Volume II: Inheriting the Legacy, Blood on the Brocade Chapter 131: Battle of Arrays

Yang Ning had been beaten senseless by the little monk Zhenming atop Tianbao Mountain, and had consequently held the Great Illumination Temple in considerable awe. Yet after he had made his move in the Five Grains Hall and toyed with several monks from that hall until they were utterly bewildered, his respect for the temple had vanished like smoke. He had decided that the Great Illumination Temple was nothing special after all.

But now, seeing the four monks of the Empty Clarity Pavilion form their formation and attack, he realized that he had been too quick to judge. Since the Great Illumination Temple was honored as the foremost temple under heaven, it clearly possessed genuine substance.

The four monks moved like drifting shadows, their coordination flawless and their attacks as swift as lightning. At that moment, Yang Ning could not even make out what was happening within the arena. Only then did he understand that the martial monks of the Empty Clarity Pavilion were truly extraordinary.

No wonder the disciples of the Empty Clarity Pavilion enjoyed special treatment at the Great Illumination Temple. Not only could they enter the Five Grains Hall at will, but they were also served more food and better dishes. Judging by the martial skill of these four monks alone, they truly could not be compared with ordinary disciples.

Yang Ning’s eyes were dazzled. Most of the monks in the main hall were much the same, seeing only figures darting to and fro while remaining unable to discern the changes within the formation.

Yang Ning glanced at the little monk Zhenming beside him and saw that the boy was staring fixedly at the battle. He wondered inwardly, “Could this little monk really understand what’s going on?”

Then again, the boy’s skills were indeed impressive. Perhaps he really could see something others could not. Unable to resist, Yang Ning leaned toward Zhenming’s ear and whispered, “What’s the situation now? Who has the upper hand?”

In truth, several groups of monks in the main hall were whispering among themselves as well.

The little monk Zhenming lowered his voice. “The senior brothers are highly skilled, and their changes are ever-shifting. The formation is also profound and mysterious. However, the disciples of Baiyun Island are holding fast to the four extremes, and for the moment, the senior brothers have been unable to break their formation... At present, the senior brothers still have the upper hand.”

Yang Ning thought to himself that the little monk really did understand what he was seeing.

He looked toward the arena. Jingkong sat cross-legged with his palms pressed together, unmoving as a bell, his bearing extraordinarily composed. Jingneng was also seated, but his body swayed from side to side from time to time. Clearly, he was deeply concerned with the battle and lacked Jingkong’s unshakable calm.

From beginning to end, Bai Yuhe had not moved even a single step. He stood upright like a spear. Chidan Mei, on the other hand, twisted her body from time to time. Her figure was alluring, and every movement carried a provocative, coquettish charm.

Suddenly, a cry of “Ah!” rang out. Everyone in the hall was startled and turned toward the sound. Among the monks watching from the side, one had pitched forward. Fortunately, a companion reacted swiftly and caught him by the waist of his robe before he struck the ground. His steps had been unsteady, and he had already lost consciousness.

Yang Ning was puzzled. Jingneng, however, wore an angry expression and could not speak out. He merely waved his hand, signaling for the fallen monk to be carried away.

“What happened?” Yang Ning could not help asking Zhenming in a low voice.

Zhenming thought for a moment before replying, “This humble monk does not know either. Perhaps... perhaps that senior brother’s cultivation was not deep enough to withstand such a formation...”

Yang Ning thought that this little monk really knew how to boast. If he did not know, he could simply say so, yet instead he had pushed the blame onto the formation.

Someone watching a fight had collapsed before anyone in the fight. Could the formation really be blamed for that?

Yang Ning raised his head and looked around. Strangely enough, many monks had lowered their heads, their palms pressed together, no longer watching the arena. Astonished, Yang Ning turned his gaze toward the eight combatants. They seemed almost like phantoms. He could vaguely make out several figures circling rapidly like a vortex.

