54: Chapter 54 Leisurely Past Events

After the discussion of Dao with Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi concluded, Zhang Sanfeng was in no rush to leave Peach Blossom Island.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, grateful for his guidance, specially assigned the Listening-to-the-Waves Bamboo Courtyard on the west side of the island for him to reside in. It was backed by mountains and faced the sea, with abundant Spiritual Qi, making it the most suitable place for quiet cultivation and enlightenment.

Every morning, Zhang Sanfeng would sit on a bluestone in the bamboo forest, deducing the Qimen Dunjia Formations of Peach Blossom Island.

He compared the Formation diagrams taught by Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi with the Taiji Bagua, and the more he deduced, the more astonished he became.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's Formations had already surpassed the superficial level of "trapping and killing enemies," instead being able to draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for one's own use, and even alter the local weather and terrain.

"So that is how it is..." That day, as Zhang Sanfeng looked at the Formation diagram in his hand, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

He realized that since Formations could channel the power of Heaven and Earth through specific orientations and runes, if one were to inscribe these runes onto the Physical Body in a special way, making the human body itself a walking Formation, wouldn't one be able to mobilize Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi anytime and anywhere?

He remembered that in some world, cultivation involved this very process.

This thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

All along, a Martial Artist's cultivation had been to first train Acquired Qi, then transition to Innate, and finally reach Spirit Refining, with the Physical Body always just being a container for Internal Energy.

If one could inscribe Formation runes into the Physical Body, letting every inch of muscle and bone, and every meridian become part of the Formation, then the Physical Body would no longer be a container, but a Dao Body that resonates with Heaven and Earth.

The more Zhang Sanfeng thought about it, the more excited he became.

He immediately began to attempt it, using the Pure Yang Dao Rhyme to condense a tiny rune at his fingertip, trying to inscribe it onto his own arm.

But the moment the rune touched his skin, it was dispersed by the Pure Yang Internal Energy within his body.

He tried dozens of times in succession, but all ended in failure.

"It seems I was too hasty."

Zhang Sanfeng stopped his movements and mused.

"Inscribing the Physical Body requires a very deep understanding of runes and Formations, as well as sufficiently powerful Divine Soul strength to control it."

"Currently, I only know the basics; attempting this rashly will only harm myself."

He understood that to complete the monumental task of inscribing the Physical Body, he must accumulate more knowledge of Qimen Dunjia, medicine, divination, and astrology.

And Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's martial arts were permeated with the shadow of the Xiaoyao Sect, which was famous precisely for being proficient in these miscellaneous studies.

If he could obtain the complete Legacy of the Xiaoyao Sect, the problem of inscribing the Physical Body would surely have a direction for resolution.

That evening, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi hosted a banquet for Zhang Sanfeng.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhang Sanfeng set down his wine cup and said slowly, "Island Master Huang, this Daoist has a matter he does not understand, and hopes for your guidance."

"Daoist, please speak freely," said Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi.

"The Island Master's martial arts are elegant and agile, and the technique of Qimen Dunjia is unrivaled in the world; it is extremely similar to a hidden School that this Daoist knows of."

Zhang Sanfeng looked into Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's eyes and said word by word, "This School is called the Xiaoyao Sect."

The wine cup in Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's hand paused abruptly, and a few drops of wine splashed out.

His expression changed slightly, and after a long silence, he sighed deeply, "I did not expect that you, Daoist, would actually know of the Xiaoyao Sect."

"I have never spoken of this to anyone, but since you have asked, I will tell you."

He set down his wine cup, his gaze becoming distant, and slowly began to recount a dusty past:

"Twenty years ago, I was young and frivolous, traveling the world."

"One day, while in the Western Regions, I accidentally learned that deep within the Kunlun Mountains, there was a Leigu Mountain, which held a peerless Legacy."

"Out of curiosity, I went to Leigu Mountain alone."

"But Leigu Mountain was already dilapidated, filled with mechanisms and traps everywhere."

"I narrowly escaped death nine times before finally finding a secret chamber deep in the belly of the mountain."

