The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 314 - 275: Chen Tuan’s Fist Technique Astonishes All Buddhas

Chapter 314: Chapter 275: Chen Tuan’s Fist Technique Astonishes All Buddhas

The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva took the initiative to challenge Lu Dongbin’s Seven Stars Sword Array, belonging to the Complete Truth Sect. This Bodhisattva’s Buddhist Law was profound, possessing infinite Prajna, and in a thought, his manifestation of Buddhist might arose and perished.

As the Great Seal was cast by the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Mount Meru trembled. It carried the might akin to that of the creator, and Buddhist Bells boomed, exhibiting various portents.

"This is another person who in the future could Achieve Buddhahood and become an Ancestor!" The hearts of the Daoist True Persons couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Divine Skills deployed by the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva left even them stunned. Such Divine Skills, once cultivated, were virtually invincible, particularly against Formations, to which they held a great advantage.

The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva declared, "Infinite Prajna, within my heart! Transforming endlessly, beyond all conjecture!"

In the void, countless transformations occurred, creating various extraordinary phenomena—a sun and moon in the sky, mountains and rivers standing tall, all pressing down simultaneously.

"The Great Lion Seal!" The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva formed another Hand Seal, embodying the protector Lion King of the Buddhist sect. A Lion’s Roar thundered, causing the Seven Masters of the Complete Truth Sect to reel with dizziness.

Lu Dongbin inwardly cried out in alarm, the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s might was shockingly formidable. Their Seven Stars Sword Array couldn’t withstand it! Within the Sword Array, the Ancient battlefield that had formed began to crumble. Horses neighed, weapons snapped, and blood flowed like driftwood, dissolving into nothingness under the power of infinite Prajna Divine Skills.

The seven of the Complete Truth Sect also bellowed in agony, painfully blasted away by the Divine Skills of the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

Lu Dongbin sprung to his feet, only to see the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva standing in the center, nodding with a slight smile, his hands forming a seal, saying, "I have been overruled!"

Looking again, he found the other six disciples had been blasted away just like himself, and couldn’t help but express their genuine admiration, "The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s Buddhist Law is profound, to comprehend such Divine Skills is truly admirable. Master Lu is impressed, truly impressive!"

Although they were bitter enemies with the Buddhist sect, he was once Donghua the Great Emperor in his past life, and he possessed the demeanor of a nobleman. Having lost, he admitted defeat. Should he quibble, it would be a true loss of face.

The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva said, "The Seven Stars Sword Array created by Pure Yang True Man is also extraordinary. Had this monk not glimpsed the Formless Supernatural Powers, it would have been hard to break. I am also overruled, overruled!"

Having experienced this battle, Zhang Boduan also had many realizations, especially about the profundities of Buddhism. This further fortified his idea of Dual Cultivation of Buddhism and Daoism, which subsequently led to the further strengthening of Taoism. This will be told in another story, so let’s not dwell on it here.

The Tathagata could not help but raise his eyebrows and exhale with satisfaction, feeling extremely pleased. The matter at Louguan had been weighing on his mind, but now with the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s first victory, it was a heartening and invigorating moment.

"Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, please take a seat!" The Medicine Buddha said with a smile, inviting the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva to sit.

Having lost this round, the members of the Complete Truth Sect felt dejected, not expecting their Seven Stars Sword Array would be so easily broken by the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

The Tathagata smiled and said, "The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva truly lives up to the name of being valiant and diligent. However, the Seven Stars Sword Array of Pure Yang True Man is also incredibly mysterious. Had it been anyone else, they too would likely not have had a good outcome. True Man, there is no need for concern."

At this point, Chen Tuan stepped forward and said, "World Honored One, I have some karma to resolve with the Esoteric Sect’s Patriarch Shan Wuwei, may we settle it today?"

Chen Tuan, too, was renowned for cultivating through his dreams—a feat unheard of, as if only Zhunti Patriarch became a saint though a dream.

