Chapter 396: Sarira, Heavenly Demon Hand, as if heaven-bestowed, sword slays the flood dragon

【"Heaven has the virtue of loving life, yet you in Ze Lake do not know how many innocent people you have harmed."】

【"Jiannan Dao has long been filled with complaints, the people unable to make a living." Master Lianchi pressed his palms together, his originally compassionate face changing into the appearance of a Vajra glaring in anger.】

【The First Gentleman stared at Long Yi's scale-covered face and the two horns on his head, saying coldly: "If it weren't for the 'Master' supporting you from behind, Ze Lake would have long since ceased to exist in the world."】

【After Long Yi heard this, his face changed suddenly, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.】

【Standing before him were the First Gentleman, the Demon Master, and Master Lianchi, three Great Grandmasters; even in a one-on-one fight, he would only have a chance to flee for his life, and now that all three were here, he didn't even have a chance to flee.】

【Even if these three were severely injured now, if they joined forces, he feared he would have no path to survival.】

【The instinct for survival made him cast his gaze toward Lu Hua, this Lu Family Heavenly Master who had come with him, her eyes carrying a trace of hope.】

【Lu Hua saw this and hurriedly raised her hands to wave them, her tone indifferent: "Long Yi, don't look at me; I won't make a move anyway. Between us, benevolence and righteousness have already been exhausted."】

【Just at this moment!】

【Master Lianchi suddenly looked toward a direction by the river, his brows furrowed slightly.】

【A faint aura was slowly emerging, quietly walking out from the shadows.】

【The Demon Master also sensed something unusual, his brows furrowed tightly.】

【He had not sensed this person's existence just now, and a trace of vigilance could not help but arise in his heart.】

【In the shadows of the riverbank, a figure walked out slowly, as if merging with the night.】

【This person was hidden in the dark night, slowly revealing their appearance.】

【Lu Hua's eyes slowly widened, "Mr. Hong!"】

【The person who came was precisely Xie Hong, yet he was completely different from his usual appearance, as if he had become much younger, his brows lacking a bit of vicissitudes and loneliness, and possessing a bit more sharpness.】

【He walked with composure, slowly walking to stand behind Long Yi, his gaze looking calmly at the four people opposite.】

【The First Gentleman's eyes narrowed slightly, sizing him up, his tone carrying a touch of realization: "Is this your body outside the body?"】

【Xie Hong nodded slightly, bowing respectfully to the First Gentleman, his tone humble: "Xie Hong greets the First Gentleman."】

【The First Gentleman sighed softly, his gaze carrying a touch of emotion: "The two walls of the Xie family; the world says that the eldest of the Xie family is a military genius, a rare talent for a general, a peerless famous general."】

【He paused, "But only we brothers knew that back then, when our father and brother were out serving in the military, Xie Chongshan, who managed the household affairs and supported our old mother at home, reading and writing in his spare time, was the true jade tree of the Xie family."】

【"The Second Gentleman always wanted to accept a disciple on behalf of the Master, making you the world-famous Fifth Gentleman; why did you refuse back then?"】

【Xie Hong pondered for a moment, speaking slowly: "Feng Yuan always wanted to share good things with me, but when a person is on the chessboard, they often cannot see the overall situation. Although the Master is a saint, he does not know that a saint's anger is more terrifying than an emperor's anger."】

【"An emperor's anger leaves a million corpses; a saint's anger poisons for a thousand years."】

【The First Gentleman heard this, his tone carrying doubt: "You have never seen the Master; why would you say such things?"】

【Back then, if it weren't for the Master intentionally leaking some earth-shattering secrets for the sake of corpse-shedding, they, these disciples, would not have suspected that this figure revered by Confucianism as the Supreme Sage and Teacher had such an unknown side.】

【Xie Hong smiled slightly, "Some things do not need to be seen with one's own eyes; one only needs to look at words and deeds to get a glimpse of the whole picture. Perhaps the Master at the beginning truly wanted to shoulder the morality of the world, but unfortunately... not everything can go as one wishes, and how many people do not forget their original intention, able to overcome the firmament with a mere heart."】

【The First Gentleman was silent for a moment, speaking again: "So you knew all along? About the Master being beheaded by the four of us together."】

【Xie Hong's expression was calm, "Feng Yuan did not hide it from me."】

【"I forgot, you and the Second Gentleman were close friends and confidants."】

【The Demon Master's eyes had blood-red coldness, staring at the First Gentleman, then his gaze shifted to Xie Hong, the light in his eyes gradually diminishing. He pondered secretly, "Demon Eye Ghost Pupil" is a demonic exploration technique that can probe the aura of all things, but this Xie Hong's body outside the body was like a Yang Spirit, yet different, seemingly another type of Primordial Spirit outside of Yang Spirit and Yin Spirit. His true body was not here, yet this body outside the body could think independently, clearly extraordinary.】

【This Xie Hong was indeed not simple.】

【The First Gentleman looked at Xie Hong standing behind Long Yi, "It seems you want to protect this Ze Lake demon?"】

