The Floating City lingered in Chong Prefecture for only four days before heading to other prefectures, advancing towards more resource-rich locales.
The three-in-one team of assassins, hunters, and merchants also prepared to depart, bringing along people from the Tianmen Sect as guides. Their knowledge of the opponents' martial arts types and their uses proved very beneficial.
Zhang Wei, meanwhile, was squatting in a side chamber, organizing ingredients. He still had ingredients collected from the gourmet world that he hadn't processed, and now they had arrived in a new world.
Zhang Wei would be busy for a considerable time.
As for labor, a large quantity of high-quality stone was needed to build the Floating City. This matter was also handed over to the merchants.
Dong Prefecture's Da Fu Temple!
Da Fu Temple worshipped a plump Buddha resembling Maitreya, but this was a pure martial arts sect, a towering presence in the entire Dong Prefecture. With Da Fu Temple's existence, the whole Dong Prefecture remained peaceful.
Its influence made people in Dong Prefecture tremble, and even secular imperial power feared it.
The primary reason was the eight Arhat Vajras, each possessing a cultivation base of Jiazi. They generally kept out of worldly affairs, residing in the back mountains of Da Fu Temple to cultivate their health, seek enlightenment, and enjoy their twilight years.
"The Sect Leader of Chong Prefecture's Bei Yue Sword Sect and the Grand Master of the Da Ri Vajra Gate, the hermit Kuang San, has come to pay his respects!"
"I hope the eight Venerable Masters will grant me an audience!"
Kuang Long roared loudly, infusing his voice with internal energy, reaching tens of miles, and echoing endlessly in the valley!
The Abbot of Da Fu Temple's expression changed upon hearing this: "Such profound and vigorous internal energy, and it's even my Buddhist family's Pure Yang energy!"
Although Da Fu Temple was a paramount sect, it was thrown into extreme disarray by the sudden visit of a Jiazi-level expert.
The Abbot immediately led a group of monks out of the temple, only to see three people standing outside the courtyard.
Shao Feng appeared to be middle-aged. Though he had a beard, his youthful handsomeness was still discernible.
Kuang Long, imbued with Pure Yang energy, appeared as youthful as a teenager despite being over fifty.
Only Kuang San, having experienced many hardships, had a face etched with the weariness of life.
Upon seeing the three, the Abbot of Da Fu Temple immediately shuddered.
Such an aura could only be felt in the Fu Yin Mountain behind the courtyard; it was the ultimate manifestation of martial prowess. In Dong Prefecture, besides Da Fu Temple, fewer than a handful of individuals could reach this level!
A head monk, bowing behind the Abbot, whispered, "These three claim to be from Chong Prefecture. Crossing such a vast distance to come here, I fear..."
"I've heard traveling merchants speak of matters in Chong Prefecture. Their martial arts are quite flourishing, but I've never heard of such figures."
Chong Prefecture and Dong Prefecture each covered an area of tens of millions of square kilometers. The longest diagonal exceeded sixty-five hundred kilometers. Even urgent military dispatches via the postal service could only travel three hundred fifty kilometers per day, with a rider change and three horses changed daily.
Urgent dispatches from the post station would take twenty days, while ordinary traveling merchants would need four months to traverse between the two regions, taking a year for a round trip.
Why had these people traveled such a great distance to come here?
The Abbot chanted a Buddha's name: "Benefactors, for what noble purpose have you traveled thousands of miles to our humble temple?"
"Are you deaf? I already said, I wish to meet the six old Venerable Masters!"
Seeing the Abbot's hesitation, Kuang Long stepped forward directly: "We are here for two matters: to pay our respects to your six old Venerable Masters, and to borrow a glimpse of your Xin Yi Qi Hun Yuan Gong. We've also heard that your Liu He Yin Yang Staff is quite famous, so we wish to see that as well."
Heart and intent unite, intent and qi unite, qi and strength unite!
This is Xin Yi Qi Hun Yuan Gong.
Hun Yuan Gong transforms peaceful and natural internal breath into powerful and upright external force. When practicing, although the mind and spirit are tranquil, there is a subtle sound emanating from the body. According to legendary descriptions, Shao Feng determined that this martial art could reach the realm of pure internal energy.
The three internal integrations are coupled with "three external integrations, internal and external integration, and six-harmony integration, hence the name 'Liu He Staff'."
It is divided into two sets of moves: inner and outer, upper and lower, and riding and stepping, hence "Yin Yang Staff."
The moves of the Liu He Yin Yang Staff are swift and clear, neither too simple nor too complex, making it a superior external martial art. Da Fu Temple's current reputation relies entirely on these two techniques.
Upon hearing this, the Abbot's eyes went black. They had come with no preamble, directly making demands that were absolutely impossible to meet.
Kuang Long continued to shout: "I won't make things too difficult for you. How about this: we'll have a scholarly duel. I'll stand here and let you strike me three times. If I'm still alive after the three strikes, you will hand over the two texts and arrange for us to meet the six old Venerable Masters!"
This...
To endure three strikes?
One would assume this person was an extremely formidable external training master. But this was underestimating Da Fu Temple too much! The Liu He Yin Yang Staff was not only exquisite but also, leveraging the advantage of its long reach, its lethality far surpassed that of swords and sabers. Against external training, it was like a heavy hammer!
If they killed him, it would be great. Given the wager, even if a conflict arose later, it would reduce the opponent's strength.
If they couldn't defeat him...
If they couldn't even defeat him, what was the point of continuing?
That would mean they were facing an existence they absolutely couldn't contend with. Without bringing out the six old Zen masters, Da Fu Temple might cease to exist!
"Good! I agree."
This scholarly duel was a good thing; it yielded immediate results and saved the younger monks from death, preventing the waste of Da Fu Temple's potential.
Soon, eight young monks carried a massive box out of the courtyard, about two meters long and seemingly very heavy.
The Abbot flung open the lid of the box, revealing a gilded and jeweled enamel staff!
Judging by its appearance, it weighed at least over three hundred jin. An ordinary person couldn't even lift it, and martial artists couldn't use it as a weapon; it was typically for display and collection.
But today was different. Kuang Long would stand still and take the blows, so the cumbersome drawbacks of the enamel staff could be ignored. Its immense weight could deliver extremely powerful damage!
The Abbot said, "Benefactor, do you still wish to continue?"
Kuang Long laughed heartily: "Good, good, good! This is powerful enough! Bring it on!"
"Then this old monk will not be polite!"
"Come!"
Kuang Long roared, his Golden Body Undefiled technique making his entire body shimmer with light!
The Abbot was not polite and aimed a staff strike directly at Kuang Long's head!
Kuang Long shouted, dodged the staff with a sidestep, and punched the Abbot in the chest!
*Poof~~*
The Abbot flew backward!
"You! You're despicable!!!"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Your aura was just too strong, and my penchant for battle was ignited. My body couldn't control itself! It's fine, let's try again! This time I definitely won't dodge!"
"Poof~"
The Sect Leader spat out another mouthful of blood and instantly fainted.
Shao Feng scratched his head: "Who will continue?"