36: Chapter 36: Light Body Water Skimming!
36: Chapter 36: Light Body Water Skimming!
Zhang San, who had tested his own blade technique, was very satisfied with the gains in his dream.
In the eight years in his dream, Zhang San laid a solid foundation in blade technique, gained an understanding of it, and even…
discovered his own incredible talent for it.
Yesterday, when Zhang San exchanged thoughts with Big Head Wang, his understanding and mastery of blade technique was utterly different from his understanding and mastery today during his bout with Wang Ziteng.
This “Sun Gold Finger” made Zhang San realize that what he gained from each dream was not merely the results of eight years of arduous cultivation and understanding, but also his innate talent in this field.
After all, the old man in his dream had said that he was naturally gifted with extraordinary bones and was a rare talent in this field of cultivation.
His words turned out to be true.
Although he couldn’t see the old man’s face clearly each time, maybe he did but just hadn’t remembered it.
Regardless, the improvement he received was real.
The enhancement in close combat ability gave Zhang San greater confidence in preserving his life, which could be in danger at any moment.
Soon after, the team arrived at a place known as Great River Mouth.
According to the information gathered by Han Baiwen and others, the Dragon Serpent Gang planned to publicly auction the Seven-Star Repeating Crossbow blueprints here at Great River Mouth, in agreement with twenty-eight other martial artists.
Wondering how the twenty-eight families would react upon discovering that the Heavenly Punishment Sect was also coming as the twenty-ninth participant, they were curious about how the situation would unfold.
They also wondered if other forces would come to compete for the prize as the Heavenly Punishment Sect did.
However, when Zhang San and the others arrived at Great River Mouth, everyone was stunned.
Originally, Zhang San had imagined a scenic spot amidst green mountains and clear waters where various distinguished martial arts experts would gather, sternly facing each other in a fierce bidding war, while the Dragon Serpent Gang surrounded the area to prevent any leaks of information.
But in reality, Great River Mouth, the source of the entire river, was bustling with woodcutters, hunters, merchants, and even commoners from unknown places gathered to watch the spectacle.
The spectacle they were watching was a platform in the middle of the broad water surface at Great River Mouth, known as the Four Directions Platform.
The so-called Four Directions Platform was not a simple square stage.
It was made up of four stages linked by iron chains, each marked with different colors and designs representing the Vermilion Bird, Xuanwu, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger.
On top of the platform were seven low tables, laden with all kinds of delicious food, whose aroma wafted to the shore and enticed many observers.
That explained why so many people were gathered there.
However, the four platforms arranged in a square were currently empty.
Previously, some who were adept at swimming tried to cross the water, only to disappear without a trace halfway through.
Zhang San stepped out of the carriage and looked at the Four Directions Platform floating on the water surface for a while, then curiously asked, “Is it easy to get on that platform?”
Wang Ziteng sneered at his side, seemingly mocking Zhang San’s lack of experience.
“To ordinary people, of course, it’s difficult.
But for us martial artists, it couldn’t be easier,” he said.
Zhang San ignored Wang Ziteng and turned to Bai Yucheng, whispering, “Tell everyone to just watch and wait for now, there’s no rush.”
Zhang San was not in a hurry, but someone else was.
In the crowd, many discussed how to get across.
There were even rumors spreading that the feast on the Four Directions Platform was a heavenly banquet bestowed by immortals, and just getting a whiff of it could make one live a hundred years longer; eating a bite could grant immortality.
Unfortunately, someone tried to cross on a bamboo raft, only to fall into the water halfway and vanish after a couple of splashes.
This made many theoretical onlookers fervently discuss among themselves, daring not to take a step closer.
At that moment, a commotion suddenly stirred in the crowd.
A middle-aged man with a goat’s beard strode forward, parting the crowd.
“Gentlemen, if it’s a celestial feast, then I shall not stand on ceremony!”
Zhang San looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man in a grey robe bowing to the crowd around him and walking to the shore of Great River Mouth.
“My name is Qiu Qianjun, known throughout the land for a nickname – Light Body Water Skimming!”
“Gentlemen, I’ll go take a look at this celestial platform first!”
After speaking, Qiu Qianjun turned around, raising his arms as if spreading the wings of a mighty eagle.
In the next instant, he leaped from the ground, landing lightly on the water’s surface, stepping lightly like a dragonfly skimming the water, and began leaping towards the Four Directions Platform at the center of the river.
Zhang San suddenly realized that he could probably do the same with Wind Series Techniques.
His own body movement could be more elegant, not needing to touch the water so many times.
He wouldn’t even need to spread his arms to maintain balance, he could even have his hands behind his back, showing off while flying forward.
At this point, Qiu Qianjun on the water also put his hands behind his back, continuing to fly forward with a show-off look on his face.
Moreover, he began to recite a poem.
“If today I transform into an immortal…”
Just as Zhang San regretted thinking of the same show-off tactic just for it to be used by someone else, suddenly…
Huge waves churned on the river surface.
A gigantic python burst from the water, its massive jaws wide open aiming for Qiu Qianjun on the water.
The python’s body was two fathoms thick in diameter, and its open mouth was even wider, reaching four or five fathoms.
Gulping sounds echoed.
With one bite, the python engulfed Qiu Qianjun, who didn’t even have the chance to utter a last word, let alone finish the second half of his boastful poem.
As the python dived back into the water, everyone finally realized why none of those who had aimed for the Four Directions Platform in the river had reached it.
There was such an enormous python lurking beneath the water.
Zhang San turned his head to glance at Wang Ziteng, who also instantly fell silent.
Onshore, many shook their heads in dismay, and some declared the banquet wasn’t meant for the living, and they left for home.
Just then, a loud voice rang out from a distance.
“Since this banquet on the Four Directions Platform isn’t meant for the living…
well, then I won’t be polite!”