Mount Qingcheng was located in the territory of the Northern Song Empire. It was about a thousand miles away from Lin 'an, the capital of the Northern Song.
Qingshan City had a circumference of 500 kilometers, and the mountains were majestic and serene. The entire mountain was covered in verdant trees that were evergreen all year round, and the peaks that surrounded it formed the outline of a city. Thus, it was named Qingcheng Mountain. There were thousands of steps on the Dan Stairway. The winding path led to a secluded place. The Qingcheng Taoist Temple on the main peak was built on Mount Xuankong. It was difficult for ordinary people to enter. Only martial arts masters and the white apes and cranes of Mount Qingcheng could cross the steep mountains and reach Qingcheng Taoist Temple on Mount Xuankong.
Qingcheng Taoist Temple was the holy land of martial arts in the Northern Song, which was equivalent to the Guanshan Pasture in the Western Qin.
As one of the top nine Holy Clans in the world, the influence of Qingcheng Taoist Temple on the Northern Song might not be as deep as that of the Guanshan Pasture on the Western Qin. Qingcheng Taoist Temple, which pursued the principle of non-action and self-cultivation, rarely got involved in the secular world. However, it was of great significance to the Northern Song Empire. It had saved the people of the Northern Song from danger countless times. In times of chaos, the Taoist priests of Qingcheng Taoist Temple went down the mountain to save the world. In times of prosperity, the Taoist priests lived in seclusion in the deep mountains. It was the Holy Land in the eyes of countless martial artists of the Northern Song, as well as the Holy Land of Taoist Sects on the Divine Land.
Dao Chongyang, the Abbey Dean of Qingcheng Taoist Temple, was recognized as the most powerful Taoist master in the world.
The heads of the nine Holy Clans on the Divine Land were all extremely powerful masters. Their words were the law of the world, and they were called the Nine Superbs of the World.
Dao Chongyang was one of the Superbs.
He was called the Taoism Master of the World. It was not hard to imagine what kind of realm his strength and cultivation had reached. In the past 300 years, he had been the undisputed number one expert in the Northern Song. Even though he had been in closed-door training for 200 years, living in seclusion and keeping a low profile, no one could challenge his position.
But now, this Taoism grandmaster who had kept a low profile for over two hundred years was going to come out of seclusion and challenge Li Poyue, who was also one of the Nine Superbs in the World. This shocked countless people to the point of disbelief.
Every single one of the Nine Superbs was a pinnacle figure who could control the destiny of a nation. In the past thousand years, there had been no precedent of them openly challenging one another.
Because the Nine Superbs were nine huge pillars that supported the heavens.
No matter which one of the pillars collapsed, the sky would tilt and be in danger of collapsing.
Pull one hair and the whole body will be affected.
This was something that everyone in the world understood.
Therefore, battles between the Nine Superbs were rare.
Even if there were some disputes, they would be carried out in the form of civil or secret duels. For example, each of them would teach a disciple and then let the disciple duel to determine the winner of the duel. Or, they would secretly compete with each other and not go too far. There had never been a precedent of Jiu Ji rolling up his sleeves and fighting in person.
However, this time, the duel between Dao Chongyang, the Taoism Sect's Immortal, and Li Poyue, the Guanshan Master, was made public, and it was clearly stated that the duel would determine the winner and the loser, as well as life and death.
Life and death.
In other words, one of the Nine Superbs would definitely die in the end.
The news spread to every corner of the Divine Land like a hurricane.
This caused many people to worry.
What kind of cause and effect had caused such a battle between the Nine Superbs?
Did this mean that the Divine Land, which had been peaceful and balanced for a thousand years, was about to usher in another catastrophe?
Many people wanted to stop this competition that had come out of nowhere.
Of course, there were also many people who were secretly delighted. They were cheering and jumping for joy, and they were looking forward to the arrival of chaos.
…
Mount Qingcheng.
The mountain was gloomy and gloomy.
