Chapter 97 — An Omen
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 6
As he hesitated, a burst of golden light suddenly blazed ahead, and a furious roar came crashing down, in an instant booming and shuddering like a tangible wave of sound, so that every tree and leaf around trembled—a fearsome display indeed.
But Xiao Yichen's expression changed: within that "Buddhist Demon-Subduing Roar" there was a note of anxious urgency. Judging by the situation, things were going very badly. The ties between the Brahma Sound Temple and the Canglan Sect were not as those with the Burning Cloud Valley. After a brief moment's deliberation, Xiao Yichen at last charged out, and a moment later came the sound of wind as Yan Fei followed after him.
Hovering in midair, the two took in the whole scene at a glance, and both were startled, then greatly shocked.
There in the clearing stood a monk in the robes of the Brahma Sound Temple—but not the mild, gentle Facheng; rather the burly, powerful Fajing. At this moment Fajing's robes billowed high about him, and in his hands a massive "Vajra Demon-Subduing Staff" whirled like a tempest of wind and rain, gleaming with golden light as it shielded his whole body, while from his mouth burst roar upon roar.
And the one fighting him was a beautiful woman dressed all in pale yellow. Her brows and eyes brimmed with feeling, a smile played at the corners of her lips, her black hair drifted softly about her shoulders, and her eyes were liquid and brimming—one glance at her and a man might seem to sink into them and never wish to come out again.
Xiao Yichen had looked at her only twice when a sudden turmoil surged in his heart. It seemed to him that in all the heavens and all the world only this one woman remained, and he truly wished to spend his whole life at her side.
Fortunately he had cultivated for many years and his attainment was far from shallow; he gave a violent start and came to his senses, and could not help being alarmed. He thought, "Where does this sorceress come from, to possess such a powerful art of enchantment?"
Though Fajing's momentum below was frightening to behold, both Xiao Yichen and Yan Fei could see that his face was flushed and that in truth he had been pressed by the beautiful woman before him into a corner from which he could only defend, and that without outside aid he likely could not hold out even half an hour more.
Xiao Yichen and Yan Fei were both secretly alarmed, yet search their minds as they might, they could not recall who this woman could possibly be, that her attainment should be so high as to leave Fajing—one of the Brahma Sound Temple's finest disciples after Facheng—scarcely able to strike back.
Seeing Fajing's defeat all but certain, Xiao Yichen and Yan Fei exchanged a glance, gave a shout, and plunged downward. Xiao Yichen summoned the famed immortal sword of the Canglan Sect's Heaven-Reaching Peak, the "Seven Stars Sword," which became a streak of white light and came cleaving down from on high. And at his side, a wisp of azure qi issued from Yan Fei's hand—her magic artifact, the "Azure Spirit Stone"—and followed close behind.
Hearing the sudden shouts from above, the woman in pale yellow changed color; a flicker of anger seemed to pass across her face, save that even that faint wrath, with all her myriad charms, seemed to melt into a beauty that stirred the soul, written lightly upon her cheeks and snatching at a man's spirit.