After staring for a while, he too began to feel dizzy and disoriented, as though heaven and earth were spinning around him. Those mere eight people seemed to have transformed into hundreds of figures. Yang Ning’s legs grew unsteady, and he hurriedly turned away, exclaiming inwardly at the formation’s power.

It seemed the little monk had not been exaggerating. Though Yang Ning himself had not entered the formation, the clash between the two formations could still affect those watching from outside.

He knew nothing whatsoever about formations, and only now did he understand how formidable they could be.

If even the spectators could not withstand the dizziness, one could only imagine how fearsome the people trapped within the formation must be. His estimation of the Empty Clarity Pavilion’s disciples rose several notches higher.

Then he felt somewhat dejected.

He had believed that his refined fighting skills were enough to deal with powerful enemies. After learning the Carefree Steps, he would sometimes think that, combined with his combat techniques, he might not be a top-tier expert, but he should at least rank among the very best. On the streets, he ought to be able to walk sideways.

Only now did he understand that his little bit of ability was not even worthy of taking the stage in this world.

Against ordinary thugs and hoodlums, three or five men would naturally pose no problem. But against a true martial expert, he would not even be worth a chamber pot of urine.

Now the two sides were battling through their formations, and he could not even see the movements clearly, let alone enter the fray himself. If he wanted to live better in this world, he would have to train harder in the martial arts. Otherwise, forget protecting anyone else—he might not even be able to protect himself.

“Something’s wrong...!”

The little monk Zhenming suddenly let out a soft cry.

Yang Ning hurriedly asked, “What is it?”

Zhenming whispered, “One of the senior brothers was struck by a palm. The Formless Formation nearly lost its footing. Fortunately... fortunately, that senior brother must have practiced some kind of Vajra body-protection technique. He was not injured. That was truly dangerous...” A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he lowered his voice. “The senior brothers of the Empty Clarity Pavilion are indeed formidable. These four must have practiced this formation hundreds or thousands of times; otherwise, they could never coordinate so perfectly.”

Yang Ning knew that although the little monk was young, he did not speak carelessly. Since he had said this, the Empty Clarity Pavilion’s foundation was evidently profound. Yang Ning asked in a low voice, “Tell me, little senior brother, who do you think will win? They’ve been fighting for quite some time now. Aren’t they getting tired?”

The little monk Zhenming replied softly, “This humble monk dares not make a definite judgment. But... but if that palm had injured the senior brother, the Formless Formation might already have lost. The changes of the Formless Formation are not something the Four Extremes Formation can match.”

He stared at the arena and continued quietly, “The Four Extremes Formation uses defense as offense. Its changes are inferior to those of the Formless Formation, yet its steadfast defense leaves very few openings. The Formless Formation appears scattered, but its spirit remains intact. It seems to reveal openings constantly, yet from what this humble monk can see, every one of those openings is meant to make the opponent miscalculate.”

“Little senior brother, you really are impressive.” Yang Ning now felt genuine admiration for the boy. “By your reasoning, the Formless Formation naturally has the greater chance of victory.”

Zhenming said, “This humble monk believes...”

Before he could finish, several Buddhist chants rang out. Yang Ning hurriedly looked over and saw four figures drifting apart and landing lightly on the ground. They were the four monks of the Empty Clarity Pavilion. The four men in hemp robes, meanwhile, stood in the center, their formation seemingly unchanged from before the battle began.

The four monks pressed their palms together and lowered their heads in silence, while the four men in hemp robes wore expressions of anger, shock, and unwillingness.

Judging only by their faces, Yang Ning knew that the outcome had already been decided.

All eight men were drenched in sweat, their bodies steaming. Sweat streamed down from their foreheads, showing just how intense and perilous the battle had been.

Jingkong chanted a Buddhist invocation and said, “Lady Chi, the Four Extremes Formation of Baiyun Island is ever-changing and unfathomable. This old monk is deeply impressed.”

