On the rooftop, the monk from Jingang Temple pressed his hands together before his chest. The radiance of Buddha flowed across his bronze skin as he chanted the names of Buddha. Waves of Buddhist sounds filled the air, while the screams of the ghostly women grew louder and more anguished.
"Helping evil flourish—Monk, are you not afraid of karmic retribution?" the ghostly woman cursed, a surge of sinister energy sweeping outward.
The monk remained unfazed as his Buddhist powers blossomed ever brighter. The horrifying screams continued, with weaker ghost women burned alive by the radiant intensity. Their bodies disintegrated into ashes, vanishing in smoke.
"Retreat," the ghostly woman commanded the surrounding ghosts. As her voice fell, a terrifying wave of sinister energy burst forth from her body. The hair behind her whipped wildly, growing longer with each moment. Her gaze turned chillingly cold as she raised her head to stare at the monk of Jingang Temple, saying, "Bald donkey, prepare to die."
Saying so, she raised her palm. The sinister energy coalesced into a sharp, deadly blade of white bone, razor-sharp, which she swung toward the monk atop the roof from a distance.
"Abomination,"
The monk shouted in a thunderous voice, his Buddhist radiance intensifying further. With one hand stretched downward, dazzling Buddha-light transformed into a golden Giant Handprint, colliding violently with the white bone claw in a deafening explosion.
"Monk, since Buddha preaches compassion, why do you oppress others so relentlessly?" Li Fan stepped forward, his aura swirling.
"Amitabha Buddha, should you, layman, repeatedly speak on behalf of these ghostly beings, then I must no longer hold back," the monk replied coldly.
With that, an enormous handprint descended from the heavens, aimed directly at Li Fan.
Frowning, Li Fan raised his fist and struck the handprint, shattering it instantly. His eyes sharpened—this monk harbored such a heavy killing intent?
"Demon Energy?"
The young monk gazed intently at Li Fan, Buddhist light shining in his eyes as he spoke, "A trace of Demon Energy lies hidden within your body. Impurities mar your form—it seems you belong to wicked forces. I shall transcend you here."
*Li Fan's expression darkened. Why would someone who claims to be merciful and compassionate harbor such bloodlust?*
"Master, if you truly believe in mercy, why do you kill so indiscriminately?" Li Hongyi's expression subtly shifted upon hearing the monk's words.
"Beautiful skin over a skeletal demon—Miss, though you were graced with lovely features, colluding with ghosts and demons leaves me no choice but to transcend you as well." The monk's gaze swept toward Li Hongyi, whose face grew tense. This monk's intolerance left no room for debate. Though he hailed from a Buddhist sect, his unyielding bloodlust betrayed his roots.
"Compassion and cruelty are but a thought apart—Monk, your dedication to Buddhist teachings makes you more akin to a demon," Li Fan coldly remarked, sensing the intense malice emanating from the monk.
"Wicked ghosts and demons dare to criticize Buddhism!"
The monk shouted explosively, pressing forward another step. His radiant Buddha-light bore down upon Li Fan, overbearing and absolute.
Li Fan's mana roared to life, his body ignited like a blazing furnace—an intense surge of Yang Fire erupted from within.
"Kill!"
The young monk barked, his power materializing into countless golden Giant Handprints, striking downward from the sky toward Li Fan.
"Be careful." Li Hongyi's Innate Dharma Form conjured a Fiery Flame Spear that slashed through the descending handprints, shattering them. She stepped beside Li Fan, gripping her spear tightly, her gaze grave.
The Jingang Temple was no ordinary Buddhist Sect in Chuzhou. Though the monk was young, his mastery of Buddhist techniques was fearsome.
"Miss Li, this matter..." Li Fan didn't want Li Hongyi involved.
"You're so dull!" Li Hongyi seemed to anticipate his argument, shooting him a sharp glance and cutting him off. She boldly stepped forward, positioning herself before Li Fan. Her mana surged, streaming into her spear, as her Dharma Form floated above her head, glaring at the monk.
*This monk's Buddhist power was profound. How could she possibly win this?*
*Despite her strong words, her inner turmoil grew fierce.*
Her father—the top martial artist in Lin'an County—may have held power once, but this was no longer the Lin'an County of former days.
