Xu Qing now finally understood why the Jin Sect built such a grand and luxurious temple; it also served as a shield!
In ordinary temples, the beams and pillars are made from pine, cypress, or mulberry wood, which is considered high-grade materials. A grand temple might even use camphor wood. However, the beams and pillars of the Jin Sect's temple were crafted from century-old iron pear wood found in crevices of rocks, weathered by time.
This wood, even if struck with an axe, only shows a white mark.
Besides the beams and columns, the blue bricks used for the Jin Sect are specially crafted from the official kiln and are three times thicker than those used in city walls.
The mortar used for building walls is made from glutinous rice paste, boiled thick like honey, mixed with egg whites, fine sand, and iron powder. This secret recipe is only used by the Qiang tribe of the Shu Region to build tall buildings and fortresses, designed to withstand earthquakes!
Yet Baiyun Daoist, fearing for his life, applied these techniques to his own temple. Now the walls of the main hall are densely packed with blade marks, from afar Xu Qing could smell the 'pungent' scent of glutinous rice!
How could this old Daoist smear dirty stuff on the walls, it's too unsightly!
Xu Qing's expression at this moment was as disdainful as seeing Xuan Yu's paw touch water.
In front of the altar, Baiyun Daoist stood motionless like a mountain, resembling a living tortoise.
Xuan Yu moved extremely fast, its sword light fell like raindrops on Baiyun Daoist, but now it faced not only the old Daoist but the entire meticulously crafted temple.
And that temple was Baiyun Daoist's shell; as long as the temple stood, he remained unharmed.
With his hand forming a protective gesture, Baiyun Daoist was assured, watching with cold eyes as he dismantled his own cat, he said in a strange voice: "This Virtual Spirit Protection technique is true celestial magic; don't even think you can break it in a short time!"
Having said that, Baiyun Daoist freed one hand and took out a string of Buddha Beads, throwing it towards one of Xuan Yu's clones.
The sword light slashed across, breaking the string connecting the beads, and the beads engraved with tadpole symbols scattered like sudden rain.
Seeing this, Baiyun Daoist was not startled but pleased, showing a relaxed smile: "These Buddha Beads were originally a pair obtained from Cizhao Temple. If any string of Buddha Beads is damaged, the other will also fracture."
"You two better retreat now; otherwise, in a short while, hehe..."
"When the high monks from the Grand Temple of Compassion arrive, even the Grand Immortal cannot save you!"
Xu Qing squinted at the seemingly calm old Daoist, suddenly speaking: "Isn't Master Jinghai from Cizhao Temple? I don't think you two seem to be on good terms. If you truly were, would you disclose the function of the Buddha Beads and allow us to retreat?"
"I'm just distressed over my property, not wanting the temple to suffer further damage..."
"Does Daoist really believe these words? Is a temple more precious than eternal immortal medicine? I think even Daoist is unsure in your heart."
"..."
Seeing Baiyun Daoist silent, Xu Qing knew he had guessed correctly.
The Buddha Beads may indeed have some effect, but whether the monks from Cizhao Temple would come to aid or sit idly by is uncertain. Even if there were really monks arriving, could they possibly all come together?
Baiyun Daoist isn't their true parent!
After revealing Baiyun Daoist's intentions, Xu Qing decided not to hide any longer. He put away the willowy jade and pulled out a massive door-sized mountain-opening axe from behind!
Baiyun Daoist, upon hearing Xu Qing's words and already feeling uneasy, now saw Xu Qing suddenly pull out an axe entirely out of character, causing his anxiety to swell even more.
The form of Lady Baosheng faded away, and Xu Qing, holding a three-hundred-pound black iron axe, said meaningfully:
"You possess Celestial Scripture magic, and I have heaven-taught Tiangang techniques; today we shall see if your protective art is superior to the sharpness of my Tiangang axe!"
Thirty-six Tiangang techniques are derived from a mountain cave, not Baiyun Cave, but from an unknown wild mountain cave entered by Jin Sect leader Hong Baoyan while chasing a young man years ago.
The cave located in Taihua Mountain of Guanzhong had tadpole symbols carved on its walls; Xu Qing did not recognize these Celestial Scripture-like symbols when watching Hong Baoyan's lantern display. But upon seeing those symbols, he was drawn into a peculiar dream realm, where a handsome white-robed youth imparted to him a set of Tiangang axe techniques.
The axe technique contained thirty-six forms; the white-robed youth taught Xu Qing all moves and mental methods but didn't tell him the names of the first thirty-five forms. Only when he executed the last form did the youth name it – Open the Heaven.
The Heaven-Opening axe technique versus the Nine Heavens Secret Scripture's strongest protective art, these two not belonging to the mortal realm and both originating from mysterious mountain caves, collided today.
Baiyun Daoist forced himself to remain calm, yet the expected scene of Xu Qing attacking did not happen. Just as the old Daoist was puzzled, he saw Xu Qing striding with the mountain-opening axe towards the grand hall's entrance.
Xu Qing walked to measure the distance, stopping fifty paces outside the grand hall.
Since Xu Qing had promised to leave Baiyun Daoist's life to Xuan Yu, he meant to keep that promise.
He raised the axe, gripping its handle with five fingers, and suddenly the pitch-black blade of the mountain-opening axe erupted with dazzling radiance.
Thirty-six layers of Tiangang techniques stacked over each other, though the mountain-opening axe in Xu Qing's hand had yet to be swung, the surrounding air currents had begun to churn like boiling water!