Chapter 53: Encountering the Little Knife King! The Bronze Man of Jinguang Temple

The Scorpion-Tailed Leopard—it was aptly named.

When relaxed, its long tail lay limp on the ground.

However, the moment it detected another living creature entering its territory, its tail would snap upright, aiming fixedly at the enemy, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a lethal strike.

"Watch its tail. Once you're pierced, let alone if you're at the Flesh Refining stage, even someone at the Tendon Strengthening stage would be in agony. The wound swells instantly; if you don't perform surgery to bleed it immediately, you will surely die of poisoning," Lyu Sandao warned from his high vantage point atop a tree.

"Understood!"

With a loud shout from Zhanglingshan, the moment Lyu Feng's group attacked the wounded Scorpion-Tailed Leopard, he lunged forward with his heavy-backed wide blade, charging toward the beast that had been stealing the horses.

There were no flashy maneuvers, just a simple, brutal slash. The blade slammed heavily into the leopard's flank.

"Awoooo—!"

The Scorpion-Tailed Leopard let out a wretched scream.

It had originally been enraged seeing its mate besieged and was about to charge, its mind entirely focused on its partner. It never expected Zhanglingshan to play dirty by launching a flank attack.

With this blow, the bones in its waist were shattered by the heavy blade, drastically reducing its agility.

A healthy Scorpion-Tailed Leopard could twist and leap the moment it was attacked, striking downward with its tail to ensure its enemy's death.

Unfortunately, it had lost the initiative. As it kicked its hind legs, it only exposed its waist even further.

Zhanglingshan pressed his advantage, unleashing a frenzied sequence of the Red Cloud Saber Technique.

*Rip!*

The leopard's spine snapped. Half of its body thudded to the ground, twitching in a brief struggle before letting out a whimpering sound, looking toward the other Scorpion-Tailed Leopard.

"Hong Zhengdao really is generous, giving you the Yunshan Treasure Blade. If not for this blade, you wouldn't have killed it so easily," Lyu Sandao remarked with a hint of envy, muttering, "Damn it, seeing Hong Zhengdao take such a good disciple is more painful than being killed!"

As he spoke, he leaped from the air, landing on the other Scorpion-Tailed Leopard, and cursed harshly, "You useless lot! Zhanglingshan killed a leopard all by himself, yet you lot can't even take down an injured one. How embarrassing!"

With a sudden, powerful stomp of his right leg, a crisp *crack* echoed. The leopard beneath his foot let out a low wail before its body went limp, dying instantly.

Lyu Feng and the others watched in shock. They hadn't expected such a fierce and difficult beast to be crushed by Third Grandfather's single kick. Was this the power of a Tendon Strengthening expert?

Looking back at Zhanglingshan, Lyu Feng's expression became complicated.

He remembered when Zhanglingshan first joined the sect; he hadn't even deigned to look him in the eye, considering it beneath him to speak to a poor person without a background.

But now, the boy could single-handedly slay a Scorpion-Tailed Leopard, while they had been scurrying around in terror from an injured one.

The gap between them was unimaginable.

Lyu Feng felt a profound sense of defeat, his emotions reaching an extreme.

"Stop dazing around. Carry the leopards down the mountain and roast them. Monster meat is highly nutritious; it will do you good."

"Yes!"

The three escorts and two porters quickly responded. They certainly didn't expect the young masters like Lyu Feng to do such labor.

On this side, Lei Bao ran over and said obsequiously to Zhanglingshan, "Young Master Zhang, let me help you."

"Alright, thank you."

Zhanglingshan didn't stand on ceremony. He and Lei Bao each hoisted half of a leopard and began heading down the mountain.

Soon, the group returned to the Mountain God Temple. Some were responsible for butchering the carcasses, while others began roasting meat or simmering bone soup. Everyone worked together, striving for this rare feast.

"The scorpion tail is a good thing. You can extract the venomous needle to use as a concealed weapon. Do you know how to use hidden weapons?" Lyu Sandao asked Zhanglingshan while processing a tail.

Zhanglingshan shook his head. "I haven't learned that."

"Using hidden weapons relies mainly on wrist strength, though finger strength works too. When you have free time, pick up some stones and practice. I don't know top-tier hidden weapon techniques myself, but practice makes perfect. If you do it enough, it'll eventually be useful."

As he spoke, Lyu Sandao twisted off the outer shell of the tail and flicked it away.

