Chapter 174: Temple Priest
Bad!
Ma Tianhong’s expression changed abruptly, and Lin Zifang and Zhou Yaokun similarly showed shocked looks.
Over a dozen monsters, each about a zhang in size with green skin, fangs, and robust muscles and bones, rushed out, resembling Yakshas reborn from the underworld.
They charged out of the Old Huang Temple, their scarlet eyes filled with bloodthirsty intent.
As soon as the Yaksa Monsters appeared, they pounced directly on the Mountain Guard, their forms ghostly and speeds extremely fast.
“Shoot!”
The Mountain Guard’s heavy crossbows fired, dozens of arrows flying together, landing on these Yaksa Monsters and producing clanging sounds.
What copper skin iron bones.
Under this volley from the Mountain Guard, over a dozen Yaksa Monsters had only a few injured.
At this moment, dozens more martial artists in deep blue clothes, faces concealed, rushed out.
“Still want to run?”
Bai Yun was also among the Mountain Guard disciples, holding a spear, stepping forward, with White Tiger True Intent riding the wind behind her, pouncing to pin down a blue-robed martial artist and tearing off half his body.
A Yaksa Monster pounced over, but was flung away by its tail swipe like scissors.
Bai Yun’s spear thrust at the tiger shadow, piercing the Yaksa Monster’s chest.
Du Yuan and Bai Chenyao summoned their contracted beasts, jumping into the battlefield and intercepting two minor leaders among them.
Roars rose and fell, and behind the blocked temple followers, true intents rose, with green-skinned beast faces resembling tiger leopards and such beasts to some extent, but more like Yaksa Monsters.
With true intents manifesting, their attacks immediately became ferocious.
Cornered Beast Fights Back
If they couldn’t break through, they would all die here.
“Form Formation!”
The Mountain Guard formed a hundred-man military formation, throwing short spears from their waists.
True Essence wrapped around the short spears, making the power even stronger, far surpassing arrows.
Those Yaksa Monsters were utterly berserk, not knowing to dodge, instantly pierced by the short spears.
Pain made the Yaksa Monsters struggle continuously, reaching to pull out the short spears, bringing out large amounts of blood, their bodies stiffening before collapsing to the ground.
Even the temple followers, under the short spear attacks, couldn’t avoid and were directly pierced through the body.
“Boom!”
The Old Huang Temple shook unsteadily, a massive Yaksa Monster charging out, two zhang tall with four arms, its sharp claws directly clawing through the stone pillar at the Old Huang Temple gate that took two people to hug.
The Yaksa General borrowed force to pounce straight at the Mountain Guard military formation, surging violent demonic essence condensing into a shocking red light, forcing strength at the True Intent Realm Third Stage condensing momentum level.
The accompanying Mountain Guard captain was Ding Yu’an, who stepped forward, his True Intent Beast Spirit shaking out, colliding fiercely with the Yaksa General.
The Old Huang Temple shook three times, evenly matched.
At this moment, a shadow suddenly rushed out from the temple, extremely fast, almost turning into a black shadow.
He raised his hand to strike, a pitch-black claw mark slashing through the air.
Behind him was a Beast Spirit True Intent like a Yaksa Monster.
“Bad!”
Ding Yu’an’s expression changed; this person attacked right after his move.
He immediately swept his weapon horizontally, trying to block this attack.
But in haste, there was no way to fully defend.
Under one strike, his body flew back, blood spilling from his mouth.
“Go!”
The temple priest roared, standing on the Yaksa General’s body, using chains for control, condensing aura, actually trying to charge the formation.
His momentum was extremely fierce, instantly gathering seventeen or eighteen temple followers; at this time Bai Yun and others’ expressions changed, avoiding his edge.
Su Yan stepped forward, blocking in front of them.
Seeing Su Yan approach, the temple priest’s eyes burned with hatred; if not for this person, how would his Old Huang Temple be surrounded?
“Yaksa General, kill him!”
The Yaksa General’s scarlet eyes showed brutal light, four arms gathering, fiercely unleashing a terrifying demonic essence.
Su Yan sneered, azure gold scale patterns and Heavenly Python Dharma Body emerging around him.
True Essence flowed, raising his hand to condense a Star Plucking Hand Seal over three zhang in size.
“Suppress!”
His aura was majestic; this hand seal strike shattered the Yaksa General’s attack with a boom.
The temple priest’s expression changed, not expecting this young brat to have such strength.
He raised his hand, a pitch-black black needle shooting straight at Su Yan’s brow.
This attack was particularly insidious, almost aiming for an instant kill.
Ma Tianhong and the other two in the distance saw this, their expressions changing abruptly.
“Thief, how dare you strike to kill!”
Ma Tianhong flew over, his Back-through Ape true intent rising, almost crossing the hundred-zhang distance to save Su Yan.
