Defeating Jumozhi

After all, the Six Meridians Divine Sword was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate. Even Master Kurong and the others could barely cultivate a single meridian each.

Even if Jumozhi obtained the scrolls of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, he might not be able to master it.

Moreover, Jumozhi had offered to let Heavenly Dragon Temple retain a copy of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, so the temple would not have to worry about the art being lost.

"Martial Uncle, the Wisdom King has come from afar, and his intentions seem most sincere."

Abbot Benyin could not help asking Master Kurong, "How should we respond? Please instruct us, Martial Uncle."

Master Kurong did not answer Abbot Benyin directly. Instead, he asked expressionlessly, "Benyin, what grade have you reached in your cultivation of the One Yang Finger?"

"This disciple is dull-witted and has failed to advance diligently. I have only reached the fourth grade."

Master Kurong asked again, "Then how do you think the Dali Duan Clan's One Yang Finger compares with Shaolin's Flower-Plucking Finger, Tala Leaf Finger, and Formless Calamity Finger? Which is stronger, and which is weaker?"

"There is no superiority or inferiority between the finger techniques, only between the practitioners' cultivation."

"Precisely!"

Master Kurong nodded slightly. "If you lived another hundred years, would you be confident of cultivating the One Yang Finger to the first grade?"

"..."

Abbot Benyin fell silent for a moment, then shook his head in embarrassment. "This disciple would not be confident."

"Since you have no confidence in cultivating the One Yang Finger to its highest realm even by the time you die, is there any need to covet Shaolin's finger techniques?"

"Your admonition is right, Martial Uncle."

At these words, Abbot Benyin's face filled with shame. He rose and bowed to Jumozhi. "My martial uncle has not received outside visitors for over a decade. Only because you are an eminent monk of our age, Wisdom King, did he make an exception.

It is getting late now. Please come with me for a vegetarian meal, Wisdom King!"

"The ruler of our Tubo Kingdom has long admired the customs and culture of the Dali Kingdom. He has long wished to meet your ruler for a hunt in Dali."

Jumozhi showed no intention of rising. Instead, he shook his head. "But this humble monk believed such an undertaking would inevitably cost many lives and go greatly against our Buddha's compassionate intent. For years, I have done everything in my power to dissuade him.

Today, this humble monk came with the utmost sincerity, yet your temple refuses to show me the slightest consideration. This can hardly avoid harming the harmony between Heavenly Dragon Temple and Great Wheel Temple, as well as relations between the Dali Kingdom and the Tubo Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun, who was sitting in the rear hall, looked somewhat grim.

The Dali Kingdom's overall strength was far inferior to that of the Tubo Kingdom. If war truly broke out between them, Dali would certainly suffer.

But if Heavenly Dragon Temple obediently handed over the Six Meridians Divine Sword at a mere threat from Jumozhi, would that not make the Dali Kingdom look far too weak?

"Wisdom King, since you have mastered Shaolin's Seventy-Two Supreme Arts and are also proficient in the martial arts of Great Snow Mountain Great Wheel Temple, presumably you have no equal in this world."

Master Kurong snorted coldly. "Then why not let us use the Six Meridians Divine Sword to exchange a few moves with you?

If you can defeat us, Wisdom King, that will prove the Six Meridians Divine Sword is nothing extraordinary.

After that, provided you also defeat the scripture keeper, Heavenly Dragon Temple will offer you the Six Meridians Divine Sword with both hands. What do you say?"

The scripture keeper? Who is this scripture keeper? Could he be even stronger than these old fellows? As expected of Dali's royal temple, Heavenly Dragon Temple truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

After grumbling inwardly, Jumozhi bowed slightly. "For such eminent monks to display this supreme sword art will truly open this humble monk's eyes today. What greater fortune could I ask for?"

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

Soon, the sounds of fierce combat rang out in Muni Hall, only to subside shortly afterward.

"Amitabha..."

Master Kurong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and pressed his palms together. "The Flame Blade you just used, Wisdom King, achieves the same wondrous effect as the Six Meridians Divine Sword through different means. We have lost this battle.

Now, provided you also defeat the scripture keeper, this old monk will offer you the sword manual of the Six Meridians Divine Sword with both hands."

"Then please summon the scripture keeper, Master Kurong!"

"Benefactor Nalan, sorry for the trouble."

"Rrrip-"

No sooner had Master Kurong finished speaking than a streak of blue-white lightning flashed through Muni Hall. Nalan Sheng, dressed in a fitted black martial outfit, appeared before them as though he had teleported.

"Watch yourself, Wisdom King! Benlei Palm!"

Nalan Sheng wasted no words and thrust his palm toward Jumozhi from a distance.

Lightning flashed in Nalan Sheng's palm. A blue-white palm imprint, the size of a washbasin and formed entirely from lightning, shot toward Jumozhi with the speed of thunder striking before one could cover one's ears. Jumozhi's expression changed sharply.

Jumozhi instinctively tried to dodge, but the blue-white palm imprint was simply too fast. Before he could employ his lightness skill, it struck him.

"Boom!!!"

With a deafening roar, Jumozhi, who had just fought five opponents single-handedly with insufferable arrogance, was blasted straight out of Muni Hall by a single palm strike.

The corners of Master Kurong's and the others' mouths twitched at the sight. They had not expected Nalan Sheng to be so powerful, and they genuinely feared that he might have killed Jumozhi with that one slap.

Fortunately, Jumozhi was formidable in his own right, and Nalan Sheng had held back, so he soon climbed to his feet again.

However, Jumozhi now looked utterly bedraggled. Not only were his clothes in tatters, but his hands and face were blackened, as though he had been struck by lightning.

"B-benefactor, your martial prowess has reached unfathomable heights. This humble monk concedes his inferiority."

Jumozhi forcibly swallowed the blood rising in his throat and bowed slightly to Nalan Sheng. "I have caused your temple considerable trouble today. Please accept these three finger-technique manuals as this humble monk's apology. I shall take my leave."

Having nearly been killed by a single slap from Nalan Sheng, Jumozhi dared not linger at Heavenly Dragon Temple. He hurried away with his servants, slinking off in disgrace.

As they gazed at the three finger-technique manuals Jumozhi had left behind, a gleam involuntarily flashed in the eyes of Abbot Benyin and the others.

Although Master Kurong's guidance had dispelled their greed for those finger techniques, using them as references to cross-check their understanding of the One Yang Finger would still be highly beneficial.

Master Kurong was no hidebound pedant either. Since Jumozhi had voluntarily left the three finger-technique manuals as an apology, he would not destroy them.

As Nalan Sheng had rendered a great service in this battle, Master Kurong first had copies made of the finger-technique manuals, then passed the originals to Nalan Sheng as a token of thanks.

Nalan Sheng made no show of declining. After accepting the finger-technique manuals and exchanging a few pleasantries with Master Kurong and the others, he took the two women down the mountain with Duan Zhengchun.

After Nalan Sheng and his companions left, Master Kurong once again went into

seclusion to cultivate.

Without Master Kurong's restraint, Abbot Benyin and the others eagerly began studying the three finger-technique manuals.

While Abbot Benyin and the others were absorbed in studying the finger-technique manuals, the Shadow Ninja silently slipped into Heavenly Dragon Temple's library and stole the sword manual of the Six Meridians Divine Sword without anyone being the wiser.