Chapter Sixteen: The Sword Saint

There was indeed an abundance of Yupei grass beneath the water. After several rounds of holding their breath and diving to the bottom to harvest it, the group had nearly filled the storage spaces of their magical items. In this world, larger spatial storage equipment once existed; however, the thinness of spiritual energy in the mortal realm had, it seemed, affected the spiritual world as well. The barriers between spaces had become unusually robust and stable. As a result, the energy required for storage-type spatial equipment had grown exorbitant, and the bags themselves were far less stable. From that time on, only miniature-capacity items could be used. What happens if someone forcibly tries to use a high-capacity storage device? According to those in the know, the One Qi Dao Sect once attempted to craft such items, but the results were disastrous: either the internal space became chaotic, damaging the stored items, or the device exploded from being overloaded. The greatest issue, though, was that the size of the storage space was directly proportional to the consumption of spiritual power. Though a single item’s drain wasn’t enormous, it couldn't be sustained over time; after all, unless a cultivator had attained the rank of Star Lord, their reserves of spiritual power could not rival an ocean.

The group returned, laden with spoils, and arrived at the exit of the Sacred Tree—only to encounter a crowd dressed as masked ninjas. These strangers said not a word; seeing the group barely standing after teleporting out, they immediately hurled countless diamond-shaped throwing weapons, each glinting with a sinister blue light, clearly laced with poison.

A chorus of metallic clangs rang out as the throwing stars clattered to the ground. The monk Luokong summoned his Vajra guardian, which went from faint to solid, gradually revealing its gleaming golden form—utterly unmarred, without a single scratch.

“Amitabha! You brazen thieves, you have destroyed my sect. This hatred is irreconcilable!” Luokong’s eyes blazed red, as if possessed, his demeanor utterly terrifying.

With a grunt, Luokong forced a mouthful of blood onto his staff. Instantly, the massive Vajra seemed invigorated, morphing into a three-headed, six-armed titan wielding demon-subduing cudgels, swords, axes, bells, bows, and other magical implements, which it swung furiously, unleashing dazzling rays of light as it launched a wild assault on the ninja crowd.

The demon-subduing cudgel swept through several ninjas in mid-throw, sending them flying. Yet, with a puff of white smoke, they dissolved into fragments of wooden stakes.

“Baka!” the lead ninja roared, swinging his samurai sword at them.

“Little devils, your big sister will play with you,” Lingmei teased, curling her finger at the attacking ninja and snapping her whip, which instantly wrapped around the blade.

With a forceful flick, Lingmei tossed the swordsman behind her, but he landed gracefully with a backflip.

Unexpectedly, the ninja bowed to Lingmei. “Respected warrior, may I know your name? I, Sword Sage Hattori Sanzang, challenge you.” With that, he removed his mask, striking a formal dueling pose.

“Oh! Hohoho, just moments ago you tried a poisoned sneak attack, and now you ask for a duel? Sword Sage, eh? I wonder how you compare to that Beast Soul Warrior Sword Sage. Let me give it a try!” Lingmei winked, swaying her supple figure, her curves rippling seductively as she patted her voluptuous hips and blew a flirtatious kiss.

Hattori Sanzang gulped several times, his mouth dry, and certain parts of him stirred. Perhaps to mask his embarrassment, he shouted, “As a hero, isn’t it shameful to use seduction techniques? Such a duel is hardly worthy of a gentleman!”

Lingmei covered her mouth with delicate fingers, giggling. “Oh my, you’ll be the death of me! First, I am no hero; second, I am but a woman, so how could I be a gentleman? And lastly, I don’t know any seduction techniques. Aren’t you a ninja? Surely you can resist such temptations!”

“Baka!” Hattori Sanzang roared, thrusting his sword with a screeching rush, his figure blurring into a shadow.

“Hmm, interesting. Your speed’s not bad!” Lingmei tapped Sanzang’s forehead with a fingertip, instantly freezing him in place despite his frantic struggle.

“Is this all the Sword Sage can do? You’re far inferior to the green Beast Soul Warrior Sword Sage!” Lingmei flicked Sanzang’s head, sending him hurtling into a cliff, crashing among a cascade of shattered stone.

“You’ve truly enraged me!” Sanzang nearly toppled into the lava but kicked off the rubble and flew out.

“Shadow Clone Technique!” Countless duplicates of Sanzang swarmed Lingmei from every direction.

“Interesting! Time to get serious,” Lingmei snapped her whip, sending a would-be assassin tumbling into the lava below, where he vanished with a splash, prompting her to shield her eyes. “Too pitiful—such tragedy!”

In a flash, Lingmei transformed into a streak of lightning. Sanzang’s clones vanished one by one in wisps of white smoke.

“Oh, I thought they were real, but they’re just illusions. Some Sword Sage you are!” Lingmei patted her chest, causing another round of audible gulps.

“That foxy seductress is so over the top!” Xiaomei grumbled, clearly irritated with Lingmei. The other ninjas had already been dispatched; now everyone watched as Lingmei toyed with Sanzang like a cat with a mouse.

“Big Sister Xiaomei, it’s not right to speak ill of Senior Lingmei behind her back!” Yin Yue, perched on a stone, licked a giant lollipop and cheered, “Go, Senior Lingmei!”

“It seems everyone’s getting impatient—I’d better speed things up,” Lingmei said, her playful expression fading. Her figure vanished completely, and Sanzang’s body was suddenly suspended midair, twisting violently with the sound of bones breaking, as if invisible fists and feet were pummeling him from every direction. At last, he was flung onto the head of the golden guardian, his body limp and collapsed, little more than an empty skin stripped of all bone.

A collective gasp ran through the group, chills running down their spines. This woman, who seemed so ripe and alluring, was utterly terrifying when she fought—truly a monstrous existence. There was not a single intact bone left in his body.

“Ouch, my hands are sore,” Lingmei’s form gradually reappeared. She casually kicked Sanzang’s remains into the molten rock, gently massaging her delicate hands as she sauntered toward the group, her demeanor as if nothing had happened at all. She was indeed a rose with thorns—and those thorns, no doubt, were poisonous.