A Tale of Encounters with Immortals: A Peach Blossom Temple in the Martial World

"If one merely cultivates one's spirit and sleeps to shed one's mortal body and ascend to heaven, wandering freely among the Penglai and Weak Waters, enjoying one's own happiness without worrying about the world or the people, then even if one survives countless eons, what would be the point of such a deity in the world?"

The young man was studying swordsmanship and reciting texts when the oil lamp flickered and he vanished without a trace.

The night was chilly, and a cold wind howled.

The young man stood in mid-air, his hair and clothes fluttering in the wind, like a celestial being.

I gazed quietly out of the window of the room on the second floor of the inn.

Suddenly, the sword in the scabbard in his hand emitted a soft clang.

They cheered and jumped for joy as if they had met an old friend.

With a thought, the young man brought his fingers together to form a sword and uttered, "Draw it."

The sword remained motionless.

young people:???

He once again joined two fingers together like a sword, swept his hand through the air, and softly shouted, "Draw!"

The sword looked as if it were asleep.

The young man frowned, placed one hand on the hilt of the sword, gripped it, and gently pulled it outward.

……

Why can't I pull it out?

Keep pushing...

Oh open!

The sword blade and scabbard have been welded together.

With a flick of his toes, he didn't bother to check the Taoist's cultivation level behind the window. He landed on the roof ridge, then lightly flew up and landed on a hillside near the town.

Draw your sword!

Draw your sword again!

……

After trying dozens of times, the young man finally gave up.

The restriction he casually set up in the town's inn ended up hitting him like a boomerang.

He became increasingly interested in the seemingly ordinary Taoist priest in the inn.

Suddenly a gentle breeze blew by.

The young man felt a chill run through his body, as if he were being stared at by some monstrous beast. He suddenly leaped into the air, soaring higher and higher towards the mountain like a kite rising gracefully.

But that tight feeling is ever-present, like a maggot clinging to your bones.

Go, go as fast as you can.

He continuously gathered his energy and ascended, until he reached a rocky edge. With a tap of his toes, he suddenly rose higher into the air, heading towards the summit of Mount Hua.

He just wanted to get rid of this feeling as soon as possible.

The hairs on my body stood on end and swayed gently in the wind.

"Old Hai, the moon is bright and the stars are few tonight..."

Hai Tianfu ignored him. From the platform of the villa, by the railing, he could overlook the entire Huashan Mountain scenery. Under the moonlight, and through the thin clouds, the scenery appeared exceptionally ethereal.

How credible do you think the story about Ye Jianxian is?

Qin Shouzhong asked.

His own title in the martial arts world is Sword God.

But even a sword god would probably be doomed if he encountered a sword immortal from a hundred years ago.

Hai Tianfu glanced at him and said, "Let's not even talk about whether Ye Jianxian is still alive or not. Even if he is, do you think he, with his over 100-year-old body, could defeat either of us?"

Qin Shouzhong was taken aback. "That's true!"

He himself had experienced this firsthand. While profound cultivation is certainly related to the time spent cultivating, physical strength will gradually decline after reaching its peak over time.

This is also why, as a grandmaster, he could sense life constantly dissipating.

He suddenly had a bold idea and was eager to share it with Hai Tianfu.

"Who do you think was stronger, Ye Jianxian or the Immortal Master, during their prime?"

Hai Tianfu glared at him and said in a low voice, "Are you crazy! How can you compare them? One practices martial arts, and the other is an immortal. Just because the Taoist priest can defeat both of us instantly, who do you think is more powerful?"

Qin Shouzhong chuckled awkwardly, "I was just asking casually. Perhaps..."

"I advise you not to even think about it. Even thinking about it is a crime."

"Okay, I don't want to!"

The more he tried not to think about it, the more the thought overwhelmed him, and Qin Shouzhong couldn't help but look down the mountain.

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he grabbed Hai Tianfu's collar, pointing to the distance below Mount Hua: "There's someone—"

Hai Tianfu also looked down and his eyes immediately narrowed.

"His form is like floating clouds, his body like a roc, rising slowly and soaring upwards... This is the movement technique of the Free and Unfettered Sect... Sword Immortal Ye has indeed arrived!"

A voice came from behind.

The person turned around and saw that Master Jingxian and Master Huikong had already come out. Looking at the figure getting closer and closer, they couldn't help but sigh.

Ye Jianxian once said that his martial arts were derived from the "Xiaoyao Jing" (Free and Easy Scripture), so he should be called Xiaoyao.

"If Ye Jianxian were here in person, how should we conduct ourselves?"

Sword God Qin Shouzhong asked.

That's a good question.

Originally, the four of them were already the four greatest martial arts masters, possessing the highest cultivation levels. However, if Ye Jianxian were to appear, they might have a tough time.

