164: I'll beat you into becoming your Buddha Tathagata.

"Hmph, you brat, your mind is quite wicked," Zhang Sanfeng said unhappily.

He felt very displeased whenever he recalled his previous loss to Duan Zhengchun.

As a dignified Land Immortal, losing to a junior due to a single moment of carelessness—how embarrassing would it be if word got out?

He had discovered the Sweeping Monk's appearance while on his way back. Realizing the monk must be after Duan Zhengchun, he had turned back.

He feared that this shameless old fossil, the Sweeping Monk, would bully the younger generation and deal with Duan Zhengchun.

Sure enough, this old bald donkey really intended to use force.

Seeing the two of them chatting as if no one else were there, the Sweeping Monk's Face turned ugly.

"Enough! Prince Duan, are you truly unwilling to hand over the heavenly demon zither?" the Sweeping Monk asked coldly.

"I'll hand over your grandmother's leg! If you have the ability, come and snatch it!" Duan Zhengchun retorted directly.

The Sweeping Monk's expression was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water. He hadn't expected Duan Zhengchun to show him so little Face.

"Fine. If this old fossil dares to bully the young today, don't worry—this old Daoist will help you beat him up," Zhang Sanfeng said.

"True Man Zhang, just watch from the side. If this bald donkey dares to use force today, see if I don't beat him to a pulp."

"I'll beat him directly into Tathagata and let him become a Buddha ancestor," Duan Zhengchun declared.

"Hmm? Beat him into Tathagata? What do you mean?" Zhang Sanfeng was stunned, looking at Duan Zhengchun with a Face full of confusion.

For a moment, he didn't understand the meaning behind Duan Zhengchun's words.

“Hehe... isn't it simple? What does Tathagata look like?” Duan Zhengchun chuckled.

Hearing Duan Zhengchun say this, an image immediately formed in Zhang Sanfeng's mind.

Tathagata's image—wasn't his head covered in bumps?

This brat meant he was going to beat the Sweeping Monk until his head was covered in lumps.

"Haha... you brat, you're talented, truly talented."

"That's a good idea. You're not beating him; you're clearly helping him!" Zhang Sanfeng said with a great laugh.

"Arrogant brat... today, This old monk shall subdue you, a Devil Head who speaks such wild words." The Sweeping Monk's composure completely shattered.

No longer caring about appearances, he struck out directly.

"Heh... perfect timing. Let me see what capabilities you, this old bald donkey, actually have." Duan Zhengchun snorted coldly and met the attack.

His figure vanished instantly, and when he reappeared, he was already behind the Sweeping Monk, striking down with a palm.

The Sweeping Monk hadn't expected Duan Zhengchun's speed to be so fast, yet he didn't panic at all.

Without even turning his head, he met the strike with a palm of his own. This strike was one of the Shaolin Temple's Seventy-Two Supreme Techniques: the Prajna Vajra Palm.

"Roar..."

The roar of a Dragon rang out as the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms collided with the Prajna Vajra Palm, producing a deafening sound and a shockwave that suddenly expanded.

Instantly, dust and smoke rose everywhere, and their figures flickered within the haze.

Every collision produced intense fluctuations. This battle was different from Duan Zhengchun's previous fights with Zhang Sanfeng, Li Hanyi, and Great Master Xiao Meng.

At this moment, the Sweeping Monk had developed killing intent toward Duan Zhengchun. He wanted to kill Duan Zhengchun; otherwise, the fury in his heart would not be appeased.

Duan Zhengchun naturally felt the Sweeping Monk's killing intent and would not hold back either.

After all, the Sweeping Monk was already in the Land Immortal Realm, while he himself was at the Peak of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Duan Zhengchun's advantage lay in his mastery of numerous profound martial arts, all of which had reached the state of Perfection.

Furthermore, with the Nine Yang Divine Art and the Nine Yin Manual within him, his Internal Energy was inexhaustible, harmonizing Yin and Yang.

