Stepping back quietly, Meng Qi felt a sudden jolt in his heart when He Jiu spoke up and asked a question. Had he noticed him?
Unlike Wu Heng’s sword style, the Donghai Sword School was a different kind of sword cultivators, possessing various keen instincts. Similar to Jiang Zhiwei’s saying, “One who is sincere to the sword is sincere to the heart; the cicada senses the change before the autumn wind stirs,” even if only observing from afar, they might still perceive something!
What should he do? Meng Qi harbored no illusions, his mind racing.
Initially, he thought that, given the Donghai Sword School’s relationship with the Yun family, if He Jiu believed what Wu Heng had said and wanted to uncover the true cause of Old Master Yun’s death, he would directly approach the Yun family, explain his intentions, and inspect openly. He believed the Yun family would not object. Why go through the trouble of mourning prematurely, hiding and using openness to mask covert observation?
It was precisely this mistaken judgment that led him to agree to the Baihua Lady’s request.
Was He Jiu afraid that directly requesting an autopsy would alienate the Yun family members, causing them to drift away, or did he know some secret and fear alerting the snake?
Meng Qi couldn’t guess He Jiu’s thoughts. Now the situation had suddenly become dangerous, and he had to find a way to “save himself”!
At this point, using the Eight-Nine Profound Art would be too late, as it might reveal clues!
Therefore, without taking any unnecessary actions, Meng Qi pinned his hopes on the other party not seeing through his “disguise.” If things went awry, he would rely on the Reincarnation Talisman to escape or use the secret mark of the “Immortal Path” to ask “Immortal Lord Changsheng,” He Xiu, to help conceal him?
However, the former would undo his efforts to get close to the Su Nu Sect, making it a last resort, while the latter was sudden, and He Xiu might not be able to react in time…
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Meng Qi suddenly lowered his gaze, half-shielding his eyes, which appeared dark and mysterious, with star-like lines drifting in and out of sight, leaving no trace, exuding profound mystery.
He concealed his aura, preventing any transcendent and ethereal sensation from leaking out. In his spiritual perception, the coffin vanished, Yun Juye and others disappeared, and even the banners and candles faded away, leaving only He Jiu, Huang Taichong, He Xiu, and Wu Heng Sword.
At this moment, he noticed Huang Taichong gazing toward him with sword intent in his eyes, so his spiritual perception actively extended outward!
Boom!
It was as if a silent explosion erupted in his mind. Meng Qi could no longer “see” He Jiu, He Xiu, or Wu Heng Sword. His pupils “reflected” only Huang Taichong’s figure, covered in countless threads of karmic connections—some strong, some fleeting, some brilliant, some dim.
Meanwhile, Meng Qi’s “inner blade” seemed ready to swing at any moment, ready to sever and redirect those threads!
Boom!
Huang Taichong’s eyes narrowed slightly, a sudden surge of intuition rising within him. He felt an inexplicable sense of danger from the monk, a feeling that this opponent could make even a powerful figure like himself feel threatened. If he continued to probe further, who knew what might happen!
If this monk could make him sense danger, his strength must not be underestimated… In the mourning hall, Huang Taichong remained cautious and unwilling to take risks. He withdrew his gaze, focusing inward, no longer looking at Meng Qi.
Seeing this, Meng Qi quietly exhaled in relief. By concealing the karma and using his aura to intimidate Huang Taichong, he had managed to avoid detection.
Although Huang Taichong’s karma wasn’t as heavy as the Black Widow’s, there was still a chance to resist. However, it inevitably brought a sense of danger. In the Yun family’s mourning hall, he surely wouldn’t dare to act recklessly!
—Peering into others’ secrets was already taboo. If a confrontation ensued and disrupted the mourning hall, Huang Taichong’s reputation would suffer. As a righteous sect member with a sense of danger, he naturally wouldn’t probe further.
With timing, location, and circumstances all working in his favor, Meng Qi finally managed to pass through this perilous situation!
“Master Huang, did you discover the source of the strange feeling?” He Jiu transmitted his question telepathically.
Huang Taichong pondered briefly before replying, “Dharma Zheng is unfathomably profound; it’s difficult to discern the details.”
“Unfathomably profound…” He Jiu instinctively looked toward Dharma Zheng, clad in a red robe, whose expression was solemn, dignified, calm, and peaceful.
