Chapter 198: Lived for More than Three Hundred Years

The incident involving the Qiongshan Sect caused a huge uproar in Mobei. Both Bai Qiliao and Lin Duanyun were among the most prominent figures in Mobei's martial arts world—one, the top martial artist of the older generation, and the other, the top martial artist of the younger generation. It was already remarkable that master and disciple died on the same day, but it turned out both had practiced the Zombie Art. They were considered the masterminds behind the recent bloody turmoil in Mobei's martial arts world.

Instantly, the Qiongshan Sect became universally reviled. It disintegrated overnight, with high-ranking members from all sides announcing their departure along with their disciples. In just a few days, the Qiongshan Sect, once the largest faction in Mobei, was reduced to a mere handful of members.

However, the turmoil extended beyond the Qiongshan Sect; the entire Mobei martial arts world was thrown into disarray. Various factions immediately began attacking each other, fiercely vying for territory and ushering in a new era of extensive transformation in the martial arts landscape.

The Mobei Six Gates Bureau also seized this opportunity to intervene decisively, intensifying the widespread commotion in Mobei.

In the blink of an eye,

the time reached mid-October. While the central regions had already entered winter, Mobei remained largely unchanged, experiencing only slightly more rainfall than before.

Gu Mo and Gu Chutong were still residing in Changling County.

Originally, Gu Mo had planned to leave Mobei just a few days after the Qiongshan Sect incident concluded. This was because the Six Gates Bureau's full deployment, combined with his reputation as "Cloud State's Greatest Hero and the Number One Blade-wielder Under Heaven," had caused many evil martial arts experts in Mobei to go into hiding, with many even leaving the region entirely.

There was little point in him remaining there.

Moreover, he had been away for seven or eight months now and was considering returning to Cloud State.

However, he hadn't left immediately because the medicine for his eyes was running out. Gu Chutong needed a stable environment to brew a new batch for him, which had prolonged their stay until mid-October.

Nevertheless, his gains during this period were significant. He had been pondering the various types of inner energy within him. Strictly speaking, he possessed five distinct types: Xuanxu Inner Energy, Ice True Qi, Nine Yang Inner Energy, Bright Jade True Qi, and Blazing Sun True Qi.

For an ordinary person, having five vastly different and powerful types of inner energy would have long since led to ruptured meridians and death by qi deviation. However, thanks to the system's blessing, these five types of inner energy coexisted harmoniously within Gu Mo, each forming its own distinct flow.

Gu Mo pondered how to harmonize and integrate the use of his martial arts inner energy, feeling it was too wasteful to use the five types separately. Furthermore, each of his five inner energies possessed unique characteristics. Even the least powerful, Xuanxu Inner Energy, exhibited the balanced, peaceful, and enduring qualities of Taoist internal martial arts.

Nine Yang Divine Art was ceaseless and continuous, while Blazing Sun True Qi was fierce and potent but consumed a lot of energy. Bright Jade True Qi could complement Nine Yang Divine Art in a yin-yang balance, and Ice True Qi could enhance Bright Jade True Qi's cold properties. As for Xuanxu Inner Energy, it could offer a modest auxiliary role; its balanced and peaceful nature helped reduce repulsion between True Qis during integration, acting somewhat like a panacea.

However,

integrating five types of inner energy was a major undertaking. Gu Mo had only just begun to conceptualize the idea, establishing a general direction, but the specifics of how to achieve it still required extensive research and time.

Besides Gu Mo's gains,

Gu Chutong also made significant progress. Her Extinction Cross Blade Technique improved rapidly, as the Six Gates Bureau had many skilled martial artists. She sparred with different people daily and occasionally joined anti-bandit campaigns for real combat experience.

Naturally, her greatest advantage was the one-on-one guidance from Gu Mo, a Grandmaster. This alone surpassed ninety-nine percent of opportunities in the martial arts world, further aided by the unique properties of the Bright Jade Art.

The Bright Jade Art was not merely an internal cultivation method for enhancing inner energy; it also elevated one's martial arts realm and improved innate talent simultaneously.

Gu Chutong had previously taken a Great Rejuvenation Pill, which allowed her to break through to the seventh level, the Blood Jade Massacre of the Masses realm. After extended refinement and prolonged guidance from Gu Mo's max-level Bright Jade Art True Qi, Gu Chutong's Bright Jade Art had now reached the peak of the seventh level.

