Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

"You get up first."

Chen Zhan stepped forward, reached out to support her, and used his inner energy to lift her up.

"There is still hope in this matter, but you need to calm down and let me explain in detail."

Upon hearing this, Meng Niang felt as if she had grasped at the last straw and quickly stopped crying, but her whole body was still trembling.

Zhao Qingtan also suppressed some of her murderous intent, her gaze falling on Chen Zhan, waiting for his explanation.

Chen Zhan spoke slowly, his tone calm but every word chilling:
“A tiny blood tumor has been implanted in your body. This blood tumor is so small that ordinary doctors cannot detect it at all. It will slowly absorb your essence and blood like a parasite.”

"And in this process, you will not get any illnesses, you will only continue to age until you are exhausted."

"How long you can hold out depends on your own physical condition."

“If you are a martial artist with abundant qi and blood, you might be able to last three to five years. But an ordinary person like you with average qi and blood might only be able to last one or two years.”

"If someone is old, weak, sick, or disabled, and their vital energy is depleted, they will have their essence drained within a few months and die of old age. However, most of these people will not be selected. The five offerings and five incense offerings are a screening process."

Meng Niang's heart sank little by little, and when she heard words like "one or two years" and "die of old age," her whole body trembled violently again.

She forced back her fear and asked in a trembling voice, "Then...can this hematoma be removed?"

Looking into her despairing eyes, Chen Zhan slowly shook his head: "It can be cured, but you will die."

Chen Zhan continued to explain, "The hematoma has long been connected to your heart meridian and has spread throughout your body along the blood vessels, taking root in your meridians like a spider web."

"To completely remove it, it is necessary to affect the heart and the meridians throughout the body. At that time, most of the meridians will be broken and the qi and blood will be dissipated. Even a master of profound understanding will not be able to forcibly repair the meridians and replenish the qi and blood."

The forest fell into a deathly silence.

Only Meng Niang's suppressed sobs and Gu Yu's heavy breathing could be heard.

Zhao Qingtan stood to the side, her face frighteningly cold, and her aura became violent once again.

She had been forcibly suppressing her anger. Such insidious and ruthless methods mostly harm ordinary people; they are no longer considered江湖 (jianghu) tactics.

If this continues, the very foundation of the Song Dynasty will be shaken.

"Brother Zhan, I want to take down this demonic temple!"

Zhao Qingtan gripped her sword, the scabbard creaking slightly from her grip. The killing intent in her eyes was almost tangible as she spoke, word by word.

"Yes, these monks should naturally be killed."

Chen Zhan nodded, his tone resolute, then changed the subject: "But I need to figure something out first."

"Is there anything else you don't understand?"

“The evidence is already conclusive, and besides, given our status, we don’t need evidence at all.” Zhao Qingtan’s killing intent was almost overflowing.

Chen Zhan did not respond immediately. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked up and said:
"You should have realized by now that these monks are using human bodies to nurture blood tumors, and it's not just for the purpose of harming people."

"There must be some kind of evil technique behind this that can transform the absorbed essence into one's own power. Otherwise, it would be impossible for Putuo Temple to have produced so many experts in the Innate Realm and even the Profound Realm in just a few years."

"I still can't figure out what kind of evil technique could achieve this."

Zhao Qingtan also frowned.

The martial arts that absorb internal energy are not uncommon in the martial arts world; the "Northern Darkness Divine Art" of the Free and Unfettered Sect is also recorded by the imperial court.

Ding Chunqiu also possesses martial arts skills and can neutralize the power of others.

However, most of those techniques are extremely domineering and prone to backlash, and are difficult to sustain. But the monks of Putuo Temple not only possess profound skill, but also have an exceptionally calm aura, showing no signs of backlash whatsoever.

And, most importantly!

The martial arts of any school are designed for the general public; there are no evil techniques that target ordinary people.

If there truly were a cultivation technique that could absorb the vital essence of ordinary people, smoothly transform the plundered essence into one's own true energy, and rapidly elevate one's cultivation level...

This is practically trading human lives for the secrets of martial arts!
They treat living people like domesticated livestock, constantly taking what they can from them to nourish themselves.

If this continues, won't Putuo Temple produce countless monstrous masters?

Chen Zhan flipped his hand, and a lustrous relic appeared in his palm. It was pale gold in color and had a faint red glow flowing across its surface.

He is able to absorb blood and qi for his own use, entirely due to his unique blood and qi martial arts inheritance.

Previously, although Han Tiange and others could use special methods to activate the power of the relics, they could only use the blood and qi in the relics to replenish their own deficiencies and achieve the purpose of prolonging life and healing injuries. They had no ability to directly increase their internal energy.

Without his legacy, these monks lacked the foundation for martial arts and practiced only orthodox internal energy cultivation techniques.

Yet they are able to plunder vital essence through blood tumors to enhance their power.
"Brother Zhan, what do you plan to do?"

Zhao Qingtan suppressed her murderous intent and asked in a deep voice.

