Chapter Twenty-Two: The Greatest Fool in the World—That’s Me!

Li Bai’s attempt at the challenge ended in failure due to his “internal injury,” and he hurried down the mountain to seek the tower from the divine healer. Monks from Golden Mountain Temple who passed by the area near Leifeng Pagoda would always pause, fall silent for a moment, and then erupt into inexplicable, uncontrollable laughter, unable to stop themselves. Some pilgrims passing by were startled, thinking perhaps all the monks of Golden Mountain Temple had gone mad.

The most unfortunate one was the Tower-Bearing Arhat. His tower needed to be remade by Master Huiqi, but first he was scolded: “The tower was meant to be carried, not pushed! Why insist on forcing it? If it won’t go in, why keep trying? Are you out of your mind? Some things simply can’t be forced!”

Ten days later, Sword Immortal Li Bai successfully retrieved the tower, saving his own life, and ascended the mountain once more. Upon reflection, he finally grasped the key to his previous failure.

Xiao Yan!

At every pivotal moment, this fellow would open his mouth. Speaking wasn’t the issue, but his words always hit the weak spot. The biggest problem was his insidiousness; to utter “Thousand-Year Strike” to someone holding a tower—such words had grave consequences.

Li Bai had barely entered the gates of Golden Mountain Temple when he heard lively discussion.

“Hurry, run! Go... go... go to the Arhat Hall!”

“What’s happened? What’s going on?”

“That guy Xiao Yan is challenging again. This time he’s said to be full of confidence!”

“Hahaha... That guy, this must be his hundred and ninth attempt, right? With just five levels of inner strength, what’s he so sure about?”

“Who knows? Let’s go watch the excitement!”

Since Li Bai left and Xiao Yan was recuperating, nothing much had happened in the temple, leaving the monks dreadfully bored. Now, hearing Xiao Yan was challenging the Eighteen Arhats Formation again, they were overjoyed—even the young monk sweeping the gates ran off to the Arhat Hall.

Li Bai paused in surprise, then followed, striking up conversation with the young monk.

“Hey, brother, you’re going to the Arhat Hall to watch the fun too?” The young monk clearly didn’t recognize the famous Sword Immortal Li Bai and started chatting cheerfully.

“Yes, you all seem to know the challenger?” Li Bai, unassuming as ever, joined the idle chatter.

“You must be a visiting pilgrim. Then you’re lucky—you’ve just arrived and get to see Xiao Yan’s challenge.”

“How so?”

“Haha, Xiao Yan, this is his hundred and ninth attempt! Each of the previous one hundred and eight times, he brought something new—always thrilling... When Xiao Yan challenges, it’s like a festival at Golden Mountain Temple, bustling with excitement.”

“Haha, is that so? Aren’t there many others who challenge as well? Wouldn’t that make every day a festival?”

“Those other challengers don’t mean much... just fighting in circles, nothing special. But ten days ago, I heard the world’s greatest master came to challenge—now that was exciting.”

At this, Li Bai blushed.

“You see, your face is red—you must have gone to watch, right? Too bad I wasn’t there... I heard about it later though... That huge tower, right?” The young monk gestured with his hands. “How did it get in, anyway? Hahaha... World’s greatest master? Makes me laugh... More like world’s greatest fool... Too bad I missed it in person.”

Li Bai said nothing.

“What’s wrong? You were fine just now, but your face has gone dark. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, the so-called world’s greatest fool you mentioned—that’s me.”

The young monk froze for three seconds. “Sorry to bother you.” With that, he took off running.

Meanwhile, a delicate, handsome youth quietly entered Golden Mountain Temple, glancing about as if searching for someone. Upon close inspection, his beauty was remarkable; had he been a woman, he would have been considered a peerless beauty.

“Excuse me... Are there any lecherous monks in your temple? And any who like to eat pork... Wait... He also has a dog...” The youth questioned the monks, frightening them into shaking their heads.

Finally, one monk seemed to know something and pointed to the Arhat Hall: “Oh, perhaps you’re looking for Xiao Yan? He’s challenging there now...”

The youth bit his silver teeth, silently noting: So that man’s name is Xiao Yan.

He joined the crowd heading toward the Arhat Hall.

Inside the Arhat Hall.

Xiao Yan looked at the eighteen Arhats before him, each as robust as a bear, and was stunned. Weren’t they supposed to be raising pigs? When did they secretly start bodybuilding?

“Guangtou Qiang! Didn’t I tell you to keep sneaking them meals every day?” Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

“I did! I watched them eat every day... Ten buckets of food,” Zhuge Yixiu scratched his head, equally puzzled.

“Hmph, petty tricks! Trying to slip through?” Elder Hui Ren looked at Xiao Yan’s astonished face with pride.

The eighteen Arhats turned pale at his words. Who could know what they had endured these ten days? After Li Bai’s departure, Elder Hui Ren had driven them through relentless training in hopes of slimming them down. Luckily, Zhuge Yixiu kept sneaking food in at night, and the joy of eating made them not only avoid losing weight but gain unprecedented confidence in their gluttony.

On the third day, Elder Hui Ren summoned the Abbot. But the Arhats weren’t worried—the Abbot was always lenient. Sure enough, instead of training them, the Abbot brought another bucket of food for them.

So, being straightforward, they enjoyed the meal... but that night, each Arhat was drenched in sweat, unable to resist rushing to the latrine.

Thus, the eighteen Arhats spent an entire night fighting for access to the latrine.

Some, unable to win the scramble, simply wept in bed while... well, let’s just say their meditation chambers surpassed the latrine in one night.

The next day, some pilgrims who went to the latrine accidentally wandered into the Arhats’ chambers...

So, whatever they ate, they expelled just as much...

There was simply no chance to gain weight.

“Don’t hold onto false hopes,” Elder Hui Ren sneered. He was pleased to have foiled Xiao Yan’s tricks this time, all thanks to the Abbot.

The old are indeed wiser!

But had Elder Hui Ren known that the Abbot’s loyal dog was still in Xiao Yan’s chamber, he might not have been so smug.

“No matter,” Xiao Yan replied lightly, smiling. He winked at Zhuge Yixiu, as if to ask something.

Zhuge Yixiu understood instantly, nodded fiercely to show everything was arranged, and flashed a sly grin.

“Xiao Yan’s hundred and ninth challenge of the Eighteen Arhats Formation begins!” Elder Hui Ren announced coldly.

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Yan’s expression sharpened, and the aura of inner strength around him grew stronger.

Fifth level!

“Haha... At least he’s improved...” The eighteen Arhats chimed in, but Xiao Yan could hear the mockery and scorn in their voices.

Xiao Yan paid no mind, smiling lightly.

The monks watching began to comment.

“The world’s greatest master and the senior disciple both failed the challenge, and Xiao Yan still dares to try?”

“We’re used to it. Don’t really expect him to succeed, do you? Not a chance.”

“Indeed, the gap in strength is too wide.”

And so the scene unfolded.