I Grind to Martial Saint

The Sword-Carrying Vajra!

It charged over from nearby, moving like a shooting star. The Stone Blade in its hand, suffused with immense power, came cleaving down at Han Yuan’s head.

Han Yuan grinned, brandishing his Heaven-Defying Saber as he charged forward to meet it!

BOOM! RUMBLE!

After the two figures clashed for a dozen moves, Han Yuan found an opening and cleaved the Sword-Carrying Vajra in two.

HUFF... HUFF... HUFF...

Han Yuan reverted from his Demon Whale Transformation, his body slowly returning to its normal size.

He felt a sense of utter exhaustion after using the Demon Whale Transformation this time.

But regardless, he had finally dealt with the Four Great Vajras.

At this moment, the Dark Red Wooden Box finally grew still.

It seemed the power of the Source Seed Shredded Meat had been completely depleted.

However, Monk White Eyebrow was still chanting scriptures without pause.

Han Yuan didn’t disturb him. He found a corner, sat down, and began to recover his strength.

’Who knows what’s going to happen next.’

BOOM!

「Outside the Demon Suppression Tower.」

The Faceless Monk and Monk Xu Hai were locked in a desperate, evenly matched battle.

But suddenly, the Faceless Monk seemed to sense something. It dissolved into countless wisps of black qi and abruptly fled into the distance.

Monk Xu Hai watched the direction the Faceless Monk had fled but did not give chase. Instead, he hurried into the Demon Suppression Tower.

When he reached the Ninth Layer and saw the Dark Red Wooden Box was still there, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon sensing Monk Xu Hai’s aura, Monk White Eyebrow, who had been chanting nonstop, collapsed unconscious.

Seeing this, Monk Xu Hai rushed over to check on him. He sighed in relief upon discovering that Monk White Eyebrow was still clinging to life.

He had Monk White Eyebrow swallow an Elixir Pill, and just then, Han Yuan walked over.

”Abbot Xu Hai, what about the Source Evil Seed?”

Han Yuan asked softly.

”It fled... It must have no longer sensed the disturbance from the Source Seed Shredded Meat... It knew it couldn’t succeed this time, so it just left.”

Abbot Xu Hai said grimly.

”It can run away?”

Han Yuan was taken aback.

’In his experience, Evil Demon Seeds were supposed to be mindless, frenzied beings.’

’Is this Source Evil Seed different?’

Xu Hai explained to Han Yuan, ”It is as you suspect. The Source Evil Seed does indeed retain some of its intellect. They are more depraved, more cunning than the Evil Demon Seeds...”

”I see...” Han Yuan murmured, lost in thought.

”This time, I must thank you again, Donor Han.”

”If you hadn’t been here, Donor Han, the Source Seed Shredded Meat might truly have been stolen by the Faceless Monk.”

Xu Hai said gratefully.

”You’re too kind, Abbot.”

”The Source Seed Shredded Meat is a natural enemy of the Human Race. Of course I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

Han Yuan said softly.

”Amitabha.”

”Nevertheless, I must thank you properly, Donor Han.”

”If you ever need my help in the future, Donor, you need only ask.”

Monk Xu Hai was not one for empty pleasantries; he gave Han Yuan a direct promise.

The promise of a Divine Sea Realm master was priceless.

At a critical moment, it would very likely come in handy.

Han Yuan was, of course, very satisfied.

He knew Xu Hai would have much to deal with after the attack, so he took his leave and departed from the Demon Suppression Tower.

RUMBLE~~

The stone door slowly rumbled open.

Han Yuan walked out of the Demon Suppression Tower.

By now, the sky had already brightened.

When Han Yuan returned to the Great Vajra Temple, he found it in a state of utter disarray.

Many buildings had collapsed, and a few Buddha Halls were even still billowing black smoke.

A great number of monks were bustling about.

They were carrying away bodies, treating the wounded, and hauling water to douse the fires.

Clearly, after last night’s attack by the Faceless Monk, even a place as powerful as the Great Vajra Temple had suffered considerable losses.

’This is the terror of a Source Evil Seed...’

’Even with Monk Xu Hai presiding over the temple... the losses are still this devastating.’

A sense of urgency gripped Han Yuan’s heart.

’He doubted the Faceless Monk was the only Source Evil Seed on the entire Southern Star Continent.’

’Now that one has appeared, more are sure to follow.’

’My strength still isn’t enough... I need to get stronger, and fast.’

A glint flickered in Han Yuan’s eyes.

「One day later.」

Han Yuan and Monk Xu Hai were conversing in a tea room.

”Ancestor White Eyebrow has awakened...”

”However, he was gravely injured... The lingering effects are severe. From now on, I will be the one to enter the Demon Suppression Tower and guard the Source Seed Shredded Meat.”

Xu Hai said.

”Master... why did the Source Seed Shredded Meat suddenly act up...”

