Chapter 114

Tang Luo, suspended in midair, activated the skill built into his shoes—Treading Void.

He changed direction, avoiding falling into the blood pool beneath his feet.

After landing, he did not move immediately, but stood still in place.

After using the Empty Palm just now, a piece of information naturally arose in his mind, indicating that his Empty Palm skill had upgraded to level two.

The Empty Palm skill is Tang Luo's first skill, which can be used to impersonate the Tathagata's Divine Palm, and Tang Luo himself quite likes it.

Although he does not use it every time it cools down, he often stands on the balcony when idle and strikes the sky with a palm.

Just now, he unleashed a descending palm strike, which happened to trigger the upgrade of Empty Palm.

Level Two Empty Palm has its cooldown reduced to one hour, and its maximum range extended to thirty meters.

Additionally, the power decay after release has changed from the original fifty percent to forty percent; a single strike releases an invisible force that retains sixty percent of its power as it spreads outward.

This skill is expected to become Tang Luo's first fully integrated skill after "Thousand Hands Cannot Block."

"You already knew, didn't you?"

On the other side, Gu Feng looked at Qin Menglan and asked aloud.

This woman had long known that this monk was so troublesome!

"My attitude has already been made clear; if you don't listen, there's nothing I can do." Qin Menglan said.

She knows nothing!

Qin Menglan has seen Tang Luo engage in combat twice and a half.

The first time was his duel with Yao Jingwu, which can be summarized as: Yao Jingwu's aura was overwhelming! Yao Jingwu had a high chance of victory! Yao Jingwu unleashed his ultimate move! Yao Jingwu scored GG.

The second time was the pursuit of Thirteen, which can similarly be summarized as: Thirteen's aura surged to the heavens, full of confidence! Thirteen's palm strike came down like a surging wave! Thirteen scored GG.

From start to finish, Tang Luo basically stood rooted and unleashed a single, unadorned palm strike, and the battle ended.

When facing Thirteen, he took a small half-step back, but Qin Menglan fully suspected he was doing so to avoid getting Thirteen's blood splattered on himself.

The only difference was his half-effort against Li Xiaoda's flying dagger.

However, at that time, Qin Menglan had not even seen clearly how Tang Luo managed it; by the time she came to her senses, Tang Luo already had the hostage in hand.

Qin Meng only knew that Tang Luo was indeed strong, but did not know he would be this strong!

In direct confrontation, regardless of opponent, he stands rooted and unleashes output, instantly killing them—what could one possibly discern from that?

Only now, seeing this palm strike, did Qin Menglan gain a genuine, direct impression.

"Master, what palm technique is this?"

Gu Feng and the others stood in place, the atmosphere extremely awkward; meanwhile, Vajra had already run up to Tang Luo's face, asking excitedly.

"Tathagata's Divine Palm." Tang Luo said.

"Does this world also have a Tathagata?" Vajra blinked, seeing Tang Luo walk toward that group of frail weaklings, and hurriedly followed.

"What is your mission?" Qin Menglan stepped forward, speaking directly.

At the same time, she clenched her palms in her heart, sweating, praying it wasn't some completely opposite conflict mission—like having to kill her grandfather or something.

"Suppressing the Snake Spirit; I suspect this world is related to Calabash Brothers." Tang Luo pointed to the gourd hanging at his waist, and the Celestial Dog on his shoulder leapt into Qin Menglan's arms.

"... It's just Calabash Brothers." Qin Menglan held the Celestial Dog, exhaling in relief.

Good, good—one is to rescue the grandfather, the other to suppress the Snake Spirit; they don't conflict and can even cooperate.

"It should be Calabash Brothers; our mission is to rescue the grandfather." Qin Menglan said, inwardly sighing at the vast difference in mission difficulty.

On the surface, rescuing the grandfather and suppressing the Snake Spirit seem the same—what the Calabash Brothers do is exactly this.

But rescuing the grandfather clearly allows for operational flexibility—sneaking in secretly, luring the tiger away from the mountain, etc., can avoid direct confrontation with the Snake Spirit's faction.

Suppressing, however, is different—it's a direct, head-on clash.

Of course, it's not that rescuing the grandfather is simple—saving people is actually harder than killing, and destruction is easier than construction.

"Wait, Master, are you a demonic god walking the world?!" The follower-like Vajra, overhearing the conversation, was greatly startled.

You're lying!

"Yeah, haven't I told you that before?" Tang Luo said.

"Master, you lied to me, saying you were a monk..." Vajra said.

"I didn't lie to you; monastics do not speak falsehoods—I am indeed a monk, my dharma name is Xuanzang, and I am also a demonic god walking the world." Tang Luo said.

When he introduced himself earlier, Tang Luo only said he was a monk journeying westward to subdue demons and evil, and never said he wasn't a demonic god walking the world.

It was Vajra himself who took Tang Luo for a native—not Tang Luo's fault.

"Uh—seems like there's nothing wrong with that." Vajra felt Tang Luo's words made perfect sense.

"Demonic monk!"

Before Tang Luo and his companions could continue "catching up," Gai Lun, full of righteous vigor, leapt out and shouted, "Release those Calabash Brothers!"

Justice will not yield to power!

"..." Vajra stared at Gai Lun, feeling that his decision to leave and not team up with this bunch of weaklings was incredibly correct.

"Calabash Brothers?" Tang Luo looked at Gai Lun and said, "Donor, you've misunderstood—this is just an ordinary gourd, not a Calabash Brother."

