Urban Martial Saint

”Hahaha...” Helian Tiehua laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying, ”No matter what, since Nalan has come, the battle can commence. Alright, let’s not stand outside anymore. Nalan, let’s go inside and have a cup of tea, and discuss this matter in detail!”

”Sure!” Nalan Jingwei quickly replied. Last time in Humeng City, he had built up resentment with Helian Tiehua. This time he was worried Helian Tiehua might cause trouble for him. Unexpectedly, Helian Tiehua was so polite to him, which put his mind at ease.

Everyone entered the hall, sat in order of rank, and after just a few words, the topic shifted to dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon.

Nalan Jingwei came this time primarily to see what kind of secret technique Ye Qing obtained from Patriarch Bodhidharma’s meditation chamber. When everyone mentioned this matter, he was very interested in listening. However, when he heard that the left hand of Buddha required the power of six secret techniques left by Patriarch Bodhidharma to be activated, he finally understood why everyone was so nice to him.

After discussing the matter of the Buddha’s left hand, Shen Tianjun directly looked at Nalan Jingwei and said, ”We have already gathered five techniques, and the Purple-robed Elder is on his way to Shenchuan City. Adding Nalan’s Step by Step Golden Lotus, we will have six secret techniques. When facing the Corpse Ghost Dragon, we just need to channel the power of these six techniques into the Buddha’s Relic to draw out the power of Shakyamuni and thereby kill the Corpse Ghost Dragon!”

Nalan Jingwei’s heart raced. Just as Luan Ping had said, he indeed learned the Step by Step Golden Lotus, a secret technique left by Patriarch Bodhidharma. But in truth, he had always kept this matter hidden, and very few people knew about it. Moreover, he had never used this move in public because he intended to keep it as a life-saving measure. Even in the battle in Humeng City last time, he never used this move. Unexpectedly, this information eventually leaked out.

However, now that Shen Tianjun had already mentioned the Step by Step Golden Lotus, Nalan Jingwei knew very well he couldn’t deny it any longer.

”If you need anything from Nalan, just speak up!” Nalan Jingwei said, ”As long as it can help kill the Corpse Ghost Dragon, I will do it even if it means sacrificing myself!”

”With Nalan’s words, we feel much more at ease,” Helian Tiehua laughed, and everyone was excited. With Nalan Jingwei willing to join forces with them, the hope of dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon increased.

Everyone discussed the matter of dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon in detail, and Nalan Jingwei was willing to do everything to assist in the alliance. Of course, his focus was primarily on Ye Qing. Since the Buddha’s Relic was still with Ye Qing, knowing its power, he was deeply interested and wanted to obtain it.

Nevertheless, no matter how much he desired, he dared not snatch the Buddha’s Relic from Ye Qing in front of so many Peak Masters. He could only secretly calculate how to create an opportunity amidst the chaos.

After finishing the conversation on the Buddha’s left hand, the Bloody Monk, who had remained silent, suddenly stood up and said aloud, ”Nalan Jingwei, who would have thought you also learned the secret techniques left by Patriarch Bodhidharma. In the last battle at Humeng City, you didn’t exhibit them, so the outcome between us doesn’t count. Today, I wish to challenge you again...”

Upon hearing this, the scene was in an uproar; Shen Tianjun and others were also anxious. At a time when plans were being made to deal with the Corpse Ghost Dragon, it seemed quite untimely for the Bloody Monk to challenge Nalan Jingwei now. If internal strife broke out now, what would become of the plan to deal with the Corpse Ghost Dragon?

”Blood Robe Sect Leader, with great enemies ahead, let’s set aside past grievances for now,” Helian Tiehua said. ”Nalan has traveled a long way to Shenchuan City to assist us against the Corpse Ghost Dragon, making him our ally. Compared to today’s threat from the Corpse Ghost Dragon, past grudges are trivial!”

”I know!” the Bloody Monk replied promptly. ”Therefore, the battle between Nalan Jingwei and me will be decided in just one move. Nalan Jingwei, use your Step by Step Golden Lotus, and I will use my Enlightenment Bodhi. One move to decide, win or lose, and our grievances will dissipate forever. How about it?”

Upon hearing this, Nalan Jingwei’s expression softened, and he laughed heartily, standing up to say, ”Since the Blood Robe Sect Leader is so earnest in his invitation, how could Nalan disappoint him? Coincidentally, I also wish to witness the Sect Leader’s Unique Skill. Let’s confine it to one move, stopping at the point of contact. How about it?”

”Good!” The Bloody Monk responded loudly, slowly walking to the center of the hall and standing still. Looking at Nalan Jingwei, he said in a deep voice, ”Nalan Jingwei, this move of mine, Enlightenment Bodhi, though primarily used for calming the mind, also incorporates a refined Inner Strength method. While it may not enhance one’s power tens of times like the Power of the Dragon Elephant, it can still significantly increase one’s attack power when executed.”

