Chapter 880: [Meridians Reversed] (Lower)

Yuan Kong's internal energy was incredibly rich and abundant; when Hu Xiaotian first drew his energy, Yuan Kong had always resisted him, but this time he could not resist at all. His energy surged wildly into Hu Xiaotian's meridians, turbulent and unstoppable. Hu Xiaotian's meridians rapidly expanded, and his Dantian Qi Sea swelled violently from the influx of internal breath. To counter this powerful influx, the vortex in his Dantian could only spin frantically, reaching its limit. The heat generated by the high-speed rotation caused his Dantian to swell further, his lower abdomen feeling as if being twisted by a knife, like a blazing flame burning him, threatening to reduce him to ashes, as if an overinflated leather ball about to burst.

Yuan Kong, however, suffered another kind of agony: his internal power was being frantically drained by the other party. Although he wanted to struggle, his body was no longer under his own conscious control.

This state lasted about half an hour. Hu Xiaotian raised his head and let out a loud roar; the river water around him exploded upward, forming towering water columns. Yuan Kong's body, like a kite with its string cut, flew away and slammed heavily into the stone cave wall, then fell to the ground.

Hu Xiaotian, like a madman, kept pounding his own abdomen to ease the excruciating pain from his Dantian, but still could not dispel the inner anguish. He suddenly leapt up from the river's center and slammed his body into the rock wall. This pain, as if his body and mind were about to split, was worse than death. Dust flew, debris scattered.

Yuan Kong spat blood, sitting on the muddy ground, his eyes vacant as he watched Hu Xiaotian's frantic movements. The martial arts he had cultivated for a lifetime were instantly sucked dry by Hu Xiaotian, leaving nothing to describe his present despondency and dejection. Yet Hu Xiaotian's condition was no better: he had not only absorbed Yuan Kong's lifelong energy but also the energy Yuan Kong had previously taken from others. Although Yuan Kong's martial cultivation had not broken through to the innate realm, in terms of internal energy strength, none under heaven could surpass him. Such a vast amount of internal energy was beyond even his own control, let alone a young man like Hu Xiaotian.

Yuan Kong sighed darkly, what a waste of heaven's bounty; Hu Xiaotian was likely to die from ruptured meridians. After another impact against the rock wall, Hu Xiaotian was drenched in blood, lay flat on the ground, motionless.

Yuan Kong trembled as he rose, staggering toward Hu Xiaotian. By now he had become a dying old man; even walking was difficult.

Hu Xiaotian's face was covered in blood, a horrifying sight. Yuan Kong reached out to check his breath and found Hu Xiaotian already lifeless. This bastard finally died, Yuan Kong gritted his teeth in extreme unwillingness. He placed his palm on Hu Xiaotian's crown, exerted a little force, and felt his Dantian like a knife twist, the meridians already shattered. Even if Hu Xiaotian were still alive, Yuan Kong lacked the ability to draw his internal energy.

Yuan Kong faced reality; his spiritual pillar collapsed instantly. He plopped down beside Hu Xiaotian and muttered, "How vicious you are, committing such a harmful act that benefits no one; you will never be reborn." Yuan Kong was inherently extremely selfish; now his nature was fully exposed. His eyes fell on the dagger Hu Xiaotian had dropped; he gritted his teeth, seized the dagger, recalling that his downfall was entirely due to Hu Xiaotian. Hatred surged uncontrollably; he raised the dagger and stabbed toward Hu Xiaotian's chest: "I will leave you without a whole corpse!"

Yuan Kong's internal energy had been completely drained by Hu Xiaotian; this thrust carried no force, the dagger merely pierced Hu Xiaotian's skin.

Yuan Kong hated him even more: if not for Hu Xiaotian, how could he have become such a cripple? He raised the dagger with both hands and thrust again with all his might at Hu Xiaotian's heart. This strike was far stronger than the previous one; as soon as it touched Hu Xiaotian's chest, a powerful rebound force erupted, sending Yuan Kong flying several zhang to crash again into the rock wall, blood gushing from his mouth. Only then did he realize Hu Xiaotian was not dead.

Had it not been for Yuan Kong's two stabs, Hu Xiaotian would not have awakened so quickly. When faced with external danger, his internal energy surged forth instinctively. He opened his eyes again, feeling a sense of fullness from within his muscles. He raised his hands and saw his skin intact, un torn. His mind was restless, with an urgent urge to vent.

Yuan Kong had already been drained of his internal energy by Hu Xiaotian, and after being flung away just now, he was on the verge of death, mouth open, gazing at Hu Xiaotian with a bitter smile.

Hu Xiaotian stepped toward him, eyes locked on Yuan Kong, killing intent fierce, like a demon reborn, gritted his teeth and said, "You bald thief, dare to harm me!" He grabbed Yuan Kong's neck with a large hand, clamping it like an iron hoop.

