Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 341 The wind rises and the waves surge, averting the raging torrents.

The old woman screamed continuously, her voice so shrill it was inhuman.

His eyes rolled back completely, veins bulged on his face like coiled earthworms, and two raised fingers had already cut his eyelids, with blood trickling down his deeply lined cheeks.

But he seemed oblivious to the excruciating pain, instead pushing even harder towards his eye sockets, muttering frantic, broken scriptures.

"The Blood Buddha descends to earth... consumed by karmic fire..."

"All beings suffer... The only way to prove it is by gouging out one's own eyes..."

"All sins are upon me..."

At that moment, a clear shout suddenly broke the deathly silence, and a green figure darted out from behind the crowd like lightning, catching up in the blink of an eye.

"Everyone be careful!"

His figure appeared before Master Ji in a blur. His right hand moved faster than lightning, precisely gripping the old monk's wrist like a golden snake coiling around a thread. At the same time, his left index and middle fingers came together and, so fast they left afterimages, struck the old monk's three major acupoints: Tian Tu, Tan Zhong, and Ju Que.

As the finger force penetrated his body, and his internal energy surged in his acupoints, Master Ji suddenly shuddered. His crazed eyes instantly lost their luster, and his body slumped down. The man caught him and gently placed him on the floor.

However, the old monk's face still bore that pained and contorted expression, his skin was turning a strange bluish-black at a visible speed, and his blood vessels were throbbing wildly under his skin, as if countless venomous snakes were swimming inside.

"Sect Leader Jiang, quickly help him to the back hall!"

Another clear shout rang out, and everyone saw that the person in front of them was a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples. Although he was dressed as an ordinary martial arts practitioner to hide his identity, a golden, serpentine sword was visible at his waist. He had a dignified and imposing presence that set him apart from ordinary people.

"Thank you very much, Master Yuan, for saving me."

Jiang Wen seemed completely unsurprised by Yuan Chengzhi's appearance. He quickly walked over, helped him to the back room, and then hurriedly squatted down to check on Master Ji's condition.

Upon first touch, Jiang Wen felt that the old monk's pulse was weak and disordered, and his mind seemed to have been completely corrupted by evil spirits, having long lost his self-awareness. If he had been a step later, he might have actually gouged out his own eyes and offered them as a sacrifice to some strange thing.

"Sect Leader Jiang, it seems that the master has been poisoned by the Red Sun Blood Buddha. My method can only control it temporarily. Do you have any other way to help him regain his senses?"

Without hesitation, Jiang Wen immediately helped him sit down cross-legged, and then placed his right hand lightly on Master Ji's Baihui acupoint.

Warm and mellow Nine Yang True Qi surged from his palm, like a rising sun, slowly flowing into the old monk's body. The Nine Yang Divine Skill is extremely Yang and strong, and it is a rare healing true qi in the world. As soon as it entered the acupoints, it straightened out all the uncoordinated qi, and even emitted a "sizzling" sound like ice and snow being thrown into a raging fire. The eerie bluish-black color also gradually decreased and began to fade from the limbs to the torso.

At the same time, Jiang Wen flipped his left hand, and a dull, unremarkable, grayish-white bead, like a pebble, appeared in his palm. A strange light instantly refracted and leaped between the two of them, making Jiang Wen, who was holding the bead, appear shadowy and ghostly.

"...This is the Mani Jewel?!"

Yuan Chengzhi exclaimed in horror, "Shouldn't this thing have been in that person's hands? Why is it with you?"

Jiang Wen continued to strengthen his control over his internal energy while speaking frankly.

“I don’t know why Zhao Wuji gave it to me in the first place, but since he can see the three worlds and go to the world to worship Buddha with the Mani Jewel, I guess this thing should be able to protect Master Ji Po.”

As the Mani Jewel appeared in his palm, its radiance instantly enveloped Jiang Wen, Yuan Chengzhi, and Master Jipo. Jiang Wen placed it in Master Jipo's clasped hands, and the nauseating stench of blood and decay in the back hall vanished instantly. Everyone felt a refreshing coolness wash over them, and the inexplicable unease and urge to harm themselves that they had felt earlier disappeared.

Seeing that Master Ji's internal energy had started circulating on its own and the situation was gradually stabilizing, Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief and said to Yuan Chengzhi.

“Master Yuan, the current situation seems to be developing in a way that is not quite in line with your guess. Didn’t you say that I would use the incense to entice the murderer to appear, and that the person who stole the statue of the Green Ox Taoist would be revealed, and that some ‘dead people’ might also appear as a result? But you didn’t say that it would bring out such a rare and strange object?”

