Chapter 21

After fetching water and having breakfast, Meng Qi couldn't wait to carry his broom to the Chanxin Hall, intending to find out from Jiang Zhwei, Zhang Yuanshan, and others the reason for the urgent morning bell.

Was it because Qingjing's death was discovered?

Did the Dharma Body experts find any clues? How did the various sects of the Great Jin respond?

With these questions in mind, Meng Qi stepped into the Chanxin Hall and pretended to sweep the thin layer of snow that had accumulated overnight.

While sweeping, he secretly observed the disciples from various sects coming and going in the courtyard, noticing that although most of their faces showed shock and confusion, only a few looked solemn, as if burdened with heavy hearts.

"Brother over there, sweeping," Zhang Yuanshan's familiar voice suddenly reached Meng Qi's ears.

Meng Qi turned his head and saw Zhang Yuanshan standing in front of a guest room, beckoning to him, "Please come in and sweep, I'm feeling restless and have dirtied the floor."

"Sure," Meng Qi naturally knew that Zhang Yuanshan was using this as an excuse to get him inside, so he immediately carried his broom and other cleaning tools toward the guest room.

Zhang Yuanshan waited there with grace, stepping aside to let Meng Qi enter first, while he pretended to casually look around.

As soon as Meng Qi entered the room, a bright yellow figure caught his eye—Jiang Zhwei was there too.

He remained cautious, lowered his head, and began sweeping the tea stains and debris on the floor.

Jiang Zhwei smiled, "Little monk, it's you again?"

"Jiang layman, I've been sweeping the Chanxin Hall these past two days," Meng Qi replied, understanding that Jiang Zhwei was pretending they had only met yesterday and thus playing along.

Hearing the term "Jiang layman," Jiang Zhwei raised her right hand to cover her mouth, then her face turned serious as she solemnly said to Zhang Yuanshan, who had just re-entered the room, "Senior Brother Zhang, yesterday I and Sister Qi met by chance and formed a bond, but today she met such a tragic fate. I am truly upset. You and she were close, have you recalled any clues? I will use my sword to seek justice for Sister Qi!"

Yesterday, Qi Xia was eliminated by her.

What? Qi Xia is dead? Meng Qi's shock was like a violent storm, impossible to control. How could Qi Xia be dead? That cunning, charming, and skilled girl from the Jiangnan water town, how could she be dead?

Thud. Despite his efforts to control himself, he couldn't hold the broom steady, a situation far beyond his expectations!

The sound of the broom falling to the ground brought Meng Qi back to his senses. He quickly bent down to pick it up, pretending to be flustered, "Little, little monk, I apologize."

His stammering was not an act but a result of genuine shock.

"It's fine, I was just as shocked at the time. This matter is truly shocking," Zhang Yuanshan comforted Meng Qi, treating him as a "strange Shaolin disciple." Then, he turned to Jiang Zhwei, "Before the New Year in Maoling, I met Sister Qi. Although we were not close, I didn't notice anything unusual. It seems, as Master Kongwen said, she was killed by the curse within her for trying to expose that secret. Alas, Sister Qi was in her prime, but now she has met such a tragic end, truly heartbreaking."

The sorrow and regret in his voice were genuine.

Although they couldn't openly discuss organizations like "Immortal Traces," the deaths of Qi Xia and Qingjing were bound to become public knowledge soon. Therefore, Zhang Yuanshan and Jiang Zhwei took this opportunity to inform Meng Qi in advance, so he wouldn't slip up when he first heard about it in front of other monks.

So, Qi Xia was killed for trying to expose the "Cycle World"… Even in the presence of a Dharma Body expert, she was still eliminated? Is the "Master of the Six Realms" so powerful? Meng Qi understood the reason for Qi Xia's death, but the shock waves in his heart did not subside. Who would willingly be controlled? Who would willingly be coerced into completing dangerous tasks to obtain "divine skills and elixirs"?

Even the Dharma Body expert "Dragon Subduing Arhat" couldn't stop the "Master of the Six Realms"?

Jiang Zhwei sighed, "Qingjing also died under mysterious circumstances, the true culprit is truly despicable!"

