"Under great fame there are no unworthy men." Since the Undying Heavenly Demon had earned such renown, he must indeed possess extraordinary skill. His demonic art had shaken the martial world, and throughout his life he had never once tasted defeat. Yet today, he was utterly crushed. The young man before him was no ordinary youth—he was the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.
Now that the Undying Heavenly Demon had fallen, all those watching at the edge of the field were visibly shaken. Li Jian turned toward the gathered heroes, cupped his hands in salute, and bowed deeply.
"Heroes of every road," he declared in a clear voice, "if my actions today have given offense, I ask your pardon. But the Undying Heavenly Demon pressed me into this fight—I had no choice."
He paused, then turned toward the camps of the Three Faiths and Shaolin Temple and continued loudly:
"As for the grievances between you and the Justice Alliance, let them be written off from this day forward."
At that moment, a figure flashed into the field. The crowd turned and saw that it was Arlos, Great Dharma King of the Luminous Faith.
Arlos said, "Heroes of the martial world, I am Arlos, Great Dharma King of the Luminous Faith. Today, the Luminous Faith, the Fire Worship Sect, the Manichaean Faith, and Shaolin Temple came together to eliminate the Martial Demon. Unexpectedly, we were obstructed by men sent by the Justice Alliance. The Undying Heavenly Demon wounded many of our experts. Had this young hero not intervened in righteousness, I fear our side would have met grave disaster."
Li Jian cupped his hands and bowed. "Senior, since matters have come to this, shall both sides take one step back, let the matter rest here, and each return their own way?"
At that moment, Ben Guang, First Seat Monk of Shaolin, stepped into the field and pressed his palms together.
"Since the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness has chosen to uphold justice in the martial world, then should the Martial Demon commit evil again in the future, surely he will not escape the judgment of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Shaolin shall return to the monastery and pursue this old grievance no further."
Dharma King Li Rui of the Manichaean Faith and Dharma King Zhao Ke of the Fire Worship Sect also stepped forward, nodding in agreement. Today, they had escaped danger without loss. Why force a direct clash with the Justice Alliance? At this point, the Luminous Faith, Fire Worship Sect, Manichaean Faith, and Shaolin all understood that victory today was impossible. If they could withdraw unharmed, it was already for the best.
But just then, a thunderous voice rang out:
"Boy! You dare injure the Undying Heavenly Demon? Have you grown tired of living?!"
The voice was powerful beyond measure, and all could hear the immense force of its speaker's inner power.
From among the gathered heroes someone shouted, "The Martial Demon has come!"
At once the entire crowd erupted:
"The Martial Demon is here!"
Panic spread through the spectators as all scrambled to catch sight of him. At that moment, the people of the Luminous Faith, Fire Worship Sect, Manichaean Faith, and Shaolin all stiffened in alarm.
Seeing the sudden turn of events, Li Jian immediately stepped forward and stood at the front of the field. In an instant, the air was thick with killing intent.
Li Jian called out loudly:
"Heroes, do not fear! With the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness here, even the Martial Demon cannot act as he pleases!"
By now the heroes on the hillside had fallen silent. Every eye was fixed on Li Jian, all eager to see who would meet this challenge.
Before his words had fully faded, a figure flashed from afar. A swift shadow shot straight toward Li Jian in the center of the field, attacking like a hawk in flight. The strike was ruthless, aimed directly at a vital point.
The crowd cried out in shock, all faces paling at the sudden upheaval.
Li Jian had no time to think. He hurriedly met the blow palm to palm. The two closed at once, exchanging palms at close quarters, shifting steps and changing forms in rapid succession. Then both men shouted at once, their four palms surging with force.
Bang!
The bearded man flipped backward through the air and landed several strides away.
Li Jian's gaze flashed cold as lightning.
"Who comes there?"
The bearded man's hair and beard were already streaked with gray, but his tiger-like eyes shone with fierce vitality.
"I am your ancestor!"
