The first collaboration between the young experts of the Buddhist sect and Dragon’s Lair City ended in defeat, severely dampening their confidence and fighting spirit.

Ji Xuan’s brows furrowed deeply.

However, Master Plantain, as an observer with rich martial world experience, immediately assessed the situation and transmitted: “Don’t panic. Young Master, Xu Qi An is Third Rank after all—his physical body far surpasses yours. But physical strength doesn’t equate to combat power. The reason he could so easily sever White Tiger’s right paw was because of his Divine Spirit Weapon. We just need to find a way to deal with that blade. Without it, Xu Qi An is merely a Fourth Rank warrior with Third Rank defense… With our combined strength, we can keep him occupied.”

By now, Master Plantain no longer dared boast about defeating Xu Qi An, and he believed Ji Xuan and the others’ mindsets had changed as well.

Deal with that blade… Ji Xuan’s brows remained locked as thoughts flickered through his mind, rapidly compiling information, and quickly reviewing their side’s advantages, specialties, and combat power.

His eyes suddenly brightened as he said softly: “Qi Huan Dan Xiang, I remember your heart parasites can control creatures of lower intelligence. Would this include newly conscious weapon spirits?”

Everyone present was clever—they immediately turned to look at Qi Huan Dan Xiang.

“Theoretically, anything with consciousness can be manipulated and influenced. But I’ve never tried affecting a Divine Spirit Weapon,” Qi Huan Dan Xiang said slowly.

“That’s enough!”

Monk Jing Yuan said in a low voice: “We don’t necessarily need to defeat him. We just need to delay until the Compassionate Arhat or the two Vajra finish their opponents—then we win. If they haven’t decided victory yet, we can slowly wear down Xu Qi An.”

After their private discussion, everyone regained their confidence, at least seeing hope for victory.

Where there was hope, there was fighting spirit.

Xu Qi An silently watched them discuss, neither rushed nor anxious.

His gaze swept past Ji Xuan and the others, looking toward his distant brother and sister.

Quite well-behaved, not interfering anymore… he evaluated internally.

Kidnapping Xu Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuan Huai to threaten Xu Ping Feng—would that bring surprises?

No, Xu Ping Feng had already abandoned his humanity in pursuit of First Rank. If he could use one son as a tool and chess piece, he could naturally use another son and daughter in the same way.

The difference between me and Xu Yuan Huai and the others is that I was born earlier, not that Xu Ping Feng loves them more.

If his second son and eldest daughter hindered his advancement to First Rank, he would discard them just the same.

I’ve been dual cultivating with the National Preceptor for so long, that my qi has surged—perfect for testing against them.

Xu Qi An withdrew his gaze to see Jing Xin leading the monks in sitting meditation, forming an array.

They plan to use Chan’s power to counter my Lion’s Roar…

Sure enough, after forming the array, Jing Xin looked at him with profound eyes and said deeply: “Lay down your blade!”

The power of the Precepts was amplified by the array. In that instant, Xu Qi An not only felt peaceful, unable to generate thoughts of battle but even wanted to discard the Taiping Blade.

Similarly, through the blade’s transmitted thoughts, he felt its intention: Ah, Master, I don’t want to fight anymore!

Thump thump thump…

Jing Yuan took the lead, charging ahead. This time he didn’t use an arrogant headbutt to clash with Xu Qi An, but instead snatched the Taiping Blade from his hand.

This succeeded easily.

Neither Xu Qi An nor the Taiping Blade offered much resistance.

After getting the blade, Jing Yuan didn’t think twice before turning and throwing it.

Qi Huan Dan Xiang stepped forward, reaching out to catch the handle. As soon as this Divine Spirit Weapon was in hand, she immediately employed her heart parasite techniques, attempting to control it and make it their weapon.

However, the control failed. The Divine Spirit Weapon vibrated violently, nearly slipping from her grip several times.

Qi Huan Dan Xiang changed tactics, using a nurturing “communication” to influence the Divine Spirit Weapon, instilling thoughts of “ceasing battle.”

The Taiping Blade resisted a few times, then decided there was nothing wrong with this and stopped struggling, appearing somewhat dim-witted.

Success!

Ji Xuan and the others were overjoyed.

Without the Taiping Blade, Xu Qi An was just a thick-skinned turtle, his threat level dropping precipitously.

At this moment, Xu Qi An broke free from the Precepts state. Ignoring the nearby monk Jing Yuan, his body was covered in a layer of shadow as he merged into Jing Yuan’s shadow.

He used Jing Yuan’s shadow as a springboard, appearing in Liu Hong Mian’s shadow.

Bang!

Liu Hong Mian’s skirts swayed as her embroidered shoes stomped a deep crater in the ground.

But before she could kick, Xu Qi An shadow-jumped again, appearing beneath Ji Xuan’s feet.

He kept jumping between their shadows, then emerged from Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s shadow.

His target was clear—reclaiming the Taiping Blade.

Jing Xin’s brow twitched as he said deeply: “Do not kill!”

Xu Qi An, about to strike, suddenly froze.

