18: Chapter 18 One Palm Shocks the World

At the birthday banquet, red silk hung high and the food and wine were fully prepared, but the entire plaza lacked even a hint of a festive atmosphere.

The Sect Heads and experts of the various Schools had flickering gazes, frequently glancing toward the side halls on both sides of Zixiao Palace, clearly all speculating about the whereabouts of Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun.

The tension in the air was almost palpable.

Even the Disciples of the smaller Schools, who had come with the intention of watching the spectacle, held their breath, not daring to say a single word.

Zhang Sanfeng sat upright in the main seat, lifted his teacup, and took a light sip, his expression indifferent, as if he did not sense the hair-trigger atmosphere in the plaza.

As the head Disciple of the Wudang Sect, Song Yuanqiao was the first to stand up, cupping his hands toward those in all directions, and said in a resonant voice:

"Today is my Master's one-hundredth birthday. Thank you to all my peers in the Martial Forest for traveling thousands of miles to come to Wudang Mountain to offer your congratulations. I, Song Yuanqiao, on behalf of my Master and the entire Wudang Sect, thank you all!"

As his voice fell, he bowed deeply to all sides.

However, in the plaza, there were only a few scattered responses; the vast majority of people remained silent.

Finally, Abbot Kongwen of the Shaolin Sect, sitting at the head table, slowly set down the teacup in his hand.

He looked toward Zhang Sanfeng in the main seat, pressed his palms together, and chanted a Buddhist name: "Amitabha. Immortal Master Zhang, today is your one-hundredth birthday. This old monk should have brought the Shaolin Sect Disciples to offer my sincere congratulations."

"However, there is a case that still requires Immortal Master Zhang to give us, and the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World, an explanation."

Here it comes.

The plaza instantly became quiet to the extreme, and everyone's gaze focused on Abbot Kongwen and Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Sanfeng lifted his eyes to look at Abbot Kongwen, his tone indifferent: "Oh? If the Abbot has something to say, feel free to speak plainly."

"Immortal Master Zhang, your fifth Disciple, Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan, swore an oath of brotherhood with Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun. This matter is known to everyone in the Jianghu."

Abbot Kongwen spoke slowly, his voice spreading across the entire plaza.

"Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun killed the innocent indiscriminately, his hands stained with blood. Years ago, he even killed our Shaolin Sect's Divine Monk Kongjian, committing a monstrous crime."

"Now, rumors in the Jianghu say that Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun has returned to Wudang Mountain with Fifth Brother Zhang Cuishan. I wonder if this is true or false?"

"And what if it is? And what if it is not?" Zhang Sanfeng asked back indifferently. This one sentence caused an instant uproar in the plaza.

No one expected that Zhang Sanfeng would be so direct, without any intention of covering it up.

Abbot Kongwen was also stunned for a moment, and then his expression sank.

"Immortal Master Zhang, Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun is a public enemy of the Jianghu, with the lives of dozens of Martial Forest peers on his hands."

"If he is truly on Wudang Mountain, I ask that Immortal Master Zhang hand him over to us, the various Schools, so that we may deal with him together and comfort the spirits of those who died unjustly!"

"That's right!"

Abbess Miejue, who was nearby, suddenly stood up. She slammed her heavenly sword hard against the ground, producing a sound of clashing metal, cold light radiating from her eyes.

"Immortal Master Zhang! Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun did not only kill the Shaolin Sect's Great Master Kongjian, but he also killed my Emei Sect's Disciples. His blood debts are numerous, and his crimes are unforgivable!"

"If the Wudang Sect insists on protecting this Devil Head, it is equivalent to becoming an enemy of the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World!"

"Immortal Master Zhang, please hand over Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun and the dragon slaying saber!"

"The Kunlun Sect earnestly requests that Immortal Master Zhang hand over the Devil Head, Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun!"

"The Kongtong Sect seconds that!"

"The Huashan Sect also requests that Immortal Master Zhang give the Jianghu peers an explanation!"

In an instant, Kunlun Sect Leader He Taichong, the five elders of the Kongtong Sect, and Huashan Sect Leader Xian Yutong all stood up to echo their agreement, pressing forward step by step with their words.

Hundreds of Disciples from the five major Schools simultaneously gripped the weapons at their waists, their Qi locking onto the people of the Wudang Sect; a great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

The Seven Heroes of Wudang stood up in unison, blocking the path in front of Zhang Sanfeng and confronting the people of the five major Schools.

"Abbot Kongwen, Abbess Miejue!" Song Yuanqiao stepped forward.

"Regarding the matter of Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun, the cause and effect are not as the Jianghu rumors claim! The true mastermind is someone else!"

"Today, at my Master's one-hundredth birthday banquet, for you to gather the crowd and force our hand is going too far!"

"Going too far?" Abbess Miejue sneered.

"Is it not going too far for the Wudang Sect to hide a murderous Devil Head?"

"Great Hero Song, I advise you not to be obsessed and stubborn. Hand over Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun immediately, otherwise, the five major Schools will not stand for it today!"

"Let's see who dares!"

Yu Lianzhou stepped forward, his aura at the Peak of the Innate Realm instantly erupting. His tiger-like eyes swept across the crowd, "Whoever wants to touch my Wudang Sect's people must first get past me, Yu Lianzhou!"

