—Between the Ren and Du meridians lies a critical pass. Above, it connects to Dazhui, Zhiyang, and the center of the spine; below, it reaches down to Mingmen, Yangguan, Sanli, and Yongquan. All power arises from this pass, and it is known as Xuanshu.
The fourth acupoint, Xuanshu!
Once this acupoint opened, strength surged endlessly through his body, his spirit soared, and he felt as though he could fight all day without tiring.
Ye Huan's muscles grew ever tighter and denser, his vitality and blood flourished, and his strength mounted fraction by fraction.
Yet he could not bring himself to feel happy.
"...Before sending someone to die in your place, you must always grant the scapegoat extraordinarily generous treatment. Some will even die thanking you."
This, without a doubt, was the "extraordinarily generous treatment"!
The old man had unsealed an acupoint for him only because it was his usual trick, meant to disguise his true purpose!
He wanted to take the carriage and run!
Amitabha!
The old monk's gaze swept toward Ye Huan, sharp as lightning.
Ye Huan's heart clenched. He immediately composed himself, solemnly pressed his palms together, and lowered his gaze, saying with utmost respect, "Thank you, Elder. This disciple is endlessly grateful."
—Why did I have to say I'm endlessly grateful?!
Seeing him react this way, the old monk finally let a faint smile touch his lips and nodded. "Why speak of gratitude? This old monk sees that you diligently cultivate the martial arts, perform many good deeds, and have always maintained a fine reputation. I have specially passed this bright beacon to you in the hope that you will keep the well-being of all living beings in mind, punish evil and promote good, uphold justice, and never tarnish the prestige of our Great Compassion Temple's true Dharma."
Line after sanctimonious line.
Had it been a genuine Great Compassion Temple bhikshu standing here, he would probably be weeping tears of gratitude right about now.
"This disciple, Zhikong, shall respectfully obey the Elder's teachings," Ye Huan said.
"Remain here. For the next two hours, chant the essentials of the Agamas to steady your mind," the old monk instructed.
"Yes!" Ye Huan replied.
The old monk flicked his sleeves and stepped out through the temple gates with his two novices. Boarding the carriage, they rode away into the wind and rain.
As the carriage traveled along the mountain path for a short while, hideous silhouettes suddenly emerged from the surrounding darkness, pursuing the carriage relentlessly.
"Monsters!" Liu Le gasped in terror.
Ye Huan widened his eyes and peered closely into the distance, but the rain poured like a deluge, shrouding those massive, grotesque shapes. His vision was a blur, making it impossible to see them clearly.
The carriage gradually receded into the distance until it was lost to sight.
Ye Huan and Liu Le exchanged a look.
"You must have won those monks' respect—not only did they unseal an acupoint for you, they even lured the monsters away. Truly venerable, virtuous monks," Liu Le said, deeply moved and full of admiration.
Ye Huan remained silent.
—The scapegoat's companion had already begun expressing his gratitude.
But—
Why flee?
This temple was bare and empty; there was nothing here.
Yet since the elder instructed me to chant scriptures for an hour and forbade me from leaving, my presence here must serve some purpose.
How does it serve a purpose?
Suddenly, a vast and majestic voice echoed from among the mountains:
"Amitabha! Today this old monk shall subdue these demons and slay these monsters!"
Violent tremors rose and fell in rapid succession.
Even the mountain shook!
Only after seven or eight breaths did the rumbling tremors fade into the distance.
Between heaven and earth, only the howling wind and rain remained once more.
Liu Le and Ye Huan looked at each other in shock.
"The Ether is far too dangerous..." Ye Huan murmured.
"Indeed," Liu Le said with conviction. "They lured the monsters away to secure a safe hiding place for us."
"Why would they do that?" Ye Huan asked.
"Maybe they didn't want us caught in the crossfire." Liu Le looked at the bundle in his hands. "Hurry, check what's inside."
Ye Huan opened the bundle.
Inside lay a gray cloth monk's robe, a bamboo hat, a pair of martial boots, and a demon-subduing pestle.
There was also a jug of water and several flatbreads.
As Ye Huan watched, the demon-subduing pestle suddenly stood upright on its own.
It rested quietly atop the bundle, silent, motionless.
"There is a reason for this phenomenon with the pestle," Liu Le said.
"Then what should we do? Just carry it like this?" Ye Huan asked.
"To be honest, I haven't spent much time in the Ether either; I only know a few things. My guess is—"
Liu Le's voice abruptly cut off.
The demon-subduing pestle began to buzz with a low hum, accompanied by faint Buddhist chanting, casting pulsating flashes of light toward the temple entrance.
"A treasure!" Liu Le exclaimed excitedly.
Ye Huan's heart, however, sank slowly.
...With such flashy effects, it was definitely meant to attract monsters.
Even as the elder sped away in the carriage, he could still handle numerous monsters and shout out bold reprimands.
He clearly lured all the creatures away.
—Could the real problem lie with this demon-subduing pestle?
No!
I have to find a spot and throw this thing away immediately!
Ye Huan rose abruptly. Just as he was about to make a move, a premonition struck him.
He and Liu Le looked toward the temple gates together.
Amidst the wind and rain, a colossal entity appeared on the mountain road.
It slithered forward, swaying its body from side to side—a body hundreds of meters long.
