Chapter 181: with translation of chapter title

The night was pitch black, the inn dim throughout, only the two‑chi‑wide hole in the mezzanine poured a huge pillar of light down to the first floor.

Juexing's face was pallid as he stood in the pillar of light; were it not for the listless look on his face, he would now resemble a Buddha radiating golden light from his whole body.

"Just a day without seeing him, Master Juexing's aura has become strangely odd." Niu Dingtian's indifferent voice came from outside the inn, his footsteps drawing nearer.

"Condensed yet scattered, having form but no spirit—it is innate, yet not truly innate; no wonder the master dares to challenge me."

As his words fell, a wave of qi rose without wind, silently sweeping into the room; Niu Dingtian, clad in a black‑red cloud‑patterned robe, had somehow already taken his stand outside the door.

Hearing this, Juexing's eyes flashed with divine light; he slowly turned to look at the sword‑wielding figure outside the door, and the qi within his body spun wildly to its utmost.

In the intangible clash just now, although Niu Dingtian could be considered the sneak attacker, he still suffered a complete defeat.

Sunflower Old Ancestor

Yang Kang gradually came to, and upon seeing the figure outside the door, his face lit up with intense excitement.

Martial Uncle

Eunuch

"Uncle Master! This old scoundrel has turned that Yang fellow into a fool, and he won't even spare me! If you had arrived a moment later, my mother would have died of grief!"

Old Eunuch

Nine Palaces Mountain

Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered; he suddenly furrowed his brows and cut him off, glancing at Juexing, then said lightly: "Now take your father and Miss Mu to Nine Palaces Mountain, tell the people of Blazing Heaven City that filth has arrived—tomorrow is an inauspicious day, so postpone the gathering by one day!"

Sun Moon Divine Sect

"I asked you to help me get revenge, yet you ask me to help you pass a message? I was still planning to wait a moment and then personally wield the blade!" Just as Yang Kang was about to speak to his martial uncle Niu to discuss postponing a bit, Niu Dingtian gave him a cold glance; he shrank his head and immediately shut his mouth.

Innate

Innate Realm

Jin State

He wanted to strike directly at Yang Kang, but he could clearly sense a vague killing intent enveloping himself; if he were slightly distracted or moved, he would invite disaster.

"If the master doesn't like it, you can try striking first." Niu Dingtian glanced sideways and said coldly.

"A half-dead old thing, giving you some face to call you master; from the moment you tonight broke your agreement and struck at my people, the outcome was already sealed."

"If you want to die early, go ahead and strike; I can grant you that right now."

Having said that, Niu Dingtian's gaze swept into the night, his right hand gripping the hilt of the Yitian Sword, and a sword intent shot up into the sky.

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

Three invisible sword qi instantly tore through the void, shooting straight into the pitch-black night as dark as ink.

"Hiss hiss!"

Accompanied by the clear sound of sword qi entering the body, the cracking of bones, and blood spraying, it fell from midair.

Then three heads were seen rolling down from a rooftop onto the street.

"You sneaky dog!" Niu Dingtian snorted coldly.

"Martial Uncle!"

Yang Kang carried the motionless Yang Tiexin downstairs, avoided Juexing, left the inn, and Mu Nianci followed beside him.

Seeing the person outside, Mu Nianci couldn't help but feel somewhat excited, tears already welling in her eyes.

"First follow Yang Kang to Jiugong Mountain; I'll deal with this old scoundrel and then come over." Niu Dingtian said gently.

"Mm,"

Mu Nianci gave a soft hum and helped her father Yang Tiexin up; she also knew she would only be a burden here.

"Martial Uncle, help me castrate him!" Yang Kang glared at Juexing before leaving, saying hatefully.

"If I can't return to Jiugong Mountain, I'll castrate you first!" Niu Dingtian glanced and hummed softly.

Upon hearing this, Yang Kang shrank his head, quickly hoisted Yang Tiexin, took Mu Nianci, and swiftly disappeared into the night.

After the three left, Niu Dingtian did not strike directly, but turned his gaze toward the distant night curtain, his tone slightly cold: "Since you've come, do I still need to invite you to show yourself?"

Hardly a few breaths after his words fell, the lights in several nearby pavilions suddenly lit up, and this area instantly became brightly illuminated.

Obviously, the several pavilions around had already been occupied earlier.

"You little brat are quite alert; someone your age able to enter the innate realm—I, the old ancestor, have never seen such a thing."

"Hehehe~ I heard you little thing want to establish some merit for the Sun Moon Divine Sect? Your courage is not small."

A hoarse, thin voice suddenly sounded from afar.

Niu Dingtian lifted his gaze and saw, in the night, on the empty street, eight eunuchs carrying a red palanquin slowly approaching.

The curtain of the palanquin fluttered in the night wind; half-hidden, one could see a gorgeous woman in red robes, reclining inside, with a splendid figure.

The woman's black hair flowed like a waterfall, loosely scattered; her skin was white as jade, glowing with an inexplicable halo, a dot of vermilion on her brow, making her all the more captivating.

Yet such a beauty, when Niu Dingtian met her gaze, involuntarily made his hairs stand on end and his pupils constrict sharply.

In those eyes that should have been charming and moving, there was only coldness, eeriness, madness, and a deathlike calm, as if a bloodthirsty primeval beast stared at him without blinking.

"Your complexion is not bad; since you killed the old ancestor's lamp‑holding servant, you may stay by his side to serve." The red palanquin landed, and the gorgeous woman inside suddenly gave Niu Dingtian a graceful smile and said again.

Yet such a bright, moving beauty emitted a hoarse, thin voice, making anyone feel an inexplicable eeriness.