Among the heroes at the edge of the field, some still remembered the Martial Demon's appearance. Someone cried out:
"The Martial Demon!"
The spectators erupted once more:
"The Martial Demon has finally appeared!"
The Martial Demon glared coldly at Li Jian and said with displeasure:
"Boy, who are you? State your name!"
Li Jian stood brimming with spirit, having already defeated more than a dozen experts with a single hand. Proud and unyielding, he replied:
"I am Li Jian, the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. I have stepped forward today to mediate this matter. The grievances between both sides have now been settled and written off. What instruction might you have, Senior?"
The Martial Demon stared at the youth before him. Li Jian's bearing was heroic and imposing, his presence bold and commanding. His eyes shone like drawn blades, and as he spoke, two piercing beams of light seemed to shoot from them, chilling the Martial Demon's heart. Against his own will, he took a step back.
The Martial Demon knew in his heart that if this continued, he would only suffer further humiliation. The young man's martial skill was the greatest he had seen in all his life. Moreover, he was shaken by the authority of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.
At last he cupped his hands and said:
"Your divine skill is unmatched. In all my years, I have never seen its equal. Today, the Justice Alliance admits defeat. But let it be clear—though today's matter is written off, that does not mean your kind may look down upon the Justice Alliance. Should any of you offend us again in the future, do not blame me, the Martial Demon, for showing no mercy."
Li Jian understood at once that the Martial Demon was already yielding.
He nodded and returned the salute.
"Today this junior has given offense. I ask Senior's forgiveness. We are all people of the martial world. Unless there is a hatred beyond measure, there is no need to take one another's lives."
At that very moment, the sound of suona horns rose in the distance—shrill and commanding—accompanied by drums and gongs. A procession slowly approached in carriages, carried on the wind with a waft of fragrance.
Before long, a middle-aged woman stepped down from the carriage. She wore robes of purple silk and carried herself with noble grace. Two of her four personal attendants, Plum Blossom and Chrysanthemum, called out loudly:
"The Holy Mother of the West arrives!"
It was the Holy Church of the West, arriving in full force and with tremendous grandeur.
The followers of the Holy Church of the West raised their voices in praise:
"The world is empty—who says suffering is not real?
The Holy Mother descends, come unto the West.
All beneath Heaven's vault, all borne upon Earth's breast,
The Holy Church of the West shall endure for ten thousand ages.
The Holy Church of the West rises with wind and water,
The Holy Church of the West shall stride across the world.
The Holy Mother of the West brings salvation to all under Heaven,
The Holy Mother of the West hears all cries and delivers the suffering."
Her former personal attendants—Peach Blossom, Plum Blossom, Peony, and Orchid—had now been elevated as the Four Holy Maidens. They stepped forward slowly and took their places to either side of a great palanquin, chanting in unison:
"Hear the sacred name of the Holy Mother of the West,
Behold the holy form of the Holy Mother of the West.
May all who hear and see ascend the Prajna vessel,
May all who return and revere enter the fearless grove of mercy."
At the same time, Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng slowly emerged.
At once, the followers of the Holy Church of the West knelt to the ground and intoned:
"All living beings fear death and cling to life;
Wine, lust, wealth, and wrath vanish in an instant.
The Holy Mother of the West guides us back to the Way;
With sincere devotion we return in joy.
The Holy Mother of the West, great in mercy and compassion,
Returns once more to the world to teach and deliver the suffering."
Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng stood solemn and majestic, her hands pressed together, her bearing like that of a divine manifestation.
In a clear voice she declared:
"I have heard that the Luminous Faith, Fire Worship Sect, Manichaean Faith, and Shaolin Temple joined forces to exterminate the Martial Demon. The Holy Church of the West finds this most improper. Though the Martial Demon may deserve death for his crimes, it should not be by your hands. For twenty years he has committed no slaughter. Why then do you insist on forcing him? Know this well: he who kills shall in turn be killed. You call yourselves righteous—do you feel no shame?"