If she could break through to the eighth level, Blazing Jade Rebirth, not only would her inner energy realm reach a new plateau, but her physique and meridians would also undergo a transformative cleansing, akin to a rebirth from ashes, instantly elevating her from an ordinary talent to a superior one.

However, when it came to this realm breakthrough,

Gu Mo couldn't offer much help beyond guidance. After all, he couldn't directly infuse inner energy into Gu Chutong. Furthermore, even if he could, he wouldn't.

While gaining transferred cultivation was a shortcut for most, much like how Tang Tianqi, Tang Buyi's second uncle, practiced the Blood Cauldron True Scripture and received cultivation transfer from Fan Yuyun (who also practiced it) to quickly become a top-tier internal martial arts master in Zhushan County, the inherent problem was that such transferred energy was never as pure as that cultivated personally or refined from heavenly treasures, and excessive suppression could hinder future progress.

However, the prerequisite for considering cultivation transfer "not good" was having a Grandmaster brother like Gu Chutong, and one who wasn't lacking resources.

For an ordinary person, receiving such a transfer would be an incredibly fortunate blessing, something they would desperately wish for.

In a small courtyard of the Six Gates Bureau in Changling County.

Gu Chutong and Gu Mo were having a meal. Unlike wealthy families with their numerous rules, the siblings never adhered to customs like "no talking while eating." Therefore, every mealtime was an opportunity for them to chat. Gu Chutong, especially, had been a "why" child since childhood, always fond of asking questions about everything during meals.

Throughout the years,

Gu Mo had always patiently answered Gu Chutong's questions, except for a period right after he lost his eyesight when his mentality collapsed, making him somewhat irritable. For questions he couldn't answer, he would simply make things up.

Being young and naive, Gu Chutong always believed everything Gu Mo said, which had led to many amusing incidents when they were at the escort agency.

"Brother, when we head back, it should be around mid-December by the time we reach Linjiang City. It'll be almost New Year's!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "We couldn't go home for New Year's last year, so this year we can make up for it."

Last New Year, the siblings were battling the Moon Worship Sect in Dongping Commandery.

"It's just, we haven't been back for so long, the house must be thick with dust," Gu Chutong giggled. "Luckily, I didn't get a cat; I only kept two fish and a turtle in the pond. If I had a cat, it would surely have starved to death by now!"

Gu Mo nodded, "But your two fish have probably grown quite large by now."

"Of course," Gu Chutong replied. "Our pond in the courtyard is so big, and there are only two fish and one turtle in it. All the water plants and lotus roots planted there are theirs, so they must have eaten their fill and grown fat and plump."

"Then let's catch them and stew them when we get back! Fish soup with turtle soup!"

Gu Chutong rolled her eyes. "Brother, they didn't provoke you, did they?"

"Haha…"

As the siblings chatted and laughed, someone entered from outside—it was Zhuo Qingfeng, whom they hadn't seen for several days.

Zhuo Qingfeng looked spirited and triumphant, though with a hint of weariness from his journey.

"It seems you've had a lot of good news recently," Gu Mo remarked.

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded, "Things are progressing much more smoothly than I imagined. Master Jingkong's influence is truly immense; many local magnates and gentry have shown him deference, making it much easier for the Six Gates Bureau to establish a presence. Besides that, I had previously overestimated the unity and resolve of Mobei's local chieftains and clans. A closer look revealed they're all in complete disarray, riddled with internal schemes. Before I even made a move, they started infighting."

Gu Mo poured Zhuo Qingfeng a cup of tea. "Then it seems completing the task of stabilizing Mobei's martial arts world is just around the corner."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded, "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should be completed by the first half of next year at the latest. I should be transferred back to Cloud State to serve as Commander in the second half of next year or the year after. Of course, if I'm very lucky, a direct transfer to the capital is also possible."

"Congratulations!" Gu Mo said, "You've been promoted and gained a significant stronghold. From now on, Mobei will be your base."

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled. "Never mind that. I heard from Chen Xiuyuan that you two are preparing to return to Cloud State, which is why I rushed back."

