The man from the Asura Temple gripped a pair of grayish ringed blades in his hands, resembling bones. His eyes were slightly red, and his gaze and expression radiated an abnormal fury, as if he wished to tear Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei apart with his bare hands.
“Lo Ka, don’t cause trouble. Wait until all the people from Fish Sea have withdrawn; then you can fight as much as you want,” a woman from the Snow Mountain Sect, her beauty contrasting with her icy demeanor, spoke to stop him.
Lo Ka inhaled deeply, his fury receding somewhat as he looked at Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei and said, “Quickly scram! If this place weren’t unsuitable for fighting, I’d definitely show you what’s what!”
Faced with such a person, even a clay statue would feel anger. Meng Qi inevitably felt his temper rising and gripped the hilt of his sword, “Liu Huo.”
To evade the pursuit of the Xuan Nu and the Joyful Bodhisattva, he was currently dressed as a swordsman.
At that moment, Jiang Zhiwei whispered into Meng Qi’s ear, “Don’t be affected by him. He cultivates the ‘Wrathful Form’ from the Asura Six Forms, which can incite others’ anger with his own. The angrier he becomes, the stronger he grows, so his combat effectiveness increases the more injuries he sustains.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qi was startled. He took a deep breath, his mind returning to clarity, and a sudden thought occurred to him.
“What are you looking at? Don’t you dare scram yet!” Lo Ka shouted, like a furious beast.
The Snow Mountain Sect woman, floating nearby, coldly said, “Lo Ka, don’t involve others.”
As her words faded, Meng Qi suddenly spoke, looking up at Lo Ka with a cold sneer.
“It doesn’t matter; dealing with him won’t involve others!”
It seemed as if the Snow Mountain Sect woman had been advising him.
“What?” Lo Ka’s eyes immediately ignited with fury.
Before his roar had even finished, sword light flared. The ground seemed to bloom with a crimson sun, radiating light in all directions, the sword light blending indistinguishably with sunlight.
Lo Ka only felt a sword slash directly toward him, burning hot, yet simultaneously, reflected and refracted sword lights pierced from both sides and behind, making it impossible to discern which were real, which were false, and where was the fatal spot.
“Cursed!” Amid the roar, he spun his twin blades like whirling cloaks, seemingly forming a “gray bone sphere” around himself. The bone sphere glowed red, like a blood sea covering his body, blocking sword strikes from every angle, as if shielding against the sun’s rays.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The sounds of collision rang out continuously. A blazing sun, trailing flames, rose into the sky, mixed with blood and gray, soaring straight up. The people on the street, carrying their luggage, were barely affected, merely feeling much hotter.
Boom!
The sun exploded, the blood sea reversing, and in midair, Lo Ka’s figure reappeared.
“Cursed! Cursed!” He roared furiously. His body suddenly swelled, nearly reaching ten feet tall. A black fur, resembling a monk’s robe yet not quite, shimmered with bloodlight. His muscles were solid and defined, each inch containing terrifying power capable of shattering the earth. Compared to before, his aura had increased by thirty percent!
Meanwhile, Meng Qi floated opposite him, dressed in white, holding his crimson jade-like sword upside down.
Their clash drew the attention of many external cultivators within Fish Sea City.
“Stop!” Just as Lo Ka was about to charge recklessly, the Snow Mountain Sect cultivator flew over and blocked between the two.
Her snow-blue robes fluttered, her short sword radiating cold light as she coldly said, “After the Fish Sea people have fully withdrawn, you can settle your grudges however you like. If you continue fighting, you will be making enemies of the Snow Mountain Sect!”
“Fine.” Unexpectedly, Meng Qi, the one who had initiated the attack, readily agreed without hesitation.
Lo Ka glanced at the two of them, his fury slowly fading as his body shrank: “Xue Lengzhao, if it weren’t for the Great Asura’s orders, today I’d have cut you down too!”
He snorted angrily and flew away.
