“No problem!” Zen Master Jingxin confirmed this after careful examination.

Dongfang Wanrong breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her gaze to First Seat Hengyin, who was raising his vajra spike to fiercely stab the chest of the man in blue.

Although Dongfang Wanrong disliked bloodshed, she felt no mercy for an enemy who had nearly killed her sister.

“Clang!”

Amidst the sharp ringing, First Seat Hengyin’s hand split open, and the vajra spike fell from his grasp.

At this, the Dongfang sisters, Master Jingxin, and the others gathered around in shock.

“A martial artist?” Dongfang Wanqing exclaimed in surprise.

She hadn’t expected this mysterious man in blue, capable of devouring soul power, to be a martial artist…

Since when did martial artists possess such bizarre techniques?

“This man is a martial artist!” First Seat Hengyin furrowed his brow. If that was the case, it would be difficult to kill him.

For Zen masters, who weren’t known for their combat prowess, a Fourth-Rank martial artist was a formidable enough enemy. Even if he did nothing, it would be challenging to kill him.

“Search him, see what his background is,” said the warrior monk Jingyuan.

First Seat Hengyin had the same intention and reached into Xu Qi’an’s robes. At that moment, a warrior monk suddenly contorted his face and, before anyone could react, headbutted towards Nalan Tianlu.

Hum!

The warrior monk crashed into an invisible barrier and was thrown back.

The translucent barrier rippled like water. Sensing someone attempting to break the seal, Nalan Tianlu frowned slightly, his eyelashes trembling as he was about to wake up.

“What are you doing?” Dongfang Wanrong’s face paled.

The warrior monk, spitting blood with bulging veins on his forehead, ignored Dongfang Wanrong and pointed at First Seat Hengyin, shouting fiercely:

“Don’t you dare harm him! As long as I’m alive, I won’t allow you to hurt him!”

First Seat Hengyin withdrew his hand, his face darkening. “What’s going on, Yinming? Have you lost your mind?”

The warrior monk cursed for a while, then looked at Xu Qi’an with deep affection, muttering, “I won’t let you be harmed, absolutely not.”

“He’s been controlled. You bald donkey, how could you let this happen?” Dongfang Wanrong glared fiercely at Jingxin, who looked utterly confused and said:

“His mind is clear, he hasn’t been bewitched… Master Nalan Yu is about to awaken. Is there any way to make him fall asleep again?”

Dongfang Wanrong sneered, “Who do you think can make a Second-Rank Rain Master fall asleep? Given the situation, quickly go to the third level and communicate with the Tower Spirit. I’ll hold off these people from Leizhou.”

“Amitabha, there’s no other choice,” Jingxin retreated swiftly, heading towards the end of the passage.

“Puff!”

First Seat Hengyin stabbed another Leizhou jianghu member to death and shouted, “Quickly dispatch them before they wake up!”

He no longer entangled with the man in blue, choosing to kill the jianghu members first.

The disciples of the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Buddhist warrior monks sprang into action, harvesting the lives of the Leizhou people.

In just a few seconds, over a dozen people perished.

Nalan Tianlu slowly opened his eyes.

The dream shattered completely, and the Leizhou people trapped in the dream immediately awoke, only to see Buddhist monks and East Sea Dragon Palace disciples slaughtering their comrades.

“Damn it, these Buddhist monks have no honor!”

“Lucky I woke up quickly, or I’d have died a muddled ghost.”

“Brothers, let’s fight them!”

Chaos erupted instantly. While the monks of Sanhua Temple and the disciples of the East Sea Dragon Palace were generally superior to the Leizhou jianghu members, there were not a few Fifth-Rank Integration Stage martial artists among the jianghu folk.

With their bodies as tough as copper and iron, both sides fought fiercely.

Puff!

A jianghu martial artist swung his great sword, severing a warrior monk’s arm. Just as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, First Seat Hengyin said sternly:

“Put down your butcher’s knife!”

Under the power of the precept, the martial artist’s great sword fell to the ground with a “clang.”

Two warrior monks rushed out, one to rescue their comrade, the other swinging his precept blade to slit the jianghu martial artist’s throat.

The combination of Zen masters and warrior monks was truly formidable… Xu Qi’an calmly surveyed the battlefield, noticing that the passage was neither wide nor narrow, but couldn’t accommodate so many people fighting.

Jingyuan was engaged in combat with Li Xiaoyun.

