Rescued

"This child is named Wang Lang. He grew up among wolves from childhood, eating raw flesh and drinking blood. Five years ago, when I went hunting, I happened to encounter him. I rescued him from the wolf pack, took him as my adopted son, named him Wang Lang, and taught him martial arts, morals, and etiquette.

"By bone age, he was exactly fifteen this year. I shall send him out as my choice for the third wagered bout. I wonder whom Abbot Ben Zhen will send from his side?"

Looking at Wang Lang, whose crazed eyes made him seem like a mad wolf, General Wang spoke to Abbot Ben Zhen as though he were gazing upon his proudest creation.

"Amitabha. General Wang has planned well."

Seeing Wang Lang's beastlike ferocity, Ben Zhen furrowed his brow and gave him a long, searching look.

Such a terrifying figure, half man and half beast, seemed born for slaughter. Even someone whose martial cultivation equaled his, or slightly surpassed it, might not be his match.

Moreover, since General Wang had sent him out as the final contestant, his martial cultivation was surely no ordinary thing. He was undoubtedly a formidable opponent. There were likely few young disciples in the temple who could contend with him.

But if they admitted defeat now, would Treasure Pearl Temple's thousand-year reputation become someone else's stepping stone? How could Ben Zhen bear that? Even if he attained fruition in the future, how could he face the many eminent monks of the temple who had already ascended to paradise?

"Hall chiefs, among the temple's disciples under fifteen, which disciple is the strongest? Who can face Wang Lang?"

Unwilling to accept this, Ben Zhen turned to the hall chiefs beside him.

"Reporting to the Abbot, Jingyan of our Dharma Institute entered the hall three years ago. He broke through to Skin Refining Mastery in a year and a half, broke through Muscle Tendon Strengthening after another year and eight months, and reached Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening five months ago. He has now thoroughly tempered two major tendons throughout his body and is advancing toward Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening. His strength is remarkable. In this old monk's opinion, Jingyan should fight in the third wagered bout and bring glory to Treasure Pearl Temple!"

The moment Ben Zhen finished speaking, Ben De, chief of the Dharma Institute, stepped forward and recommended him.

"Senior Brother Ben De, that is not quite right. Jingyan of your Dharma Institute is indeed impressive, but in terms of martial arts, Jingyuan of my Prajna Hall is still superior."

Hearing Ben De's words, Ben Yin, chief of Prajna Hall, hurriedly objected.

"Senior Brother Ben De, you said Jingyan took a year and a half to reach Skin Refining Mastery. But did you know that Jingyuan achieved the same feat in merely one year and four months?

"You said Jingyan reached Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening five months ago, but Jingyuan did so eight months ago. By now, he has thoroughly tempered five major tendons throughout his body and has already traveled nearly halfway down the road to Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening. He far surpasses Jingyan!"

Ben Yin spoke with a smile, his face brimming with pride and delight.

Do not think monks lacked the desire to compare themselves with others. In truth, even the sages of myth and legend possessed the seven emotions and six desires, cared deeply for face and fortune, and could not escape worldly conventions. How could Ben Yin be any exception?

Within Treasure Pearl Temple, Prajna Hall and the Dharma Institute had been evenly matched ever since their founding a thousand years ago. Throughout that millennium, either one suppressed the other, or the other gained the upper hand.

For instance, among the previous Yuan Generation, the Dharma Institute had long kept Prajna Hall's Yuanshen firmly suppressed through Yuanyin, who had just fought.

But now the wheel of fortune had turned. Among the current Jing Generation disciples, his hall had finally produced an unparalleled genius like Jingyuan. His talent and aptitude surpassed even Yuanyin and Yuanshen of the previous generation, so naturally Ben Yin had to show him off properly.

"Amitabha. Junior Brother Ben Yin is truly impressive. I never expected Prajna Hall, which had kept its mountains hidden and its waters concealed, to produce a talent like Jingyuan among this generation's Jing Generation disciples. If he is properly nurtured, Great Accomplishment of Internal Qi may well be within reach. This time, this senior brother has lost."

Ben De proclaimed a Buddhist invocation, his eyes filled with envy.

The path of Muscle Tendon Strengthening lay in cultivating the body's thirty-six major and minor tendons, making them as sturdy as oxen and as resilient as tigers, able to withstand the immense pressure and depletion within a martial artist's body.

At the initial stage of Muscle Tendon Strengthening, one cultivated twenty-four minor tendons. Only after all twenty-four were cultivated could one officially enter Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening, after which one began cultivating the body's twelve major tendons.

Jingyuan of Prajna Hall was only fifteen, yet he had already successfully cultivated five major tendons. He would likely reach Great Accomplishment of Blood Tempering before twenty-five and begin attempting a breakthrough into Inner Qi. Such talent was truly astonishing.

