Chapter 353: Transform into a Snake?

Tang Luo and the others stood at the doorway, looking into the main hall.

Inside the main hall were quite a few people from the Heavenly River Shrine, some sitting, some standing, guarding a small figure in the center.

That was the Scripture Seeker, wearing a strange white mask, dressed in oversized clothes that didn't fit particularly well, currently speaking some words.

It sounded like nothing more than that same old routine of saving souls and delivering people.

The voice, altered by the mask, sounded somewhat muffled, reverberating in the main hall where many lamps had been lit yet it remained rather dim.

There was no special substance to it; it felt a bit like a charlatan's act, far less exciting than the battle outside.

The only thing of any use was the mention that the Scripture Seeker was not a single person, but passed down generation after generation, and that small figure was the current Scripture Seeker.

Outside, the two fought until the ground was pitted and pockmarked, quite a spectacle, only the floorboards beneath their feet often let out "creak" sounds under their trampling.

It gave one the feeling of long neglect, that it might break at any moment and they would fall through.

Before long, the battle outside produced a victor, ending with a Heavenly River Shrine person punching the challenger flying, crashing into the railing at the very outer edge.

After winning, that Shrine person didn't say much either, just stood there silently, waiting for the next challenger.

The small Scripture Seeker inside the main hall also stopped extolling the greatness of the Scripture Seeker, what a sacred undertaking the scripture quest was.

The scene grew somewhat quiet, with only some low murmurs.

After a while, someone spoke up and asked: "The Scripture Seeker is passed down generation after generation, then what about the Scripture of Universal Salvation?"

Back then, Yu Kongyuan had used a remnant scroll of the Scripture of Universal Salvation to deceive Tang Luo, saying the Heart-Eye Clan had come for the Scripture of Universal Salvation.

The Scripture Seeker merely existed in people's mouths and records, but the Scripture of Universal Salvation had truly appeared, confirmed to be a real object.

Many came here not for some grand scripture quest, but for the Scripture of Universal Salvation and that Scripture Seeker.

"The Scripture of Universal Salvation was obtained in part by a certain generation of Scripture Seeker long ago, and has long since spread throughout the world." The masked Scripture Seeker said, "In the bloodline of every Exorcist flows the power of the Scripture of Universal Salvation."

"I mean the physical object..." The person who spoke earlier said, "If there is no Scripture of Universal Salvation, how do you prove you are the Scripture Seeker? Rather than the Heavenly River Shrine deceiving us."

The Heavenly River Shrine people were all extremely quiet, even though the speaking man was darkly implying they were up to something, they remained utterly unperturbed.

Silent, like statues.

Only this kind of silence gave an uncomfortable feeling.

A dog barking wildly at a person makes one feel irritated, but a dog that doesn't bark, doesn't move, yet stares dead at a person, makes one feel uneasy.

Inside the main hall, the Shrine people were the latter.

"Within the Heavenly River Shrine, there indeed exist remnant scrolls of the Scripture of Universal Salvation. If the various sirs are willing to follow me together to the Pure Land to obtain the true scripture, then first defeat the Upper Persons outside. The remnant scrolls of the Scripture of Universal Salvation are also one of the rewards for the various sirs' willingness to follow me on the scripture quest." The small Scripture Seeker spoke unhurriedly, very composed.

Making one somewhat suspicious, the hidden person, was it actually a child, or a dwarf?

Heavenly River Upper Person is the relatively unified title for Heavenly River Shrine people.

The origin might be related to them living on the mountain, not a particularly respectful title.

"Fine." The man who had been questioning agreed, turning to walk toward the quiet Upper Person in the plaza.

"This guy's in for a tragedy." Ao Yulie said softly.

"Is that Upper Person very strong?" Yu Kongyuan asked softly.

"Not strong. The point isn't that Upper Person, but this guy, he's a spearman." Ao Yulie said, "Since ancient times, spearmen are either badass super-experts, or miserable cannon fodder."