Yuan Chengzhi also said regretfully, "I only guessed most of it. It seems that the Taoist priest Qingniu Weng was able to use some strange martial arts as an opportunity to bring out the 'dead' related to Xi Yi—but I never thought that there would be such an extraordinary person in this world who could face 'them' and still survive..."

Jiang Wen looked at him, then at himself, and suddenly realized, "No wonder you specifically instructed me not to make any contact with it today. Otherwise, given our experiences and knowledge, we might attract some unspeakable horrors, and then the Great King Peak would be awash in blood today."

Yuan Chengzhi frankly admitted, "That's true. I didn't have absolute evidence, and I was afraid of alerting the culprit and letting him escape, so I resorted to this tactic. All of this is thanks to the trust of my fellow martial arts practitioners; otherwise, I don't know how this would have ended today."

For Yuan Chengzhi, a 70-80% chance of success was still not enough to be safe; while for Jiang Wen, a 30% chance of success was enough to take a gamble, and he would naturally look for opportunities in the ever-changing situation for the remaining 70% probability.

Last night, just before the three-day deadline, Yuan Chengzhi, who had been out of the public eye for a long time, suddenly arrived in a flurry of travel.

He first found Jiang Wen and said that he might know the true face of the Taoist statue of the Green Ox, but he did not know what the culprit's purpose was. Perhaps he would need to use some means of guiding the soul to find him.

But Jiang Wen had already guessed that besides the statue of the Taoist priest Qingniu Weng, the King of Xicheng probably also possessed the long-lost Qingniao Jiangzhen Technique. Although Jiang Wen still didn't quite believe in "resurrection," a vague idea had already sprouted, leading him closer to the truth.

So Jiang Wen told him that perhaps the solution lay hidden in Sang Yue's article, "On Agarwood." He had pondered all the details over the past few days and arrived at some incredible answers. Coincidentally, Yuan Huazi not only possessed the ability to perfectly replicate agarwood, but also had a nearly extinct water rhinoceros horn at home. Thus, a plan quietly began—

But even now, no one knows how bizarre and unpredictable this martial arts tournament will become...

………………

Inside the main hall of the Tongtian Palace, Fu Yushu still kept his head down, looking at his palms covered with spiderweb-like cracks. The skin at his knuckles gradually cracked and curled up, and dark brown, putrid blood dripped down from between his fingers.

He tilted his head slightly, a perfectly measured smile still playing on his lips, but his eyes held a strangely pure doubt, as if the decaying body before him had nothing to do with him.

"strangeness."

The collapse did not damage his vocal cords, so his voice remained gentle and warm, with the tone of each word as precise as a court musical score. There was no trace of pain or panic in his voice, and even his breathing was perfectly regulated. "What's going on? My plan... seems to have encountered a small problem."

He raised his other hand and gently brushed his fingers across his cheek. Where his fingertips touched, the skin immediately peeled off like thin paper, revealing the bluish-gray muscles that were slightly writhing underneath.

But the smile on his face remained unchanged, not even the curve of his eyes deviated in the slightest, like a puppet wearing an exquisite porcelain mask, the flesh beneath the mask decaying and dissolving, while the mask itself remained flawless.

"Something's not right. Why didn't I summon 'them'? Could it be... they're not inside?"

Fu Yushu's gaze swept over everyone, and the Tongtian Hall instantly fell into a deathly silence, as if even the air itself had frozen.

The bloodthirsty spectators who had been whispering amongst themselves just moments before froze in place, their eyes fixed on Fu Yushu—the sense of incongruity was so intense that it was more chilling than any ferocious appearance.

Fu Yushu turned around with a slight smile, as if even the peeling of skin could not damage his gentle temperament. His eyes held the ultimate and pure thoughts, just like an innocent child who had just announced that the afternoon's game was to go to the field to stomp on frogs.

"It's alright, just an accidental failure. Before this body is damaged, let me see how I should choose this time..."

Feng Daode clutched his chest and struggled to his feet. He had just been severely injured by Fu Yushu, and his face was ashen, yet he still stared intently at Fu Yushu, his eyes filled with resentment and fear.

He knew that Fu Yushu's current situation was more dangerous than others imagined.

Although the accident involving Master Ji Po caused Dong Xuan's body to begin to break down, it also completely freed him from his shackles. The current Fu Yushu is no longer the disguised Wudang traitor, but a pure person without any scruples; he will only become more insane and cruel.

