53: Chapter 53 Discussing Huang Yaoshi

Before Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi even finished speaking, his green robes suddenly billowed, and a pressure at the Peak of the Middle Stage of the Grandmaster Realm swept across the entire scene.

He made a subtle gesture with his right hand, and the peach blossom petals covering the mountains and plains rose up from thin air, transforming into a pink torrent that surged down upon Zhang Sanfeng's head.

Each petal was infused with pure Innate Internal Energy, its edges as sharp as a knife, and the sound of it tearing through the air was sharp and piercing; wherever it passed, the hard bluestone ground was carved with dense, fine marks.

"Luoying Divine Sword Palm: Flying Flowers Chasing Butterflies!" Huang Rong exclaimed softly, clutching Guo Jing's hand tightly.

This was her father's most proud opening Move; while the sky full of flying flowers appeared scattered and disorderly, it actually concealed the positions of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, sealing off all avenues of retreat.

Zhang Sanfeng's expression remained unchanged as he stepped steadily onto the Kan position with his left foot and slowly drew circles with both hands.

As he executed the Wudang Cotton Palm, a layer of pale golden Taiji halo appeared in his palms, forming a round Qi shield about a zhang in size.

The pink petals struck the Qi shield, emitting the sound of clashing metal, and were immediately pulled by the Taiji Force to spin at high speed, forming a massive pink vortex around him.

"Using stillness to control movement—not bad," Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly, and his palm technique suddenly changed.

The sky full of petals suddenly converged, condensing into a three-foot-long transparent peach blossom sword with a faint green glow circulating on its blade.

With a flick of his wrist, the peach blossom sword turned into a stream of light, stabbing straight at Zhang Sanfeng's heart; this was the killing Move of the Luoying Divine Sword Palm, "Ten Thousand Streams Return to the Origin."

This sword strike condensed seventy percent of his Internal Energy, its speed reaching the extreme, leaving only an afterimage.

Zhang Sanfeng turned his wrist slightly, and the Taiji Qi shield tilted forty-five degrees.

The peach blossom sword grazed his shoulder and pierced into a nearby boulder with a "chi" sound, sinking more than three inches deep.

Before Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi could pull back his sword to change Moves, Zhang Sanfeng gently guided his right hand, and the Taiji Force pulled in the opposite direction.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi felt a soft yet tenacious force travel along the blade, causing his body to stumble half a step forward involuntarily, and his breathing was disrupted for a moment.

"What a great use of borrowing force to strike!" A hint of gravity flashed in Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's eyes as he pulled back his jade flute and held it horizontally across his chest.

His figure flickered, appearing on Zhang Sanfeng's left side like a ghost, his right index and middle fingers pressed together with a faint green glow on the fingertips, executing the Orchid Finger Flicking Technique.

His fingertips swept through the air, leaving behind streaks of green afterimages as he struck at thirty-six major acupoints on Zhang Sanfeng's body.

This finger technique was as elegant as an orchid blooming, yet it was incredibly powerful; once struck, the Meridians would be frozen by cold Internal Energy, leaving the victim unable to Move.

Zhang Sanfeng trod the Cloud Ladder Step beneath his feet, his figure drifting like willow catkins.

With his left hand, he executed the Taiji Cloud Hands, his sleeves fluttering as he gently brushed away the finger strikes.

The green glow struck a nearby peach tree, causing the trunk to instantly freeze with a layer of white frost, and the branches and leaves withered one after another.

The two figures crisscrossed, fast as lightning; one could only see two afterimages shuttling through the peach blossom forest, and the booming sounds of palm winds and finger strikes colliding were incessant.

After fighting for over thirty rounds, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi had been unable to win and felt anxious.

He suddenly retreated three zhang and flicked his left hand, sending three peach pits flying with the sound of tearing air, aiming directly at Zhang Sanfeng's brow, throat, and Dantian in a triangular Formation.

The peach pits were as fast as shooting stars, leaving three faint afterimages in the air; this was the Finger Flicking Divine Skill.

"Well come!" Zhang Sanfeng let out a low shout, flicking three tiny threads of Taiji Force from his fingertips.

With three crisp "ding" sounds, the peach pits shattered into powder in mid-air.

But Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi was prepared; with a wave of his right hand, dozens of peach blossom petals followed in close pursuit, shooting over like a rainstorm.

He flicked his wrist repeatedly, unleashing the Finger Flicking Divine Skill like a string of pearls; peach blossom petals, pebbles, and fragments of the jade flute took turns attacking, and the airtight offensive surrounded Zhang Sanfeng completely.

