Chapter 1 Dawn

As the night receded, the morning light was just born.

Inside the Huangjue Temple, the sound of hooves was hurried. A young monk rode a fine horse, galloping through yesterday's accumulated snow, traveling between various temples, lighting incense sticks.

The faint scent of incense drifted through the ancient temple with thousands of years of history.

The bright accumulated snow reflected a thousand years of vicissitudes.

Whoosh~

The young monk dismounted, about to enter the temple.

Suddenly, he heard rolling thunder beside his ear, initially startled, then calmed down.

"Is it the Daoist priest snoring again?"

The young monk stealthily glanced at a quiet residence in the distance.

That residence was near the back mountain, backed by the Shariputra Pagoda, with a large lake in front, surrounded by trees, very secluded and quiet.

The nearest great hall was forty or fifty zhang away.

"Should I go take a look?"

The young monk's heart beat a little faster.

He had not seen the Daoist priest in that residence, but he had heard many stories about him.

Three months ago, this Daoist priest struck the Huangjue Bell eighty-one times, shaking the entire Huangjue Temple. Since then, rumors about this Daoist priest had spread among their fellow disciples.

It is said that this Daoist priest is one zhang and two chi tall, with a waist circumference of one zhang and two chi as well. Horses could run on his arms, and his thighs were thicker than old trees. He could eat three hundred jin of the best rice and noodles in one meal, plus a Da Huan Dan (Great Revitalizing Pill).

Otherwise, how could he have rung the Huangjue Bell?

You know, the Huangjue Bell has been lying there quietly for more than three months since it was struck down.

The senior brothers in the martial monk hall are so powerful, each with a thousand jin of strength, but even a hundred and eighty people working together cannot shake it even a little bit!

The young monk didn't know if others believed it, but he did.

Every day he runs horses to light incense, he can hear the snoring that is more frightening than thunder.

Snoring sounds like thunder; if he were to fart, wouldn't he collapse the courtyard!

How powerful would that be?

The young monk's heart thumped. He lit the last incense stick and tied the horse to the doorpost.

He cautiously approached the residence.

He also has some kung fu skills, his footsteps are very light, and he doesn't make any sound when stepping on the thick snow.

Before long, he approached the residence.

As he got closer, the young monk couldn't bear it.

Beyond a hundred zhang, the thunder was still very small, but the closer he got, the louder the thunder became. At a distance of more than thirty zhang, he was already a little dizzy.

'This is too amazing!'

The young monk's heart jumped even faster.

He silently circulated his inner strength, cautiously approaching the residence. As soon as he entered thirty zhang, his body suddenly felt hot, as if he was soaking in hot water, warm.

The cold of the winter morning seemed to disappear all at once.

"Goodness! It's so warm here, how come the snow hasn't melted?"

The young monk was even more amazed and curious.

Along with this warm current, he felt that the thunder-like 'snoring' didn't seem so annoying anymore.

Instead, it made his body tremble very comfortably, as if his uncle was massaging his muscles after he broke his leg riding a horse again.

He was so comfortable that he almost groaned.

After walking two steps and arriving at the door, the young monk poked his head around, cautiously leaning on the door, looking through the crack.

The courtyard is so big! The courtyard where the thirty of us brothers live is not even half as big as this courtyard.

First, an exclamation.

Then he saw a Daoist priest.

A young Daoist priest wearing a white Daoist robe but not wearing a Daoist crown, seemingly a wandering wild Daoist.

'Where is he one zhang and two chi tall? The senior brothers are really deceiving me...'

Looking at the unremarkable Daoist priest, the young monk was a little disappointed.

This Daoist priest is not as powerful as the rumors say. He is plain and seems to lack the demeanor of a master in the rumors.

But upon closer inspection, he widened his eyes.

The Daoist priest was sitting cross-legged, with his five centers facing the sky. His robe moved without wind, and vaguely, one could see his body glowing under his thin clothes.

No, it wasn't his body glowing, but spots of light were constantly drilling into his body from all around.

