White-Robed Chief

“Monk Zhi Shan,” Zhou Jinchun greeted while holding up a fist salute. “The Holy Church of Light and the Reincarnation Temple have never interfered with each other’s affairs. Do you really want to start provoking us now?”

Monk Zhi Shan had a round face and good-looking features. His expression was calm and peaceful. “Nothing is permanent in this world. Everything is constantly changing. Indeed, the Holy Church of Light has never had any conflict with the Reincarnation Temple, but once this war between the Qiu Dynasty and the Li Dynasty begins, there will no longer be peace between our sects. Thus, we will become enemies.”

“You’re a monk. Why would you still interfere with such worldly affairs?” Zhou Jinchun asked.

Monk Zhi Shan shook his head and said, “While I’m a monk, I still live in this world of uncertainty and impermanence. Since the Reincarnation Temple is in the Qiu Dynasty, how can I not get involved in this matter? May I know why you’re heading for Falling Autumn City?”

“We’re going there to observe the war,” Zhou Jinchun replied.

Monk Zhi Shan said, “Almsgiver, why would you tell lies? Since you’re heading for Falling Autumn City, that would make you an enemy of the Qiu Dynasty. Forgive my impertinence.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he took out two chakrams from inside his sleeves.

The chakrams were smooth and black as though they were made out of graphite. They had a glossy surface that was vaguely shiny.

Each chakram was roughly the same size as the lid of a teacup. It looked so similar to it that at first glance, it could easily be mistaken as the lid of a teacup. There were also various odd yet intricate patterns carved on the chakrams.

As he lightly tossed the chakrams at them, an endless humming sound could suddenly be heard.

The two black chakrams spun in the air at high speed as it whizzed toward Li Ruolan and Zhou Jinchun respectively. While the chakrams appeared to be moving rather slowly, they could reach their targets in an instant as though they had directly crossed through the void.

“Ding…” Zhou Jinchun swung his sword at the black chakram, and as both weapons collided with each other, the sword was sent flying out of his hand.

There was a rather strange force surging from the black chakram that had managed to swerve Zhou Jinchun’s sword in a different direction while adding more force to the movement of his sword as well. Thus, he could not maintain his grip on the sword.

After the sword fell out of his hand, the speed of the black chakram increased abruptly as though it had drawn on the force from the sword. It turned around in mid-air and shot toward his neck.

Zhou Jinchun hurriedly ducked to avoid it.

The black chakram continued humming loudly as it whizzed past his forehead and cut off a few loose strands of hair, which slowly fell to the ground.

He was then covered in cold sweat. If he had reacted slightly slower, his head would have been cut off!

As Li Ruolan fixed her eyes on the black chakram coming at her, she felt a strong sense of danger. So, she took a step backward to avoid it.

The black chakram went around in a circle and shot toward her again but she had dodged it once more. The black chakram was moving so fast that she dared not allow herself to be distracted and instead, concentrated all her attention on avoiding the chakram.

Chu Li shouted, “Senior Brother Zhou, run!”

Zhou Jinchun rolled once on the ground and then turned around to run away.

“Hoot…” The black chakram pursued him at high speed and it was moving much faster than him. Then, the chakram turned a corner beside his neck and was soon going to cut off his head.

Zhou Jinchun was just about to lower his head and dodge it but the cold air emanating from the black chakram had already reached him. A moment later, his head would fall off his shoulders.

“Ding…” Following a clear ringing sound, the black chakram suddenly rose higher in the air and it was then suspended horizontally in mid-air, although it was still rotating at high speed. Zhou Jinchun had barely escaped his death.

The humming sound continued to echo as the black chakram spun in the air. Eventually, it fell to the ground.

Chu Li lowered his right hand and sighed in relief. Fortunately, he had made the right judgment. His blade had hit the black chakram right in the center.

The force driving the rotation of the black chakram was rather strange and mysterious. It could absorb the slightest external force and transform it into its own force to increase the speed of the black chakram. The extraordinary effects of the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture became more apparent now through its application to the black chakram.

The seniors of the Reincarnation Temple were indeed very admirable given their ability to design such a weapon.

“Namo Amitabha…” Zhi Shan chanted the name of Buddha before he joined his palms in obeisance. With a wave of his hand, the black chakram rotated into the air and went back into his loose sleeve.

This person was certainly no ordinary figure given that he was capable of locating the center point of a black chakram that had been rotating at high speed. It was impossible to hit this center point by blindly shooting at it. Only a person with top-notch martial arts skills and perfect eyesight could do it. However, Zhi Shan realized that he had misjudged this group of people. He could not believe that he had failed to notice such a formidable figure among them.

Since Chu Li’s cultivation level was not that high, he paled in comparison to the three patrols. Therefore, it was naturally easy to overlook him.

