Chapter 157: Grand Preceptor of the Tang Empire

Zhao Feng’s expression darkened: "It’s that old monk’s meditative concentration. He has rendered my cultivation completely unusable!"

Li Ting’s expression twisted into one of utter revulsion, as if she had swallowed a fly.

"Hoo!"

Parting her crimson lips, Li Ting slowly exhaled a breath.

She looked toward the elderly monk Xuyun: "Master, isn't this a bit unfair of you?"

Master Xuyun smiled amiably: "Oh? How is it unfair?"

Li Ting's face flushed bright red: "Why are you restricting me?"

Master Xuyun burst out laughing: "I've been sitting right here the entire time. How can you claim I'm restricting you?"

"I—" Li Ting was left speechless.

The old monk stroked his beard: "I am sitting right here in plain sight. How have I restricted you? Don't let your imagination run wild with such nonsense!"

"Hmph!" Li Ting was fuming with rage, her face flushed crimson.

With an angry huff, she plopped down heavily onto the ground.

"I'm not fighting anymore!"

Li Guang, on the other hand, chuckled.

Li Guang smiled cheerfully: "My dear cousin, why have you suddenly decided to quit fighting?"

Li Ting glared at him furiously: "What business is it of yours?"

"Hehehe!"

Master Xuyun chuckled softly.

He said: "You may fight if you wish, but you must not rely on external objects."

Li Guang blinked, failing to grasp what "external objects" referred to.

Li Ting, however, understood immediately.

The old monk implied that she was forbidden from utilizing Zhao Feng’s Yang Spirit.

A bellyful of scorching anger boiled inside Li Ting, making her chest ache with frustration.

Li Guang let out a cold snort: "Whether you want to fight or not, you are coming with me right now!"

Nursing a gut full of fury and hearing Li Guang speak in such a tone, Li Ting sprang instantly to her feet.

"Go to hell!"

Li Ting didn't hesitate to hurl a vulgar curse.

Li Guang’s expression turned grim and cold.

Fixing a gloomy gaze on Li Ting, he said: "Cousin, you are a young lady, and moreover a descendant of the great Li family. You ought to carry yourself with the dignity of a proper noble lady!"

"I @$%"

Li Ting unleashed a barrage of raw, unadulterated profanity.

Li Guang’s face grew darker by the second.

"Boom!"

He unleashed his entire reservoir of true qi, looking entirely ready to strike.

Yet Li Ting puffed out her chest defiantly, showing not a shred of intimidation.

Staring straight at Li Guang, she challenged: "If you've got the guts, make your move!"

This unexpected reaction threw Li Guang into doubt and hesitation; he couldn't fathom where Li Ting derived her confidence.

He glanced over at the old monk, who appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, elderly ascetic.

"Hoo!"

Li Guang exhaled a breath and turned his attention back to the old monk.

"May I ask where the master practices?"

The old monk smiled faintly: "Zhenru Temple on Mount Yunju."

"Oh?"

Li Guang frowned: "Mount Yunju? I've heard of it—a very renowned sanctuary!"

"Hehehe! It's passable," the old monk replied.

Li Guang took a deep breath: "Then what position does the master hold at Mount Yunju?"

"A nobody, merely a sweeping monk."

Li Guang visibly relaxed.

He looked at Xuyun with an arrogant gaze: "I've heard that Mount Yunju is also a sacred ground of martial arts! Did you not pick up even a single trick or stance while you were there?"

Xuyun shook his head: "To be honest, this poor monk knows no martial arts."

"Hehehe!"

Li Guang let out a disdainful laugh.

"Then go to your death!"

"Boom!"

Extending his hand into the shape of an eagle's claw, Li Guang lunged to seize Xuyun by the head.

Suddenly, Xuyun, who had been sitting with eyes closed in meditation, snapped them wide open.

"Hmph!"

He let out a cold grunt, his hair and beard stirring without a breath of wind.

"Splurt!"

Li Guang coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood instantly.

"Thud, thud, thud!"

He staggered back several paces before finally managing to steady himself.

Staring at Xuyun in sheer terror as if looking at a ghost, Li Guang stammered: "Didn't you say you didn't know martial arts?!"

