Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 229 Xuanci Entrusts Her Son to Someone
The five elders of the Beggars' Sect are all top-notch masters in the martial arts world, and most sect leaders would find it difficult to match them. If the five of them joined forces, even top masters like Xuan Ku and Xuan Nan from Shaolin Temple might not be able to withstand their attacks. Everyone around them could see how powerful each of them was.
Unfortunately, Murong Fu's greatest skill was dealing with people who were weaker than him.

He hadn't mastered the Shifting Stars technique, so he couldn't handle opponents of the same level, let alone challenge those of a higher level. However, when facing opponents slightly weaker than himself, he could easily crush them, especially when surrounded or engaged in group battles.

Xiao Yuanshan could see the intricacies involved, and Xiao Feng also vaguely understood them, but how could ordinary people discern them? They only felt that Murong Fu's martial arts skills and knowledge were so high that they were almost unbelievable. Many people whispered among themselves, discussing whether Murong Fu could be considered the best in the world.

Xuan Ci and the other members of the Xuan generation, who were the most skilled in martial arts, were able to see the reason behind it.

Xuan Ci beckoned a few monks with his eyes, took a few steps back, and said in a low voice, "Today, the Beggar Clan is likely to lose all face. We Shaolin cannot lose face with them. When Murong Fu wins, Junior Brother Xuan Ku will immediately challenge him. That kid will definitely not dare. Then Junior Brother Xuan Ji will force him. That kid will lose face and dare not face Xuan Ku. He will most likely take the opportunity to challenge Junior Brother Xuan Ji. Junior Brother, do you know what to do?"

Xuanji nodded and pushed his palms out slightly: "I used the One-Slap Two-Scatter Palm to knock him down in one move! Let him work for nothing, gain fame, and only to benefit my Shaolin!"

Several monks of the Xuan generation nodded repeatedly, but then Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "Brilliant plan! As expected, it's not that you're bald or poisonous, and you're not bald if you're not poisonous. Those bald monks are really ruthless!"

The monks were shocked and turned around, only to see Jiang Mingzhe squatting down to the side in a very open manner. He had put his face mask back on at some point and was tilting his head as if listening intently.

It should be known that the battle between Murong Fu and the Five Elders of the Beggars' Sect was a spectacular battle that was rarely seen in the martial arts world in recent years. Everyone inside and outside the square watched with bated breath, and even the monks of Shaolin were completely focused. No one noticed that Jiang Mingzhe, relying on his superb lightness and internal strength, actually imitated the Japanese Sakuragi-kun in public and carried out the spy act of eavesdropping on the opponent's tactics!

Xuan Ci was so angry that he almost fainted. Xuan Ji's face was ashen. He turned his palms in a circle from the outside in and slammed them towards Jiang Mingzhe. A vast wave of palm force surged forth.

Jiang Mingzhe jumped up, his internal energy instantly reaching its peak, and he struck out with both palms, his spirit and blood energy bursting out along with his internal energy.

When the four palms met, a muffled thunderous boom resounded, and the shockwave swept up the robes of the old monks.

Xuanji flew out without uttering a sound, his head tilted back, his eyes tightly closed, his face as white as gold paper.

Jiang Mingzhe absorbed countless internal forces today, especially the two monks Xuanbei and Xuanjue. Not only were their internal forces completely drained, but a lot of what appeared to be life force was also absorbed. At this moment, he felt extremely energetic. He sent Xuanji, the number one palm striker in Shaolin Temple, flying with a single palm strike. Yet, he was still not satisfied. He raised his arms horizontally like two pestles and spun around to unleash the move "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies".

The monks were shocked and attacked in unison, unleashing the Xuanci Vajra Fist, the Xuanku Demon-Subduing Palm, the Xuannan Universe in the Sleeve, the Xuanyin Maha Finger, and so on, without holding back their strength.

The two collided, and several monks staggered and fell backward. Xuan Yin, whose skill was slightly weaker, even fell down and slid away, while Jiang Mingzhe only swayed slightly.

At the same moment, Xuan Shi let out a low roar and was knocked back by Xiao Feng's palm. Immediately afterwards, Xiao Feng and Duan Yu picked up the four captured little monks with their hands and left using their lightness skills.

Jiang Mingzhe laughed loudly, leaped away, his figure twisting and turning in the air as if flying through the air, and flew for seventeen or eighteen zhang before gracefully landing next to Xiao Yuanshan.

Xuan Ku and Xuan Nan trembled violently, while Xuan Yin coughed up a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He scrambled to his feet, saying, "This man's demonic arts are astonishing; he grows stronger the more we fight. Why didn't he take the opportunity to kill us earlier?"

Xuan Ci's face turned ashen, and he said miserably, "He wants to ruin my reputation so that Xiao Yuanshan can get his revenge... Junior Brothers Xuan Ku and Xuan Nan..."

After thinking for a moment, he summoned Xuan Shi and Xuan Du and whispered, "The survival of Shaolin today is uncertain. I have a very important matter to ask of you four!"

