Chapter 723 Massive Changes
Xuan Ming Monk seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, indifferent to Gao Fei's beating, he simply refused to give in. He was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice!
"Gao! If you have the guts, kill me, and when I turn into a vengeful ghost afterward, I will come for your life!" Xuan Ming Monk screamed with all his might, his eyes bloodshot, teeth tightly clenched, his expression utterly ferocious.
"Fine, I'll kill you right now." Gao Fei was ruthless as well, lifting his hand and starting to mercilessly slap Xuan Ming Monk, "How laughable! Your fellow sect members would rather watch you get beaten to death than release Shangguan Yunyue. How heartless and unrighteous! Is this the 'compassion' that your Buddhist Sect preaches? To disregard even the bond of sect brothers, what else are you incapable of doing? Now I truly see, you're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites, villains, bald donkeys!!!"
"Bastard!" Abbot Xuan Si's face turned bluish with rage, as he hadn't been this angry in a long time, "I'll say it one last time, release Junior Brother Xuan Ming immediately!"
"Sure, I can let him go, but you must release Shangguan Yunyue."
"Impossible! Shangguan Yunyue stole the Shariputra and has not returned it to this day. Her crime is unforgivable; I absolutely will not let her go."
"Then let's call it quits. If you don't release Shangguan Yunyue, I will kill Xuan Ming Monk right in front of you! I want to see if you truly are so cold-hearted and ruthless!"
"You..."
"'You' what? Others may fear you, but I am not afraid!"
"Do you really want to be my enemy?"
"It's not that I want to be your enemy, it's you who are giving me trouble!"
"Hmph!" Abbot Xuan Si snorted coldly, "Do you really think that by capturing Junior Brother Xuan Ming, I wouldn't dare to touch you?"
A sharp glint passed through Gao Fei's eyes, "If you dare to make a move, I'll kill Xuan Ming Monk immediately!"
"Good, kill him then, do it now." Abbot Xuan Si walked towards Gao Fei, his expression cold, his tone even colder, "Junior Brother Xuan Ming, rest assured, I will avenge you! After your death, I will bury you in the Golden Buddha Hall, where all disciples will kneel before you."
"Thank you, Abbot!" Xuan Ming Monk said with a trembling voice, "Alive, I am a person of the Myriad Buddhas Sect; dead, I am a ghost of the Myriad Buddhas Sect! I will never leave the Myriad Buddhas Sect, not in this life or the next! Today is the day I sacrifice my life for righteousness! I ask for nothing else, only that Brother Abbot must avenge me and wash away my hatred!"
"Rest assured." Abbot Xuan Si nodded earnestly, "I won't let you die in vain."
"Stop right there!" Gao Fei bellowed, "If you dare step forward again, I'll smash Xuan Ming Monk's head!"
Abbot Xuan Si didn't speak but kept walking forward, one step, two steps, three steps... coming ever closer…
Gao Fei's heart sank; he realized that Abbot Xuan Si was serious and not just bluffing. Damn it, how could this old monk be so ruthless? To give up his own fellow monk? Truly cold-blooded! What should he do? Kill Xuan Ming Monk outright, or bow his head and compromise?
Gao Fei's face alternated between light and dark as he struggled internally.
In the midst of Gao Fei's hesitation, Abbot Xuan Si suddenly shouted, "Junior Brother Xuan Ming, what are you waiting for? Take action now!"
Action? What action?
Gao Fei hurriedly looked down, huh? Xuan Ming Monk was lying peacefully in his arms, doing nothing at all? Not good! Gao Fei was startled, he'd been duped! That despicable bald donkey dared to deceive me... Realizing something was amiss, Gao Fei quickly backed away. His reaction couldn't be called slow, yet he still couldn't avoid Abbot Xuan Si's sneak attack...
Gao Fei only felt a shadow flash before his eyes, then the hostage, Xuan Ming Monk, was snatched from his grasp... Immediately after, he took a kick to the chest, and his body soared into the air, tracing a beautiful parabola before crashing heavily to the ground, dust flying and blood spurting, his face instantly turning deathly pale, and his body uncontrollably trembling.
