The sun did not rise today, and the seats of the monks amidst the crowd were far from conspicuous.
Divine Monk Huaikong sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, facing a burly monk with a thick beard, bushy eyebrows, and eyes like copper bells. His muscles coiled like dragons, and a faint radiance emanated from his body.
Beside the burly monk stood a frail young novice, gaunt and short, his arms as thin as reed stalks, yet his knuckles were unusually robust.
"Fa Yuan, your little disciple here—he’s born with the physique of a dragon and elephant, possessing immense strength. However..." Huaikong praised as he observed the frail young novice.
The burly monk opposite him was the abbot of the Dragon-Elephant Ancient Temple, Master Fa Yuan.
Fa Yuan rubbed his bald head and laughed heartily. "He’ll be a fine hand at slaying demons in the future. I may never surpass you in this lifetime, but my disciple might just surpass yours."
The Dragon-Elephant Ancient Temple and the Suspended Temple differed in their philosophies.
The Dragon-Elephant Ancient Temple upheld the creed of punishing evil and upholding justice—to sever sin, not lives, and to kill in order to protect. Thus, most of its monks were martial practitioners. The Suspended Temple, on the other hand, emphasized compassion and redemption.
Back when the two temples dealt with the affairs of the Southern Border, disagreements arose.
Fa Yuan believed in uprooting evil completely, leaving no trace behind, while Huaikong advocated gradual enlightenment.In the end, the two made a wager: whoever subdued a seventh-realm demon saint using their own method first would have the final say.
By the time Shang Qinqing appeared, Master Fa Yuan hadn’t even left his temple before suffering a crushing defeat...
"Let bygones be bygones," Huaikong shook his head.
"I haven’t finished speaking. Cultivating strength must be paired with cultivating the mind. If Guan Kong wishes to visit the Suspended Temple to study the scriptures, he is welcome anytime."
"Scriptures should be studied, but not excessively," Fa Yuan frowned, his thick brows knitting together. "Otherwise, he’ll end up like your disciple Zang’ai... Ahem, who even gave him that Dharma name? Such a promising seedling, yet he only knows how to endure beatings without fighting back—what kind of nonsense is that? He should come learn some martial arts from me."
Huaikong shook his head. If they continued, the discussion would devolve into another debate over doctrine.
"That child possesses profound Buddhist roots and a pure heart. He isn’t suited for martial arts—he is a natural-born Buddha."
"I’d like to see just how..." Fa Yuan turned his gaze toward the arena and suddenly froze.
"Huh? Why is your Buddha emitting waves of demonic energy...?"
On the arena.
"Has Brother Murong gotten stronger?"
Jiang Chulong stared at Murong Xiao. Just moments ago, she had nearly given up.
Previously, she couldn’t break his Vajra Indestructible Body. Now, with horns sprouting from his head and fine scales covering his face, he seemed even more formidable.
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
Jiang Chulong turned her head and spotted Big Brother Li waving at her from the crowd, as if saying something—was he cheering her on?
Thus, the little princess perked up again, deciding to give it one more try.
Her breathing slowed as she closed her eyes.
In the darkness, she could see her opponent’s flaws more clearly. The Dragon-Slaying Sword Art was designed precisely for overcoming the strong with the weak.
Suddenly, Jiang Chulong leaped forward, her sword flicking upward in a sharp thrust.
Thud—
"Huh?"
The tip of her sword pierced Murong Xiao’s shoulder. Jiang Chulong blinked open her eyes in confusion, her almond-shaped pupils behind her cool sunglasses filled with bewilderment.
That was... too easy.
Drip— A drop of blood slid down the blade.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Murong Xiao’s supposedly unbreakable Vajra Indestructible Body was breached for the first time.
Yet many were just as baffled, unsure of what had just transpired.
"...I lost."
Murong Xiao looked as if he wanted to cry. The wound on his shoulder was healing rapidly, as always.
But the problem was—his Vajra Body had been disrupted by the demonic energy and was temporarily disabled. Originally, the two forces were in balance: Buddhist light sustained the Vajra Body, while demonic energy healed his wounds. Now, that equilibrium had been shattered.
"That girl is quite impressive, isn’t she?"
"Tsk... Something’s off. How did the Vajra Indestructible Body of Master Zang’ai suddenly break?"
"Didn’t you see? Black smoke was rising from him earlier."
Everything had happened too quickly.
The crowd remained in a daze.
But beneath the imperial canopy, the princes and princesses exchanged glances before turning their gazes toward Jiang Yu, who had just stepped off the stage.
Murong Xiao was a half-demon, with bloodline ties to a flood dragon.
But that wasn’t the main point. The real issue was Jiang Chulong’s swordsmanship.
The Dragon-Slaying Sword.
And Jiang Yu possessed the True Dragon Body...
"Who taught her such a treasonous sword art?" The Eighth Prince slammed the table.
Jiang Yu didn’t turn around. Calmly, he replied, "Who taught her doesn’t matter. I will prove to the world that this sword art is meaningless—a waste of time to learn."
Coincidentally, as he spoke, the Rivers and Mountains Scroll was focused on him.
His voice echoed through the inner and outer cities of the imperial capital, plunging the streets into silence.
No one doubted the weight of his words.
It only reminded them—Jiang Chulong’s next opponent was him.
"Brother Li, you know where my weakness lies... I didn’t mean to..."
Though injured, Murong Xiao wore an expression of guilt.
"Big Brother Li, I won!" Jiang Chulong hopped down from the stage, beaming.
"..."
Li Mo opened his mouth, then sighed as he looked at her excited little face. After a pause, he said, "Chulong... maybe you should just jump off the stage later."
"Why?"
Jiang Chulong blinked in confusion. "But you and Teacher always said—no matter how tough things get, don’t be afraid! Stay spirited! Never back down!"
"Then right now..."
"I... I am spirited!"
The little princess adjusted her crooked sunglasses, trying her best to look fierce—though in truth, she was trembling inside.
Li Mo rubbed her head, his emotions complicated, unsure of what to say...
Then he heard Jiang Chulong murmur, her head lowered:
"Big Brother Li... I can’t always hide behind you."
Suddenly, Li Mo remembered the sparkle in her eyes when she watched Havoc in Heaven—bright with excitement and longing.
He watched as she let go of his sleeve, waved, and stepped forward—soon to stand face-to-face with Jiang Yu.
"Wait!"
Li Mo suddenly leaped onto the stage.
Jiang Chulong turned back. "Big Brother Li, I can do this..."
"I believe in you. But I have something to say—just one sentence, then I’ll leave."
Ignoring the Sky Patrol guards closing in from all sides, Li Mo took a deep breath and declared:
"Twin pupils alone mark the path of the invincible—why borrow another’s bones?"
His voice, amplified by the Rivers and Mountains Scroll, carried far and wide.
The martial artists, nobles, and commoners in the crowd exchanged puzzled glances, unable to grasp the meaning.
But the few who understood—their expressions changed instantly.
Jiang Yu’s body trembled slightly upon hearing it. The overwhelming divine pressure radiating from him wavered for the briefest moment.