Minglong

Chapter 188 When the mind is free of thoughts, one is invincible (8k)

September 13th, Fengyi River.

The sun rose slowly, and its rays shone on the shimmering inland river.

Nangong Ye, dressed in a black dress, sat upright beside a small table, holding a plaque in her hand. Her face was frosty, revealing her usual aloof and sharp demeanor.

The reason for this was that after returning from the Imperial Observatory yesterday, she had been living in fear and anxiety, and would tense up at the slightest sound on the street.

This kid really knows how to torment people; he didn't even come over last night!

As for why she didn't come, she knew the reason in her heart—the "adding fuel to the fire" pills were all gone, and she couldn't refine them that day. If she came back that night, wouldn't that be like asking her mistress for pleasure? That would be too offensive to her…

But you could at least have said something.

Nangong Ye knew that Xie Jinhuan's actions were correct. Without the antidote, she shouldn't have expected this boy to come. If he had actually come, she should have been angry.

But I just felt inexplicably annoyed...

It seems my Dao heart is truly impure...

If you are unhappy, it means you have been bewitched by your inner demons and have completely succumbed to their influence.

Therefore, we must remain calm and praise this child for not coming over to eat and take things...

As he pondered this, Nangong Ye placed the two medicine bottles into a small wooden box and carved the following on the lid:
Zhengzhengxia

A bottle contains twelve pills. Each stroke represents an antidote completed and also signifies that Xie Jinhuan endured the agony of being burned alive.

She ran out of medicine last night, but instead of pushing the boy away, she made up for the favors she hadn't received before; she didn't want to owe anyone a favor...

The count is necessary because the effectiveness of the "Life-Generating Tiger Pill" depends on luck; if you don't keep track, you'll never remember how many times you've been detoxified.

If the box is full of carvings and she hasn't untied it, then she can't continue.

She couldn't let the child suffer in vain, nor could she let this situation continue indefinitely...

After an unknown period of time, in such a state of utter confusion, a noise came from outside:

dong dong dong~
"Honghong?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Nangong Ye put away the wooden box, took a deep breath to suppress his distracting thoughts, got up and went to the window, his phoenix eyes devoid of emotion or desire:

"Is the medicine ready?"

"not yet."

"Then what are you doing here?"

Xie Jinhuan, dressed in a white robe with a long spear slung over his shoulder, smiled brightly.

"I just finished refining it this afternoon. I'll come over tonight to detoxify you. I'm having a duel with the eldest disciple of Fanyun Temple later, do you want to go watch?"

Nangong Ye is the head of Zihui Mountain Sect, how could he not go and see?

However, if she were to sit in the stands, and this young man discovered that she was actually an elder, his Dao heart would probably shatter on the spot. Therefore, he could only observe her in secret.

Nangong Ye considered for a moment and replied:
"I'm not going, I have something to do later."

Xie Jinhuan was slightly disappointed, but he didn't say anything. He leaped into the window and looked at the large ice block that was as tall as him:
"So you appreciate my sentiments? Like giving me some encouragement."

Nangong Ye took a half step back, his eyes serious:

“We agreed that I would only suffer with you when the poison is cured. Now that there is no medicine, our relationship is as clear as water. You cannot have any ulterior motives.”

Xie Jinhuan moved a few steps closer: "Are you angry because I didn't come last night?"

Nangong Ye stepped back: "I didn't, don't overthink it."

"is it?"

As you advance and I retreat, Nangong Ye ends up leaning against the wall, his eyes radiating an imposing aura, but clearly he can't do anything about this kid.

Xie Jinhuan braced himself against the wall with one hand, his imposing aura beginning to look down on her:
"If I just leave like this, I'll feel empty inside. What if my Dao heart isn't clear and I lose the arena and get injured?"

As the head of Zihui Mountain, Nangong Ye was terrified that Xie Jinhuan would make a mistake, but Xie Jinhuan was now Mu Yunhong, and the competition shouldn't have anything to do with her...

“If you just play well, how could you possibly get injured? You…”

Seeing the kid slowly approaching, Nangong Ye didn't know whether to dodge or not, so he could only resign himself to sticking against the wall, showing a little disgust, and looking out at the autumn scenery.

Kiss kiss kiss...