Zhang Sanfeng's expression remained calm as he moved his hands rapidly, executing the Taiji Fist Intent.

Countless Taiji Qi vortices of varying sizes generated around him, acting like rotating shields.

All the hidden weapons that struck the vortices were either ground into powder or deflected back.

Although Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's Finger Flicking Divine Skill was exquisite, it could never break through his defense.

"Splitting Air Palm!" Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi shouted angrily, striking with both palms.

A black, fierce palm wind surged over like a giant wave; wherever it passed, the air was compressed, emitting booming sounds, and the bluestone on the ground was shattered.

This palm strike condensed ten percent of his power; it was fierce and domineering, completely different from his previous elegant Moves.

Zhang Sanfeng no longer just defended; his right palm pushed out slowly, and the Pure Yang Dao Rhyme condensed into a golden palm print.

"Wudang Mountain-Suppressing Iron Palm!" The golden palm print and the black palm wind collided violently, emitting a thunderous explosion.

A terrifying wave of Qi expanded in all directions, uprooting the surrounding peach trees, and the sky full of petals danced like a rain of peach blossoms.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi felt a scorching Pure Yang Internal Energy surge up his arm, shaking his blood and Qi, and he retreated three steps before steadying himself.

He looked at Zhang Sanfeng, his eyes full of disbelief.

He had not expected that this young Daoist possessed not only peerless soft force but also fierce palm power that was in no way inferior to his own.

"It seems I have no choice but to use my ultimate Move." Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi took a deep breath, and his Internal Energy circulated frantically.

He quickly formed seals with both hands, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi suddenly became restless.

The scenery of the peach blossom forest began to twist and rotate, forming a huge vortex that trapped Zhang Sanfeng in the center.

"Mysterious Gate Five Turns!"

This was a supreme skill created by Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi through the Fusion of the Mysterious Gate Escaping Techniques and his lifelong martial arts, capable of drawing upon the power of Heaven and Earth to trap and kill enemies.

Within the vortex, countless palm shadows, finger strikes, and Sword Qi attacked from all directions, indistinguishable between real and fake, making them impossible to guard against.

Guo Jing felt dizzy and quickly closed his eyes to circulate his Internal Skill to resist.

Huang Rong's face also turned pale, and she gripped Guo Jing's arm tightly; she had never seen her father use this Move before.

Zhang Sanfeng stood in the center of the vortex, his expression calm.

He closed his eyes, focusing on sensing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, treading the Taiji Eight Trigrams footwork, and chanting silently.

"Taiji gives birth to the Two Modes, the Two Modes give birth to the Four Images, the Four Images give birth to the Eight Trigrams..." His figure rotated with the vortex, yet he always maintained his balance.

No matter how many attacks came, they were all gently dissolved by his Taiji Force.

"Impossible! How can the Mysterious Gate Five Turns not trap you?" Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi cried out in disbelief.

He desperately urged his Internal Energy, and the vortex spun faster and faster, with attacks becoming increasingly fierce.

But Zhang Sanfeng stood as firm as a rock, never wavering.

Three hundred rounds had passed, and Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi had consumed a massive amount of Internal Energy, his breathing gradually becoming disordered.

He retreated suddenly, pulled out his jade flute, placed it to his lips, and played the "Sea Tide Melody."

The flute music rang out, sometimes soaring like a crane crying to the Nine Heavens, sometimes mournful like an orphan girl weeping, and sometimes surging like waves crashing against the shore.

As soon as the flute music emerged, giant waves dozens of zhang high suddenly rose in the distant East Sea, crashing toward Peach Blossom Island.

The birds and beasts on the island let out miserable cries and fell to the ground dead.

Guo Jing felt uneasy, countless hallucinations appearing in his mind, and he quickly circulated his Innate Pure Yang Skill to resist.

Huang Rong also covered her ears, operating her Peach Blossom Island Internal Skill, but the flute music still burrowed into her ears like a venomous snake, causing her blood and Qi to surge.

Zhang Sanfeng's expression tightened, and he operated his Pure Yang Dao Rhyme.

Golden light surged from his body, forming a huge protective shield that shielded Guo Jing and Huang Rong within.

He opened his mouth and chanted the "Dao De Jing," his voice peaceful and impartial, like the morning bell and evening drum, clearly overpowering the flute music.

"The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things and does not contend; it dwells in the places that people loathe, thus it is near the Dao..."

The peaceful chanting, carrying the Pure Yang Dao Rhyme, constantly purified the seductive power within the flute music.

The golden light grew brighter and brighter, dispelling the surrounding cold aura completely.

Cold sweat seeped from Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's forehead; he desperately urged his Internal Energy, and the flute music became even more shrill.

