Chapter 34: Flying Flowers and Falling Leaves Technique (Part 2)

The taoist was tall and slender, with thin eyebrows and sharp eyes. A silver beard hung in front of his chest, and his eyes sparkled with brilliance when they opened and closed. It was evident at first glance that he was a master of internal martial arts. At this moment, Lu Feng and Ma Long had already been brought into the cabin by Xu Yun.

"So you're Tuoba Tian, who disturbed my meditation," said the taoist.

"Yes, I am Tuoba Tian, but when did I disturb your meditation?" Dugu Baitian replied.

"Just now, you were showing off your power here and bullying my disciples."

"The taoist, you need to speak reasonably. When did I bully your disciples? It was they who provoked me unreasonably first, and then attacked me. I was just defending myself."

"The facts are in front of us. I only see my disciples lying injured on the ground, life or death uncertain, while you are standing here unscathed," the taoist argued.

"You only see the result, but have you seen the cause?"Dugu Baitian retorted.

"My disciples have always been well-behaved. How could he cause trouble without reason?" the taoist insisted.

"You old pervert! Just now I still respectfully called you a taoist, but it seems that was unnecessary. You don't care about right or wrong, and only know how to favor your disciples. What right do you have to lecture me with such a high and mighty attitude?" Dugu Baitian said indignantly.

The taoist's face immediately darkened. "Youngster, is this how you speak to your elders?"

"I treat others with the same respect they treat me. Since you are so unreasonable, there is no need for me to be polite to you anymore." .

"Youngster, you are too arrogant."

"You old man have no shame. I should have realized that if your disciples are so wicked, their Master must not be any better. The rottenness of the beam will affect the whole structure," Dugu Baitian said without backing down.

The taoist's anger caused his face to change color. "How dare you insult me?"

"I'm not insulting you, old man. I'm just reasoning with you. Do you want to hear the whole story?" Dugu Baitian said.

"I don't want to listen."

"If you don't want to listen, then forget it. Well, I'll take my leave." Dugu Baitian turned around and was about to leave.

The taoist quickly blocked Dugu Baitian's way. "What are you planning to do, old man?"

"You brat, after hurting someone, you still want to walk away so arrogantly. There's no such cheap thing in this world."

"What do you want?"

"If you kowtow and apologize to my disciples , I might spare your life."

"You perverted old man, dreaming big dreams. Why should I kowtow and apologize to you? You're the one who's sick. You're dreaming here. I'm leaving."

The old taoist's face turned blue with anger. He reached out to grab Dugu Baitian's shoulder, his movements as fast as lightning.

Dugu Baitian quickly dodged to the side. Although the grab missed, the powerful wind brushed against his shoulder, causing a burning pain.

Dugu Baitian was furious. "Old fart, you're unreasonable. If you want to fight, just say so. I'll accompany you. No need to be so pretentious."

"You brat, you're as good as dead. No one has ever dared to speak to me like this. If I don't capture you today, how can I still live on the continent as Silver-whiskered taoist in the future?"

Dugu Baitian said, "Old scraggly hair, since you're so unreasonable, I have nothing to say. However, before we fight, I have a few questions to ask you."

"Fine, ask away."

Dugu Baitian said, "Which sect or faction do you belong to?"

"Since you've seen the Flying Flowers and Falling Leaves technique, you should know which sect or faction we belong to."

"Nonsense, if I knew, why would I ask you?" Since he had already fallen out with the taoist, Dugu Baitian threw caution to the wind and spoke without restraint.

The old taoist was infuriated, and the veins on his forehead bulged. "You brat, how dare you speak to me like this. Fine, I'll make you understand. Listen carefully, we are from the Falling Heaven Palace of the Qingfeng Empire."

Dugu Baitian was shocked. He had heard of this sect from Xuan Xuan before, and they were not easy to provoke. He didn't expect to kick such a big sect. But since he had already kicked it, there was no point in being afraid. Besides, he was wearing a replica mask, so as long as he could escape, he had nothing to fear.

