Seizing the Ranking (3)

Having said that, his figure vanished in an instant.

"Clang!"

The moment the Blood Demon Blade was fully unsheathed, Cui Wei's poisonous palm had already struck within three inches of Li Chen Zhou's face! Yet, Li Chen Zhou didn't dodge or evade; instead, Sanskrit characters of the Golden Bell Shield suddenly appeared around his throat—with a "clang," the poisonous palm was actually repelled, shattering all the finger bones!

"First mistake." Li Chen Zhou tilted the blade, severing Cui Wei's right arm at the shoulder. "You shouldn't have used poison; I hate underhanded tactics the most." Before the severed arm could even fall, the blade flashed again: "Second mistake..." This time, it was the left leg at the knee. "You shouldn't have mentioned the Heavenly Desire Palace."

As Cui Wei fell, the Blood Demon Blade was already against his throat.

A faint purple poisonous mist suddenly rose around the arena—this fellow was actually using poison while bleeding!

"Third mistake." As the Soul Absorption Art activated, all of Cui Wei's essence and blood flowed backward along the blade. "You shouldn't have played with poison in front of me." In the blink of an eye, the dignified Earth Ranking expert had turned into a dried corpse.

Ding—Gained 10 years of pure inner energy

Current inner energy cultivation: 145 years.

The Soul Absorption Art condensed in his right hand, gathering all the toxins in the air and on Cui Wei's body into his palm, forming a foul, greenish liquid, which Li Chen Zhou then slammed into the ground with a palm strike.

"Next." Li Chen Zhou shook off the remaining blood from the blade, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below. The Jianghu warriors all took three steps back in unison. At that moment, a bald man stepped forward.

"Amitabha, benefactor, your murderous intent is too heavy, and there are already signs of demonic influence. Why not follow me into the Shaolin pagoda, experience the teachings of Buddhism, and remove the demonic intent from your heart?"

"It's Xuan Ye, the chief disciple of the Shaolin Damo Academy, Little Vajra."

"Shaolin's skills should be immune to this evil art."

Li Chen Zhou glanced at Xuan Ye. "Oh? So you're a Shaolin master."

Xuan Ye put his palms together and bowed slightly. "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot. Benefactor, you also cultivate the Shaolin Golden Bell Shield masterpiece, so you must possess some Buddhist nature. Why not convert to my Buddhism?"

Li Chen Zhou's eyes were playful. "Convert to your Buddhism? Can you save me?"

Xuan Ye saw a glimmer of hope in his heart. "If benefactor is willing to give this monk a chance, this monk will naturally do his best."

The smile on Li Chen Zhou's face didn't diminish as he coldly said, "You haven't even become a Buddha yourself, so it's best not to mislead others."

Xuan Ye was unconvinced. "Although this monk's Buddhist teachings are limited, saving benefactor is more than enough."

Li Chen Zhou continued, "Then today, let's see the truth with our hands."

Xuan Ye waved his kasaya, and his name immediately appeared on the life-and-death contract. Then, he stepped into the air and flew onto the arena.

He took off his monk's robe, revealing his strong muscles.

"Then today, I will first compete with benefactor in unarmed combat."

"Amitabha, benefactor, your murderous intent is too heavy, and there are already signs of demonic influence." Xuan Ye, the chief disciple of the Shaolin Damo Academy, put his palms together, his voice like a booming bell, causing the eardrums of the Jianghu warriors around the arena to buzz. He was burly, with knotted muscles under his monk's robe. With each step he took, he left footprints an inch deep on the bluestone floor.

"Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."

Li Chen Zhou chuckled, the Blood Demon Blade pointing diagonally at the ground, the blood dripping from the blade etching wisps of green smoke into the bluestone.

"Since Master knows that I have practiced the Golden Bell Shield, he should understand—"

He suddenly closed the distance, the blade unmoved, and he was already within three feet of Xuan Ye!

"—I also have some understanding of Buddhist martial arts!"

"Bang!"

Xuan Ye didn't dodge or evade, crossing his arms to take Li Chen Zhou's whip kick head-on. The force exploded, shattering all the copper bells on the four corners of the arena!

"What an Indestructible Body!" A hint of surprise flashed in Li Chen Zhou's eyes, then he sneered. "Unfortunately, you've only practiced 'Golden Bell Body Protection,' while I—"

He formed his fingers into claws, suddenly grabbing towards Xuan Ye's throat!

"—cultivate 'Flawless and Leakless'!"