Xie Jinhuan ate, took, and kissed to his heart's content before finally stopping, completely satisfied.
"I've received your encouragement, I'll be going now."

"..."

Nangong Ye leaned against the wall, afraid of dampening Xie Jinhuan's fighting spirit, and couldn't resist. After the figure left, she closed her loose robe, quickly changed into a Taoist robe, transformed into a heartless and desireless female sword immortal, and headed towards the Imperial Observatory...
-
The autumn sun shines brightly.

Behind the Eight Directions Bright Pagoda, several seats were set up. On the right were Dan Ding Sect cultivators, and on the left were monks from Huguo Temple.

The newly appointed supervisor, Wu Zheng, sat in the central chair, stroking his goatee, and looked at a pillar on the steps:
"This master is really tall, why don't you sit down?"

"...?"

There was complete silence on either side.

Only the monk Jingkong, who was very good at comforting people, helped with the debate on scriptures:

"Supervisor Wu's words may not be a misreading, but rather he is referring to all of you present, who are pillars of society. In the conflict between Taoism and Buddhism, only this house will suffer..."

Wu Zheng calmly turned his gaze to the abbot of Fanyun Temple:

“Master Jingkong’s insights are profound. I also have some understanding of Taoism and Buddhism. Buddhism emphasizes ‘letting go,’ while Taoism emphasizes ‘taking over’…”

Chattering away.

The abbot of Fanyun Temple, with his kind and gentle face, couldn't quite maintain his composure.

But Wu Zheng, though blind, was not stupid; he simply cracked jokes to ease the tension between the two sides.

As Ye Sheng's youngest disciple, Wu Zheng's status in the cultivation path was actually much higher than that of the two groups on the left and right. Neither side dared to disrespect this hapless fellow, so they patiently listened to the lecture while keeping their eyes on the martial arts arena.

The training ground was a hundred feet square, surrounded by high black stone walls to prevent stray arrows. The loess soil was very flat, and the staff of the Imperial Observatory would often practice and test their skills here.

Although sectarian disputes are irreconcilable, spreading them would be detrimental to the stability of the orthodox path. Therefore, such disputes are usually resolved internally, with the Imperial Observatory acting as the notary. Only astronomy students and a few onlookers are present around the venue.

As a well-known busybody, Prince Dan was certainly here today. During the mourning period, he dared not be too conspicuous, but instead hid in his room, secretly placing bets with the playboy.

Princess Changning, dressed in mourning clothes, also looked out from the window of a nearby building, with Naiduo and Dameiqiu beside her, their eyes full of anticipation.

Linghu Qingmo was a little nervous, after all, this competition was 'Xie Jinhuan standing up for her,' which was tantamount to making their relationship public...

As for the two members of the Lin family, Lin Wanyi, being a witch, dared not come; Zisu, relying on her status as a top student of Danyang Academy, mingled among the students from the Imperial Academy who had come to watch the commotion.

This battle was to resolve a dispute between two gangs, and it didn't have much of an impact. But in reality, it was a contest between Taoists and Buddhists.

The Buddhist community had just arrived in the Central Plains and its foundation was not yet solid. If Fanyun Temple failed to capture Danyang, its momentum would inevitably be dampened in the future.

If Zihui Mountain fails to defend its title, and with Fanyun Temple leading the way, other prominent Buddhist sects will naturally begin to propose "co-governance by Taoism and Buddhism" and move into various mountain strongholds.

The atmosphere between the two sides was quite tense, with Zhang Guan eagerly awaiting Xie Jinhuan's arrival.

The abbot of Fanyun Temple turned his prayer beads, feeling a little uneasy.

After all, Xie Jinhuan was too popular, and he was unstoppable.

Buddhist monks are at a disadvantage when fighting martial artists, lacking a clear advantage. Their strength is only half a grade higher, making it unreliable.

Even with a celestial artifact, and Xie Jinhuan being this powerful, does he not possess any such items?

If someone were to pull out the Zheng Lun Sword and unleash the 'Slaying Immortals Formation,' the most powerful magical weapon of the Daoist sect, combined with the most powerful thunder magic of the Daoist sect, even a first-rate Buddhist sect would risk their life to receive it.
The good news is that Xie Jinhuan doesn't know how to do this yet.

The bad news is that Xie Jinhuan doesn't need this thing either.

