Grandmaster 08

In just a few short months, the once dilapidated Cangyue Sect had been completely transformed. Not only were the buildings repaired and expanded, but the entire grounds had grown considerably larger.

This sight left a sour taste in their mouths. Thinking of their own months of bloody conflict, while the Cangyue Sect had been living in peace and stability, filled them with extreme resentment.

"Fang Zhiyi! You've been playing us for fools!" Qian, the valley master, roared.

Fang Zhiyi stood with his hands clasped behind his back on the steps, his expression calm. "Playing you for fools? How so? Did you find the divine weapon? Did you find the secret manual?"

Qian, the valley master, was momentarily speechless. That was, admittedly, true.

Black Vajra also stepped forward. "Enough talk! Hand over Li Xiuyu and that demoness!"

Following closely, the members of the Demonic Cult stepped up. "Yue, come out and face us!"

Fang Zhiyi did not stop his junior disciples. Li Xiuyu and Yue both stepped forward.

Yue looked at the Demonic Cult members, feeling a wave of complex emotions.

However, the looks they gave her were far from friendly. "Yue, as the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Cult, you dared to flee without permission!"

Yue met their gaze. "And so?"

The Demonic Cult Hall Master made no attempt to hide their intentions. "Hand over Sun Kui, and we can let this slide. You can remain our Holy Maiden. We'll even agree to your marriage with the Cangyue Sect disciple. Our Demonic Cult can form an alliance with the Cangyue Sect!"

Yue sneered. "And where were you all when I was being threatened and pressured by these so-called righteous sects?"

The Demonic Cult members looked somewhat embarrassed.

"An alliance with the Cangyue Sect? What a brilliant idea. You probably have your eyes on the Cangyue Sect's assets, don't you? Wanting to have your cake and eat it too. You certainly have the nerve." After Fang Zhiyi's training, she was no longer the weak woman she once was.

Seeing their scheme laid bare, the Hall Master angrily shouted, "Since words are useless, we have no choice but to resort to force!"

Abbess Rowei of the Liushuang Sect stepped forward, gnashing her teeth. "Demoness! Last time you humiliated me beyond measure. Today, I will repay you double!" Her dreams were still haunted by the memory of Yue slapping her, it had almost become an inner demon. She had been too afraid of Fang Zhiyi to come alone, but with so many people here today, she was determined to get her revenge.

"Amitabha. Sect Leader Fang, I implore you to consider your sect's reputation. This old monk thanks you in advance." Master Changmei stood there with a group of martial monks, a very conspicuous presence.

"Wait, you're looking for Sun Kui, right? So why come to my place?" Fang Zhiyi looked genuinely puzzled.

Just at that moment, Sun Kui, holding a bowl of noodles, poked his head out while slurping the noodles.

"Sun Kui!" someone shouted. Although most people hadn't seen him before, in such a large crowd, someone was bound to recognize him.

Sun Kui smiled and nodded, even giving a little wave.

Fang Zhiyi didn't even turn his head. "What Sun Kui? Don't talk nonsense."

"He's right there! Fang Zhiyi, you dare to harbor this villain!"

Fang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. "Villain? What villain? Everyone, from what I've heard, your own hands have been stained with quite a bit of blood these past few months. What gives you the right to call someone else a villain?"

This statement caused an awkward silence among the crowd.

It was Master Changmei who spoke again. "Amitabha. Sect Leader Fang, if you insist on such sophistry, do not blame this old monk for being ruthless."

He was not the least bit afraid of Fang Zhiyi. Although he seldom left the temple, he had absolute confidence in his martial prowess.

Fang Zhiyi was amused. "Come on then, let's see how ruthless you can be."

"Master! Do not sacrifice the entire Cangyue Sect for my sake!" Li Xiuyu began his performance once more, following the same script. He kowtowed three times to Fang Zhiyi. "This disciple has brought you trouble."