【His voice was low, coldness in his eyes, "You also want to learn from the Master and ride the dragon to ascend?"】

【Xie Hong heard this and shook his head, "Riding the dragon to ascend is nothing more than the world's imagination. I came today just because I do not wish to see the Ze Lake lineage cut off here. Moreover, the cause and effect involved behind him is far from as simple as it appears on the surface."】

【Master Lianchi pressed his palms together, his face solemn, his voice echoing like a great bell: "Amitabha, refining demons with human lives is inherently the path of Asura."】

【"When the Master was still alive, it was inconvenient for this old monk to destroy Ze Lake; now that the Master has passed, the first thing this old monk does after leaving Bianjing is to invite like-minded friends to go to Ze Lake together to slay demons and eliminate evil."】

【His tone carried unquestionable determination: "Meeting this evil dragon today, how could there be any reason to let it escape?"】

【Before the words had faded, a phantom of a Luo Han appeared behind Master Lianchi, his hands supporting the sky.】

【Xie Hong heard this, his brows furrowed slightly.】

【Long Yi quietly stepped back to Xie Hong's side, the scales on his face under the black hood rising and falling due to the aura emitted by the old monk, appearing extremely uneasy.】

【The Demon Master laughed lightly, "Today, this seat actually has an affinity with the Master..."】

【Before he finished speaking, Xie Hong had already understood Xu Jiangxian's thoughts.】

【Xie Hong spoke slowly: "Master Lianchi, I have the sarira of the Holy Monk Long Shu from back then; today I will return it to the Eastern Holy Sect to show my sincerity."】

【As he spoke, his palm flipped, and a sarira, crimson as blood, appeared, emitting a pure Zen intent, as if containing endless Buddhist wisdom and compassion.】

【The Buddhist sarira is an extremely sacred symbol in Buddhism, rumored to be the crystallization left behind after the cremation of high monks and great virtuous ones. They are either round like pearls or crystal clear like crystal, various in form and color, each carrying the cultivation and merit of a high monk's life.】

【The sarira possesses incredible power, capable of protecting all living beings, warding off evil and avoiding disasters, and blessing Buddhist techniques.】

【Master Lianchi saw this sarira, a flash of shock in his eyes, "The sarira of Holy Monk Long Shu... you actually have this item."】

【Xie Hong's gaze shifted to the Demon Master, his tone calm, "I remember the Demon Master has a section of left hand bone, the 'Heavenly Demon Hand'; Xie Hong coincidentally obtained a section of the right hand."】

【As he spoke, his palm flipped, and a right hand bone, white as jade and glowing, appeared, looking not like a demonic treasure, but rather revealing a holy aura.】

【The Demon Master's eyes suddenly narrowed, "The Holy Sect's supreme treasure, how could it appear in your hands?"】

【The Heavenly Demon Hand, the Holy Sect's sacred object, is divided into left and right hand bones, complementing each other. The left hand bone is engraved with the "Heavenly Demon Strategy," a legacy item of the Demon Sect, while the right hand bone contains a "Blood River," rumored to be refined from the blood essence of righteous experts after the Demon Sect founder's demonic arts reached completion, capable of providing a continuous supply of essence.】

【However, this right hand bone was stolen hundreds of years ago, and the Demon Sect was furious, yet never found its trace.】

【Now it actually appeared in Xie Hong's hands; how could the Demon Master not be shocked?】

【Xie Hong smiled slightly, his tone indifferent: "I am willing to use this as a gift; I ask the Demon Master to raise your hand."】

【Xu Jiangxian's face sank, a flash of coldness in his eyes: "Xie Hong, do you think this Holy Sect's Heavenly Demon Hand can move this seat?"】

【"This hand bone originally belongs to the Demon Sect; you stole the Demon Sect's supreme sacred object, and your crime deserves death!"】

【The Demon Master's tone was sinister, demonic energy rolling around his body, the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art repairing his body.】

【Facing the majestic pressure of two Great Grandmasters, Xie Hong remained calm and composed.】

【In an instant, his aura climbed sharply, the peak of the Ninth Realm of Martial Arts and the Yang Spirit power of the Tenth Realm of Primordial Spirit intersecting and merging, an aura not belonging to the three Great Grandmasters before him erupting violently.】

【What was even more strange was that this aura was vast and majestic, actually cleverly merging the profundity of Daoism, the compassion of Buddhism, and the nobility of Confucianism, the essence of the three families complementing each other, fully displaying his extraordinary and refined realm.】

【The First Gentleman saw this, sighing softly, his tone carrying a touch of admiration: "Merging the roots of the three teachings, just as the Third Gentleman praised, a great talent with the hope of becoming a master and ancestor, opening up a new lineage outside of Confucianism."】

【The Demon Master slowly withdrew his aura, a smile appearing on his face, "This time, I thank Mr. Hong for returning the Demon Sect's supreme treasure; this seat will keep it in mind."】

【Lu Hua saw this and cursed the Demon Master for being shameless in her heart, clearly just a moment ago he was aggressive, yet in the blink of an eye he changed his face.】

【However, she was not surprised that Xie Hong had already entered the realm of the world's Great Grandmasters.】

