Chapter 3: Shen Bai’s Strength

The surrounding lake water churned without pause.

Seeing this, Wuhua strode forward.

"Hand Venerable Envoy! So there’s another one. Your opponent is me. Don’t cause trouble for Donor Shen."

Golden Buddha’s Light erupted from Wuhua’s body, clashing with the Hand Venerable Envoy’s massive palm and creating a violent roar.

The lake’s surface began to tremble. As the few of them exchanged blows, the water roiled as if it were boiling.

The portly Hand Venerable Envoy wiped the water from his face and sneered. "Xuanxin Temple’s Great Compassion and Great Mercy Palm. So you’re just a little whelp from Xuanxin Temple. It seems you really do care about that Locust Tree. But today, both of you will be leaving your lives here."

Wuhua pressed his palms together, his expression grave. "Two Venerable Envoys from the Upper Evil Sect have come. You truly honor us with your presence."

The Hand Venerable Envoy sneered. "The matter of the Locust Tree is of utmost importance. It’s a good thing two of us came. Otherwise, we might not have been able to take you down."

The gravity on Wuhua’s face deepened.

The Twelve Venerable Envoys of the Upper Evil Sect were only considered mid-tier within the sect, but here in Shengyun County, they were the absolute elite.

And now, two of them had appeared.

Wuhua worried the situation was turning grim, and he began to wonder if he should use the Buddha Beads.

The Buddha Beads had been intended for dealing with the eeriness of the Locust Tree, but that was no longer a priority. In a life-or-death crisis, using them was the only logical course of action.

At this thought, Wuhua subconsciously reached into his robes, preparing to retrieve the Buddha Beads.

But just then, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Fatso, forget the Monk! Get over here and help me!"

The two who had been talking froze, turning their heads in unison, only to witness an utterly shocking scene.

By the lake, Shen Bai held his longsword, its blade glowing with a righteous Qi as brilliant as a blazing sun, illuminating the black-cloth-like night.

Every strike was filled with awe-inspiring righteousness. Every strike was incomparably mighty. Every strike was as terrifying as a demon’s.

Under the assault of his Blood Sword Dance, the powerful force of his Qi and blood surged, seeming as if it could pluck the very stars from the sky.

Xiqu Venerable Envoy’s spear parried again and again, but under the assault of Shen Bai’s longsword, he could only retreat.

Worse, Xiqu Venerable Envoy’s body was already covered in a dense web of cuts.

Shen Bai, in contrast, swung his sword as casually as if he were taking a leisurely stroll through a garden.

The Hand Venerable Envoy was stunned. He hastily charged toward Shen Bai.

The two of them knew each other inside and out, and the Hand Venerable Envoy had never seen his partner in such a sorry state. He had to rescue him.

Wuhua snapped out of it and blocked his path. "Your opponent is me. Do not disturb Donor Shen."

As he spoke, Wuhua shot Shen Bai a look of astonishment.

’I knew Shen Bai was an expert,’ he thought, ’but I never expected him to be able to fight Xiqu Venerable Envoy without losing ground.’

’No, this is more than just holding his own... he’s toying with him.’

That casual air on Shen Bai’s face couldn’t be faked.

’I was just looking for a helping hand... I didn’t expect to find an absolute master.’

Wuhua never would have imagined that in a small place like Shengyun County, he’d stumbled upon such a powerful ally to carry him.

’That being the case, I absolutely can’t let the Hand Venerable Envoy get past me and interfere.’

Blocked, the Hand Venerable Envoy roared, "You’re courting death, little Monk! Killing you first will do just fine!"

A red glow materialized over his massive hands, completely enveloping them.

The instant the red light appeared, Wuhua felt an overwhelming pressure bear down on him.

’I have to stop the Hand Venerable Envoy, buy Shen Bai some time.’

But just as Wuhua prepared to fight with all his might, a voice cut through the air.

"Let him through."

Both Wuhua and the Hand Venerable Envoy turned to look at Shen Bai in astonishment.

Shen Bai’s expression was calm. "Let him through."

"Why?" Wuhua asked, confused.

