Chapter 1013

"You bald thieves, you dare—"

With his heart meridian bearing this heavy burden of damage, how could Zhu Wushi not realize that these five old monks truly harbored ill intentions.

No matter how he thought it over, he still could not figure out why this Yunzhou Shaolin Temple would dare to openly deal with him.

But at this life-and-death juncture, how could he afford to think so much.

At any cost, he tried to mobilize his own true essence, along with the cultivation of eight hundred experts stored throughout his limbs and bones, to come and rescue himself.

"Ah—"

But the moment his thoughts stirred, those five streams of true essence suddenly split apart again.

One stream of true essence continued to churn within his heart meridian, looking as if it would not stop until it severed his heart meridian.

The other four streams of true essence—two went downward, one targeting the dantian, one targeting the Shanzhong point.

The remaining two streams both surged upward, directly attacking Zhu Wushi's Niwan Palace.

After this round of moves, Zhu Wushi only felt the injuries were even worse than those dealt by that barbarian expert.

With his Niwan Palace under fierce assault, how could he still gather focus to mobilize true essence to save himself.

Once these five old monks of the Heart Chan Hall made their move, they showed absolutely no mercy.

Even though Zhu Wushi was the foremost expert on the surface of the Great Ming in the foreign realm, at this moment he could not withstand it either.

He strained to gather his spirit, wanting to save himself.

But under the full cooperation of the several old monks, they churned his meridians until they snapped, and the injuries all over his body grew even worse.

Even the Niwan Palace that housed his spirit was on the verge of being lost.

Just as the Niwan Palace was about to fall, Zhu Wushi knew he had already fallen into their trap, and there was no escaping it.

He could only open his eyes, stare with bulging eyes at the several old monks, and ask,

"Why? Why does your Yunzhou Shaolin harm me?"

Zhu Wushi truly could not figure it out—although he did indeed move through the Wu Lin.

Yet toward the eight great sects of the jianghu, especially the Yunzhou Shaolin Sect, he had never had any entanglement.

Although Benefactor Guihai did indeed first kill Liaokong, and then killed Liao Jie, and he himself, out of certain purposes, shielded him.

But Yunzhou Shaolin Temple had no need to necessarily strike him dead, did they?

One must know that if he himself died in Yunzhou Shaolin Temple, these bald donkeys—every last one of them—could they escape the court's reckoning?

Not to mention anything else—if his old enemy Cao Zhengchun learned that he had been covertly attacked by Yunzhou Shaolin Temple.

This old eunuch would surely, under the pretext of avenging him, wantonly exterminate Yunzhou Shaolin.

Those who obey him thrive, those who oppose him perish!

Could these old monks have gone mad?

"Because this one wishes to replace you!"

Just as Zhu Wushi, baffled and full of resentment, was questioning them.

From deep within the Chan Hall, another noble person clad in brocade and wearing a jade belt walked out once more.

This man's features were resolute, and as he walked he radiated a tiger-like vigor—truly bearing the bearing of a king.

Looking at this man's appearance, Zhu Wushi could not help but stare in stunned disbelief.

In an instant, the last line of mental defense he had been holding crumbled.

Seizing that sliver of an opening, the two old monks attacking the Niwan Palace exerted all their strength and finally broke through Zhu Wushi's Niwan Palace.

"You... are... who?"

Just before his spirit was about to be obliterated, Zhu Wushi gazed at this person before him who looked exactly like himself, and asked unwillingly.

"I am Zhu Wushi!"

That person smiled faintly—that smile was precisely Zhu Wushi's signature smile.

"No—"

Zhu Wushi was unwilling in his heart, but his spirit was violently impacted, and ultimately his consciousness sank into chaos.

"Congratulations, Zhuge Shenhou. He Xi, Zhuge Shenhou."

After Zhu Wushi's consciousness sank into chaos and the pupils of his eyes gradually dilated.

Liaofan, who had been standing guard nearby, stepped forward at this moment and offered congratulations to that person who looked identical to Zhu Wushi.

"Many thanks for your trouble, Master."

This person solemnly performed a bow toward Liaofan.

Then he walked over to stand before Zhu Wushi, placed one hand against Zhu Wushi's forehead, and expelled true essence from his palm.

It was precisely Zhu Wushi's signature divine art—Absorbing Art!

This person actually also knew the Absorbing Art?

After he activated the Absorbing Art, the true essence of the late Heavenly Being Realm within Zhu Wushi, together with the cultivation of the eight hundred experts scattered throughout his limbs and bones.

Were all continuously absorbed by the Absorbing Art, flowing without cease into this person's body.

After a long while, once he had finished absorbing.

The Zhu Wushi beneath his palm had already become a dried corpse.

This person casually tossed it aside, and Zhu Wushi's corpse was smashed into pieces.

"From now on, I shall be the true Zhu Wushi of this world!

Hahahaha—"

Speaking to the point of triumph, this person threw his head back and laughed long and hard.

"Zhuge Shenhou, since you have already replaced this waste, should you now keep your promise and take us to find that last Sky-Scented Cardamom?"

Liaofan stepped forward at this moment and said to this person.

"Naturally!"

The man stopped laughing and nodded.

Then, with a look of distaste, he glanced at the powder that had been Zhu Wushi's corpse and said contemptuously,

"This Sky-Fragrant Cardamom was formed from the fortune of this realm — it is truly a supreme treasure.

Yet this waste only thought of saving that woman who bore a child for someone, never once considering how to use such a heaven-defying treasure.

Dying here, he brought it entirely upon himself."

"Yes, yes, yes — how could this waste compare to even a ten-thousandth of Zhuge Shenhou?"

Liaofan's words were humble, the picture of a man currying favor with this person.

"Enough, enough! As for this last Sky-Fragrant Cardamom, I won't simply come out and say it."

This man naturally knew what Liaofan wanted, yet did not say it directly.

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Liaofan's expression could not help but shift slightly.

The Five Elders of the Heart Chan Hall, taking their positions according to the Five Elements, silently encircled this man at their center.

"Master Liaofan, all you Masters must not misunderstand."

Seeing the situation, this man immediately offered an explanation:

"Although I have absorbed this Zhu Wushi's cultivation and destiny, and successfully replaced him in this realm,

I have not yet taken over his forces — it really cannot be counted as our deal being fulfilled."

"Then may I ask what Zhuge Shenhou means? Surely you don't expect this poor monk and the others to wait while you go take over the Shanzhuang,

receive the kneeling fealty of the Thirty-Six Yuan Tiangang and Seventy-Two Disha, before the deal is considered complete?"

Liaofan gave a cold laugh, no longer wearing his earlier humble manner.

This man's brow furrowed slightly, a flash of anger crossing his face before vanishing, and he said,

"It wouldn't come to that! I do merely need to make a trip to the Shanzhuang.

Once I obtain a few things, the deal will be considered done — after that, I'll take all you Masters to seek out the last Sky-Fragrant Cardamom — how about it?"

"Very well!"

Liaofan exchanged a glance with the Five Elders of the Heart Chan Hall, a rapid silent exchange passing between them.

After a long pause, Liaofan finally said, clearly reluctant,

"Whatever you wish to take, go ahead and take it!

But let me say this plainly first — we can only give you seven days' time.