Chapter 2: The Beast of Lingering Life Stretches Its Limbs

The serpent: "This beast is tyrannical and domineering in the mountains, and it is likely a monster that has devoured countless people. Given time, it may take on human form and cause further calamities. I advise both of you to kill it."

Pan Yan suddenly knelt down and exclaimed: "I am in distress in the mountains, facing hunger and danger, this is absolutely true. If there is even half a word of falsehood, may I become a ghostly creature to be consumed, and after death, turn into dust."

Zhang Qianfeng said coldly: "I am incompetent, merely possessing slightly superior skills compared to you."

Zhang Qianfeng said: "This palm technique strikes the human body, causing confusion of the mind and sudden illusions. The snow ape, having been hit by the spiritual illusion palm force, mistakenly believes it has healed, unaware of the pain, and moves its broken bones to align them. Although it cannot move at present, as long as several more days pass, the broken bones will surely heal."

The serpent moved slightly, suddenly arriving one foot to the left, its movements quite peculiar. However, Zhang Qianfeng immediately changed his technique, transforming a cut into a grab, his index finger pressing towards the serpent's crucial acupoint, executing the move "Effortless Maneuvering." The serpent found it increasingly difficult to evade, letting out a roar that was both filled with rage and astonishment

In recent days, Lu Yangming has been quite frightened, almost forgetting that she possesses internal energy. After being reminded, she hurriedly focused her energy, but it was still quite difficult. Lu Zhenying sighed and stepped forward to hold Lu Yangming's small hand. The siblings together channeled their energy, and the sword began to move freely. During this process, Lu Zhenying received guidance from Zhang Qianfeng, which greatly enhanced her foundation, giving her a somewhat distinguished air reminiscent of renowned masters.

Zhang Qianfeng said sternly: "Taiyi, why have you come here? Hurry up and confess the truth."

Pan Yan was taken aback and hurriedly said: "A gentleman speaks rather than acts. If you disagree with a word, you resort to force to suppress others, which is rather contrary to the way of a gentleman"

Lu Yangming stroked the beast's fur and whispered: "Senior Snow Ape, may you soon escape the sea of suffering and fly to the Mountain of Soul Gathering, to attain the Ocean of Reincarnation." The Mountain of Soul Gathering and the Ocean of Reincarnation are said to be the places of soul's abode in ancient legends, a belief deeply held by the common people.

Lu Yangming saw the giant beast standing still, its large eyes blinking. Suddenly, he felt a surge of sympathy and approached to stroke the giant ape's head, shedding tears as he said, "It is so pitiful, sister, what should we do with it?"

Lu Zhenying, seeing the two arguing, momentarily had no time to attend to them. She said to Lu Yangming, "Brother, what did father used to say."

Zhang Qianfeng inquired: "Since you are a skilled member of the Tai family, why would you find yourself in this icy wilderness, and how did you come to fall off a cliff with this fierce beast?"

The snow ape opened its eyes wide, seemingly possessing a spirit, and bore no hatred

Zhang Qianfeng was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself: "How does he know that this matter and this person have indeed come for the Lu siblings."

Lu Zhenying, having endured numerous hardships, possesses a calm disposition. Upon witnessing this absurd scene, he does not take it to heart and says, "You may rise now."

Lu Yangming said: "Father said: A ruler must be cautious and meticulous, loving the people as one would tend to flowers, and must not show any negligence. An emperor must be resolute and decisive, striking the enemy as one would fell trees, and must not show any mercy."

Zhang Qianfeng thought to himself: "This person has an unknown background, and their behavior is suspicious; they must not be allowed to act freely." He immediately took a half step forward, employing the "Phoenix Riding the Clouds Step." With just this slight movement, he had already reached in front of Pan Yan, his palm raised, striking towards Pan Yan's "Sun and Moon Acupoint." This was a move from his Yin-Yang Heaven and Earth Palm, known as "Pearl and Jade Thorn," which was both unpredictable in its force and yet retained a sense of righteousness.

Winding Path: "Who hasn't experienced misfortune during their travels in the mountains, encountering storms, or facing fierce beasts? What is so strange about this? Yet, I have been fortunate to meet various heroes and brave individuals, who have provided me with a meal to sustain my life. In the future, I will surely repay this kindness."