"Yes," Gu Mo replied. "You don't need my help here anymore. I wanted to apprehend a few wanted criminals, but as you know, they've all gone into hiding recently, and their whereabouts are untraceable. There's no point in us staying here and enduring the harsh conditions."

"That's true," Zhuo Qingfeng agreed. "Mobei's environment is indeed harsh. Look at our sister Chutong; she's gotten darker."

Gu Chutong rolled her eyes and retorted, "You're the one who got darker! I'm fair-skinned, thank you very much!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Sister Chutong is naturally beautiful!"

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled, then turned to Gu Mo. "However, I have tracked down a wanted criminal. He's not from Mobei but from Hongzhou, named Xiao Pojun, known in the martial arts world as Old Monster Chiyan. There's a bounty of seven hundred taels on his head."

At that very moment, a system prompt sounded in Gu Mo's mind:New target detected.Wanted Target – Xiao PojunMission Level – Three StarsMission Reward – Ice SilkwormThe system page notes explained that this Ice Silkworm originated from *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, containing extremely cold and poisonous aura. If one possessed sufficient inner energy, it could be merged with it, not only deepening one's inner energy but also bestowing the characteristic of cold poison and making the wielder immune to all poisons.

Gu Mo wasn't surprised that the system would reward a heavenly treasure like the Ice Silkworm, as it had previously yielded rewards such as Great Rejuvenation Pills and Silver Thread Gloves. However, the Ice Silkworm was somewhat unique in that it was a living creature.

"What's the background of that Xiao Pojun? Why would he come to Mobei?" Gu Mo asked.

"It's likely for the Huoxu Ruins, which appear once every forty years!"

"Huoxu Ruins?" Gu Chutong exclaimed in surprise. "Bai Qiliao seemed to mention it when we were at the Qiongshan Sect."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded slightly. "Yes, Bai Qiliao mentioned before that He Changqing's Zombie Art was originally a martial art obtained from the Huoxu Ruins that couldn't be cultivated directly. It was only by integrating it with the Flower Faction's Ice Soul Art that the Zombie Art was created."

"So, what exactly are these Huoxu Ruins?" Gu Chutong inquired.

Zhuo Qingfeng took a sip of tea and slowly began, "I only heard about this after coming to Mobei. The Huoxu Ruins are a mysterious area existing in both void and legend.

Legend has it that over three hundred years ago, during the early days of the Qian Kingdom when various regions were in great chaos, Mobei was not yet part of the Qian Kingdom but a small state named Huoxu. Later, under the Qian Kingdom's powerful drive to unify the Eight States, the Huoxu Kingdom was overthrown.

However, when the Qian Kingdom's army reached the Huoxu capital, a terrifying sandstorm suddenly erupted, covering the entire sky. The Qian army was forced to retreat swiftly. That sandstorm lasted for a full month. When the Qian army returned after a month, they discovered that the Huoxu capital had vanished, leaving only a desert where it once stood.

At the time, the Qian army believed the sand had buried the Huoxu capital and ordered an excavation. Yet, tens of thousands of soldiers dug three feet deep without finding any trace of the Huoxu capital."

Gu Chutong wondered, "No way, right? If it was a capital city, even a small kingdom's capital couldn't be tiny. How could it just vanish without a trace?"

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "It's just a legend, and it's been over three hundred years, so we can't verify what truly happened back then. The Qian Dynasty's historical records state that the Huoxu capital was named Huoxu City, twenty-eight li in circumference, quadrilateral. Eight li from east to west, symbolizing the Heavenly Gate; six li from north to south, symbolizing the Earthly Portal. This means Huoxu City was a typical square city, eight li long and six li wide. It wasn't enormous, but certainly not small either.

Later, legends of the Huoxu Ruins gradually began to circulate. It's said that every forty years, on the sixteenth day of the eleventh lunar month, the ancient Huoxu City will reappear, containing the endless treasures of the former Huoxu royal family, countless divine weapons, and heavenly treasures. One could become as rich as a nation overnight, or acquire unparalleled martial arts to become invincible under heaven!"

"Invincible under heaven again."

Gu Mo now had an almost allergic reaction to that phrase. Since his rise to fame, he had heard "invincible under heaven" countless times, making it feel as if anyone could achieve it.

