Martial arts, like palm techniques, are generally designed with many fallback options in hand-to-hand combat. This is to ensure control and defense, so that a single mistake doesn't cost one's life. However, this also means that these palm techniques lack the sheer power of Bore Nirvana, and conversely, Bore Nirvana lacks the control and defense. Any attack that lacks control and defense is easily countered!
With a scream from Xuanshan, he fell to the ground. Though not dead, he had lost the ability to fight back. While the Great Bore Nirvana Palm was incredibly powerful, it consumed a vast amount of internal energy. Normally, when dealing with petty thugs, one or two palms were enough to finish them, so a lack of internal energy was rarely an issue. To achieve his surprise attack, Xuanshan unleashed dozens of consecutive blows without even a moment to catch his breath. Yet, due to his deep internal cultivation, he didn't feel the effects immediately. His last few palms were unleashed with his remaining energy, having expended more than half of it. Without the chance to recover and replenish his energy, he was essentially at the end of his rope. Thus, this young monk, Xuanshan, intended to use his youth to bully Wu Tao, an old Daoist priest who had one foot in the grave... Little did he know, he would suffer the same fate. It truly was divine retribution.
Wu Tao's sword slash opened small bloody gashes on Xuanshan's four limbs – his hands and feet. Fortunately, Wu Tao held back at the last moment, not intending to kill. Still, after sparring with a young monk, Wu Tao's old bones felt a bit sore and uncomfortable. Planting his sword in the ground, Wu Tao began to breathe and recover, keeping an eye on Xuanshan, wary that his death might spark a conflict between Buddhism and Daoism.
Meanwhile, ever since Xuanshan mastered the Kasaya Subduing Demon technique at the age of thirty, he had been invincible, earning a formidable reputation in the martial world. He had sparred with the top martial artists of his generation from various sects and had never been at a disadvantage. To be so easily defeated by a century-old monster was unimaginable. Even against Qingyunzi, known as the foremost Daoist master in the world, the proud Xuanshan felt deeply humiliated. He paid little attention to the four sword wounds on his body, his concern was for his reputation. Xuanshan was furious, but facing Wu Tao, who was several generations his senior, he dared not speak harshly. After all, Wu Tao's seniority was too high; arguing with him would be unreasonable, even if Xuanshan were in the right.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wu Tao exhaled lightly, clearly having finished his recovery. He stood up and mockingly said to Xuanshan, "What is it, little monk? Do you dare to be arrogant again?" Xuanshan snorted and turned his head away, clearly unwilling to engage with Wu Tao. However, in order to maintain the relationship between Qingyun Temple and Shaolin Temple, Wu Tao had to treat his wounds. To get back at this stubborn monk, Wu Tao took out some wound medicine and mixed it with coarse salt. He roughly tore off Xuanshan's monk robe and "carefully" bandaged the wounds with great force. During this process, Xuanshan writhed in agony, his veins bulging. If not for his cultivation of the ascetic Zen, he would have fainted from the pain long ago. Helpless and unable to resist, Xuanshan’s mind raced, scheming and contemplating, but it was all useless… For, at any time, strength is everything.
Suddenly, several more "Amitabha" sounds echoed from outside the inn, as if a large number of monks were performing a ritual. A monk named Dukong, with his hands clasped, asked, "Is disciple Xuanshan truly here?" Several other monks eagerly replied, "Yes, it's here, Grand-Martial-Uncle. That's right, it's the mark left by Senior Brother Xuanshan..." Hearing the voices, Xuanshan was both surprised and delighted. He thought to himself, "Why would Grand-Martial-Uncle come personally? This is truly wonderful." It turned out that this monk named Dukong was from the same era as Wu Tao's original self, Qingyunzi, only a little younger. He was now over a hundred and ten years old and had been retired for many years. Dukong's cultivation level was also at the Grandmaster realm.
Instantly, more than a dozen monks surged into the room. The first one, with white hair and a bald, gleaming head, was none other than Dukong. Seeing Dukong, who was from his era, Wu Tao, having merged with Qingyunzi's memories, felt a bit embarrassed. Bullying a junior was not a good reputation to have, even though the junior had initiated the attack and deserved to be disciplined. However, in the martial world, bullying the young was never a good reputation, regardless of the reason. Xuanshan circulated the internal energy in his meridians and struggled to stand up, bowing and saying, "Xuanshan greets Grand-Martial-Uncle." Dukong waved his hand and replied, "No need. What use are so many secular formalities…" "Huh? How did you end up like this? Who could have the strength to injure you so severely? Given that Brother Qingyunzi is here, wasn't that person too arrogant?" Xuanshan replied, "Grand-Martial-Uncle, I have failed in my duties and am here to confess my guilt. A person from the Daoist sect bullying a junior is truly shameless." Dukong's two white eyebrows twitched slightly, and he pressed, "Who is it? Could it be that it was Brother Qingyunzi who injured you?" Xuanshan stated, "Grand-Martial-Uncle, it was indeed True Person Qingyunzi who acted, and all of this was for the Moha Divine Skill."