"Yesterday, I had a doubt, did you notice it, Sister Jiang?" Zhang Yuanshan pondered for a moment before speaking, "When Sister Qi's curse activated, although Master Kongwen said he was too late, he never revealed his Dharma Body power, which is truly unusual. I privately asked Senior Master Xuanyuanzi, who only confirmed the rumors."

Jiang Zhwei pursed her lips, "I noticed that too. After returning to the Chanxin Hall, I asked my master, who only told me to gather information and make my own deductions."

Not revealing the Dharma Body power means it's not yet proven that the "Master of the Six Realms" surpasses the Dharma Body level and reaches the legendary realm of Dao Zun or Buddha. Meng Qi felt a bit relieved but was even more curious about why Master Kongwen didn't reveal his Dharma Body.

"Ultimately, our strength is still too weak, unable to reach higher levels," Zhang Yuanshan sighed sincerely, no longer hiding his previous arrogance—his martial arts were sufficient for his current age.

Only by becoming stronger, stronger, and even stronger, could they gradually escape the "Master of the Six Realms" and avoid dying in cruel missions. But to become stronger quickly, it seemed they still had to rely on the "Master of the Six Realms"...

Jiang Zhwei's right hand moved as if playing a seven-stringed zither, lightly sliding over the sword scabbard. Her eyes gazed at the pale blue sky outside the window, and she said firmly, "Perhaps one day, we will encounter similar situations. At that time, we can only rely on our swords to carve out a path to survival. I offer these words to encourage Senior Brother Zhang."

The two recounted the events of the morning in the Great Hall, except for the matters related to "Immortal Traces" and "Mythical" organizations.

This could only be discussed on the White Jade Square during the next cycle mission; otherwise, if heard by the senior monks in the courtyard, they would certainly be suspected.

Meng Qi slowly finished sweeping the floor. After Jiang Zhwei left, he returned to the courtyard, continuing his "sweeping life," his mind swirling with thoughts, unable to calm down.

After lunch, Meng Qi practiced the "Iron Shirt Heart Method," striving to make the energy he had been infused with his own.

At this moment, Xuanyin rang the small bell in the courtyard, summoning everyone to gather.

"Go sweep the square near the main gate to respectfully see off the laymen from various sects," Xuanyin, looking as if he had been woken from a deep sleep, ordered angrily, muttering, "Has the abbot's brain been eaten by a demon? When did Shaolin need to be so respectful to other sects?"

Meng Qi's heart stirred, guessing the reason. The descendants of Xuantian Sect and the Great River Gang had died tragically in the temple, and Shaolin was in the wrong, so they had to make some gestures.

Everyone quickly gathered with brooms and buckets, divided into areas, and worked enthusiastically.

Due to his "Iron Shirt" and rudimentary internal skills, Meng Qi found sweeping much easier. Several times, he almost wanted to practice the "Eight Steps of the Divine Traveler," but he knew that with so many experts from various sects and the monks seeing them off, if someone noticed his non-Shaolin lightness skills, he would be questioned under the current circumstances.

Amid the tinkling of wind chimes, Zhenyan suddenly pointed to the distance, "Brother Zhen Ding, that's Jiang Zhwei, the winner of this martial arts competition, the successor of the Sword Washing Pavilion."

He was walking closer to Meng Qi and Zhenhui, naturally gathering together after finishing their tasks.

At this moment, the experts and disciples from various sects were walking toward the main gate, accompanied by several senior monks and elders in red robes. Zhenyan pointed to Jiang Zhwei, who was walking behind a man in green.

Pfft, do I need your introduction? We're very familiar, okay! Meng Qi inwardly grumbled in modern language but pretended to be excited, "Oh, that girl! She helped me once when I was sweeping the Chanxin Hall."

"Senior Brother, that's not right," Zhenhui looked at Meng Qi blankly.

Zhenyan, curious, asked, "Brother Zhen Ding, is Jiang Zhwei a very proud and cold woman? I heard that women with good sword skills and high martial arts are often like that."

Meng Qi wanted to show off but ultimately restrained himself, "I don't know. From her help, she seems very easy to get along with. By the way, Little Brother, what's not right?"