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled softly. "I don't know the specifics myself, but I've looked into it recently. I think the most logical explanation comes from Iron Head. Based on his understanding of weapon forging, he believes it's highly probable that the original Huoxu City was built by a very powerful formation Grandmaster.

Just as weapon smiths, if skilled enough, can add various elements to weapons to enhance their abilities—powerful ones even forging divine weapons with souls—formation masters operate similarly. On a small scale, they can use plants, stones, and bricks for formations, while on a grand scale, they can use entire cities, mountains, and lakes.

According to Iron Head, perhaps the builder of the ancient Huoxu City constructed it as a massive formation, intending it as a contingency plan. Later, when the Huoxu Kingdom fell, the grand formation activated, causing the ancient city to disappear. The formation, however, continues to operate, and its forty-year cycle might explain why the city reappears every four decades."

Gu Mo said in surprise, "Is it really that powerful, a city-sized formation that continues for hundreds of years without stopping?"

"How would I know?" Zhuo Qingfeng shook his head. "Iron Head's just guessing; these are all legends, so any speculation is fair game. But I also feel it could be a mirage combined with ancient ruins.

Furthermore, there are historical documents concerning ancient Huoxu City, but none whatsoever about the Huoxu Ruins that appear every forty years. Currently, no one has truly entered them. The only person I know who supposedly returned alive is He Changqing, as mentioned by Bai Qiliao. Although he didn't bring back treasure, he did bring out martial arts manuals.

While legends of these Huoxu Ruins have always circulated in Mobei, their extreme age and the long intervals between appearances make it impossible to verify their authenticity, so not many people believe them. Nevertheless, each time the Huoxu Ruins are said to open, many people still venture into that desert to try their luck.

From what I've gathered, forty years ago, many people in that desert claimed to have seen ancient Huoxu City appear. However, upon closer inquiry, everyone said they *saw* it, but none actually *entered*. And among those who truly entered, not a single one returned alive, except for He Changqing. Yet, those who claimed to have seen ancient Huoxu City back then all stated they didn't see He Changqing. So, either He Changqing's Zombie Art wasn't brought out from ancient Huoxu City at all, or he deliberately concealed his identity, and no one recognized him."

Gu Mo nodded. "Understood. So, the wanted criminal Xiao Pojun you mentioned came here for the Huoxu Ruins?"

"Very likely," Zhuo Qingfeng said. "Xiao Pojun is a well-known evil martial arts expert from Hongzhou, whose Five Poisons Divine Fire Palm is quite formidable. However, he has a sworn enemy, his junior sect sister named Golden Flower Ghost Hag. They've been feuding their entire lives, wiping out each other's entire families, and never reaching a definitive conclusion.

But recently, the Golden Flower Ghost Hag somehow acquired a new technique and utterly defeated Xiao Pojun, almost killing him. Xiao Pojun has publicly declared that they will fight again on the second day of the second lunar month next year for a decisive battle to the death.

At this critical juncture, instead of secluding himself for training, Xiao Pojun suddenly came to Mobei and even went to the Sufang Desert. It's highly probable that he's targeting the legendary Huoxu Ruins, perhaps hoping to try his luck. After all, he's currently being relentlessly pursued by the Golden Flower Ghost Hag, and capture means certain death, so he might as well take a gamble."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Are there specific whereabouts?"

"Are you interested?"

"I'm very interested in wanted criminals."

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled. "The Sufang Desert is located north of Mobei. The closest place is Juyan County, where Xiao Pojun was sighted. Many martial artists have died under his Five Poisons Divine Fire Palm, and the Six Gates Bureau will be able to pinpoint his exact location very soon."

"Then arrange someone to guide the way. I'll leave tomorrow."

"Chen Xiuyuan, of course," Zhuo Qingfeng said. "He's a walking map, and he's been guiding you since you arrived in Mobei."

"He's a Chief Standard Bearer," Gu Mo stated. "Having him guide the way every day is a bit of an underutilization of his talent."

