The old man and the youth, who were getting along just fine a moment ago, suddenly started fighting.
The sole reason for the altercation was Zhang Shantong’s demand that Yan Shouyi call him "Grandpa."
Yan Shouyi, having never encountered such an shameless request, naturally refused.
Zhang Shantong, feeling his dignity challenged, insisted that Yan Shouyi call him "Grandpa."
Yan Shouyi leaped out of the pond, a red carp still perched on his head.
The moment he tossed the carp back into the pond, Zhang Shantong’s fist was already upon Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi hastily dodged.
But Zhang Shantong’s moves were ever-changing.
What appeared to be a punch turned into a feint, and a kick sent Yan Shouyi sprawling onto the ground!
Yan Shouyi had seen such fighting styles before, but never from people of righteous standing!
Renowned sects like Longhu Mountain emphasized fair and upright combat. Sometimes, if an opponent was injured, they would foolishly wait for them to recover before resuming the duel honorably.
Zhang Shantong, however, was entirely different. He embodied the principle of striking a weakened opponent when they were down.
As soon as Yan Shouyi was floored, Zhang Shantong landed a punch directly on his chest.
The force of this blow was considerable, almost making Yan Shouyi cough up blood.
Yet, the intensity was precisely controlled, inflicting the maximum possible pain on Yan Shouyi without causing him serious injury.
Zhang Shantong smugly declared, “Call me Grandpa!”
“Call what?” Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth.
“Grandpa!”
“Indeed!”
“…You brat, you’re exactly like your stinky-footed Grandpa. Just looking at you pisses me off. Today, I’m going to beat you until you shit yourself!”
Zhang Shantong was enraged, his usually pale face now flushed with a hint of color.
Yan Shouyi chuckled, “My apologies, elder. I made sure to clear my stomach before I came out today.”
“Are you going to be cheeky again?!”
Zhang Shantong kicked Yan Shouyi, sending him flying over ten meters away.
Yan Shouyi adjusted his posture in mid-air, and upon landing, he sprang forward like a drawn bowstring!
Previously, out of politeness, Yan Shouyi had refrained from initiating an attack. But this time, he decided to reveal his true abilities.
He couldn't possibly disgrace his grandfather in front of his grandfather’s love rival, could he!?
To showcase his strength, Yan Shouyi even employed Longhu Mountain’s Golden Light Incantation!
He was well aware that using the Golden Light Incantation in front of a Longhu Mountain Taoist was akin to showing off at someone else’s expense. But that was precisely what he wanted – to let Zhang Shantong witness his skill in his area of expertise!
“Heaven and Earth, profound and mystical, ten thousand vapors rooted. Cultivate for myriad kalpas, achieve my divine powers. Within the three realms, only the Dao is supreme. Golden light manifest swiftly, protect my being!”
Golden light instantly enveloped Yan Shouyi, subtly beginning to radiate outwards.
Zhang Shantong observed this and burst into laughter, “Your cultivation is not shallow. To have secretly learned our Golden Light Incantation and reached such a level! Give you a few more years, and you might be able to transform golden light into Qi!”
The so-called transformation of golden light into Qi was somewhat similar to "Qigong."
Currently, Yan Shouyi could only use the Golden Light Incantation for self-protection. Once his cultivation was sufficient, he could project the golden light outside his body.
He could even injure opponents from a distance!
“You flatter me, elder. Please, have a look at this!”
Yan Shouyi threw a punch towards Zhang Shantong.
However, Zhang Shantong was unfazed. He formed a hand seal, leaped, and stomped his feet on the ground, instantly shrinking and disappearing into the earth!
It was as if he had used the Earth Evasion technique of Tu Xingsun from mythology.
Yan Shouyi’s punch landed on empty air. He stood where Zhang Shantong had been, looking around in bewilderment.
How could he just vanish? Had he truly burrowed into the ground?
As Yan Shouyi was pondering this, Zhang Shantong suddenly reappeared far away.
He casually laughed, “What I just used was the Skyward Golden Light. Want to learn it? Just call me Grandpa, and I’ll teach you!”
Skyward Golden Light was a legendary technique, not even a secret art of Longhu Mountain.
It wasn’t even recorded in the Lu Ban scroll.
Yan Shouyi didn't know how Zhang Shantong knew this technique, but he was indeed a little envious.
“Is there a way to learn it without calling you Grandpa?” he asked.