After a long wait, the sound of horses' hooves rang out from outside the grand archway of the Imperial Observatory.

Hoof-tapping hoof-tapping...

Everyone turned to look and saw a young man in white robes carrying a long spear, riding a fiery red horse, galloping in from the side of the Eight Directions Bright Pagoda.

A white robe fluttered in the wind, a long spear pointed diagonally at the ground; though he was alone, he displayed the imposing presence of a lone rider charging into battle.

At first glance, it looked like a white-robed god of war, spear in hand, coming to slaughter the Imperial Observatory...

On the Eight Directions Illumination Pagoda, Lu Wuzhen stood with one hand behind his back, and upon seeing this imposing aura, nodded slightly.
“The younger generation is truly formidable. When I was a teenager, I was always filled with trepidation in such situations, and I dared not show even the slightest bit of my talent.”

The monk Wuxin stood beside him, leaning on his staff, and nodded slightly.
You were definitely more likable back then than you are now.

Nangong Ye, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood by the side window, exuding an imposing aura that seemed to freeze the world, but compared to the two sect leaders who had returned to simplicity, he still showed a clear difference.

Seeing this young man enter with a spear, exuding arrogance, Nangong Ye was quite approving, but he also had some doubts in his heart:

This young man clearly possesses an extraordinary air about him, and his speech and manners are usually gentle and refined. Why is it that once he enters the boudoir, he acts like a smug and self-satisfied rogue from the martial arts world...?

His lewd words were so offensive and infuriating, yet he was utterly helpless, not to mention his indiscriminate and shameless behavior...

Sensing that his Dao heart was unstable, Nangong Ye's eyes immediately regained their coldness, and he simply stood by with one hand behind his back, quietly observing.

Hoof-tapping hoof-tapping...

The chestnut-red steed quickly arrived at the tower.

Xie Jinhuan glanced at the eight-story tower, then his gaze fell on the several people seated below. He dismounted, drew his spear, and saluted.
"Junior Xie Jinhuan greets Supervisor Wu and all the seniors."

Wu Zheng, his eyes brimming with smiles, his gaze seemingly fixed on nowhere, stroked his beard and praised:

"Swift as a shooting star, startling the sun and moon; hoofs kicking up dust, a proud wolf soaring through the sky! What a magnificent display! It's been many days, young friend Xie, you are still as unforgettable as ever..."

?

Both the Taoist and Buddhist groups turned their attention to each other.

Xie Jinhuan was not surprised at all. After bowing respectfully to the Eight Directions Pagoda, he began his speech directly:

"This junior has long admired Linghu Qingmo, the direct descendant of the Nangong Sect Leader of Zihui Mountain. I happened to hear that Fanyun Temple was preparing to establish a temple in Danyang, and there has been some dispute between the two sides. Therefore, I volunteered to take on this task. If I succeed in this battle, I hope that Senior Uncle Zhang will give me another opportunity. If I am defeated, I hope that you seniors will not laugh at me..."

Upon hearing this "marriage proposal," Linghu Qingmo's face flushed red. He wanted to hide, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Nangong Ye was somewhat dazed; his icy gaze remained unchanged, but his thoughts had already drifted off to who-knows-where.

Both sides have actually discussed the issues behind the challenge; what's happening now is just polite talk.

Zhang Guan, with an air of otherworldly wisdom, smiled and replied:
"Nephew Xie, just do your best. With the previous event of jointly slaying the demon in Yunling County, regardless of success or failure today, you will be an honored guest of Zihui Mountain."

The abbot of Fanyun Temple also spoke gently:
"Today's matter will be handled impartially by the Imperial Observatory. Regardless of victory or defeat, there will be no personal grudges. Young Master Xie, you may go all out."

Xie Jinhuan was actually still looking for the Buddhist master who had attacked him, but just one glance at the abbot of Fanyun Temple was enough to confirm that it wasn't him.

After all, the abbot of Fanyun Temple was quite fat and was also two or three inches shorter.

The black-clad superhuman who attacked him was not a demon, and therefore did not conceal his true nature, which allowed the ghost wife to discern his sect.

