It was clear that the grand ceremony had reached an important stage before the Temple of Great Emptiness came.
Lu Zhou looked around his surroundings but could not see Zhao Yue. However, he was certain Zhao Yue was on the holy altar since the monks of the Temple of Great Emptiness, the Righteous Sect, Clarity Sect, and the Fiend Temple were here.
A hint of excitement could be seen on Little Yuan’er’s face at this moment. She liked the clamor. She looked around fearlessly.
When Lu Zhou was still surveying his surroundings, a person walked up to him. “Old Mister, you should take a few steps back.”
“Jiang Aijian?” Lu Zhou was rendered speechless. It seemed like the rumor about this person’s pathological obsession with swords was true. However, for some who loved his life equally as much, it was unexpected that he would come to the holy altar.
Jiang Aijian glanced at the cultivators on the holy altar plaza who had a sour expression on their faces before he said, “Old Mister, if it weren’t for your sword, I wouldn’t come to this nonsensical place.”
Lu Zhou’s expression was calm, and he did not deign to reply to Jiang Aijian. He looked at Kong Xuan, the monk, who had descended on the center of the plaza.
Jiang Aijian said in a hushed tone, “You should leave now while you still have a chance to do so…”
“Hm?” Lu Zhou felt suspicious about Jiang Aijian’s warning. He felt that Jiang Aijian was not telling him everything he knew.
Jiang Aijian looked around before he said softly, “In a few moments, these monks will seal the holy altar. Old Mister, the holy altar is only a pretense, and the Holy Daughter is a bait…”
Lu Zhou felt skeptical. He asked with a straight face, “How do you know this is a trap?”
“If you sell me your sword, I’ll tell you… You’re only at the middle stage of the Sense Condensing Realm, nobody will be able to save you if you don’t leave now.” He looked at the setting sun as he continued to say, “This is your last chance to survive.”
Lu Zhou found Jiang Aijian’s words amusing. He stroked his beard and asked, “I thought you wanted me dead?”
“No, no, no… I value life above all else. I would love to get my hands on that sword, but a righteous man should obtain the sword in a righteous way. Look around you…” Jiang Aijian motioned to the left and right. He clicked his tongue as he shook his head and said, “All of them look like they have a short lifespan. You’re a good person, Old Mister. Good people should live long lives…”
“I’m a good person?” Lu Zhou was slightly taken aback by this compliment.
Jiang Aijian said with a smile, “That sword is a treasure. As its owner, I’m sure you won’t have a bad character.”
What kind of logic was this?
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “There are so many elites here… Can the Temple of Great Emptiness deal with them?”
Jiang Aijian shook his head. He pointed toward the Righteous Sect and Clarity Sect. He said, “Old Mister, look closely… the elders from the Righteous and Clarity Sects aren’t here. Only the Third Seat of the Fiend Temple is here… They won’t be able to do anything.”
When Lu Zhuo looked at the two flags, he discovered, indeed, that many of the seats were empty.
Jiang Aijian said with a frown, “They’re being held back by the elites. They’ll be lucky to keep their heads, let alone coming to the holy altar.”
Lu Zhou looked at Jiang Aijian drily. ‘This fellow seems to have a knack for getting information. No wonder he’s able to make a name for himself in the cultivation world.’
Meanwhile, in the center of the holy altar, Kong Xuan bowed at the disciples from the Righteous Sect who were rioting before he raised his hand and said, “Zhao Yue is a villain from the Evil Sky Pavilion… She bears many sins. Several years ago, Master Kong Ming had lost his life in her hands. The Temple of Great Emptiness shall take her to let Buddha purge her of her sins so that she’ll be able to reincarnate as a human.”
The Righteous Sect’s disciple rose to his feet and retorted angrily, “The she-fiend is the public enemy of the Noble Path. The Temple of Great Emptiness has never bothered about these things, and yet, you suddenly show up and fill our ears with your intended acts of mercy? Here’s what I think of all this!” He spat on the ground as soon as he finished speaking.
Seeing this, the cultivators from the Righteous Sect laughed uproariously. However, the people from the Fiend Temple remained silent.
Lu Zhuo looked around. The Fiend Temple’s Second Seat, Zuo Xinchan, was killed by him. For this reason, they hated the Evil Sky Pavilion. It was logical for them to shift the blame to Zhao Yue. He was surprised the Fiend Temple had sent their Third Seat here this time. He did not know this person and had never seen this person in his memories as well. Perhaps, this person was too insignificant for Ji Tiandao to take note of.
Meanwhile, Kong Xuan, the monk, did not seem angry. He only looked around his surroundings before he said indifferently, “This old monk didn’t come here to ask for your approval, dear benefactors. I’m only here to inform you of this decision. The Temple of Great Emptiness must take the Villain of Evil Sky Pavilion, Zhao Yue, away.”
