Book 11.5: Chapter 32

“I heard Shi Xintong failed in Yichang and has been arrested by Liu Shan Men.” Despite not budging from the formation he sat in, the huge tanned man could transmit his voice sonorously and far. “He’s your favourite disciple. You often say he will be your successor. Why are you so heartless now?”The man sitting cross-legged didn’t respond to the bald man’s taunts. Thus, the large monk narrowed his eyes and continued, “It’s been a year, baldy. How much longer are you going to keep this up?”The man, dressed in white garments, sitting opposite the large monk smiled. “Says the bald one himself.”The monk in white was subjected to physical torture whilst deprived of food and water for a year, but none of it bothered him in the slightest because none of it damaged him in any capacity – a product of learning Vajra Realm. Mayhap imprisoning him was a mistake. After all, the detainee wasn’t bothered. On the contrary, the only person who could keep him in check was the huge monk who was forced to sit facing him for the last year, putting up with all the mockery.“Your Wugou Branch’s descendants have committed every sin under the sun for my sake; the world now views your group as heretics. In the Central Plain, Liu Shan Men is out to arrest them. Lotus Branch has also issued Myriad Token. It’s too late for you to turn back. Why continue fronting?” Since he didn’t receive a response, the big monk continued, “I’ve already obtained the method to learning the eighth level of Vajra Realm. Even if you don’t tell me the final level, I’ll be able to decipher it for myself in time. Why don’t you seek relief? As long-time friends, I don’t want to kill you.”“Miguo,” the monk in white lowered the curve at his lips to a neutral position, “save your breath. You and I both know word games won’t work. Be frank. You’ve used all sorts of methods to pry it out of me in the time you’ve imprisoned me. I won’t yield to might. What you’ve always been missing is a convincing reason.”Nobody would think Wugou and Miguo’s leaders, two of the three subsidiary branches of Lord Lotus, would be at the Central Plain’s Shennong together.“There are innumerable adepts in the Central Plain who could beat either of us. What’s the point of having Vajra Realm?” rhetorically questioned the monk in white.“You know my target isn’t in the Central Plain.”“That’s precisely why I can’t allow you to obtain the final level.” The monk in white exhaled. “Using the injuries you suffered in your defeat to Lord San Shen, you tricked me into sharing Vajra Realm with you. I understand what you’re thinking, and I’ve reminded you three times, but you haven’t heeded my warnings.”“Don’t mention him!” The large monk slammed the ground with an open hand, generating a massive dust plume.The two monks always kept their conversations civil, but, when Lord San Shen was mentioned, Lord Miguo completely lost it. On the other hand, Lord Wugou didn’t even blink.“Your defeat at the hands of Lord San Shen has become mental torment, turning you into a ruthless murderer.”“That’s exactly why I must defeat him. Why didn’t you hand over the manual when you always knew what I was thinking? Why don’t you just admit you’re masquerading as a saint?”“I know the demon in your head. Nonetheless, as long as you continue to improve and chase the goal of defeating Lord San Shen, perhaps you will gradually overcome your demons as you train. Ever since learning of Xu Clan’s glazed Buddhist relic, you’ve been blinded to all but the path of destruction. You originally challenged Lord San Shen to stop him from killing. Now, how are you any different to the man you tried to stop?”“He’s killed ten times more people than I have. How can we compare?”“And why did Xu Clan deserve to die?”“They possessed something they shouldn’t have had, so it’s only right for them to give it to the right person.”“Are you absolutely confident you can defeat Lord San Shen once you obtain the sarira?”“…”“He practices Divine Moon Cult’s Spring Wind Rainy Night Art. The only person who can beat him is Ximen Chuideng or the future leader. You think you can match him even if you learn Vajra Realm and Miguo?”“…”“Your idea only leads to murder. You want to go on a murder spree in the Central Plain. First, you want to leverage your network at Three Gorges to set traps and take out accomplished adepts so that you can absorb their strength, strengthening your sarira. Perhaps you’ve already started.  You can absorb and store the energy of others using your Karma discipline. While you can’t convert it all into energy for your own usage, you can store the energy inside the relic. Your goal is to overfill it so that it will burst out.“It’s only a matter of time before you kill the stronger foes to that end. Three Gorges is only the first step. You’re also provoking them into attacking you. You might even kill one or two among Supreme Ten Saints to draw out the strongest in the Central Plain. Then, when return to the Western Regions, you won’t challenge Demon King and Lord San Shen first. Instead, you’ll challenge our leader. You will sin more than ten times what you have done so far.”“People in the pugilistic world don’t have a choice.”“Or are you just stubborn? How can you be so ruthless?”Lord Miguo got to his feet, generating a wind. “Lord San Shen taught me a truth: the strong rule. Everything else is drivel.”“You’re underestimating people. How long have martial artists of the Central Plain ruled as the strongest? What gives you the idea that they can’t defend themselves? You’re sowing the fruits of calamity for yourself.”“I fear no man and nothing. Send anyone they like; they’ll only become nourishment for my relic.” Lord Miguo triumphantly ambled off.