Li Ruolan’s situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable. The other black chakram pestered her obstinately as it followed her in hot pursuit. As the distance between them grew smaller, she became even more pressured and felt as though her head would be cut off at any moment.

Chu Li suddenly swung his hand.

“Ding…” The black chakram swerved sideways and flew away from Li Ruolan.

Monk Zhi Shan waved a hand. The black chakram instantly flew upward before it could hit the ground and then shot back into the loose sleeve of Monk Zhi Shan’s large cowl.

He put his hands together in obeisance. “Namo Amitabha… May I know who you are, almsgiver?”

“Zhao Dahe!” Chu Li replied grimly. “Monk Zhi Shan, were you using a unique weapon from the Reincarnation Temple?”

He was wearing a grave expression, as though he was facing a fearsome enemy.

Monk Zhi Shan was enveloped in a strange layer of energy and possessed an extremely strong spiritual force, so Chu Li was unable to peek into his mind. This showed that Zhi Shan had a much higher cultivation level in the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture compared to Chu Li.

Chu Li’s intuition was warning him to stay as far away as possible from this Monk Zhi Shan. Considering how phenomenal this monk’s cultivation level was, it would be impossible for Chu Li to defeat him!

“This is the lunar chakram.” Zhi Shan nodded and said, “Since Almsgiver Zhao has managed to overcome this weapon, you must have extraordinary skills. I’d like to see just how impressive your skills are, Almsgiver Zhao!”

Chu Li replied, “Sure. Senior Sister Li, you three should leave first. I’ll spar with Monk Zhi Shan for a while and then catch up with you.”

Li Ruolan frowned at him.

Zhou Jinchun said, “Let’s leave together.”

Chu Li shook his head and replied, “I’ll catch up with you very soon!”

He had a slim chance of escaping if he was on his own. With them around, none of them would be able to survive!

Li Ruolan exhaled sharply and asked, “Are you confident?”

Chu Li nodded.

Li Ruolan glanced at Ji Xin and Zhou Jinchun before she sighed. “Alright then, we’ll leave first!”

Ji Xin did not wish to leave just yet. He had heard of the Reincarnation Temple’s great name for a long time but had never had the chance to fight with them. He wanted to have a look at the martial arts of the Reincarnation Temple to see what it was like so that he would have an idea of how he could deal with them the next time. Moreover, he was not as cowardly as Zhou Jinchun.

Zhou Jinchun had been scared out of his wits after his head had nearly been cut off just now, so he quickly replied, “Yes, yes, we’ll make a move first. Junior Brother Ji, let’s go!”

“Ah… Fine.” Ji Xin nodded in resignation. “Well then, Junior Brother Zhao, you should be more careful. We’ll be leaving now!”

Chu Li slowly nodded.

Monk Zhi Shan smiled at the three of them as if they were his old friends. However, when he had been using the lunar chakrams to attack them earlier, he had shown no sign of mercy toward them at all.

Chu Li became even warier of Zhi Shan as he could tell that this monk was different from most people and that he had a unique mind.

When the three patrols finally disappeared from his view, Chu Li slowly turned his gaze to Zhi Shan. “Monk Zhi Shan, my cultivation level is rather ordinary, and I have a poor grasp of other martial arts. The only thing I’m good at is the Light Blade.”

“The Holy Church of Light has been very famous for their Divine Light Fist,” Monk Zhi Shan replied. “I’d like to experience the power of Almsgiver Zhao’s Divine Light Fist!”

Right after he had finished speaking, his right fist emerged from his loose sleeve and reached for Chu Li’s chest in an instant.

Immediately, Chu Li threw out a Divine Light Fist.

“Bang!” Chu Li staggered three steps backward. His face turned pale for a moment and then it flushed red.

Monk Zhi Shan’s fist force was very unusual as it had transformed twice in Chu Li’s body. Initially, it had been an extreme-Yin force. Then, it became extreme-cold before it turned back into extreme-Yin again. It was truly bizarre and unpredictable.

“Puff!” Chu Li spat out a mouthful of blood.

Luckily, he had an exceptionally tough body. Otherwise, he would not have been capable of withstanding such a boundless and ever-changing fist force. Monk Zhi Shan’s cultivation level was indeed far more profound than his.

A sudden inspiration struck him. Then, he started circulating the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture.

At first, he had no idea how he should use the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture. However, now that he had endured the changes in Monk Zhi Shan’s fist force, he quickly altered his inner energy twice according to the changes he had experienced; he converted Monk Zhi Shan’s fist force into his own before launching another Divine Light Fist.

This fist was incredibly fast. Since he had consumed the Wind Speed Pill and the Giant Spirit Pill, the speed of his attacks had become remarkably fast as well. Before Monk Zhi Shan could throw out his punch, Chu Li’s fist had struck his chest.