Chapter 757: Squatting by the Gate

A figure rode a sword like lightning, flying straight into the Progenitor Palace's mountain gate, charging directly into the gate's formation.

Such brazenly aggressive entry into the formation had long alerted the Fenhai Zhenjun on duty; he pointed a finger, and the sword-riding cultivator froze midair, unable to move. Yet the cultivator still stood with arms crossed, refusing to even glance at the duty Fenhai Zhenjun.

The Fenhai Zhenjun's face darkened with anger, and in an instant he appeared before the intruding cultivator, ready to rebuke—then suddenly froze: "Zhang Sheng?"

Zhang Sheng stood with arms crossed, upright as a spear, but his eyes were vacant—he had long since fainted. The Fenhai Zhenjun's spiritual sense swept over him, instantly recognizing severe depletion of spiritual power; he swept his sleeve, and spiritual power turned to rain, seeping into Zhang Sheng's entire body, until he slowly stirred awake.

Moments later, Zhang Sheng sat facing Lu Xuan Xuan Yue. Zhang Sheng said: "... That's how it happened. Jingmo took my full-force strike; his Dharma Form was severely damaged and likely cannot be restored. I acted rashly—please, Grand Master, punish me."

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue's eyes narrowed slightly, then said: "Zunzhe Zunzhe Jiaxiang? There does seem to be such a figure in the Pure Land, but I've never heard of any deeds of his. Why suddenly seek the life of my disciple's disciple?"

With Lu Xuan Xuan Yue's words, the nature of the matter changed entirely.

Zhang Sheng extended his hand, palm open, revealing a single bodhi leaf: "Perhaps this object holds some karmic connection."

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue took the bodhi leaf, examined it repeatedly for a long while, then quietly set it aside: "The bald monk's tactics are treacherous. Zunzhe Jiaxiang's sudden strike must be backed by some advantage. Hmm—I need a helper. The Lord of the Mingwang Hall has just returned; he's the perfect one to deal with the bald monk. Come with me!"

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue swept his sleeve, and in an instant the two stood inside the Mingwang Hall, having forgotten the bodhi leaf entirely. As soon as they entered the hall's gate, they heard heavy, thunderous footsteps echoing through the chamber—like ancient divine beasts pacing back and forth, shaking the entire hall.

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue did not announce himself; he walked straight in.

Inside the first floor, dozens of Mingwang Hall disciples, bare-chested and bare-backed, were paired off in brutal hand-to-hand combat, their muffled thuds rising and falling, each strike resonating in the soul. Teeth occasionally flew out, clattering to the ground with crisp, tinkling sounds, harmonizing with the thunderous cracks of snapping bones.

In the center of the hall, a giant clad only in shorts was pinned beneath three other disciples, also clad only in shorts, who were pummeling him relentlessly. One of them, with acute perception, suddenly sprouted a pair of eyes on his back—immediately spotting Zhang Sheng and Lu Xuan Xuan Yue.

He shouted: "Stop! Elders have arrived! Get up and pay your respects!"

The three disciples scrambled up, bowing in unison. The giant pinned beneath them also rose and bowed—he was clearly at least a head taller than every other disciple.

Zhang Sheng blinked in surprise, then recognized the giant: Wang Hu. A top-tier genius among Dharma Forms, though fifty years older than Zhang Sheng and Ji Ji Liuli, thus counted among the previous generation.

Zhang Sheng looked again at the three disciples—and suddenly realized they were all women!

But in the Mingwang Hall's style, gender was nearly indistinguishable from behind; Feng Feng Tingyu was a rare exception. That's why the Mingwang Hall Lord treasured her—over a hundred years, only one such oddity had emerged, worth displaying to adorn the sect's prestige.

Traditional Mingwang Hall disciples wore little fabric—not because of moral decay, but because their chests, backs, thighs, and knees needed to be exposed to sense enemies; clothing would be like blindfolds, blocking perception.

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue, however, was unfazed; he stroked his beard: "What are you all doing...?"

One female disciple replied: "Grand Master, today's training exercise is: Three Heroes Against Wang Hu. My sisters and I just gained the upper hand, but to shatter the senior brother's physical form, we'll likely need to pound him for several more days."

"Oh, good. Carry on." Lu Xuan Xuan Yue took Zhang Sheng upstairs, and the Three Heroes resumed their battle with Wang Hu.