"A snake," Ye Huan whispered.
"We're dead," Liu Le said, his throat dry.
When the colossal form drew close enough to the small temple, its entire body suddenly collapsed inward, transforming into a long-haired woman clad in green robes.
Walking barefoot with graceful, swaying steps, she approached with an alluring smile playing upon her lips.
She paused at the temple gates.
Then took a step forward.
Hum—
The demon-subduing pestle erupted with an urgent buzz.
A burst of sizzling white smoke rose from the woman's foot.
She arched her eyebrows in mild surprise, her gaze falling upon Ye Huan as she covered her mouth and giggled. "Just as I thought—Great Compassion Temple's demon-subduing pestle. Where is that old bald donkey?"
Ye Huan let out a quiet sigh.
Liu Le's eyes, however, fixed once more on the pestle, and he whispered, "It's a treasure! Our lives depend on it!"
"Save our lives...? More like end our lives..." Ye Huan said numbly.
The elder's power was unfathomable; earlier, Ye Huan truly had no way to refuse, or he likely would have been struck dead with a single palm.
He had clearly felt the tension and killing intent radiating from the elder.
What now?
The woman raised a hand and pointed a finger toward Ye Huan.
Zzz-zzz-zzz—
A fierce burst of blue-and-white lightning exploded from the demon-subduing pestle, flashing through the air several times before striking her finger, instantly charring it to a crisp.
A gust of wind blew by.
The charred finger crumbled into ash.
"I see. The ward on this demon-subduing pestle is specifically aimed at our kind."
The woman extended a long tongue that coiled around her arm, gently licking the wound where her finger had been severed, her eyes turning eerie and cold.
Just then, Liu Le swayed.
Ye Huan supported him immediately, guiding him over to the campfire to sit against the wall.
"How are you holding up?" Ye Huan asked.
"...The injury is getting worse," Liu Le said, clutching his chest with a pained grimace. "Thank goodness we have this pestle."
Ye Huan said nothing, keeping his eyes locked onto the temple entrance.
The snake woman remained standing there.
"Little brother, come over here. I have something to say to you."
The snake woman waved at Ye Huan with a radiant smile.
Ye Huan glanced at her, his expression briefly freezing before a smile appeared on his face. "Alright, I'm coming."
A brand-new finger had already sprouted on her hand.
What astonishing regenerative power.
Not only that.
Quietly shielding his movements from both the snake woman and Liu Le, Ye Huan slipped the demon-subduing pestle into his pocket.
After releasing two attacks, several cracks had already formed on its surface.
—It probably wouldn't hold out much longer.
No wonder that Executive Elder had fled so fast, making it seem as if he had drawn away the other monsters to protect them.
An ordinary person watching that scene might have been moved to tears.
Who could have guessed that the elder was actually running away to avoid this big one!
Collecting his thoughts, Ye Huan stood up, walked over to the temple doorway, and said, "In this world of the Ether, there are endless benefits to be had. Why bother yourself over two little sesame seeds like us?"
The snake woman smiled enchantingly and said, "Cooperate with me, little brother. We can each take what we need in the Ether. For you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"I'm merely an insignificant martial artist of the Shidu realm with limited abilities," Ye Huan said with a wry smile. "The only thing I can do is stay right here and try to keep my neck intact."
This was entirely the truth.
Truth meant sincerity.
Generally speaking, sincerity didn't rub people the wrong way.
The pestle was already on the verge of breaking.
—He had to avoid provoking this snake at all costs.
Hearing this, the snake woman shook her head. "You're mistaken on that point."
"Where am I mistaken?" Ye Huan asked.
"Don't expect to keep your neck intact here," she said.
"Then what should I do?" Ye Huan pressed.
"Have you ever considered that the Ether had a purpose when it temporarily created a world like this?" she asked.
"I honestly have no idea. I haven't even been working at my unit for a month," Ye Huan said, spreading his hands.
The snake woman paused slightly, then covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Her laughter chimed like wind chimes, her eyes shimmering with unspoken thoughts.
"I can tell you're quite green..."
"Whether I'm green or not aside, big sister, my friend and I are weak to the bone—completely useless. Why not go after that old bald donkey instead?" Ye Huan said.
—Why is this snake woman lingering here instead of leaving?
Does she want to eat us?
"Little brother, there are actually two things about you," the snake woman said.
"What things?" Ye Huan asked blankly.
"First, I am a demon. Though I possess intellect and power, the Ether does not recognize me, so none of the benefits are mine to claim.
"However, if I form a bond with you, then in order to assist you, the Ether will incidentally acknowledge me as 'permitted to exist.'
"Little brother, among humans, what the law protects most are blood relations and marriage.
"I cannot become your blood relative—
"So how about I marry you?"
Ye Huan was dumbfounded.
She gently licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and lightly parted the hem of her skirt, which was covered in black scales, revealing a fair, slender leg as she murmured, "If not for being inside this Ether, you would never be qualified to have me...
"Yet now you have this chance.
"Little brother."
Her words were soft and sweet, but her beautiful eyes were fixed right on Ye Huan's pocket, staring at the bulge of the demon-subduing pestle.
Ye Huan sighed inwardly.
—Do you want this little brother, or do you want the pestle?
Chapter 65