Wusheng Finger

"Wusheng Laomu, Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!"

An ethereal voice echoed in his ears. Before his eyes, a delicate jade hand lightly tapped toward him. Du'er Cha suddenly felt as though his soul had left his body, adrift in a daze.

Knowing something was wrong, he rapidly shifted his body, trying to dodge the finger. But the air around him suddenly grew heavy, collapsing inward layer by layer toward his opponent. It was as if a colossal vortex lay hidden there. Against his will, he was swept toward it, seemingly rushing to meet that finger.

After Gu Xiaosang pointed, Meng Qi and the others saw Du'er Cha lose his soul, abandon all resistance and evasion, and go forward to meet her, like a wanderer who couldn't wait to return home.

"Is this some kind of sorcery..." Meng Qi stared at the bizarre scene in astonishment.

Her finger brushed Du'er Cha's brow. Gu Xiaosang spoke with solemn dignity, her voice as clear and ethereal as silver bells:

"Wusheng Laomu, Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!"

Then came a sight that made their hair stand on end. Du'er Cha wore a peaceful, joyful smile and softly echoed:

"Wusheng Laomu, Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!"

The body beneath his head suddenly swelled, then rapidly shrank. His skin withered, his muscles caved in, and streaks of blood-red light gathered and converged at his brow, flowing into Gu Xiaosang's index and middle fingers.

Gu Xiaosang's jade-white face grew even more radiant, as though water might drip from it.

"Wusheng Laomu, Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss..." Du'er Cha crumpled to the ground, murmuring the scripture like a mantra in peaceful bliss. His voice grew fainter and fainter.

Gu Xiaosang withdrew her right hand and looked toward Meng Qi and the others. Compared to before, she seemed even more vigorous and radiant, so beautiful that anyone would feel ashamed by comparison.

"If that mishap last time hadn't wasted my Merit Points, why would I have hesitated to act myself? But I have enough Merit Points to kill one person." Gu Xiaosang casually snapped off a branch and walked toward the entrance with a bright smile. "The Great General was struck by Wusheng Finger. It'll take him a while to return to the 'Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' That's plenty of time to kill someone."

She looked at the wary Meng Qi and the others, lightly twirling the branch. "Hehe, I suppose it was fate. If that mishap hadn't happened, I wouldn't have used that item and been tossed to you as a newcomer. Now, who should I kill? I'm at a loss. Why don't you choose one for me? Once I've killed them, we'll each go our own way. We won't run into one another after we return anyway."

She pressed her left index finger to her chin, her willow brows furrowed as if the question vexed her terribly. Had some lecher been there to witness this lovely sight, he might have volunteered to dispel the beauty's troubles.

Meng Qi and the others had just spoken openly with one another and grown closer. Clearheaded as they were, none fell for this attempt to sow discord. Each kept a wary watch on the entrance, their thoughts racing as they searched for a way out.

Gu Xiaosang's eyes flickered as she smiled sweetly. "You're having a hard time choosing too? Then let me think carefully. Hmm, an ordinary disciple of the Flower Washing Sword Sect is worthless to kill. It would only stain my hands and waste my Merit Points."

Qi Zhengyan's face was as dark as water. Though he knew Gu Xiaosang was trying to sow discord, he still felt insulted and resentful. Why was he worth less than the others?

Her gaze shifted to Zhang Yuanshan's face, and she gave a slight nod. "Among the True Martial Sect's lay disciples, the Zhang Clan is one of the three pillars. If I killed you here and forged evidence of your sect's methods, I could easily provoke an internal feud."

Zhang Yuanshan's gaze sharpened, but he answered steadily, "Demoness, do you take the elders of my sect for rash fools?"

"That's true." Gu Xiaosang cheerfully agreed. "I don't know Divination, and I didn't foresee this situation, so I didn't exchange for the True Martial Sect's secret techniques. Framing you would be a little difficult."

"And if I can't provoke an internal feud, I'm a little reluctant to spend Merit Points just to kill you. Among the current generation of the True Martial Sect, whether it's Yang Tai, Yang He, or the Yao Family Brothers, all have far more talent for martial arts than you and are much stronger. You haven't comprehended the True Intent Inheritance of either the True Martial Seven Sections Scripture or the Qi Accumulation Chapter of the Taiji Divine Art. You're only better at being steady and capable, and at winning the elders' favor."