”Could it be because of the recent surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?”

Han Yuan asked.

”Indeed, that is my assessment as well.”

”The Faceless Monk must have sensed the disturbance from the Source Seed Shredded Meat, which is why it launched its sudden attack.”

”From now on, the Great Vajra Temple will seal the mountain. What happened last night will not be repeated.”

Monk Xu Hai stated.

”In that case... the other places where Source Seed Shredded Meat is suppressed might also be at risk...”

Han Yuan said grimly.

”Correct... We have already spread the word.”

”The various sects of the Great Li Dynasty should learn of this very soon.”

Monk Xu Hai said, placing his palms together.

”That’s good.”

Han Yuan’s thoughts turned to Chunyang Daoist, who was guarding Taicang Mountain.

’But then again,’ he mused, ’the Source Seed Shredded Meat at Taicang Mountain is sealed inside a Pill Furnace and constantly being refined by an Array. Even if it’s still alive, it probably can’t cause much trouble.’

”Abbot Xu Hai... why don’t you all try to refine that Source Seed Shredded Meat to destroy it?”

Han Yuan asked earnestly.

”Back then, Li Qingxuan led countless experts into the Immortal Sect and managed to bring back only a small piece of the Source Seed Shredded Meat.”

”The Profound Celestial Alliance then cut that small piece into seventy-two parts... sealing each one in a different location.”

”This was done so that we could study the Source Seed Shredded Meat and understand exactly what it is...”

”Therefore, we will not destroy it lightly, unless it is the absolute last resort.”

Monk Xu Hai explained.

Hearing this, Han Yuan understood everything.

’Even if I hadn’t been there last night... I’m afraid that old Monk White Eyebrow had other ways to destroy the Source Seed Shredded Meat.’

’Of course, it’s just as Monk Xu Hai said.’

’They wouldn’t destroy the Source Seed Shredded Meat unless it was the last resort.’

”I understand.”

Han Yuan nodded.

He thought for a moment before asking, ”Abbot Xu Hai, do you know of a martial art called the Innate Great Demon Scripture?”

He had gone through countless hardships, crossing the Snow Dragon Mountain Range from the Great Ling Dynasty, all to find a Cultivation Technique that suited him.

As the Abbot of the Great Vajra Temple, Xu Hai was worldly and knowledgeable, privy to many secrets of the Martial World.

Perhaps he would have some leads.

”The Innate Great Demon Scripture... I know of it.”

”It is the legacy Cultivation Technique of the Great Demon Palace. Only the direct disciples of the Palace Master are permitted to practice it.”

”I just never expected that a portion of it would find its way to your Great Ling Dynasty.”

Monk Xu Hai said softly.

”The Great Demon Palace... What kind of sect is that?”

Han Yuan asked, surprised and intrigued.

’He hadn’t expected to find a lead so easily.’

”The Great Demon Palace is an ancient power in the Great Li Dynasty... It has several thousand disciples and is immensely powerful.”

”Its Palace Master, Situ Hui, is a Divine Sea Realm expert... He is entrenched in the Demon Cave Ridge area.”

”However, if you wish to obtain the subsequent parts of the Cultivation Technique... I’m afraid it will be rather difficult.”

Monk Xu Hai reminded him.

After all, the Innate Great Demon Scripture was the legacy Cultivation Technique of the Great Demon Palace. Even ordinary disciples were not allowed to practice it, let alone an outsider like Han Yuan.

Furthermore, with Han Yuan being an outsider who had practiced the Innate Great Demon Skill, there was no telling how the Great Demon Palace would react...

Han Yuan had also considered this.

But regardless, now that he had a lead on the rest of the Innate Great Demon Scripture, he certainly couldn’t let the opportunity pass.

’He’d cross that bridge when he got to the Great Demon Palace.’

”By the way, Abbot.”

”Is Demon Cave Ridge far from Nine Witch Mountain?”

Han Yuan recalled a promise he had made to Wei Xiongtian.

”Not far... It’s about a five or six-day journey.”

Monk Xu Hai replied.

”That close... Good.”

Han Yuan nodded.

’He didn’t want to waste any time.’

Monk Xu Hai smiled. ”I will have Kong Neng bring you a map of the Great Li Dynasty.”

”That way, you will have use for it, Donor.”

Han Yuan cupped his fist. ”Many thanks, Abbot.”

The two chatted for a while longer. After Kong Neng delivered the map, Han Yuan formally took his leave.

Xu Hai led the monks of the Great Vajra Temple and escorted Han Yuan all the way to the foot of the mountain before they turned back.

In the days to come, Xu Hai would inherit Monk White Eyebrow’s duties, standing a lonely vigil day and night within the Demon Suppression Tower, guarding the Source Seed Shredded Meat.

As for Han Yuan, he set off toward Nanlu County City.

According to Wei Xiongtian, he had left the item in question at a Money Shop within Nanlu County City.