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled, "Others can't even beg for such an opportunity! Following you, what seems like guiding the way is actually picking up merits for free, and significant ones at that. Chen Xiuyuan had been a Chief Standard Bearer for twenty years before I came here. But how many merits has he accumulated by following you around lately? The Wuchang Ghost Old Man, the Dragon-Tiger Twin Heroes, the Camel Bell Town Zombie Incident, the Qiongshan Sect Zombie Incident—was there any event where he didn't gain merit? He's about to be promoted to Company Commander. He probably wishes he could kowtow and serve you tea daily! 'Underutilized talent'? He's become the most envied person in the Mobei Six Gates Bureau now!"

Gu Mo: "..."

The next day, bright and early, Chen Xiuyuan was already waiting at the entrance, carrying food with him.

After Gu Mo and Gu Chutong woke up, they had breakfast with Chen Xiuyuan.

While eating, Chen Xiuyuan asked, "Great Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, for your trip to Juyan County this time, do you prefer a faster route, or one that's easier to travel?"

Gu Chutong replied, "Of course, the faster the better."

Chen Xiuyuan said, "Then let's head towards Shatuo City. That route is tougher, but it's much faster, taking only five or six days to reach your destination. If we take the easier road, it would take at least ten days."

Gu Mo stated, "Let's arrive earlier. We're going to apprehend a wanted criminal, so it's better to get there sooner. Otherwise, we might find nothing and have made a pointless trip."

"Exactly," Gu Chutong added. "Besides, if we go via Shatuo City, we can also visit Yu Nineteen; he lives in Shatuo City. And Master Jingkong is his neighbor."

Gu Mo nodded. "Yes, we can visit them. Conveniently, Master Jingkong also promised to give me some Buddhist scriptures and personal notes."

Previously, in the small town at the foot of Qiongshan, when Master Jingkong and Yu Nineteen came to see him, he had a very engaging conversation with Master Jingkong, feeling there was much more to discuss.

Master Jingkong's Buddhist philosophy was profound, giving Gu Mo the impression that he possessed even more spiritual depth than Master Dingchan, whom he had met in Qingzhou City. Furthermore, Master Jingkong's theories on interpreting martial arts through Buddhist principles greatly benefited Gu Mo.

Coincidentally, he had been considering unifying the five types of inner True Qi within his body recently. Visiting Master Jingkong might offer some inspiration.

After breakfast,

the three of them set off.

Shatuo City, Shatuo Mountain, Shatuo Temple.

When yellow clouds pressed down over the temple walls, the copper bells on the eaves constantly wailed. Faded prayer flags hung outside the adobe hall, while wind and sand gnawed at the vermilion-lacquered doorposts year after year. Beneath the lotus pedestal, three coarse pottery bowls held rainwater accumulated from the previous night, with ripples showcasing dancing grains of sand. Master Jingkong, dressed in brown robes, carried a willow broom, sweeping the newly accumulated sand dune from the threshold into a cloth bag. This sand would be blown back by the wind tomorrow, forming scale-like ripples at the base of the walls.

A cloaked swordsman, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a blade on his back, walked in. He slowly removed his cloak, revealing a refined yet stern face. He bowed towards the stone statue of the Bodhisattva and asked, "Master, do you have any last wishes?"

Master Jingkong, who was sweeping, paused slightly, then slowly straightened up, clasped his hands together, and said, "Amitābha. Are you Patron Yu Twelve?"

The swordsman looked up, a hint of surprise in his voice. "How did the Master deduce my identity?"

Master Jingkong replied, "I heard Patron Yu Nineteen mention that over three hundred years ago, a protector of the Spirit Clan defected and left. Later, Patron Yu Nineteen also said that Yu Twelve might still be alive. And you, Patron, possess the same 'aura' as Patron Yu Nineteen."

"Aura?"

"Yes, aura," Master Jingkong affirmed. "Humans have a human aura, Buddhas have a Buddha aura, deities have a divine aura, and you, the Spirit Clan, possess a unique spiritual aura inherent to your kind."

"There's such a flaw, then," Yu Twelve frowned.

"It's hardly a flaw," Master Jingkong said. "Unless someone already knows your identity, even if they sense your aura, they wouldn't connect it to the Spirit Clan. They would simply perceive it as a certain Daoist charm specific to you, Patron. So, you needn't be too troubled."

Yu Twelve retorted, "But, Master, you know about the Spirit Clan and can perceive the spiritual aura, can't you?"

