At this time, the moon was dark and the wind was high; no one was in the Qian residence.
After the man in black left, Shen Bai turned around and looked at the main house behind him, his eyes gleaming as he headed for the door.
When he reached the entrance, Shen Bai did not hesitate. He raised his hand and shoved the doors open.
As the wooden doors swung open with a creak, Shen Bai saw the scene inside.
The room was pitch-black, but under the scattered moonlight, Shen Bai's gaze settled on an object not far away.
In the center of the main hall stood a solitary Buddhist shrine.
The shrine was inlaid with gold and looked incomparably splendid, yet within this shrine full of gold sat only a battered statue.
The statue's facial features had long since become indistinguishable. Its left hand held a string of prayer beads, while its right hand was raised before its chest in a vertical palm gesture.
It wore a cassock and bore nine ordination scars atop its head. From its attire and posture alone, it was clearly a Buddha seated upon a lotus dais.
Under ordinary circumstances, Shen Bai would not have given even a damaged Buddha Statue a second glance.
But after accidentally glimpsing it while spying earlier, he had been unable to look away.
Before his eyes, a line of smoke emerged and transformed into words.
Damaged Buddha Statue Appraisal Progress: 0% One wisp of Killing Intent can rapidly complete the appraisal
Like the Dancing Sword Painting of a Lady, this thing could be appraised to extract the divine ability within.
That was precisely why Shen Bai had not pursued the man in black.
How could a man in black possibly be as enticing as a Damaged Buddha Statue?
Shen Bai rubbed his hands together. Seeing that no one was around, he picked up the Damaged Buddha Statue without hesitation.
"Now isn't the time to use Killing Intent."
After killing Master Qian earlier, Shen Bai had obtained a wisp of Killing Intent that could speed up the progress.
But he was still in the Qian residence, so Shen Bai did not use it immediately. He planned to wait until he returned to the pawnshop.
The matter had been settled. On this trip, Shen Bai had not only obtained Killing Intent, but also gained an appraisal item. It was truly a bountiful harvest.
Carrying the Damaged Buddha Statue, Shen Bai quietly left the house and soon vanished without a trace.
Shen Family Pawnshop.
Shen Bai lit an oil lamp and examined the Damaged Buddha Statue beneath its glow.
After thinking briefly, Shen Bai used the Killing Intent without hesitation.
Appraisal Progress: 100%
Once Shen Bai's Killing Intent vanished, the progress before his eyes was instantly filled.
The smoke twisted like snakes, and before long, it formed new words.
Appraisal complete. Divine ability obtained: Vajra Fist Vajra Fist lv.1 (Fist Arts +1): 0/100
A flood of information poured into Shen Bai's mind, and within it appeared the phantom of a Buddha clad in a cassock.
The Buddha held a string of prayer beads, infinite compassion in his eyes, as though he would save all living beings in the next instant.
"Whoosh!"
With a clear cry, the Buddha clenched his right hand into a fist and threw a straight punch forward.
Buddha's Voice reverberated around him as a Wrathful Vajra descended from the heavens, seeming capable of annihilating endless horrors.
A vast amount of information flooded Shen Bai's mind. When he opened his eyes, he had already fully mastered Vajra Fist.
"The Vajra's fist transforms into the Wrathful Vajra, subduing demons and exterminating devils."
Excitement flashed in Shen Bai's eyes.
The Fist Arts attribute of Vajra Fist was exactly as its name implied—it granted additional bonuses to Vajra Fist.
After some thought, Shen Bai decided to practice Vajra Fist first.
The reason was simple. Blood Sword Dance required rather high proficiency, and now that Shen Bai had come into contact with the other side of this world, a sense of urgency rose within him.
He needed more methods at his disposal. Vajra Fist required little proficiency in its early stages, making it exactly what he needed most right now.
"To the backyard."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Bai headed alone toward the backyard.
The backyard was fairly spacious, making it the perfect place to train Vajra Fist.
Shen Bai stood in the middle of the courtyard and raised both fists.
The scorching current within his body circulated continuously before eventually flowing toward his fists.
Following the forms of Vajra Fist, Shen Bai began practicing in the courtyard.
With every punch, Shen Bai felt a kind of clarity in his mind, as though someone were chanting Buddhist scriptures within his head.
No worldly desires.
This fist art carries Buddhist principles. It seems pretty powerful.
I'm not going to turn into a monk, am I?
A question arose in Shen Bai's heart, but he soon realized he had been overthinking it.
Vajra Fist +1+1+1...
As Vajra Fist continued to rise, it quickly reached level two.
Vajra Fist lv.2 (Fist Arts +2, Buddha Light +2): 0/1000
After Vajra Fist reached level two, the phantom of the Buddha throwing punches appeared in Shen Bai's mind once more.
Unlike the initial phantom, this time the Buddha was standing.
Golden Buddha Light enveloped both fists, while the fist wind of Vajra Fist changed from towering Buddhist principles into a chilling, murderous intent.
Shen Bai seemed to see a martial monk treading upon the wind, subduing demons and exterminating devils in the mortal world.
"Excellent fist art!"
A sharp gleam flashed in Shen Bai's eyes.
The current within his body increased once more, filling part of his dantian.
Shen Bai swung his Vajra Fist.
Now that it had reached level two, Vajra Fist no longer carried Buddhist principles, but an unwavering will to sweep everything aside.
A layer of golden light covered Shen Bai's fists.
This was the Buddha Light attribute, allowing Shen Bai's Vajra Fist to carry the damage of Buddha Light.
Vajra Fist +1+1+1...
This time, proficiency rose more slowly, but the effect it brought Shen Bai was different.
Shen Bai suddenly felt that every punch brought him a sense of enlightenment.
"Until hell is empty, I swear not to become a Buddha."
"Perhaps this is the realm of Vajra Fist—using my Vajra body to sweep away every horror."
That night passed amid Shen Bai's practice.
The next day.
When Zhang Chaofeng pushed open the door and saw Shen Bai, he could not help but freeze.
Shen Bai had a pair of dark circles beneath his eyes, as though his vital energy and blood had been severely depleted.
"Shopkeeper, did you visit a pleasure house last night? That's not very brotherly of you. Though Old Zhang is getting on in years, I still like young ladies."
Zhang Chaofeng looked as though Shen Bai did not consider him a friend.
Even at seventy, loving eighteen-year-old girls was the ultimate truth for men.
Shen Bai yawned and tossed over a dozen coins. "Old Zhang, go to the breakfast stall and buy more food. Make sure there's plenty of meat."
Zhang Chaofeng did not understand, but Shen Bai said nothing else. He collapsed into a chair and closed his eyes, leaving Zhang Chaofeng no choice but to take the money and head out.
Slumped in the chair, Shen Bai thought to himself, These divine abilities consume quite a lot.
Smoke formed into words in midair.
Vajra Fist lv.2 (Fist Arts +2, Buddha Light +2): 1000/1000 Can undergo qualitative transformation. Requires one wisp of Killing Intent.
Shen Bai had not slept a wink all night.
Although there was a current in his dantian, every swing of Vajra Fist consumed that current. Shen Bai was already somewhat exhausted.
Moreover, he had lost a great deal of vital energy and blood. He needed to eat more and rest to make up for it.
"After eating, I'll sleep for two hours."
"This demand for Killing Intent really is a bit too great."
Shen Bai closed his eyes and thought.
Before you continue