"And this kind of first one to mindlessly step forward, one hundred percent is cannon fodder."

Like the Iron Spear Masses back then, typical cannon fodder representatives.

"Experts all only appear at the critical moment."

Yu Kongyuan nodded, deeply convinced: "Right, Grandpa didn't like making a move at the first moment either, is this the habit of experts?"

"That's because Lord Xin wants to conserve stamina." Fei Yuan Shisan took these words to heart.

He heard from Fei Yuan seniors that Lord Xin was also a fierce man who charged at the front when young.

Later, as he aged, his stamina couldn't keep up, plus he had some usable subordinates, so he didn't keep leading the charge.

That person who looked like cannon fodder walked while taking off the spear from his back, introducing himself: "I am..."

"What are you doing?"

Before the self-introduction was even finished, a commotion came from the main hall side.

Ao Yulie, who was still educating Yu Kongyuan on "all spearmen in the world share one stone of luck, Zilong alone occupies twelve dou, the rest of the spearmen owe two dou," turned his head and saw Tang Luo had somehow already walked into the main hall.

No expert self-awareness at all, already planning to be the bird that sticks its head out.

And that spearman was just asking a question, planning to scout the way.

Tang Luo was different; seeing the Heavenly River Upper Persons all rise to their feet, blocking the front of the Scripture Seeker, looking like they faced a great enemy, demanding answers.

He knew this bird that sticks its head out Tang Luo was a bit big.

Ao Yulie's expression turned serious, and he said: "Worthy of being Master! Able to find the key point in an instant, never stuck on nonsense like 'the tall tree catches the wind,' not caring about worldly eyes! And striking unexpectedly, attacking the unprepared!" Saying this, he smiled proudly.

The circle is complete!

"..." Yu Kongyuan.

"..." Fei Yuan Shisan.

The two suddenly understood why, as a "ghost," he could follow by Master Xuanzang's side.

This skill, can't learn it, can't learn it.

"Don't panic, I just want to take a look at what this Scripture Seeker looks like." Tang Luo withdrew his reaching salty pig hand, and didn't even call himself 'this poor monk' or anything.

"... This isn't a place for you to run wild. If you really want to follow the Scripture Seeker, go compete outside first." A person said.

"Oh." Tang Luo acknowledged, not turning back, making a grasping motion at the empty air behind him.

The Heavenly River Shrine Upper Person standing outside strangely shrank, collapsing onto the ground.

"Is this good enough? Can I see the face now?" Tang Luo asked.

"..."

"..."

The scene fell completely silent; the straps binding the long spear to that spearman were half-undone, and he didn't know whether he should continue.

A perfectly fine person — how did they suddenly fall unconscious?

"What did you do?"

"As per your requirements, first defeat the people outside, then I can accompany the Scripture-Fetcher to fetch scriptures. I've done it," Tang Luo said.

"..." A group of warriors, plus a few Ghost-Driving Masters, had already realized — an expert had appeared!

Different from the way of probing them according to the rules of the Tianhe Shrine.

This one's style was extremely straightforward, brutal.

Then, under normal circumstances, this person is cannon fodder.

There should still be experts hiding in the crowd — who could it be?

Everyone's eagle-like gazes swept through the crowd, landing on Ao Yulie.

It should be this one!

With such a bearing, he's either an expert or a fat sheep — the latter probability is high.

For no apparent reason, Ao Yulie attracted many gazes; he naturally wouldn't shrink back, the corners of his mouth curving with an expert's arc, aura fully unleashed, making people dare not underestimate him.

Master, this is everything your disciple can do for you now!

As for the Tianhe Shrine people, they all focused their attention on Tang Luo.

Everyone tensed their bodies, like beasts about to explode.

"Very well. Since you've already defeated the Upper Man, you're a member of the Scripture-Fetching group. Please proceed to the Inner Hall," the Scripture-Fetcher spoke.

"I have no interest in the Inner Hall," Tang Luo said. "As a Scripture-Fetcher, how can you hide your head and show your tail?"