Chidan Mei smiled. “The Great Illumination Temple has indeed been steeped in Buddhist teachings for many years, and its foundations are profound. You have won this round. My master was not mistaken—the Formless Formation has been passed down in your temple for nearly a century. Its profundity and mystery make it no easy matter to break.”

She gave a coquettish laugh and added sweetly, “However, I must say that if these martial monks had not practiced a body-protection art, the Four Extremes Formation might not have lost.”

Jingneng immediately replied, “One tempers the body before practicing the formation. The four disciples of the Formless Formation first trained themselves in an iron body before learning the formation. That is itself part of the formation. Lady Chi, are you still trying to argue?”

Yang Ning understood. The Formless Formation had won, but not through absolute superiority. All four monks had practiced a body-hardening technique that made them impervious as bronze. No wonder Zhenming had said that one of the martial monks had been struck by a palm without suffering injury.

Although Yang Ning had understood little of the battle from beginning to end, he could guess that after the men of the Four Extremes Formation had discovered an opening and attacked, they had failed to defeat their opponents in a single blow. That had led to their total defeat.

The reason they had failed to finish their opponents with that one strike was naturally the monks’ bronze-like bodies. No wonder the four men in hemp robes were so unwilling to accept the result.

Still, it could not be said that the four monks of the Formless Formation had won dishonorably. A formation was activated by people, and every formation naturally placed certain demands upon those who used it. Since the Formless Formation required both offense and defense, strengthening the body beforehand to improve one’s defense was hardly a deceitful shortcut.

Chidan Mei smiled. “Master, you misunderstand. The outcome has already been decided. How could I argue and refuse to admit it? Indeed, we lost this first round.”

Only then did Jingneng relax.

In truth, he understood the situation clearly. The opponent who would face them in the sword contest was Bai Yuhe, while swords and sabers were fierce weapons. Few people in the Buddhist faith practiced with such arms. Even Jingtong, the temple’s foremost swordsman, might not rank among the top ten swordsmen in the world. This was a weakness of the Great Illumination Temple.

Had Jingtong been present today, he might have been able to fight Bai Yuhe reluctantly on equal terms. Even then, the odds would have been no more than even.

Jingtong was absent, and the chances of victory in the sword contest were slim.

The contest today would be decided by two victories out of three. The Great Illumination Temple was counting on winning through formations and unarmed combat, with the formation contest being the most crucial of all.

Jingkong would represent the temple in unarmed combat. Given his cultivation, and considering that Chidan Mei was one of the three foremost disciples under the master of Baiyun Island despite her young age, Jingkong had a seventy- to eighty-percent chance of victory. In the eyes of the monks, the formation contest had effectively already determined the outcome of the entire match.

Now that the Formless Formation had won, the disciples of Baiyun Island had almost no hope of entering the Pure Heart Pavilion.

Chidan Mei rose, her delicate body sinuous as a snake. She twisted her waist and sauntered forward, like a mass of flame, her voice soft and coy.

“Master Jingkong, I shall make a fool of myself in this second round and seek your instruction. I hope that, in your compassion, you will not hurt me.”

She finished with a burst of coquettish laughter, swaying like a flowering branch in the wind.

Jingkong slowly rose to his feet, a faint smile on his face. Pressing his palms together, he said, “Amitabha. This old monk’s skills have grown rusty. I have not exchanged blows with anyone for many years, nor have I ever harbored the desire to contend or fight ruthlessly with another. Yet today, with the disciple of the master of Baiyun Island having honored us with her presence, this old monk can only use these few aging bones to exchange moves with Lady Chi.”

He brought his palms together and bowed slightly forward, humble and courteous. Yet all the monks in the temple knew that this was the opening stance of most of the Great Illumination Temple’s martial arts. It certainly expressed respect for one’s opponent, but it also meant that he was ready to strike.

As Jingkong lowered his hands in greeting, his monk’s robe swelled faintly. True energy flowed through his body, already shielding him from head to toe.

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