Xuanji Temple

When he broke through to the second layer, it was as natural as water flowing into a channel. It had been very smooth, and Qin Sang had originally been proud of his talent for cultivation, but now he couldn't help but start doubting himself.

Even if he wasn't a genius, being of average ability was acceptable. He couldn't be a complete idiot, could he?

He didn't know if this situation was normal, but with no progress for such a long time, his patience was being worn away bit by bit, and it was inevitable that he would become anxious.

Without a master's guidance, Qin Sang could only ponder it himself. It had been so smooth breaking through to the second layer, but now he was stuck at a bottleneck. Besides the cultivation technique itself, were there other reasons?

For example, the medicinal bath.

After settling down in the Blood-Clad Tower, Qin Sang had found an opportunity to return to Three Witches City once. However, he didn't see Daoist Master Jixin or Mingyue. It was said that shortly after the Taoist temple caught fire, they had given the temple to the disaster victims and left Great Sui by boat, heading south.

If he calculated the time, it was precisely during the days when King Dongyang and King Zhenshui raised their banners in rebellion.

Unable to find Daoist Master Jixin, Qin Sang could only think of other ways. He had also collected several medicinal formulas for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin in the Blood-Clad Tower, but unfortunately, the effects were not as good as the medicinal bath.

The courtyard gate was suddenly knocked upon.

Water Monkey whispered from outside, "Hall Master, General Zhou has arrived."

Qin Sang's face lit up with joy. He hurriedly got up and tidied his clothes, then said loudly, "Quick, invite him in!"

A short while later, Water Monkey led a middle-aged man in armor through the door. The man walked up to Qin Sang, bowed, and said, "Your subordinate, Zhou Mingguang, greets Mr. Qin!"

On the surface, Qin Sang was a strategist for Princess Dongyang and held no official position. People outside the Blood-Clad Tower all referred to Qin Sang as "Mister."

Qin Sang reached out to help Zhou Mingguang up, sized him up, and smiled, "General Zhou, we are old acquaintances, no need for such formalities. I have been feeling uneasy about troubling you to detour to Hunwu County, fearing that I might delay the Marshal's important military affairs."

Zhou Mingguang was a confidant of General Mu. Qin Sang had met him once two months ago when Hening County fell.

General Mu had captured Hening County without losing a single soldier, achieving great merit. With the Princess's recommendation, he was promoted to Right Commander of the Valiant Camp. Zhou Mingguang also rose with the tide, becoming a Guerrilla General and commanding the Crossbowmen Corps.

Qin Sang also legitimately ascended to the position of Hall Master of the Blood-Clad Tower, though the official documents had not yet arrived.

The only thing that displeased Qin Sang was that Wang Liu, that brat, had delayed military intelligence. Not only was he not punished, but he also picked up a great bargain during the attack on Jiang Prefecture's capital city, and now he had also become the Right Commander of the Xuanwei Camp.

"Your subordinate would not dare!"

Zhou Mingguang had personally witnessed the hellish scene in Zhu Dazhuang's mansion and was respectful to Qin Sang. "Mr. Qin, the Marshal asked me to convey his regards. The Marshal originally intended to visit you personally, but due to the urgency of military affairs, he had to lead his troops along the main road to North Ping Prefecture. However, the Marshal has brought his Crossbowmen Corps, a total of five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows, to be at your disposal!"

"Good!"

Qin Sang clapped his hands, his face beaming with joy. He had given most of the military merits to General Mu, and he had stayed in Hunwu County for so long precisely for these crossbowmen.

His target was naturally Xuanji Temple within Hunwu County!

After learning from Venerable Yuanjue that Xuanji Temple possessed remnants of immortal cultivation, Qin Sang had been thinking about how to obtain them.

His Qinggong was not comparable to top martial arts experts, so he could not sneak into Xuanji Temple silently. Although Venerable Yuanjue was dead, Xuanji Temple still had Xiantian Masters and countless first-class experts guarding it.

He could, of course, use Yanwang's abilities to kill people secretly, but Xuanji Temple had the reputation of being a sacred land, known throughout Great Sui. Once news of the annihilation of Xuanji Temple's eminent monks spread, it would surely cause a great stir throughout the entire Great Sui Kingdom.

Above Great Sui Kingdom, there were immortal masters watching.