Although Hai Tianfu's analysis just now was very logical.

What about aging, loss of beauty, weak blood and qi, and a frail body...?

But when it came to actually using the equipment, they still felt completely uncertain.

Just as they were hesitating, a figure suddenly rose from the bottom of the cliff like an immortal, soared into the sky, crossed the platform, and floated in the air.

With the full moon hanging in the sky behind him, it was as if a sword immortal had descended to the mortal world, making it impossible for anyone to have any thoughts of fighting against him.

Before the four could react, the young man put his hands behind his back, his long sword behind his back, and he seemed to ride the wind, floating over and landing in front of the four.

It was as if they were being blown by the wind, or as if they were riding the wind.

It instantly exudes an ethereal aura.

"Changchunzi of the Xiaoyao Sect greets the four Grandmasters."

After standing still, the young man gave the four people a slight bow.

Master Jingxian looked at him and nodded: "You're not Ye Jianxian?"

"Ye Jianxian is my master. He abandoned his physical body and became a corpse-dissolving immortal ten years ago."

When the young man said this, he looked up at the starry sky, seemingly filled with endless nostalgia.

"Amitabha, well done, well done!"

The old monk, Master Huikong, chanted a Buddhist prayer.

"Young hero, you have inherited the Free and Unfettered Sect. You will surely reach the top in the Mount Hua Grand Competition." Master Jingxian also liked to say nice things, and her words carried an unintentional flattery.

"It's just empty fame. I'm here only to prove my path." The young man smiled casually, but there was an underlying arrogance in his expression.

"What is the path to enlightenment?" Qin Shouzhong couldn't help but ask.

"My master once defeated all the heroes of the world atop Mount Hua, reigning supreme in the martial arts world for decades. Afterward, he withdrew from the martial arts world, having no equal. However, in his pursuit of the Great Dao and transcendence, he never took on any disciples to pass on his skills. I was fortunate enough to be taken in by my master, becoming the sole successor of his lineage. Although my master has ascended to immortality, as his disciple, I must experience the state of mind he once held, and hope for the opportunity to attain immortality like him in the future..."

"So you mean you want to become the leader of the martial arts world, the supreme ruler of the land?"

Qin Shouzhong chuckled.

The young man looked at Qin Shouzhong and smiled slightly: "The leader of the alliance is irrelevant, but we must defeat all the masters."

Before Qin Shouzhong could say anything, a figure flashed before his eyes. He was terrified, like a startled bird, and flew backward, simultaneously striking out with his palm.

"thumping"

It seems like it hit something, but it also seems like it didn't.

His body followed an arc like a parabola, landing directly on the ground on his back with a loud thud, shattering several pieces of the bluestone slabs before sliding a distance before coming to a stop.

Qin Shouzhong got up, feeling sore all over. After circulating his internal energy for a full cycle, he felt that he was not seriously injured. He couldn't help but say angrily, "Young man, you have successfully angered me."

The young man chuckled: "All four of you, come at me together!"

Although the young man's attack was sudden, they are all top-tier experts. Whether it's a sudden attack or a well-prepared attack, they have enough experience to handle it.

However, Qin Shouzhong, the top of the Four Masters, was actually knocked away by a single palm strike, causing their expressions to turn serious.

"I'll test your strength!"

Yin Jue Shou Hai Tianfu rose up suddenly, like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit. He became famous for his hands; the name Yin Jue Shou was not given for nothing.

A blast of cold air shot out.

The young man's figure flashed, and the cold air struck the floor beside him, instantly covering it as if it were covered with a layer of frost. Then the floor shattered, and debris flew everywhere.

"It's rude to come and not reciprocate!"

The young man casually slapped Hai Tianfu.

A force as powerful as ocean waves surged toward Hai Tianfu.

Hai Tianfu shouted, "Well done!"

He thrust his palms forward with a sudden "thud," releasing a burst of energy that deflected the oncoming palm strike. But just as he blocked the first wave of force, another surge of energy came crashing down like ocean waves.

Waves are higher than waves.

"Oh!"

When the fourth wave of palm strikes surged forth and swept in, Hai Tianfu could no longer withstand it.

"Thump!" He crashed to the ground, coughed twice, and spat out blood.

The young man smiled at the four of them, not even drawing his sword, but casually twirling it, and said, "I told you, all four of you come at me at once."

The four exchanged a glance, their minds in perfect harmony. Suddenly, it was as if a bridge had been built between them, and their powers were connected.

The Four Masters are called the Four Masters because, in addition to their individual unique skills, all four of them are Grandmasters who can establish a connection of power through sensing.

One plus one plus one plus one equals more than four.