"Sand bandit, you court death!"
Seeing Belgrade's sandstorm tornado affect the surrounding markets, Clear Sea immediately cursed and leaped into the sky-filling yellow sand.
Master Chenghai and Master Shanle's expressions were grim, standing unmoving within the sandstorm's range, clearly also angered.
Upper Three Ranks martial artists could connect with heaven and earth through their Dao, making their moves exceptionally destructive.
Therefore, for many years, they had maintained the principle of avoiding harm to innocents when fighting each other.
Didn't Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng's two opponents fight in the high sky?
This was not just an unspoken understanding within the Great Xing jianghu, but a hidden rule followed by martial artists throughout the land.
Belgrade's actions, which implicated innocent commoners for his own escape, angered the three eminent Buddhist monks.
Especially Clear Sea, who was from Fuhu Temple, directly charged into the sandstorm, intending to drag Belgrade out and give him a good beating.
In his view, Belgrade was already an evil demon seeking death, and as a Buddhist disciple, it was his duty to slay demons and eliminate evil!
"He who knows his heart becomes a Buddha."
Clear Sea charged into the sandstorm, the flying sand crackling against his body, but he remained unfazed, merely chanting a Buddhist scripture with an enraged expression.
"Immovable Vajra Body!"
Clear Sea's voice boomed like a grand bell, even louder than Li Xuan's previous voice transmission.
The next moment, a gigantic Vajra phantom suddenly appeared within the sandstorm tornado.
This Vajra had an ugly face, three wide-open eyes, a gaping mouth, and red eyebrows and beard, appearing extremely terrifying.
Aside from a tiger-skin skirt around its waist, its entire body was exposed.
Such a massive body suddenly appearing in the sandstorm tornado caused the wind to slow considerably, almost dissipating entirely.
Belgrade, hidden within the sandstorm, saw this scene and was so shocked his eyes nearly split.
He hadn't expected that this monk, with whom he had no grievances, would be so desperate to stop him, making him both anxious and furious.
The Vajra phantom's three eyes swept through the sandstorm but found no trace of Belgrade.
The sandstorm itself had a perception-obscuring effect, so even though Clear Sea had assumed his stance, he couldn't find a target to attack.
Belgrade was secretly pleased, planning to use the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell technique to leave the dangerous capital as soon as possible.
But the next moment, the Vajra phantom clapped its two massive hands together forcefully in front of its chest and roared:
"Break!"
The Vajra phantom's voice was terrifying, like a monstrous beast in the mountains, making anyone who heard it tremble with fear.
And the sound of its two big palms clapping was extraordinarily loud, actually dispersing the sandstorm tornado.
This move seemed to have some profound secret, even Li Xuan, outside the sandstorm, could clearly see the situation inside.
Li Xuan, with Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao, was initially marveling at Belgrade's methods, but who would have thought there was something even more outrageous hidden inside the sandstorm.
This Vajra phantom was like a Buddha statue from an ancient temple that had come to life, vividly lifelike.
Li Xuan's perception was strong, and he discovered Clear Sea floating at the chest of the Vajra phantom.
Clear Sea was currently emitting a faint golden light, constantly dissipating around the Vajra phantom's body.
Even from afar, Li Xuan could still feel the dense Metal-attribute true qi.
As Clear Sea moved, the Vajra phantom also moved in sync.
"Meow, this is so cool?"
Li Xuan was shocked. He never expected this monk's cultivation method to be so formidable.
Although Li Xuan also really wanted to learn Master Chenghai's immobilization technique, he now wanted to learn this Great Vajra even more.
And next, Li Xuan witnessed a spectacular display of cooperation between Rank Three experts.
The Vajra phantom, into which Clear Sea had transformed, temporarily disrupted Belgrade's sandstorm tornado by clapping his hands.
Seizing this opportunity, Master Shanle, who had been mostly silent, pointed to a spot and said:
"Over there!"
Upon receiving the reminder, Master Chenghai, who had been preparing for a long time nearby, immediately acted.
Master Chenghai was forming a pinch-flower Buddhist seal with his right hand. After receiving the reminder, he immediately took a deep breath and solemnly uttered a single word:
"Immobilize!"
Li Xuan immediately perceived dense, pure Metal-attribute true qi locking onto a corner of the sandstorm.
The next moment, Belgrade's statue-like body, within a patch of wind and sand, detached and fell directly to the ground.
The appearance of Belgrade's figure was extremely strange, as if a person buried in sand had been dug out.
He had clearly used this method to hide himself within the sandstorm before.
And now, Belgrade was not only pulled out but also immobilized by Master Chenghai, unable to move.
Clear Sea showed no politeness whatsoever, raising his palm and forming a tiger seal.
"Seven Kill White Tiger Seal!"
The Vajra phantom roared deeply, and a white tiger immediately coiled around its massive arm.
The white tiger's gaping maw corresponded exactly to the tiger seal formed by the Vajra phantom.
"Roar—"
Although the Vajra phantom's body was enormous, it displayed a strangely fast speed. This move almost left afterimages as it fiercely struck the immobilized Belgrade.
Belgrade didn't have time to dispel the immobilization technique and took the full force of the blow.
At the same time, a towering tree suddenly grew from the ground, unluckily propping up Belgrade, creating a pincer attack.
