I speedrunned the fairies' game!

Chapter 19 Demonic Chaos in the Temple (5K words, please continue reading)
Three quarters of a hour.

"clang--"

The temple bell rang for the third time.

Only one incense stick's worth of incense remains before the "Demon Slaying Tournament" begins.

On the various mountain paths leading to the gate of Jintan Temple, heroes from all walks of life gathered, creating a grand spectacle.

At a glance, one could see cyan flying swords skimming across the low sky, flowing clouds darting through mountains and streams, and some worldly martial artists displaying unparalleled lightness skills, leaping up rooftops and scaling walls.

It can be said that all the wise men and women gathered here, each displaying their unique talents.

Inside the Mahavira Hall, where sandalwood incense wafts.

A short, stout old monk, wearing a purple and gold kasaya, was sitting cross-legged on a futon.

"Reporting to the Abbot, all the groups have arrived at the Martial Arts Square one after another. What do you think we should do next?" A tall, strong martial monk with thick eyebrows and big eyes stepped forward to report.

"Oops——"

The old monk, his fingers twirling prayer beads, spoke slowly, "Shizhen, who are the people who have come today?"

His voice was sharp and hoarse, with pitches that rose and fell, and it even had a strange, eerie quality to it.

The head of the Discipline Hall, Abbot Shizhen, approached the abbot with a reverent expression and stood behind him, pressing his palms together. He said, "Reporting to the abbot, the righteous path of Central Plains is quite united in holding this Demon-Slaying Assembly. In addition to most of the orthodox sects of the Central Plains coming, even some martial arts sects from the secular world have come to lend their support, for example—"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted again by that strangely accented voice:

"Let's not talk about those cats and dogs. This old monk has a question for you—"

"Have the forces from Shushan, Qinglan Immortal Sect, and Cihang Sword Sect arrived yet?"

Shi Zhen stiffened and quickly lowered his head: "Reporting to the Abbot, the one from Shu Mountain is Song Qingfeng, the second disciple of the sect leader Cangqing Zhenren, known as the 'Jade-Faced Swordsman'; Cihang Sword Sect has gone even further, sending the 'Strongest Saintess of a Thousand Years,' Fairy Xiao, in person; however... what about Qinglan Immortal Sect?"

Shi Zhen hesitated for a moment before saying, "As of now, we have not seen any disciples of the Qinglan Immortal Sect set foot in the Blissful Town at the foot of the mountain."

"Ok?"

The old monk, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them upon hearing this.

His originally kind and gentle face instantly twisted into a fierce glare. "What an arrogant attitude!"

"Just because his Qinglan Dao Sect has produced a few monstrous geniuses in recent years, does he dare to be so arrogant? Does he really think he can squeeze out the Kunlun Dao Sect and enter the 'Three Royal Families'?"

"Abbot, please calm down!"

Shi Zhen was so frightened that he immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Abbot, please calm down! Although the Qinglan Immortal Sect did not send anyone, the Kunlun Dao Sect did send an unexpected sect-protecting expert to help us!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Abbot Shiyan was taken aback. The anger on his face subsided, and he narrowed his eyes, saying, "In the past, during the second war between the righteous and the demonic, the Kunlun Dao Sect, which was then the leader of the righteous path, led the charge and suffered heavy casualties. Most of the sect's experts were lost, and only one of the thirteen Supreme Elders survived. Since then, it has never recovered."

"Over the past century, its population has dwindled and it has gradually declined. If it weren't for the great kindness that the Kunlun Matriarch had shown to the human race and the lingering influence she still possessed, the Kunlun Dao Sect probably wouldn't even have been able to retain its position as one of the 'Three Imperial Families'."

"I really didn't expect that. They actually managed to send people? Hahaha, that's interesting, really interesting."

The old monk made a sound that was neither a smile nor a laugh, and said, "Who is the leader? Is it that good-for-nothing sect leader Xuan Yangzi, or that old and frail Grand Elder of Yuxu Palace, Nangong He? The younger generation of Kunlun Sect is in a state of decline, far inferior to the other two sects. Surely they wouldn't send a few juniors to fool us?"

"Not really!"

Shi Zhen stepped forward and said excitedly, "You may not believe it, Abbot, but the representative sent by the Kunlun Dao Sect this time is none other than the last disciple of the Kunlun Mistress—that mysterious female sword immortal, Pei Xianzi, who has guarded the summit of Kunlun for nearly a hundred years and never stepped out of the world!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing the words "Fairy Pei," the old monk was struck dumb, his body trembling violently. Two beads of his Buddhist prayer beads snapped off with a "crack." "How...how is this possible? Fairy Pei hasn't stepped out of the back mountains of Kunlun for hundreds of years. How could she possibly come to our desolate mountain temple now? Something's not right! There must be something fishy going on here!"