"Hehe, Senior Brother Ben De overpraises him. Jingyuan may be an uncut jade, but he is still young and must be carefully carved and polished. Speaking of Great Accomplishment of Internal Qi now is still somewhat premature. We must not let him become arrogant and ruin his future."

Hearing Ben De's praise, Ben Yin's joy did not lessen, but he still answered modestly.

Thus, with one speaking and the other replying, the two settled upon the contestant for this battle. Only Ben Guan, chief of Arhat Hall, stood to one side, feeling envious and wearing a bitter smile.

The aptitude of Arhat Hall's disciples had always been the worst among the three martial monk halls. The resources allotted to them, including cultivation pills such as Hundred Herb Pills, were far inferior to those received by the monks of the Dharma Institute and Prajna Hall. Thus, their strength had always ranked last among the three halls.

Now, Arhat Hall had finally produced Jingming, whose talent and aptitude did not lose out to disciples such as Jingyan of the Dharma Institute or even Jingyuan of Prajna Hall. Yet because resources had failed to keep up during his early years, he had wasted two years at the Skin Tempering realm.

Although Ben Guan had supported him over the following year and often provided cultivation pills, one step behind meant every step behind. Jingming's progress was now astonishing, but he was still short of thoroughly tempering all his minor tendons and breaking through to Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening, much less tempering the body's major tendons and reaching Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening.

"Alas! Such are the times, such is fate!"

Ben Guan sighed inwardly and looked at Gu Han with some guilt, then said nothing more.

Feeling Ben Guan's gaze, Gu Han met his eyes but likewise said nothing. He had no intention of recommending himself and taking the limelight.

His current strength was still weak, and he had tremendous room for improvement. Thus, quietly developing during this period and laying a solid foundation for the real world, so that he could face the coming battlefield, was the grand and proper path.

If General Wang noticed him because he sought this moment of glory and insisted that he join the army and fight for him, Treasure Pearl Temple likely would not be able to refuse.

After all, he was not a hall chief, merely an insignificant Jing Generation disciple. Though he possessed some talent, in others' eyes, he could not even be guaranteed to break through into Inner Qi in the future. He was simply not worth Treasure Pearl Temple making an enemy of General Wang for.

If the Abbot truly sold him off then, he would either have to betray the temple or waste his time—and perhaps even risk his life—fighting on the battlefield.

Though the army might have considerable resources, and life-and-death struggles on the battlefield might help him achieve rapid breakthroughs, for someone like him, who possessed martial arts from two worlds, had an incomparably solid martial foundation, and was almost certain to steadily reach the pinnacle of this world in the future...

There was truly no need!

Since the Abbot was not choosing him now, why should he go looking for trouble? Why add to his worries for nothing?

"Very well. Since none of the hall chiefs has another candidate, then Jingyuan of Prajna Hall shall fight in this bout!"

After Ben De and Ben Yin had made their recommendations, Abbot Ben Zhen waited a while longer. When he saw no one else speak, he made the final decision with a single hammer blow.

"Yes, Hall Chief! Jingyuan shall obey the Hall Chief's decree."

Hearing Ben Zhen's words, a flicker of delight flashed through little monk Jingyuan's eyes, and he strode forward.

After training in martial arts for several years, he finally had an opportunity to display his skills before everyone. At his still-unsettled age, he was naturally delighted and eager to show himself off.

"Please!"

The moment Jingyuan stepped into the arena, he gave Wang Lang a warning, then leaned one hand and one foot forward into an opening stance.

This was the opening stance of Bodhi Palm, Prajna Hall's secret martial technique, called Bodhi Embracing Zen!

It was said that one could attack when advancing and defend when retreating. Countless Prajna Hall disciples loved it, and whenever disciples of Prajna Hall sparred, they generally used it as their opening stance to place themselves in an invincible position.

"Awooo!"

Sensing Jingyuan's aggressiveness, a trace of savagery flashed through Wang Lang's eyes. His beastly nature instantly overwhelmed his reason, and his eyes became incomparably cold, like those of a lone wolf in the forest. He spun the single blade in his hand and stomped his foot, shattering several bluestone bricks beneath him in an instant. Then his body shot toward Jingyuan like lightning.

"Whoosh!"

The air was ruthlessly sliced apart. A white streak ripped through the void as Wang Lang became one with his blade. His momentum was vast and majestic as he brought it down in a direct chop, as though he could split mountains with strength alone. The strike was vicious, seeming intent on cleaving Jingyuan in two.

"What! Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening! This child's Martial Path Talent is actually so high? He is only fifteen, yet he has already reached such a realm?"

Watching Wang Lang's terrifying speed and explosive force, Ben Zhen, Abbot of Treasure Pearl Temple, and the six hall chiefs exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes.

Just moments ago, Wang Lang had kept his blood and qi restrained, leaking not the slightest aura from his body and seeming no different from an ordinary person. They had not seen anything unusual about him. They had guessed that no matter how great his talent was, he could at most be like Jingyuan—having reached Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening and tempered several major tendons would already have been extraordinary.