Dongfang Wanqing was completely suppressing Shuangdao Sect Leader Tang Yuanwu.

Dongfang Wanrong summoned the spirit of a martial hero, using a martial artist’s physique combined with a shaman’s techniques to suppress Commander Yuan Yi.

“The Leizhou side has the advantage of numbers, but the Buddhist forces are too strong. With the Dongfang sisters from the East Sea Dragon Palace… We can’t drag this out. Even if we could win, once Jingxin gains control of the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, would victory still have any meaning?

“Li Xiaoyun and the others understand this point, but they’re helpless…”

Xu Qi’an’s figure vanished, constantly jumping between the shadows of the crowd.

As he passed by Dongfang Wanqing, she sensed something and stared at her own shadow, screaming:

“Sister, it’s him! The one who took Young Master Li away!”

Finally confirmed.

Hearing this, Dongfang Wanrong’s face frosted over, murderous intent rising as she shouted:

“Master Hengyin, force him back!”

First Seat Hengyin put his palms together, locking onto the rapidly moving shadow, and chanted: “Turn back to the shore!”

Xu Qi’an felt a strong resistance welling up from deep within, resisting forward movement, and instinctively made the corresponding action—retreating!

He didn’t go against his heart and decisively retreated, backing into the midst of the fierce melee. At the same time, he transmitted a message to the sisters:

“I’ve already killed Li. If you have the ability, come and kill me.”

The sisters gritted their teeth in frustration but didn’t abandon their opponents to chase after Xu Qi’an in a fit of anger, displaying sufficient calm.

Young Master Li had gone with him willingly. Given Li’s experience, if the other party wasn’t trustworthy, he absolutely wouldn’t have taken the risk.

Provocation didn’t work… Xu Qi’an was immediately disappointed.

“When did you control the warrior monk?” Dongfang Wanrong reluctantly inquired via transmission.

“Heh, when you weren’t looking,” Xu Qi’an replied.

When he had poisoned the middle-aged warrior monk, he had also implanted the child worms of the love parasite. After the middle-aged warrior monk returned to the ranks of the Sanhua Temple monks, these child worms secretly invaded the bodies of nearby warrior monks. The reason for choosing warrior monks was that Zen masters had strong mental fortitude, and at this stage, the love parasite might not be able to forcibly control them.

Warrior monks were different. Before reaching the Spirit Refinement realm, warrior monks weren’t much different from ordinary martial artists. They had no defense against the love parasite’s erosion and thus fell “in love” with him uncontrollably.

Inside the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, there were several more warrior monks infected with the love parasite.

This wide-net strategy was originally intended as a trump card for the final struggle over the dragon energy, but unexpectedly, upon entering the second level, they were immediately drawn into the dream realm, and this hidden move was used here.

The love parasite was different from mind parasites and poison parasites; its erosion was silent and difficult to detect by ordinary means.

Those infected by the love parasite would regard the host of the mother worm as their lifelong love, regardless of gender.

Seeing that he couldn’t break through, Xu Qi’an opted for his second strategy. He opened Ji Qian’s pouch and pulled out handfuls of firearms and military crossbows, along with bundles of arrows, tossing them to the jianghu ruffians around him. He shouted:

“Don’t get close to the Zen masters; you’ll be affected by their precepts. Use firearms and military crossbows for ranged attacks!”

The jianghu members were overjoyed.

Bang! Bang!

Twang! Twang!

The sound of gunfire and crossbow strings intertwined as iron pellets and arrows whistled through the air, enveloping the Buddhist monks in a barrage of projectiles.

There weren’t many Buddhist monks, and under this round of suppressing fire, six or seven died on the spot.

First Seat Hengyin was furious and berated, “You’re from the imperial court? No wonder you’ve repeatedly opposed our Buddhist sect. Today, you won’t leave Sanhua Temple alive.”

As he spoke, he took off his kasaya and flung it out with a flick of his hand.

The kasaya expanded, turning into a massive curtain that blocked the arrows and bullets.

This was one of Sanhua Temple’s protective artifacts, capable of withstanding attacks from Fourth-Rank martial artists, giving Zen masters who weren’t adept at close combat enough self-protection ability.

Ding ding ding… The bullets and arrows were all blocked.