Among the various schools of thought, only the demonic path can alter one's limbs, and they have developed methods such as 'bone shrinking and tendon hiding' in order to conceal their abilities; the Buddhist path is steady and pragmatic, and there is no need for them to hide their heads and faces, so even the highest-ranking disciples cannot change their body shape so drastically.

Xie Jinhuan scanned his surroundings again but did not find any similar figures. He did not say anything more and stood in the square to wait.

Upon seeing this, the abbot of Fanyun Temple slightly raised his hand:
"Mingwu, go."

After he finished speaking, the yellow-robed monk, who was nearly thirty years old, performed a Buddhist salute, took the vajra from the abbot's hand, and walked down the steps. He was broad-shouldered and had a very robust figure. He walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and his aura was quite stable.

Xie Jinhuan moved like a javelin, his nine-foot silver blade pointing diagonally at the ground. He glanced at the newcomer, initially observing his demeanor, but then heard a commotion coming from the steps:
"Abbot Jinghai, is what you gave your esteemed disciple the Vajra Pestle left behind by Bodhisattva Yu Nian?"

"It seems to be..."

"This……"

The five Taoist priests from the Dan Ding sect present were all furious when they saw the Buddhists using magical artifacts to fight.

The abbot of Fanyun Temple responded calmly:
"The Vajra Pestle is an heirloom of our Chan Meditation Sect. It is in accordance with the rules to hand it over to a disciple. My Fanyun Temple has no objection to your sect sending an outsider to the appointment. My Fanyun Temple will also have no objection to giving a junior a celestial artifact from the Dan Ding Sect."

"..."

Zhang Guan and the others glared angrily, but they were truly speechless after being rebuked.

After all, Zihui Mountain sent its unmarried son-in-law to fight, and if things got out of hand, it certainly wouldn't be as justifiable as Fanyun Temple sending its disciples to use their own sect's magical artifacts.

However, all immortal artifacts come with unique 'attributes'. The Purple Mountain Zheng Lun Sword borrows the power of heaven and earth to double the power of thunder magic, making it impossible to defeat someone of the same realm. One must be one rank higher to achieve a draw.

The same applies to the Vajra Pestle. It almost ignores defense. A touch from a celestial weapon will leave a hole, and a single strike will leave a hole in the body. What can a normal person use to fight it?

As for giving Xie Jinhuan the same item, that's even more absurd.

The entire Daqian Dao Sect possesses only two immortal artifacts: the Zhenglun Sword of Qixia Zhenren and the Yin-Yang Ruler passed down by Ziyang Zhenren.

Even if the Zheng Lun Sword were still there, Xie Jinhuan would only be able to use it like a cow chewing on a peony, treating it as a piece of iron.

Needless to say, the Yin-Yang Ruler is used to restrict Yin or Yang, forcibly isolating the Qi of Heaven and Earth, preventing opponents from drawing upon the power of Heaven and Earth.

Below the highest level, one cannot rely on the power of heaven and earth. Dealing with the enlightened monk is like casting pearls before swine; one can only use an iron ruler to smash a vajra pestle.

After this battle, Lu Wuzhen's Dao Heart will probably collapse!

To be a mere first-rank official, to fight against a second-and-a-half-rank official, and to be wielding a special weapon from the Zen Meditation Sect—that's utterly shameless.

Nangong Ye was so angry that he forgot all his other thoughts and turned to look at the two sect leaders:
"Senior Brother Lu, is this in accordance with the rules?"

Lu Wuzhen put one hand behind his back, paused for a moment, and nodded:
"Disciples of the Chan meditation school use the ancestral ritual implements of the Chan meditation school, which is in accordance with the rules."

"According to custom, the Dan Ding Sect should provide its disciples with equivalent magical artifacts for combat. If we cannot produce one, it is because the Dan Ding Sect lacks sufficient resources, not because we require our opponents not to use one."

Nangong Ye couldn't produce any immortal artifacts, because this was a contest between Taoism and Buddhism. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"Senior Brother Lu, could you lend Xie Jinhuan the Yin-Yang Ruler?"

"..."

As the sect leader, Lu Wuzhen was put on a pedestal whenever the Buddhist sect brought out their family heirlooms, making them reluctant to let the younger generation use them, which greatly diminished his reputation.

But the Yin-Yang Ruler is useless below the highest grade. Using it as a short stick to fight against a Vajra Pestle will either break it or cause its durability to drop drastically...