"Old taoist, I see that your Flying Flowers and Falling Leaves technique is quite good. I wonder if you have the secret manual for this technique on you?"

"No, why are you asking this question?"

"Because I want to learn it. It would be so pleasant to use your technique, which is both flower and leaf, to cool off on such a hot day."

"You're really making me angry."

"Old taoist, listen carefully to the third question."

"You brat, so much nonsense, just ask away."

Dugu Baitian asked, "You're so shameless, why are you still able to live in this world without being wiped out by others?"

"Brat, you're seeking death, come and meet your doom." With these words, the old taoist lunged towards Dugu Baitian.

Dugu Baitian finally understood why this old taoist hadn't been eliminated by others yet; his strength spoke for itself. The old taoist's martial arts were likely far superior to those of his three disciples, with formidable palm power that could be felt even from a distance.

Dugu Baitian refused to believe in superstitions and decisively exchanged a palm strike with the old taoist.

With a loud "bang," he was immediately sent flying, crashing into the cabin. "Crash, clatter," he overturned something. Fresh blood sprayed from his mouth, his palm was excruciatingly painful, and his chest cavity was churning with blood, feeling extremely uncomfortable. This was the first time he had suffered such a serious injury since he debuted. He took a deep breath, silently circulated his Nine Turns technique, and immediately felt much better.

Dugu Baitian staggered to his feet and walked out of the cabin, saying, "Old geezer, you are indeed formidable, much stronger than your disciples. Come at me again." As he spoke, he drew his long sword from his rib. He dared not clash with the old taoist using his palms again, as this defeat had taught him a lesson: he must not be too arrogant.

"Let me show you the power of my Flying Flower and Falling Leaves technique." As he spoke, the old taoist suddenly turned cold, with ice flowers and snowflakes swirling around him, incomparable to Lu Feng's skill. Petals fluttered, crystal-clear and translucent, and leaves fell one after another, dazzling and brilliant. The powerful and chilling aura locked onto Dugu Baitian tightly, with endless coldness rushing towards him.

Dugu Baitian felt a deep sense of fear rising in his heart. He felt death approaching him, and he activated his Nine Turns technique to the limit, slashing his sword at the old taoist.

The old taoist's snow-white palm shone brightly, and the "flying flowers and falling leaves" around his body slapped against the sword like white jade, resulting in a "crack" as the sword snapped. A bone-chilling coldness surged along the broken sword and rushed towards his forearm. He quickly threw away the broken sword, but the coldness persisted, spreading throughout half of his body as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The old taoist did not pursue further, but stood in place and sneered at him.

Dugu Baitian knew that he had become prey waiting to be slaughtered, and the old taoist was not pursuing him anymore, just wanting to see the expression of his suffering. He desperately circulated his Nine Turnss technique to resist the coldness, realizing that the technique's instruction on the Mingwang Budong part had an inherent restraint on this coldness. He was overjoyed, as long as he had time, he could definitely force out this coldness. The most important thing now was to escape from here and find a hidden place to heal his injuries.

But how could he break through the old taoist's defense?

Suddenly, he remembered the experience in the underground palace——the earth-shattering strike.

Dugu Baitian suddenly recalled that earth-shattering strike, a move condensed from the essence of martial arts of peerless masters. He kept replaying in his mind that technique which could swallow mountains and rivers, a technique that overshadowed the sun and moon.

His entire demeanor changed, with surging true qi coursing through his body. His clothes rustled in the wind, his long hair moved on its own without any breeze, fluttering and dancing. He stood there like a towering mountain, like a demonic god looking down on all living beings, exuding dominance and awe-inspiring power.

Dugu Baitian's momentum kept rising, and the overwhelming battle intent in his heart surged wildly. "I will ascend to the peak and overlook all the mountains." Finally, his momentum reached its peak, and his heart was filled with an indomitable spirit of battling against the heavens and earth. Even if countless deities and buddhas stood before him, he had the confidence to make them disperse like smoke and clouds.