Chapter 21: Extraordinary 9 Monsters

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Extraordinary 9 Monsters

The Dao Yi Seal was known as the supreme martial art of Dao Yi Mountain. As a companion martial technique to the Great Yellow Court, it consisted of only a single, simple Fist Seal, but this Fist Seal could be used to command all other martial arts in the world.

For Chen Sha to defeat Zhou Botong, who was equivalent to two Grandmasters, in a one-on-two fight, he had two options. One was to advance his realm and truly step into the Grandmaster Realm.

The other was to use the Dao Yi Seal to command even more Martial Arts.

The term "Martial Arts" itself held a deeper meaning.

"Wu" referred to Martial Arts Techniques, while "gong" referred to Inner Power True Qi.

In most cases, once one’s Power was established, their Martial Techniques naturally followed.

However, there were exceptions where the "wu" was greater than the "gong."

The Dugu Nine Swords was one such example.

Even after his Inner Power Cultivation was crippled, reducing him to an ordinary person, Linghu Chong could still challenge first-class experts with his sword, relying solely on the Martial Arts Techniques of the Dugu Nine Swords.

This just went to show the incredible power of a supreme martial art like the Dugu Nine Swords.

Martial Arts like the Dugu Nine Swords, which allowed one’s techniques to surpass their power, were not plentiful, but they were by no means rare either.

The Dao Yi Seal was the most supreme and superior among them.

If he could learn and master Zhou Botong’s Void Clarity Fist, adding it to the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms he had already mastered, he would possess two superior martial arts from Jin Yong’s Martial Heroes. One hard, one soft; their combination would easily multiply his combat strength several times over.

Not to mention, after this Peach Blossom Island Chapter, the Martial Arts of Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng, two of the "Five Extremes," were waiting for Chen Sha to experience and observe.

...

Returning to the Cosmic Light Fragments.

Within Peach Blossom Island.

On the flat ground in front of the cave.

"Who are you? How do you know the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms? Teach me, will you? How about I take you as my master?"

"If you can beat me, I’ll teach you!"

The scene’s dialogue restarted.

Chen Sha struck first with a punch, holding nothing back. From the very first move, he aimed to force out Zhou Botong’s Void Clarity Fist.

"A fine move!"

Zhou Botong shouted in return.

He once again unleashed the Seventy-Two Paths of Void Clarity Fist.

SPLASH~~

As their fists and palms met, it produced a clear sound, like a fist striking the surface of water.

Then, a continuous exchange of blows began.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

He had a precedent for this. In the first Chapter, he had fought thousands of battles against Hong Qigong, secretly learning and comprehending the techniques of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms over those thousands of fights.

Now that he was in the second Chapter, Chen Sha simply continued his old training routine of combat cultivation.

With Zhou Botong replacing Hong Qigong as the new "mini-boss" to be defeated...

Chen Sha’s daily life returned to a very regular pattern: eat, meditate, fight endlessly in the Cosmic Light Fragments, get dissipated, regulate his breath, and enter again...

Sleep, wake up, eat, meditate, fight, regulate his breath...

On Dao Yi Mountain.

The sun rose in the east and set in the west, rising and falling, as the days passed one by one.

In the blink of an eye, more than a month went by...

It was now the fifteenth day of the third month.

...

「The fifteenth of the third month.」

According to the almanac, the Day God was the White Tiger of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.

Auspicious for: Ancestor worship, praying for sons, construction, and acquiring wealth.

Inauspicious for: Visiting, breaking ground, marriage, and acupuncture.

...

Inside a certain red-walled Daoist temple on the mountain.

Song Yu looked at the almanac, which read "Auspicious for Ancestor Worship," and was reminded of the day’s significance. He said:

"Today is the hundredth day since the Sect Leader’s passing. The former Sect Leader’s grave needs to be swept. Qingfeng, at noon, after the meal, go call the Sect Leader. We will accompany him to the former Sect Leader’s grave to pay our respects."

"I understand, First Senior Uncle."

The little Daoist child Qingfeng nodded vigorously.

Song Yu clasped his hands behind his back, ready to leave the Daoist temple. Suddenly, he glanced down the corridor and saw the figure of a woman walk by. She wore an embroidered cotton dress and a cloak with a snow hood.

He asked with a hint of confusion:

"Has that Scholar Yao from Jiangnan Dao not left Dao Yi Mountain yet?"

That woman from the Jiangnan Yao Family had said she would pray for her brother for a month. More than a month had passed, so why was she still on the mountain...

The little Daoist child next to him looked up slightly, saw Yao Qingru walking away in the distance, and quickly explained:

"We asked the lady if she was facing any difficulties. She said someone would come to pick her up soon and that she would leave then, so we felt it would be rude to press her further."

