Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

With a soft sigh, the ancient temple, filled with the sounds of chanting, suddenly fell silent. Then, a group of valiant warrior monks, led by their chief monks, lined up in the white marble square.

With a unified chant of "Amitabha," the voices of a thousand people canceled out the echo brought by Su Yuchen.

Su Yuchen glanced indifferently at the leading monk holding the bronze bell and the young girl, then looked at the four great Buddhist monks behind him, and said to one of them, "I have quite a few entanglements with the Zen sect. If you leave now and close Shaolin Temple for a hundred years, I will not kill you."

The old monk bowed with both hands and chanted, "Amitabha! All Buddhist sects under heaven are one family. How can this old monk live a life of cowardice? I only hope that you, benefactor, will turn back to the right path."

Su Yuchen shook his head and said:

"Even Buddha can't save himself, yet you presumptuously try to persuade me with your Buddha teachings. How laughable."

"That's enough! I've given you the opportunity. Whether you cherish it or not is your own business. Even if Bodhidharma knew, he couldn't blame me."

The young woman frowned and said, "Since Master Shi has already taken the He Shi Bi jade, why be so aggressive? Are you going to commit further atrocities in this sacred Buddhist land?"

Su Yuchen looked at her with amusement and said disdainfully, "Oh? Didn't you plant ten thousand catties of gunpowder in this ancient temple to ambush me? Now it's my fault?"

He held the He Shi Bi jade in his left hand and pushed it forward, saying, "If those three lads hadn't broken into the temple and stolen the He Shi Bi jade last night, I might have actually had to enter the hall to retrieve it today, and my life would have been uncertain. Unfortunately, there's no 'what if' now..."

As he spoke, he suddenly smiled and said:

"Of all punishments under heaven, none is greater than thunder."

"Before entering the temple, I hadn't figured out how to destroy you all. Now I think, nothing is more effective than thunder, which can awaken the world."

“You have stolen the Imperial Seal and attempted to manipulate the imperial power in the Central Plains. Your crime deserves to be punished.”

As soon as he finished speaking, eight longswords of different shapes appeared beside Su Yuchen. As soon as these longswords appeared, they scattered in all directions and quickly floated far away on the high walls around the ancient temple according to the Bagua directions.

As Su Yuchen circulated his true energy and connected with the primordial energy of heaven and earth, the eight longswords hummed, and a series of sword cries rose and fell. Strange vibrations echoed between the eight longswords, and the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged instantly, converging towards the eight longswords like a dragon drawing water.

Amidst the rumbling sounds, the wind howled through the mountains and fields, the trees fell, and the sky was filled with swirling clouds. Patches of white clouds gathered above Jingnian Temple like a fleeting glimpse of flowers, and layers of clouds blocked out the sunlight, plunging the world into darkness.

Su Yuchen rose into the air and said, "I have never tried to summon the power of heaven and earth's thunder before. Today, you can be proud."

As the eight sword cries rang out, from a distance, eight sword-wielding phantoms, each dozens of feet tall, appeared around Jingnian Temple, completely enveloping the ancient temple.

The sword energy swirling above the phantom was like the Yangtze River, converging and intertwining with each other, running around Jingnian Temple like a sword dragon, leaving no way out.

In the dim light, Su Yuchen's figure slowly rose, and a silvery-white moon appeared behind him. The moon was as tall as a person and enveloped Su Yuchen.

As the bright moon rose, everything in the world quieted down. Whether in the Jingnian Temple or among the people peeking from afar, the bright moon seemed to be right in front of them, neither near nor far, and it was always there when they looked at it!

Under the bright moon, Su Yuchen held the jade seal in one hand and put the other behind his back. His old Taoist robe fluttered without wind, making him look like a fairy in the moon!

As his primordial spirit manifested, Su Yuchen, who was using his full power for the first time, couldn't help but be captivated for a moment.

Within a radius of four hundred miles, the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and the every movement of all things in the world, are all at the mercy of one's thoughts. The primordial energy submits, as if one were the master of this four hundred miles, with the primordial energy moving according to one's needs.

[Your manifestation of your primordial spirit exceeds the boundaries of this realm; you will be expelled...]

