After the Western Sacred Cult finished kneeling and chanting its scriptures aloud, the Western Sacred Mother raised her hand slightly. Her close attendants, Peach Blossom and Li Blossom, called out clearly, "You may rise!"
The Western Sacred Mother, Chen Jinfeng, said,"Senior Situ truly deserves his reputation as the foremost master of the martial world. After ingesting the Powder of Dissolving Skill, with only two-tenths of his strength remaining, you still managed to defeat seven elite高手 of the Heavenly Consort Palace and the Western Sacred Cult. This Sacred Mother is deeply impressed."
The Powder of Dissolving Skill was colorless and odorless; once its effects manifested, a person's internal power was reduced to merely two-tenths. Yet even while grievously weakened, 'Madman of the West' Situ Kong remained unstoppable.
Situ Kong snorted and said,"You dress yourselves up as deities, spouting nonsense about saving the world and relieving suffering. It's all trickery to deceive fools. Spare me that farce—I don't buy it!"
Chen Jinfeng replied calmly,"Senior Situ, you are alone in this world, wandering the jianghu without ties or support. As long as you are willing, our cult has long prepared a seat for you. With but a nod, you may ascend to the coveted position of Western Sacred Lord, a rank second only to my own as Western Sacred Mother. It is a station of supreme honor indeed.
"Why not set aside your preconceptions and join our faith?"
Situ Kong laughed heartily."Ha! A crude rustic like me has no business aspiring to the lofty seat of 'Western Sacred Lord.' I have roamed the four seas all my life, riding where I please, owing nothing to anyone. Such carefree days in the jianghu—are they not delightful? Why entangle myself in worldly trifles?"
Just then, another group arrived. At its head stood none other than Nangong Yan, Mistress of the Immortal Empress Palace. Nangong Yan called out boldly,"'Madman of the West' Situ Kong, look at the beauties within our Western Sacred Cult—do not be blind to your blessings! If that is not enough, I, Nangong Yan, Mistress of the Immortal Empress Palace, am willing to give myself to you!"
Situ Kong nearly lost his soul upon hearing this. He opened his eyes and looked closely—Nangong Yan was tall and broad of build, with a square face, dark complexion, and strongly masculine features. Her coarse, rugged face stared straight at him.
Situ Kong began to tremble from head to toe, overwhelmed with revulsion, nearly retching on the spot. He blurted out,"May I ask—upon beholding Your Excellency's noble countenance, what man under Heaven could possibly find leisure for such thoughts? One might as well live quietly and peacefully!"
To be frank, his words were filled with helpless sincerity rather than malice. But Nangong Yan did not see it that way. Her expression twisted violently; her face flushed as dark as pig's liver. Furious beyond measure, she shouted,"'Madman of the West' Situ Kong—why don't you piss and look at your own sorry face! I demean myself by offering you favor, and you dare refuse it? Since you won't accept goodwill, don't blame us for what comes next!"
She shot a glance toward Chen Jinfeng."Let us attack together!"
At this moment, the sky was clear and bright, the mountains lush and verdant. White clouds drifted from the peaks like flowing silk ribbons, coldly overlooking the men and women of the world. The mountain wind swept across the land, yet could not wash away human greed for power and gain.
It was long rumored in the jianghu that 'Madman of the West' Situ Kong had recorded his peerless martial arts in a secret manual. Mistress Nangong Yan of the Immortal Empress Palace and Chen Jinfeng, the Western Sacred Mother, had both set their sights on this unrivaled legacy—the Nine Heavens Manual. They dispatched their subordinates to poison him and seize the manual by force.
Yet Situ Kong's martial prowess was truly extraordinary. Thus, the Western Sacred Cult resorted to seduction, while Nangong Yan was even willing to sacrifice her dignity, offering herself outright. Such were the signs of a decaying age: morality in decline, martial artists sinking ever lower—ashamed of poverty, resorting to theft and deceit, stopping at nothing. This corrupt wind only grew stronger in the jianghu.
But Situ Kong was no ordinary martial artist. Though erratic in manner and nicknamed Madman, his conduct was upright and principled. Faced with seduction, he did not lose the noble backbone of a true hero and refused to submit. When Nangong Yan proposed to give herself to him, he mocked her appearance mercilessly. Enraged to the extreme, Nangong Yan now unleashed a great battle.
Chen Jinfeng flicked her jade-green sleeve, her slender hand clawing straight toward Situ Kong's face, force surging through her fingers. Situ Kong evaded the strike and countered with a backhand palm, laughing lightly."Well struck!"
Chen Jinfeng waved her sleeves repeatedly, combining finger strikes and palm techniques. In an instant, she launched four consecutive attacks. With only two-tenths of his strength remaining, Situ Kong was forced to give ground. He was inwardly shocked—Chen Jinfeng's Nine Heavens Heavenly Gang Palm was actually stronger than his weakened state. Clearly, she was indeed a first-rate master of the jianghu.
As the two exchanged blows without pause, Chen Jinfeng said coldly,"Senior Situ, your martial skill has reached the pinnacle—I admire it greatly. But you are poisoned by the Powder of Dissolving Skill. Your two-tenths of strength will not last long. If you know what is wise, hand over the Nine Heavens Manual and spare yourself needless suffering."
Situ Kong, true to his eccentric reputation, burst into loud laughter."Very well! How about this—I become the Sacred Father, you become my principal wife, and all the other women become my concubines. I'll be the Sacred Father, you the Sacred Mother. Every morning and evening you fetch my washbasin for my feet. If I'm pleased, I'll teach you the peerless arts of the Nine Heavens Manual!"
The disciples of the Western Sacred Cult erupted in uproar. Unable to tolerate such vulgar speech, they shouted curses one after another:"Vile old man!""Possessed by demons!""What monstrous fiend are you?!"
Though Chen Jinfeng possessed more beauty than Nangong Yan, the highest rank within the Western Sacred Cult was the Western Sacred Mother. How could such a holy and inviolable figure marry? Surrounded by countless followers, Chen Jinfeng styled herself as one who cultivated the Dao toward immortality. How could she tolerate physical intimacy with a man—let alone such humiliation before her disciples?
Fury exploded within her. She screamed,"Filthy old wretch! Shut your foul mouth! I, the Western Sacred Mother, am pure as ice and flawless as jade—how dare you slander me with such filthy words! You are courting death!"
Her words had barely fallen when fists flew like wind and palms struck with savage force. Yet Situ Kong darted aside with lightning speed, laughing merrily."If I, Situ Kong the Madman of the West, become the Sacred Father, wouldn't you, the Western Sacred Mother, gain a husband? Then the Western Sacred Cult would have both Sacred Father and Sacred Mother—shaking the four seas and making its name known under Heaven! Splendid! Simply splendid!"