Chapter 35: Crimson Qi

Before dawn, the cold rain ceased, and the world was plunged into a darkness so absolute one could not see one's own hand.

In a rudimentary shack that lacked even a window, possessing only a wooden door as an opening, the interior was pitch black.

"Rustle..."

Two monks from the Hanging Temple used their *xianqi* like small lanterns, casting a faint, pale golden glow. The light was dim as they stooped, rummaging cautiously through the small room.

A golden-jade hairpin.

The younger monk discovered this hairpin among Chen Xuan’s clothes. The moment his fingers brushed against it, he realized it was a treasure of extraordinary material. There were also two sharp, half-foot-long daggers, but they were mere common iron, of no value.

*This hairpin—a fine find!*

The younger monk felt a surge of excitement. He hurriedly cradled the hairpin in his palm, pressing his head against his fellow disciple’s to inspect it with wide, eager eyes.

The next instant.

A figure appeared silently. A hand, faintly wreathed in white light, reached out, plucked the hairpin from the young monk’s palm, and raised it to inspect it under the glow of the white *qi*.

"Tsk! Great minds think alike, it seems."

As the seemingly appreciative words faded, Chen Xuan tilted his head, looking down at the two stealthy figures, and continued:

"But I don't understand—did you not consider the consequences of such behavior?"

"You!"

The two monks were shocked, frozen in place. The younger monk’s heart pounded with terror, his chest aching where his unhealed wounds throbbed.

The other monk, a man of the second stage of sublimation, was even more terrified; he had not sensed a single movement from Chen Xuan. The man’s strength far exceeded his imagination!

"Whoosh..."

Chen Xuan picked up his clothes. As he draped them over his sturdy, well-defined frame, he walked past the two men as if they were invisible, his gaze fixed on the gap in the door.

The night rain had stopped, and a damp chill mingled with the murky fog.

"Clack! Clack!"

In the camp, scattered fires flickered. An old monk was boiling morning gruel, while some monks sat like clay statues, chanting morning sutras. Outside the camp, others were already gathering tools, silently chopping wood...

One monk’s gaze was drifting toward Chen Xuan’s direction...

"Heh..."

Chen Xuan closed the half-open door and turned around.

In the dim light, the two monks saw an enigmatic smile curl across Chen Xuan’s sharp, handsome face. It sent a chill down their spines, as if a powerful hand were gripping their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.

"Senior Brother..." the younger monk stammered, his voice struggling to emerge from his throat.

When they met Chen Xuan yesterday, they had dismissed him as merely a rather alert, ordinary qi-practitioner.

But the younger monk was cautious; to ensure success, he had enlisted a fellow disciple who had already been harboring grievances against the Hanging Temple. However, now that he truly faced Chen Xuan, he realized with a jolt what kind of man he was up against.

The man had discovered them, moved instantly, checked to see if there were any accomplices outside... and upon realizing something, had turned back to seal the door, trapping them inside...

"You wretch, are you trying to escape!"

The middle-aged monk’s expression shifted violently. He roared, his mind racing—with the deed exposed, he decided to strike first and shift the blame.

This had been part of the plan; if discovered, they could use overwhelming force to kill Chen Xuan and then frame him, claiming he had been seduced by the *Six Desires Heavenly Face Jade Book*. No one would doubt such a pretext!

It was just that if the ancient scripture had no physical copy, this trip would be in vain...

"Boom!"

Simultaneously, the middle-aged monk raised his fist, white light erupting as he attacked Chen Xuan without hesitation.

Even if Chen Xuan had suddenly reached the second stage of sublimation, he was not the only one. Having broken through his physical limits with a strength of over five thousand catties, he now possessed a punch with the force of ten thousand!

The man had just broken through—he hadn't even had time to walk the path of the second sublimation. How could he withstand this?

"Clang!"

A sound like a heavy bronze bell rang out. The middle-aged monk’s glowing golden-white fist was instantly caught firmly by a large hand, suspended in mid-air.

"Crack!"

Chen Xuan’s five fingers were like iron pincers. As he gripped the man’s fist, the sound of grinding metal emanated from his palm.

"Moo!"

The phantom of a giant elephant, nearly a zhang tall, filled half the room behind the middle-aged monk. He pushed forward with all his might, his four thick legs leaving trenches a foot deep in the ground as he unleashed his massive force.

But Chen Xuan stood like an immovable mountain. Not only did he not budge, but the arm holding the monk did not tremble in the slightest.

"Where is your *xianqi*!"

The middle-aged monk was so terrified his soul nearly left his body. Chen Xuan’s palm was dull and dim—he wasn't using *xianqi* at all. He had blocked a powerful strike, bolstered by the "Little Giant Elephant" trick, using nothing but raw physical strength.

He was horrified, unable to comprehend what was happening!

Chen Xuan had broken through with eight thousand catties of strength. The nearly four thousand catties accumulated from the "Green Deer" and "Fire Bird" tricks had been fully integrated into his body after he shattered his physical limits.

Twelve thousand catties!

Now, in terms of sheer strength, Chen Xuan surpassed the vast majority of qi-practitioners at the second stage of sublimation.

One must know that even the most outstanding genius in the Red Crow City region, who broke through with a six-thousand-catty foundation, would only reach twelve thousand catties after doubling their strength at the second limit!

" *Xianqi*?"

Chen Xuan’s cold face, hidden behind the collision of their fists, suddenly became clear—and brilliant to the extreme. From his eyes, nose, and mouth, crimson flames of thousands of degrees erupted like a bursting fountain!

"Open your eyes and look closely!"

Chen Xuan looked like a celestial being stepping out of a fire. Orange-red flames danced on his flying hair, igniting from the tips and instantly turning into a roaring blaze.

With his fire technique blazing brilliantly, Chen Xuan threw a punch of extreme, rigid power.

"Screech!"

The middle-aged monk’s vision turned scarlet. His eyes felt as if they were melting under the flames of the incoming fist, and the fear rising in his heart was instantly swallowed and annihilated by the crimson fire!

The Fire Bird spread its wings, neck arched in a long cry!

"Bang!"

The middle-aged monk flew backward. The giant elephant phantom had its tusks shattered; his massive body seemed compressed by immense force, his skin and bones collapsing inward layer by layer before exploding into smoke...

One wall of the shack vanished entirely. The flying wood splinters disintegrated in the air, dancing like countless fireflies...

"Hhh..."

The younger monk stared blankly, turning his head in a daze. In the night air twenty meters behind the shack, the massive fire bird seemed to be holding a charred insect in its beak as it crashed into the earth. The resulting explosion of fire lit up the entire sky.

"Sizzle!"

Amidst the curling blue smoke, the middle-aged monk, split in two by the punch, lay charred. The crimson fire had refined his white gold; even his bones, strengthened by *xianqi*, were burned into cinders that crumbled at a touch.

The entire camp was jolted awake by the massive commotion, and panic began to stir.

"You... I..."

The young monk turned his head instinctively, screaming in terror: "This is the Hanging Temple! You cannot kill! I was wrong, I was truly wrong!"

Amidst the flying sparks, Chen Xuan walked toward him, his voice flat yet as cold and sharp as a blade.

"No need to beg me..."

A palm wreathed in fire descended.