He couldn’t help murmuring inwardly, for someone to be described as unfathomably profound by a master of the Eight Heavens like Huang Taichong, Dharma Zheng’s realm must indeed be terrifying, likely possessing the strength of the Earth List at the very least!
The world was vast, filled with powerful figures who lived in remote islands or secluded mountains. Even those with the might of a Grandmaster might not appear on the Earth List or be widely known!
At that moment, Wu Heng Sword withdrew his gaze, shaking his head in confusion: “No familiar sensation.”
What he saw was the high monk Meng Qi, who had secretly activated the Karma Binding technique, his aura subtly altered!
He Jiu rarely furrowed his brows. Could it be that he had seen Dharma Zheng in Donghai before? Or had he practiced a certain technique familiar to him?
“Master Huang, Uncle Wu, have you ever heard of Dharma Zheng from Qianli Island?” He Jiu secretly asked.
After pondering for a while, He Xiu and Huang Taichong both shook their heads: “We haven’t. Perhaps he is a high monk from a hidden Buddhist lineage who recently arrived at Qianli Island.”
He Jiu gathered his thoughts and asked no further questions. After a slight nod, he stepped forward to mourn Old Master Yun.
Since Meng Qi and others had already exited the mourning hall, they continued walking outward.
Only at this point did Meng Qi truly relax. He quickly stopped the Karma Binding technique, feeling his whole body go limp and his head spinning.
With his current strength, even without wielding his blade, merely secretly activating the technique was difficult to sustain for long!
“Master Dharma Zheng, please wait a moment.” Suddenly, He Jiu’s voice came from behind.
Meng Qi’s pupils constricted, nearly flinching in alarm. Had his disguise been discovered?
Having experienced countless dangers, Meng Qi was among the rare few who became calmer the more tense the situation became. He slowly turned around, clasped his palms together, and said, “Amitabha Buddha, does the lay devotee have anything else to ask?”
“Buddhist high monks possess numerous extraordinary supernatural abilities, capable of opening the heavenly eye, perceiving others’ thoughts, and illuminating all phenomena of the great thousand worlds. I wonder, Master Dharma Zheng, if you have gained any insights regarding Old Master Yun?” He Jiu stood tall and firm, his gaze deep and unfathomable as he looked at Meng Qi, unsure of his true intentions.
The Yun family members furrowed their brows. Could it be that the young master wanted to use the monk’s words to obtain Old Master Yun’s final will, swiftly resolving the struggle for the family leadership?
Although the Yun family was affiliated with the Donghai Sword School, they maintained a strong degree of independence and were not purely subordinates. If the Donghai Sword School unjustly interfered in the Yun family’s internal affairs, it could easily provoke resistance, create rifts, and provide opportunities for other factions.
Meng Qi couldn’t fathom He Jiu’s intentions or whether he was testing his identity as a high monk. After thinking for a moment, he didn’t answer but instead asked a question: “May I ask, which aspect does the lay devotee refer to?”
“I would like to ask Master Dharma Zheng to fulfill the duty of a fellow martial artist and employ your supernatural abilities to deduce the circumstances surrounding Old Master Yun’s passing, to see if there’s anything we might have overlooked.” He Jiu replied ambiguously, leaving unclear whether he was suspecting Meng Qi of being a fake monk, inquiring about Old Master Yun’s cause of death, or seeking to discover a “final will.”
“Master Young?” Huang Taichong also didn’t understand He Jiu’s thoughts and transmitted a puzzled question.
He Jiu laughed heartily: “Although our sect also has divination techniques, compared to those skilled in such arts from the Jiangdong Wang Clan and the Buddhist and Daoist sects, we still fall short. Since we’ve encountered a high monk, how can we not ask him to deduce a bit?”
He spoke evasively, leaving Huang Taichong still unsure of his true intentions.
The Baihua Lady felt a vague sense of tension. Most left sects and demonic lineages were not adept at divination. The Poisonous Hand Demon Lord from previous years was among them. Now He Jiu was testing them—how should they respond?
Meng Qi was also worried it was a test and didn’t dare to be careless. He smiled slightly at He Jiu, calmly forming a hand seal.
He silently envisioned the “Supreme and Peerless” Buddha image in his heart, subtly emulating its essence. A faint glimmer of glazed radiance began to emanate around him, forming a sacred and pristine domain, accompanied by the soft murmurs of Buddhist chants. This moved the mourners in the hall to nod in admiration—Master Dharma Zheng was truly a venerable monk.
