Golden Dragon Immortal also steadied his footing, his eyes calm as he looked straight ahead. Within his body, a golden divine dragon faintly flowed. It was as if this dragon coursed through his blood, visible within his veins, ready to burst out at any moment.
“Pine of the Northern Sea, floating through the mortal world for countless years,” Grand Pine Sage roared as he directly lifted the giant axe in his hand.
That axe erupted with unprecedented might, tearing through the void as it hacked toward Golden Dragon Immortal.
A dragon’s roar echoed. Golden Dragon Immortal’s figure turned illusory, as though he truly transformed into a divine dragon, twisting and weaving through the void.
One excelled in raw power, the other in speed.
For a time, neither could overwhelm the other.
After about five or six minutes of battle, Grand Pine Sage suddenly changed his momentum. He threw aside his giant axe, bringing his palms together and standing in a strange posture.
Seeing his opponent discard his weapon, Golden Dragon Immortal grew suspicious but still struck with a palm.
A loud boom rang out. Golden Dragon Immortal was horrified to discover that his power could not move the other man at all.
By the time he tried to withdraw, it was already too late.
Countless strands of spiritforce transformed into branches, surrounding and besieging him from all directions.
“Do you know why I am called Grand Pine Sage?” Grand Pine Sage laughed.
“It is because I am the pine tree upon Moon Mountain that absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and transformed into form.”
As the branches of spiritforce bound Golden Dragon Immortal tightly like ropes, Grand Pine Sage finally let out a sigh of relief.
His opponent’s speed was indeed frightening.
With a single kick, he knocked Golden Dragon Immortal off the stage, though without harming him.
“This match goes to Grand Pine Sage. You may choose to continue fighting or take a rest.”
“I’ll rest a bit,” Grand Pine Sage said with a laugh.
Soon, another contestant stepped onto the stage. It was truly a scene of “when you finish your act, I begin mine,” each one dazzling for a moment.
But everyone knew these were just appetizers, warm-ups before the true feast later.
The entire morning passed with such matches one after another.
Even Xu Zimo felt some admiration, they truly had patience.
Finally, after another bout ended, a figure stood up. The previously noisy venue gradually grew quiet.
“The path of cultivation is like rowing upstream. If you do not advance, you fall back. Why not let this little monk push the boat forward?”
A bald monk walked step by step onto the stage, each step steady and firm.
Around his neck hung an especially large string of prayer beads, each bead carved with a different skull pattern.
His gray robes were somewhat old, yet immaculately clean.
“It’s Guiding Venerable,” someone said.
Guiding Venerable was the abbot of Bodhisattva Monastery.
As one of the twelve Imperial Lineages, Bodhisattva Monastery’s history was not especially long.
It was well known that the previous generation’s Grand Emperor of Primordial Heartlands was the Mortal Emperor, and before him was Kunlun Emperor.
But before the Kunlun Emperor bore the Heaven's Will, the world had simply called him Kunlun Monk.
Guiding Venerable was the one who led him into Bodhisattva Monastery.
This Guiding Venerable was a true old monster, no one knew how many years he had lived.
But in his own words, all beings suffer, the sea of Buddha is boundless, and someone must guide the way.
He, Guiding Venerable, was the lamp to lead all beings out of the sea of suffering.
“Looks like the master couldn’t resist,” Xu Zimo chuckled.
“That old monk should stay in his monastery chanting mantras. What’s he doing meddling here?” Lin Ruhuo snorted.
“Perhaps he got tired of chanting,” Xu Zimo laughed.
A young man nearby overheard and joined in, smiling: “Brother, your words are mistaken. Guiding Venerable is a true enlightened monk. He has come to save all beings from the sea of suffering.”
“Do you have a sea of suffering that needs saving?” Xu Zimo asked, looking at him.
“Yes, and many of them,” the youth replied with a smile. “Poor aptitude, weak cultivation, no extraordinary family background, there are countless places in which I consider myself mired in suffering.”
Xu Zimo smiled faintly but did not reply further.
……
When Guiding Venerable ascended the stage, many who had intended to step up hesitated.
They knew each other’s strength well enough; sparring among themselves was fine. But Guiding Venerable was not someone they could contend with. Still, some were unwilling.
“I’ll come,” a loud laugh rang from the distance.
A man strode forward.
“They may all fear your reputation, but I do not,” the man said coldly. “Until we fight, no one knows who is stronger.”
Guiding Venerable smiled serenely at the man.
He then said softly, “Layman, you must quiet your heart.”
As his words fell, an invisible force surrounded the man, directly pushing him off the stage.
No matter how hard he resisted, it was useless.
Seeing this, everyone’s hearts trembled.
To simply push him down without causing harm, that was the true bearing of a master.
“Quiet your heart. Indeed, they all should quiet their hearts. What strength one has determines what one should do,” many thought silently to themselves.
These words were not only for that man but also for them.
The entire venue fell into silence.
A yawn echoed. A figure stood lazily from his seat, as if just waking from a nap.
“Old Guiding let’s have some fun,” he said with a smile.
Seeing this figure, the crowd tensed again.
“Little Bright Sacred Ground,” someone murmured.
This man was seated where Little Bright Sacred Ground’s people were.
But looking at his face, they did not recognize him.
They had heard of several ancestors and the Sacred Lord of that imperial lineage.
But this man, he wore a golden long robe, his hair loose and messy behind him, giving off a carefree air.
He had a square face, appeared to be in his forties, with deep-set eyes, a high nose, and stubble that made him appear all the more mature and steadier.
As the man walked up, whispers filled the air. Even Guiding Venerable seemed somewhat surprised.
“I wonder which senior of the Sacred Ground you are?” Guiding Venerable asked humbly.
“Identity and name don’t matter. I walk the world only to pursue my ideal,” the man replied with a laugh.
On the spectator seats, Xu Zimo stared at him for a long time before uttering two words.
“Xiao Dingtian... the Lord of Light”
His old acquaintance from his previous life, once a closest friend.
But in this life, he had met him earlier and already learned his true identity.
In the past life, Xiao Dingtian had become his friend because Xu Zimo had been defeated by Chu Yang, left in despair and dejection.
But in this life, they were destined to be mortal enemies, because their identities stood opposed.
Perhaps it was his ideal, or his principle.
Guiding Venerable nodded slightly, acknowledging his words.