"I met an acquaintance, I'm going to take a look."

Xu Qi'an said a word and turned around, quietly bypassing the crowd and approaching the old aunt in a cloth dress and hairpin.

Chu Yuanzhen's gaze followed him, and when he saw that his target was an older woman with average looks, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Xu Ningyan's preferences are quite unique."

Heng Yuan frowned and was about to defend Xu Qi'an, but he saw Xu Qi'an, who was far away, showing a mischievous smile and chatting with the woman.

The woman ignored him and gave him a disdainful look, but Xu Qi'an didn't mind and kept talking.

Seeing this scene, Heng Yuan immediately lost the confidence to defend Xu Qi'an and dryly said, "Youthful indulgence may not necessarily be a bad thing."

Chu Yuanzhen laughed heartily, "The courtesans in the Official Brothel Sector are indeed beautiful, but they always seem to lack something. It's more interesting to have a married woman."

Heng Yuan could only sigh and resent his lack of competitiveness.

Xu Qi'an was good in every aspect, except for his reputation as a womanizer.

After the propaganda within the Tian Di Hui, Xu Qi'an's reputation as a womanizer had deeply penetrated the hearts of the Fragment Holders.

"Auntie, why are you here again? You don't look like a wealthy woman. Isn't it nice to stay at home and enjoy the comforts of life? Instead, you come out every day to watch the excitement."

"Is that man on the stage your husband?"

"How much money did you bring out today? Don't let anyone steal it. Come, let me take you to a less crowded place."

Except for the coquettish look at the beginning, the old aunt ignored Xu Qi'an and let him chatter in her ear.

Xu Yinluo showed great disgust towards Xu Qi'an, who was talented and handsome.

Xu Qi'an was bored and not angry. He just stopped talking and focused his attention on the duel on the stage.

This time, Monk Jing Si no longer showed restraint and chose to fight the sixth-grade warrior with his own physical strength.

Dang dang dang...

The sound of fists and feet echoed, like a continuous tolling of bells, and also like a blacksmith's hammering, because sparks occasionally burst between the two.

The onlookers cheered and the applause continued.

A child watched with great interest and ran towards the stage, shouting excitedly.

"Get lost, you brat!"

Xu Qi'an kicked him with a sweep of his leg, and the child flew a few meters lightly and fell into the arms of a man who seemed to be his father. The man stared at Xu Qi'an with surprise and anger, but didn't dare to act rashly.

"Are you hurt?" the man asked anxiously.

"It doesn't hurt." The child smiled.

The old aunt turned her head and glanced at Xu Qi'an, then turned her head back expressionlessly, focusing on the competition on the stage.

The battle on the stage didn't last long. After a stick of incense, the sixth-grade warrior was finally unable to hold on and broke his hard work under Monk Jing Si's three punches.

"The invincibility of the Buddha's Vajra is well-deserved."

The man arched his hand and seemed to have no face to stay any longer. He jumped off the stage and hurriedly left.

The old aunt stomped her foot lightly.

Xu Qi'an was a little surprised. This old aunt, how should I put it, always had some gestures and expressions that only young girls had.

His aunt at home occasionally had this too, but not as exaggerated as her.

This was an aunt who didn't reveal her true age... Xu Qi'an concluded in his heart and smiled, "It's like two knives colliding. When the brute force is similar, the quality of the knife determines the victory. The invincibility of the Buddha's Vajra is said to come from the hands of the Buddha, while the quality of the warrior's bronze skin and iron bones varies. It's not unjust that he lost."

The old aunt turned her head, disdainfully said, "You speak so eloquently. Why don't you go up on stage? Didn't you behead a sixth-grade warrior with one strike before?"

Xu Qi'an squinted his eyes and asked in return, "Hey, didn't you leave that day? How do you know that I beheaded a sixth-grade warrior with one strike?"

The old aunt sneered, "I'm not deaf or dumb. Unless there's another Xu Yinluo in the southern city."

