The Old Monk clasped his hands and looked at the Golden Wheel Dharma King. Though both were monks, they followed different precepts and teachings.
For example, the Golden Wheel Dharma King didn't devote himself to chanting sutras and worshipping Buddha in a temple. Instead, he'd gone off to become an Imperial Preceptor.
In the Old Monk's eyes, that was no better than throwing himself into depravity and turning his back on Buddha.
"You..."
The Golden Wheel Dharma King flew into a brief rage—not because he feared the Old Monk, but because he was wary of someone else.
His gaze shifted upward.
A gigantic Divine Eagle was flying through the air, with a middle-aged man standing on its back, a sword in his arms. Just one glance at him made the Golden Wheel Dharma King's eyes ache. He hastily looked away, and only then did the pain ease.
The Golden Wheel Dharma King became even more cautious. He was the only foreigner here, and Mongolia was invading Great Song. If he wasn't careful and the two men joined forces against him, he'd be in trouble.
"Someone's here!"
The swordsman stood atop the Divine Eagle and spoke calmly.
"Divine Monk Yuantong, Golden Wheel Dharma King, what is the meaning of this?"
Qiu Chuji and the others arrived at the mountain gate. Looking at the injured disciples, he spoke in a frigid tone.
Back when Wang Chongyang was still alive, Qiu Chuji had followed his master and met both men. They were figures of legendary stature in the Martial World. The swordsman in the sky, on the other hand, was unfamiliar to him.
But since the three of them had arrived together, the swordsman had to be an unparalleled expert as well.
"Master, be careful. That Old Monk just clasped his hands without making a move, yet he broke our combined attack. The backlash even left our senior and junior brothers badly injured."
Yin Zhiping spoke quietly into his ear.
"Amitabha Buddha!"
When the Old Monk saw Qiu Chuji, he stepped forward.
"Benefactor Qiu, that Divine Cult is forcing the common people to join. It is truly an evil sect. Please disband it and restore peace to the world."
At those words, Qiu Chuji's expression turned cold.
The Immortal had told them to establish this Divine Cult. How could they possibly disband it just because of something this man said?
"Divine Monk Yuantong, joining our Divine Cult is entirely voluntary. We have never forced anyone. Where did you hear such a thing?"
"I heard it."
Yuantong clasped his hands, his expression serene.
"Then, Divine Monk, did you see it with your own eyes?"
"I saw it!"
Qiu Chuji was so furious he couldn't help laughing.
He had no desire to keep trading barbs with the Old Monk, so he turned to the Golden Wheel Dharma King.
"Dharma King, have you also come to demand that we disband the Divine Cult?"
The Golden Wheel Dharma King shook his head with a chuckle.
"I'm not as hypocritical as the Old Monk. Your Divine Cult has grown too powerful. At the Great Khan's behest, I've come to kill you."
His killing intent was unmistakable, though he still wore a smile.
Qiu Chuji said nothing. Instead, he looked toward the last man.
Before he could ask anything, the swordsman spoke.
"I am Dugu Qiubai. I heard that an Immortal had appeared in the Divine Cult, so I came here to seek a defeat!"
"Dugu Qiubai?!"
Qiu Chuji and the others stared at him in shock.
Even Divine Monk Yuantong's expression gradually turned grave.
Dugu Qiubai had been a legendary figure a hundred years ago, the undisputed greatest expert under heaven. None of them had expected him to still be alive.
Qiu Chuji gave a bitter laugh.
"I never imagined our Divine Cult would draw a senior of your stature from the Martial World. It is truly our good fortune."
"But..."
Qiu Chuji's gaze grew resolute once more.
"Brothers, form the formation!"
"The Heavenly Dipper Big Dipper Formation!"
Created by Wang Chongyang, founder of the Quanzhen Sect, the formation could be arranged by one hundred and eight people or by just seven.
The formation of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen differed from the one the Quanzhen disciples had used earlier.