Zhang Shantong laughed heartily, “Of course, there is. Call me Great-Grandpa!”
This old fellow was always trying to take advantage of Yan Shouyi’s grandfather.
Yan Shouyi naturally wouldn’t let Zhang Shantong have his way, and he lunged at Zhang Shantong once more!
Just as Zhang Shantong was about to unleash the Skyward Golden Light, Yan Shouyi suddenly pointed forward from a distance.
The ground beneath Zhang Shantong instantly turned into a muddy quagmire!
And Zhang Shantong, who was about to escape, was trapped in place by the mire.
“The art of Qimen Dunjia? You are quite clever, brat!” Zhang Shantong exclaimed in surprise.
“Senior, I concede!”
Yan Shouyi leaped forward, summoning the Palm Thunder technique.
Considering Zhang Shantong was a ghost, the Palm Thunder should be quite effective against him.
Seeing the Palm Thunder condensing in Yan Shouyi’s palm, Zhang Shantong could not remain passive.
He rapidly formed hand seals, and strands of lightning flashed in his eyes!
“Brat, when it comes to lightning, while Maoshan is formidable, they are still a step behind our Longhu Mountain! Today, I, your Great-Grandpa, will show you the orthodox Five Thunder True Law of Longhu Mountain!!”
“Heavenly thunder rumbles, divine thunder crashes. Dragon thunder surges, water thunder churns. Earth commands thunder and fire, lightning strikes horizontally. Divine might unleashed, evil spirits annihilated. The Supreme Emperor commands, with utmost urgency!”
Zhang Shantong, who had appeared harmless moments before, was instantly engulfed in lightning!
His Taoist cap was blown off, his beard and scattered hair whipping in the lightning.
Even more astonishingly, the Five Thunder True Law Zhang Shantong summoned was black!
Yan Shouyi narrowed his eyes, recalling his grandfather’s teachings.
The Five Thunder True Law of Longhu Mountain, named Five Thunder, actually referred to the innate Qi of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys that humans possessed from birth.
Specifically, the heart’s Qi was pure Yang, governing fire; the lungs’ Qi was lesser Yin, governing metal; the liver’s Qi was lesser Yin, governing wood; the kidneys’ Qi was pure Yin, governing water; and the spleen’s Qi harmonized Yin and Yang, governing earth. Gathering these five Qi into one formed the Five Thunder True Law!
However, the five Qi had distinct properties, making them difficult to cultivate simultaneously. One had to prioritize one aspect to master the thunder law, leading to two types of thunder laws: Yang Five Thunder, originating from the Crimson Palace, and Yin Five Thunder, originating from the Water Palace.
Zhang Shantong himself was deceased and had become a ghost, thus he could only cultivate Yin Five Thunder.
Yin Five Thunder was unrestrained and moved freely, flowing like mercury into every crevice.
Being entangled by Zhang Shantong’s Yin Five Thunder would be a very troublesome affair.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi quickly retracted his attack and put distance between himself and Zhang Shantong, watching him warily.
Enveloped by the black Yin Five Thunder, Zhang Shantong roared with laughter:
“What? Scared before the fight even began? My Great-Grandpa’s Five Thunder True Law is a secret art of Longhu Mountain, not even recorded in your Lu Ban scroll! How about it? Want to learn?”
To this day, Zhang Shantong had not given up. Not only was he using physical force to subdue Yan Shouyi, but he also intended to "lure" Yan Shouyi with the Five Thunder True Law.
What was it to be dishonorable in old age?
What was it to lose one’s integrity in the twilight years?
What was it to be shamelessly shameless?
Yan Shouyi now strongly suspected that Zhang Shantong had been expelled from the Longhu Mountain sect.
He suddenly clasped his fists, bowed to Zhang Shantong, and said,
“Senior’s cultivation is profound. This junior admits defeat and will take his leave for today!”
Upon hearing that Yan Shouyi intended to leave, Zhang Shantong became agitated:
“You brat, did your Great-Grandpa say you could go? Don’t move!”
He instantly unleashed his Yin Five Thunder, transforming into a pair of large hands that reached out to grab Yan Shouyi!
Yan Shouyi, however, turned around, seemingly ignoring Zhang Shantong’s Yin Five Thunder.
However,
Just a moment before the Yin Five Thunder could seize Yan Shouyi—
Yan Shouyi’s back was suddenly enveloped in silvery-white lightning!