Chapter 151: A Ruthless Hand Under the Eyes of the Multitude

Looking at the overbearing Changpu on the stage, Lianqiao was stunned in astonishment.

How could this be the gentle, quiet woman she knew? This was clearly...

Clearly...

Clearly no different from those brothel madams rumored in the streets!

How did she become like this!? If this were to spread and others found out, wouldn't it ruin the Shi Family's reputation? It might even implicate their Huang Family. Her second brother and second sister-in-law were deeply in love, and her sister in the palace was in high favor with the Emperor; if they were affected, she feared that...

Lianqiao dared not think further and hurriedly stood up, preparing to fly onto the stage, but Lingxiang grabbed her.

"If you want to reason with her, why not do me a favor along the way?" As she spoke, Lingxiang pulled two Yellow Talismans from her bosom. "I heard your dharma treasure is a mirror, and its Mirror Flower Water Moon technique is particularly formidable. Why don't you take this opportunity to help me attach these two talismans to the stage?"

Lianqiao was filled with doubt and hurriedly asked Lingxiang for her intent.

"You must feel that the person on the stage is somewhat different from usual. As the saying goes, when things are abnormal, there must be a demon. Don't you want to know what happened to her?"

"You mean..."

Lingxiang smiled slightly at Lianqiao without speaking, merely pushing the spiritual talismans in her hand forward: "You can just casually toss these talismans onto the Yanwu Stage; as soon as they touch the ground, they will form a Dharma Array that others will certainly be unable to see. If you want to save her, just do as I say."

Hearing this, Lianqiao took the Yellow Talismans from Lingxiang's hand and stared at them for a long time.

"Can this really save her?"

"Naturally." Lingxiang smiled radiantly, then turned her back to look at the Yanwu Stage, taking out a Pine Cone to peel.

At this moment, Changpu on the stage happened to look at her. Their eyes met for a moment, and she pointed at Maidong on the Wangxian Terrace and said:

"I wondered how formidable the Yuanqing Sect was, but it's nothing special. Don't use newly promoted disciples to spar with me anymore; I think that person is a decent opponent."

Lingxiang whipped Guihua incessantly. The bamboo pole carried a fierce wind, whistling as she swung it, and the emerald green of the bamboo seemed to glow with fluorescence. Others might find it quite beautiful to watch, but to Guihua, who was being struck, it was exceptionally piercing to the eyes.

Lingxiang did not stop, striking eleven times in succession. Guihua wailed endlessly, and the Kunwu Sect disciples below the stage were instantly incensed.

For a disciple of the Yuanqing Sect to humiliate a Kunwu Sect disciple right in front of them—did they think the Kunwu Sect had no one left!?

Just as they were about to fly up to intervene, two figures suddenly blocked their path. They were none other than Long Qi and Xin Yi.

"If you want to save her, then watch carefully!" Long Qi roared in a deep voice.

The crowd was greatly bewildered. It was clearly Changpu on the stage being beaten until she howled like a ghost; how could this be called saving her?

Shaoyuan hurriedly stepped forward to ask the reason, and Xin Yi glanced at him and replied: "Have you all not discovered the abnormality? You are all members of the Daoist Sect; although what you study is the Exorcism, even so, you should know the saying that when things are abnormal, there must be a demon."

Shaoyuan lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He had to admit that what Xin Yi said made perfect sense, but even so, there was no reason to pin someone on the stage and whip them in public, was there?

Daoist Xuan Tan was also unable to sit still. Changpu was, after all, his own disciple. To be humiliated like this—how could he, as her master, sit by and do nothing?

Beside him, Qianyuan Zhenren smiled and once again reached out to stop Daoist Xuan Tan from rising.

"Fellow Daoist, do you not trust the Exorcism Method of my Yuanqing Sect?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chengxin Zhenren chimed in from the side: "Brother Qianyuan, what a thing to say. Surely Daoist Xuan Tan trusts it, otherwise he wouldn't have specifically sought out Yuanqing, would he?"

Daoist Xuan Tan was startled upon hearing this and turned to look at Qianyuan Zhenren: "Fellow Daoist, could it be that you know the true purpose of our visit?"

Qianyuan Zhenren merely smiled, patted Daoist Xuan Tan's hand, and said nothing, signaling him to just sit still.

Daoist Xuan Tan was half-doubting, his heart agitated by the shrill screams from below the stage, but looking at Qianyuan Zhenren, he seemed to have everything under control.

"That girl on the stage..."

"That is the true Fucang Elder of our Yuanqing Sect." Maidong stood up at this moment and bowed to Daoist Xuan Tan. "And I am a disciple of the Yuanqing Punishment Elder, Fuyin Zhenren."

As he spoke, he told Daoist Xuan Tan the whole story of the plan Lingxiang had devised. Daoist Xuan Tan was greatly astonished. Firstly, he had not expected that Lingxiang, at such a young age, could have such schemes, planning these matters without a single flaw. Secondly, he was surprised that Maidong could deceive him right to his face.

Could it be that he was getting old and increasingly unable to judge people?

