Chapter 233: Showdown
Sect Leader Sun and his disciple followed the clues left by Xiahou Bubai and finally found that main control room hub.
Seeing the countless winches, iron chains, and slide rails in the main control room, Su Yingxiu couldn’t help but say joyfully: “This must be the place that controls all the mechanisms, right?”
“Mm.” Sun Yuanlang nodded, frowning carefully as he examined those various devices. The Taiping Sutra 《encompasses astronomy, geography, and the Art of Strange Gates and Hidden Paths. He had also studied the Lu Ban Sect’s secret manuals before, and when it came to mastery of the art of mechanisms, no one in the world could surpass him.
“Master, do we have any chance of getting out?” Once Sun Yuanlang withdrew his gaze, Su Yingxiu asked impatiently.
Sun Yuanlang shook his head, his tone somewhat low as he said: “The doorway mechanisms have already been destroyed. Even if they hadn’t been, with those Dragon-Slaying Stones fallen, there’s no way to raise them again.”
“Then, is there no other way out?” Su Yingxiu asked tremulously: “All mechanisms rely on the Art of Strange Gates and Hidden Paths. Since it’s the Art of Strange Gates and Hidden Paths, there must be openings for Rest, Life, Injury, Du, Scene, Death, Fright, and Surprise…”
“This is a tomb built for the dead—how could it be set with a Life Gate?” Sun Yuanlang shook his head again, sighing deeply: “This master can now confirm that this is definitely not Gaozu’s Treasure Vault. Otherwise, it would certainly have a Life Gate.”
“So, this is a complete trap?” Although Su Yingxiu was veiled, her dejected expression was still visible.
“Yes.” Sun Yuanlang gave a self-mocking smile, his hands clasped in his sleeves, stroking something inside, and said with a bitter smile: “The simpler the scheme, the easier it is for an old fox to fall for it. Because an old fox doesn’t believe anyone would use such a simple method against him… Right, Vice Sect Master Lu?”
“…” Hearing the second half of Sun Yuanlang’s words, Su Yingxiu quickly looked up vigilantly, only to see Lu Xian, dressed in a Daoist robe with his hair casually tied back, appearing at the main control room doorway. Lu Yun naturally stood right behind him without leaving his side.
Lu Xian glanced at the mechanisms in the room and slowly asked Sun Yuanlang: “Is there really no way out?”
“Indeed.” Sun Yuanlang nodded: “Even if it were you setting this trap, you would block all the exits the same way.”
“That’s the reason.” Lu Xian fixed his gaze on Sun Yuanlang, his eyes gradually sharpening: “Since we can’t get out, let’s settle the score properly.”
“You madman,” Sun Yuanlang couldn’t help but frown: “Not afraid of someone taking advantage?”
“No one can get out anyway, so what’s there to worry about.” Lu Xian saw it clearly, looking coldly at Sun Yuanlang: “But you dared to intrude into my Lu Clan and abduct my disciple—you can’t just get away with that.”
“Hahaha.” Seeing Lu Xian assume a fighting stance, Sun Yuanlang knew the battle was inevitable and laughed loudly: “You’re still as arrogant as ever!” With that, he waved for the Saintess to step aside to avoid accidental injury, while glancing disdainfully at Lu Xian: “Draw your Haoran Sword.”
“Since returning from Mount Taishi, I’ve stopped using swords.” Lu Xian shook his head and also signaled Lu Yun to step back. He formed a sword with his hand, pointing at Sun Yuanlang: “Sect Leader Sun, make your move.”
“Hahaha, in that case, don’t blame me for bullying the weak with strength!” Sun Yuanlang was not polite either. He lightly sent a palm strike toward the top of Lu Xian’s head. That palm seemed plain, yet it held endless variations, as if turning into countless palms. No matter how the opponent dodged, he was doomed to be struck on the forehead!
“Mount Sumeru Palm! This is Buddhist kung fu!” Lu Xian’s pupils contracted. He roared: “Break!” A white light flashed in his palm, his five fingers turning into countless light points that instantly struck and scattered those countless palms, enveloping Sun Yuanlang’s surroundings as if to trap him within.
