Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Repulse

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Repulse

Chapter Five: The Tiger Leaps, the Dragon Soars—The Contest of the Mysterious Blade and the Spiritual Sword (Thirteen)

Monk Zhixian furrowed his brows ever so slightly. He sensed that the newcomer harbored ill intentions, for the Buddhist power enveloping the opponent was even more formidable than his own—a sign of a powerful adversary. He raised his hand toward the sky, and the myriad icy petals filling the air gradually dissolved, coalescing into a dazzling silver wheel of ice.

Zhixian addressed Zhang Xiao, “Withdraw your artifact and step back!”

Zhang Xiao, understandably alarmed, immediately complied, hastily retrieving his treasure and retreating to the side. Zhixian stepped forward and said coolly, “Since senior brother refuses to show himself, do not blame me for bullying the juniors. I have come today to seek justice.” With those words, Zhixian pressed his palms together and began chanting. At once, his entire body radiated golden light, the sound of chanting filled the air, and a faint, ethereal image of a Buddha appeared behind him.

Qingxia stood stunned, uncertain which uncle master was assisting them from the shadows. She noticed Ye Hua standing utterly motionless, seemingly under someone’s control. None but she realized that, within Ye Hua’s body, the currents of Daoist energy were surging in reverse. When Zhang Xiao’s chilling force had invaded Ye Hua, several of his meridians were immediately sealed. Though Ye Hua’s energy channels differed from the norm, his spiritual power now flowed with difficulty. His limbs would not obey; even the smallest movement was impossible.

As the enemy’s ice wheel bore down, he found himself unable to dodge in the slightest. In his distress, a mighty surge of Daoist energy arose spontaneously within him—so vast and powerful, it was like a great flood. Wherever it passed, the chilling force sealing his meridians melted away.

Ye Hua, astonished, felt this surge of energy rush through him, almost as if it possessed a will of its own. It burst from several major acupoints, forming an invisible barrier that blocked the enemy’s attack.

Monk Zhixian, seeing Ye Hua still standing motionless after all his exertions—and with the hidden adversary yet to reveal themselves—grew even more incensed. “I must see for myself the might of Northern Terrace’s Jade Mountain Monastery! Is my Qixian Temple to be so slighted?” With these words, he thrust both palms forward, sending a torrent of crimson flame rolling ahead. Though the disciples of Qixian Temple stood dozens of paces away, they could feel the searing heat and were forced to retreat several steps.

As the fire advanced through the air, it gradually slowed, and when it reached several yards from Ye Hua, it too halted, just like the wheel of ice before it.

Zhixian, both startled and furious, reminded himself that he was the senior here and had held back some of his power so as not to harm Ye Hua unduly. Now, he uttered a sharp cry, channeling all his Buddhist energy and pushing his palms forward yet another half-foot. The crimson flames turned white-hot, the air itself distorted with the heat, and the fire inched closer to Ye Hua.

Zhixian saw Ye Hua’s hair and brows begin to curl under the heat and allowed himself a faint smile. “Ha! This is the Fire of Mara’s Wrath…” But before he could finish, a piercing shriek rang in his ears, stabbing through his mind and nearly causing him to collapse from the blinding pain and dizziness that followed. In panic, he flung a hand skyward, and a purple-checked kasaya spun above his head, unleashing a brilliant Buddhist radiance that shielded him.

He looked up, but the sky was empty, nothing to be seen. Zhixian’s feelings were a mix of anger and alarm. He regarded Ye Hua for a moment, then said coldly, “Indeed, Jade Mountain Monastery is formidable. Qixian Temple has been humbled today. Very well! We shall settle this at the Elders’ Court in the future!”

With a derisive laugh, Zhixian reclaimed his artifact and turned to his disciples. “We’re leaving!” The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. Their master had nearly subdued the boy, so why this abrupt retreat? “Master, what about Sixth Senior Brother… our grievance?” Zhang Xiao asked tentatively.

Zhixian replied with a trace of anger, “We will speak of this another day. Rest assured, we will demand an explanation from Jade Mountain Monastery.” Without another word, he departed. The disciples, intimidated, dared not protest. They cast baleful glances at Ye Hua before following after Zhixian.

“Little junior brother! Little junior brother!” Qingzhi called out in delight, rushing to Ye Hua as soon as Zhixian had left. Ye Hua seemed to wake from a dream, gazing at Qingzhi in confusion. “Fourth senior brother, where are the Qixian Temple disciples? What happened afterward?”

Qingzhi looked at him oddly. “Are you all right?” Ye Hua replied, “The chilling force in my body is gone—I think I’m fine now.” “Good. Let’s go inside and talk,” Qingzhi suggested.

Leaning on Qingzhi, Ye Hua entered the house. “Fourth senior brother, I distinctly felt a tremendous surge of Daoist energy arise within me. It shattered Zhang Xiao’s ice wheel, and then… I felt dizzy and my mind went blank. I have no idea what happened after that.” Qingzhi pondered deeply. “It seems some uncle master intervened, channeling a vast amount of energy into you to fend off the enemy. But why did he not reveal himself? How strange! Alas…”

The two thought for a long while, but could reach no conclusion, and could only wait for their other brothers to return and consult together. After a considerable time, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the courtyard. “Fourth senior brother! Fourth senior brother!” cried Ling Yun’er’s anxious voice. Moments later, several people burst in—it was eldest senior brother, Ling Yun’er, and the others.

They all rushed to check on them and, seeing that Qingzhi was gravely injured, could not help but grow even more concerned.