Lu Yangming asked curiously, "What did you say?"

Zhang Qianfeng subdued his formidable opponent with just two moves; with a mere release of his internal energy, he could cause the opponent's meridians to shatter and die. The onlookers were captivated and filled with admiration, secretly thinking: "The immortal leader of the Ten Thousand Immortals truly lives up to his reputation. If it were us, we would likely be unable to withstand even a single move."

Pan Yan laughed mockingly, his eyes filled with disdain. Zhang Qianfeng could not help but feel anger rise within him and asked, "Brother Taiyi, let us speak plainly; if you are dissatisfied with me, feel free to say so directly."

The winding path: "It is said that a drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring. The kindness of my little aunt in providing food and sparing my life is truly a great favor. I, Tai Yi, shall certainly repay this with my life."

Before long, he climbed up to five zhang, turned back to look, and shouted loudly. Suddenly, he fell down, pushing his palms forward. With a loud bang, he struck the chest of the snow ape, precisely at the location of the Shenfeng acupoint according to human anatomy. Harnessing the force of his fall, his palm strike was powerful, causing the snow ape to cry out in pain, its roar piercing the ears.

Pan Yan shouted: "Your sincerity truly touches the heart. I have the means to save this snow ape. I can also clear this path."

In fact, Lu Zhenying was only seventeen years old herself. Seeing this giant beast lying in front of her in a sickly state, how could she not feel pity? However, being older, she had to take on the role of a stern father and guide her even younger brother. Everyone looked on with admiration, and they could not help but feel a deep sense of loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice their lives for her.

Lu Zhenying inquired: "Qianfeng Xianzhang, what kind of Illusory Spirit Palm technique possesses such miraculous effects of bringing the dead back to life?"

Lu Yangming staggered, unable to maintain his balance. Lu Zhenying shouted, "Have you forgotten all the skills your father taught you? Why aren't you using the Snake-Slaying Heart Technique?"

Lu Zhenying, being a girl at heart, said: "We must find something for it to eat, to prevent it from starving."

Pan Yan pinched the injured area, crying out in pain, saying: "It's not blameworthy, it's not blameworthy; we wouldn't know each other without a fight."

Although Lu Zhenying and Lu Yangming were angry, they also found it somewhat amusing. Lu Yangming said, "You are full of crooked ideas and schemes. Who asked you to take action against this senior ape? No wonder you are suffering here."

Zhang Qianfeng said: "Its body is too large, the spine is fractured, and there is no way to treat it, how can it be saved"

Pan Yan smiled and said: "The Beast Surrounding Clan has unique methods, allowing them to befriend wild beasts and gain their assistance. Thus, they were able to establish a nation in the wilderness and enjoy the title of marquis. The two of you are naturally kindred spirits with this snow ape, and you recognized each other at first sight"

Lu Zhenying chuckled, "What little aunt, you are truly a person without any backbone."

Zhang Qianfeng thought to himself: "I do not understand this section; it seems that the Tai family possesses profound knowledge, not inferior to my Wanjian. Although this Yanzhuan has no reputation, it is indeed remarkable, and the prowess of the Tai family experts is even more to be imagined. The Tai family has a lineage of demons and ghosts; if they do not commit evil, it is fine, but if they do, they will surely become a great enemy of my Wanjian, and thus cannot be taken lightly."

Lu Zhenying angrily said: "What chaos are you causing? Is it not making it suffer like this"

Pan Yan sneered, "Then you are just spouting nonsense, pretending to be righteous, full of absurdity. How can you still call yourself a celestial being?"

The serpent turned over and said: "You two are indeed descendants of the ancient beast clan, but also the children of the monarch of the Cou country"

He saw Pan Yanwu leisurely stroking his cheek, behaving absurdly. He stepped forward and clasped his hands, saying: "Brother Taiyi, I have long heard of the unparalleled efficacy of the Tai family’s Illusory Spirit Palm. Today, I truly have my eyes opened. I have been rude before, and I hope for your understanding."

Lu Zhenying nodded and said: "A ruler exists for the people, and an emperor protects the nation. Therefore, a timeless emperor must possess two facets: one of compassion and one of ruthlessness. This snow ape is beyond salvation; you should grant it a swift end, but you must not hesitate, causing it to suffer longer. Moreover, do not kill for pleasure, nor take joy in seeing blood."