This time, however, Yue looked at him as if he were an idiot. Even Sun Kui found it hard to watch. Was his sworn brother truly this foolish or just pretending?

With a kick from Fang Zhiyi, Li Xiuyu flew backwards, only to be caught steadily by his senior brother.

"What nonsense," Fang Zhiyi cursed.

"Take this!" Qian, the valley master, was the first to lose patience, lunging forward to attack.

Fang Zhiyi merely lifted his eyelids slightly and gave a gentle wave of his hand. Qian, the valley master felt as if an invisible fist had struck his chest. Immediately, blood spurted from his mouth and nose as he was sent flying backwards.

"What sinister martial art is this?!" someone exclaimed in shock. After all, Qian, the valley master, though not fully recovered from his injuries, was still a top-tier expert. Yet he was defeated without even touching Fang Zhiyi's hand?

Fang Zhiyi grinned, revealing his teeth. The months of delay had been crucial.

"Sect Leader Fang, the sea of suffering is boundless, repent and turn back..." Master Changmei finished speaking. The martial monks behind him formed a battle array and advanced. Fang Zhiyi simply raised his palm upward, then flipped it and pressed down. Instantly, over a dozen monks felt as if a heavy weight was crushing them, forcing them to their knees, bleeding from all seven orifices.

This shocked everyone present.

"What are you waiting for? Attack together! I don't believe he can kill all of us!" Abbess Rowei shouted, leading the charge. Several others immediately followed.

"I love this overconfidence of yours," Fang Zhiyi said with a bright smile.

Then, facing the dozen or so people leaping towards him, Fang Zhiyi made only a few simple movements. They were all sent flying back. Several cried out in agony. Although Fang Zhiyi hadn't touched them, beads of blood seeped from their bodies. It was clear they were crippled.

"How is this possible?!" Black Vajra gasped in fear. He remembered Fang Zhiyi didn't possess this level of strength before.

"Anything is possible," Fang Zhiyi said, looking at him. Black Vajra felt his scalp tingle under that gaze, but gritting his teeth, he also charged forward. Relying on his formidable Hard Qigong, he stubbornly managed to walk right up to Fang Zhiyi. The onlookers were puzzled; Fang Zhiyi seemed to be doing nothing, yet Black Vajra's steps looked extremely difficult.

"Fang Zhiyi!" Black Vajra growled through clenched teeth.

"Hmm?" Fang Zhiyi tilted his head.

Black Vajra collapsed without warning.

Master Changmei's expression turned grave. This Fang Zhiyi's methods were far too sinister. He had no choice but to intervene.

"Sect Leader Fang! To think you have learned such a sinister technique! Did Sun Kui give it to you as well?" Master Changmei closed the distance rapidly. Sun Kui was taken aback—since when did he have such capability?

Fang Zhiyi was slightly surprised. This Master Changmei had some skill, likely someone infinitely close to the threshold of immortal cultivation. He could actually withstand his pressure.

Master Changmei struck. Fang Zhiyi tilted his head to dodge.

"You're a monk. Why involve yourself in this?"

"To vanquish evil and uphold the righteous path!"

"Bullshit!" Others might not know, but Fang Zhiyi was well aware. This Changmei and his sect, for all their talk of being monks, were not soft when it came to collecting incense money from the common folk. He had made inquiries. Their temple, Fulai Temple, earned more in a single quarter than his own combined inns and long-distance transport businesses!

"You're worried the chaos in the world is affecting your business, aren't you?"

Master Changmei's face darkened. "Nonsense! Monks are free from all worldly desires..."

"I might believe that of other monks, but you lot... I don't." Fang Zhiyi continued exchanging blows with him, not stopping his words. "When I was acquiring businesses in the market, I learned clearly. Your sect holds quite a few assets, all controlled by the monks of Fulai Temple behind the scenes. I suspect you came to trouble me today not for Sun Kui's sake, is that it?"