The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 68 - 0 Tai Chi Stabilizes the World
Chapter 68: Chapter 068: Tai Chi Stabilizes the World
Chapter 68 -068: Tai Chi Stabilizes the World
The talk turned to a magical combat between Buddhism and Daoism, attracting masters from afar. On the Daoist side, yet another True Person arrived–the Sect Leader of Wudang, the Slovenly Taoist, Zhang Junshi.
Now, everyone in attendance finally grasped why the Unibrow Taoist had exclaimed that Zhang Junshi’s boxing technique was astonishing. Zhang Junshi had observed the Heavenly Dao, comprehended the creation and destruction of the cosmos, harmonized Yin and Yang, and from this, he created an unrivaled Taoist boxing method named Tai Chi. From Dao comes Wuji, from Wuji comes Tai Chi, Tai Chi produces Two Instruments, Two Instruments generate Four Symbols, and Four Symbols transform into Bagua. One school of boxing that encompasses the Dao of the cosmos’ creation and destruction truly amazes.
The Unibrow Taoist then said with a smile, “This is our Daoist friend, Zhang Junshi, who has created a boxing method called Tai Chi, which dramatizes the Dao of the universe’s creation and destruction–it’s extremely powerful.”
Everyone suddenly realized that if Zhang Junshi were to compete in martial arts boxing with Patriarch Bodhidharma, it was uncertain who would win or lose. Patriarch Bodhidharma had invented extraordinary martial arts, but Zhang Junshi’s Tai Chi Fist was not to be underestimated either; the outcome of a clash between the two masters was unpredictable.
Patriarch Bodhidharma was at the rule realm of the Second Layer of Heaven of Great Luo Golden Immortal, already mastering worldly rules, with profound mana and formidable boxing; Zhang Junshi was also at this realm. One should not be fooled by his slovenly appearance, for his strength was truly terrifying, especially the power of his Tai Chi Fist. Although not many had witnessed it, one could imagine how formidable it was to integrate the cosmological principles of creation and destruction into a boxing method.
Ancestor Chen Tuan said with a laugh, “It seems that I, the Sleep Immortal, have truly slept too long. Wudang is a place of outstanding people and remarkable spirit, having produced such a master. I, however, was oblivious to it.”
Zhang Junshi said, “I have long heard of the great name of the Old Sleeping Immortal, and have admired you for a very long time. These words from you though, have humbled me.”
The Daoist Equal to Heaven handed back the wine gourd to Zhang Junshi, saying, “My friend Zhang Junshi, we’ll need your help for this bout.”
Daoist Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian had led the opening fights, with one win and one draw. Now with Chen Tuan, Unibrow, and Zhang Junshi, these three Daoist masters, it was naturally not their turn to take action. Moreover, they were indeed no match for Patriarch Bodhidharma. This realization made Daoist Equal to Heaven secretly apprehensive; the Buddhist sect was truly profound and unfathomable. The joint forces of the two Arhats were already at the mana level of the First Heaven of Great Luo Golden Immortal, and Patriarch Bodhidharma was even more extraordinary. Who knew how powerful the Three Thousand Buddhas and Infinite Bodhisattvas atop the Great Hall of Mount Meru were? It seemed that toppling the Tathagata was no easy feat.
New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.
Zhang Junshi nodded with a smile, “Fair enough! I have also long heard of the unparalleled brilliance of Patriarch Bodhidharma’s martial arts. I wish to validate my own martial arts against his.”
After tucking the wine gourd at his waist and standing up, he said, “I would ask for Elder Bodhidharma’s guidance on my Tai Chi Fist!”
Zhang Junshi positioned himself at the center of the arena, drew a breath of True Qi, brought his feet together, and slowly raised his hands, standing in the Wuji Style of the Tai Chi Mother Fist.
Only from Wuji comes Tai Chi. This was the Wuji Style, returning to the origin as one, embracing Wuji, from which any technique in Tai Chi Fist could be applied.
Bodhidharma also rose from his meditation cushion, pressed his palms together, and said, “Then let me experience the esteemed Taoist’s superb techniques! I am Bodhidharma, skilled in all sorts of the Buddhist sect’s boxing arts, so please be careful, Taoist.”