*Thwack!*

The hard shell struck a distant tree trunk with force. Zhanglingshan walked over to inspect it and saw that the shell had embedded itself an inch deep into the wood. If that had hit a vital part of a person, they would be crippled or dead.

"Impressive technique, Senior," Zhanglingshan praised.

Lyu Sandao said indifferently, "That's just a little trick. Once you've mastered throwing stones, I'll show you something else."

"Thank you, Senior."

"Don't be so wordy with the 'Senior' business. You're Hong Zhengdao's disciple; just call me Third Uncle."

"Yes, Third Uncle."

Hearing Zhanglingshan already calling him Third Uncle, Lyu Feng felt speechless. How could a single moment change their generational standing so drastically?

Were geniuses just that likable? It was truly enviable and frustrating.

"I've pulled out all the venomous needles. Drink the rest of the crushed tail. Aren't you suffering from kidney deficiency? This will help you," Lyu Sandao said before lying down on a haystack to bask lazily in the sun.

Having obtained two leopards, the fighting and butchering had taken up most of the day. It was too late to continue the journey, so they decided to rest well and set off again tomorrow.

Zhanglingshan obediently crushed the two tails and soaked them in water to drink.

"Ugh... this taste..."

After one gulp, Zhanglingshan nearly vomited; it was both bitter and foul.

However, seeing the energy points on his panel jump by 2, his heart instantly surged with excitement.

Just one gulp gave 2 points. Two tails soaked together would yield at least thirty gulps, meaning he would gain over 60 energy points at once.

Good stuff. Absolutely good stuff.

*Compared to the demon rabbit meat I ate before, this tail is clearly much more valuable. Is it because the tail is the primary part of the Scorpion-Tailed Leopard's mutation that it holds so much energy?* Zhanglingshan analyzed silently.

For the rest of the time, everyone ate their fill and grew lethargic.

Zhanglingshan was no exception, but instead of resting like the others, he began practicing the Primordial Yang Stance, using the internal fire to burn his Gate of Seclusion.

Through this process, he discovered his digestive and absorptive abilities were strengthening. This was a lucky way to increase his energy accumulation speed. Even if burning the Gate couldn't open the Gate of the Abdomen, he intended to persist to see how far his digestive capacity could go.

Time flew by.

A night passed in silence.

The next two days were smooth, with no accidents, and the younger ones like Lyu Feng gradually regained their liveliness.

But compared to the others' ease, Zhanglingshan's heart grew heavier. He grabbed Lei Tao and asked in a low voice, "We've traveled two more days. Where is Golden Light Temple?"

"I... I don't know... it seems we went in the wrong direction..."

"You bastard—!"

Zhanglingshan truly wanted to slap Lei Tao to death. This guy never told the truth; bringing him along was meaningless, and he only ate and drank for free. If not for the fact that Lei Bao was somewhat useful and kept saying nice things, Zhanglingshan wouldn't have been able to restrain himself.

"Xiao Shan, calm down. Let's deliver this shipment first, then we can look for it slowly on the way back," Lyu Sandao comforted him.

Lei Bao quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Third Master Lyu is right. We can find it on the return trip!"

"Fine, Third Uncle. We'll follow your lead and deliver the shipment first." Zhanglingshan took the advice and stopped arguing.

Seven days passed in a flash.

On this day, a porter suddenly galloped back with a panicked face, shouting, "Quick, hide! There are rebels!"

"Rebels?" Everyone was startled.

Lyu Sandao shouted, "Get up the mountain! Pull the wagons up and erase our tracks! Quick, quick, quick!"

No one dared to delay, working together in a frenzy. Once the tracks were cleared, everyone held their breath, hiding in the forest. They watched a group of troops pass slowly below, led by a banner bearing the character "Shan."

The group consisted of about three hundred men. Only after they had completely disappeared did Lyu Sandao breathe a sigh of relief. "Porter, scout again."

"Yes." Two porters immediately set out.

After a while, they returned. "It seems to be a group of lost rebels. Just this one unit. We can move."

"Then let's go." Lyu Sandao gave the order, and the group moved swiftly, not daring to linger. Because the rebels had caused a delay, they had to pick up the pace to reach the next town on time.

Fortunately, their luck held, and they encountered no further accidents, finally arriving safely at Boyang Town.

"Not good." Lyu Sandao's expression suddenly changed, ordering everyone to leave the town immediately.

