Chapter 86

The tranquil life of a farmer, simple days. Li She and his wife found joy in it. It seemed as if they were cut off from the world, yet they were well-informed about the slightest changes in the martial arts world. Every day, specially trained pigeons would deliver intelligence about the martial arts world to Li She.

After Bu Jingyun joined the Tianxia Society, due to the birth date and time provided by Li She matching his own, Xiong Ba greatly nurtured him, teaching him the ultimate skill, 'Cloud-Dispelling Palm.' It was said that Xiong Ba's martial arts were passed down from the 'Three Absolute Elders'—fist, palm, and leg techniques, namely 'Heavenly Frost Fist,' 'Cloud-Dispelling Palm,' and 'Wind God Leg.' These three skills were extraordinarily powerful, and after mastering them, Xiong Ba even killed his master and fled. Eventually, he combined the three skills into his unique martial art, 'Three Divisions of Primordial Energy,' demonstrating exceptional martial talent.

What is a hegemon? Only those who are unparalleled in the world can be called a hegemon. Such a person has only themselves in their heart and does not trust others, not even their closest kin. Therefore, the 'Cloud-Dispelling Palm' that Xiong Ba taught Bu Jingyun was missing the final crucial move.

Bu Jingyun harbored a seed of revenge, carefully observing Xiong Ba as Li She had instructed. His astonishing martial talent also amazed Xiong Ba. Moreover, Bu Jingyun's method of training, which involved pushing his potential to the limit, caught Xiong Ba's attention. However, as a hegemon, Xiong Ba would not point out Bu Jingyun's flaws. Such intense training, if he did not break through to the innate realm before the age of forty, would leave him with incurable internal injuries. In Xiong Ba's eyes, Bu Jingyun was merely a sharp sword in his hand, and he was pleased to see Bu Jingyun's rapid progress. In the near future, Bu Jingyun would become a powerful weapon for Xiong Ba to expand his territory.

Leaving Bu Jingyun aside, Xiong Ba went to the Leshan Giant Buddha as agreed. Two years ago, to build his reputation, Xiong Ba challenged famous martial artists across the land, including Nie Renwang, the wielder of the Snow-Drinking Saber. This once-famous saberman was naturally on his list of challenges.

However, Nie Renwang had retired from the martial arts world, living a simple life as a woodcutter, relying on chopping wood for a living. The Snow-Drinking Saber, which once struck fear into the hearts of martial artists, was now just a decoration. To force Nie Renwang to fight, Xiong Ba kidnapped his wife, Yan Ying, the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world. The humiliation of losing his wife was something Nie Renwang could not bear. He issued a challenge to Xiong Ba, inviting him to a showdown at the Leshan Giant Buddha. Meanwhile, due to the predictions of the Mud Buddha, Xiong Ba was seeking the two key figures, 'Yun' and 'Feng,' to fulfill his destiny. 'Yun' had already been found, and now Wen Chouchou brought news that the birth date and time provided by the Mud Buddha matched Nie Renwang's son, Nie Feng. This made Xiong Ba even more determined to attend the meeting with Nie Renwang.

"Ha ha ha, a golden carp is not a pond fish; once it meets the wind and clouds, it turns into a dragon. Yun and Feng, Yun and Feng! It turns out to be Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun!" Xiong Ba laughed maniacally, holding the message from Wen Chouchou.

However, Xiong Ba was also thinking. Nie Renwang was merely an innate realm martial artist, relying on the Snow-Drinking Saber to build his reputation. Xiong Ba was not afraid of him. If he killed Nie Renwang, Nie Feng would surely bear a grudge against him. How could he take Nie Feng as a disciple?

As Xiong Ba headed to the Leshan Giant Buddha, the twelve leaders of the most mysterious organization in Central China, the 'Twelve Towers of Tianchi,' had already gathered at the back of the Leshan Giant Buddha.

Li She looked at the thirteen people kneeling before him and nodded slightly. He had summoned them to plot the capture of the divine beast, the Qilin, from the 'Yunfeng' world. He had witnessed the power of the Qilin before.

"Are you all prepared?" Li She asked softly.

The two sisters, Tong Huang, replied, "Master, everything is ready. Nie Renwang and Xiong Ba are already on their way to Lingyun Cave!"

Li She nodded and said, "Good, follow the plan!"

"遵命，主人！" the twelve leaders answered respectfully.

The Leshan Giant Buddha is the pinnacle of Tang Dynasty rock carvings, built at great national expense.

The statue was begun in the early Tang Dynasty (713 AD) by the monk Haitong to calm the waters and save lives. After Haitong's death, his disciples continued the work. It was completed in 803 AD, taking 90 years to finish.

Poets have praised it as "a mountain is a Buddha, a Buddha is a mountain." The confluence of the Min River, Dadu River, and Qingyi River at the foot of the Leshan Giant Buddha created turbulent waters that often destroyed passing boats. The monk Haitong initiated the construction of the giant Buddha to reduce the water's force and to use the Buddha's power to calm the waters. Haitong spent 20 years raising funds, and when a local official tried to extort money from him, he angrily said, "I can gouge out my eyes, but the Buddha's wealth is hard to come by!" and then "gouged out his eyes and presented them on a platter." After Haitong's death, the governor of Jiannan, Wei Gao, continued the work, and the imperial court provided financial support. The giant Buddha was finally completed after 90 years.

