The barbarian monk came with fierce momentum, and Xuan Shen dared not meet him head-on. He used his Lightness Skill to retreat.
He unleashed a barrage of Spirit Heat Palms, and as his palms shifted, it was as if a red lotus bloomed out of thin air.
Xuan Shen noticed that the Lama's footwork was not agile, so he frequently dodged to his side, pointing his fingers to strike the barbarian monk's vital points. His internal energy cut through the air; this was Jingye Temple's Tier 6 martial art, Benevolent Heart Finger, which, based on a compassionate heart, only captures people and does not take lives.
However, the Vajra Sect disciple's methods were seasoned. With a flick of his palm and a sweep of his sleeve, his protective True Qi circulated, blocking the finger force.
The two of them, one with superb movement techniques and the other with comprehensive protection, neither could overcome the other, and the situation became a stalemate.
Seeing that the battle was prolonged, the Lama became agitated. In a moment of carelessness, the monk struck his right foot's Sanli acupoint. He immediately felt a numbing ache in his leg and obstructed blood flow, making it even harder to catch Xuan Shen.
So, the monk continuously used the Benevolent Heart Finger, sealing the Lama's acupoints one by one.
What a barbarian monk! He chanted the Mandala mantra, and his protective True Qi surged even higher. Xuan Shen's finger force could no longer penetrate the invisible energy shield around his body.
"Monk! If you don't stop, this Buddha will have those lowly servants all killed!"
Xuan Shen's heart tightened. He saw that the attendants had already drawn their steel knives and were pressing the blades against the villagers' necks.
"Alright! This humble monk will stop! Do not harm the innocent!"
The Lama sneered viciously, rushed forward, and struck Xuan Shen with a powerful palm, sending his frail body flying far away. The monk fell to the ground, coughing up a few mouthfuls of blood, unable to stand up again.
Seeing their rescuer defeated, the villagers immediately fell into despair. Some wailed loudly, some begged for mercy, and some glared at the bandits, reaching their most desperate state.
Monk Xuan Shen lay on the ground, surrounded by dust, quietly watching the blue sky and flowing clouds, listening to the thumping of blood rushing through his ears. He suddenly felt that this was fine, to just give up his body and be accompanied by the sun, moon, and stars.
The next moment, the evil Lama grabbed Xuan Shen, sealed several vital points on his chest to temporarily stop the bleeding, and then broke his limbs one by one.
Xuan Shen cried out in pain, his body drenched in cold sweat.
Over there, Sangjie let out a roar, pulled out a gleaming dagger, and rushed over. The short blade, like a cold bolt of lightning, slashed at the Lama's exposed nape. However, only a dull thud was heard. The snow-white blade slid off as if cutting through an oiled cowhide, not harming the Lama in the slightest.
"Hmph!" The barbarian monk casually swung his palm back. Sangjie tried to dodge but was too slow; the palm wind grazed his right arm, instantly shattering his bones. He also fell to the ground, his face ashen with pain, unable to even cry out.
Among the bound villagers, Zhuoma let out a shriek, like a cold crow, mournful and sorrowful.
Xuan Shen lowered his gaze, "Why... why must it be like this? We are both... Buddhist... disciples..."
"Heh-ha! Just because this Buddha is happy! Monk, I heard you incited these servants. You've broken a taboo!" The barbarian monk's face wore a satisfied smile. "In this vast Snowy Region, who doesn't know that my Boundless Vajra Sect is the true Buddhist lineage? You monks from the Central Plains spread Heretical Factions and confuse people all day long. Now, these servants must die, and you must die even more!"
Xuan Shen shed tears, his face filled with sorrow, "So, This humble monk has harmed them!"
"Good that you know. Now you can rest in peace on your journey. It's not in vain for this Buddha's compassion. Come, shackle him and escort him to Qinzhou."
The pulled crowd, the prisoners bound by ropes, like cattle and horses fitted with nose rings and saddles, were led by them, running swiftly, kicking up dust. On the plateau, this was already a form of torture.
Only then did Xuan Shen understand why they had pursued for three days before encountering this group. The reason was simple: the Lamas were forcing the villagers to march quickly.
He was carried on horseback, and with each jolt and sway, his shattered bones impacted, and intense pain assailed his heart. However, he still gathered his spirits and scanned the villagers. Indeed, many elderly people were missing.
Nameless rage burned in his chest, but anger always stemmed from the pain of powerlessness. He, too, was powerless, utterly powerless!
The Lama rode with Xuan Shen. At this moment, he used his internal energy to unseal the acupoints that had been blocked, and his mood brightened. Then, he heard a murmuring sound beside him.
"Namo... Great Compassionate Lu Yuan Bodhisattva."
"Namo... Great Compassionate Lu Yuan Bodhisattva."
"May the Bodhisattva have mercy on the world..."
The Lama frowned, thinking, "This monk from the East is truly stubborn. So-called righteous sects are all such weaklings... And who is this Lu Yuan Bodhisattva?"
