Chapter 38

Just as he finished speaking, Tang Shun suddenly quickened his pace, charging like a mad bull towards Qi Zhengyan and Meng Qi, who were still standing.

Although his martial arts were the weakest among the four great masters, he was still a formidable expert at the Enlightenment stage. Qi Zhengyan did not dare to be careless. He circled his long sword, creating a round arc, like the setting sun, forming a watertight defense, intending to stabilize the situation first. With Meng Qi's cooperation, they could drag until Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan finished healing and joined the fight.

He was not without experience in battling Enlightenment stage experts. Whether it was sparring in the sect or missions at the Hidden Emperor Castle, he had faced opponents who had only opened the Eye Meridian. Therefore, he was confident in his own rigorous and steady Long River Sword Technique. Even if victory was hopeless, he could still buy some time. Moreover, he had now learned part of the "Thousand Changes and Cloudy Mist Thirteen Postures," which he had hidden within his sect's sword technique, making it unpredictable and potentially capable of injuring Tang Shun and weakening his strength.

At that time, even if Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan could only exert two or three-tenths of their strength, relying on the subtlety of their sword techniques and the advantage of numbers, they still had a chance to repel Tang Shun or hold out until the main mission was completed.

Meng Qi roughly guessed Qi Zhengyan's thoughts. He unfolded the Eight Steps of Divine Speed, flashing to the side and delivering a slash, coordinating quite well.

Just as Qi Zhengyan and Meng Qi's moves were about to end, Tang Shun suddenly lunged forward, actively colliding with the sword tip, as if committing suicide!

Oh no!

This abnormal change raised Qi Zhengyan's alertness, but Tang Shun's eyesight was extremely accurate, and his timing was exceptionally precise, leaving him no time to retract his sword and change his move. He could only shift his body, collapse his chest, and contract his abdomen.

Thud! The long sword hit like a defeated leather, making a dull sound. Meng Qi's overhead slash, due to Tang Shun's sudden lunge, only cut his back, tearing his clothes and leaving a white scar on his dark skin.

A fierce palm wind struck, and Qi Zhengyan's long sword was forced out of his hand, sending him flying. Blood spurted from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.

Hardened body techniques?

A perfect Iron Shirt?

Meng Qi dodged backward and then strangely lunged to the left, evading Tang Shun's casual strike after sending Qi Zhengyan flying, his heart filled with shock.

For so many days, he had relied on his Iron Shirt to launch attacks, using speed to overwhelm, and trading minor injuries for major ones, achieving smooth victories. Now, however, he faced a terrifying opponent with an even stronger Iron Shirt and higher martial arts!

A flush of red appeared on Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan's faces as they interrupted their healing, picked up their long swords, and prepared to join the battle.

After landing, Qi Zhengyan struggled to stand up. Although he had avoided the vital points in time, Tang Shun's strength was formidable, and he was seriously injured.

Facing this terrifying enemy, Meng Qi could only move around, relying on the Eight Steps of Divine Speed to barely hold on. The gap between them was too great; otherwise, Meng Qi would have chosen the strategy he used against Zhen Miao.

Now, although Meng Qi's steps were bizarre, his movement space was gradually being compressed by Tang Shun. It wouldn't be long before he had nowhere to run.

"Miss Jiang and Senior Brother Zhang will be here soon..." Meng Qi gritted his teeth, fully focused on dodging. Under such pressure and danger, he seemed to have a deeper understanding of the essence of the Eight Steps of Divine Speed.

"Ha!" At this moment, Tang Shun suddenly exhaled, his voice like the sound of bells and drums.

Buzz! Meng Qi immediately felt his ears ringing, his heart floating, his vision blurred, his limbs weak, and his steps slowed.

Slap! Tang Shun took advantage of the opportunity, his right palm striking Meng Qi's back.

Meng Qi's vision went black, his back numb, and he soared into the air. His body made a popping sound, and blood spurted from his mouth.

The intense pain woke Meng Qi as he landed, just in time to see Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan, one attacking and one defending, intercepting Tang Shun.

Resisting the urge to faint, Meng Qi forced himself to regulate his breathing. The thick Shaolin internal energy slowly circulated, like a clear spring, alleviating his discomfort and stabilizing his injuries.