Lu Wuzhen paused for a moment, then took out a ruler, white on one side and black on the other, from his sleeve:

"Thank you, young friend. Please lend me this."

swoosh~
The ruler flew like a streak of light to Xie Jinhuan's side in an instant.

Xie Jinhuan didn't react much when he saw the other party take out a celestial artifact. After all, he also had celestial artifacts. The Vajra Pestle was similar to the Heavenly Mace; it became stronger when faced with a stronger opponent, with no upper limit to its power, but also no lower limit. If used improperly, it would just be an iron rod.

Xie Jinhuan came here today to test the gun. The other party has a powerful weapon, so he will just be cautious and switch weapons if there are any difficulties. So what is the point of him having this gun?
Xie Jinhuan did not accept the small ruler sent by Sect Leader Lu, but merely lightly flicked the tip of his spear:
"This spear was a gift from the King of Pills. It has never seen blood. It is an honor for this spear to be able to fight against something left behind by Bodhisattva Yu Nian in its first battle."

Lu Wuzhen looked surprised and withdrew the Yin-Yang Ruler.
"Nephew Xie is very courageous. If any weapons are damaged today, I will repair them for you."

Xie Jinhuan didn't say much, but took the two weapons off his waist and stuck them into the yellow earth.

Wipe it off~
Then, lightly armed, he walked to the opposite side, his feet slid apart into a bow stance, his left hand dragging the spear, his right hand gripping the butt of the spear, assuming a wide and sweeping spear stance. His entire demeanor became solemn, like an immovable dragon!
The earthen training ground under the autumn sun is silent as I ride down.

All eyes of the experts were on the two of them. Wu Zheng stroked his beard and nodded slightly.
"Impressive stance!"

"Can Lord Wu see it?"

“Whether it moves or doesn’t move, it’s still distinguishable. But now, it’s as if you’ve disappeared.”

"Oh……"

……
-
Huhu~
The autumn wind whipped up dust, which drifted between the two men facing off.

The monk Mingwu held a vajra, his body as still as a pine tree. At first, holding the sacred instrument, his mind was as calm as still water.

But seeing the white-clad warrior opposite him, who was as steady as a dead body, he suddenly understood why so many demons had perished at his hands in recent days.

Judging from his demeanor alone, this child is flawless, inspiring only a sense of caution and making it almost impossible to even think of launching a preemptive attack!

The area around the training ground was completely silent; everyone held their breath until a commotion erupted from the training ground.

Call ~
Huhu~
……

Xie Jinhuan held the spear's butt in his right hand, the nine-foot silver blade weaving through his palm. The straight spear transformed into a snake, its one-and-a-half-foot tip becoming its fangs, gleaming with a chilling light under the autumn sun. It seemed to pierce the air as it advanced and retreated, yet suddenly stopped just as it was about to unleash its power.

Han Quan stared intently at the yellow-robed monk ten feet away, trying to discern the subtle flow of the other's aura.

As the chief disciple of Fanyun Temple, Mingwu was also a highly accomplished monk of the Chan school. His body was as steady as a rock, and he quietly waited for the moment when the snake's fangs would come to him.

Unfortunately, what stood before him was not a snake, but a dragon!

Boom——

Almost as everyone held their breath, Xie Jinhuan stomped his foot heavily, leaving a dent in the loess field.

Then, his figure shot forward to the right like a ferocious tiger leaping through the forest, tearing the ground with his energy and raising clouds of dust.

Boom boom boom——

Everyone's gaze shifted rapidly, and even the monk Mingwu turned around repeatedly as if facing a formidable enemy.

The result was that the yellow dust tornado that was raging in the training ground drew an equilateral triangle around Monk Mingwu without any hesitation!

After three consecutive surprise attacks, they were instantly back in the same spot!

Unlike before, the roar of the energy had not yet dissipated, and the billowing yellow dust was already being swept up by the aftershocks of the energy, spreading outwards and obscuring everything around Monk Mingwu.

After Xie Jinhuan stopped abruptly, he vanished without a trace, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Seeing this sudden outburst, both Monk Wuxin and Lu Wuzhen showed a hint of surprise in their eyes. Lu Wuzhen said:

"Fortunately, the monk Mingwu was holding the vajra, which forced Xie Jinhuan to take a difficult path."

