Chapter 285
Chapter 285
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [TBD]
Chapter Title: Fists First, Reason Second
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"Is persuading with reason beating someone into submission with your fists?"
Yu Lingzi always felt that his Little Martial Uncle's method of persuading with reason didn't quite match what it was supposed to be. Shouldn't it involve explaining the logic to convince people?
Where was there ever a case of striking first upon arrival, beating the opponent flat to the ground, and only then calmly laying out the reasoning? The order was completely backward!
"But it seems Little Martial Uncle's way of persuading with reason is even more effective."
He mused inwardly, "If we'd come here and tried reasoning straightaway, we'd probably still be bickering right now. I'd never outtalk Fan Kongliu—I'd just end up half-dead from frustration." Fan Kongliu lay pinned beneath the Embracing Moon Pavilion, unable to crawl free. But given the toughness of his golden body, he wouldn't be crushed to death.
The grounds of Qixia Monastery weren't vast—just seven or eight pavilions and halls of various sizes, plus some scattered dwellings for idle Daoists. The place earned its "Qixia" name because every morning at dawn, rosy clouds would shoot into the sky and hang there, only to draw back into the mountain at dusk.
This spectacle at Qixia Monastery was tied to an old well. The well never ran dry, its water sweet and pure, with several chains dangling inside. In the morning, the rosy clouds flew out from the well and lingered in the air; at night, they returned to it.
In the glow of those clouds stood the Chaoxia Palace. Each dawn, the palace bathed in the radiance, drawing every eye.
It was mid-morning now, the clouds at their most brilliant. Inside Chaoxia Palace, musicians bustled about, tuning pipas, zithers, guqins, shengs, and mouth organs. A few women in palace gowns struck the bianzhong bells; dancers adjusted their attire, occasionally striking a graceful pose.
They were rehearsing the "Heroes Subduing Demons Melody," which told of the Thirteen Families' ancestors following the True King to vanquish demons, extolling their heroic deeds. The dance was set for the Young Master's twenty-fourth birthday—a gift from Ma Xueqing, Jiang Fangshu, and the others.
The Young Master's twenty-fourth birthday was no small affair. Ma Xueqing and her group had begun preparations a year ago. The Xuan Saintess's trip to the Imperial Capital to claim the Nether Spring Roaming Dragon Sword had been her gift for him—only for Chen Shi to snatch it away.
Ma Xueqing and the rest had other presents lined up too, but this melody held special weight.
The True King was the Young Master's ancestor, and the Young Master harbored ambitions to claim the throne as the new True King. The piece flattered him while pledging the Thirteen Families' loyalty, vowing to follow him just as their forebears had followed the True King.
Ma Xueqing, Li Tianqian, and the others sat opposite, waiting quietly for the troupe to perform. "I heard Brother Yu Lingzi went looking for Chen Shi yesterday evening."
Ma Xueqing wore a faint smile as she spoke to Jiang Fangshu beside her. "Word is he lost to Chen Shi and took an injury. Uncle-Master Mei, who went with him, suffered grievous wounds too. Someone airlifted her back to Idle Cloud Temple to recover—her antlers snapped clean off.
Jiang Fangshu replied, "Yu Lingzi's the hot-blooded type, always jumping into things. When he heard about Shen Hongniang's mishap, he rushed off in a blaze. Ended up getting mauled by Chen Shi. But he didn't probe Chen Shi's true strength. If it'd been me, I'd have sized him up properly."
Li Tianqian chimed in, "Buddhist and Daoist sects may be holy lands, but their foundations are thinner than the Families'." The others nodded agreement.
Xia Ding Tian asked, "If Yu Lingzi's sect learns he was badly hurt by Chen Shi, will they blow their tops and step up for him?"
Ma Xueqing shook her head. "Doubt it. Those Daoists at Idle Cloud Temple really are like reclusive hermits—they meddle in nothing. Taihua Qing Palace sent them to West Capital, and they act like no one should dare interrupt their path to immortality. They sit in meditation all day and ignore everything else."
Yang Sheng laughed. "Having those three Martial Uncles must be Yu Lingzi's rotten luck."
Jiang Fangshu grinned. "Those Martial Uncles won't avenge him, but we're his friends, and even we'd do better." Ma Xueqing couldn't help chuckling. "Blame Yu Lingzi for being too impulsive, mostly."
"Exactly!"
The group traded jests and laughs. "We all talked big about avenging Shen Hongniang and clearing obstacles for the Young Master, but no one budged. Only he charged out."
Gu Yan'er looked worried. "The Young Master used Chen Shi's hand to eliminate Shen Hongniang, that thorn in our side. Our Thirteen Families owe him for that. But Chen Shi's cultivation is no weaker than ours. How do we repay the Young Master? Fight him to the death?"
Like Ma Xueqing, she was one of the Young Master's admirers—lovely-faced, a touch taller than Ma Xueqing, though her skin wasn't as fair and her chest not quite as ample.
