Chapter 94

The next morning, as the east just began to show a fish‑white hue, the dawn had already filtered through the clouds, scattering gold across the sea.

Niu Dingtian, who had not slept all night, stepped out of his room with his face still radiant, showing not a trace of fatigue.

He walked slowly toward the deck, intending to draw in a few breaths of the purest heaven‑and‑earth qi over the sea. For martial practitioners, the true qi in the body travels the lung meridian at the yin hour; the lung meridian governs all the vessels, and when the lung vessels are open, all vessels are open— and right now it is still the yin hour.

But after just a few steps, he spotted a purple silhouette already standing on the distant deck.

It was that woman, Fentian.

At that moment the sea wind on the deck was strong, whooshing continuously, blowing Fentian's purple robes to flutter left and right, further revealing the woman's perfect curves without a doubt.

As he stared at that back, Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered slightly; in a soundless instant he flashed to stand behind Fentian, just a foot away, close up, and said:

"Sister, are you practicing the Universe Great Shift?"

He had wanted to ask this for a while; last night at the wine table he had wanted to have a good talk with this sister, but never found the chance.

After exchanging a dozen or so moves, he could clearly sense whether Fentian's strength was greater or lesser than his own.

But being able to redirect his palm strike at will, unloading it easily, and then recalling some connections between the Manichaean Sect and the Ming Sect, he formed some bold conjectures in his mind.

When Fentian suddenly sensed a breath flashing behind her, her whole body tensed; she was about to strike back when she clearly heard the newcomer's identity.

Yet after turning around, she instinctively stepped back two paces, clearly wary of Niu Dingtian beside her.

Seeing her guard‑like demeanor, Niu Dingtian furrowed his brows, his face showing some displeasure.

"Am I really that scary?" Perhaps seeing Niu Dingtian's expression, Fentian seemed indifferent, did not answer his earlier question, but after glancing at him she lightly asked, "Brother Niu, are you practicing the Dissolving Skill?"

"The Dissolving Skill?"

"Ding Chunqiu's?"

Hearing this familiar martial art mentioned, Niu Dingtian startled, then instantly understood.

"No wonder!" After realizing, his face suddenly broke into a smile as he stepped forward and joked:

"Sister, are you afraid I'll suck you?"

Fentian instinctively stepped back, then stood there silent, though her eyes still held a hint of wariness.

Only after returning last night did she recall that in the Western Regions there was a place called Xingxiu Sea where a skill known as the Dissolving Skill was said to be passed, specializing in sucking others' inner strength for one's own use.

Now that she is alone, she naturally worries a bit that she might inadvertently fall prey to his technique.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian did not press further; he clasped his hands behind his back and smiled dismissively, saying, "Sister, since you know the Dissolving Skill, you should also know it is a poisonous art— if I used it, that surnamed Chu from last night would hardly still be alive; moreover, this skill only neutralizes power, it cannot absorb another's strength for oneself."

"Poison skill? Only neutralizes?" Hearing this revelation, Fentian's beautiful eyes widened slightly, and her wariness eased a little.

"This woman seems to know only half the story?" Seeing Fentian's gaze, Niu Dingtian guessed roughly; indeed she was a country bumpkin. He stared deeply at her veil, then sighed with some regret: "Ah! I have always wanted to win your heart, sister, but it looks like you still don't regard me, Niu Dingtian, as one of your own— what point is there in this World‑Honored position? I might as well give it up!"

Having said that, feeling a bit disappointed, he turned directly and prepared to leave the deck.

For the sake of his grand cause, this fellow had pondered back and forth all night, deciding to offer himself to the tiger.

"Brother Niu, wait a moment!"

Those shameless words made Fentian, the old maiden, feel a chill then a flush, but seeing he truly meant to go, she hastily spoke up to stop him.

Had it been anyone else, she would likely have turned cold and slapped him hard, but given his strength she unconsciously overlooked whether he was teasing her.

"People and beasts alike naturally gravitate toward the strong?" After hearing Fentian's voice, Niu Dingtian also breathed a sigh of relief— this woman really couldn't bear to part with him, Niu. He then shifted his expression, turned, and said lightly, "Sister, just find a spot to moor the boat and set me down; since there's a rift between us, I'd have to guard against you day after day, staying in the Manichaean Sect would be pointless—I'd rather return and slowly rebuild my own Divine Sect."

Fentian heard this, frowned, her expression behind the veil unreadable as she fixed her gaze on his face and spoke solemnly:

"Brother Niu, you've misunderstood— since you've already joined my Manichaean Sect, you are naturally one of us; it's just that seeing this kind of martial art inevitably provokes a reaction, and here I apologize to Brother Niu."