"Otherwise, with such momentum, without needing any other moves, twelve consecutive 'Black Dragon Strikes the Pillar' strikes would be enough to sweep away Mingwu. Even the Immovable Vajra Zen could not withstand it, and they have already lost."

The monk Wuxin nodded, not denying the statement.

As the training ground was suddenly shrouded in smoke and dust, everyone knew that the next shot was about to break through the sea, but they hesitated to fire it.

The oppressive atmosphere created a sense of dread in the training ground, as if one knew a thunderclap was about to explode in their ears, but did not know when it would happen, forcing them to be on high alert.

The people in the room were under the most pressure.

The monk Mingwu was ready to act, his gaze fixed on the spot where Xie Jinhuan had last disappeared, while constantly sensing his surroundings and searching for his location, a bead of sweat slowly rolling down his forehead.

The sudden, unpredictable burst of full power rang out from the side and behind:

Boom——

All the crowd saw was a yellow earth tornado that pierced through the towering sand and dust from ten feet away, and in the blink of an eye it appeared behind the yellow-robed monk, with a chilling light at the very front!
"upbraid--!"

At almost the same time, the monk Mingwu roared, his robes billowed and golden light flowed all over his body, and he transformed into an immovable Vajra, with golden phantoms surrounding him.

Xie Jinhuan, wielding a nine-foot-long spear, unleashed his full power to the extreme, giving his opponent no chance to react. The one-and-a-half-foot-long silver blade pierced through the golden bell phantom and struck the monk's robe!
block--

Amidst the resounding clang of metal clashing, the monk's robe ripped to pieces, revealing the silver-threaded soft armor beneath!
The soft armor was supported by the immovable Vajra Zen, and it did not sink or penetrate, but only brought out a few sparks!

After deflecting the impact, the monk Mingwu immediately spun around and used the tip of his vajra pestle to strike the gun barrel. However, Xie Jinhuan instantly pulled away like a snake and disappeared back into the billowing yellow dust he had just stirred up!

The two exchanged blows in the blink of an eye, but Zhang Guan slammed his fist on the table in anger and shouted:
"Have you no shame? Buddhist monks wear soft armor?"

The abbot of Fanyun Temple spoke in a calm tone:
"Thank you for wearing it too, Benefactor."

"Can this be the same?"

Zhang Guan was so angry that he wanted to take action on the spot, as did Nangong Ye and the surrounding Taoists.

After all, the signature supernatural power of the Zen school is the "Immovable Vajra Zen". Once it is unleashed, one is like a Vajra from head to toe, with the head being the hardest part, making it very difficult to break through the defenses of the same level.

The first-rank monk from Fanyun Temple was capable of defeating a second-rank monk, and he wielded a vajra, which could kill with a single blow.

Xie Jinhuan's only way to win was to take a risky gamble, firing several shots in succession to hit a single spot and break through the defense.

Now that Xie Jinhuan is wearing a top-tier soft armor to increase his margin for error, he can no longer afford to damage his torso. The only way to win is to 'pierce' his eyes from the front.

The monk Mingwu blocked with his arm, and the gun came and struck. Isn't that just cheating?

But before the argument was over, the commotion in the room started again!

Xie Jinhuan drew his spear and disappeared into the yellow dust, only to find that the iron turtle was harder than he had imagined. He also changed his mind about using the "Demon in the Smoke" combo to break through the defense. He slid his feet apart, and the nine-foot-long spear slid to the side along his right hand until the tip touched the ground.

Rub~
The faint sound of a gun piercing the ground immediately drew everyone's attention, silencing the noisy stands.

Rub rub rub~
The spearhead sliced ​​across the yellow earth, leaving a semi-circular arc in its wake!
The monk Mingwu could only vaguely make out the figure through the swirling yellow dust: feet spread apart, spear held back, body like a fully drawn bow, one hand gripping the butt of the spear, then shoulders hunched high.
hum~
A surge of energy erupted!

