Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 369, Volume 5 records: struck by lightning and burned by fire, wind blade piercing through t

Standing on the railing, Zhou Meng, gazing into the distance, rolled up his sleeves, glanced at the gloating Zhou Sheng, and then made a few sarcastic remarks.

"It is said that only monkeys that have undergone the three calamities of being tempered and struck by lightning and burned by fire can become the true Great Sage. But I see a shameless old monkey in front of me who is good at showing off his skills. He is not even as good as the two juniors."

Zhou Sheng chuckled as he accepted the mockery from his junior brother. In the past, he would have been furious, but he didn't care about such superficial words. He cared about words and writings that were more meaningful than that.

With a flick of his sleeve, he flung out several bound books from his tattered, grayish-white robe. The books were skillfully held aloft by the force of Tai Chi, and they spun around Zhou Sheng.

The pages of the five books fluttered without wind, and the intricate yet orderly ink marks flashed by as the pages were turned, leaving behind fragments of writing.

"Five volumes is acceptable, although it's two more than three volumes, it still conforms to the number of the five elements."

Zhou Sheng manipulated the five volumes of books, making them swirl in front of him. His actions, whether intentional or not, seemed to be displaying rare treasures. This ostentatious manner made Zhou Meng unable to resist jumping off the railing.

"Still reading the history books you compiled?"

"Hmph, it's hardly a historical record; it's merely a record of the people and scenes along this path of cultivation, and a brief explanation of some principles of cultivation."

Zhou Sheng reached out and brushed his hand across the book in front of him, his withered fingers tracing the fallen strokes of ink, as if bearing witness to the past years.

"Volume One, Learning Tai Chi and Entering the Path of Taoism, a Monkey Came from Wudang Mountain."

After turning a few pages, Zhou Sheng waved his hand to close the five books, read out the inscriptions on the blue covers in order, and then put them back into his sleeve, as if he were taking stock of the past years.

One scroll was slipped into his sleeve, and another scroll followed as Zhou Sheng began his inventory.

"Volume Two, Jiazi: The Demon-Slaying Master Lü, and the Marquis and King Seeking the Dao and Longevity."

"Volume Three: A long and winding road through mountains and rivers, the traveler returns home with a name."

"Volume Four, The Yellow Millet Dream is Interpreted to Separate Inheritance and Burden, The Golden Lock is Suddenly Unlocked to Unleash the Arrogant Sun."

Zhou Sheng counted the four volumes of books in a row, while Zhou Meng listened quietly beside him. The two of them treated these past records with the seriousness of checking accounts.

Counting to the end, only the last scroll remained in front of Zhou Sheng, which was the fifth volume. This time, there was no inscription on the scroll, and the blank page frames awaited the final conclusion.

"Volume Five is also coming to an end. Although the record is not yet complete, the name can be written down."

Zhou Sheng looked down and rummaged through his sleeve, pulling out a calligraphy brush. With a flick of his fingers, the brush, which had been held in his hand, was now firmly in his grasp.

He held the pen upright in his right hand, his wrist flicked, and the slightly black pen tip swept across the air, instantly becoming dipped in the just-right shade of dark ink.

"Volume Five: True cultivation with a beginning and an end; great freedom without beginning or end."

The full, flowing pen tip landed within the title frame on the cover of the book, and this anonymous record finally came to a conclusion.

After meticulously writing two lines of inscription, Zhou Sheng tossed the brush into his left sleeve. The brush spun a few times in the air before sliding precisely into the sleeve.

"Alright, there's nothing to worry about regarding Wang Ye. He'll get through the three calamities without any problem. And after this baptism, this lazy marquis will truly be able to roam freely between heaven and earth."

Zhou Sheng held the unfinished book in his hands, turning the pages to blank new ones. At the same time, he watched the figure in the distance slowly fade away, creating gusts of wind that scattered in all directions.

"Xiao Meng, it's time to add a few strokes to the end of this path of cultivation."