The second floor was utterly empty—there stood a refined young cultivator, one hand holding a ten-zhang-tall iron mountain, walking in slow circles through the hall. The terrifying footsteps that shook the entire hall came from him.

Seeing Lu Xuan Xuan Yue arrive, the Mingwang Hall Lord gently placed the Mingtieshan in a corner of the hall and asked: "Brother Lu Xuan Xuan Yue, what sudden interest brings you to my Mingwang Hall?"

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue did not answer immediately. He studied the Mingwang Hall Lord from head to toe, his expression growing grave: "You've lost weight again?"

The Mingwang Hall Lord flashed a radiant smile, like a sunlit boy: "This trip took me far—didn't eat properly once along the way. Lost exactly two thousand jin!"

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue's smile vanished completely: "Weren't you sent to reinforce the northern mountain gate? Why didn't you eat?"

The Mingwang Hall Lord said: "Don't mention it. I received a message from Yan Shi and left first thing in the morning. I figured I'd make it to the northern gate for lunch—but I got lost right away, then encountered all sorts of strange things. I kept walking, only to veer off course. For a whole year, I wandered through deep mountains and wild forests."

After the New Year, I thought going to the northern gate was pointless, so I returned. When I got back, I reflected: Yan Shi summoned me, I set out, but I never reached the northern gate—perhaps that was the intended outcome."

Zhang Sheng listened, baffled. Lu Xuan Xuan Yue explained: "This fellow avoids karmic ties, evades calculations, relies purely on instinct to dodge calamity. Each time he survives a great tribulation, his strength surges. He wandered aimlessly for a year—some immortal must have tried to manipulate him, only to fail utterly."

After dodging this tribulation, his power surged dramatically. Look—he's nearly caught up to me! Hmm, since he evaded it, that immortal must've suffered—likely lost a Golden Cave Heaven."

"By the way, why did you come to see me?" the Mingwang Hall Lord asked again.

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue said: "A bald monk from the Great Treasured Pure Land wants to scheme against my disciple's disciple. I plan to lie in wait at their mountain gate and beat him senseless when he steps out. Want to come with me?"

"Which bald monk?"

"Zunzhe Zunzhe Jiaxiang."

"What venerable one?"

"Zunzhe Zunzhe Jiaxiang."

"What venerable one?" the Lord of Mingwang Hall asked again, clearly still not catching on.

Suddenly, both understood.

"Apologies." Lu Xuan Xuan Yue turned and walked away.

The Mingwang Hall Lord was utterly confused—why had the old trickster suddenly shown up, trying to drag him out to fight, yet refusing to say who? Had the old devil finally gotten a conscience?

Thinking this, the Mingwang Hall Lord spat several times. Even with his toes, he knew the old devil had no conscience. But as soon as he stepped forward, his feet went numb—he collapsed face-first.

After landing in a cloud of dust, the Mingwang Hall Lord realized: his toes were protesting discrimination.

Outside the Mingwang Hall, Lu Xuan Xuan Yue cursed: "The bald monk's schemes are the most convoluted—he must've laid traps at the gate, waiting for me to walk right in! Thank heavens I came to find the Mingwang Hall Lord—otherwise I'd never have realized how treacherous the bald monk is!"

Zhang Sheng couldn't help but urge: "Saving Wei Yuan is urgent—revenge can wait."

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue said: "That's reasonable. But being tricked by a rogue monk leaves a bitter taste. When you struck that monk, did you use your full strength?"

Zhang Sheng hesitated: "I used all thirty-six blades of Green Silk Rain—so... the monk's Dharma Form is likely irreparably damaged. But this won't be evident for several years."

Previously, Zhang Sheng hadn't told the full truth—partly fearing punishment. After all, the monk had held back somewhat, while he had struck to kill.

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue, however, was ecstatic: "Good! Well struck! My Lu Xuan Xuan Yue disciple, that's how it's done!"

Zhang Sheng exhaled: "So we don't need to lie in wait at their gate?"

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue chuckled coldly: "The rogue monk thinks he's clever, but I've already seen through their trap! Hmph—I won't go today. I'll go in seven days. When the bald monks let their guard down, I'll catch them off guard!"

Zhang Sheng had nothing to say. He urged Lu Xuan Xuan Yue to borrow a celestial artifact, and they set off for Qingming.

