<h4>Chapter 1697 (Raw 1709): Unable to Ally</h4>


    “The Confucian Mantra, Unbendable Might!”


    A few voices shouted that in unison. Four figures appeared, projecting a vast and boundless aura that was as heavy as a mountain. Then, theynded before Xiao Chen and Yang Qing.


    The leader of this group was dressed like a schr. He had a fairplexion with no beard or mustache, exuding an air of elegance.


    At this moment, these four brandished their swords. The elegant air turned into righteous Qi. They showed determined expressions and an unparalleled sharpness on their faces.


    The aura of this group rose infinitely. In the blink of an eye, it reached the level of a peak Major Primal Core cultivator.


    Xiao Chen entered deep thought. This Unbendable Might was somewhat simr to his Deities Descending. They were both techniques that temporarily raised one’s aura and strength.


    However, this wasbined with the Confucian sect’s righteous Qi. It was much better than Deities Descending alone.


    These four eachunched a sword strike, sending out intense sword Qi. Mountains and rivers trembled as the sword Qi struck the ck Iron Demon Ape.


    “Boom!”


    Space trembled, and the ck Iron Demon Ape was immediately suppressed. Under these four swords’ attacks, it got forced back.


    After sending out one strike of Unbendable Might, the leader aside, the other three appeared slightly pale and stopped to catch their breath.


    However, the fair schr flourished his sword in the air, making calcted moves with his sword, appearing like he was dancing to a folk song. ngor rang out loud and resonant.


    “Great Sword Technique.” Xiao Chen could not help eximing softly, entranced by it.


    The other party’s skill with the sword was truly exquisite, moving in a calcted manner. He wielded his sword amazingly, every sword move executed as he pleased, not sticking to one pattern.


    While the moves looked very messy, they all held deep meaning. Every sword move was a set up for something. After this person sent out ten moves, the set-up waspleted. Then, that fair schr sheathed his sword.


    As the fair schr descended, quivering sounds rang out in the air. The unremarkable ces that the sword had struck exploded and gathered into a resplendent sword light.


    A face-sized wound appeared on the ck Iron Demon Ape’s chest, and blood poured out like a fountain.


    This time, the ck Iron Demon Ape was significantly injured. However, its ferocity did not diminish. Nevertheless, after it paused for a moment and howled, it chose to return to the jungle.


    After confirming that the ck Iron Demon Ape had gone far away, the fair schr and his threepanions walked up to Xiao Chen and Yang Qing.


    Xiao Chen’s expression did not change. He waited to see what exactly these four wanted.


    Although the ck Iron Demon Ape was incredible, strong enough to appear on the mountain path, Xiao Chen had not needed others to intervene.


    At first, he had been caught off guard, and that ck Iron Demon Ape’s means of hiding its aura was highly excellent. Hence, he had not noticed.


    However, since Yang Qing made a move, which gave Xiao Chen time to catch his breath, fleeing would not have been a problem at all.


    Even without these four people’s aid, Xiao Chen could have dealt with the problem before him. Hence, he did not feel particrly grateful.


    More importantly, he felt that these four were not simply helping him, but more like they were deliberately showing off their strength to him.


    “Many thanks to you four for helping out. I have not obtained your names yet,” Xiao Chen said after stepping forward and performing a cupped-fist salute. He still needed to disy the basic courtesy.


    “Young Master Xiao, you are too polite. Even if we did not make a move, Young Master Xiao would have been able to deal with this as well. This humble self is Wang Ce. These three are my junior brothers. All of use from the Confucian Institution.”


    The fair schr appeared rather sincere and did not be arrogant from his aplishments.


    “The Confucian Institution? How are you rted to Wang Yueming?” Xiao Chen asked softly, feeling interested.


    At the mention of Wang Yueming, a trace of pride shed in the eyes of these Confucian Institution disciples. Wang Ce said, “He is my senior brother. We are all disciples of the same teacher. However, Senior Brother Wang went to a forbiddennd.”


    “A forbiddennd!” Yang Qing eximed. However, she immediately understood. “That makes sense. As one of the three top geniuses, he does have the qualifications to test himself in a forbiddennd.”


    Wang Ce smiled as he looked at Xiao Chen. Then he said, “Let’s not talk about that for now. Young Master Xiao, what do you think of our strength?”


    Xiao Chen thought for a while before answering honestly, “Very strong. If you all worked together, I would find it hard to take things easy. This is especially so for Young Master Wang. Your skill at the sword is a great eye-opener. Your sword strikes are calcted. You move like you are dancing to folk music, not sticking to a pattern. When you attack, it is swift and mighty. You are decisive in attacking, using your full force and moving agilely.”


    Wang Ce clearly felt happy at gaining such an evaluation from Xiao Chen. He smiled humbly and said, “It’s not worth mentioning at all. Compared to Young Master Xiao’s skill at the saber, I am much inferior.”