Xuan Ye's expression changed drastically, and he retreated three steps, but five bloody marks were still torn into his throat. He looked down at the bleeding wound, his pupils contracting—the Golden Bell Shield had actually been broken?

The crowd below was in an uproar!

"Shaolin's Indestructible Body... has been broken?!"

"Is Li Chen Zhou's Golden Bell Shield even stronger than the Damo Academy's chief disciple?!"

Xuan Ye took a deep breath, put his palms together, and a faint golden Buddha light suddenly appeared around him.

"Since benefactor is proficient in Buddhist martial arts, you should know the 'Arhat Demon Subduing Force'—"

He suddenly opened his eyes, and the golden light in his eyes surged!

"—please enlighten me!"

"Boom!"

With a punch, the air exploded! Li Chen Zhou didn't dodge or evade, meeting it with a punch of his own—

"Bang—!"

The two punches collided, the shockwave exploding, and the bluestone floor in the center of the arena shattered inch by inch!

Xuan Ye groaned, retreating seven steps, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth. But Li Chen Zhou... didn't move an inch.

"Your Demon Subduing Force is not strong enough." Li Chen Zhou shook his wrist, the scarlet in his eyes gradually intensifying. "How about... trying my 'Avici Path'?"

Xuan Ye's expression was solemn as he slowly adopted one of Shaolin's seventy-two ultimate techniques—"Great Stele Shattering Hand!"

Li Chen Zhou laughed wildly, sheathing the Blood Demon Blade. He clenched his fists, producing a metallic clang!

"Come! Let me see if Shaolin's millennium of martial arts can save this 'demon' in me!"

"Great Stele Shattering Hand!"

Xuan Ye slammed his palms together, a surge of Buddhist light erupting from his palms, condensing into a golden palm print in the air. It crashed down on Li Chen Zhou like Mount Tai bearing down!

The crimson in Li Chen Zhou's eyes intensified, but a cold smile crept onto his lips.

"Avici Path First Style—Severing Reincarnation!"

His right fist suddenly clenched, a surge of bloody mist swirling around him. A ghastly demon mask materialized on his fist!

"Boom—!"

Fist and palm collided, and a shockwave exploded!

Xuan Ye's golden palm print shattered inch by inch, but Li Chen Zhou's fist didn't lose any momentum. It carried a chilling ghostly aura, heading straight for Xuan Ye's chest!

"Puh—!"

Xuan Ye spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward, crashing heavily against the edge of the arena. He barely managed to prop himself up, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"You… your Avici Path has actually reached the Great Completion realm?!"

Li Chen Zhou slowly retracted his fist, the bloody mist around him gradually dissipating. He sneered, "Now, do you still think you can save me?"

Xuan Ye gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled out a simple, ancient Buddhist bead from his chest, crushing it!

"Om—!"

The moment the bead shattered, a grand Buddhist light soared into the sky, condensing into a phantom image of a Buddha in mid-air!

"Shaolin Secret Art—'Buddha Subduing Seal'?!" Someone in the audience exclaimed.

Li Chen Zhou narrowed his eyes, finally revealing a hint of seriousness.

"Benefactor, this seal was left behind by Shaolin's founder, specifically designed to counter demons and heretics." Xuan Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his hands clasped together. "Today, I will use this seal to guide you into Buddhism!"

The phantom Buddha slowly raised its hand, and a golden Buddhist light poured down like a celestial river, pressing down directly on Li Chen Zhou's head!

Li Chen Zhou took a deep breath and suddenly closed his eyes.

"You think… you're the only one with trump cards?"

He abruptly opened his eyes, his pupils turning completely blood-red!

"Three Abyssal Slashes—Avici Hell!"

"Boom—!"

Centered on Li Chen Zhou, the air within a ten-zhang radius suddenly twisted, and the scenery of Avici Hell directly appeared around him. Those with weaker mental fortitude were already shaken by this artistic conception.

"This… this is impossible!" Xuan Ye paled in horror. "How could this be? How could this be!"

Li Chen Zhou grinned hideously, unleashing a slash. Wherever it passed, it was like a human purgatory, and at the moment of impact, the entire phantom Buddha began to crumble inch by inch!

"Buddha can't save me—"

He took a step forward, his figure appearing before Xuan Ye like a ghost, his five fingers gripping the top of his head!

"—better let me save you!"

"Soul Absorption Art—Full Power!"

"Ah—!"

Xuan Ye let out a shrill scream, his Buddhist inner power flowing into Li Chen Zhou's body like a flood from a broken dam!

Ding—Gained 12 years of pure inner power cultivation

Current inner power cultivation: 157 years.