Chapter 160: The Truth Revealed

Anx Ruyue glanced at Nun Jingnian. Seeing the latter close her eyes and nod, she couldn’t help but sigh and raise her voice. “Water Moon Temple has arrived as promised. Where is Sect Leader Chen?”

Her ethereal voice echoed all around.

In the distance, the gates of the Three Judicial Departments slowly opened. A tall and handsome young Daoist emerged, exuding a masculine charm akin to a Divine Demon. Wearing a loose Daoist Robe, he approached Anx Ruyue and Nun Jingnian, followed by Chang Xi, who was leading Ancient Bell Spirit by the hand.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Anx Ruyue’s heart suddenly twinged with pain. It was as if, the moment Chen Sha approached, she once again felt that immense mental pressure.

Chen Sha looked at the two of them and said, “So, the prime culprit has arrived?” He scanned them both.

Under everyone’s gaze, the old nun Jingnian spoke up. “This poor nun is the one. I only wish that after you kill me, this case will be written off and end here.”

Unexpectedly, Chen Sha raised an eyebrow. “If it were just to kill you, I wouldn’t have needed to go to such great lengths to ferret you out and have the Buddhist Sect willingly bring you to me. More importantly, I wanted to give you a chance to atone for your sins. Since you admit that you cast the Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell back then, I happen to have a Qi Curse here that can take on the karmic retribution in this child’s place. It requires the original caster to execute it personally to save her…”

Hearing this, old nun Jingnian was slightly taken aback. She couldn’t help but look at Ancient Bell Spirit, who was being held by Chang Xi. The little girl’s eyes were innocent to an abnormal degree.

“What do you mean?”

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of the public, Martial Artists from all over the world and the various Clan factions were all watching the scene. Upon seeing Chen Sha finally reveal himself, the Martial Artists of Yuan Country finally saw what this Dao Yi Sect Master, who had burst onto the scene out of nowhere, looked like. Just as the rumors said, his appearance was extraordinary.

But what shocked them even more was…

The crowd turned their attention to the little girl being led by Chang Xi. They wondered, “Is this the girl from the story who was harmed by the Buddhist Sect’s Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell?”

However, when they heard Chen Sha say that a member of the Buddhist Sect could actually step in to save her…

“Could a child who was born incomplete from the womb really be turned back into a healthy child?” The crowd found it unbelievable.

Anx Ruyue’s expression was complicated after seeing Ancient Bell Spirit. She had finally met her senior sister’s child. As expected, the girl’s features resembled Gu Rusu. Moreover…

What weighed heavily on her heart was a grim realization: “As expected, she carries the aura of the Buddhist Sect’s Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell.”

This meant that Chen Sha and Yuan Country were entirely justified in setting up this penal hall here. Someone from the Buddhist Sect really had done that to Gu Rusu back then.

She slowly looked toward Nun Jingnian, who had confessed, and said with a conflicted expression, “Elder, if it was indeed you, then perhaps we can do as he says and try to see if we can really save this child.” Even though doing so would mean the incident would be set in stone, it would also mean they could repent and be saved, allowing the Buddhist Sect to remain upright and honorable.

Nun Jingnian met Chen Sha’s piercing gaze. She subtly glanced at everyone around her before opening her mouth slightly. “This poor nun has practiced Cultivation of the Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell since childhood. I have never heard of any Qi Curse that can counter it or transfer its consequences. If you want to kill me to avenge Rusu and her daughter, then just do it. Why go to all this unnecessary trouble?”

Chen Sha, however, faintly sensed that something was amiss. He simply looked calmly at the old nun who had admitted to the crime. “What? Is it possible that the people of your Buddhist Sect only know how to kill, but not how to save people?”

He continued indifferently, “The method to save her is now in my hands. You only need to follow the curse to undo a sin from the past. For yourself, this is also a form of salvation. Yet, you are unwilling to do so. Why?”

At this moment, even the Four Great Divine Monks of the Pure Land Zen Sect standing below furrowed their brows. The situation was developing differently from what they had imagined.

If Chen Sha had wanted Master Jingnian to pay with her life right from the start in front of the whole world, they could have immediately intervened and argued with him… But Chen Sha didn’t do that.

Instead, he had no intention of killing her first. Rather, he wanted the person who committed the act back then to undo the sin they had committed and turn the cursed child back to normal. This made it difficult for them to step forward. After all, the Buddhist Sect preached that saving a life was better than building a seven-story pagoda. Since Chen Sha wasn’t trying to kill Jingnian, but rather wanted her to save someone, they had absolutely no ground to speak up.