To describe it in words seems a bit lengthy, but all these events happened in an instant.
Abbot Xuan Si used trickery to divert Gao Fei's attention, then rushed over quickly, displaying Thunderous Methods to injure Gao Fei and retrieve Xuan Ming Monk. It must be said, experience is a true asset!
"Thank you, Abbot Brother! Thank you!" Xuan Ming Monk, having narrowly escaped death, was extremely agitated.
"Be more careful next time, and don't capsize in the gutter," Abbot Xuan Si handed Xuan Ming Monk to a disciple, "Escort Elder Xuan Ming to rest."
The disciple took Xuan Ming Monk with both hands, turned, and strode away, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
After settling the matter with Xuan Ming Monk, Abbot Xuan Si stepped towards Gao Fei, a murderous aura bursting forth from him, as he harbored the intent to kill Gao Fei.
"How dare you!" He Hentian, who had been closely watching the situation unfold, roared in anger, "If you dare to lay a hand on Gao Fei, I'll lead my soldiers to flatten the Myriad Buddhas Sect!" He Hentian motioned with a sweep of his arm, "All troops prepare for battle, ready to attack the Myriad Buddhas Sect at any moment!"
Abbot Xuan Si frowned, truly unwilling to clash with the officials. The authorities were numerous and strong, with plenty of skilled fighters. If a full-scale battle were to break out, it was uncertain whether they'd win or lose... Victory would leave them severely weakened, and defeat could mean utter annihilation.
But... for Abbot Xuan Si to easily let Gao Fei off the hook was something he couldn't stomach.
For so many years, nobody had ever dared to insult him to his face! He had a temper too; whoever dared insult him, he would kill!
"Don't doubt my words!" He Hentian shouted, "I am the Crown Prince, the future Emperor of Mankind! My words are as precious as gold, they are absolute, and I will make good on them!" Saying this, He Hentian softened his tone slightly, "Let Gao Fei go, and I will let bygones be bygones."
Abbot Xuan Si pondered for a long while, and finally let out a long sigh, "Come, toss Gao Fei out, from now on, he's forbidden from setting foot in the Myriad Buddhas Sect ever again." In the end, he still conceded; he dared not risk it or gamble, for he couldn't afford to lose.
Immediately, two young monks stepped up, threw the continuously bleeding Gao Fei out.
"Gao Fei!" He Hentian caught Gao Fei, asking anxiously, "Are you okay?"
"Cough cough cough..." Gao Fei coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, shaking his head slightly, "I'm fine, I won't die just yet... cough cough cough..." Abbot Xuan Si had struck hard, directly injuring his lungs, even his dantian and meridians were shaken. Initially, Abbot Xuan Si intended to kill Gao Fei, but luckily Gao Fei reacted very quickly, and at the last moment, he dodged, ultimately saving his own life.
That counted as extremely fortunate amidst misfortune!
Keep in mind that Abbot Xuan Si was a cultivator at the Tribulation Crossing Period Great Perfection, practicing Buddhist Law from a young age and adept in many Buddhist Secret Techniques. For Gao Fei to escape alive from his hands was already quite remarkable.
"These damn bald donkeys!" He Hentian cursed fiercely, "It's absolutely infuriating!"
"Shangguan Yunyue is locked up inside... She has suffered so much..." Gao Fei said breathlessly, "I must rescue her... Can you help me... Please, I beg you... Help me..."
"What are you talking about! We are good friends, and of course I will help you when you're in trouble," He Hentian said, "I'll demand her release right now. If they refuse, I'm ready to lead a million-strong army to storm the mountain—even if it means my entire force is annihilated, I will inflict heavy damage on the Myriad Buddhas Sect today!" He Hentian was also ruthless; once he got tough, it was terrifying, "If a million is not enough, I'll call upon ten million, a hundred million... No matter the cost, I must exterminate the Myriad Buddhas Sect!"
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