The rain had stopped.
The dark clouds had dispersed.
A ray of sunshine illuminated West Lake, attracting fish to leap from the water's surface.
Inside the Folklore Research Society, the illusory image of the True Dragon had vanished, and along with it, the Asura Dharma manifestation.
*Plop.*
Shi Kui knelt powerlessly on the ground.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down his cheeks, pooling at his chin before dripping onto the ground.
The ground was already stained with blood.
The Ancestral Dragon Sword had pierced Shi Kui’s body. The True Dragon Purple Qi had severed his karma, rendering Shi Kui a man without a future.
Blood flowed uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth, his face turning paler.
From the perspective of the Wise Monk, the Asura soul within Shi Kui was also on the verge of collapse.
"Amitabha."
The Wise Monk’s eyes held neither joy nor sorrow. He felt a touch of melancholy for the ultimate fate of this demonic monk.
A demonic monk was still a monk, but he had taken a crooked path. With Shi Kui's talent, if someone had guided him after his reincarnation, even as an Asura reborn, he might have been enlightened and become a Buddha.
However, Shi Kui had not been so fortunate; he had not met a benefactor.
For Yan Shouyi, his "benefactor" was his grandfather, Yan Baixiang.
Over the past decade, Yan Baixiang had traveled with Yan Shouyi across the land, teaching him the principles of being a good person and ensuring Yan Shouyi lived with a clear conscience and an upright heart. This was why he could withstand the trials today and ultimately defeat Shi Kui.
If Shi Kui had met a Yan Baixiang back then, today's events would likely have unfolded very differently.
"Brother Yan... won!"
After a moment of stunned silence, Long Feicheng suddenly cheered.
"Brothers, I just have to ask, who else is there?! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and spam 666!"
【Cangmang: Yan Shouyi actually defeated the demonic monk. Unbelievable!!】
【Lin Xiaojie: That last sword strike was too powerful, I was mesmerized!】
【Fengchen Daoist: I believe the most valuable aspect is that Yan Shouyi withstood the trial of the prayer beads and the staff. This proves his character and that he is worthy of our trust and reliance!】
【Jijia Gawa: Even a strong opponent like the demonic monk was slain by Yan Shouyi. Who else in the Scarlet Flower Society can defeat Yan Shouyi?】
【Fan Shu You Laobao: No need to doubt, the Folklore Research Society is about to become the representative of our folk sects. I'm packing my bags and heading to Rongcheng immediately to join the Folklore Research Society!】
【Naihe Bridge Head Watching Beauties: Buddies upstairs, wait for me, let’s form a team!】
【Qi Mao Shu You 839873414: Revenge for my wife’s capture, an irreconcilable hatred!】
System prompt: User "Qi Mao Shu You 839873414" has been silenced for fifty thousand years due to violation of community guidelines!
Damn it, it’s this time, and they're still silencing people!
The netizens grumbled in their hearts.
The live audience was equally excited and elated. Initially, they were just shouting madly or making meaningless sounds, but gradually their voices unified.
That unified voice had only three words.
Yan Shouyi!
The crowd chanted Yan Shouyi's name, revering him as a god!
By this point, no one doubted Yan Shouyi's strength, nor did anyone doubt his character!
Undoubtedly, Yan Shouyi could lead the inheritors of the folk sects towards a more prosperous tomorrow!
"Shi Kui... you bastard..."
Amidst the cheers, the people from the Scarlet Flower Society looked out of place.
Wu Tianfeng sat powerlessly in his chair, mumbling, wanting to curse but unable to find the words.
Even Shi Kui was defeated by Yan Shouyi. What power did the Scarlet Flower Society have left to contend with Yan Shouyi?
...
Yan Shouyi slowly approached Shi Kui.
Shi Kui still had a breath left. Once that breath was gone, the Asura soul would dissipate, and the demonic monk Shi Kui would cease to exist.
"Impossible... impossible..."
Shi Kui muttered softly, still unable to accept reality.
"Lift your head."
Yan Shouyi stood before Shi Kui and spoke with an authoritative tone.
Shi Kui could not resist and painfully lifted his head.
"I am killing you for several reasons," Yan Shouyi stated calmly. "First, and least importantly, you helped the Scarlet Flower Society oppose my Folklore Research Society. We are enemies by nature."
"Second, you massacred civilians a hundred years ago and sealed their souls, committing heinous crimes."
Shi Kui understood the first two points in his heart. Today's battle was one of life and death.
"Third, I am avenging the Lu Ban inheritor who died at your hands back then."
Shi Kui’s pupils contracted sharply, and he looked at Yan Shouyi in disbelief. "How… how did you know…"
Yan Shouyi's tone was placid. "When you saw me, your eyes were filled with hatred, but beneath the hatred, there was fear. I had never met you, nor had you likely heard of me, yet you felt fear towards me. This is very strange."
"Later, when you pulled out the demon-sealing nail, it made me realize. The demon-sealing nail on you back then was driven in by a Lu Ban inheritor, wasn't it?"
Shi Kui’s lips twitched, and he slowly nodded.
"That is why you hated me and feared me simultaneously, because my identity as a Lu Ban inheritor stirred painful memories within you."
Yan Shouyi paused and said, "The people of the Scarlet Flower Society clearly did not have the ability to seal you. It was a Lu Ban inheritor who sealed you back then… but I am still very curious, what exactly happened back then? And what is your relationship with the Scarlet Flower Society?"
The Scarlet Flower Society sending a demonic monk to compete with him placed them on the side of evil. However, Yan Shouyi felt it was not enough.
He wanted the world to know the true face of the Scarlet Flower Society!
Shi Kui lowered his head and slowly said, "A hundred years ago, I massacred living beings to enhance my cultivation with their blood and vital energy. When the inheritors of the folk sects learned of this, they organized to kill me, but I killed them all in turn. Later, a Lu Ban inheritor sealed me with all his might, and then died from exhaustion."
"After his death, the ancestor of the Scarlet Flower Society appeared. At that time, I no longer had the strength to kill anyone. The ancestor of the Scarlet Flower Society could have killed me, but he didn't. Instead, he secretly took me to the Eight-Cornered Well, confined me below, and mastered the method to control the demon-sealing nail."
"The Scarlet Flower Society used this as leverage to threaten me into killing for them. After I was sealed, I lost all my strength and memories, and could only comply reluctantly. Over the past century, I killed dozens of people for the Scarlet Flower Society. Those people… were all inheritors of folk sects, and they were all threats to the Scarlet Flower Society."
Shi Kui's explanation finally revealed the true face of the Scarlet Flower Society.
The live audience was instantly enraged and began to condemn the Scarlet Flower Society!
The ancestor of the Scarlet Flower Society was shameless!
Not only did they steal the fruits of everyone's labor, but they also abetted evil and colluded with villains!
They were all inheritors of folk sects, yet the Scarlet Flower Society, for its own benefit, turned against its own kin and slaughtered them!!
Public opinion instantly pushed the Scarlet Flower Society into the spotlight!