A figure suddenly leaped forward from the ranks of the Noble Path. “Well, you’ll have to take her by force then.” A long sword gleamed in his hand as he unleashed his Sword Qi in his surroundings.
The crowd gasped in surprise at this sudden attack.
Jiang Aijian glanced at the figure and shook his head before he said, “Just a cannon fodder throwing his life away. The Great Meditation Dharani weakens and intimidates its targets. With the chaotic Blood Qi of these people, I’d applaud them if they’re able to even unleash 30% of their strength.”
Lu Zhou watched the proceedings calmly. If this did not involve Zhao Yue, it would have nothing to do with him.
On the other hand, Little Yuan’er was further excited by this new development. She clapped along with the Righteous Sect’s disciples. It seemed as though she was a cultivator from the Noble Path as well.
At this moment, the cultivator who leaped forward sent a wave of Sword Qi toward Xuan Kong.
There was a buzz in the air as Xuan Kong’s kasaya glittered with gold. He seemed to have grown taller by 10 feet!
“Arhat Golden Body?”
Bang!
A loud explosion rang in the air as the cultivator was swatted away by the Arhat Golden Body. The cultivator flipped in the air and nearly lost his footing when he landed. The sword in his hand was still buzzing from the impact, and his arm was numb!
Kong Xuan extended one hand, standing still, as he said emotionlessly, “Dear benefactor, why’s there a need for anger? The Villain is from the Evil Sky Pavilion. You have all fought and lost against the old villain along with 10 great Nascent Divinity Tribulation Realm’s elites. Even the Heavenly Sword Sect Master Luo Changfeng died a gruesome death. Only by handing this she-fiend over to the Temple of Great Emptiness will everyone remain safe.”
In other words, Kong Xuan meant that if Ji Tiandao were to come, how many of them were capable of stopping Ji Tian Dao?
“You have a nasty mouth, you bald donkey. If the Noble Path can’t hold him back, what makes you think the Temple of Great Emptiness can?”
Kong Xuan’s expression remained calm as he said slowly, “The abbot has been cultivating in seclusion for a century and has raised his cultivation base tremendously. We can deal with that old villain.”
Kong Xuan’s words were akin to a rock being thrown into a still lake, causing everyone present on the holy altar’s plaza to break into an uproar. Many of them even had a frightened expression on their faces. They knew that the Temple of Great Emptiness’ Kong Yuan was a Six-leaf Golden Body divine monk a century ago. They did not expect him to be cultivating in seclusion all this time.
Someone from the Clarity Sect stood up and bowed as he cupped his hands together at Kong Xuan. “If Master Kong Yuan can deal with the old villain from the Evil Sky Pavilion, the Clarity Sect agrees to hand over the she-fiend, Zhao Yue, to the Temple of Great Emptiness.”
The people from the Noble Path were stunned.
The Clarity Sect and the Righteous Sect were of the same lineage. However, the people in charge were not present currently. If they agreed to this, how would they explain themselves to the dead disciples? They could not call the shots.
Kong Xuan nodded. “This old monk thanks the benefactors from Clarity Sect. The Temple of Great Emptiness definitely won’t let you down. We’ll certainly reform the villain.”
At this moment, a deep voice sounded from behind Kong Xuan. “You’ll have to ask for my permission if you want to take Zhao Yue away.”
Kong Xuan turned around to face the Fiend Temple. “This old monk has said this visit isn’t intended as a negotiation. I’m merely here to notify you of this decision.” He spoke gently, but it grated on the nerves of the listeners.
The Third Seat of the Fiend Temple raised an eyebrow as he said coldly, “What a sanctimonious bald donkey! The Temple of Great Emptiness clearly planned this and cast the Great Meditation Dharani around the holy altar. You dare act as if you’re worthy of administering justice when you play tricks like these?” He paused before continuing, “The Temple of Grand Emptiness has always claimed that it views all life equally without differentiating the righteous from the wicked. It has also never meddled in worldly affairs… Don’t you have anything better to do today?”
Kong Xuan straightened his right arm. “Benefactor Duan, are you going to stop this old monk?”
“Wretched monk! You’re refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!” The Third Seat of the Fiend Temple waved his arms, and several black-robed cultivators leaped out from behind him onto the plaza.
Kong Xuan stood calmly with his right hand outstretched when faced with the hostile newcomers. He did not seem anxious, and his manner was neither servile nor overbearing.
“Arhat Golden Body.” His 20-feet Golden Body emitted a vast energy as his kasaya fluttered in the air.
Jiang Aijian was shocked when he saw this. “Arhat Golden Body is on par with a Nascent Divinity Tribulation Realm’s two-leaf avatar. This bald donkey isn’t your average monk… Old Mister, quickly move to the back! The Fiend Temple has clearly come prepared. If that bald donkey uses a zen mark, you’ll certainly be affected since you’re only at the Sense Condensing Realm!” As he spoke, he tugged on Lu Zhou’s arm to pull Lu Zhou to the back.
