Chapter 96 — Old Sentiments
劍問蒼天 · Page 3 of 6
With a clear cry, the Slaying Dragon Sword gave a mighty dragon roar, its azure radiance blazing as it surged skyward, bursting out from within that expanse of clear light. In an instant sword qi crisscrossed like falling rain, sweeping toward Qin Wujiu from all sides.
Qin Wujiu frowned, not having expected the man to be so fierce. At this moment, if he but turned the Severed Longing Divine Dagger to pursue, he could most likely wound him grievously. Yet before this sword of the Slaying Dragon—one that pressed ever onward, unstoppable by any—he judged that he himself could hardly withstand it, and so had no choice but to dodge aside.
In that moment of divided attention, his hand slowed, and he could no longer spare care for the Demon-Controlling Flute that commanded the Dead Marsh Giant Ants. Behind him, Zeng Shuyan and Li Xun, hard pressed in their defense, at last managed to catch their breath. Though it was but a brief span, those savage giant ants, charging in wave upon wave with no fear of death, had truly given them a splitting headache.
Zeng Shuyan shouted, "Hey, Senior Brother Fa Cheng, look at the time! Are you still enlightening people? Please hurry up and act—otherwise, if these beasts eat us, you'll have to recite the Rebirth Mantra for me!"
Fa Cheng gave a bitter smile and said no more. Seeing Qin Wujiu in the field once again hold off Lin Jinghong's attacks, each wave higher than the last, he called out clearly, "Benefactor Qin, take care."
As the words fell, the Reincarnation Bead, glittering with golden light, flew in from the side.
Qin Wujiu frowned. This Lin Jinghong before him was already of a cultivation higher than he had expected, and now Fa Cheng was added to the fray. He gave a cold hum, and without any visible movement, three black shadows suddenly flew from the sleeve of his right arm, swiftly separating and hurtling toward Fa Cheng from three directions.
Fa Cheng's expression turned grave; he dared not be careless. The Reincarnation Bead, midway in flight, suddenly blazed with golden light and blocked two of the black shadows with incredible speed—yet one still slipped through the golden radiance.
Fa Cheng gave a "hmph," then suddenly joined his fingers like a blade and extended his pale palm flat toward the flying shadow, crying out, "Du!"
The black shadow trembled violently in midair, and a moment later, as though struck by a heavy blow, dropped from the sky. It was a small black snake with a triangular head, plainly highly venomous. It fell to the ground, twisted and writhed a few times, then lay still—dead, presumably.
Qin Wujiu started, then nodded in praise. "'The Power of Stillness'! Truly worthy of the Brahma Sound Temple's foremost heir. The Master's cultivation is indeed something I deeply admire. But the Master kills living things so freely—I wonder whether the Buddha will hold it against you?"
Before Fa Cheng could answer, Lin Jinghong was already pressing the attack fiercely ahead, wrapping Qin Wujiu in a shroud of azure light. He sneered, "You monsters slay countless living things and heap up endless sins every day, yet at a time like this you put on a face of lofty righteousness and question others. Truly shameless!"
Qin Wujiu laughed loudly, dodging the indestructible edge of the Slaying Dragon Sword, and the Severed Longing Divine Dagger rose with clear light to strike back. At the same time, with a shake of his right hand, seven or eight more shadows flew from his sleeve in moments—brown, black, dark red, crimson-yellow. By the treasure light, all could see they were scorpions, centipedes, and other highly venomous creatures of every kind, rushing at Fa Cheng and penning him off at a distance, unable to come near.