Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 580 Then why don't you just die?
midwinter.

A sudden, cold snowfall.

Strangely enough, the winters in southern Zhili, where Suolong Town is located, are not usually cold, and this year there has been no snow at all.

But after a dragon's roar was heard last night, the weather immediately changed, the north wind turned fierce, and heavy snow fell. Overnight, the snow accumulated to half a foot, and the air was chilling to the bone.

The next morning, the snowstorm had not stopped, and the town's residents complained bitterly as they went out, shivering from the cold.

At this moment, the wind howled, snow filled the sky, and the vast sky and earth were all one color. The wind and snow swept by, stirring up a chilling atmosphere.

In this kind of weather, a bald man in a red robe walked in from afar.

He had thick eyebrows and fierce eyes, carried a single sword on his back, and his red robe was open, revealing his bronze chest.

The streets were icy, and the horsehair was covered in snow.

With each breath, Ding'an seemed to inhale and exhale clouds and mist, yet he strode forward swiftly.

A passerby on the street saw this and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up, praising, "You're truly a man of steel!"

Upon hearing this, Ding'an turned to him and grinned, a smile that revealed a charming coquettishness that seemed out of place with her physique.

The idler was startled and speechless for a long time.

"Mom!"

Ding An's expression changed, and he quickly covered his face and fled.

After walking for a while, I turned a corner and found a teahouse. It was only just getting light, but the owner had already opened for business, selling soup dumplings, buns, potstickers, and tofu pudding. It was full of the lively atmosphere of a street vendor.

Ding'an felt hungry, so he went up and asked for some soup dumplings, which he then devoured.

The shop owner was astonished, finding the monk unusually tall and imposing, with a dignified appearance, yet strangely eerie.

Firstly, he eats meat, and secondly, he behaves like a woman!

Indeed, in the shop owner's opinion, Ding An's way of eating pancakes and drinking soup while raising his pinky finger was so affected and pretentious that it was unbearable to watch.

But he ate incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, he had eaten three large bowls of soup noodles.

"Burp~" Ding'an put down the soup bowl, patted his belly and laughed, "That feels good, I'm only half full, not bad!"

Despite his inner complaints, the shop owner diligently tidied up, praising, "Buddha, you have a good appetite!"

Ding An chuckled, "I'm not a monk." He patted his belly, "It's just that I'm in a good mood now. If I came tomorrow, I'd wreck your stall!"

The shop owner shrank back, thinking to himself, "This bald thief is talking nonsense and his words are all over the place. Could it be that he's eaten too much and is full?"

Ding An smacked his lips, seemingly savoring the delicious broth, then casually asked, "Boss, is there a well in town?"

"Oh my, Master Buddha actually knows about the Dragon Locking Well?"

"Haha, I've heard about it, I've heard about it."

The shopkeeper said, "You know what, this well really does have some kind of magical properties!"

A crimson glint flashed in Ding'an's eyes: "What are you talking about?"

"Last night, just last night!" The shopkeeper shuddered, and the words began to flow freely, "The dragon in the well is roaring!"

"You all think there's a dragon inside?"

"I didn't believe it before, but last night the dragon's roar could be heard clearly for miles around!" The shop owner pointed outside the door, "Look at this heavy snow, I've never seen anything like it in my life."

Ding An nodded, then asked, "Where is the Dragon-Locking Well?"

"Heading southeast, there is a Yuwang Temple. Inside the temple is a tall tower, and the Locking Dragon Well is inside the tower."

"Thank you."

Ding An thanked him, paid, and left.

He walked swiftly, heading southeast, and soon saw a distant hill, a white expanse dotted with red bricks and green tiles—it was the Yuwang Temple. Reaching its edge, he circled the platform to the south, and after walking about two arrow-lengths, the scene before him suddenly changed: a towering pagoda pierced the clouds and seemed to send shivers down his spine.

Ding'an stopped in his tracks, looked up and stood still, motionless, like an ice and snow sculpture.