Pan Yan Dao: "Although your words are eloquent, the latter part is not clearly explained. Should this beast be killed or spared, have you made a decision?"

Suddenly, the snow ape let out a loud howl, rising to its feet, its bones cracking audibly. The guards immediately positioned themselves to shield the two lords. Zhang Qianfeng raised his eyebrows, thinking: "It is resetting its own bones"

Zhang Qianfeng sighed, "Although beasts are fierce, it is hard to say they do not harbor kind hearts. If they encounter good people, they may develop good thoughts. It is not necessarily as Brother Taiyi has said."

Thank you, thank you to this beautiful and kind little aunt.

Zhang Qianfeng said: "This beast is so enormous that it has acquired the essence of heaven and earth. It has a way of feeding itself and will not starve for twenty days. After twenty days, it will be able to move, and the vast snowy land is its ancestral home, where it can naturally take what it needs. The two lords need not worry."

The winding path: "You two, take care." Saying this, he stepped aside, grasped the withered vine, and began to climb the mountain. The mountain was somewhat steep, and the wind and snow were fierce, making it quite difficult to ascend, but with agile hands and feet, he moved like a slippery snake.

Pan Yan suddenly rushed forward, blocking the path of the brother and sister. Zhang Qianfeng thought this person intended to harm them, and immediately took action, executing a move called "Qianfeng Xuefeng." However, Pan Yan feigned a punch, his movements graceful and fluid. Zhang Qianfeng was secretly alarmed, feeling at a loss for how to proceed. He thought to himself: "This person has unexpectedly found a way to counter my technique, which could be somewhat troublesome."

Lu Yangming took an ancient and heavy broad-bladed sword from the hands of the guard. He was small in stature, and the sword was almost as tall as he was. As he observed the inscription "Slay the Python" on the scabbard, he couldn't help but admire: "This sword has a long history and profound spiritual essence; it truly is a treasured sword"

After a moment, a crisp sound of impact was heard. The snow ape let out a long breath, leaned against the wall, and remained motionless, presumably in a state of quiet meditation to heal its injuries. However, this also cleared the path, allowing the carriage to pass. Zhang Qianfeng, seeing its steady breathing and no signs of pain, was astonished, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Zhang Qianfeng thought to himself: "If I restrain him and do not let go, it will instead make me appear flustered. Although this person's footwork is quite intricate, it is nothing extraordinary." He immediately smiled and withdrew his hand, placing it behind his back

Lu Yangming was overjoyed, embracing the snow ape's fur. The snow ape emitted a very affectionate call, opened its large hand, tapped Lu Yangming's small head, and then touched Lu Zhenying's hair.

Many years ago, Zhang Qianfeng accompanied a junior sister through the Heavenly Gate to another world. Unfortunately, that junior sister was harmed by a treacherous person, contracting a strange illness and becoming half human, half ghost. Despite Zhang Qianfeng's efforts to conceal this, she could not escape being expelled, resulting in a fate of unknown life or death. Reflecting on this matter, Zhang Qianfeng felt sorrowful and developed a certain compassion for the ghosts and monsters of this world

Lu Yangming applauded and cheered, running towards Pan Yan, grasping Pan Yan's hand, and said: "Thank you, Brother Taiyi"

Pan Yan crawled up, and everyone saw that he had fallen hard, with bruises on his face, and couldn't help but gloat over his misfortune. Pan Yan seemed to bite his tongue, sighing and saying: "This handsome face is my means of earning a living, and this little mouth is the source of my income. What am I to do now?"

Lu Yangming saw that the giant beast was blocking the path, making it impassable, and approached to take a closer look. The guards were greatly alarmed and urgently said: "My lord, do not approach. This giant beast is not yet dead."

Lu Zhenying said: "Qianfeng Xianchang, please let him go. This person was previously starving to the point of near death, which is truly pitiful, and cannot possibly be a fraud."

Lu Yangming wiped his tears and said: "Thank you, sister, for your guidance"

Lu Zhenying was naturally bold and had a keen insight into people, possessing a regal demeanor. He held no suspicion towards Pan Yan and remarked, "Indeed, how did Brother Taiyi know this?"