He had witnessed such a scene once before on the Golden Wheel Platform, and he also witnessed how Fu Yushu, even in an irreversible predicament, used words and his own death to gradually drive Yun Feiyang to a mental breakdown.

As if to confirm Feng Daode's conjecture, Fu Yushu suddenly moved!

Without any warning or preparation, his figure blurred into a black shadow and pounced on the martial arts practitioners.

His body was twisted in mid-air at an angle that no normal person could possibly do. His blood-soaked left arm wrapped around his back like a soft whip, unleashing a killing move that was more vicious than a snake and more ferocious than a crane!

"boom!"

With a deafening roar, Feng Daode, despite his injuries, stepped forward to exchange blows. Even though both of them were injured, he still felt a tightness in his chest, and a trickle of blood involuntarily spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Such formidable skill!" Yuan Ziyi's expression changed, and she immediately drew the silver silk whip from her waist, its end dangling diagonally to the ground, protecting Yan Yongchun in front of her—she clearly sensed that Fu Yushu's target had changed, and he seemed to be searching for some more suitable prey.

Fu Yushu missed his attack and slowly retreated. The cracks on his body were visibly increasing, and his original blue Taoist robe was now soaked with dark brown blood. However, the smile on his face remained perfect, and his eyes were calm and unwavering, as if the earth-shattering blow just now was nothing more than a casual dusting off his body.

"Senior Brother Feng, you are truly skilled."

He gently brushed the dust off his clothes, his tone as gentle as if chatting with an old friend, "You even had the thought of sacrificing yourself. But why did you have to block my way? Aren't we on the same side?"

The two exchanged more than twenty moves in a flash, and Feng Daode became increasingly disheveled.

His wounds multiplied, and his inner strength was exhausted. Every move he made was incredibly difficult, and every block sent shivers down his spine. Fu Yushu, however, remained completely at ease. He accurately predicted Feng Daode's next move with every strike, as if Feng Daode's thoughts were entirely transparent to him.

"Senior Brother Feng, as I said, I taught you all your martial arts."

Fu Yushu's voice floated lightly in Feng Daode's ear, filled with undisguised concern, "Even if you risk your life to kill me, I don't want to be your enemy."

He then turned his left hand into a claw and grabbed at Feng Daode's throat. Feng Daode was terrified and hurriedly dodged backward, but he was still a step too slow. Five deep, bone-revealing bloody marks were scratched on his shoulder, and blood immediately gushed out, staining his chest red.

The next moment, Fu Yushu made his move again!

This time, his speed was several times faster than before, and his moves became even more unpredictable and bizarre.

His Thirteen Forms of the Snake and Crane were originally known for their agility and unpredictability, but now that his body is on the verge of disintegration, they have pushed the limits of human physiology even further. His head can turn behind him, his legs can bend 360 degrees, and his body can even turn during an attack, with his limbs attacking simultaneously from two completely opposite directions on the left and right!

"Don't even think about being presumptuous!"

Feng Daode roared and charged forward again.

He knew he was no match for Fu Yushu, but now he was the leader of the Wudang Sect. If he retreated now as he had backed down in the past, how could he face his fellow disciples who had trusted him so much? He only knew that he had to stop this evil man in front of him, no matter what the cost!

Immediately, he unleashed the internal energy of both the Wudang Yi Jin Jing and the Shaolin Yi Jin Jing to their fullest extent. Two completely different energies swirled around his acupoints. Even if it damaged his meridians, he was determined to move forward. His fist was like thunder, aimed straight at Fu Yushu's face.

However, Fu Yushu simply shifted his body slightly, dodging the punch as if it were a game. At the same time, his right hand, like a crane's beak, lightly tapped the tip of Feng Daode's elbow—

Feng Daode felt a chilling, bone-piercing force travel up his arm, instantly numbing it and rendering him powerless. His internal energy circulation also became sluggish, and he was sent flying by a palm strike.

Fu Yushu slowly turned around and looked at the crowd. His face still held that gentle and refined smile, as if the ferocious and cruel person from just now was not him at all. He gently wiped the bloodstains off his face with his fingertips, his movements as elegant as if he were polishing a precious piece of porcelain.

"Run! This person is insane!"

Someone shouted in a trembling voice, and the crowd that had been frozen in place instantly erupted into chaos.

Everyone screamed and ran towards the palace gate, pushing and shoving in complete chaos. Some people tripped and fell, and those behind them, unable to stop in time, trampled over them—only…

However, after the shouts and curses, those who had successfully escaped hid outside the hall to watch the commotion, and were reluctant to leave completely.