"Ah, it is the Old Sleeping Immortal, Master Fuyao Chen Tuan!" Upon seeing Chen Tuan, the Tathagata couldn’t help but inwardly admire his grace.

Chen Tuan bowed to the Tathagata and looked toward Shan Wuwei, saying, "Would Patriarch Shan Wuwei come out and fight with me? A little wager could also resolve our karma."

Shan Wuwei, being openly challenged by Chen Tuan, found himself in a predicament. If he didn’t accept the battle, where would he put his face? He stepped forward directly and, with palms together, said to Chen Tuan, "It’s better to resolve grievances than to deepen them. Since this is the case, today I will resolve this karma with True Man Chen Tuan."

Shan Wuwei and Chen Tuan had a long-standing grudge and now wanted to settle it during Wukong’s great Enlightening feast.

Both men took their places in the square, with Shan Wuwei asking, "I wonder what method True Man Fuyao will use to resolve this karma?"

After pondering for a moment, Chen Tuan replied, "Let’s go directly to the fight. Why bother with so many rules? Magic Combat is most direct!"

Shan Wuwei gave a light smile and said, "Then please proceed! True Man Chen Tuan’s mana is profound, please show mercy."

Having said that, the two of them no longer spoke and positioned themselves, ready to engage in Magic Combat.

Chen Tuan waved his horsetail whisk and charged towards Shan Wuwei, the whisk in his hand slashing, like a cascading waterfall, sweeping towards Shan Wuwei’s face!

Shan Wuwei let out a soft shout and a Demon-Subduing Staff appeared in his hand, shimmering with golden light and eight feet long. He swung it skillfully, deflecting the horsetail whisk that Chen Tuan had brushed towards him.

"A dream of a thousand autumns, a great dream of ten thousand years!" Chen Tuan recited an incantation, and his Primordial Spirit was almost dislodged. His spirit fluctuated wave after wave, crushing down upon Shan Wuwei.

Caught off guard, Shan Wuwei felt as if he were mired in quicksand and drowsiness came over him. Cursing under his breath, he bit down on the tip of his tongue, breaking the skin. A mouthful of Vital Blood was sprayed forth in a desperate attempt to break free.

Unbeknownst to when, Chen Tuan had maneuvered behind Shan Wuwei. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, he struck his opponent’s back. Instantly, the figure in front became a wisp of green smoke, revealing Shan Wuwei behind him, who also targeted Chen Tuan’s back with his staff. Anticipating this, Chen Tuan crouched slightly, sweeping out a leg like the brisk wind sweeping up fallen leaves. Such a sweeping kick could probably shatter a small hill.

Shan Wuwei hadn’t expected such a swift response from Chen Tuan and hurriedly waved his staff towards the ground, hoping to block the strike. The staff met Chen Tuan’s foot with a loud clang that numbed Shan Wuwei’s arms with its vibration.

"I have cultivated the Way of Martial Arts in my dreams. Today, let me show you what I have learned," Chen Tuan bellowed. He sprung up like a crouching dragon ascending to heaven, and launched the Old Ape Hanging Seal. His palms, as large as banana leaves, seemed to support the heavens and earth.

Shan Wuwei was taken aback, never expecting Chen Tuan to have perfected martial arts to such a level in his dreams. He quickly performed the Great Hand Seal, aimed at Chen Tuan’s face.

Chen Tuan moved like a Spiritual Monkey. Instead of targeting Shan Wuwei’s chin, he twisted his torso and unleashed a palm strike from a lower angle, evading the Great Hand Seal. His hand swiftly approached Shan Wuwei’s groin.

A chill ran down Shan Wuwei’s spine. The force of the palm hadn’t yet reached him, but the wind from the strike was already pricking his skin. Not daring to hesitate, he chanted an incantation. Just as Chen Tuan’s palm hit, Shan Wuwei turned into a puff of green smoke, having used the Mystical Movement and Illusory Shadows technique to evade.

Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma both watched on in astonishment. Chen Tuan’s martial prowess seemed quite profound, with every move precise and without delay, striking his opponents with relentless force.

"Sit upon the Golden Throne!" Chen Tuan roared as though he were an emperor gazing down upon the world from his throne. Vital Blood churned violently within him, and Vital Essence surged from his Baihui Acupoint like a beacon, forming a tremendous dark cloud above, a majestic sight.

Medicine carries the Way, and martial arts defend the Way. In the mortal world, nine out of ten paths involve martial arts—a testament to its importance. Many Daoists are also masters of martial arts. Through years of training in his dreams, Chen Tuan honed his martial arts to be ferocious and dominant, with a style both expansive and tyrannical.

"This fist technique is incredible!" both Bodhidharma and Zhang Junshi thought, amazed. They assumed they were the only martial arts experts in the world, but here, Chen Tuan demonstrated martial arts that were nearly on par with Tai Chi Fist and the Shaolin Martial Arts created by Bodhidharma.

Tathagata frowned in thought, "Who is this Chen Tuan? After a long dream, he has mastered such fist techniques, which even carry the Imperial Qi, embodying Heavenly Dao. This ’Sit upon the Golden Throne’ move, drawing all Vital Blood and surging Vital Essence, exudes terrifying strength and speed!"

Chen Tuan caught up to Shan Wuwei who, though proficient in close combat, was not quite on the level of a martial arts grandmaster like Bodhidharma. Yet, Chen Tuan’s martial arts were on par with his! A figure shrouded in mystery, Chen Tuan had been deeply cultivating in sleep until recently revealing his sharp edge.

"Immortal Sleep!" Chen Tuan unleashed his self-created martial art, a punch technique as ethereal as smoke, leaving no trace to follow, yet incredibly powerful.

Zhang Junshi couldn’t help but break into a sweat, thinking, "Such a formidable technique, formidable indeed! It seems to stem from the Long Fist lineage, capable of thirty-two transformations."

The fist technique of Chen Tuan, known as Immortal Fist, would only gain renown in later times and be called "Taizu Long Fist."

Zhao Kuangyin’s martial art was learned from Chen Tuan, one of China’s six famous fists, naturally no less proficient than the martial arts of Bodhidharma and Zhang Junshi!

With a Buddhist Lion’s Roar, Shan Wuwei formed the Treasure Vase Seal, manifesting a massive jade vase overhead, a hundred feet tall. He turned it upside down, aiming a beam of white light straight at Chen Tuan!

Chen Tuan formed incantations with his hands. To face Divine Skills, one cannot rely on martial arts alone; that would be at a serious disadvantage. He chanted, "Blizzard and Ice Sky!"

With a flick of his fingers, a fierce wind and heavy snow erupted, embodying a terrifying power as he governed the Heavenly Dao Laws.

The color drained from Shan Wuwei’s face as the vase was instantly frozen solid by Chen Tuan’s spell, even the white light turning to ice!

"Shatter!" Chen Tuan called out softly, striking the ice with a Cannon Pound, shattering it and breaking the vase.

Caught off guard, Shan Wuwei felt a Silk-Reeling Power swirling around his arm. Intent on emulating Maitreya by severing his limb, Chen Tuan gave no such opportunity. He thrust his knee into Shan Wuwei’s groin, causing excruciating pain, almost forcing Shan Wuwei’s Primordial Spirit to leave his body!

Attacking major acupoints of the body could severely agitate the Primordial Spirit, which is why some people who take a heavy blow to the back of the head might faint, yet vaguely see themselves lying on the ground—it’s their spirit being knocked loose.

Chen Tuan followed up with another punch. It started like the wind and struck like an arrow, too swift even for falling to the ground. With a painful howl, Shan Wuwei rolled away like a bottle gourd, bloodied and battered, blood flowing from his mouth and nose.

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the next segment. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast your monthly votes or tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)