The Heavenly King'S Pavilion was a force that had suddenly risen in the Jianghu several decades ago. Its master, the Zi Heavenly King, had formidable strength with numerous experts under his command, making it a major power.
According to Bai Xiaosheng, if it weren't for the short duration of the Heavenly King'S Pavilion's rise, lacking the depth of other major powers, he even had the idea of listing it on the Supreme List.
Just this alone proved that the strength of the Zi Heavenly King was unfathomable, comparable to the supreme powers in Jianghu.
He chuckled, not taking this matter to heart, and continued to browse.
According to Pang Hong's letter, he recently planned to explore a forbidden place with friends, hoping that this practice could allow him to step into the Fifth Realm.
Pei Xuanjing nodded satisfactorily. It seemed that Pang Hong hadn't neglected his martial arts cultivation in his adventures in the Jianghu over the past two years, which pleased him.
"Time flies, I've been in this world for thirty-two years now," Pei Xuanjing reflected.
He thought back to sixteen years ago when he activated the simulator, allowing him from being a nameless recruit in a small town in the Border County to step by step reach his current position.
If it wasn't for the aid of the simulator, Pei Xuanjing might still be stuck in the Everlasting Observance.
"No, without the help of the simulator, I might have died in the expansion efforts of the Zhang Family, or died in the Mire Sect's uprising in Northwest Dao. I don't think I would have lived peacefully to today," he thought about the events that occurred in the Northwest Dao, his expression becoming mysterious.
In the following days, Pei Xuanjing ceased his training, taking it step by step while walking on Shenxiao Mountain.
Observing nature, understanding the truths of Heaven and Earth, experiencing the Four Seasons Transformation.
This was what Pei Xuanjing was doing.
He peacefully walked on Shenxiao Mountain, contemplating the environment, imagining the transformations of the four seasons in his mind's eye.
Spring's Mysterious Orchid, Summer's Condensed Lotus, Autumn's Fire Chrysanthemum, winter's cold plum; spring's vitality, summer's vivacity, autumn's transience, winter's solemnity;
Spring's exuberance, summer's liveliness, autumn's silence, winter's silver dance; spring's stirrings, summer's cicada song, autumn's leaf fall, winter's warm sunshine.
The Shenxiao Heavenly Will Sword technique was also being continuously refined, gradually taking a more complete shape.
Regretfully, the tranquil and quiet time was soon disrupted.
Pei Xuanjing stood at the peak of a mountain, speaking slowly, "Since the Sect Leader is here, why not appear before me?"
"Haha…"
The voice came first before the person.
A hearty voice arrived from afar, and the figure of the gracefully dressed Maitreya Sect Leader Zhao Baiyang appeared.
Pei Xuanjing wore a faint smile on his face, his hands behind his back. His robes fluttered with the mountain wind, floating as if he were ready to ascend to immortality.
Already knowing from the life simulator that Zhao Baiyang would come, he wasn't surprised by the appearance of this person.
"Years have passed, and your skills have deepened even more, truly surprising me," Zhao Baiyang appraised Pei Xuanjing, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
His words didn't contain any exaggeration. Even though he had anticipated Pei Xuanjing's progress, on seeing him today, he was astonished at Pei Xuanjing's growth in martial arts.
If he compared the Pei Xuanjing of today to the one he'd met before, they were like two different people.
If the Pei Xuanjing of the past was a sharp divine sword, then the Pei Xuanjing of today had found a suitable sheath, concealing his sharpness, seemingly with the intention of returning to simplicity.
"After many years, Sect Leader, you're doing better than ever!" Pei Xuanjing replied.
From the news he gathered through Bai Xiaosheng and Yu Zhenzi, the current Maitreya Sect Leader Zhao Baiyang had never been idle during this period.
In these years, Zhao Baiyang had swallowed numerous White Lotus Sect's branches with formidable momentum, seemingly intending to regain control of the White Lotus Sect.
Right now, the White Lotus Sect's branches were threatened with extinction, fearing to be annexed and had to form an alliance to resist him.