The martial arts practitioners were pushing and shoving, cursing and swearing. In the midst of this chaos, someone pushed a burly man, only to be violently shoved away by his shoulder. Then, the man grabbed him with both hands, forcefully clearing a path in front of him.

Gui Xinshu had initially followed Yuan Chengzhi's orders, standing in a corner to coldly observe everything. However, he was inherently arrogant and couldn't tolerate Fu Yushu's arrogance and disregard for the martial arts world. The competitive spirit he had cultivated through martial arts training had already ignited his fury.

Seeing everyone fleeing in such a sorry state, he felt that the martial arts world had lost all face.

"enough!"

Gui Xinshu roared, his voice booming like a bell, drowning out all the noise, "You mere heretic and evil spirit, how dare you be so arrogant here! Today, I, Gui Xinshu, will act on behalf of Heaven and take your dog's life!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already leaped up and thrown a punch at Fu Yushu. This punch contained all his life's strength, and the wind from the punch was fierce and unparalleled, carrying the power to split mountains and shatter rocks. The air itself made a "whooshing" sound. Before the punch even arrived, the strong wind had already made Fu Yushu's Taoist robe flutter loudly.

He still remembered his junior brother Yuan Chengzhi's instructions, but his extraordinary wisdom told him that this was not difficult at all. As long as he killed him with one punch, why should he worry about any future troubles or repeating the same mistakes?

Fu Yushu stopped chasing Feng Daode, slowly turned around, and looked at Gui Xinshu who was attacking him.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Master Gui."

Fu Yushu said softly, his voice carrying an undisguised excitement. At the same time, he slowly raised his right hand, palm up, to meet Gui Xingshu's powerful fist.

"boom!"

After their fists and palms collided, a deafening roar was heard, and a powerful shockwave spread outwards from the two of them, even knocking over the surrounding tables, chairs, incense burners, and candlesticks.

Gui Xinshu felt a soft yet domineering force coming from the other's palm. This force was extremely strange, and it burrowed into his meridians like a venomous snake, frantically disrupting the flow of his internal energy.

He let out a muffled groan, staggered back two steps, and his face turned slightly pale.

Gui Xinshu was greatly alarmed. He had only seen Fu Yushu's moves as incredibly strange, but he never expected that Fu Yushu's internal energy would suddenly become so profound and unpredictable. However, he was never one to admit defeat. With a roar, he charged forward again, his fists raining down on Fu Yushu, each strike aimed at vital points. It was none other than his signature Jade-Breaking Fist.

However, Fu Yushu suddenly swayed and used a light-footed skill that was difficult to catch, leaving behind countless afterimages that were hard to distinguish from reality. It was so fast that people could not tell which one was the real body and which one was the illusion.

Gui Xinshu's fists landed entirely on the afterimages. His heart tightened, and he knew he was in trouble. Before he could even turn around to defend himself, Fu Yushu had already silently circled behind him!

"Master Gui, watch your back!"

Zhao Banshan was protecting Hongdou and Hong Wending, and it was too late for him to come to their rescue.

Gui Xinshu hurriedly turned around, only to see a hideous, distorted face right in front of him. "Fu Yushu's" right fist, imbued with all its evil power, slammed into his back!

"puff--"

Gui Xingshu suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which stained his chest and even splashed a few drops onto Fu Yushu's face. Then he flew backward like a kite with a broken string and crashed heavily several feet away with a dull thud.

At that very moment, the perfect smile that had been on Fu Yushu's face for so long suddenly vanished!

Fu Yushu did not wipe the blood from his face or straighten the wrinkles in his robes. The cuts on his body seemed to be slowly healing. His gentle and refined temperament gradually faded away, replaced by an extremely cruel and ferocious smile. His mouth stretched all the way to his ears, revealing a set of sharp, white teeth.

His eyes were filled with calculation and smugness, like a hunter who had patiently waited for a long time and finally saw his prey fall into his carefully laid trap.

"All warfare is based on deception."

He spoke calmly, his smile deepening, carrying a hint of playful schadenfreude.

Jiang Wen and Yuan Chengzhi rushed to the front hall upon hearing the commotion. They were surprised to find that the Taoist robe-clad man in front of them had undergone a drastic change in appearance and demeanor. They exchanged a glance and realized that he seemed to have changed in some unknown way again.

This man first glanced at Gui Xinshu with disdain, then stared intently at Yuan Chengzhi in front of him, his wicked and treacherous expression instantly transforming into a raging inferno that seemed to burn the heavens.

"The battle at Mount Hua wasn't exciting enough back then, and now that all the obstacles have been dealt with, it's finally our turn again..." (End of Chapter)