He held a sabre in his right hand, the cold wind lifted his robes and stirred his long hair, as he blocked the group’s path.
His expression was calm, and his eyes seemed like bottomless abysses.
Xu Qian… Jingxin and Jingyuan looked conflicted. They pressed their palms together, and muttered a buddhist chant.
Ji Xuan instinctively narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinising the man in the blue robe.
After her initial tension and surprise, Liu Hongmian’s beautiful face relaxed again. With an Arhat, a Vajra and the Azure Dragon seven constellations in the vanguard, she felt at ease.
So, she began to size up this legendary Xu Qian, appraising him from a woman’s perspective.
Liu Hongmian had to admit that, in terms of bearing and temperament, this man was unquestionably outstanding.
Even she, who set great store by appearance, had to admit that she was startled by his looks for a moment just now.
Unfortunately, his features were too ordinary.
Not to mention Ji Xuan and Xu Yuanhuai, who were both extremely handsome, even Miao Youfang at least had straight features and a dash of youthful good looks.
Among them, the most excited was Qihuan Danxiang. He had long been obsessed with Xu Qi’an’s repeated use of multiple Gu techniques, eager for the truth.
“Amitabha, Benefactor Xu, in the end, you have still come.”
Jingxin pressed his palms together, stepped out from the crowd alone, and calmly looked toward Xu Qi’an.
“Benefactor Xu, join the Buddhist sect. With your potential, and the karmic ties you have with Buddhism, you may one day stand equal to the Agaruka Bodhisattva.”
Agaruka Bodhisattva was the number one below the Buddha.
Hearing this, Ji Xuan and the others were a little unsure how to react, and looked at Jingxin’s back in astonishment.
What is he talking about…
That the Buddhist sect wished to recruit Xu Qian was understandable, monks often forcibly coerced others to shave their heads and enter the order.
But Jingxin’s words just now went beyond mere recruiting, they were outright heretical.
“Wh— what is going on?”
Liu Hongmian muttered, looking towards Ji Xuan.
Ji Xuan’s brow knit, then relaxed as he smiled and asked Jingyuan, not far away: “Master Jingyuan, what does Master Jingxin mean by these words?”
Jingyuan looked cold and arrogant, not replying.
Ji Xuan did not press further, and the small group began exchanging messages mentally:
“The Buddhist sect is hiding something from us.”
“Stand equal to Agaruka? Stand equal… Utter nonsense, even among the first ranks, Agaruka is nearly invincible!”
“But if there’s no reason, Jingxin would not say such a thing.”
Among the seven exchanging thoughts, Liu Hongmian, Qihuan Danxiang, and Xu Yuanhuai were mostly bewildered; Xu Yuanshuang’s elegant brow grew slightly knit, as if she had a vague guess.
Daoist Jiaoye reacted similarly.
Only Ji Xuan and White Tiger showed a trace of inexpressible shock in their eyes, they had finally realised some truth.
The son of the Qianlong City Lord and the White Tiger from the 28 Constellations, they knew more details than Liu Hongmian and the others.
“Enough talk, hand over that brat, and we’ll spare your lives.”
Xu Qi’an’s gaze swept past Jingxin and fixed on Miao Youfang, who was being guarded in the crowd.
He’s here for me, too… Miao Youfang’s face suddenly changed.
Jingxin shook his head in disappointment:
“Since Benefactor Xu insists on being deluded, you must undergo the baptism of Buddha’s light… May the Arhat descend!”
As he spoke the last four words, his expression turned devout and his voice grew sonorous.
In the azure sky, beams of pure Buddha light glimmered. At the heart of thousands of light rays sat a gaunt, elderly monk upon a lotus dais, white eyebrows drooping down his cheeks, his eyes half-closed, hands clasping a flower.
“Buddha Son, return to Ananda with us.”
The old monk’s eyes snapped open, his voice thundered like rolling skies, full of divine might.
Everyone below had their minds reel with a “boom”, and for a moment, they went deaf, unable to hear a thing.
All that remained in their minds was the urge to join the Buddhist sect.
All the monks present unconsciously pressed their palms together, chanting the Buddha’s name devoutly.
It was then that mad laughter pulled them out of their trance, breaking the urge to join the Buddhist sect.
Next came Xu Qian’s loud response:
“A martial artist of the Great Feng does not enter the Buddhist sect.”