Having said that, she directed a sincere apology straight into his eyes.

Having finally secured such a young talent, he would surely be more reliable than those old foxes, and since he already knew many of the sect's secrets, he would naturally not give him up easily.

"Sister, are you speaking sincerely?"

Niu Dingtian suddenly stepped forward a few paces, closing in, his gaze locked on those beautiful eyes, his tone tinged with doubt.

Fentian felt a bit uneasy, she retreated half a step, then gave Niu Dingtian a slight nod.

"Hahaha~ Brother Niu, you're great!"

"Brother Niu, you're up awfully early!"

Just as they exchanged glances, a hearty laugh rang out from behind, and then they saw the Envoy of Light, Su Lusong, leading six people who had all come onto the deck.

"Early, you tyrant!"

"Didn't you see me picking up girls?"

Seeing the group arrive at an inconvenient moment, Niu Dingtian felt very displeased, yet he piled on a smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Old Brother Su, early too!"

"Good morning, everyone!"

Perhaps sensing Niu Dingtian's enthusiasm, Jin Buhuan and Yan Hongshou wore kind smiles and gave slight nods; Qingyang Rui and Li Muhe smiled faintly and nodded in greeting, while the last, Chu Tiancheng, still wore a sullen, wild‑dog look.

However, when his gaze fell on Fentian on the deck, his eyes were full of "true feeling," hard to hide his ardor; meanwhile, Niu Dingtian, standing opposite, lifted his head and instantly spotted that little dog's scheming.

"This mutt won't be hatching the same scheme as me, will he?"

Seeing this, a thought flashed instantly in Niu Dingtian's mind: "No wonder this cur flung himself at me last night with more gusto than anyone!" Then another thought flashed: "This villain must not be left alive!"

As he thought of this, his eyes flickered slightly; he then subtly moved closer to the woman beside him, and afterward shot a provocative glance at Chu Tiancheng.

Upon seeing that, Chu Tiancheng's face indeed darkened; he hid behind the others, staring fixedly at Niu Dingtian, his killing intent utterly unconcealed.

At this moment, Fentian seemed to notice Chu Tiancheng's gaze as well, her brows involuntarily knitting— "Can't this waste of a person grow a brain?"

Yet when Chu Tiancheng saw the goddess's displeasure, his jealousy flared even more.

"Brother Niu, what are you looking at?"

Seeing Brother Niu opposite seem to drift off, Old Man Su couldn't help but cast a doubtful look and asked.

"Huh? What are you looking at?"

Niu Dingtian suddenly startled, then after reacting he smiled at Old Su and sneered, "Brother, I just saw a bird fly by— its beak didn't even catch the seafood, it couldn't eat anything at the edge of its mouth; that bird is truly a damn good‑for‑nothing!"

Having said that, he shifted a small step toward the woman beside him and once again shot a provocative look at Chu Tiancheng.

"Huh? A sea bird?"

Niu Dingtian's whimsical idea left Su Lu Zhi somewhat dazed, but he still couldn't help turning around to look up at the sky. The others, hearing this, were also doubtful, and even Fen Tian couldn't help raising her head to look, but in the end they didn't see a single feather.

But Su Lu Zhi still chuckled and echoed to Niu Dingtian:

"Niu Dingtian is right! That bird thing is truly useless! Actually"

"Hmph!"

Before Su Lu Zhi could finish his words, Chu Tiancheng from behind coldly cut him off, and then saw him glare coldly at Niu Dingtian and shout:

"Even if that bird is useless, it knows to go catch fish for food! But you, surnamed Niu, actually practice demonic art, absorbing others' inner strength—how is this any different from that demon!"

Upon those words, the deck fell silent instantly.

The crowd only then realized something was off, but just as they turned to look at the little brother behind them, he already had a ferocious face and continued shouting: "Our Mani Sect has always believed in light and dispelled darkness for hundreds of years! You, Niu Dingtian, a mere demon, what right do you have to occupy the position of our Mani Sect's World Honored One? Heretics and evil paths shall be punished by all!!"

"Chu brother, shut up!"

Su Lu Zhi suddenly shouted sternly.

His stern gaze fixed on Chu Tiancheng.

"Heretics and evil paths?"

"Chu brother, you want to kill me?"

Seeing the little dog's righteous appearance, Niu Dingtian seemed quite surprised and couldn't help asking softly.

But before giving him a chance to speak, he fixed his gaze straight on Chu Tiancheng, narrowed his eyes, and spoke in a low voice.