Seeing his astonishment, Shi Zhen was somewhat puzzled. He scratched his head and said, "Abbot, it is said that this Fairy Pei, with her Nascent Soul body, once opened the Heavenly Gate with a single sword, shattering the Heavenly Mystery Gate that had sealed the Nine Provinces for thousands of years, and creating a ladder to immortality for the mortal realm. She is truly a legendary figure in our righteous cultivation world! Now that we have her assistance, why should we fear that Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect? Therefore—"

"This is a good thing!"

"Fuck your mother!"

Abbot Shiyan, a man of profound Buddhist knowledge, had veins bulging on his forehead and burst into a tirade: "Am I afraid of that demonic cult's holy maiden? What I'm worried about is—"

"Fine!" He gritted his teeth and asked coldly, "What's the current situation with Qianye, the spy from the Cangming Sect?"

"Abbot, as you instructed, we left him with his last breath. Don't worry, he won't die anytime soon," Shi Zhen said with a solicitous smile.

“That would be best.” Abbot Jintan clasped his hands together and closed his eyes to meditate again: “Once everyone has arrived, you go out and take charge of the arrangements. I will follow shortly.”

"I will obey the abbot's decree!"

"Wait a minute. Is there any news from Tai'an City?" the old monk asked coldly.

"..." Master Shizhen paused for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Reporting to the abbot, the leader of the Beggars' Sect branch in Tai'an City, Master Wang, has suddenly become unreachable recently for some reason."

"Hey! How could this be!"

The old monk suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "Where's the pill?! Where's the Crimson Marrow Pill he offered as tribute this month?"

Shi Zhen cautiously replied, "Reporting to the abbot, in fact, Chief Wang has been acting strangely since last month. Every time we go to urge him to finish the pills, it's either windy or rainy, and he's full of excuses. Why don't we just send someone to Tai'an City to put some pressure on him?"

"Forget it, if it's going to rain, it's going to rain; if Mother wants to remarry, she wants to remarry. Let it be."

The old monk sighed, "The Demon-Slaying Assembly is the most important matter right now. Once this matter is settled, I will deal with him myself."

"Alright, you can go now. Be more energetic today, don't embarrass our Jintan Temple."

"Yes! This disciple understands!"

Master Zhen respectfully bowed and withdrew.

In an instant, the vast Mahavira Hall was left with only the old abbot.

The smoke from incense and candles swirled in the hall, carrying with it a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of blood.

A single, crimson tear slowly seeped from the corner of the eye of the gilded Buddha statue behind him.

Blood and tears streamed down the Buddha statue's face, and a faint, angry, hoarse voice could be heard from within:

"You beast! Do you even know what you're doing?"

“Of course I know,” Abbot Shiyan said calmly.

"Do you know? Do you know that by using Zen Master Chiba as bait to convene this so-called Demon-Slaying Conference, you are essentially inviting a wolf into the house! It will bring utter destruction to my Golden Sandalwood Temple!"

Once again, a furious rebuke came from the Buddha statue.

"I know exactly what I'm doing."

Abbot Shiyan opened his eyes and said with a half-smile, "The so-called Demon-Slaying Assembly is a scheme in itself. I know this, you know this, and the heroes of the righteous path are also clear about it. But who is the prey and who is the hunter is still unknown."

"You filthy beast, so arrogant!"

The voice from the Buddha statue turned hysterical: "Leaving aside the two young prodigies sent by Shu Mountain and Cihang Sword Sect, just take that Kunlun Sword Immortal Pei, can you...can you control him?!"

"We have to suppress it even if we can't."

Abbot Shiyan's lips curled into a sorrowful smile: "Others may not know, but you should, right? My clan is on the verge of extinction. As the clan leader, I have no choice."

"So... what exactly do you want to do?" The old man's voice inside the Buddha statue trembled slightly.

"My idea is very simple."

The old abbot said, "When the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect and the heroes of the Righteous Path are locked in a fierce battle and both are severely injured, I will then step in to reap the benefits. However, my method of closing the net will be somewhat brutal, as you should know best."

"Your good and evil deeds are rewarded accordingly, and this has never failed you! In this sacred Buddhist land, you commit such heinous acts; aren't you afraid of the Buddha's wrath?"

As blood and tears welled up again in the eyes of the gilded Buddha statue, the voice became hoarse and almost muffled.

"Hahahahaha!"

The old monk, draped in a kasaya, suddenly burst into laughter. The laughter was rough and piercing, like the howl of a wild beast.