She smiled like a flower as she spoke, her words barbed with concealed provocation.

Zhang Yuanshan suddenly smiled. "My martial arts talent is inferior to my fellow disciples'. That's simply how I was born. Why should I be discouraged? Heaven keeps all things in balance; diligence can make up for a lack of talent. What have I to despair of?"

Since Gu Xiaosang was trying to sow discord and kill with words, Zhang Yuanshan was happy to waste her time with idle talk. As long as they could delay until Du'er Cha died, all would be well.

Gu Xiaosang paused, then bit her lip with her pearly teeth and said with a smile that was almost a frown, "Hearing you say that, I almost want to kill you."

She "forced" herself to turn around and smiled at Jiang Zhiwei. "Earlier, I heard rumors that Miss Jiang is the most promising figure of the younger generation, destined to become a Sword God like Senior Su and suppress the Nine Demonic Paths. It made me itch with impatience to meet you, so I could kill you. Now it seems I have the chance."

Jiang Zhiwei showed neither anger nor fear. She calmly replied, "Whether you have that chance is something you'll have to ask the sword in my hand."

Gu Xiaosang looked at Jiang Zhiwei's unruffled composure, as if Su Wuming had taken possession of her, and frowned slightly. "Do you still have the strength to fight back? Can you still use 'Sword Comes Without Self'? You're so badly injured, that makes no sense. Could you have exchanged for a life-burning technique like the Heavenly Demon Dissolution Great Law?"

She actually voiced her doubts without reservation.

"Try and see," Jiang Zhiwei replied with a calm smile. Her bright beauty was softened by the pallor of her face, lending her a touch of vulnerable charm.

Gu Xiaosang pondered for a moment, then turned to Meng Qi with a playful grin. "Master, actually, you're the one I most want to kill."

"Huh?" Meng Qi was bewildered. Surely he was on the same level as Qi Zhengyan, if not below him. At least, that was the case now.

Gu Xiaosang lowered her head slightly, a blush spreading across her face. "Because Xiao Zi seems to have a bit of a soft spot for you."

"What kind of reason is that?" Meng Qi was happy to banter with her too, doing his best to stall for time.

Gu Xiaosang lifted her head, grinning like a fox. "It's the best reason. Whatever she likes, whatever she wants, I'll destroy it."

Damn! That was the only thought Meng Qi had.

"So, Master, rest in peace. Amitabha Buddha." Gu Xiaosang tossed aside the branch and pressed her hands together prettily.

Meng Qi took a deep breath. The clamor around him slowly faded away. His eyes held only Gu Xiaosang, and within him, all was clear and still. Then he raised his Monastic Blade, pointing it toward that unseen place.

Gu Xiaosang smiled as she approached Meng Qi with light steps, treating Jiang Zhiwei and the others as if they weren't there.

Suddenly, she felt every sound around her vanish. There was no wind or rain, no rustle of snakes or insects. Only peace and serenity remained, clean and free of worry.

Her smile froze. She saw Meng Qi raise his Monastic Blade. A flash of blade light flickered, and the illusory sound of something shattering suddenly rang out.

The stillness broke, and the clamor returned. Beside Gu Xiaosang's ear, a child's tender voice suddenly cried, "Mother! Mother!" Memories of her past surfaced in her mind without warning. Whether sorrowful or joyful, they stirred her emotions beyond control.

Her expression changed abruptly. She stumbled backward several steps, breaking free of the Saber Intent's assault.

Since when had this monk mastered such a formidable saber technique?

Seeing Gu Xiaosang retreat, Meng Qi ignored his exhausted body and trembling legs. He lunged straight for the mechanism and pulled it.

With a grinding clatter, before Gu Xiaosang could recover, Meng Qi hurled his Monastic Blade and shut the entrance.

Clang! The blade struck a hidden protrusion behind a nearby Crimson Boulder. Inside the Secret Passage, Meng Qi gritted his teeth and smashed the mechanism with his right fist as well.

"What are you doing?" Qi Zhengyan asked in shock.

"Destroying the mechanism. If we can't get out, she won't be able to get in either!" Meng Qi sank limply against the stone wall, his hands and feet trembling.

Jiang Zhiwei nodded. "Once Du'er Cha dies, we can return directly. Being trapped here won't matter."