After much deliberation, using the power of the secular world was still the most reliable method. Facing five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows, the abbot of Xuanji Temple would not dare to act recklessly, unless he wanted Xuanji Temple to be wiped out.

Upon hearing that Qin Sang's target was Xuanji Temple, Zhou Mingguang showed a difficult expression. "Mr. Qin, your subordinate has heard that there is a Xiantian Master guarding Xuanji Temple. Five hundred crossbowmen might not be enough..."

"General Zhou need not worry!"

Qin Sang said confidently, "If the Xiantian Master dares to kill people, I will handle it. The only concern is that the monks of Xuanji Temple might be unruly and still loyal to the False Emperor, refusing to submit to the King's rule. That is why we need General Zhou to lead troops to deter them. If they are sensible and confess their crimes and accept punishment, the Prince does not wish to pursue them to the death... I have prepared wine and meat for General Zhou to take back as rewards for the soldiers. We will depart early tomorrow morning to avoid delaying the march. After the matter is concluded, Qin Sang will surely reward you handsomely."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The next morning, Qin Sang led the personnel from the Blood-Clad Tower and met up with Zhou Guangming. After a meal, they marched rapidly and arrived at the foot of Xuanji Temple before noon, stationing their troops there.

A secluded temple hidden in the deep mountains.

The mountain wind rustled through the dense forest.

The path up the mountain was paved entirely with bluestone slabs half a step wide, stretching from the foot of the mountain to the temple gate. It was wide enough for five riders to travel abreast.

Xuanji Temple.

Amidst the three vigorous characters, an ancient and profound aura emanated.

Two stone lions in front of the mountain gate glared fiercely at the approaching path.

Leaves swirled on the high steps, and not a single monk was visible. The two vermilion gates, several zhang high, were tightly shut, and silence reigned within.

The autumn wind was bleak.

In front of the temple gate, there was a large, flat open space. Qin Sang, dressed in ordinary soldier's armor, looked up at this sacred martial arts site, his gaze passing over the high outer walls to see the upturned eaves within.

He could hear the sound of tense breathing from within Xuanji Temple.

Zhou Guangming, who was leading, waved his hand back, and a series of footsteps followed. Over a thousand soldiers and generals spread out in an orderly fashion, five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows were strung, their arrows pointed at the vermilion gate.

Zhou Mingguang looked at Qin Sang, who nodded slightly.

"Switch to fire arrows!"

Zhou Mingguang roared. As soon as he finished speaking, someone inside Xuanji Temple suddenly chanted a deep Buddhist mantra.

"Wait!"

Then, a sound of hurried footsteps echoed from within Xuanji Temple. The vermilion gates were pushed open, and an old monk with a ruddy complexion and white eyebrows and beard walked out first.

Behind him, a group of monks filed out, their faces indignant, holding staffs and pointing at the soldiers ahead.

Seeing the old monk's kasaya, Qin Sang secretly thought that this should be Abbot Yuanzhen of Xuanji Temple, the junior brother of Venerable Yuanjue, and one of the most respected figures in the Great Sui martial arts world.

"Amitabha."

Abbot Yuanzhen's gaze was filled with sorrow. He swept his eyes over Zhou Mingguang and asked in a deep voice, "This humble monk Yuanzhen, may I ask the general's name?"

Zhou Mingguang said in a deep voice, "I am Zhou Mingguang. A humble and untalented individual, serving as a general under the Prince."

Abbot Yuanzhen nodded, then his expression suddenly sank, and he questioned, "General Zhou, everyone in Xuanji Temple is a person who has left the secular world. We have always harbored compassion, accompanied by green lamps and ancient Buddhas, and do not get involved in worldly affairs. May I ask what offense we have committed to warrant the general's great mobilization and leading troops to attack?"

"Green lamps and ancient Buddhas?"

Zhou Mingguang wore a mocking smile and laughed heartily, "The monk soldiers who helped the False Emperor defend the city in Duling County slaughtered countless sons and brothers of Princess Dongyang. Are they disciples from another sect?"

Abbot Yuanzhen's expression remained unchanged as he retorted, "General Zhou, you may not know, but those monk soldiers only learned their skills at Xuanji Temple. After descending the mountain, they had no further connection with Xuanji Temple. The reasons for this were already explained to the Heir Apparent in person by this humble monk, and the general will know if he asks."