Seeing Jingnian remain silent for a long time, Chang Xi, who was leading Ancient Bell Spirit, also frowned. “Even if the events of the past hadn’t happened, as a member of the Buddhist Sect, when faced with someone only you can save, would you actually refuse to help?”

Anx Ruyue looked at Elder Jingnian with a complicated expression. The old nun Jingnian looked hesitant. Finally, she raised her head to look at Chen Sha. “What do I need to do?”

Chen Sha directly handed over a piece of paper detailing the chanting and Qi-channeling method for the Karma Receiving Spell to the old nun Jingnian. “This curse was created based on the Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell. You could say it’s a reverse-engineered version of it. As long as you are someone who practices the Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell, you can channel your energy in the manner of this curse. If successful, all the Rebound side effects of the Divine Curse on this child will be transferred to you.”

Looking at the Qi Curse before her, Jingnian felt a shock in her heart. “To think there’s actually such a method to channel a Qi Curse in this world…”

The crucial point was that, at a glance, she could tell it was a perfectly compatible technique of the same lineage as the Mid-Yin Purification Body Spell. How did Chen Sha obtain such a matching Curse Technique? Then, she listened to Chen Sha explain that if it succeeded, the side effects of the Divine Curse on Ancient Bell Spirit would be transferred to her.

Upon hearing this, Nun Jingnian faintly saw the outcome she desired. “Very well. Then let this poor nun atone for the sins of the past.”

With that said, under the public’s gaze, she began studying the Karma Receiving Spell Chen Sha had handed her. Sure enough, just by running it once, it felt like a naturally compatible Cultivation Technique of the same sect.

After testing it, Nun Jingnian glanced at the Four Great Divine Monks below. Seeing their silence, she took a deep breath and stepped behind the completely oblivious Ancient Bell Spirit. She slowly reached out, channeling the inverse Curse Technique’s Qi Power into Ancient Bell Spirit’s body.

For a moment, everyone nervously watched the scene unfolding on the platform.

Not far away, Mu Hongfu tightly clenched her fists, looking hopefully at Master Jingnian channeling her energy. She prayed in her heart, “Please succeed and let Bell Spirit turn back into a normal child.”

However, as time passed… on the platform, Chen Sha and Chang Xi, who were observing Jingnian, both faintly noticed something was wrong.

As Jingnian channeled the curse, an icy cold Qi Curse emanated from her body, swirling behind Ancient Bell Spirit like a frigid spring in summer. Yet, it only produced a faint resonance with the Qi Curse inside the little girl before sputtering out, unable to fully connect.

Chang Xi had already realized the truth and immediately spoke up. “Nun, you are not the person who committed the act back then. Why have you come here to throw your life away?”

Jingnian’s face remained calm. “Since I have come and admitted it was my doing, why would I lie? If I can’t save this child right now, perhaps… you should question whether your Curse Technique actually works!”

But Chang Xi shook her head. “What does it have to do with the Curse Technique? For Martial Arts across the world, because people’s constitutions and Essence Qi differ, different people will cultivate different traits and auras. The True Qi inside Bell Spirit’s body clearly doesn’t share the same origin as your Qi Power. That’s why you can’t save her.”

Jingnian smiled and shook her head. “Nonsense.”

Chen Sha, however, spoke indifferently. “Since you’re not the real prime culprit but are willing to come here to die, it means you’re trying to protect the person who actually did it. I see you also possess Great Innate Cultivation. For a Great Innate like you to be willing to sacrifice yourself, this person must be highly respected in your Buddhist Sect. Who exactly is that person?”

Hearing these words and then looking at Master Jingnian’s complexion, Anx Ruyue felt a shock in her heart. “Could it be Master? But Master passed away a long time ago…”

It made sense. If it was someone who had already passed away, then naturally there was an even greater need to protect her reputation.

At this moment, however, listening to these words from below the platform, the Four Great Divine Monks finally saw an opportunity. The Great Practice Divine Monk was the first to speak in a deep voice. He leaped onto the high platform and said, “Sect Leader Chen, stop twisting logic. Since you yourself said that Junior Sister Jingnian is not the culprit, then you shouldn’t make things difficult for her any longer.”

Unexpectedly, Chen Sha simply cast a sidelong glance at him and spat out two words lightly. “Shut up!”

