Chapter 42

Bursting through the temple gate, Qin Shaoyou and Xue Qingshan charged into the City God Temple, but they did not continue to exploit the momentum of their horse charge.

This was because the courtyard of the City God Temple was densely packed with water jars and iron cages, leaving no room for the horses to gallop.

However, the effect of their sudden and unexpected attack had been achieved.

The Black Lotus Sect cultists inside the temple, although warned at the last moment, had no time to prepare or set up defenses.

They had just rushed out of the main hall and had not yet had time to investigate the situation outside when they saw the temple gate being kicked open and the demon-hunting guards of the Demon Suppression Bureau swarming in.

For a moment, the Black Lotus Sect cultists were taken aback.

They had expected the Demon Suppression Bureau to come, but they never thought it would come so quickly and with so many people!

Such a situation could only mean one thing—their plan in Mianyuan County had been completely exposed!

But how was it exposed?!

Suddenly, one of the Black Lotus Sect cultists' gaze fell on Qin Shaoyou.

Recognizing the situation, his expression changed drastically: "How can it be you? How did you not die?!"

This Black Lotus Sect cultist was the one who had chewed the crow's head the previous night.

Through the crow's eyes, he had 'seen' the appearance of Qin Shaoyou and the others.

But hadn't the paper man already slit the throats of Qin Shaoyou and the others the previous night, and then set a fire to burn their bodies to ashes?

Why, after one night, was this kid still alive?

And so lively and vigorous?!

Qin Shaoyou also recognized the other party at this moment.

Without hesitation, he dismounted, grabbed his saber, and pounced on the man with Xue Qingshan.

At the same time, he sneered coldly, "Surprised? Unexpected? Didn't think we'd come back from hell, did you?"

The Black Lotus Sect cultist grunted, his face darkening to the extreme.

At this point, how could he not understand?

All talk of resurrection and returning from hell was nonsense!

Last night, this kid and his companions must have used some means to fake their deaths, deceiving the paper man and everyone else!

Similarly, it must have been this kid and his companions who investigated and uncovered the Black Lotus Sect's plan in Mianyuan County!

The Black Lotus Sect cultists all hated Qin Shaoyou to the point of gnashing their teeth.

The other demon-hunting guards also dismounted at this moment, rushing towards the Black Lotus Sect cultists and loudly ordering them to kneel and surrender.

Hearing this, the Black Lotus Sect cultists laughed in anger, cursing and threatening:

"Kneel and surrender? You foolish mortals are really daring!"

"We are living Arhats and Bodhisattvas. Can you bear to make us kneel?"

"Foolish mortals, it's not too late to kneel and repent now! Otherwise, we will send you to hell! This time, no matter how cunning you are, you will never return to the human world!"

Qin Shaoyou snorted coldly: "Arhats? Bodhisattvas? You deserve it?"

"They don't deserve a damn thing!"

Zhu Xiuzai, who followed behind Qin Shaoyou, spewed vulgar words.

This man, who had read the classics, was just as capable of using low insults when it came to cursing.

However, Zhu Xiuzai's vulgar words were met with cheers from the demon-hunting guards.

Various vulgar words spewed from the mouths of the guards, infuriating the Black Lotus Sect cultists.

Unfortunately, it didn't infuriate many of them.

"Arhats!"

The Black Lotus Sect cultist who had chewed the crow's head called out loudly with a dark face.

The other Black Lotus Sect cultists responded: "Here!"

"Annihilate these blasphemers!"

"Follow the Bodhisattva's command!"

These Black Lotus Sect cultists were deeply immersed in their roles, always considering themselves living Arhats and Bodhisattvas.

It was probably because of this that they could deceive believers and make them believe in their crazy and evil doctrines.

The Black Lotus Sect cultists who called themselves Arhats roared as they charged towards Qin Shaoyou, Xue Qingshan, and the other demon-hunting guards.

Strands of black resentment and red blood qi surged from their pores, swirling around them and transforming into bizarre black and red lotus flowers.

In the next moment, the black and red lotus flowers disappeared.

