Chapter Forty-Six: The Boundless Staff and the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer

Chapter Forty-Six: The Boundless Staff and the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer
Chapter Seven: Rainy Longing, Clouded Grief—The Beauty Dances with the Dragon Spring, Autumn Waters Startle Dreams, Yellow Chrysanthemums Bloom by the Fence

Ling Yun'er smiled in surprise. "Of course there's no harm in it. But Yang Zongshi's Blood-Melting Divine Hammer is forged from volcanic molten gold; it likely contains some of the true fire of earth flame. Though the Three Yang True Fire is fierce and dominating, it may not surpass the true fire of earth flame by much. Still, if Senior Brother were to suddenly unleash the Three Yang True Fire, it might catch the opponent off guard!"

Qing Kai turned to Qing Shi and Ling Yun'er. "Thank you, Junior Brother, Junior Sister." The group continued their discussion for a while longer before dispersing to rest, and the matter was set aside.

The next morning, at dawn, the mountain was clear and bright, with not a wisp of cloud in sight. The group set out for Bodhisattva Peak. The summit was already abuzz with conversation. They proceeded straight to Qing Kai's competition arena, where quite a few disciples of the Ten Directions Hall were chatting idly below the platform. At the sight of the disciples from Bishan Monastery, they immediately fell silent.

Looking up at the stage, Qing Kai saw two elders standing there. He joined his hands in salute: "Disciple Qing Kai presents himself for the competition!" The two elders glanced at him, nodded slightly, and said, "Very well. The two disciples may ascend the platform." From among the disciples of the Ten Directions Hall, a youth in a blue robe stepped forward and mounted the stage. Qing Kai did not dare to be careless, and the two took their positions facing each other.

The elders slowly stepped down from the stage. Qing Kai clasped his hands toward the blue-robed youth. "Please, Brother Yang!" Yang Zongshi knew this senior from Bishan Monastery was no easy opponent. He returned the salute with a slight bow, then swept his arms, summoning a pair of crimson copper hammers. Radiant light flashed, and waves of heat rolled forth.

Qing Kai also slowly summoned a pitch-black staff—the Boundless Staff itself. "Hah!" With a sudden spin, Yang Zongshi flung the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer from his hands, transforming it into two streaks of flowing light that shot toward Qing Kai. Seeing the ferocity of the attack, Qing Kai brandished his staff, sending forth a surge of black light. With a thunderous crash, the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer was knocked aside. Yang Zongshi felt a chill in his heart, marveling, "What great strength!"

Qing Kai leaped forward, the Boundless Staff chopping down at Yang Zongshi like a blade of black light, splitting the air with an unmatched sharpness. Yang Zongshi dared not underestimate the blow and hastily dodged to the side. In his hands, crimson light flared as the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer reappeared. The moment he landed, another streak of black light shot toward him, forcing him to leap away once more. This happened three or four times, leaving him in a most awkward state. Anxious, he thought, "Having lost the initiative, I'm checkmated at every turn." Suddenly, another streak of black light shot at him. Unable to dodge, he ducked and flattened himself as cries of alarm rose from the disciples below. As he rose, he saw a flurry of blue butterflies in the air—only to realize it was his own blue robe, shredded to tatters by the black light.

Glancing down, Yang Zongshi saw the back of his robe was torn, exposing his back in an unsightly fashion. Furious, the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer in his hands began to drip with blood-red light, a wave of scorching heat surging upward. Qing Kai knew he had seized the advantage earlier; Yang Zongshi had leapt to predict his landing spot, otherwise he would not have been forced into such a predicament. Sensing his opponent's mounting fury, Qing Kai grew even more cautious.

Yang Zongshi struck his twin hammers together, sending bursts of red lightning crackling through the air, surrounded by swirling crimson mist that enveloped the entire arena. Gradually, Yang Zongshi's figure faded within the mist. Qing Kai tensed with vigilance. Suddenly, a crash resounded behind him—a streak of crimson lightning shot straight at him. He drove the Boundless Staff into the ground, sending waves of black light rippling outward. Only after breaking through seven or eight layers of black radiance did the crimson lightning finally dissipate.

From within the crimson mist came a grunt of rage, followed by a cacophony of crackling. Dozens of serpentine bolts of lightning wriggled toward Qing Kai, who was startled. To block a single bolt was already difficult—how could he withstand so many? As he hesitated, the lightning snakes were already upon him. Gritting his teeth, Qing Kai spun the Boundless Staff in his hands, forming a whirlpool of black energy. This was the "Transforming the Infinite" technique from the Sutra of Boundless Contemplation. Qing Kai had only glimpsed its entryway; if his Buddhist essence was insufficient, forcing its use could cause severe backlash. If not for the crisis, he would never have dared attempt it.

The lightning snakes slipped silently into the vortex of black energy and vanished without a trace. Then, the vortex itself faded away. Qing Kai spat out a mouthful of blood—clearly wounded. Within the crimson mist, Yang Zongshi’s form reappeared, his face full of astonishment. He had not expected his all-out attack to be blocked, though it was obvious his opponent had suffered severe internal injuries.

Below the stage, the disciples of Bishan Monastery grew anxious, realizing Qing Kai had suffered backlash from his own technique. They feared he would not withstand Yang Zongshi. In Yang Zongshi’s hands, the Blood-Melting Divine Hammer had lost much of its crimson glow and looked dull and dim, proof that the previous attack had drained much of his Buddhist essence. Wisps of white flame danced across the surface of the hammers, lively and restless.

With a great shout, Yang Zongshi raised both hammers over his head and smashed them down at Qing Kai. Even before the hammers landed, the white flames shot forth. Qing Kai smiled faintly, lifted both hands, and sent out two beams of white light to meet the flames. Black light flared as he blocked with the Boundless Staff, locking the twin hammers in place. As the flames struck the white light, they flickered and seemed on the verge of extinction.

Yang Zongshi was appalled. He had no idea what Qing Kai had employed to withstand even a trace of earth flame’s true fire, which he had drawn from volcanic molten gold. Even diluted, its power was formidable and few could face its edge. He could not fathom how his opponent had managed to withstand it. What he did not know was that Qing Kai had specially borrowed some ice stones, whose properties naturally countered this primordial spirit fire.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Qing Kai smiled at him, opened his mouth, and spat a thread of crimson flame in his direction. Yang Zongshi hastily withdrew his hammers to shield his chest, but the red flame struck them all the same. In an instant, his whole body was engulfed in fire, unable to move—a fire-sealing technique of the Three Yang True Fire. With a flick of Qing Kai’s Boundless Staff, Yang Zongshi was sent flying from the platform. As he landed, the flames vanished from his body. Rising stiffly to his feet, his face a picture of frustration and helplessness, Yang Zongshi gave a reluctant salute to Qing Kai. "I concede."

Qing Kai replied, "Thank you for letting me win, Junior Brother." The two elders mounted the stage and with a wave of the hand, erased all but the inscription: "Qing Kai, Third Disciple of Bishan Monastery." The disciples of Bishan Monastery breathed a collective sigh of relief—Senior Brother Qing Kai’s victory had been won by the narrowest of margins.