The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 316 - 277: Sect of Interception Disciples Start Infighting

Chapter 316: Chapter 277: Sect of Interception Disciples Start Infighting

The third formation was a battle between Daoist Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma from the Buddhist sect, both martial arts grandmasters who had mastered the mysteries of martial arts. Their bout featured exquisite techniques, Zhang Junshi’s arms as stiff as spears, as if Heavenly Dao was enraged, transforming the law into a divine spear aimed to slay those who defied heaven!

Bodhidharma instantly activated the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Cover; the continuous roar of the tiger transformed into a huge golden Buddhist bell, enveloping him within.

"Kill!"

With a light shout from Zhang Junshi, his fist-spear struck the Golden Bell Cover, and the cover, resembling the Buddhist bell, was immediately shattered by his fist-spear. This punch, blending the essence of his life’s enlightenment, was so powerful that it left onlookers dumbfounded, with some Daoist True Persons almost unable to refrain from standing up.

Bodhidharma’s complexion changed, and a dragon chant emitted from his pores—it was the technique of the Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt, using the pores to emit sound that vibrates the entire body’s blood energy.

Zhang Junshi’s vital essence surged upwards, almost soaring higher than the Southern Sky Gate. He aimed to overpower his opponent with force, intending his punch-spear to defeat Bodhidharma.

Patriarch Bodhidharma brought his hands together, bellowing loudly as his body vaguely coiled with more than a dozen divine dragons. Zhang Junshi’s punch-spear struck him, and with a loud bang, it was as if two comets had collided, sparking intense sparks that resembled molten steel clashing with iron, the fierce sounds of the impact causing one’s eardrums to tingle.

The true Qi inside Bodhidharma was boiling, contending against Zhang Junshi’s punch-spear, making it hard to distinguish who was superior or inferior as blinding light and intense vibration intermingled.

"Tai Chi Seven Star Hammer!" Zhang Junshi shifted his stance, pulled back by a yard, and assumed a position as if becoming the Big Dipper in the sky.

"Vajra Arhat Fist!" Bodhidharma bellowed; his body emitted a golden light, transforming into a Protector Vajra, Five Great Wisdom Kings, unleashing fearsome fist techniques to clash directly with Zhang Junshi.

Zhang Junshi’s fists, like constellations in the sky, carried the burden of slaughter, fortune, life, fortune, and so on, which he all integrated into his fist technique, which was openly aggressive and domineering. There’s no such thing as combining hardness and softness, as the common understanding of Tai Chi, when engaged in real combat predominantly uses the Tai Chi Cannon Pound, characterized by big and powerful moves!

Bodhidharma’s Vajra Arhat Fist was also openly aggressive and straightforward, righteous and unyielding Buddhist Vajra, slaying demons. His fist’s power was terrifying as if cleaving through everything.

"Bodhidharma, indeed you have not disappointed me. Over the years, your fist technique has progressed! However, my fist technique has not fallen behind at all!" Zhang Junshi shouted loudly, opening up his stance, then adopting Wuji Style, from Wuji comes Tai Chi.

The reincarnation of Donghua the Great Emperor as Lu Dongbin leads to the prosperity of the Complete Truth Sect; Zhang Junshi will also reincarnate. His reincarnation will be a beacon of civilization, known as Zhang Sanfeng, and at that time, Wudang will also rise. Reincarnation complies with Heavenly Destiny.

Bodhidharma is the patriarch of the Buddhist martial arts, while Zhang Sanfeng is the patriarch of the Daoist martial arts. This clash of patriarchs was exceptionally explosive.

The Tathagata secretly thought, "Bodhidharma’s martial arts attainments are much higher than ours, and this Zhang Junshi is not lacking either. Tai Chi really is mystical, encompassing the universal principles, integrating yin and yang, balancing attack and defense."

Great Emperor Zhenwu also nodded silently in appreciation. Zhang Junshi had grasped the profound mysteries of The Way Follows Nature, improving his fist technique by learning from animals, making it even more exquisite and mysterious.

The two had fought to an indistinguishable tie, exchanging blows. Their martial arts had reached the peak, virtually flawless.

"You and I, it’s hard to distinguish the superior technique in our fight! Let’s see who can last until the end!" Zhang Junshi roared, unleashing a series of Cannon Fists.

The Cannon Fist, belonging to fire, was overpowering and aggressive; Zhang Junshi’s barrage of punches exploded like fireworks, so explosive that it seemed to crack the void itself!

Bodhidharma was also secretly alarmed; their techniques had reached a point where there were no flaws to exploit, only physical strength could determine their superiority, as their skills were equivalent.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A series of clashes ensued; the fists seemed to have turned into steel, colliding and generating sparks.

Qian Three Chain! Kun Six Cuts!"

Zhang Junshi’s aggressive technique suddenly shifted to a more sinister and vicious approach, using the Bagua Body Method to move around Bodhidharma, continuously striking at his vital points with palm blades.

Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma’s stance evolved into a Bagua diagram, with Zhang Junshi jumping and moving within it, his palm technique changing a thousand times. Though the Bagua Palm offers thousands of variations, it only boils down to eight changes; but combined, they become unpredictable.

Bodhidharma summoned the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Cover and the Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt, enduring three of Zhang Junshi’s palm strikes without any harm. His hard training had brought his skills to perfection.

"Kan Middle Separation!" With these, water and fire combined, hundreds of palms were launched, while Bodhidharma countered with Subduing Dragon Fist and Subdue the Tiger Fist, Subdue Dragons and Tigers, a supreme skill of the Buddhist sect.

Their fist techniques were incredible, with no one able to match them in martial arts; even Chen Tuan was just a step behind! However, if Chen Tuan diligently practiced his fist technique, he would certainly catch up to these two someday.

