Volume 1, Chapter 188: Self-Sacrifice to Save Others; The Great Virtuous Monk

"Third Imperial Uncle, Third Brother...!" 

Chu Chu and the Seventh Princess looked at Lin Yu in惊喜 (delight), never expecting to meet again. 

"Third Imperial Uncle, with you here, we dare to go up the mountain!" Chu Chu smiled, telling Lin Yu about the situation on the summit. The Seventh Princess nodded—Lin Yu was their invincible war god. 

"The mountain is filled with demonic qi. Stay here; don't risk going up." Lin Yu looked toward the summit and shook his head. 

Chu Chu and the Seventh Princess felt 失落 (disappointed), longing to follow Lin Yu and witness his might. Seeing their expressions, Lin Yu smiled, taking out two swords forged from the saber-toothed tiger's fangs and Taibai Meteor Gold. 

The swords hovered before them, blades trembling with silver light and overwhelming sharpness. Even standing nearby, the chill felt like it could slice through skin. 

"What sharp swords! I can feel the cold even from here." 

"These must be at least Myriad Manifestation Realm treasures. Third Prince is incredibly generous!" 

"No—these are beyond Myriad Manifestation Realm. Their aura far surpasses it." 

Royal Han warriors eyed the swords enviously. 

"I obtained these by chance—both are Void Transformation Realm treasures. Take them." Lin Yu pressed the swords into their hands. 

"Th-they're ours?" The two princesses looked at Lin Yu in惊喜 (amazement). With Void Transformation Realm swords, they could rival any Purple Mansion Realm warrior! Such treasures would be national relics in the Han Dynasty. Even Lingtian Sect's core treasures were only Void Transformation Realm, proving their value. 

"Third Imperial Uncle, I will guard this sword with my life!" Chu Chu took the sword solemnly. 

"Third Brother, I won't辜负 (let down) your gift!" The Seventh Princess smiled brightly. 

After giving instructions, Lin Yu headed up the mountain. Arriving at the summit, he saw a black-robed figure surrounded by four red-cloaked monks, tension palpable though no attack had been launched. 

The moment Lin Yu appeared, Lord Youyue sensed him. Turning, his blood-red eyes overflowed with killing intent. 

"Eh! This guy is off!" The instant Lord Youyue's gaze landed, Lin Yu felt the previously faint sense of being watched intensify—the one who had spied on him was here. 

"Eh! A fiend is here!" Lord Cauldron exclaimed. Youyue's aura couldn't fool it. "He's after you. Probably a demon god sent a clone to Spirit Mountain in anger after you killed those demon cultivators. That's why you felt watched—it was him." 

"A demon god's clone..." Lin Yu's eyes grew grave. 

"Don't worry. He's only Void Transformation Realm Level 3." Lord Cauldron chuckled. "This is a great harvest! Refining him is worth ten Level 2 warriors. You'll advance significantly—maybe even reach Level 3. Don't let him escape!" 

"Good. We've faced fiends before. Kill this clone first, then march to the Demon Realm and slay the god." Lin Yu nodded—Youyue now looked like a tide of spiritual energy. 

"You killed my followers, boy." Lord Youyue grinned. "No need to deny it. Though you erased their curses, I can track you by the residual aura. You can't escape." 

"Who is this kid? He must have killed many demon cultivators to draw a demon god's clone!" 

"Unexpectedly, the fiend is here for him. He doesn't look that strong—how did he provoke a clone?" 

"He killed many followers, no doubt. But he's walked into a trap now." 

The crowd stared in astonishment. 

"Escape? Why would I escape?" Lin Yu laughed. A Level 3 clone? He would fight. Escape was unthinkable. 

This shocked everyone. Even Lord Youyue paused before sneering: "Fine. Best you don't run. I'll make it quick... by grinding your bones to dust." 

"Benefactor, the fiend targets you. Shall we join forces to slay him?" Monk Wuxin suddenly spoke, bowing with palms together. 

"Monks again?" Remembering Monk Wuxing, Lin Yu frowned. "How do you propose we join forces?" 

"My three brothers and I will form a formation to trap the fiend, weakening him. You strike to kill." Wuxin revealed the plan. 

"Why help me?" Lin Yu distrusted them, ignoring the plan's feasibility. 

"Amitabha. Slaying fiends is our Buddhist duty. Even if you don't join, we'll fight to the death to 超度 (deliver) him." Wuxin's sincerity was evident. 

"Eh..." Lin Yu studied Wuxin, finding no deceit. 

"Kid, they're different from the last monk." Lord Cauldron warned. 

"Different?" Lin Yu observed Wuxin and his fellows. Their佛光 (Buddhist light) wasn't a facade like Wuxing's—it emanated true compassion. 

"These are real monks." Lord Cauldron confirmed. "Compared to them, Wuxing was a fake—he stole Buddhist arts and faked佛光, but he couldn't match true Buddhist disciples."