"The injuries aren't severe..." Meng Qi assessed his condition, "But my Iron Shirt is completely broken..."

Due to Tang Shun's palm being hit by the side attacks from Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan, and Meng Qi's Iron Shirt being at a small level, he only suffered light injuries and the failure of his Iron Shirt, retaining his Qi Accumulation stage strength.

But without the Iron Shirt, Meng Qi's strength had dropped by at least seventy percent!

...

In the Great Hero Hall, the sound of the wooden fish drummed continuously, creating a solemn and quiet atmosphere.

Xin Ji sat cross-legged before the golden Buddha statue, calmly striking the old wooden fish, as if performing his daily routine, not showing any signs of a great enemy approaching.

"Xin Ji, you have indeed grasped some Zen meaning," a figure slowly walked through the "curtain" formed by the rain dripping from the eaves, entering the Great Hero Hall. It was the Great General Duercha!

He wore a black robe of the barbarian tribe, his left eye, which Jiang Zhewei had blinded, wide open, revealing a terrifying darkness and emptiness.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't persuade you to lay down your sword," Xin Ji stopped the wooden fish and said calmly.

Duercha snorted, "Slaying all beings is the way to Buddhahood!"

As he spoke, a fierce wind rose in the Great Hero Hall, extinguishing the candles one by one.

Xin Ji remained calm, striking the wooden fish again, reciting solemnly:

"O Sariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness, neither born nor destroyed..."

Suddenly, a blue light emerged from his left palm, accompanied by the sound of Zen:

"Neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing..."

The Buddha light gathered on Xin Ji, making him resemble a solemn Buddha statue. Together with the golden statue behind him, one small and one large, one real and one illusory, one moving and one still, they formed an indescribable scene.

Duercha's expression turned serious, "You actually used so many relics."

He swung his right fist, and a fierce wind condensed into a dragon in front of him, while lightning struck the hall's roof.

"... No suffering, no origin, no cessation, no wisdom, no attainment." Xin Ji's left palm struck out, the Buddha light growing intense, with the fierce gaze of a Vajra.

...

Meng Qi sprang up like a carp, searching for his flying ring knife and observing the battle between Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan. He noticed Qi Zhengyan picking up his long sword, standing there hesitantly.

Zhang Yuanshan excelled in defensive techniques, while Jiang Zhewei's sword technique was sharp and fierce. One defended, the other attacked, temporarily holding off Tang Shun.

Under normal circumstances, with their current conditions, Tang Shun could break through Zhang Yuanshan's defense with a few attacks. However, at critical moments, Jiang Zhewei's "White Rainbow Piercing the Sun" sword technique, like a venomous snake emerging from its den, would strike at his vital points, forcing him to abandon his attack and switch to defense, giving Zhang Yuanshan a chance to catch his breath.

If he wanted to defeat Jiang Zhewei first, he couldn't break through Zhang Yuanshan's sword momentum.

Seeing this, Meng Qi felt secretly pleased. Qi Zhengyan shouldn't hesitate. With his and Qi Zhengyan's help, Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan could firmly hold off Tang Shun until the mission was completed.

Just as Meng Qi found his ring knife and was about to join the battle, Zhang Yuanshan's body suddenly trembled, and his sword momentum slowed.

Oh no, his injuries can't be suppressed!

This thought flashed through Meng Qi's mind just as he saw Tang Shun seize the opportunity, slapping Zhang Yuanshan's long sword away and kicking him in the side, sending him flying.

The sound of Zhang Yuanshan's ribs breaking was clearly audible. After landing, he spurted blood, trying to stand but failing, in a critically injured state.

Without his defense, Jiang Zhewei faced Tang Shun directly. In just a few moves, due to her unstable injuries, lack of strength, and reduced agility, Tang Shun found an opportunity, using his left palm to block a sword strike, closing in, and using his right shoulder to push her away.

Jiang Zhewei's clothes fluttered, her teeth clenched, but blood gushed from the corners of her mouth. Despite this, she still gripped her long sword, using it to prop herself up, barely standing.