As he spoke, he lowered his head. "Besides, the Incense Money she gave was very generous, so it felt even more inappropriate..."

Hearing this, Song Yu thought for a moment before saying:

"She has been on the mountain for almost two months now. That is indeed quite a long time. Although our Dao Yi Sect is a major sect and shouldn’t be petty, we can’t help but be a little more suspicious."

Just then.

DONG!

The bell on the mountain suddenly rang.

Song Yu’s head snapped up.

’The bell is ringing?’

The voice of another little Daoist child came from outside the temple. "Daoist Song, a group of people has arrived at the summit! They’re Martial Artists! Please hurry up the mountain. They’ve already reached the Sect Leader’s Hall."

"Martial Artists?"

Song Yu frowned slightly and immediately strode forward. After taking two steps, he turned back to Qingfeng and said:

"I’m heading up the mountain first. Relay what I just said to the Elder of this temple. We can’t let that woman stay for too long."

"Yes, yes, this disciple understands."

The little Daoist child nodded quickly.

He then watched Song Yu’s back as he headed toward the summit amidst the continuous tolling of the great bronze bell.

DOOONG~~~

The solemn, resonant sound of the bell reached the guest rooms for pilgrims, not far from the Daoist temple.

"Saintess, it seems the Extraordinary Nine Monsters have arrived."

Yao Qingru heard the voice, looked at her servant, and smiled faintly.

"They’re right on time."

The elderly servant bowed his head. "What are our next steps?"

Yao Qingru looked up at Dao Yi Mountain, her eyes glittering. "We proceed according to plan."

"Today is the hundredth day since Chen Canxuan’s death. The Holy Son usually focuses on his cultivation, but today he will absolutely go there to pay his respects. Everything is within my calculations. Now, let’s see what these Extraordinary Nine Monsters are capable of."

...

DONG!

DONG!

DONG!

The tolling of the bell spread throughout the mountain, from summit to base.

Song Yu strode quickly up the mountain, passed the temples and palaces, and arrived at the Sect Leader’s Hall.

"Hero Song, I’ve heard so much about you!"

Just as he stepped into the hall, Song Yu saw one of the people seated in a chair stand up, clasp his hands in greeting, and smile at him.

The man was less than three feet tall and had the face of a child. But when he spoke, his tone was world-weary and his voice was the hoarse, gravelly sound of a mature man:

"I am the Child Emperor of the First-Grade Hall."

Song Yu returned the courtesy and, out of habit, greeted him first. "Greetings, Mr. Child."

He did not judge a book by its cover.

Everyone knew that the most dangerous people to provoke in the Jianghu were Daoists and monks, the elderly, women, and children.

And as he came in and looked around, he saw that besides a few of Dao Yi Mountain’s Elders and his own two junior brothers and sister, the chairs were occupied by nine strange individuals, including the Child Emperor.

They practically embodied all the types of people in the Jianghu one should never provoke: the old, the young, women, monks, Daoists, and more.

When he recovered from his initial surprise, his voice grew grave.

"The Child Emperor?"

He said solemnly, "You are the Child Emperor, the leader of the Extraordinary Nine Monsters?"

"The very same," the child-like Child Emperor said with a smile. "But today, there are no longer any Extraordinary Nine Monsters in the world. There are only the nine Jianghu Wanderers of the First-Grade Hall."

"The First-Grade Hall..."

Song Yu’s expression grew even more solemn. This was the second reason for his gravity.

The First-Grade Hall.

This was an organization that had only recently risen to prominence in the Jianghu. Yet, in just a few short years, it had recruited numerous martial arts masters, including many renowned first-class experts and even Grandmaster-level figures.

Its founder remains unknown to this day.

It was only rumored that this founder’s Martial Arts realm had already reached the highest realm among the Third Grade Nine Streams.

The First-Grade Great Innate.

This was also the reason the organization was called the "First-Grade Hall." As the name suggested, it was backed by a First-Grade Great Innate.

As for the members of the Extraordinary Nine Monsters, each of them was a world-class master, with strength somewhere between that of a Grandmaster and a first-class expert.

How could these nine suddenly submit to the First-Grade Hall?

And why had they come to Dao Yi Mountain together today...?

"What business brings the nine of you up the mountain?"

Song Yu immediately adopted a serious and formal tone.

These nine extraordinary eccentrics were not to be trifled with. They had been famous throughout the land for over twenty years, and a few of them were even veteran Grandmasters whose actions straddled the line between good and evil.

Dao Yi Mountain had never had any dealings with these people. Why would they come calling?

"To be honest, the nine of us have come today to sweep the grave and pay our respects to Elder Chen, the Sect Leader."

the Child Emperor said with a grin.