Chapter 29: Sparring with the Old Monk, Fireworks Soar

Kong Hui arrived at the stairwell and dared not slacken in the slightest; although he had already been standing for a while and felt somewhat fatigued, upon arriving here he still occasionally poked his head out to glance, and each glance eased his mind a bit.

Not long after,

Suddenly,

Kong Hui saw that benefactor Niu instantly turned into an afterimage, shooting swiftly toward him.

Was this an illusion?

He hurriedly blinked, but saw no one by the bookshelf; his heart filled with sudden terror.

"Niu—uh."

Kong Hui, startled, wanted to shout, but before he could make a sound, he felt a sharp pain in his mute point, and then found himself unable to speak, his body unable to move even slightly.

Afterward, he felt a swift gust rush past beside him, and that afterimage vanished into the stairwell.

Done for! How will I explain this to the abbot?

Kong Hui felt all hope lost, the heavens about to collapse, impossible to salvage!

In despair, he simply closed his eyes, his stiff body slowly collapsing toward the stairwell.

"Who dares intrude upon the sutra storage?"

A hoarse shout suddenly rang out on the second floor.

Immediately, Niu Dingtian felt a strong, overbearing force press toward him; he quickly raised his hand and met it with full palm power.

"Boom"

The moment their palms met, an immensely overbearing aura burst forth from between their palms, sending nearby bookshelves toppling and scattering the scriptures across the floor.

After blocking, Niu Dingtian's arms went slightly numb; despite his formidable strength, he couldn't help but retreat a step to steady himself.

Looking at the opposite old monk, he retreated three steps without stopping; just as he was about to retreat again, the monk raised his withered hand and struck a palm, barely stabilizing his stance.

"Your skill is impressive!"

"Who are you? At such a young age you already possess such strength—could it be that you also covet these rudimentary techniques here?"

"If you withdraw now, our temple will not pursue today's actions!"

After the old monk halted his steps, his hoarse voice sounded again.

By now the hall had grown dim; Niu Dingtian could not clearly see the monk's face, but could make out a gaunt figure in gray coarse cloth, his hoarse voice containing immense power, deep and robust.

At this moment the old monk was utterly shocked; seeing the intruder's strange movement, he raised his hand and struck with a Prajna Zen Palm at ninety percent of his power.

He hadn't expected that, though the man looked young, his internal strength was unusually robust, surpassing his own; there also seemed to be a hint of Buddhist aura. He also feared the youth's impulsiveness might destroy the scriptures, so after exchanging palms he began to advise kindly.

What's more, the Shaolin Temple, now closed off, should not create such a formidable enemy.

"Master, if you don't want me to destroy this place, allow me to borrow some scriptures; I will surely return them someday!"

Niu Dingtian, opening with a direct threat, truly wore the face of a villain.

The Shaolin Temple has its limits, but he also has his own purpose; together their ages approach a hundred, and neither is likely to give up easily.

Seeing the old monk remain silent, Niu Dingtian wasted no words, launching himself forward and, after activating the Splitting Sky Palm, attacked with full force.

Seeing the opponent's fierce approach, the old monk dared not be careless, fully activating his Prajna Zen Palm to meet him head-on.

The silver moon had gradually risen; moonlight streamed through the window, adding a bit of brightness to the Sutra Pavilion. As their fists and feet clashed, light and shadow intermingled, strong winds rose, yet both kept their movements restrained.

One feared exposure, the other feared going all-out.

"Are you from Peach Blossom Island?"

"Our temple and Peach Blossom Island have always kept to ourselves; I once met the Island Master Huang in my youth—why press me so hard?"

In the midst of their hundredth exchange, the old monk recognized Niu Dingtian's Splitting Sky Palm as a technique from Peach Blossom Island!

At the start he only felt it was somewhat familiar; after confirming, he continued fighting while asking.

Niu Dingtian, however, was growing impatient; he feared that delay would bring mishaps, and if the two masters Jue Zhen and Jue Xing returned, he might not be able to leave.

Thinking this, he immediately threw a feint Splitting Sky Palm, enduring the icy chill within, then began to fully exert the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill, gathering power before thrusting a fierce palm at the old monk.

The old monk was greatly startled; in haste he switched techniques, activating the Kasaya Subduing Demon Skill and blocking with a Mighty Vajra Palm.

"Pfft~"

After their palms met, the monk in hemp clothing spat a mouthful of blood, his gaunt body flying toward the bookshelf.

Sigh, at his age! Niu Dingtian suddenly felt a pang of reluctance, but he immediately suppressed the thought.

Seeing the old monk down and unable to rise, Niu Dingtian repressed the urge to strike him dead with a palm, grabbed the curtain beside the window, and darted to the innermost bookshelves—the very spot the monk had fiercely defended during their fight.

Indeed!

"The Clear Still Finger"

"The Formless Calamity Finger"

"The Grasping Flower Finger"

"The Mahakala Finger"

Looking at the neighboring bookshelf

"The Grasping Flower Seizing Hand"

"The Dragon Claw Seizing Hand"

"The Precept-Breaking Saber Method"

"The Wood-Burning Saber Method"

Niu Dingtian hesitated no longer, quickly selecting a few suitable secret techniques and stuffing them into the curtain; some manuals he looked down on, but taking an extra one would surely forge a deadly enmity.

"Dong dong dong~"

Just as Niu Dingtian prepared to ransack another bookshelf, a sudden urgent bell rang from outside the Sutra Pavilion.

He immediately halted his actions, swiftly tied the curtain behind him, and smiled at the old monk, saying:

"Master, you owe me a life; today I merely borrowed the scriptures, and I will surely return them after reading—farewell!"

Having spoken, he smashed the window with a palm, then flew out through it.

"Namo Amitabha!"

The old monk's pallid old face looked out the window and sighed; then he turned to the Buddha statue on the pedestal, clasped his hands and began to repent.

Having burst out of the Sutra Pavilion, Niu Dingtian saw a large contingent of martial monks converging from afar; he instantly produced an object from his bosom and sent it into the night sky.

"Whoosh~~"

"Boom~"

A bundle of fireworks rose with a boom! The exploding fireworks were clearly visible even at the mountain base ten li away.

"Quick! Quick! Surround both places! Don't let them escape!"

Seeing the fireworks rise, an urgent shout came; the martial monks' steps grew more hurried, and they ran desperately.

Niu Dingtian immediately executed the Lightning Wave Microstep, flying swiftly toward Han Xiao Ying's room; as he neared it, he saw that outside the courtyard a large crowd of monks had also gathered.

Before reaching the door, Niu Dingtian waved a hand and the door exploded open.

"Go!"

Having rushed into the house, with no time to explain, he grabbed the startled Han Xiao Ying, flashed outside, and then darted swiftly toward the outside of the temple.

Sorry for the typos and garbled sentences, thanks. There will be another chapter tonight.

(End of chapter)