His most prized magical artifact shattered with such ease, leaving Wu Hao panicked. He instinctively staggered back several paces, almost turning to flee, unwilling to continue fighting Li Yundong.

It was Lü Fengping, the woman who looked so alluring, who showed some backbone. She gritted her teeth, cracked her dark red whip, and with a shwa sound like a striking venomous snake, lashed it directly at Li Yundong’s eyes.

Li Yundong didn't even look. Relying on the sheer dominance of his Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan, he gave his wrist a flick. The fan instantly wrapped around the whip like a massive iron column. Then, sinking his hips and exerting brute force with both hands, he roared, "Let go!"

Lü Fengping felt an unimaginably terrifying power surge through the whip. It was violently yanked outward, instantly threatening to tear itself from her grasp!

Her heart seized with shock and horror, but this was her precious magical tool; how could she let it be snatched away so easily?

Lü Fengping refused to yield. With a sharp cry, the tip of her whip transformed into a dark red serpent’s head, striking viciously toward Li Yundong’s wrist!

If that strike connected, Li Yundong would be instantly poisoned and dead within three seconds, without a doubt!

Li Yundong snorted. With another sharp flick of his wrist, he suddenly released the Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan. The serpent head formed by the whip tip missed its mark, but the force generated by Li Yundong’s wrist snap violently hurled Lü Fengping—whip and all—up into the air, slamming her onto the ground with a resounding thud.

As Li Yundong regained control of the Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan, he caught it on the opposite end, successfully evading the serpentine threat. He let out a mighty roar and swung the heavy tail end of the fan down toward Lü Fengping’s head as she lay prone!

The fan weighed over a hundred jin (fifty kilograms), and the tail end was as thick as an arm of iron rod. If it connected, Lü Fengping’s skull would surely split open, resulting in instant, gruesome death!

This move terrified both Wu Hao and Lü Fengping into screaming aloud simultaneously!

"Stop!" Wu Hao shrieked hoarsely.

Li Yundong was already enraged, having just taught them a lesson. He had no intention of holding back. A cruel smile touched his heart. The Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan, far from hesitating, only moved faster and with greater force as he brought it down!

Just as the treasured fan was about to smash onto Lü Fengping’s forehead, a hand suddenly shot out and intercepted Li Yundong’s thousand-pound iron swing!

This abrupt intrusion momentarily stunned Li Yundong. He focused his gaze and saw a man dressed in a deep yellow robe beneath a red kasaya, revealing an arm that was brawny and overtly muscular—the distinct attire of a lama.

This man was Dorje Tenzin, who had been trailing Li Yundong all along!

After blocking Li Yundong's near-fatal blow with the iron fan, Dorje Tenzin gave a slight shake of his hand, casting the fan aside. He then pressed his palms together, bowed deeply, and spoke in somewhat stilted Mandarin with a loud, resonant voice, "Namo Amitabha. This place is sacred ground for our Tibetan people; how can one take a life under the very gaze of the Buddha?"

Seeing the monk appear and effortlessly block Li Yundong's fierce assault, Wu Hao’s eyes lit up. A cunning thought crossed his mind, and he immediately jumped in front of Li Yundong, crying out loudly, "Master, you have arrived at the perfect moment! You must dispense justice for us!"

Dorje Tenzin kept his palms pressed together and swept a sharp glance over Wu Hao. "Oh? What has transpired here?"

Shamelessly, Wu Hao dropped to his knees before Dorje Tenzin, weeping and wailing, "We were merely tourists visiting the area when we encountered this brute. He saw how beautiful my wife was and tried to assault her! Though my wife and I have studied a bit of martial arts, we were no match for this fellow. Look, Master, look how dreadfully he has abused my wife!"

Dorje Tenzin turned and saw Lü Fengping indeed sitting on the ground, hair disheveled and expression terrified, looking as though she had just been violated.

Lü Fengping snapped back to her senses, instantly grasping Wu Hao’s intent. She put on a look of pathetic grievance and wept tearfully, "Master, thank you for saving me. Otherwise, I surely would have died at the hands of this scoundrel!"

Li Yundong watched the pair twist the truth with cold amusement, bursting into loud laughter at their audacity.

Dorje Tenzin, being a Buddhist disciple and having been chosen as a Vajra Protector since childhood, possessed an intensely strong sense of righteousness. He immediately became furious. Raising his voice, he sternly admonished Li Yundong, "I was ordered by the Abbot to request the return of the Mahamudra Esoteric Scripture. I intended to persuade you kindly, but I never expected you to be such a shameless villain! It seems I, Dorje Tenzin, must enact divine justice today and subdue this demon!"

Li Yundong sneered, "You speak eloquently, but are you planning a three-against-one fight?"

Wu Hao, overjoyed at the turn of events, eagerly prompted, "Master, there is no need for martial etiquette against such scum. My wife and I know a little skill; we can certainly help out."

Li Yundong continued to sneer dismissively from the side.

Dorje Tenzin, however, stiffened his expression and stated gravely, "No need. You two leave immediately. As the Vajra Protector, it is my duty to purge this evil demon!"

Wu Hao offered a fawning smile, "Master shows noble character, but this villain is not so easy to deal with; he..."

Dorje Tenzin had grown up within the monastery walls. Although honest and simple-natured, he was not obtuse. Noticing the distinct air of arrogance around Wu Hao and the clear, seductive allure radiating from Lü Fengping, he instinctively felt a repulsion toward the pair and sharply commanded, "Say no more. I, Dorje Tenzin, am not one to bully the weak or gang up on an opponent!"