Zhenhui frowned at Meng Qi, "Senior Brother, isn't it usually the hero who saves the beauty?"

Get lost! Meng Qi wanted to yell at his silly junior brother.

Zhenyan couldn't help but laugh, knowing that Zhenhui was too obsessed with the various martial arts stories Meng Qi had made up.

The other servant monks began to whisper.

"Is that Zhang Yuanshan from the True Martial Sect? I heard from other senior brothers that he is a famous young expert of this generation, with a bright future in the human list."

"It's him, but I heard he lost to Jiang Zhwei of the Sword Washing Pavilion by half a move yesterday."

"Such a delicate girl?"

"Don't underestimate girls. My mother told me, the prettier the girl, the more capable she is!"

The servant monks, who had various issues, inevitably had some crude remarks.

"Ah, what about a girl? In ten years, she will likely reach the Outer Realm and become a true expert. With her looks and status, she will surely be pursued by many martial arts heroes and be hailed as a fairy," Zhenyan suddenly sighed, "Zhang Yuanshan is the same, a direct disciple of the True Martial Sect, favored by his elders, with an unlimited future. Unlike us, mere servant monks, who don't even have the qualifications to stand beside them!"

"Indeed, let alone standing beside them, just being looked at by them would be enough to satisfy me. In the future, I can boast to my neighbors that I once had a connection with a great hero or a fairy in the martial arts world," another servant monk echoed.

For a moment, the servant monks were filled with envy and resentment.

Suddenly, Jiang Zhwei and Zhang Yuanshan, who were walking, almost simultaneously turned their heads and nodded slightly at Meng Qi.

"Ha, they're looking at me?"

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Who? Who are they looking at?"

The servant monks became excited, discussing animatedly.

Meng Qi exhaled, easing the slightly awkward emotions in his heart, and watched as Jiang Zhwei and the others left.

"In the future martial arts world, they will surely be influential figures!"...

Amid similar sighs, Meng Qi, Zhenhui, and Zhenyan packed up their tools and returned to the servant monks' courtyard.

As they walked, Zhenyan said somewhat sadly, "They are on the ladder to the heavens, while we can't even take a small step out of the servant monks' courtyard. Ah, Senior Brother Zhen Ding, Junior Brother Zhenhui, aren't you sad, aren't you despairing?"

Meng Qi thought to himself, I need to find a chance to leave Shaolin. With the Cycle World, my martial arts might suddenly improve, and staying here would invite suspicion. However, this is not urgent. I currently need a sparring partner of high skill, and leaving Shaolin would make it hard to find a suitable opponent without risking my life—my Iron Shirt is only at the initial stage and is a common skill, so I'm not afraid of being discovered, and there are many excuses to explain it.

Moreover, if I can learn one of the seventy-two special skills during this process, my chances of surviving in the Cycle World will be much higher. Anyway, I will eventually have to leave the mountain.

At this moment, Zhenhui, in his usual silly manner, replied, "Why be sad? Focus on sweeping when sweeping, focus on eating when eating, focus on listening to stories when listening to stories, focus on sleeping when sleeping, why be sad?"

"Huh?" Zhenyan was stunned, not answering, but a light "huh" came from the side.

Meng Qi didn't need to turn his head; his senses, which had greatly improved due to the opening of his dantian and the accumulation of internal energy, had already detected the intimidating presence of Uncle Xuanku and another monk in yellow robes approaching.

"Uncle Xuanku, Uncle Xuanchi," Zhenyan followed the "huh" and quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

After Meng Qi and Zhenhui also bowed, Xuanku nodded, "Zhenhui, go to the martial monks' courtyard tomorrow."

Ah? Except for Zhenhui, who was still confused, Meng Qi and Zhenyan were both shocked.

Xuanchi, with a golden hue to his skin and a sharp, lean appearance, glanced at Meng Qi, "Are you Zhen Ding?"

"Yes, disciple," Meng Qi felt bewildered.

Xuanchi nodded slightly, "You will also go to the martial monks' courtyard tomorrow."

Ah? Meng Qi was also stunned.