Seizing this opportunity, Jing Yuan turned back to rescue her, the golden light on his body making him look like a golden lightning bolt.

Dong!

Jing Yuan’s fist struck Xu Qi An’s face.

The Precepts only affect me for a few seconds, and each Precept needs at least five seconds before it can be used again… Xu Qi An grinned viciously, returning the favor with a headbutt to Jing Yuan’s forehead.

Bang!

Golden lacquer splashed from Jing Yuan’s forehead, his protective golden light instantly dimming as he flew back like a cannonball.

“Fall back!”

Ji Xuan pushed Qi Huan, and Dan Xiang, away, actively meeting the threat. The Moon Shadow Sword erupted in dazzling light, this time targeting the brow.

“Roar…”

A deep lion’s roar exploded from Xu Qi An’s throat, making Ji Xuan’s vision darken. Then he heard a rapid “dong dong dong” from his chest, as dense as hammer strikes on iron.

The next second, intense pain arrived as his chest completely caved in.

Liu Hong Mian quickly darted over to catch the flying Ji Xuan, retreating with him.

The beauty from Ten Thousand Flowers Palace’s face turned slightly pale.

Fourth Rank Ji Xuan was defeated so quickly—was it as Xu Qi An said, that earlier was just a warm-up?

“Young Master!”

Qi Huan Dan Xiang shouted. His face twisted, seeming to reach the extremes of anger and shame, as one hand gripped the sword while the other directly crushed the silk pouch at his waist.

“Bang!”

A green cloud exploded outward, accompanied by buzzing wing beats that gathered and dispersed.

Liu Hong Mian, White Tiger, and the others’ expressions changed slightly as they swiftly retreated.

This was an extremely terrifying poisonous creature. According to Qi Huan Dan Xiang, they were called Bone-Eating Insects, growing in the Extreme Abyss where the Parasite God was sealed, feeding on the power that leaked from it.

Their entire bodies were poisonous, their mouthparts able to secrete toxins that could corrode a Fourth Rank warrior’s body, from skin to flesh, from flesh to bone. A large enough swarm of Bone-Eating Insects could kill a fourth-rank warrior in three breaths.

This was Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s trump card, rarely used because once these Bone-Eating Insects tasted human blood, even he would struggle to control them.

The impulsive heart parasite master shouted fiercely: “Xu, I don’t care what kind of genius you are. Today, even at the cost of being devoured by the Bone-Eating Insects, I’ll make you pay!”

In the distance, Xu Yuan Shuang decisively retreated with her brother—she knew how terrifying these poisonous insects were.

The green cloud danced across the sky, quickly enveloping Xu Qi An under Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s control, covering his body and face completely.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan Huai suddenly felt his sister stop. Looking to the side, he saw her face was incredibly complex as she stared at that green human-shaped figure in the distance.

This should be enough to make him pay a huge price… Xu Yuan Huai thought with mixed feelings.

He suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief.

Others wore similar expressions—Xu Yuan Shuang, Master Plantain, Liu Hong Mian, and the rest watched as those supposedly bloodthirsty poisonous insects suddenly began “dissolving” en masse.

They transformed into pure green liquid, but instead of dripping down, they seeped through Xu Qi An’s pores, merging into his body.

Thus, green light mixed into the golden glow covering Xu Qi An’s body.

After several seconds, the green light slowly dispersed, completely fading away.

“Burp~~”

Xu Qi An let out a satisfied belch and smiled. “Thanks for the meal.”

This… Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s pupils suddenly contracted, his face turning pale as he howled neurotically: “This is impossible, this is impossible!”

“This is Constable Xu—too strong…” Liu Hong Mian’s fighting spirit was largely extinguished.

“There’s still a chance. Control the blade, I’ll keep him occupied,” Monk Jing Yuan roared, veins bulging on his forehead, his handsome face somewhat twisted.

This wasn’t how he’d imagined it. In his view, with so many Fourth Rank experts working together, plus Jing Xin’s support, shouldn’t suppressing Xu Qi An have been an easy matter?

However, Xu Qi An’s strength exceeded everyone’s imagination.

Jing Yuan knew that Xu Qi An hadn’t even used his strongest move yet.

Compared to their encounter in Xiang Province, he seemed even stronger.

This wasn’t an illusion—Xu Qi An had indeed grown much stronger. The seal remained, still only two nails unlocked.

But his overall level had risen, thanks to his recent dual cultivation.

Dual cultivating with a female expert at the peak of Second Rank dramatically improved his qi’s density and purity compared to before.

Combined with his Third Rank physical body, the Taiping Blade’s support, and the Seven Fatal Parasite techniques, there was hardly anyone below Third Rank who could challenge him.

“Do not kill!”

Jing Xin calmly coordinated with Jing Yuan, applying the Precepts to restrain their target.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jing Yuan pressed the close assault, turning every part of his body into a weapon. Crisp explosive sounds rang out one after another, each strike heavier than the last, attacks falling like a storm.

As Jing Yuan found his rhythm, fighting more smoothly, suddenly a warrior’s danger sense warned him.

