Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan's mind raced. He replied telepathically, "I agree, but the item must remain in my possession."
He couldn't feel at ease unless the jade slip was in his hands.
Qi Liang sneered inwardly but remained silent.
This was a proposal neither party would accept. Just as Xu Sanyan feared, Qi Liang worried that offering the "meat bun" would be a one-way trip with no return.
Jingyi gazed at Xu Sanyan and Qi Liang, his handsome face etched with solemnity. "Both benefactors possess a heavy demonic aura."
Xu Sanyan tilted his head. "Great Master, are you planning to purge demons and uphold righteousness?"
"Precisely," Jingyi nodded.
Jiang Yan's face lit up with glee. "Hahaha! These mere demonfolk should be hiding in the gutters! How dare they brazenly appear before us Righteous Path cultivators? They truly have no sense of self-preservation!"
No one paid him any attention. Jiang Yan's expression turned slightly awkward until Zuoqiu Shu, unable to bear the silence, chimed in, "Great Master Jingyi's profound Buddhist teachings are truly awe-inspiring."
Jingyi gave a slight nod. "Lady Benefactor, you flatter me. This humble monk is unworthy of the title 'Great Master.'"
Jiang Yan pursed his lips and fell silent, stealing glances at Zuoqiu Shu, his heart churning with mixed emotions.
Mo Xianxian glanced at Xu Sanyan, then turned to Qi Liang, her mind clearly calculating something.
Fang Qingge's mind raced. He sent a telepathic message to Mo Xianxian: "Immortal Maiden Mo, does our earlier agreement to join forces still stand?"
Mo Xianxian nodded slightly.
"Good. When the fighting starts, let's first focus on taking down Qi Liang together. He possesses something extremely important that must never fall into the hands of the Demonic Path."
With such high stakes, Fang Qingge couldn't afford to adhere to Jianghu etiquette. Besides, when dealing with demonfolk, talk of honor was meaningless—everyone needed to fight side-by-side.
Mo Xianxian pondered briefly before replying telepathically, "How will we divide the spoils?"
"If it's a cultivation method, we'll study it together. If it's a treasure, I'll compensate you with another treasure after we escape."
"Agreed."
The two forged their alliance.
Fang Qingge's gaze shifted to Jingyi. "Great Master Jingyi, today we join forces to eliminate evil and uphold righteousness, restoring peace to the world. What do you say?"
Jingyi had arrived late and was unaware of the situation. No one had explained the circumstances to him, so he assumed it was a major battle between the righteous and demonic paths. As the leader of the righteous path, the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple naturally had to contribute. He nodded.
"Agreed."
"I've long heard of Benefactor Xu's exceptional talent," Jingyi said, turning to Xu Sanyan. "This humble monk has always wished to test his skills against yours."
"Tch... We have no quarrel. Why bother fighting?" Xu Sanyan clicked his tongue, reluctant to engage Jingyi. His primary focus remained on the jade slip in Qi Liang's possession.
"As a disciple of the demonic sect, Benefactor Xu has committed countless atrocities, his body steeped in resentment from his many killings. As a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, it is my duty to protect all living beings."
Jingyi spoke with unwavering sincerity, his words coming straight from the heart.
Meanwhile, Fang Qingge swept his sword horizontally, pointing it at Qi Liang. "Our battle remains unresolved. Let's continue!"
With that, the Jade Clarity Longsword soared skyward, Fang Qingge moving with it as he charged toward Qi Liang in an instant.
Behind him, Luo Qingwei and the others also sprang into action, clashing with Jiang Qinqin's group in a chaotic melee.
Wei Xunzhi led the Wei Clan to remain still. This conflict had nothing to do with her. Standing aside to lend moral support was fine, but risking her life in a real fight would require substantial compensation.
The Wei Clan wasn't affiliated with the Source Worship Sect. Despite Wei Xunzhi's lovestruck demeanor, she understood the situation better than anyone.
The treasure had nothing to do with her. No matter who won, she wouldn't get a share. The battlefield was filled with cultivators far stronger than her.