The two often vied in secret. Whenever Ma Xueqing was around, Gu Yan'er wore shoes with higher heels to flaunt her height. Ma Xueqing countered with lower necklines and flowing sleeves that bared more of her snowy skin.
The Young Master always had women clustering around him, vying for attention.
Ma Xueqing laughed. "Yan'er, you value your life so cheaply? We're not charging at some barbarian to die. After the melody, we'll have the family elders step in—warn Chen Shi off and make him drop his bid for top scholar."
Gu Yan'er smiled sweetly. "Sister Qingqing's right. But calling Chen Shi a barbarian? Little Sister disagrees. He was the top child scholar across fifty provinces back then—how could he be a barbarian? Who knows, maybe he's a dashing, elegant youth—a perfect match for Sister Qingqing!"
The two traded veiled barbs, their catty rivalry a common sight, so the other heirs paid it no mind. Just then, the troupe leader's voice rose from below. "My lords, we're ready."
Ma Xueqing, Gu Yan'er, and the rest fell silent, eyes turning to the stage.
Servants shut the palace doors. The hall dimmed. Lights flared on the stage. Suddenly, thunderous booms echoed from outside—like fists exploding the air with sonic cracks. "That monk Fan Kongliu flexing his golden body again!" Everyone frowned.
Gu Yan'er ordered a servant. "Hang some silence talismans. Don't let the monk ruin our listening."
The servants hurried to Chaoxia Palace's courtyard, activating silence talismans. The slips floated up and burned quietly; outside noises couldn't penetrate. Inside, music swelled. Dancers glided in with the tune, each striking a pose.
Outside came more earth-shaking rumbles, then the snap of Fan Kongliu's finger bones and his agonized screams. But even if he screamed his throat raw, it wouldn't disturb the listeners.
The Embracing Moon Pavilion overhead collapsed with a deafening crash. Those in Chaoxia Palace remained oblivious. Chen Shi and Yu Lingzi reached the old well outside Chaoxia Palace.
Yu Lingzi explained its origins. "This well's eerie. I heard there were originally five chains, matching the five elements. Years of neglect snapped one, and the remaining chains rattled like something trying to climb out. A Greater Vehicle Realm powerhouse from West Capital came personally to suppress the disturbance and had Chaoxia Palace built over it. No trouble since."
"It's called the Dragon-Locking Well."
Chen Shi examined it. "This isn't some remnant relic—the aura's off. Remnants carry an ancient, obscure rhythm. This well's old too, but lacks that obscurity. What's sealed inside is West Capital's Dragon King from the True King's era."
Yu Lingzi started. "How do you know?"
Chen Shi said, "Grandpa told me about these wells before—they're for locking dragons. He said if you find one, the bottom's usually massive, hiding a dragon palace. These iron chains dangle from the mouth straight to the palace below. Five chains pierce the Dragon King's heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, sealing its elemental transformations so it can't escape."
Yu Lingzi half-believed it. "For real?"
"Grandpa told it as a ghost story. No idea if it's true." Chen Shi gripped a chain—arm-thick, icy cold.
He yanked hard, drawing out dozens of feet, but it wasn't fully out.
The chain scraped the well walls louder and louder, until the clamor was deafening—like an ox bellowing from the depths! The roars grew to thunder!
Chen Shi kept pulling. Runes glowed on the chain. Suddenly, thunderclouds boiled over Qixia Monastery, lightning cracking wildly! "Little Martial Uncle, stop pulling!"
Yu Lingzi panicked. "Something's wrong!"
Chen Shi tried hauling the whole chain out. Abruptly, it sank heavy—like a colossal thing anchored at the end, immovable! Then it twitched, yanking back, nearly dragging him in!
The force was immense, unstoppable!
Even Chen Shi felt fear. He let go; the chain plummeted with a clatter, dozens of feet vanishing into the well! They exchanged glances, hearts pounding.
"Something's definitely down there!" Chen Shi said, a bit shaken. They left the well and entered Chaoxia Palace.
A few servants in the courtyard spotted them and approached.
Before the servants could speak, Blackie Pot trotted in. They acted like they saw nothing, letting the pair and dog pass. Chen Shi asked, "Yu Lingzi, got the rules of persuading with reason down?"
Yu Lingzi hesitated, then nodded. "Martial Uncle, I've grasped a bit."
Chen Shi said, "Put knowledge into practice. Now that you understand, use it."
Yu Lingzi hesitated again, nodded. "Disciple understands."
"When persuading with reason later, remember: courtesy before force." Chen Shi stood outside the main hall doors, sensing inside, regulating his breath. Softly: "Lots of experts in there—twelve powerhouses. When words fail, we use weapons."
Yu Lingzi hadn't quite caught on when Chen Shi mapped every position within. He kicked out; both doors flew like whirling cleavers! Chen Shi charged in!
Inside Chaoxia Palace, the troupe played on—the dance reaching the True King conquering West Ox New Continent in triumph, the Thirteen Families kneeling to hail him as sovereign. Music peaked!
"The Young Master will surely weep at this."
