Guanxin's expression grew solemn as a radiant golden light erupted around him. Gentle yet formidable Buddhist power condensed in his hands, forming a dazzling golden palm imprint before he slammed it straight at Master Huizhen. Just like that, the heavy Demonslayer Staff was forced back. Even the rooftop above Master Huizhen was blasted apart by the golden palm. Stone shards flew, and dust billowed; the sheer force of the blow was earth-shattering. Even the ordinary monks of Qinglong Temple were terrified by this overwhelming might. Such a colossal roar could be heard even seven to eight li away. At this time, Master Huizhen formed seals with both hands, and his monastic staff once again grew larger with the wind, becoming more than twice the size of an ordinary pillar. The staff transformed into a pillar of golden light before crashing down from the sky and landing directly on Guanxin. At this time, the earth cracked, and a deep crater opened beneath them. The ground shook as if a dragon was churning the soil. Blood trickled from the corner of Guanxin’s lips as he dropped to one knee with his palms together in a composed gesture of prayer. Yet, the mighty Vajra staff, imbued with the power to subdue dragons and tigers, had clearly struck home. Even so, his eyes remained clear and sharp, even tinged with mockery. Master Huizhen himself was clearly wounded. Fresh chapters posted on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net Suddenly, Guanxin sprang from the crater and soared into the air before he punched toward Master Huizhen with a deafening force. This punch roared like wind and thunder, and the air itself cried with the howl of tigers and roar of dragons! Master Huizhen’s golden-covered body rang like clashing metal, with sparks flying at the impact. “You demonic wretch!” Master Huizhen roared furiously. With a sweep of his hand, his monastic staff flew back into his grasp, and with the power to split mountains and shatter boulders, he smashed it down toward Guanxin. The two figures moved as swiftly as lightning. One wave of force after another rippled through the open square of Qinglong Temple with each exchange. Some monks nearby were shocked into unconsciousness by the shockwaves. Meanwhile, the rest fled in panic, scrambling to get as far away as possible. These two were no ordinary monks; one was a renowned high monk in the Buddhist world, the other a young prodigy of extraordinary talent. Their duel of Dharma and force left no room for spectators! A thick tree, so wide that two men would be needed to encircle it, was snapped clean in half by a single blow from Master Huizhen’s staff, thereafter crashing thunderously to the ground. At this time, Guanxin was clipped by the staff's overwhelming force, and his chest tightened from the blow. Quickly, he dodged to the side. Golden Buddhist light burst from Master Huizhen’s eyes as he swept the staff horizontally once more, aiming to finish the battle. A ferocious gust of violent energy surged forward. Though Guanxin was still young, he was blessed with innate divine strength and profound cultivation. He instantly activated his Great Palm Seal, slamming it down with immense force. Centered around the two of them, the ground split open with cracks, and a powerful shockwave rippled outward in all directions. “Junior Uncle Huizhen, you’ve already taken my Great Palm Seal. Still fighting so desperately? I’m afraid you won’t be returning to Lingxi Temple alive,” Guanxin said with a mocking tone, completely at ease. This kind of earth-shaking combat style couldn't last long, and although he was young, Guanxin was extremely shrewd and well-versed in battle tactics. In just one glance, he could see through Huizhen’s appearance of strength concealing his inner injury. “You depraved disciple, today I shall cleanse Buddhism of your disgrace!” Master Huizhen's face darkened, and his eyes flashed like a wrathful Vajra deity. “Disgrace? I’m one of the most promising Buddhist prodigies. Junior Uncle Huizhen, it's you who’ve succumbed to delusion.” As he spoke, Guanxin launched a rapid flurry of three punches, aiming directly at Huizhen’s face, chest, and solar plexus. His every strike was viciously and ruthlessly aimed at a vital point. Huizhen thrust his monastic staff hard into the ground, driving it more than half a chi deep. In the same instant, a surge of brilliant golden light erupted from his body, forcing