Yuan Kong's face was ashen; he never imagined he would die at the hands of the Void Great Law.

Not far off, a chanting voice drifted over.

Hu Xiaotian frowned, looked toward the sound. The chant came from inside the cave; though not loud, each word was clear to his ears, as if a small hammer kept striking his Dantian Qi Sea, causing his blood and qi to surge. He suddenly released Yuan Kong, clutched his head in pain, let out a miserable cry, and collapsed flat.

Yuan Kong stared toward the cave entrance, trembling, and said, "Uncle-master… is that you?"

The chanting ceased abruptly.

Yuan Kong fell to his knees with a thud, pleading, "Uncle-master, save me… Uncle-master…" Before he could finish, an invisible force seized his body and gently pulled him into the cave.

When Hu Xiaotian awoke again, he found himself lying on a soft grassy slope, sunshine warm and pleasant, his monk's robe torn in many places, ragged, with no one around except occasional bird calls. He heard water, felt his throat parched as if about to smoke, staggered to his feet, followed the sound of water, and before long saw a small stream. He plunged into the stream, cupping water and gulping it down.

Once his thirst subsided, Hu Xiaotian noticed his surroundings: upstream stood a group of people—his own guards, their leader being Zuo Tang.

The guards were also surprised to see Hu Xiaotian; he had been missing a day and night, just as he had guessed: they had already reported to the Emperor that he could not endure the temple's austerity and had fled. Though the excuse was flimsy, they would not miss the chance to slander him.

Hu Xiaotian now looked very disheveled, his body covered in wounds, his monk's robe torn in many large holes exposing skin. Although he usually disliked these guards, after enduring a life‑and‑death ordeal, seeing these fellows made him feel somewhat better toward them. He waved and said, "Why are you all standing there like idiots? Come over quickly."

Regardless, he was still alive; other matters were unimportant.

The six guards approached together; Zuo Tang smiled and said, "Commander Sir, where have you been? We've been searching everywhere for you!"

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "It's a long story. Take off your monk's robe and give it to me; I can't be seen in these clothes."

Zuo Tang replied, "Yes!" He gave a subtle glance to a companion beside him; the guard standing behind Hu Xiaotian suddenly raised his palm and struck hard at the right side of Hu Xiaotian's neck, trying to knock him out in one blow.

Hu Xiaotian staggered, not expecting his own subordinates to dare attack him. Seeing Hu Xiaotian not fall, two guards rushed from left and right, seized his arms. Zuo Tang said, "Tie him up—he defied the imperial order, fled privately; take him to the Emperor for punishment."

Hu Xiaotian felt a violent qi surge from his Dantian Qi Sea, his mind turning angry and restless, his gaze icy with killing intent as he looked at the guards: "You dare to rebel against your superiors?"

Zuo Tang chuckled, "What rebellion? You act like a top‑ranking official; disobeying the Emperor's orders and abandoning your post is already a grave crime. We are merely following the imperial edict to arrest you and question your guilt." The two guards tried to twist Hu Xiaotian's arms behind his back, but could not move them at all.

Hu Xiaotian felt the violent qi in his chest could no longer be suppressed; he shook his arm sharply, sending the two guards flying—one crashed heavily into the stream, the other flew straight onto a large tree.

Zuo Tang had not yet reacted when Hu Xiaotian seized his wrists and feet, lifted him high, aimed at the boulder ahead, intending to slam him to death.

At that moment, a voice called out the Buddha's name: "Amitabha! Spare his life, benefactor!"

Hu Xiaotian's cold gaze followed the sound; he saw more than ten monks approaching, their leader being the Precepts Institute's Enforcement Elder Tong Ji. In Heavenly Dragon Temple, Tong Ji ranks just below the Abbot Tong Yuan.

Had it not been for the fact that Tong Ji happened to witness the earlier scene and shouted in time to stop it, Zuo Tang would likely have been slammed to death on the rocks by Hu Xiaotian. Though only a moment, Zuo Tang had brushed with death, truly experiencing Hu Xiaotian's terror. Before Hu Xiaotian, he had no means to retaliate; when Hu Xiaotian lifted him, Zuo Tang already knew his fate was sealed. Hu Xiaotian's killing intent was too fierce; if they knew his strength was unfathomable, even borrowing a leopard's courage would not make them dare provoke him.

Hearing the Buddha's name, Hu Xiaotian recalled the scene in Split Cloud Valley where the chanting had caused him to faint; the events of the previous night gradually became clear. He forcibly suppressed the violent qi in his chest and slowly lowered Zuo Tang to the ground.

Zuo Tang stood before him, his chubby face as pale as paper, devoid of any color.

Hu Xiaotian's frosty face suddenly showed a hint of a smile; to Zuo Tang it looked hideously terrifying. Hu Xiaotian reached out and lightly patted Zuo Tang's chubby cheek twice: "Just a joke, don't take it to heart." (To be continued~^~)