“!!!”
Hearing Xing Chi personally confirm the terrible news, Master Xiao instantly felt his legs go soft, almost collapsing to the ground.
If no one else had been present, he truly would have prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly.
The others might not have felt as heartbroken as he did, but they all changed color simultaneously.
Li Miao also couldn't help but sigh.
He had only just begun his journey in the pugilistic world, and had only read about Xing Chi's deeds in the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) archives, so his feelings were not as profound as those of people from the pugilistic world. But after spending these few days together, he had truly grown fond of this frank old monk.
The reason he put aside the Ming Cult's matters and stayed here for three days, besides needing to avoid suspicion for killing Wan Tianzong, was also because he sincerely wanted to send this eminent monk off on his final journey.
“I'll do it.”
After saying that, Li Miao stepped forward, nodded at Yongjie, and took Xing Chi's hand.
Immediately, he directly completed the second realm in broad daylight.
In an instant, his black hair turned to snow, cascading down.
“"Jiezi",” “Mount Sumeru.”
With the absolute mastery of "Jiezi" and the vast true qi of Mount Sumeru, he directly poured it into Xing Chi's pulse gate.
Master Xiao, seeing Li Miao's unusual state, exclaimed in surprise.
“You, what are you doing!?”
Because Li Miao's current situation truly didn't resemble any righteous martial arts; instead, it looked like some kind of evil technique.
He was about to step forward when he heard Xing Chi let out a long sigh.
“Ha—”
His expression then relaxed considerably, and he turned to look at Li Miao.
“Li Daxia, thank you. The monk is no longer in pain.”
Li Miao shook his head and smiled.
“Master, aren't we friends? A friend is about to embark on a long journey, and I'm here to see him off. What need is there to speak of thanks?”
His words, in fact, revealed a bit too much.
According to the previously agreed-upon story, Yongjie had met Li Miao outside, and then parted ways on the way back to Shaolin. After returning to Shaolin, knowing that Xing Chi was about to pass away and intended to transmit his cultivation to him, he hastily recommended Li Miao because he couldn't find someone with high enough martial arts to act as a protector.
And Li Miao had only just arrived at Shaolin today, so he shouldn't have known Xing Chi. Calling him a friend actually exposed the fact that they had met before.
However, Li Miao was too lazy to think too much today.
As he was sending Xing Chi off, he didn't want to mix his own affairs into it or say anything against his conscience.
“Then I'll trouble Li Daxia; the monk also wishes to depart more easily.”
Xing Chi showed no desire to put on a brave front.
Shaolin's temple-protecting technique was mostly passed down by Damo, and Li Miao couldn't break it.
However, after completing the second realm, Li Miao forcibly destroyed Xing Chi's true qi with his own true qi, and then constructed a circulation system within his body composed of Li Miao's true qi.
Thus, although Xing Chi would die immediately as soon as Li Miao let go, Xing Chi no longer had to endure the pain before Li Miao released him.
Xing Chi turned, faced the crowd, and slowly began to speak.
“The monk only has three days, and time is pressing. I thank you all for traveling so quickly to be here.”
With that, he placed one hand upright before his chest and bowed to everyone.
“Today, the monk has three matters he wishes for you all to witness.”
“The first matter, the monk wishes to first introduce two people to you all.”
Xing Chi gestured, leading everyone to look at Yongjie.
“This is my unworthy disciple, whose Buddhist name is Yongjie. After I pass away today, he will inherit the position of Shaolin's abbot.”
Everyone looked over, and many felt a sense of doubt.
“This Master Yongjie, I've never heard his name before, but why does he look so familiar?”
But today was Xing Chi's important day, so no one spoke, only quietly listening as Xing Chi continued.
“This person supporting the monk is the second person the monk wishes to introduce to you all.”
“Li Miao, Li Daxia.”
Everyone turned their heads to look at Li Miao.
Li Miao's earlier phenomenon of black hair turning to snow had already astonished many. Upon closer inspection now, it made people marvel at such a remarkable person and his extraordinary phenomenon.
With Xing Chi's endorsement, no one would suspect Li Miao of cultivating an evil technique.
Xing Chi continued.
“Li Daxia has been diligently practicing martial arts within his sect before, and only in recent months has he begun to travel the pugilistic world.”
“However, his martial arts are astonishing. In terms of martial arts, the monk should even pay his respects to Li Daxia as a disciple.”
These words were extremely weighty.
Although Xing Chi said that the premise was in terms of martial arts, given his status and position, paying respects to a man in his thirties as a disciple was an unimaginable condescension.
He intended to use his reputation to pave a path for Li Miao.
Once these words were spoken, when the people present dispersed into the pugilistic world, Li Miao's reputation in the pugilistic world would directly rise to a level on par with Ji Tianrui and Xing Chi.
Li Miao lowered his voice and said to Xing Chi.
“Master, you know I'm carrying trouble, right?”
“If the imperial court turns against me in the future, your posthumous reputation will also be implicated.”
Xing Chi smiled.
“No matter, the monk also has his own thoughts.”
“The monk knows that Lord Li and the monk are not on the same path.”
This point was undeniable; Li Miao and Xing Chi both knew this perfectly well.
In Li Miao's view, karma revolves, and one reaps what one sows; if you do something, you must pay the price, regardless of your age. If he had encountered Master Xiao's situation back then, he wouldn't have cared at all.
Although he would also save people, Li Miao estimated that he would never do something like Xing Chi's self-sacrificing actions for the benefit of others. Li Miao never considered himself a good person; he simply acted as he pleased. If he saved someone, he didn't need gratitude; if he killed someone, he didn't care about hatred.
One could only say that it was fortunate Li Miao had a past life, and his values had long been formed. If it had been a seven or eight-year-old boy who, at the beginning of his martial arts training, clearly knew that he would be invincible, he might have become an enhanced version of Zuo Lishan.
Precisely because of this, Li Miao could somewhat guess Xing Chi's intentions.
He was putting a rope around Li Miao.
With Li Miao's martial arts, even now, no one could stop him if he wanted to do something in the pugilistic world.
Xing Chi's action was not only to use his prestige to elevate Li Miao's name but also a form of shackles.
If Li Miao were to commit any evil deeds in the future, Xing Chi's posthumous reputation would also be damaged.
If Li Miao still cared about him as a friend, he would be slightly less ruthless in his actions in the future.
Of course, having given Li Miao benefits in advance, and without imposing any restrictions on Li Miao, only seeing if Li Miao still cared about him as a friend. Xing Chi's action, far from being a transaction, was more like a silent request.
Li Miao smiled and said nothing.
Xing Chi's heart was good, but he thought too much.
Li Miao recognized Xing Chi as a person, not his path. Li Miao had his own path to follow and would not deviate for anyone.
Xing Chi said no more, looked at everyone, and continued.
“Li Daxia is here to help today; everyone in Shaolin should thank Li Daxia.”
With that, he led the Shaolin disciples in a bow towards Li Miao.
After today, Li Miao would be renowned throughout the world.