Chapter 73

Tao Er stood still, and a group of cultivators from the Hou Manor surrounded him.

Zhu Yi and his two fellow disciples stood shoulder to shoulder. Zhu Yi smiled bitterly, "It seems I have dragged you into this first."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Budian both smiled indifferently.

Suddenly, Tao Er's eyelids lifted, and his previously cloudy old eyes suddenly shone brightly: "It's actually a remnant of the Buddhist sect?"

Tao Er's eyes were like lightning as he looked into the depths of the mountain forest.

A gray-robed man wearing a bamboo hat slowly walked out of the forest, removed his hat, and revealed a shiny bald head. When Xiao Yan and the others saw him, they were all stunned. It was the gray-robed monk who had stopped them in the Chuzhou market.

The three disciples exchanged glances and all felt ashamed. No matter how foolish they were, they now understood that this monk had likely been following them all along.

The gray-robed monk clasped his hands together: "This poor monk is Huikong of the Great Thunderclap Temple. Greetings, Mr. Tao Er."

Tao Er chuckled: "Knowing I'm here, you still dare to show yourself?"

Huikong calmly said: "This poor monk must retrieve the relics of my senior disciples. Even if it means facing a mountain of blades, a sea of fire, or the endless hell, I will move forward without fear."

Tao Er's smile faded, and he nodded: "Since that's the case, you should enter the cycle of rebirth and follow your senior disciples."

With that, Tao Er's fist moved, and his entire body was filled with surging magical power. In the air, a mighty Vajra's shadow appeared. The Vajra glared at Huikong, and a powerful mental pressure spread throughout the area.

Zhu Yi and the others were not his targets, but they all felt their bodies unable to move in the face of Tao Er.

The thin old man's overwhelming strength was revealed in this move, and boundless power erupted from his small frame.

Zhu Yi thought to himself: "No wonder Huang San was so respectful in front of him. It's not out of respect for the elderly, but out of fear, fear of Tao Er's even greater power!"

"Dragon Elephant Vajra Fist Seal!"

Huikong's eyes widened, and for the first time, anger appeared in his gaze.

Because the martial art that Tao Er was using was none other than the secret Buddhist protective art that the Great Thunderclap Temple had once used to awe the heavens.

Tao Er smiled calmly: "Yes, it is the Dragon Elephant Vajra Fist Seal."

"Years ago, Lord Hou led an army to destroy your Great Thunderclap Temple and confiscated your arts and techniques. As war trophies, they were awarded to all the participating soldiers. This old man, though not very talented, managed to obtain the manual for the Dragon Elephant Vajra Fist Seal. After decades of hard practice, I have gained some insight."

"Seemingly, you are very dissatisfied? The monks of the Great Thunderclap Temple deceived the people and endangered the state, and they deserved to be exterminated. However, your arts and techniques should not be lost. They should be learned and used by more suitable people." Tao Er spoke calmly: "Monks who practice arts and techniques may do evil, but the arts and techniques themselves are not wrong."

Huikong stared at Tao Er for a moment, took a deep breath, and said: "Today, I will eliminate you first, and one day, I will settle accounts with Zhu Hongwu, that evil bandit!"

With that, he clasped his hands together, and boundless golden Buddha light illuminated the surrounding forest for dozens of miles.

In the golden light, a majestic and fierce aura erupted, and the shadow of a great roc bird appeared, its wings spreading and stirring up a powerful gale that made everyone stagger. Countless towering ancient trees were blown down by the strong wind.

"Great Roc Golden Wings Blade!" Huikong chanted a Buddhist mantra, and the great roc bird in the Buddha light flapped its wings, sending thousands of light blades toward Tao Er like a golden rain, covering the entire mountain range!

Xiao Yan and Xiao Budian exchanged glances and whispered: "Stronger than the monk who used the relic back then."

Xiao Budian nodded: "Like that old man from the Fire Sword Sect, he's a Golden Core cultivator!"

Facing the torrent of golden light, Tao Er was unhurried. He punched through the light rain, transforming into a Vajra to suppress evil spirits, and his powerful punch seemed to shatter the space around Huikong.