"Very skillful in unloading force..." Tang Shun paused, admiring her, "Unfortunately, you can't even fight a child now..."

He looked around, seeing the injured and weakened, feeling secretly pleased, and laughed loudly, "Your martial arts are extraordinary, clearly from a distinguished lineage. Why not teach me, and I'll let you die more easily, okay?"

He looked at Jiang Zhewei, "You, young lady, are so beautiful, the best I've ever seen. If not for the Great General's order, I might have shown mercy, hehe. I especially like strong, seemingly fierce women. If I take you to bed, I wonder if you'll beg for mercy..."

Jiang Zhewei was extremely angry, but her injuries made it difficult for her to speak, and she could only gasp for breath.

Tang Shun, while speaking, approached Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan, facing Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan, intending to use words and pressure to force them to reveal the secrets of their skills.

Actually, he had a unique method for interrogation, extremely cruel, but Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan were severely injured and close to death. If he used this method, they might die before revealing anything.

"You, little monk, what are you looking at? Your martial arts are ordinary, and your strength is low. Hmm, I'll kill you first," Tang Shun decided to set an example, choosing Meng Qi, who had the least value for interrogation.

Meng Qi cursed loudly, but his heart was strangely calm, constantly thinking of ways to respond.

Although he knew the hope was extremely slim given the strength and conditions of both sides, he did not collapse, trying to grasp that sliver of hope.

"Use the Eight Steps of Divine Speed to dodge... strike his vital points..." Meng Qi watched Tang Shun approach, preparing to make a desperate move.

"If I don't fight, I'm doomed to die. I might as well go all out!"

Tang Shun smiled and walked towards Meng Qi, his eyes on Jiang Zhewei and Zhang Yuanshan, waiting for them to yield.

"Little monk, should I start by breaking your left hand, or your right leg? Or do you want to be castrated first?" Tang Shun chuckled.

Just as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly froze. A white light blossomed in Qi Zhengyan's hand, growing brighter and more intense, illuminating everyone and striking the unprepared Tang Shun.

Amid Tang Shun's roar, the sound of thick cloth tearing echoed. Then another white light shot from Qi Zhengyan's hand, even more dazzling and fierce, piercing through Tang Shun's right palm and hitting his chest.

"Mother-Child Soul-Parting Darts?" Meng Qi vaguely recognized them, remembering the Tang Sect's famous darts from a novel he had read.

However, he didn't have time to think. His planned attack became instinct, and he dodged, crouched, and rolled, thrusting his long knife from below, piercing Tang Shun's lower abdomen.

Meng Qi twisted the knife, and blood rained down, steaming hot.

He didn't dare to continue, discarding the knife and rolling away to avoid Tang Shun's dying counterattack.

Tang Shun's惨烈的叫声在后山回荡，如同孤狼泣月，似恶鬼哭坟。

惨叫渐渐变低，Tang Shun双眼圆睁地软倒，胸口扎着一只奇形飞镖，下身血肉模糊。

发射“子母离魂镖”后，Qi Zhengyan仿佛站都站不稳了，跪倒在地，大口喘气。

“他什么时候兑换的‘子母离魂镖’？哪来的善功？”Meng Qi抹了把脸上污血，“难道他把自身的浣花剑派武功统统兑换了？”

翻页上AD开始

翻页上AD结束

(Translation of the last part:)

Tang Shun's惨烈的叫声在后山回荡，如同孤狼泣月，似恶鬼哭坟。

Tang Shun's惨烈的叫声在后山回荡，如同孤狼泣月，似恶鬼哭坟.

The惨烈的叫声 gradually faded, and Tang Shun, eyes wide open, collapsed, a strange-shaped dart piercing his chest, his lower body a bloody mess.

After firing the "Mother-Child Soul-Parting Darts," Qi Zhengyan seemed unable to stand, kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath.

"When did he exchange for the 'Mother-Child Soul-Parting Darts'? Where did he get the merit points?" Meng Qi wiped the blood from his face, "Did he exchange all his Huahua Sword School skills?"

翻页上AD开始

翻页上AD结束

(Note: The last two lines are placeholders for ads and are not part of the story.)