novelapdf Chapter 120 My Disciple!
Chapter 120 My Disciple!
Chapter 120 My Disciple!
Junji Zen Temple is located at the top of the main peak of Mount Taishi, the highest and most secluded place.
Upon entering the courtyard, two rows of towering ancient cypress trees stand tall, blocking out the sun and scattering the sunlight in dappled patterns on the bluestone slabs.
Shen An straightened his clothes, composed himself, stepped up the stairs, and pushed open the heavy vermilion palace door.
Inside the main hall, the light was dim, and there was a pillar every few steps.
On the throne facing south in the due north direction sat an extremely imposing figure.
The man was dressed in a long purple robe, with a stern face, sword-like eyebrows, a nose like a hanging gall bladder, and a short beard as sharp as needles.
He simply sat there, motionless and silent, without even raising his eyes. But anyone would feel that he was a lurking tiger, and looking at him would make them feel uneasy.
It was Zuo Lengchan, the leader of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, the head of the Songshan Sect, and also Shen An's master.
Shen An noticed that, besides his master, his third uncle Lu Bai was also sitting on a round-backed chair at the lower end of the hall.
When Lu Bai saw him come in, he smiled gently and nodded slightly as a greeting.
Shen An felt somewhat relieved, but dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Disciple Shen An greets Master—"
Unexpectedly, before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred!
Suddenly, Zuo Lengchan, sitting on the throne, flashed a sharp light in his eyes and let out a cold snort.
Without any warning, he suddenly swayed and fell straight down from the throne!
Its speed was as fast as a tiger descending a mountain, swift and unparalleled!
A large, fan-like hand, accompanied by a sharp gust of wind, struck straight at Shen An's vital chest!
This palm strike came too suddenly and too fiercely!
Shen An felt an intense sense of crisis instantly engulf his entire body, and the hairs on his body stood on end!
He couldn't understand why his master would try to kill him the moment they met!
Before the coarse cloth covering his back could be removed, Shen An swiftly drew the heavy sword from his back. In a haste, he gripped the hilt and blade with both hands, holding it horizontally in front of him with the purest defensive stance of the Songshan swordplay – "Jade Well Heavenly Pool"!
"Bang!!"
A deep, resounding boom, like the beating of a drum, exploded in the hall.
Zuo Lengchan's seemingly ordinary palm strike landed solidly on the heavy sword wrapped in coarse cloth. Shen An felt an overwhelming force, as if he had been crushed by a collapsing Mount Song. His arms went numb instantly, and he could barely hold onto the heavy sword.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The force of the impact sent him staggering back three steps, each step making a heavy thud on the hard bluestone ground before he finally regained his balance.
The shock caused his blood and qi to surge, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
However, in that moment of shock, Shen An suddenly sensed something was wrong.
That's it?
Although the palm strike was domineering and powerful, leaving him in a sorry state, it didn't seem as strong as he had imagined.
With my master's skill, if he truly intended to kill me, let alone if I were to hastily defend myself, even if I were to concentrate fully, there would be no way I could escape unscathed.
That palm strike should have at least sent him flying, sword and all, flying, leaving him severely injured and on the verge of death.
But now, apart from his blood and qi churning, he has not suffered any fundamental damage.
Before he could think it through, Zuo Lengchan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He clearly hadn't expected Shen An to be able to withstand his blow so forcefully, but his hand didn't stop moving at all.
Having failed with his first strike, Zuo Lengchan turned his body and unleashed a second and third strike in quick succession, like a storm!
This time, Shen An could clearly feel that the power in his master's palm strike was several times stronger than the first one!
"They were definitely testing me!"
Shen An understood. He poured all his strength into his arms and the sword, wielding the unsheathed heavy sword with impenetrable power.
"Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud!"
Inside the main hall, the sounds of swords clashing echoed continuously. Relying on the imposing weight of his heavy sword, Shen An combined offense and defense, utilizing techniques from the Songshan Swordplay such as "Layered Green Floating Blue," "Jade Dragon Beyond the Sky," and "Upside-down Songshan."
With sweeping, slashing, and smashing strikes, each sword strike generated a whistling gust of wind, barely managing to withstand Zuo Lengchan's seemingly simple and direct palm techniques, which contained endless variations.
With each move, Zuo Lengchan's skill level gradually increased.
From initially managing to barely keep up with Shen An, to now struggling to cope, the pressure has been like an ever-increasing mountain, pressing down on Shen An little by little.
After a dozen or so moves, Shen An was sweating profusely, and his breathing became rapid. He felt like a small boat in a stormy sea, in danger of capsizing at any moment.
In another exchange of blows, Zuo Lengchan slapped away his heavy sword with a palm strike, and then with a flick of his wrist, delivered a seemingly slow palm strike at an extremely tricky angle, cutting straight at his right wrist holding the sword!
Shen An had just unleashed a sweeping attack with his heavy sword. The sword's momentum was already weakened, and the heavy blade carried immense inertia, leaving no time to retract and defend!
This heavy sword, which was incredibly powerful during the attack, became his biggest burden at this moment!
At the critical moment of life and death, a glint flashed in Shen An's eyes, and he made a decision that moved even Lu Bai, who was watching from the sidelines!
He released his right hand without hesitation!
"Clang!"
The heavy greatsword flew out of his hand and crashed to the ground, producing a series of ear-piercing metallic scraping sounds and sending sparks flying.
Discard your sword!
At the very moment he discarded his sword, Shen An advanced instead of retreating. He stomped his left foot on the ground and propelled himself forward, meeting Zuo Lengchan's palm strike head-on without flinching.
At the same time, he brought his five fingers together with his right hand, and with his inner strength surging, he unleashed a powerful and refined "Great Songyang Palm"!
Palm to palm!
A strong look of admiration flashed in Zuo Lengchan's eyes.
Calm and composed in the face of adversity, decisive and courageous! Truly worthy of being his disciple!
His palm strike, aimed at Shen An's wrist, suddenly changed midway, transforming into a slap that landed squarely on Shen An's palm.
"Bang!"
Their palms clashed, producing a deafening roar far deeper than any previous collision. A visible shockwave suddenly radiated outwards from the two of them, causing the curtains in the hall to flutter wildly.
Instantly separate.
Shen An was knocked back a step again, but this time, he stood firm as a mountain.
Zuo Lengchan, using the recoil from the palm strike, floated back as lightly as a feather, silently returning to his high throne as if he had never left.
Silence returned to the hall once more.
Shen An stood there, his chest heaving violently, his right palm trembling slightly, and his palm burning hot.
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, looked at his master on the throne who had regained his calm and composed expression, and finally bowed, respectfully completing the ritual he had not yet performed: "Disciple Shen An greets Master and Uncle-Master Lu."
His voice was slightly hoarse and trembling because he was still breathing.
Lu Bai clapped his hands and laughed, saying gently, "Good, good, Shen An. Senior brother, you've really taken on a good disciple. I'm so envious."