These Black Lotus Sect cultists activated their bizarre 'Arhat Golden Body'!

Some transformed into Eight-Armed Arhats, sprouting six new arms in addition to their own two.

However, none of these six new arms looked like human hands!

Some were long-haired ape arms, others were long and sharp spider arms... They looked as if the limbs of some monsters had been crazily stitched onto their bodies!

Others transformed into Three-Body Arhats, growing a new body on each side.

However, their three heads and six arms were not as majestic and divine as those in myths and legends; instead, they were eerie and sinister!

Especially at the junctions of the three bodies, clear and bizarre scars could be seen, confirming that they were indeed stitched monsters.

As for the other Long-Armed Arhats, Ghost-Faced Arhats, and so on, none of them had the solemn and dignified appearance of Arhats; only terror and eeriness!

Rather than being a group of Arhats, they were more like demons and asuras crawling out of the depths of hell!

The Black Lotus Sect cultist revered as a Bodhisattva did not launch a counterattack like the Arhats.

He formed a mudra with his hands, chanting incantations, attempting to prematurely awaken the corpse puppets soaking in the blood-filled jars.

"Listen, all Buddha soldiers! Join the Arhats to annihilate these blasphemers! Their flesh will be your delicious food, and their souls will be the best offerings to me..."

Seeing this, Qin Shaoyou directly threw his saber at the Black Lotus Sect Bodhisattva, trying to interrupt his spell.

The other demon-hunting guards behind him had the same idea, either shooting arrows or throwing weapons.

Unfortunately, their attacks did not injure the Black Lotus Sect cultist, all being blocked by the sinister Arhats along the way.

Qin Shaoyou's saber was caught by the Eight-Armed Arhat with a crab-like, armored 'arm' and snapped in half.

The broken saber clattered to the ground.

The Eight-Armed Arhat then pounced in front of Qin Shaoyou, extending his eight arms to attack from different directions.

"Blasphemous and ignorant fools, accept your punishment and surrender your lives!"

"Go to hell!"

Influenced by Zhu Xiuzai, Qin Shaoyou had also become a foul-mouthed person in the Demon Suppression Bureau, cursing while drawing his backup saber and engaging the Eight-Armed Arhat in battle.

However, after a few moves, Qin Shaoyou was at a disadvantage.

The Eight-Armed Arhat had eight hands, and the other six hands had different characteristics.

This made Qin Shaoyou very passive, feeling as if he were being attacked by four or five people, struggling to keep up.

If it weren't for his heavy armor and his entry into the Sinew and Bone Realm, which had hardened his body like copper and iron, and the demon bone soup he had drunk over the past two days, which had made his body even harder, he might have been pierced or torn apart by those strange hands by now.

Xue Qingshan noticed Qin Shaoyou's predicament and wanted to help.

But he was also entangled by the evil Arhats of the Black Lotus Sect and could not provide assistance.

The other demon-hunting guards around them were in the same situation, hoping for reinforcements to arrive quickly.

Qin Shaoyou blocked the Eight-Armed Arhat's 'crab claw' with his saber but was hit by his spider arm and ape arm, damaging his armor and sending fragments flying.

Qin Shaoyou retaliated with a slash, forcing back the two strange arms, but more arms attacked from other directions.

For a moment, Qin Shaoyou was in a very dire situation.

"I need to find a way to turn the tide..."

As Qin Shaoyou was thinking, he suddenly heard a loud shout.

"Sir, don't panic, I'll help you!"

A massive body charged over with a reckless momentum, forcefully pushing back the Eight-Armed Arhat's attack.

It was Ma Heshang!

He held a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other, fighting alongside Qin Shaoyou.

Since the last time he used a hammer, Ma Heshang had grown fond of the weapon, finding it harder than a fist and more suitable for subduing demons and evil spirits.

Seeing Ma Heshang, Qin Shaoyou was very excited.

Not only because he had gained an ally, but also because he had found a way to counter the Eight-Armed Arhat.

"Monk, lend me your head!"