Shen Xiuhan stared blankly at the text, his mouth agape for a long while before he finally blurted out a single word:
“Ah?”
“That bald ass stole my 『Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk』, and now he's actually after me!?”
He had originally thought that the words of that old thief Shouchong back then—claiming “Young benefactor, you share a fate with me,” and “Follow this poor monk to the Yan State; with your aptitude, you can attain the Mahasattva Rank within sixty years”—were completely made up!
Every single thing he had said was nothing but a setup to trick him into handing over the 『Swift Swan, Swimming Dragon』 technique.
After all, that old bald ass had not spoken a single word of truth from beginning to end.
His background was borrowed! His temple was made up! Even the 『Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk』 he used to trade for the technique had been watered down!
The words of a man like that... Shen Xiuhan did not dare to believe even a single word!
But the intelligence system would not lie.
“That bald ass wasn't joking? He really wants to convert me into a monk, making me abandon martial arts to enter the Buddhist path?”
Shen Xiuhan could not help but laugh.
He laughed out of sheer exasperation.
Slowly rising to his feet, he turned his gaze toward the north.
Within his vision, a faint golden light materialized, floating and flickering in the distance.
That was the location of the Blood Dhuta!
“Good, good, good!”
Staring at the speck of light, Shen Xiuhan laughed coldly:
“I haven't even gone looking for trouble with you lot yet, and here you are, targeting me first!”
“So be it!”
“Once I finish my business on Mystic Dark Island and Old Man Peak, I will personally pay you a visit.”
“The Huajin Rank...”
“It's not like I haven't killed one before!”
...
The sky grew bright.
Roughly ninety-one miles south of Ape God Peak.
An island shrouded in lush greenery lay quietly amidst the blue waves.
On the island, pavilions and terraces were scattered in an orderly fashion, surrounded by gnarled old trees and dense foliage that carpeted the ground. It should have been a tranquil, otherworldly sanctuary.
Yet, a murderous aura permeated the bluestone square leading to the main pavilion!
In the middle of the square, a mountain of a Buddhist monk stood with a single palm pressed vertically against his chest.
The Buddhist ordination scars on his head were arranged in the shape of plum blossoms, and his monk robes were stretched to the limit by his rolls of fat.
The robes had originally been blackish-gray, but they were so thoroughly soaked in blood and grime that their original color was unrecognizable. Combined with his fierce, murderous aura...
...anyone who saw him would instantly recognize him as a demonic monk who indulged in meat and wine and disregarded all Buddhist precepts!
And yet...
...within the pupils of this demonic monk, there shone a sincere and peaceful light.
It was as if he were an eminent monk who had already laid down his butcher's knife and attained ultimate purity!
Opposite him, several women in martial attire leaned against each other, their weapons unsheathed, on high alert!
One of them had messy hair and was breathing heavily, a trace of blood clinging to the corner of her mouth.
This woman was none other than Duan Hongling, the manager of the Precious Fish Hall!
Crimson blood continuously seeped from between the fingers of her right hand. She glared at the demonic monk with raw hatred, as if wishing she could tear him apart and swallow him alive!
Duan Hongling possessed decent talent with her Four-Form Constitution, and she was sufficiently hardworking. She had already stood a good chance of breaking through to the Huajin Rank.
When the Blessed Land opened, Chiming Academy had included her on the list of entrants.
She had originally thought that after entering the Blessed Land, she would be like the protagonists in storybooks—finding treasures, obtaining legacies, breaking through to the Huajin Rank, and soaring to greatness!
But she had never expected that shortly after entering the Blessed Land, she would be targeted by this demonic monk!
The reason was even more absurd.
The demonic monk insisted that Duan Hongling carried the scent of his junior brother. Thus, he pursued her relentlessly, demanding his junior brother's whereabouts!
How could Duan Hongling have the time to deal with him?
Finding nothing to say, she turned and fled!
Unexpectedly, the demonic monk suddenly attacked!
How could Duan Hongling possibly match a Huajin Rank demonic monk? Within a few moves, her internal organs were injured by his force, leaving her with no choice but to flee and dodge for her life!
Just as her energy was depleted and despair set in, she finally ran into her fellow disciples, who blocked this terrifying fiend for her.
Standing in front of Duan Hongling was a young woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail.
The woman was petite with a soft and delicate face. Her moon-white silk dress fluttered gently in the wind, giving her a somewhat fragile appearance.
At first glance, she looked like a refined lady from a scholarly family.
Yet, with her hips sunk and legs bent, her feet were planted like iron stakes into the ground, her posture as steady as a monolith. One look was enough to tell she was a highly accomplished martial artist!
The woman tucked her thumb inward, pressing her four fingers together, as a layer of pale yellow True Qi rose from her palm.
The True Qi was like smoke and mist, condensed and persistent, slowly flowing between her fair fingers.
The Huajin Rank!
This young woman was the chief disciple of the Feixuan Academy, Yi Suxin!
“Senior Sister Yi...”