Upon seeing the system's narration, Su Yuchen's primordial spirit stirred, and a sword light flashed and disappeared from the bright moon. Su Yuchen shook his head helplessly, clearing away all distracting thoughts.

As Su Yuchen's inner energy transformed, it became boundless lightning power. Following this transformation, the primordial energy circulating throughout heaven and earth seemed to cheer. Within a radius of four hundred miles, boundless primordial energy automatically converted into lightning, and endless thunderbolts flashed and roared within the clouds.

Guided by Su Yuchen's primordial spirit, the next moment, endless world-destroying thunder dragons roared down from the clouds and fell towards Jingnian Temple.

Suddenly, the world turned white; all colors faded away, leaving only endless thunderous roars and omnipresent white light.

Chapter 401 The Demise of Cihang Jingzhai

Once the thunder ceased its roar and the world returned to its normal colors, figures began to appear intermittently in the distance.

Everyone looked at the Jingnian Temple in the distance and couldn't help but gasp. The once solemn and magnificent ancient temple was gone, leaving only ruins. The embers still burning on the ruins proved that everything they had seen before was not an illusion.

All the destructive power seemed to be confined within the Jingnian Temple. At the corner of the temple wall, a patch of green swayed in the wind, so dazzling and eye-catching, yet full of irony.

After a long time.

The wilderness seemed to erupt in a clamor for a moment, then fell completely silent, as if speaking loudly here had become a sin.

As if by unspoken agreement, everyone headed towards Jingnian Temple, countless figures streaking across the sky and landing on the outskirts of the ruins.

The sense of awe is amplified when experienced up close. Amidst the collapsed and buried ruins, flickering lights and a touch of brass occasionally appear, and sometimes a charred piece of wood flashes with a faint arc of electricity, making one hesitate to approach. Apart from that, there is only deathly silence.

"Under such divine might, who could survive? Thunder descended, and everything was reduced to ashes."

Someone flicked their sleeve, revealing a piece of brass that had turned into flowing water and then solidified again. No one knew what it had been used for before, but now only this palm-sized piece of purple copper remained.

"What's the point of fighting for the world in front of such a master? What good is a large army if you can't please him?"

"Rumor has it that Master Shi is close to becoming an immortal. But now, seeing him summon thunder with a wave of his hand, as if destroying the world, this is not just close to becoming an immortal, this is already an immortal!"

The members of the major factions were discussing amongst themselves, and even those who had previously harbored certain ideas now had to think twice before acting.

The struggle for power is for the sake of strength; if people are all gone, what's the point of fighting for it?

...............

"In the Battle of Danyang, Master Shi actually showed mercy." Kou Zhong looked at the ruins and his smile was more like a grimace.

Xu Ziling patted him on the shoulder and said, "So there's really nothing to fight for in this world, isn't there?"

Kou Zhong nodded and said, "So I've decided to become like Master Shi, who can summon thunder with a wave of his hand. Then who will dare to look down on us?"

Xu Ziling gestured with his lip, indicating that Kou Zhong should look at the Li family's people, and said, "Your lover from your sect isn't here! She can't hear you saying that."

Kou Zhong pursed his lips and said, "Xiao Ling, don't mention her. Now, I have a bigger goal than her: to become an immortal!"

“However…” Kou Zhong looked at Wang Shichong, Wang Tong, Ouyang Xiyi and the others not far away, and said, “However, in this way, even if the Li clan is unwilling, I am confident that I can persuade Wang Shichong to trap the Li clan in Guanzhong.”

………………

“Master Shi is already close to becoming an immortal. Such a person. Luo Yan, do we still have a choice?” Xu Shiji said, looking at the ruins.

Shen Luoyan flicked her hair and said, "Li Mi will never give up. Once the news gets back to Xingyang, he will definitely intensify his attack on Yanshi in order to take Luoyang. Alas, the Wagang Army is finished."

Xu Shiji was silent for a moment, then said, "A wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Looking at the situation now, the Song clan is the best choice. We cannot be buried with Li Mi."

Shen Luoyan turned and left, saying, "We're returning to Xingyang. I can't act rashly. Go find Qin Shubao, Shan Xiongxin, and the others. As for Wang Bodang, he's a loyal follower of Li Mi, and we can't persuade him otherwise."

