588: Lu Xueqi (65)

Su Han spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Lu Xueqi was not faring any better; her face was pale, and she had clearly suffered internal injuries.

With just a single move, they had been completely routed!

Bi Yao struggled to climb to her feet, blocking the path in front of Su Han, and gritted her teeth, "Old monster, if you have the ability, come at me!"

True Man Chi Xia looked at her indifferently, as if regarding an ant.

"Since you are in such a rush to die, this old man shall grant your wish."

He slowly raised his hand, and a scorching fireball condensed in his palm, emitting a destructive aura.

Su Han's eyes were wide with rage. He tried to get up, but his entire body was in excruciating pain, leaving him unable to move.

Lu Xueqi forced herself to gather her spiritual power, wanting to attack again, but the tianya divine sword had become incomparably heavy.

Just as Bi Yao was about to meet her end, suddenly, a new turn of events occurred!

A clear, resonant poetic chant came from afar:

"Between heaven and earth, there exists a righteous Qi, manifesting in various forms. Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars."

Following the chant, a surge of righteous Qi descended from the sky, transforming into a curtain of light that blocked the path in front of Bi Yao.

True Man Chi Xia's fireball slammed into the curtain of light, but it was as if a mud ox had entered the sea—it vanished without a trace!

"Who goes there?" True Man Chi Xia's expression changed, and he shouted sternly.

Under the moonlight, a scholar in green robes stepped through the air. With a refined appearance and holding a scroll, it was none other than Shopkeeper Wang from Yuelai Inn!

However, at this moment, Shopkeeper Wang's temperament was completely different from before; his entire being radiated a majestic, righteous Qi, resembling a great Confucian scholar of his generation!

"Shopkeeper Wang?" Su Han was both shocked and delighted.

Shopkeeper Wang landed in the arena, first nodding at Su Han, then looking at True Man Chi Xia, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Chi Xia, it has been many years; have you been well?"

True Man Chi Xia stared fixedly at Shopkeeper Wang, an expression of disbelief on his face.

"It is you? Wang Shouren! You are actually still alive!"

Wang Shouren smiled slightly, "Wang has yet to educate the world, so how dare I die so easily?"

Li Fen and the others all turned pale upon hearing the name "Wang Shouren."

"Master Yangming? The last Saint of the Confucian school from five hundred years ago?" Li Fen exclaimed, "How is this possible!"

Wang Shouren, titled Yangming, was the last great achiever of the Confucian school five hundred years ago. His cultivation was heaven-defying, and he was once named one of the three great experts of the world alongside Immortal Master Qing Ye of the Qingyun Sect and the divine monk Master Puzhi of Tianyin Temple.

However, it was rumored that he had passed away three hundred years ago. How could he appear here and become an innkeeper?

True Man Chi Xia's expression shifted uncertainly, and he finally said in a deep voice, "Wang Yangming, this matter has nothing to do with you; why must you interfere?"

Wang Shouren shook his head, "Young Friend Su and I have a fated connection; his business is my business."

He looked at the surrounding Incense Valley Disciples and sighed, "Moreover, you are bullying the few with the many and the young with the old; this truly goes against morality. Since I have encountered this, I cannot simply sit idly by."

True Man Chi Xia laughed out of extreme anger, "Good! Good! Since you insist on interfering, then let this old man see how much capability you, this Confucian Saint, still possess after three hundred years!"

After speaking, flames rose again around his body, and he transformed into a meteor of fire, charging directly at Wang Shouren!

Wang Shouren was unhurried. He unfolded the scroll in his hand and said sonorously, "My heart is bright, what more is there to say?"

Following his words, the surrounding space suddenly became bright. It was not the light of torches, nor the moonlight, but a brightness originating from the heart!

Under the illumination of this light, True Man Chi Xia's flames seemed to have encountered their nemesis and rapidly receded!

"The Light of the State of Mind? You actually cultivated the Light of the State of Mind!" True Man Chi Xia turned pale with shock and hurriedly retreated.

Wang Shouren stood with his hands behind his back and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Chi Xia, do you still wish to fight?"

True Man Chi Xia's face was livid. He stared fixedly at Wang Shouren for a long time before gritting his teeth and saying, "Incense Valley will remember today's humiliation! Let us go!"

After speaking, he ignored Li Fen and the others, transformed into a streak of fire, and tore through the air to leave!

Li Fen and the others looked at each other, and in the end, they could only glare hatefully at the three of them—Su Han, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao—before retreating in a sorry state with their Disciples.

In the blink of an eye, the valley, which had just been filled with Killing Intent, was left with only Su Han's group and Wang Shouren.

Su Han struggled to rise and bowed deeply to Wang Shouren, "Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives!"

Wang Shouren waved his hand, and that surge of righteous Qi gradually receded, returning him to the appearance of an ordinary scholar.

"No need for such formalities." He looked at the reincarnation mirror fragment in Su Han's hand, a strange look flashing in his eyes, "This object is of great significance; you must be careful."

Su Han's heart stirred, and he asked, "Senior, do you know the origin of this reincarnation mirror?"

Wang Shouren pondered for a moment and said, "This is an ancient secret, and I do not know much about it. I have only heard that the reincarnation mirror is related to the mystery of the Six Paths of Reincarnation; if one can collect all the pieces, one might be able to glimpse the opportunity for eternal life."

He looked towards the southeast, implying something, "The Ancient Bronze Palace you are seeking may be related to a certain legend in the Southern Border."

"Southern Border?" Su Han was lost in thought.

Wang Shouren nodded but did not say more; instead, he took a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Su Han.

"Inside are three 'Medicinal Pills of Rejuvenation'; they are quite effective for healing."

He looked at the sky again and said, "The sky will soon be bright, and I should return. The inn cannot be left unattended."

Su Han took the porcelain bottle and said gratefully, "Senior's great kindness, Su Han will never forget!"

Wang Shouren smiled, "If we are fated, we will meet again."

After speaking, his figure gradually faded and finally vanished from sight.

Arriving without a shadow and departing without a trace, he was like an immortal.

Bi Yao looked in the direction where Wang Shouren had vanished and murmured, "I never expected that the legendary Master Yangming was still alive, and that he was running an inn in Heyang City..."

Lu Xueqi said softly, "I heard that Master Yangming traveled the world three hundred years ago in search of a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, and since then, there has been no news of him. It turns out he was training in the Mortal World."

Su Han took a Medicinal Pill of Rejuvenation and felt a warm current surge through his entire body; his injuries immediately improved by more than half.

He handed the porcelain bottle to Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao, letting them also take the Medicinal Pill.

"Master Yangming mentioned the Southern Border; it seems that is where we must go next," Su Han said.

Lu Xueqi nodded, "The Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border do indeed have legends of ancient ruins."

Bi Yao's injuries had improved slightly, and she had recovered her liveliness. She smiled, "That is perfect; our Ghost King Sect also has some influence in the Southern Border, so we might be able to help."

Su Han looked at the fish-belly white appearing in the east and took a deep breath.

A new day had begun, and their journey was far from over.

The road ahead might be even more treacherous, but with companions and a goal, there was nothing to fear.

"Let's go. First, we will head to the nearest town to rest and reorganize, then we shall head for the Southern Border!" (End of Chapter)