As they fell, Asura unleashed a low growl and launched into a frenzied assault of punches and kicks against Xu Qi An.
Thud! Thud! Thud! His fists, elbows, and knees transformed into the sharpest weapons, battering Xu Qi An—who had lost his Diamond Body Technique—causing multiple fractures and spraying flesh and blood.
But soon, Asura’s power began to wane. Though his qi circulation appeared normal, each attempt to gather energy for an attack caused sharp pain in his chest, weakness in his limbs, and dizziness.
The qi that had once flowed smoothly through his meridians now placed an enormous burden on his body.
“How is it? The taste of the Demon-Sealing Nail isn’t bad, right?”
Xu Qi An spat out a mouthful of bloody foam and sneered:
“The heart leads the five organs. Without it, how will you circulate that body full of Asura blood?”
He laughed madly, headbutting Asura’s forehead hard, making his eyes roll back as he saw stars.
During combat, warriors rely entirely on their hearts to circulate their essence blood. When it stops pumping blood, the brain becomes oxygen-deprived, blood flow stagnates, and the limbs weaken.
Xu Qi An knew this suffering well. A supernatural warrior’s powerful vitality prevented death, but the pain was constant.
Fortunately, when he had reached the Spirit Tempering realm, he had forged his primordial spirit to extraordinary strength, his willpower firm enough to prevent him from breaking under the torment.
Every supernatural warrior possessed terrifying tenacity.
Taking a deep breath, the penetrating wound in his chest and injuries across his body rapidly healed. Xu Qi An launched his counterattack, turning his fists, feet, elbows, and knees—every hard part of his body—into weapons, returning Asura’s previous assault in kind.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Like firecrackers exploding, blood continuously sprayed from Asura’s body.
The Asura King’s youngest son’s eyes burned crimson as bestial roars erupted from his throat. Though he struggled desperately to resist, he couldn’t reverse the tide.
Meanwhile, Sun Xuanji landed lightly atop the tower. A circular formation lit up beneath his feet, extending downward in layers, twelve circular formations dividing the pagoda into equal sections.
Then, the upper six formations began rotating clockwise, while the lower six rotated counterclockwise.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The golden Buddhist scripts covering the Sealing Tower’s outer layer exploded one by one. This wasn’t mere brute force destruction, but a superior method of breaking formations, fundamentally dismantling the Buddhist scripts that formed the sealing array.
The watching monks stared blankly at this scene, just as confused as before, unable to comprehend this unpredictable supernatural battle.
These two outside bandits forcing Venerable Asura to activate his bloodline power was already an achievement worthy of glory even in death.
Indeed, facing Venerable Asura with activated bloodline power, that mysterious Vajra had retreated repeatedly, fleeing in panic.
The artificer in the sky only dared to take pot shots from his turtle shell.
However, after Venerable Asura killed his way to the artillery platform, the situation reversed dramatically. That mysterious outside bandit Vajra turned the tables, beating Venerable Asura until he couldn’t fight back.
And this wasn’t just temporary luck—they could sense Venerable Asura’s aura rapidly declining.
“Form… form the formation…”
The old monk’s lips trembled as he shouted in the Western Region language:
“Quickly form the formation, assist Venerable Asura in slaying the outside enemies, and protect the pagoda.”
“Seeking death!”
Xu Qi An kicked off Asura’s chest while throwing the Taiping Blade.
Whoosh!
The Taiping Blade whistled through the air, transforming into a dark golden light like a swimming fish, nimbly weaving between the monks.
Wherever it passed, Chan masters fell—some lost their heads, some split at the waist, some had their knees severed.
Only a few fourth-rank Chan masters managed to deploy their Chan techniques in time, Buddhist light protecting their bodies from the blade’s cutting edge.
In past supernatural battles, the Taiping Blade’s performance had been as plain as its name, even somewhat disappointing, but this didn’t mean it wasn’t powerful.
The main issue was that its master had faced enemies of too high a rank, and this little blade, having only recently developed consciousness, couldn’t play a decisive role.
However, after this period of tempering in dragon qi, its edge had grown increasingly sharp.
It had gradually matured, now able to play a major role in supernatural realm battles.
And now, dealing with these Chan masters wasn’t like cutting melons—it was more like cutting tofu.
“Form the formation in place!”
An old monk roared.
The Chan masters immediately responded, groups of several or dozens sitting cross-legged to form Chan formations.
This indeed stopped the previously unstoppable divine weapon, preventing it from breaking through the layered protective golden light. However, this also meant the monks couldn’t assist Asura or stop Sun Xuanji from breaking the formation.
Amidst the cracking of support beams and the crashing of falling bricks, the Sealing Tower finally gave way and collapsed.
This allowed Sun Xuanji to see clearly inside the tower.
In the center of the first floor stood an octagonal base cast in gold, supporting a golden lotus platform.
Both the base and lotus flower were covered in dense Buddhist scripts, part of the sealing formation. But now these Buddhist marks were dim and lifeless, reduced to mere engravings without supernatural power.
On the lotus platform lay a pair of strong, slender legs with flowing muscle lines.
