Chapter 446 - 230: Formidable Foe of the Past? Mere Ant Today

Chapter 446: Chapter 230: Formidable Foe of the Past? Mere Ant Today

’This Chen Sheng is a vengeful and ruthless man—a critical variable.’

’The most pressing matter is to avoid provoking him right now. I must escape safely and quickly send the urgent news back to Golden Spring Mountain: Chen Sheng has returned, and the situation has changed!’

Hearing this, Xie Jingze said no more. He simply turned his gaze to Chen Sheng, awaiting his decision.

Chen Sheng lightly tapped his fingers on the hard red sandalwood armrest. His gaze fell upon Xuanbei’s face, which was a mask of sincerity, and the corners of his mouth curved with a hint of amusement and ridicule.

’This monk certainly knows how to read a situation. A first-rate opportunist.’

’And here I thought all these bald donkeys were the unyielding type who would rather break than bend. I never expected that when the chips were down, they’d be the first to bow their heads.’

’A pity. It’s too late.’

’Whether he’s sincerely seeking peace or this is just an expedient ploy, it no longer matters.’

"Golden Spring Temple wants to help?"

Chen Sheng began to speak slowly. His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear.

"There is indeed something you can do."

"Please, speak freely, Donor Chen! Golden Spring Temple will do everything in its power!"

Monk Xuanbei immediately replied, but a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"It’s very simple."

Chen Sheng leaned forward slightly, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a drawn sword, piercing straight into Xuanbei’s very soul.

"The chaos in Ning’an—what is its source? It is Golden Spring Temple, this den of vipers that harbors evil and fans the flames of discord. Once this den is uprooted and cleansed, Ning’an will naturally know peace and prosperity. All will be right with the world.

Such a ’small matter’ concerns the well-being of the million souls in Ning’an. I trust Golden Spring Temple... won’t refuse, will you?"

The smile on Monk Xuanbei’s face froze completely, and the color instantly drained from it.

"A... a den of vipers? Donor Chen, what... what are you saying? My Golden Spring Temple is a place of pure cultivation for the Buddhist Sect, how could it... However, since you have your doubts, I will return to the temple at once, report to the abbot, and conduct a thorough investigation. We will certainly provide the Government Office with an explanation!

There is no time to waste. I shall take my leave now!"

With that, Xuanbei shot to his feet. He put his palms together and began to back away toward the exit.

At that moment, he had only one thought.

’Flee!’

’I have to get out of here, now!’

"No need to trouble yourself with the trip, Master."

A chilling voice, like a cold wind from the Nine Nether, swept through the hall:

"I... will see you off myself!"

Before his voice had even faded, Chen Sheng moved!

With a single step, as if using the Shrinking Inches technique, he instantly crossed the several yards from the head of the hall to appear right before Xuanbei.

At the same time, a vast and ferocious might, imbued with the faint roar of wind and thunder, erupted from him. It was like an invisible mountain crashing down upon Xuanbei.

Mid-stage Profound Mastery—the Thunder Sound Realm!

And the sheer density and weight of his aura far surpassed that of any ordinary practitioner at the same level!

Monk Xuanbei’s face went pale with terror. But he was, after all, an experienced mid-stage Profound Mastery expert and had been on high alert ever since Chen Sheng’s appearance.

Though startled, he did not panic. His robes billowed as his hands flew through a Sealing Technique. Dazzling golden Gang Qi instantly condensed before him, forming a thick Swastika Buddha Light Shield that shimmered with flowing light and faint Sanskrit characters.

However—

SHLICK!

A hauntingly cold gleam of a blade shot out from Chen Sheng’s sleeve without warning, moving faster than the eye could follow.

The blade’s light was not blindingly bright; instead, it held a dark, spectral glow. Space itself seemed to tear wherever it passed.

The moment it touched the Buddha Light Shield that Monk Xuanbei had summoned with all his might, the dark blade gleam sliced through it like a hot knife through butter. Without holding for even half a breath, the shield emitted a sharp cracking sound, crumbled inch by inch, and shattered into a sky of golden specks resembling fireflies.

"How is this possible?!"

Monk Xuanbei’s mind reeled in shock, his very soul threatening to flee his body in terror.

’How could Chen Sheng’s power be this terrifying?!’

’Flee! I have to flee, now!’

He now had no intention of fighting. He retreated explosively, and at the same time, a string of Prayer Beads flew from his sleeve. They burst apart, transforming into dozens of streaks of Golden Light that shot toward Chen Sheng in an attempt to stall him for a moment.

’Trying to run?’

Chen Sheng snorted coldly and moved again.

This time, he didn’t use any profound Body Technique. It was just a single, simple step forward. The Blood Qi throughout his body began to boil, emitting a low rumble like rolling thunder on a summer day.

Jade Bone Thunder Sound, Blood Qi flaring like a signal fire!

An immense, pure physical power burst forth.

One punch!

A straightforward punch, utterly devoid of flair!

The air in its path compressed into visible ripples. Before the dozens of illusory Golden Light Prayer Beads could even get close, they were shattered and annihilated by the sheer pressure of the fist.

Monk Xuanbei’s vision blurred. Chen Sheng’s fist had already punched through every obstacle, landing squarely on the Protective Golden Body he had hastily re-formed.

BOOM—!!!

A tremendous clang, like metal on metal, reverberated through the Prefecture Government Office.

Monk Xuanbei’s Protective Gang Qi, lauded as Vajra Indestructible, exploded like fragile glass.

The terrifying Fist Force, infused with a dual-layered Mental Realm, crashed into his body with unstoppable momentum.

"PUFF—!"

Monk Xuanbei threw his head back and spewed a mouthful of crimson blood. Like a broken sack struck by a siege hammer, he was flung backward, plowing a deep gouge into the solid flagstones outside the hall.

His eyes were filled with disbelief, horror, and fear.

’My Protective Golden Body... couldn’t even take a single one of his punches?!’

At this life-or-death moment, Monk Xuanbei held nothing back. He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, instantly burning his essence blood to forcibly stabilize his nearly dissipated True Essence. Halting his momentum, he prepared to use a Secret Technique to flee.

However, he was too slow.

He felt the light around him suddenly dim, yet the temperature paradoxically skyrocketed.

It was not a simple, scorching heat, but a terrifying temperature that intertwined chilling cold with searing flames.

At some point, a deep, blood-red flame had silently spread out, completely enveloping the several yards of space around Monk Xuanbei.