Chapter 78: The Current Top Ten Kings (1)

After talking with Lin Jiufeng, Bai Yunfei seemed to have released a heavy burden, feeling much lighter. He began chatting with Lin Jiufeng about various matters from the outside world.

Over the past decade, Lin Jiufeng had been immersed in his own world, reading and contemplating the Dao, never leaving the library. As a result, he was only vaguely aware of the developments outside. All he knew was that it was a golden age of cultivation, with talents emerging like fish crossing a river, much like the thriving era from five thousand years ago.

Other than that, he knew little else.

Curious, Lin Jiufeng asked, "So, has Zhou Tianzi gone to the Demon Sect's holy land and is still breaking through there?"

Bai Yunfei chuckled. "He's been practicing the Ten Courts of Hell you passed on to him, so naturally, he wanted to understand the situation in hell. The Demon Sect has a long history, and the holy land is the stronghold of the demon path, unshaken for thousands of years. Zhou Tianzi went there alone and shook the entire Demon Sect to its core. The top experts there were furious at his arrival and his decision to practice in their sacred grounds, but they couldn't do anything about it."

"One person single-handedly subdued the entire Demon Sect? This kid really has grown up," Lin Jiufeng said with emotion, remembering when Bai Yunfei first brought the three little ones to him. They were so green, shy, and fearful… Time had passed, and each of them had developed their own talents. Lin Jiufeng couldn't help but feel proud.

He had finally understood the pride that a mentor feels when watching their disciples grow and develop into formidable individuals.

"So, why did Yue Dashan need to undergo tribulation?" Lin Jiufeng asked, intrigued.

Bai Yunfei shook his head, frowning. "I don't really know. Yue Dashan has been traveling across the land over the past decade, his whereabouts unpredictable. His cultivation has steadily advanced, and he's encountered many battles, all of which he has won. His reputation has spread far and wide. If it weren't for this, his tribulation on the sea wouldn't have become so well-known."

"Are they all famous now?" Lin Jiufeng asked, curious.

Bai Yunfei nodded. "Wen Xinyun, Zhou Tianzi, and Yue Dashan have all made it into the current top ten kings of the cultivation world. They're all well-known. Whenever anything involves these ten, it causes a great stir."

"Top ten kings?" Lin Jiufeng was taken aback. "Isn't that the title of the ten who suppressed an era five thousand years ago?"

Bai Yunfei smiled. "The current era is strikingly similar to that of five thousand years ago—geniuses emerging in droves, extraordinary talents appearing one after another, spiritual energy surging, and the Dao flowing like water. Those who enjoy such things have brought the title of the ten kings from five thousand years ago into the present."

"The first one on the list is Zhou Tianzi. With his strength, he single-handedly subdued the entire Demon Sect. His power represents authority, and even the holy land of the Demon Sect has become his cultivation ground. He also broke through to the Tenth Restriction, so he was placed at the top of the list without any objections," Bai Yunfei said.

Lin Jiufeng nodded. Anyone who could conquer the entire Demon Sect with a single hand surely deserved that place.

"Who's second?" Lin Jiufeng asked, curious.

He wanted to compare the current top ten kings with those from five thousand years ago and see how they measured up.

"The second on the list is the Wine Maniac from the Southlands. He's obsessed with alcohol and practices body techniques. With his iron fists, he's made the demon beasts in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains tremble, defeating an entire tribe on his own," Bai Yunfei explained.

"Body techniques?" Lin Jiufeng's eyes lit up. This was something new to him. He had never heard of anyone specializing in body techniques in this era.

"Yes, the Wine Maniac's origins are unclear, but his body techniques have already reached a considerable level. He's even killed several who reached the Tenth Restriction with a single punch. No one objected to his inclusion on the list," Bai Yunfei confirmed.

"Third place?" Lin Jiufeng asked, now thoroughly intrigued and eager to hear more.

"The third place goes to a Daoist from Peach Blossom Mountain. He began his Daoist cultivation from a young age, and his entire cultivation lineage is the purest Taoist bloodline. However, no one expected this Daoist to suddenly start practicing Buddhism, and he integrated the Dao and Buddha teachings. He carried a peach blossom branch with him, and after descending from the mountain, he became invincible. He proposed a bold concept: 'The Buddha is originally Dao.' He surely deserves a place in the top ten kings," Bai Yunfei explained.

Lin Jiufeng silently listened, impressed by this Daoist's unique path, blending Daoist and Buddhist teachings into a new system.

"The fourth on the list is Wen Xinyun," Bai Yunfei continued, not waiting for Lin Jiufeng to ask.

Lin Jiufeng was surprised. "Wen Xinyun just broke through to the Tenth Restriction recently, didn't she?"

"Yes, she just broke through. But even before her breakthrough, she had already slain five experts who had reached the Tenth Restriction. Using your Grasswood Sword Technique, she pushed the Yuhua Sect to the top position among the Daoist schools," Bai Yunfei said proudly.

Lin Jiufeng nodded in understanding. Ten years ago, he had passed on the final move of the Grasswood Sword Technique—the Life and Death Sword—to Wen Xinyun, so it was no surprise that her swordsmanship was now extraordinary.

"So, who's fifth?" Lin Jiufeng asked.

"The fifth is the rebellious monk from Thunder Sound Temple, Wufa Chan Shi," Bai Yunfei said, almost as if he were listing off a family treasure.

"A rebellious monk from Thunder Sound Temple?" Lin Jiufeng asked, intrigued.

"Yes, Wufa Chan Shi was raised from a young age to be the next great monk of Thunder Sound Temple, and according to his path, he would have led the Western Region's Buddhist Chan sects. He studied all the schools of thought to broaden his understanding. But one day, when he was set to take the position of Great Monk, he asked, 'I wish to become a Buddha in this world, to create my own sect and lead millions of followers to a higher realm, to sit side by side with the immortals and gods. Does the Buddha allow this?'"

"The Great Monk of Thunder Sound Temple looked at him for a long time in silence, then summoned the eighteen Arhats to form a great array to purify Wufa Chan Shi's 'evil thoughts.' But Wufa Chan Shi, alone, broke through the eighteen Arhat array, killing eight experts who had reached the Tenth Restriction. He left the temple, covered in blood."

"This incident became known as Wufa Chan Shi's challenge to the Buddhist path, which is why he made it onto the list," Bai Yunfei added, his tone full of admiration.

Lin Jiufeng nodded, agreeing. "He's a man with ideas. Why can't the immortals and gods be questioned? Why should they be revered? Why should they enjoy incense from the mortal world?"

"Cultivation is inherently against the heavens. Why should immortals be immune from destruction? Why can't they be killed?" Lin Jiufeng sneered, his rebellious nature showing.

"Master is right," Bai Yunfei said softly, nodding. In his heart, whatever his master said was always right.

"Who's sixth?" Lin Jiufeng asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The sixth is a foreign king, who crossed the sea and swept through eighty thousand miles of land. No one stood in his way until he met the Daoist from Peach Blossom Mountain. The two fought in Jiaxing, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators. Their techniques stunned even the Tenth Restriction experts, who shook their heads in admiration. However, no winner was determined, and the Peach Blossom Mountain Daoist eventually left, while the foreign king disappeared. But his feat was enough to get him on the list," Bai Yunfei explained.