“Good swordplay!” Sun Yuanlang’s eyes lit up. Lu Xian hadn’t been boasting—he wielded no sword yet surpassed having one!
That said, Sun Yuanlang showed no panic. With a wave of his wide sleeve, he engulfed all those countless cold gleams, then once more enveloped Lu Xian from above.
Lu Xian’s swordplay changed repeatedly, bursting forth with countless cold gleams that converged into a silk-like beam, shadowing and entwining Sun Yuanlang relentlessly, yet unable to breach Sun Yuanlang’s sleeves. It looked as if that silk-like beam was continuously being drawn into Sun Yuanlang’s sleeve.
‘This time it’s pure Taoism!’ Realizing his swordplay, no matter how exquisite, couldn’t harm Sun Yuanlang, Lu Xian decisively drew square into circle with his hand sword. A perfect circle appeared out of thin air, instantly blocking Sun Yuanlang’s Universe Sleeve.
“Again!” Seeing his signature move fail, Sun Yuanlang laughed heartily. At the same time, he swung the whisk held in the crook of his right arm, its millions of silver threads shooting like lightning toward Lu Xian.
Sun Yuanlang’s move was too fast, reaching Lu Xian’s face in the blink of an eye. With no choice, Lu Xian drew square into circle once more, blocking Sun Yuanlang’s killing strike again.
“Hahaha, what a Drawing Square into Circle—truly the world’s top defensive technique!” Sun Yuanlang laughed loudly, continuously varying his moves without repetition as he attacked Lu Xian. Lu Xian unleashed all his skills, striving to resolve Sun Yuanlang’s assaults, but in every critical moment, he still had to rely on Drawing Square into Circle to get out of trouble.
Lu Yun stood to the side, staring unblinkingly at the showdown between his master and Sun Yuanlang. In the flashes of lightning, the two Grandmasters had already exchanged hundreds of moves. He had to widen his eyes to barely make out their techniques… But one thing he saw clearly: Lu Xian was completely at a disadvantage, merely holding on bitterly with the profundity of Drawing Square into Circle.
Lu Yun couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for his master—and for himself…
Suddenly, he caught a refreshing fragrance, and saw that the Saintess had somehow appeared by his side. Lu Yun quickly held his breath.
“What world’s top defensive technique—I think it’s the world’s top turtle kung fu.” The Saintess also watched the two Grandmasters’ fight intently, whispering softly to Lu Yun: “Young Master Lu, you must never practice this turtle kung fu in the future, or I’ll be heartbroken?”
“You know me?” Lu Yun frowned. Actually, from the voice alone, he recognized this Saintess as the veiled woman who had vied with him back in Bai Liu Village.
“Young Master Lu’s great name is naturally like thunder piercing the ear to this little woman.” The Saintess spoke to him in a soft, coquettish voice: “This little woman even sees you as an idol.” With that, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Yun: “Young Master Lu is so perfect—how could he have anything to do with the word ‘turtle’?”
Lu Yun felt a chill. If he didn’t know that his family’s ordeal tonight was ninety-nine percent this woman’s doing, he might have thought this Saintess had some interest in him.
“Oh no, Young Master Lu, your master is about to lose.” The Saintess suddenly said anxiously to Lu Yun.
Lu Yun’s sight had never left the field, so he needed no reminder. He could see his master growing increasingly strained after holding out for hundreds of moves. In contrast, Sun Yuanlang’s offensive surged wave after wave, nearly overwhelming Lu Xian.
‘No wonder this demonic Daoist dared to intrude into the Lu Clan alone and even bring the Saintess to stir the waters—his martial arts have reached an inconceivable level!’ Lu Yun grew anxious. He couldn’t just watch his master lose!
At that thought, he looked unkindly toward the Saintess. Su Yingxiu, with her keen perception, immediately met Lu Yun’s gaze and said somewhat panicked: “Young Master Lu, you’re not going to bully this weak woman who admires you, are you?”
“Offended.” Lu Yun reached out to grab Su Yingxiu’s wrist. But as he circulated his qi, his expression changed dramatically. He looked at Su Yingxiu in shock: “What have you done to me?!”
