Chapter 82: The Hunt for Demons Begins

“Stop!” A clear, melodious voice of reprimand suddenly rang throughout the place.

A rapid series of clanging sounds, like raindrops pelting an iron pot, erupted sharply in front of Jiang Yan.

With a hiss, the fat monk’s spear turned into a streak of yellow light, shooting into the sky.

Before Jiang Yan, Tang Wan stood with her palms together, fingers forming sword shapes crossed before her chest, her expression tense as she faced the fat monk. It was just now, after the fat monk had struck, that Tang Wan’s figure flashed like a golden light to stand before Jiang Yan, manipulating four Green Wood Arrows to knock the spear from the monk’s grasp.

“Ha!” the fat monk bellowed, waving his hand skyward. The spear, flung high by Tang Wan, instantly turned into a jet-black streak, flying back to his grip.

“Qi Refining, fourth level!”

At the steps outside Huasheng Monastery, the assembled cultivators of Linqing Prefecture gasped in surprise. One must know, even the master of a minor sect might only reach the fourth level of Qi Refining. Yet here at Huasheng Monastery, even a mere gatekeeper had attained such a level. Comparisons truly are the death of contentment!

“Ah!” the fat monk roared, his spear glowing a brilliant yellow as its tip quivered, ready to strike at Tang Wan.

“Amitabha...”

A resounding Buddhist chant rolled out from the monastery’s inner gate, instantly enveloping the gathering. The voice was calm and grand, as if the chanter were whispering serenely beside one’s ear, or as if an old monk delivered teachings right before them. The sound washed away all restlessness, leaving hearts tranquil and reverent.

“Little monk, you’re not very proper. On your own grounds, you have your disciples block my way. If not for my junior sister’s skill, my head might well be hanging here.” After the chant faded, the hall fell silent until Jiang Yan suddenly spoke.

As his words landed, the cultivators below the steps exchanged astonished glances. The youth’s speech was steady and natural, yet to the ear, it seemed as though he spoke right beside them.

“This boy knows the owner of that Buddhist chant!” Those who had just mocked Jiang Yan now wore looks of shock.

“Amitabha. Layman Jiang, forgive us. My disciple failed to recognize your esteemed self and acted rudely. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold one humble monk’s rudeness against us, a mere small monk of Huasheng Monastery, especially since you are the head of a second-tier sect.”

A clear, pleasant voice drifted from within the monastery. As it drew nearer, a shaven-headed young monk emerged from the main gate, followed by the abbot draped in ceremonial robes.

“Second-tier sect!”

The cultivators below the steps now gazed at Jiang Yan with newfound awe and fear. How could such a young person be a sect master? And since when did Huasheng Monastery have such a youthful leader of a second-tier sect?

“No wonder he’s so bold—he’s a second-tier sect master!” murmured one shocked disciple below the steps.

“I hope he didn’t hear me mocking him just now...” Those who had taunted Jiang Yan now trembled inwardly. Not long ago, the second-tier Tianshan Sect had annihilated the similarly ranked Violet Robes Sect. On their return, the Tianshan leader stayed overnight in a town governed by a first-tier sect. That night, after a brief altercation, an elder led Tianshan disciples to massacre the entire West Gorge Sect, a first-tier group, in a matter of moments.

Because of Tianshan’s actions, the reputation of second-tier sects had become both fearsome and resounding throughout Linqing Prefecture.

The young monk approached the siblings, pressing one palm to his chest and bowing his head slightly in greeting. “Layman Jiang, Kongse pays his respects. It has been some time, and your cultivation has grown ever deeper. This must be your junior sister, Lady Tang Wan. Your prowess with the Green Wood Arrows is truly remarkable—this monk is impressed.”

“We have disturbed esteemed guests this time.” The black-faced monk started in surprise; ‘layman’ was a Buddhist term reserved for those of great merit and virtue. Now that the junior grand-uncle showed such respect to this youth... At that thought, the black-faced monk shot a worried glance at the nearby Jingkong.

“So there really is a novice monk, and his cultivation is extraordinary. That Buddhist chant just now must have come from him.” The assembled cultivators looked at Jiang Yan with increasing dread. If this novice monk he befriended was so formidable, then the young sect master himself must be even more so.

Many present now bitterly regretted their earlier words, especially with the atrocious deeds of the Tianshan Sect still fresh in memory. Each glance at Jiang Yan was now colored by fear.

