"Hanging Temple."
"What was that old monk's Dharma name?"
"He was very strong?"
"Then it must be true." Xiang Qian flipped over and sat up. "The current abbot of the Hanging Temple is Master Kuming. This monk was of the same generation as the abbot!"
He murmured, "A powerful sect with such a long history naturally has discernment."
"Not exactly." Xiang Qian sat on the edge of the bed, his head slightly bowed. "I've just been there..."
After asking, Jiang Chen felt it was somewhat inappropriate. Why did he say "also"... I don't want to become a monk at all.
Kujue's appearance seemed to have stirred up Xiang Qian's memories, causing emotions that had been suppressed beneath his numbness to surge forth.
The information revealed by these words was too shocking.
"Among the various halls of the Hanging Temple, in terms of combat power, the first is Zen Master Kubing, the head of the Dragon-Taming Hall. My master defeated him!"
The sword trial was primarily for friendly exchange, not to challenge the entire sect, so naturally, he wouldn't fight the Hanging Temple's abbot, Master Kuming. And below the abbot, the strongest in combat was the head of the Dragon-Taming Hall, Zen Master Kubing. For Xiang Qian's master to defeat him truly proved the reputation of the Three Pinnacles of Flying Swords in the flying sword era.
At this point, Xiang Qian suddenly stopped. He couldn't continue.
This kind of emotion, Jiang Chen couldn't console, and could only sigh, "Your master was extraordinary in demeanor. Though I never saw him, I yearn for him!"
"But, but..."
"I followed my master as he fought across the world. Only at the Divine Descent level was he worthy of action, only a Perfected could be a worthy opponent... I never saw him suffer a single defeat!"
Jiang Chen felt his blood surge with excitement.
Xiang Qian continued his account, "Later, master said the time had come. He was only one battle away from stepping onto the pinnacle of the extraordinary. And this battle, he wanted to save for his lifelong Dao rival."
"That was a battle I will never forget for as long as I live."
"That person..."
"Who was that?" Jiang Chen asked.
And he was already streaming with tears, "I don't even have the courage to call out his name!"
The existence he revered as a god in his heart was defeated by just a single punch. This directly shattered his faith! Such a devastating blow was indeed something ordinary people could not endure.
To say his future was limitless was not an exaggeration.
But that was only because he hadn't experienced the same thing.
Zhuang Gaoxian, the ruler of the State of Zhuang, was willing to sacrifice an entire city's populace to break through the final barrier and achieve the Dongzhen realm.
That was an indisputable peak on the path of cultivation!
If you witnessed all this with your own eyes, how could you not fall into despair and dejection?
"Our lineage, the sword is life. When the flying sword shattered, my master could no longer live."
"I knew how proud my master was. Perhaps this is what made it most impossible for him to die in peace."
"But!"
Jiang Chen was silent for a long time. After Xiang Qian had released his emotions, he said, "First, you must know that your master was very strong, extremely strong. He fought across the world, invincible among the Perfected, and could be called a hero. Listening to this, I am also full of admiration."
"And even a god cannot be eternally invincible. I know of a Netherworld deity who plotted for hundreds of years and even descended in person into the mortal world, only to be repelled by a small state. That small state was called the State of Zhuang. Its ruler, Zhuang Gaoxian, achieved the Dongzhen realm by stepping on the so-called god's body. And that deity, not long ago, had its incarnate body chopped into meat paste by the Marquis of Dingyuan of Great Qi, witnessed by three armies!"
"I have great respect for your master, but you... might not necessarily be inferior to him!"
"Now, about the matter of 'hopelessness'. I want to tell you about two people."
"But in the end, he redefined the limits!"
The strong are naturally worthy of respect.
"And the person I'm telling you about, this one who was born with inherent deficiencies, yet from a young age, he fixed his eyes on the position of the family head, wanting to compete with that indisputably dazzling genius. Is it ridiculous? Is it hopeless?"
"This person is the one you mentioned, that harmless-looking chubby fellow."