"Boom!"

A massive sound erupted as their palms met, the True Qi within their bodies surged violently towards each other, shaking both so intensely that their blood boiled, nearly bursting forth from their orifices.

The bout had already decided a winner, Bodhidharma spat out golden blood, and Zhang Junshi also kept coughing up blood, both continually retreating as their Primordial Spirits nearly left their bodies.

"Could it be that they have drawn again?" Wukong watched as the two separated, seemingly without a clear winner, both suffering considerable injuries, their meridians and Primordial Spirits damaged by the shock.

With his Flaming Eyes, he could clearly see the internal damage, noting that Zhang Junshi’s liver had split open and Bodhidharma’s kidney and spleen were also shattered.

"It’s actually a draw again!" The crowd couldn’t help but feel slightly shocked, as the two had fought to a draw once more.

Years ago in Luoyang City, before Human Emperor Liu Zhuang, representatives of Buddhism and Daoism had tried to outdo each other in magical combat, and even then, Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma had ended in a draw. This battle at Mount Meru also resulted in mutual destruction, leading to another draw, which was truly unbelievable.

Magic combat, like deploying troops, rarely results in a draw, even Bodhidharma and Zhang Junshi had not expected it, both had thought they would surely defeat their opponent.

"Let’s stop here," Great Emperor Zhenwu said, "If the fight continues, I fear it might damage the good relations between both families!"

If Bodhidharma and Zhang Junshi continued fighting, it would either lead to mutual destruction or both getting so injured they couldn’t stand up again. He still needed Zhang Junshi to strengthen the Wudang lineage, naturally, he could not let him die. By the end of the next era, Zhang Junshi was supposed to reincarnate and restore his cultivation.

Tathagata also relied on Bodhidharma to control the Shaolin Temple, a crucial stronghold for the Buddhist sect, which couldn’t be left leaderless. He also couldn’t let Bodhidharma and Zhang Junshi continue fighting, saying, "Indeed, this was just a friendly exchange, not a fight to the death. Bodhidharma, it’s enough to have made your point."

Bodhidharma, pale as gold foil, bowed before Tathagata and said, "Yes, World Honored One!"

Zhang Junshi, too, looked terribly pale as he bowed to Great Emperor Zhenwu, saying, "Yes, Patriarch!"

Wukong watched in awe, the Daoist Equal to Heaven who had secretly learned Tai Chi, and today had gained deeper insight into the art, his understanding of Buddhist martial arts also deepened by witnessing Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma’s match.

Who would be next? Wukong bowed his head, appearing as if in meditation, actually hoping to avoid a confrontation with a True Person from the Daoist sect, as he was a chief guest at this gathering and easily targeted.

"Limitless fortune and longevity! I am Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunder God Puhua Heavenly Venerable Wen Zhong! I wish to learn the superior techniques of Victorious Fighting Buddha." Grand Preceptor of the Shang Dynasty Wen Zhong stepped forward, he had been conferred the title of Universal Transformative Heavenly Venerable of Thunder after ascending the Divine Enthronement.

He served under both Hooked Chen Great Emperor, who commands ten thousand thunders, and Great Emperor Zhenwu, who suppresses all demons; the responsibility to eradicate demons and slay evil with the force of thunder—a force of utmost yang and rigidity—cannot be shirked.

Great Emperor Zhenwu felt displeased with Wukong for joining the Buddhist sect; now that Zhang Junshi and Bodhidharma had ended in a draw, he let Heavenly Venerable of the Thunder Department Wen Zhong take action.

Wen Zhong was a renowned figure during the Shang and Zhou periods, unmatched with his pair of whips, repeatedly defeating Jiang Ziya. Had it not been for Jiang Ziya being a disciple of the Interpretation Sect, protected by Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch, who sent down the Twelve Golden Immortals to assist, it is likely not the Shang but the Western Zhou that would have been annihilated! Thus, Wen Zhong, a pillar of the state, upon his death became a deity, naturally, his capabilities were extraordinary, having cultivated to the Law Realm long ago.

Interestingly, he was also a disciple of the Sect of Interception, and now Wukong was considered a disciple of the same sect. This situation turned into an internal dispute between sect members?

The Twenty-Eight Constellations were all disciples of the Sect of Interception, but after becoming deities, they were soon co-opted by various powers. When Wukong previously killed them, neither the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader nor Wusheng intervened, seemingly already dissatisfied with them. The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader detested traitors his entire life, those who dared defy him never ended well.

Wen Zhong did not know that he and Wukong were from the same sect. In fact, Wukong was even his senior by a generation.

The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader glanced at Wen Zhong, thinking, "Very well! This will prevent Tathagata from suspecting that Macaca still has ties with me, let Wen Zhong meet him properly, to let Tathagata realize I despise Macaca for becoming a traitor. Heh heh!"

As both Wen Zhong and Wukong originated from the Sect of Interception, and the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader so detested traitors, now that they were fighting, Tathagata might think that it was the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader who had Wen Zhong make a move. This would finally draw a clear line between Wukong and the Shangqing Lineage, also eliminating many of Tathagata’s concerns and worries.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! It turns out to be Universal Transformative Heavenly Venerable of Thunder, I’ve long heard of your great name," Wukong quickly stood up to pay respects.

"The World Honored One says you are Victorious Fighting Buddha, there is nothing under heaven you cannot defeat. Today, I will battle you to see if you can indeed triumph against me," Wen Zhong said with a smile.

Wen Zhong had an imposing presence, his full beard reaching his chest, and despite his aged appearance, he was strikingly handsome, with bold eyebrows that framed his stern face.

One who commands thunder must indeed possess an unyielding righteousness, else he would suffer backlash from the thunder itself.

To find out what happens next, please follow the next Chapter. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and give monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)