Sabre in hand, he stood there proudly, completely unaffected.
Ji Xuan, Xu Yuanhuai, White Tiger, and Liu Hongmian, all experts in martial cultivation, felt a mix of emotions rise in their hearts.
They, too, were martial artists, yet just now they had been unable to control the urge to join Buddhism.
A martial artist valued their character, unyielding and rebellious, defying authority, fighting others, fighting heaven, fighting themselves.
The purer the belief, the more ferocious and diligent the martial path became.
This Xu Qian can even remain unmoved under the pressure of a second-rank Arhat…
Liu Hongmian pursed her lips, and looked deeply at the man in the blue robe.
Meanwhile, Arhat Duqing stretched out his hand, a huge Buddha’s palm condensed in mid-air, descending from the sky to seize Xu Qian.
Just then, from the horizon, a brilliant sword light swept across like a shooting star.
Under the sword qi, the golden giant palm shattered with a crash.
Tracing the direction of the sword light, they saw a woman, clad in feathered robes and wearing a lotus crown, flying on her sword towards them.
She was as beautiful as a fairy, the cinnabar mark on her brow especially striking.
Luo Yuheng, Daoist Leader of the Human Sect, peak second rank, a true powerhouse standing atop the pyramid of all Jiuzhou.
Across all the major factions, there were three women who were unrivalled. They were the Vaidurya Bodhisattva of the Buddhist sect; the exiled princess of the Wanyao Kingdom, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox; and Luo Yuheng, Daoist Leader of the Human Sect.
Both Liu Hongmian and Xu Yuanshuang prided themselves on their beauty, yet when they saw this female Daoist Leader with her celestial grace, feelings of inferiority welled up.
Facing Luo Yuheng’s sudden appearance, Arhat Duqing was unsurprised, as if he had been waiting for her all along.
The Arhat said slowly:
“Luo Yuheng, you’re only a step away from your heavenly tribulation, the ordeal of karmic fire must be tormenting.
“In the capital, when you fought with Heilian, your karmic fire was already on the brink of losing control.
“The Buddhist sect does not wish enmity with the Daoist sect. If you’re wise, you’ll withdraw. Otherwise…”
Those below listened to Arhat Duqing’s revelation of secrets they’d never heard before, their hearts full of complex feelings.
Was it a principle of Human Sect cultivation to be tormented by karmic fire?
Who was Heilian, able to clash with Luo Yuheng?
Luo Yuheng’s karmic fire was already nearly out of control?
Luo Yuheng’s karmic fire is on the brink of losing control!
The Buddhist monks looked delighted, Ji Xuan and the rest also grew visibly excited.
Even if they had immense confidence in the Arhat and even if they knew their side had two Vajra and the the Azure Dragon seven constellations, Luo Yuheng’s reputation was too fearsome.
Once the Arhat failed to contain her, such a top expert could easily change the tide.
That was why they had always dreaded Luo Yuheng. In everyone’s plan, the Arhat would stall Luo Yuheng, and the others would win a quick victory.
Once Xu Qian was subdued, Vajra and the Azure Dragon seven constellations would then assist the Arhat against Luo Yuheng, only then would nothing go wrong.
But now it seemed there was no need for such caution.
If Luo Yuheng’s condition was truly as terrible as the Arhat claimed, then the Arhat alone could suppress her.
“Or what?”
The female State Preceptor raised a perfectly arched brow.
“Perhaps the Human Sect will need a new Daoist Leader.”
Arhat Duqing said lightly.
Luo Yuheng sneered, reaching into the void and pulling out a rusted iron sword, which she threw towards Arhat Duqing.
A radiant sword light burst forth.
Everyone reflexively shut their eyes, their eyes burning with pain, hot tears welling up.
The iron sword pierced through Arhat Duqing, leaving a gaping hole in his chest, but no blood flowed.
The next moment, the “wound” on the Arhat’s chest healed.
Arhat Duqing smiled gently, holding a flower: “Our phala is that of non-living.”
Luo Yuheng snorted and manipulated her flying sword to repeatedly pierce through Arhat Duqing, riddling his body with terrifying, grotesque sword wounds.
Yet Arhat Duqing simply smiled, and all his “wounds” disappeared.
The Phala of Non-Living: those who attain this realm do not live and do not die, receiving endless veneration.
