69novels Page 21
Page 21
Although there was no injury, a charred mark remained on the chest area of the clothing.
He really suffered a loss!
Upon seeing this, Zhang Yunyuan was speechless.
It actually broke through Zhang Zhiwei's defense! No wonder Zheng Zibu said in the original novel that Zhang Zhiwei had suffered a loss in the martial arts competition; it turns out that was the reason!
However, just as Zhang Huaiyi thought he had finally gained the upper hand and was preparing to press his advantage,
Zhang Zhiwei moved.
His seemingly casual demeanor vanished abruptly, replaced by an absolute authority that commanded absolute power and control.
He didn't use any fancy techniques; he simply took a step forward and extended one finger.
He uttered a single word softly.
It seems to contain some profound truth of the universe.
Zhang Huaiyi, who was charging forward with all his might, suddenly felt the air around him stagnate, becoming like a solid iron plate. The surging Qi within his body also seemed to be tightly gripped by an invisible hand, instantly freezing!
All his offensive efforts vanished with a single finger.
What Zhang Zhiwei demonstrates is an absolute and overwhelming understanding of the "Tao".
Zhang Huaiyi's Qi was already greatly depleted in that desperate attack, and now that it was forcibly interrupted, he had exhausted his last bit of strength.
He swayed, the broom slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, kneeling on one knee, gasping for breath, unable to stand up again.
The defeat was swift and decisive, leaving no room for doubt.
However, there was not a trace of resentment or bitterness on his face.
On the contrary, it was a sense of sudden enlightenment and relief.
He looked up at Zhang Zhiwei, who was still standing there as if he hadn't done anything, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions.
He finally understood that working in isolation, with the goal of defeating someone, would never allow him to surpass the mountain before him.
He needs to go down the mountain.
He went to find his own "Tao".
Chapter 23 Huaiyi Descends the Mountain
The martial arts competition had ended, but the waves it had stirred up lingered in the hearts of the disciples of Longhu Mountain for a long time.
Zhang Zhiwei's final display of absolute power, which was almost akin to the "Tao," weighed heavily on the hearts of all his peers, like an insurmountable mountain, leaving them feeling deeply powerless and in awe.
Although Zhang Huaiyi was defeated, his obsessive and arduous cultivation, his sharp Qi blade that specifically broke the Golden Light Curse, and his stunning attack that finally caused his senior brother to suffer a loss all proved his strength and extraordinary abilities.
The third day after the martial arts competition ended.
Zhang Huaiyi went alone to the quiet room in the backyard of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
The old Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing was sitting quietly with his eyes closed on the prayer mat, as if he had already anticipated his arrival.
Zhang Huaiyi knelt down and respectfully kowtowed.
His voice was calmer than ever before.
"This disciple wishes to descend the mountain and travel, seeking an opportunity for a breakthrough."
Zhang Jingqing slowly opened her eyes, her cloudy eyes revealing no emotion.
He quietly looked at his disciple, who was the most resilient and stubborn of them all.
From Zhang Huaiyi's final, relieved look on the training ground, he knew that this day would eventually come.
This pond on Longhu Mountain can no longer contain this koi carp that is about to transform into a dragon.
He needs a wider ocean to experience real storms and to find his own piece of sky.
"Have you thought about it?"
The old Taoist priest asked in a deep voice.
"Disciple has made up his mind."
Zhang Huaiyi answered without the slightest hesitation.
"The world down the mountain is in great chaos now."
"The disciple understands."
"The outcome of this journey is uncertain."
“Disciple, I have no fear.”
Zhang Jingqing looked into his resolute eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he let out a long sigh and waved his hand.
"Thank you for your kindness, Master!"
Zhang Huaiyi kowtowed again, then stood up, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
His back view was resolute and determined.
Zhang Huaiyi's departure did not cause much of a stir on Longhu Mountain; only a few people knew about it.
But this gave Zhang Yunyuan an excellent opportunity.
A few days later, after the hype surrounding the matter had died down a bit, he also came to the Old Celestial Master's meditation room.
Zhang Yunyuan followed Zhang Huaiyi's example and bowed respectfully.
"I have come here to bid you farewell."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingqing frowned almost imperceptibly.
His tone carried a hint of displeasure.
"Your senior brother Huaiyi went down the mountain because of his Daoist heart. Why are you joining in the fun?"
Zhang Yunyuan raised his head, his face showing a sincere yet troubled expression.
“Master, I am not just here for fun.”
He organized his thoughts and spoke earnestly.
“It seems that I have encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation. I am only practicing hard on the mountain every day. Although my Qi has increased, my mental state has not improved. I feel that I am missing something.”
"What's missing?"
"Lacking the tempering of the mortal world."
Zhang Yunyuan's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I wish to experience the world, to see it for myself, to experience the myriad aspects of human life. Perhaps, I can find an opportunity for a breakthrough."
This statement was the result of his careful consideration.
It is perfectly reasonable and flawless.
Looking at her most beloved yet most unfathomable disciple, Zhang Jingqing felt incredibly conflicted.
On the one hand, he was reluctant to let his exceptionally talented disciple venture into the chaotic world down the mountain.
On the other hand, he knew that what Zhang Yunyuan said was true.
True strength is never achieved by working in isolation in an ivory tower.
Flowers in a greenhouse, no matter how vibrant they bloom, cannot withstand real wind and rain.
Zhang Yunyuan's talent is even more terrifying than Wei He and Huaiyi combined.
Confining him to the mountain is certainly not a long-term solution.
The old celestial master sighed once again.
He felt that he had sighed more times in recent years than in the previous decades combined.
"That's it, that's all."
He finally waved his hand, his eyes filled with helplessness and reluctance.
“You’ve all grown up and become independent; we can’t keep you here.”
Seeing that his master had finally relented, Zhang Yunyuan was overjoyed, but he still maintained a respectful expression.
"However, we must agree on three rules."
The old master's tone became extremely serious.
"First, when you go down the mountain, you must not reveal your identity as my disciple Zhang Jingqing unless absolutely necessary."
"The disciple understands."
"Secondly, one must act with humility, avoid engaging in fights or brawls with others, and never use one's cultivation level to commit evil deeds."
"Disciple, obey."
"third……"
"Before you went into seclusion, I left a restriction within your body. Besides protecting you so you could focus on your training and eliminate distractions, it also contains a wisp of my divine will. If you encounter a life-or-death crisis, you should immediately activate the restriction, and I will know."
"Thank you Master!"
Zhang Yunyuan looked at the fiery red mark on his wrist and said solemnly.
"For external use, use your Daoist name 'Yunyuan'. Go and say goodbye to your senior brothers."
Zhang Yunyuan kowtowed again and slowly left the quiet room.
The news that he was packing his things to go down the mountain quickly reached the ears of Zhang Zhiwei and Tian Jinzhong.
Tian Jinzhong was the first to rush over, his face filled with worry and reluctance.
"Junior brother, why are you going down the mountain too? It's so dangerous down there, you'll be all alone..."
He went on and on, as if he wanted to pack Zhang Yunyuan up and stuff him back into the house.
It took Zhang Yunyuan a lot of persuasion to calm down this "motherly" senior brother.
Before leaving, Zhang Zhiwei swayed and walked over.