He suddenly thought of the look Lingxiang had given him earlier at the Yuanqing Sect Deliberation Hall. Thinking about it now, it was likely not a provocation, but a way of telling him that she knew the whole story.

Seen in this light, given her status, even if it were a provocation, it would be more than enough.

It was just that...

This method of exorcism was perhaps a bit too...

A bit too brutal...

Daoist Xuan Tan thought this, turned his head away, and did not look at the stage. Shaoyuan looked up at the Wangxian Terrace and, seeing his master like this, knew he must be aware of the inside story. After a moment of consideration, he blocked his fellow disciples and said:

"This is a spar, and Changpu on the Yanwu Stage has not yet expressed an intention to concede. Even if she were beaten to death on the stage, it would be reasonable. Conversely, if we were to go up, it would be against the rules."

The disciples were shocked. Usually, Shaoyuan showed great care for Changpu, and everyone in the sect knew his feelings for her. Now that Changpu was being beaten on the stage, how could Shaoyuan have the heart to say such things?

Shaoyuan was naturally heartbroken, but he had heard what Xin Yi said clearly just now. Changpu had indeed been acting strangely lately, but he had never suspected anything else. Now that he thought about it, she must have been bewitched to become like this.

It might truly be as Long Qi said: the person on the stage was saving Changpu.

Shaoyuan looked at Changpu, who was being beaten and wailing incessantly on the stage, and gritted his teeth as he turned his head away.

"Rules are rules. Unless Junior Sister Changpu speaks to concede, there is no reason to go up and stop it."

And Guihua on the stage seemed to hear what Shaoyuan said, for she actually began to speak, though not to beg for mercy, but to shout at Daoist Xuan Tan on the Wangxian Terrace:

"Master! Save me!"

Daoist Xuan Tan stood up immediately upon hearing this, but this time Qianyuan Zhenren did not reach out to stop him. However, Daoist Xuan Tan only took a few steps before retreating back to his seat.

Seeing this, Guihua wailed and shouted: "Master! I am your direct disciple! To be humiliated like this is to slap you in the face! Are you just going to sit by and do nothing? The Yuanqing Sect is clearly bullying us because they think the Kunwu Sect has no one left!!"

Once these words were spoken, it was as if a stone had stirred up a thousand ripples. The Kunwu Sect disciples below the stage were instantly agitated, some even making moves as if to go up and teach Lingxiang a lesson.

"Exactly! It's just a spar! For your Yuanqing Sect to treat our disciple like this in front of us, do you look down on us?!"

"Sparring should stop at the appropriate point! You are beating her like this—do you want her life!?"

The crowd below was blocked by Long Qi and Xin Yi and could not get forward, so they could only shout like this. Some even wanted to fight Long Qi and the other, but were stopped by Shaoyuan from the side.

"Why has Senior Brother Shaoyuan become so cowardly? No matter how powerful the Yuanqing Sect is, they shouldn't go this far. It's clearly bullying! They've let people bully us to our faces, and we're just supposed to watch?!"

Even the Yuanqing Sect disciples, seeing this scene on the stage, could not help but feel that Fucang Elder might have gone a bit too far, but as disciples of the Yuanqing Sect, it was truly difficult for them to criticize.

Lianqiao rested for a moment and recovered some strength. Earlier, her internal Qi had been disordered by Changpu's palm strike; fortunately, Fucang Elder had applied the Silver Needle in time and given her a Pill, so she was much better now, but...

Just watching Lingxiang act this way on the stage, even she truly felt it was a bit excessive.

Just as Lianqiao struggled and wanted to get up, Banxia pressed her down with a firm grip.

"Although I haven't known Fucang Elder for long, I believe she is definitely not such a violent person. She has always had her own calculations in doing things; why must you interfere so much? Have you forgotten the palm strike Changpu dealt you just now? That was clearly meant to take your life."

"But..." Lianqiao was still unwilling to give up, but Banxia did not let go.

"If you cannot trust Fucang Elder, can you not even trust me?"

Lianqiao couldn't help but be stunned; she truly didn't know what this Fucang Elder had done to make Banxia trust her so implicitly.

On the stage, Lingxiang heard what Guihua said and gave a soft laugh. She bent down, leaned close to the immobilized Guihua, and said, "I didn't expect you to have such backbone, actually still able to be so sharp-tongued. You have truly mastered the art of sowing discord!"

"It seems..."

Lingxiang held the glowing green bamboo in one hand and stroked the bamboo leaves on it with the other, drawing out her tone without continuing. Guihua couldn't help but shudder, but since her body could not move, she could only glare fiercely at Lingxiang.

"What do you want?!"

Lingxiang smiled and took a step back: "It seems you haven't been beaten enough."

Once she finished speaking, Lingxiang raised the bamboo pole in her hand high and struck down fiercely. This strike was followed by eleven more.

It was now late spring, and everyone had long since shed their thick clothes and heavy garments. The sound of Lingxiang's strikes against flesh and skin was particularly loud, making the Kunwu Sect members under the stage feel both shocked and angry. Some even broke away from Shaoyuan's obstruction and started fighting with Long Qi.