Meanwhile, the Baihua Lady and Yingning widened their eyes in shock and disbelief. Could the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord use demonic techniques to imitate Buddhist arts?
Or was it that Buddha and Demon were merely a matter of a single thought? What new path had he forged based on his original foundation?
He Jiu nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, whether he had completely dispelled his suspicions remained unknown.
Meng Qi maintained his solemn demeanor, compassionate and merciful, combining his previous observations of the “cause of death and karmic results,” and employed the “Yu Xu Divine Calculation”!
The heavenly mechanism unfolded, tracing the karmic threads. Meng Qi fully immersed himself, without the slightest hesitation or fear.
Drop by drop, the clues emerged, and the blurred result appeared clearly. Meng Qi was suddenly startled, lifting his head with a slight frown, almost involuntarily exclaiming:
“Blue blood.”
He thought of the one-armed man who had bought the East Sea Longevity Pill with an immature Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. The place where his finger had been severed was dark blue and crystalline, seemingly exactly the blue blood!
What had happened between him and Old Master Yun at that time?
“Blue blood…” echoed from He Jiu, He Xiu, and Huang Taichong!
Especially He Jiu, whom Meng Qi had always seen as bold and confident, as if nothing in the world could trouble him or cause fear, rarely frowning or showing significant emotional fluctuations. Yet at this moment, his brows furrowed deeply, his expression shifting between shock and contemplation.
Could the mere mention of “blue blood” cause the Donghai Sword School to momentarily lose composure? Meng Qi glanced again at Yun Juye, Wan Shou, the Baihua Lady, Wu Heng Sword, and others, noticing that they all looked bewildered, showing no reaction to the term “blue blood.”
Did the secret behind “blue blood” belong only to a select few, or was it known exclusively to the Donghai Sword School’s upper echelons? Meng Qi pondered thoughtfully. Even the Ruan family’s Third Elder seemed deeply concerned about this blue-blooded individual…
He Jiu quickly regained his composure, bowing respectfully: “Thank you, Master, for your divination. Are there any other findings?”
He made no further mention of the “blue blood.”
“No.” Meng Qi shook his head.
He Jiu did not press further, nor did he pay any more attention to Meng Qi and the others. After mourning Old Master Yun, he directly took up residence in the Yun household, unknown to his intentions.
…
Returning to Qianli Island and checking into an inn courtyard, the Baihua Lady masked her astonishment with a smile: “My husband seems increasingly unfathomable. Given time, he might become another Demon Buddha, or perhaps a Buddha Demon.”
Meng Qi ignored her words, looking at Wan Shou and Yingning and said: “This identity has drawn the Donghai Sword School’s attention. It cannot be maintained for long. I will immediately leave the city under the guise of traveling and return to the Zhu household in my original form.”
“Master’s words are indeed prudent and mature.” Yingning praised.
Quietly making his appearance, Meng Qi changed direction, sneaking into the mountains, finding a place with a gently flowing stream, washing away his disguise, and changing his monk’s robe into a green robe.
Before doing all this, he carefully sensed and inspected the surroundings, ensuring no one was following or spying.
However, just as he was about to grow his hair, he suddenly heard a mocking laugh:
“So, Master Dharma Zheng is actually the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord in disguise.”
Who? Meng Qi took a step back, seeing the stream suddenly turn blue. Droplets of water condensed, forming a man in a blue robe, young in appearance with a somewhat demonic aura, standing there, seemingly formless yet tangible!
The Blue Blooded Man?
Hadn’t the stream been perfectly normal moments ago?
Could they transform into ordinary water?
“Why doesn’t the Demon Lord speak? Are you too ashamed and frightened after being exposed?” The water rippled, encircling the area.
Meng Qi’s lips twitched slightly. Exposing the disguise? Beneath Master Dharma Zheng was the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord, beneath him was the Great Sun Hermit, beneath him was the Crazy Blade Su Meng, and beneath him was the transmigrated Meng Qi. You’re still far from uncovering the truth!
His expression remained calm, a faint smile forming on his lips as he politely replied: “Why not attack directly? Could it be that you have something to discuss?”
The man chuckled: “Originally, I was just following you, watching to see what else you might uncover. But when you revealed your aura just now, you haven’t even crossed the first tier of the Celestial Ladder. It seems you merely obtained clues elsewhere and are deliberately guiding things. Therefore, I don’t need to report back or summon powerful allies.”
He paused, his expression turning mocking and arrogant:
“With your strength, why would I need to attack stealthily?”
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