“Stubborn and unrepentant.”
Arhat Duqing shook his head, ignored the relentless attacks of the iron sabre, and flicked out a beam of golden light with his finger.
Bathed in the golden light, Luo Yuheng’s body underwent shocking changes. She rapidly aged, the collagen-rich beauty of her face wrinkled, and her jet-black, lustrous hair transformed.
In an instant, the peerless beauty became an elderly woman with hair as white as snow.
Moments later, vitality bloomed anew within her, her height shrank, her wrinkles faded away, and she became an infant, then a little girl, then a young maiden, then a mature, enchanting woman.
Then, once again, she turned white-haired again.
In the space of a few breaths, Luo Yuheng experienced an entire cycle of reincarnation.
She seemed to be trapped in this cycle, unable to escape.
“This is the Buddhist Non-Living Phala, second only to the Executioner of Evil Phala…” Ji Xuan said softly.
“This humble Daoist has roamed the martial world for decades, and now I have truly witnessed something remarkable.” Daoist Jiaoye sighed with emotion.
The others were both awestruck and exhilarated.
At this moment, the iron sabre flew back into Luo Yuheng’s hand, at this point, she was a delicate little girl.
The instant she gripped the iron sabre, the endless cycle shattered, and Luo Yuheng resumed her tall and peerlessly beautiful form.
“I have broken your Non-Living Phala.”
She gracefully raised the iron sabre, and a single lotus petal bloomed behind her, followed by two, three, four… a total of nine lotus petals crowded around her.
Each petal contained a terrifying sword force.
Nine lotus petals merged together, transforming into sword qi which gathered within the iron sabre.
The most supreme sword art of the Human Sect—Lotus Blossom!
The onlookers felt chills in their stomachs, for even simply witnessing the Lotus Blossom sword style filled them with an overwhelming sense of despair.
“Go!”
Luo Yuheng threw the iron sabre.
The iron sabre turned into a streak of light, soared into the sky, and in an instant struck Arhat Duqing.
Thunder crackled overhead and terrifying sword qi lashed the sky like a torrential rainstorm.
Below, Ji Xuan and the others, and the assembled Buddhist monks, fled in terror but there was no escape.
Puff, puff!
Three monks were not swift enough and died instantly, shredded to pulp by the sword qi.
This surge did not last long. The warrior Monk Jingyuan, relying on his Vajra divine art, withstood a few scattered sword strikes, then impatiently looked up to see what had happened above.
In the sky, residual sword qi lingered, making Jingyuan weep uncontrollably.
A few seconds later, he finally perceived the situation above.
Jingyuan’s pupils contracted violently, his face turned ashen. Amidst the azure sky, atop the lotus dais, there sat a mutilated body.
The head and half the chest had been destroyed by the sabre, and dark gold blood flowed from the ruined chest, faintly exposing the internal organs.
The Non-Living Phala was supposed to prevent harm, any injury was illusory.
Could it be that Arhat Duqing’s Non-Living Phala…
“Is the Arhat dead? Arhat Duqing is dead?”
At this moment, Liu Hongmian, who had seen clearly what was in the sky, cried out in shock.
Her exclamation caused panic to sweep through the Buddhist monks.
Xu Yuanhuai’s face darkened and he shouted at Jingxin,
“Did you not say Luo Yuheng’s body was ravaged by karmic fire and plagued with hidden ailments? How do you explain this?”
Jingxin’s face was grave, and he remained silent.
White Tiger quietly moved to stand close to the Xu siblings. He had followed this time with the main duty of protecting them.
Should danger arise, he would immediately transform and flee with Xu Yuanhuai and Xu Yuanshuang.
“Where the wind goes, the tiger follows”, with his innate talent and ability, he could absolutely lead the siblings safely away.
While all were in disarray, Arhat Duqing’s flesh was suffused with Buddhist light; the flesh and blood writhed and regenerated, completely restored.
Phew… Monk Jingxin quietly let out a sigh of relief and said calmly,
“It’s nothing, Arhat Duqing cannot die.”
Everyone else relaxed a little, though their hearts remained heavy.
It was now clear that the Human Sect Daoist Leader Luo Yuheng was nowhere near as feeble as the Arhat had suggested.
That last sabre strike was utterly stunning, and even Arhat Duqing had to pay dearly for it.
