Chapter 146 - 139: A New Opportunity! (9,000 words for today)

Chapter 146: Chapter 139: A New Opportunity! (9,000 words for today)

Chen Yuan’s habit was to open his Heavenly Eye first when looking at people, to see if anyone possessed Qi Fortune before he made a move. He had already scanned everyone present on the scene.

However, he didn’t discover any Qi Fortune.

He originally thought he wouldn’t encounter anyone with Qi Fortune this time, but unexpectedly, there was still a glimmer of hope in the grim situation.

“Lord Chen, the government’s actions are too cruel!” Xuan Nu stepped forward, blocking Chen Yuan’s path with a calm gaze.

“You want to stop me?”

Chen Yuan’s right hand gripped his saber.

Chen Yuan wouldn’t provoke the monks from Gold Mountain Monastery unless necessary, but if they dared stand in his way, he would show no mercy. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chen Yuan represented the face of the court,

no matter how far things escalated, he could not back down.

Tao Qingyuan would also protect him.

“It’s not that I’m stopping Lord Chen, I just want to save the lives of these women and children.”

“That’s still standing in my way.”

“If Lord Chen insists on seeing it that way, then so be it…” Xuan Nu’s face remained very calm.

“The Buddhist faith saves the world, but not the poor and destitute, yet it saves these noble sons born with a silver spoon. How compassionate the Buddhist faith indeed is!” Chen Yuan sneered coldly.

“It seems Lord Chen harbors some misunderstandings about Buddhism.”

“Misunderstandings? What are misunderstandings? These are just the facts before me, Xuan Nu, since you intend to obstruct my mission, I have no choice but to take action!”

Xuan Nu’s expression flickered as he fell silent for a moment before speaking:

“The Ren Family violated the imperial laws and should be executed, but this humble monk truly cannot bear to witness such cruelty. If Lord Chen can knock this humble monk back with a single punch,

I will no longer interfere; otherwise, I hope Lord Chen shows compassion and spares these innocent women and children. How about it?”

“Why should I bet with you over a single punch? Since you dare to block me, then it’s a fight to the death…” Chen Yuan’s voice was calm, but it carried an underlying threat of violence.

“Lord Chen, may I say a word?”

Xu Baishong spoke up at the right moment.

“And who might you be?”

Chen Yuan’s gaze was steady; when he executed Ren Changyi, no one had come forward, but now, when he was about to exterminate the rest, someone intervened, which was quite strange.

“My name is Xu Baishong, an elder of the Qingmu Sect,” Xu Baishong replied, somewhat embarrassed.

“Lord Chen… long time no see,” said Chu Yunfeng from behind, bowing.

“It’s you…” Chen Yuan nodded, having noticed them when he first came in, but he didn’t bother to greet them. They had only met once,

so they were not well acquainted.

“What does Elder Xu want to say?”

“Master Xuan Nu has a compassionate heart, and Lord Chen is just performing his official duties. Both have their reasons. How about we make a wager? If Master Xuan Nu fails to block Lord Chen’s punch,

he will give up the Meridian Passage Spirit Water, else Lord Chen will spare these women and children. What do you think?” Xu Baishong proposed with a smile.

“Meridian Passage Spirit Water…” Chen Yuan’s gaze flickered.

He had certainly heard of the Meridian Passage Spirit Water from Gold Mountain Monastery, which had significant effects on Martial Artists, greatly expanding their meridians and accelerating the absorption of Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy.

It could be used only once in a lifetime.

And was usually highly treasured.

Xuan Nu pondered for a moment and then looked at Chen Yuan:

“I agree to Elder Xu’s suggestion. What does Lord Chen think?”

“Fine, but… even if I don’t knock you back, I will still take the life of one person from among them to settle the matter. The rest will have their meridians destroyed,” Chen Yuan declared, pointing to the group of women and children from the Ren Family.

Destroying their meridians entirely was to prevent any unforeseen issues, and taking one life was for the sake of Qi Fortune!

The group of Ren Family women and children shivered, their faces filled with terror.

This was the first time their Ren Family had ever been treated this way.

A fairly robust man clung to a middle-aged woman’s embrace, and behind him, a boy with an ordinary face and slightly dark skin had his eyes wide open, radiating a bright look.

Pondering something unknown.

Hearing Chen Yuan’s conditions, Xuan Nu’s brow furrowed slightly, not expecting Chen Yuan to be so ruthless, planning to cripple these offspring of the Ren Family even if he failed to knock him back.

Leaving no loose ends.

“Very well… I agree!” Xuan Nu exhaled deeply.

His original intention wasn’t to save these offspring of the Ren Family anyway.

Though he had a compassionate heart, he wouldn’t let it overflow excessively.

He was just curious about the faint golden light that emanated from Chen Yuan’s body during their previous encounter; it had seemed familiar to him, and he had wanted to verify something…

“In that case, Master, please proceed!” Chen Yuan nodded.

As soon as Chen Yuan finished speaking, a vast open space instantly cleared around them.

Monk Xuan Nu stood in the center of the clearing, tore off his kasaya, revealing a stout and sturdy body with faint golden specks adorning his flesh.

Under the sunlight’s reflection, they were extremely dazzling.

Taking a deep breath, he suddenly stomped his feet, causing the ground to tremble as if merging with it, and looked fiercely at Chen Yuan, signaling that he could make his move.

A faint trace of Evil Qi condensed in front of his chest.

Immovable as a mountain!

The hint of a smile on Chen Yuan’s face turned serious as he watched Xuan Nu, knowing that since he had witnessed his strength and still dared to take a direct punch, Xuan Nu must possess some skill.

Not to be underestimated.

But Chen Yuan himself was not to be trifled with either.