The group, unaware of what was happening, grew panicked by his tone. As they scrambled to turn around, the formation fell into chaos.

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice rang out: "The sky is growing dark. Leaving Boyang Town now will only make things more dangerous. Why not come in for a chat? My name is Zhou Lin."

Lyu Sandao stopped and called out loudly, "May I ask, are you the Little Blade King, General Zhou?"

"That is indeed I," the man laughed.

Lyu Sandao breathed a sigh of relief and told the group to find an inn to rest, while he led Zhanglingshan into Zhou Lin's quarters.

Upon entering, they saw a hot stove burning. A burly man with a back covered in scars sat shirtless, leaning slightly forward to warm himself by the fire. Hearing their footsteps, he turned around. He was a large man with a square face and a thick beard. He gave Lyu Sandao a slight smile. "Please, sit, old gentleman."

Lyu Sandao sat, while Zhanglingshan stood to the side.

Zhou Lin paid no mind to Zhanglingshan's presence and continued warming himself. "Where do you come from, old gentleman?"

"This old man, Lyu Sandao, comes from Jincheng, escorting goods to Pingjiang City. It is an honor to encounter the General. This is some specialty date wine from Jincheng that I have been saving; please, enjoy it." Lyu Sandao respectfully offered a jar of wine.

Zhou Lin laughed heartily. "Wine! To drink!" He snatched it, gulped it down in one go, let out a burp, and asked, "Did you see a group of troops on the road, carrying a 'Shan' banner?"

"I did," Lyu Sandao answered truthfully.

"Which direction were they heading?" Zhou Lin ordered someone to bring a map.

Lyu Sandao pointed it out.

"Good. You have done us a service, Elder Lyu. Next time we meet, I, Zhou Lin, shall treat you to wine."

"I wouldn't dare. It is my honor to assist General Zhou. By the way, when we encountered them, they were moving very slowly, in no hurry at all," Lyu Sandao added as a reminder.

Zhou Lin nodded. "I see."

"The sky is dark; this old man will not disturb your rest any longer." Lyu Sandao bowed to Zhou Lin and led Zhanglingshan away.

"Go on then." Zhou Lin remained hunched over the fire.

Once they left the room, Lyu Sandao let out a long breath. "As expected of the Little Blade King. Just standing beside him, one feels immense pressure."

Zhanglingshan asked curiously, "What is General Zhou's strength?"

"Above Bone Forging!" Lyu Sandao glanced at him and snorted, "Do you think I'm exaggerating because you can't feel any pressure from him?"

"That..." Zhanglingshan hesitated and nodded. He indeed hadn't felt much pressure; he only knew the man was strong, but it wasn't comparable to the pressure he felt facing Li Ziming or Fang Qiuyue. Was it because the man hadn't moved, or because he wasn't as strong as Li Ziming?

"The reason you feel no pressure is because you aren't strong enough," Lyu Sandao snorted. "You'll understand once you've experienced more. The aura released by a true master is enough to make your legs go weak."

Without further explanation, he strode toward the inn to rejoin the main group.

That night was unnervingly quiet. It was as if even the malevolent spirits and monsters knew a figure like the Little Blade King was present, and they didn't dare show their faces.

At dawn the next day, Lyu Sandao and the others watched Zhou Lin lead his troops away before continuing their journey.

Only three days later, they arrived at Pingjiang City.

Pingjiang was a small city. After delivering the goods, everyone rested there for two days to recover. During this time, Zhanglingshan sent someone to inquire about Golden Light Temple. He hadn't held much hope, but surprisingly, he found information.

"I don't know of this Golden Light Temple, but when we passed a certain area, I thought I saw a golden cloud blooming with light, but it vanished in an instant. The appearance of that light was so eerie that everyone hurried past, not daring to investigate," a simple-looking middle-aged man said, adding kindly, "I don't know what you're looking for, but it's best not to go. Curiosity killed the cat."

"Thank you for the warning, Uncle. Please take this silver for some drinks." Zhanglingshan produced a map. "Could you please point out where that golden light appeared?"

"Oh, you shouldn't have!" The man laughed, looking very pleased.

Zhanglingshan was even more pleased. He saw that the spot pointed out on the map was halfway between Pingjiang City and Jincheng, closer to Jincheng, though it required a slight detour from their original route. No wonder Lei Tao couldn't find it. It wasn't the wrong direction; a mountain stood between them and the location. On the return trip, they just needed to go around the eastern side of the mountain.

