Shaolin Temple stood as a pillar of the martial world.
Though the Five Mountains Sword Sect thrived in the world of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the righteous sects were truly led by Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect.
Only if the Five Mountains Sword Sect united as one could they hope to rival these giants.
This was clear when Ren Woxing stormed Blackwood Cliff to reclaim leadership of the Sun Moon Sect. Master Fang Zheng, seeking to weaken the sect, covertly aided him.
He even joined forces with Taoist Chongxu to delay Alex at the foot of Blackwood Cliff, stalling his ascent.
But Alex's power far exceeded Master Fang Zheng's calculations. Together, he and Taoist Chongxu couldn't hold him back.
In the end, Alex unveiled his peerless skill—flying atop his sword—and soared away.
"Amitabha…"
Recalling Alex's sword-borne departure, Master Fang Zheng's heart still trembled as he murmured a Buddhist chant.
"Master Fang Zheng, you summoned us to discuss grave matters," said Tianmen Taoist of the Taishan Sect, rising. "With nearly all gathered, what do you wish to say?"
The Shaolin Temple's square brimmed with figures—not only Shaolin monks but also Wudang Taoists, and leaders and disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, all watching Master Fang Zheng expectantly.
At Tianmen Taoist's words, Master Fang Zheng surveyed the crowd.
Taoist Chongxu of Wudang Sect, Yue Buqun of Huashan Sect, Mo Da of Hengshan Sect, Tianmen Taoist of Taishan Sect, Dingxian of Hengshan Sect, Fei Bin of Songshan Sect…
His gaze lingered on the Songshan disciples.
In the prior Shaolin battle, Alex had severed one of Zuo Lengchan's hands, crippling his martial arts by half. Now, Zuo Lengchan was absent from this righteous assembly.
"Friends, I've called you here to plan the destruction of the Sun Moon Sect!" Master Fang Zheng declared, his voice resolute.
His words struck like thunder, sparking an uproar among the righteous sects, murmurs rippling through the crowd.
Only Taoist Chongxu remained composed. As Master Fang Zheng's close ally, he understood the intent behind the call.
That day, Alex's sword-flight had left them uneasy. His martial prowess dwarfed even Ren Woxing and Dongfang Bubai combined.
With Blackwood Cliff's turmoil settled, Master Fang Zheng had conferred with Taoist Chongxu. Rather than wait for Alex to crush the righteous sects one by one, they'd unite first.
Alex's first target was likely Shaolin Temple. Master Fang Zheng had opposed him at Blackwood Cliff, and Alex had sought the Yi Jin Jing during the prior Shaolin clash.
"Master, the righteous sects and Sun Moon Sect have clashed for years," said Yue Buqun of Huashan Sect, rising with a refined air. "The Sun Moon Sect's strength makes it hard to crush in one stroke. My Five Mountains Sword Sect has battled them for ages without gain. Do you have a plan?"
The crowd's whispers faded. With Zuo Lengchan's martial arts ruined, Yue Buqun saw a chance for Huashan Sect's rise. Lately, he'd been rallying other sects, positioning Huashan to eclipse Songshan. His words echoed everyone's thoughts.
After years of strife with the Sun Moon Sect, its might was known. Why did Master Fang Zheng suddenly call for its destruction?
"Amitabha, this is a rare chance to annihilate the Sun Moon Sect," Master Fang Zheng said gravely, chanting softly. "I've learned that days ago, Ren Woxing stormed Blackwood Cliff to seize leadership. In the end, he and Dongfang Bubai perished together!"
Boom!
Master Fang Zheng's words crashed like a tidal wave, stirring the crowd.
Though the Blackwood Cliff battle had occurred days ago, the Sun Moon Sect had sealed off news. The Shaolin battle's fame had spread faster than word of the Sun Moon Sect 's internal strife.
Now, hearing that Ren Woxing and Dongfang Bubai had perished together, the righteous sects erupted in excitement, their voices buzzing with fervor.
"Then, Master Fang Zheng, what of the Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex?" Dingxian of the Hengshan Sect rose, her question cutting through the clamor.
Beyond Ren Woxing and Dongfang Bubai, the Sun Moon Sect still boasted Alex, a master unmatched.
"No need for worry, Master!"
Yue Buqun spoke, his tone polished but brimming with barely concealed glee. "Alex plummeted from a cliff in the Shaolin battle and vanished. The martial world knows this well."