Xuyun resumed his gentle, amiable expression.

He smiled peacefully: "This poor monk truly does not know martial arts. In that, I did not lie."

"You bald donkey! You tricked me!" Li Guang flew into a rage. "You clearly do know martial arts!"

Xuyun smiled and remained silent.

A dark shadow fell over Li Guang’s heart.

With such a formidable martial arts expert present today, he could forget about ever dragging Li Ting away.

Yet, bitterness and resentment gnawed deeply at him.

"Hmph!"

Li Guang sneered: "Just you wait!"

Retrieving a bamboo whistle from his tunic, he pressed it to his lips and blew.

"Woo!"

The whistle emitted a shrill, piercing sound.

Casting a mocking glare at Xuyun, Li Guang scoffed: "Old bald donkey, you'll soon find out what true power looks like!"

"Hmph!" Xuyun’s temper was finally provoked. "Very well, this old monk will wait!"

"Hmph!"

Snorting coldly, Li Guang said no more.

Crossing his arms, he stood in waiting.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The sound of rushing wind echoed from outside.

"Boom!"

Dozens of figures charged into the cavern.

A single glance revealed them to be entirely composed of Japanese ninja.

Instantly, rage flared in Li Ting's eyes.

Xuyun’s expression soured as well.

Slowly rising to his feet, Xuyun said: "Considering you to be a descendant of the Tang Emperor, I originally intended to spare you a chance. To think you are incorrigible to the end."

"Hahaha!"

Li Guang threw his head back and laughed loudly: "So what if I'm incorrigible? Old bald donkey, what gives you the right to judge me? Who do you think you are?"

Xuyun’s face darkened with severity: "This old monk has practiced cultivation for a lifetime; if not compassionate enough to save the world, at least my mind and conscience are at peace. But of all things, what this old monk detests most are those who betray their own homeland and people!"

"You collude with Japanese ninja and Onmyoji. Just now, I wanted to grant you a merciful out, but you refused to cherish it!"

"Tsk!" Li Guang sneered: "A chance? What makes you think you're qualified to offer me a chance?"

"Hah!" Xuyun let out a mocking laugh: "Aren't you after the telepathic power of the mind?"

Astonished, Li Guang stared as if he had seen a ghost: "How do you know that?!"

His expression plummeting into gloom, Li Guang snapped his gaze toward Li Ting: "It must have been this bitch who told you!"

"Hehehe!"

Unable to hold it in any longer, Li Ting giggled, her smile stretching from ear to ear.

Chuckling softly, Li Ting said: "Of all people to provoke, you had to mess with the Master. You brought this upon yourself; heaven's wrath cannot be escaped!"

"Ha!"

Li Guang laughed with unhinged arrogance: "Nobody has the right to say I brought this upon myself!"

Fixing his eyes back on the old monk, Li Guang declared: "Old bald donkey, today I want Li Ting's heart, and I want your sarira as well! With a cultivation level as high as yours, you must surely possess sacred relics!"

"When the time comes, I shall transplant your sarira directly into my own body!"

Xuyun’s expression grew icier still.

In a chilling tone, he demanded: "Where on earth did you learn such demonic, crooked heresies?!"

"True cultivation seeks a genuine, pristine heart, untainted by external props! Your eyes have clearly been blinded by malevolent ghosts!" Xuyun rebuked sharply.

"Hehehe!"

Li Guang scoffed dismissively: "What a load of rubbish! Let me tell you, the sole purpose of cultivation is power!"

"You wicked wretch!" Xuyun thundered: "Today, in the name of the Tang Emperor, I shall beat you back to your senses!"

"Ha!" Li Guang mocked: "In the name of the Tang Emperor? What authority do you have to represent the Tang Emperor?"

"Hmph!" Xuyun retorted coldly: "By the very fact that I am the Imperial Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Guang blinked in confusion: "Imperial Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty? Old man, are you out of your mind? The Tang Dynasty fell two thousand years ago!"

With a cold, indifferent smile, Xuyun fell silent.

He had no desire to waste further breath or offer any explanation.

Gazing coldly at Li Guang, Xuyun asked: "You desire the telepathic power of the mind?"

"Indeed!"