Since ancient times, there had been a saying that "Mount Qingcheng is the most secluded place in the world". It was a secluded mountain range.
Mount Xuankong was located in the rolling green mountains, surrounded by towering mountains and steep cliffs. It was a mountain suspended a thousand meters above the ground, which was one of the wonders of the world and one of the blessed places. Qingcheng Taoist Temple was located on this Mount Xuankong, which was like the residence of the immortals.
Qingcheng Taoist Temple consisted of 38 halls.
The hall of Dao Chongyang of the Taoism Sect was called Red City, which was located at the top of Mount Xuankong.
Dao Chongyang, who was dressed in a plain cyan Taoist robe, was standing on the stairs at the gate of Red City, overlooking the stacked temples, stone steps, and trees below. His eyes were calm and unfocused. A white horsetail whisk was coiled at the crook of his arm, which looked like flowing silver threads. He was tall and thin, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He seemed to be in his thirties. His face was fair and clean, and he had a black beard and black eyebrows. His eyes were long and slanted upward. They were the orthodox almond-shaped eyes. His nose was straight, and his mouth was wide. There was a kind of refined air about him. When he stood there quietly, he seemed to have merged with the world.
"Master, have you really made up your mind?" Asked a young Taoist in his twenties. He was dressed in a gray Taoist robe and was wearing a pair of cloud-shaped boots. His face was full of worry, and he seemed to be trying to persuade his master.
That young Taoist had dashing eyebrows and bright eyes. His skin was as fair as suet jade. He was extremely handsome and had a heroic spirit.
"The secret of heaven has been revealed. It's time." Dao Chongyang sighed with emotion. "A thousand years have passed. They are ready, and so are we. Everyone's patience is running thin. We can't wait much longer. Even the young Sage-to-be has shown up. The world is about to change."
"Master, please let me go with you," said the young Taoist. The young Taoist said, "The Western Qin has Guanshan Master, and now there's Lord Taibai …"
Dao Chongyang smiled and turned around. "Dao Zhen, you've underestimated the heroes in the world. Li Poyue won't win by outnumbering them."
"But …" The young Taoist, Dao Zhen, still wanted to say something.
Dao Chongyang said, "The millennium change is coming. Even the top nine Holy Clans can't avoid it. We have to face it … Besides, if I'm gone, I'm afraid Mount Xuankong will no longer be peaceful. You have to stay here and protect the foundation of Mount Qingcheng. If you have to, remember to pass on the torch to the end." There was a note of extreme pessimism in his words.
"Master …" Dao Zhen's eyes turned red.
He had stayed on the mountain for two hundred years, but once he did, he would be caught in a life-and-death situation.
He knew very well what kind of opponent his master was facing.
"Silly boy, don't sink into obsession." Dao Chongyang looked kind. He unfolded his palm, and a green pine needle glowed. Then, the light swirled and morphed into a green ancient sword with pine patterns. He said, "From now on, this Green Mountain Sword with Pine Patterns belongs to you. I hope this sword can blossom with its real brilliance in your hands."
"Master." Dao Zhen grew more uneasy and anxious.
The Green Mountain Sword with Pine Patterns was the most precious treasure of Mount Qingcheng. It was a famous Taoist instrument in the world and ranked among the top five weapons on the Divine Land's Mysterious Treasures List. Only the head of Mount Qingcheng and the Taoist Master in the world were qualified to hold it. But now, his master had given it to him. This … Dao Zhen had a feeling that his master was going to leave and never return. Clearly, he was saying goodbye to his master.
"Master, the slightest mistake in your fight with Guanshan Master can lead you to a greater victory. With this sword in hand, you may have a better chance of winning. I …" Dao Zhen refused to accept the gift. Tears were already welling up in his eyes.
Dao Chongyang shook his head and said, "When you reach the ninth level, even the most precious treasures in the world will be useless. The chance of winning depends on yourself and Heaven, not external objects."
After that, he turned around and glided down the mountain.