After a long while, Ding'an muttered to himself, "This should be it." With that, he leaped onto the platform. Fearing an ambush, the dog crept on the ground and listened quietly for a while before tiptoeing toward the tower.

Looking up, one sees that the tower is hexagonal in shape, more than ten feet tall, with three stories, all built of blue bricks.

He arrived at the foot of the tower, calmed his mind, and listened for a while, but dared not enter through the door. Instead, he climbed up the ridge of the tower and squeezed in through a vent.

Outside, the wind and snow made it dark, and inside the tower, it was pitch black.

Ding An flipped over and landed gracefully, only to find that the place was quite spacious. Directly in front of him were eight sculptures, some male, some female, some human, and some beast, which were the Eight Heavenly Dragons.

In the center is a wellhead, the water shimmering with a deep blue light, making the surroundings resemble the underworld.

Ding'an looked left and right, and suddenly felt his heart pounding and his soul trembling. He couldn't help but wonder, "People say that trembling flesh and a frightened heart are real, so why am I feeling this way?"

Suddenly, the air in front of my forehead inexplicably caved in, and a strange force quietly arrived.

Startled, he didn't flinch, but instinctively swung his palm to strike—but found nothing!
The force seemed to come from all directions.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and the hem of his clothes fluttered up from behind.

"Behind me!"

Ding'an was greatly alarmed and twisted his body to grab at it, but to his surprise, this attempt to catch something by chance still yielded no results.

Just as he was wondering what was going on, a supple energy, like a snake, emerged from the shadow of the Kinnara statue on his left and collided with his protective aura.

With a loud thud, Ding An felt as if a firework had exploded in the void, the air vibrating like water, and his entire body, including his blood, muscles, and skin, twitched uncontrollably.

"Ouch!"

Ding An stumbled forward, almost falling into the well. He quickly stopped, glaring fiercely at Ding An: "Damn it, I almost tipped over!" He immediately turned and threw a punch.

His punch was delivered with fury, and the force of the punch caused the entire tower to tremble.

Unexpectedly, the shadowy figure behind him appeared like lightning, its origin indistinguishable, and was completely unaffected by the punch.

Ding An darted away, then suddenly struck out with his palm, attempting to capture the figure.

Unexpectedly, the newcomer was like an empty shadow, appearing beside him in the blink of an eye. With a twist and pull, the newcomer suddenly grabbed his forearm's vital points.

Ding'an was unable to move half of his body. When he tried to kick, both legs suddenly became extremely painful and swollen, and he could not control them.

You must know that his internal strength is extraordinary and his fist technique is unparalleled in the world. To seal his acupoints would be more difficult than climbing to heaven.

With a single grab, the man caused the blood to congeal and the veins to become blocked; the strength of his technique was truly beyond comprehension.

Seeing that his life was hanging by a thread, Ding An opened his eyes and a blood-red blade flashed out, swiftly stabbing at the shadow's forehead. The air hissed and hissed, creating a terrifying sound.

The shadow was completely taken aback by Ding An's unexpected move. It immediately released its grip, but a sudden surge of force caused its five fingers to feel as if they were about to break, resulting in excruciating pain.

Knowing that the other party possessed extraordinary internal strength, he feared that releasing this person would lead to endless troubles, so he hurriedly pulled Ding'an aside to dodge.

But the blood-red blade light relentlessly pursued them, like a violent storm, sudden and relentless.

As he dodged, the man exclaimed, "Excellent swordsmanship! What's it called?" With a flick of his finger, he deflected each flash of light.

Suddenly, Ding An smiled charmingly: "This is called the Sleeve Divine Blade."

The man was taken aback by the strange sight.

Just then, Ding'an suddenly shouted loudly, with the force of a thunderbolt.

The man's mind was slightly agitated, and his body stiffened.

Seizing this opportunity, Ding'an waved his hand at him and shouted, "Clap clap!"

The man suddenly became dazed and stopped moving completely.

Ding An struggled free, slowly took a step forward, and with his left fist clenched, he struck the man's chest with a seemingly real but actually feigned punch.

The man suddenly snapped back to his senses and roared, "How dare you!" His voice was heavy and echoed like a dragon's roar. He could only parry with one hand, unable to block the incoming punch any longer. Although he managed to deflect Ding An's left fist, his heart suddenly sank.

Ding'an's left fist struck out with the force of a mountain collapsing, its power unmatched.

Benedict!
The man, struck in the chest, paled horribly: "My Achilles' heel!" Before he finished speaking, a strange light flashed in his eyes as he glared menacingly at Ding An.

Ding'an felt as if he were enveloped by a mysterious force, and the inside of the tower was as if the underworld had been opened, and his three souls and seven spirits were about to dissipate.

The next moment, he flew backward like a meteor and crashed into the ground.

Wow!

Ding An jumped up from the pit, looking ahead with surprise and doubt, and shouted, "You, who are you?" But just as his eyes met the other person's, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning and suddenly stopped talking.

After a long while, Ding'an stared intently at the other person and muttered, "My God, it really is a monster transformed into a human!"

But then they saw a man in white standing by the well. He was extremely tall, with flowing sleeves, exuding a free and unrestrained air, seemingly otherworldly. Yet, he had the sharp eyes of an eagle, high cheekbones and a prominent nose, and scales on his hands, neck, and face, which were still faintly bright and startling.

Looking at the fist mark on his chest, the man sighed softly, "It really was my destined calamity."

Ding'an looked at him and felt that this person had a dragon's head and a human body, with strange bones and appearance, which made him somewhat horrified.

Upon closer inspection, however, one discovers he is by no means ugly, especially his eagle eyes, which seem to see through everything, revealing a lofty and unrestrained spirit yet also a loyal and righteous heart. Seeing him staring blankly upwards, the man chuckled, "Brother." He paused, then looked intently at the red light in Ding An's eyes, his gaze complex, "And the little girl, that punch you threw was truly ruthless!"

Upon hearing this, Ding'an was horrified: "I...I killed you?"

The man sighed and shook his head, saying, "You can't kill me, but I'm destined to take this punch from you. My luck will be cut off, and my future will be uncertain." He looked up at the tower, his gaze inexplicably desolate, "...to die in this Moon Gazing Tower."

Upon hearing this, Ding'an felt deeply guilty and said in a coquettish voice, "Then what should we do?" Suddenly, she clapped her hands and said, "How about I ask the cripple to give you a 'harmony' to help you escape this calamity?"

"The Sword God may be strong, but he is no match for the myriad gods and Buddhas in the heavens."

"But we have powerful backers!"

The man was taken aback, gave him a deep look, and then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "So that's how it is, you're also the 'champion'!"

Ding An put her hands on her hips and giggled, "I told you I could handle it!" Looking at him, she asked, "Who are you? Why are you so strangely shaped?"

The man gave a bitter smile and said, "I am the dragon locked in this well." He looked up at the statue of the eight heavenly dragons, "and also one of the eight 'Mahoragas'."

Ding'an looked at the statue with a human body and a snake's head and exclaimed, "Wow, are you the Great Python God?"

“That’s right.” The man smiled. “In this life I am Mad Scale, and in the next life I will be human.”

Ding An, stunned, cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Congratulations!"

The man politely replied, "You're welcome. That punch hurt a lot."

Just then, the sound of clothes fluttering in the wind came from outside the tower. It was so faint that it was hard to hear. It was as if two people were floating from the west. Their feet were silent, and they arrived in the blink of an eye.

The man glanced at it casually and smiled, "You're here."

Ding An was startled. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the gate wide open. A monk and a layman walked in through the wind and snow.

The man laughed and said, "Kinnara, you're late."

The old monk clasped his hands together and laughed, "Not too late, not too late!" He glanced casually at Ding An, "I was delayed outside the town with Sword Master Ren for a while, but I've finally arrived."