"Hahaha, it can't be compared to you. Although residing within Shenxiao without leaving, the momentum of Yu Zhenzi and others in the Jianghu is quite impressive!" Zhao Baiyang laughed.
He was referring to how Yu Zhenzi and others had taken over the forces originally under the Lord of Shenxiao Gate. They had Pei Xuanjing backing them, and on top of that, Bai Xiaosheng and the True Martial Sect's subtle support, making a lot of moves this year.
Others might not know, but could he be unaware of the identities of Yu Zhenzi and the others?
In his eyes, all these were the work of Pei Xuanjing, he was the one who orchestrated everything from behind the scenes.
And for that reason, he was even more convinced about Pei Xuanjing's intentions, he surmised that Pei Xuanjing intended to re-establish the Shenxiao Mountain Gate, and everything done by Yu Zhenzi and others was paving the way for his goal.
Since Pei Xuanjing had this kind of goal, that meant they both had similar interests, which increased his chances of pulling the former into his plans.
Hence, his visit to Shenxiao Mountain today.
Pei Xuanjing simply smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Zhao Baiyang•s words.
Actually, he didn't care much about the actions of Yu Zhenzi and the others. He had simply told them to make noise in the Jianghu, as a warning shot to the major powers, letting them understand that the Shenxiao Sect was about to return.
Pei Xuanjing wanted to use this opportunity to test and draw these people out. He wanted to see clearly what kind of attitudes these major powers held, whether they were friendly or hostile towards the Shenxiao Sect, it didn't matter..
Hearing Zhao Baiyang mention this now, it is evident that Yu Zhenzi and his companions must have done well, otherwise, they would not have caught Zhao Baiyang's attention.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing remaining silent, Zhao Baiyang naturally took this as tacit consent.
He slowly began to speak, "I have come today with a matter to discuss with you."
Just as he was about to reveal the purpose of his visit, Pei Xuanjing spoke up, "When I met with the Sect Leader that day, although it was just a brief encounter, it left a deep impression upon me. Now that we meet again today, I am eager to gain insights from the Sect Leader. What is your opinion, Sect
Leader?"
Zhao Baiyang paused for a moment, then immediately laughed, "I am honored and would gladly oblige!"
Besides convincing Pei Xuanjing to join his plan, Zhao Baiyang naturally had another intention in mind: to spar with Pei Xuanjing and gauge the extent of his growth.
However, considering the importance of the matter at hand, and fearing that sparring before discussing the matter would make him seem too aggressive, he decided to talk about the issue first, and then spar afterwards.
Surprisingly, Pei Xuanjing seemed impatient. Regardless, Zhao Baiyang had no intention to refuse.
Seeing the Sect Leader's consent, a smile spread across Pei Xuanjing's face.
Boom!
An overwhelming presence erupted as Pei Xuanjing's profound True Qi circulated, causing gusts of wind to whirl around him.
He clenched his five fingers, formed his palm backwards, condensed countless purple-green lightning bolts, and slammed down without hesitation towards Zhao Baiyang.
There was no delay, no moment of hesitation.
Everything from Zhao Baiyang's agreement to Pei Xuanjing•s decisive action happened in a flash, just a snap of the fingers.
"Well done!" Zhao Baiyang stood still, steady as a mountain, a glint flashed in his eyes, and with a loud shout, he immediately responded.
His hands quickly formed seals, True Qi and Blood Qi intertwined, rapidly condensing into a seal.
The seal, brimming with tremendous power, suppressed everything like a mountain, meeting Pei Xuanjing's palm seal head -on.
The terrifying gust of wind surged like a river, sweeping in every direction.
Grass and trees were torn apart, stones and sand were flung into the air.
Boom!
The violent collision stirred up a fierce shockwave that even caused the mountain to tremble. "The Sect Leader's strength is indeed extraordinary, it surprised me."
"Ha ha, the strength you possess is beyond my expectations as well. In just over ten years, you've made such strides that almost surpass my imagination."
Both were praising each other, but their actions did not pause in the slightest.
