Chapter 34: Complete Enlightenment Master

Many years ago, Master Yuanjue embarked on a journey, leaving the Great Sui Dynasty, and his whereabouts had been unknown ever since. Legends said he went to seek an opportunity to break through to the Xiantian realm, while others claimed that his end was near, and unwilling to accept it, he had gone in search of immortals. Who would have thought that Master Yuanjue would return to the Great Sui at this very moment, and that he would coincidentally encounter him?

That roar just now must have been the famous "Lion's Roar," a supreme skill from Xuanshi Temple, renowned throughout the martial arts world. Qin Sang had never witnessed such a sight before: true qi taking form, manifesting as a fist that shattered the air. Qin Sang's figure flickered repeatedly as he swiftly retreated. The brutish monk snorted coldly and abruptly swung his arm.

Whoosh! An iron chain shot through the air, glinting like a crystalline streak of water under the moonlight as it rapidly flew towards Qin Sang. Unexpectedly, halfway to its target, the chain suddenly lost all power. After flying a short distance further, it became completely spent and clattered to the ground. The brutish monk's eyes rolled back, and he fell backward stiffly without any warning. Thud! The brutish monk's body hit the ground, kicking up a puff of dust and a few fallen leaves. He was lifeless.

All of this happened in a flash. Master Yuanjue glanced at the brutish monk's corpse, then turned to stare intently at Qin Sang and the black banner in his hand, his eyes flashing with sharp light. "You are a cultivator!" he exclaimed.

Qin Sang stood his ground at a distance, gripping the Yama Banner. With a stern gaze and calm tone, he said, "Old monk, I originally did not wish to commit more slaughter. If you leave now, I will spare your life."

While his words sounded grand, Qin Sang was secretly cursing his luck. After Yama killed the brutish monk, Qin Sang ordered it to kill Master Yuanjue, but Yama actually defied his command. Normally, when Yama encountered a living person, it would rush forward impatiently to devour their fresh soul, as if seeing an enticing delicacy, without needing Qin Sang's command. But now, facing the old monk, it seemed fearful, cowering to the side and not daring to advance.

Although the old monk was elderly, the vitality of his qi and blood was astonishingly vigorous, unlike anything Qin Sang had ever seen. Moreover, the old monk's true qi was highly unusual; his fist-shadows were fiery red, and his entire being resembled a scorching sun, making him a natural bane for ghosts. The black-robed demon was able to perish together with a sword-wielding immortal master using the Yama Banner, yet now it feared a Xiantian realm expert among mortals. Qin Sang vaguely guessed the reason.

Even on the battlefield, Qin Sang did not allow Yama to devour too many souls. Firstly, he feared exposing his identity; secondly, he was afraid that if Yama became too powerful, it would turn against him. Qin Sang had long ago discovered a characteristic of the Yama Banner: if Yama devoured enough souls, the holes in the banner would mend themselves. Presumably, when the Yama Banner's surface was fully restored, Yama's power would also return to its peak. Qin Sang didn't know what realm the black-robed demon was in during its life, but it was certainly higher than his own. The black-robed demon could suppress Yama at its peak, but the jade Buddha might not be able to.

Out of caution, Qin Sang would only let Yama devour a few dozen souls before recalling it each time. At this point, Yama could provide three Soul Pills, which were enough for him to use for a while. He had originally planned to gradually enhance Yama's power only after breaking through to at least the fifth level of the Netherworld Scripture, but he hadn't expected that a Xiantian expert's vigorous qi and blood could instill fear in Yama. Qin Sang had long heard Bai Jianglan's stories about Xiantian experts slaying immortal masters with sword qi. It seemed even cultivators should not underestimate mortals, especially since he himself was just a half-baked novice who knew nothing.

Shouts and knocking sounds came from outside the manor gate. Someone loudly called for the drillmaster, but there was no answer from inside. Then, the gate was forcibly pushed open. The old monk's long roar earlier had attracted the patrolmen and militiamen from around the county yamen. At this moment, there was no time for hesitation. Qin Sang had to abandon his usual caution, allowing Yama to go out and devour souls to increase its strength. Meanwhile, he suppressed the panic in his heart, putting on a brave front, hoping to intimidate the old monk.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Qin Sang's words, Master Yuanjue not only showed no fear on his face but instead, his eyes gleamed with delight. Qin Sang suddenly realized something: if Master Yuanjue had left to seek immortality, what would he do upon genuinely encountering a cultivator who was merely bluffing in front of him? The words he had just spoken were completely unnecessary; he had needlessly exposed his weakness in front of an experienced martial artist! Feeling Master Yuanjue's gaze become increasingly greedy, Qin Sang was filled with deep regret.

Just as expected, Master Yuanjue narrowed his eyes, stared at Qin Sang for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "Putting on an act!"

Qin Sang suddenly felt a bad premonition; a strong warning flashed in his heart. He stomped heavily on the ground, and his body swayed as he floated upward. In an instant, Master Yuanjue appeared where Qin Sang had just stood, a ball of fiery red energy coalescing in his palm. He slammed it out fiercely, actually breaking an old tree behind him. Crack! The tree trunk snapped in the middle, and its massive crown crashed down.

"What a terrifying Xiantian expert!" Qin Sang felt his blood run cold. Knowing he had no chance against Master Yuanjue, he turned and fled. Seeing this, Master Yuanjue was overjoyed, his eyes sparkling with strange brilliance as he laughed wildly, "Where did this inexperienced brat come from? Hand over your cultivation method, and this humble monk will spare your life!"

His first sentence still seemed to echo from behind. His second sentence was already right by his ear. When the last sentence rang out, a figure flashed before Qin Sang. Master Yuanjue, moving as if strolling in a leisurely garden, took a single step that surpassed Qin Sang, blocking his path. A withered, bony hand, appearing slow but moving swiftly, reached out to grab him.

Qin Sang's hair stood on end. He exerted all his strength to execute the "Shadowless Steps," dashing wildly left and right like a headless fly. Yet, no matter how he darted about, that hand remained constantly before him. "Damn it, get back here!" Qin Sang frantically chanted the incantation for the Yama Banner, cursing inwardly. But seeing the hand rapidly enlarging before his eyes, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart, filled with intense unwillingness. "My life is over!" he thought.

Unexpectedly, Master Yuanjue did not snap Qin Sang's neck directly. Instead, he snatched the Yama Banner from Qin Sang's hand. Master Yuanjue held the Yama Banner and glanced at it, his eyes gleaming with wild joy. He looked at Qin Sang as if at a treasure trove. His finger shot out like lightning, about to strike an acupoint to seal Qin Sang, when suddenly his body stiffened.

Qin Sang was ecstatic. With a low growl, he lunged forward, knocking aside Master Yuanjue's arm, seizing the Yama Banner, and fiercely stabbing it into the vital spot on Master Yuanjue's neck. Qin Sang used all his strength, burying almost the entire pole of the Yama Banner inside. Thwack! Blood spurted onto Qin Sang's face. A fountain of blood erupted from Master Yuanjue's neck, and he fell backward onto the ground.

Qin Sang collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily like a bellows. Looking at Master Yuanjue's motionless body, he was still filled with lingering fear. Master Yuanjue was the most terrifying enemy he had encountered since coming to this world. Xiantian experts truly were formidable.

After the fright, Qin Sang couldn't help but begin to reflect. Over the past year, he had been unstoppable; even the most powerful experts couldn't withstand Yama. His mindset had inevitably changed, leading him to disregard mortals and feel he could go anywhere in the vast world at will. It was only after this close call with death that he suddenly became vigilant, resolving to exercise utmost caution no matter what opponent he faced in the future.