Wu Tao stood aside, listening as the two bald monks, one old and one young, ganged up on him, spewing insults. He was so angry that he almost drew his sword to fight them. After a while, Wu Tao could no longer contain himself and cursed them loudly. The abbot of the Daruma Hall and the abbot of the Scripture Hall, after chanting "Amitabha," said, "Senior Qingyunzi, we respect you as a pillar of the martial world, which is why we are giving you some leeway. Please do not go too far." Xuanshan sneered, "Senior Qingyunzi believes himself to be the foremost under heaven. Decades ago, he even defeated the Heaven Demon Divine Cult that ravaged the entire martial world… Now, of course, he no longer takes the mere Shaolin Temple seriously. Fellow disciples, what are you waiting for? Take him down quickly." As the future abbot of Shaolin Temple, Xuanshan had the privilege of giving orders. Without Dukong speaking, the two abbots and several monks, upon hearing Xuanshan's command and before Dukong could utter a word, rushed forward and surrounded Wu Tao. Seeing this, Dukong chanted "Amitabha" and hesitantly asked, "Is this really okay?" Xuanshan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his earlier words had taken effect. He smiled and said, "Grand-Martial-Uncle, please rest assured. Although Qingyun Temple is the national religion, our Shaolin Temple is not weak either… Moreover, the Sanskrit version of the 'Moha Divine Skill' is our sect's supreme martial arts scripture. How can it fall into the hands of the Daoist sect… I will handle these matters, Grand-Martial-Uncle, so please do not worry about them. You just need to provide support." Dukong looked at Xuanshan, who had already been chosen as the future abbot of Shaolin Temple, and felt that his behavior today was rather inappropriate. However, this matter was not yet enough to revoke Xuanshan's succession rights. Coincidentally, because of this incident with Qingyunzi, Dukong wanted to observe Xuanshan further, to see if his actions were truly worthy. If he was found to be unqualified, his own words still carried weight in Shaolin Temple… In that case, this young man should not blame this old man for being ruthless. Therefore, for this reason, Dukong chose to go along with the flow and did not stop Xuanshan from giving orders.
Facing two Grandmaster-level abbots and several Innate realm high monks, Wu Tao did not dare to be careless. He unfurled his body, his True Martial Sword moved, and he unleashed the "Bright and Upright" technique! With the momentum of the sword light flowing! It was even faster and stronger than the previous sword strike, and the Daoist aura on the True Martial Sword was even more ferocious! Wu Tao decided to strike first because, given the attitude of these baldasses, he would rather die than let them have the "Moha Divine Skill" today. And once decided, there was no looking back. His movements were swift, his sword fierce, and his sword energy swept across the eight directions.
The abbot of the Daruma Hall, Xuannan, and the abbot of the Scripture Hall, Xuanshan, along with other high monks, truly did not expect Wu Tao to disregard his title as the foremost under heaven and strike first. They were momentarily stunned, and this hesitation cost them half a step. In a battle of experts, even the slightest mistake was unacceptable! Therefore, Wu Tao's sword strike demonstrated a mastery of the situation that was truly superb. Xuannan, Xuanshan, and the other high monks could only leap backward in their haste. Once at a disadvantage, they were at a disadvantage at every step. Even when the abbot of the Daruma Hall, Xuannan, wielding his iron Zen staff, unleashed the Demon Subduing Staff Technique, Wu Tao easily deflected it aside with his True Martial Sword. The abbot of the Scripture Hall, Xuanshan, was comparatively slightly stronger, employing various techniques from the Demon Subduing Staff Technique such as "sticking," "picking," "sweeping," and "charging" to their utmost limits. Wu Tao unleashed over a dozen sword strikes in rapid succession, all of which missed their targets, but the others were being chased like drowned rats by this one man and his sword. However, when Xuanshan, after recovering from his injuries, joined the fray and attacked Wu Tao, Wu Tao began to feel the strain. Instantly, staffs, Zen staffs, fists, and palms rained down on Wu Tao. Just then, Wu Tao felt his breath catch. Clearly, his aged body could no longer support such intense combat and was beginning to fail. The surrounding wind howled like crashing waves, battering him relentlessly. Wu Tao roared at the sky, his sword energy surging, sword light scattering, and a cacophony of clanging and booming sounds ensued.