The Leshan Giant Buddha, with its head level with the mountain and its feet touching the river, sits majestically on the cliffside. The statue is 71 meters tall, with a head height of 14.7 meters, a head width of 10 meters, 1021 hair buns, ears 7 meters long, a nose 5.6 meters long, eyebrows 5.6 meters long, a mouth and eyes 3.3 meters long, a neck 3 meters high, shoulders 24 meters wide, fingers 8.3 meters long, a distance from knee to foot of 28 meters, and a foot width of 8.5 meters. The feet can accommodate over 100 people. On either side of the Buddha, there are two 10-meter-tall stone carvings of warriors holding weapons, and hundreds of niches with thousands of stone carvings.

On another note, the morning sun shone on the river, where the Min River, Dadu River, and Qingyi River converge at the foot of the Leshan Giant Buddha. The water here is particularly turbulent, and the rising sun turned the river golden. The Buddha, bathed in the golden light, appeared sacred and solemn, as if watching over the joys and sorrows of the world.

After years of seclusion, Nie Renwang, the wielder of the Snow-Drinking Saber, brought his son, Nie Feng, to this place. Holding his son's hand and carrying the Snow-Drinking Saber on his back, he walked steadily. He still vividly remembered the encounter with Xiong Ba two years ago. Without the Snow-Drinking Saber, he fought Xiong Ba with a woodcutter's axe for twenty rounds but was no match for the half-step-to-the-void expert. After his defeat, Xiong Ba kidnapped his wife, Yan Ying, the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, to humiliate him.

The hatred of losing his wife and the desire for revenge brought the long-retired Snow-Drinking Saber back to the martial arts world. He had hoped that a peaceful life would calm the violent blood within him, but he still encountered Xiong Ba.

Nie Renwang sighed, looking at the solemn Buddha, "Once I stepped into the martial arts world, I can never escape. I never intended to be part of it, but why does the martial arts world not let me go? Xiong Ba, let's settle this today."

Five-year-old Nie Feng, who had suffered a lot since his mother left, felt the unusual tension in his father today.

Looking at his father's bearded face, Nie Feng held his hand tightly.

Nie Renwang looked at his son and smiled lovingly, his rough hands caressing Nie Feng's head, "Feng, you've suffered a lot these past two years."

Nie Feng's eyes sparkled as he comforted his father, "I'm not suffering, as long as I'm with Father, I'm not suffering."

"Good, no matter what happens today, I will be with you for the rest of my life. I want to see you get married and have children," Nie Renwang said with a smile.

He then picked up Nie Feng, used his lightness skill, and leaped across the river to the Leshan Giant Buddha. As a martial artist of the innate realm, Nie Renwang stepped on the turbulent water, holding the famous Snow-Drinking Saber, and leaped up. With a few steps, he had crossed over 80 meters, reaching the middle of the river. He swung his saber, creating a massive splash, and used the momentum to land steadily at the foot of the Buddha.

Placing Nie Feng on the ground, he bent down and said lovingly, "Feng, wait here for Father!" Without waiting for Nie Feng's response, he gathered his energy and leaped up, using the Buddha's shoulder to gain momentum and landed on the top of the Buddha. Standing on the head of the Buddha, he looked down at the three magnificent rivers and shouted, "Xiong Ba! Today, I, Nie Renwang, will take your life!"

A burst of laughter echoed, "Ha ha ha! Nie Renwang, I could defeat you back then, and I can do it today!"

Nie Renwang looked and saw a man in a black cloak with a golden border, a three-bearded man of extraordinary appearance, carrying a beautiful woman, stepping on the waves. The woman in his arms was none other than his beloved wife, Yan Ying.

Seeing Xiong Ba's lightness skill, Nie Renwang gripped the Snow-Drinking Saber tightly. He had relied on the saber's energy to cross the river, but Xiong Ba, carrying an adult, could step on the waves so steadily, showing the depth of his skills.

Seeing his beloved wife, whom he had missed so much, Nie Renwang felt as if he were in a different world. She had lived a simple life with him, wearing plain clothes, but now she was dressed in luxurious silk, her figure more graceful, and adorned with jewels, showing that Xiong Ba treated her well.

Yan Ying, seeing Nie Renwang, showed a hint of guilt in her eyes, lowering her head, unable to look at her husband. As the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, she was confident in her beauty. Born in a brothel, she had only wanted a comfortable life and someone to rely on. Nie Renwang had been so spirited and handsome, wielding the Snow-Drinking Saber, making other martial artists wary. That was why she had chosen him. But after marriage and the birth of Nie Feng, Nie Renwang had retired from the martial arts world. She had thought they would live a simple life together, but the daily routine and all the household chores made her realize this was not the life she wanted. Later, she met Xiong Ba, the leader of the Tianxia Society. Xiong Ba's dominance and the luxurious life he offered made her stay.

When she saw Nie Renwang again, she recalled the past, and tears welled up in her eyes. The two looked at each other in silence.

Xiong Ba, seeing their interaction, mocked, "Nie Renwang, your wife is here. I've taken good care of her these past two years! If you have the ability, take her back!"