But no matter how hard he tried, he could not overpower Zhang Sanfeng's chanting.

"Pfft!" Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi spat out a mouthful of blood, and the jade flute flew from his hands.

He stumbled back three steps, his face as pale as paper.

"I have lost."

His voice was hoarse, his tone filled with a hint of unwillingness, yet he had to concede.

Zhang Sanfeng slowly stopped chanting, and the golden protective shield gradually dissipated.

He bowed slightly: "Island Master Huang, you are too kind."

"The Island Master's martial arts are profound and extensive, especially the Mysterious Gate Five Turns, which integrates Formations with martial arts; this poor Daoist has benefited greatly."

In fact, during the previous confrontation, Zhang Sanfeng had kept his cultivation suppressed at the Peak of the Middle Stage of the Grandmaster Realm, on par with Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi.

His victory was due to his understanding of the Martial Dao far exceeding that of Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi.

Although Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's martial arts were strange and varied, they pursued the exquisiteness of Moves too much, lacked sufficient realization of the essence of the "Dao," and had an insufficient Foundation of Internal Energy.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi looked at Zhang Sanfeng, his eyes complex.

He had been arrogant all his life, viewing the heroes of the world as nothing, yet today he had been defeated by an unknown Daoist.

But he had to admit that Zhang Sanfeng's martial arts and insight were far above his own.

"Daoist, your martial arts are peerless; Huang is convinced and admires you."

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi sighed, "I wonder who created the Daoist's Taiji martial arts?"

"It was created by this poor Daoist himself," Zhang Sanfeng said indifferently.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi cupped his hands and bowed to Zhang Sanfeng, saying: "Daoist, Huang has a request."

"I wonder if you would be willing to discuss the Dao with me in the bamboo forest for three days? Huang is very curious about the Taiji Dao and hopes the Daoist will not withhold your teachings."

"That is exactly what I desire; I would not dare to refuse," Zhang Sanfeng agreed readily.

For the next three days and nights, the two closed themselves off in the bamboo forest on Peach Blossom Island to discuss the Dao.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi imparted all his lifelong martial arts insights without reservation.

From the Sword Intent of the Luoying Divine Sword Palm, to the force-generating techniques of the Finger Flicking Divine Skill, to the Formation principles of the Mysterious Gate Five Turns, he held nothing back.

Zhang Sanfeng also explained the Taiji Concept and the Daoist path of the Unity of Heaven and Humanity to Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi.

He pointed out the flaw in Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's martial arts of "having excess adaptability but insufficient Foundation," suggesting that he consolidate his Foundation, Move from complexity to simplicity, and return to the basics.

After hearing this, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi sighed inwardly.

He also knew that his Internal Energy Foundation was insufficient, which was why he had always been seeking the Nine Yin Manual.

He bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng: "Daoist, your words are worth more than ten years of study. Huang is deeply grateful!"

Zhang Sanfeng appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was surging with waves.

The elegance and agility, and infinite variations of the Luoying Divine Sword Palm should be inherited from the same lineage as the Tianshan Six Yang Palm.

The Splitting Air Palm should originate from the same source as the White Rainbow Palm Force.

Advanced healing Medicinal Pills like the Nine Flower Dew Pill should be created based on a partial medical Legacy.

The various miscellaneous studies that Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi was proficient in, such as medicine, divination, and astrology, and techniques like the Mysterious Gate Five Turns and Peach Blossom Island Formation techniques, all seemed to have intricate connections with the Xiaoyao Sect.

Could it be that Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi was a descendant of the Xiaoyao Sect?

This question was deeply buried in his heart.

Three days later, the discussion of the Dao ended.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's martial arts philosophy underwent a earth-shattering change, and he began to re-polish his Internal Skill Foundation.

Based on what he had gained from discussing the Dao with Zhang Sanfeng, he incorporated orthodox Daoist Mysterious Gate Cultivation Techniques into his own Internal Skill.

Although his cultivation did not break through, his Foundation became incomparably solid, only one step away from the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm.

[System Notification: Successfully convinced Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, obtained the complete Peach Blossom Island martial arts!]

[Martial Arts Foundation +25%, understanding of the Dao of "Mutual Generation of Odd and Even, Formation into Martial Arts" significantly deepened!]

[Recognition of the Legend of the Condor Heroes World Origin increased to 35%!]

Zhang Sanfeng walked out of the bamboo forest and saw Guo Jing practicing the Taiji Thirteen Forms hard in the courtyard.

The sunlight spilled onto his honest face, and sweat flowed down his cheeks, but he did not notice it at all.