………………

"Master Shi has truly never disappointed Wanwan!"

“Master, I have decided to unify the Demonic Sect. Anyone who dares to disobey me will be killed.”

"Master, I'm going to find the 'Great Method of Planting Demons in the Heart of the Dao'! You can consider it!"

Watching Wanwan drift away, Zhu Yuyan no longer had any intention of stopping her. All she wanted now was to obtain the Evil Emperor's Relic and kill Shi Zhixuan. This was her only motivation to live.

………………

In the east of Luoyang, outside a secluded courtyard, Su Yuchen knocked on the door. The moment the door opened, a face with silver hair and a silver beard appeared—it was Song Lu.

"Shi Shi?!"

Su Yuchen nodded, and Song Lu hurriedly ushered him in. After serving tea and dismissing the others, Song Lu said, "Master Shi's whereabouts are unpredictable. What brings him here this time..."

Su Yuchen pointed to the square wooden box on the table and said, "Take the Imperial Seal back to Yangzhou and give it to Song Shidao."

Song Lu looked at the wooden box with envy and quickly nodded, as if afraid that if he hesitated, Su Yuchen would change his mind.

Su Yuchen smiled and asked about the recent changes in Jiangnan. He learned that most of the strategies formulated by Song Shidao and Xu Xingzhi were beneficial to people's livelihoods, and then nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm going to Chang'an soon, and my return date is uncertain. Tell Song Shidao to be a good emperor." With that, Su Yuchen got up and disappeared.

Only after confirming that Su Yuchen had left did Song Lu carefully open the brocade box and take a look. He then ordered his men to immediately pack up and return to Yangzhou.

………………

After a long time.

When news of the upheaval at Jingnian Temple spread throughout the land, Su Yuchen had already arrived at Zhongnan Mountain.

In the previous battle, he had already obtained the location of Cihang Jingzhai from Shi Feixuan's mind.

Looking out over the Louguan Taoist temple, Su Yuchen examined the energy flow and realized that the old Taoist priest who had never broken through the void had passed away, and his energy flow had completely disappeared.

Shaking his head, Su Yuchen knew he couldn't give him an answer, and abandoned the idea of ​​going to Louguandao. He turned and stepped onto another deserted path.

According to Shi Feixuan's memory, Su Yuchen walked along the path to its end, where a sea of ​​clouds stretched out before him. He reached out and parted the grass, revealing a plank road built on a cliff face amidst the mist. After walking less than twenty meters along the plank road, he came to a pitch-black cave entrance.

Stepping into the cave, Su Yuchen continued forward and soon saw a bright light ahead, indicating that he had reached the exit at the other end of the cave.

Stepping out of the exit, a row of stone steps leads up to the left, with three large characters carved and painted on the stone wall: Emperor's Peak.

"No wonder people only know about Emperor's Peak, but few can actually find this place."

Su Yuchen stepped onto the stone steps, which wound and twisted, leading deep into the sea of ​​clouds. Only when he reached the mountainside did he see a building emerge from the sea of ​​clouds, with two dark black gates tightly closed.

Sensing the deathly silence behind the door, Su Yuchen sighed, pushed the door open, and walked towards the main hall in front of him.

The hall was filled with people, densely packed around a beautiful young woman in the center. These people wore smiles, their hands clasped at their sides, yet each of them was lifeless. They had all committed suicide, their heart meridians severed.

Su Yuchen had no intention of desecrating the corpse, so he turned and headed towards the back mountain, finding the tower where the scripture pavilion was located. Unfortunately, the place had already been cleaned up, and the important books were no longer there.

Just think about it, and you'll know that Cihang Jingzhai is not willing to be wiped out. Some of its successors have already taken their heritage and gone far away. However, as long as news of their departure does not spread, the successors of Cihang Jingzhai will not dare to cause trouble.

As for a hundred years from now, Su Yuchen shook his head. Wouldn't there still be Wanwan, who is both Buddha and demon? At that time, it would be a different story.

Standing atop the tower, gazing into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds, Su Yuchen looked north, where a wisp of energy had been beckoning him for a long time.

