Chapter 599: 322 Vajra Self-Mastery Seal—Die!

Zhu Zhiqian's face grew more ruthless after hearing this.

"I originally only wanted to take your head and give you a quick death, out of respect for Yuzhi."

"But now I've changed my mind—I'll extract your bone marrow, keep you alive, and turn you into a human pig."

Shen Kuan's face also showed satisfaction; killing Xie Guan was his very purpose for coming, and though he didn't strike the blow himself, witnessing it was still deeply satisfying.

Your expression remained calm.

Xu Xiyue watched, her face filled with concern, especially over Zhu Zhiqian's deep demonic cultivation.

She asked with worry: "Master, this man is about to ignite his primordial flame—won't he…?"

The old monk merely said calmly: "Of the three supreme hand seals of our sect, even two of them… cannot subdue demons? Would our Buddhist order then be nothing but empty fame?"

Xu Xiyue was slightly startled: "The supreme hand seals of the Buddhist sect!"

The demon master smiled at you: "You may only use Buddhist techniques."

You nodded: "Master, I, Xie Guan, understand perfectly."

The demon master smiled: "Then let us begin."

Zhu Zhiqian did not hesitate; normally, facing someone like Xie Guan, he would not strike first.

But now the demon master was present—he needed to prove himself, to crush the opponent with raw power.

Even a lion fighting a rabbit uses all its strength!

Seeing you made no move, Zhu Zhiqian curled his lips into a cold sneer.

Blood-colored mist seemed to rise from his hands; his arm muscles bulged violently, his entire limb as if plunged into a pool of blood, cupping a handful of crimson gore that dripped slowly, horrifying to behold.

Shen Kuan gasped in shock: "It's the Blood Shadow Demon Art of the Blood God Sect!"

This was a demonic art requiring daily ingestion of human blood to cultivate.

It was one of the few demonic techniques explicitly banned by the Great Qi Academy; practicing it was equivalent to becoming a demonic seed.

Upon discovery, execution without mercy!

Those who cultivate this demonic art must constantly feed on fresh blood; cultivators become addicted to human blood, unable to break free.

Recalling twenty years ago, in the capital's Daoist district, hundreds of refugees vanished without trace—it turned out a member of the Blood God Sect had cultivated the Blood Shadow Demon Art to the point of demonic possession, feeding on humans. Later, three Silver Badge Captains of the Six Ministries pursued him, only to be killed in reverse. The incident shocked the Academy, and ultimately, one of its Masters personally apprehended him and beheaded him outside Wumen.

What was horrifying was that even after his head fell, his body still moved freely.

As long as there is an endless supply of human blood, the speed of cultivation for this art is astonishing.

The internal energy gained from this art carries an extremely potent blood poison; upon contact, the poison instantly enters the body, corroding the five viscera and six bowels with terrifying power.

Worse still, this art can stimulate blood flow, doubling the cultivator's movement speed, making him seem like a ghost.

Shen Kuan, observing Zhu Zhiqian's karmic stains, understood at once: this man had cultivated using human blood to an advanced level; the number of lives he had taken likely exceeded a hundred!

And yet, he was still studying at the Academy—this was truly unbelievable.

The old monk beside them gazed at the scene, clasped his hands, and chanted: "Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

Xu Jiangxian, seeing this, gave a slight nod.

Before Zhu Zhiqian's blood could even touch the ground, he had already closed the distance.

The lame old man's eyes narrowed: "Blood Shadow Dash!"

Though he disliked such demonic arts—because they violated heavenly harmony, accelerated rapidly at first but later hit insurmountable bottlenecks, and carried perilous heart-testing trials that often led to qi deviation—he could not deny:

Undeniably!

Such demonic arts achieve breakthroughs at a speed unmatched by ordinary cultivators, and their methods are brutal, ruthless, and unpredictable; warriors of the same realm often cannot match them, and are easily overwhelmed.

Zhu Zhiqian's once refined and scholarly appearance had transformed utterly; he now radiated chilling demonic energy, as if he were a different person.

Xu Xiyue frowned, seeing a trail of dark, clot-like blood trailing behind Zhu Zhiqian's path.

As one from the demonic sect herself, she recognized this as the Blood Shadow Dash technique—the blood trail allowed Zhu Zhiqian to instantly return to his original position.

He had seized the initiative from the very start, clearly intending to leave Xie Guan no chance to breathe.

While Lianchi Master was transmitting power to Xie Guan, Zhu Zhiqian had already been watching closely, aiming to prevent Xie Guan from activating any Buddhist mystery techniques.

Most likely, his earlier provocation, meant to appear reckless, was merely a ruse—he had secretly prepared the Blood Shadow Dash escape technique all along, revealing his profound scheming.

