Chapter Fifty: Danger on Mount Hua

A streak of white sliced through the sky, halting abruptly before the crowd. It was Lu Xiya, who had been observing the battle, startled and then hastened over. Upon witnessing the scene, her complexion grew pale, anger surging in her chest. She pointed at Jiang Yan and the young monk, sputtering, “You, you…”

Lu Xiya had seen Jiang Yan and the young monk emerge from the city gate, then watched as the young monk struck, followed by Jiang Yan. She rushed over, but all of this happened in the blink of an eye. By the time she arrived, nine of the ten disciples from Tianshan Sect who had followed her down the mountain were dead, with one gravely injured.

Jiang Yan formed his fingers into a sword, controlling the remaining three Azurewood Arrows clustered before him, a playful smile on his lips. “Lu Xiya, you truly have no shame. A dignified master at the peak of Qi Refinement, leading a pack of degenerate disciples to besiege a few feeble women. Has the second-grade Tianshan Sect fallen so low, bullying female cultivators? You’re tarnishing the reputation of all sects in Linqing Prefecture.”

The young monk pressed his palms together before Jiang Yan, softly chanting a Buddhist blessing, “Amitabha, such sin, such sin.”

Lu Xiya’s face darkened. Who was this boy, daring to tie her attempt to seize the Bone Transformation Pill from the Violet Robes Sect with ruining the reputation of Linqing’s major sects? She snorted coldly, full of disdain. “Boy, which sect did you crawl out from? How dare you meddle in Tianshan’s affairs. Truly ignorant of death. And you, little monk—does Huasheng Temple wish to challenge Tianshan as well?”

“Amitabha,” the young monk replied, palms pressed, bowing slightly to Lu Xiya. “Benefactor Lu, the Way cherishes all life. Why not show mercy and spare the heroines of the Violet Robes Sect? You could accumulate merit, and avoid the torment of thunder tribulations and inner demons.”

Lu Xiya’s rage exploded, her beard and hair bristling as she jabbed a finger at the young monk. “Bald brat, do you think Tianshan fears your Huasheng Temple? You killed my disciples. Today, I’ll see your souls obliterated, leaving you no grave!”

A sudden burst of spiritual energy sounded from Lu Xiya, her white robes ballooning and flapping wildly. It was the surge of her peak Qi Refinement power, compressing the air around her and creating an explosive sound.

A resonant, dragon-like sword unsheathing echoed through the field. Behind Lu Xiya, the top-grade Lishui Cold Ice Sword, shimmering with a blinding chill, hovered in the air.

“Prepare to die!” Lu Xiya shouted. The sword’s brilliance intensified, enveloping both Jiang Yan and the young monk.

With a sharp whistle, the sword pierced through the air, accompanied by a barrage of explosive sounds, its light expanding to engulf the remaining women of the Violet Robes Sect still on the field.

Suddenly, Zisu spat a mouthful of blood. She had already injured her heart meridian breaking through Sixth Brother’s sword barrier earlier; now, under the pressure of Lu Xiya’s sword, she could no longer restrain herself.

“Amitabha,” the young monk intoned, pure and mighty, his voice resounding outside Linqing Prefecture’s east gate, drifting through the night.

A powerful aura radiated from the young monk, instantly enveloping the entire battlefield. The murderous atmosphere conjured by Lu Xiya’s sword dissipated like dust under the monk’s chant.

Lu Xiya’s sword, as if seized by a giant hand, froze mid-air, unable to advance another inch.

“Foundation Establishment!” Lu Xiya’s face turned ashen. Only someone at Foundation Establishment could repel her Lishui Cold Ice Sword with sheer spiritual force.

“Foundation Establishment!” the three women lying on the ground cried out in unison, gazing at the smiling young monk, their faces overtaken by uncontrollable joy. Relief flooded their hearts—they were saved.

“The Way cherishes all life. Since you persist, Benefactor Lu, this humble monk must offend you.” The young monk smiled, gently dispelling Lu Xiya’s chilling sword technique. He spoke with a hint of helplessness.

Faced with a Foundation Establishment master, Lu Xiya’s courage evaporated. Though she was at the peak of Qi Refinement, she was as powerless before someone of a higher realm as a child before a burly adult.

“Earlier, I acted unintentionally, causing the deaths of several of your disciples. Yet your disciples also harmed several heroines of the Violet Robes Sect. Life for life—it balances out. Benefactor Lu, perhaps you should withdraw,” the young monk advised, his warm smile contrasting with Lu Xiya’s trembling fear.

Jiang Yan frowned. Monks all shared the same temperament—having killed the enemy’s disciples, yet still hoping to settle things with a smile. Judging by the young monk’s expression, he truly meant it. But Tianshan Sect was an enemy of Huashan, and Jiang Yan had no intention of letting Lu Xiya, at the peak of Qi Refinement, simply slip away. He formed his fingers into a sword and slowly guided his Azurewood Arrows.

“I will obey the Buddha’s teaching, I will obey!” Lu Xiya nodded repeatedly, fawning over the young monk.