Monk Hengyin said calmly, “Once Jingxin controls the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, none of you will be able to leave. Sanhua Temple has stood in Leizhou for hundreds of years; we show no mercy in eliminating evil…”

Suddenly, Monk Hengyin heard the heavy sound of iron blocks falling, followed by exclamations from the jianghu ruffians: “A cannon?”

Cannon? Monk Hengyin was stunned. Before he could react, he heard a “boom,” and the next second, something struck the kasaya. The center of the kasaya suddenly “bulged” backward.

Intense flames burst open, spreading along the kasaya.

“Boom!”

A second cannon shot rang out, and the kasaya could no longer hold. It tore into two halves.

Monk Hengyin had been careless and failed to dodge. He was struck in the chest by the explosive blast, spewing blood profusely, half his face a mess of blood and flesh.

With the kasaya no longer blocking the view, the East Sea Dragon Palace and the monks of Sanhua Temple finally saw what was in the distance. It was a massive cannon, its body forged from fine iron, heavy and thick, with a long barrel. Wisps of smoke were still rising from its muzzle.

The man in blue stood behind the cannon, calmly loading explosive shells.

“Boom!”

The third shot was fired.

Warrior monk Jingyuan leaped up, colliding with the cannonball. He was instantly engulfed in flames.

But in the next moment, he burst through the fire, landing beside Zen Master Hengyin. He hoisted him onto his back and shouted, “Retreat!”

The disciples of the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Sanhua Temple monks retreated towards the end of the passage.

The jianghu members didn’t give chase. Instead, they all turned to look at Xu Qi’an. After his earlier dishonorable tactics and with the firearms and military crossbows he had given them still in hand, these ruffians now subtly regarded him as their leader.

“Chase them!” Xu Qi’an commanded, and only then did they surge forward in pursuit.

……

On the third level of the Pagoda of Six Harmonies.

Jingyuan and the Dongfang sisters were the first to reach the top level. They calmly surveyed their surroundings. This level had the most normal layout—a square space measuring ten zhang vertically and horizontally.

The stairway entrance was in the center of the room. To the north stood a golden statue wearing a kasaya, its features indistinct, with a halo of wisdom behind its head. Those who looked upon this statue would feel their minds clearing and their wisdom increasing.

To the south stood another golden statue, holding a jade vase in its hands, slightly plump in build. Gazing at this statue gave one the illusion of feeling as light as a swallow and free from chronic ailments.

To the east were two meditation cushions, upon which sat two monks.

One monk’s body seemed both real and illusory, emitting a faint golden light, withered and ancient.

The other monk had deep-set features, handsome and young—it was Jingxin.

The west side was the most bizarre and unique, featuring a severed arm bound by golden chains extending from the walls and floor.

The entire western wall, pillars, dome, and floor were inscribed with dense array patterns.

The arrival of the Dongfang sisters and the others interrupted Jingxin’s communication with the Tower Spirit. He glanced over the group, noting that most of the monks were dead or wounded, and First Seat Hengyin was covered in blood, being carried on Jingyuan’s back. His brow immediately furrowed.

Jingyuan said gravely, “They’re coming up.”

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps could be heard from the stairway.

Then, led by Li Xiaoyun and other Fourth-Rank martial artists, a crowd of jianghu members poured in.

They excitedly looked around, searching for the blood and soul pills, but were disappointed to find nothing except golden statues, enemies, and a bizarre arm.

“Please, Elder, heal our brethren,” Zen Master Jingxin pleaded, palms pressed together.

The withered old monk nodded with a smile: “Very well!”

He gently waved his hand, and the golden statue to the south, the one holding a jade vase, sprinkled with fine golden light, enveloping everyone present, including the jianghu martial artists. All their injuries were instantly healed.

Hengyin regained consciousness from his dazed state and instinctively touched his cheek, finding no scars remained. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“Elder, please punish these evildoers,” Hengyin pointed at the Leizhou people, speaking harshly: “These villains attacked Sanhua Temple and killed Buddhist disciples. Their crimes are unforgivable. Please, Elder, enlighten these evildoers.”

The old monk, the embodiment of the Tower Spirit, smiled and said:

“The Great Wisdom Dharma Image enlightens, the Medicine Buddha Dharma Image heals. Killing, this poor monk does not do.”

Jingxin sighed. Although he had gained the Tower Spirit’s favor, he was not the Bodhisattva Faji himself and couldn’t use the Tower Spirit’s power to subdue this group of Leizhou martial artists.