"The Temple of War?"

Chapter 402 The Palace of Startled Geese

After Su Yuchen descended Zhongnan Mountain and returned to Chang'an City, he learned the news…

Song Que led his troops to attack Luchuan, then split his forces, one towards Jiannan Pass and the other, remaining hidden, marched straight to Chengdu. Chengdu fell in a single battle, the martial arts judge Xie Hui was killed, and Duzun Fort surrendered without a fight.

Meanwhile, in Luoyang, Wang Shichong, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling defeated Li Mi in the Battle of Yanshi. After suffering heavy losses, Li Mi retreated to Xingyang and never recovered, shattering the myth of the Wagang Army's invincibility.

Afterwards, Shen Luoyan, together with Xu Shiji, Qin Shubao and others, led their troops to retreat from Xiangyang, opened up Xiangyang and joined forces with Song Que's troops, and formally surrendered to the Song Clan.

Li Mi remained indifferent to the situation while besieged in Xingyang, and many Wagang soldiers flocked to Xiangyang, greatly increasing the military strength in the south, which was already poised to take on the Central Plains.

The Li clan, unwilling to accept defeat, attempted to seize Tongguan Pass first and take advantage of the terrain to resist, but were blocked by Wang Shichong, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling within Tongguan Pass and unable to move south.

Now, apart from the Li clan still resisting, all other forces have turned to the south. Dou Jiande in Hebei has stopped expanding and is just waiting for the Song clan to move north.

Su Yuchen sat in the teahouse, listening to the lively discussions among the common people.

Then, a rapid sound of hooves rang out, and turning around, one could see a troop of cavalry heading towards the Chang'an Imperial Palace.

Li Yuan intended to surrender to the south, but his second son, Li Shimin, had received the admonition of "saving the world and bringing peace to the people" since childhood. He believed he had the qualities of a ruler and was absolutely unwilling to surrender to the south. He intended to use the natural defenses of the mountains and rivers to establish a separatist regime in Guanzhong.

Enraged, Li Yuan and his eldest son Li Jiancheng plotted to lure Li Shimin into the palace to seize military power in the Tiance Mansion.

Internal strife within the Li clan is imminent.

Shaking his head, Su Yuchen turned and went downstairs, disappearing into the street.

Shortly after he left, someone watched him for a long time in a private room on the other side of the teahouse, but Su Yuchen did not turn his head.

………………

On the Turkic steppe.

Shibi Khan was in a state of distress, and his people were urging him to march south. Even Liu Wu and Zhou, who had surrendered, advised him to raise an army, enter the pass, capture Taiyuan, and covet the Central Plains.

Hearing the arguing inside the tent, Shi Bi angrily threw down the knife in his hand. The clanging sound silenced the tent, and everyone returned to their original seats, looking at the two most powerful people at the head of the table.

Shi Bi turned his gaze to Bi Xuan beside him and said, "Grand Preceptor, are we really just going to sit and watch the Central Plains be unified?"

"Does Your Majesty not understand how terrifying the Stone Dragon is?" Bi Xuan asked without opening his eyes.

Shi Bi said irritably:

“I can understand, but my people can’t. They don’t believe that there are gods and demons in the Central Plains that can rival the Eternal Heaven.”

"Grand Preceptor, if we cannot give the various tribes a satisfactory explanation, even I will be unable to suppress the restless hearts of the people."

Looking at the warlike faces below, Shi Bi became even more irritated. At his instruction, everyone turned to look at Bi Xuan, the current god of the grassland.

………………

Bi Xuanhu, who hadn't opened his eyes all along, opened them again, not even glancing at his clansmen, but instead looking outside the tent, muttering to himself, "Alright, no need to choose anymore, someone has made the choice for us."

"What?" Shibi Khan asked in confusion.

Bi Xuan had already stood up, without even glancing at him, and turned to walk out of the tent, saying, "Run, my Khan! Run far away, that man is coming."

Just as Shibi and the nobles were still wondering, screams rang out outside the tent. A strong wind ripped open the tent, and a tornado that should never have appeared stretched across the sky. In the distance, dark clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder, rapidly approached the central royal court.