Chapter 494: Chapter 455: The Thousand-Pound Roller, Taoist Monarch Chentuan Helps Cheat...
"Without enough arm strength, you can’t hold the sword. Cutting, chopping, stabbing, lifting, and clashing against others’ weapons all rely on the power of the forearm. To practice Tai Chi Sword, one must start with the ’Thousand-Pound Scroll.’
After Zhao Shousui finished speaking, he demonstrated in front of everyone.
He held the stick with both hands, using the force from his wrists to slowly roll up the rope, causing the heavy object to rise.
Once the heavy object was close to the stick, he then reversed the direction of the stick, controlling the strength to slowly lower the rope, making the object descend.
Grandmaster Zhao’s exposed forearms had distinctly defined muscles, full of explosive power.
Meng Chuan secretly nodded, this was a good method to train the strength of the forearm.
Someday, if I were to practice with halberds, those True Martial great halberds are at least thousands of pounds, and there are even heavier ones.
To wield them as if a historical hero had descended, perfectly controlling the great halberd.
The twisting force of the wrists transmitting power through the forearm is particularly critical.
This is also another key control challenge for great halberd weapons, with historical renowned masters of the halberd.
None of them were not phenomenally strong, with a natural gift for strength.
"Brother Meng, why don’t you give it a try?"
Wang Ye handed him a set, and Meng Chuan took it.
After a few rolls, it was like playing...
Too light, so he put it aside.
He already had significant strength, and further improved his strength by practicing Weituo Mountain Carrying Skill.
Iron essence is a refined product of mysterious iron, this piece weighs at least a thousand pounds.
But for him, not to mention hanging one iron essence, it would be more like hanging a small car...
Zhao Shousui also noticed Meng Chuan’s unusualness.
He handed his customized thousand-pound scroll to Meng Chuan and laughed:
"Kid, your strength is great, try mine which is made of ’Magic Iron Essence,’ and see if you can roll it."
The magic iron essence, as the name suggests, is a refined product from the ore of the Demon Nest.
Extremely heavy, it’s often used in making Demon Suppressing Weapons, adding a few pieces to enhance the quality.
This large piece is not only expensive but also exceptionally heavy.
Slowly placing it on the ground, it can create a deep unseeable pit.
Even as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, Zhao Shousui could only do five or six sets before exhausting his strength.
Due to Meng Chuan’s "peculiar" attire, other students did not recognize him.
They thought he had just been promoted from an ordinary class.
Seeing Grandmaster Zhao handing his training thousand-pound scroll to him, everyone gathered to watch.
One student rubbed the calluses on his hands, curiously asking:
"Can he lift it?"
"I think it’s doubtful..."
Although Meng Chuan emitted a strong aura, not to mention rolling, just lifting Master Zhao’s thousand-pound scroll requires at least three bodily transformations.
You must know, Zhao Shousui has trained in several hard skills, and is one of the few Martial Arts Grandmasters in Wudang who practice life and function dual cultivation.
Meng Chuan casually took it, his center of gravity immediately tilted forward, and he stumbled.
Zhao Shousui held back his laughter and said:
"Take it slow!"
He gathered all his strength, clenched his teeth, and slowly lifted it to free it from the ground with both hands raised horizontally.
"Impressive."
Everyone’s expression changed slightly, and they all gave a thumbs up.
Being able to lift it was already extremely impressive.
Attempting to roll it twice, Meng Chuan’s forearm muscles completely exploded, protruding like steel bars.
His aura unconsciously scattered outside due to the exertion.
A crowd surrounded him, seeing Meng Chuan indeed able to roll it, their gasping almost sucked the surrounding air into a vacuum...
"Oh my limitless Celestial Venerable, is this still a human?"
"I think this guy looks a bit like that Meng Chuan from Northern United University..."
"So it’s him, no wonder he can roll it...wait, the master’s training tool, it’s not normal that he can roll it, right?"
"Even Zhao Haoran couldn’t roll it, doesn’t that prove that Wudang’s contemporary Daoists are not as good as him?"