    Young Master Xiao...why is this person so long-winded and wishy-washy? Even now, I still do not know what he wants. Yang Qing’s voice rang out in Xiao Chen’s mind.


    Xiao Chen replied, There’s no rush. The people of the Confucian sects are all like this.


    Wang Ce paused for a moment before saying, “All of us saw Young Master Xiao’s battle with that monk from the Profound Light Temple. Actually, if you want to go to the Buddha Seeking tform, there is no need to ally with that group of monks.


    “The righteous Qi of our Confucian sect also has a strong suppressive effect on Fiendish Demons.


    “That ck Iron Demon Ape earlier was something that started a fiend transformation. However, our Confucian sect’s Sword Technique still forced it away.”


    Now, Xiao Chen understood. On a certain level, righteous Qi did indeed have the same effect through different means as the Buddhist sect’s Buddhist Might.


    At the same time, he also understood what these four wanted. They wanted to ally with him and tackle the Buddha Seeking tform together.


    “Brother Wang Ce, you want to work together to go to the Buddha Seeking tform?”


    Wang Ce nodded. “The Buddha Seeking tform is not a simple ce. The Fiendish Demons in that ce are intelligent, no different from us. Furthermore, they are limatized to the pressure in this Fiendish Demon Battlefield. When at the same cultivation level, they can erupt with more strength than we can.”


    Everyone who came to the Fiendish Demon Battlefield, including Xiao Chen, had their strength suppressed. It was just a matter of how much.


    “Young Master Xiao saw our strength earlier. What do you think? Do you want to head for the Buddha Seeking tform together?” Wang Ce revealed a cocksure expression; he felt very confident in his invitation.


    Xiao Chen exchanged looks with Yang Qing. Then he said, “I will have to discuss this with mypanion first.”


    The two stepped aside and spoke via voice projections.


    Xiao Chen asked, Miss Yang, what do you think? I do not mind. I am already very satisfied with the natural treasures from the jungle. Right now, I only want to go to the Buddha Seeking tform to take a look at the ancient Buddhist statues, and it will be enough.


    Xiao Chen’s mind was set on his destination. This was for the sake of improving his Buddha-like heart, to strengthen the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Vition Saber Technique. Everything else was just secondary gains.


    Yang Qing entered deep thought and then replied, I do not mind, either. However, Young Master Xiao, do not be fooled by the righteous appearance of these Confucian Institution disciples.


    Xiao Chen looked at the other party in surprise. This Yang Qing seemed to have a grudge against the people of the Confucian sect. She had not shown such an expression when facing that group of bald monks earlier.


    After the discussion was over, Xiao Chen slowly walked over, feeling confident.


    “How did it go? What are the results of the discussion?” Wang Ce asked.


    “We can do that. However, we want sixty percent of the gains along the way. There will only be forty percent for you.”


    “That means the four of us will each get only ten percent.” A Confucian disciple immediately expressed his dissatisfaction.


    Wang Ce’s lips twitched slightly. Then, he smiled in embarrassment. “Young Master Xiao, we are very sincere in this...”


    Xiao Chen did not care either way, so he actually could have asked for more. A sixty-forty split was already a rather sincere offer for him.


    “In that case, goodbye.”


    Since the other party felt that Xiao Chen was not sincere, there was no point in continuing chatting. Xiao Chen waved his hand and departed with Yang Qing.


    “How repulsive! Big Brother Wang Ce, we gave this white-d desman face, but he did not ept it.”


    “We are helping him out of kindheartedness, yet he actually tried to rip us off.”


    “How frustrating! He simply looks down on the people of the Confucian Institution.”


    “Elder Brother Wang Ce, there is no need to be so polite with him. We can just directly snatch away everything on him.”


    Seeing Xiao Chen walk far away, the people of the Confucian Institution all expressed their dissatisfaction.


    Wang Ce’s expression turned sinister as his eyes filled with rage.


    Previously, Wang Ce sought to cooperate with Xiao Chen not just because of Xiao Chen’s strength but the mysterious item that Xiao Chen carried.


    Wang Ce guessed that Xiao Chen had a treasure that had a strong fate with Buddhism. Otherwise, Xiao Chen could not have gotten such a harvest on this Buddha Seeking Mountain.


    However, Wang Ce was not confident that he could deal with Xiao Chen. From the attack of the woman with Xiao Chen, she was not weak, either.


    Just as Wang Ce did not know what to do, a group of people rushed past them.


    When Wang Ce looked up, he saw that it was Yan Feng, whom Xiao Chen previously defeated, quickly leading another Profound Light Temple disciple to the summit.


    “The Profound Light Temple’s Zhen Xuan!”


    A smile immediately appeared on Wang Ce’s face. Then, he said, “Now, there will be a time when he begs me.”