I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 923: Chapter Two Hundred and Seventeen: Embarrassment

“Is this a warning to me?”

Through the eyeholes of the Gou Chen Mask, endless cold light shone, indicating that its owner was in a very bad mood.

Although Tang Luo had long known that forces passed down from ancient times all had some aces up their sleeves, the depth of the Feitian Clan’s collusion with Buddha’s Country was far beyond his expectations.

The Great Zen Master of Buddha’s Country was a master-level powerhouse who had completed the spiritual transformation of his flesh. With such a figure presiding, Tang Luo truly had no way to break into the temple relying solely on his own power.

However, this meant the first emergence of the Gou Chen had failed, which did nothing to improve Tang Luo’s mood.

And feeling Tang Luo’s displeasure, Jiutuo finally laughed sincerely.

...

This saintly monk from the city of Hyderabad had patiently explained so much, all to make Tang Luo realize that he couldn’t enter the Vitas Temple with just his own power.

“Jiutuo is certainly not challenging Mister, but rather wants to tell Mister that now, the only one who can help Mister is Jiutuo, and the only one who can help Jiutuo is Mister,” he said.

The withered little old man’s eyes suddenly burst forth with a vigorous golden light as he spoke animatedly, “Once Jiutuo becomes the spiritual leader of the Feitian Clan, Mister will not only be able to eradicate the Evil Qi within his body, but also gain a powerful ally. It’s a mutually beneficial situation, why would Mister not consider it?”

“Powerful?” Tang Luo looked Jiutuo up and down, observing the man tortured by the Blood Fiend to the point of looking like a withered husk, and said indifferently, “Forgive me, but I truly fail to see how an old man on his deathbed qualifies as a ‘powerful ally.'”

According to Tang Luo’s estimation, if Jiutuo continued down the Asura Path, he would most likely be tortured to death by the Blood Fiend within ten years. Logically, he should be focusing on recuperating, but this old swindler, facing imminent death, was still so covetous of the position of spiritual leader, his desire seeming to lift the roof of the palace. Such a person was probably the worst choice for an ally.

Tang Luo would rather find another way than associate with this kind of person; after all, in the martial world, who didn’t have a few grandmaster friends?

But Jiutuo, unbothered by the taunt, simply sighed deeply. With a few breaths, his previously shriveled and withered body underwent a startling transformation.

The Evil Qi of the world flowed into Jiutuo’s mouth and nose as if it had a life of its own, and with the infusion of countless streams of Evil Qi, his body was crazily enhanced. Amidst “crackling” sounds, Jiutuo’s form grew taller and more robust, his muscles swelling beneath his robes, and dark red Evil Qi flowed over his body, as though a true Asura had descended.

Seeing Jiutuo’s transformation, Tang Luo scoffed from behind the mask, “To think you treat the world’s Evil Qi as your source and collect it—you truly broaden one’s horizons, Master Jiutuo! Just now, I was too optimistic, thinking the Master had another ten years to live. Now, it seems you might not survive another five.”

The towering Juuta clenched his fist lightly, feeling the strong power he had forgotten for so long. With a voice full of vigor, he smiled at Tang Luo, “It seems the master’s martial prowess exceeds Juuta’s expectations. Juuta thought he had only three years left to live!”

Like a red Rakshasa, joy was irrepressible on Juuta’s face, as if he had gained two more years of life out of nowhere. Tang Luo indifferently said, “With only so much time left, yet you still think about fighting for power. Doesn’t Master find it tiring for the heart?”

“Fighting for power? It seems the Master has misunderstood Juuta!” The taller and stronger Juuta not only gained more vigor but also became more domineering. Although his words were humble, they carried an awe-inspiring authority, “Juuta’s wish to contend for the temple’s leadership is simply to prevent the Feitian Clan from growing weaker under the Xiushi’s leadership. The Wilderness Supreme and the temple patriarch—he, the Xiushi Emperor, other than his martial cultivation, which aspect makes him worthy? As long as this saint defeats the Xiushi Emperor, he can become the temple patriarch and lead millions of followers onto the correct path!”

“Heh,” Tang Luo scoffed disdainfully, turning his head away as if the dust on the window sill was more appealing than Juuta.

Perhaps the return of his strength had emboldened Juuta, or maybe he was indignant that his beautiful vision was being ignored, but the normally amiable Juuta, upon seeing Tang Luo’s expression, angrily slammed his fists into the long table and bellowed, “Is the Master questioning this saint!?”

The cracks spread from Juuta’s fists towards Tang Luo’s position. This was Juuta’s Dark Energy, characteristic of the Asura Path, known for its physical arts and deep bone-marrow strength that even an angry blow was astonishing.

Maybe Juuta thought that, since Tang Luo could command thunder, he must be a spiritual cultivator and would be intimidated by the domineering aura of the Asura Path, hence he expressed his anger in this manner. But what kind of person was Tang Luo? He would not be frightened by such a scene.

Tang Luo’s right hand, resting on the table, clenched into a fist and struck down. The blend of the three hard energies—push, surge, and shake—resounded with the roar of tigers and dragons in his bones and muscles. The wild energy stirred up a storm inside the hall, shattering the long table, carved from ancient huge trees, into dust. The howling force made Juuta stagger back several steps, also restoring calm to the furious Rakshasa’s face.

Tang Luo tilted his head, his eyes visible through the Gou Chen Mask full of mockery. He disdainfully said, “Save your high-sounding rhetoric for those ignorant believers. Your superficial strength is only good for intimidating the petty thieves. Who gave you the courage to proclaim yourself a holy ancestor before me?”

As the words fell, the tall, thin man clad in a Star Robe stood up, and thirty-five azure Fallen Imperial Magnetic Beads floated out from his robe, swirling behind him and forming a tornado.

Accompanied by thunder, a shrill, metallic scraping noise filled the air. It was Tang Luo’s disdain, “You are already the ruler of Hyderabad, yet your heart has never known true kindness. If you really wanted to lead your followers on the right path, you wouldn’t restrict official speech and writing, label all martial arts except the Asura Path as heresy, and divide people into hierarchical tiers, making them believe that some are inherently inferior. All you have done is to maintain the temple’s dominance over people’s hearts; you fear liberating their intellect because you dread they’ll see through the temple’s true face.”

“You can’t even manage a small Hyderabad well, yet you have the audacity to talk about leading everyone on the right path. I can’t stand these empty promises and nonsense from you. Do you, have any objections!?”

Juuta’s face turned from pale to flush with embarrassment as he was humiliated in person for the first time. The most secretive part of his heart was laid bare, leaving him almost unable to cope. Of course, he heard the anxious calls of the temple protectors outside the door, who would attack if he ordered it, but he knew that even if he could ultimately defeat this demonic man before him, it would only result in mutual destruction. Then his grand vision would truly become as illusory as a mirage.

Suppressing his shame, Juuta dissipated the Evil Qi within his body and apologetically said, “Juuta and the Master are not enemies. The real obstacle to the Master’s path of enlightenment is the Xiushi clan from Ned City. Currently, we have a common enemy, so let’s not harm the harmony between us. Juuta apologizes for the impulsiveness just now.”