Roben's brows knit tightly as he shouted sternly:"Since that's the case, why don't you give it a try? This poor monk will keep you company for a few moves!"
Roben had yet to face an opponent today, and in terms of martial ability, he was ranked among the foremost masters of the martial world. At this moment, his pride suddenly surged. Hearing this, Karma Ba naturally refused to back down. He chopped his palms outward and said:"Then allow me to learn the unique skills of your sect!"
As soon as his voice fell, his eyebrows lifted and a cold gleam shot from his eyes. With a sharp cry, he launched several palms at Roben's chest, striking first to seize the initiative. When Roben met the blows, he instantly felt his opponent's palms as hard as iron, forcing him back two full steps. For a moment, he could not withstand the ferocity of Karma Ba's chops. It was evident that Karma Ba's palm techniques were profound and his internal strength formidable. Roben was secretly alarmed, and at once discarded any trace of contempt, settling himself and meeting each move with caution. The spectators realized now that Karma Ba's martial arts were indeed extraordinary—he was by no means an ordinary fighter!
Chinese martial arts were vast and profound, while Tibetan styles had their own unique system. The crowd heard the thunderous crash of palm strikes echoing again and again. At that instant, Roben increased his strength; his spirit rose high, and his palms lashed out like a storm of wind and thunder. Karma Ba, shocked at such fierce power, twisted and shifted his steps with speed, shouting loudly as he gathered his strength into his palms. He chopped down with blinding swiftness. The two men exchanged blows, their palms whistling like the wind, flashing like lightning. In the blink of an eye, a hundred moves had passed. The clash of these two masters—one from the Central Plains, one from Tibet—left them both drenched in sweat, evenly matched, victory undecided…
Suddenly, both men unleashed their full strength. With a thunderous boom, they collided palm to palm, and each was shaken back several steps. At this moment, the Dharma King Aros raised his voice and declared:"Karma Ba, you are a man of loyalty and honor—this Dharma King admires you. But as for Marpa, if he wishes to withdraw safely, I fear that will be no easy matter!"
After a pause, he sighed:"Very well! If he can break through the skills of my own hands, then Marpa may leave unscathed!"
Karma Ba was startled. He thought: If this Christian monk Roben is already so difficult to handle, how can I possibly stand against the even more formidable Dharma King Aros?
At that moment, a voice rang out:"Om mani padme hum!"
The venerable master Glelba called loudly:"Dharma King Aros, do not trouble my disciple further—let this humble master personally receive your esteemed moves!"
Aros raised his brows slightly, then understood at once."I have long heard that Master Glelba's martial attainments are superb. To have the honor of crossing palms is a privilege indeed!"
Glelba replied:"I overstep myself!"
Before the words had faded, he swept out his palm in an arc—the move known as Thus Have I Heard. Tibet was a land of high cold, its people famed for their valor. The martial arts of Tibet had long been regarded as a distinct system, unlike those of the Central Plains. Years earlier, in the battle at the Fire-Worshippers' Sacred Temple, the Tibetan coalition had suffered a crushing defeat. Since then, Glelba had felt deep shame, returning home to practice bitterly, determined to one day avenge that loss.
Aros gave a faint smile and said, "Good!" He strode forward, and in an instant the two men's palms met. At first, they exchanged a few probing moves, each testing the other's depth. Soon, their strikes came in rapid succession. Suddenly, Aros raised his arm and unleashed a palm that flashed with lethal force—straight for his foe's vital spot. Glelba thought, Excellent! He vaulted seven feet into the air and, upon landing, thrust out his hand with a technique called The Five Seals of the Buddha: the Seal of Preaching, the Seal of Fearlessness, the Seal of Meditation, the Seal of Subjugation, and the Seal of Bestowal. One after another, he leapt and struck, his palms raining down fiercely.
Aros had once seen the might of this technique when he faced the Dharma King Konbu, so he dared not be careless now. He responded with three moves in quick succession—Mind Shapes Circumstance, Heart Empty, Tao Empty, and Wind Stills, Forest Stills—dodging deftly. When the storm of attacks subsided, he countered with a sweeping strike, Clouds Swept Away, both palms circling outward. His force roared forth like a tempest; the ground shook, sand and gravel flew.
Master Glelba's heart tightened. He countered with Wisdom Born of Cause and Condition and All Five Aggregates Are Empty. Two tigers clashed; the battle was fierce beyond compare. Those watching were stirred to their core, hearts pounding, secretly nodding in admiration. Even Wu Tong was deeply moved to see Master Glelba stand up for his disciple, his chest surging with emotion.
Both fighters were among the top martial figures of their time, their mastery awe-inspiring. They traded dazzling techniques, until the contest neared the moment of inner-force duel. Aros suddenly executed Casual Offering of a Move, his palm force drifting and graceful. Seeing this, Master Glelba could not help but inwardly praise him. He answered with Entering the Monastic Gate. Their forms blurred as they darted about, and then—boom!—two mighty forces collided, hurling both men back several steps.
Wu Tong immediately leapt between them, landing in the center and saying:"Honored elders, both of you have roamed the martial world for long years. Your knowledge and insight are truly unmatched. Only now have I realized how vast the world is, how many strange and wondrous masters there are. Your wisdom rivals the heavens, but must today's duel of faiths end with bloodshed? Might this junior venture to offer a word?"
Dharma King Aros, keen of mind, turned his gaze to Wu Tong and said:"Between Master Glelba and me there is no deep enmity. Let us count this exchange as a friendly bout. Why fight to the death?"
Master Glelba's tone also softened:"Dharma King Aros, your skills are unmatched—I yield in admiration. I only ask that you show mercy and forgive my disciple this time."
Wu Tong was a straightforward man. Earlier, when he stepped in as mediator, he was unsure of success. Hearing both men speak more gently, he said:"Dharma King Aros, since you and Master Glelba bear no blood feud, why risk lives over Marpa? Master Glelba, though your disciple has betrayed his sect, you as a master have been benevolent to the utmost—I am moved by this. As Mencius said: 'All men have a heart that cannot bear to see the suffering of others.' Dharma King Aros, I say—when mercy can be shown, let it be shown. Your faith has already won a great victory today. The lamas will surely not dare again to harbor arrogant designs. Why not allow Master Glelba to pledge that they will never again harass your congregants—what say you?"
Aros thought Wu Tong's words entirely reasonable, and he himself admired Glelba's conduct this day. He said:"Let it be as Master Li suggests!"
At this, Glelba's heart leapt with joy, though his face turned grim. He growled:"Wayward disciple Marpa—where are you…"