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

It is said that Wan Gusheng sat on the mountain for three days and three nights, and then went down the mountain without saying a word. As for where he went, Zhang Zhengdao did not know, because he also went up the mountain.

Many martial arts practitioners like to take dangerous paths because they can demonstrate their skills.

Especially the young martial arts heroes, with a light touch of their toes and a leap of light-footed skill, could jump from one rock to another, trying their best to display graceful postures in the air. It is said that this could attract cheers from female warriors.

Zhang Zhengdao and the two women obediently climbed the steps.

The ancients possessed both wisdom and strength. Starting from the foot of the mountain, they carved out a road, creating tens of thousands of steps, all entirely by human labor.

It's important to show off your skills and be eager to climb the mountain, but it's also important to take your time and walk slowly up the mountain.

Today's mountain climbing event is mainly a competition.

A battle between top-tier masters.

As for second- or third-rate江湖人士 (jianghu figures)...

Sorry, there's a fighting ring at the foot of the mountain, go play by yourself.

The pinnacle has always been reserved for those with exceptional martial arts skills.

The competition among top-tier masters lasted twelve days, during which all of them stayed in a villa halfway up Mount Hua. The referees for the competition were five innate masters.

The competition between masters of innate talent was judged by five grandmasters.

The competition between grandmasters is judged by the Four Masters.

As for the competition among the four masters, they themselves would act as the judges. The four masters did not necessarily have to determine a winner, but rather to exchange skills, verify their abilities, identify shortcomings, and discuss their findings.

If a grandmaster challenges them during this period, they will accept the challenge.

There must be a chance for younger generations to rise to the top.

Besides members of their own sect, there were also some qualified masters who had come up the mountain to watch the top-level competition from the audience. It was a gathering of heroes and quite a lively scene.

The banners of each sect were planted on the mountainside, fluttering in the wind.

Guo Lanying originally wanted to plant her flag at the very top, but upon seeing that it was already filled with the flags of the eight major sects, she could only plant it in a less conspicuous spot.

They were also charged five taels of silver for planting the flag by the Huashan Sect.

"Charging money just to plant a flag? They're such a money-grubber!"

Guo Lanying angrily returned to the side of the stands and complained to Zhang Zhengdao.

Hu Yunying: "This is still considered low. Do you know how much the flags of the eight major sects cost?"

Zhang Zhengdao was also curious: "How much?"

Hu Yunying held up three fingers and shook them.

Thirty taels?

Zhang Zhengdao was surprised.

Hu Yunying: "Three hundred taels!"

Zhang Zhengdao felt embarrassed, realizing that his perspective was too narrow.

Guo Lanying opened her mouth wide, speechless for a long time.

"Three hundred taels? That's too easy money! Why don't they just rob us?"

Hu Yunying scoffed, "We're all martial arts practitioners, how could robbing be as lucrative as this?"

There's a fight going on stage.

Zhang Zhengdao sat up straight.

To be honest, this is much more interesting than watching a play in Lingzhou City.

There are dialogues and lines, but the flavor is completely different.

The younger generation of the Diancang School has come up against the younger generation of the New Kongtong School.

Everyone who went on stage would bow, clasp their hands in a fist salute, and announce their name. Having signed a waiver, they were no longer responsible for the life-or-death struggle; everyone would rely on their own abilities.

Competitions between reputable sects are somewhat better, as they involve a clear-cut approach where the contest ends when the opponent has made their move and readily concedes defeat.

However, when they encounter wandering knights or members of various gangs, they won't stop until their hands and feet are broken, or they are seriously injured and vomiting blood.

They are ruthless not only to their opponents, but also to themselves.

Because once you become famous, it means you'll have another path to success in the future.

Fortune and wealth are achieved through risk!

Of course, there are also some slackers who specialize in competitions, who are like top-notch experts or innate masters who have asked for favors.

"Brother Gao, please!"

"Brother Tang, please!"

We're all civilized people; even when we're fighting, we have to maintain a proper demeanor.

"Who do you think will win?" Guo Lanying whispered to Hu Yunying.

Zhang Zhengdao said, "I think the Diancang faction will win."

How much did you bet?

"Twenty taels!" Zhang Zhengdao glanced at Hu Yunying, surprised. "You bet too? Where did you get the money?"

Hu Yunying pouted: "It's my own private savings."

Zhang Zhengdao's guess was correct.