She understood Chen Zhan's concerns. If they couldn't find out the details of this evil technique, even if they razed Putuo Temple to the ground, there would still be a next time if the technique were to spread.

"It's getting dark, let's go on a night patrol."

"The Murong family has been involved in human trafficking for a long time, and they probably have long been in cahoots with Putuo Temple."

“Those trafficked people may have been sent here to be used as ‘cauldrons’ for nourishing blood tumors, so that these monks could absorb their essence and quickly improve their skills.”

Chen Zhan withdrew the relic from his palm, his gaze sharp as a knife.

Zhao Qingtan nodded, agreeing with this guess.

Gu Yu had already comforted Meng Niang, who had collapsed to the ground, and was now supporting her, listening intently to the two men's discussion with a serious expression.

Chen Zhan looked at Meng Niang and suddenly said, "Meng Niang, we have met by chance. I can try to remove the blood tumor and rebuild your bloodline. However, this process is extremely painful, far beyond what ordinary people can endure. If you are determined, you can live; if you cannot bear it, you may die on the spot."

Reconstructing broken meridians is a matter of life and death, and even top martial artists may not be able to withstand it.

For an ordinary person with no martial arts background, this is tantamount to being slowly sliced ​​to death.

Meng Niang was already desperate, but upon hearing that there was still hope of survival, she cried out, "My lord, please do my best! As long as I can live, even if I am torn to pieces, I will not hesitate!"

Who would choose to die when they can live? Even enduring excruciating pain is better than slowly aging and dying in despair.

Chen Zhan said no more and gestured to Gu Yu to find a flat bluestone so that Meng Niang could lie down on it.

She tore off a piece of silk from Meng Niang's own body: "Put this in your mouth, so you don't bite your tongue to pieces later."

Meng Niang did as she was told, stuffing the silk tightly into her mouth, preparing herself to endure the pain.

Chen Zhan flipped his hand and took out the relic. He gathered a wisp of blood and qi at his fingertips and, using his sword finger as a guide, gently touched the relic.

In an instant, the relic burst forth with a dazzling red light, and a stream of pure, blood-red energy surged from the relic, flowing like a stream along Chen Zhan's fingertips and slowly invading Meng Niang's body.

Under Chen Zhan's control, the Qi and blood flowed slowly along Meng Niang's meridians, avoiding vital points, and finally arrived at the heart.

Under the influence of Qi and blood, the scene within Meng Niang's body was clearly presented in Chen Zhan's perception.

A blood tumor the size of a grain of rice was tightly attached to the side of the heart. Countless crystalline threads, finer than needles, extended from the blood tumor, winding and connecting with the meridians throughout the body, like a dense spider web.

"Hold it in."

Chen Zhan let out a low shout, manipulating his qi and blood to contract sharply, like iron clamps tightly binding the blood tumor.

The hematoma seemed to possess a spirit. Sensing the threat, it immediately began to struggle violently, trying to break free from the shackles of Chen Zhan's qi and blood. However, Chen Zhan's qi and blood were extremely domineering, and it could not budge it in the slightest.

The next moment, Chen Zhan had a thought, and the blood and qi wrapped around the blood tumor suddenly pulled outward!

"Ugh—!" Meng Niang trembled violently, her whole body arching up instantly like a boiled shrimp.

A large amount of fine sweat instantly soaked his hair, his face was as pale as paper, and his features were distorted due to extreme pain.

The moment the hematoma was severed, the crystalline threads connecting the meridians were also torn off, resulting in the ripping of numerous meridians.

Excruciating pain swept over her entire body like a tidal wave, almost causing her to faint.

Without pausing, Chen Zhan immediately increased the output of Qi and blood from the relic. A massive amount of crimson Qi and blood continuously poured into Meng Niang's body, on the one hand to make up for the Qi and blood loss caused by the rupture of her meridians and to maintain her vitality.

On the other hand, some of the Qi and blood are diverted to gradually repair the broken meridians.

If severing a meridian is an instantaneous, intense pain, then the pain of repairing a meridian is a long and prolonged torment.

The flow of qi and blood through the broken meridians was like using a scorching hot iron to iron the wound; every inch that was repaired caused Meng Niang excruciating pain.

She let out a muffled and terrifying whimper, her fingernails digging into the bluestone, carving out several shallow marks.

Zhao Qingtan and Gu Yu stood aside, watching Meng Niang's miserable appearance, their hearts growing even colder.

Before long, Meng Niang's meridians had been repaired to almost complete size.

The blood tumor attached to his heart had long been refined by the pure blood and qi controlled by Chen Zhan.

Her convulsions gradually stopped, and she looked as if she had just been pulled out of the water, her hair and clothes soaked in cold sweat and clinging to her body.

His unfocused gaze slowly focused, revealing a clarity born of relief after surviving a catastrophe.

Not only did she survive, but Chen Zhan also replenished the blood and energy that had been depleted by the hematoma using relics.

He turned misfortune into a blessing, and even became several years younger.

