Chapter 55

In the early days, Master Fayuan had his three disciples take turns guarding the mountain gate. It just so happened that it was the turn of the multi-armed bear Maotai. He learned that Qin Lang and Wei Kan were dueling in the forest west of the Yellow Dragon Palace under the guise of sparring, so he left his post to watch.

Zhizhong led his four disciples up the mountain. Just as they reached the gate of the Yellow Dragon Palace, they heard shouts and curses coming from the western forest. He called out to his eldest disciple Huiming, “Go and see who is making such a commotion!”

Huiming stepped forward, and with each step, lotus flowers bloomed beneath his feet. Golden lotus flowers carried him swiftly to the edge of the forest, where he saw four people dueling. He recognized two of them as disciples of his great-uncle Master Fayuan. One was Uncle Qin Lang, a familiar face who often visited Ciyun Temple, and the other was the newly initiated multi-armed bear Maotai. The two they were dueling with were a young man in his early twenties and a boy around six or seven years old. Without hesitation, Huiming shouted, “Uncle, don’t worry, I’ll help you!”

Qin Lang had entered the sect earlier and had the highest level of cultivation. He possessed the Red Spider Sword, which, when released, formed five red threads that looked like fine silk but were extremely aggressive.

Wei Kan had studied under Liu Quan for many years. His sword technique originally came from a side school, but he later practiced the Taiyi Sword Technique for three years on Mount Maoshan, making rapid progress. He was on par with Qin Lang.

Initially, the two were evenly matched. However, Wei Kan used the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword left by the Pure Yang Immortal. With a single breath, it transformed into a golden light about ten feet long, resembling a dragon, darting up and down. At first, Qin Lang could still hold his ground with the number of swords, but later he left three swords to defend the front while the other two flanked Wei Kan from the sides. The idea was good, but his three Red Spider Swords were no match for the Pure Yang Immortal Sword. With a crack, the central red thread broke into two pieces!

Seeing his master's flying sword destroyed, Qin Lang was enraged and directed the remaining four red threads to converge and attack.

Wei Kan did not expect to break the other's flying sword. In a moment of shock, the four red threads had already converged. It was too late to defend, but fortunately, Situ Ping was there to support him. He promptly released the Jukui Sword, forming a circle of light around Wei Kan's body. The light circle suddenly expanded, and with a series of clinks, red sparks burst forth, and the Red Spider Swords were all deflected.

Seeing his senior brother's flying sword broken, Maotai, who was also indignant, saw that Situ Ping had already joined the fray. He released his Chiyin Sword and shouted, “Don’t bully the young with the many!” His Chiyin Sword also formed a red thread, aiming at Situ Ping's chest.

Situ Ping parried with his sword, and Wei Kan, having recovered, shouted at Qin Lang, “You shameless scoundrel! You dare to use lethal force on me! I only held back because of Uncle Fayuan, keeping ninety-nine percent of my skills hidden. Any one of them could have beaten you to a pulp!” He had narrowly escaped death, knowing that if Situ Ping had not acted in time, he would have been torn apart by the swords. Enraged, he attacked Qin Lang with all his might. With five sword lights, Qin Lang was already at a disadvantage, and now with only four, he was even more outmatched, retreating repeatedly.

When Huiming entered the forest, he saw Qin Lang and Maotai being pressed by the other two. Sword lights flew, circling and darting, cutting small trees into pieces, and broken branches and leaves fell like rain.

Huiming, the eldest disciple of Zhizhong, had entered the sect when Grandmaster Taiyi was still alive and had about eighty years of cultivation. Known as the Great Vajra Iron Palm Monk, he struck with a golden Buddha palm as large as a millstone, which fell on Situ Ping's head like a mountain. If Situ Ping had been hit, he would have been crushed to a pulp. Fortunately, he had learned martial arts from a young age, and though he was young, his skills were not weak. He silently gathered the Five Elements True Qi, resonating with the Five Elements Qi of the universe, and used the Wood Escape technique, his body being dragged backward as if by an invisible rope.

“Boom!” Huiming's palm struck the ground, sending dust and broken branches flying, creating a palm-shaped pit over half a foot deep.

