"What sweeping monk? I'm just an old man who guards the gate!"
Xiang Bo frowned, clearly not understanding the meaning of sweeping monk.
The staff member explained, "The sweeping monk is an old monk in Jin Yong's martial arts novels. He is usually responsible for sweeping the floor, and everyone assumes he has no martial arts skills. However, he turns out to be incredibly skilled and easily subdues several top experts. So, people use 'sweeping monk' to refer to those hidden masters who are not as they appear."
Xiang Bo nodded. "I see. But I'm still not a sweeping monk. If you hadn't crossed the line, I wouldn't have revealed myself at all. I've been tired of fighting since I was young, deliberately hiding my strength to escape this life sooner and live as an ordinary person."
"Honestly, I truly love this job as a gatekeeper. It's a pity you've ruined it today..."
"How about this: the S-class archive materials are indeed off-limits. You two leave the archive room with your documents, and I'll pretend I never saw you. You also pretend you know nothing about me. What do you say?"
Xiang Bo intended to make a deal with Ying Chen.
He didn't want his peaceful life disrupted and was willing to let Ying Chen and his companion leave, but only if the S-class archive materials were untouched.
However, Ying Chen had come to the Fengdun Bureau precisely for these materials.
Now that the materials were within his grasp, how could Ying Chen give up?
Moreover, in Ying Chen's view, Xiang Bo had no right to negotiate with him!
"No," Ying Chen refused bluntly.
The staff member, who had been somewhat tempted, let out a quiet sigh.
Xiang Bo's proposal was actually the optimal solution. This way, he could keep his position, and Xiang Bo could continue to conceal his identity.
Unfortunately, he had no say in the matter.
Xiang Bo's eyes gradually turned cold and sharp.
His frail, aged body began to straighten and grow taller, bit by bit.
In just a few seconds, Xiang Bo transformed from a doddering old man on the verge of death into a robust, strong young man!
Even through his clothes, one could see muscles like coiling serpents bulging.
His silver hair seemed to move against the wind, and a potent spirit, like the smoke from a beacon fire, rose from the crown of his head, shooting towards the sky!
"Martial arts master?"
The staff member was shocked by Xiang Bo's transformation.
He had never imagined that Xiang Bo was also a martial arts master!
Though he didn't know his exact martial arts rank.
He had seen martial artists up to the sixth rank, but that sixth-rank master's aura was clearly inferior to Xiang Bo's.
This meant Xiang Bo was likely at least seventh rank, or even higher!
"A master at seventh rank or above, willingly hiding in the East District branch office to guard the gate! This is the real-life counterpart of the sweeping monk in martial arts novels!" the staff member marveled.
Ying Chen, on the other hand, watched Xiang Bo's transformation with utter indifference.
As if he didn't understand what it meant.
The staff member couldn't help but feel anxious, wanting to warn Ying Chen: at this distance, without any prior preparation, Xuanmen practitioners had a very high chance of dying when facing a top martial arts master!
Xuanmen practitioners could only exert their full combat power and directly confront a top martial artist if they had already set up formations and activated their artifacts beforehand.
In a close-quarters encounter, a Xuanmen practitioner fighting hastily could only be passively beaten!
This was what martial arts masters often referred to as "within ten steps, one can contend with an army!"
*Rip!*
Xiang Bo's clothes finally couldn't withstand the continuously bulging muscles and the blood-qi emanating from his pores. They tore apart piece by piece.
Strangely, as Xiang Bo's clothes ripped, what was revealed wasn't muscle.
But another layer of clothing!
This layer of clothing was made of an unknown material, as thin as a cicada's wing, and intricately inscribed with countless runes.
These runes covered Xiang Bo's entire body, making him look like he was wearing a suit of tattoos.
It was unclear what these runes did, or why Xiang Bo always wore them.
"You still have one last chance to beg for mercy."
"I don't wish to create more bloodshed. I'll give you three seconds to consider."
"After three seconds, you will have no way back!"
Xiang Bo stared at Ying Chen and said slowly.
Ying Chen chuckled, "Why is it that both you and Lin Zhiping are so confident you can kill me?"
Xiang Bo snorted, "What right does Lin Zhiping, that half-baked scoundrel, have to compare with me!"
"You ask me why I'm so confident? Then I'll tell you!"
"Because—"
"Invincible below immortals, one exchange for one against immortals!"
Xiang Bo spoke these words with a resonant voice, firm and powerful.
Distant thunder seemed to rumble in the void, as if in agreement with Xiang Bo's words.
The atmosphere in the archive room suddenly became heavy and filled with killing intent.
A dense killing intent instantly permeated every corner of the archive room.
The access control system seemed to sense the impact of the killing intent, emitting a series of harsh, rapid alarms!
For some reason, the staff member, who should have been on Ying Chen's side, uncontrollably felt his mouth go dry and his heart pound, wanting to cheer for Xiang Bo!
"Invincible below immortals, one exchange for one against immortals," these fourteen words alone ignited immense pride in the staff member's heart!
This was the spirit of a top master!
This was the oppressive aura of a top master!
With these fourteen words alone, Xiang Bo had already gained an advantage in terms of morale, securing the initiative!
However, when the staff member looked at Ying Chen, he was shocked to find that Ying Chen remained as placid and indifferent as ever!
Even, Ying Chen, with a playful mood, asked a question: "What if I am even more powerful than an immortal?"
Xiang Bo did not answer. The mockery in his eyes already conveyed the answer.
More powerful than an immortal?
How could that be possible!
There were no immortals in this world! Naturally, there couldn't be anyone more powerful than an immortal!
"Three seconds are up. It's regrettable that you didn't make the right choice."
"Then, prepare to die!"
Xiang Bo's gaze flashed, and a potent killing intent emanated from his eyes, piercing towards Ying Chen like a tangible entity.
Then, Xiang Bo let out a roar and took three consecutive steps forward!
Each step heavier and more ferocious than the last!
After three steps, Xiang Bo's momentum reached its apex.
His muscles were like explosives at their critical point, with surging power churning beneath his skin, waiting for the moment of detonation to unleash without mercy, reducing Ying Chen to dust!
"Thousand Forms! Guanyin!"
Xiang Bo suddenly bellowed four words from the depths of his throat.
The next second, the terrifying power stored in his muscles erupted, transforming into an incredibly tall image of a thousand-armed Guanyin standing in the void!
Intense fist intent flowed on the surface of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, echoing Xiang Bo's movements, like a clone or puppet of Xiang Bo!
*Crack!*
Xiang Bo clapped his hands together fiercely.
The Thousand-Armed Guanyin in the void responded to the sound. One by one, its countless arms blotted out the sky and covered the sun, descending towards Ying Chen!