"Since Chu brother no longer treats me as a brother, then I, Niu Dingtian, will have no Chu-surnamed brothers today!"

After pausing for breath, Niu Dingtian's eyes suddenly turned icy cold, and he said coldly: "But I, Niu Dingtian, am not made of mud! Anyone who shows killing intent toward me, I have always struck first, showing no mercy!"

The words had just fallen.

Everyone's faces changed.

But before everyone could react, they saw Niu Dingtian leap up and attack Chu Tiancheng.

Chu Tiancheng was originally standing at the rear, still some distance from Niu Dingtian; when Niu Dingtian lunged forward, Yu Qingyang and Li Muhe instinctively moved to block.

One could see the two, one left and one right, sending two fierce palm winds that unhesitatingly pressed toward Niu Dingtian.

"Stop!!!"

Su Lu Zhi shouted angrily.

Trying to stop!

But it was too late.

Yu Qingyang and Li Muhe were top-notch experts; their palm winds were incredibly fierce, their palm force overwhelmingly dominant, causing Niu Dingtian's lunging figure to pause slightly.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian did not retreat at all; he quickly spun his body, fully activating the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill, simultaneously driving both palms, left and right, and ruthlessly blasted toward the two. At the moment the four palms met, the energy burst forth explosively, sending the three people's black hair flying wildly, as if the scene froze instantly.

"Demon, go die!!"

At that moment, Chu Tiancheng had already reacted, a flash of cruelty in his eyes, and he lifted his hand to slap Niu Dingtian head-on.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian without hesitation activated the yin-yang qi within his body; at the moment yin and yang merged, the inner force in both hands erupted explosively.

After the surging inner force suddenly slammed over, Yu Qingyang and Li Muhe's faces instantly changed, unable to resist; after two muffled groans, each flew backward.

"Yu brother!"

"Li brother!"

Before long, as the two flew out, Chu Tiancheng's incoming palm had already reached Niu Dingtian's face.

Seeing the little dog attack, Niu Dingtian was about to strike hard with his palm, but in a flash of thought he suddenly retracted his palm force sharply, then lightly placed his palm upon it.

Seeing the demon's palm force suddenly weaken, Chu Tiancheng couldn't help feeling pleased, but upon palm contact his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Ah!! My inner strength!!"

Immediately after came a miserable cry from his mouth, but after two breaths his whole body went limp on the deck.

"Chu brother!!"

"Niu brother, no!!"

Seeing this, the few people behind all changed color, couldn't help exclaiming to stop, wanting to step forward but daring not to.

After glancing at the fallen Yu Qingyang and Li Muhe, Niu Dingtian gave a cold snort, indeed still an old fox! He then single-handedly lifted Chu Tiancheng and leapt up, directly soaring to the boat's top, his icy gaze sweeping over the few below, finally settling on Su Lu Zhi's face, and he shouted loudly:

"Please, Esteemed Light Envoy, tell this venerable one! According to our Mani Sect's rules, what crime should one like Chu, who dares to overstep, be punished with?"

Having just taken the World Honored One's seat, I shouldn't waste the identity I should use; although it's a bit of tearing face, emotionally and rationally I hold the initiative.

The few below suddenly fell silent.

Seeing Su Lu Zhi with a troubled expression, struggling for a long time without speaking, Niu Dingtian directly shouted.

"In my view, smashing this clueless wretch with a single palm is not excessive!"

Having said that, he raised his palm to strike Chu Tiancheng's forehead.

"Niu brother, show mercy!"

Su Lu Zhi hurriedly shouted, then urgently said: "Niu brother, calm your anger! Chu brother has already been punished; give me some face—let Chu brother off today? When he wakes, I will surely make Niu brother apologize!"

"Hmph! Let him off?" Niu Dingtian gave a cold snort, then coldly laughed: "If everyone in my Mani Sect were like him, disregarding seniority and overstepping, what use would this damnable World Honored One Dharma King position be?"

Seeing Niu Dingtian unyielding, the usually silent Fen Tian finally stepped forward, took a step toward him, looked at Niu Dingtian, and said:

"Niu brother, could you give me some face? For now spare this person; if he dares to offend again, there's no need for you to act personally—I myself will handle it according to sect rules."

Seeing this woman finally speak, Niu Dingtian breathed a sigh of relief, kept a cold face, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled at Fen Tian.

"Since it's the elder sister pleading, naturally I should give her face; today I will spare him once."

Then he casually tossed it, as if throwing a dead dog, and flung Chu Tiancheng with a \\\"boom\\\" onto the deck.

(End of chapter)