Under his clothing, golden paint spread, and his fists shone with a golden light. The Vajra Glaze Body Technique began to operate forcefully, his right arm visibly swelling to the naked eye.

The Supreme Mysterious Scripture circulated, drawing in Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy continuously into his body, transforming it into a whirl of Qi in his Dantian, and a formidable power surged into his flesh.

At the height of his powers!

This was the period when Chen Yuan was at his peak.

The onlookers around him didn’t even dare to breathe heavily, their eyes tightly fixed on the scene.

Xu Baishong’s expression was grave; he too couldn’t be certain of the outcome.

Martial Monk Xuan Nu’s strength was such that he could rank among the top within Nanling Prefecture’s Gang Condensing Martial Artists. His Buddhist Blood Evil was especially formidable, renowned for the strength of his flesh. Had he not been advanced in years,

he would have certainly made it onto the Hidden Dragon List.

As for Chen Yuan…

Just now, he had faced three opponents alone and with a single strike of his saber, he had killed a Qi Absorption Martial Artist. His strength was unquestionably terrifying, not something ordinary people could match—an intense battle of the strong.

It wasn’t just Xu Baishong; even if the Sect Master of Qingmu Sect himself were here, he probably wouldn’t be able to predict the victor.

Chen Yuan focused his mind and stilled his Qi. His state climbed higher and higher, and finally, his gaze sharpened, a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes. With one step, he crossed several meters and instantly appeared in front of Xuan Nu.

His right fist swelled, and with full force, he unleashed his most powerful punch.

“Boom!”

Chen Yuan’s fist landed on Xuan Nu’s chest. Within several meters around them, dust rose from the impact. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, before the crowd could react.

Xuan Nu’s complexion turned a sheet of red as the Buddhist Blood Evil Qi in front of his chest dispersed, and he took a half step back.

The superior was instantly determined!

The Qi around Xuan Nu faded from robust to weak…

Complete silence fell over the crowd.

“Inspector Chen’s strength is astounding. There are few within Nanling Prefecture beneath the Heavenly Gang Level that can force this monk to retreat. With your strength, Inspector Chen, it won’t be many days before you ascend onto the Hidden Dragon List,” said Xuan Nu as he took a deep breath, his expression calm as he took a vial of golden spirit water from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Yuan.

“The master is too kind.”

Chen Yuan laughed, seemingly indifferent, but inside he was shocked by the monk’s skills.

This time, he had been clever. After all, Xuan Nu had stood still, allowing him to throw his punch. If it had been a straight clash of strength, had he not used the Blood Evil Saber, Chen Yuan might not have been his match.

That punch, when Chen Yuan felt it come into contact with Xuan Nu’s chest, it was like he was striking a giant bell, immensely hard. If not for the support of the Supreme Mysterious True Qi within him,

Chen Yuan would not have managed to make him retreat.

Even with his full-strength punch, it seemed to have caused no real harm to him.

The monks of Gold Mountain Monastery were indeed extraordinary!

Taking the Meridian Passage Spirit Water, Chen Yuan placed it in front of his chest, quietly watching the Martial Monk Xuan Nu.

He wondered if he would uphold his promise.

Xuan Nu sighed, turned around toward the women and children of the Ren Family, pressed his palms together, and showed a compassionate face:

“This monk has done his best.”

“Master, save us!”

“Please, Master, save our lives.”

Xuan Nu remained unmoved. He took a deep look at Chen Yuan before turning away and leaving.

Chen Yuan watched as he walked away.

So did the spectating crowd.

They were shocked. The typically formidable Martial Monks of Gold Mountain Monastery were now retreating before this new Inspector Chen!

This was big news.

Xuan Nu, with his usual expression, walked out of the Ren family’s main gate. He looked around discreetly to see if anyone was paying attention to him, supported himself against a wall corner, and spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Inside the Ren household’s front courtyard, Chen Yuan glanced around at the onlookers, none dared to meet his gaze, including the Gang Condensing Martial Artists like those of Qinghe County Magistrate.

With the momentum of a great victory, he looked down upon everyone.

He took step by step towards the Ren family’s women and children. A middle-aged woman immediately knelt before him, pleading:

“Sir… My Lord, we are willing to submit to the imperial court and accept our deaths. I only ask that you spare the life of my ten-year-old child; he is still young. Please leave a way out for the Ren family.”

As she knelt, a dozen other Ren family’s women and children also knelt down.

Only one child in the back did not kneel.

Chen Yuan’s gaze lingered on a burly man standing beside her, and he was slightly startled; this guy must be almost as tall as him…

“He’s ten years old?”

Yue Shan was somewhat incredulous.

“No one believes it, my lady included, but this child is indeed ten years old…” the middle-aged woman cried out.

Chen Yuan did not pay attention to the woman or the boy who seemed ten but was nearly as tall as himself. Instead, he walked straight towards the standing boy among the Ren family’s women and children.

He looked about seven or eight years old, with dark skin and ordinary features, only his eyes were incredibly bright. Seeing Chen Yuan approaching, he showed no fear, just a steady gaze back into Chen Yuan’s eyes.

It was in him that Chen Yuan sensed Qi Fortune.

Indeed, appearances can be deceiving.

“What is your name?”

Boy: “Ren Li.”

“What relation is Ren Changyi to you?”

“My grandfather…”

Chen Yuan nodded,

“How old are you this year?”

“Eight years old.”

“Do you know how old you will be this time next year?”

“Eight years old.”

“Quite clever, what a shame…”

Chen Yuan smiled, placed one hand on top of the boy’s head, and in the next moment, a streak of Qing light poured into the Qi Fortune Altar.

————

I’m sorry to inform everyone that you all guessed wrong.