The man nodded and looked at the white robe.

Ren Shaoyang stared blankly at Ding An, especially at the blood-stained robe he was wearing. As if sensing the man's gaze, he turned to look at him as well.

Their eyes met, both filled with admiration.

The man felt that the man in white robes was incomparably handsome, proud and elegant, and free and unrestrained.

Ren Shaoyang also admired him, feeling that this person was strange in appearance, yet aloof and refined, with a heroic and resolute spirit.

The man was moved and asked, "Could it be that the Sword God Ren is in person?"

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "It is indeed me, Ren." He paused, then asked, "May I ask your name?"

The man waved his hand and laughed, "Just a mad fish in a well, what name does it have?" He looked fierce, but spoke gently and calmly.

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "How could Mahoraga not have a name?" As he spoke, he sighed again, "It's a pity that you are injured, and I cannot have a match with you. In the future, when you are reincarnated as a human, I will not be in this world. It is truly a regret."

The man smiled slightly and shook his head, saying, "The beginning and end of fate are predetermined. People are ignorant of this and thus become lost sheep. The Sword God transcends the heavens, so why does he have such an obsession?"

Ren Shaoyang said calmly, "Just based on your reincarnation, you are a 'leader' who transcends gods and Buddhas and is unparalleled."

"So what?" The man suddenly burst into tears. "The whole world is full of people in a dream. A single wrong thought can lead to endless eons of suffering with no hope of escape."

"Huh?" Ren Shaoyang asked in surprise, "I observed that you had returned to the state of emptiness and were gradually ascending to the position of sainthood. Why did you suddenly become unknown halfway through and abandon all your previous efforts?"

The man shook his head, offering no reply, clearly frustrated.

The sweeping monk sized him up and suddenly said, "Old Dragon, you, you were hit by that beast with the 'Kinnara Fist'?" As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Ding An.

A purple light suddenly appeared around Ding'an, and he almost collapsed at the mouth of the well, his breath caught in his throat.

Ren Shaoyang's face darkened slightly, and he shouted, "Old bald thief, who are you cursing?" Before his voice faded, he vanished without a trace.

All the crowd saw was Ren Shaoyang flashing a few times, suddenly appearing in front of the old monk. No one knew what technique he used, but the sweeping monk suddenly flew up.

At the same time, a sword blade flew out from the white robe's sleeve, trembling like a snake, and soared into the sky with the old monk.

Everyone was captivated by the sight of the old monk flying alongside the sword, with the dragon-capturing sword only two inches from his scalp. It was an extremely dangerous situation.

But then the sweeping monk glared and shouted, "Hmph!" He suddenly took a breath and blew it towards the tip of the sword.

This seemingly childish act was suddenly accompanied by a clang, the sound of metal striking metal, as it clashed with the divine sword, sparks flying everywhere.

The old monk soared into the sky, clasped his hands together, and sat cross-legged. Just as the man was about to fall headfirst, the monk suddenly pressed down with a palm from afar.

Suddenly, a tremendous change occurred inside the tower. Ding An felt something approaching his forehead. It was neither a palm strike nor a hidden weapon; it was formless and intangible, yet it pierced his brain and assaulted his spirit.

In an instant, all I could think of was gloom.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Ding An saw that the person smiled slightly at him and quickly turned to look at the scene.

Then the old monk and Ren Shaoyang transformed into their respective forms, one as a unicorn green giant and the other as moon shadows and rainbows. They collided several times inside the tower, their lights flashing and flickering incessantly.

Suddenly, a loud "bang" was heard.

The two figures materialized and stood back to back, while the tower made a series of "crackling" sounds as it pierced dozens of small holes, allowing sunlight to stream in.

Ren Shaoyang stood a few feet away, gazing leisurely into the distance. A ray of sunlight shone on his face, creating a mottled effect.

"It is bright."

Upon hearing this, Ding'an looked up in astonishment.

