Urban Extraordinary Immortal Doctor
Chapter 487: A life turns into resentment

Chapter 487: Chapter 487: A life turns into resentment

As soon as Fang Bai spoke these words, there was a dead silence on the scene.

If Fang Bai had said this before, surely a Shaolin martial monk would have taken him for a madman full of arrogance, but now, there were few who dared to question his words.

It was clear to everyone present that, in his battle with Jueren, Fang Bai hadn’t used his full strength. His claim that Jueren and the six Elders couldn’t beat him together, perhaps wasn’t just boasting.

This young man dressed in casual clothes, seemingly warm and harmless when he smiled, whose appearance was sunny and handsome, was shrouded in mystery—his true power inscrutable to all.

"An Earth Level mid-tier martial artist can’t even defeat Fang Bai... How outrageously strong is this guy? What secrets could he possibly be hiding?"

Dragon Maiden, looking at Fang Bai through the binoculars in her hand, had a gleam of admiration in her eyes.

"That kid is actually challenging the Eighteen Arhat Array of Shaolin... With the confidence he exudes, could it be that his cultivation level has reached Earth Level Perfection? Otherwise, how could he leave unscathed..."

Long Jingtian seemed to be shocked by Fang Bai’s performance, fingers continuously twirling his beard while he muttered to himself.

"Earth Level Perfection? Wouldn’t that be just one step away from Heaven Level, as powerful as you, Grandpa? Even if he received guidance from a master or encountered some kind of extraordinary fortune, at the age of twenty, it’s impossible for him to have reached that realm starting from the womb, right?"

Dragon Maiden set down the binoculars, looking at her grandfather with a face of shock.

Long Jingtian said, "In this world, nothing is impossible! Let’s just wait and see... If Fang Bai is really that formidable, then it might not be the Shaolin side that I ought to persuade to stop, but Fang Bai himself! I’m afraid Fang Bai might destroy a good thing like Shaolin! If that happens, the loss to our Ancient Martial World of Huaxia will be significant!"

Long Jingtian had rushed to Shaolin intending to convince the Shaolin monks to spare Fang Bai and his disciple, but the situation had taken a dramatic turn. Instead, it was Fang Bai and his disciple who held the upper hand. Should Shaolin’s Eighteen Arhat Array also fail to contain Fang Bai, Shaolin would be in great trouble.

What Long Jingtian feared most now was that, in a fit of rage, Fang Bai would slaughter the Shaolin experts, just as he had with Misty Rain Tower and Qingcheng Temple, potentially triggering a massive upheaval.

After all, for centuries, Shaolin had been the representative of the righteous sects in the Ancient Martial World, its reputation far surpassing that of other great sects like Misty Rain Tower and Qingcheng Temple. If Fang Bai and his disciple caused havoc in Shaolin, most likely, the majority of the martial artists in the Ancient Martial World would turn against them.

Of course, as the leader of the Dragon Guards, Long Jingtian certainly wouldn’t allow such an event to occur. At a critical moment, he would reveal himself to prevent both sides from engaging in a fight to the death.

When Abbot Jueren heard Fang Bai’s words "You’re not my opponent", his body trembled slightly, and his usually straight back began to stoop. The sharp light in his eyes vanished, his expression dimmed, and he appeared to have aged considerably in an instant.

Being defeated by an unknown junior like Fang Bai was a huge blow to him.

"Alas..."

After a long while, Jueren, having struggled to calm himself, let out a sigh. He looked at Fang Bai, who stood proudly opposite him, managed a bitter smile, and said, "Your strength is extraordinary, the likes of which this monk has only seen once in my life. I concede defeat in this battle, wholeheartedly convinced!"

After a pause, he continued, "As for the Eighteen Arhat Array... Even if the eighteen most powerful monks of Shaolin, working together, defeat you, what then? Such acts of overwhelming the few with the many do not honor the martial way, and we monks of Shaolin disdain to engage in it!"

Fang Bai said, "Old monk, are you so certain that the Eighteen Arhat Array can win against me? Come on then, let’s fight it out and see!"

Jueren didn’t argue with him, but grew solemn and said, "Young benefactor, this monk has a request and hopes you will honor it."

Noting the resolute look in Jueren’s expression, something in Fang Bai stirred, and he said, "What request? Let’s hear it."

Abbot Jueren took a deep breath, brought his hands together in a gesture of prayer, his noble visage dignified, and proclaimed aloud, "I am willing to trade my life to dissolve the resentment in both benefactors’ hearts. I implore you, young benefactor, to grant this wish!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Shaolin disciples present stirred, their faces changing color, all understanding that Jueren intended to exchange his own life for Fang Bai and his disciple’s forgiveness of those Shaolin Monks involved in the Myriad Medicine Valley incident.

"Abbot, brother, you must not do this!"

"Abbot, we should bear the sins we have committed!"

"Let these two benefactors cripple our cultivation levels! We have no complaints!"

"Shaolin cannot be without its Abbot!"

...

Surrounding Shaolin disciples, numbering in the hundreds, tried to dissuade Abbot Jueren with loud voices, and those monks involved in the Myriad Medicine Valley matter were even more emotional, with tears welling up in their eyes.

A Shaolin Monk walked up to Fang Bai, sat down cross-legged before him, palms pressed together, his expression one of tragic determination, and said loudly, "I participated in the Myriad Medicine Valley incident. If you wish to cripple my cultivation, please do so without hesitation!"

Following that Shaolin Monk, nearly twenty more Shaolin Monks came forward from the crowd and similarly sat down cross-legged before Fang Bai, hands in prayer, each saying, "We, too, were involved in the Myriad Medicine Valley incident. Please go ahead and cripple our cultivation levels, benefactor!"

"Preposterous! Everyone, return to your places! If you still acknowledge me as your Abbot, then stand back!"

Watching each Shaolin Monk walk up and sit down before Fang Bai, Jueren was both angry and anxious, beating his chest and stamping his feet as he shouted loudly.

These young Shaolin Monks were the elite of Shaolin’s younger generation, as well as the future pillars of Shaolin. If their cultivation levels were crippled, it would shake the very foundation of Shaolin’s standing in Huaxia’s Ancient Martial World to its core.

At that point, Shaolin would likely follow the decline of Misty Rain Tower and Qingcheng Temple.

This was not the outcome that Abbot Jueren, in his role, wanted to see. Therefore, he was willing to trade his own life to prevent Fang Bai and his disciple from pursuing the responsibility of those Shaolin disciples any further.

But no matter how loudly Jueren called out, not a single Shaolin Monk heeded him. The twenty or so Shaolin Monks closed their eyes and sat cross-legged, waiting for Fang Bai’s punishing strike to descend, destroying their meridians and Qi Sea, and wasting away their life’s cultivation.

Elder Jueyi of the Scripture Pavilion, Elder Jueli of the Dharma Hall, Elder Juezhi of the Prajna Hall, Elder Jue Xin of the Arhat Hall, Elder Juecong of the Discipline Hall, Elder Jueming of the Reception Hall—the six great elders of Shaolin’s pavilion, hall, and four other halls—each had a solemn expression, emotionally stirred.

Whether it was the self-destruction of the Abbot or the crippling of the twenty or so martial monks, either would be an unbearable pain for Shaolin. As the six great elders of Shaolin, it was their duty and obligation to prevent such a tragedy from happening.

The six great elders exchanged glances, moving to Abbot Jueren’s side, ready to persuade him to join forces with them in the Eighteen Arhats Formation to battle Fang Bai.

For the future of Shaolin, what did reputation and face matter? They could well be cast aside!

"Sigh..."

Just then, a sigh filled with the vicissitudes of time came from beyond the monastery walls.

(PS: A new week, asking for votes!)