But Su Yan was faster.
Three Beast Spirit True Intents—Star Moon Centipede, Poison Star Ape, and Green-scaled Poisonous Flood Dragon—emerged, aura surging sharply.
Three Stars as Formation!
The three beast spirits linked with star constellation true essence, instantly occupying a triangle spaced no more than thirty to fifty zhang, completely trapping the temple priest and his group.
A faint muffled sound.
This sharp insidious black needle was directly bitten down by the Star Moon Centipede and knocked to the ground.
Su Yan raised his hand to connect the formation; a hundred meters above the Old Huang Temple, light dimmed, only starlight dots casting down.
True Essence continuously drawn, the next moment forming a dozens-of-zhang hand palm.
The old temple priest saw this, face deathly pale; his true intent merged with the Yaksa General below, blood basin mouth opening wide to spit skyward red light.
“A bit of malevolent energy, and you think to break my Star Constellation Profound Beast formation?”
The great hand pressed down, instantly crushing the red light like destroying dry weeds and rotten wood, then pressing on the Yaksa, temple followers, and this old temple priest.
In an instant, rumbling sounded; over ten martial artists and monsters were pressed underground like dead dogs.
The surrounding spectators were shocked; though not the first time seeing Su Yan act, such commotion was still unimaginable.
Ma Tianhong’s Back-through Ape true intent jumped to the battlefield edge, just about to step into the Old Huang Temple, but found Su Yan standing right in front of him.
“Young Master Su, are you alright? I’ll assist you.”
Ma Tianhong saw Su Yan look up and asked with concern; Lin Zifang and Zhou Yaokun were a step slow.
“No matter, just discovered a nest that once harmed my Beast King Sect disciples.”
Su Yan faced Ma Tianhong and the other two without turning back: “Junior Brother Ding, lock up the monsters and people, take them back to Feng City for interrogation. I want to see if they have any connection to Bai Shan Town.”
“Yes.”
The Mountain Guard moved, using special artifact refining monster binding ropes to bind them up.
The lead temple priest and Yaksa General were handled personally by Ding Yu’an, and in front of everyone, given muscle and bone softening drugs.
Beast King Sect was originally a sect for driving and contracting beasts; they had some means against feral beasts and monsters.
“Feng City?”
Lin Zifang’s expression changed slightly, unable to help saying: “The road from Ma Wang Town to Feng City isn’t far; these thieves are probably not simple. If going like this, in case they attack, wouldn’t it be…”
Before he finished, he shut his mouth, realizing he misspoke.
He feared Beast King Sect would thoroughly investigate because of this, not just Ma Wang Town, but Liang Shui Town and Han Shan Town would be checked too.
This matter would be even harder to pass.
So, resolving it among the three towns was most appropriate.
Su Yan looked at Lin Zifang with a half-smile; he immediately showed a troubled look, lowering his head: “Lin worries for safety, spoke out of turn in haste; hope Young Master forgive.”
The prisoners’ fate and handling was for Beast King Sect to decide; what was he?
“Family Head Lin is meticulous; what crime is there?”
Su Yan spoke indifferently, turning the topic: “The matter was urgent, acted suddenly, disturbing Family Head Ma’s peace; it’s my fault. If known the three family heads were here, wouldn’t have called the Mountain Guard.”
The three inwardly felt it bad; they were suspected.
Ma Tianhong inwardly cursed nonstop, steeling himself: “We discovered clues about the thieves who destroyed Bai Shan Town city wall, so gathered to discuss.”
He used this excuse to deflect; only this reasonably explained why the three gathered.
“Junior Brother, there’s something in the Old Huang Temple.”
However, at this time, Ding Yu’an looked solemn, eyes with anger, lowering his voice as he approached.
Seeing his expression, Su Yan frowned, heart sinking: “What did you find?”
“Mass grave and children…”
Ding Yu’an spoke almost grinding his teeth.
Su Yan’s face chilled, voice turning colder.
“Take me to see.”
Ma Tianhong and the other two’s expressions changed abruptly, wanting to follow, but blocked by Mountain Guard.
“Family Heads, Beast King Sect is investigating; please forgive us.”
The three were annoyed but dared not show it.
In normal times, with their cultivation, even Beast King Sect disciples wouldn’t dare give them such face easily.
But now, Beast King Sect was pursuing the disciple murder case.
If they acted now, what would that be?
Killing the imperial envoy.
If really so, offending wasn’t one or two disciples, but slapping Beast King Sect’s face.
If it came to that, they wouldn’t talk evidence with you.
‘Damn, what force planted this Old Huang Temple here?!’
Lin Zifang and Zhou Yaokun inwardly cursed; Ma Tianhong was also annoyed.
Though suspecting Ma Family involvement, they couldn’t show it.