“Go now, and forget this night entirely. If I ever hear you trouble the heroines of the Violet Robes Sect again, this humble monk will visit your sect in person.” The young monk waved his hand, urging Lu Xiya to leave quickly.

“Thank you, venerable one. I’ll remember, I’ll remember!” Lu Xiya said, retreating hastily, eager to escape, not even bothering with the Lishui Cold Ice Sword still suspended in the air.

With a clang, as Lu Xiya turned to flee, the sword dropped from the sky.

A wet, slicing sound echoed clearly: the sound of blade tearing flesh.

To everyone’s astonishment, as Lu Xiya rushed forward, a bloodstained arrowhead suddenly protruded from his back. As he stumbled onward, a fully bloodied arrow came into view, still steaming from passing through his body.

“Ah…” Lu Xiya’s shrill, miserable cry rang out, only to abruptly cease. His chest pierced through, he collapsed face-first onto the ground.

The young monk stared in shock at Jiang Yan, surprised. “Layman, the Buddha cherishes life. Why must you slay this man?”

Jiang Yan beckoned lightly at the distant, blood-soaked Azurewood Arrow, which vanished instantly. Turning to the young monk, whose face was full of reproach, Jiang Yan replied with a question instead. “Little monk, you let Lu Xiya go out of kindness. But if I hadn’t come tonight to the East City, what would have become of the Violet Robes Sect women? Would Lu Xiya have spared them?”

The young monk looked at Jiang Yan, bewildered and at a loss. At length, he said, “You possess great wisdom, layman. This humble monk cannot compare.”

Jiang Yan glanced at the wounded women of the Violet Robes Sect, his face showing deep distress. Judging by their condition, without a few high-grade spirit pills, healing them would be impossible. He had some Huasheng Powder, but was uncertain of its efficacy.

With a flick of his palm, a porcelain bottle of Huasheng Powder appeared. Jiang Yan walked to Zisu, poured out a mound of powder, and offered his hand warmly. “Zisu, here—take this Huasheng Powder.”

Zisu’s brows lifted in surprise, glancing at the bottle in Jiang Yan’s hand. Huasheng Powder had been auctioned at the Oddities Pavilion tonight, and this elegant yet decisive youth must have obtained it there. Considering the large sum of spirit stones he spent, Zisu hesitated. “Mr. Jiang, I’ve spent all my spirit stones bidding for the Bone Transformation Pill. I fear I cannot afford the Huasheng Powder.”

The young monk behind Jiang Yan smiled serenely. “Zisu, this Mr. Jiang possesses great wisdom—he wouldn’t mind a handful of spirit stones. Please take the Huasheng Powder. Though its effects are limited, for cultivators below Foundation Establishment, it works wonders.”

“Damn monk,” Jiang Yan cursed inwardly. That one remark would cost him dozens of spirit stones. He remembered clearly—the Huasheng Powder fetched a high price at auction. Now, thanks to the monk’s words, his spirit stones were as good as gone.

“Zisu, please take it. The monk is right—I don’t mind a bottle of Huasheng Powder,” Jiang Yan said, feigning generosity despite his pain.

Zisu was about to refuse when a mouthful of blood surged to her throat, spraying out before she could speak.

“Layman Jiang, quickly give Zisu the Huasheng Powder!” The young monk urged Jiang Yan anxiously, worried by her coughing.

Jiang Yan muttered inwardly about the monk’s priorities—forgetting everything at the sight of a beautiful woman coughing blood. Still, concerned with merit points, Jiang Yan wasted no time in feeding Zisu the Huasheng Powder, then gave it to Duo’er and Ding Ning, the three surviving members of the Violet Robes Sect.

“Thank you, Mr. Jiang, for your kindness. Thank you, young master,” Zisu said gratefully, her sword strapped to her back, bowing to Jiang Yan and the young monk.

After taking the Huasheng Powder, the three women quickly recovered from their injuries. Ding Ning’s first act upon healing was to take up her sword and strike down the wounded Sixth Brother, as well as the remaining Tianshan disciples who hadn’t yet died. Having dispatched the Sixth Brother, she glanced at her fallen junior sisters and broke into heart-wrenching sobs. Duo’er, moved by grief, wept as well. Only Zisu remained resolute, stopping her sisters’ tears. The three bowed together, thanking Jiang Yan and the young monk for saving their lives.

Jiang Yan waved off their thanks, unconcerned. Though he had spent some Huasheng Powder, the merit points gained made it worthwhile. He had already checked his sect master system—the points had increased, bringing him closer to ten merit points.

The young monk pressed his palms together elegantly. “No need for thanks, heroines. To stand up against injustice is the duty of a Buddhist disciple. If you must thank someone, thank Mr. Jiang.”

The three women bowed to Jiang Yan again. “Thank you, Mr. Jiang, for saving our lives.”

Jiang Yan was about to wave off their gratitude when the sect master system’s alert sounded in his ear: “Ding, the mountain protection array is under attack, Azure Robe Talisman Soldiers have depleted their spirit stones, severe damage to Azure Robe Talisman Soldiers…”

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