A gentle breeze carried Zhou Sheng's increasingly ethereal figure away, and he disappeared from the scene. Zhou Meng, standing in front of the main hall, ignored Zhou Sheng's boasting. He turned his head to look in the direction of the martial arts arena, and looking at the calamity of raging fire and thunder, he revealed a relaxed smile.

"Once that kid Lü Qian returns from the Northeast, he should pass the leadership to Yunlong. Just thinking about it makes me feel so relieved."

"Help!"

Unlike Zhou Meng, who was leisurely watching the play in front of the main hall, Wang Ye's cries for help, mixed with sorrow and indignation, echoed in the martial arts arena.

"Heavens above, you've mistaken me for someone else! I am a practitioner who reveres Heaven and Earth and follows the laws of nature; I am your most benevolent believer!"

Wang was on the verge of tears. His devout appearance was almost like kowtowing, but the increasingly heavy pressure between heaven and earth showed that it had no intention of letting go of the little Taoist priest crying for his parents.

"Master Wang Ye, thank you for borrowing the 'Acting on Behalf of Heaven' for me."

Zhuge Qing sincerely thanked Wang Ye. At this moment, he could be considered to have the help of Heaven and to be acting on behalf of Heaven. Originally, he could only borrow seven parts of Heaven's will by sacrificing his lifespan, but now he had ten parts of the power of the Great Dao with him without any effort.

The harmony between heaven and earth, resonating with the Seven Star Formation set up by the Zhuge family, transformed Zhuge Qing, the mad sorcerer who gambled with his life, into an "enforcer" of the will of heaven and earth.

In the vast emptiness of the four directions and six directions, the formless and intangible laws and rules seemed to come alive. They transformed into decrees or shackles, falling before Zhuge Qing to await his command.

"Master Wang Ye, I didn't want this either, but I couldn't refuse your kind invitation, hahaha..."

Zhuge Qing held the command flag, his body seemingly guided by the will of Heaven. Although he spoke words of apology, he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth as he smiled broadly, letting out a hearty laugh without any attempt to hide it.

"Screw Zhuge Qing, if you really don't want to do this, hurry up and remove the Wuhou Qimen."

"Alright then, I'll remove the formation now. Oops... I accidentally waved the command flag."

Zhuge Qing pretended to lower the command flag, but before the flagpole could be placed flat, he twisted his wrist, and the command flag, which was wrapped with legal principles, suddenly swirled. The shackles displayed in front of the platform, waiting to be dispatched, instantly twisted and attacked Wang Ye, who was trying to avoid the three calamities.

"Splash splash splash..."

The shackles formed by the laws of the void clashed and strangled, with the sound of metal clanging in all directions. No matter whether Wang Ye transformed into a gentle breeze or into flowing water, those shackles remained locked on him, waiting to capture this "alien king".

"The heavens are clear and the earth is blessed, the ancestral master protects us... We beseech the True Lord to return... We beseech the True Lord to return..."

While evading the law's pursuit, Wang Ye frantically made hand seals and chanted incantations, shouting loudly in an almost pleading tone.

"Damn it, now it's easy to invite a god in, but hard to send him away."

"Senior brother, quickly remove your divine carriage, I can't take it anymore... Ouch!"

Before Wang Ye could finish his plea for help, the previously rigid legal shackles in the void suddenly came to life, carrying a touch of Tai Chi and the flowing meaning of Xuanwu, transforming into a tortoise and snake to firmly bind the leaping and jumping Wang Ye.

The three calamities that had been brewing in the void then manifested: endless wind blades whistled, blazing fire dragons spewed flames, and dazzling lightning snakes darted through the clouds. The wind, fire, and lightning aimed at Wang Ye, who was bound below, and descended in an instant.

The wind blades were swift, falling from above Wang Ye's head, piercing his chest and lungs, and passing through his limbs and bones; lightning and fire intertwined, dragons and snakes climbed together, each rising back up from under Wang Ye's feet, burning his soul and flesh.

"Awooohoo..."