"Hey, you were the one who called someone to fight me that day, right? Auntie, which family's wife are you, and in which department does your husband work?" Xu Qi'an stopped pretending and asked directly.

That day, the sixth-grade warrior dressed as a martial artist had no reason to challenge him on stage, calling him out by name. Xu Qi'an could have directly captured him, but in order to maintain his saintly image in front of others, he chose to fight him personally.

Afterwards, before he had a chance to interrogate him, the martial artist was taken away by someone, taken away from the Nightwatcher's yamen. Who could do that?

Xu Qi'an speculated that it was an "insider," either someone from the military or a guest of some important person.

Just now, Xu Qi'an saw another sixth-grade warrior on stage and saw the old aunt among the crowd. Suddenly, he had an inspiration and remembered that he had indeed offended someone.

This old aunt's identity was definitely not as simple as her appearance, and he did offend her that day. Although it wasn't a big deal, women's pettiness was another matter.

Xu Qi'an had reason to suspect that the sixth-grade warrior that day was instigated by this old aunt.Upon hearing Xu Qi'an's question, the old aunt smiled and said, "If you go up and kill this little monk, I will tell you."

Xu Qi'an shook his head.

"Scared?" The disdain in her eyes deepened.

Yes, he was scared. He had finally managed to remove himself from the sight of the Buddhist Missionary Group, and he didn't want to have any more involvement with the Buddhist monks... But Xu Qi'an couldn't help but hold onto the handle of his knife and ponder:

"I can't break his invincible vajra."

It's better to let you know that there is always someone better! The old aunt sneered, her eyes showing a complex mix of disappointment and satisfaction.

At this moment, a swordsman in a green robe flew out from the side of the restaurant and landed lightly on the arena.

The onlookers were excited to see someone challenging the little monk again, and they were ready to enjoy the show and discuss who this swordsman in a green robe was.

"Chu Yuanzhen..."

Xu Qi'an heard the old aunt mutter.

She knew Chu Yuanzhen? Oh, after all, Chu Yuanzhen used to be the top scholar, so he was not unfamiliar to the upper echelons of the Great Feng... If Chu Yuanzhen made a move, it would most likely be a sure win.

Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief.

The little monk Jing Si had been occupying the arena for too long, and it was not good for the court's reputation.

"Little monk, I will only make one move. If you can withstand it, then I will admit defeat." Chu Yuanzhen smiled, calmly looking at Jing Si.

There was a hush, and the onlookers saw the swordsman in a green robe being so arrogant, which greatly reduced their impression of him.

This little monk from the Western Regions was invincible, and everyone could see that. The swordsman in a green robe's boastful words easily made people think that he was trying to take advantage and gain fame.

"Please, benefactor!"

Jing Si clasped his hands together, undeterred.

"Interesting." Chu Yuanzhen smiled, his eyes showing more curiosity than a desire for victory. He was just as interested as the surrounding crowd.

Then, Chu Yuanzhen made a gesture that no one could understand. He reached out to the sky and opened his palm.

The sword behind him remained motionless.

Just as everyone thought he was bluffing and was about to mock him, someone saw a pebble fly up from their feet.

More and more pebbles rose into the air, rushing towards the swordsman in a green robe's palm like a beehive.

With a series of banging sounds, the pebbles seamlessly collided with each other, forming a sword hilt. As the pebbles gathered, a four-foot-long stone sword took shape.

Wow...

There was an uproar all around, and most of the crowd enjoyed watching the spectacle. The more flashy it was, the more powerful it seemed in their eyes.

Chu Yuanzhen's move was indeed flashy. Gathering stones to form a sword was simply divine, much more interesting than the Western monks who had been beaten from beginning to end.

"Amazing!"

The old aunt's eyes sparkled, unable to help but applaud.

After the stone sword took shape, Chu Yuanzhen handed the sword forward. In an instant, a strong wind rose, blowing the surrounding people off balance.