The Great Practice Divine Monk was about to fly into a rage, but those two words immediately exploded in his mind like thunder. Even with his Great Innate Level Cultivation, he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan and stagger back several steps.

“You!” He was filled with endless terror, having already realized the gap between himself and Chen Sha.

Then, Chen Sha looked indifferently at Jingnian. “Just because you refuse to speak, do you think I don’t have ways to make you open your mouth?”

Hearing this, Anx Ruyue’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately thought of Chen Sha’s terrifying Spiritual Marvelous Skill, the Brain God methods of the Great Yellow Court, and hastily said, “Sect Leader Chen, don’t…”

At that very moment, the Four Great Divine Monks of the Pure Land Zen Sect appeared simultaneously in front of Chen Sha. The Great Wisdom Divine Monk said in a deep voice, “Sect Leader Chen, the one you are looking for is the real culprit. Since this has nothing to do with Junior Sister Jingnian, we absolutely cannot allow you to lay a hand on her.”

As he spoke, the Great Wisdom Divine Monk lowered his eyelids. A vast Buddhist Skill surged from his body, forming specks of Golden Light that drifted outward. A faint but immense Vajra Power spread across the sky.

However, right at the moment the Great Wisdom Divine Monk channeled his Divine Skill, Chang Xi immediately noticed that after the Great Wisdom Divine Monk’s aura permeated the area, a trace of Golden Light unexpectedly appeared on Ancient Bell Spirit’s body as well…

Upon seeing this scene unfold, Chang Xi looked at the Great Wisdom Divine Monk in astonishment, then back at Ancient Bell Spirit. “This is… the Buddhist Spell Power on Bell Spirit is actually resonating with the Cultivation Technique of the Pure Land Zen Sect… Which means the person who committed the act wasn’t from Water Moon Temple at all, but…” She immediately looked at the Four Great Divine Monks. “It was one of your people?”

The Great Wisdom Divine Monk’s expression showed alarm upon hearing this. The Great Practice Divine Monk became even more furious and barked out, “What did you just say? What does this matter have to do with my Pure Land Zen Sect?”

At this moment, however, Nun Jingnian stared blankly in despair at the Golden Light specks emanating from Ancient Bell Spirit’s body. After hearing Chang Xi’s words, she muttered, “It was me, it was me…” With that, she suddenly stood up, strode over to Chen Sha, straightened her body, and struck her palm toward her own head. “Sect Leader Chen, let the Buddhist Sect go. Let this end here. This poor nun will pay with her life!”

Chen Sha’s expression remained calm as he watched the nun smash her own head in, just three feet away from him.

Instantly, the entire venue was shocked!! Even Anx Ruyue hadn’t anticipated this happening. The Four Great Divine Monks were completely dumbfounded.

However, Chen Sha’s mocking words soon rang out across the venue as he looked at Anx Ruyue.

“It seems this real culprit is indeed highly respected. It’s actually not hard to guess, is it? Sixteen years ago, you should know very well how many Great Innates were in the two branches of your Buddhist Sect. And among these Great Innates, how many were worth her sacrificing herself for…

“The Buddha’s Curse inside Bell Spirit’s body has absolutely nothing to do with Water Moon Temple. Instead, it resonated with this old monk’s Pure Land Zen Sect Cultivation Technique. It won’t be hard to find out who from the Pure Land Zen Sect visited Water Moon Temple sixteen years ago.”

Anx Ruyue racked her brain. Finally, as if she had truly thought of something, her face instantly turned deathly pale.

No, how could it be…

The Four Great Divine Monks of the Pure Land Zen Sect almost simultaneously thought of the same thing. Sixteen years ago, there was only one Zen Sect master who had visited Water Moon Temple… That was Monastery Master I Heard!

The Great Wisdom Divine Monk’s lips trembled as he was about to deny it. An explosive roar had already erupted from the Great Practice Divine Monk beside him.

“You dare slander our Monastery Master!”

With those words, he struck out. His palm turned completely golden, resembling an Arhat Palm Seal, as he slammed it forward.

Seeing this, the Great Wisdom Divine Monk could only let out a long sigh. “Amitabha Buddha. Sect Leader Chen, it seems we must settle this with a fight today.”

In an instant, regardless of whether they believed it in their hearts or whether there was a conclusive outcome, the four Buddhist Sect Great Innates almost simultaneously attacked Chen Sha.