"Bang—"

A thunderous crash, like metal striking metal, shook the great bell.

A half-formed Buddha hand of Liuli appeared in midair, shielding Xie Guan firmly.

Zhu Zhiqian's blood-covered palm struck the Liuli Buddha hand—solid as reality—and rebounded with immense force.

The filthy blood on his palm hissed like red-hot iron plunged into water.

The three guards had been fully alert; Zhu Zhiqian's sudden appearance and speed caught them off guard.

Fortunately, you seemed to have anticipated this, activating the "Tidal Buddha Hand" to protect yourself.

Shen Kuan's face showed regret—you had not been killed.

The demon master's eyes flickered with approval: within a single hour, you had already mastered one form of the old monk's "Vajra Zen Tathagata Jade Hand."

Such talent is exceedingly rare!

Zhu Zhiqian's crimson palm slammed hard against the Liuli Buddha hand; through it, he glimpsed your hands slowly forming a seal.

Zhu Zhiqian's eyes narrowed; instantly, he vanished into the blood trail like mud, reappearing back at his original spot.

You did not form the seal—only gently clapped your hands, smiling as you stared directly at him.

"It's just clapping your hands—why are you so alarmed?"

The boy's words, laced with mockery, echoed through the arena.

The two martial guards from the Sima family burst into laughter: "Why are you alarmed?"

Zhu Zhiqian's face darkened.

The demon master's expression remained unchanged, unreadable.

Zhu Zhiqian coldly said: "Xie Guan, don't get cocky."

You merely shook your head gently, still smiling.

Zhu Zhiqian's face grew even darker; seeing you made no move, your hands relaxed, your entire body exposed with openings.

"Let's see how many times you can use this Buddha hand!"

He assumed such a Liuli Buddha hand consumed immense energy—you, with your Primordial Spirit and martial cultivation, could not use it more than a few times before collapsing.

Seeing your hands still raised, Zhu Zhiqian's eyes flickered.

In an instant!

His blood qi twisted, and a blood trail instantly spread before him.

Zhu Zhiqian's palm struck again, right before you.

"Bang—"

Another resounding strike.

You kept your hands behind your back, watching him through the golden Liuli Buddha hand.

Zhu Zhiqian froze—you could use this Liuli golden Buddha hand without forming a seal.

Inside, Lianchi Master was also startled—he had not expected you to master the "Tidal Buddha Hand" so thoroughly in such a short time, to the point of wielding it without any hand seals.

Yet the old monk soon noticed something odd.

No!

You had already formed this Buddha hand seal earlier—you simply delayed it deliberately.

You had predicted Zhu Zhiqian would attack again.

What supreme confidence!

Lianchi Master gazed at the boy, his expression serene, as if he held all outcomes in his palm.

The boy possessed innate wisdom, born with the Seven Apertures Liuli Heart.

The old monk suddenly had a thought: to take Xie Guan back to the Eastern Holy Sect in the south and name him the new Buddha Child. But he slowly shook his head—there was already a naturally born Buddha Child in the Eastern Holy Sect.

You slowly raised your hands, fingertips forming a seal; Buddha light shimmered, clear and solid as crystal.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhiqian's eyes changed; his body vanished instantly, a streak of blood flashed, and he reappeared back at his original spot.

You shook your head to yourself, your hand motion shifting to clapping—as if mocking your opponent.

At this very moment!

Zhu Zhiqian flashed forward again, twin crimson palms lunging with lethal intent.

He sneered inwardly—he was trying the same trick again!

This time, you would die!

As long as your body was unprotected by the Buddha hand, a single touch from his blood palm would end this battle.

A warrior of the Middle Three Realms, once touched by even a drop of his blood poison, could not escape—it would fully corrode the five viscera and six bowels within moments.

But!

Again, that familiar Liuli Buddha hand appeared, exactly as before.

The boy's expression did not change at all.

Zhu Zhiqian's face grew darker than dripping ink.

Three times, Xie Guan had effortlessly blocked him—as if he were being toyed with.

Anger surged within him!

This time, you slowly formed another Buddha seal with your hands.

Zhu Zhiqian thought to himself: you learning one form of the Liuli Buddha hand within an hour was already the limit; whether you could use it even a few more times was doubtful.

This time, it's surely just bluster—even if you truly had such ability, your cultivation level could never inflict real harm on me.

He made up his mind.

Meet attack with attack!

Another form of Liulifoshou —not a loose grip shielding you, but a clenched fist, descending from above with overwhelming force.

"Crash—"

A deafening crash!