"I'm dull?" For the first time, Li Fan had been called boring. Li Hongyi hailed from Lin'an County; her involvement now could lead to trouble.
"The Jingang Temple is a sacred Buddhist sect. Don't lose focus; this monk's skill is formidable," Li Hongyi reminded Li Fan, sensing his glance. *What was he pondering?*
"Understood." Li Fan nodded stiffly.
"Boom..." Golden Buddhist handprints continued their relentless descent. Li Hongyi unleashed her mana fiercely, channeling it into her spear. Her Dharma Form merged with the flame-infused spear, piercing through the handprints.
Yet the massive handprints cascaded endlessly from the heavens, their violent clashes resonating nonstop. Li Hongyi let out muffled groans as she resisted.
Cao Gong and Chen Li watched silently from the sidelines. The monk truly demonstrated the power of someone from the Buddhist Holy Land—this spared them from intervening. Should calamity befall Li Hongyi, it was no concern of theirs; they could simply let Li Daoqing deal with Jingang Temple.
*"I'm finished,"* Li Hongyi thought in despair, realizing this monk was far more powerful than she had anticipated.
Above her, a more terrifying Giant Buddhist Handprint descended, suppressing her spear stroke by stroke until its weight bore down completely. She doubted she could block it any longer.
"Clang!"
A sharp sound rang out—the monumental handprint halted in mid-air above her. Turning back, Li Hongyi beheld Li Fan standing behind her, holding the handprint up with a single hand.
The handprint shattered. Li Fan raised his gaze toward the monk, his body engulfed in an unstoppable surge of mana. The ghostly woman looked down at him, sensing a scorching furnace-like Yang Fire emanating from his body.
"What formidable strength," Cao Gong remarked, impressed. Li Fan, a true cultivator of a great sect, proved his might.
The monk from Jingang Temple lowered his gaze toward Li Fan. Although Buddhist light restrained ghost cultivators, it held no effect against him.
Vast Buddhist power surged from the monk as the immense shadow of a Buddha statue behind him slowly began to move. With a resounding clang, countless golden Giant Handprints howled forth, descending upon Li Fan below.
Li Hongyi's expression grew solemn; her Dharma Form wielded searing flames as it counterattacked.
Li Fan's mind stirred—a ray-like sword coalesced from his mana. Darting like lightning, it stabbed the incoming golden handprints, shattering them with relentless force as explosive cracks echoed through the air.
The monk's eyes gleamed with Buddhist light as his lips murmured chants. The night sky reverberated with Buddhist sounds, terrifying the ghost women. Buddhist radiance illuminated the heavens.
The Buddha statue's shadow solidified gradually, its golden body shimmering with dazzling light. The massive figure raised its arm slowly.
"Abomination, prepare for your end." The young monk roared, his voice booming with Buddha's resonance, sending an eerie tremor through those present. The immense hand of the Buddha statue pressed downward—a boundless oppressive handprint, spanning the sky and smothering everything beneath it.
Li Hongyi's face blanched as she felt the devastating pressure of the handprint, laced with lethal intent. Despair clouded her thoughts. How could she counter this? In this moment, there was no alternative—she gathered every ounce of mana she possessed, channeling it into her Dharma Form in preparation for a desperate last stand.
Behind her, Li Fan's clothing billowed as an unparalleled sharpness erupted from him, spreading outward and permeating the surroundings.
A gust of wind swept through the street, carrying with it razor-edged resolve.
The Demon Suppression Army's mounts neighed in alarm. Their hooves stomped frantically, the steeds restless and uneasy. The soldiers astride them suppressed the animals and kept them in formation.
Female cultivators wielding swords felt their blades hum with tension, as if longing to escape their grasp.
"Hmm?" Cao Gong and Chen Li furrowed their brows. What was happening?
Sword Aura?
The ghostly woman lowered her gaze toward Li Fan, shock rippling through her.
Sword Cultivator?
Among cultivators, those who wielded swords were not necessarily Sword Cultivators.
True Sword Cultivators must plant the Sword Seed.
"Monk, transcend yourself before attempting to transcend others. Perhaps I should transcend you first," Li Fan declared, his eyes locking onto the bloodthirsty monk. He stepped forward, and the Sword Aura rose violently toward the heavens.