Though sealed here for five hundred years, they showed no sign of withering or decay, as vivid as a living person’s legs.
The Sealing Tower had three levels, each occupied by numerous Chan masters.
As the pagoda collapsed, these monks maintained their cross-legged positions as they fell. Even plummeting from such heights, they maintained their meditation postures, neither awakening nor resisting.
Sun Xuanji opened his fragrance pouch toward the legs.
Swirling qi from the pouch easily drew the legs inside. Then, after glancing at the scattered monks who lay like statues, he briefly hesitated before abandoning the idea of slaughtering them all.
Before any hostile engagement, these monks were innocent in Senior Brother Sun’s eyes.
He couldn’t convince himself to slaughter the innocent.
Even if one day these monks might become his enemies, that was a future matter. When that time came, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill his foes.
“Good!”
Sun Xuanji shouted concisely as clear light erupted beneath his feet, transmitting him back to the artillery platform.
The platform flashed with clear light before vanishing into the deep night sky.
Seeing this, Xu Qi An didn’t hesitate, decisively abandoning his combo against Asura. Watching the Pagoda Treasure soar upward, he shouted:
“Taiping!”
The Taiping Blade whistled back, allowing its master to stand on its spine as man and blade flew away together.
It wasn’t that Xu Qi An was being merciful—though struck by a Demon-Sealing Nail and with his aura plummeting, this didn’t mean the Asura King’s youngest son was finished. He was still supernatural realm.
And warriors were famously difficult to kill. With Shen Shu’s dismembered limbs retrieved, there was no need to linger and risk complications.
…
After the great battle, the South Dharma Temple was somewhat in ruins, though the destruction was mainly concentrated in the western courtyard. Other areas, except for the slash from Xu Qi An that had cut through half the temple, were unaffected.
Asura sat cross-legged in the plaza where not a single tile remained intact, with the collapsed ruins of the pagoda as his backdrop.
His skin was no longer black, but neither did it have the dark golden color unique to Vajras. The fire ring behind his head had extinguished. Now he looked more like an ordinary monk.
At most, he was ruggedly handsome in an ugly way.
The dark golden nail lay quietly before him.
Venerable Asura naturally knew the secret technique to remove the Demon-Sealing Nail and had the strength to do so.
Fortunately, only one Demon-Sealing Nail had entered his body. Though it damaged his power, it didn’t cripple him, and he had enough strength left to remove it himself.
If all nine Demon-Sealing Nails had been driven into his body, he would have had to return to Alanda to seek help from the Bodhisattvas and Arhats.
An old monk led a dozen disciples into the western courtyard. The disciples stopped in place while the old monk slowly approached, palms pressed together:
“Venerable Asura, the demon monk’s dismembered parts have been stolen. What should we do?”
This old monk’s face was covered in wrinkles, his body as thin as kindling—he was South Dharma Temple’s abbot, Master Pan Nian.
One hundred and nine years old.
In today’s Buddhist sect, in ordinary disciples’ eyes, those of high virtue mostly belonged to the “Pan” generation. The generation above was the “Du” generation—these monks had either achieved the supernatural realm or long since returned to yellow earth.
Supernatural realm experts couldn’t be described merely as having high virtue.
“This seat will inform Bodhisattva Guangxian.”
Asura sat majestically, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
Abbot Pan Nian nodded, his elderly, hoarse voice asking:
“Should we send disciples to search for beast clans within the Ten Thousand Mountains?”
The Buddhist sect had operated in the Southern Borderlands for many years, with strong forces and numerous experts, far more powerful than the beast clans—otherwise, they couldn’t have ruled the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Asura shook his head:
“Send orders to all cities to stockpile grain and medicine, reinforce city walls, and clear paths through the forests.”
Abbot Pan Nian was struck with sudden fear:
“You mean…”
Each of these orders was meant for times of famine and war. The Ten Thousand Mountains were rich in resources, seemingly endless in their bounty—there was no issue of famine.
There could be only one answer.
Asura maintained his solemn expression, hands still pressed together:
“The Southern Beasts have endured for five hundred years, secretly accumulating power. The time has come for their return. I will contact Alanda about this matter.”
“The Ten Thousand Mountains have entered Buddhist territory and will never change. This time, we will thoroughly break the Southern Beasts’ destiny.”
Abbot Pan Nian exhaled and asked the question still troubling him:
“Who was that Vajra who fought with you?”
Asura countered: “A Great Feng supernatural warrior who practices the Diamond Body Technique and has connections to the Bureau of Astronomy—who else could it be?”
A name floated through Abbot Pan Nian’s mind—Xu Qi An!
“It’s him…”
The abbot’s expression grew complex as he lamented painfully:
“To think this youth has grown to such heights. Failing to bring him into Buddhism was a missed opportunity—an enormous missed opportunity!”
His tone carried both hatred and regret.
…
In the valley, a bonfire blazed brightly.
Miao Youfang, Guardian Red Ribbon, Guardian Green Wood, Guardian White Ape, and more than a dozen beast clan members drank and made merry, singing and dancing to celebrate their successful operation.
“Great Feng’s gunpowder truly lives up to its reputation. Those explosions were magnificent!”