Zuoqiu Shu shared the same sentiment. It was best to remain a spectator. Though the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect was universally reviled, this was a matter for the Five Great Sects. Any attempt by smaller sects to intervene would be crushed instantly.
The two women understood this principle, but Jiang Yan did not. Still harboring resentment toward Qi Liang for humiliating him, he saw the battle erupt and, without thinking, drew his longsword and charged forward.
The Jiang Family members, unable to stop him, had no choice but to follow, protecting their Young Master's safety.
Meanwhile, Jingyi turned to face Xu Sanyan.
"Amitabha," he chanted softly, a radiant golden light enveloping his body. Behind him, a Buddha's illusory form sat cross-legged with closed eyes, its solemn majesty amplifying Jingyi's own extraordinary presence.
"Lay down your butcher's knife, benefactor, and cultivate good karma instead," Jingyi said.
With that, he slowly pushed his palms forward. The Buddha's illusory form mirrored his movement, its massive golden palms descending like a celestial canopy, deceptively slow yet lightning-fast, closing the distance in an instant.
"Idiot!" Xu Sanyan cursed. Instead of seizing the treasure, he was being used as a pawn. What else could he be but an idiot?
Despite his anger, Xu Sanyan couldn't underestimate Jingyi's power. He dared not be careless, channeling his spiritual power to meet the attack head-on.
Boom!
The shockwave reverberated outward, churning up a massive cloud of dust. Amidst the swirling debris, two figures clashed and parted in a blur.
Qin Manyang and her group soared into the air, intercepting the forces of the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple.
Nearby, Mo Xianxian moved stealthily, slipping behind Qi Liang unnoticed by the others.
She pressed two fingers to her forehead, chanting softly. Suddenly, she pointed at Qi Liang from afar and whispered,
"Chaos!"
Qi Liang, already struggling against Fang Qingge, was caught off guard by Mo Xianxian's sneak attack. For a fleeting moment, his senses were thrown into disarray.
But Fang Qingge was not one to miss such an opportunity. The Jade Clarity Longsword flew from his hand, piercing straight toward Qi Liang's heart.
Seeing the sword hurtling toward him, Qi Liang panicked. He tried to raise his sword to block, but his left leg moved uncontrollably forward.
"Mo Xianxian, you dare ambush me!" Qi Liang exclaimed, finally noticing Mo Xianxian behind him. At the critical moment, his senses returned, and relying on his combat instincts, he forcibly twisted his body.
Sizzle!
The sword slashed across Qi Liang's chest, continuing its trajectory toward the rear.
"Too bad..." Fang Qingge shook his head, disappointed that he hadn't killed Qi Liang with a single strike. Now that Qi Liang was on guard, such an opportunity would be unlikely to arise again.
Qi Liang casually withdrew a medicinal pill and swallowed it. The bleeding from his chest stopped instantly, but his complexion grew visibly paler, and he gazed at Mo Xianxian with mournful eyes.
Meanwhile, the battle on the other side had reached a fever pitch. Jingyi's eyes suddenly blazed with golden light as he raised one hand to the sky. His robes billowed without wind as he roared,
"Demon Subduing Palm!"
The heavens and earth trembled. Behind him, the phantom Buddha opened its eyes, its five fingers descending like the collapsing sky. The surrounding air was violently compressed and exploded, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
An overwhelming force, utterly unstoppable!
Zuoqiu Shu, watching from afar, stared blankly, her crimson lips parting slightly. She gazed at the colossal Buddha phantom, her thoughts unreadable.
"So this is... the Dao Seeking Realm? How terrifying..." Zuoqiu Yi murmured softly, her face filled with envy. She was only at Foundation Establishment Perfection, unsure when she could break through to the Dao Seeking Realm and reach such heights.
Hearing this, Zuoqiu Hui smiled bitterly. She wanted to explain but didn't know how to begin. She could only whisper,
"Actually... not all Dao Seeking Realm cultivators are this powerful..."
(End of the Chapter)
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