"Master …" Dao Jin stood at the entrance of the Crimson City Hall's stone steps and watched his master disappear into the distant clouds in the blink of an eye. He was so grieved that he could not control himself. He held the Green Mountain Sword with Pine Patterns with both hands, and his heart was filled with thousands of thoughts of following his master. However, he could not take another step forward.
He had been an orphan since he was a child. His identity was unknown. Then, he was carried to the front of the Red Town Hall by a white crane with a baby basket in its beak. Because of that, Dao Chongyang took pity on him and took him as his personal disciple. Among the disciples in Mount Qingcheng, he was not the most talented one, nor was he the most perceptive one. Nor was he the one who cultivated the fastest. Yet, Dao Chongyang had always valued and encouraged him. In the end, he even passed the Green Mountain Sword with Pine Patterns to him.
Clearly, Dao Chongyang had appointed him as the next head of the Green Town Taoist Temple in Mount Qingcheng.
He had not repaid the favor of raising him up.
…
…
In the Western Qin.
In the Guanshan Pasture.
In front of a simple thatched cottage, Qiu Yin, the Broadsword Man, sat cross-legged with a haggard look and bloodshot eyes.
In front of him was a handsome young man with a smile on his face. His bright and large eyes seemed to contain the movement of stars, the rise and fall of the sun and moon, and also like a bottomless abyss of an ancient spring. He quietly looked at Qiu Yin.
"Master, I … I failed." Qiu Yin's face was filled with guilt. He had been in closed-door training for five days and five nights, but he still failed to comprehend the realm his master had told him. But now, he had no more time to waste. For the first time in his life, Qiu Yin hated himself for being useless.
That handsome young man was Li Poyue, the Guanshan Master, a legend in the martial arts world of the Western Qin, one of the Nine Superbs in the world.
"Your mind is not calm. So, you can't succeed." Li Poyue was not disappointed by his disciple's failure. He rose to his feet and walked out of the cottage. Then, step by step, he soared into the sky.
Qiu Yin got up and followed him. He wanted to say something but stopped on second thought.
In the twinkling of an eye, the two came to the void and looked down at the Guanshan Prairie, which was like a piece of flawless jade inlaid on the territory of the Western Qin Empire.
"I know your heart is on the prairie. You have an appointment with your two sworn brothers. Go." Li Poyue said, "I'm a man of my word. The Wrangler of the Guanshan Prairie must fulfill his promise. Even if the sky falls and the earth collapses, he will fulfill it. It doesn't matter if you're late for one or two days. They should have just arrived at the prairie."
"But …" Qiu Yin hesitated.
He had always been a man of his word. He would never break a promise. But this time, something even more terrible than the collapse of the world happened. He didn't even have the time to inform Li Mu and Guo Yuqing. Two days had passed since the appointed date. Even so, he was still worried about leaving. Because a storm was about to sweep through Guanshan City.
Li Poyue said with a smile, "Go. You can't take that step because your chance hasn't come yet. It's on the prairie."
Qiu Yin was still hesitant. "But in Guanshan City …" Only he knew that once his master went out to fight, the Guanshan City would be leaderless. The chaos that had been suppressed would inevitably break out. By then, the foundation of the Guanshan Prairie would be shaken.
"What's supposed to go has to go. If we can't keep this piece of jade, let it be broken." Li Poyue looked down at the center of the Guanshan Prairie, where the famous Guanshan City was. His eyes showed no reluctance to leave. He sighed and said, "Look at the prairie. It's green and flawless. But the Guanshan City just has to decorate it and spoil its purity. It might be better without it."
Qiu Yin was stunned.
At last, under Li Poyue's urging, Qiu Yin set out on the road to the east and headed for the prairie.
"It's better to have a cup of wine when I'm alive than to have a reputation after my death." Li Poyue walked in the clouds. At last, his figure in a white robe disappeared in the clouds.
That day, the Guanshan Master and the Taoism Master of the Nine Superbs in the World came out of closed-door training.
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