"That's a good plan." Zhang Yuanshan smiled faintly.

Holding his sword, Qi Zhengyan stood near the entrance, still worried that the mechanism outside hadn't been thoroughly destroyed.

Jiang Zhiwei smiled at Meng Qi. "I didn't expect you'd already comprehended the Saber Intent of 'Severing Purity.'"

She could tell Meng Qi had only been bluffing, using a portion of his Saber Intent to scare Gu Xiaosang away and buy precious time to close the entrance.

"This move isn't incomplete at the beginning. Once you understand it and prepare by following the changes in the mental method, the Saber Intent will naturally surge forth." Meng Qi had recovered a little of his strength.

Qi Zhengyan knew little about techniques of this level, so he didn't ask further. Zhang Yuanshan, too, had failed to comprehend anything while "observing" the introductory True Intent Inheritance of the True Martial Seven Sections Scripture and the Taiji Divine Art. He could only practice from secret manuals recopied by the elders based on their own experience, and didn't really understand Saber Intent.

Only Jiang Zhiwei gave Meng Qi a knowing, half-smiling glance. When the other two weren't looking, she silently mouthed something.

Having fought closely alongside her, Meng Qi immediately understood what she meant:

"Let's spar!"

Before the stone wall, Gu Xiaosang gazed blankly at the closed entrance, then suddenly smiled with sly delight.

Then she turned and walked out of the woods. When she passed Du'er Cha, she flicked her Sleeve Robe, making sure he would never open his eyes again.

"Who exactly is Gu Xiaosang?" Meng Qi quickly changed the subject. He was very curious about her identity too.

Zhang Yuanshan replied gravely, "Do you know about the Nine Demonic Paths?"

"I do." Meng Qi had heard Xuan Xin mention them.

Zhang Yuanshan nodded. "Gu Xiaosang is the Saintess of the Luo Sect, one of the Nine Demonic Paths. It's a sect that worships the powerful Wusheng Laomu, who dominated the Mythological Era, and seeks to entice people into the 'Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' According to rumors spread by the Luo Sect, Gu Xiaosang is the current reincarnation of Wusheng Laomu."

"We know of her because she's made three appearances, defeating enemies above her level each time. She's also opened Eight Apertures, and is ranked fourth on the Human Ranking, with an impressive reputation," Jiang Zhiwei added.

"What's the Human Ranking? I think there are also Earth and Heaven Rankings?" Meng Qi had wanted to find out about them for a while, but hadn't had the chance.

Zhang Yuanshan smiled faintly. "They're rankings set up by the Great Jin Imperial Family to rank the world's experts and stir up their competitive spirit, pitting them against one another so they'll fight and weaken each other. The original rankings are kept at the Shendu Six Doors Headquarters."

"Everyone knows what the Zhao Clan is trying to do. But among those who roam the world, some might not love women, wealth, power, wine, or gambling. But aside from enlightened masters who are humble and open-minded, who doesn't care about fame? So everyone tacitly accepted the rankings, and plenty of rivalries sprang up in secret."

Jiang Zhiwei nodded. "The Heaven Ranking lists Dharma Body Masters. Since it was first created, it's had at most fourteen or fifteen names and at fewest only seven or eight. There are ten names on it now, and your Abbot ranks third. The Earth Ranking lists renowned experts below the Land Immortals. It includes only the top two hundred, mostly peerless figures at the seventh heavenly layer of the Exterior Scenery realm or above. My master is currently ranked first on it."

She sounded a little proud as she said this.

"The Human Ranking lists young experts. At the Orifice Opening stage, it's common to defeat opponents above your level, so even someone with nine Orifices might not rank near the top. The list currently has only fifty names," Zhang Yuanshan added.

Meng Qi was just about to ask Jiang Zhiwei whether she was on the Human Ranking when lines of gray text suddenly appeared on the wall:

"Great General Du'er Cha has died. Side Mission Two complete. Gu Xiaosang rewarded with two hundred Merit Points, Jiang Zhiwei rewarded with one hundred Merit Points, and Zhang Yuanshan rewarded with fifty Merit Points."

"Du'er Cha has died. Shaolin has fallen. Main Mission Two complete ahead of schedule. Each person is rewarded with one hundred Merit Points."

"Immediate Return."