Meng Qi took a light breath, tightened his grip on the “Whisper” in his right hand, his fingers clenched tightly, his palm slightly damp with sweat, just like the first day he had ever held a blade. At a moment of life and death, even the strongest mental fortitude couldn’t avoid uneasiness. Once the battle began, there would be no room for compromise. For a demon like Benbo’erba, ferocity often overpowered rationality.
Yet, if he didn’t fight, he would be placing his hope on the intangible luck—praying that there were no monsters inside the temple, praying that none appear before their return. His survival would no longer be in his own hands. But if he seized this narrow chance, though slim, it would be a chance he could strive for, something tangible. Even if he died, he would have no regrets!
Jiang Zhiwei walked unsteadily toward the Mahavira Hall, sword in her left hand, her mind calm, waiting for Meng Qi to strike first.
She believed Meng Qi would definitely make his move before she entered the Mahavira Hall, because if there were monsters inside, wouldn’t it be a waste of the Grand Replenishing Pill?
Ruan Yushu’s expression remained cool, yet the five fingers of her left hand, hidden behind the guqin, had already tightly gripped its edge.
Benbo’erba tightly gripped the plaque of the “Great Thunder音 Temple,” holding a steel fork, his full attention fixed on the entrance of the Mahavira Hall, terrified that some horrifying monster might suddenly appear.
Jiang Zhiwei gradually approached Meng Qi, who stood ahead. Meng Qi closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them, his grip on the blade unusually firm.
But just then, a terrifying aura suddenly surged from the entrance of the Mahavira Hall, immense and imposing, as if the sun had descended or the moon had fallen from the sky. The vast space near the temple trembled violently. Meng Qi felt his body and mind shudder, as if burdened with a thousand catties of weight, unable to move even an inch.
What was this… Meng Qi’s thoughts slowed. He saw a monk stepping out, wearing tattered saffron robes. His skin had turned dark gold, his face like withered wood, bare-chested, neither born nor suffering, having severed all afflictions.
With every step he took, the void trembled as if on the verge of collapse. Golden lotuses bloomed around him, yet they were tainted with wisps of black qi, devoid of any sacred hymns.
Jiang Zhiwei was also pressed down by the monk’s aura, unable to move, as if bound from all directions. Ruan Yushu, with lesser cultivation and an unhealed injury from her severed right arm, was trembling slightly.
Benbo’erba’s eyes bulged, his face filled with terror: “L, Luohan (Arhat)!”
Luohan? The Golden Body of a Luohan?!
Meng Qi was shocked. Was this what a Dharma Body felt like?
The golden body of this Luohan exuded a thick aura of grayish-white death. The dark gold seemed to have faded, hiding countless cracks. His eyes were dull, his face expressionless—no different in essence from the two previous zombie-like demons.
How could this be? Even an Arhat, who had severed all afflictions and attained serenity, had turned into a corpse? What had happened at the Spirit Mountain? Meng Qi was both shocked and puzzled, his mind filled with questions.
He wanted to retreat, to escape the monk’s oppressive aura, but under such pressure, his legs felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move at all.
It was the same for Benbo’erba, who, despite still possessing half of his previous outer-realm strength, trembled in fear. The waves around him froze, his retreat as slow as a snail, unable to match the Luohan’s advancing pace.
The might of a Dharma Body was terrifying indeed—without even lifting a finger, it rendered Benbo’erba powerless to resist.
The Luohan’s face was withered, his eyes icy, as if everything were lifeless. As he drew closer to Meng Qi, this sensation intensified, making Meng Qi’s heartbeat quicken, thumping rapidly, as if it would leap from his throat.
A corpse-transformed Luohan was certainly no benevolent being!
Benbo’erba screamed in terror, suddenly recalling something. In panic, he hurled the plaque of the “Great Thunderclap Temple” toward the Arhat, hoping the sacred Buddhist relic might prove effective!
Wasn’t it said that Buddhism excelled in pacifying evil spirits and souls?
The plaque flew toward the Luohan, showing no unusual phenomena. Since Benbo’erba had thrown it in panic, his aim was poor. With a slap, it landed in front of the Luohan.
The Luohan took half a step forward, suddenly paused, gazing at the plaque on the ground. His dull eyes showed a flicker of confusion, and the aura of bloodlust around him lessened slightly.
But this change was short-lived. He prepared to step over the plaque and move toward Meng Qi at the front. Their living aura was intolerable—it must be extinguished!
Meng Qi took a deep breath. Watching the Luohan’s reaction to the Buddhist relic—the plaque inscribed with “Great Thunder音 Temple”—he resolved to attempt anything, as escape was impossible and resistance would be futile.
A dim bronze glow radiated from around him, faint yet unmistakably authentic Buddhist energy—though the Golden Bell Cover had been broken, it had merely lost its defensive effect, not the internal meridians, which were still intact enough to be activated.
Sensing this energy, the Golden-Bodied Arhat paused once more at the edge of the plaque inscribed with “Great Thunder音 Temple.” His cold, lifeless eyes softened slightly.
Considering his inability to use the Ananda Breaking Precepts Blade Technique and recalling the previous mountain-wide echoes of “Ananda,” Meng Qi decided not to draw his blade to indicate his Buddhist identity, but instead to chant a mantra.
The Rebirth Mantra! The “Mantra of Rebirth in the Pure Land”! The “Dharani for Severing All Karmic Hindrances and Achieving Rebirth in the Pure Land”!
This was one of the minor morning chants Meng Qi had learned, memorized fluently and never forgotten.
“Namo Amituofo…” His body radiated a dim golden light, his expression compassionate. He sincerely hoped the Luohan would be freed from his bindings and attain rebirth in the Pure Land, thereby ensuring his own safety.