"Isn’t that quite normal? Don’t you remember the video online where he brutally defeated two geniuses from another school in a two-on-one fight?"
".....Freakish indeed."
Being able to roll the master training thousand-pound scroll shows Meng Chuan’s terrifying power, likely crushing people at the same level with ease.
Meng Chuan rolled it twice more before gently placing it back on the specially made base.
It was still a bit heavy, rolling it further might cause muscle tears, affecting his practice of boxing; it wasn’t worth it.
When he breaks through in the Mountain Carrying Skill, he might casually borrow it to roll from time to time.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Shousui’s mouth twitched...
He hadn’t expected the kid to be able to roll it, after all, it was his own training equipment.
"After the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and four times of bodily transformation, how great must this strength be..."
This couldn’t be trained by hard skills, it must be a gift.
It seems the Xuanwu method really suits him well...
After class, Meng Chuan shared his martial arts experiences and gradually got along well with everyone.
Through chatting, he also learned the name Zhao Haoran.
This was the person who took Wang Ye’s title of Daoist.
Meng Chuan nodded silently, it seems this person is a formidable character.
Wang Ye listened to his fellow Daoists talk about his heartache, feeling quite miserable...
...
After class, Meng Chuan was just about to ask Grandmaster Zhao about the cultivation techniques when Zhao Shousui brought it up himself.
Amidst the overlapping green pines and cypress, there were two or three stone tables in the mountain forest.
Zhao Shousui said to Wang Ye:
"Disciple, serve the tea."
Wang Ye promptly poured for both.
Meng Chuan received it, thanking him warmly.
"Thank you, Daoist Wang, wonderful tea."
Zhao Shousui took a sip and then asked:
"I see traces of Tao and Buddhist beliefs on you. Do you have faith in any of the Immortals and Buddhas?"
"...Not for now."
"Have you ever worshipped a god?"
"No..."
"The Turtle and Snake Generals, when combined, are also called Xuanwu, an external incarnation of the Great Emperor. If you worship the Great Emperor, you can then cultivate the Hard Skills you’ve always wanted."
With a difficult expression, Meng Chuan thought that worshipping gods went against the will of Martial Arts, perhaps it wouldn’t work...
He paused for a moment and asked:
"Uncle Master Zhao, is it possible not to worship?"
He expressed his difficulties because even if he worshipped, it would not be sincere...
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shousui appeared thoughtful.
He took another sip of tea and said helplessly:
"The Martial Art you want to practice involves the incense of the Great Emperor, I think not worshipping is not an option...
But it’s not certain either. Head Master Chen manages our Wudang’s sacrificial rituals, and if he speaks up, there might be a way."
Meng Chuan nodded in agreement, then heard Zhao Shousui continue:
"However, Head Master Chen is currently busy in seclusion, and all affairs on the mountain are managed by Taoist Monarch Cheng Miaochang. This Taoist Monarch primarily practices Taiyi Five Animals, probably won’t be able to help with this matter."
"Understood, I’ll wait for Head Master Chen to emerge."
He understood Uncle Master Zhao’s meaning.
Wudang Mountain has many factions, others might not be helpful.
But Taoist Monarch Chentuan is in charge of incense and gods, there might be a way to ’cheat’...
Zhao Shousui concluded decisively:
"Anyway, you have nothing else to do, so just practice martial arts on the mountain for now. I’ve already spoken to Taoist Monarch Cheng. Except for major sacrificial venues like Purple Cloud Palace and Yuxu Palace, everything else is open to you.
You can study cultivation techniques at the Sutra Library. If you want to learn about our Taoist scriptures and classics, you can also study at the Imperial Scripture Pavilion. Lastly, let Wang Ye show you around to see the scenery of Wudang Mountain."
Meng Chuan immediately bowed in gratitude, saying:
"Thank you, Uncle Master!"
He truly deserved to be called the Master’s good pigeon; Uncle Master Zhao had arranged everything properly, leaving Meng Chuan speechless.