Not only that,

The woman lay reclined in the palanquin, stroked the hair before her chest, and offhandedly said: "Old ancestor, I pity you, little thing, and let you live; but everyone on Jiugong Mountain must die, and they will die because of your reckless daring."

Pity me? Hearing this, Niu Dingtian's aura collapsed, his face turning green.

I need a eunuch to pity me? If I'm not mistaken, this old monster is probably the Kuihua Old Ancestor from the palace.

I never expected them to come kill so quickly, and even take on this utterly beautiful form.

Suppressing the turmoil in his stomach, Niu Dingtian kept a calm face and said lightly: "Now Shaolin Temple is under the jurisdiction of the Jin State; you can join forces with this bald donkey, it seems Zhao Kuo also colludes with the Jin State."

Since you've already colluded, and Shaolin Temple has plenty of sturdy men, if you still have needs, let this bald donkey provide them; there's no need to come pity me.

While speaking, seeing the opponent's face grimly terrifying, Niu Dingtian's internal energy had already been driven to the extreme.

Although this person before him, suspected to be the Kuihua Old Ancestor, is strong—and absurdly strong—he could still risk a fight.

Moreover, the situation is fortunate; the two top experts are both blocked here by him. As long as Yang Kang brings the news, if he cannot win, he can escape more safely.

Fortunately, today they had someone monitor Juexing's every move, and discovered he was in contact with Yang Tiexin; otherwise tonight they would surely be caught off guard.

"Amitabha— the Shaolin Temple answers to no secular court; why, benefactor Niu, must you now indulge in verbal sparring?"

Having heard Niu Dingtian's words, before the Kuihua Old Ancestor in the sedan could speak, Juexing uttered a Buddhist chant and had already walked to the inn's door.

At this moment, Niu Dingtian was fully guarding against others, yet the pressure on him suddenly eased.

After looking at the Kuihua Old Ancestor in the sedan, Juexing pressed his palms together and said: "Benefactor Niu staying beside anyone is a great disaster; if you, sir, can capture him and send him back to the Shaolin, the Shaolin Temple will grant you a senior's insight."

Obviously, Juexing and the Kuihua Old Ancestor know each other, and after their earlier intangible clash, he himself has lost confidence in victory.

But after his words fell, the Kuihua Old Ancestor ignored him, merely fixing a grim stare on Niu Dingtian's fair, tender face.

Not long after, his utterly beautiful face suddenly took on a sorrowful expression, his eyes deep and dim.

"Are you despising me, the Old Ancestor?" the Kuihua Old Ancestor's voice was hoarse and thin, yet also sorrowful and plaintive, with a hint of unease in his eyes.

"You are the most lovable little one I have ever seen; only your skin can rival mine—how could you still despise me?"

Niu Dingtian felt his breath catch violently, his blood seemingly congealing in an instant, and his stomach churned in waves.

Seeing that the opponent seemed not in a hurry to attack, his eyes flickered slightly, his mouth twitched, and he suddenly smiled.

"Don't you despise yourself?" Niu Dingtian demanded, staring at that flawless visage, desperately suppressing his discomfort.

The Kuihua Old Ancestor was stunned.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian's eyelids jumped as he continually glanced over that exquisite figure, and he said softly:

"An innate body has flaws; the flesh's foundation is defective—even if the skin is now perfect to the extreme, a flaw remains a flaw, and the Kuihua Treasure Classic cannot change that."

"Although your body is utterly beautiful, if I'm not mistaken, down there you're still the same—you could even spray yourself while squatting to urinate."

"So you still cannot let anyone enjoy your body; thus it can only be looked at, not consumed—what good is it? Don't you hate it?"

Since the Kuihua Old Ancestor is not in a hurry to attack, Niu Dingtian naturally does not mind enduring humiliation to prolong the contest.

After all, in his territory, besides these two before him, probably no one could reach Nine Palaces Mountain.

Having finished speaking, Niu Dingtian said no more, merely silently focusing his vigilance.

For him, an innate master like the one before him—perhaps a moment's distraction could mean life or death.

After hearing Niu Dingtian's words, the Kuihua Old Ancestor's eyes flickered with a deep light, seeming more profound, but gradually his utterly beautiful face began to twist.

"That old demon's spirit must have gone awry," Niu Dingtian thought.

Moreover, seeing Juexing at the side about to speak, Niu Dingtian's eyes flashed and he said with a smile:

"How so? Could it be that Master Juexing does not despise? The Buddha says monastics do not tell falsehoods; Master Juexing, do you dare swear before the Buddha that you do not despise this beautiful father-in-law?"

"Beautiful father-in-law?"

Juexing pressed his palms together, hearing this he instinctively froze, lifted his gaze, and just met those unfathomably deep eyes.

His heart suddenly tightened.

"Little monk, are you despising the Old Ancestor?"

Seeing Juexing hesitate without speaking, the Kuihua Old Ancestor's face instantly sank.

"Hmph—"

But then, as if recalling something, the Kuihua Old Ancestor gave a cold snort and did not lash out.

After turning his deep eyes toward Niu Dingtian, he narrowed them slightly and said: "Little thing, you're growing ever more interesting to the Old Ancestor; the name 'beautiful father-in-law' is dearly liked in his heart."

"Obediently follow the Old Ancestor back to the palace, and you will naturally enjoy endless riches and honor."

"If you refuse to obey, the Old Ancestor can only wrong you for now."

Upon hearing this, Niu Dingtian instantly felt a chill—could he ever enjoy riches and honor later?

"You bastard, how the hell am I supposed to get through the day?" (End of chapter)