Could only watch Su Yan and Ding Yu’an enter the Old Huang Temple.
The Old Huang Temple structure was vast, built entirely of huge stone blocks.
Stepping in, a chill wind like from ankles swept up.
The temple enshrined a statue like a city god malevolent god, green-faced with fangs, wearing divine robes, exuding eerie majesty.
Ding Yu’an led Su Yan straight to the hall rear; by now the entire Old Huang Temple had been searched thoroughly by Mountain Guard; in this back courtyard, a pitch-black tunnel was surrounded by several Mountain Guard, with Bai Yun, Du Yuan, and Bai Chenyao all here.
“Down there.”
Ding Yu’an pointed at the pit before them, face already unsightly.
Several entered the cave one after another; the tunnel wasn’t deep, just a hundred steps to the basement.
What an upper temple lower cave.
Underground nearly hollowed out by Old Huang Temple people; at a glance, neat rows of sinister cages from entrance extending inward, no less than a hundred.
Bloodstains dried, embedded in walls as black marks.
Emitting a foul stench, making one shudder.
In the cages, still seventeen or eighteen half-grown children, but now beheaded, all killed by temple followers.
Further in, rooms for torture, trial beast farms, countless iron bars and iron chains.
At the dungeon depths, a hundred-meter-deep giant pit; looking down by dropped torch, limbs everywhere, small mountain of large and small corpses piled.
“When we arrived, the children here were already killed; also found several half-formed monsters, probably these temple followers researching secret medicine.”
Ding Yu’an ground his teeth; in the martial world, some went to extremes for strength.
But what they saw now: transforming children into monsters comparable to Spirit Nurturing Great Accomplishment or True Intent Realm Martial Artists.
From research to success, how many died?
What ruthless mind could do this?
“Seal the secret medicine, report to sect.”
Su Yan’s voice was icy; Ding Yu’an nodded gravely: “I’ll do it now.”
“And from Senior Brother Hao Yi’s side, transfer another three hundred.”
“Understood.”
Su Yan and Ding Yu’an emerged; the entire Old Huang Temple was still sealed.
Ma Tianhong saw his expression, knowing it bad: “Young Master Su, Old Huang Temple hid demon persons; Ma Family failed to detect. I will investigate clearly and give sect an account.”
“Family Head Ma, no need; we’ll handle this.”
Ma Tianhong’s face immediately darkened.
Su Yan had nearly stated plainly: they didn’t trust Ma Family with this.
He forced: “Good, Ma Family will fully cooperate.”
Ma Tianhong and the two temporarily withdrew; Lin Zifang and the other directly returned to their small towns, immediately checking all places similar to Old Huang Temple.
This check caused chaos; surprisingly similar places found.
After a great battle, many demon persons eliminated, but several temple priests escaped.
On Ma Wang Town side, Hao Yi dispatched three hundred Mountain Guard that day.
They didn’t camp in Ma Wang Town, but set camp at Yun Ting Mountain outside Ma Wang Town.
Ma Family and various forces in Ma Wang Town were highly vigilant inwardly but dared no excessive reaction.
Su Yan directly ordered; Mountain Guard disciples began house-to-house checks.
Since so many half-grown children captured, there must be a source.
From child trafficking to secret medicine medicinal herbs sources, tracing clues one by one.
Ma Family and city forces also went all out, sweeping large and small gangs, handing over three gangs specializing in kidnapping and selling children in one day.
Bai Yun and Ding Yu’an weren’t polite, checking from start to finish, killing seven or eight out of ten in these three gangs.
Gradually traced to martial artist forces, even two with True Intent Realm Martial Artists in charge.
In the camp, Su Yan came before several cages.
The old temple priest had awakened, hung in the cage, shoulder blades pierced, kneecaps dug out, strength fallen from realm, barely True Intent Realm.
“Two days, your lips are sealed tight.”
Su Yan slightly raised his gaze at the old ghost-like temple priest.
“Hmph, I’ve said what I should. This old man is Nine Peaks Sect disciple, just borrowed your kids to research secret medicine; worth such fuss?”
“Nine Peaks Sect disciple. Then say which branch, which master’s disciple? This secret medicine for whom, to be used where?”
The temple priest kept a cold face silent, no more talk; more said, more flaws.
He confessed neither drug destination nor research source, just clinging to Nine Peaks Sect.
Su Yan didn’t believe a word.
Seeing him like this, Su Yan just shook his head slightly: “Not saying is fine; I never planned to get anything from you, just needed bait to flush the nest; two days should be about enough.”
He pointed a finger, true essence gathering into a blade, piercing the temple priest’s heart.
He exited the temporary tent, saying to Ding Yu’an guarding outside: “Make a commotion; tonight urgently send back to Feng City.”