Nor could he order the Tower Spirit to kill.

Jingxin pressed his palms together and said, “Benefactors, as you can see, there are no so-called blood pills or soul pills in the tower. You have all been deceived.”

Li Xiaoyun and the others’ expressions changed.

Xu Qi’an said calmly, “If there are no treasures, why has your Buddhist sect acted so out of character? Even if they’re not blood pills or soul pills, there must be other precious treasures. Hand them over quickly.”

“That’s right, there must be treasures of some kind.”

“Don’t think you can fool us with a few words, you thieving monks. Hand over the treasures.”

“Hiding them away, is it because these treasures can’t see the light of day?”

The crowd of heroes began cursing angrily.

This man again! First Seat Hengyin stared at Xu Qi’an, his gaze flickering with murderous intent.

Although the Leizhou martial artists continued to curse angrily, they were wary of the old monk and didn’t dare act rashly.

Yuan Yi suddenly asked, “What’s the story behind that hand on the west side?”

The old monk smiled in response: “In the eyes of Buddhism, this is an extremely evil person.”

An extremely evil person?

The crowd’s hearts trembled at the Tower Spirit’s description.

Xu Qi’an seized the opportunity to ask, “Why is there only one hand? Where are the other parts?”

He feigned curiosity, attempting to glean information about the whereabouts of Shenshu’s other parts from the old monk.

But the old monk shook his head: “I don’t know.”

Is it that he doesn’t know, or that he can’t say? Xu Qi’an felt slightly disappointed.

Zen Master Jingxin ignored everyone else, staring intently at the old monk. He pressed his palms together and asked, “Elder, can you manipulate the dragon energy to enter only my body, not fall into the hands of others?”

Dragon energy? What dragon energy?

Everyone was bewildered and couldn’t help but take a few steps forward, instinctively feeling that the dragon energy Jingxin spoke of must be the greatest treasure within the Pagoda of Six Harmonies.

The old monk slowly looked towards the crowd and said, “Do not approach!”

The Buddhist precept affected everyone.

Then he answered Jingxin, “This poor monk can only guide the dragon energy.”

First Seat Hengyin, seeing this, finally let out a sigh of relief and said calmly:

“The Pagoda of Six Harmonies is a supreme treasure of our Buddhist sect, and naturally, the treasures within it belong to Buddhism. Your idea of breaking into the pagoda to steal treasures is simply preposterous. Even if Sanhua Temple agreed, the Tower Spirit wouldn’t.”

The Buddhist warrior monks and the Dongfang sisters felt somewhat relieved.

Earlier, they had been anxious, fearing that Jingxin might not gain the Tower Spirit’s approval. Now that the situation was settled, as long as the Tower Spirit was unwilling, this group of Leizhou martial artists would not be able to snatch away the dragon’s energy.

At this point, the Leizhou martial artists found themselves in a dilemma.

If they retreated, they would be unwilling.

If they advanced, they would be suppressed.

For Sanhua Temple to treat it with such gravity, this “dragon energy” must surely be an extraordinary treasure.

The old monk raised his hand and grasped at the void.

A huge, ethereal dragon head emerged from the wall, gradually appearing with the old monk’s movements. Its enormous size was beyond imagination.

“This, this is…”

Everyone who witnessed the dragon’s energy was filled with an intense desire to possess it, to claim it as their own.

Jingxin stared blankly at the dragon’s head, gaining some insight into the depths of his mind. If he could obtain it, he would henceforth rise to great heights, everything would go smoothly, and attaining the fruit of Arhatship would be merely a matter of time.

With this thought, waves stirred in his previously calm heart, and he developed a strong greed for the dragon’s energy.

The old monk lightly touched Jingxin’s brow with his fingertip.

Guided by this, the dragon’s energy twisted its massive body, about to enter Jingxin’s body.

Meanwhile, Xu Qi’an, who had been lying low among the crowd, had long been waiting for this moment. He lightly pressed the back of the small jade mirror, reciting the incantation taught by the Supervisor.

Under the dual attraction of the Book of All Things and the faint dragon energy within, as well as the blessing of national fortune, that huge, ethereal golden dragon suddenly paused. It turned its head, looking towards Xu Qi’an.

Then, disregarding the old monk’s guidance, it twisted its body, lunging towards Xu Qi’an and crashing into his embrace.

That was precisely where the fragment of the Book of All Things was located.

The interception was successful!