It was as if he was absorbing the spots of light.

The huge courtyard seemed to be swept by a hurricane. Occasionally, fallen leaves that were thrown up were blown very high before they could fall into the courtyard.

And the thunderous sound really came from his body.

Moreover, the sound was more than ten times louder than what he heard outside!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the Daoist priest opened his eyes.

This time, it was as if the clay and wood puppets in the temple had turned into real Buddhas, and the stone statues had become true gods!

The Daoist priest's eyes lit up like the sun and the moon.

His body seemed to condense all the light between heaven and earth. The entire courtyard and even the entire world became pitch black at this moment, darker than the deepest night!

The Daoist priest was the only light in the world.

Under the boundless shadow, his body seemed to grow taller and taller. The howling cold wind seemed to be wailing like evil spirits, but the Daoist priest sat cross-legged, as if he were the King Buddha who suppresses hell in legends.

Unconsciously, it made his mind stable.

Inhale!

Finally, in the deepest night, came a long inhaling sound.

This inhaling sound was so terrifying.

In the young monk's perception, the howling wind in the courtyard, and even the entire heaven and earth, were sucked away!

Bang!

The door suddenly opened!

"Ah!"

The young monk couldn't help but let out a scream, involuntarily flying into the air, leaping more than ten zhang.

"Don't eat me!"

The young monk gesticulated wildly, screaming in fright.

It wasn't that he was so afraid of death, but being eaten was too miserable.

After screaming for a while, he found that there was no movement, so he cautiously opened his eyes.

What came into view was the young Daoist priest with a faint smile on his face.

The Daoist priest's eyes were gentle, but whether it was an illusion, he always felt that the Daoist's eyes were terrifying, as if he could see through his heart, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

An Qisheng raised his eyebrows and looked over.

This young monk looked about eleven or twelve years old, but in reality, he was only ten years old. He looked ordinary, but his eyes were bright and very clever.

However, if that was all, he would just be an ordinary young monk.

However, he saw deeper.

This young monk is extraordinary.

His eyes opened and closed, and words formed by a ripple appeared in his visible perspective:

Liu Ming

Life trajectory: Born in Jiu Fu Realm, Liang Prefecture, Defang Prefecture. Lost his parents at a young age and made a living herding cattle for others. Later, because the cow was accidentally摔死(wrestled to death), he lived by begging. Later, he met a martial monk from Huangjue Temple and was brought back to Huangjue Temple...

After the Battle of the瀚海(Han Hai), he went down the mountain when Huangjue Temple封山(sealed the mountain). At that time, the various countries were at war, and Da Feng was full of smoke. So he joined the Volunteer Army. After twenty years of war, he occupied twelve states and became the commander of one route...

In the following thirty years, at the time of the demise of the Da Feng Dynasty, he defeated the heroes and occupied seventy states of Da Feng alone, splitting the land and封王(becoming a king)!

Replacing Da Feng, creating a dynasty for hundreds of years...

Replacing Da Feng!

The founding太祖(Grand Ancestor) of a generation!

"Little monk, what do you want from me?"

Looking at the trembling Grand Ancestor in front of him, An Qisheng opened his mouth with a smile.

With his current state of mind, even seeing the founding Grand Ancestor of a dynasty, his heart was as calm as ever, with a slight surprise.

But that was all.

"No, nothing..."

Seeing that the Daoist priest had no malice, Liu Ming calmed his pounding heart and muttered:

"I, this little monk, was running horses to light incense, and heard the Daoist's呼(hu), breathing, so I couldn't help but come forward to take a look, not, not intentionally偷看(peeking)..."

As Liu Ming spoke, he stuttered again.

He suddenly remembered that peeking at others practicing martial arts was very taboo in the martial world rumors mentioned by his fellow disciples.

Even if he was beaten to death, he was afraid that the abbot would say that he was beaten well...

"What can you even see?"

An Qisheng smiled dumbly.