Fighting across Realms was quite simple for him.

As the Prajna Vajra Palm clashed with the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, bursts of Dragon roars echoed.

Zhang Sanfeng had already moved aside to observe the battle closely.

A battle like this was also very helpful to Zhang Sanfeng.

Therefore, he absolutely could not miss this opportunity.

The Sweeping Monk grew more alarmed the more they fought. He hadn't expected that Duan Zhengchun, who was only in the Heavenly Human Realm—a full Realm lower than himself—could actually trade blows with him so evenly.

Moreover, Duan Zhengchun's aura hadn't weakened in the slightest.

Since the Prajna Palm couldn't overcome his opponent, he could only change from palms to claws.

The Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand. When the Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand was executed by him, it was far more sophisticated than when used by Kong Jian.

Claw shadows flickered, and the sharp wind was like divine Sword Qi; wherever it passed, claw marks appeared on the ground.

"Hmph, Dragon Claw Hand? Very well. Today, I'll show you what true claw techniques are," Duan Zhengchun sneered.

Then, his five fingers formed a claw, and a sharp claw-wind appeared.

Nine Yin White Bone Claw—tricky, sharp, and fierce.

The two exchanged over a hundred moves in an instant, and neither could overcome the other. However, looking closely, one would see bloodstains appearing on the back of the Sweeping Monk's hands.

Meanwhile, Duan Zhengchun's hands remained as translucent as jade without a single scratch. From this, the superior was clearly determined.

The more he fought, the more shocked the Sweeping Monk became. Duan Zhengchun's combat power had far exceeded his expectations.

How was this possible? How could this brat's Internal Energy be so strong? He was only at the Heavenly Human Realm; while the Sweeping Monk's own Internal Energy was beginning to deplete, this kid didn't show the slightest sign of fatigue.

This completely defied common sense; it defied all logic!

The Sweeping Monk knew that if this continued, he might actually lose.

Immediately, the Sweeping Monk no longer hesitated and unleashed his strongest strike, intending to settle the battle quickly.

In the current situation, the longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for him.

"Brat, you have truly surprised This old monk. To think a Heavenly Human Realm practitioner could have such vast Internal Energy to support them."

"This point was beyond This old monk's expectations, but it ends here. The gap between Realms is irreconcilable. All the choices made today were your own."

"So, do not blame This old monk for showing no mercy."

"This old monk can promise you that after today, I will owe the Duan Family a favor. If the Duan Family encounters a crisis in the future, you may come to the Shaolin Temple to find me, and I will take action once," the Sweeping Monk said with a Face full of pride.

"Heh, old bald donkey, you're quite confident in your own strength, aren't you?"

"Even at a time like this, you don't forget to set up a 'good person' persona for yourself."

"It's just, don't you know? The more you act like this, the more hypocritical people think you are, you old bald donkey."

"Do you think you still have a persona after your actions today? Your persona is that of an old fossil—hypocritical and shameless," Duan Zhengchun said without politeness.

"Mm, this old Daoist can testify to that."

"Old fellow, do you think your reputation can still be preserved today? You don't need to think about silencing witnesses; this old Daoist won't let you kill the Duan Family brat," Zhang Sanfeng said with a smile.

"Zhang Sanfeng, are you truly going to tear all Face with the Shaolin Temple?" the Sweeping Monk said, his expression turning ugly.

"What if I do? Do you think this old Daoist doesn't know about the things you've done over the years?"

"This old Daoist simply didn't want to bother with you. It would have been fine if you had stayed honestly hidden in the Shaolin Temple, but now you actually dare to come out and do evil. How could I let you have your way?" Zhang Sanfeng said.

"Heh, Zhang Sanfeng, do you really think This old monk would have no preparations after knowing you descended the mountain?" the Sweeping Monk sneered.

Hearing the Sweeping Monk's words, Zhang Sanfeng's expression immediately changed as he realized something was wrong.

"You old fossil, did you actually invite helpers?" Zhang Sanfeng frowned.