The seven acted as both orthodox and unorthodox forces, complementing and countering one another. Their internal energies connected and flowed without end, allowing them to wield the Heavenly Dipper Big Dipper Formation to its fullest.
"Heh. You refused a toast only to drink a forfeit? Let this old monk break your formation!"
The Golden Wheel Dharma King laughed and entered the formation barehanded.
The moment he stepped inside, countless sword energies appeared and attacked him from every direction.
Even an ordinary grandmaster would meet a miserable end caught in this formation.
"Child's play."
The Golden Wheel Dharma King spoke casually. Then came the roar of a dragon and the bellow of an elephant.
The Golden Wheel Dharma King swelled to three zhang tall, like a giant. With every breath, visible waves of heat formed clouds that curled around him.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The countless sword energies struck him and only managed to tear his outer robe. They couldn't even leave a white mark on his skin.
"Hahaha! You little brats, now it's my turn!"
The Golden Wheel Dharma King roared with laughter, making the Quanzhen disciples cover their ears in pain.
His muscles bulged as he gathered all his strength and casually threw a punch.
No matter how profound your formation, I'll break it with sheer force.
Bang!
A tremendous explosion rang out. Dust billowed, and the shockwave scraped three inches of earth from the ground.
The Seven Masters of Quanzhen all spat blood and were sent flying. Their faces were deathly pale, and they lay motionless, their fates unknown.
"Master!"
A disciple rushed to catch them, but the tremendous force they carried smashed him to the ground, and he died coughing up blood.
"Hahaha! Who's next?!"
The Golden Wheel Dharma King shouted triumphantly. Then he glanced around, walked over to a tree so thick that three people could encircle it, and ripped it out by the roots. He hurled it toward the crowd.
The trunk hurtled toward them like a cannonball, blocking out the sky and covering them all.
At the horrifying sight, despair filled everyone's eyes.
Some were so terrified that they wet themselves and burst into tears.
Qiu Chuji forced his eyes open and struggled to rise, trying to stop the attack.
But before he could make a move, he spat blood again. His meridians were shattered. Forget using Internal Energy—even if he survived, he'd spend the rest of his life bedridden.
"Stop!"
In the midst of the despair, a cool voice suddenly rang out from the mountain. In an instant, the world fell silent. The crying and frightened cries of the crowd gradually faded, until the rustling of leaves in the breeze could be heard clearly.
The tree trunk, which had been hurtling toward them, now hung motionless in midair.
"The Immortal has come!"
The crowd froze, then turned around with tears of joy in their eyes.
A woman in white strode through the air from the mountain. Ripples spread with every step she took, as if she were walking across the surface of the water.
At first, she was still hundreds of meters away. In the blink of an eye, she was before them.
She raised her eyes to the tree trunk in the air. It instantly disintegrated inch by inch.
The sight of such power sent a chill through everyone.
The Golden Wheel Dharma King's pupils contracted, and his face filled with wariness.
Little Dragon Girl's cool gaze swept over the Old Monk and the others, then finally settled on Qiu Chuji and his companions.
She raised a hand as white and flawless as jade, pointed toward them from afar, and parted her vermilion lips.
"Spring Return!"
Green light surged from within the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. In moments, their pale, weakened faces became rosy and full of life.
A powerful aura even stirred within Qiu Chuji.
Not only had his injuries healed completely, but he had also broken through the bottleneck that had held him back for more than a decade, becoming a grandmaster.
"Thank you, Immortal, for your blessing."
After steadying his surging Internal Energy, Qiu Chuji bowed excitedly to Little Dragon Girl.
Little Dragon Girl gave a cool nod, then turned her gaze to the Golden Wheel Dharma King on the ground.
She merely watched him, yet she hadn't even made a move. Sweat beaded across his forehead, and an immense terror rose in his heart.
No. If this continues, I'll lose the ability to resist before she even has to make a move.