Shen Bai thought for a moment. "He’s not enough of a challenge."

The Hand Venerable Envoy: "?"

Wuhua: "?"

Looks of utter confusion were plain to see on both their faces.

But Shen Bai was unconcerned.

’Ever since obtaining his Golden Finger, Shen Bai had needed someone to test his skills against.’

’He desperately needed to know what his true combat strength was.’

’The Xiqu Venerable Envoy before him had perfect control over his Qi—as easy as an arm commands a finger. He was clearly in the Three Treasures Realm.’

’But for me, he’s far from enough.’

’I want to see if I can handle it if I add another Three Treasures Realm opponent—the Hand Venerable Envoy—to the mix.’

’Of course, this is all based on the premise of my own safety.’

’If things go south, I can just have Wuhua stall the Hand Venerable Envoy again while I quickly dispatch the Xiqu Venerable Envoy.’

An opportunity like this to test himself was a rare one, and Shen Bai didn’t want to miss it.

The Hand Venerable Envoy sneered. "Boy, your arrogance will be the death of you."

He raised his massive palm and lunged at Shen Bai.

The red light on his massive palm pulsed with a dangerous glow.

Wuhua wanted to intervene, but remembering what Shen Bai had said, he held back.

Still, Wuhua remained on high alert. The moment things looked wrong, he would intervene.

With the Hand Venerable Envoy joining the fray, the pressure on Shen Bai instantly soared.

Two masters of the Three Treasures Realm were no joke. Furious at Shen Bai’s humiliating taunt, their attacks grew even swifter.

"In that case, try and take this!"

Shen Bai circulated his Qi and unleashed a strike with his full power.

With this one strike, his Qi and Blood were like a Dragon, his righteous aura like the sun.

BOOM!

The roar was unending.

The Hand Venerable Envoy and Xiqu Venerable Envoy joined forces to block Shen Bai’s strike.

Both men spat up blood, fear already etched onto their faces.

’Is this man... a monster?’

The same thought occurred to both of them simultaneously, and the desire to retreat began to bloom in their hearts.

But Shen Bai’s next words were terrifyingly eerie.

"Good thing I pulled back on that last strike, or it would’ve been no fun. Well then, let’s try a Fist Technique."

Golden Buddha’s Light enveloped his fists as Shen Bai unleashed the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist.

The golden light was sacred, yet it carried a murderous intent, like a Buddha descending to the mortal world to vanquish demons.

CRACK!

Xiqu Venerable Envoy’s spear snapped in two on impact. The fist slammed into his body, and a horrifying, bloody hole appeared in his chest.

The blow was instantly fatal.

With just one punch, Xiqu Venerable Envoy let out a wretched scream as his Life Energy began to plummet.

Under the influence of Shen Bai’s Qi, his head exploded into a shower of blood that spattered across the clear surface of the lake.

The body sank into the lake, quickly disappearing into the depths.

"Aaargh!"

Seeing this, the Hand Venerable Envoy’s blood ran cold. He grit his teeth.

’So he really was just using us to test his abilities.’

’I have to go all out!’

The red light on the Hand Venerable Envoy’s palms intensified. The fat on his body seemed to rapidly shrink as the power of his massive hands continued to climb.

’An ultimate move?’ Shen Bai mused.

"Consider it an honor to die by this palm strike."

The Hand Venerable Envoy struck at Shen Bai.

This time, the power had multiplied.

But the Hand Venerable Envoy suddenly realized that Shen Bai hadn’t even moved to face the attack.

A white light, pure as brilliant jade, illuminated the surface of the lake.

The Hand Venerable Envoy’s massive palm landed on Shen Bai’s body. His expression froze.

He felt a familiar sensation radiating from the white light on Shen Bai’s body—an energy from the very same source as his own.

Starting from the Hand Venerable Envoy’s palms, cracks began to spread, inch by inch, across his entire body.

’This is... a Defense Technique? And it can reflect attacks?’

Blood gushed from the cracks. This was the Hand Venerable Envoy’s final thought.

’If this boy isn’t eliminated, the Upper Evil Sect is doomed.’