Chapter Nine: Divergence
“This is indeed almost impossible to achieve…” Huiming nodded, then turned his head and asked, “Yuantong, in your opinion, how should the formation be broken?”
On hearing this, Yuantong was visibly delighted. After all, Elder Huiming was a venerable senior, and it was rare to be actively asked for advice. He straightened his back, letting his internal energy of the twelfth layer radiate outward, and then said, “I believe the key to breaking the Eighteen Arhats Formation lies at the needle’s eye. As long as one can find the needle’s eye and deliver a fatal blow, the whole formation will collapse.”
“Hmm, your analysis is quite accurate.” Elder Huiming nodded vigorously, showing his complete agreement. He himself had studied the Eighteen Arhats Formation for a long time, and the only method he knew was the one Yuantong mentioned. No one had succeeded yet, but he believed all that was missing was someone strong enough.
As for what Xiao Yan said, he simply disregarded it.
“Elder, you praise me too much. It’s only a humble opinion,” Yuantong replied modestly.
Xiao Yan, standing nearby, added, “Indeed, a humble opinion.”
Yuantong’s bald head shone with anger.
…
On the third day, Xiao Yan’s remarks started to spread.
More and more people began discussing the matter.
“Hahaha… Only the strong defeat the weak, what a joke! He actually dared to question Elder Huiming… You know, Elder Huiming is an enlightened monk, almost a saint in my eyes. How could he possibly be wrong?”
“Exactly! Xiao Yan is talking nonsense.”
“But I think Senior Brother Yuantong is right. It’s all about the formation’s focal point. You saw the abbot try to break the formation last time, almost made it through the needle’s eye…”
“But somehow, I feel Xiao Yan has a point too. One could master eighteen martial arts and defeat the formation with strength. But would he need eighteen lifetimes to master them all? Hahaha…”
“Not just that! Didn’t you hear? He plans to bring eighteen weapons into battle. I think he’ll need eighteen hands for that.”
…
That day, Xiao Yan went straight to the Scripture Repository and borrowed the eighteen foundational martial arts manuals of Jinshan Temple, finishing each in half an hour.
Elder Huiming, who was secretly spying from the side, stomped his feet in frustration.
After finishing the eighteen manuals, Xiao Yan didn’t rush to practice. Instead, he found the crafting methods for eighteen types of weapons on the shelves and spent several days in the Scripture Repository reading them. Only when he finished did he stretch lazily and head back to sleep.
Elder Huiming had been watching Xiao Yan’s movements these days. Watching Xiao Yan’s departing figure, he couldn’t help but fall into deep thought: Could this boy really be serious…? But it’s truly impossible.
Right?
Meanwhile, Yuantong didn’t visit the Scripture Repository or practice martial arts these days. He spent his time boasting to other monks about Elder Huiming’s praise and mocking Xiao Yan’s foolish theory.
Another sunny day dawned over Jinshan Temple, bustling with excitement.
Crowds gathered at the entrance to the Arhat Hall as a monk walked slowly inside.
“Look, Senior Brother Yuantong is about to challenge the formation!”
---
“As far as I know, Senior Brother has reached the tenth layer of internal energy, right? He should stand a chance. If he finds the needle’s eye, he might actually succeed.”
“Hahaha, you’re behind the times! Senior Brother’s internal energy has reached the twelfth layer!”
“Whoa… that’s terrifying… Just a few days ago, he was at the tenth layer. No wonder he hasn’t been training lately…”
“With that strength, it’s really possible…”
“Of course!”
Yuantong now lifted his chin and walked with confidence, the intensity of his internal energy gradually radiating outward…
Ten layers!
Eleven layers!
Twelve layers!
“My heavens, that’s so powerful…”
Someone cried out in awe.
But Yuantong smirked slyly.
“Look… he’s not stopping!”
Thirteen layers!
The crowd erupted.
“He’s raised it another level! Just how strong is Senior Brother… No wonder he dares to challenge the Eighteen Arhats. He’s nothing like that useless Xiao Yan!”
“But Senior Brother hasn’t been training these days, and his internal energy still grew… It’s unbelievable…”
“But don’t you think… his walk is a bit feminine…”
“What are you talking about? You must be obsessed with women. Still… I think I kind of like Senior Brother…”
…
Meanwhile, the Armory of Jinshan Temple was equally lively.
Xiao Yan entered, carrying the eighteen weapon crafting books he had borrowed from the Scripture Repository.
A crowd of monks followed him, whispering.
As he entered, he saw a familiar figure and greeted him, “Hey, Bald Qiang, we meet again.”
“I’m not called Bald Qiang…” the monk corrected.
---
“But you look like him…” Xiao Yan studied the chubby man before him—he truly resembled that cartoon character, except he was much bulkier.
This monk, named Zhuge Yixiu, had come up the mountain the same year as Xiao Yan and shared a meditation room with him. He was much steadier than Xiao Yan—three hundred pounds steady, to be exact.
Naturally, Zhuge Yixiu was also steady in martial arts.
Steadily stuck at the third layer of internal energy.
Thus, his steadiness earned him the task of forging equipment in the Armory.
Today, seeing Xiao Yan again, Zhuge Yixiu couldn’t help but recall the day Xiao Yan was struck by lightning…
That night was actually clear, yet suddenly a flash lit the sky and struck squarely between his legs, scaring him out of his wits, but fortunately sparing his little treasure.
But then, another bolt flashed, and he hurriedly lifted the sleeping Xiao Yan high…
The lightning struck right between Xiao Yan’s legs.
Since then, Xiao Yan had changed, dropping from a genius of ten layers of internal energy to just three. Even the way people addressed him changed; he was no longer “Little Zhuge,” but now “Bald Qiang.”
It was hard to get used to…
“So, what brings you here?” Zhuge Yixiu asked nervously, seeing all the monks trailing behind Xiao Yan.
Could it be that his laziness had been discovered?
“Hehe, looks like you haven’t heard?” One monk behind Xiao Yan replied eagerly, “He’s going to craft eighteen weapons and then challenge the Eighteen Arhats!”
“And you all?”
Zhuge Yixiu nodded, asking.
“Obviously, we’re just here to watch the spectacle…” Xiao Yan replied with a grin.
After being struck by lightning, Xiao Yan had told Zhuge Yixiu many stories, like “Battle Through the Heavens” and others… The hero always gets trampled before showing off… That sort of plot was the best…
“Oh…”
Zhuge Yixiu caught on immediately.
The others blushed but still shamelessly followed.
“Come on, I’ll take you to see the elder.” Zhuge Yixiu gestured for Xiao Yan to follow him inside.
Watching Xiao Yan walk in, the other monks hurried after.