The spectators felt a terrifying divine power suddenly rise from the smoke and dust, causing the surrounding dust to gather several inches towards the center, and then:

"drink--"

The roar was like a dragon's cry from the heavens!
The force instantly dispersed the sand and dust, and then the power rose from the ground. The muscles in his shoulders and back bulged, and as the spearhead left the ground, the nine-foot-long spear had already broken into half a crescent!
The force of the energy dragged the loess and the sand and dust in the sky, as if a long dragon was being pulled up from the loess land with a single hand!
Boom——

The nine-foot-long spear, carrying the power to split the heavens and earth, cleaved forward, tearing the ground in front of it and creating a groove two zhang wide.

It split in two amidst the swirling sand and dust, resembling a yellow dragon falling to earth and crashing into the vast martial arts arena!
Monk Mingwu could hardly believe that a martial artist of the second and a half rank could unleash such power comparable to a super-rank martial artist. The yellow dragon, carrying sand and dust, arrived in an instant and immediately let out another shout:
"upbraid--!"

His body then transformed into an angry Vajra, the golden bell phantom around him was instantly shattered, his monk's robe was riddled with holes, and pebbles struck his body, even sparks flew.

But the monk Mingwu remained completely still, as if he were using his six-foot frame to withstand a storm powerful enough to destroy everything in his path!

But this move is both the beginning and the end!

Boom——

Xie Jinhuan slammed his spear into his opponent in front of him. As the spearhead landed, his legs stomped, leaving a crater more than ten feet deep. Holding the spear in both hands, he pierced through the yellow dragon he had brought with him. The spearhead pierced the air, and the sharp whistling sound was terrifying and made those with low cultivation levels around the martial arts arena tremble with fear!
Sa——

Upon seeing this lightning-fast move, Lu Wuzhen and the monk Wuxin knew that they had finally grasped the essence of the technique.

The reason why the name "Immovable Vajra Zen" is "immovable" is that the body and mind are as still as a mountain. Once it is used, one is almost immune to weapons and evil spells that disturb the mind.

Secondly, the supreme yang energy permeates the whole body, forming a domineering body, similar to Xie Jinhuan's "Panlong Henggang". When forcibly enduring injury, the limbs are filled with energy, leaving no room for movement. The Vajra Zen effect is even stronger, making one an iron man.

Although this action leaves no fatal flaw, once a person cares too much about something, the place where that thing is located becomes a fatal flaw!
Xie Jinhuan unleashed two powerful consecutive attacks, almost chasing after Huang Long's momentum, before crashing into the monk Mingwu, who was nine feet away.

Facing the mighty spear that seemed to carry the power of the vast ocean and the heavens, the monk Mingwu crossed his arms in front of him, transforming himself into an immovable deity, holding the vajra in his right hand.

This move did indeed block the first attack, but he clearly didn't expect Xie Jinhuan's second shot to come out so quickly!

Xie Jinhuan pushed his physical strength and energy to the limit, and his spear, as sharp as a dragon's tooth, struck the Mingwu monk's wrist joint with perfect accuracy as the raging yellow dragon crashed into him!

Boom——

The extremely sharp silver blade, a foot and a half long, landed on the golden flesh that was not protected by soft armor. Even with its full strength, it only pierced half an inch into the flesh.

But that's enough to determine life or death!
The monk Mingwu's energy channels and tendons were instantly severed, and his right hand immediately showed some of its original skin color.

Realizing Xie Jinhuan was about to knock the weapon away, Monk Mingwu immediately sheathed his Vajra Zen and tried to snatch the sacred object with his left hand, but at that moment:
Sa~
Xie Jinhuan completely ignored the Vajra Pestle, drew his spear at lightning speed and thrust it forward, passing through the gap between his arms, aiming for his throat!
But at the last moment, the gun stopped abruptly!

The nine-foot-long spear only drew a drop of blood from the throat.

chap——

The vajra fell and stuck in the ground.

The training ground fell silent, with only the chilly autumn wind stirring up dust.

Whew…

The monk Mingwu's left hand, which was reaching for the vajra, hovered in mid-air, while his right hand was bleeding profusely. His gaze was fixed on the spearhead pointed at his throat, his whole body stiffened, and even his breath stopped.

The Immovable Vajra Zen can be controlled at will, but if the spearhead is within three feet, he can only choose between the weapon and his life.

If he chooses to save his life, the Vajra will surely be taken away, and he will die in a single blow.

The time it took for the weapon to be grasped and the Vajra Pestle to be enough for the Roaring Dragon Spear to pierce the throat.