【When at Xie Fu, she had already faintly sensed Xie Hong's extraordinariness.】

【Even a figure like the Demon Master was unwilling to be an enemy of a Great Grandmaster who had condensed his destiny, let alone one who had merged the learning of the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and whose "destiny" was unknown.】

【In the field, Master Lianchi still had cold brows and upright eyes, his tone carrying a touch of solemnity: "Although this sarira is important, it is not as important as this old monk's Buddha heart."】

【The Demon Master stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, clearly no longer intending to intervene in this matter.】

【Xie Hong nodded slightly toward the Demon Master, then his gaze shifted to the First Gentleman.】

【Lu Hua coughed lightly at the right time, breaking the surrounding silence. There had long been a tacit understanding between the Three Truths Sect and Xie Hong, otherwise she would not have stepped into this Bianjing land with Xie Hong.】

【The First Gentleman, having entered the Three Truths Sect, already understood the joints of the matter.】

【The First Gentleman looked at the two treasures sent by Xie Hong, a flash of realization in his eyes: "It seems today's Flower Banquet also had your hand in it."】

【Xie Hong bowed, "I ask the First Gentleman to open the net."】

【The First Gentleman spoke indifferently: "Since you were able to persuade the Second Gentleman to make a move and cut open the Shocking God Array, escaping the cage, I will not intervene in today's matter."】

【Long Yi saw this, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth, revealing fine sharp teeth inside, clearly secretly happy in his heart. The First Gentleman had already agreed, and the Demon Master and Lu Hua also chose to stand by, leaving only Master Lianchi alone; he naturally had a chance of survival.】

【"Xie Hong thanks the First Gentleman."】

【"Long Yi, why don't you hurry and thank the First Gentleman."】

【Long Yi hurriedly bowed, the arc of his mouth becoming even larger.】

【The First Gentleman, however, smiled, his tone carrying a touch of deep meaning: "Don't be in such a hurry to thank me. Although I am no longer managing this matter, and the Demon Master and Lu Hua have chosen to stand by, there is still one person in the field who has not yet spoken."】

【There is still one person in the field?】

【Long Yi heard this and naturally knew who was being referred to.】

【Today's situation was originally caused by him; otherwise, he would have long since fled far away. He had long since hated this person to the bone, wishing he could swallow him alive, but his cultivation was shallow, and in such an occasion, what qualification did he have to speak?】

【The Demon Master laughed, "Young Friend Xie, indeed has not yet spoken."】

【Lu Hua followed the sound and looked over; Xie Guan was hanging his head outside the four people, his eyes lowered, and he had been in this state since the Second Gentleman dissipated.】

【Xie Hong's eyes were complex, his gaze falling on the youth in the field. He had long known that Xie Guan had obtained the Second Gentleman's mantle, but at this moment, Xie Guan made him feel a trace of elusive aura.】

【You were not surprised by Xie Hong's arrival, but ever since the Second Gentleman gifted the Nine Swords, for some reason, a strange feeling like "observing the Dao" had arisen in your heart.】

【This feeling was unprecedented, as if the mysteries between heaven and earth were unfolding before your eyes one by one.】

【You naturally were unwilling to give up such an opportunity!】

【In this short half-stick of incense time, many incomprehensible points were solved as if "heaven-bestowed." You had quietly mastered seven of the swords, and only the last two remained to fully comprehend the true meaning of the Second Gentleman's Nine Swords.】

【Just at the last moment, you finally comprehended the first seven of the Nine Swords, with only the last two remaining to be studied and comprehended.】

【That profound feeling also disappeared along with it, as if it had never appeared.】

【The seven sword intents in the Mud-Pill Palace were turning into swimming dragons, setting off stormy waves in Xie Guan's sea of consciousness—this was the sword Dao truth that should have taken twenty years of bitter cultivation to penetrate, yet at this moment it surged into the spiritual platform like spring snow turning into a stream.】

【You opened your eyes, the sword light in them flashing and then disappearing, immediately returning to calm. You bowed to Xie Hong, your tone respectful but neither humble nor arrogant: "Greetings, Uncle Chongshan."】

【Xie Hong nodded slightly, looking at you.】

【Master Lianchi also cast a concerned gaze.】

【Lu Hua was interested, expecting what decision you would make.】

【Long Yi's eyes hid murderous intent like waves; although he did not speak, that cold gaze already revealed the unwillingness and resentment in his heart.】

【Facing this matter... you decide!】

1. Agree to this matter. (Hint: May be unfavorable for the future.)

2. Disagree with this matter. (Hint: May be unfavorable for the future.)

3. Personally sword-slay the flood dragon. (Hint: Favorable for the future.)

4. Personally participate. (1/3)

The Great Cauldron rang, exhaling ten thousand rays of rosy light, and the characters above slowly froze.

Yu Ke looked at the three options above.

He didn't hesitate much, having made his decision.

This Long Yi had long harbored murderous intent and had committed many evils.

Directly choose.

3. Personally sword-slay the flood dragon. (Hint: Favorable for the future.)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 397 =====