Xue Lengzhao turned to look at Meng Qi: “No matter what your background is, after offending someone from the Asura Temple in the vast desert, it would be wiser for you to flee sooner rather than later.”
She flew back down to oversee the city lord’s evacuation of ordinary citizens.
Meng Qi sheathed “Liu Huo,” descended to the ground, and Jiang Zhiwei whispered into his ear, “Did you intentionally provoke him?”
“Yes. A high-profile move might make Xuan Nu and the Joyful Bodhisattva overlook me,” Meng Qi nodded slightly.
They would never imagine that after I changed my appearance, I would dare to confront the Asura Temple in Fish Sea. This was a blind spot in their pursuit. And as long as I stay beyond two zhang of Xuan Nu, that mysterious sense of karmic connection wouldn’t occur!
Meng Qi paused and added, “Besides, Lo Ka’s provocation was too obvious, it felt strange…”
“It seems like he was deliberately looking for trouble, perhaps due to the requirements of cultivating the ‘Wrathful Form’,” Jiang Zhiwei lightly frowned, seemingly unconvinced of her own explanation. “Lo Ka and Xue Lengzhao are respectively the outstanding disciples of the previous generation from the Asura Temple and Snow Mountain Sect, having achieved external cultivation for nearly a decade, and are close to crossing the first heavenly threshold.”
“A worthy opponent,” Meng Qi smiled, gripping and slowly opening his right hand.
“Yes, a worthy opponent,” Jiang Zhiwei exchanged a smile with him.
Enjoying battles against opponents of similar strength was one of their shared traits.
But Meng Qi also enjoyed bullying weaker enemies!
Jiang Zhiwei looked up at the sky: “I’ll go find my sect’s people. We’ll meet at the courtyard on Guangling Street at dusk.”
Meng Qi had changed his appearance and attire, and getting involved with the Sword Washing Pavilion again would easily expose his identity.
“Alright,” Meng Qi parted ways with Jiang Zhiwei at the crossroads, planning to investigate some information.
As he had just walked down a street, someone chased after him, laughing: “Brother, please wait a moment!”
A familiar voice, a familiar aura. Meng Qi turned around and saw a middle-aged man in wide robes and large sleeves, sporting five long strands of beard, his eyes seeming perpetually narrowed into slits.
Was it Qian Kai, the Silver Seal Constable?
Qian Kai had once investigated the “Myth” case with Meng Qi and others in Ying City. Later, after rescuing the crown prince, he was transferred to the capital and had another encounter with Meng Qi. He had once invited Meng Qi to a banquet, but Meng Qi had declined.
Had he recognized him? Or was there another reason? Meng Qi remained expressionless as he looked at Qian Kai: “Friend, what can I do for you?”
Qian Kai was not wearing any insignia related to the Six Doors, smiling as he said, “Just now, brother, you drove away ‘Wrathful Blade Asura’ with a single sword strike, truly admirable. I am Qian Kai from the capital. I followed you here out of admiration; please forgive my impertinence.”
Had he come because of the earlier battle? Meng Qi smiled: “Brother Qian, no need to be so formal.”
Qian Kai sighed, “Lately, the Snow Mountain Sect, Asura Temple, and Vajra Temple have been growing closer, showing signs of alliance. The external cultivators from the Asura Temple who cultivate the ‘Wrathful Form’ and ‘Slaughter Form’ always struggle to control their emotions, constantly provoking conflicts. If we can’t defeat them, we’ll inevitably be forced to withdraw from Fish Sea and the Tanhan frontline. If we do win, regardless of the means, we’ll surely provoke their senior, the Arhat of Asura, and the outcome remains unchanged.”
“You were fortunate just now to achieve a draw; otherwise… sigh, since ‘Great Arhat of Asura’ Meng Nan, the Asura Temple has always protected its own.”
This meant that defeating the juniors would bring the seniors, defeating the seniors would bring the elders… Meng Qi wiped cold sweat from his brow: “Are you saying the Asura Temple is intentionally provoking?”
