Chapter 4: First Arrival at Wudang
Everyone couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight, but after laughing, they didn't dare to sneak a peek at the two sisters again. After all, the scene where Zhao Liya's fist wind swept by and even the leaves on the ground were blown away was still vivid in their minds. Who would dare to stir up trouble again? Naturally, everyone subconsciously kept a slight distance from the two sisters.
"Linsister, that Taoist priest was so powerful just now! My fists seemed to be hitting the air when I punched him, and I don't know if he used some kind of magic. Then my fists couldn't move at all!" Zhao Liya said with a hint of disappointment after she regained her freedom.
"It seems that Uncle and the others were right, Wudang Mountain indeed has hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even a young Daoist like you has such high-level martial skills. However, I've never heard Aunt Song mention that there's such a formidable young Daoist in Wudang Mountain. We're familiar with most of the young disciples of the Wudang Sect, and their martial skills are on par with ours. I've never seen a young master who can defeat me without even moving his hands!" Lin Ling shook her head in disbelief, then followed up with the group. However, Zhang Hu's indescribable martial skills had deeply intimidated her, making her no longer think of herself as the best among her peers.
After getting away from the tourist group, Zhang Huban confirmed that there was no one around. Although he wanted to fly in mid-air, he knew it would be too easy for people to discover him, so he had to use his earth escape technique and instantly arrived at a deserted place near Yu Zhen Palace, then broke out of the ground.
Yuzhen Palace is located four kilometers east of Wudangshan Town, with Phoenix Mountain at its back and surrounded by mountains and water on all sides. In the past, it was called Huangtucheng. At its peak, Yuzhen Palace had over 400 halls and rooms, covering an area of more than 56,000 square meters. The main hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a hip roof, and is one of the best-preserved buildings in Wudangshan that still retains the style of the early Ming dynasty. What's most remarkable about Yuzhen Palace is that it was built specifically for a single Taoist priest by an emperor, whose name was Zhang Sanfeng.
According to historical records, Zhang Sanfeng's name was Zhang Quanyi, and his courtesy name was Xuanyuan. He had a majestic appearance, big ears and round eyes. Regardless of the weather, he only wore a simple robe made of hemp or straw, "whether in the depths of the mountains or strolling through the bustling streets", people all thought he was an immortal among mortals.
In the early years of Hongwu, Zhang Sanfeng came to Wudang Mountain and had a hermitage here for practice. The Wudangquan he created was famous all over the world, and after generations of masters' continuous innovation and development, it finally became one of the most influential schools in Chinese martial arts. Because Zhang Sanfeng was revered as the ancestor of Wudang martial arts, Zhenyuan Palace was also respected by generations of Wudangquan practitioners and practiced boxing here.
Zhang Sanfeng once said in Wudang, "This mountain will surely rise to greatness one day." Decades later, the Ming Chengzu indeed renovated Wudang on a large scale. In the 23rd year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng left Wudang and his whereabouts were unknown. Both the Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and the Ming Chengzu Zhu Di sent envoys to search for Zhang Sanfeng. The Ming Chengzu even said in a letter to Zhang Sanfeng, "The true immortal's virtue is lofty and transcends all things, mysterious and unfathomable... I am unworthy, but my sincere desire to meet you has not been forgotten day or night..." However, no one was able to find the master who possessed the "art of longevity and eternal vision, the achievement of transcendence and entering the world." Zhang Sanfeng, this Wudang high-ranking official, also became a mysterious figure admired by later generations. To express his sincerity, the Ming Chengzu personally ordered the construction of the "Encountering Truth Palace" and decreed that a group of statues of Zhang Sanfeng be placed in the center of the main hall for people to worship. The Encountering Truth Palace thus became the general altar of the Wudang sect.
Looking at the ancient Taoist temple in front of him, Zhang Lake seemed to see his master's scene of building a hut and practicing here years ago, teaching his apprentices, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. At the same time, he secretly made up his mind to make Wudang prosperous. After passing through the gate, what caught his eye was Zhang Sanfeng's statue. Seeing the familiar portrait again, tears moistened his eyes. Zhang Lake deeply bowed to Zhang Sanfeng and then walked towards a small path behind the side hall. The winding path led to a secluded place, with emerald green bamboo on both sides of the path, which was also paved with smooth goose soft stone. After walking for nearly 100 meters, an ancient wall blocked the way. However, Zhang Lake didn't stop at all and actually passed through the ancient wall, disappearing on the small path. If tourists saw this now, they would be shocked, thinking it was a ghost passing through the wall.
It was just a seal of the Taoist family, and the ancient wall was only set up to prevent tourists from being surprised. Although the Taoist who set up the formation should have had a strong cultivation base, for Zhang Huban, who was already in the Yuan Ying period, it was just a child's play. At the foot of the mountain where the palace was located, Zhang Huban had already felt dozens of energies of varying strengths, which were very familiar and intimate, and could only be emitted by those who practiced the Wudang Xianju. After arriving at the palace, Zhang Huban clearly felt that these familiar energies were emanating from the right rear of the main hall. So after paying respects to the statue of Zhang Sanfeng, he walked straight towards the right rear of the main hall.
After passing through the ancient wall, what appeared before Zhang Hu's eyes was a huge garden filled with all kinds of rare and precious herbs and medicines. In the center of the garden, there was a small path leading far away to a simple Taoist temple. At the gate of the temple, two Taoist priests, about 15 or 16 years old, were holding brooms and gently sweeping the fallen leaves in front of the door. When they looked up and saw Zhang Hu, they were suddenly stunned, and the broom fell unconsciously to the ground.
"Lin Shidi, am I seeing things? How can there be a young Taoist priest walking towards us from the front!" The slightly chubby Taoist on the left rubbed his eyes in disbelief and stared blankly at Zhang Huban who was getting closer and closer.
Two young Taoist priests have been growing up here since childhood, and for more than a decade, except for the current Wudang Sect Master Qingmu Daochang occasionally coming here to ask questions or pay respects to the predecessors of the Wudang Sect, no one has entered this place. As a Wudang disciple who has practiced here for over a decade, how could they not know that this place was set up with restrictions by their predecessors? Not to mention ordinary people, even if one's cultivation is not at a certain level, it is impossible to enter. But now, a young Taoist priest who looks like he's only in his early twenties is walking towards them alive and well, how can they not be surprised?
"Two of you have understood! Can I ask the two of you to call out to Dry Leaf and say that someone has come to visit Fei Sheng Cliff?" Seeing that the two Taoist priests just stood there in a daze without any intention of coming forward to greet him, Zhang Hu Pan could only softly explain his purpose.
The Wudang Sect, starting from Zhang Sanfeng, ranks generations according to the characters Xuan, Yun, Kong, Wu, Ku, Zhen, Xu, Zi, Qing, Ming, Hao, and Yuan. As Zhang Huban was a closed-door disciple of Zhang Sanfeng, despite being only over 100 years old, he belongs to the Yun generation, which is seven generations higher than the current leader, Qingmu Daozhang. Even Ku Ye Daozhang, who has the highest generation among the Wudang Sect except for Zhang Huban, would have to address him as "Taishizu" (Great Master Uncle). Although Zhang Sanfeng did not teach Zhang Huban about secular life, he continued to instill in him the traditional etiquette of respecting one's elders and teachers. Despite Ku Ye Daozhang being the oldest and most accomplished disciple of the Ku generation, for Zhang Huban, he is just a junior, so Zhang Huban naturally addresses him directly without courtesy.