The sword's momentum was too fast for Jing Si to evade. With his hands clasped together, he did not retreat or dodge.

Ding... Boom boom boom...

First came a sharp piercing sound that pierced the eardrums, followed by a muffled explosion of bursting energy. Waves of energy surged like a tidal wave, knocking down the people in the distance.

Fortunately, in the past three days, and after experiencing the so-called energy fluctuations, the people did not dare to approach the arena as they did before. Therefore, no one was injured, but many people had bloodstains on their ears.

Before the first sharp sound, the old aunt's ears were covered by Xu Qi'an. The subsequent explosion of energy kept her tightly "pressed" against Xu Qi'an's chest.

Probably never before had she been in such intimate contact with a stranger. The old aunt struggled violently, stomping on Xu Qi'an's feet with all her might.

When everything calmed down, the swordsman in a green robe and the little monk from the Western Regions stood on the arena. The little monk's golden body was no longer radiant and appeared dim.

Chu Yuanzhen no longer had the sword in his hand, and between the two of them, there was only gravel on the ground.

"I lost."

Xu Qi'an thought with regret, but then he saw the old aunt push him away and slap him with a wave of her hand.

Xu Qi'an raised his hand to block it and said irritably, "You, this old lady, you still have such a temper at your age..."

He didn't continue speaking as he saw a snow-white wrist in front of him, wearing a string of bodhi beads.

???

A series of question marks flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind. He looked at the old aunt's eyes, which slowly solidified and became strange.

He recognized this string of bodhi beads. He had won it from Taoist Master Jin Lian when they met in the inner city. It was the same string of bodhi beads that was bought by a noble person sitting in a golden sandalwood carriage.

It's her?!

"Rest assured..."

The old aunt's voice sounded embarrassed and angry, her teeth clenched.

Xu Qi'an obediently let go of his hand, and the old aunt retaliated with another slap before angrily walking away.

No way, no way, that woman who was praised by Taoist Master Jin Lian as having a deep connection with him in the future is her?!

She is qualified to ride in a carriage made of golden sandalwood, so this old aunt is Emperor Yuan Jing's cousin, or the wife of some prince!?What kind of connection can I have with such a woman? Could it be... No, I can't let my thoughts wander. Maybe she has a beautiful daughter who is destined to be with me... But with her plain appearance, how could she have a beautiful daughter?

Thinking about Auntie's appearance, Xu Qi'an interrupted his mother-in-law's train of thought and thought to himself that having a connection doesn't necessarily mean marriage, it could also be some other kind of fate.

"Speaking of which, I have already seen her twice in just a few days, and her background is unclear. She is not part of my life or career, nor is she in my social circle. Despite this, we still meet frequently. Taoist Master Jin Lian was right, we do have a connection."

At this moment, the audience around them recovered from the aftermath of the battle, some continuously patting their ears and speaking loudly.

Those who were lucky enough not to have their eardrums damaged sighed in regret.

"We didn't win?"

"Are the people from the Western Buddhist Sect really that powerful?"

No one criticized Chu Yuanzhen, after all, the sword move he just displayed was like that of a deity.

...

Xu Qi'an led the young mare and walked slowly with Heng Yuan and Chu Yuanzhen.

"Chu Zhaoyuan, how much strength did you use in that sword move just now?" Xu Qi'an asked curiously.

Chu Yuanzhen shook his head and answered with a non sequitur, "The little monk and you are on the same path, yet also different."

Xu Qi'an suddenly understood what Chu Yuanzhen meant. Just like the Pure Thought Monk, he only knew the Indestructible Vajra, which was similar to Xu Qi'an's single sword move.

One was attacking, the other defending.

"Then, Chu Zhaoyuan, do you think my spear can break through his defense?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"You can!"

Chu Yuanzhen glanced at him and smiled, "But you also can't."

Xu Qi'an gave him a deadpan look, "Scholars and people from the Buddhist sect are equally annoying."