Palm seals and Taoist seals were continuously thrown out, inducing thunderous collisions.
Pei Xuanjings robe fluttered, his upright figure appearing as immovable as a mountain.
The air around him was exploding continuously, his palms alternated, the energy tumultuous and fierce, like countless thunder snakes dancing wildly, presenting a grand and spectacular scene.
Even above their heads, the sky changed, as if countless dark clouds were gathering and thunderbolts were flashing.
"When I first met the Sect Leader at the Wild Mountain Ancient Temple, it was just a chance encounter, but the Sect Leader's demeanor was engraved in my heart. To spar with the Sect Leader today is truly a joy for me," Pei Xuanjing continued with his moves, expressing his sentiment.
To be. honest. Pei Xuaniing was very curious about the. famous Maitreva Sect Leader. Zhao Baivang
As Bai Xiaosheng once said, Zhao was a close friend of Tie Qianshan, and both of them were rising stars in the martial arts world.
But later, facing the oppression of those large powers, the two took different paths. One returned to the Northwest Dao, chose to develop the Tie Sect, and after decades of effort, the Tie Sect already became a colossal existence dominant in the Northwest Dao, slightly inferior to those large powers of the past.
In Pei Xuanjing's view, the changes in Tie Qianshan could be likened to a transformation from a dragon slayer to a fierce dragon. He evolved from a challenger to a defender of vested interests.
In contrast, Zhao Baiyang, the Maitreya Sect Leader standing before him, had joined the Mire Sect, a notorious force in the martial arts world, considered a rebel by the imperial court, yet his actions were quite different.
According to the information provided by Bai Xiaosheng, Zhao Baiyang never once gave up striving over these years, and never tried to hide his intentions.
Not only did he want to overthrow the Great Ming, the most powerful force, but he also intended to shatter the existing powers and break the suppression of those large forces.
"Ha ha ha.." Zhao Baiyang, not at all afraid of Pei Xuanjing's thunderous attack, let out a hearty laugh that echoed all around, "I too, have been looking forward to a match with a true man, it's an honor to know that Slayer Taoist, who's been regarded highly in the world of martial arts, is thinking of me!"
His white robe fluttered in the wind, the demeanor of refinement and gentleness he usually portrayed vanished. Instead, replaced by a bearing of dominance, ferocity, and an overbearing attitude to look down upon the world.
As for his opponent whom he had chosen himself, the pace of Pei Xuanjing's growth far exceeded his expectations.
Initially, he thought it would take at least a decade for Pei to truly stand shoulder to shoulder with him. But it turned out that in just a few short years, Pei Xuanjing had already become strong enough for him to go all out without any reservations.
Therefore, at this moment, he cast aside all his disguises, all his identities.
He was not the Maitreya Sect Leader now, nor was there any plan. He was just a martial artist who loved martial arts and yearned for a hearty fight.
With continuous explosive sounds in the air around him, Zhao Baiyang advanced, his profound True Qi raging wildly, heading directly towards Pei Xuanjing.
Heaven-shattering!
The resulting uproar from the clash of the two echoed throughout Shenxiao Mountain, causing changes in the heavens and the earth.
Regrettably, such a sensational battle occurred without a single spectator.
If a martial artist were lucky enough to witness this confrontation, they would most certainly gain substantial insights.
Boom boom boom…
Violent sounds like thunderclaps continuously resounded.
Pei Xuanjing's palm techniques overlapped incessantly, causing ripples in the air that surged like waves.
With one palm thrown out, the purple-green lightning bolts resembling thunder serpents boomed and rolled in the sky, carrying immense force and enveloping Zhao Baiyang.
Zhao Baiyang's face looked cold and harsh, a monstrous dominance oozed from him. He didn't form any more seals, his fists swung, creating an extreme force that struck out towards the sky.
His body was boiling with raging Blood Qi, and his martial arts intent was all-embracing. His fighting spirit burned ferociously, seemingly on the verge of materializing.
With a punch thrown out, the void seemed to stagnate and then shattered.
The imposing energy of the fist shattered everything and came crushing down like a mountain..