Master Jingkong smiled faintly. "Previously, when I learned that Patron Yu Twelve might still be alive, I wondered what you would do and what a person who had lived for over three hundred years would think. I pondered it repeatedly but couldn't understand. But now, I roughly comprehend it: you are still fulfilling your duty as a protector, safeguarding the Spirit Clan."

Yu Twelve did not answer directly but stated, "Therefore, Master, your existence is actually a very, very dangerous matter for the Spirit Clan. This generation's protector is too immature."

Master Jingkong replied, "It's not Patron Yu Nineteen's fault. The previous protector, Patron Yu Eighteen, passed away unexpectedly, and Patron Yu Nineteen was chosen as the protector when he was only eight or nine years old. He was severely injured in an accident and I saved him. It was during that healing process that I discovered something unusual.

At that time, Patron Yu Nineteen wanted to kill me, but alas, he was too young. With Patron Yu Eighteen's sudden demise and the Ice Marrow Lotus not yet mature, Patron Yu Nineteen's spiritual power was unusable, so he couldn't kill me, and all his attempts failed.

Later, during our time together, he gradually lowered his guard. And because he was still young and needed help with many things, he told me some details about the Spirit Clan. Only then did I realize that Patron Yu Eighteen, who had been my neighbor for decades, possessed such a mysterious identity."

"So that's how it is," Yu Twelve said. "But he is still unqualified. As a protector, he bears the life and death of the entire clan and should not harbor any emotions. It was wrong for him to lower his guard with you, wrong to reveal the existence of the Spirit Clan to you, and a grave mistake that he can kill you now but doesn't. Even if you, Master, are of noble character, there can be no 'what ifs' in such matters. The Spirit Clan has faced many existential crises, all because protectors held onto false hopes.

Therefore, Master, I apologize. Do you have any last wishes?"

Master Jingkong gently took a book from his robe and handed it to Yu Twelve, saying, "Patron Yu Nineteen has already refined the Ice Marrow Lotus, but the timing was too rushed. He went to the Huoxu Ruins immediately after refining it, and there, he is bound to begin killing.

I worry that initiating slaughter right after activating his spiritual power could easily lead him to fall into depravity and foster inner demons. This *Bodhi Verse* is a top-tier Buddhist heart sutra for clearing the mind. Please, Patron, deliver it to Patron Yu Nineteen to help him dispel his inner demons."

Yu Twelve took the scripture, gazed at Master Jingkong, and slowly said, "Master, please enter nirvana."

Before his words had fully faded, Yu Twelve slowly raised his hand and gently pointed a finger towards Master Jingkong.

Master Jingkong clasped his hands together, his expression serene and solemn, with a faint glow seemingly swirling around him. His feet firmly planted on the ground, he slowly raised his hands, gracefully joining them before his chest, his movements fluid and unburdened by any worldly trace.

In that instant, an invisible force surged from within him. The air seemed to coalesce with countless tiny currents, emitting a faint rustling sound. True Qi spread visibly, swirling and intertwining in front of him, gradually condensing into a crystal-clear barrier of light.

However,

this protective aura seemed to vanish before Yu Twelve's finger. That single finger directly pierced through the aura and gently touched Master Jingkong's forehead.

Master Jingkong's body stiffened slightly, and he softly intoned, "Amitābha."

At that very moment, Master Jingkong instantly burst into flames. In just a brief moment, the fiercely burning fire completely consumed his physical body, leaving behind only a pile of faintly glowing ashes.

Then, a gentle breeze silently swept through, lightly gathering the pile of ashes. Carried by the whistling yellow sands, they vanished without a trace in but a blink of an eye, as if he had never existed in this world.

Subsequently,

Yu Twelve turned, gently waved his hand, and several streams of True Qi extended outwards. The few novice monks chanting scriptures in their meditation rooms at Shatuo Temple perished instantly, all turning into dust like Master Jingkong.

Afterward,

as Yu Twelve walked out the door, his face transformed into that of a middle-aged man. His entire demeanor changed dramatically; he was no longer the spirited young swordsman but a dispirited, middle-aged man whose life seemed to have gone awry.

As he slowly departed,

Shatuo Temple erupted into a massive blaze, fierce flames quickly engulfing the entire monastery.