He then asked Xuan Shen, "Monk! What kind of Bodhisattva from what false scripture are you chanting about!"
Xuan Shen's face grew even more sorrowful. He did not answer, continuing to chant the Bodhisattva's revered name without ceasing.
The Lama, finding no amusement, angrily fell silent.
Hoofbeats, mixed with footsteps, gasps, wails, and curses. The sun beat down fiercely, the air was thin, and dust filled the sky. Xuan Shen slowly forgot everything, forgot the pain, his mind empty. He felt himself falling.
His soul fell faster than his body.
Xuan Shen arrived at a tranquil lake. The starry night sky was reflected on the lake's surface, and strangely, there was also a sun in the sky.
The sun did not cast its light everywhere.
The night was able to preserve its mysterious veil.
Xuan Shen walked on the lake when suddenly someone greeted him.
"Master!"
It was a young novice monk.
"Greetings, junior brother. May I ask where this place is?"
Ben You said, "Senior brother, don't you know where you are?"
Xuan Shen saw that the novice monk was expressionless and did not seem to be benevolent. He immediately felt a pang of unease, thinking, "So, This humble monk has come to the Underworld of Reincarnation? This young monk must be here to guide me to rebirth. Alas, those villagers, I couldn't save a single one..."
Ben You saw his tears and thought he was overly emotional. Little did he expect Xuan Shen to open his mouth and say, "Please take This humble monk to see King Yama."
"..."
Meanwhile, the Lama had already brought the captives into Qinzhou city. He ordered the city lord to gather everyone. He stood on a high platform and publicly recounted the evil deeds of the Heretical Faction disturbing Buddhism, which immediately incited public anger. The believers wanted to stone these blasphemous bandits to death.
Just as the crowd surged like a tide, a sudden thunderclap echoed from flat ground.
"Shaolin Zen Master Zi Nie is here! Who dares to harm my Buddhist disciples!"
Everyone was greatly astonished. They looked back and saw a group of muscular, bald monks standing on Qinzhou's towering city wall. The one at the head was glowing with golden light, holding a long staff, like a Buddha statue in a temple, awe-inspiring and inviolable.
The monks on the wall chanted Buddhist names in unison, "Amitabha!" Their voices, like ancient bells, vibrated ceaselessly.
The Lama was surprised but not panicked. It turned out that his Vajra Sect had a garrison in Qinzhou. It would have been fine if these monks had quietly come to raid the execution ground, but with that shout, a group of red-robed barbarian monks wearing rooster-comb hats immediately rushed out.
A Lama dressed in Mingwang robes, holding a green-eyed ghost-head saber, loudly challenged, "Vajra Sect Mingwang Qiongda Sulang guards the pass! Those who come, prepare to die!"
He leaped dozens of feet in a single bound, as if shrinking the earth to an inch, using the Tier 6 martial art Divine Foot Technique. Such an ordinary skill, when used by Qiongda Sulang, became extraordinary and refined, its speed no less than those renowned Tier 4 Lightness Skills.
The Central Plains monks saw the fierce approach of this Esoteric Sect Mingwang and dared not underestimate him. Zen Master Zi Nie and three other Shaolin elders flashed forward to block Qiongda Sulang.
The other monks also rushed into the crowd, quickly heading towards the high platform of the execution ground, but they were intercepted by other barbarian monks.
Qiongda Sulang, surrounded by four masters, merely gave a cold smile and swung his saber.
Zen Master Zi Nie used the Weituo Demon Subduing Staff Art. His inner energy soared, and his power was formidable. When it clashed with the ghost-head saber, sparks flew with a clang.
The other three quickly used their techniques to attack Qiongda Sulang's vital points. Three Zen staffs swung wildly, showing no mercy!
The Esoteric Sect Mingwang saw that Zen Master Zi Nie's actions were measured, making it difficult to defeat him quickly. However, the other three's methods were ruthless, and prolonged defense would surely lead to loss. So, he first swung a large saber so tightly that not even water could splash through, while secretly circulating his internal energy.
A highly knowledgeable eminent monk cried out, "Be careful! This barbarian monk is about to use a ruthless move!"
Before his words finished, Qiongda Sulang let out a loud roar.
"Om!"
It was precisely the Six-Syllable Mantra of Buddhism. As soon as it was uttered, golden light blazed, and waves of energy surged around him. With immense power added, the four eminent monks felt that Qiongda Sulang in front of them suddenly transformed into a wrathful divine king with a red face, green mouth, three eyes, and eight arms. A saber flew towards them like a nine-heaven waterfall falling to the earth, unstoppable.
This was the Vajra Sect's Tier 2 martial art — Six Divine Might Saber!
The situation was dire. Zen Master Zi Nie rushed forward, and a golden-yellow bell appeared around him. As the great saber struck, the grand bell vibrated, its sound piercing the clouds.
Secret Tier 5 — Golden Bell Shield!
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