"The Inner Hall has remnant scrolls of the Du Shi True Scripture for perusal," the Scripture-Fetcher said. "In a little while, I will also go to the Inner Hall. As a fellow Scripture-Fetcher, I will no longer hide my face. The situation is special, not of my wish — please forgive me."

"An apology requires showing your face — that's common sense," Tang Luo said, taking a step forward.

Simultaneously turning into an afterimage, he passed through the human wall blocking his front; when he reappeared, he was already before the Scripture-Fetcher.

Ghost Shadow Step!

"Freeze."

After the Ghost Shadow Step came an Immobilization Spell; the Scripture-Fetcher's instinctive leaning-back motion instantly stiffened.

Tang Luo bent down, lifted the Scripture-Fetcher's mask for a glance, and smiled: "Interesting."

Before the Tianhe Upper Men could react, Tang Luo lowered the mask, covering the Scripture-Fetcher's appearance again, and said: "This is the Main Hall; where is the Inner Hall?"

"... The Inner Hall is right behind." After a moment, the Scripture-Fetcher finally spoke.

"I still have a few companions who need to come along — do I need to defeat a few more Upper Men?" Tang Luo asked.

"No need." The Scripture-Fetcher shook his head. "... I have yet to ask for your esteemed name."

"Xuan Zang," Tang Luo said.

"So it's Lord Xuan Zang. Please enter the Inner Hall; you may bring all your companions in," the Scripture-Fetcher said.

"Let's go." These words from Tang Luo were, of course, addressed to Ao Yulie and the others.

Facing the crowd's gazes — some wary, some playful, some curious — Ao Yulie and the rest followed Tang Luo away.

Many gazes fell on Yu Kongyuan.

Yu Kongyuan's head was slightly lowered, long hair covering her face, making it impossible to see her features.

Exiting from behind the Main Hall, the outside was a world apart — mountain stream spring water, a tree by the pool blooming with white flowers, quite a few already fallen on the ground.

The Inner Hall was right across the pool, with a wooden bridge built over the pool, no need to go around.

The Inner Hall was just an ordinary house, round columns and upturned eaves.

The double wooden doors stood wide open; the Inner Hall was empty of people — Tang Luo was the first to defeat a Tianhe Upper Man and reach the Inner Hall.

A small table faced the door; on the small table lay a rolled-up white scroll.

Reaching out to touch it, it felt somewhat slick; faintly, some vague patterns could be seen — unknown what material it was made of.

Tang Luo unceremoniously untied the grass rope on the scroll and unfurled it.

Inside was recorded a sword art; besides textual annotations, there were also diagrammatic explanations — thoroughly detailed.

Only the sword moves shown in the diagrams were rather strange — the body twisted.

"Hiss hiss hiss..."

In the quiet Inner Hall came a burst of eerie hissing sounds, like those made by snakes.

Ao Yulie turned his head, searching for the sound's source.

Only the sound was now far, now near, now left, now right — even Ao Yulie found it hard to distinguish.

Ao Yulie asked: "Master, did you hear the sound?" He wasn't sure if he alone had heard it.

"What sound?" Tang Luo, head lowered casually examining the strange sword art, looked at Ao Yulie.

"Sounds like a snake..." Ao Yulie hadn't finished speaking.

A cold light erupted from behind Tang Luo, stabbing at his neck at an incomparably tricky angle.

That eerie, twisted trajectory gave the feeling of a snake's sneak attack!

Tang Luo didn't turn his head, casually raising a hand to flick.

Striking the "seven inches" spot, the cold light shattered, the blade turning into fragments that flew backward.

Yet unexpectedly, it hit no one.

"What the hell?" Ao Yulie turned to look at the ambusher.

It was none other than Fei Yuan Shisan; he held a blade handle with no blade, his body leaning right while his head tilted left.

His legs nearly closed together, his body slightly writhing — looking just like a snake!

The originally elusive hissing sounds suddenly concentrated on Fei Yuan Shisan.