Practicing martial arts routines is nothing more than鍛煉(tempering) the body, familiarizing oneself with the routines and fighting methods, so that the body has a deep understanding, so as to be more handy when fighting.

Martial arts have reached his level, and there is no need to practice like ordinary people.

Walking, sitting, lying down are all martial arts, every move is功(merit/skill).

Sitting cross-legged for half a day is better than a year of practice for ordinary people who get up at dawn.

If someone could learn his martial arts just from his breathing and the rhythm of his body transporting qi and blood,

That would also be their fortune.

"I..."

Liu Ming was a little unconvinced by the meaning in An Qisheng's words, but after thinking about it, he sighed dejectedly.

He really didn't see anything.

Besides being frightened into a sweat, he didn't gain anything else.

"You are in Huangjue Temple, are you still worried about not having kung fu to learn?"

An Qisheng shook his head slightly. This little monk also has some basic kung fu skills, but it is only limited to the skin and flesh, and even the筋骨(tendons and bones) have not been penetrated.

"That's just it!"

Hearing this, Liu Ming stomped his feet:

"I have been a monk for two years, and I have done a lot of work, but I haven't learned any kung fu. My martial arts were learned before I entered the temple!"

"Did you offend the monk who teaches kung fu?"

An Qisheng glanced at him.

A cunning child who has been a beggar since he was six or seven years old is lacking in other aspects, but he is definitely not bad in terms of being worldly.

At least not to the point of offending people.

"That's not the case."

Liu Ming sat down on the ground and said carelessly:

"The rules of Huangjue Temple have always been, three years of running horse monk, three years of杂役(miscellaneous service) monk, three years of講經堂(sermon hall), three years of戒律院(precepts courtyard). Only after these twelve years can one enter the武僧堂(martial monk hall)!

Even outside masters who want to enter the temple have to pass these twelve years, saying that they want to observe their character..."

Speaking, the little monk Liu Ming had a lifeless look on his face.

He had only endured for two years, and he still had ten years to go before he could learn real kung fu.

He even wanted to return to secular life.

"I see."

An Qisheng nodded slightly.

No wonder Huangjue Temple has never had any young masters. Just the hurdle of being able to practice martial arts only after twelve years is destined that Huangjue Temple cannot have any young masters.

However, because of this, Huangjue Temple rarely has scum.

Those who can really endure these twelve years, and still have a strong戾氣(ferocity) under the peaceful aura of Huangjue Temple, are absolutely rare.

"Daoist priest, can you teach me martial arts?"

Liu Ming's eyes lit up.

"You are a disciple of Huangjue Temple, you have your own masters to teach you skills, how can outsiders越俎代庖(overstep their bounds)?"

An Qisheng's heart moved slightly.

He raised his eyes and looked over.

In the distance, between the accumulated snow, the great monk San Yin was approaching, his voice had already arrived before he did:

"Daoist priest is wrong! My Huangjue Temple has never prohibited disciples from learning martial arts outside of this sect! As long as the source is right, what's the harm in learning martial arts?"

Liu Ming was startled, and ran to hide behind An Qisheng in a puff of smoke.

'It's bitter, it's bitter! If 太師叔祖(Grand Master Uncle Ancestor) heard it, will I have any good fruit to eat in the future? It's over, it's over, I can't stay in this temple anymore'

For a time, the little monk's heart was哇凉哇凉(extremely disappointed).

"Wouldn't that be a bargain for you?"

An Qisheng shook his head and laughed.

Seeing the great monk coming, he also got up to greet him.

"How is it a bargain for us? If the martial arts taught by the Daoist priest are profound, maybe he will拐走(kidnap/seduce) all my disciples!"

San Yin stepped on the wind and landed in the courtyard.

He glanced at the sneaky Liu Ming, and after a little thought, he knew that this little monk was actually a disciple of his own.

But he just glanced at it, then laughed heartily:

"After three months of going back and forth, I finally brought back the last spiritual material that the Daoist priest needed!"

Hearing this, An Qisheng's eyes lit up slightly:

"Thank you, Master!"