This slash of the knife left Meng Qi feeling quite pleased with himself, fully meeting his expectations of being handsome and suave. Therefore, he remained silent, waiting for the couple to recover their senses.
After a while, the man wearing a headscarf glanced at the corpse behind Meng Qi, swallowed hard, and cautiously yet excitedly said, “My name is Zhang Zongxian, and this is my wife, Li Xinyu. We thank the Master for saving our lives. May I ask for your Dharma name?”
He dared not address this terrifyingly powerful young novice monk as “young master.”
“The humble monk is named Zhen Ding. I happened to be passing by and noticed someone in distress, so I came to investigate,” Meng Qi patted his robe and stood up calmly.
If only this were a white monk’s robe!
“Oh, thank goodness for your rescue. My wife and I were spared from disaster,” Zhang Zongxian sighed, and together with his wife, they bowed deeply in gratitude.
Meng Qi clasped his palms together, exuding the demeanor of a senior monk, and said, “Amitabha, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.”
After speaking, he smiled at the Zhang couple, waiting for them to explain their situation.
Zhang Zongxian naturally dared not withhold an explanation. Since this monk had involved himself to save their lives, they had to provide some background. Besides, “Shen Hou” had repeatedly mentioned the treasure map, and he didn’t know how much “Zhen Ding” had overheard…
Thus, he said solemnly, “My wife and I accidentally obtained a treasure map, originally left behind by the Snow Goddess Palace, which once dominated the world. Somehow the news leaked out, and people hired the Twelve Beasts to kill us and seize the treasure. The enemy you just killed was one of the Twelve Beasts, ‘Shen Hou.'”
Meng Qi had more or less understood the general situation, but he was still unclear about some of the terms, so he asked candidly, “The humble monk has lived in the far west since childhood and has only recently returned. Please, noble couple, explain to me about the Snow Goddess Palace and the ‘Twelve Beasts.'”
“Oh…” Zhang Zongxian and Li Xinyu exchanged knowing glances, now understanding why this monk, with such formidable martial arts skills, was completely unknown to them and had no reputation in the martial world.
Li Xinyu composed herself and said, “Master Zhen Ding, the Snow Goddess Palace was a sect that dominated the martial world fifty years ago. Unfortunately, it became arrogant, indulgent, and gradually fell into the path of evil. They claimed to be descendants of gods, treating other martial artists like servants. Eventually, they were jointly attacked by various martial sects. After several ups and downs, the palace finally collapsed thirty years ago, with only one or two secret lineages surviving. Rumor has it that the Snow Goddess Palace leader foresaw this situation and secretly buried many treasures, secret manuals, and divine weapons, hoping to rise again one day.”
“The ‘Twelve Divine Beasts’ are a secret organization within the martial world, with only twelve official members, each identified by an animal zodiac sign. They are all highly skilled martial artists. Their movements are mysterious, and they accept various missions as long as the payment is sufficient. Additionally, they often get involved in major martial world affairs even without official tasks, clearly harboring grand ambitions. Therefore, they are called the ‘Twelve Beasts’ by martial artists.”
“Highly skilled? How strong exactly?” Meng Qi asked directly.
The power of “Shen Hou” should have been close to the level of Opening the Apertures. The reason Meng Qi could easily kill him was entirely due to the terrifying effect of the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield.
This martial art directly targets the Dharma body. Its fourth stage is significantly stronger than most techniques of a similar level. An opponent like “Shen Hou” wouldn’t even be able to scratch Meng Qi without a divine weapon such as Jiang Zhiwei’s “White Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword.” Even martial artists at the level of Opening the Orifices would need to exert at least 80% of their power to harm him, and the damage reduction effect was highly noticeable.
From what Meng Qi had learned about the Golden Bell Shield, ordinary martial artists who had just opened their apertures would need to strike him with full force three or four times to break his defense.
Zhang Zongxian hesitated, thinking about how best to describe their strength. After a few breaths, he smiled and said, “The Seven Great Grandmasters are the most supreme martial artists, all having opened the Human Secret Treasury. Most of the ‘Twelve Beasts’ have touched the threshold of the Treasury, making them top-tier martial artists, second only to the Grandmasters in cultivation realm. Moreover, it is rumored that two of the ‘Twelve Beasts’ have also opened the Secret Treasury and are Grandmasters themselves, though they remain hidden.”
“Therefore, Master Zhen Ding, do not underestimate the ‘Twelve Beasts,'” Li Xinyu reminded him.
Meng Qi nodded slightly: “I wonder which of the Seven Grandmasters is the strongest?”
The Human Secret Treasury appeared to be similar to Opening the Orifices, but he wondered if there were other distinctive features…
As for specific martial arts questions, he dared not ask too much, lest he appear too ignorant. Besides, the martial strength of the Zhang couple was not that strong, and they probably couldn’t even reach that level.
“The Seven Grandmasters rarely fight each other, so we truly do not know. Anyway, they easily defeat other martial artists,” Zhang Zongxian shook his head.
Li Xinyu also nodded: “Exactly which Secret Treasury each Grandmaster opened is a personal secret, and outsiders can only guess.”
“I wonder who the Seven Grandmasters are?” These were the key figures Meng Qi needed to focus on.
“They are Xuanshen and Xuan Ku of the Faxuan Sect, the city lord Cui Xu of Tianding City, ‘White Robe Sword God’ Luo Qing, ‘Cold Ice Needle’ Wu Caisha, ‘Falling Snow Saber’ Che Wanxiu, ‘Reborn Demon King’ Gai Yuan, and ‘Leisurely Hermit’ Duan Xiangfei…” Zhang Zongxian roughly introduced the Seven Grandmasters, including their nicknames, appearances, and their signature martial arts.