"On the stone walls of the secret chamber were carved many martial arts Moves and Formation diagrams, along with some scattered written records."

"Only then did I know that this place was once the base of the Xiaoyao Sect."

"According to the records on the stone walls, the Xiaoyao Sect was founded during the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Ancestral Master was Xiaoyaozi."

"The Disciples of the School were all peerlessly skilled in martial arts, and proficient in medicine, divination, astrology, Qimen Dunjia, as well as the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Unfortunately, there was later internal strife in the School; the Disciple Ding Chunqiu betrayed the School and killed his Master, Wuyazi, causing the Xiaoyao Sect to fall apart."

"Before Wuyazi died, he passed his lifelong cultivation to a young Shaolin monk named Xuzhu, and established him as the last Sect Head of the Xiaoyao Sect."

"It is said that Xuzhu later took the Disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect and retired to Lingjiu Palace; from then on, the Xiaoyao Sect vanished, and no one in the Jianghu knew of the School's existence anymore."

"In the secret chamber, I only obtained a partial martial arts Legacy and some fragments of Secret Manuals regarding Qimen Dunjia Formations and medicine, divination, and astrology."

"Core ultimate arts like the Beiming Divine Art and Lingbo Weibu had long since disappeared, so my Internal Skill Foundation had always been incomplete before."

"Later, I fused these Legacies with my own insights and created the martial arts of Peach Blossom Island."

Zhang Sanfeng listened quietly, waves of emotion rising in his heart.

Just as he had expected, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's martial arts originated from the Xiaoyao Sect.

He mused for a moment and asked, "Does the Island Master know the whereabouts of that Sect Head, Xuzhu?"

"I do not know." Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi shook his head.

"The stone walls did not leave any clues. However, according to my speculation, he should still be alive."

"The Xiaoyao Sect has an Eternal Spring Gong that can prolong life; living to two hundred years is not a problem."

"Calculating it, he should be over a hundred years old now."

Zhang Sanfeng's heart stirred. Over a hundred years old, peerless martial arts, proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and likes to travel everywhere...

This was already eighty or ninety percent consistent with the Wine-Fighting Monk he had seen in novels before his Transmigration, who had competed in drinking with Master Wang Chongyang and written the Nine Yang Manual!

"Could the Wine-Fighting Monk be Xuzhu?" Zhang Sanfeng secretly guessed in his heart.

This thought became increasingly clear: Xuzhu was originally a Shaolin Disciple, later became the Sect Head of the Xiaoyao Sect, married the Princess of Western Xia, and experienced the Fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

It must be that he was not good at managing the School and was unwilling to use ruthless methods, causing the various branches of Lingjiu Palace to fall apart in the later stages.

After the Princess of Western Xia passed away, in his sorrow, he took the alias Wine-Fighting Monk and traveled the Jianghu.

He competed in drinking with Master Wang Chongyang, and after seeing the Nine Yin Manual, felt it was too soft and feminine, so he wrote the Nine Yang Manual.

These were all Zhang Sanfeng's speculations, but he felt the truth was likely very close.

"If I can find the Wine-Fighting Monk, not only will there be hope of obtaining the complete Xiaoyao Sect Legacy, but I can also discuss the upgrading and perfecting of the Nine Yang Manual with him!"

A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Zhang Sanfeng's eyes.

The key to inscribing the Physical Body lay with this last Sect Head of the Xiaoyao Sect.

[System Prompt: Hidden plot [Xiaoyao Secrets] unlocked!]

[Obtained partial Xiaoyao Sect Legacy, Martial Arts Foundation +30%!]

[Triggered side quest [Find the Wine-Fighting Monk]: Find the last Sect Head of the Xiaoyao Sect, Xuzhu, and obtain the complete Xiaoyao Sect Legacy.]

[Quest Reward: World Fusion Degree +10%, unlock the method of inscribing the Physical Body.]

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi looked at Zhang Sanfeng's thoughtful expression and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about, Daoist?"

"Nothing." Zhang Sanfeng came back to his senses and smiled slightly.