Chu Yuanzhen looked puzzled, "Why?"

Xu Qi'an smiled and said, "Figure it out yourself."

Chu Yuanzhen immediately looked displeased. After a few seconds, he suddenly understood and shook his head with a wry smile, "It's really boring to be clever. Only people who think they're smart would do this kind of thing."

After a pause, he gave some advice, "Your 'Heaven and Earth One Sword' is very powerful, especially after incorporating the essence of the Heart Sword Technique, it has no flaws. But in my opinion, it lacks a soul."

Soul? Xu Qi'an rejected this term.

"What you display is the 'Heaven and Earth One Sword', nothing more. What I display is not a sword technique, but my own spirit. When I am lazy, my sword spirit is lazy. When I am gentle, my sword spirit is gentle. But once I become angry, my sword intent can pierce through the heavens." Chu Yuanzhen said in a deep voice, "This is spirit! This is soul! This is the true essence of a fourth-grade warrior!"

Xu Qi'an recalled the awe-inspiring presence of the gongs in the yamen and nodded in realization, "But as you said, that is the true essence of a fourth-grade warrior."

I am just a seventh-grade Refining Spirit Realm little gong.

"I can teach you how to cultivate your spirit and reach a higher realm, equivalent to having the abilities of a fourth-grade warrior in advance. Of course, the effect will definitely be greatly reduced. But with your 'Heaven and Earth One Sword', it should be enough to break through that Buddhist Vajra." Chu Yuanzhen said.

"Cultivating in a supreme technique is not something that can be achieved overnight." Xu Qi'an said.

What he really wanted to say was, can I freeload on your supreme technique?

"Entering the door is very simple!" Chu Yuanzhen smiled, "After I learned the sword technique, I pondered over this technique for a year. It only takes two or three days to practice it. But it is difficult to reach a higher realm."

"Please enlighten me, Chu Zhaoyuan." Xu Qi'an quickly said.

"Let me first tell you the trick. It's not difficult, it's just infusing your own spirit into it, turning it into sword or knife energy. It's just simple emotions like joy, anger, grief, and happiness." Chu Yuanzhen said frankly, "The Human Sect walks this path, and what I have discovered is a new trick based on the foundation of the Human Sect."

...

Lingbao Temple.

In the quiet backyard, Emperor Yuan Jing and the National Teacher were having a private conversation. The old emperor, whose hair had regrown, held a chess piece and sighed, "Chu Yuanzhen lost too."

The female National Teacher had a vermilion mark on her forehead, her features were beautiful but not vulgar, her figure was plump, perfectly blending the purity of a young girl with the charm of a young woman.

She played chess naturally, without using her brain, placing her pieces with a snap. Upon hearing this, she responded, "A casual sword move, what's there to win or lose?"

Emperor Yuan Jing nodded, "But regardless, it has established the reputation of the little monk and the reputation of the Western Buddhist Sect."

Although Emperor Yuan Jing was in the palace, he was well-informed about the affairs of the capital, especially the information about the Western Region envoy.

"Do you feel that you are in the wrong, Your Majesty?" Luo Yuheng frowned lightly, and as she continued to play, she realized that she was about to lose.

So in the midst of the conversation, she quietly changed the positions of two pieces.

"Wrong?"

Emperor Yuan Jing sneered and then sighed, "There is some wrong, but more of it is helplessness. The little monk is so young and has such amazing cultivation. There are no outstanding talents in the capital, what can I do?"

"It's not appropriate to let the experts in the Forbidden Army fight, wouldn't that be even more embarrassing?"Luo Yuheng heard it. Emperor Yuan Jing was blaming Chu Yuanzhen for not defeating the little monk decisively and becoming a stepping stone for others to gain fame.

"That bald donkey is not good. He probably won't easily return to the Western Regions this time," Emperor Yuan Jing said.

"What does Your Majesty want to say? Just say it," Luo Yuheng said.

