Chapter 139: The Green Ox in the Vegetable Garden

Danyangzi and Daoist Master Lin Xuan walked out of the capital city one after another, unhurriedly. They traveled about a hundred li to the outskirts of the capital, where they saw the mighty Tu River. Two monks, one old and one young, were walking on the waves downstream.

Danyangzi and Daoist Master Lin Xuan stopped at the riverbank and bowed to the two monks, saying, "Senior Brothers."

The two monks also quickly stopped on the river and returned the gesture with palms pressed together, saying, "Senior Brothers."

The old monk, with white eyebrows lowered, asked, "Senior Brother, have you returned from the Grand Academy? Has it been a full three days?"

Danyangzi shook his head. "Not yet three days."

The old monk's eyebrows twitched; he was clearly unsettled. "The Grand Academy actually possesses such capability, enough to contend with a Daoist Master? I must go with the Buddhist Son to experience it myself. I wonder what the outcome will be."

Danyangzi bowed and took his leave. The old monk also bowed, and they each went their separate ways.

After Danyangzi and Daoist Master Lin Xuan departed, everyone at the Grand Academy, from the Dean to the students, let out a collective sigh of relief. However, no one could clearly say who had actually defeated Daoist Master Lin Xuan.

It was strange; defeating Daoist Master Lin Xuan was originally a great achievement, but the master who accomplished it did not step forward to claim credit, which was very peculiar.

Everyone speculated. Some said it was a prince from the Imperial Garden who had secretly intervened, causing Daoist Master Lin Xuan to retreat when faced with difficulty. However, due to the intense rivalry among the princes, this particular prince might have concealed the act to avoid becoming too prominent and a target for others.

Others suggested it was Xiao Yin, the Sword Obsessed, from the Divine Abilities Residence. Xiao Yin was a sword fanatic, entirely devoted to the Way of the Sword, with no interest in fame or personal gain.

Still others claimed that senior students who had graduated from the Grand Academy rushed back upon hearing the news, defeated Daoist Master Lin Xuan, and then swiftly returned to the front lines. Many graduates of the Grand Academy had become generals leading troops in battle.

There was also a theory that the National Master's disciple was ordered to enter the Grand Academy, became a scholar there, defeated Lin Xuan, and then withdrew from the academy.

All sorts of theories circulated.

Within the Scholars' Residence, many students gathered lively in Shen Wanyun's courtyard, asking him excitedly, "Senior Brother, everyone on the mountain is guessing who defeated the Daoist Master. It wasn't you, was it?"

Shen Wanyun yawned, suppressing his drowsiness. "It wasn't me. Although I wanted to contribute to the Grand Academy, I trained too fiercely and unknowingly fell asleep in the courtyard. If you hadn't made a ruckus, I wouldn't have woken up. I don't know who defeated Daoist Master Lin Xuan."

The others were half-convinced, half-doubtful. Qu Ting laughed, "Could it be that Senior Brother intends to keep his identity and fame hidden?"

Shen Wanyun gave a wry smile. "I've been awake for two days, tirelessly studying the three sword forms the National Master taught me. My mind is exhausted, and my spirit is damaged, so I can't even exert eighty percent of my strength. How could it be me? If I had defeated Daoist Master Lin Xuan, would I hide it from you?"

Suddenly, Monk Yun Que's expression shifted slightly. "Could it be that abandoned commoner?"

Yue Qinghong's heart also stirred. Although Qin Mu had caused her great embarrassment by running her into a bronze pillar, she still greatly admired his abilities. "That abandoned commoner possesses extraordinary skills. His combat techniques, spells, and swordplay are all quite formidable. Could it have been him?"

Shen Wanyun hesitated, then shook his head. "To be honest, I was encouraged to train diligently and tirelessly because I saw him doing the same, without sleeping, hoping to defeat Daoist Master Lin Xuan. He practiced for no less time than I did, and he's probably still fast asleep now, so he must have missed the battle with Daoist Master Lin Xuan."

A student exclaimed irritably, "That fellow led Senior Brother astray too! When the National Master was teaching, he was shouting about having refined primordial qi threads. How could someone who just refined primordial qi threads possibly defeat a Daoist Master?"

The other students nodded in agreement, laughing, "He made such a fool of himself in front of the entire academy at the Grand Academy Hall. We felt so good about it, almost as if the places he had hit us felt better!"

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from down the mountain. Someone shouted, "An old monk has arrived from down the mountain, accompanied by a young monk, and they've sat down in front of the mountain gate!"

The students exchanged glances. Shen Wanyun's eyes flickered, and he said gravely, "No sooner have the Daoist masters left than the monks from the Great Thunderclap Temple arrive! The younger of these two monks is likely the Buddhist Son of the Great Thunderclap Temple! Since I couldn't fight Daoist Master Lin Xuan, I must certainly meet the Buddhist Son of the Great Thunderclap Temple! Junior Brothers and Sisters, I need half a day's rest to recuperate."

The students all took their leave.

Shen Wanyun lay down in his clothes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Shen Wanyun woke up refreshed. After washing and eating his fill, he immediately went down the mountain. It was only then that he learned the Buddhist Son of the Great Thunderclap Temple had defeated many masters from the Grand Academy.

This Buddhist Son practiced Mahayana Buddhism and possessed a Vajra body. He had thoroughly mastered the Buddhist combat methods. When he activated his spells, his body would swell several times in size, granting him immense strength. He also had flowing Buddha light; sometimes it transformed into a large bell, other times into a pagoda for suppression. With one hand, he could manifest a golden alms bowl to trap people, and with the other, a Mount Sumeru to crush them.

Shen Wanyun stepped forward to challenge him. After more than ten rounds of fighting, he used a drilling sword form to break through the Buddhist Son's Vajra body, injuring the Buddhist Son of Buddha's Heart. However, the Buddhist Son's strength was ultimately superior, and he managed to defeat Shen Wanyun.

Many students from the Divine Abilities Residence and the Imperial Garden couldn't help but look at him with new respect. Most students in the Scholars' Residence were at the Five Elements realm, with lower cultivation. Yet, Shen Wanyun had managed to contend with the Buddhist Son of the Great Thunderclap Temple for more than ten exchanges before being defeated. This achievement was considered top-tier among the masters of the Divine Abilities Residence and the Imperial Garden, enough to rank him in the top ten.

Immediately, princes and princesses from the Imperial Garden approached him, showing intentions to recruit him. Shen Wanyun neither accepted nor refused, so as not to offend too many people. He thought to himself, "It seems my performance was quite good; otherwise, no one would try to win me over. I wonder what the outcome was when Junior Brother Qin fought this monk? How many moves did he last against the Buddhist Son?"

"That green ox you mentioned, Young Master, I've seen it a few times."

Inside the Grand Academy, Fox Ling'er led Qin Mu toward the back mountain. She said, "There's a vegetable garden on the back mountain. A few days ago, I was strolling around the mountain, looking for treasures like spirit ganoderma or immortal flowers. I passed by there and saw a few spirit herbs in the garden. I also encountered this ox, and it bellowed at me several times. I saw it guarding those spirit herbs, and I felt quite annoyed; I've wanted to get them and eat them for a long time."

Qin Mu was surprised. "In a vegetable garden? It's probably a wild ox; otherwise, who would keep an ox in a vegetable garden to eat the crops?"

"That's true. Young Master, why would the Dragon Qilin in front of the mountain gate want to eat this ox?"

"I don't know," Qin Mu speculated. "I'm guessing this ox might have offended the Dragon Qilin, perhaps because it sees the ox stealing vegetables from the garden all day and is displeased."

Fox Ling'er led him to the back mountain, where fewer people ventured. Few students came here, except for couples on secret dates.

On this back mountain were a few courtyards. It was said that several Imperial College scholars who preferred cooler environments lived here. Besides the scholars' courtyards, there was also the residence of the old mountain guardian.

Several vegetable plots had been cultivated on the back mountain. Qin Mu and Fox Ling'er walked along a winding path down the mountain for a while. Then they saw a tile-red courtyard. To the left front of the courtyard, a flat area of about five or six mu had been leveled, fenced off, and planted with many vegetables.

At that moment, a green ox stood in the vegetable plot, leisurely eating the vegetables and swishing its tail to shoo away mosquitoes.

Qin Mu took one look and shivered.

This ox was indeed a green ox, and Qin Mu was certain there was only one such ox even on Jade Mountain. Yet, he wasn't sure he could defeat it!

This green ox was incredibly muscular and powerful. It stood on its two hind legs like a human, leaning against a pillar. Its forelegs had transformed into hard, horny palms, holding a handful of lush green vegetables, which it ate calmly.

Qin Mu estimated that the green ox was two or three times his height, with almost no fat, just solid muscle. Its green hide was jade-colored, even reflective, gleaming as if it had been polished for decades like a beautiful jade.

Most terrifying of all, when the green ox breathed, its breath emerged from its nostrils like two white beams of light, flowing in and out. Coupled with the dragon scales growing on its neck, Qin Mu was certain this green ox had been cultivating on the mountain for many years, breathing the qi of the nine dragons, undergoing dragonization, and growing dragon scales.

"Who dares spy on me?"

Suddenly, the green ox spoke in a human voice, stuffing a handful of peonies into its mouth. The white light from its nostrils was drawn back into its body. Its gaze, sharp as lightning, fixed on Qin Mu, and then it strode forward, its muscles rippling with each step.

Qin Mu exhaled a turbid breath and said to Fox Ling'er, "It's just an ox, isn't it? I grew up herding cattle; can it really be that formidable? Ling'er, step back for now. If I tell you to run, run quickly. Understand?"

Fox Ling'er nodded and retreated.

Qin Mu took a deep breath and walked towards the green ox, smiling. "Brother Ox..."

The green ox, with a fiery temper, charged forward without a word and struck. It sneered, "That stinky kid has a bad smirk on his face; he's definitely not a good person. Who's your 'Brother Ox'?"

Fox Ling'er retreated up the mountain. Suddenly, a thunderous boom erupted from the vegetable garden, followed by continuous rumbling vibrations. A moment later, Qin Mu came tearing around, shouting, "Ling'er, run!"

Fox Ling'er immediately took off, glancing back. She saw Qin Mu's eye sockets were swollen and his nose was bruised. Clearly, the cattle-herding boy from Disabled Elderly Village had been thoroughly beaten by the green ox in a short span of time.

Fox Ling'er secretly clicked her tongue, thinking, "Young Master is usually so valiant, beating everyone at the Grand Academy. How could he be beaten by an ox now?"

From behind them came the thundering sound of hooves, clearly the ox relentlessly chasing after them with furious intent.

Qin Mu grabbed Fox Ling'er, placed her on his shoulder, and ran desperately up the mountain.

After a moment, the green ox couldn't catch them and grumbling, turned back.

As soon as the green ox returned to the vegetable garden, it heard the groggy voice of Dean Ba Shan from the adjacent tile-red courtyard, asking, "Why is it so noisy outside?"

"Master, someone was bullying your little ox!"

The green ox quickly bowed low, fawningly replying to the courtyard, "He was also trying to steal from Master's vegetable garden, but your little ox chased him away."

"Is that so?"