Strangely, the Luohan actually closed his eyes, murmuring sutras as well—reciting the Rebirth Mantra!
The echoes of the “Rebirth Mantra” rippled outward. The Luohan’s golden body emitted waves of Buddhist light, and the dim, dilapidated temple gradually exuded a sense of purity.
“…Suo Po Ke.”
Under this influence, the four characters “Great Thunder音 Temple” radiated a Buddhist glow—luminous and pure, embodying great illumination, great fearlessness, and great liberation.
The wooden expression on the Luohan’s face softened. He stepped forward and sat cross-legged directly atop the plaque of the “Great Thunderclap Temple.” Grayish-white death qi and pitch-black aura surged from his body, revealing a pure dark-golden form beneath.
A flame of pure lapis lazuli fire leapt from within him, igniting the golden body, the death qi, and the black aura, burning silently.
Gradually, the flames engulfed both the Arhat and the plaque of the “Great Thunderclap Temple,” releasing waves of sacred chants, as if this were liberation, this was Nirvana.
“Namo Amituofo…” Meng Qi continued chanting, his voice blending with the holy chants. A faint smile appeared on the Luohan’s face—compassionate, liberated, yet puzzled.
As the flames consumed him, Meng Qi saw two streams of blood tears flowing from the Luohan’s eyes!
Tears from a Luohan? For what reason?
The flames soared into the sky, illuminating the entire temple with radiant purity.
As the flames gradually died down, both the plaque of the “Great Thunderclap Monastery” and the golden Arhat statue had been completely reduced to ashes, leaving behind only a seven-colored lapis lazuli relic that emanated an aura of serenity and tranquility.
The trembling space and oppressive bindings vanished. Meng Qi and the others regained their freedom of movement, as if the previous events had been a dream. If not for the rolling relic, they might have doubted its reality.
“Move aside!” Seeing the relic on the ground, Benbo’erba’s eyes gleamed with greed. In a few quick steps, he passed Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei, and with a wave, attempted to seize it.
Opportunity!
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei exchanged a glance, both seeing the same determination in each other’s eyes. Originally, they had planned to launch a sudden attack, engaging in a direct confrontation. But now, Benbo’erba’s greed had opened a chance for a surprise strike!
This was a moment not to be missed, never to be repeated!
If this strike failed to kill Benbo’erba, they would be the ones to die—no exceptions!
And if they did nothing, there was still hope of survival until their return!
Would they seize this narrow chance, pursuing hope through action and effort, or merely cling to life, praying for luck?
The answer had already formed in Meng Qi’s heart—he would rather die than beg for mercy from the heavens!
Only those who help themselves shall be helped by heaven!
Meng Qi activated the Ananda Breaking Precepts Blade Technique, his mind as calm as a still lake, without a ripple. He forgot death, forgot danger, neither victory nor defeat mattered—only the fierce fighting spirit born from the will to survive burned within him!
Yes, I am unwilling, unwilling to die here, with so many unfulfilled wishes!
And precisely because of this unwillingness, he must strike!
He couldn’t wait for someone else to rescue him or for luck to favor him!
This strike was one of unwillingness, a life-or-death strike—though I die, I will have no regrets!
The long blade was swung, the whispers flying like Meng Qi’s inner cry.
The blade, like a great dragon descending from the heavens, absorbed all nearby vitality and air currents, transforming into a mighty, fierce slash, purple lightning soaring, enveloping the area ahead.
The long blade was withdrawn and struck again, identical to the first, as if duplicated, making even Jiang Zhiwei involuntarily purse her lips.
One slash, two slashes, three slashes—Meng Qi struck a total of nine times. A thunderous boom erupted from the air, shaking Benbo’erba’s body.
Wave upon wave of purple lightning, like serpents, surged forward, like rolling wheels, imposing and mighty, as if executing divine punishment on behalf of heaven, crushing Benbo’erba.
Benbo’erba, delighted at obtaining a Luohan relic, suddenly felt an inner tremor, like the time he had witnessed his master, the Nine-Headed Worm, undergoing a Daoist Tribulation. It was an overwhelming, superior pressure, making him feel like an ant.
Heavenly Punishment?
No, an ambush!
He swung his steel fork backward, blocking the blade, twisting his body, conjuring surging waves to protect himself.
Boom!
The thunderous strike shook the heavens. Benbo’erba was a moment too slow, and the nine purple lightning strikes slammed into his protective waves.
Water splashed, electric snakes danced, and the lightning threads pierced through the waves, directly breaking through Benbo’erba’s defenses, scorching the black scales on his body.
If Benbo’erba had still been at the Outer Realm level, Meng Qi’s “Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens” slash might not have breached his defenses. But now, with only half of his former strength, Meng Qi’s blade—swift as lightning—ripped through his waves and struck his scales directly.
Clang!
“Whisper” collided with Benbo’erba’s black scales. Scales flew, a shallow wound was carved, and blood gushed forth.
He dared to attack? Did he not fear my wrath? Benbo’erba raged. Since he had already obtained the Luohan relic, he decided to disregard everything and kill Meng Qi.
As this thought arose, his vision suddenly brightened, completely filled with swordlight—as if in all of heaven and earth, there was only this single strike.
When had she regained her strength?
Benbo’erba was both shocked and furious, fearful and afraid. He swung his steel fork with all his might, attempting to block the sword, while simultaneously condensing droplets of water at his forehead.
His protective waves had just been pierced when Jiang Zhiwei struck, seizing the opening to prevent him from recovering or rebuilding his defenses. Her timing was impeccable!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage