Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 300: Bloodshed!

Zhou Wei and the eldest princess chased after Zhu Qi.

When the three of them rushed to the Sutra Repository, they saw that a huge fire had already started.

Without a second thought, the three of them joined the monks in the temple to put out the fire.

However, when Zhou Wei was carrying the bucket, she smelled a pungent odor.

Once the fire was under control, Zhu Qi rushed into the Treasure Pavilion.

"Thankfully, only some side halls were burned down; the books in the Treasure Pavilion are all intact."

At this moment, Zhou Wei couldn't help but say, "Little monk, I suspect that this fire was caused by someone."

Zhu Qi looked at her, and Zhou Wei explained, "I just smelled some strange odor, like kerosene or some other flammable substance."

The three of them fell into deep thought. The library was full of scriptures, so who would set fire to it?

Suddenly, Zhu Qi's expression changed.

"Oh no, sisters, hurry back to the abbot's monastery!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei and the Princess were also startled. Without the slightest hesitation, they turned around and ran towards the abbot's monastery.

When they returned to the abbot's monastery, the scene before them left the three speechless.

The abbot's golden statue has disappeared, and the four eminent monks who were just moments ago so aggressive are now lying on the ground, their deaths gruesome and unbearable to witness.

The yellow-robed monk Kongming, who had always spoken sternly, had his abdomen ripped out, his eyes wide open, dying with his eyes still open.

The martial arts fanatic in green robes had his limbs broken, and his body was twisted in a contorted state.

The other two eminent monks also died in equally gruesome ways; their bodies were incomplete.

Zhu Qi rushed to the body to examine it, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

Zhou Wei also squatted down beside him and carefully examined Master Kongming's wounds.

He frowned and said, "Master Kongming's skin is covered in scratches, but who has such sharp fingernails?"

The eldest princess said, "Could it be a ferocious beast?"

Zhou Wei shook her head: "It doesn't look like it. These scratches are very different from those of a wild beast. It's obviously man-made."

Zhu Qi examined the bodies of his fellow disciples, his face filled with grief.

"I know, it's round! It must be round!"

Upon hearing this name, Zhou Wei was startled; she had almost forgotten about this wicked monk.

"Could it be that Yuanxing was the arsonist of the Hidden Gold Pavilion? This is a diversionary tactic!"

Zhu Qi's eyes were filled with hatred. In just a few hours, the abbot passed away, and several of his fellow disciples also died tragically.

How could he not hate that!

The eldest princess examined the corpses more closely and asked in confusion, "Judging from the fatal wounds of the monks, they were almost all killed instantly, without any ability to resist. Yuanxing's cultivation has not yet broken through to the Celestial Realm, how could he have done that?"

Zhou Wei remained silent, already knowing the answer in her heart.

It must be that Yuanxing received some benefits from Su Yunjin's system, which enabled him to kill people of higher levels.

After Zhu Qi finished grieving, he looked at Zhou Wei and said, "Sister Zhou Wei, Yuan Xing is now very capable. He was able to kill four senior brothers silently. Even we have to be careful when we encounter him."

"But I cannot leave this grudge unavenged, otherwise I will not be able to comfort the spirits of my fellow disciples in heaven!"

“What’s even more hateful is that Yuanxing stole the abbot’s golden statue. I’m very worried that he will use the statue to do evil things. We must take it back.”

Zhou Wei nodded, not expecting things to become so complicated in an instant.

Her gaze fell on the abbot's statue, and a question suddenly occurred to her.

"Zhu Qi, where are those peaches now? Were they eaten by your senior brothers, or was Yuan Xing snatched away?"

Zhu Qi shook his head; he didn't know either.

If the peaches are eaten by the senior brothers, that's fine. But if Yuanxing really snatches them away, then it will be a scourge that will live on for a thousand years.

The eldest princess thought for a moment and said, "The peach must have been taken by Yuanxing."

“If you calculate the time, we went out to put out the fire and several eminent monks were killed in no time. It’s likely that Yuanxing appeared just as we left the abbot’s monastery.”

"It seems that in such a hasty manner, the eminent monks did not even have time to share the peaches before they were killed by Yuanxing."

This wicked monk is like an unkillable cockroach.

Having suffered so many setbacks before, they've become even more resilient!

