Buddha Statue, Vajra Fist

At this moment, the moon was dark, the wind howled, and the Qian Family estate was deserted.

After the figure in black had left, Shen Bai turned around, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the main house behind him, and walked towards its entrance.

Reaching the door, Shen Bai didn't hesitate, raising his hand and pushing it wide open.

As the wooden door swung inward, Shen Bai saw the interior of the house.

The room was pitch black, but under the scattered moonlight, Shen Bai's gaze landed on an object not far away.

In the very center of the main house, a solitary Buddhist shrine stood.

The shrine was inlaid with gold, appearing incredibly ornate, yet within this golden shrine, only a dilapidated statue was placed.

The statue's facial features were long indistinguishable, but its left hand held a string of prayer beads, while its right hand was raised to its chest in a vertical palm gesture.

Clad in a kasaya, with nine tonsure scars on its head, just from its attire and pose, it clearly depicted a Buddha seated on a lotus pedestal.

Ordinarily, even a damaged Buddha Statue wouldn't warrant a second glance from Shen Bai.

But after accidentally glimpsing it while peeking earlier, Shen Bai couldn't tear his eyes away.

Before him, a wisp of smoke appeared, transforming into lines of text.

[Damaged Buddha Statue]

[Identification Progress: 0%]

[A wisp of Malevolent Qi can rapidly identify]

This item, like the Dancing Sword Painting of a Lady, could be identified, and its Divine Ability extracted.

It was precisely for this reason that Shen Bai hadn't pursued the figure in black.

What was a figure in black compared to the allure of a Damaged Buddha Statue?

Shen Bai rubbed his hands. Seeing that no one else was around, he unhesitatingly picked up the Damaged Buddha Statue.

"Now's not the time to use Malevolent Qi."

Just now, after killing Master Qian, Shen Bai had acquired a wisp of Malevolent Qi, which could speed up the process.

However, being inside the Qian Family estate, Shen Bai didn't use it immediately, intending to wait until he returned to the Pawnshop.

The matter was concluded. This trip had not only gained Shen Bai Malevolent Qi but also an item for identification, making it a great harvest.

Shen Bai, carrying the Damaged Buddha Statue, quietly left and quickly disappeared.

Shen Family Pawnshop.

Shen Bai lit an oil lamp and, in its glow, examined the Damaged Buddha Statue.

After a brief thought, Shen Bai unhesitatingly used the Malevolent Qi.

[Identification Progress: 100%]

As Shen Bai's Malevolent Qi vanished, the progress bar instantly reached completion.

The smoke twisted like a snake, and soon formed new text.

[Identification complete, obtained Divine Ability: Vajra Fist]

[Vajra Fist lv.1 (Fist Art +1): 0/100]

A flood of information poured into Shen Bai's mind. In his thoughts, a phantom image of a Buddha in a kasaya appeared.

The Buddha held a string of prayer beads, its eyes filled with infinite compassion, as if it would enlighten all beings in the next moment.

"Whoosh!"

With a soft hum, the Buddha clenched its right hand into a fist, delivering a straight punch forward.

Around them, Buddhist chants resonated, and a Wrathful Vajra descended from the heavens, seemingly capable of vanquishing endless oddities.

A torrent of information flooded Shen Bai's mind. When he opened his eyes, he had fully mastered Vajra Fist.

"The Fist of Vajra, transforming into a Wrathful Vajra, vanquishing demons and evil."

Excitement shone in Shen Bai's eyes.

The Fist Art attribute of Vajra Fist, as the name implied, provided an additional bonus to Vajra Fist.

After a brief consideration, Shen Bai decided to practice Vajra Fist first.

The reason was simple: the Blood Sword Dance required a relatively high proficiency, and now that Shen Bai had glimpsed another side of the world, a sense of urgency had arisen within him.

He needed more methods. Vajra Fist had low initial proficiency requirements, making it the most pressing thing for him right now.

"To the backyard."

Shen Bai thought for a moment, then went to the backyard alone.

The backyard was quite spacious, making it a good place to practice Vajra Fist.

Shen Bai stood in the middle of the courtyard, raising both fists.

The burning internal energy circulated continuously, eventually flowing towards his fists.

Shen Bai began to practice the Vajra Fist forms in the courtyard.

With each punch, a sense of clarity filled Shen Bai's mind, as if someone were chanting Buddhist scriptures within his thoughts.

"No worldly desires."

"This fist technique carries Buddhist principles; it seems very powerful."

"Am I going to become a monk?"

A question arose in Shen Bai's mind, but then he realized he was overthinking it.

Vajra Fist +1 +1 +1...

As the Vajra Fist proficiency steadily increased, it quickly reached Level 2.

Vajra Fist Lv.2 (Fist Technique +2, Buddha's Light +2): 0/1000

When the Vajra Fist reached Level 2, the ethereal image of a Buddha striking a punch reappeared in Shen Bai's mind.

Unlike the initial image, this time the Buddha was standing upright.

Golden Buddha's Light emanated from both fists, and the intent of the Vajra Fist's force transformed from towering Buddhist principles into a killing aura.

Shen Bai felt as if he were witnessing a wind-stepping monk subjugating demons and monsters in the world.

"What a powerful fist technique!"

A glint shone in Shen Bai's eyes.

The internal energy in his body increased again, partially filling his dantian.

Shen Bai continued to wield the Vajra Fist.

Now at Level 2, the Vajra Fist was no longer about Buddhist principles, but a firm resolve to sweep away everything.

A layer of golden light covered Shen Bai's fists.

This was the Buddha's Light attribute, allowing Shen Bai's Vajra Fist to inflict Buddha's Light damage.

Vajra Fist +1 +1 +1...

This time, the proficiency gain was slower, but the effect on Shen Bai was different.

Shen Bai suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment with each punch.

"If hell is not emptied, I vow not to become a Buddha."

"Perhaps this is the true essence of the Vajra Fist: using my Vajra body to sweep away all anomalies."

That night passed with Shen Bai's practice.

The next day.

When Zhang Chaofeng opened the door and saw Shen Bai, he couldn't help but be stunned.

Shen Bai had a pair of dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he had suffered a severe loss of vital energy.

"Shopkeeper, did you go to the pleasure quarters last night? That's not fair. Even though I'm old, I still like young ladies."

Zhang Chaofeng looked as if Shen Bai wasn't treating him like a friend.

Even at seventy, loving an eighteen-year-old girl was a man's eternal truth.

Shen Bai yawned and tossed out about ten coppers. "Old Zhang, go to the breakfast stall and buy plenty of food, especially meat."

Zhang Chaofeng was puzzled, but Shen Bai said nothing else, collapsing into a chair and closing his eyes. Zhang Chaofeng could only take the money and leave.

Shen Bai leaned back in the chair, thinking to himself, "These Divine Abilities consume a lot."

In mid-air, words formed from smoke appeared.

Vajra Fist Lv.2 (Fist Technique +2, Buddha's Light +2): 1000/1000

Can undergo qualitative change, requires one wisp of Malevolent Qi

All night, Shen Bai hadn't closed his eyes.

Although there was internal energy in his dantian, Shen Bai consumed it every time he wielded the Vajra Fist. He was quite fatigued now.

Moreover, he had lost a lot of vital energy and needed to eat more and rest to recover.

"After I eat, I'll sleep for an hour."

"The requirement for Malevolent Qi is indeed a bit much."

Shen Bai closed his eyes, pondering.