Below the Great Grandmaster Realm, Yu Lianzhou was already one of the most top-tier experts in the Jianghu.

As his aura spread out, the Disciples of the five major Schools instantly turned pale and could not help but retreat half a step.

Both Abbot Kongwen and Abbess Miejue had their pupils constrict.

They did not expect that in just a few short months, Yu Lianzhou's cultivation had reached such a terrifying level, stepping half a step into the Grandmaster Realm!

Both sides were at loggerheads, and the atmosphere in the plaza instantly dropped to freezing point.

Just then, Zhang Sanfeng spoke slowly.

"All of you, stand down."

The Seven Heroes of Wudang immediately bowed and retreated to the side, though their gazes remained vigilant as they stared at the people of the five major Schools.

Zhang Sanfeng slowly set down the teacup in his hand, lifted his eyes to sweep across the people of the five major Schools in the plaza, his gaze indifferent.

Yet it was like Mount Tai pressing down, instantly sweeping across the entire plaza.

The Dao rhythm of the Great Grandmaster Realm spread out without reservation. Everyone in the plaza felt as if a giant boulder was pressing on their chest, making even breathing difficult.

The Disciples with slightly weaker cultivation immediately had their legs go soft and knelt on the ground.

The people of the five major Schools, who had originally been at loggerheads, instantly turned pale, and the hands gripping their weapons began to tremble slightly.

The expressions of Abbot Kongwen and Abbess Miejue changed drastically.

Both of them were top-tier experts in the Jianghu, at the Late Stage of the Innate Realm.

But under the pressure of Zhang Sanfeng, they felt like a single leaf boat in a raging storm, likely to capsize at any moment.

They never dreamed that Zhang Sanfeng's cultivation had reached such a terrifying level!

"My Wudang Sect is not a place for you to run wild."

Zhang Sanfeng spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears.

"Abbot Kongwen, Abbess Miejue, you keep saying that you want to seek justice for those who died unjustly, yet you haven't even figured out the truth of the matter, and you dare to bring people to my Wudang Mountain to force my hand?"

"The truth?" Abbess Miejue gritted her teeth, struggling to withstand the pressure of Zhang Sanfeng.

"Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun has killed countless people, his blood debts are numerous; this is the truth! Immortal Master Zhang, don't think that you can rely on your profound cultivation to distort the truth!"

"It is you who are distorting the truth." Zhang Sanfeng smiled indifferently, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"I would like to see what ability you have today to dare to tear down my Wudang Mountain."

Before his voice had faded, Abbess Miejue and Abbot Kongwen exchanged a look, both seeing determination in each other's eyes.

Things had reached this point; they had no way back. If they retreated today, the reputation of the five major Schools would be completely swept away.

"Amitabha. Immortal Master Zhang, since you insist on protecting Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun, then do not blame this old monk for being impolite!"

Abbot Kongwen let out a low shout, fully activating his Shaolin Nine Yang Skill, and struck out with a palm toward Zhang Sanfeng.

Abbess Miejue attacked simultaneously, the heavenly sword unsheathed, her Emei Nine Yang Skill activated, and a sharp Sword Intent thrust straight toward Zhang Sanfeng's face.

Two top-tier experts attacked simultaneously without reservation; their first move was a killing blow.

The crowd in the plaza instantly let out an exclamation.

No one expected that Abbot Kongwen and Abbess Miejue would actually dare to attack Zhang Sanfeng!

The expressions of the Seven Heroes of Wudang changed drastically, and they were about to step forward to stop them, but were stopped by a wave of Zhang Sanfeng's hand.

Zhang Sanfeng sat upright in the main seat, not moving at all, simply raising his hand casually and lightly striking out with a palm toward the two people coming toward him.

There was no earth-shattering sound, no brilliant light, only a gentle yet extremely domineering Pure Yang Qi that swept out.

The moment Abbot Kongwen's palm power made contact with the Pure Yang Qi, it was like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, instantly melting away.

Abbess Miejue's sharp Sword Intent was also shattered inch by inch within the Protective Aura.

Immediately following, that seemingly gentle Protective Aura slammed hard against the two of them.

Abbot Kongwen and Abbess Miejue groaned at the same time, their bodies flying backward like kites with broken strings.

With one palm, he repelled the Shaolin Sect Abbot and the Emei Sect Head, two top-tier experts at the Late Stage of the Innate Realm, who had no power to fight back!

The entire plaza was dead silent.

Everyone widened their eyes, watching the scene before them, their minds blank, even forgetting to breathe.

This already exceeded their understanding of martial arts! Is this the Realm of the Great Grandmaster Realm?!

Zhang Sanfeng slowly withdrew his palm, his tone devoid of any emotion: "With just this little cultivation, you dare to come to my Wudang Mountain to run wild?"

"I will ask one more time, who else wants to tear down my Wudang Mountain?"

As his voice fell, the plaza was silent, and not a single person dared to respond.

Sect Leader He Taichong, the five elders of the Kongtong Sect, Xian Yutong, and others turned deathly pale and retreated repeatedly.

They finally understood that the Ancestral Master of the Wudang Sect before them was simply not an existence they could provoke.

Let alone their five major Schools joining forces, even if the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World were added together, they might not be a match for this Great Grandmaster.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at the crowd, who were as silent as cicadas in winter, and a curve formed at the corner of his mouth.