Suddenly, a strange and eerie black aura rose from his back, carrying a foul wind that instantly suppressed the Buddhist light within the hall.
"Retribution? That damned Buddha you worship all day long, if he were truly effective, it would be me, not you, trapped inside a golden statue as a 'living relic.' Don't you agree?"

"Abbot Shiyan."

The old monk turned his head, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

The smile started from the corner of his mouth and spread all the way to behind his ears, revealing two rows of white canine teeth!
About one stick of incense later.

Heroes from all walks of life arrived one after another at the Martial Arts Square in front of the Great Buddha Hall, where the scene was bustling with noise and banners were waving.

"Chi chi chi——"

Suddenly, a sharp "whoosh" sound rang out, and a blue rainbow sword aura pierced the air, sweeping across the square with a cold light.

Everyone looked up at the same time.

Then a handsome young man in a green robe, tall hat and wide belt, came flying by on a sword with his hands behind his back.

"It's Song Qingfeng, the 'Jade-Faced Swordsman' of Mount Shu, Senior Brother Song!"

"As expected of the direct disciple of the current head of the Xuanmen sect—Shushan! Truly extraordinary in appearance and exceptional in demeanor!" "Ahhhhh! Sisters, does anyone understand?! Senior Brother Song is so handsome! I really want to be his furnace cauldron~!"

"Who says otherwise! My sallow-faced husband isn't even worthy of being mentored by Young Master Song! I can't help but sit down and complain."

Song Qingfeng, the representative of the Shushan Immortal Sword Sect and a disciple personally taught by the sect leader, officially took his seat.

A chorus of exclamations of admiration filled the square.

Some female cultivators with thick waists, broad shoulders, and large heads and ears rushed over without any regard for their image, drooling.

Surrounded by this group of unattractive yet fervent female fans, Song Qingfeng maintained a refined and approachable smile throughout, waving to each of them in response.

"A fat pig, steamed goose heart."

He cursed inwardly, feeling increasingly agitated.

Suddenly, someone in the square exclaimed, "Look! Fairy Xiao has arrived!"

"Ah? Junior Sister Xiao has arrived too?"

Song Qingfeng's handsome eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around to look.

At that moment, almost everyone in the square, including the monks maintaining order around them, put down what they were doing and turned to look.

Under the bright sunshine, a woman dressed in white, as beautiful as a fairy, came riding on the wind. Her skirt fluttered like a butterfly, as if a celestial maiden had descended to earth!

It was none other than the Fairy Xiyue, who was widely recognized as the "Strongest Saintess of Cihang Sword Sect" and "A Beauty Seen Once in Five Thousand Years in the Cultivation World"!

At this moment, behind Fairy Xiao, there was a slightly older female cultivator from Cihang Sword Sect.

This woman was stunningly beautiful and had a graceful figure, surpassing most of the female cultivators present. However, in front of Fairy Xiao, she paled in comparison, like a firefly compared to the bright moon.

"Wow, Xiyue, your popularity hasn't waned at all! Our Cihang Sword Sect really does have a lot of prestige!"

Looking at the cheering crowd below, shouting "Fairy!", Cen Jing was overjoyed and genuinely proud of her junior sister.

"Oh, senior sister, don't say that. Thanks to the blessing of our ancestral master, we finally made it in time."

Xiao Xiyue shook her head, still feeling lingering fear.

She quickly composed herself, her detached gaze sweeping across the crowd below, as if searching for someone.

"Ah, Young Master Chen isn't here! He really believed me and left with my concubine!"

With her fingertips tightly gripping the "Heart of the East Sea" on her sleeve, Fairy Xiao's tense lips finally broke into a faint smile.

Her smile was like ice and snow melting and a hundred flowers blooming.

The entire audience erupted in cheers once again:

"Fairy Xiao smiled! She smiled!"

"A fairy's smile is captivating, a perfect description!"

"If I could be intimate with the fairy's fragrance in this lifetime, I would gladly live in a blessed land and travel on a star-studded shuttle!"

Just as everyone's attention was focused on Xiao Xianzi's every smile and frown.

On the high platform, the venerable monk Shizhen, the head of the Discipline Hall with thick eyebrows and large eyes, clasped his hands together, gathered his inner strength, and proclaimed loudly: "The first generation of the Kunlun Dao Sect, the Sword-wielding Supreme Master—Fairy Pei, has arrived!"

As soon as these words came out.

The entire audience was stunned.

There was a long silence.

Then, exclamations of surprise gradually began to emerge:

"Fairy Pei? There's such a person in Kunlun? How come I've never heard of her before?"

"Oh, didn't they already say it? He's Pei Jianxian, the first Sword-Holding Elder of the Kunlun Dao Sect!"

"The first generation? Dude, are you kidding me! Do you even know how many generations the Kunlun Sect has been passed down to this day? If this Fairy Pei is really alive today, she's probably more senior than the 'Six Sages of Shu Mountain'!"

