Chapter 149: Disquisitions on Buddhist Martial Arts

Ren Woqing harbored malicious intentions when transmitting the Sunflower Manual to Dongfang Bubai. After practicing the manual, Dongfang Bubai underwent a drastic change in temperament. Deeply aware that he had fallen into Ren Woqing's scheme, Dongfang Bubai immediately launched a coup, casting Ren Woqing into the dungeon of the Plum Blossom Manor by West Lake.

When initiating the mutiny, Dongfang Bubai never expected it to succeed so easily. Ren Woqing was captured almost without resistance, causing Dongfang Bubai to develop doubts about the choice to rebel. He—or rather, she—began to believe in Ren Woqing's genuine care and nurturing affection. Perhaps the leader would have passed the position to him the very next month, and launching the coup in haste was merely judging a gentleman with a petty mind.

Although Dongfang Bubai's temperament had drastically changed, human nature was not entirely extinguished. The reason for choosing the Plum Blossom Manor by West Lake to imprison Ren Woqing was inspired by the old saying, "There is paradise in heaven, and Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth," deciding to grant Ren Woqing a fine place to spend his remaining years in comfort.

Toward Ren Woqing's daughter, Ren Yingying, Dongfang Bubai showed considerable care. This was perhaps out of gratitude for Ren Woqing's patronage, treating Ren Yingying with great tenderness and conferring upon her the title of "Holy Maiden." Consequently, for a full decade, Ren Yingying lived a life akin to a princess, enjoying high authority within the Sun Moon Divine Cult.

This gratitude was also the direct reason why Dongfang Bubai did not eliminate Ren Woqing immediately. Moreover, the circumstances surrounding Dongfang Bubai's coup were extremely complex at the time. Faced with such intricate conditions, the past Dongfang Bubai lacked absolute certainty in controlling the situation.

Political matters are never resolved through force alone. Keeping Ren Woqing alive was a fallback option for self-preservation. Dongfang Bubai was a clever person, and since Ren Woqing was already imprisoned, his life and death hung on a single word. The reason for delaying action for ten years was perhaps simply the realization that there was no need to do so at all.

Of course, that was the old Dongfang Bubai. The current Dongfang Bubai had mastered the Sunflower Manual, ascending to the Xiantian realm. With all things flourishing and the natural creation of heaven and man, coupled with the effects of the Spring of Drowning Women, Dongfang Bubai's physical issues were completely resolved, mending the flaws in temperament and rendering it consummated, bestowing a sense of rebirth.

Dongfang Bubai acted accordingly, thoroughly accepting the identity of a woman, actively integrating into the Xianyue Sect and embracing a brand-new life.

At this moment, Dongfang Bubai's persistence in sparring with Ren Woqing was probably meant to sever ties with the past and draw a definitive line.

The battle between Dongfang Bubai and Ren Woqing bore a close resemblance to the duel between Yue Buqun and Daoist Priest Chongxu. It lacked the thrilling, intense sensation of a fight to the death; instead, it resembled an amicable exchange between martial arts brothers.

Although the bout was fought without the slightest trace of hostility, Ren Woqing's strength fell far short of Dongfang Bubai's. The gap between them was no longer something Ren Woqing could bridge by accumulating quantitative changes to trigger a qualitative leap, nor was he capable of achieving such a transformation. The Sucking Stars Technique appeared to be a shortcut in martial arts, but its flaws were far too numerous.

After exchanging blows for a brief moment, Ren Woqing knew he was no match and simply conceded defeat. He promised to lead his old subordinates far away into the grasslands to expand the territory for the Great Ming Humane Empire. However, before leaving, Ren Woqing made a single request: to copy Shaolin's Muscle-Changing Classic.

Yang Xin immediately had Lin Zhennan find the holder of the Muscle-Changing Classic from the Exorcising Sword Technique Practitioners Alliance and exchanged it on the spot with water from the Spring of Drowning Women.

Ren Woqing immediately set to copying the Muscle-Changing Classic.

"Grandmaster Uncle, aren't you afraid that once Ren Woqing masters this divine skill, he will return to the Central Plains and wreak havoc on the martial arts world?" The speaker was Linghu Chong.

Yang Xin looked at Linghu Chong with interest, sensing that Linghu Chong harbored some hostility toward his own father-in-law.

Little did he know, Ren Woqing looked at Linghu Chong with intense irritation as well, feeling that his fine daughter had been ruined by a pig. Perhaps most fathers-in-law regarded their sons-in-law with this exact mindset.

Ren Woqing rolled his eyes at Linghu Chong and continued copying the Muscle-Changing Classic.

"Since Shaolin has been destroyed, let us discuss Shaolin's martial arts," Yang Xin said, clapping his hands. "According to the martial arts world of the previous dynasty—specifically the Northern Song era—there was once a sweeping monk in Shaolin's Scripture Pavilion whose cultivation was unfathomable and whose martial prowess was number one in the world. Some claim his name was Murong Longcheng; having seen through the illusions of the mortal world, he took tonsure and became a monk at Shaolin. Of course, his true identity can no longer be verified, but his strength was indeed peerless under heaven."