Fine snowflakes fell slowly with the sunlight, and the dozens of small holes resembled dozens of lamps, reflecting a blue light on the wellhead in the middle.

The man stared intently at the sword in Ren Shaoyang's hand, then suddenly exclaimed, "His sword is stained with dragon blood?"

Ding An snapped out of his daze and casually remarked, "Wow, the cripple's sword is called 'Dragon Capture,' and he really did slay a dragon!"

"Capture the dragon?" The man's eyes flashed, and he shook his head and chuckled, "You really are my destined calamity."

Just then, the old monk suddenly shouted, "Ding'an, I ask you, did you injure the old dragon?"

Upon hearing this, Ding'an nodded and said, "It's me!"

The old monk said in a deep voice, "Do you know that I have been guarding the old dragon for hundreds of years, and I am about to attain enlightenment?"

Ding An replied, "Of course I know."

A fierce glint flashed in the old monk's eyes, and he suddenly laughed, "Ding'an, although you have inherited my 'Kinnara Fist' and are considered my successor, destroying my path is no different from a blood feud!" He casually ripped off his sleeve and threw it on the ground, pointed at Ren Shaoyang, and shouted, "Go to the white-robed man! Today, our friendship is severed, and we will fight to the death!"

Ding An was stunned and said, "Master, you have done me a great favor. How could I dare to harm you?"

The old monk snorted coldly and said, "If you don't make a move, I'll kill you!"

Ding'an felt wronged: "No, Master, why bother?"

Suddenly, Ren Shaoyang said, "With your hand severed, there's no point in saying more. Come here." He beckoned to him.

Upon hearing this, Ding An walked over dejectedly. Seeing Ren Shaoyang looking at him, he murmured softly, "Crippled man."

Ren Shaoyang frowned and said, "Broken Hand, why have you changed so much? We haven't seen each other for so long, and you didn't dare to look at me. Now you seem to have done something wrong?" As he spoke, he suddenly narrowed his eyes, "Right, where's Little Beggar?"

Upon hearing this, Ding'an felt a sharp pain in his chest and couldn't help but shrink back, not daring to answer.

Ren Shaoyang's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily, "What's wrong with the little beggar?!"

Ding'an still didn't dare to raise her head, but her eyes reddened and she sobbed.

Ren Shaoyang was furious. He stepped forward, grabbed the man's shoulder, gritted his teeth, and said, word by word, "I'm asking you, what happened to the little beggar!"

Ding An was timid and stood with his head down, not daring to utter a word.

"Heh~!" Suddenly, the old monk chuckled, "Sword God Ren, you won't get the answer by asking like that."

Ren Shaoyang was already anxious and agitated about Hongxiu, and upon hearing the old bald man's words, he immediately shouted angrily, "Go to hell! Shut up!"

Seeing his extreme anger, the old monk grinned and said, "This old monk does know the whereabouts of Miss Hongxiu."

Ding An suddenly looked up, a faint red light flickering in his eyes: "Master."

Ren Shaoyang was taken aback.

Seeing the old monk's blank expression, he felt a surge of pleasure and said, "The girl Hongxiu was personally killed by your good brother, my good successor, this 'Knife Emperor' Li Ding'an!"

Boom!

Ren Shaoyang felt a thunderous roar in his mind, and he took a step back, staring at Ding An in disbelief, his voice trembling as he said, "A severed hand... you..."

Ding An dared not raise his head and whispered, "Crippled man, yes, it was me who killed Hongxiu. I... I really didn't expect a single punch."

"She was just a beggar!" Ren Shaoyang stepped forward, his face pale, his eyes piercing. "How dare you kill her?!"

Ding'an felt as if she were being pricked by thorns, and involuntarily took a half step back, wiping away her tears as she said, "I didn't, I really didn't mean it!"

Ren Shaoyang gave him a cold look and said, "Then why don't you just die?"

Damn!
The blade flashed and stabbed towards Ding An's brow.

(End of this chapter)