The fighting under the stage was intense, but Lingxiang on the stage seemed completely indifferent, only asking Changpu, who was lying on the ground: "Do you have anything else to say?"

Although Guihua was weak, she still glared viciously at Lingxiang: "Hmph! Little demoness, if one day you fall into my hands, I will surely make you wish you were dead!"

Yet she truly did not know why, despite it being just a bamboo pole, the woman before her could strike in a way that caused such unbearable pain. Hearing this, Lingxiang gave a scoff: "Whether I will fall into your hands is a matter for later, but you are in my hands now. Since I will be treated that way by you in the future, I might as well let myself have my fill of beating you now."

Once she finished speaking, another eleven strikes were dealt.

The Kunwu Sect disciples under the stage were beyond furious, and even foul language was shouted out. However, at this very moment, a faint voice was heard.

"Save... save me... please... save me..."

It was Changpu, whose breathing was now weak! But she was not speaking to the Xuantan Daoist on the Yanwu Stage, but rather begging Lingxiang in this manner!

Hearing this, Lingxiang narrowed her eyes and asked: "Do you know who you are?"

"I... I am the second daughter of the Shi Family of the Xiangtan Exorcist Family... a disciple under the seat of Xuantan Daoist of the Kunwu Sect... I was locked up... here... it is so scary here... save me..."

Hearing Changpu say this, Lingxiang knew the time was ripe. She immediately raised the green bamboo in her hand and pulled it with force. The bamboo pole actually separated at the bamboo node. Not until Lingxiang completely separated it did everyone see clearly that it was actually a Bamboo Sword!

However, the blade was not made of iron, but a piece of somewhat yellowed bamboo, whittled into the shape of a sword; it looked to be the same size as a real sword.

"Since you want me to save you, you must surely know there is something unclean on you. But if you want me to save you, you cannot avoid suffering some pain; you must endure it." Lingxiang said, pointing the sword at Changpu.

Upon hearing this, Changpu nodded and closed her eyes. As tears dripped from the corners of her eyes, she felt a sharp pain in her collarbone.

The crowd under the stage was also stunned; Lingxiang had actually pierced through Changpu's throat with one sword strike!

Xuantan Daoist rose from his seat in shock and was about to fly toward the Yanwu Stage, but he did not expect Chengxin Zhenren to reach out and stop him.

"Fellow Daoist! That Fucang Elder has stabbed my disciple like this, do you still expect me to stand by and watch!?"

Chengxin Zhenren gave a calm smile and pointed at the Bamboo Sword in Lingxiang's hand: "Fellow Daoist, you are truly blinded by concern. Look at that sword—is there any blood seeping out?"

Xuantan Daoist looked carefully as he heard this; there was not even a trace of blood on the sword that had pierced Changpu's neck.

"This... why is this..."

Just then, Lingxiang suddenly pinched a hand seal, and the sound of her Dharma Technique was deafening. Her robes fluttered, her brows were tightly furrowed, and her gaze was sharp; the playful look she usually wore was completely gone:

"Heaven and Earth are natural, the foul Qi disperses. The void within the cave, the bright Grand Origin.

The mighty spirits of the eight directions, make me natural. The Spirit Treasure talisman command, proclaim to the nine heavens."

As soon as Lingxiang chanted the Dharma Technique, everyone immediately focused their eyes on the Yanwu Stage. They saw that as Lingxiang chanted, a faint blue light began to emanate from her body!

"Qianluo Dana, the cave's essence is Grand Profound. Slay demons and bind evil, save ten thousand people.

Zhongshan Divine Incantation, Original Jade Text. Recite it once, dispel illness and prolong life."

Lingxiang did not stop chanting the Dharma Technique, and the blue light on her body began to change slowly. She then rose into the air; although there was no wind, her skirt fluttered even more elegantly, making Lingxiang look like an immortal.

"Follow the path of the five mountains, the eight seas know and hear. The demon kings are bound, guarding my carriage. The fierce filth dissipates, the Dao Qi remains forever!"

Following the shout of "Jiji Ru Lüling," the Bamboo Sword glowed with golden light, and then this golden light enveloped Changpu's entire body.

"Within the three realms, only the Dao is supreme; uphold it ten thousand times and the body shall have light!" Lingxiang gave a long shout, then pulled the Bamboo Sword out abruptly. A flash of golden light appeared, and there was not even a trace of a wound on Changpu's body; even the blue and purple patches seen earlier had now disappeared.

Under the Yanwu Stage, everyone was shocked. Lingxiang's appearance just now was like a celestial maiden descending to earth, and for a moment, they were all mesmerized.

Long Qi was also unable to recover his senses. This was truly the first time he had seen Lingxiang like this. Previously at Youran Abode, he had always thought Lingxiang was the kind of Daoist who cheated people out of food and drink. Seeing her like this today, he realized she was truly helping people dispel disasters and resolve difficulties.

This image was imprinted into his heart, and even many years later, he remembered it clearly.

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