With a concrete goal, Zhanglingshan's spirits lifted, washing away his previous gloom.

Two days later, Lyu Sandao gave the order: "Depart! Return to Jincheng!"

Normally, they would have bought supplies or taken another job to earn more, but Lyu Sandao, mindful of Zhanglingshan's mood, skipped the trouble and had them depart immediately with only essential supplies.

The group rode hard. Without cargo, they didn't need wagons; everyone rode horses, making for rapid travel. A journey that should have taken ten days was completed in less than five.

"I don't see any golden clouds or light," a young man beside Lyu Feng said, looking at the sky. "Is it here? Did we take a wrong turn?"

"Don't rush. Let's wait and see," said the head escort, Lyu Fang. He glanced at Zhanglingshan, thinking the boy would be disappointed. The place didn't seem special. However, that was a good thing; if the place truly was eerie, it would mean something had happened to Zhanglingshan's father. No news was good news.

"Yes, yes, it's right here!" Lei Tao suddenly shouted. "I remember this! My father said there's a large tree at the location of Golden Light Temple with red markings on it. Look, is that the tree?"

Zhanglingshan squinted. Indeed, there were red markings. To be more precise, they weren't just marks, but a type of incomprehensible symbol.

"Hey, I see the golden light!" Lyu Feng suddenly cried out.

"How come I don't see it?" another asked.

A third person realized, "I get it! After looking at that tree, you can see the golden cloud. But it's only for an instant, very ethereal."

"This place is truly strange. That tree is definitely suspicious, and if this Golden Light Temple really exists, it's definitely not right. It's best not to go up," an escort said solemnly. Having spent years as escorts, their survival depended on being cautious. In such strange places, it was better to avoid them entirely.

Everyone looked at Zhanglingshan.

Zhanglingshan hesitated. Should he go up to investigate, or follow the escorts' advice and stay away from the mystery to be safe?

"It's fine. It's midday and the sun is strong; eerie things won't dare show themselves. I'll go up with you to see if this Golden Light Temple actually exists," Lyu Sandao's deep, steady voice provided Zhanglingshan with a much-needed boost of confidence.

On the other side, Lei Tao said, "I'm going up too. By now, the temple should be finished. I can finally bring my father home."

"Then let's go. Make it quick," Lyu Sandao decided.

Thus, the other escorts and Lyu Feng's group waited below, while Zhanglingshan, Lyu Sandao, Lei Bao, and Lei Tao quickly ascended the mountain. Along the way, they used trees with red markings as guides.

Soon, the four reached a plateau at the summit.

Before them stood a magnificent Great Buddha Hall. The main doors were wide open, revealing a resplendent interior. In the main hall, arranged in nine rows and nine columns, stood eighty-one gold-dusted bronze figures. They were all bald and naked, sitting cross-legged with their backs to the entrance.

"This..." The four were stunned, never imagining such a sight.

"Is this Golden Light Temple?" Lyu Sandao looked up at the top of the hall. "So that was the so-called 'golden cloud' seen from below."

Zhanglingshan followed his gaze and saw a faintly shimmering cloud at the top of the hall. In reality, it was sunlight streaming into the hall and reflecting off the gold dust on the eighty-one bronze figures.

"Wait, that's not right... those aren't bronze figures..." Lyu Sandao's expression changed. He pointed to one of them. "That one just moved. That's a living person! I can see the rhythm of their breathing!"

"A living person?" The hearts of the three men skipped a beat.

Suddenly, Lei Tao screamed, "I see my father! My father has a red birthmark on his back! That's it! That's not a bronze figure, that's my father! Dad!"

Shouting, Lei Tao rushed inside before Lei Bao could even stop him.

Lei Tao threw himself in front of his father and cried out, "Dad! Dad! What happened to you? Why are you sitting here? Stop pretending to chant sutras and come home with me!"

The old man remained motionless, sitting perfectly still.

Lei Tao grabbed him, trying to pull him toward the exit. "Uncle Bao, come help me take my father away!"

Lei Bao's expression was complicated, but he remained still. He wasn't foolish enough to rush into the hall like Lei Tao. A magnificent Buddha Hall appearing in the middle of the wilderness was eerie no matter how one looked at it.

"Not good!" Lyu Sandao suddenly bellowed, "Lei Tao, get out of there now! Those bronze figures are moving—they're going to surround you!"