"Do you take me for an idiot? This is clearly a Calabash Brother!" Gai Lun was furious, as if there existed such shameless people in the world, "We've all seen it!"

The others remained silent, quiet as chickens, yet did not stop Gai Lun from causing trouble.

Let this naive Gai Lun test the monk a bit—might as well.

That strike just now truly seized hearts and minds, shocking beyond compare, but skills, after all, always carry a hint of "beyond theory" feeling.

Many skills' strength is not tied to the user's own strength; perhaps this monk only knows this one move, and only this one is strong?

Dreams must still be held—what if it comes true?

"Since you, donor, believe this is a Calabash Brother, then call it out—see if it answers?" Tang Luo took down the gourd from his waist and made a reasonable request.

"Call it then—this is—" Gai Lun fell into thought.

What is this green gourd? Which baby is it?

He picked up the purple gourd and held it before his eyes, asking: "Seven Baby, we found your brother— which baby is he?"

The purple gourd remained motionless, showing no response.

"Seven Baby? Seven Baby?" Garen shook the gourd in his hand— why did it suddenly stop responding? Did it fall asleep?

"The green gourd is the fifth one— it spits water, Five Baby." Qin Menglan reminded him. Indeed, well-read and knowledgeable, she knows a little about everything.

"Oh." Garen looked gratefully at Qin Menglan, then shouted at the gourd in Tang Luo's hand: "Five Baby, we've come to save you! Don't be afraid."

The gourd in Tang Luo's hand showed no response, just like an ordinary gourd.

"Five Baby?" Garen, unwilling to believe, shouted again.

"Look, I told you— it's not a Calabash Brother. You've misunderstood, benefactor." Tang Luo said, "It's just an ordinary sturdy gourd."

"Seven Baby, speak! Is this gourd your brother! This person is the one who stole the gourd, right?"

Iron Head Baby Garen never gives up, never abandons.

But not only is the gourd in Tang Luo's hand unresponsive— the purple gourd in his own hand also shows no reaction at all.

"Young man, with your intelligence, I think you've been deceived." Tang Luo said.

"Impossible!" Garen said, then shouted at the gourd in his hand: "Seven Baby, I beg you— say something!"

Even in the mission world, if this were done in the real world, it would warrant hospitalization.

"How about I try?" Tang Luo reached out, very interested in this purple gourd.

Garen immediately became alert and stepped back.

"Shall I trade you this gourd?" Tang Luo raised the green gourd in his hand, saying, "I'm skilled at consecration and healing wounds. If you're sure your gourd is a Calabash Brother, and he's hiding inside without making a sound, perhaps he's injured."

"Injured?" Garen thought carefully— he couldn't recall Seven Baby ever being injured.

But why has he shown no reaction at all?

Could he really be so afraid of the monk before him that he dares not even speak?

"Master Xuanzang is indeed skilled at consecration and healing wounds." Qin Menglan said.

Not only him— others are also curious: why did Seven Baby suddenly lose all response?

"What do you think, benefactor?" Tang Luo looked at Garen and asked.

"I'll hold it." Garen thought of a compromise— he held the purple gourd in his hand and extended it toward Tang Luo.

Tang Luo reached out and lightly tapped the gourd, producing a metallic tapping sound like the others.

A golden glow appeared on his palm. Tang Luo reached out and grabbed the purple gourd, then quickly withdrew his hand.

"How is it?" Qin Menglan asked.

"I sense no trace of life— even if it were a Calabash Brother, it's beyond saving. Perhaps we should just eat it?" Tang Luo looked at the group and suggested.

Boiling a pot of gourd soup— wouldn't that be lovely?

With a swish, Garen snatched the gourd back: "You're really a monk?"

"Monks eat vegetarian." Tang Luo asked. "The gourd is a plant, thus vegetarian. Monks eat vegetarian— it's only natural."

"…… This is a Calabash Brother!" Garen prepared himself for battle.

"Wait— how many leaves were originally on the gourd?" Qin Menglan suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Garen blinked, looked at the gourd— at the base of the purple gourd there was one gourd leaf, but……

"I remember there were originally two leaves, right?" Qin Menglan said.

Garen thought for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, there were two."

"Since it has no leaves, it's spoiled— we should eat it." Tang Luo said again.

"Never!" Garen said.

"You've misunderstood, benefactor." Tang Luo smiled, "This time, I'm not asking for your opinion."

Having said that, he raised his hand and lunged to grab Garen.

It wasn't quite a sneak attack, nor did he deliberately wait for Garen to ready his stance— he simply acted on the thought, and this grab appeared utterly casual.

Though Garen is quite foolish and sweet-natured, his strength is by no means weak!

Facing Tang Luo's attack, he reacted swiftly, let out a mighty shout, golden light flared across his body, and a phantom arc-shaped triangular shield appeared before him.

Skill·Courage!

Unlike in games, there are no passives, no damage reduction stats, etc.

This skill is simply a defensive ability, providing all-around protection— front, back, left, right.

The phantom arc-shaped triangular shield is the strongest point; other areas also have invisible force formed from golden light to block attacks— even if one goes around the shield, they must break through a second layer of defense to harm Garen.

Upon reaching level three, it also produces four shields, offering double protection in all four directions.

Tang Luo's finger touched the shield, gave a slight outward flick— the shield shattered instantly, turning into points of light.

The golden light on Garen's body, however, had no effect whatsoever.

His palm pierced like into tofu, sinking into the faint golden glow— before Garen could make any further move, Tang Luo had seized the purple gourd.