King of Assassins

Chapter 1256: Chapter 758: Loyal unto Death

The Hongyi Sword in his hand slowed by just a hair.

It was precisely this hair’s breadth of an opening that let Jin Xiang seize the chance to break free of the Eternal Celestial Dragon Claw’s restraint and shoot backward.

At the same time, four golden characters—"My Buddha is merciful"—appeared before Jin Xiang’s brow. These four characters were themselves formed from countless Runes.

Gao Xuan calculated in an instant: if he put everything into one sword strike, he could shatter those four character Runes, but would no longer have the strength to kill Jin Xiang.

Since that was the case, there was no need to tear all decorum aside with viciousness and malice; he might as well appear magnanimous.

Gao Xuan flicked his sleeve and retreated, the Hongyi Sword in his hand returning to its sheath at the same time.

Jin Xiang, who had withdrawn several steps, showed a trace of surprise on her delicate face. If Gao Xuan had not withdrawn his sword, she would surely have been severely wounded.

At her Realm, she would not lightly be injured; if she were, who knew how long it would take to recover.

Her Cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds at this time; if she were delayed now by several hundred or even several thousand years, it would disrupt her grand plan for Cultivation.

More importantly, she faintly felt that she had to hurry back to the Upper Three Realms.

Therefore, Jin Xiang was indeed very surprised that Gao Xuan let her go, and within that surprise there was also a few parts of an indescribably complex emotion.

Jin Xiang had only met Gao Xuan twice, yet she understood his temperament well enough to know that he was absolutely cold and ruthless.

Yet both times she crossed hands with Gao Xuan, she had withdrawn completely intact.

Jin Xiang did not, because of this, give rise to any feelings between man and woman; she merely felt that there was an arrangement of fate hidden within.

Perhaps Gao Xuan was an old acquaintance of hers?

Gao Xuan’s aptitude was even higher and more defiant of the heavens than hers; saying he was an old acquaintance from the Upper Realm was the most reasonable.

Jin Xiang’s memories of her previous life had completely vanished, leaving only her fundamental Spiritual nature. Though she had some guesses in her heart, she could not think who Gao Xuan really was.

Jin Xiang was also embarrassed to question Gao Xuan; being reborn to Cultivate anew was not exactly something glorious.

Since Gao Xuan did not take the initiative to speak of it, she had no need to get to the bottom of it.

At this moment, an old monk drifted down from the sky. He wore black monk’s robes, had kindly brows and pleasant eyes, and held a string of black Buddha beads in his hand.

Seeing this old monk, Jin Xiang hurriedly bowed with palms together and offered salute: "Disciple Jin Xiang pays respects to Master."

Yuan Xiang also came over and saluted together with Jin Xiang.

At a glance, Gao Xuan understood: this old monk was certainly the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva.

The number one powerhouse of the Buddhist Sect, whose name shook the world, yet his appearance was utterly ordinary—neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short. He seemed to have no distinguishing features at all.

Gao Xuan could not even remember the other’s facial features clearly. This stirred a measure of wariness in his heart; with his memory, even if he merely passed by a stretch of beach, if he wished he could clearly recall the appearance of every single grain of sand upon it.

No matter how plain the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva might look, he could not possibly forget him.

Yet, right in front of the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva, Gao Xuan found it somewhat difficult to remember the other’s appearance. This proved that the other could interfere with his Divine Soul and memory; such Power was truly terrifying.

Gao Xuan also straightened his attitude. After all, this was a peerless powerhouse whose name resounded through the world; he indeed possessed extraordinary qualities.

Gao Xuan bowed with clasped hands to the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva and offered salute: "Might this be the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva gracing us with his presence?"

"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare; this old monk is indeed Ten Suffering."

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva’s manner was also very modest. He joined his palms and took the initiative to return the salute. "I have long heard the great name of the Daoist Monarch. To come rashly today, I must ask the Daoist Monarch’s forgiveness."

"Ten Suffering Bodhisattva, you flatter me. For you to personally come to this savage wilderness is my honor..."

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva’s attitude was very humble, and Gao Xuan was likewise exceedingly courteous.

If the other side did not wish to make a move, he naturally had no need to do so. Such polite pleasantries were thus quite necessary.

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva glanced around. As soon as he arrived he discovered that the Spiritual Qi here was scarce—at least sixty percent of it had been drawn away.

There was no doubt this was the doing of the young Daoist before him.

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva then sized up Gao Xuan. Yuan Xiang’s letter had been very vague and had not clearly stated Gao Xuan’s origin.

Only when he saw Gao Xuan with his own eyes did he realize that the other’s bearing was peerlessly outstanding, surpassing even Jin Xiang by far.

One must know that Jin Xiang was the reincarnation of the Vajra Power King. Though Jin Xiang’s Cultivation was still not on his level, in terms of Divine Soul aura she far exceeded him.

This was because Jin Xiang had preserved her innate root and Spiritual nature. On this point alone, she surpassed countless Earth Immortals of the Primordial Celestial Realm.

Only an Upper Realm powerhouse like Yuan Qinglian could be compared with Jin Xiang in this regard.

In such a desolate place as the Southern Barbarian Wilderness, where only Demons roamed everywhere, it was simply impossible for such a peerless figure to be born.

Yuan Xiang’s letter had also mentioned that Gao Xuan was very likely a Cultivator who had ascended from the Lower Realm.

Judging by Jin Xiang, Gao Xuan could have arrived in this Realm for at most three thousand years. Yet his Cultivation was already sufficient to suppress Jin Xiang. This was all the more inconceivable.

The only reasonable explanation was that Gao Xuan, too, was the reincarnation of some Powerhouse.

The Ten Suffering Bodhisattva had also vaguely heard that a great upheaval had occurred in the Upper Three Realms, and many Powerhouses had reincarnated to Cultivate anew.

He himself did not have much desire for the Upper Three Realms. Even if he barely made it into the Upper Three Realms, he would be no more than a lackey to the Powerhouses there.

In the Primordial Celestial Realm, however, he was the leader of the Buddhist Sect; with one call, all responded—how free and at ease was that.

When his lifespan truly reached its end, he would at most reincarnate in the Lower Realm. Why go to the Upper Three Realms to seek trouble for himself.

Nevertheless, the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva was unwilling to provoke those great figures of the Upper Three Realms. A single misstep and disaster could befall him.

Even if Gao Xuan had no notable origin, his Divine Techniques and methods alone could not be underestimated.

After weighing things over in secret, the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva still abandoned the thought of making a move.

In the final analysis, it was because the Power Gao Xuan had displayed was too great. Even when Jin Xiang unleashed the Sumeru Mountain Fist, Gao Xuan had forcibly suppressed it. Had he not arrived swiftly and cast the Great Compassion Mantra, Jin Xiang would likely have been slain under Gao Xuan’s sword.

With such Divine Techniques, even if this were only a projection of his own Divine Soul, the Ten Suffering Bodhisattva thought that even if his true body descended, he might not be able to suppress Gao Xuan.