Chapter 65: Unforgettable Teacher's Grace

Hun Tiangang looked at Long Aotian: "Aotian, it's your turn."

Long Aotian glanced at Lu Chengwen, thinking to himself, "You're something else."

Breaking the rules, getting struck by lightning, pierced by ten thousand arrows, torn apart by five horses—all these punishments are directed at me. You really want me dead, don't you?

"I, Long Aotian, today pledge myself as a disciple under Master Hun Tiangang, and form a bond with Lu Chengwen as..."

Long Aotian gritted his teeth: "Sworn brothers! From this day forward, I will respect our master and care for my junior brother. If I break this oath..."

He followed Lu Chengwen's example, turning around and pointing: "Junior brother!"

Lu Chengwen quickly said, "Big brother, you should point at yourself."

"You were pointing at me earlier!"

"Exactly, you're the big brother! After we swear brotherhood, you'll be the first to charge into danger, the first to face death. I'm the junior brother, you have to protect me."

Hun Tiangang nodded: "Right! Chengwen is correct! You should point at yourself!"

Long Aotian clenched his teeth, and Lu Chengwen stepped forward, guiding his finger to point at himself.

Long Aotian said, "If I break this oath, may heaven strike me down, and may gods and men alike condemn me! Is that enough?"

"Not bad, not bad."

Lu Chengwen patted Long Aotian's shoulder: "Big brother, from now on we're fellow disciples. Let's put our past grievances behind us! You can't attack me, okay? Otherwise, you'll be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Long Aotian narrowed his eyes: So what? Do I need to personally kill you? Xue Ning alone could cut you down a hundred times!

Hun Tiangang said, "Good! Since that's settled, I'll heal your injuries."

A few hours later, Lu Chengwen woke up to see Long Aotian already awake and meditating.

Hua Xuening, having been fed medicine twice by Lu Chengwen, was recovering rapidly from her internal and external injuries.

She was sitting behind Long Aotian, guarding him, and her gaze at Lu Chengwen was fierce, as if she wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces.

Lu Chengwen awkwardly smiled at her, and Hua Xuening turned her face away, though her cheeks slightly reddened.

Long Aotian exhaled a turbid breath, finally smiling, and cupped his hands towards Hun Tiangang: "Disciple thanks Master for saving my life!"

Hun Tiangang said, "You're all awake, good, good. Since you've become my disciples, I naturally have to teach you something. Chengwen, your foundation is weak, so I'll teach you the 'Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation, Immortal-Slaying Palm'!"

Lu Chengwen was immediately excited!

So powerful!

The Immortal-Slaying Palm!

How awesome is that? Just the name sounds incredible!

Wind and Thunder Surge!

Great Destruction Awareness!

And Heaven and Earth Annihilation!

With this palm technique, even immortals can be beaten, who else should I fear?

"Thank you, Master!"

"Mm." Hun Tiangang then turned to Long Aotian: "Aotian."

"Master."

"Your foundation is good, and your martial arts level is higher than Chengwen's. I won't hold back, I'll teach you the 'Little Monkey Fist'."

"Thank you, Master... Wait, what?" Long Aotian said, "Master, the Little Monkey Fist is... a beginner's body-training technique! Isn't that too basic?"

"Master cares for you, wants you to build a solid foundation."

Long Aotian thought to himself, "Old bastard, if I weren't weaker than you, I'd definitely punch you to death!"

Is this teaching me? Are you messing with me?

Do I need you to teach me the Little Monkey Fist?

Lu Chengwen was almost laughing out loud, cupping his hands: "Senior brother, I really envy you, Master treats you so well. You must remember this kindness!"

Long Aotian was furious: "Master, how about this: my cultivation is high, why don't you teach me that 'Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation, Immortal-Slaying Palm'? Let junior brother learn the Little Monkey Fist to build his foundation. He lacks basics, and as for the Immortal-Slaying Palm, teach it to me, and after I learn it, I'll teach it to junior brother. That way, we'll both know it."

"Mm, that works."

Lu Chengwen immediately wanted to object: "Master, I..."

"Enough, Chengwen, remember this."

Hun Tiangang said, "The Little Monkey Fist has only four levels. The first level, 'Monkey King Emerges'! It focuses on body, strength, and energy. Once mastered, you can split mountains and break metal!"

Lu Chengwen's eyes widened: "That powerful!?"

He turned to see Long Aotian's eyes even wider than his.

The first level is that powerful!? This isn't a little monkey, this is Sun Wukong!

Hun Tiangang continued, "The second level, 'Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze'! Once mastered, your spiritual awareness expands, hearing and seeing in all directions, perceiving the finest details, as sensitive as a saint!"

Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian both exclaimed: "Holy crap!"

"Don't 'holy crap' yet!" Hun Tiangang said, "If you're diligent and talented enough to reach the third level, congratulations!"

"What happens then?"

"The third level is called 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven'! Your mind can move at will, your body becomes indestructible, you can defeat the strong and are invincible! Truly, you can slay demons and command the world!"

Lu Chengwen was ecstatic: "Master, you're truly my beloved master. What about the fourth level?"

Hun Tiangang smiled slightly: "The fourth level is called 'Victorious Fighting Buddha'! If you reach this realm, there will be few in the world who can match you. You'll be qualified to befriend the strongest beings in the world, calling them brothers. If you reach this level, well, by then I probably won't be around anymore. You must carry on our sect's martial arts, pass on our legacy. The task of saving lives and the world will fall on your shoulders."