He spoke these words not as the abbot, but as the senior brother. Xuan Ku and Xuan Nan looked sad and said in unison, "Senior brother, please speak. We junior brothers will obey your decree."

Xuanci said, “The four of you, led by Junior Brother Xuannan, should immediately take twenty close disciples of the Hui generation and forty disciples of the Xu generation to the Sutra Repository, take the intact secret manuals, and quietly leave the temple from the back mountain to Shaolin Temple in Fujian. Seek the protection of Uncle Lingzhi, and when the opportunity arises in the future, return to Mount Song and rebuild Shaolin…”

As he finished speaking, his voice trembled with emotion, and his eyes were filled with tears. The four monks, including Xuan Nan, were also deeply grieved. Xuan Du wept and said, "This humble monk will not leave. This humble monk is already wounded; I shall fight to the death!"

He had been hit three times by Kumārajīva's Flower-Picking Finger technique, and was exhausted from fighting despite his injuries. Logically, it would have been more appropriate for those who were uninjured and younger to leave.

Xuan Ci's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Xuan Du and said, "The abbot has given an order, how can I disobey? Junior brother, you go! Go and pick a few disciples to take with you!"

Xuan Du suddenly realized what was happening and subconsciously looked at Xu Zhu not far away, then at Xuan Ci.

When Xu Zhu was confused, it was he who spoke up to comfort him, and Xuan Ci could tell at a glance that the two had a good relationship.

Xuan Du exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be... could it be... Ah, well, senior brother, don't worry. As long as I'm alive, I will definitely keep my disciples safe."

Seeing that he understood, Xuan Ci smiled with relief, but the smile was filled with bitterness. He said sadly, "In my life, I have many regrets, many regrets. Junior brothers, take good care of yourselves!"

Having said that, he pushed aside the four men, stepped forward, and shouted, "The demonic path is rampant! Today they want to destroy Shaolin and the Beggars' Sect, but who will they destroy tomorrow? The Demon King Jiang's demonic arts are overwhelming; he sucks people's inner strength and life essence. If we don't kill him, you will all be fish on his plate! Fellow disciples, Shaolin may be destroyed, but the righteous path must not be destroyed! Sacrifice yourselves to protect the righteous path today! Follow this old monk and kill!"

His words were spoken with a tragic tone, which inspired all the Shaolin monks. Those who could stand struggled to their feet and followed the abbot as he charged forward.

Xu Zhu was moved to tears and shouted, "Sacrifice yourself to protect the Dao! Sacrifice yourself to protect the Dao!" He picked up a stick from somewhere and rushed forward.

Xuan Du pulled over a disciple of the Hui generation, flicked his finger behind Xu Zhu's neck, and pushed him towards the Hui generation, saying, "Hui Lun, carry your disciple on your back and come with us!"

While a large group of Shaolin monks charged out with shouts, a small group of monks silently entered the Vajra Hall and went against the flow.

Jiang Mingzhe didn't notice Xuan Ci's subsequent arrangements. After he leaped back to his original spot, Xiao Feng and Duan Yu arrived. They put down the four young monks, and Xiao Feng waved his hand, releasing their pressure points. Three of them cried out in unison, "Brother Jiang/Brother Jiang, I was wrong!" The other bowed his head and said, "Brother Xiao, thank you for saving me."

The man called Brother Xiao hurriedly looked at Jiang Mingzhe: "Young Master Jiang, no, brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, please don't blame the three of them. We met them on the road. When Azi heard that I was coming to Shaolin to steal the book, she was worried and insisted on coming with me. Sister Mu also wanted to protect me and Azi. Later, we met Zhong Ling, who boasted that she was the best at thievery, so I brought them along..."

When Xiao Yuanshan saw that A'Zhu's eyes and tone were full of affection when she called Xiao Feng, he was secretly pleased and said with a smile, "A few silly girls want the Shaolin Temple's secret manuals. Let Feng'er come and ask this old man for them!"

A'Zhu quickly curtsied: "This humble woman, A'Zhu, greets Uncle Xiao! However, what I seek is not an ordinary manual, but the most powerful martial art of Shaolin, surpassing even the Seventy-Two Arts. It is not kept in the Sutra Repository, but rather in the Bodhi Courtyard..."

"Bodhi Temple also has martial arts manuals?" Xiao Yuanshan was taken aback. He had been hiding in Shaolin Temple for thirty years, yet he was unaware of them.

I was just about to ask: Then why did you go to the library again?

Suddenly noticing Ah Zi's darting eyes, he immediately realized: Oh dear, they must have succeeded at the Bodhi Temple. This cunning little girl thought she couldn't leave empty-handed, so she went to the Sutra Repository...

Just as they were about to ask for details, they suddenly heard Xuanci deliver a sorrowful speech and lead the Shaolin monks to charge forward without regard for anything else.

(End of this chapter)