In his heart, Yue Buqun saw a golden opportunity for Huashan Sect's ascent. With Songshan Sect's Zuo Lengchan crippled, Huashan could claim its place. A weakened Sun Moon Sect offered a stage for Huashan to shine in this crusade, cementing its dominance.
Master Fang Zheng, standing nearby, said nothing to correct Yue Buqun or mention Alex's appearance that day—nor his breathtaking sword-flight.
His aim was to rally the righteous sects against the Sun Moon Sect and banish the fear Alex had instilled. The bolder the Five Mountains Sword Sect, the better.
"So, the Sun Moon Sect doesn't have any leaders?" Tianmen Taoist added, nodding. "This is our chance to crush them!"
The other sect leaders echoed their agreement.
With the Sun Moon Sect's top masters dead or missing, if not now, when would they strike?
In Shaolin Temple's square, the righteous sects gathered, their spirits soaring. They yearned to storm Blackwood Cliff at once, their momentum unmatched.
"Abbot! Trouble!"
A young monk raced in, panic etched on his face, shouting.
"What's wrong?"
Master Fang Zheng's heart sank with an unshakable unease, his voice sharp as he asked.
"The Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex is here!"
The words froze the square's fervor, silence swallowing the crowd.
"How many did he bring?" Master Fang Zheng demanded, his Buddhist beads slipping from his hand to the ground.
"He… he came alone…"
"What!? Alex is alive? Didn't he plunge off the cliff and die?" Yue Buqun's face twisted with shock.
"Fear not the demon!" Tianmen Taoist declared, his voice bold. "Even if he survived, coming here alone is suicide!"
"Indeed, Alex dares to face us solo—utter madness!" Dingxian of the Hengshan Sect added, her eyes blazing. "Does he think he can defy all the righteous sects?"
Though a woman, Dingxian's spirit rivaled any man's.
"Amitabha…" Master Fang Zheng's face tightened with a bitter grimace at their bravado.
Alex's sword-flight that day had shattered his confidence. Such a figure transcended mere martial mastery, bordering on a land immortal.
Master Fang Zheng had long suspected Alex might target Shaolin, so he'd rallied the righteous sects under the guise of crushing the Sun Moon Sect, seeking allies.
His fears proved true. Alex had come—alone.
To others, Alex courted death. To Master Fang Zheng, this was his unshakable confidence.
Dozens of Shaolin monks, gripping staffs and swords, retreated step by step. Before them, Alex strode forward, the White Dragon sword at his waist, his green robe fluttering. His calm gaze dismissed the monks as if they were air.
A name casts a shadow like a tree. Who didn't know the Ghost Hand Sword Saint?
In the prior Shaolin battle, Alex had faced Ren Woxing and Zuo Lengchan alone, unyielding, proving his martial arts mastery.
Though solitary, the monks dared not strike. Each step Alex took pushed them back. As he advanced, they withdrew into Shaolin Temple's square.
"What majesty! To live with such presence is to live without regret…" Lu Dayou, a Huashan disciple, whispered, awed by Alex's aura.
"Humph!"
Yue Buqun's sharp snort silenced Lu Dayou, who shrank back, swallowing his words.
"Alex, you dare invade Shaolin Temple alone?" Yue Buqun stepped forward, his voice ringing with righteousness. "With the righteous sects gathered, do you not fear a one-way journey?"
Yue Buqun knew he was no match for Alex, but with the martial world's elite assembled, denouncing the demon would boost his fame.
"Didn't I do the same at Hengshan?" Alex's gaze settled on Yue Buqun, his tone even.
Yue Buqun faltered, words catching in his throat.
Indeed, at Liu Zhengfeng's Jinpen Retirement Conference, the righteous sects had gathered. Alex had come alone, his mastery of controlling the sword with qi earning him renown across the martial world.
"Arrogant fiend!" Yue Buqun pressed on, refusing to lose face before the crowd. "We're here to plan the Sun Moon Sect's end. Since you've walked into our grasp, do you not fear we'll offer your head as a sacrifice?"
Alex's lips curved into a sharp grin, his teeth gleaming. "You righteous sects want my head as a sacrifice? Perfect. I need to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys—and you, Gentleman Sword Yue Buqun, will do nicely."
"What!?" Yue Buqun's heart lurched at Alex's words.
The White Dragon sword flashed from its sheath, a blinding streak of light slashing toward Yue Buqun.