The light rain fell on Tao Er, exploding continuously, but Tao Er, like a Vajra, crossed the sea of suffering, immovable as a mountain, and advanced relentlessly toward Huikong.

In everyone's eyes, Huikong seemed to have become a demonic clown, about to be destroyed by Tao Er's punch and sent to the cycle of rebirth.

Huikong's face changed, realizing he was no match for Tao Er.

This Tao Er, as a Golden Core cultivator, had completely abandoned magic and instead cultivated martial arts and physical techniques to the limit of his current realm.

Both magic and martial arts are forms of power. While martial arts are not as varied as magic, when cultivated to a certain level, they can also have the immense power to move mountains and seas.

In close combat, they are even more powerful.

Huikong took a deep breath, and the shadow of the great roc bird in the golden light merged with his body. Then, he transformed into a beam of light and fled a thousand miles in an instant, escaping Tao Er's attack range.

Tao Er sighed: "Great Roc Wind Technique? I can't kill you today." Huikong left without hesitation, and his Great Roc Wind Technique was the strongest escape technique of the Great Thunderclap Temple, allowing him to travel a thousand miles in an instant. Although Tao Er's cultivation was higher, he couldn't catch up.

Xiao Budian and the others looked bitter. They had hoped that the two would fight to a stalemate, giving them a chance to escape. They didn't expect the battle to end so quickly. Although Huikong hated Tao Er, he immediately fled when he realized he was no match, with no intention of fighting to the death.

This left the three disciples in a difficult position.

After driving Huikong away, Tao Er turned to Zhu Yi and smiled: "Alright, Young Master Yi, let this old servant take you to find the demon who deceived you. Once I deal with him, I will take you back to the capital to report to Lord Hou."

Xiao Yan and the others' faces changed. If possible, they would immediately take Tao Er to see their master and have him beat Tao Er to a pulp. But their master was in seclusion, and if they brought Tao Er, it would disturb him, which would be disastrous.

The three had the same thought and clenched their teeth, remaining silent.

Tao Er was about to say something when he suddenly frowned: "Why are there so many idle people today?"

"That's not right, Mr. Tao Er. If we're talking about territory, this is the land of the Great Qin Empire. You are the guests here," a group of people emerged from the forest, led by Yu Tian, a direct descendant of the Yu family.

Feeling the magical power fluctuations from Tao Er and Huikong's fight, the Yu family's group immediately rushed over.

Tao Er ignored Yu Tian and focused on the last person in the group, the ancient-looking Yue Lao, who was being carried: "Is this the Mountain Yue True Man of the Gigantic Spirit Sect?"

Yue Lao, who had been meditating, stood up and looked at Tao Er, nodding slightly: "Mr. Tao Er of the Xuanji Hou Manor? Greetings, old man."

Tao Er replied: "You are too kind." Then he turned to Yu Tian: "What brings you here, Young Master Yu?"

Yu Tian's gaze fell on Xiao Budian, and he asked the old man beside him: "Are you sure it's this little brat?" The old man nodded confidently.

"I'm here for this little brat today," Yu Tian said. "What about you, Mr. Tao Er?"

Tao Er looked at Zhu Yi and said directly: "I'm here to bring back Young Master Yi. I don't need the others; you can take them away, but I need to find out where their master is and eliminate him."

Yu Tian stared at Xiao Budian, a fierce look flashing in his eyes: "Oh, he has a master? That indeed needs to be eliminated. Does Mr. Tao Er know where he is?"

Tao Er shook his head and then focused on Xiao Yan, whom he had not paid much attention to: "I can't force Young Master Yi, and the little kid is yours, so I won't interfere."

"This black-robed boy is of no use. Just pry open his mouth and interrogate him."

(PS: Thank you to adsssA, Shen Huacong, Xiao Hu 777, Jueying Feitu, Hong Ying Daxian, Tianxia Xuanfeng, Jin Fa Yiqian Wu, and Tianxia Xiaoshuaige for your support. Thank you to Qisha Yu Kanbie, Shen Huacong, and Tianxia Xiaoshuaige for your review votes. Thank you to everyone who has collected, clicked, and recommended this book. Thank you all!)

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