Who could have expected his talent to exceed even their expectations, reaching Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening at such a young age?

"Could King Tang truly be a hidden dragon ordained by heaven, aided by fortune? Otherwise, he had only begun his uprising a year ago. How had unparalleled talents like General Wang and Wang Lang both joined him already?"

Ben Zhen and the hall chiefs were all stunned as they looked in amazement at King Tang and General Wang.

"Haha! Abbot, you have misjudged. Wolf cub is not at Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening—he does not even count as having reached Minor Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening. He has merely just broken through the limit of Skin Refining Mastery and begun Muscle Tendon Strengthening not long ago, barely tempering two or three minor tendons."

Seeing the monks' astonishment, General Wang laughed heartily.

"This... how is that possible? Wang Lang's strength and speed have clearly reached the level of Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening. He would even rank in the middle among martial artists at Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening. How could he have only just entered Muscle Tendon Strengthening?"

Watching Wang Lang, who resembled a ferocious tiger, Ben De, chief of the Dharma Institute, asked in shock.

Those words were simply too unbelievable. Even with the state of mind he had gained through decades of meditation and chanting Buddhist scriptures, he could not maintain his composure and could not help asking.

"Haha! Master Ben De has become fixated on appearances. Would I deceive you? It is merely that my son's talent is so extraordinary that it transcends the commonplace. When I first encountered him, he was only ten years old, yet he could chase down fierce tigers with his bare hands.

"Now, after several years of my careful instruction, what is so difficult or surprising about Wolf cub rivaling ordinary martial artists at Great Accomplishment of Muscle Tendon Strengthening despite having only just entered Muscle Tendon Strengthening?"

General Wang explained to the hall chiefs of Treasure Pearl Temple, his eyes full of pride.

But while he was proud, little monk Jingyuan in the arena was truly suffering.

This man is terrifying. Let me see if I can find a way to delay for longer. No matter what, I cannot lose too quickly.

Seeing Wang Lang's speed and explosive force far beyond his own, Jingyuan's eyes turned grave and his heart chilled. But he quickly made his decision.

He could not win this round, but even if he lost, he had to lose with some dignity.

Once Jingyuan made up his mind, his body rapidly retreated. At the same time, his palms moved in succession, his fleshy hands seeming cast from refined iron as he struck out palm shadows one after another. With incomparable precision, he slapped both sides of Wang Lang's long blade, knocking it off course, while continuously using footwork to tangle with Wang Lang.

His method of fighting was no different from Shi Rui and Yuanyin's earlier. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than ten rounds and traded dozens of moves, seemingly unable to do anything to each other.

But several breaths later—

"Awooo!"

A wolf howl rang out. Seeing that he could not defeat his enemy after so long, Wang Lang's savagery grew even stronger and his killing intent surged wildly. The long blade in his hand became another third faster. Like an antelope hanging its horns, it had been chopping straight down one moment, yet in the next it changed from a chop to a slash. Like a giant axe felling a tree, it was swift and fierce, its power and speed both utterly terrifying—far beyond Jingyuan's expectations.

"Not good!"

As that terrifying blade suddenly struck, Jingyuan's brow throbbed violently. The potential within his body erupted, and he bent backward in an instant as though boneless, executing an iron bridge to narrowly evade the strike. Then he forcefully pressed his palm against the ground and sprang up like a flea, landing far to the rear.

"Die!"

Just as Jingyuan landed and before he could recover his senses, Wang Lang's slight body leaped forward. In a few strides, he crossed more than ten meters in the blink of an eye. The killing intent in his eyes surged, filling onlookers with dread, and his final blade savagely chopped at Jingyuan's face.

My life is over!

Feeling the biting blade wind, Jingyuan's face turned ashen. Thinking of the attachments he still had in the mortal world, he sighed bitterly in his heart and regretted rashly stepping forward. But now, he could only close his eyes and await death.

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

"General Wang, make him stop!"

Seeing their temple disciple about to die beneath Wang Lang's long blade, Abbot Ben Zhen and the hall chiefs all turned furious. They used their Lightness Skills and rushed over, hoping to save Jingyuan's life.

Unfortunately, Jingyuan had retreated explosively twice, and he was now more than ten zhang away from the hall chiefs. Even though Inner Qi burst from their entire bodies and their speed surpassed tigers and leopards, they could not reach him in time to stop Wang Lang. They could only watch helplessly as his long blade fell.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, like raw iron smashing against bluestone, or two weapons suddenly colliding. Beneath the excited, grieving, indifferent, and calm gazes of those present—

Wang Lang's four-foot-long blade was clamped tightly between a pair of fleshy palms, as though it were a sword seized in a blacksmith's iron tongs. No matter how Wang Lang stamped the ground, wore a crazed expression, whipped his hair about, and roared in fury, he could not move it a fraction.