Startled by the monk's sharp tone, Wu Hao’s face changed. He retreated sheepishly a couple of steps, his gaze flickering over Dorje Tenzin’s back, his expression shifting between dark and uncertain. He scoffed internally, This idiotic monk hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage; he thinks he can fight this guy? He’s asking to die!

He shot Lü Fengping a look, but she tugged at Wu Hao’s sleeve and whispered so softly only he could hear, "Forget it this time. Let's concede; this man is too dangerous to provoke!"

Wu Hao muttered back, "What nonsense are you talking of? I was too arrogant earlier. I refuse to believe I can’t kill this fellow once I unleash all four Five-Yang Blood Essence Pearls!"

Lü Fengping bit her lip, her tone laced with worry, "If you use all four, think of how much effort it took us to refine these five Pearls last time?"

Wu Hao snorted, his eyes greedy as they fixed on the Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan in Li Yundong’s hand. "If we can obtain this fan, what are four Pearls worth? You saw yourself how powerful this fellow is even before mastering the artifact. Once it recognizes him as its true master, how terrifying will he become?"

A sliver of anxiety still flickered in Lü Fengping’s eyes. "But I still feel a profound sense of danger in my heart."

Wu Hao shot her an annoyed look. "Nonsense! Isn't killing someone to steal their treasure inherently dangerous? Stop being so hesitant! What great thing can you accomplish acting like this? You support me from the side. As soon as this foolish monk makes his move, we strike immediately—we’ll take down this monk too!"

Lü Fengping gasped, "You mean to kill the monk as well? Aren't you afraid of offending the Esoteric Sect?"

Most practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism cultivate esoteric methods, hence why they are known in the cultivation world as the Esoteric Sect—an undeniably powerful force. If this lineage targeted Wu Hao and Lü Fengping, both knew the consequences would be terrifying.

Wu Hao glared at Lü Fengping and whispered, "Are you stupid? If this monk lives to spread word that we acquired the Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan, that is what will bring disaster upon us!"

Lü Fengping fell silent, her eyes still holding hesitation and worry. She opened her mouth, intending to dissuade Wu Hao again, but seeing the fierce blaze of pure greed burning in his eyes, she knew anything she said would be futile.

Li Yundong observed Wu Hao and Lü Fengping whispering conspiratorially, their eyes darting toward him intermittently. He knew instantly that these two were plotting something sinister and had ill intent.

Li Yundong grew subtly vigilant, calmly and slowly opening the Seven Treasures Spirit-Connecting Fan before him. With every leaf that unfolded, a sharp zheng zheng sound echoed, like a long sword being drawn from its sheath—a crisp, resonant sound.

Dorje Tenzin saw the golden Sanskrit script covering Li Yundong’s fan and his eyes widened. "How do you possess such a treasure of the Buddhist path?"

Li Yundong sneered, "What, are you planning to steal it too?"

Dorje Tenzin’s expression hardened. He pressed his palms together and took a deep breath. "Hmph. How could a demonic deviant like you possess such a supreme treasure of Buddhism? I suspect you stole it. The Mahamudra Esoteric Scripture is a treasure of our Esoteric Sect; you must return it. As for this artifact, it is best held until I can ascertain its rightful owner!"

Li Yundong roared with laughter. "You truly know how to play the good guy!" After laughing, he bellowed, "If you have the guts, come and take it!"

With a great shout, Dorje Tenzin struck toward Li Yundong with an open palm. As his hand shot forward, his palm turned blood-red, and a searing heat washed over Li Yundong—this was the Demon-Subduing Great Hand Seal, one of the three unique major hand seals of the Esoteric Sect!

The Esoteric Sect possessed three major seals: the Demon-Subduing Great Hand Seal, the Ganges Great Hand Seal, and the True Word Great Hand Seal.

Among them, the Demon-Subduing Great Hand Seal leaned toward external martial arts techniques. When mastered to the peak, it could generate vital winds from the palm, possessing irresistible might, capable of subduing demons and protecting the true path. Dorje Tenzin was highly skilled in this art.

The Ganges Great Hand Seal, conversely, inclined toward Buddhist dharma, aiming to dispel disasters and save all sentient beings through various mudras, prioritizing doctrine over combat, thus offering little martial application.

Li Yundong saw Dorje Tenzin’s Demon-Subduing Great Hand Seal coming toward him. He snorted coldly, about to counter, when a black shadow flashed past Dorje Tenzin and lunged straight at him!

Li Yundong focused his eyes: it was the whip held by Lü Fengping, striking with delayed but surprising speed. The tip transformed into a dark red serpent head, darting its tongue and opening its venomous fangs toward Li Yundong’s throat!

Simultaneously, Wu Hao let out a cruel sneer, flicked his fingers, and sent four Five-Yang Blood Essence Pearls flying—one aimed at Li Yundong’s head, one at his chest, and one at his abdomen, striking at the three vital points fiercely, while the fourth shot toward Dorje Tenzin’s back.

In that instant, like the mantis stalking the cicada, the locust was unaware of the oriole behind. The Demon-Subduing Great Hand Seal, the venomous whip, and the fierce, sharp Five-Yang Blood Essence Pearls attacked from every direction, sealing off every possible escape route for Li Yundong.