A second-tier sect was defined by having cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining; just as a single Foundation Establishment cultivator could sweep through a second-tier sect, so too could a few peak Qi Refining cultivators devastate a first-tier sect that lacked such experts. Thus, both first-tier and unranked sects below the steps now watched Jiang Yan and the young monk exchanging words with deep anxiety.

Praised by the young monk, Tang Wan’s cheeks flushed, and she put away her stance, returning the salute before stepping behind Jiang Yan.

The old abbot strode out the gates, glaring fiercely at the fat monk still clutching his spear. He then joined the siblings, pressing his palms together in greeting. “Esteemed laymen, our monks were ignorant and offended you. We beg your forgiveness.”

A proud smile touched Jiang Yan’s lips. “Rest assured, Abbot, ignorance is no crime. This venerable master was merely fulfilling his duty—how could I bear a grudge? If blame is needed, it should be your little monk’s master who apologizes.”

The novice raised his hand to the abbot. “Wuran, there’s no need for you to handle this matter. I will take care of it.”

The abbot bowed to the young monk. “As you command, grand-uncle. Please proceed.”

The young monk gestured to Jiang Yan. “Layman, please join me in the meditation hall.”

He led the way into the temple. Jiang Yan glanced back at the hushed cultivators of Linqing Prefecture before stepping inside, with Tang Wan following closely behind.

...

Jiang Yan emerged from the meditation hall, stretching in the courtyard before washing his face at the well. As he splashed water, he spoke to Tang Wan, who was cultivating nearby. “Junior sister, before you parried that Jingkong monk’s strike yesterday, I noticed your Golden Light Traversing Technique has improved, hasn’t it?”

Tang Wan paused her breathing exercises, rose, and came to arrange a towel for Jiang Yan. “Not really, senior brother. It’s just that during our journey, after hearing your insights on cultivation, I gained a small understanding and managed to take that step forward.”

“Mmm, the first step... As long as you’ve taken it.” Jiang Yan accepted the towel, wiping his face as he spoke, his words slightly muffled.

Having washed, Jiang Yan took the breakfast Tang Wan handed him and ate ravenously, all while offering her guidance. “The key to mastering the Golden Light Traversing Technique lies in those two words—golden light. Transform into golden brilliance, and there is nowhere you cannot go, nowhere you cannot reach...”

“Layman Jiang, the grand-uncle of our monastery invites you both to attend the Monster Hunt Ceremony.” At the courtyard gate, a pale-faced young monk in gray robes greeted them, palms pressed together.

Jiang Yan, holding a fried dough stick, raised it as if to reply—

Boom!

A thunderous explosion suddenly shook the sky, so loud the earth itself trembled.

With a splash, Jiang Yan’s half bowl of porridge toppled from the stone table, drenching his pant legs.

The tremor lasted a while before gradually subsiding. Though Jiang Yan’s face remained composed, his heart was pounding. The young monk, however, remained calm and unruffled.

“Little master, with the earth shaking so, is this an earthquake?” Tang Wan’s pretty face had paled, but seeing the novice’s serenity, a blush crept into her cheeks—she was less composed than a mere young monk.

“Amitabha, layman, this is not an earthquake. It is the sign that precedes every monster hunt. Before the portal is established, there is always such a tremor—this one is mild, in fact. I remember, back in the East Heaven Realm with my grand-uncle, before one monster hunt, the tremors were...”

The little monk, clearly loquacious, was delighted by Tang Wan’s question and launched into an animated recounting of his exploits.

“Ahem, little master, shouldn’t we be heading to the main hall?” Jiang Yan, having finished his dough stick, interrupted the monk’s boastful tale. Hearing stories of the wider world was pleasant enough, but the way the little monk looked at Tang Wan made him uneasy.

“Tch, the ceremony won’t start for a while yet.” The monk, clearly disappointed at being cut off, shot Jiang Yan a look before reluctantly leading the siblings out of the courtyard toward Huasheng Monastery’s grand hall.

...

Before the Grand Hall of Huasheng Monastery, all the monks had assembled. At the entrance stood a square platform, plainly and hastily constructed. The monks sat in neat rows around the platform, legs crossed, chanting sutras in unison.

The gray-robed novice, a string of gleaming brown prayer beads around his neck, stood solemnly at one end of the platform, eyes fixed intently ahead.

Not far behind him stood the abbot, clad in ceremonial robes, with a group of elder monks in ochre hats arrayed behind him, all watching the platform with grave expressions.