Huiming's first strike missed, and he used his large hand to grab Situ Ping. Situ Ping flew his sword, and a burst of golden light from the giant Buddha palm caught the sword. Situ Ping tried several times to free the Jukui Sword, but it struggled in vain.

Huiming used the Vajra Demon-Slaying Hand to grab Situ Ping's flying sword and stored it in his sleeve. He then released another large hand.

Situ Ping, having lost his flying sword, knew he could not resist and shouted, “The demon monk is powerful, Brother Wei, let’s go!”

Wei Kan, however, was not willing to admit defeat. Relying on his powerful flying sword, he spat a breath of true qi onto it. The Pure Yang Immortal Sword hummed and flew out, colliding with the light hand. With a “pop,” the giant hand scattered into a shower of golden light.

Seeing his spell broken, Huiming was startled. When he saw the golden light of the Pure Yang Immortal Sword coming at him, greed appeared in his eyes. He shook his monk's robe and disappeared, using an invisibility technique to approach Wei Kan.

Wei Kan, being quick-witted, immediately recalled his flying sword to block Maotai's Chiyin Sword.

Qin Lang had calmed down and realized that both sides were from the same sect. Even if he had accidentally broken the flying sword, it would not lead to a life-or-death struggle. He stopped and wanted to find Master Fayuan to resolve the matter. However, Maotai, not knowing when to stop, pursued relentlessly with the Chiyin Sword. After Huiming came to his aid, he became even more arrogant, manipulating his flying sword to transform into a red thread several dozen feet long, attacking Wei Kan from strange and difficult angles.

Wei Kan knew he could not resist the three of them, especially the powerful monk. He decided to retreat, grabbing Situ Ping, and the Pure Yang Immortal Sword transformed into a golden ribbon, wrapping around both of them, and they flew toward the Xiantian Pavilion.

Liu Quan was in the Xiantian Pavilion. Wei Kan wanted to find his master for help, but their sword light was blocked by an invisible force field. They tried several directions but could not escape. Huiming reappeared above them, holding a lotus lamp. With a gentle shake, the air around them caught fire. Wei Kan used his sword to protect himself, and Situ Ping used his magic to control the fire, but their power was far inferior to Huiming's. They were enveloped in a large ball of fire, their hair and beards singed, and their skin cracked.

Huiming laughed loudly in the air, “Boy, the Buddha has a word of advice for you. Hand over that immortal sword, and the Buddha will let you go. Otherwise, the Buddha will burn you to ashes!”

Wei Kan shouted, “You audacious demon monk! How dare you cause trouble at the entrance of our Wutai Sect! If you don’t release us, my master will come down and crush you all!”

Huiming was taken aback, thinking, “How do these boys claim to be from the Wutai Sect?” He looked at Qin Lang and Maotai. Before Qin Lang could speak, Maotai said, “What Wutai Sect are you from? Your master might not even be part of the Wutai Sect!”

Huiming, hearing this, assumed their master was a stray immortal from some remote mountain, taking advantage of the decline of the Wutai Sect to claim it as their own. He spat another breath of essence onto the lotus lamp, making the fire burn even more fiercely.

Qin Lang shouted, “Nephew Huiming, stop! These two are indeed from our Wutai Sect. Although they are arrogant and ignorant, they should be taught a lesson, but not killed.”

Before he could finish, a golden light descended from the mountain, accompanied by a shout, “Demon monk, dare to harm my disciples!” Liu Quan, sword and body as one, flew down headfirst, his sword like a rainbow, aiming directly at Huiming.

Huiming, recognizing the danger, knew he could not resist and quickly disappeared, but he still controlled the fire to burn Wei Kan and Situ Ping.

Liu Quan, flying his sword, first took out the Green Mirage Bottle from Zhongnan Mountain. He recited the true incantation, pointed, and a five-colored light emerged from the bottle, capturing the fire. It was sucked into the bottle like a whale drinking water.

Although Wei Kan and Situ Ping had the Five Elements True Qi protecting their bodies, they were still burned, with most of their hair turned to ash, their clothes torn, and several places on their chests and backs charred, even exposing blackened bones. Both were poisoned by the fire and staggered to Liu Quan, their eyes rolling back, and they fainted.

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