The blue stone slabs shattered into fragments; under the force, a deep pit opened, revealing the soil beneath.

This Buddha Hand doubles strength eightfold—you and Zhu Ziqian are both in the middle three realms of martial cultivation.

He is suppressed in raw power!

The three guards, seeing this, brightened in expression, exchanged glances—they had won!

According to the wager, if Xie Guan won, they would be freed from the Demon Master's grasp.

Xu Xian's expression remained calm, her gaze fixed on the pit below.

It's not over!

Zhu Ziqian's breath still lingered—deep and steady, with no sign of serious injury.

A chilling aura of demonic energy emerged from the pit.

"Xie Guan, you're truly seeking death!"

A cold, merciless voice rang out, brimming with lethal intent.

A disheveled figure slowly rose from the pit, his eyes now blood-red.

He bared his torso and pulled from his chest a long, bony spine-thorn, like a whip of bone.

It lashed toward you!

You formed a seal, summoning the Liulifoshou —the bone whip struck it with a metallic clang, sparks flying.

One lash!

Two lashes, three lashes…

The glow of the Liulifoshou grew dimmer.

Xu Xian, watching the bone whip in Zhu Ziqian's hand, recalled something: "Demon Bone!"

It was a single drop of Heavenly Demon Blood, condensed from the Demon Sect's sacred relic, the Heavenly Demon Hand.

By refining this Heavenly Demon Blood, one could grow Demon Bone within the body.

Demon Bone could grow stronger, incredibly resilient, rivaling divine weapons, capable of shattering "Qi Weapons."

Unthinkable!

This Demon Master actually dared to sacrifice such a thing—Heavenly Demon Hand produced only one drop per year, exceedingly precious.

And he targeted it specifically at this Buddha Hand, which itself was a type of Qi Weapon.

The Buddha Hand would vanish after a few more strikes, its radiance fading entirely.

Zhu Ziqian's expression grew more deranged, relentlessly whipping with the bone.

The lame old man saw this and knew the outcome was sealed—on the surface, Xie Guan seemed dominant, unharmed, but in truth, you had been purely defensive, never launching an offensive.

Who was stronger, who weaker—long since clear!

And!

That Buddha Hand you unleashed earlier was a hidden move—seeming like a victory, but for Zhu Ziqian, you had used your strongest technique while he remained untouched.

You're going to lose!

It's only a matter of time!

Shen Kuan also saw the truth, his face twisted in a cold, grotesque sneer.

Slowly, you formed the Buddha Seal—both hands clasped, thumbs held within the palms, left index finger upright, right fist gripping the left index finger before your chest.

A serene, purifying, transcendent Zen aura emerged.

"Vajradhatu Liberation Seal!"

The old monk's eyes glowed with soft Buddhist light; seeing this legendary hand seal, he slowly mimicked the boy's movements.

Xu Jiangxian, watching the Buddha Seal in Xie Guan's hands, its supreme Buddhist aura, frowned slightly.

Though not grand in scale, the Zen essence ran deep—as if capable of purifying all things, returning all to nothingness.

The Liulifu hand vanished.

The bone whip struck forward!

One hand held the seal, glowing like a ball of light, illuminating your surroundings; the other caught the incoming bone whip.

Zhu Ziqian's face lit up with delight—you dared to touch the bone whip with bare hands!

His "blood poison" surged along the whip toward you.

Watching the poison seep into your body, Zhu Ziqian's expression grew even more frenzied.

"Die!"

He yanked the bone spike—already razor-sharp—and you, barehanded, grasped it; your palm must already be riddled with holes.

And his cultivation surpassed yours—he need only pull to cripple your arm.

Now that the poison has entered your body, your organs will soon rot with pus and blood; Zhu Ziqian can shape the poison into spikes to burst through your flesh.

Yet strangely!

Once inside your body, the poison vanished like mud sinking into the sea—no trace remained, let alone control.

His bone spike could no longer be retracted—the opposing force was stronger than his own, firmly held.

Zhu Ziqian looked up and saw your hand glowing with radiant Buddhist light; the crimson bone whip, where gripped by you, turned white.

The bone whip forged from his own spine had severed its connection to him.

He frantically tried to recall it.

But a massive " Liulifu hand" now gripped the end of the bone whip in Xie Guan's hand—its overwhelming force dragged him forward several steps.

The bone whip was about to snap!

Zhu Ziqian's face turned panicked—if the whip broke, he would be gravely wounded.

No choice!

Zhu Ziqian unleashed the Heavenly Strike Demonic Art taught by the Demon Master.

His entire body boiled with blood, as if wrapped in crimson!

"Xie Guan, die!"

(End of Chapter)