Guanxin back with overwhelming Buddhist power. “Today, I will rid Buddhism of a fiend like you once and for all!” Huizhen gripped the staff with one hand and heaved it upward. A blazing golden arc shot from the earth, streaking straight toward Guanxin like a divine spear. Immediately, Guanxin responded by pressing his palms together in a prayerful mudra[1], assuming a reverent salutation posture. The two streaks of golden light collided mid-air, lighting up the skies above Qinglong Temple like daylight. This Guanxin's cultivation was indeed formidable! Suddenly, a flash of sword light shot out silently from the shadows, slithering like a venomous serpent. Master Huizhen’s Indestructible Vajra Body let out a shrill screech as sparks burst on contact. The longsword was razor-sharp, and the strike was vicious and treacherous. It was aimed directly at Master Huizhen’s lower groin! Huizhen’s gaze darkened, and he instantly swept his monastic staff behind him with full force. But the swordsman behind him was unbelievably quick. After his single strike, he retreated in a flash, escaping the counterattack with practiced ease. A blinding white light suddenly burst forth as an elderly Daoist Master, with an air of immortal dignity, appeared holding an Eight Trigrams Mirror. He aimed it directly at Master Huizhen. At this time, Huizhen’s movements halted instantly, as his soul was constrained by a powerful suppressive force. Though it lasted only a moment and didn’t cause him harm, it created a brief rupture in his protective Buddhist light. The swordsman seized the opportunity with impeccable precision and perfect timing. His longsword, clearly no ordinary weapon and stained with the blood of countless lives, pierced the back of Huizhen’s thigh, burying two chi cun into the flesh. At this time, Guanxin’s lips curved into a faint smile. He had long anticipated the appearance of these two accomplices, as this ambush was part of his meticulously laid plan to eliminate this highly skilled master of Lingxi Temple. Golden light surged in Guanxin’s hands, forming a radiant, golden palm seal. With a single strike, he slammed it directly onto Huizhen, as if lightning had struck! With that, the golden lacquer coating Huizhen’s body visibly dimmed, and a trickle of pale golden blood escaped from the corner of his mouth. He chanted a Buddhist mantra, and the dense Buddhist power within his body condensed into glowing Sanskrit symbols, quickly enveloping his body like a shield. With a heavy thud, Huizhen’s monastic staff struck the ground, creating a deep gash that split open the earth. Instantly, Guanxin surged forward, chanting formidable Buddhist incantations of his own. Golden script floated across his skin, and in the next moment, he appeared right in front of Huizhen. The Daoist raised the Eight Trigrams Mirror high, and another blast of searing white light shot out. It locked onto Huizhen’s soul, binding and searing it. At the same time, the swordsman emerged from behind silently and thrust his longsword once again. This sword strike was charged with razor-sharp true qi of a martial artist. It was so strong that it could split stone and metal with ease, and if it landed, it would wreak unimaginable havoc on Huizhen’s meridians. The three of them had joined forces in a deadly siege against Huizhen! Master Huizhen swung his staff to fend off Guanxin, and the two were locked in a fierce clash. This once-elegant and gifted young monk now fought without restraint, ignoring the backlash of Buddhist power in his own body as he reached out to grip Huizhen’s staff and relied on his innate divine strength and cultivation to hold the elder monk in place. The Daoist’s Eight Trigrams Mirror was a genuine artifact, capable of directly affecting the soul. Against an unguarded spirit, it could even disintegrate it completely. It was a truly fearsome Daoist weapon, and now, it was proving to be a major hindrance to Huizhen’s power. But the most lethal threat was not the mirror or Guanxin, it was the swordsman’s saber, aiming to use martial true qi to pierce through the formidable Buddhist defenses and strike down this revered monk of Lingxi Temple. 1. Mudras are a set of hand gestures and finger positions that serve as symbols in Buddhist art, representing the Buddha's various roles and states of mind. Here are the many types of mudra https://www.hrishikeshyoga.com/blog/what-are-mudras/ ☜