Once more carefully sensing his surroundings, Meng Qi found no traces of battle or destruction within the “First Family of the Vast Sea.” It appeared that the residents had either departed of their own accord or were subdued in an instant.
The fact that Qu Jiulang left no hidden marks indicated something strange was going on.
Afraid that someone might be lying in ambush to identify each investigator and thus expose the members of “Fairyland,” Meng Qi didn’t stay any longer. He soared into the air, intending to fly straight back to the Biyou Heaven and bring back formidable reinforcements.
Just then, a voice entered Meng Qi’s ears: “Lay devotee, why do you pass by without entering?”
Suddenly, a deep red figure emerged from the previously lifeless Flowing Sands. Tall and gaunt, his rugged face was framed by a lama’s robe, and he carried a ritual knife. He stood at the entrance of the First Family of the Vast Sea, looking up at Meng Qi while locking onto him with his aura.
“This place is sinister and eerie, devoid of any living presence. Normal people would fear to approach,” Meng Qi said, his right hand resting on his sword hilt.
This esoteric monk possessed an extraordinary ability to conceal his aura. Even with Meng Qi’s eighth or ninth level Primordial Spirit perception, he had failed to detect the monk earlier!
Of course, this was also because the monk bore no killing intent.
“Can an expert who bridges the internal and external realms be considered normal?” The rugged-faced lama stepped on empty air, ascending step by step toward Meng Qi.
Meng Qi smiled: “Even external masters prefer to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
The lama fixed Meng Qi with his gaze: “Since avoiding trouble is better, why did you investigate carefully just now?”
“Curiosity is an unavoidable human trait,” Meng Qi glanced at the precept knife in the monk’s hand, noticing that it was two inches longer and one-tenth thinner than normal, quite peculiar. It was the unique precept knife of the Vajra Temple.
A direct lineage descendant of the Jingang Temple?
The lama reached Meng Qi’s level, their eyes meeting, locked in qi confrontation: “There have been many abnormalities at the瀚海’s edge. I have been ordered by the Dharma King to investigate this matter. Your actions are suspicious, and I must ask you to accompany me to see the Dharma King, where he will discern the truth with his Buddha’s eye.”
(Note: The term “瀚海” is retained in pinyin as “Hanhai” since it appears to be a proper noun in the original text. If it refers to a specific location like a desert or sea, it could alternatively be translated as “the edge of the vast sea/desert” based on context.)
His tone was calm, as if Meng Qi had no choice but to comply—it was not an invitation but a command!
The majesty of the Vajra Temple, which dominated the western regions, was fully displayed!
Meng Qi felt a flicker of anger but quickly suppressed it. From the monk’s words, he discerned the crux of the matter: the situation at Liusha Market was not an isolated incident. Similar events had frequently occurred along the edge of the Vast Sea, indicating that this was not specifically targeting the Vast Sea’s First Family, Qu Jiulang, or “Fairyland”!
It seemed Jiulang had suffered an unexpected disaster?
As a seasoned reincarnator with hidden treasures, she stood a good chance of escaping unless specifically targeted…
This might be entirely different from the attack on the Wine Ghost Xie—it could be a mere coincidence, not to be conflated.
As for the monk’s request, how could Meng Qi comply?
Not to mention that he indeed had secrets, and his transformation techniques could easily be exposed under the full scrutiny of a grandmaster-level Dharma King. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never go. Just the monk’s commanding tone was enough to provoke his displeasure.
At worst, they could fight it out and give the monk a sound thrashing!
After his departure, with his aura, appearance, and identity all altered, would he still fear the pursuit of the Vajra Temple?
“Master, your words are gravely mistaken. When a place like the Flowing Sands Gathering undergoes such transformations, how could wandering masters from afar not pause to observe? Do you intend to bring all of them back with you?” Meng Qi slightly closed his eyes, his mind as clear as a mirror, merging with heaven and earth, unifying the internal and external, making the qi of heaven and earth his own.
With this full effort, Meng Qi immediately sensed the anomaly in Liusha Town. The qi of heaven and earth around him turned ominously sinister, yet he couldn’t pinpoint its source—it was as if it had always been this way!
Apart from this, there were no other unusual qi fluctuations in Liusha Town; everything else was ordinary and unremarkable.
Just as the lama was about to speak, two figures swiftly approached from the direction of Yumen Pass. The one in the lead was clad in a green robe, standing tall with an air of composure, a string of prayer beads draped over his left hand. Trailing behind him was a somber middle-aged man dressed entirely in black.
The Crown Prince? Meng Qi’s eyelids twitched slightly. He recognized the newcomer as Zhao Qian, the former Prince of Jin and now the King of Liang.
He was deeply devoted to Buddhism and had profound connections with the Buddhist community. At the stele without inscriptions, the words “Buddha Emperor” had once appeared… Instantly, Meng Qi recalled these details and was no longer surprised by the Crown Prince’s arrival at the Vast Sea.
With the “Ruyi Shenzhang” general outline appearing, it would be strange if he didn’t come!
But strangely, he had only brought the eunuch Wei Gao, both of them merely ordinary external martial arts experts. Where were the grandmasters or supreme experts from the Pure Land Sect and other Buddhist sects?
Was he planning to seize the opportunity through his own Buddhist affinity?
While thinking these things, Meng Qi remained verbally sharp: “Master, look, here come more people! And they are stopping to investigate!”