Duan Hongling glared at the demonic monk, her beautiful eyes burning as she gritted her teeth: “This man says the junior brother he is looking for is... is Core Disciple Shen of our Star-Plucking Sect.”
Core Disciple Shen? The one from the Tingquan Academy?
Hearing this, Yi Suxin's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Before she could speak, the demonic monk opposite them pressed his palm together and bowed, his tone peaceful and sincere: “Female benefactor, this poor monk is Kuzui. I have come by my master's orders to find my junior brother and bring him back to the Buddhist sect to cultivate. May I ask if you could tell me his whereabouts?”
This person was indeed the Blood Dhuta, who was affected by the seed of mystic law!
How could Yi Suxin possibly know where Shen Xiuhan was?
She immediately shook her head: “I do not know. I ask that you leave immediately, Master. Opportunities in the Blessed Land are rare; it would be better for you to seek other treasures. In the future, you might even stand a chance of breaking through to the Gangjin Rank.”
“The Gangjin Rank...”
Kuzui shook his head, speaking slowly: “We Buddhist cultivators do not cultivate the Gangjin Rank; we seek the Arhat Rank. However, this poor monk has no interest in that either.”
He paused, his copper-bell-like eyes suddenly snapping up to lock onto Yi Suxin.
Deep within those eyes, which had been sincere and peaceful, a sudden surge of burning fanaticism erupted: “Because Master said that if I can bring my junior brother back, he will teach me how to attain the Mahasattva Rank within sixty years!”
“You are his senior sister, and your cultivation is higher. You must know where my junior brother is.”
“In that case... I shall capture you to find him!”
Swish!
Before his voice even faded, Kuzui stomped his foot heavily!
The bluestone cracked, and debris scattered in all directions!
His mountain-like body moved as swiftly as a ghost, hurtling toward Yi Suxin accompanied by a gust of bloody wind!
Boom!
The moment his figure surged forward, a vast wave of golden True Qi exploded from his right palm!
The muscles on Kuzui's right arm coiled like massive pythons. He curled his fingers into a claw, tearing through the air with a sharp, piercing whistle as he reached straight for Yi Suxin's fair neck!
『Thousand-Hand Dragon-Subduing Palm: Dragon-Subduing Karma-Severance!』
“You court death!”
Yi Suxin's beautiful eyes turned cold, and she let out a sharp cry.
Instead of retreating, she lunged forward.
Her fair hands fluttered like butterflies, and the pale yellow True Qi in her palm exploded, bursting with intense light!
『Star-Plucking Hand: Shattered Star Palm』
Boom!
The two figures collided in midair!
True Qi surged wildly!
A violent shockwave swept outward, sending loose stones and dust flying in all directions.
At the same time, Yi Suxin's voice rang out in the ears of the other women: “This is not a fight you can interfere in. Leave quickly and search for opportunities elsewhere. Leave this demonic monk to me.”
The women let out sighs of relief and cupped their fists: “Thank you, Senior Sister!”
With that, they leaped away in small groups, dispersing completely in the blink of an eye.
Duan Hongling was no exception.
Since her fellow disciples had paired up to seek their own fortunes, and her injuries made it inconvenient to travel with them, she searched for a secluded spot on her own.
Towering ancient trees and hanging vines provided excellent concealment.
Duan Hongling leaned against an old tree that was as wide as three men's embrace and slowly sat down.
First, she pulled a bottle of wound salve from her robes, bit off the stopper, applied the medicinal powder to her injuries, and crudely wrapped them with a torn strip of her sleeve.
Once she finished bandaging herself, she took out a large, emerald-colored pill, preparing to swallow it to begin her meditation...
Suddenly!
Duan Hongling's fingers froze, and her pupils contracted sharply.
A sudden chill rushed up her spine, exploding through her entire body!
Without a second thought, she stomped her foot against the ground and retreated several yards back, shouting sharply: “Who is there?!”
“Sneaking around... show yourselves!”
Swish! Swish!
Two figures clad in black robes slowly stepped out from behind the massive tree, one after the other, cutting off her path of retreat.
The one in front was an elderly man.
His graying hair was long enough to reach his waist, his lips were a purplish-black color, and his hands were as thin as dry firewood. Faint gray True Qi surged around him like a thin mist, emitting a cold, decaying aura.
The other was a young girl dressed in a small red jacket.
She was short and had a beautiful face, appearing no older than twelve or thirteen, her height barely reaching Duan Hongling's waist!
The young girl smiled as she looked over, her voice as crisp as a bell: “Dear sister...”
“I just heard you mention that you seem to know the whereabouts of that ‘Moonlight Sword,’ Shen Xiuhan?”
“Could you tell your little sister where he is?”
She strolled forward leisurely, casually waving her slender, pale arm as a ball of fiery-red True Qi hissed and leapt into her palm.
The True Qi flickered like a living thing, bouncing nimbly and casting a shifting, eerie light over her youthful, smiling face!
Duan Hongling's pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks. As if suddenly recalling something, cold sweat instantly drenched her back, and her voice trembled: “You are...”
“...the Yin Child and Corrosive Elder from Chou Ji's faction!!”
...
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