No specific image appeared—the threat seemed to come from all directions.

Poison!

Having encountered Xu Qi An in Lei Province, he immediately recognized the source of danger.

Simultaneously, his skin began to burn as poison seeped through his pores like bone-burrowing maggots.

His poison can already threaten me… Jing Yuan’s heart sank. He instinctively held his breath, his combination attacks faltering.

At this moment, Xu Qi An finally seized the opportunity, spewing a mouthful of sickly green gas.

In an instant, Jing Yuan’s vision went black—he could see nothing, accompanied by intense burning in his eyes.

Two streams of bloody tears flowed from his eye sockets as his eyeballs were corroded and shriveled, leaving him blind.

Jing Xin’s face changed dramatically. Being at a distance, unable to share the sensation of the poison, he hadn’t anticipated that Jing Yuan, who had been as fierce as a tiger just moments ago, would become blind in the next instant.

Xu Qi An twisted his waist and swung his arm, making the gesture of a killing blow.

“Do not kill!”

Jing Xin hurriedly chanted Buddha’s name, casting the Precepts to save his fellow disciple.

Fell for it… Xu Qi An immediately vanished, using shadow jumping to emerge from Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s shadow.

For a heart parasite master, being ambushed at close range by a warrior meant certain death.

Qi Huan Dan Xiang desperately tried to save himself, no longer dividing his attention to influence the Taiping Blade, activating his heart parasite to generate spirit waves.

He couldn’t affect a Third Rank warrior’s spirit with his power alone, and his vision filled with an incoming fist.

Just then, a gust of wind swept by as the one-armed White Tiger blocked in front of him, taking the punch head-on.

Dong!

A Fourth Rank beast’s physical body was equally solid. White Tiger groaned as both he and Qi Huan Dan Xiang went tumbling away.

At this point, because the heart parasite control had been interrupted, the Taiping Blade “awakened,” freeing itself from Qi Huan Dan Xiang’s grip and flying back to its master.

“Hum hum hum…”

The Taiping Blade transmitted waves of thought, roughly meaning: It’s not what you think, let me explain…

Don’t use that Playboy-style opening on me… Xu Qi An gripped the Taiping Blade, rapidly retreating to open the distance, far away, making the gesture of drawing his blade.

This distance was already beyond the Precepts’ range.

What does he intend to do?

Jing Xin and the other Chan masters couldn’t understand his move.

At such a distant range, even if he unleashed a blade light, how much power could remain?

It couldn’t possibly break through the array formed by so many monks’ Chan power.

“Jade Shatters!”

Xu Qi An spoke softly, and after a brief charge, swung the Taiping Blade.

A deep lion’s roar sounded as dark golden blade light flashed and vanished, appearing the next moment before Jing Xin and the others.

Better to shatter like jade than remain whole like tile.

Once locked on, distance became irrelevant.

Puh! Puh! Puh!

Horrific blade wounds appeared on the chests of monks after the monks, destroying their hearts and their vitality.

The Chan power array couldn’t withstand this tyrannical blade intent.

Jing Xin was the only monk to survive, and though his physical body wasn’t as strong as a warrior’s, reaching the Fourth Rank meant his vitality exceeded ordinary people.

After his heart was destroyed, he didn’t die immediately.

His hands trembling, he took out a porcelain bottle from his robes, pouring out some ash to apply to his chest.

This was ash from the Compassionate Arhat’s incense burner, long infused with the qi of the Imperishable Fruit realm.

It could revive the dead and regrow flesh.

Meanwhile, bloody wounds burst open one after another on Xu Qi An’s chest, mangling flesh and tearing his heart.

The price of Jade Shatters.

However, for someone with a Third Rank physical body, these injuries weren’t fatal—at most, they would heal slower due to the Sealing Demon Nails’ presence.

Liu Hong Mian’s beautiful form trembled slightly, her legs weak, her heart filled only with fear.

Ji Xuan was severely wounded but conscious, witnessing everything. His eyes were dim and lifeless, appearing deeply shaken.

Qi Huan Dan Xiang, who had barely escaped with his life, finally felt tremendous fear toward this celebrated genius from the Central Plains.

White Tiger now thought only of escape, having no other thoughts.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan Huai’s hands were tightly clenched, his heart bitter and desperate. At this point, he no longer had any thought of competing with Xu Qi An.

Defeated, utterly defeated, and this was with his cultivation sealed… Xu Yuan Shuang’s mind was in a daze.

“Too, too strong… this is the realm I’ve dreamed of,” Miao You Fang murmured.

He immediately looked to the side, seeking validation from the old Daoist, only to find that the old fellow had long since retreated far away, putting considerable distance between them.

Just then, the golden bowl hanging motionless in the sky suddenly shook violently, rippling out circles of golden light.

The battle between the Compassionate Arhat and Luo Yu Heng was about to reach its conclusion.

Jing Xin, Ji Xuan, and the others, in their despair, all held their breath, grasping at this last glimmer of dawn in the darkness.