Zhou Wei wasn't worried about the peaches. Although peaches were a chance for immortality, eating them wouldn't grant immortality.

Her only worry was the abbot's golden statue that Yuanxing had stolen.

The golden statue of a high-ranking monk is a symbol of status, but it is also sometimes the most spiritually potent ritual object.

The abbot's identity was too special. Not to mention his golden body after his death, even a single hair on his body was extremely powerful.

Zhou Wei was very worried that if the golden body fell into Yuan Xing's hands, it would unleash a devastating amount of energy.

"Zhu Qi, is there any way to bring out the roundness again?"

Zhu Qi pondered for a moment, but had no clue.

The eldest princess said at this moment, "I'm afraid it will be difficult. Yuanxing has been following us ever since we entered the blessed land. Every move we made at Kongshan Temple must have been under his control."

“He must have known that the peach was extraordinary, but with the abbot of Kongshan Temple in charge, he dared not act rashly.”

“Only after the abbot passed away did he lure us away, kill several high monks, and steal the peaches and the golden statue.”

"He has obtained everything he was entitled to, and he is unlikely to reappear easily. The most likely scenario is that he will find a secluded place, eat that peach, and break through his cultivation level."

Zhou Wei knew that the Eldest Princess's analysis made sense.

Yuanxing is a ruthless and vicious person, yet also meticulous and cunning.

Having obtained what I wanted, there's no reason to take any further risks.

But if he doesn't show up, the revenge can't be taken, and the abbot's golden statue can't be retrieved.

Even if Zhu Qi hadn't said anything, Zhou Wei would have taken the golden statue back.

How could someone like Yuanxing be worthy of having that person's golden statue?

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Wei said, "I'm very worried that Yuanxing will go straight back to the capital."

If Yuanxing abandons following them and returns to the capital to cause trouble.

With his current ability to easily kill four eminent monks, no one in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty can stop him.

Of course, the fake emperor in Hexi Palace might be able to do it, but letting him take action would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.

They're just two bad guys, it's just a matter of who's worse!

Zhu Qi thought for a moment and said, "In that case, we must lure him to stay! What do you two sisters think Yuanxing cares about most?"

That would naturally mean breaking through one's cultivation level and achieving immortality.

Yuanxing betrayed Kongshan Temple and used the Soul Transfer Technique without authorization; his purpose was nothing more than this.

This became Yuanxing's obsession, the driving force behind everything he did.

“Since Yuanxing cares about cultivation and desires immortality, then I will use this to entice him. I will need the help of my two elder sisters in this matter.”

"If Mr. Tan could also step forward, it would make Yuanxing even more convinced."

The next day.

Zhu Qi, in his capacity as abbot, summoned all the monks of Kongshan Temple to the main hall square.

The bodies of the four eminent monks are also displayed here.

The monks were generally aware of what had happened yesterday, and grief was evident on everyone's faces.

Zhu Qi, dressed in the robes of an abbot, announced loudly: "Everyone, my senior brother, the abbot, passed away yesterday, and his golden body has been placed in the stupa containing the relics."

“The evil monk Yuanxing took advantage of the abbot’s death and the lack of leadership in the temple to set fire to the Treasure Pavilion and kill his four senior brothers in the chaos.”

"This grudge will be avenged by Kongshan Temple! I have decided to leave the temple today, travel a thousand miles to track Yuanxing, and personally capture him and bring him back to Kongshan Temple."

The monks in the temple were all deeply saddened and unanimously agreed with what Zhu Qi had said.

Some martial monks even volunteered to go with Zhu Qi to find Yuanxing.

Amidst the public's outrage, Zhou Wei's voice rang out.

“Zhu Qi, you can’t go to Yuanxing! You need to come with us to Zhengshan Academy first.”

Zhu Qi said with a pained expression, "Benefactor Zhou, my Kongshan Temple has suffered such a great calamity. Please forgive this humble monk for not having the time to go to Zhengshan Academy."

Zhou Wei persisted, "No, you have to come with us! There's something wrong with the peaches from your Kongshan Temple. Your abbot tricked us into eating them and then left us to fend for ourselves."

"He simply passed away and left us to die, leaving us to stare blankly and wait for our demise. How can I accept that?"