“Most likely, though the purpose is unclear. Perhaps they aim to seize the Tanhan and Fish Sea regions before the various sects can gather more cultivators, hoping to uncover traces of the Divine Palm sooner,” Qian Kai sighed, scanning his surroundings. “I came here alone, hoping to seize an opportunity. I plan to search before the Western sects drive us out. Although I have some leads, being alone and lacking strength makes progress difficult. Now, seeing your fearlessness and formidable power, I deeply admire you and wish to propose an alliance.”
“Some clues?” Meng Qi frowned; a hastily assembled team was very unsafe!
Qian Kai nodded: “I know of a place where Buddha’s light rises, unknown to others, but going alone, I dare not.”
Seeing Meng Qi’s suspicion, he lowered his voice: “To be honest, I’ve also invited another friend. He and I are old acquaintances, reuniting in Fish Sea, trustworthy.”
“Then why invite me too?” Meng Qi feigned caution.
It was unusual to speak deeply with someone barely met—could he be seeking a cannon fodder?
“There are countless Western external cultivators in Fish Sea and along the Tanhan frontline. Two people are still insufficient,” Qian Kai smiled. “Others either have unknown abilities, making it hard to trust, or have old grudges, avoiding each other. But your battle with the Wrathful Blade Asura was witnessed by all, and you’re not an ordinary external cultivator, which is why I was inspired.”
At this, his expression turned serious: “I’ve been around the martial world long enough; I recognize most famous external cultivators. Brother, you’re unfamiliar to me. May I ask your background?”
Meng Qi smiled: “I’ve been hiding in Bomi for many years; naturally, you wouldn’t know me. Now that many of my enemies have died and the red mist in Bomi is beginning to dissipate, I’ve come to Fish Sea for luck. If I can obtain the Divine Palm’s general principles, I’ll exterminate my enemies’ entire families!”
Qian Kai carefully sensed Meng Qi’s aura, finding it impossible to determine his age, then laughed along: “Brother, what’s your noble name?”
“Shen Bao.” Meng Qi smiled.
“Brother Shen, I know this came suddenly, and you must have many doubts. This caution is reasonable. Why don’t we go to a nearby tavern, chat, wait for the other friend to arrive, show the evidence, and then decide?” Qian Kai warmly invited.
Meng Qi wanted to gather information, so he casually followed Qian Kai into the tavern, listening to him talk about recent events in Fish Sea, gradually gaining a clear understanding of which Central Plains external cultivators had arrived.
After a while, footsteps echoed on the stairs, and Qian Kai’s face lit up: “He’s here!”
He welcomed a person inside and introduced him to Meng Qi: “This is Zhou Qiushan from the Zhou family in Jiangdong.”
This man was around thirty years old, wearing a rich man’s robe, short and fat, with ordinary features, and a mole under his right eyebrow.
“This is Brother Shen from Bomi,” Qian Kai pointed at Meng Qi.
Meng Qi slightly bowed, greeting Zhou Qiushan. Just as he was about to sit down, a sudden thought flashed through his mind like lightning:
“Thirty years old, ordinary features, short and fat, a mole under the right eyebrow…”
“This matches exactly the description of the ‘Blessed Heaven Palace’ given by Elder Brother Qi back then!”
Back in the capital, Qi Zhengyan had once encountered someone who felt like a Blessed Heaven Official, unfortunately unable to tail him. The characteristics he described matched Zhou Qiushan before Meng Qi exactly!
Was he the Blessed Heaven Official of “Myth”?
Did Qian Kai know?
Was this a trap or merely a simple act of gathering people to seek treasures?
As these thoughts surfaced, Meng Qi sat down calmly: “Brother Zhou, what have you found?”
Zhou Qiushan had a dull expression, taking out an object: “We found this at the outskirts of that Buddha-light-rising location.”
It was a black prayer bead, devoid of power, yet exuding infinite vicissitudes from the passage of time.
“I’ve also invited another helper, a top-level expert, who will arrive shortly,” he added, looking at Meng Qi, “also from Bomi.”
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