Questions and criticisms arose one after another.

In a corner, several elderly rogue cultivators with white hair and beards shook their heads and sighed: "Alas, back then, the white-robed female sword immortal cut through the shackles of heaven and earth, paving the way for all sword cultivators. What an unparalleled and proud figure she was! Now, only a hundred years have passed, and the younger generation hardly recognizes her anymore. It is truly lamentable."

soon.

As more and more older cultivators in the crowd spontaneously began to recount the life and deeds of the "Kunlun Female Sword Immortal".

The initial skepticism gradually turned into admiration, and everyone stood on tiptoe, looking around and calling out to find the figure of this legendary swordsman.

Unfortunately, this Sword Immortal Pei was too low-key and ultimately did not show up.

The square was completely dark, and there was nowhere to be found.

now.

The northwest corner of the square, unnoticed by anyone.

A woman in white, holding two slender swords, sat cross-legged under a towering ancient tree, lost in thought.

When you see her, you see a high, straight nose, skin as white as snow, and features like newly melted snow, with a cool and aloof air mixed with a touch of alluring charm.

Her long, ink-black hair was tied up high with a simple ebony hairpin into a neat high ponytail. Between her parted bangs and temples, a bright red cinnabar dot added to her ethereal and otherworldly beauty.

However, this is completely different from her aloof and arrogant temperament.
She was extremely tall and slender, with a full figure. Her impressive breasts and round, pert buttocks could not be concealed even when she wore a loose, austere white gauze dress.

"Master, Ping'er truly feels sorry for you."

A girl with pigtails, dressed in the robes of the Kunlun Sect, choked up and said, "You've done so much for the world, but in the end, when people mention righteous heroes, all they think of are those old men from Mount Shu who reap the benefits."

"Do not."

Pei Qingyan gently shook her head, stroking the two "purple and green swords" in her palm, her expression as cold as ice: "Everything I have done in my life, big or small, has been for myself."

The girl was speechless for a moment.

"The Demon-Slaying Tournament has begun, let's go over there."

Pei Qingyan's voice was ethereal as she raised her hand to gently stroke her beloved disciple's cheek. A gentle stream of true energy swept over her, quietly wiping away the moisture from the corner of her eyes.

Just as the master and his apprentice were about to get up.

Immortal Pei sensed something and looked up. She saw a man and a woman standing on the plaque above the entrance to the Great Buddha Hall. They were both wearing bamboo hats.

"That woman's aura is unusual."

"He's a powerful demonic cultivator."

On the north side of the square, Master Shizhen, the head of the Discipline Hall, leaped like a wild goose soaring through the air towards the ten-zhang-high platform.

He clasped his hands together, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, his tone solemn, displaying the majesty of a high monk: "Fellow righteous comrades have come from afar to attend this grand gathering to slay the demon. The Buddha's light shines upon Jintan Temple, and the entire temple feels honored and honored."

"However, before the Demon-Slaying Assembly officially begins, at Abbot Shiyan's request, I would like to invite you all to follow me to the Great Buddha Hall to pay homage to the Buddha."

"I do not demand that you kneel down, but only wish to receive the Buddha's grace and pray for the success of this demon-slaying campaign, so that the Cangming Demonic Cult can be wiped out as soon as possible, and a bright and clear world can be restored to all living beings in the land."

As soon as these words came out.

The whole place was in an uproar!

This group of righteous heroes, already arrogant and each harboring their own ulterior motives, voiced their opposition:
"What the hell?! We came to Jintan Temple to have a good fight and capture the Cangming demoness! What kind of godforsaken Buddha are we worshipping?!"

“That’s right! We are from the orthodox Taoist sect. We worship the Three Pure Ones instead of Buddha. This is against the rules!”

"Stop dawdling! Hand over that Cangming spy, the Demon Lord Qianye!"

"Great monk! Logically speaking, someone of your rank is not qualified to make us kneel and pay our respects! Let your Abbot Shiyan speak!"

The crowd at the scene was filled with excitement.

Several Golden Sandalwood Chiefs on the high platform exchanged glances, plotting something.

The atmosphere quickly reached a stalemate.

Just then, a wild and unruly laugh from a young man rang out:

"Hahahaha! This Jintan Temple is called a sacred Buddhist site, but in my opinion, it's nothing but a filthy place that hides filth and lewdness!"

This statement came out.

The entire audience was stunned!

For a very long time, there was complete silence!

Upon hearing that familiar voice, even the usually composed Cihang Saintess Xiao, who was sitting in the front row, changed her expression, her beautiful eyes widening as she looked in the direction of the voice.

"Young Master Chen!?"

(End of this chapter)