"A few days ago, Master Du'e wanted to see the Supervisor, but he was refused. The Supervisor has been living in the Observing Stars Tower and doesn't care about worldly matters. If he doesn't pay attention to the Western Regions' high monks... then I will ask the National Teacher to take action."

Luo Yuheng nodded slowly and moved two chess pieces.

Emperor Yuan Jing, who had lost three games in a row, left Lingbao Pavilion in frustration and on his way back to the palace, he ordered the old eunuch, "Tell Wei Yuan to find someone. I don't want to see that little monk standing on the arena again."

Emperor Yuan Jing had no expression on his face, his expression was gloomy.

The old eunuch lowered his head obediently, "Yes!"

..........

Nancheng, Yangsheng Hall.

In the backyard, Xu Qi'an and Chu Yuanzhen sat cross-legged, listening to him explain the essence of "cultivating intention".

Master Heng Yuan also sat on the side, not avoiding suspicion, secretly learning.

"It's not difficult to listen, but how do you integrate 'intention' into the sword?" Xu Qi'an asked as he stood up and swung his black gold longsword.

Following Chu Yuanzhen's secret teaching, he tried to infuse his intention into the sword.

But he failed.

"Your emotions are calm, without joy, anger, worry, or fear... How can you cultivate intention?" Chu Yuanzhen said helplessly.

"It's my fault. I have a calm mind, unmoved even when facing a collapsing mountain," Xu Qi'an said.

The so-called "cultivating intention" is essentially a kind of emotion.

Chu Yuanzhen pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, there is a shortcut."

Xu Qi'an's eyes lit up, "Please tell me, Chu Zhaoyuan."

"Come here." Chu Yuanzhen beckoned with a smile.

Xu Qi'an immediately walked over.

"Smack!"

Chu Yuanzhen slapped him.

You... Chu Yuanzhen, are you doing this on purpose? Xu Qi'an became angry, "Chu brother, you did it on purpose."

"Can you unleash your intention?"

"It's completely ineffective." Xu Qi'an rubbed his hot face.

"Then the timing is not right."

Chu Yuanzhen suddenly pounced on him, continuously waving his palms. Xu Qi'an tried his best to resist and dodge, but still received more than a dozen slaps.

Faced with Chu Yuanzhen's relentless attacks, he became completely angry. It was at this moment that a thought of wanting to vent emerged in his mind.

Swoosh!

An unparalleled blade qi slashed out, distorting the air.

Chu Yuanzhen seemed unwilling to confront this sharpness, he tilted his head to avoid it, and the blade qi soared into the sky, slowly dissipating.

"It really works!" Xu Qi'an was delighted.

That slash just now exceeded the limit of his usual blade qi. If combined with the Heaven and Earth One Slash, its power would be even greater.

"You are indeed a genius," Chu Yuanzhen sighed. He had said that it would take one or three days to learn, but Xu Qi'an only took an hour.

No, in fact, you are a genius at teaching students... Xu Qi'an silently complained in his heart.

"But if I have to get hit every time I use this slash, wouldn't it be too disadvantageous?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"That's why I said, it's easy to get started, but difficult to master. Your current intention needs external stimulation and cannot be actively unleashed."

Ah, another secret technique to cultivate... But I'm still the young man who waits for death after one slash... Xu Qi'an felt that his path of cultivation had entered an irreversible state.

He was learning more and more things, but his methods to deal with opponents remained monotonous and extreme.

"But the power I can unleash is getting stronger and stronger. I wonder if there will be a day when I become a true unparalleled expert that no one can stop with one slash?"

..........

That night, Xu Qi'an unsurprisingly heard his second uncle talking about the battles on the Nancheng Arena.

"It is said that a very powerful swordsman made a move but still couldn't defeat that Western Regions monk," Xu's second uncle sighed.

"With so many experts in the capital, they can't even beat a little monk," his aunt commented casually while eating.