The towering tree that shot up from the ground continuously collapsed under the impact but did not slow its growth, surging upwards one after another, perfectly sandwiching Belgrade between itself and the Seven Kill White Tiger Seal struck by the Vajra phantom.
This huge commotion made Li Xuan jump.
Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao even circulated their true qi to protect themselves, otherwise they would have been injured by the shock.
Master Shanle, standing beside Master Chenghai, slightly turned his gaze to a certain spot in the darkness, but merely smiled faintly and said nothing.
Li Xuan, witnessing Belgrade's tragic fate, couldn't help but nervously swallow.
He had previously dared to poke the tiger's whiskers of Rank Three martial artists, relying on his Yin-Yang Qi.
After all, neither Shibai Wolf Mountain nor Belgrade had taken his life before.
But now it seemed that Li Xuan still had a chance to escape if he faced a Rank Three expert alone, but if he were besieged by multiple Rank Three experts, he would probably be done for.
The combined power of different Daos was far beyond Li Xuan's imagination.
No matter how arrogant Belgrade was just now, he was now beaten defenseless.
With the tree pushing and the Vajra Seal striking, Belgrade must have lost half his life, if not died already.
The attacks from the Vajra phantom and the towering tree continued for several seconds before slowly dissipating.
The sandstorm tornado had already begun to disperse, and it was estimated that Belgrade's situation wouldn't be much better.
But when the sandstorm cleared, everyone looked closely, and where was Belgrade's figure? Only a thick layer of yellow sand covered the ground.
Li Xuan was stunned, immediately maximizing his perception to find Belgrade's trace.
But he was surprised to find that Belgrade's aura was everywhere, or rather, the entire ground was Belgrade.
Just then, a faint voice transmission came from afar, and the owner of the voice was Belgrade.
"The kindness shown today, I will surely repay handsomely in the future!"
These words were gritted out, but the tone was incredibly weak.
"He ran away!?"
Li Xuan anxiously looked around, constantly sweeping with his perception, but still couldn't find the direction Belgrade had fled.
All the yellow sand on the ground carried Belgrade's aura, making it impossible for Li Xuan to distinguish.
"He still has such a trick?"
Li Xuan secretly regretted it. He had originally thought he could kill Belgrade on the spot, but he didn't expect to miss such a good opportunity.
However, looking at the expressions of the three masters, they didn't seem too regretful. He didn't know if they had no intention of killing him from the start, or if they had already expected this outcome.
Li Xuan quickly turned back, joining Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao in guarding the prisoners.
Bartell and Meng En were still in their hands, so it wasn't too bad.
Especially Meng En, who was Belgrade's disciple; keeping him meant they weren't at a disadvantage.
"Brother Cat, why don't we retreat first? It's too dangerous here," Jiang Shanao suggested.
Li Xuan didn't expect this kid to be so sensible, not only calling him "Brother Cat" but now also thinking so much for the team.
While touched, Li Xuan felt that Jiang Shanao's words made sense.
If they met Chief Steward Shang and Zhao Feng later, it would be fine; they could just take Bartell and Meng En back. But if they encountered Prince Zheng's people coming to take over the prisoners, wouldn't that be troublesome?
What was the difference between the prisoners being in their hands and being released? It was possible they would have another prison break, scattering sand everywhere.
Li Xuan didn't want to stay and secretly winked at Master Chenghai, but Master Chenghai pretended not to see him, which infuriated Li Xuan.
Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao were only there to help and couldn't make decisions.
Mo Tiansheng's voice transmission, which had been echoing continuously, was now silent, leaving them at a loss as to what to do.
Master Shanle smiled faintly and said nothing more to Li Xuan and the others, instead turning to a shadow and saying:
"Fellow Daoist, wait. Since we are fated to meet, why not meet and converse before leaving?"
Li Xuan was startled and turned to look in that direction.
His perception hadn't detected anyone there.
But the next moment, Li Xuan was proven wrong.
"Hahaha, Master Shanle is indeed extraordinary. Despite my caution, you still discovered my presence."
From the shadows, a thin middle-aged Taoist walked out, dressed in a Yin-Yang Taoist robe, with an otherworldly aura.
He held a whisk in his hand, lightly stroking his dark, long beard.
This Taoist was extremely well-preserved, with black, thick hair, a rosy complexion, and a long, steady breath.
"I didn't expect tonight's commotion to disturb Three Creeks Taoist as well."
Master Shanle was the first to perform a Buddhist salute.
Master Chenghai and Clear Sea also followed suit:
"Three Creeks Taoist, greetings."
Three Creeks Taoist returned the salutes one by one.
"Seeing the masters apprehending the fugitive, I couldn't resist lending a hand to punish the evildoer. Please do not blame me, masters."
Through their conversation, Li Xuan finally learned that the towering tree earlier was not Master Shanle's technique, but rather this Three Creeks Taoist acting in secret.
This Three Creeks Taoist cultivated at the nearby Taiqing Temple and was drawn over by the commotion Belgrade had caused earlier to investigate.
Li Xuan looked at the three Buddhist masters, then at this Three Creeks Taoist who had appeared from the shadows, and couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"They wouldn't have anyone who is friends with Prince Zheng, would they?"