Either way, I'm going to die!

Xie Jinhuan paused for a moment, then straightened up, withdrew his spear, and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"If something is taken away by the opponent and you can't resist it, you shouldn't put it in front of the opponent. This applies to everything, not just divine weapons, but to anything you care about."

"Without this weapon, you are focused and flawless, which would take me 25 minutes; with it, you are preoccupied and unable to focus, so I only need three shots. You are too kind."

A clear voice rang out, but the training ground remained silent.

After a long pause, the enlightened monk Mingwu finally composed himself and performed a Buddhist salute.
"Teachable."

A round of applause also came from the stands:
clap clap clap...

Wu Zheng gazed at the motionless Mingwu monk, his eyes filled with approval:

"Look at Xie's demeanor. Even after winning, he remains humble and composed, and even understands some Buddhist principles..."

"?"

Apart from the abbot of Fanyun Temple, the people seated on both the Taoist and Buddhist sides were mostly of the first or second rank. They were all shocked to see that Monk Mingwu had fallen after being shot three times.

But it's clear to anyone with eyes that the eldest disciple of Fanyun Temple and Xie Jinhuan, a "Wandering Scholar of Fengling Valley," are not on the same level. A weapon can give them an advantage, but it can't change the gap in their hard power.

Zhang Guan hadn't expected it to be so difficult, yet Xie Jinhuan still won so decisively. After regaining his composure, he was overjoyed, stroking his beard in admiration:

"No wonder martial arts follow the path of balance. It is said that what determines one's level is not one's strengths, but one's weaknesses. What use is it to be tough and thick-skinned like an iron turtle? When you encounter a martial artist who only practices 'killing techniques,' there are a hundred ways to pierce through a turtle's shell."

"Yes, soft armor and a vajra..."

……

The abbot of Fanyun Temple had guessed that they might lose, but he never expected the defeat to be so decisive and without any explanation. Although his expression wasn't very pleasant, he still responded:

“These are not disciples of your Zihui Mountain or disciples of the Hidden Immortal Sect. They are all trained through countless trials before they can leave the mountain. None of them are ordinary people. It is only natural that my Fanyun Temple cannot compete with them.”

"Heh, just admit defeat if you lose..."

……

Meanwhile, commotion arose in the surrounding buildings as people realized what was happening.

Lin Zisu had dreamed of being a female knight-errant since childhood, and began cheering with a group of young ladies:

"Thank you, my love! Thank you, my love..."

"As expected of Empress Guo's concubine..."

"Handsome and fierce, if I had a man like that, I'd be ecstatic..."

……

On the Eight Directions Bright Pagoda, Nangong Ye was initially very nervous, but upon seeing the result, he was not surprised at all.

After all, aside from being a bit of a rascal, this kid has never disappointed in any other way...

……

In a nearby building, Princess Changning saw her trusted general wielding the weapon given to her by her father, fighting so beautifully, and she felt a sense of pride in him.

"Qingmo, this is a marriage proposal to Zihui Mountain. They fought so well. How can you not give them a reward tonight?"

Linghu Qingmo was overjoyed to see her boyfriend crush his opponent, but her expression froze upon hearing these words.

After all, from now on, Xie Jinhuan can touch and kiss people with the consent of his elders, which is perfectly legitimate!

She's pregnant; they'll probably have to get married as soon as possible...

What to do...

Linghu Qingmo was about to speak when he suddenly heard a mournful wail coming from a distant house:
"Ah—! How could he fall after only three shots? Isn't this a first-grade weapon?! I had inside information about the Vajra Pestle, so I mustered my courage and fired ten shots... Ah—it's all over..."

???

The crowd, who were enjoying the sights, turned to look at the wailing, only to see the Crown Prince of Dan hitting his head on the ground, in unbearable pain.

Because all the playboys thought Xie Jinhuan was more formidable, they all bet on him to win, so the betting odds were based on the number of times Xie Jinhuan would make a move.

His Highness was already very bold, but he still underestimated Brother Xie's fighting power and suffered a complete loss.

Princess Changning, upon discovering that her unruly younger brother had inside information and had secretly placed bets, only to lose, immediately frowned and ordered her servants to carry him out to avoid further embarrassment...

---

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(End of this chapter)