"There are indeed many experts in the capital, but it's not good to spread the news that they bully the weak. There are many young talents, but it is said that the invincible Golden Body is unique to the Buddhist sect. Even if they are of the same level, they may not be able to break it," Xu's second uncle explained to his wife, who lacked knowledge.

His aunt became angry after hearing this, "In such a big capital, they can't even find an outstanding young person. If it weren't for my second son not practicing martial arts, he could knock out that little monk with one punch."

Xu's second uncle quickly waved his hand, "No, no, mother, I can't do it."

We are "pawread dot com", find us on google.

After a pause, he continued, "The Western Regions envoy is indeed arrogant. Recently, when I was drinking with my classmates, they were quite resentful about this. There is a monk in the North City who chants and lectures every day, and thousands of people listen to him for one or two hours each day. But those people are all poor, how can they afford to waste their time like this?"

"And that little monk in the Nancheng, relying on his tough skin and thick flesh, arrogantly talks, but the martial artists in the capital can't do anything to him. My classmates say that martial artists can only bully the weak."

This statement offended both Xu Dazhang and Xu's second uncle at the same time."You scholars are all talk and no action." Xu Qi'an sneered.

"True."

Xu Pingzhi praised his nephew, while indirectly criticizing his son who had become increasingly arrogant after passing the imperial examination, and his wife who was growing more and more domineering: "My second son is not cut out for martial arts. On the other hand, Lingyue, with her chubby arms and legs, is full of strength and has more talent than him."

Xu Lingyue glanced at her younger sister who was engrossed in eating meat, and chuckled: "At this rate, we'll really eat ourselves out of house and home."

After a few exchanges, the uncle sighed: "Not just scholars, even my colleagues in the Imperial Blade Guard are frustrated. The monks from the West are too arrogant."

The arrogance of the Buddhist monks had its reasons. They were here to question and condemn... Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

......

Night fell.

A monk dressed in green returned to the post station and went straight to see Master Du'e. He put his hands together and said, "Master, the Inspector still refuses to see you."

In the orange candlelight, Master Du'e's wrinkled face was half illuminated and half hidden in the shadows.

"I see, you may leave."

The monk left.

Master Du'e closed his eyes again, and a golden light shot up from the top of his head.

The golden light slowly rose, piercing the night sky and disappearing. After a few seconds, the night sky was filled with rolling black clouds and thunder.

In the rolling black clouds, a strand of golden light lit up, and then, a tidal wave of golden light enveloped the entire capital.

The clouds shook violently, revealing a Buddha's face with wide-open eyes and inverted eyebrows.

This Buddha statue was incredibly large, with just the face being half the size of the capital.

Inside the capital, the common people were unaffected, but all the cultivators felt a simultaneous surge of fear and chill, like small animals trembling in the spring thunder.

Xu Qi'an woke up from his sleep, rushed out of his room with a pale face, looked up at the sky, and saw a golden Buddha's face hanging over the capital.

This sight was rare in his life, as if Buddha had descended from the clouds to overlook the world.

"Bang..."

The doors of the east wing and the neighboring room opened at the same time. Xu's uncle and cousin rushed out, their legs shaking as they looked up at the sky.

"Dad, big brother... Is the Western Buddhist Sect going to make a move in the capital?" Xu's cousin asked with a trembling voice.

Xu Pingzhi was dumbfounded. He had never seen such a terrifying scene in his life.

"Inspector, why do you dare not meet me?"

At this moment, the Buddha statue spoke in human language, like a thunderclap, the sound waves echoing throughout the capital.

"Damn... The high-level combat power in this world is indeed terrifying..." Xu Qi'an trembled as he exclaimed.

......

PS: I've been holding back a big chapter. I thought an update of three or four thousand words would be meaningless, so I kept writing after midnight, aiming for ten thousand words, but then I realized I had overestimated myself.

There will still be two chapters today, no change. Consider this big chapter as compensation.

Please help correct any mistakes, I'm going to sleep now.