"I just didn't expect the Xiaoyao Sect to have such a legendary past."

"If there were a chance to meet this Sect Head, Xuzhu, it would be a great fortune in life."

"Indeed." Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi also sighed, "It is a pity the Xiaoyao Sect has long since declined; otherwise, the Jianghu would be a different scene."

The two chatted for a long time, until the moon was high in the sky, before they dispersed.

Returning to the Listening-to-the-Waves Bamboo Courtyard, Zhang Sanfeng could not calm down for a long time.

The direction for inscribing the Physical Body was now clear; the next step was to find the Wine-Fighting Monk.

However, before that, he still needed to first rescue Old Urchin Zhou Botong, who was trapped on Peach Blossom Island.

Early the next morning, Guo Jing and Huang Rong came to find Zhang Sanfeng.

Huang Rong tugged at his arm and acted coquettishly, "Daoist, we have finished playing everywhere on the island, it is so boring."

"Take us to play at the back mountain; my father said there are many rare medicinal herbs in the back mountain."

"Yes, Master, let's go together." Guo Jing also smiled honestly.

Zhang Sanfeng smiled slightly, "I need to contemplate martial arts and cannot accompany you running around; you go yourselves, and be careful."

"Got it!" Huang Rong jumped up happily, grabbed Guo Jing, and ran towards the back mountain.

The two laughed and played all the way, picking wild flowers and herbs by the roadside.

Huang Rong had sharp eyes and saw a strange purple flower blooming on a hillside not far away, so she hurriedly pulled Guo Jing and ran over.

"Brother Jing, look, that flower is so beautiful!"

"Be careful, Rong'er, don't fall."

The two ran to the hillside and were about to pick the flower when they heard a burst of singing coming from a cave not far away.

The singing was hoarse and unpleasant, but carried an indescribable joy:

"Old Urchin, Old Urchin, trapped in the cave, so relaxed.

No need to fight, no need to kill, eating big watermelons every day.

Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, big bad guy, locked me up for several years..."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong looked at each other, both seeing curiosity in the other's eyes.

"Brother Jing, there is someone inside!" Huang Rong whispered.

"My father never lets us come to the back mountain; could it be that he locked someone here?"

"I don't know, let's go over and take a look." Guo Jing nodded.

The two tiptoed to the entrance of the cave and saw that the cave was sealed by a heavy stone door, leaving only a small window.

Through the window, they saw an old man with gray hair and a wrinkled face sitting on the ground, playing with a pile of pebbles in his hands, while still humming a song.

"Hey! Who are you?" Huang Rong shouted towards the window.

Hearing the voice, the old man raised his head abruptly, saw Guo Jing and Huang Rong, his eyes lit up, and he jumped up excitedly.

"Oh! Finally someone has come! Little friends, who are you? Did that old guy, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, send you to bring me food?"

Huang Rong's eyes rolled, and she smiled, "We are here to play on the island. Who are you? Why are you locked in here?"

"My name is Old Urchin Zhou Botong!" The old man proudly lifted his head.

"I am the Junior Martial Uncle of the Quanzhen Sect, my martial arts are the best in the world! Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi couldn't beat me, so he locked me in here!"

Guo Jing and Huang Rong looked at each other, both feeling that this old man was crazy and very interesting.

Just then, the sound of Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi's footsteps came from afar.

Old Urchin Zhou Botong's expression changed, and he hurriedly hid in the depths of the cave, whispering, "Bad! Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi is here! You guys hurry and leave, don't let him discover you've been here!"

Huang Rong pulled Guo Jing and hurriedly hid in the grass nearby.

Watching Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi walk into the cave, deliver some food to Old Urchin Zhou Botong, and then lock the stone door and leave, the two of them crawled out of the grass.

"Brother Jing, this Old Urchin is so interesting!" Huang Rong smiled, "Let's come secretly to play with him in the future."

"Okay." Guo Jing nodded.

The two smiled at each other and ran down the hillside hand in hand.

Zhang Sanfeng, standing in the bamboo forest in the distance, watched the two's figures disappear from sight.