Although Patriarch Chen Tuan had originally planned to take on this fight himself, since Zhang Junshi excelled in boxing and his power was nearly equal to Bodhidharma, it was best for him to take on this fight. To defeat Bodhidharma in terms of boxing would also make it a convincing loss!
Daoist Equal to Heaven said to Yang Jian, “The martial arts of these two can truly be called unparalleled in the world. Yang, we should observe carefully and see the techniques of the two.”
Yang Jian, who had drawn his match, was somewhat displeased, but the situation was already set. He nodded and said, “I have long heard of the might of the Tai Chi Fist. Today, I will see whether the boxing arts of the Buddhist sect are powerful, or if our Daoist boxing arts are more superior!”
Patriarch Bodhidharma took a deep breath, raised his True Qi with a howl. Launching a preemptive strike, he approached with lightning speed, covering a distance of several ten feet in less than a blink, aiming a palm strike directly at Zhang Junshi’s crown! This move from the Buddhist boxing arts known as “Buddha’s Baptism” symbolizes the Buddha passing on Buddhist Law and baptizing for enlightenment.
Zhang Junshi spread his hands wide and lifted his gaze upwards, using the Wuji Mother Fist’s “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail,” with the front hand feigning a strike and the back hand containing the real deadly move!
Upon contact with the palms, the black and white light clashed with the golden light of Buddhism, culminating in a thunderous boom. The entire arena trembled, as if the mountains were collapsing.
In his rear hand, Zhang Junshi employed the “Silk-Reeling Power” with an enduring yet forceful push, like hiding a needle in cotton. When Bodhidharma countered with the “Vajra Fist,” he felt as though his palms were being pricked by needles, and couldn’t help but be secretly shocked at the formidable nature of Tai Chi Fist. It appeared soft and powerless, but in reality, it could cause invisible injury.
In his embrace, Zhang Junshi seemed to be holding a large round ball, stumbling back and forth with Bodhidharma. However, every time they collided, the entire Imperial Palace shook! While they were competing in martial arts, it was mana that played a critical role, and this powerful force was driven by mana.
Suddenly, Zhang Junshi crouched, snatching at Bodhidharma’s crotch with his front hand while slapping the ground with his back hand, shattering the ground and grabbing a handful of sand in his hand.
Bodhidharma raised his knee to block while also activating the Vajra boxing method, aiming a punch at Zhang Junshi’s forehead! But at that moment, Zhang Junshi threw the sand he had grabbed with his back hand, blinding Bodhidharma, and like a dragon ascending to the heavens, he surged up, embracing Tai Chi with the left Yin and the right Yang, and brought down a “Tai Chi Seven Star Hammer” strike!
With sand in his eyes, Bodhidharma heard an evil gust approaching and could not help but inwardly cry out. He hurriedly used “Tiger Roar Golden Bell Cover,” a sound resembling a tiger’s roar emanating from his body’s pores, causing his monk’s robe to billow. By the time Zhang Junshi’s hammers were brought down, he had already revealed the most vigorous and fierce side of Tai Chi Fist with a powerful blow landing on Bodhidharma’s shoulders. Yet it produced only a sharp crack, as if hitting steel, and instead, it caused Zhang Junshi’s arms to feel slightly sore from the rebound.
“Oh no! Such a formidable physical body Bodhidharma has.” Zhang Junshi inwardly exclaimed, quickly adopted a Wuji Style, his footwork a blur, performing a “Slinging Body Punch” aimed straight for Bodhidharma’s groin.
Bodhidharma felt annoyed within, thinking Zhang Junshi really played dirty, always aiming for his lower regions—even with a sturdy body, taking a punch there meant more harm than good!
Bodhidharma hastily threw a punch to block Zhang Junshi’s Slinging Body Punch, his eyes snapping open, the sand flying away, no longer blinding him.
With a roar like thunder in anger, Bodhidharma made Zhang Junshi feel as though his Primordial Spirit had become sluggish, while Bodhidharma himself launched a Long Fist aimed directly at Zhang Junshi’s solar plexus!
As the punch was thrown, it was surrounded by golden light, with lightning flashing around it, ripping apart the air, sometimes veering unpredictably left and right, up and down, clearly using the methods of a Second Heaven of Da Luo Golden Immortal master to twist the rules! But if they could be twisted, then they could also be straightened. Zhang Junshi too utilized his Divine Skills to revert the rules back, embracing Tai Chi like a slippery sphere, finding the direction of Bodhidharma’s punch, and slightly turning his body, so that the punch just grazed past, the impacted spot soft as cotton, totally incapable of exerting force.
Bodhidharma felt frustrated; Zhang Junshi’s fist technique was too unpredictable, sometimes forceful, other times yielding, and at times both, utterly inscrutable!
“Growing Golden Lotus in Fire!”
With a shout from Zhang Junshi, his palms alternately supported and released, with his ten fingers appearing to sprout lotus flowers, abundant in Yang energy, enveloping the lotuses, truly revealing the essence of Growing Golden Lotus in Fire. And these lotuses exuded Yin energy, also embodying the principle of the Yin and Yang harmony in Tai Chi Fist!
“Bang, bang, bang!”
Zhang Junshi’s fingers flicked continuously, each time emitting a flame, within which seemed to hide droplets of water. Bodhidharma rapidly activated his Divine Skills, extending his palms, golden light shimmering, transforming into a huge Alms Bowl. The firelight struck the Alms Bowl, causing a series of muffled sounds, like the ringing of a vast bell, shaking the entire Imperial City. If not for the protection of the city’s Dragon Vein fate, the city would likely have collapsed.
“Ah, despite appearing slovenly, this Taoist seems to be a most virtuous and noble figure, to possess such Divine Skills!” Liu Zhuang had originally disliked Zhang Junshi’s appearance but couldn’t help but feel respect upon seeing this, thinking of him as a hermit of great virtue, which would explain his indifference to others’ opinions.
“Tai Chi Seven Star Hammer!”
Zhang Junshi, having gained the upper hand, shattered the Alms Bowl, rushing forward to Bodhidharma, his arms raised high, his movements becoming the constellation of the Big Dipper, twisting into the shape of the connected seven stars, fiercely landing seven punches!
Bodhidharma no longer underestimated Zhang Junshi, proud of being the foremost in the Way of Martial Arts, yet Zhang Junshi’s self-created Tai Chi Fist was even more formidable, not inferior to him! However, Bodhidharma also had plenty of martial arts at his disposal, urgently activating “Nine Yin and Nine Yang”, his muscles swelling, temporarily achieving the union of Yin and Yang. Wielding the “Great Strength Vajra Finger,” his fingers joined, launching a barrage of stabbing palms.
“Two Instruments Generate Four Symbols!”
Zhang Junshi’s body swayed, uttering an Oral Spell, his fist techniques growing fiercer with each punch accompanied by the roars of tigers and dragons, the cries of vermillion birds, and the bellows of Xuanwu! He merged the Four Symbols into his fist technique, his punches fierce and dominant, matching Bodhidharma’s renowned Great Strength Vajra Finger in an evenly matched struggle.
“Four Symbols Generate Bagua!”
Zhang Junshi showed no slackness, Bodhidharma’s fists too ferocious; a moment’s carelessness would mean immediate defeat. This time he used palms instead of fists, Bagua Palm!
“Qian Three Chain! Kun Six Cuts!” Zhang Junshi moved following the Bagua, his palm technique mysterious, aiming specially for the weak points, each sharp palm wind splitting the ground, terrifyingly powerful.
Bodhidharma exclaimed, “Excellent fist technique, excellent palm technique!”
His own fists were not inferior, the Great Strength Vajra Finger launching in quick succession, each fingertip like a Demon-Subduing Pestle, and with each stab, fierce winds were raised, clashing crazily with Zhang Junshi’s palm winds! The area seemed to burst with muffled thunder one after another, and eventually, the figures of the two fighters were no longer visible, replaced only by the explosive sounds of their colliding fists and feet.
Daoist Equal to Heaven couldn’t help saying, “The martial arts insight of these two is too frightening! If they got close, one would certainly suffer greatly.”
Yang Jian wore a grave expression, not having expected a common-looking Slovenly Taoist to compete on equal terms with the long-renowned Bodhidharma from West Cow He State, indicating that Tai Chi Fist was not an empty name.
Daoist Equal to Heaven thought that even with the Jingu Bang in hand, he would likely be at a disadvantage against these two fighters, their fist techniques were that terrifying!
How the battle would end, let us find out in the next episode.
