PNB Chapter 58 After the Competition
Chapter 58 After the Competition
As the Buddha's light faded and its remaining power dissipated, the battle came to an end.
The scene was earth-shattering, with a sea of blood and a Buddha's sword. The special effects were so exaggerated that even the brick floor of the Sword Platform, which covered dozens of square meters, was not completely destroyed, and there were still intact parts of the floor.
Sheng Wansong looked ahead, and Liang Chen slowly collapsed, losing all his strength.
His once black hair had turned completely white, his skin was covered with deep wrinkles, and his muscles had atrophied; he looked nothing like a man in his thirties.
To anyone else, he looked like an elderly man in his seventies or eighties, nearing the end of his life.
In Sheng Wansong's view, Liang Chen's life flame had already flickered like a candle in the wind.
He has less than three years left to live.
Sheng Wansong sighed, "He's too persistent."
Ouyang Heng summoned his disciples, who carried Liang Chen to a side room to recuperate and arranged for a renowned doctor to treat him.
In this brief moment, Abbot Yuanjue walked up to Sheng Wansong.
The old monk's expression was gentle yet inquisitive. "What Benefactor Sheng displayed seems to be a martial art from our Buddhist school."
"But such Buddhist martial arts are something I have never heard of or seen in my life. I wonder where you learned them?"
Sheng Wansong had already figured out the answer to this question eight hundred years ago.
"That was an extraordinary encounter."
Yuanjue stopped where he was, lowered his eyes, and said in a low voice, "I would like to hear the details."
Everyone present pricked up their ears.
Even if they appear indifferent on the surface, they still want to know the origin and secrets of this miraculous palm technique.
Even Ouyang Xue and her father, who were on the steps, took a few steps forward.
Seven years ago, I had not yet set foot in the martial arts world; I was still an ordinary scholar striving for the imperial examinations.
"On a study tour, I passed by a dilapidated temple. The temple was in ruins, covered with cobwebs, and had no doors or windows. A broken Buddha statue sat on the platform, covered in dust."
Sheng Wansong looked into the distance, seemingly reminiscing about the past, and slowly revealed the fabricated secret.
"It was a snowy winter day."
"The ground is covered with white snow, which dresses the earth in silver."
"I went into that dilapidated temple to seek shelter from the snow for the night, and there I saw..."
He paused, and immediately someone stepped forward, asking urgently, "What did you see?!"
Even An Lan stared wide-eyed, clenching her fists at her chest with an expression of great anticipation.
The child truly believed it.
"I saw a fox and a white rabbit, two creatures that should be hunting and fleeing, huddled together for warmth."
Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, Sheng Wansong tried his best to keep his expression in check, lowering his head as if he could see those two living creatures crowding and trembling in front of him again.
"I was moved, so I tore a corner of my quilt and made a small nest for them to keep warm."
"That night, I saw a golden Buddha in my dream, punishing evil and promoting good, slaying demons and monsters, and saving people from suffering."
"All that he did, when combined, formed a peerless palm technique, that is it."
"The Buddha's Palm Technique!"
After hearing the story, everyone discussed it and expressed their thoughts.
"I never imagined such a strange thing could happen in the world."
The sect leader of Qingxu sighed, "The founder of this palm technique must have been a Buddhist senior who cultivated both Buddhism and martial arts to the highest level."
"If such a capable person truly existed, it would be impossible that he would have left no record whatsoever; this is illogical."
Li Yuanxing frowned, expressing his opposition.
"Perhaps the record is in the Buddhist scriptures."
When his sect leader was questioned, Yuwen Lie immediately spoke up, "Perhaps the story in the Buddhist scriptures about the Buddha subduing the Asuras and enlightening the world is a rewriting of the experiences of a certain virtuous monk?"
The crowd continued arguing, and Lin Xian'er grabbed Sheng Wansong's arm, "Brother Wansong, how many moves are there in the Tathagata Palm?"
Countless gazes turned back once again.
Sheng Wansong gently patted her forehead, "You'll understand these things later."
Seeing that he didn't say anything, the various factions didn't press him for details.
After all, martial arts are everyone's trump card, and when it comes to life and death, how can they be easily spread?
"Amitabha."
While everyone was focused on the palm technique, Abbot Yuanjue asked a different question.
"What happened to the white fox and the rabbit in the end?"
Sheng Wansong was quick-witted and immediately replied, "Later, the fox ate the rabbit."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xue covered her mouth, almost gasping out in surprise, seemingly not expecting such a twist in the ending.
"Amitabha Buddha, cause and effect are cyclical, and life and death are orderly."
The abbot who had once wanted to lend Sheng Wansong the monk's knife sighed, "Young Master Sheng possesses innate wisdom and is capable of attaining enlightenment from the Buddha. This humble monk, being all-knowing, is ashamed of my inferiority."
Monk Yuantong voluntarily gave up his qualification for the sword-tasting competition.
Ouyang Heng shouted, "Who else wants to abstain?"
After Yuanjue, disciples from all schools abstained from the competition.
With so many people present, if one were to seize victory by force while the opponent's true energy is exhausted, one would only be ridiculed by the martial arts world.
However, if given time to recover, he didn't think he would have a chance to withstand that blow.
"Brother Sheng."
Yuwen Lie clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Sheng deserves to win the championship in this sword-tasting competition."
"But if there is an opportunity after the meeting, please feel free to exchange ideas with me so that I can verify what I have learned."
Talented and polite, Sheng Wansong didn't dislike the young man and waved his hand, saying, "No problem, no problem."
Divine Marquis Zhu Wu looked at the leader of the Divine Fire Cult, his tone mocking, "Xuan Li, weren't you supposed to be here for the Sword Appraisal Tournament?"
"Now that everyone else has abstained, why not let your Divine Fire Cult's goddess participate?"
"Tsk."
Xuan Li clicked his tongue in displeasure.
This bastard was just saying there was no precedent and it was unreasonable, but now he agrees, which clearly means he thinks it's impossible to win.
Xuan Li glared at Zhu Wu, then asked Yao Ji:
"Yaoji, would you like to give it a try?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Ji shook her head vigorously.
"Young Master Sheng's palm technique is superb; Yao Ji is no match for him."
Tsk.
Yao Ji and Fang Kuohai are both outstanding martial artists, and they are also blessed with the Divine Fire Pill. Xuan Li originally planned to use this sword-tasting event to promote the Divine Fire Sect.
As a result, Fang Kuohai was instantly killed by Liang Chen, and Yao Ji dared not fight.
Fortunately, they achieved half of their goal of joining forces with the six major sects to fight against the Tianlong Gang, so they didn't come away empty-handed.
"snort!"
"Gentlemen, do not forget what happened at Xun Valley Pass!"
"Yao Ji, let's go!" Xuan Li waved his cloak and led the way away before the sword-tasting competition officially ended.
All members of the six major sects watched the Divine Fire Sect depart, and not one of them uttered a word to stop them.
It's better to leave sooner rather than later.
"Since no one has stepped forward, the winner of this sword competition will be this young hero, Sheng."
"Xue'er," Ouyang Heng announced to the public, calling out his daughter's name.
Ouyang Xue was taken aback; this wasn't part of the established procedure.
Although it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Ouyang Xue was intelligent and quickly understood. She took the sword from the servant, held it in her hands, and took a step forward.
Ouyang Heng nodded in satisfaction and shouted:
"Sheng Wansong, step forward and receive the sword!"
Disciples of prestigious sects are not allowed to pass on their martial arts skills even if they get married.
But Sheng Wansong is a martial arts practitioner without any sect or affiliation.