35. A Battle of Acting

"Donor Ning, what a clever scheme!"

As if sharing a single mind, the three monks abandoned their heavy iron chains the moment Ben Chen finished speaking, each unleashing the Eagle Claw Technique, Prajna Zen Palm, and Patra Leaf Finger respectively.

Ning Qingyu, who had been leisurely just a moment ago, immediately felt the pressure. Deep down, he was already cursing; these three old monks were so formidable, yet they were still so cunningly cautious.

The three monks had always used the Vajra Subjugation Array to face their enemies, causing the outside world to overlook their true individual strength.

According to intelligence gathered by the Mount Hua Sect, all three were ordinary peak-level experts who had broken through using heavenly treasures, with combat power at the bottom of their realm. Coupled with their advanced age and declining health, their combat effectiveness was further discounted.

He had assumed that as long as he didn't give them the chance to deploy the Vajra Subjugation Array, dealing with these three old men shouldn't be a problem; he never expected this current situation.

Fortunately, the three were now aged, able to exert only seventy or eighty percent of their martial arts, otherwise, Ning Qingyu would have already been defeated.

Even so, Ning Qingyu was having a hard time. He could steadily win against any one of them alone, and had a chance of victory against two, but facing the siege of all three old men, he was struggling to parry.

The three coordinated too well, completely disregarding Ning Qingyu's counterattacks in a purely suicidal, life-for-life style of combat.

Facing such enemies, Ning Qingyu could only suffer in silence. If he didn't withdraw his moves to defend, he could indeed take one enemy down with him, but he would end up dead or severely wounded himself.

Seeing the attacks of the three becoming increasingly fierce—the overwhelming Prajna Zen Palm, the imposing Eagle Claw Technique, and the elusive Patra Leaf Finger—Ning Qingyu had no choice but to leap out of the combat circle.

"Stop!"

"Three Masters, according to our agreement, the Vajra Subjugation Array has been broken; there is no need for this duel to continue!"

He had to call a halt; the previous exchange had already caused his blood to surge. Had his Purple Mist Divine Skill not reached a profound level, he would have been injured by now.

Ben Chen smiled slightly, his benevolent and kind face immediately inviting goodwill. However, his next words made Ning Qingyu feel as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss.

"Donor Ning jests. We were merely testing each other just now; how can that be considered breaking the array?

As everyone knows, our Shaolin Vajra Subjugation Array can only be broken by force from within; any other method does not count."

Hearing this answer, Ning Qingyu, his face flushed with purple energy, was not surprised. When it came to thick-skinned shamelessness and the ability to lie, few in the martial arts world could compare to these monks.

"Since the Master says so, then this Ning can only risk his life to try. However, if we all perish here on Funiu Mountain, it is hard to say what might happen down the mountain.

But the Shaolin Temple has vast assets, so I suppose it shouldn't be a big problem. I hear Abbot Yuancong is exceptionally gifted and has mastered the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic, so he should be in no danger.

My Mount Hua Sect is the one in a miserable state. Junior Brother Feng is used to a life of wandering, the other junior brothers are incapable of taking on heavy responsibilities, and the 'Bu' generation disciples have yet to grow up..."

Accompanied by Ning Qingyu's sighing expression, those who didn't know better would truly think the sky was falling for the Mount Hua Sect.

As he spoke, the accompanying Elders Feng and Zhou appeared behind Ning Qingyu, their long swords already unsheathed without anyone noticing.

The three monks, who had previously held the upper hand, saw their expressions darken instantly. Flipping the table—this was exactly what they feared most.

Even if the Vajra Subjugation Array could not be used, it would not be difficult for the three of them to join forces to defeat Ning Qingyu, but to kill him would require paying a painful price.

If two peak first-rate Mount Hua elders were added to the mix, the risks they would have to bear would be even greater, and it might very well end in mutual destruction.

For the three monks in the twilight of their lives, death was not terrifying, but they had to consider the consequences it would bring.

Looking at Ning Qingyu's "fish dies, net splits" expression, it was clear he was prepared. If they were all left here and another bloody battle broke out down the mountain, the crisis facing the Mount Hua Sect would actually be resolved.

With an external enemy like the Shaolin Temple present, the Sword and Qi factions would very likely set aside their prejudices in the face of life and death. After all, with fewer disciples after a great war, the pressure on finances and resources would decrease, and conflicts would diminish.

Moreover, if a battle broke out down the mountain, the Guanzhong Martial Arts Alliance would be tied to the Mount Hua Sect's war chariot. Stained with each other's blood, the Guanzhong Martial Arts Alliance would have no choice but to follow the Mount Hua Sect and fight Shaolin to the end.

They might not be able to fight their way out, but they would likely be able to close their gates and maintain the current situation.

In that case, it would be Shaolin that faced the greater trouble. The Mount Hua Sect only had the barren Guanzhong region, which few major powers were interested in, but the Shaolin Temple had vast assets.

Without the three old men to hold the fort, and having suffered heavy losses in a battle down the mountain, all sorts of monsters and demons would likely emerge.

If, as Ning Qingyu threatened, something were to happen to Yuancong, the consequences would be even more severe.

The three exchanged glances, and Ben Chen stepped forward, sneering: "It seems the Great Sect Leader Ning is not prepared to fulfill the agreement. However, such threats cannot scare my fellow disciples and me.

My Shaolin Temple has been passed down for thousands of years; what great storms have we not weathered? Such minor troubles cannot stump us.

On the contrary, Sect Leader Ning, daring to scheme against my Shaolin Temple, is your Mount Hua Sect prepared to bear the consequences?"

Seeing this scene, the three from the Mount Hua Sect breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Anger was good; it meant they were equally wary. What they feared most was the monks remaining smiling and carefree, for that would have been the end of them.

"Master, you speak too severely. My Mount Hua Sect does not have the guts to provoke your temple, but others might not be so inclined—for instance, the one in the Imperial Palace!"

When mentioning the "Imperial Palace," Ning Qingyu deliberately emphasized his tone.

This was not a shot in the dark. Although there were many martial arts sects in the world, few were truly qualified to be feared by the imperial court.

Unlike ordinary martial arts sects, Shaolin had Buddhism behind it. Beyond their strength, what made them a target was the vast amount of temple property they had hidden.

In a feudal agricultural society, the most precious wealth was land. When the imperial court and the various martial arts sects made their agreements back then, each sect was strictly limited in the amount of tax-exempt land they could hold.

Except for the first few years when it was strictly enforced, this limit was soon broken as the court's deterrent power declined.

The Mount Hua Sect was no exception, having hidden over a hundred thousand acres of fertile, tax-free land. This was considered small, as the output of land in Guanzhong was limited, and the Mount Hua Sect hadn't put much effort into it.

Shaolin was different; what they held themselves, plus what was registered under their name by others, made them the largest landlords in the world.

The exact figure could no longer be calculated, but it was increasing every year. Constantly digging into someone else's foundation, it was inevitable that they would be targeted.

As if poked in a sore spot, Ben Chen said angrily: "Enough talk, let us see the truth in our hands!"