A horse spirit beat his chest excitedly: “I wish we could wipe out all the Western Region people at once and save our kindred from their misery.”
Guardian Red Ribbon quickly raised her cup: “This operation’s smooth completion owes much to Detective Xu and Hero Miao. Let’s raise our cups to our distinguished guests who came from afar!”
In a few words, she had pushed Miao Youfang to center stage, making him the focus of all the beasts’ attention.
Hearing the repeated calls of “Hero Miao,” his heart was intoxicated before the wine could take effect.
“You’re too kind!”
Miao Youfang cupped his hands and declared loudly:
“Drawing one’s blade to aid those in need is simply the duty of us Central Plains people. Though you are beast clan members, your warm and genuine nature makes you far more worthy of friendship in my eyes than most humans.”
“I drink to you all!”
As he threw back his drink, he glanced at several beautiful female spirits with ample bosoms and slender waists.
I wonder how open-minded the beast clans are about male-female relations? I risked my life throwing explosives around the city—surely arranging a few female spirits as bedmates wouldn’t be too much to ask? Following Detective Xu has its benefits… Miao Youfang’s imagination ran wild.
At this moment, he noticed Guardian White Ape’s crystal-clear blue eyes burning into him from nearby.
Not good!!
Miao Youfang’s heart tightened as his adrenaline surged. If this monkey spirit revealed his inner thoughts, then… he would become the next Li Lingsu.
He would have to leave the Ten Thousand Mountains in tears and shame.
At this critical moment, Guardian Red Ribbon threw aside her wine bowl and pounced on Guardian Yuan, pinning him down and firmly covering his thick lips with both hands.
“Don’t spoil the mood!”
Guardian Red Ribbon warned.
White Ape Guardian looked at her stubbornly, shaking his head slightly.
His ability had already exceeded the fourth rank’s scope—it wasn’t something he could control at will.
Seeing this, Guardian Green Wood silently picked up his vine staff.
Guardian White Ape glanced at the staff and nodded quietly.
Only then did Guardian Red Ribbon release her hands.
Guardian White Ape tore off a corner of his clothing to cover his eyes and turned his back to everyone.
This way, though he could still hear the thoughts of those present, he could no longer tell whose thoughts belonged to whom.
Miao Youfang sighed in relief, gripping Guardian Red Ribbon’s hand firmly as he said with genuine feeling:
“Guardian Red Ribbon, friends for life.”
…
In the stone cave.
After taking the pills Sun Xuanji had given him and briefly regulating his breath, Xu Qi An’s energy returned to its peak.
“Asura was too terrifying—he’s not someone a third-rank can handle.”
Xu Qi An said, still shaken.
“I’m just glad Young Master Xu is alright.”
Night Concubine stood nearby serving tea and water, her face full of concern. After Xu Qi An finished drinking, she said:
“This portion of Master Shen Shu’s dismembered parts can help Young Master Xu remove two more Demon-Sealing Nails. This means you’ll only have one nail remaining.”
“Congratulations, congratulations.” White Concubine raised her two small paws in a cupped-hand gesture.
Sun Xuanji, standing nearby, nodded slightly at these words:
“Most…”
Night Concubine smiled at him, waiting and waiting, but no continuation came. She looked back at her lover in confusion.
Only then did Sun Xuanji say:
“Good!”
Most excellent… Night Concubine looked expectantly at Xu Qi An, suddenly understanding why he had previously asked Guardian White Ape to help Sun Xuanji speak.
“You’ll get used to it,”
Xu Qi An transmitted, then looked at Sun Xuanji: “Senior Brother Sun, please bring out Shen Shu’s dismembered parts.”
Sun Xuanji took the fragrance pouch hanging at his waist, opened it, and gently poured it.
Thud!
Two legs fell out.
Xu Qi An examined the legs with their flowing muscle lines, then turned to look at Floating Fragrance:
“No remnant soul?”
He couldn’t sense any primordial spirit fluctuations in the pair of legs.
The Night Concubine explained:
“After being sealed for five hundred years, the Master is in deep sleep. He needs essence blood to awaken—not much, one drop is enough. But it doesn’t need to be your essence blood, Young Master Xu. Mine will suffice.”
Sun Xuanji scanned the cave, found brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on his own, and wrote:
“We have the torso, arms, and legs. What about the head?”
“The head should be in Alanda, personally suppressed by Buddha,” Xu Qi An recalled the words of the evil left arm in the Pagoda Treasure.
Now Master Shen Shu is like Xing Tian, hm, we’ll need to get him an ax and shield too… he mused to himself.
“Young Master Xu, we don’t yet know if the soul in this portion of dismembered remains is good or evil. Let this servant report the results to the Queen first.”
Floating Fragrance is still so steady and thorough… Xu Qi An made a sound of agreement.
Night Concubine immediately took out the fox incense burner, lit the black incense, and when the green smoke rose, she inhaled it deeply into her nostrils.
In an instant, a powerful will awakened within her, and misty clear light leaked from her left eye.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox didn’t speak, her gaze fixed intently on the pair of legs on the table.