Having someone in the court really makes things easier...
...
That night.
Meng Chuan sat cross-legged on a cold stone trough, circulating the heart technique for cultivation.
After several great circulations, while adjusting his breath, he received a call from the Danjiangkou Police Station.
Meng Chuan listened to the police station’s investigation regarding the incident below Wudang Mountain yesterday.
In the end, the police personnel on the other end of the call couldn’t help but say:
"Mr. Meng, the Demon Summoning Hall, to eliminate you, dispatched two high priests this time.
With Hall Master Li Xiao’s whereabouts hard to grasp, the next time they target you, it’s hard to say who might come..."
Meng Chuan also felt quite troubled, dealing with the Demon Path is like defeating the small ones only to have the big ones come, endlessly...
However, he wasn’t too worried as there were still two opportunities to use the shadow stone he carried.
The Prison Yang Strike, even if Li Xiao came personally, couldn’t withstand even a bit.
Finally, the police station also transferred fifty million in bounty to Meng Chuan, greatly easing his financial burden.
All due to the shadow stone destroying the Demon Path minions, all things on their bodies had vaporized at the time, leaving only the bounty...
Unfortunately, that person who was instantly killed by the halberd light, who had undergone six sublimations.
Was usually hidden too deeply, with no bounty on them.
Zhu Yun, on the other hand, had a bounty of two hundred million.
But it all went into Uncle Master Zhao’s pocket; after all, it was he who killed him, and having already gotten the small black ball artifact, Meng Chuan didn’t dare ask for money...
Coming back to his senses, Meng Chuan hung up the phone and first transferred the fifty million back to the martial arts school’s account.
Although the Master did not allow him to repay the martial arts school, he had previously withdrawn four hundred million at once.
Worried it might affect the operation expenses of the martial arts school, he decided to transfer these back first.
Besides, he could access it anytime, just a change in the place where the money is stored...
Outside, the sound of cicadas resonated, and around the cottage, sounds of fists and feet already rang out.
Meng Chuan then got up and went out to join them.
The Wudang Taoists were really diligent, so let’s see who the real diligent king is...
...
In these few days, Meng Chuan had already understood Wudang Mountain’s layout.
Various factions stood like towering peaks, all collectively worshipping True Martial, forming the Quanzhen Taoism of the Wudang Sect.
Among them, the skilled members and young Taoists with superior talent.
Were gathered on the ’Ding Zhu Peak’ under his feet, which was the Wudang Martial Arts University’s school mountain.
The places like the Sutra Library and Imperial Scripture Pavilion that Uncle Master Zhao mentioned were also in the [Taihe Palace] on the peak.
These important buildings had hidden Grandmasters or even Respectful Persons guarding them to prevent theft of the scriptures.
However, in terms of secrecy level, Ding Zhu Peak still couldn’t match Purple Cloud Peak.
[Purple Cloud Peak] is Wudang’s most important Taoist venue, bar none.
Because within the peak, Purple Cloud and Yuxu Palaces are the main places of worship for the True Martial Great Emperor.
The emperors of the Ancient Martial Era would frequently visit Purple Cloud Peak, set up altars here, and offer sacrifices, extending the incense.
Other peaks like Five Dragon Peak, Daming Peak, Jintong and Yunu Peaks, etc.
All had their duties, some serving as the station for certain Wudang factions.
As Meng Chuan said, the various factions of Wudang occupy their positions like mountain bandit nests...
This mountain belongs to the Songxi Sect, and that peak to the Taiyi.
These Taoist priests were not the calm and undisturbed ones in Meng Chuan’s impression.
Instead, they were combative, an unyielding group...
When their sleeves rolled up, those arms weren’t much smaller than his own.
One word of disagreement, or a difference in discussing the Tao.
Then they would ’compete, contest skills, measure’, practicing and verifying the truth...
Meng Chuan couldn’t help but be sentimental:
"What they say about the Taoists not contending is all fake; the Taoists’ reasons are all in their fists..."