Gu Yan'er dabbed her tears, telling the others, "He'll feel our heartfelt loyalty." They nodded—then the doors hurtled like spinning blades at Li Tianqian!
Li Tianqian reacted swiftly, activating Dragon-Phoenix Golden Radiance Record. True qi formed coiling dragon and phoenix; he summoned his Primordial Spirit, its field about to spread! The Record was a supreme art from the怡安堂's sect leader lineage, ferocious. Radiant dragon-phoenix melted the incoming doors.
But as they dissolved, Chen Shi closed in. His right hand thundered with Five Thunders, slamming Li Tianqian's protruding Primordial Spirit!
Li Tianqian's Primordial Spirit was blasted from his body, gravely wounded—the field collapsed.
Chen Shi stepped, spun behind him, facing Gu Yan'er while his left elbow speared back into Li Tianqian's back heart. Li Tianqian spewed blood, lurching forward uncontrollably.
Gu Yan'er still sat in her grand chair, no time to rise—her Primordial Spirit emerged first. As Chen Shi's left elbow thrust back, his right knee rammed forward into her solar plexus.
Gu Yan'er's heart skipped beats; vision blackened. She relied on her Primordial Spirit's sight—but Chen Shi had her by the scalp, smashing her toward Ma Xueqing beside her.
Ma Xueqing's chair slid a yard aside, dodging. She leaped up. Chen Shi's left palm struck Gu Yan'er's Primordial Spirit crown—Five Sacred Mountains descended from his palm!
His strikes outpaced sound. Though derived from Five Sacred Mountains Suppressing Evil Talisman, they boomed like thunder! The shock dazed Gu Yan'er's Primordial Spirit; the mountains crushed it to the floor, earth sinking with a rumble!
Chen Shi advanced, spun, and swept his leg as Ma Xueqing rose—kicking her squarely in the groin. Her eyes nearly bulged; face twisted savagely.
Chen Shi spun again to her right, fist whipping into her occiput, forcing her Divine Shrine back inside.
He pressed a thunderbolt to her crown's heavenly gate. Ma Xueqing thudded like a nail half into the floor—her ample chest wedging her short.
Jiang Fangshu, Xia Ding Tian, Yang Sheng, Yan Hao, and other heirs reacted, summoning Primordial Spirits, fields unfolding.
Each rivaled or surpassed Fan Kongliu. Their Divine Shrines unleashed uniform first-grade Divine Embryos—civil and martial: Wenchang Divine Embryos, Purple Jade Divine Embryos!
Then Yu Lingzi dashed in behind Chen Shi, meeting the wounded Li Tianqian. Without a word, he seized Li Tianqian's right hand and snapped all five fingers. A kick followed to Gu Yan'er as she rose—into her solar plexus.
Gu Yan'er coughed blood, collapsing.
Yu Lingzi lunged, snapped her five fingers, then booted Ma Xueqing's jaw as she stirred. He dropped Gu Yan'er, grabbed Ma Xueqing's outstretched hands, and crushed all ten fingers.
Chen Shi's fist shattered Jiang Fangshu's Primordial Spirit field, closing in amid thunderous shocks that dazed him. Two-Finger Dragon Play Pearls—fingers speared his eyes. He paused, holding back lethality.
Jiang Fangshu reeled back. Chen Shi noted two Divine Embryos in his rear Divine Shrine: one Purple Jade, the other dim and indistinct—unknown grade.
But its blurry shape looked no good. "How does he have two Divine Embryos?"
Chen Shi's palm crackled with thunder, poised to cripple the Primordial Spirit—then his gaze swept the others.
Yan Hao, Fei Qinghong, and four or five more had second Divine Embryos beside the first—dim, blurry, crude forms.
Their seconds were fifth- or sixth-grade at best, none finer than third. Yang Sheng's was worst: Purple Jade plus a second-grade Doukui Divine Embryo. "Don't True Gods grant just one Divine Embryo...?"
Suddenly, Chen Shi's mind roared. Overwhelming sorrow surged, as if it were his own.
The scar on his occiput, hidden in his hair, throbbed—like being pried open again! "These Divine Embryos aren't theirs—they stole them! They're not human, not human..."
His face twisted in a manic grin-grimace. His hands froze. He bellowed, "Yu Lingzi, I can't hold back! No more good boy!"
"What?" Yu Lingzi had just snapped Ma Xueqing's fingers and looked puzzled.
Murderous intent erupted from Chen Shi. He lunged forward; his body exploded in growth—crackling to over six feet tall in an instant. Blood trickled from his brow; skin split, a third eye emerging from skull and flesh!
Thunder rumbled, swirling around him.
From the stele forest outside the True King's Tomb—the mightiest transformation battle art Chen Shi had learned but never used: Thunderclap Jade Pivot Great Law.
Activating it transformed him into Thunder Ancestor Wen Zhong, revered as: Nine Heavens Responsive Origin Thunderclap Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable!
Booming thunder issued from Chen Shi's throat.
"I'm going to kill!"