In a quiet chamber of the Great Treasured Pure Land, a smiling monk slowly opened his eyes and addressed a group of disciples, all shorter than his seated legs: "Seven days from now, a distinguished guest will arrive at the gate. Treat them with utmost respect—do not neglect them."

On this return to Qingming, Zhang Sheng carried a celestial artifact. Lu Xuan Xuan Yue dared not take chances—he personally escorted him. Only after watching Zhang Sheng enter Qingming did he return to his own mountain.

By the time Lu Xuan Xuan Yue returned to Tianqing Hall, six days had passed. According to his plan, tonight he would depart for the Pure Land's gate, lying in wait for the monks to descend.

Just as Lu Xuan Xuan Yue prepared to leave, he noticed a letter on his desk, sealed with the words: "Open at Zi Hour on the Sixth Day"—in his own handwriting.

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue was puzzled—he had no memory of writing himself a letter. He opened it, and found written on the paper: "Today is best for rest. Do not travel, lie in wait, or ambush."

Lu Xuan Xuan Yue, ever obedient to himself, abandoned his departure plan.

Wei Yuan looked up at the setting sun, then at the brick in his hand, wondering why he was squatting outside the school gate.

He turned his head and saw the school's weathered cement gate bore a large inscription: Morality Advanced Academy.

What was going on?

Before he could make sense of it, a voice beside him spoke: "Brother Yuan, are you really going to fight? What if they're too many?"

Wei Yuan's mouth opened automatically: "Don't be afraid. Target the ringleader—beat him to death. Just beat him, that's all."

After speaking, Wei Yuan was startled—had he just said that?

He turned and saw a boy squatting beside him—delicate, with a touch of frailty, his face flushed with nervousness, his glasses fogging up intermittently. He too held a brick.

Wei Yuan felt like a shadow merging with this body. Finally, he asked the question he truly wanted to know: "What's your name?"

The boy looked surprised: "I'm Xiao Xiao Kongque! Brother Yuan, are you joking?"

"Oh, Little Xiao Kongque..."

"Xiao Xiao Kongque!" the boy corrected seriously.

At that moment, a shrill bell rang. Instantly, countless students in uniforms flooded the school gate. Wei Yuan looked down—he was wearing the same uniform. School hadn't ended yet—why was he squatting outside the gate?

Someone in the crowd shouted: "Look! The transfer student's coming out!"

The gate was packed with students. Wei Yuan couldn't make out the transfer student's face—but eight other students stepped forward, blocking the entrance. The leader declared: "You're the transfer student, Bao Yun? From now on, you're my girlfriend! I'll only ever have you as my girlfriend! Don't worry—any girl of mine can walk straight through this academy!"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Xiao Kongque lunged forward and smashed the brick into his back.

This guy doesn't know how to fight... Wei Yuan thought.

At that moment, his body was already behind Li Li Tianci, the brick aimed at his back—but Wei Yuan adjusted at the last second, striking the back of his neck instead, knocking him down instantly.

Wei Yuan pounced on Li Li Tianci, raining blows on his head and face. Around them, fists and kicks flew, shouts deafening. Wei Yuan didn't know how many hits he took, but he definitely beat the other boy badly.

"The principal's coming!" someone yelled. Instantly, the students scattered like birds.

Wei Yuan was dragged up and thrown to the ground. Then several students carried Li Li Tianci away.

Wei Yuan's entire body ached. Blood caked his eyes. He saw a figure before him, and wiped the blood away with difficulty—revealing a girl.

She wore a neat uniform, her hair tied in a simple ponytail. Her face was clean, bright, translucent—no makeup, yet beautiful enough to brighten the entire world.

Wei Yuan noticed one detail: she had to slightly bend down for him to see her face clearly.

The girl looked at Wei Yuan, then said: "You fought for me at the gate on your first day. Good. From today, you're my boyfriend."

Saying this, she turned and walked away, leaving behind a chorus of gasps.

Wei Yuan lay on the ground, utterly bewildered. How had things turned like this? Why had he been squatting outside the gate to fight? He couldn't remember—but it had nothing to do with the transfer student. She'd only transferred yesterday—he'd never even seen her.

The pain in his body made him groan. Then a thought surfaced: If I'm her boyfriend, does he pack breakfast? If so... maybe it's not so bad...

(End of Chapter)