Amidst the eerie aura of the Flowing Sands Gathering and the two external scene masters confronting each other midair, Zhao Qian and Wei Gao naturally halted at a distance, surveying the situation and preparing to detour around it.
The lama raised one hand, chanting a Buddhist mantra: “There is another suspicious aspect about you, layman. Usually, people are drawn to the Divine Palm and head toward Yuhai and Tanshan. Only you go in the opposite direction. Please explain yourself before the Dharma King.”
His tone was full of certainty, staring at Meng Qi without the slightest wavering.
This was pinning me down… Meng Qi raised his eyebrows, not angry but smiling: “What if I refuse?”
Most likely, investigating the anomalies at the edge of Hanhai was one matter, but suspecting that I had gained advantages in Yuhai and Tanshan and thus hastily departed was another!
The Vajra Temple acted this way because they were determined to obtain the Ruyi Divine Staff—better to kill by mistake than to let anyone escape!
“Please forgive my rudeness,” the lama said solemnly, holding his ritual knife across his chest and chanting sutras to dispel its killing aura.
Meng Qi smiled ambiguously: “Master, you’re so confident?”
The red-robed lama showed no surprise at Meng Qi’s reaction, nor any emotional fluctuation, chanting another Buddhist mantra: “With the protection of Buddhist Dharma, all difficulties are empty.”
In other words, even though both of their auras were below the first tier of the Heavenly Ladder, he remained confident in defeating Meng Qi. Since there was no challenge, it naturally felt hollow!
Meng Qi smiled: “May I know the master’s name?”
“I am Ji Shan,” the red-robed lama lowered his eyes, the ritual knife reflecting the morning light, casting a chill.
Ji Shan? Meng Qi recalled the records of the Six Doors and immediately recognized the identity of the lama. He was once the most outstanding disciple of the Vajra Temple, proficient in one of the three great saber techniques, “Slaying the Outer Demon,” and remained undefeated among the Western Enlightenment experts. Later, he achieved the perfect half-step and steadily progressed further.
He emerged later than Xue Lengzhao and Shi Xin Shangren, but had now reached the third tier of the External Scenery realm, just barely touching the threshold of the first tier of the Heavenly Ladder.
No wonder he was so confident when facing opponents below the first tier of the ladder!
Seeing Meng Qi slightly stunned, Ji Shan spoke with the confidence of someone who hadn’t lost to a peer in years: “Since the layman now knows my Dharma name, you should dispel your doubts and accompany me to see the Dharma King.”
His meaning was clear: since you know who I am, don’t harbor any illusions!
Meng Qi laughed loudly: “The reason I asked for the master’s name is that my sword does not strike unnamed opponents!”
“You…” Ji Shan’s eyes flickered slightly, and his grip on the戒刀 instinctively tightened.
As soon as his thought arose, he felt the opponent like a blazing sun, majestic and scorching, every inch of flesh and skin containing indescribable terrifying power.
The surrounding air currents swirled violently, the void seemingly distorted as waves of scorching heat surged forward. The sand and soil on the ground began showing signs of melting. Every breath seared his lungs, and each inhalation scorched his pores with unbearable heat.
The primordial ocean of heaven and earth seemed to be boiling!
After becoming an external scene expert, although Meng Qi had slain opponents of similar strength before, most of his battles involved ambushes or counter-ambushes, such as his encounters with Zeluo Ju and Shi Xin Shangren. Apart from resisting “Zhu Long” and fighting Lou Jia to a standstill, he had never engaged in a direct, head-on confrontation with an equally matched opponent!
Meeting the arrogant Ji Shan today, Meng Qi’s fighting spirit soared.
After refining the Sun God Stone and achieving minor perfection in sword techniques, he had never had a real chance to test his sword!
Ji Shan’s body emitted a faint golden glow, his crimson robe shimmering faintly as it withstood the terrifying heat. Slowly raising his right hand, the ritual knife seemed to cut through layer upon layer of obstacles and external demons. Though the motion appeared laborious, it was in fact executed with seamless fluidity.
A faint golden light emerged in the void, pure and natural yet firm and sharp, soothing the surging vital energy of heaven and earth. Though the precept blade remained before Ji Shan, Meng Qi felt as though it had pierced through his skin, muscles, blood, and bones, striking straight at his heart.
With the Vajra Blade, sever all afflictions and outer demons!
Guided by the qi, he drew the Flowing Fire.
With a whoosh, the surrounding airflow ignited, turning the void into a sea of flames!
In the distant sky, King Zhao Qian of Liang and the eunuch Wei Gao watched this scene, slightly stunned.
Zhao Qian sighed and said, “Wealth stirs men’s hearts, and treasures even more so. Before the Divine Palm appears, the vast sea is already rife with strife.”
“Your Majesty has deep Buddhist affinity; the Divine Palm will naturally come to you,” Wei Gao flattered, “Once the eminent monks from the Pure Land and other Buddhist sects arrive, things will become easier.”
“Don’t forget those Dharma Body experts,” Zhao Qian said without showing any joy.
“But the venerable monk Kongwen is present,” Wei Gao deliberately displayed confidence.
Zhao Qian gazed into the distance, watching the raging flames, and then remarked, “I wonder who is battling Ji Shan from the Vajra Temple?”
As soon as the words fell, he saw a blazing sun rise from the flames, radiating boundless light!
No, it wasn’t a real sun, but an illusion created by the shifting of the cosmic energies between heaven and earth!
It was sword light! Endless sword light! Piercing from all directions!
Infinite light, infinite life!
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