Hun Tianguang turned to Long Aotian. "Aotian, your turn."
Long Aotian glanced at Lu Chengwen, thinking, You're good, huh?
All those curses—heavenly lightning, ten thousand arrows, torn apart by horses—you piled them all on me! You really want me dead!
"I, Long Aotian, today pledge myself to Senior Hun Tianguang's sect, swearing brotherhood with Lu Chengwen as…" He gritted his teeth. "…sworn brothers! From now on, I'll honor Master and cherish my… brother. If I break this oath…"
Mimicking Lu Chengwen, he turned and said, "Brother!"
Lu Chengwen quickly interrupted, "Big Brother, you've got to point at yourself."
"You were pointing at me!"
"Of course! You're the Big Brother! We're sworn brothers now. You take the lead through fire and blade, facing death first. I'm the younger brother—you've got to look out for me."
Hun Tianguang nodded. "Exactly! Chengwen's right. Point at yourself!"
Long Aotian clenched his jaw as Lu Chengwen leaned in, grabbing his hand and forcing it to point at himself.
Long Aotian continued, "If I break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me, and gods and men curse me! That good enough?"
"Not bad, not bad," Hun Tianguang said.
Lu Chengwen patted Long Aotian's shoulder. "Big Brother, we're sect brothers now. All past grudges are wiped clean! You can't touch me, or you'll be struck by lightning, die horribly, get pierced by arrows, torn apart by horses, and… kicked in the you-know-what by a hundred guys in a circle!"
Long Aotian narrowed his eyes. So what? Do I need to dirty my hands to kill you? Xuening alone could chop you up a hundred times!
Hun Tianguang declared, "Good! Since it's settled, I'll heal your injuries."
Hours later, Lu Chengwen woke to find Long Aotian already up, regulating his breathing through meditation.
Hua Xuening, having been fed medicine twice by Lu Chengwen, was recovering rapidly from both internal and external injuries. She sat behind Long Aotian, guarding him, her gaze toward Lu Chengwen venomous, as if she wanted to carve him into pieces.
Lu Chengwen gave her an awkward smile. Hua Xuening turned away, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Long Aotian exhaled a turbid breath, a smile finally crossing his face. He clasped his fists to Hun Tianguang. "This disciple thanks Master for saving my life!"
Hun Tianguang said, "You're all awake. Good, good. Since you're my disciples, I must teach you something. Chengwen, your foundation's weak, so I'll teach you the Stormsurge Godslayer Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Immortal-Slaying Palm!"
Lu Chengwen's eyes lit up with excitement.
Badass!
Immortal-Slaying Palm!
How epic is that!? Just the name screams power!
Stormsurge! Godslayer! Heaven-Destroying, Earth-Shattering!
Master this, and I could punch gods! Who'd dare mess with me?
"Thank you, Master!"
"Hmm." Hun Tianguang turned to Long Aotian. "Aotian."
"Master."
"Your foundation's strong, and your martial level surpasses Chengwen's. I won't hold back—I'll teach you the Little Monkey Fist."
"Thank you, Mas—huh!?" Long Aotian blinked. "Master, Little Monkey Fist… that's a beginner's body-conditioning technique! It's too basic!"
"I'm looking out for you, wanting you to solidify your foundation."
Long Aotian thought, Old geezer, if I could beat you, I'd blast you to bits! Are you teaching me or toying with me? Little Monkey Fist? I don't need you to teach me that!
Lu Chengwen nearly burst out laughing, clasping his fists. "Senior Brother, I'm so jealous! Master's so good to you. You must cherish this kindness!"
Long Aotian fumed. "Master, how about this: my cultivation's higher, so teach me the Stormsurge Godslayer Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Immortal-Slaying Palm instead. Let my brother learn the Little Monkey Fist to build his foundation. Once I master it, I'll teach him, so we'll both know it."
"Hmm, fair enough."
Lu Chengwen started to protest, "Master, I—"
"Enough, Chengwen. Listen up." Hun Tianguang continued, "The Little Monkey Fist has four levels. The first, Ape King's Birth, focuses on body, strength, and energy. Master it, and you can split mountains, break iron, and cleave gold!"
Lu Chengwen's eyes widened. "That powerful!?"
He glanced at Long Aotian, whose eyes were even wider.
The first level's that strong!? This isn't a little monkey—it's Sun Wukong!
Hun Tianguang went on, "The second level, Fiery Eyes of Gold, grants vast spiritual awareness, perceiving all directions, discerning the subtlest details, and achieving saint-like agility!"
Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian blurted in unison, "Holy crap!"
"Not so fast!" Hun Tianguang said. "If you're diligent and talented enough to reach the third level, congratulations!"
"What's that?"
"The third level, Great Sage Equal to Heaven! Your will commands your heart, your body becomes diamond-hard, and you slay the strong without equal—truly a demon-vanquisher ruling the world!"
Lu Chengwen was ecstatic. "Master, you're my true Master! What about the fourth level?"
Hun Tianguang smiled faintly. "The fourth level, Victorious Fighting Buddha! Reach that, and you'll have few rivals in the world. You'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest powers, calling them brothers. If you achieve this, I might be gone by then. You'll need to carry forward our sect's legacy, saving lives and the world itself."
Lu Chengwen knelt and kowtowed. "Though it sounds familiar, thank you, Master, for your teachings. I'll train diligently and honor your grace!"
Long Aotian took a deep breath.
This old man might be unhinged, but his techniques were legit! If the Little Monkey Fist was this powerful, then the Stormsurge Godslayer Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Immortal-Slaying Palm must be strong enough to punch out the Jade Emperor himself!
Long Aotian was thrilled.
"Aotian!"
"Master."
"As my head disciple, I won't shortchange you."
"Yes, Master."
"The Stormsurge Godslayer Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Immortal-Slaying Palm has only three moves, but each carries the force of storms, god-slaying power, and world-shattering energy. Listen closely."
"Yes, thank you, Master. But…" Long Aotian grew cautious. "When you teach me, shouldn't my brother step aside?"
"Why?"
"Such… profound techniques should be passed down selectively. It's not ideal with everyone here."
Hun Tianguang nodded. "Worthy of my head disciple—always thinking ahead. Chengwen, take Miss Hua Xuening for a walk on the other side of the mountain. Come back when I've taught your Senior Brother."
"Yes."
Lu Chengwen felt uneasy.
[What if this old man really teaches him something that overpowered?]
[Long Aotian's already the main protagonist, farting rainbows, a Middle Four Gates master. If he learns this Stormsurge Godslayer Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Palm, how's anyone supposed to survive?]
Hua Xuening glared at the brooding Lu Chengwen. "My Young Master will never lose to a lowlife like you!"
Lu Chengwen rolled his eyes. "Sure, your Young Master's so great. But who saved you just now? When your Young Master got the pill, his first thought was to eat it himself, not you!"
"I'm just a servant. My purpose is to sacrifice everything to help the Young Master ascend to his throne. If my life speeds his path, I'd give it without hesitation or regret!"
Lu Chengwen rolled his eyes harder. "Brainwashed."
"What did you say!?"
"I said I'm brainwashed!" Lu Chengwen cursed inwardly:
[Damn Long Aotian, born with a golden spoon, destiny's darling.]
[Peerless skills, a harem of beauties, and four stunning women ready to die for him.]
[Poor me, haha, half-dead myself and still worrying about saving this one, helping that one. Who the hell's gonna save me?]
Hua Xuening shot him a look and stepped aside.
Moments later, Long Aotian stormed out, fuming.
Lu Chengwen could tell things hadn't gone well.
He approached, grinning. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on mastering the divine technique! I'm so jealous! To receive Master's true teachings—Stormsurge, Godslayer, Heaven-Destroying, Earth-Shattering! And Immortal-Slaying! Just three moves, but each one's a storm, a god-killer, a world-ender…"
"Shut up!" Long Aotian grabbed his collar.
"Hey, hey, Senior Brother! We kowtowed together, swore brotherhood, share a Master. Kill me, and you're betraying the sect. Per our oaths, you'll face heavenly wrath, lightning strikes, ten thousand arrows, dismemberment, and a hundred guys kicking your… you know…"
"Shut up!" Long Aotian trembled with rage. "Stormsurge, Godslayer, my ass! It's all just a fancy name with no substance!"
"No way!" Lu Chengwen feigned shock. "That name sounds epic! Storms surging—that's gotta be some serious power!"
Long Aotian glared. "Wanna learn? I'll teach you. Left hand's the storm, right hand's the thunder. Clap them together and push forward!"
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"That's the Stormsurge?"
"That's what Master said."
"That's just a Hadouken! Street Fighter! Ken and Ryu's move!"
Long Aotian gritted his teeth. "Got it?"
Lu Chengwen scratched his head. "And… Godslayer?"
"Jump up, punch the sky with all your strength to keep the gods awake—that's the Godslayer."
Lu Chengwen looked up, mimed a punch, and thought it over. "So… a Shoryuken? I know that one. It's the Rising Dragon Fist or Skyward Punch. Back home, we call it 'The Hook.'"
Long Aotian hung his head. "Master's screwing with me. I see it now."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "No need to ask about Heaven-Destroying, Earth-Shattering. It's gotta be a spinning kick in midair, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Tatsumaki Senpukyaku! Hurricane Kick!"
Long Aotian stared at Lu Chengwen. "What does that mean?"
"They're… arcade game moves."
Long Aotian exploded, storming back toward the cave. "He made me kowtow respectfully and swear oaths! I'm done with him!"
_
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