"At that time, figures known as Qiao Feng of the North and Murong of the South, along with Qiao Feng's father and Murong Bo, were none of them his match. That sweeping monk once stated that Shaolin's seventy-two supreme arts should not be practiced recklessly; the profounder the martial art, the heavier the baleful Qi, and the easier it is to suffer a deviation in cultivation. To master Shaolin's seventy-two supreme arts, one must possess profound Buddhist principles to neutralize that baleful Qi. The higher one's Buddhist attainment, the more advanced martial arts one can study."

"Therefore, looking across Shaolin's history of several hundred years, not a single person ever managed to practice all seventy-two arts completely. Back then, Murong Bo merely practiced a few techniques and suffered agonizing torment, enduring a fate worse than death every day at the midnight hour. This shows the sinister nature of Buddhist martial arts—calling them demonic is no exaggeration. Why is that?"

The crowd was momentarily stunned, wishing to ask for the reason, but Fang Zheng had been slaughtered by Zuo Lengchan, and Fang Sheng had been beheaded by Linghu Chong. The remaining few monks were frightened out of their wits, and being mere junior disciples, they had no access to Shaolin's secrets and likely knew nothing of the reason.

"Because of Bodhidharma! Legend has it that Bodhidharma crossed a reed across the river and faced a wall at Shaolin for nine years, founding the Chan sect. Ever since, Shaolin has been hailed as the ancestral garden of Buddhist Chan and the supreme authority of the martial arts world, with subsequent generations of Shaolin leading the pugilistic realm. There even arose the saying that all martial arts under heaven originate from Shaolin, and Shaolin's seventy-two supreme arts resounded throughout the jianghu."

"Yet, do not forget that Bodhidharma was a native of Tianzhu. The cultivation system he practiced was the three channels and seven chakras, which fundamentally differs from our Central Plains meridian and internal energy cultivation system. To better propagate his teachings, Bodhidharma faced a wall at Shaolin for nine years, modifying the three channels and seven chakras cultivation methods one by one into the meridian and internal energy cultivation system."

"Bodhidharma possessed wisdom that spanned heaven and earth. Doing so certainly aided propagation and allowed Shaolin to integrate rapidly into the Central Plains, but it came with a fatal flaw: the upper limit was sealed, preventing anyone from reaching the Xiantian realm. Ever since Bodhidharma, not a single person who practiced exclusively Shaolin martial arts has ever broken through to the Xiantian realm."

"Even during the era of the sweeping monk, the Shaolin abbot Xuanci possessed extremely profound internal power and was a supreme expert in the jianghu, known as the Tiger-Subduing Arhat, as well as the leader of the martial alliance. And yet? He still failed to break through to the Xiantian realm. Conversely, the sweeping monk, having converted to Buddhism midway in life, managed to break through to Xiantian or even higher."

"Shaolin martial arts have strong adaptability, widespread popularity, and do not rely on innate talent; anyone can practice them. However, the drawback is that the upper limit is sealed, and this remains true even after practicing the Muscle-Changing Classic. Furthermore, Ren Woqing practiced the Muscle-Changing Classic merely to resolve the flaws of the Sucking Stars Technique, but easier said than done! Besides, Ren Woqing is advanced in years, which is why I have no concern whatsoever that he will return to the Central Plains."

"Leaving aside even you, Linghu Chong, even those who have practiced the Exorcising Sword Technique might defeat Ren Woqing. The Sucking Stars Technique is fine for absorbing other forms of internal energy, but let him try absorbing Sunflower True Qi? Preventing him from bursting apart on the spot would be a testament to Ren Woqing's capability," Yang Xin addressed the crowd.

The crowd fell into deep thought. Buddhist martial arts were indeed as Yang Xin described: highly adaptable, widely accessible, independent of talent, and open to anyone—a true blessing for those with poor aptitude.

"Very well, Zuo Lengchan."

"Your disciple is here!"

"Lead the Songshan Hall southward to Putian Shaolin. I do not wish to see it continue to exist!"

"Obey your Master Uncle's decree." With that, Zuo Lengchan instructed Liu Zhengfeng to open a spatial passage, and leading the disciples of Songshan Hall, he stepped through the spatial portal directly toward Putian Shaolin.

"Lin Zhennan."

"Present!"

"Shaolin has been destroyed..." Yang Xin said indifferently, leaving the rest unsaid.

"Immortal Master need say no more, this subordinate understands." Lin Zhennan nodded repeatedly, then summoned the members of the Exorcising Sword Technique Practitioners Alliance to begin eradicating the roots.

"Old Yue!"

"Your disciple is here."

"This is water from the Spring of Drowning Women. You may permit its exchange based on contribution levels. Handle the specific details yourself." With that, Yang Xin handed Yue Buqun a scroll sealing ten large buckets of water from the Spring of Drowning Women.

As for whether this water would suffice or what to do if others wished to practice the Exorcising Sword Scripture in the future, Yang Xin no longer cared.

Following this, upon returning to Mount Hua, Yang Xin announced secluded meditation and ceased to appear before mortal eyes. Yue Buqun sighed deeply: "From this day forth, the Xianyue Sect will have no one left to shelter it from the wind and rain..."

Far away in the Forbidden City, the Human Emperor Zhu Qizhen also felt a stirring in his heart and let out a long sigh of relief: "He has finally departed..."