This celestial master cultivates both physical and magical arts; why did you provoke him?

Don't miss this exciting chapter: Chapter 57: What business is it of mine how I fight? Winning is all that matters! Full text available, click here.

Monk Yuankong fell silent.

Xia En looked at the illusory figure and suddenly spoke.

"You're saying humans stole your treasure? What treasure?"

The phantom's blood-red eyes stared at him.

"A jade talisman. Black jade, with an eye carved on it. It is a sacred object that has been passed down through my clan for ten thousand years."

"Five hundred years ago, a group of humans broke into my territory and stole it. I chased after them, but was sealed here by the monks of Mount Wutai."

Xia En took the black jade talisman out of his pocket.

The piece that Tu Shanjing returned to him?

No, Tu Shanjing took it.

Is this another piece?!

He looked down at the jade talisman in his hand, then at the illusory figure.

"You mean this?"

The phantom's blood-red eyes suddenly widened.

"How...how do you possess my clan's sacred artifact?"

Xia En paused for a moment.

"This belongs to an evil cult. I stole it from an evil entity."

"The Evil Spirit Cult?" The phantom's voice changed. "The Evil Spirit Cult stole our clan's sacred artifact?"

"right."

Xia En held up the jade talisman. "Do you want it?"

The phantom fell silent.

It stared at the jade talisman, a complex emotion flashing in its blood-red eyes.

"You...are you willing to give it back to me?"

"certainly."

Shane said, "But there's a condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"Go back into the seal. Don't come out and harm people."

The phantom fell silent again.

Then it laughed.

"What right do you, a human being, have to negotiate with me?"

Xia En smiled too.

"Based on this."

He put the jade talisman back into his pocket, raised his right hand, and lightning crackled in his palm.

"Palm Thunder".

"boom--!!!"

A bolt of lightning erupted from his palm and struck the phantom's chest directly.

The phantom was blasted backward and crashed into the stone wall, causing the entire underground palace to tremble.

But it didn't dissipate; the phantom flickered a few times before returning to its original state.

"Thunder Magic?"

The illusory voice held a hint of surprise, "You're from the Celestial Master's Mansion?"

"right."

"I've seen the thunder magic of the Celestial Master's Mansion before. But none of it is as powerful as yours."

"That's because the exorcists you've met aren't me."

Xia En cracked his knuckles. "I'll ask you one more time, are you going back or not?"

The phantom stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.

Then it opened.

"I can go back. But I must retrieve my clan's sacred relic."

"Can."

Xia En took the jade talisman out of his pocket. "Go back into the seal, and I'll place the jade talisman on the stone coffin. Once you're completely calm, the jade talisman will be yours."

A flicker of hesitation crossed the phantom's blood-red eyes.

Then it nodded.

"it is good."

The phantom slowly dissipated and shrank back into the stone coffin.

The lid of the sarcophagus was closed again, and the crack disappeared.

The light from the sealing array stabilized, and the entire underground palace returned to calm.

Monk Yuankong stared at the scene, speechless for a long time.

"You...you convinced it just like that?"

"Um."

"It's an ancient demon king!"

What happened to the ancient demon king?

Xia En placed the jade talisman on the stone coffin. "It hasn't harmed anyone. It's been framed. The group that stole its sacred object five hundred years ago might have been the predecessor of the Evil Spirit Cult."

"It chased after us, but was sealed away by the monks of Mount Wutai. It wasn't a demon king; it was also a victim."

Yuan Kong fell silent.

Looking at Xia En, he suddenly realized that this person was more than just a fighter.

His mind works much better than the average person's.

"Let's go."

Xia En clapped his hands. "The seal is secure. The jade talisman has been returned. Let's go back and collect the money."

Yuan Kong gave a wry smile. "Three million, not a penny less."

The two returned the way they came and climbed out of the cave.

The sun shines on my body, feeling warm and cozy.

Xia En took a deep breath, took out her phone, and glanced at her bank account.

Yuan Kong has already transferred three million.

He nodded in satisfaction and put his phone back in his pocket.

"Let's go home."

Yuan Kong stood at the entrance of the cave, watching his back, and suddenly spoke.

"Master Xia."

Xia En turned around. "Hmm?"

"You're a very interesting person."

Yuan Kong smiled. "You are greedy for money, but not greedy for desire. Ruthless, but not cruel. Show no mercy to your enemies, but have compassion for the innocent. You are a true practitioner."

Xia En looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"Monk, you're quite good at flattery."

Yuan Kong laughed heartily.

Back at Qingheju, Fang Zijian was already waiting at the door.

Seeing Xia En get out of the car, he rushed up and asked.

"How was it? How was it? Was the Demon King powerful? Did you kill it?"

"no."

"No? Why?"

"Because it has never harmed anyone."

Xia En walked into the courtyard, lay back in the wicker chair, picked up a lollipop, and said, "Why kill a demon that has never harmed anyone?"

Fang Zijian was stunned.

Liu Ruyan came out of the house, carrying a cup of tea, and handed it to Xia En. "Thank you for your hard work."

Xia En took the tea and took a sip. "It wasn't hard work. Three million, worth it."

Liu Ruyan smiled.

She sat next to Xia En and looked at him.

"Xia En, every time you take money, you say it's for the Celestial Master's Mansion. But this time, how do you plan to use the three million you received?"

Xia En thought for a moment. "Use the money to repair the Taoist temple. The monks of Wutai Mountain said their ancient temple collapsed and needs repair. Three million is just enough to repair a main hall."

Fang Zijian was stunned. "You...you're going to give the money to Wutai Mountain?"

"Um."

"Then you've worked for nothing, haven't you?"

"How can you call it working for nothing?"

Xia En laughed. "They gave me money, and I gave them the money to build the temple. The money went around in circles and ended up back in their hands. But the temple was built, and my favor was done. From now on, the monks of Wutai Mountain will owe me a favor. Isn't that more valuable than three million?"

Fang Zijian opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

This person has taken the "get something for nothing" approach to its extreme.

"Moreover," Shane added, "they repaired the temple, and the incense offerings increased. With more incense offerings, they received more donations. And with more donations, they could introduce me to more business. It's a virtuous cycle."

Fang Zijian was completely speechless.

Looking at Xia En, he suddenly felt that this person shouldn't be a Taoist priest, but should be a CEO.

"Xia En," Fang Zijian said, "you're too cunning."

"Shadow?" Shane laughed. "I call this wisdom."

He closed his eyes and continued to bask in the sun.

A few days later, at Mount Wutai. (The last line appears to be a fragment and doesn't translate directly.)

Kong stood in front of the newly renovated main hall, looking at the plaque that Xia En had donated to rebuild—"Daoist Xia En of the Celestial Master's Mansion donated funds for its reconstruction."

He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

"Master Xia, I will remember this favor."

He turned and walked into the main hall.

Inside the hall, incense smoke curled and the Buddha statues stood solemnly.

Monk Yuankong knelt on the prayer mat, closed his eyes, and began chanting sutras.

The chanting of sutras echoed throughout the hall.

In the distance, in the courtyard of Qingheju, Xia En sneezed.

"Who's talking about me?"

Fang Zijian was scrolling through his phone, not even looking up.

"They're probably monks from Mount Wutai. You gave them three million; they'll definitely be talking about you every day."

Xia En rubbed his nose and smiled.

"Let them keep talking. I'm not losing anything anyway."