She struggled to get up and say thank you: "Thank you so much, sir, for saving my life."

Chen Zhan waved his hand, his expression indifferent.

The consumption of vital energy from the relic was negligible to him.

"You should leave the island as soon as possible and find a quiet place to recuperate."

"Guyu, you will have to make another trip to escort Mengniang off the island. After that, immediately dispatch the elite Dragon God Guards from the vicinity to provide support. This matter involves many people, so inform the Zhoushan government office to prevent any leaks."

Gu Yu knew the importance of this matter and dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately nodded in agreement: "Disciple understands."

After saying that, he carefully helped Meng Niang leave.

Chen Zhan and Zhao Qingtan circled the entire island for about an hour before nightfall completely enveloped Putuo Island.

The mountain wind grew increasingly cold and howled, like the wailing of wronged souls.

Lights flickered in the guest room area on Putuo Island, as many pilgrims seeking medical treatment or prayers chose to stay overnight.

However, these guest rooms are all located outside the temple area. Putuo Temple has always prohibited outsiders from staying overnight, a rule that has remained unchanged for many years.

Chen Zhan and Zhao Qingtan exchanged a glance, then moved simultaneously, stealthily heading towards the back mountain like two ghosts.

Instead of taking the regular stone steps, they deliberately chose to walk through the shady parts of the forest, their feet moving very lightly, landing silently without disturbing even the surrounding fallen leaves.

The five thatched huts that had previously been used by the monk doctors for treatment were now empty.

This Putuo Temple looks quite large, with several Buddhist halls in the front hall occupying most of the area, decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and exuding a magnificent aura.

The backyard area, however, was unusually simple, with only a few low monks' quarters and a vegetable garden, and no other buildings.

The two sneaked into the backyard with almost no effort. Along the way, they did not encounter the powerful experts they had met during the day, and there were very few ordinary monks guarding the area, making it seem exceptionally deserted.

They split into two groups, each searching for a while near the monks' quarters and vegetable garden, but found nothing, not even a soul.

Chen Zhan's gaze swept over a dimly lit monk's room, and he slipped inside in a flash.

Inside the room was only a young monk of about twenty years old, whose cultivation was at the lower level of the Innate Realm. He sensed someone intruding and was about to shout when Chen Zhan struck his acupoints from a distance, rendering him unable to move.

Chen Zhan stepped forward, lightly touched the little monk's brow with his fingertip, and instantly cast the Soul Transfer Technique.

The deep voice carried a hint of allure: "I'm asking you, answer truthfully. How did you acquire this Innate Realm power?"

This young monk has already reached the Innate Realm at such a young age, which is obviously not something he achieved through hard work alone.

Affected by the Soul Transfer Technique, the young monk's eyes immediately became unfocused, and he murmured, "It was... it was Master Zhiyuan who taught me... He said I had good aptitude, so he directly transferred his power to me..."

"Where does Zhiyuan live?" Chen Zhan pressed.

"No...don't know..."

"Master Zhiyuan rarely shows his face, and no one knows where he lives..."

The little monk shook his head.

Chen Zhan asked several more questions about the whereabouts of the temple's experts, but the young monk knew nothing about them.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qingtan had also finished exploring the other areas.

Nobody was there; it was deserted.

After they met up, they both saw confusion in each other's eyes.

Where did those powerful martial monks, the red-robed monk, and the monk Zhizhen go during the day?

It's impossible that most of the monks would live outside the temple; that doesn't make sense.

"Let's go and take a look at the front hall," Chen Zhan said in a deep voice.

The two stealthily made their way through the scattered patrolling monks and soon arrived at the front hall area.

The main hall stands in the center, covering a vast area, with side halls such as the Guanyin Hall and the Ksitigarbha Hall on the left and right sides.

Strangely, this important area was unusually deserted, with not a single monk guarding it.

The night was dark and the wind was strong; a cold wind blew in from the direction of the mountain gate.

The candles inside the main hall flickered slightly as the wind blew, casting distorted shadows on the walls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Several copper coins and a lot of unburnt incense sticks were still scattered on the altar, indicating that many worshippers had come to pray for blessings during the day, but there was not even a monk tidying up at the moment.

"Is nobody going to do anything about this?"

Zhao Qingtan frowned, her tone filled with doubt.

It is highly unusual that the main hall of a Buddhist holy site was so poorly secured at night.

"Have you noticed that Putuo Temple looks completely different at night compared to during the day?"

"Indeed, during the day it is solemn and dignified, with incense burning brightly, but at night it is eerie and chilling."

"Moreover, this season shouldn't have such a strong, chilling atmosphere," Zhao Qingtan said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the wind outside the hall grew even stronger, howling as if countless wronged souls were crying.

A sudden gust of wind blew open the door to the main hall. The candlesticks swayed a few times in the wind and fell to the ground with a clatter, extinguishing the candle flames instantly.

"咚咚-"

The extinguished candlestick rolled across the smooth floor, stopping only in front of the golden Buddha statue. (End of Chapter)