After listening, Meng Qi smiled and said, “All things arise and fade. The humble monk will not delay you two any further. However, I wonder what plans you have if the ‘Twelve Beasts’ come again?”
He casually asked out of concern.
Li Xinyu’s expression changed a few times before she replied, “Master, the daughter of City Lord Cui Xu of Tianding City is a close friend of mine. We originally planned to seek refuge with her in Tianding City. Even if the ‘Twelve Beasts’ are bold, they wouldn’t dare to act recklessly in Tianding City.”
“In that case, the humble monk can rest assured. By the way, how far is Tianding City from here?” At this moment, Meng Qi was secretly wondering why there was still no task prompt.
Could this task be a trigger-type? Should he go to Tianding City?
Li Xinyu took a deep breath: “Going downstream along the river, it should take about an hour to reach.”
At this moment, Zhang Zongxian seemed to have made a firm decision. He took out an old, worn piece of animal hide from his chest: “Master Zhen Ding, my wife and I were too greedy before. We are not worthy of possessing such a treasure. Please accept this source of calamity and relieve us of this disaster.”
Previously, because “Shen Hou” had already revealed the existence of the treasure map, he had chosen to be honest rather than fabricate another lie about being pursued by the Twelve Beasts. Now, his reason had finally prevailed, and he had overcome his greed, unwilling to risk being killed by this monk for the treasure.
Looking at the treasure map, Meng Qi smiled and said, “What’s the point of this? If I were someone greedy for treasure, I would have killed you anyway to prevent any news from leaking.”
He had not yet gotten used to referring to himself as “the humble monk” in every sentence.
Upon hearing these words, Zhang Zongxian and Li Xinyu’s faces turned deathly pale. They had witnessed the battle between “Shen Hou” and Master Zhen Ding and knew they were not even a match for him in a single round.
He looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, barely an adult, so where did he get such terrifying martial arts skills? Even if he had started cultivating in his mother’s womb, it would be impossible to kill top martial artists like chickens and dogs!
Could he be an ancient monster who had broken through the limits of the Human Secret Treasury, touched the boundary between humans and gods as preached by the Snow Goddess Palace, and then rejuvenated?
“Therefore, you two may go,” Meng Qi paused and then slightly blushed as he looked up at the sky, “Err, but let me copy this treasure map.”
If there was a task available, exploring the treasure might improve the task evaluation, and many items inside could be exchanged for good karma points.
This was his first “real” journey into the martial world, and he had no similar experiences from his “previous life,” so naturally, he could not just take it by force, as it went against his nature and moral底线.
“No, leaving it with us would only bring calamity,” Li Xinyu firmly refused.
Meng Qi waved his hand: “If you don’t have the treasure map, how can you live peacefully in Tianding City for the long term? Leave a copy here.”
Someone needed to explore the dangers of the treasure hunt first. It would be unwise for him to go directly, and besides, he might not even have the time.
Seeing Meng Qi’s sincerity, Zhang Zongxian tore a piece of white cloth from a corpse and copied the map using blood. Then, the couple left the “original” on the deck, bowed deeply once more, and departed in a small boat by the riverbank, drifting away with the current.
Meng Qi put away the treasure map and found that there was still no task prompt. Slightly troubled, he squatted down and removed “Shen Hou’s” mask.
Under the mask was a middle-aged monk with a distinguished appearance, his face frozen in fear and panic.
Meng Qi searched his body and found only a peculiar token, neither metal nor wood, cold to the touch, engraved with a grinning monkey’s head.
“Is this the identity symbol of the ‘Twelve Divine Beasts’?” Meng Qi tossed the token in the air, momentarily playing with it, then put on the mask and began walking around.
Before his reincarnation, he had always been deeply fascinated by various mysterious organizations, especially those that were eerie, secretive, and terrifyingly powerful.
“Hmm, in the future, I’ll establish my own mysterious organization and become the shadowy mastermind manipulating the world…” Meng Qi liked to ease his mood with such thoughts of finding joy in hardship. “What should I call it? ‘Knights of the Goddess’? That doesn’t sound right…”
Just then, a weary voice suddenly came from the river: “Is that ‘Shen Hou’ of the ‘Twelve Divine Beasts’ ahead?”
“Eh?” Meng Qi was taken aback. Was he mistaken for “Shen Hou” so easily?
“This old man is Duan Xiangfei. I have a task to entrust to you, Master Shen Hou.” A small boat floated down the river, and an elderly man dressed as a scholar stood at the bow.
“Leisurely Hermit?” Meng Qi was quite astonished. It turned out to be Duan Xiangfei, one of the Seven Grandmasters! What matter could he have that he couldn’t handle himself and needed to seek out the “Twelve Divine Beasts”?
At this moment, if he denied his identity, would Duan Xiangfei kill him to silence him?
Although Meng Qi wasn’t too worried, he decided to cautiously pretend to be “Shen Hou” for now. Once Duan Xiangfei left, he could discard the mask. Where would Duan go to find him then?
On the deck, the blood suddenly began to flow, forming words:
“Main Quest Triggered: Impersonate ‘Shen Hou,’ accept Duan Xiangfei’s task, find the whereabouts of his son Duan Mingcheng. Completion rewards 150 good karma points. Failure deducts corresponding points.”
“Side Quest Triggered: Infiltrate the ‘Twelve Divine Beasts,’ uncover the secrets behind the scenes. Success rewards 150 good karma points. Failure incurs no penalty.”
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