples, and no one knows how high their martial arts skills are now.

Even second-rate individuals are considered experts in the martial arts world. For example, the Fuwei Escort Agency was considered to have an honor if they could reach this level.

This applies to most of the ordinary sect leaders, the ten most feared villains, and even the Shaolin abbots who usually travel outside the sect.

If it were the Lion-Slaying Assembly, with the addition of lay disciples and members of collateral sects who would lend their support, nearly a hundred people could be gathered.

It's unlikely that they can take over the main position by squeezing out the Songshan Sect and Shaolin.

Another significant threat comes from a group of martial monks who practice hard kung fu...

If a real fight breaks out, there will be three-on-three coordinations, three-on-three coordinations, two sets of three-on-three coordinations, layer upon layer. If you really get caught up in it, it won't be pleasant.

Of course, the formation had little effect on Chu Luren.

Ming Yutai's ability to discern weaknesses and his Qiankun Wuji Gong's ability to counter sieges make breaking through not difficult.

Moreover, it is not a chaotic time now, and Shaolin cannot muster a force of hundreds of monks. It is already difficult enough to put together a formation of 108 Arhats.

If we disregard the Arhat Formation, the Three Elders, and the Sweeper Monk, and if the Northern Shaolin Temple is of a similar level, then indeed, if the Five Mountains Sword Sects were united, they would be able to "make Shaolin unable to ignore them."

After all, Zuo Lengchan's martial arts skills are definitely above Xuanci's. If the Five Mountains are united, Songshan Mountain itself will have thirteen bodyguards, and a total of more than twenty second-rate people, which can always be gathered together.

Shaolin Temple, having its secrets thoroughly investigated, remained completely unaware that someone had taken a stroll through the temple.

Chu Luren suddenly realized that he had another reason to earn Shaolin's respect—I didn't even approve of him putting several boxes of erotic art, or even pictures of male homosexuality, under dozens of monks' pillows every day!

Otherwise, Shaolin would be in chaos within a month.

But the Grand Duke Jupiter did not do that. What kind of spirit and integrity is this?

After reflecting on how kind he was and how ungrateful the Shaolin monks were, Chu Luren left the main temple and made his way towards the back mountain...

Chapter 759 Gathering Momentum

After leaving through the back gate of the Southern Shaolin Temple, you will see three paths.

Chu Luren didn't know which way to go, so he randomly chose a path that seemed to lead him there.

Anyway, what Chu Luren is looking for is the Three Crossings and Xie Xun, as well as the Sutra Repository and the Sweeping Monk. The other path should be the Disciplinary Hall—only one of the three paths is the wrong answer!

Following the path down the mountain and then up again, we came to a solitary peak. On the mountain, there was a cave dwelling carved into the cliff face. In front of us was a relatively flat rock platform with only a few half-dead trees, barely forming a small courtyard...

This is the place where Xie Xun is being held. From afar, on the Mingyu Terrace in Chu Luren's mind, he could already see the "target" and knew that he hadn't been unlucky enough to come to the wrong place!

There were four people in the cave dwelling: one was imprisoned in a pit cell, and the other three were chanting scriptures above...