After his body was restored, the Arhat stared at Luo Yuheng with a gloomy face:
“You’ve quelled your karmic fire.”
Luo Yuheng curled her red lips. “Whether the Human Sect will change Daoist Leaders, we do not know. But today, Ananda will have one less Arhat.”
So arrogant! The Buddhist monks seethed with anger, but when they looked to the Arhat, to their astonishment, he did not retort.
This… Everyone felt their hearts sink, and could not help but glance toward Xu Qian in the distance.
Xu Qian had remained calm and confident all along, as if everything had long been anticipated.
Xu Yuanshuang’s expression immediately became complicated.
Arhat Duqing brought out a golden alms bowl.
The bowl inverted, spilling clear golden light, in which several figures gradually appeared.
A figure eight feet tall, without beard, brows, or hair, like a statue of bronze, Vajra Du’nan.
Another, hideously ugly with a fierce gaze, the Asura Vajra, Dufan.
Eight figures in cloaks, bodily veiled, their forms faintly “bulky”, the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.
A formidable line-up.
Miao Youfang stared, dumbfounded; he had already been bewildered by the appearance of the man who blocked the way, yet even more terrifying experts appeared one after another.
Beyond shock, a sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.
What have I done?
Why am I caught in a conflict of this level?
Who am I? Where am I?
His mind was filled with question marks.
Luo Yuheng squinted slightly, she merely glanced at the golden bowl and made no move, yet her body was covered and swallowed by golden light, vanishing from sight.
Arhat Duqing extended his palm, catching the golden bowl, and looked down at Xu Qi’an, before turning to Vajra Du’nan and Vajra Dufan, his tone grave:
“When Luo Yuheng is in her peak second rank condition, I am no match for her. I can only trap her in the Buddha realm; deal with this quickly, do not delay.”
As he spoke, the golden bowl in his palm shook violently.
Relying on this artifact alone would not restrain Luo Yuheng for long.
Vajra Du’nan pressed his palms together and replied, “Yes!”
The Arhat finally nodded in relief and entered the golden bowl.
With the two second ranks gone into the bowl, the terrible pressure vanished, leaving only the golden bowl hovering in the air.
“Buzz…”
The golden bowl shuddered, waves of light rippling outward.
Everyone looked up at the sky, including the two Vajras and the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.
The bowl’s trembling lasted a short while before gradually diminishing, settling into relative calm.
Below, everyone’s expressions relaxed, they knew Arhat Duqing had successfully contained the Human Sect Daoist Leader, and that terrifying female National Teacher would not be able to break free for the time being.
Luo Yuheng is truly fearsome…
The fourth ranks and below that were represented by Ji Xuan and Jingxin all let out a sigh of relief, recovering their composure. Some wore mocking expressions, some stared with enmity, some looking confidently at Xu Qian.
Without Luo Yuheng, this man’s backup could at most be a third rank arcanist.
The cloaked Azure Dragon lifted his head. Beneath the brim of his hat were golden, vertical pupils. After surveying Xu Qi’an for a moment, he spoke in a scratchy voice:
“Vajras, as agreed, this man belongs to the Buddhist sect. Whatever is on him belongs to us.”
Asura Vajra Dufan’s voice was low and booming:
“Once we capture the Buddha Son, we will take him to Qianlong City.”
The Azure Dragon nodded slowly.
“We have always trusted the Buddhist sect’s integrity.”
The two Vajras and the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations took up a triangular formation, surrounding Xu Qi’an. They conversed calmly throughout, as if he was already a fish in the pot.
As he spoke, the Azure Dragon carefully watched Xu Qi’an, his raspy voice coming from beneath the hood:
“Where is Sun Xuanji? Why not let him show himself and personally pick an opponent?
“Hopefully, he will choose the two Vajras.”
He withdrew a dark red sabre from his cloak and gave a hoarse chuckle.
“For frankly, compared to arcanists, I’m much more curious to see what you can do.”
Back in the capital, even the Boss had been thwarted by this genius.
Xu Qi’an remained as calm as ever, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “What a pity, Senior Brother Sun has chosen you lot.”
His gaze shifted to a spot behind the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.
At some unknown point, a figure in white had appeared several feet behind the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.
His features were ordinary, his height nondescript, and in his hand he held a scroll bearing a single statement:
“Your opponent is me!”
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