Lu Chengwen quickly knelt and kowtowed: "Though it sounds familiar, thank you for your teachings, Master. I will diligently practice and not disappoint your grace!"

Long Aotian took a deep breath.

This old man, though a bit eccentric, truly knows some powerful stuff!

Even a Little Monkey Fist is this incredible, then what about the 'Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation... Immortal-Slaying Palm' I'm supposed to learn? Wouldn't that allow me to ascend to heaven and beat up the Supreme Lord Laozi and the Jade Emperor?

Long Aotian was thrilled.

"Aotian!"

"Master."

"Mm, you're the senior disciple of our sect, I naturally won't treat you unfairly."

"Yes, Master."

"The 'Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation, Immortal-Slaying Palm' I'm teaching you has only three moves, but each move contains the power of wind and thunder surge, great destruction awareness, and heaven and earth annihilation. Listen carefully."

"Yes, thank you, Master. But Master..."

Long Aotian had a thought: "When you teach me, shouldn't junior brother step aside?"

"Why?"

"Such... exquisite techniques should be passed down individually. It's not appropriate for everyone to be here."

Hun Tiangang nodded: "As expected of my senior disciple, always thinking ahead. Chengwen, you and Hua Xuening go take a walk over the mountain. Come back after I've taught your senior brother."

"Yes."

Lu Chengwen felt a bit uneasy.

[Is this old man really going to teach him such an overpowered technique?]

[Long Aotian is already the main character, even his farts smell like rainbows, a mid-level expert. If he learns some 'Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation' palm technique, how am I supposed to survive?]

Hua Xuening looked at the troubled Lu Chengwen.

"Master will never lose to a scoundrel like you!"

Lu Chengwen looked at her: "Yes, yes, your master is so powerful! But I was the one who saved you earlier! Your master's first thought upon getting the elixir was to eat it himself, he didn't even think about you!"

"I'm just a servant, my purpose is to dedicate everything to assist Master in ascending to the throne! If my life can speed up Master's progress, I won't hesitate, I have no regrets!"

Lu Chengwen rolled his eyes: "Brainwashed."

"What did you say!?"

"I said I'm brainwashed!" Lu Chengwen cursed inwardly: [Damn Long Aotian, truly born with a silver spoon, the darling of fate.]

[Peerless martial arts, countless beauties in his harem, and four great beauties willing to go through fire and water for him.]

[Poor me, haha, I'm almost dead myself, yet I'm always thinking about saving this one, helping that one. Damn it, who's going to save me?]

Hua Xuening glared at him and walked away.

A few minutes later, Long Aotian stormed out.

Lu Chengwen saw that things didn't seem to go well!?

Lu Chengwen guessed that Long Aotian must be dissatisfied, so he quickly approached: "Congratulations, senior brother, on mastering divine techniques! Ah, I'm so envious of you, senior brother, receiving Master's true teachings! Just thinking about it excites me, Wind and Thunder Surge, Great Destruction Awareness, Heaven and Earth Annihilation! And Immortal-Slaying! Although this palm technique has only three moves, each move contains wind and thunder surge, great destruction awareness, heaven and earth annihilation..."

"Shut up!"

Long Aotian grabbed Lu Chengwen by the collar.

"Hey hey, senior brother, we've sworn brotherhood and share the same master. Killing me would be fratricide, according to our oath, you'd be struck by heaven, struck by lightning, pierced by ten thousand arrows, torn apart by five horses, and people would take turns kicking your little..."

"Shut up!" Long Aotian was trembling with anger: "What the hell 'Wind and Thunder Surge,' 'Great Destruction Awareness,' 'Heaven and Earth Annihilation,' only the names are impressive, they're worthless!"

"Can't be!?" Lu Chengwen feigned shock: "The names alone sound so powerful, wind and thunder surging, that must be an immense amount of energy!"

Long Aotian glared at Lu Chengwen: "Want to learn? I'll teach you. Here, left hand is wind, right hand is thunder, bring them together, push forward!"

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"This is 'Wind and Thunder Surge'?"

"Right, that's what Master said."

"Isn't this Hadouken!? Street Fighter!? Ken and Ryu's ultimate move!?"

Long Aotian clenched his teeth: "Got it?"

Lu Chengwen scratched his head: "Then... 'Great Destruction Awareness'..."

"Jump up, punch with all your might towards the sky, don't let the gods sleep, that's 'Great Destruction Awareness.'"

Lu Chengwen looked up at the sky, mimicked the move, thought about it: "So... Shoryuken? I know, it's also called Rising Dragon Fist or Skyward Fist, back home we call it 'uppercut.'"

Long Aotian hung his head: "Master is messing with me, I see that now."

Lu Chengwen also nodded: "Then 'Heaven and Earth Annihilation'... no need to ask, it must be floating up and spinning kicks, right?"

"How did you know?"

"Tatsumaki Senpukyaku! Half-circle forward kick."

Long Aotian looked at Lu Chengwen: "What does that mean?"

"They're all... moves from video games."

Long Aotian was instantly furious, turning to rush back inside: "He even made me kowtow to him respectfully! Swear a blood oath! I'm going to fight him!"