After the competition ended, he quietly found the person who placed the bet, collected thirty taels of silver, and looked at Hu Yunying with a happy smile, saying, "I think I can keep winning, so please help me manage the accounts!"

Hu Yunying lost this time and was somewhat unconvinced.

"Not necessarily!"

"Don't be stubborn. I think I can expand the Taoist temple just by relying on this."

Zhang Zhengdao felt that he was right.

Top-tier experts, innate masters, grandmasters...

Along this journey, it would be unreasonable if we didn't beat them by several thousand... no, tens of thousands of vehicles. Just by observing, it's obvious who's stronger and who's weaker.

It's a done deal.

One group of people steps down, and another group takes their place.

"This time I'm betting on the Sanjiao Gang, what about you?" Zhang Zhengdao asked.

Hu Yunying: "Hengshan School".

Zhang Zhengdao said, "You don't understand. This guy from the Sanjiao Gang is very strong. Just looking at his internal strength, he is a level above the Hengshan Sect."

"Just wait!"

The fight has already begun on the stage.

As expected, the Sanjiao Gang members immediately struck, deflecting the incoming sword with a punch, and then delivering a palm strike that nearly sent the Hengshan Sect disciple tumbling off the stage.

Zhang Zhengdao looked smug and glanced at Hu Yunying sideways.

Hu Yunying remained seated.

"Three Spiral Swords!" The Hengshan disciple suddenly shouted, his body soaring into the air like a spiral, spinning as he thrust towards the Sanjiao Gang members.

His movements were exquisite, and his swordsmanship was fierce.

The Sanjiao gang shouted, "Well done!"

With a sudden movement of his palms, his body snapped like a taut bow, striking towards the Hengshan Sect disciple.

Instantly, the palm wind and the longsword clashed.

"Puch"

It seemed as if the tip of the sword struck the oncoming palm wind, and then the sword struck the shoulder of the Sanjiao Gang member.

"what!"

The man from the Sanjiao Gang yelled and flew backward, crashing into a rock below the arena. He bounced back and fell to the ground, only managing to get up after a long while. He spat out a mouthful of blood and bowed to the Hengshan Sect disciples.

"Be willing to give in!"

The Hengshan Sect disciple nodded and bowed in return: "Brother, you are not weak either. I was just lucky."

After saying this, the two nodded to each other and returned to their respective gangs.

Zhang Zhengdao stared in disbelief at what was happening on the stage.

The Sanjiao Gang member didn't even use his full strength when he struck with his palm? And how could being stabbed with a sword have such a huge impact? The scene of him flying backward and falling to the ground...

Can it be a little more fake?

Zhang Zhengdao stood up speechlessly, looked at the calm Hu Yunying, and then pointed to the stage.

"This...this is rigged! This is a martial arts competition that happens every two years...this..."

He can't even speak properly anymore.

Isn't it said that people in ancient times were humble and modest? Did people in ancient times not lie to people in ancient times?

"Sir, it's just twenty taels of silver, why are you so angry? You just won ten taels, so you won't lose much. How about... I'll make it up to you personally?"

Hu Yunying smiled broadly, looking very pleased with herself.

Guo Lanying even handed over her purse.

"Sir, I still have ten taels of silver in my purse, it's from my savings!"

She even proudly waved it around, as if she had saved a large sum of money.

The poor girl has been raised in such poverty all her life and has never seen a lot of money!

Zhang Zhengdao angrily retorted, "Does Watma lack a few taels of silver? I...I..."

My heart aches so much I can hardly breathe!

Hu Yunying was puzzled.

Twenty taels of silver shouldn't warrant such a loss of composure.

He asked, "Master, you were acting suspiciously over there just now. Could it be... that you didn't bet twenty taels?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded blankly.

"How much was bet? Ten taels?"

Zhang Zhengdao was numb and shook his head.

"No way, he bet fifty taels?" Even Hu Yunying was surprised. Given Zhang Zhengdao's personality, betting twenty taels would be a large sum, how could he possibly bet fifty taels?

Zhang Zhengdao grinned and slowly, heavily, shook his head.

Hu Yunying suddenly felt sorry for him.

"One...one hundred taels?"

Zhang Zhengdao held up five fingers.

"Clap!"

The chair that Hu Yunying was sitting on immediately shattered into pieces.

Five hundred taels! What a damned conspiracy! What a damned thing...

Zhang Zhengdao looked at Guo Lanying: "Consider it a loan from me..."

Without hesitation, he took her purse and put it in his pocket.