Chapter 14: The Three Eminent Monks Sacrifice Themselves to Suppress the Demon

Yan Chixia seized Yi Fan’s arm, his steps swift as the wind, darting over the precipitous cliffs. When they met a tree, instead of dodging, they used it for leverage, covering several miles in the blink of an eye.

By now, Lanruo Temple had become an inferno. The walls were shattered, the pagoda toppled, countless monks lay maimed upon the ground, mingled with the decapitated corpses of demons—a river of blood in the truest sense.

At that moment, a giant snake, as thick as a man’s arm, let out a piercing shriek and spewed venom. Any monk touched by the spray died instantly, poisoned on the spot. The black-armored imperial guards tried to step forward and slay the beast, but the serpent’s tail swept across them, slaying several more.

“You fiend! For slaying my men, your head is mine!” roared Xiahou, leaping several meters high. His sword flashed like lightning, severing the snake’s head in an instant. Landing elsewhere, he slew several more monsters in quick succession.

Though fierce, his valor drew the attention of a greater demon. A toad, towering several meters tall, croaked, “This one is formidable. His martial prowess is beyond that of ordinary demons. Chilian, let us join forces and finish him.”

“My thoughts exactly. Together, we shall slay him, then rally the remaining demon horde and destroy these monks utterly.”

A fearsome, crimson demon-serpent coiled nearby, its eyes blood-red, tongue flickering. Droplets of its venom fell to the ground, burning pits the size of fists.

As they spoke, demonic miasma billowed, ghostly wails and wolf howls filling the air—a cacophony that gnawed at the mind, leaving the heart vexed and the chest tight. In an instant, a dozen monks and imperial guards collapsed, blood streaming from their orifices.

“Fiends! What honor is there in two against one? Try adding me to the contest!” Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang out as a burly, bearded Daoist leapt into the fray. Forming a sword seal with his fingers, he called out, “Unsheath!”

With a metallic ring, a great sword leapt from its scabbard into his hand. He swung the blade—one shriek later, the toad demon staggered back, leaving a leg behind, while the crimson serpent, sensing danger, slithered away to safety.

“And who is this wild Daoist, meddling in matters that don’t concern him?”

“Nonsense! You scourges bring calamity to the innocent. Of course I must intervene—and not just intervene, but kill!” the bearded Daoist retorted, casting a sidelong glance at Xiahou. “General, are you fit to continue?”

Seeing powerful reinforcements arrive, Xiahou’s spirits lifted. “These wounds are nothing. I can fight. May I ask your name?”

“I am Yan Chixia.”

“My thanks for your aid, Brother Yan. I am Xiahou.”

Yan Chixia smiled. “No need for thanks. Though a man of arms, your strength is formidable. Were it not for the overwhelming numbers of demons, you’d hardly need my interference.”

Uncapping his wine gourd and taking a swig, he added, “I have a young companion coming as well. Leave the rest to him—no need to defend to the death, Brother Xiahou. Let us fight our way forward together.”

Even as he spoke, Yi Fan ran over and greeted them with a respectful gesture. “This humble Daoist greets General Xiahou.”

Xiahou was taken aback, but nodded, a rare smile appearing on his face. “So it is Daoist Yi. I leave it in your hands.”

“It is my duty, General. Rest assured,” Yi Fan replied, holding the Demonbane Sword and gripping the Demonbane Talisman in his palm, which made Yan Chixia pause in surprise. “A Demonbane Talisman? Are you a disciple of the Shangqing Sect?”

Shangqing Sect? Yi Fan was bewildered, and seeing his confusion, Yan Chixia burst out laughing. “You little Daoist! You don’t even know your own lineage. If those old coots from Shangqing found out, they’d be furious!”

With that, he stopped teasing, formed a sword seal, and strode forward, slaying demons with Xiahou close behind.

In a flash, they engaged the monsters, the din of battle rising as demon winds whipped the flames even higher. Xiahou’s sword was swift as lightning, carving a gash in the crimson serpent’s flesh before flipping away to evade its counterattack, repeating the maneuver until the serpent was covered in wounds.

“Swift but imprecise—too distracted,” Yan Chixia couldn’t help but remark, dodging an attack and slashing with his magic sword, forcing the toad demon to shriek and flee. He didn’t notice Xiahou’s scowl; the general shot him a glare and snorted coldly, “Precise but not ruthless—lacking killing intent.”

“Killing intent is of no consequence, so long as we slay the demons. Brother Xiahou, let’s see who can dispatch more fiends first!”

Yan Chixia laughed heartily and pressed the attack, leaving commentary aside.

Yi Fan, thoughtful, realized from Yan Chixia’s tone that there might be more to his own temple’s history, but now was not the time for questions.

With the great demons engaged by Yan Chixia and Xiahou, Yi Fan kept vigil against the lesser monsters. Seeing the monks either slain or wounded, and the imperial guards more than half gone, few were left standing.

Where had the high monks of Lanruo Temple gone?

Yi Fan glanced at the rear wall, which was being fiercely defended, and pondered no further. Sword in hand, he stepped forward, swiftly dispatching a minor demon and withdrawing before it could react. The creature twitched and collapsed, dead.

Fortunately, after fierce fighting, few demons remained. Otherwise, Yi Fan doubted he could have held his ground with his current abilities.

Suddenly, the earth shook violently, ever more intense. Buildings collapsed, fissures split the ground, and thick miasma spewed forth, choking all who breathed it. For the already depleted monks and guards, it was disaster upon disaster.

Yi Fan was alarmed, struggling to steady himself, unable to care for others. He wondered what catastrophe had come, that the very earth and sky seemed to be collapsing.

“This is bad—the Tree Demon is breaking free of its seal and about to appear in the mortal world!” Yan Chixia returned, speaking urgently. Yi Fan instinctively glanced into the distance. The two great demons had been slain, their bodies severed—a pity, he thought, for if he could have refined them, his power would have advanced further.

But now, it was too late.

A peal of thunder split the air, the ground ruptured anew, and soon a fissure a meter wide split the courtyard wall that had been so fiercely guarded, exposing the scene within.

Inside was a vast space, dominated by a colossal banyan tree that blotted out the sky. Its branches were festooned with the wish pouches of countless devotees—sacred objects, yet now they inspired only dread.

Enormous branches and roots writhed like giant pythons, crushing everything nearby, yet they were held in check by a faint magical seal, preventing the monster from fully breaking free.

Dozens of monks sat cross-legged around the tree, chanting scriptures. At the forefront stood three elder monks, holding ritual implements, their faces calm.

“Filthy monks! Filthy monks! I will kill you all, devour you alive, cast your souls into hell to suffer endless torment—only then will I be avenged for three hundred years of imprisonment!” came a voice from the depths of the earth, bitter beyond measure, as if from the nethermost hell, chilling to the bone and summoning clouds of darkness.

“Abomination! Out of compassion for your arduous cultivation, we spared your soul. Yet you refuse to repent, persisting in evil—destroying our Lanruo Temple and slaughtering countless innocents, your sins are boundless. Today, we will suppress you utterly, shatter your soul and doom you to eternal damnation!” declared the eldest monk, wielding a demon-subduing staff. His eyes flashed with golden light as he shouted, “Brothers, lend me your strength!”

“As it should be,” the other two elders replied, each raising their ritual implements. The three sat cross-legged, spiritual power surging from them like a tide.

Sensing danger, the Tree Demon thrashed with renewed fury, shaking the heavens and earth, miasma roiling everywhere. Yet the monks, undaunted, continued their chants to strengthen the seal. Giant stones crashed down, killing some instantly, but the survivors did not falter, nor did the chanting cease.