Chapter 939: Chapter 939

Cinian roared towards the sky.

Grief and self-reproach consumed him, twisting his heart into darkness. Enraged, he raised his hand to kill Shanxun.

No one could stop him.

"Zen Master! Wait!" Chu Yang rushed forward.

But Cinian no longer cared for any sentiment of master and disciple. Even though his spiritual power hadn’t fully recovered, his strike was merciless.

Yet Shanxun only smiled coldly, his lips curling with vicious confidence.

No one knew why, but his spiritual power suddenly surged. With a fierce burst, he broke free from the prayer beads.

The beads exploded and scattered.

Some shattered into powder, others cracked open.

Fragments rained onto the ground.

Shanxun met Cinian’s palm head-on, fearless and ruthless.

The flash of spiritual light illuminated the night.

Cinian’s meridians trembled violently.

A mouthful of blood burst from his lips.

His figure, already aged, now seemed frailer, stooped as though the autumn wind could sweep him away like dry leaves.

"Master!!!" The eleven Shans cried out in shock.

But they were too late to help.

Seeing that one strike wasn’t enough to kill Cinian, Shanxun’s eyes darkened. He raised his hand for a second, fatal blow.

Fortunately, Chu Yang arrived just in time. He caught Cinian, channeling his spiritual power into him to stabilize his faltering heartbeat.

Then, with a flash, he drew Crimson Nine Lands, its blade intercepting Shanxun’s deadly strike.

Shandu rushed over. Chu Yang handed the trembling Cinian to him.

"Quick! Save Zen Master Cinian!"

Without waiting for a reply, Chu Yang leapt forward, sword in hand, engaging Shanxun in battle.

Shanxun’s left shoulder still bled, but he fought as if untouched.

Wielding a Zen staff, his spiritual power and techniques clashed evenly with Chu Yang’s.

Everyone watched in disbelief.

Especially the eleven Shans—their eyes widened, stunned beyond words.

Shanxun’s cultivation had always been mediocre. Injured in his early years, he was often the weakest among them. His techniques, too, were unremarkable.

But there had been no jealousy or rejection among them. They had always helped and supported each other.

Especially Shandu, the eldest, who took extra care of Shanxun, personally tutoring him when needed.

Shanxun’s cultivation was higher than his!

If not for witnessing it themselves, none of them would have believed it.

And seeing Cinian’s life hanging by a thread, Shandu’s heart was torn with grief and fury.

He wanted to rush in and help.

But Ximen Chuan grabbed him, pulling him back.

"Are you crazy? You’ll just make things worse!"

Drawing his curved blade, Ximen Chuan surged forward to join the fight.

"No!" Shandu roared. "I’ll kill him with my own hands! I’ll avenge Master and cleanse our sect!"

Bai Hao quickly stepped in, restraining Shandu.

"How much of your spiritual power have you recovered? Don’t be reckless! Do you want to end up like Master? Think of your ten junior brothers!"

Shandu’s fury simmered, but the words struck him hard.

He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

Ximen Chuan, having a secret recovery pill, had regained more strength than Bai Hao and the others. But even so, only about forty to fifty percent of his power had returned.

They had thought victory assured.

But no one had expected Shanxun to be at the late Nascent Soul stage!

Even with Chu Yang and Ximen Chuan attacking together, Shanxun defended effortlessly.

Even Chu Yang had to admit—this Shanxun, as Asura’s second guardian, was terrifyingly skilled.

He combined the internal techniques of the Divine Buddha Sect with Asura’s elite demonic moves. The fusion was strange and unpredictable, catching his enemies off guard.

Worse, Shanxun had learned the Fire Cloud Spell Chu Yang had shown them earlier!

This expanded his arsenal of attacks, his techniques becoming even more varied.

With a flash, Shanxun’s Zen staff slashed like a ghost’s shadow.

Chu Yang was struck and flung backward, crashing hard against a rock.

It took all his strength to steady himself.

Ximen Chuan wasn’t so lucky. The Fire Cloud Palm almost struck his heart.

At the last second, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding death.

But his right shoulder was still hit.

Crack! The sound of breaking bones echoed.

Ximen Chuan cried out, collapsing to the ground.

His shoulder was shattered, and the burning pain spread rapidly.

He turned pale, spitting blood.

"You okay?!" Yun Yubai rushed over, using what little spiritual power he had to suppress the burning wound.

Ximen Chuan shot him a grateful glance but cursed inwardly.

Damn it, tonight is humiliating beyond belief.

Yun Yubai sighed in relief.

"What key?" Ximen Chuan winced, his face twisted in pain.

"The key to my handcuffs!"

"I... don’t have it." Ximen Chuan looked embarrassed. "This is a top-tier restraint. There’s only one key."

"You genius!" Yun Yubai almost passed out from frustration.

Meanwhile, Shanxun stood on high ground, looking coldly down at the struggling crowd.

A mocking, arrogant smile played on his lips.

But something strange happened.

Red veins appeared on his face, eerie and twisted.

Shandu’s heart sank. He stepped forward, his voice trembling.

"No wonder your cultivation skyrocketed... You took the Ascension Pill!"

Confusion spread among some, but Bai Hao, the oldest and most experienced, turned pale.

"The Ascension Pill?! That pill can drastically boost cultivation within fifteen minutes, but the price is..."

"What price?" Chu Yang demanded.

Yun Yubai’s face was grim.

"He’s using his soul as a catalyst. In two quarters of an hour, his soul will burn to ashes. The Ascension Pill is too sinister—its formula and stock were destroyed long ago. How did he get one?"

Shanxun chuckled darkly.

"This pill... I’ve hidden it for a thousand years. Its potency is far greater than anything you fools could craft."

No wonder he could shatter the prayer beads and fight Ximen Chuan and Chu Yang head-on.

Chu Yang’s eyes lit up.

"Then it’s simple! We just need to stall him for two quarters of an hour!"

"Great idea!" Bai Hao was quick to retreat. He wasn’t heartless, but he also wasn’t foolish. Lifting Cinian, he said, "I’ll get Master out of here. You young ones handle the rest!"

He prepared to fly away on his sword.

But Shanxun moved like lightning. No one could follow his speed.

One swift kick sent Bai Hao flying into the mountains.

No one rushed to his aid—everyone focused on Cinian.

Shouts of "Master!" echoed as they surrounded him.

Bai Hao gritted his teeth, dragging himself up. His ribs were broken.

He cursed, "Shanxun, damn you! And you all—couldn’t even spare a hand to catch me?!"

The Shans felt guilty, but Shanxun’s oppressive aura left them breathless, pinned in place.

Only Shandu, being at the Nascent Soul stage, could force out words.

"Shanxun! Are you truly betraying Master and Sect?!"

"I only pretended to join the Divine Buddha Sect. How can there be betrayal?"

"My body, my soul—they belong to the Asura King!"

His killing intent surged, engulfing them.

Chu Yang dared not make a move.

One misstep, and the entire Divine Buddha Sect would fall that night.