Nalan Jingwei replied with a smile, ”It’s no problem for the Blood Robe Sect Leader to make a move. Witnessing the Blood Robe Sect Leader’s unique skill is indeed a fortune for me!”

Seeing the two confronting each other this way, Ding Lianshun stood up, intending to intervene, but was stopped by Ye Qing, sitting beside him. Ye Qing shook his head at Ding Lianshun, signaling him not to act rashly.

Ding Lianshun was unsure of Ye Qing’s intention, but seeing that Shen Tianjun, Helian Tiehua, the masked elder, and others remained seated without obstructing, he chose to stay silent.

In truth, Ding Lianshun was unaware of what everyone else was thinking. Observers could discern that the Bloody Monk wasn’t challenging Nalan Jingwei but was probing Nalan Jingwei’s Step by Step Golden Lotus. After all, with an imminent confrontation with the Corpse Ghost Dragon, no one had witnessed Nalan Jingwei perform Step by Step Golden Lotus before, which led to some skepticism. Thus, the Bloody Monk’s challenge was a means to see the Step by Step Golden Lotus firsthand!

Standing in the middle of the hall, the Bloody Monk’s Blood Cassock billowed without wind, with Gang Qi covering his entire body, encircled by a peculiar vortex of Qi. Everything around seemed to whirl with this vortex. Paradoxically, amid this, the Bloody Monk’s expression was extraordinarily calm, with an unusual serenity on his face. His hands came together, resembling the compassionate Buddha statue inside the temple.

All those present in the hall were masters among masters. Witnessing the Bloody Monk like this, they were all shocked. They could see the Qi force swirling around the Bloody Monk steadily growing larger and more potent, the result of his energy accumulation. This power was so formidable that it exceeded what’s bearable for a Peak Master, mainly because the Bloody Monk had been gathering power for an extended period. The vortex absorbed the Bloody Monk’s energy, awaiting to unleash a terrifying strike.

On the other side stood Nalan Jingwei, confronting the Bloody Monk. Faced with the Bloody Monk’s formidable presence, he dared not be careless. With a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, his fingers grasp into positions, resembling the Buddha pinching flowers. As the Bloody Monk’s power escalated, Nalan Jingwei stepped forward slowly. As his foot touched the ground, a burst of golden light appeared beneath his feet, a Golden Lotus blossomed with his step, instantly enlarging to support Nalan Jingwei. Subsequently, Nalan Jingwei took a second step, and another Golden Lotus emerged, growing as large as the previous one to support him. Step by Step Golden Lotus, a lotus born with each step, Nalan Jingwei treaded on two lotuses, his face appearing ever calmer, unfazed by the Bloody Monk’s potent aura.

Those around could see clearly that the golden lotuses beneath Nalan Jingwei’s feet were a manifestation of his power. However, none could understand why this power could be visibly seen as if substantial. Indeed, the secret technique passed down from Patriarch Bodhidharma was extraordinary!

Nonetheless, in the presence of Nalan Jingwei’s two golden lotuses, the Bloody Monk did not attack but continued to accrue power. Perhaps Nalan Jingwei felt it insufficient, he stepped once more, and as his feet fell, another Golden Lotus emerged. After several back-and-forths, eight golden lotuses surrounded him, protecting him within. The golden lotuses shone brightly. Even without a gust of wind, it was clear that these golden lotuses were anything but simple.

With the emergence of Nalan Jingwei’s eight golden lotuses, the Bloody Monk’s accumulation also seemed to reach its peak. He suddenly opened his eyes, glanced at Nalan Jingwei, and let out a loud shout. Pushing out with both palms, the power vortex shot straight toward Nalan Jingwei.

Nalan Jingwei dared not be negligent, stomping his foot, causing the eight golden lotuses to immediately rise, surrounding him protectively. At this moment, the forceful vortex rushed over, engulfing him within. The tremendous power frantically tore at him within the center. Yet, with the golden lotuses’ protection, the vortex’s power only impacted the lotuses and could not harm Nalan Jingwei inside.

Masters all around watched this display of power with wide eyes. Though they themselves were peak masters, none had ever witnessed such a battle scene. The vortex’s power was terrifying; even Shen Tianjun and the masked elder knew better than to withstand it head-on. Helian Tiehua might have fared better, given his Thirteen Protectors’ Horizontal Golden Bell Shield, a powerful defense. But had he truly been in the vortex, he would not have handled it as effortlessly as Nalan Jingwei.

Certainly, this didn’t imply that everyone’s strength was inferior to Nalan Jingwei’s. Due to different areas of expertise, they had other ways to break such situations without brute force.

The vortex’s power crazily tore at the eight golden lotuses, whose light gradually dimmed, being consumed by the vortex’s energies. Naturally, the vortex’s strength also gradually waned, given the formidable power of the eight golden lotuses. After roughly ten minutes, the eight golden lotuses dissipated, and the energy vortex dispersed completely, leaving nothing behind.