At that moment, Dharma King Alopen held the sacred scriptures in his hands, eyes gently closed, murmuring in a steady voice:"The body of the Great Void Immortal, we bow before the True Master.Great compassion, deliver suffering.Verily, let us raise high and praise the image of Christ!"
His voice was like a deep, resonant bell—low and drawn out at first, then gradually rising into a powerful, ringing force that shook the very air like sudden thunder.
Opposite him, the lamas sat cross-legged, forming hand seals as they chanted in unison:"Om mani… Om mani…"
At first, the chant seemed calm and soothing. But soon it swelled into roaring waves, one surge higher than the last, like a thousand galloping steeds crashing straight into the mind, tearing at one's very spirit.
Cold sweat poured down Wu Tong's face as he muttered, "No… my chest feels like it's about to split apart!"Though he covered his ears, the deafening chant seemed to rise from within his very bones—impossible to block.
Li Jian gritted his teeth, desperately circulating his inner energy to protect his mind. But his cultivation was shallow—his qi was thrown into chaos, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to his knees in agony.
The lamas' chant grew ever louder, like a howling storm. The air itself seemed to twist and warp. Heaven and earth appeared to contain nothing but this deadly vibration. Wu Tong and the others turned pale, their consciousness on the verge of collapse.
Just as the lamas gained the upper hand, Alopen suddenly opened his eyes. His voice rose sharply:
"Great compassion—deliver suffering!"
In that instant, a thunderous wave of sound burst forth from his mouth, like a furious beast unleashed, surging forward with unstoppable force.
BOOM!
The air trembled violently as invisible ripples swept outward. The lamas' chant was instantly suppressed. Several of them spat out blood, their bodies swaying as they nearly fell.
"Verily, let us raise high and praise the image of Christ!"
Alopen's voice rang out again, this time like thunder from the nine heavens. With his lion's roar, sand and dust whirled into the air, dry grass lifted from the ground, and even the earth seemed to tremble in resonance.
The leading lama, Ciren Nima, staggered backward, clutching his chest, his face ashen. "This… this is the 'Heavenly Sound That Shakes the Cosmos'? A legendary art only those who have truly comprehended the essence of faith can wield…"
As the sound waves faded, Wu Tong and Li Jian collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath—yet to their astonishment, they were unharmed. Alopen's mastery had precisely targeted the enemy, sparing his allies entirely.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Alopen said coldly, "The divine must not be profaned. Withdraw."
His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
The lamas, pale and clearly injured, exchanged glances. None dared to continue. Supporting one another, they retreated in disgrace.
Wu Tong watched them leave, unable to hide his amazement. "Dharma King Alopen… this… this is true divine power!"
Yet Alopen merely continued chanting:"Ever endowed with great divine power, shining forth universally.Great compassion, deliver suffering.Verily, Christ ascends to the highest heavens!"
Realizing their chants had failed, Ciren Nima shouted in desperation, "Attack!"
Danba Duozi swung his cymbals and drum as weapons, while Ciren Wangdui rushed in with a punch. Alopen sidestepped, tucking the cross back into his robe. With a palm strike of his left hand and another from his right, he sent both attackers flying.
They crashed to the ground with cries of pain.
Ciren Nima, Zhaxi Dele, and Zhaxi Duoji immediately unleashed their sect's Prajna Palm."Zhaxi Dele, take the right flank! Zhaxi Duoji, attack low!"
The three advanced in unison—six palms striking at once.
But Alopen remained calm, his movements unhurried. With a technique swift as lightning, he countered each attack—redirecting force, striking with elbows, and breaking their formation. One by one, they were driven back.
Still unwilling to yield, the three attacked again with full power—each strike deadly.
Alopen's figure shifted like a phantom. Their blows turned against one another. Then, with a sudden burst, he unleashed his Breaking Void Palm, followed by the technique Worldly Blossoms Fade. His strikes were faster than lightning—three palms landing almost simultaneously.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All three were sent flying, coughing blood as they crashed to the ground, gravely wounded.
Yet Alopen, though fully capable of finishing them, showed mercy. Walking forward with a compassionate gaze, he said gently:
"The Lord loves all people. Leave."
The lamas, battered and broken, helped one another up and fled.
Turning back, Alopen said to Wu Tong, "The Heavenly Subtle Chapter belongs to our faith. Our Great Dharma King has ordered us to search far and wide. Heaven has eyes—today, we have found it at last."
Wu Tong replied, "The scripture is indeed yours. However, it is too precious—I dared not carry it on me. I hope you will understand."
Alopen laughed heartily. "With our friendship, do you think I would doubt you?"
Wu Tong laughed as well. "Then I must trouble you to make the journey with us."
As they walked, Wu Tong suddenly turned and asked, "May I know the young hero's name?"
Li Jian quickly replied, "My surname is Li, given name Jian. I am from Jingyuan County. You may simply call me Li Jian."
Along the way, they came to know one another better. The young girl was named Tan Wei. Displaced by war, she had once mistakenly eaten wild fruit, causing severe poisoning that left her face twisted and disfigured. Wu Tong, taking pity on her, had taken her under his wing, teaching her all his martial arts.
They had sought countless physicians, yet none could cure her. Until recently, a skilled healer told them:
"Her condition can only be treated by one method—the ironback fish of Crescent Spring may hold the cure."
Thus, they had set out toward Crescent Spring—only to be intercepted by the lamas.
Li Jian, having resigned from his minor government post and now unburdened, agreed to accompany Wu Tong after this matter was settled. He longed to witness the vast desert, to travel and broaden his horizons.
For as the saying goes—reading ten thousand books is not equal to traveling ten thousand miles.