Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had heard that Demon Suppression Pass was notorious for its rampant looting, with people often getting robbed after buying things from the association and venturing into the dense forest.
Their original plan was to underreport their cultivation level to lure in robbers.
However, instead of attracting robbers, they ended up attracting a group of self-proclaimed bodyguards.
“We are the most highly rated bodyguards among the Foundation Establishment stage. Our prices are reasonable, our service is thorough, and we have long-term cooperative relationships with several half-step Golden Core stage demon beasts, maximizing safety and intelligence transmission in the dense forest.”
“If the noble families or sects of you, two young masters, have assigned training tasks, we can customize three plans for you to choose from without any extra charge.”
The hook-nosed leader continued to enthusiastically promote their bodyguard services.
“How many spirit stones would it cost to hire you?” Meng Jingzhou asked with great interest. They needed to gather as much information about the dense forest as possible, and these local experts knew a lot.
They didn’t need bodyguards but could use guides.
Seeing their extraordinary demeanor and refined speech, the hook-nosed leader guessed that they had a significant background and held up five fingers.
“Five hundred thousand spirit stones? That’s not expensive.”
The hook-nosed leader was taken aback. He had meant fifty thousand spirit stones and was willing to lower the price if needed.
He didn’t expect this wealthy young master to raise the price tenfold without batting an eye.
Meng Jingzhou took out twenty thousand spirit stones, forming a small pile: “Here’s twenty thousand for now. We’ll pay the rest afterward. If your service satisfies me, I’ll increase the payment.”
“Rest assured, our service is worth every spirit stone!” The five’s eyes lit up at the sight of so many spirit stones.
They had never met such a wealthy client before.
“Strange, do you feel it’s getting hotter here?” Meng Jingzhou fanned his chest, feeling increasingly warm.
“I feel it too,” Lu Yang replied, puzzled.
The hook-nosed leader remarked softly, “Could it be that the seven of us are in a dungeon, and the air is running out?”
The dungeon was underground and airtight. With the seven of them talking, the oxygen was quickly depleting.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou released the technique binding them, and the seven returned to the surface.
“Old Turtle, come out. The deal is settled,” the hook-nosed leader called out.
A large turtle, the size of a millstone, slowly crawled over from not far away, emanating an unusual Foundation Establishment stage power.
“Arhat Fist!”
Meng Jingzhou took a big step forward, his legs like a drawn bow, and his upper body like the arrow. His body tensed and then released forcefully, striking the turtle shell. The golden mark shattered, and the old turtle was sent flying far away.
It skipped across the lake like a stone, bouncing several times before plunging into the water.
The Five Heroes of Eagle Mountain watched this scene with their mouths agape.
The old turtle was known for its defense. Even when the five of them combined their efforts, they couldn’t break its defense. Yet, Meng Jingzhou had toppled it with one punch?
This small lake was also home to four other half-step Golden Core stage demon beasts, who, along with the old turtle, were the lake’s rulers. Seeing the old turtle being knocked away, they were all shocked.
“Arhat Fist? I’ve never seen you use it. Is it new?” Lu Yang asked curiously.
“Master said part of his Heaven Shaking Six Forms was inspired by the Arhat Fist and suggested I learn it to help with practicing the Six Styles.”
“It’s said that cultivating the Arhat Fist to its highest level can grant the Arhat’s ariya-phala. Maybe you’ll succeed,” Lu Yang teased.
“Oh, please, the Arhat’s ariya-phala? You might as well suggest I become a monk.”
“You’re practically a monk already.”
“Shut up. Once I become an immortal, I’ll break all my vows and indulge myself.”
Breaking the Pure Yang state would mean a significant slowdown in cultivation speed. Becoming an immortal is the peak of cultivation, so speed would no longer matter.
“Arhat Fist, huh...” Everlasting Fairy, who had been silent for a while, seemed to recall something upon hearing the keyword.
“Fairy, do you know the Arhat Fist?” Lu Yang was curious about learning a new fist technique, as he currently only knew the Shape-Imitating Fist.
Everlasting Fairy sneered, “What’s the Arhat Fist? Never heard of it. I know a more advanced fist technique that directly leads to Arhat’s ariya-phala. Do you want to learn it?”
“What technique?”
“Monk Fruit Fist.”
Lu Yang: “...Does it help with clearing heat, moistening the lungs, and soothing the throat?”
(TL Note: In Chinese, the word for ariya-phala (道果) contains the same word used for fruit (果), so the Arhat’s ariya-phala (罗汉果位) can also refer to the monk fruit, (罗汉果) hence the joke above)
(End of the chapter)